Literacy Now

The end of the year is perfect for reflecting on all the year offered. There may be challenges, but consider some of the excellent picture books that have been published. With their amazing colors and unique artistic interpretations, these picture books won’t lie idle for long as readers will want to not only read them in class, but also add them to their personal collections. These book reviews represent only a sample of some of the best picture books of 2015. Anyone who doesn’t have these books among his or her personal collection will certainly want to add them now.

An A From Miss Keller. Patricia Polacco. 2015. G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

Although most readers are familiar with how this engaging storyteller found affirmation in her art, they will know very little about her formative years as a writer. Relying on pencils and markers for the illustrations, she honors two important teachers in her life. Her writing teacher, Miss Keller, doesn’t give As on writing assignments and sets the bar of expectations high by telling her students to “dazzle me. Impress me. Send me into ecstasy with your brilliance.” Trisha finds solace talking to Pop Schloss, a talented neighborhood baker who provides encouragement. His death helps her find the words to express her feelings powerfully, finally allowing her to meet her teacher’s standards for writing. Not only does the book provide a lovely tribute to teachers, but also Miss Keller’s writing activities are ideal for helping budding writers notice the details in the world around them.

Big Bear Little Chair. Lizi Boyd. 2015. Chronicle.

Opposites attract, and they make an interesting visual contrast in this color-drenched picture book. Using gouache illustrations and simple text, this book relies on opposites to describe the relationship between Big Bear and Little Bear. Starting with Big Bear and a tiny chair, the book moves all around the place, finally concluding with both bears sitting on the chairs that are the right size for them. This is another winner from the creator of Inside Outside (2013) and Flashlight (2014). Young readers will ask for it to be read aloud repeatedly. Each reread enables readers to notice something different or to see things slightly differently.

Bug in a Vacuum. Mélanie Watt. 2015. Tundra.

The fact that this picture book from Canada highlights Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s five stages of grief through the experiences of a fly makes it especially appealing for older readers because it can be read on several levels. When a bug slips into a house, it has many pun-filled adventures (“It was on top of the world when it happened”; unpaged and accompanied by the bug sitting on top of a globe) but ends up trapped in a vacuum cleaner. While pondering its fate and looking for an escape, the poor bug experiences denial, bargaining, anger, despair, and acceptance before finding an unexpected way out. The mixed-media illustrations feature various fascinating visual details, including pesticides and frozen dinners with directions or cautionary messages. Readers will laugh while also pondering life’s events and its cyclical nature as well as those aforementioned stages of grief. The book design is stylish, highly original, and memorable, leaving adults and young readers equally charmed.

Emu. Claire Saxby. Ill. Graham Byrne. 2015. Candlewick.

Parenting is handled quite differently among many animal species. In the case of the emu, the female emu has nothing to do with raising the young after she lays the eggs. Because the emu father has much of the caregiving responsibility afterward, the book follows him as he settles down on his nest to keep his little ones warm and then later protects his young. The handsome and eye-catching digital illustrations show how this unusual Australian bird spends its time. The description of the emu’s protective nature is found on one page and additional factual information on the facing page, making this an interesting selection for a science classroom library.

A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat. Emily Jenkins. Ill. Sophie Blackall. 2015. Schwartz & Wade.

This cross-generational picture book explaining how four families prepare a delicious dessert is simply scrumptious. Spanning four centuries, the book begins in 1710 in Lyme, England, and ends in 2010 in San Diego, CA. Following the dessert’s preparation over four centuries enables readers to detect differences in the way food was prepared during the different eras as well as acknowledging gender roles, slavery, and even what families typically ate during those times. Filled with details, the colorful illustrations, created with Chinese ink, watercolor, and blackberry juice (on the endpapers), will have readers asking for more, more, more. With guidance, young readers will appreciate this succulent treasure even more upon repeated readings.

Five Nice Mice Build a House. Chisato Tashiro. 2015. Minedition.

Filled with beautiful and highly detailed illustrations, this picture book follows five creative mice in search of a new home. The basement in which they dwell is not the best location for them because predators and dangers abound, which causes them to look for new digs. They find a most inviting spot in an unlikely place—a dump where people have left their discards. But one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, of course, and these innovative mice cobble together a home complete with all sorts of conveniences that make a house a home. Just as they are settling in, though, they spot a large feline who might threaten their security. As it turns out, he’s helplessly tangled up in twine, leaving him at their mercy. They agree to take a risk and free him. He, in turn, is grateful and guards their property. After all, who doesn’t need a fierce watch cat? Animal lovers will enjoy this tribute to the ingenuity of mice from an up-and-coming Japanese artist whose illustrations are filled with detail.

Honk! Honk! Hold Tight! Jessica Souhami. 2015. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

In this picture book originally published in Great Britain, a king is desperate to bring a smile to his daughter’s lips. He promises to share his kingdom with anyone who can do so. A boy named Peter decides to take his goose and see if he can amuse the girl. Before he can do so, though, a woman in need rewards him after he shares his food and water with her. Readers familiar with folk tales will realize right away there’s something magical about the goose, especially when a woman is attached to the goose after she tries to steal one of its feathers. She ends up trailing awkwardly along behind Peter and the goose. As Peter moves through the town, others follow her lead with the same results. The sight of all those men, women, and even a dog following along behind a goose and Peter results in making the princess laugh. Delighted by how Peter has amused her, she suggests that they marry. With interesting details well worth a second look, the illustrations, collages on hand-painted papers using watercolor inks and graphite pencil, accompany the story well.

In. Nikki McClure. 2015. Abrams.

Staying inside is no big deal to an imaginative youngster. After all, he can find lots of things to do as long as he has his stuffed giraffe toy. But when he ventures forth and sees what’s outside, he decides that being outside is just as interesting as being inside. At least that’s the case until he starts feeling cold and wet and longs for the comfort of his bed. Following the boy as he goes from one activity to the next, entertaining himself and even using a basket as a rocket ship in which to travel, the interesting illustrations were created by cutting black paper. Readers may enjoy the visual contrast provided through the use of black, white, and yellow colors.

Moletown. Torben Kuhlmann. 2015. NorthSouth.

This talented author/illustrator from Germany impressed readers greatly with Lindbergh (2014), and this follow-up is equally impressive. One mole decides to move underground, leaving the lush greenery of the outside world behind for the joys of tunneling underground. But, slowly, things aboveground become out of hand. Industrialization, progress, and damaging environmental practices take a toll on the once-thriving and visually appealing Moletown, leaving its residents with only a very small patch of land that has not been spoiled by progress. Clearly, while building and renovation have their places, progress has taken a toll on the environment, making this a humorous but stark reminder of what may lie ahead for humans and the world around them. The illustrations are filled with exhausted workers, congested streets, and air that is hard to breathe. Readers will be impressed by this artist’s vision and perhaps pay attention to his caution about too much change in the name of progress.

The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea. Brenda Z. Guiberson. Ill. Gennady Spirin. 2015. Henry Holt.

Based on the eye-catching cover of an anglerfish and the book’s title, readers might be excused for thinking the author is going to provide the definitive answer to which sea creature is most intriguing. But she doesn’t; instead, as was the case in her earlier book, The Greatest Dinosaur Ever (2013), she offers a baker’s dozen of amazing creatures found in the ocean’s depths and then makes a case for why each one is the most amazing. From the Box Jellyfish on the book’s opening pages to the maritime helpers near the conclusion, the amazing, highly detailed illustrations rendered with tempera, watercolor, and pen will have readers absolutely glued to the book’s pages. The book is designed with an “I am...” statement on the first page about the animal, and a description under a huge two-page illustration of each fascinating creature, concluding with “That’s why I am the most amazing creature in the sea.” This gorgeous and fact-filled book will have readers arguing over their favorites.

Sad, the Dog. Sandy Fussell. Ill. Tull Suwannakit. 2015. Candlewick.

A lonely, unloved dog receives basic care from his family, but not a lot of love. In fact, he ends up christening himself “Sad” because that’s how he feels. His human companions ignore him when they aren’t yelling and scolding, and when they finally move, they leave him behind. But a new family with a friendly boy befriends him, and eventually Sad learns to trust again. This family seems to understand dogs, and Jack and the newly-named “Lucky” frolic outdoors, playing with paper airplanes and digging in the dirt, all the things he had been forbidden to do before. This picture book from Australia is a vivid reminder of how much animals learn from humans as well as what humans can learn from animals. Sad is, indeed, very Lucky once the right person befriends him. Those animal “owners” who behave irresponsibly, never allowing their dogs to play or even deserting them need to read this book as a reminder that animals matter and have feelings.

Thank You, Jackson: How One Little Boy Makes a BIG Difference. Niki Daly. Ill. Jude Daly. 2015. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

For years, a donkey named Jackson has patiently and obediently carried a farmer’s wares to the market, but one day he decides not to do so. In his own quiet way, he stages a sit-down strike and refuses to budge. His owner is furious, and he pushes, pulls, and yells at him to get him to move. Just before he strikes Jackson, at his wife’s request, his son intervenes by whispering in Jackson’s ear. The donkey immediately rises, and all three head to market, dividing the load equally. Thanks to his son, the chastened farmer may treat Jackson much better and show how much he values his work. Youngsters will learn important lessons about how words such as please and thank you can make all the difference in the world. Although it’s easy to understand the farmer’s frustration, his anger failed to make any difference in his donkey’s behavior. As is often the case, in the end, a soft word and a little appreciation reap bounteous reward.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt. Kate Messner. 2015. Ill. Christopher Silas Neal. Chronicle.

Lovely mixed-media illustrations highlight the pleasures of gardening, allowing readers to revel in the passage of time and make note of the activities that are occurring beneath the soil’s surface during the course of a year. From checking the soil for its readiness for planting to sowing seeds and plants to finally harvesting them and returning to the dormancy of winter again, readers will surely have the chance to ponder how “a whole new garden sleeps down in the dirt.” Anticipating each phase in the growing season adds to the delights of reading this book as do the thumbnail sketches describing the animals that are so helpful in making sure the garden is healthy. The author’s acknowledgement of the unsung heroes who tend community gardens throughout the year adds to the personal quality and makes it ideal for science classrooms, especially those planning their own community gardens. After all, the book offers excellent coming attractions for what youngsters can expect when they try to grow something.

Barbara A. Ward teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in literacy at Washington State University, Pullman. She spent 25 years teaching in the public schools of New Orleans, where she worked with students at every grade level, from kindergarten through high school as well as several ability levels. She is certified in elementary education, English education, and gifted education. She holds a bachelor's in communications and a master's in English Education from the University of Tennessee and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Orleans.

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.

New books this year related to cultural diversity have provided multiple perspectives on topics in history and social issues. They have suggested the increasing interest in shedding light on new, little-explored topics and in sharing the stories of individuals whose stories have not been told.

Ages 4–8

Crane Boy. Diana Cohn. Ill. Youme. 2015. Cinco Punto.

Kinga lives in Bhutan and watches out of the school windows every fall for the return of the black-necked cranes, much beloved by the people of the valley who have revered them for centuries and preserved the wetlands so they have a habitat. He is concerned about the dwindling number of cranes so he sets about recruiting students, families, and monks to host a crane festival to raise money for the protection of the cranes. During the festival, the people have archery contests and monks perform traditional dances. The children observe and draw the cranes in preparation for their own dance performance. The back matter, richly illustrated with photographs including a double-page spread of the cranes, gives an account of experiences of the author and illustrator when they traveled in Bhutan and provides information on the Phobjika Valley where the story is set, the festival, and the process of counting the cranes. 

—SW

Mama’s Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation. Edwidge Danticat. Ill. Leslie Staub. 2015. Penguin/Dial.

Saya’s Mama is being held at Sunshine Correctional, “a prison for women without papers.” On Saya’s weekly visits to the immigration detention center, Mama tells her Haitian stories about a wosiyòl, a nightingale. Mama sends Saya a cassette on which she tells a bedtime story she made up about a mommy nightingale who has gone on a very long journey and is looking for a rainbow so she can return home to her baby nightingale. As more cassettes arrive weekly and Papa continues writing letters appealing for Mama’s release, Saya decides to write her own story. Papa sends the story to a newspaper reporter, and it is published. With the spread of Saya’s story in the media, Mama is given a hearing. The judge rules that she can come home while waiting for her papers. Staub’s oil paintings in a richly colored, folk art style convey the sadness of separation and the joy of reunion of this hopeful immigration story.

—CA

Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton. Don Tate. 2015. Peachtree.

In this picture book biography of George Moses Horton (1798–approximately 1883), Tate’s rich narrative and softly colored, cartoon-like mixed media illustrations tell the life story of a slave in North Carolina who taught himself to read, composed verses that he memorized and recited before he learned how to write them down, and became a published poet—all before becoming a free man, at the age of 66, when Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Leaving North Carolina, George continued writing about his life experiences. “George’s love of words had taken him on a great journey. Words made him strong. Words allowed him to dream. Words loosened the chains of bondage long before his last day as a slave” (n.p.). In an author’s note, Tate provides a historical context for the book and states his goal in creating for today’s young readers this biography of George Moses Horton—“a person with talents and hopes and dreams, and a desire to be free. Just like them.” 

—CA

Ages 9–11

Dolls of Hope. Shirley Parenteau. 2015. Candlewick.

When Chiyo’s sister becomes engaged, her fiancé vows to pay for Chiyo’s education at a girls’ school, far from her rural village, so she will become a polished and modest young woman who brings honor to her family. Chiyo feels out of place at the school and is belittled by Hoshi, a general’s daughter, who is first in everything. When Chiyo becomes first singer in the singing club, Hoshi redoubles her efforts to make life miserable for Chiyo. The novel, a companion to Ship of Dolls (2014), is set in 1926 Japan during the time of the Dolls of Hope project in which the United States sent thousands of Friendship Dolls to Japan. Chiyo’s school singing club is one of those selected to perform in the national festivities related to the dolls’ arrival in Tokyo, and the school becomes the keeper of one of the dolls with Chiyo as its protector. Hoshi’s acts of retribution escalate, putting girls in danger. Chiyo must make decisions to protect the doll and to honor her family’s vision for her.

—SW

Full Cicada Moon. Marilyn Hilton. 2015. Penguin/Dial.

When 12-year-old Mimi Yoshiko Oliver moves from culturally diverse Berkeley, CA, to mostly white Hillsborough, VT, in 1969, she doesn’t fit in the boxes people expect. Mimi’s mother is Japanese and her father is black. What should she check on the ethnicity part of the school admission form that says Check only one? Other doesn’t fit. “I am half Mama, half papa, and all me.” When her new classmates are confused by her responses to their questions about where she comes from and her nationality and laugh when she says she wants to be an astronaut, Mimi realizes that the question she must answer is not What am I? but Who am I? Hilton’s verse novel takes readers along on Mimi’s journey of self discovery as she struggles to to make friends and fit in while courageously testing gender-based barriers by entering a serious astronomy project in the science fair and protesting the rule that girls take home economics and boys take shop.

—CA

Ages 12–14

Everything, Everything. Nicola Yoon. Ill. David Yoon. 2015. Delacorte.

Madeline Whittier, a biracial 18-year-old, has spent her life in a sterile home under the watchful protection of her widowed mother, a physician. Her father and brother were killed in an accident when she was an infant. As Madeline explains it, she is allergic to the world and must live on “SCID row” because of a rare form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (known familiarly as “bubble baby disease”) that almost killed her as an infant. When her curiosity about the new neighbor, Olly, begins to move toward a relationship with the unlikely prospect of turning romantic, everything about her life becomes complicated. She wants to experience life outside, and she wants to do it with Olly. Nicola Yoon’s telling of this special love story is heartwarming and balanced with humor added by the inclusion of Madeline’s diary entries, handwritten lists, spoiler reviews about books she has read, e-mail exchanges with Olly, and David Yoon’s line drawings. The book ends with a twist that is both heartwarming and heartrending.

—CA

The Inker’s Shadow. Allen Say. 2015. Scholastic.

When he is 12 years old, Allen is apprenticed to a famous cartoonist in Japan. He pursues his childhood dream of becoming a cartoonist, using a new name the master has given him, Kyusuke, an alter ego who undertakes adventure, gets into trouble, and sees the fun and possibility in everything he encounters.  Kyusuke becomes the character of a series, but he also comes with Allen when he and his family move to the United States. Allen has a scholarship to attend a military academyfounded by his father’s friend in Glendora, CA. In this autobiography, a sequel to Say’s Drawing From Memory (2011), Say shares the challenges, anxieties, and adventure of his experiences as a student in California, with the alter ego Kyusuke depicted in many of the illustrations. Say illustrates events, scenes, and individuals in his life in pencil, pen and ink, and watercolors. The back matter contains additional remarks and archival photographs of places Say lived and people he knew. 

—SW

Sitting Bull: Lakota Warrior and Defender of His People. S.D. Nelson. 2015. Abrams.

Lakota Chief Sitting Bull narrates the account of his life from the time when he was a teenager and proved himself brave and strong to his protection of his people in face of the advance of people and technology that moved across the prairie to settle or exploit the land and its resources.  His life spans the wars between the U.S. government and the Hunkpapa people from the 1860s to 1890. Sitting Bull and a band of his people traveled to Canada, but he returned in face of the destitution of his people and surrendered to the U.S. government in North Dakota. Apprehensive that the Native Americans might mount resistance, the cavalry arrested Sitting Bull, who was then shot while in police custody (ironically, by a Lakota officer). The book includes archival photographs, an extensive timeline detailing the history of the Lakota, source notes, and historical information in the author’s note. The note includes information on the history and craft of Nelson’s ledger art featured throughout the book.

—SW

Ages 15+

All American Boys. Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely. 2015. Atheneum/A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book.

“Mistakes were made./Rashad was beaten./Paul beat Rashad.” Rashad, an African American teen, is in a convenience store buying potato chips. Paul, a white police officer, thinks he is stealing the chips and handcuffs Rashad, removes him the store, and beats him. Quinn, a white teen who Paul has mentored since Quinn’s father was killed in Afghanistan, witnesses the beating and the whole event is caught on camera. As Rashad remains in the hospital, students take sides after a graffiti tag—RASHAD IS ABSENT AGAIN TODAY—is sprayed on the front stairs of Springfield Central High. The story is told alternating the voices of Rashad and Quinn. As a protest is organized against racism and police brutality, these two boys, one black and one white, both Americans, must decide whether they will stand on the sidelines or march.

—CA

Sandip Wilson serves as associate professor at in the College of Health and Education of Husson University in Bangor, ME. Carolyn Angus is former Director of George G. Stone Center for Children's Books, Claremont Graduate University, CA.

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.

November is the month of Thanksgiving, and social media is filled with 30 Days of Gratitude posts. Oprah Winfrey made the concept of the “Gratitude Journal” popular almost 20 years ago, and this idea is still going strong! This month, as we are surrounded by reminders to “count our blessings” and “be thankful,” be sure to check out a few of these new book titles and focus on the attitude of gratitude!
 
Ages 4–8

Little Elliot, Big Family. Mike Curato. 2015. Henry Holt.

When Mouse heads off to his big family reunion, Elliot feels sad that he doesn’t have a big family and spends the day doing things by himself. Later that evening, Mouse returns for Elliot and he learns that he does have a family—and a wonderful friend—to feel grateful for!

Look and Be Grateful. Tomie DePaola. 2015. Holiday House.

This simple story focuses on gratitude for everything that is around us. DePaola reminds readers that every day is a gift and to be grateful for the things in their lives. This book would make a good family read-aloud for Thanksgiving Day.

Thank You and Good Night. Patrick McDonnell. 2015. Little, Brown & Co.

Three furry friends have a fun pajama party. Before they go to sleep, they take a moment to remember what they are thankful for. A lovely bedtime story for young listeners.

Ages 9–11

The Man Made of Stars. M.H. Clark. 2015. Ill. Lisa Evans. Compendium.

A young child asks his grandmother to tell him the story of the man made of stars and then sets out to find him one starry night. When he finally catches up with man, he discovers that it is his own love and kindness that make the world—and the stars—shine so brightly. This book reads like a modern-day legend or folk tale and reminds readers that it is important to put more kindness out into the world.

Poems in the Attic. Nikki Grimes. 2015. Ill. Elizabeth Zunon. Lee & Low.

Missing her mother while visiting her grandmother, a young girl is grateful to find a small collection of poems in the attic her mother wrote when she was a young girl. The poems recollect the places she lived as her family moved around the country to different Air Force bases. Grimes includes an author’s note about her own gratitude for the hard-working service men and women and their families. Grimes adds details about the type of poetry she used in this book and encourages young writers to try writing their own poems.

Ages 12–14

Ava and Taco Cat. Carol Weston. 2015. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.

Ava is so grateful when her mom and dad finally agree to let her adopt a cat! But what will happen when Ava finds out that Taco Cat’s original owner wants him back? This middle-grade novel is filled with opportunities to talk about gratitude and how “doing the right thing” is never easy.

The House That Jane Built: A Story About Jane Addams. Tanya Lee Stone. 2015. Ill. Kathryn Brown. Henry Holt.

In this wonderful picture book biography about Jane Addams, readers will be grateful to learn about Addams’s lifelong quest to help the poor and to make a difference in the world. This book tells about the creation of Hull House—a settlement house Addams created to help needy people and families in Chicago. A detailed author’s note gives additional information about Addams, and Stone encourages young researchers to learn more about the work of Jane Addams, the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work.

Out of the Woods: A True Story of an Unforgettable Event. Rebecca Bond. 2015. Margaret Ferguson.

Bond recounts a story passed down from her grandfather about a true event from his youth. In this story, a young Antonio tells about the time when a forest fire drove people and wild animals into a lake, where they all waited safely for the fire to pass them by. Pair this wonderful oral history story with StoryCorps’ The Great Thanksgiving Listenand encourage young writers to record their own ancestors’ stories!

Ages 15+

Choosing Courage. Peter Collier. 2015. Artisan.

This is a book of short biographies about everyday heroes, published in collaboration with the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. Teen readers will enjoy reading these varied accounts of courageous individuals and may feel inspired to express their own gratitude for someone who is a “real-life” hero in their eyes.

Dumplin’. Julie Murphy. 2015. HarperCollins.

Willowdean Dickson (aka Dumplin’) reminds us to be grateful for the body we have, not the body we wish for. Typically confident in her own plus-size body, Willowdean finds herself questioning her confidence when a boy she considers “out of her league” shows interest in her. Resolved to regain her “Go big or go home” attitude, Willowdean sets out to show her mother, her friends—and herself—that she deserves every good thing that comes her way just as much as the next person. 

Jennifer W. Shettel is an associate professor at Millersville University of PA, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy for preservice and practicing teachers. Prior to joining the faculty at Millersville, she spent 16 years as an elementary classroom teacher and reading specialist.

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG)and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.

Reading nonfiction books offers all of these experiences as readers delve into real lives and real science or move into the past or stand beside real people while reading these informational books. Nonfiction offers beautiful photography and other text support features that make the reading even more interesting by looking at text boxes, timelines, charts, diagrams, and many other innovative illustrative techniques. To borrow from Dr. Kylene Beers as she describes nonfiction readers in her new book listed in this review: “We want students aware of what they are discovering as they read. We want them to enjoy that feeling of surprise, amazement, and even skepticism. We want them to say, Really?” (Reading Nonfiction, 2015, Heinemann)

Ages 4–8

Amphibians and Reptiles: A Compare and Contrast Book. Katharine Hall. 2015. Arbordale.

In large print and beautiful close-up photographs, the author explains to young readers the differences between amphibians and reptiles. Using scientific terminology throughout the book, students who love “critters” will enjoy learning about the study of herpetology. A strong point of the book is presenting these animals in their environments so children can get a true feel for where these creatures live within their natural habitats. Each page points out differences and similarities in the amphibian world from egg laying to breathing. Teacher resources for this book are available at the publisher’s website.
(Other books in this Compare and Contrast series: Polar Bears and Penguins, Clouds, Trees, Mammals,
Sharks and Dolphins)

Little Kids First BIG Book of the World. Elizabeth Carney. 2015. National Geographic for Kids.

Opening the book to a detailed table of contents will allow teachers or parents an entry into the arrangement of this colorful book for young readers. Each chapter is a different continent and the format for each continent chapter contains the countries, the land, the weather, the people, the animals, the sights, and then a Let’s Go! piece that suggests activities with instructions. Use the Map Keys and Legends to show young readers how to read a map. The Fact boxes and sidebars offer additional information in colorful ways. Parent Tips at the end of the book suggest further search strategies that stretch across music, math, arts and crafts, geography/landforms, exercise, creative thinking, and technology. Loaded with easy-to-read maps and sidebar facts, in addition to captioned photographs, this is a book that teachers, parents, and children can pore over for hours of exploring the world.

Tree of Wonder: The Many Marvelous Lives of a Rainforest Tree. Kate Messner. Illustrated by Simona Mulazzani. 2015. Chronicle.

During a trip to Costa Rica, author Kate Messner discovered the Almendro tree. As the idea for this book grew, so did many aspects of the rainforest. Using an interdisciplinary approach to introduce this tree, she combines math and science and life cycles to the concepts represented and the sense of wonder she discovered. Using the right column to convey the multiples of lives involved, the math begins: 1 almendro tree, 2 great green macaws, 4 keel-billed toucans, 8 howler monkeys, 16 fruit bats, 32 fer-de-lance vipers, 64 agoutis, 128 blue morpho butterflies, 256 poison dart frogs, 512 rusty wandering spiders, and 1,024 leaf-cutter ants. From page 1, “More than a thousand different living things depend on this tree.” The lush acrylic illustrations add to the verdant life that is found in the rainforest. Listen to a podcast with the author about how she came to write this book.

Ages 9–11

Brain Games: The Mind-Blowing Science of Your Amazing Brain. Jennifer Swanson. 2015. National Geographic for Kids.

This book is the companion to the National Geographic Channel TV show, Brain Games. Divided into five chapters and illustrated with interesting photographs and infographics, author Jennifer Swanson presents brain challenges on many levels. The chapters include Cruising Along the Cerebral Superhighway, Down Memory Lane, Emotion Expressway, Decision Drive, and Action Avenue. Each chapter discusses different functions of the brain as it relates to the different areas within the brain. Activities are then placed on the pages that activate those brain parts discussed in each chapter. This is a fun book for young and old. Visit the TV show companion website for additional interactive brain games fun.

The 50 States. Gabrielle Balkan. Illustrated by Sol Linero. 2015. Wide Eyed Editions, Aurum.

Tween readers will enjoy browsing this oversized and colorful atlas of the United States. Organized alphabetically, the pages are artistically presented in pinks, blues, greens, and gold. Small portraits highlight important people from the state who represent cultural, ethnic and gender groups of all types. Each state that has a Newbery or Caldecott winner is featured. Fun facts as well as historical events are featured on each double-page spread. A Welcome box introduces each state and Moments to Remember and Key Facts are included in sidebar panels. Though not overloaded with facts, each state is respectfully represented and will offer hours of browsing pleasure. Colored tabs along the right side make for easy chapter movement.

Infographics: Space. Jennifer Daniel. 2015. Big Picture/Candlewick.

The beauty of this book is the infographic style of presenting information about space. With the use of neon-bright colors, the infographics direct the readers’ eye to a kind of linked thinking to explain the scientific concepts about the universe. The bright colors draw readers to the explanations and are often used to develop a comparative look at the concepts. The pages illustrating a Black Hole, the Big Bang theory, and the sun are especially vibrant. Chapters represented include The Universe, Galaxies and Stars, The Solar System, and Exploring Space. Written and designed for the early readers of space and the universe, information is given in small factoids that are presented visually in these infographic pictograms.

This Side of Wild: Mutts, Mares, and Laughing Dinosaurs. Gary Paulsen. 2015. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Nominated for the 2015 National Book Award, This Side of Wild brings a return of Gary Paulsen’s stories of dogs, animals, and adventures in the wild back to middle-grade readers. As readers of Paulsen’s earlier works, children know his love and respect for animals. He has witnessed amazing acts of bravery and intuition from his many experiences with animals of all kinds: dogs, horses, birds, and more. Check out the cover for the “warning” poodle and grizzly bears! Paulsen writes about how these various animals all have contributed to making him a better person—from his horse in Wyoming that allowed not only Paulsen to ride the horse but also his border collie, Josh, to Betty, the mynah bird that could mimic the voice of President Kennedy so that one would think he was in the same room. Pen-and-ink illustrations add to the charm of this animal memoir. This book is for animal lovers of all ages.

Ages 12–14

Breakthrough! How Three People Saved “Blue Babies” and Changed Medicine Forever. Jim Murphy. Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Award-winning author Jim Murphy returns to the nonfiction arena of medicine and science as he tells of the breakthrough in the surgical procedure to save infants from a congenital heart defect known as “blue baby syndrome” (medically referred to as Tetralogy of Fallot). Murphy tells the story of surgeon Dr. Alfred Blalock and pediatrician Dr. Helen Taussig as they perform this procedure for the first time in 1944. However, a portion of this credit goes to African American lab technician/research assistant, Vivien Thomas, seated right behind Blalock during the surgery, who was responsible for painstakingly creating this precise surgical procedure. The groundbreaking work of these three medical colleagues and their relationship with each other is the focus of the book. Thomas was often mistaken as a janitor in the building and worked without a college degree but spent hours researching and developing procedures. At a time when women and ethnic minorities were not given much notice let alone credibility, the outstanding contribution to open heart surgery researched and performed by this trio was truly groundbreaking in science and medicine.

Capital Days: Michael Shiner’s Journal and the Growth of our Nation’s Capital. Tonya Bolden. 2015. Abrams.

Written as a memoir that includes pages from Michael Shiner’s diary, this historical look at the growth and development of the city of Washington, DC is told through journal entries, archival photos, timelines, maps, newspaper clippings, and other primary source materials. Shiner’s journal reflects the burning of the White House during the War of 1812, the building of the Washington Monument, and other aspects of the ever-expanding nation’s capital. Bolden has created a timeline of the growth of this city but has also captured the atmosphere of what life was like for the enslaved Michael Shiner as he witnessed the growing importance and evolution of Washington, DC. The inclusion of a wide variety of historical documents will provide readers with a feel for how historical information is preserved and its importance in re-creating an accurate picture of many aspects of lives during this period when Michael Shiner lived, roughly 1804–1869 (though author Tonya Bolden has provided the history of the city before and after the life of Michael Shiner).

Watch Out for Flying Kids! How Two Circuses, Two Countries and Nine Kids Confront Conflict and Build Community. Cynthia Levinson. 2015. Peachtree.

Author Cynthia Levinson has introduced to the world the youth “social circus” for middle-grade readers. Featuring the youth circuses of the Circus Harmony of St. Louis and the Galilee Circus in Israel, she presents these kids from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds coming together to perform their acrobatics and contortions and flying trapeze acts under the big top or rather, the backdrop of politics and friendship. Levinson followed nine youth performers, two circus directors, and the coaches to bring the story to her readers. She interviewed all the people involved, and the information is told through quotes, sidebars, photographs, and her narration of these social circuses. Overcoming racial and political discrimination and conflict, the social circus idea brings youth together working toward overcoming the ideologies that keep them apart. Levinson has included even more information at the back of the book, introducing readers to some of the performers, adding a closer look, and providing further notes about the project. For a closer look at Global Citizenship and the Social Circus movement, visit its website.

Ages 15+

The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire: The World of Dan and Phil. Dan Howell and Phil Lester. 2015. Random House. 

This very unusual book is a biography, a memoir, or maybe best described as an explosion of visual information about YouTube stars Dan Howell and Phil Lester. Photos, charts, diaries, posters, letters, e-mails, collage, hand-written (illegible?) notes, YouTube screenshots, video screenshots, chat logs, interviews, text messages, album covers, lists, manga, doodles, cartoons, Emoji interviews, and more
illustrate the lives of these two young men and their path to popularity in creating five different YouTube programs. Starting their journey as teenagers, Dan and Phil created an online world that thousands of kids around the world tapped into and became huge fans of the hilarious antics of Phil and Dan. Learn about the behind-the-scenes journey that led to Internet fame for Dan and Phil. Check out the video “Making of ‘The Amazing Book Is Not on Fire'”.

Urban Tribes: Native Americans in the City. Edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale. 2015. Annick.

This visually beautiful book presents poetry, stories, essays, and art about young Native Americans living in urban areas today in Canada and the United States. Illustrated with photographs and artistic renderings, the voices of these young people express both frustration and hope. Living in urban areas, they continue to battle the stereotype of living on a reservation in a teepee. Many of these young people walk the line of several cultures in wanting to maintain the links to their heritage. Representing the various aspects of their tribes and cultures, these young authors, artists, actors, and students express their thoughts and dreams in this anthology describing life for Native people living in urban areas today.

Professional Reading

Reading Nonfiction: Notice & Note, Stances, Signposts, and Strategies. Kylene Beers and Robert E. Probst. 2015. Heinemann.

From the authors: "When students recognize that nonfiction ought to challenge us, ought to slow us down and make us think, then they're more likely to become close readers." Following the success of Notice & Note: Strategies for Close Reading (2012), authors Kylene Beers and Robert Probst have written a teacher-friendly, classroom-tested book on reading nonfiction. Part One discusses “Issues to Consider”: defining nonfiction, research findings, complexity and readability, and more. Part Two stresses “The Importance of Stance”: What did the reader discover? Part Three explores “The Power of Signposts” that includes contrasts and contradictions, numbers and stats, extreme or absolute language, and more. The book continues with Part Four and strategies. The appendices are full of excerpts for teachers to use, in addition to surveys and booklists with online additional resources. Listen to the authors discuss their work in writing this nonfiction book for educators. Additional teacher resources can be found at the publisher’s website.

Karen Hildebrand is a retired library media specialist and library director for Delaware City Schools in Delaware, OH. She is currently an adjunct professor at Ashland University in Ohio, a reading consultant, and a Holocaust Fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. She also chairs the Education Curriculum Committee for the Delaware County Historical Society.

The review contributions are provided by members of the International Literacy Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.

Good literature does so many things! It affords the enjoyment of escaping our world and entering the character’s world. It engages us with a fictional character to the extent that we laugh and cry with and for that character. Good literature offers guidance and comfort as we realize we are not alone in our struggles but are a part of a great continuum of human experience. It might compel us to take action for a social, political, or environmental cause. It makes us think about our experience or beyond our experience with new insight. The books reviewed in this column definitely encourage us to linger with them and think about the meanings we take from them. 

Ages 4–8

Boats for Papa. Jessixa Bagley. 2015. Roaring Brook.

Buckley and his mama are a beaver family of two who live together in a little cabin near the ocean. Buckley loves the beach, and he collects driftwood to carve boats with painstaking care. He makes all kinds of boats, and each one is more beautiful than the last. When he finishes a boat, Buckley sends it out to sea with a note that reads: “For Papa, Love Buckley.” If the boat doesn’t come back, it’s his proof that it found its way to his missing Papa. On his birthday, Buckley makes the most beautiful boat of all, but he realizes that he forgot to write a note to his papa. Searching for paper, he discovers Mama’s secret: She has been collecting his boats all along. The final page of the book allows readers to discover, along with Mama, the note that Buckley wrote for his special boat: “For Mama, Love Buckley.” The endpapers extend the story further: Mama and Buckley are displaying his boat collection on shelves hung on the cabin walls. Bagley’s gentle story of loss and a mother’s love offers a tender invitation to readers to think about how Mama ended up with all of Buckley’s boats and why he decided to address the last note to his mama. The pen-and-watercolor artwork is awash in blue and brown tones, giving readers the feel of being at the ocean with Buckley and Mama.

–LDP

I (Don't) Like Snakes. 2015. Nicola Davies. Ill. by Luciano Lozano. Candlewick.

The young girl in this hybrid text, which blends fiction with information, lives with a family who loves snakes. This is challenging for her because she “really, really, REALLY” doesn’t! For each reason she offers for her dislike, a family member shares a fascinating fact explaining why snakes behave as they do. Each new explanation about snakes and their captivating characteristics persuades the girl a little bit more. At the end of the book, her family finally succeeds in converting her: She “really, really, REEEEEALLLLY” likes snakes! Two fonts signal to readers whether fiction or facts are being presented. The back matter includes a note about snakes, a bibliography, and an index. Luciano Lozano’s colorful mixed-media illustrations bring the fictional story and the informational details to life. This book would make a clever mentor text for classroom animal reports, encouraging readers and writers to think deeply about the creative ways to present both narratives and information. Nicola Davies is a highly versatile author. She has a lift-the-flap (Uncover & Discover) informational series for very young readers, many informational picture books for young readers (such as Just Ducks!), an informational book for older readers (Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes) a fiction picture book for older readers (The Promise), an illustrated novel for older readers (The Lion Who Stole My Arm), and a collection of nature poetry (Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature).

–LDP

Sonya’s Chickens. Phoebe Wahl. 2015. Penguin Random House.

Sonya is given the task of raising three baby chicks on her family’s farm. She takes her duties as their mama seriously. Under her watchful care, they soon grow to be hens. But one day a fox takes one of her beloved friends. Sonya is devastated until her father gently explains that the fox needed to feed his kits, just as she once fed her young chicks. Readers, along with Sonya, are asked to consider the needs of all creatures, not just those under our personal care. This consideration helps Sonya make peace with her loss. The book ends on a hopeful note when Sonya discovers a new egg hatching in the henhouse. Wahl handles the truth of loss gently and realistically. Her full-spread watercolor, collage, and colored pencil illustrations bring Sonya’s story to life, saturating the pages in color and emotion.

–LDP

This Is Sadie. 2015. Sara O’Leary. Ill. Julie Morstad. Tundra.

Sadie has an exceedingly well-developed imagination, which she uses to turn a box into a boat and a cushion into a castle. She has grand adventures traveling to fairy-tale worlds with her friends from her favorite books. Readers are invited to discover the magic of stories because, just like Sadie, they “can make them from nothing at all.” Albert Einstein once said: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” I believe Sadie would wholeheartedly agree. The book ends with the message: “This is Sadie. And this is her story.” The ending would make a wonderful beginning for readers turned writers: “This is ___________. And this is my story.” A clever connection can be found on the back flap, where readers will discover that the author’s bio begins with “This is Sara,” and the illustrator’s bio begins similarly with “This is Julie.” Julie Morstad’s fanciful illustrations, rendered in gouache, watercolor, and pencil crayon give life to Sadie’s rich imaginings. Fans of Morstad’s art will want to read her book How To, which would pair beautifully with Sadie’s story.

–LDP

Waiting. Kevin Henkes. 2015. Greenwillow.

Kevin Henkes, the winner of a Caldecott Medal for Kitten’s First Full Moon, as well as a Caldecott Honor and two Newbery Honors, has gifted readers with a gentle story about the concept of waiting. Five figurines sit on a windowsill looking out the window. Each little toy (a pig, a bear, a puppy, a rabbit, and an owl) waits for something different: the unique experience that makes it happy. The seasons pass, bringing the toys many wonderful sights. A surprise visitor makes an appearance, one who “didn’t seem to be waiting for anything in particular…” until readers learn that the visitor is a nesting doll, bringing the total toy family count to 10! Nestled within the big idea of waiting are small moments reflecting joy, surprise, and sadness. In Waiting, just as in his other books, Henkes never talks down to his child readers. He respects their ability to contemplate big ideas and eloquently captures the tension between waiting, wishing, and acceptance. Childhood is steeped in waiting, and many children (like many adults) have a hard time waiting for what they want. Henkes invites readers to thoughtfully explore the philosophy of waiting in a way that is relevant to their world, through the familiar lens of toys. The illustrations, rendered in muted shades using ink, watercolor, and pencil, evoke an old-fashioned feeling, one that reflects the timelessness of waiting.

–LDP

The Whisper. Pamela Zagarenski. 2015. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers.

What happens to a story when the words float away and all that remains are the illustrations to tell the story? A little girl who loves stories borrows a magical book from her teacher. On her way home, the letters and words escape from the pages of the book and become caught up in a net of a nearby fox. The girl is filled with disappointment when she discovers the missing words, but a whisper of encouragement soon persuades her to weave her own stories for the wordless illustrations. She discovers the magic of storytelling, using her imagination to create her own unique stories. On her way back to school, the fox strikes a bargain with the girl and the words of the book are restored. Readers may join the girl in thinking deeply about the pictures, creating their own stories alongside the girl’s. The gorgeous mixed-media paintings in this fable celebrate the joy of reading and the power of imagination. Zagarenski is the winner of two Caldecott Honors for her illustrations in Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors, written by Joyce Sidman, and Sleep Like a Tiger, written by Mary Logue. The Whisper, Zagarenski’s first venture into writing, is reminiscent of Chris Van Allsburg’s The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.

–LDP

Ages 9–11

Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War. Jessica Dee Humphreys & Michel Chikwanine. 2015. Ill. Claudia Dávila. Kids Can Press.

In 1993, 5-year-old Michael Chikwanine was playing with friends after school when he was abducted by a group of rebel soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This graphic novel chronicles his life before his abduction, his terrifying experience as a child soldier, and his life after escaping the rebel soldiers and eventually immigrating to Canada. Integral to Michel’s story is that of his father, who was a human rights lawyer. Dávila’s muted palette and occasional bright accents complement the text that conveys the horrors and atrocities child soldiers witness and commit in a straightforward way through Michel’s first-person perspective. Back matter includes information about child soldiers, what is being done on a global, national, and ground level to try to stop the practice, and specific things child readers might do as activists. Young readers will linger over the graphic panels and will be left thinking about the plight of child soldiers, the difficulty of moving beyond trauma, and the importance of standing up for causes in which one believes.

–LTP

Ages 12–14

Mechanica. Betsy Cornwell. 2015. Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

For centuries, readers and authors have been drawn to Cinderella tales, with their orphaned protagonist, wicked stepmother, unkind stepsisters, and handsome prince. Mechanica is a steampunk offering sure to please. On her 16th birthday, Nicolette discovers her dead mother’s hidden workshop and begins to create helpful, and perhaps magical, contraptions. She hopes to be recognized as an inventor and to find a sponsor at the king’s Cultural Exposition Gala. Mechanica (Nicolette) dreams of escaping her life of drudgery and creating a life of security and purpose; she does not dream of marrying the prince. This Cinderella needs no fairy godmother, but two friends support her in her quest. Cornwell eschews the traditional romance trope, focusing instead on a protagonist who charts her own destiny. Recommend this title to fans of Cinder (Meyer, 2011). Mechanica makes us think about created families versus families of origin, the many different guises of love, the importance of possibility, and the dangers of us–them binaries.

–LTP

Orbiting Jupiter. Gary D. Schmidt. 2015. Clarion.

When Joseph joins Jake’s family as a foster son, Jake knows three things about him: he tried to kill a teacher, he spent time in a juvenile detention center, and he has a daughter. In crisp prose and with his signature use of personification, Gary D. Schmidt takes readers into the hearts and heartaches of these two young boys. They become more than foster brothers as Jake helps Joseph find his daughter Jupiter. Not since The First Part Last (Johnson, 2003) has an author so poignantly captured the love between a young father and his daughter. Although some adults stereotype Joseph, the majority is refreshingly supportive and fosters his significant potential. Schmidt deftly guides readers through devastation to hope. Orbiting Jupiter leaves readers thinking about the harmful and limiting nature of stereotypes, the inescapable, destructive families into which some children are born, the power of brotherhood, and the transcendence of love.

–LTP

Ages 15+

Kissing in America. Margo Rabb. 2015. Harper/HarperCollins.

In the two years since her father died in a plane crash, Eva has read 118 romance novels (she’s counting). She falls in love after kissing the mysterious Will and begins to see a way through her grief. When Will moves from New York City to Los Angeles, Eva concocts a plan to travel across the United States with her best friend to see him. The bus trip is eventful, echoing the romance novels Eva loves. She is surrounded by well-drawn, complex characters who love her, but she is so “griefy” that she cannot recognize their griefs. Poems by Elizabeth Bishop, Emily Dickinson, Adrienne Rich, Nikki Giovanni, Marie Howe, and others begin each section of the novel, beautifully reflecting Eva’s emotional needs. Rabb masterfully lightens the novel with Eva’s snarky, witty humor. Readers are left to think about the nature of heartache, how all-consuming grief need not consume us, how adults sometimes make terrible mistakes with good intentions, the importance of women defining and living fulfilling lives, living with questions rather than expecting answers, and the many manifestations of mothers and mothering.

–LTP

The Walls Around Us. Nova Ren Suma. 2015. Algonquin Young Readers.

Violet is a rising, Julliard-bound ballerina. Orianna, her lifelong friend, is convicted of the brutal murders of two other ballerinas and sent to Aurora Hills Secure Juvenile Detention Center. There, her life intertwines with Amber, who was found guilty of orchestrating her stepfather’s death. Told in Violet’s and Amber’s voices, secrets and truths weave in and out of the intersections of the girls’ stories in this ghostly tale of the supernatural. Simultaneously macabre and heartbreakingly beautiful, this novel leaves readers pondering the unequal treatment the rich and the poor receive in the criminal justice system, the gossamer veil that separates the living and the dead, the relativity of guilt and innocence, the power of the lies we tell ourselves, and what it means to pay for one’s crimes. The distinct voices, focused prose, and masterfully crafted final twist are reminiscent of We Were Liars (Lockhart, 2014).

–LTP

Linda T. Parsons is an associate professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning on the Marion Campus of The Ohio State University, where she specializes in middle childhood literacy and young adult literature. Lisa D. Patrick is a literacy coach trainer at The Ohio State University’s Literacy Collaborative, where she specializes in children’s literature and early literacy.

The review contributions are provided by members of the International Literacy Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.