List Season!

It’s book list season and hard to keep up with all of the end-of-year “best of” lists, but here’s one more for your present buying plans. The presentation of this list was initially “rained out.” Last Wednesday, Buttonwood had its annual Best Children’s Books of 2022 event, but the rain and wind were dramatic, and, understandably, everyone wanted to stay home in their pjs. So a few of us gathered at the store, watched the rain pouring from inside the cozy store, and talked about books. Here are some of the children’s books we wanted to share with everyone….

Picture Books

Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall (On every “best of” list I’ve seen, including the NYT Best Illustrated Books of the Year. Every page is beautiful. A special gift)

Song in the City by Daniel Bernstrom (a charming book about a blind girl who experiences the city through sounds. If you enjoy making sound effects, this book is for you!)

The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen (a perfect read aloud choice – a very funny twist on the classic story.)

Hot Dog by Doug Salati (This one is my personal favorite of the year, mostly because it reminds me of warm summer days!)

Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady (A book for the big dreamer in your life…Nigel has lots of dreams, all of which his parents completely support.)

Early Chapter Books

Cornbread and Poppy (series) by Matthew Cordell

Maddie and Mabel by Kari Allen

Sir Ladybug (series) by Corey Tabor

The Secret of the Jade Bangle (The Nguyen Kids series) by Linda Trinh

Rica Baptista: Llama, Iguanas, and my Very Best Friend by Janet Costa Bates

Graphic Novels

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

Ride On by Faith Allen Hicks

Lightfall by Tim Probert

The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat

Middle Grade Novels

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga (If you know a reader who loved The Wild Robot, this is the book for them!)

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee

The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu

Finally, if you are looking for a completely silly graphic novel series for the young reader in your life, check out:

This series clearly made these two readers happy:

Happy Reading!

Ten Things Worth Sharing….

1. Isabelle Arsenault’s spectacular illustrations in the new picture book, The Mouse Who Carried A House On His Back. A perfect book to spark a conversation about generosity. It’s a sweet story about a mouse who opens his magical house to others, but the illustrations make the book a stand out.

2. The first thing I do each morning when I arrive at school is look at something beautiful. I have one of those page-a-day calendars that show a different piece of art each day, and it’s especially fun to be introduced to artists I had not known about. An illustration by Eugene Grasset sent me directly to Wikipedia to learn about him, and then to Google images to see more of his work. Grasset was a Swiss-born artist who lived in France. He designed furniture, wallpapers, fabrics, and magazine covers among other things. Here are two of his illustrations:

3. We had our fall book fair last week and, as always, it was a big success. Here’s a picture of our youngest customer. She’s clearly ready to learn to read!

4. I remember reading that the Black American architect Paul R. Williams drew his designs upside down so that his white clients could look at the sketches from across the table, rather than sitting next to him. After that, I was curious to know more about Williams and the Los Angeles homes he designed for celebrities – and his work at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Now there’s a beautiful new picture book about Williams and the challenges he faced as a Black architect in the mid-20th century. Curve and Flow would be an inspiring gift for a young person interested in art or design.

5. I love these benches I saw on Instagram. It will be hard to sit on them – they are in Bulgaria!

6. More book fair pictures!

7. . A winner in our unofficial most overdue book contest? Not sure – but this one was returned after 413 days!

8. The Upper Elementary students have been studying the American artist Stuart Davis. Davis, known for his bold and colorful paintings, was inspired by the jazz music of the 1940s and 1950s. To complement their creative projects the UE students learned several standards to perform at Morning Share. While sharing their bold and creative designs, they treated everyone to a performance of It Don’t Mean a Thing, Tuxedo Junction, and I Got Rhythm.

9. The John F. Kennedy Library’s annual educators conference will take place on November 2. This year’s theme is Framing History: The Power of Pictures. We have a group of award-winning illustrators to address how educators can use accurate, well-researched illustrations and images to get students excited about history, stimulate their historical imagination, and challenge them to think critically about the past.

The keynote speaker is Ekua Holmes, the Boston-based artist and illustrator. In 2021, Holmes was the subject of a solo exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, and it was so beautiful I visited twice. This was my favorite piece in the exhibit, the one I wanted to take home and hang over the fireplace:

10. At Mary’s and my sister’s recommendation and the many glowing reviews, I’m currently reading…

It’s one of those rare novels that sucks you in from the first page. It typically takes me a few pages (or more) to feel committed, but not with this book. I was with Sam and Sadie from the minute they see one another in the Harvard Square T-Station.

Happy Reading!

Moon Pops Projects and the Books Inly Teachers are Reading….

It’s wonderful to walk down the Lower Elementary hallway and see the brightly colored art the students did in response to their summer book, Moon Pops by Heena Baek. An Honor Book in the 2022 Boston Globe-Horn Book Picture Book Awards, Moon Pops is a re-telling of a Korean folktale. The story of a hot night, a melting moon, and an ingenious way to cool down, it’s the perfect summer story.

Each of the Lower Elementary classrooms did September projects based on Baek’s magical picture book. One classroom used Moon Pops to teach the structure of an LE book project, work that will begin soon. Their responses are delightful. It was especially fun to note how many kids said they would enjoy spending a day with Granny, the main character.

Another class learned the meaning of a literary term which is super fun to say: onomatopoeia. The kids made paper popsicles with sound words:

This class made pictures of themselves climbing up to the moon:

And one Lower Elementary class is working towards a puppet show. The students each wrote ten sentence stories about the moon and are creating puppets to go with their story:

I also checked in with a few of my colleagues to see what books are on their nightstands. Maybe their reading will give you some ideas…..

Vanessa, an LE teacher, is reading The Wisdom Wheel by Alberto Villolda and re-reading Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain.

Sarah, the middle school science teacher, is reading The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline. “It’s a dystopian novel centering Indigenous voices and issues in a world ravaged by ecological, as well as societal crisis. I actually listened to it, which brought the Indigenous voices even more central.”

The music teacher, Meri-Lee has enjoyed reading Kristin Hannah’s well-known novels, The Nightingale and The Four Winds.

Mo, the middle school history teacher, recently read and loved Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr and Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.

Jessie, a UE teacher, reports “I just finished Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. And this summer, I read Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, which might be one of the best books I’ve read in a long time!”

Side note: Mary and I also read and loved Crying in H Mart. In fact, after reading it, I went to H Mart in Cambridge so I could walk around and inhabit the book’s setting for a little bit. Also, after two colleagues mentioned Cloud Cuckoo Land, I added it to my own reading list. I loved Doerr’s earlier novel, All the Light We Cannot See, but had not gravitated to this one – until now.

Annemarie, the art teacher, has enjoyed reading Edgar and Lucy by Victor Lodato, My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout, and Karma: A Yogi’s Guide to Crafting Your Destiny by Sadhguru.

Emily in LE strongly recommends Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be by Dr. Becky Kennedy. Emily also enjoys Dr. Kennedy’s podcast: Good Inside. She said the book “aligns really well with Montessori principles” and suggested it may be a good book to guide a parent discussion.

I will order a couple of copies for the parent shelf!

Lianne, our tech guru, emailed this summary of her reading:

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is a story about a female chemist in the early 1960’s. It was an intriguing story about a woman trying to succeed in male dominated field. She is a character with intelligence and determination. I wasn’t sure I would like this book at first, but I did really like it by the end. (I gave it 4 out of 5 stars)

A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum is very interesting story about three generations of Palestinian women, the younger ones now living in modern day Brooklyn, NY. (I gave it 4 out of 5 stars)

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig – All the possible ways to change your life within a library. Great premise, wonderful story! (I gave it 4 out of 5 stars)

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black – I love fantasy novels and this was a particularly good one! Fairies, high courts, a cruel prince, a determined heroine, what could be better? I liked all 3 books in the series, but this was my favorite. (I gave it 5 out of 5 stars)

Marcie, an LE teacher, enjoyed Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (one of my favorites), Leave the World Behind by Rumann Alam, and Math Games with Bad Drawings by Ben Orlin.

And my colleague Mary recommends Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin – A book about creativity, friendship set against the world of gaming. Mary says you don’t have to be a gamer to enjoy this wonderful novel. She especially enjoyed the literary references scattered through the book.

Happy Fall Reading!

Back to School….

The bookstores and libraries are displaying back-to-school books for the excited (and maybe nervous) students about to begin a new school year. A few of the books listed below may help smooth your child’s transition:

Llama Llama Back to School by Reed Duncan (another in the series created by Anna Dewdney. Although Dewdney died in 2016, her books about a sweet llama facing new challenge continue to be popular with young children. In this one, Llama is not ready for summer to end, but Mama Llama saves the day!)

Puppy Bus by Drew Brockington (This one is funny and perfect for soothing those first day jitters. A little boy gets on the wrong school bus – and lands in puppy school. There, he finds many experiences common to “human schools,” as well as some things that are a little different. Guess what he finds in the bathroom!)

Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome by Kat Zhang (When Lin, a new boy from China, arrives in Amy’s classroom, everyone welcomes him warmly, but Lin does not speak English and can not respond. Amy tries to make Lin feel included, but it’s only when she sees Lin greet his family in Chinese that she has an idea. With her grandmother’s help, Amy (who is Chinese-American) plans to make Lin feel more welcome. The bright and inviting colors – and Amy’s diverse classmates – echo the book’s message of inclusivity.)

School Is Wherever I Am by Ellie Peterson (I love this book’s celebration of curiosity and lifelong learning. It opens with a young boy talking about his school and all of the things he learns in his classroom, but then he wonders “Is school only one place…where else is school?” As he discovers, school is everywhere: at the aquarium, in the kitchen, at the library, outside with friends and family, and sometimes on the screen. It would be a fun book to read with kids and then ask them to make their own list of all the places they learn.)

To Change a Planet by Christina Soontornvat (Not a traditional back-to-school picture book, but an inspiring introduction to climate change and our relationship to the earth. A beautiful entry point to discussions about the challenges we face – and a hopeful message about how each of us are part of the solution.)

On Saturday, we went to see the Obama portraits currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts. I had seen pictures of the famous paintings by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald many times, and wondered if standing in front of the “real” paintings would feel anticlimactic. It did not at all. Both of them are much larger than what’s on a screen or in a publication. They have such presence. Former President Obama looks like he’s leaning in to listen, and I love how it looks like his chair is floating among the greenery. The paintings made me miss them both.

When you exit the room where the Obama paintings are displayed, you enter an exhibit called “Portraits of Leadership,” which features thousands of pictures of activists and leaders. People “from Dorchester to Seoul” submitted drawings. Here are a few of my favorites:

Admittedly, I did not know who Kirk Christensen was, but I loved the sketch. As it turns out, Christensen is the founder of Lego!

Happy New School Year…

Summer Reading!

It’s that time of year again…reading under a shady tree, or on the beach, or under a table like one of our students is doing! Inly’s students are going home with a long list of recommended books which I compile as a guide, hopeful that something on the list will spark their imagination or shift their perspective a little bit. There have been a lot of conversations about the pros and cons of summer reading lists. Assigning books that are too challenging in the summer months does more harm than good. Having to read something is very different from choosing something on your own. But a thoughtful summer reading list can bring attention to books that aren’t on the bestseller list. It’s easy to find heavily promoted books on the display tables in Barnes and Noble or advertised on websites. But there are gems out there – on public library shelves and in independent bookstores.

Here are some of the new-ish titles on our Lower Elementary list. There are many classics and recently published books on the list as well, but I’m hopeful some of our kids will find these:

Picture Books

Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady (a beautiful story about a little boy who wants to be an astronaut, a dancer, and a superhero when he grows up. His loving parents support all of his dreams!)

Hot Dog by Doug Salati (there’s something about this book – maybe because I read it on the day of the horrific crime in Texas – that struck me as the perfect book for these hard days. The hot dog lives in the city where it can feel overwhelming, and the busy pictures make you feel it – everything is coming at the little guy. He needs some renewal, a rest. Finally, a trip to the beach gives him a “welcome whiff of someplace new.”)

Every Dog in the Neighborhood by Philip Stead (Louis and his grandma decide to count all of the dogs in the neighborhood, and meet some awesome dogs – and people – along the way.)

Big Truck, Little Island by Chris Van Dusen (Chris Van Dusen’s illustrations of Maine are so magical they make me want to get in a truck – or preferably a car – and start driving north. This story is based on a real incident that took place on a small island off the coast of Maine. The cover kind of gives away what the problem was!)

Dream Street by Tricia Elam Walker (a celebration of neighborhood – based on Roxbury – with beautiful illustrations)

Early Readers

Sir Ladybug by Corey Tabor (the first book in a new series of funny graphic novels for kids learning to read. In this first episode, Sir Ladybug and his friends are trying to save a caterpillar from being eaten by a chickadee.)

Cornbread and Poppy by Matthew Cordell (this is a new series of early chapter books about best friends who are completely different. This one is notable for its coziness and the beautiful pen-and-ink watercolors.)

Gigi and Ojiji by Melissa Iwai (a Japanese American girl learns about her family and identity when her grandfather comes to visit. The sweet front cover makes me want to hang it on the Library wall!)

And one longer chapter book recommendation for new readers

Just Harriet by Elana Arnold (Harriet has just finished 3rd grade when she learns that she will be spending the summer with her grandmother at her bed and breakfast off the coast of California – without her parents. But when she gets there, and begins learning more about her dad’s childhood, it turns out to be a magical summer. Parents who grew up reading books by Beverly Cleary will recognize a character who could be Ramona’s granddaughter!)

This is a digression from books, but I thought it was worth sharing. Last week, I was in Hartford’s Wadsworth Atheneum to see an exhibit of paintings by the American painter, Milton Avery. I’ve always been drawn to his muted colors and interlocked shapes. The exhibit was wonderful, but it was especially fun to see Avery’s sense of humor expressed in way he signed many of his paintings. Here are a few of my favorites:

Look at the pant legs:

The paper on the desk:

The bottom of the painting over their heads:

The envelope:

To end on a reading note: I have started my summer reading – it’s a long list so an early start was key.

I just finished Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez and am now reading Emma Straub’s new novel, This Time Tomorrow. My sister and I both read Olga and really liked it – especially the glimpse it provides into Puerto Rico’s history and the impact of Hurricane Maria on the island.

Happy Reading!

New Books!

The best part of the new year is all of the new books. We received an order of late 2021 books and a few early 2022 books. Here are my favorites of the bunch:

Moose’s Book Bus by Inga Moore

I bought this one based solely on Moore’s name. Her illustrations for The Wind in the Willows are beautiful, and her charming picture book about a hungry neighborhood cat, Six-Dinner Sid, is one of our most reliable Children’s House read alouds. Moose’s Book Bus is a companion to A House in the Woods, an earlier picture book that introduced a group of four animal characters that share a cozy house in the woods. In this new adventure, the animals learn the power of books and libraries. Each night, Moose gathers his animal friends to hear a story, but when he runs out of stories to tell, he goes to the library and gets an armful of fairy tales. As the animals begin inviting other friends to listen in, the house gets a bit crowded which, of course, leads to the Book Bus!

When I Wake Up by Seth Fishman and Jessixa Bagley

A little boy wakes up and realizes he’s the first one to be awake in his house. “My mom says the sun is always shining somewhere. My dad says I should stay in my bed until the clock shows 7:00 a.m.” What follows is the little guy imagining all of the things he could do rather than staying in bed. Color coded panels convey his many versions of what’s next: riding his bike, eating marshmallows for breakfast, drawing pictures of dragons and horses. What he actually decides to is on the last page of the book. I’m not giving it away.

Ship in a Bottle by Andrew Prahin

The cover of this pastel colored book kind of begs you to pick it up. You wonder what the mouse is looking at, right? The mouse’s challenge is clear from the start: “Mouse and Cat lived together. But there were problems. Mouse wanted to eat gingersnaps. Cat wanted to eat Mouse.” Luckily, the mouse has a ship in a bottle, and that’s her ticket out. As she embarks on an adventurous journey, Mouse faces rough seas and animals who want to eat her gingersnaps. Mouse perseveres, finds new friendships, and discovers french fries. This is a sweet story about finding safety in a storm- tossed world. A comforting read for all.

Cornbread and Poppy by Matthew Cordell

Is is too early to declare Cornbread and Poppy one of the best books of 2022? Following the winning formula of early chapter books like Frog and Toad and Bink and Gollie, this one features two very different mice. It also brought to mind the picture book series, Toot and Puddle in which, like Cordell’s book, one of the two friends is more carefree than the other. What makes Cordell’s new book stand out are the ink and watercolor illustrations. This first installment is about gathering food for winter. Cornbread loves to plan and is ready for the cold months. Poppy, however, has been busy riding her bike, hiking, and swinging on her swing set. Of course, the friends work together and there is enough food for all. The second installment, Cornbread and Poppy at the Carnival, will be out this summer.

Atlas of Amazing Architecture by Peter Allen

This is a book that belongs in every Upper Elementary classroom and in the collections of future engineers and architects. Not another look at the familiar landmarks around the world, instead this Atlas introduces the reader to over 40 sites around the world that are less famous. The two-page spreads are chronological, opening with Neolithic Monuments and Ziggurat of Ur and ending with the Society of Authors and Publishers headquarters which opened in 2008 and features a wall made of CDs that “reflects the broken light that comes through the jagged stone wall.” Every page is fascinating. Where else is a kid going to read about the Borgund Stave Church in Norway and the Casbah of Algiers. This one is a treasure.

One More Recommendation:

A Lower Elementary teacher – and mother of two young children – recommends Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans by Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD. Amanda likes that the book feels aligned with Montessori teachings, especially “its emphasis on the innate goodness and helpfulness of children (even toddlers!) rather than children being mischievous little beings in need of adult control.”

Happy Reading!

Holiday Shopping: Early Edition

Since we are hearing so much about the backlog of cargo ships carrying precious books – among other things – I am posting my list of favorite children’s books of the year now. Problems all along the distribution chain are causing bookstores to ask their customers to shop early. In fact, our local independent store, Buttonwood Books and Toys in Cohasset, held their annual “best books of the year” event last week. Kristine, Buttonwood’s Children’s Book Buyer, and I each presented our favorite titles of the year. Here they are:

Preschool:
Freight Train by Donald Crews (a lift-the-flap version of the classic book)
Here We Are: Book of Numbers/Book of Animals by Oliver Jeffers

Picture Books:
Julia’s House Goes Home by Ben Hatke (third in a series of delightful picture books)
Sweater Weather by Matt Phelan (a sweet and funny story about a Papa Bear trying to get his cubs ready to go outside)
The Longest Storm by Dan Yaccarino
Norman Didn’t Do It by Ryan Higgins
Inside Cat by Brendan Wenzel

Early Chapter:
Book Buddies: Lost and Found by Cynthia Lord
Starla Jean (#1) by Elana Arnold (first installment in a new series of chapter books for emerging readers)
See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat by David LaRochelle (a hilarious spoof of early readers)
Maybe, Maybe Marisol Raimy by Erin Entrada Kelly
Annie Lumsden: the Girl from the Sea by David Almond

Middle Grade:
The Beatryce Prophecy by DiCamillo
Once Upon a Camel by Applegate
Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland (a mix of fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction)
The Genius Under the Table by Eugene Yelchin (a memoir of a young artist growing up in Cold War Russia in the 60s and 70s)
The Sea in Winter by Christine Day
The List of Unspeakable Fears by J Kaspar Kramer
Frankie & Bug by Gayle Forman

Graphic Novels:
Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulson
The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor (a young Chinese girl working at a logging camp in the late 1800s – with a Paul Bunyan-like folk tale heroine named Auntie Po)

Holiday & Gift:
The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser
The Snowflake by Benji Davies
Red and Green, Blue and White by Lee Wind (inspired by a true story of how a community came together after a hate crime in Billings, Montana in 1993)
Fungarium by Ester Gaya (an oversized book about fungi – and it’s beautiful)
Little Wooden Robot & the Log Princess by Tom Gauld
Secret of the Magic Pearl by Elisa Sabatinella (a magical book, perfect for a family read aloud)

And sneaking a few adult books in here…..

First, a recommendation from Marcie, a Lower Elementary teacher:

How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue

“It tells of a people struggling to maintain their lifestyle and land, while living in fear amid environmental degradation wrought by an American oil company. It is written from many character’s perspectives, and as such highlights our shared humanity and responsibility to one another in a world complicated by so much out of our control.”

And I just finished reading Amor Towles new novel, The Lincoln Highway. A friend from Buttonwood compared it to both The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men which feels spot on. It is sprawling and immersive, and I didn’t want it to end. Set in the mid 1950s, The Lincoln Highway follows a 10-day road trip, one meant to take eighteen-year-old Emmett and his younger brother, Billy, from Nebraska to California, where they look forward to making a fresh start. But Emmett and Billy’s plans change when they find two friends hiding in their car, and their adventure moves in the opposite direction – to New York City. I loved this book, and will recommend it to anyone asks me what to read during the dark and cold winter days ahead.

I’m currently reading Working by the two-time Pulitzer prize winning biographer, Robert Caro. I’m reading it before seeing an exhibit at the New York Historical Society this weekend called: Turn Every Page: Inside the Robert Caro Archive.

As you know, Mary and I love looking under the dust jackets of the new picture books. Check out this beautiful “under cover” art work on the new picture book biography of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd and Christian Robinson:

Happy Reading – and Shopping!

New Books…

As much as I enjoy summer, fall is definitely the best season for book lovers. Beginning right after Labor Day, I try to stop by Buttonwood every Tuesday afternoon – after they’ve had time to display that week’s new releases. I seldom leave empty handed.

Here are six of the best new books for young readers:

New in Town by Kevin Cornell

The town of Puddletrunk has a problem. Their bridge keeps falling thanks to termites – or maybe it’s due to a devious resident named Mortimer Gulch. Picture the Grinch, both in looks and style, and you’ll have Mr. Gulch. He slyly gets the residents to fork over their cash and jewelry to his “Clock Tower Repair jar,” but there’s a new guy in town, the traveling clock repairman, who is not falling for Gulch’s scheme. Of course the bad guy loses, but the way forward is filled with bright, comic-style illustrations, and lots of fun details.

Negative Cat by Sophie Blackall

A young boy has been asking for a cat – for 427 days – without success. After many reminders that he will have to feed a cat, and clean a litter box, and make sure the cat does not have fleas, the protagonist wins! He gets his treasured cat, but as it turns out Max (the cat) does not want to do anything his enthusiastic caretaker dreamed about. No interest in playing, using his scratch post, or even listening to jokes. There is one thing Max likes to do though and all ends well. To see what makes Max the pet of everyone’s dreams, check out this delightful story!

See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat by David LaRochelle

One of my favorite early chapter books of 2020 was See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog. Now David LaRochelle returns with a very cute cat in the starring role – ostensibly filling in for a sick dog. There are three vignette style stories in each book, and direct sentences and word repetition make the stories accessible for new readers. The full-color illustrations are cartoon-like, and the format is similar to Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie books. Funny and clever, both books are winning combinations of words and pictures.

Maybe…by Chris Haughton

If you’re looking for a picture book to share with a group of young children, this is an awesome choice. Haughton is a master at pacing and illustration – with eye popping contrasts and vivid backdrops on every page. Based on a well-known cautionary tale, Haughton’s story centers on three little monkeys who have been warned: “not to go down to the mango tree.” Braving the threat of tigers, the monkeys are tempted by the juicy mangoes below and decide it’s worth the effort. They make it back up the tree just in the nick of time, but then the mischievous little monkeys learn there are bananas below!

Starla Jean by Elana Arnold

The first installment in this new early chapter book series was published in January, but I’m including it in this list of new books because #2 will be release on November 9. Perfect for new readers. Starla Jean includes four short chapters, lots of white space on every page, and delightful illustrations by A.N. Kang. In the first book, Starla Jean finds a chicken – actually, she catches it, much to the surprise of her dad! Starla Jean narrates her adventure with Opal Egg, the name she gives her new pet. Of course, the problem is that Opal Egg may belong to someone else.

The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor

I had read about this new graphic novel, ordered it for our middle grade collection, and added it to the “to read” list. But when I saw it on the National Book Award’s long list for Young People’s Literature, I took it home to read over the weekend. The book is kind of a mash up: part folk tales, part historical fiction, and part coming of age story. At the center of the story is Mei who, with her father, works long hours at a busy logging camp at the end of the 19th century. At the end of their long work days, Mei tells adventurous and magical stories about Auntie Po, a Chinese version of Paul Bunyan, to her camp friends. Mei also struggles with the Anti-Asian racism at the camp and her romantic feelings towards Bee, the foreman’s daughter and one of her closest friends. A book for readers ten and up about the power of stories to change our lives. I loved it.

Two more notes…

First, I think we have a winner in the “most overdue book” category. They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel was out for 1,110 days! I won’t give this treasured library patron away, but she clearly recognizes special books. They All Saw a Cat is a good one to keep around for a while.

One of the library’s current displays is a tribute to Inly’s long-time office manager, Debbie Haug, who retired at the end of last school year. Many families contributed to a set of books about animals in Debbie’s honor. We had to be careful though – no animals could be sick or “expire” in anything we selected. Debbie loves stories about animals, but only animals that live happily ever after!

Happy Reading…

The 2021 Books Begin to Arrive…

These short and cold winter days can feel like a slog. Covid seems to have settled in for the winter. The foundations of our democracy have been threatened. There’s an erosion of trust in facts. And, at least until vaccines are more widely distributed, there are no trips to plan. Still, there are still bright spots, including the arrival of the first books of 2021. I plan to spend this winter counting the days until vaccines are available, reading a stack of new books, and looking forward to warmer brighter days.

Here are a few new children’s books that are especially wonderful:

Sometimes People March by Tessa Allen (Good timing, right? This is a perfect introduction to the many reasons people gather together to speak with one voice and a good way to start conversation with younger children about current events. “It isn’t always easy,” the text reads. “Feet get tired, hearts and hopes get tired. Sometimes problems seem too big or complex. But we do not march alone.”)

I Want to Ride the Tap Tap by Danielle Joseph (This brightly colored story about Claude, a Haitian boy’s, adventure riding a tap tap, the distinctive trucks that his father takes to work. Every day, Claude and his mother walk his father to the tap tap where Claude meets the other passengers. Then, on Sunday, he gets to ride the tap tap himself when he family visits the beach. On the beach, he meets the artists and musicians he met during the week. It’s a jubilant story – you can almost feel the tropical breeze which is a welcome escape right now.)

Ten Little Dumplings by Larissa Fan (As much as I like the five books on this list, Ten Little Dumplings is my favorite – I know it will be included on my favorite books of 2021. It’s early for that judgement, but I feel confident. The story of a Taiwanese family with ten sons, “great luck indeed” the boys do everything together: get ready for school, eat rice, and play by the pond. Ultimately, they grow into “ten fine men.” But then, another voice enters the story, a sister who, admittedly, I did not see hiding among the illustrations of the ten little dumplings. But she’s there, and I went right back to the beginning of the story and read it entirely differently. Clever and smart, this is one to add to your library.)

Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall (One of our favorite picture books is Jabari Jumps, the story of a boy who is understandably nervous about jumping off a diving board. Now, Jabari is back and this time he’s determined to make a flying machine. Initially, Jabari’s plans don’t go the way he hopes, and he feels frustrated. Luckily, he has a dad who encourages Jabari to keep trying – and a sister with fairy wings who wants to help.)

A Long Road on a Short Day by Gary Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney (A cozy read aloud for a short winter day, this early chapter book centers on Samuel and his father’s journey to find a “brown-eyed cow” so that the family can have milk for the baby – and for tea. Samuel and his dad venture out into a cold and grey day to find milk, but getting the milk involves a series of trades with their neighbors. First, the dad trades his “shiny Barlow knife” for two tin lanterns – and the uptrading continues from there, resulting in, of course, a cow. It’s a gentle story, at a time when we are facing so much harshness.)

Happy Reading.

The Best of 2020

Before looking ahead to my favorite children’s books of 2020, I’m stepping one holiday back to share a few pictures of Inly’s Halloween festivities. A group of talented staff and parents created a festive experience for our students, a Halloween story trail that was magical in every way. Yes, there were traditions that were impossible to replicate in a Covid world, but new ones began and the kids were thrilled.

An administrator and a student both dressed up as Fern from Charlotte’s Web which, in my view, made them the costume winners! They were not scary. And they based their costumes on a classic novel:

These are scenes from the story trail which brought the book, Halloween Night on Shivermore Street, to life:

And how great is this – a friend’s baby dressed as the caterpillar from The Very Hungry Caterpillar!

I’ve looked at hundreds of new children’s books over the course of the 2020, and – due to Covid – there was lots more time to be at home looking at books. Below is a list of the best ones to give as holiday gifts this season:

Preschool Books 

A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett

My Bed: Enchanting Ways to Fall Asleep Around the World by Rebecca Bond

ABC Animals by Christopher Evans

Sun Flower Lion by Kevin Henkes

Louis by Tom Lichtenheld

Turtle Walk by Matt Phelan

Picture Books

When the Storm Comes by Linda Ashman

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes

The Bear and the Moon by Matthew Burgess

Hike by Pete Oswald 

My Best Friend by Julie Fogliano

Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry

The Barnabus Project by the Fan Brothers

Early Chapter Books 

See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle

Just a Little Blue (Owly #2) by Andy Runton

Pee, Bee and Jay: Stuck Together by Brian “Smitty” Smith

Middle Grade 

Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman

Leaving Lymon by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake 

Graphic Novels

Catherine’s War by Julia Billet

Class Act by Jerry Craft

Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabasse

When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson

Lightfall: The Girl and the Galdurian by Tim Probert

Black Heroes of the Wild West by James Otis Smith

Holiday Books

Happy Narwhalidays by Ben Clanton

Ming’s Christmas Wishes by Susan Gong

Mistletoe by Tad Hills

The Ninth Night of Hanukkah by Erica Perl

The Night Before Christmas by Loren Long

Gift Books

Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth by Nicola Davies

The Mysteries of the Universe: Discover the Best-Kept Secrets of Space by Will Gater

Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes by Lonely Planet Kids

How We Got To the Moon by John Rocco

50 Adventures in 50 States by Kate Siber

The Big Book of Blooms by Yuval Zommer

Happy Shopping!

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