Minn and Jake's Almost Terrible Summer by Janet S. Wong, Illustrated by Genevieve Cote

Synopsis: The second in the Minn and Jake series, this free-verse novel follows the friends into summer - a summer apart! Jake is visiting old friends and family in California, while Minn is all the way across the country! How are they supposed to be best friends when they can’t chase lizards together? Luckily, before things get too bad, Jake finds out Minn is coming to visit and everything seems great, until they go to Disneyworld and the happiest place on earth suddenly isn't...

Intended Audience: Boys and girls grades 3-5, likely those who have read the original Minn and Jake.

But it might also appeal to: Younger students as a read-aloud, or middle schoolers trying to forge friendships across that ever-frightening gender boundary.

Strengths: The style of the book - in verse - makes it accessible to newer readers and the images add a great deal of fun to the story. The message that friendship sometimes requires apologies is an important one for upper elementary and middle school students has they begin to have relationships outside of their families.

Weaknesses: Given that the novel is written in free verse, the author makes different style choices that readers of prose novels might not be used to: for example using italics instead of quotation marks to show who is speaking.

Special considerations: This is a companion to Minn and Jake. Not knowing the history of the friends made starting this one a big challenging, so it might be best to read this after the original!

Verdict: If the media center already has Minn and Jake, this would be an excellent addition as well -- its positive message about friendship, especially those between boys and girls, is valuable to kids of all ages! Wong’s unique style of free verse would also add to the diversity of any collection.

Waiting by Kevin Henkes

Synopsis: Five animal toys sit on a windowsill, each of them waiting for something to occur. The book follows their life through the seasons and a variety of emotions.

Intended Audience: Beginning readers, K-1

But it might also appeal to: Younger children as a guided reading or read-aloud text as beautiful illustrations tell the majority of the story and invite imaginative thinking.

Strengths: Vivid illustrations of the animals and their window watching, but also their emotions as they watch what happens outside. Very minimal text leaves a lot of room for children to invite their imaginations into the reading. The characters’ interactions with each other and their “visitors” model how important it is to be welcoming and share what you have.

Weaknesses: The book seems to end right when the excitement begins, but perhaps that is a lesson about waiting...?

Special considerations: One of the “visitors” to the windowsill, a ceramic elephant, “stayed for a while, then he left and never returned.” This, next to the broken ceramic pieces of the elephant, sadly looked upon by two of the toys, could serve as a helpful segue when talking to children about something as small as a broken toy or as large as a lost loved one.

Verdict: Waiting would be a great fit for a media center serving students pre-k through first or second grade. Its simplicity and lovely visuals make it a delightful choice for a new reader or an adult reading to children.

Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall

Synopsis: Spoiler alert! “Red” is a blue crayon with a red label. Everyone expects him to be great at drawing things like hearts and strawberries, but he keeps failing until a new friend asks him to do the unexpected....

Intended Audience: Pre K - grade 2

But it might also appeal to: Younger kids might enjoy as a read aloud, could be a good book for discussing identity and expectations with middle grade or YA readers.

Strengths: Sends a positive message about being true to yourself, colorful illustrations that look quite similar to typical crayon drawings and could be and exciting familiar feature for young readers. Demonstrates a healthy range of emotions for children (and crayons!).

Weaknesses: The text is quite small to leave room for the illustrations, but might be intimidating for new readers.

Special considerations: Although the basic message is about identity in general, this book could be used as a tool for teaching children about gender identity.

Verdict: Red tells a great story about getting to know yourself, a message that everyone can benefit from and should be available to be “red” by all audiences pre-k to adult.

The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents: Macbeth by Ian Lendler

Synopsis: As the title implies, this graphic novel is indeed a rendition of Macbeth, as performed by animals. Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies about a power hungry man in Denmark who wants to be king and will do almost anything to get the job. This version is no different, except for in place of brutal Shakespearean murder, there is the circle of life (animals eating other animals)...

Intended Audience: Grades 2-5, those interested in graphic novels, animals, and learning about Shakespeare

But it might also appeal to: Middle school students who might better be equipped for the animals eating animals bloody parts, adults and teens who are familiar with the original might enjoy this goofy spoof on Shakespeare’s classic.

Strengths: The illustrations are stunning and the writing makes Shakespeare’s story much easier to understand. For those who understand it, the parody is quite funny as well.

Weaknesses: It is hard to know what this book would be like for someone who hasn’t read (or taught!) Macbeth. Not sure that the story would be as entertaining for those without prior knowledge of the original.

Special considerations: Based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth, some references might be lost on a younger audience, some bloody scenes where animals eat other animals, could be used as a companion text to the original in a high school classroom.

Verdict: The Stratford Zoo’s version of Macbeth would add a new element to any elementary media center: a book about Shakespeare! Given the level of most Shakespearean plays, most students don’t interact with them until high school--or perhaps late middle--but this book allows for an easier access point and introduction to the author. It would also be a great addition to a high school media center where it might be accessed alongside the classic play.

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christina Baldacchino, Illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant

Synopsis: Morris Micklewhite loves to play dress-up, especially if it means he can wear the tangerine dress in his classroom’s dress up chest. Unfortunately, the other kids don’t think it is okay for a boy to wear a dress, so his classmates pick on him. One day he decides to stay home because he is feeling bad about himself, but learns something very important about the tangerine dress...and himself.

Intended Audience: Pre-k to grade 2

But it might also appeal to: Upper elementary students, even middle school students when talking about identity and having courage to be different from your peers

Weaknesses: Although the book encourages Morris’ choice to wear the dress and be different, the fact that he was essentially being bullied by his classmates is never explicitly brought up and the fact that the positive message comes when he skips school for a day might be a bit confusing for kids.

Strengths: The illustrations are stunning and the story sends a positive message about being unique and also a more subtle message about how sometimes gender norms restrict kids’ ability to express themselves.

Special considerations: Although subtle, the message about gender norms could provide for an interesting parent-child or teacher-child conversation about how toys and clothes are chosen for kids of different genders.

Verdict: Any book that promotes creativity and imaginative play in the same way as Morris Micklewhite absolutely deserves a place on the shelf of a media center for kids of all ages. I would even argue a high school media center could benefit from its presence.

The Year of Billy Miller

Synopsis: The Year of Billy Miller follows Billy through his second grade year filled with an annoying (and sometimes cute) little sister, a teacher he's convinced doesn't like him, and the know-it-all girl in his class he can't seem to avoid. At first, it seems to Billy that it's going to be rough year, but then he gets his teacher to smile and he comes up with a plan...

Intended Audience: Children in grades 3-6, interested in books about school, family and friends

But it might also appeal to: Younger children doing a read aloud in class or with an adult, adults working with elementary age students, second graders - it is about second grade!

Strengths: Very realistic representations of classroom and family dynamics, Billy is a likable character who learns a lot of important lessons about being confident and learning to interact with others.

Weaknesses: The description of the book alludes to the bump on his head (he gets while visiting the Jolly Green Giant statue on summer break) playing a bigger role in the story than it actually does, which is a bit misleading. I thought the story might deal with a memory loss or injury, when really that played a small part.

Special considerations: Kevin Henkes has written MANY books for children of all ages, but this is the first Billy Miller text. The book takes place in Wisconsin with geographical references that might be of interest to midwesterners!

Verdict: This novel would make an excellent addition to the shelves of any media center up to middle grades. It is well written, entertaining and has a great message about family for readers of all kinds.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Synopsis:  The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a mysterious graphic novel about a young boy living in a Paris train station. He is an orphan and steals from local vendors to survive, but he is working on a project--a secret project--that no one can find, so he must be careful, but then someone catches him stealing…

Intended audience: Children ages 9-12, readers who like graphic novels, mysteries

But it might also appeal to: Adults, children younger than nine reading it with an adult, or teenagers interested in graphic novels, mysteries, mechanical toys, Paris or history.

Strengths: The book is almost exactly 1/2 illustrations and 1/2 text, which allows for a stronger reader to have a more visual experience, while a reader who appreciates comics and graphic novels will have an immediate "in." The mystery keeps the audience's attention to the very end.

Weaknesses: While the artwork is stunning, it is limited to black and white which was slightly disappointing. The language of the text, while mostly simple, does include a bit of challenging lingo related to the keeping of clocks and other mechanical contraptions. In this case, an adult reader who could "translate" might be helpful to a younger reader.

Special considerations: This is a physically LARGE book, which could be intimidating to a reader who has traditionally read shorter chapter books, however the actual text takes up very little space on the page and reads quickly when partnered with vivid images. There is also a film, which could be used for a comparison/contrast activity. There is also quite a bit of historical context in the novel that could serve extension opportunities for students.

Verdict: This magical novel would be an excellent addition to a elementary, middle or high school library has it has the potential to reach a wide variety of readers interested in art, poetic writing, mystery and interesting characters.

Lucy Long Ago by Catherine Thimmesh

Grades 4 and up--

Lucy Long Ago tells the story of one of the biggest scientific discoveries of the 20th century: the uncovering of “Lucy”: the “oldest, most complete fossil skeleton ever found.” The book begins with the discovery of the bones in 1974 and traces the scientific research that followed. It is an intriguing combination of science and imagination written in an engaging narrative style.

Intended audience: Elementary or middle school students interested in evolution, science, anthropology or just generally curious about the world we live in.

Audience to whom it may appeal: This book has the potential to engage young and old audience alike with it’s clear explanations, vivid graphics and images and accessible story structure.

Strengths: Though the book is nonfiction, it is written in a narrative style so it has the potential to appeal to a variety of readers as informative as well as entertaining. The pictures and graphics are well done and help the reader to better understand the scientific research that went into Lucy’s discovery and subsequent theories about the history of humanity.

Weaknesses: Some of the science jargon could be a bit off-putting to lower level readers or those with minimal science education. In a way, it might be considered a challenge to creationism, which might bring about requests for removal in certain districts.

Special considerations: This book very much describes science consistent with Darwin (and others’) theory of evolution and could potentially face challenges from parents who prefer their children to focus on their religious teachings of creationism.

VERDICT: I think Lucy Long Ago would make an excellent addition to any elementary, middle or even high school library. Its unique content, vivid graphics and images and narrative style make it a great book for kids of all ages.

The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind by Meg Medina

Grades 5 and up--

Rooted in folklore with hints of mystery, magical realism and young love, The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind by Meg Medina tells the story of a small town that believes that one of their own has the power to change their futures, but for her, the pressure has become too much and she has to make a decision to

Intended audience:

According to Medina’s site, she aimed to write a telenovela style story for kids of all ages. I would say more specifically upper elementary students, boys and girls, Spanish speakers.

Audience to whom it may appeal: I think that the novel may appeal to kids and adults alike, those who are interested in a coming of age tale with a few twists and turns. It may also appeal to those interested in learning about magical realism and perhaps those interested in studying the Spanish language.

Strengths: The time and place of the tale is obscure enough that it could be anywhere at anytime which lends it to a unique experience for each and every reader. Its timeless themes of  family, perseverance and love make for a relatable read for all types of readers.

Weaknesses:  While the obscurity of the setting may be enjoyable for readers with strong imaginative skills, some might find the lack of descriptive language hard to picture and follow. There is a sprinkling of Spanish phrases throughout the novel that might discourage readers with no prior knowledge of the language or cultural practices.

VERDICT: An allegory for finding the balance between family and following your heart, this novel would be an excellent addition to an elementary or middle school library for students seeking a story with soul.

Tangled Threads by Pegi Deitz Shea

Shea, Pegi Deitz. Tangled Threads. Newark: Houghton Mifflin, 2003.

Tangled Threads is the story of 13-year-old Mai and her experiences from the refugee camps in Thailand through her immigration to the United States. Written in the first person, the story sheds light on the harsh conditions of refugee camps for Hmong and gives a detailed account of the processes necessary for immigration to the U.S. The descriptions Mai gives of her first encounters with transportation, technology and American culture give the reader insight into the potential experience of an immigrant to the United States. The novel focuses on issues of immigration, culture, religion, race, socioeconomic status, belonging, family and survival.

I really enjoyed reading Tangled Threads. Although I didn't find the writing to be particularly excellent, I felt the issues discussed were valuable to a young adult audience. I also appreciated the opportunity to delve deeper into the Hmong culture, of which I have very little prior experience. Given the high population of Hmong people in Minnesota, I think this would be a great text to use with middle school students in the context of cultural competency and coming of age tales.

Skellig by David Almond

Even after turning the last page of the book two days ago, I am still trying to figure out what or who Skellig might be and I don’t really know how I feel about that—do I want a more involved explanation or am I satisfied with opened-ended ambiguity? Skellig was unlike any fantasy book I have ever experienced. To be honest, had it not been labeled fantasy, I think I would have enjoyed it more. I was expecting more fantastic elements than the book lent itself to, and this was disappointing. However, I enjoyed the mythical elements of the text and found myself in a state of wonder for a good majority of my reading. My favorite mythical element of the text was Michael’s ability to feel his baby sister’s heartbeat alongside his. This is such an important part of the book, because it demonstrates not only a kinship relationship between them, but a spiritual element as well. This is an aspect of the story that could not exist in a contemporary realistic fiction novel. Watching the simultaneous life-death teetering of both Skellig and the baby kept the novel in motion and tugged the reader’s heartstrings. Although I did not find myself particularly drawn to the character of Skellig—I found him to be quite whiny and less than charming—I found that I cared about him more because I felt that his existence was the only way that Michael’s sister could be saved, and that was the part of the story that I cared about.
At some points throughout the text, I felt as though the author might be attempting to reference to God or a religious figure and leave the interpretation up to his readers. This made for a very interesting interpretation. What is the author trying to say about God or angels? Are we intended to take a religious view of Skellig? How does this add or take away from the text?
Other fantasy texts I have read have been placed in entirely fictitious lands with entirely mythical and impossible creatures (i.e. Harry Potter and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe). This is what I was expecting with Skellig and because of my expectation, I was disappointed. Had I gone into the text completely open, I think I may have taken away more from it.
Stepping back from the genre label of this text, I believe it has many positive aspects. First of all, the family dynamics in the story are incredibly heartwarming. What father-son duo is as close as Michael and his father? What boy is so in-tune with his emotions that he can feel his dying baby sister’s heartbeat alongside his own? At one point, when his sister’s heart stops for a moment, he feels it: “My heart’s stopped. Feel my heart. There’s nothing there” (149). I also appreciated the characterization of Mina and her mother. Mina is just as magical as Skellig (and ten times more charming), but she will not go away when the baby’s health is restored. Mina also teaches Michael the important lesson of not letting school get in the way of one’s education. He learns and remembers more during their explorations than a year of school possibly could. (An important thing to remember as an educator!) The mother-daughter relationship of Mina and her mother mirrors Michael and his father, and their welcoming home is one of the only ways Michael can survive the stress of his sister’s illness. The relationship between Michael and Mina is also particularly interesting because Mina allows for Michael to have these spiritual, magical experiences while Michael attempts to remain grounded in reality. After Skellig lifts them off of their feet and shows them their wings, Michael goes to the window. “‘What are you doing?’ she whispered. ‘Making sure the world’s still really there.’ I said’” (95). For him, the fantasy world is an element of his reality and he wants to have both. In the end it appears as though Skellig has served to bring Michael together with both Mina and his sister, and once he is gone, he has Mina and his baby sister to remind him of the fantastical elements—or extraordinary, as Mina would say—of everyday life.

Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman

This book is quite aptly named. What a wonderful use of onomatopoeia to create the sounds of the insects about which the poems are written! This book is written not just in two parts but for two people to read aloud. And read aloud I did. Fleischman does an excellent job of using rhyme schemes, imagery, metaphor, and spoken round (like "Row, Row, Row Your Boat...") to paint a beautiful scene for the reader. To be honest I've never really thought about bugs much, but I felt like I was back in the world of White’s Charlotte's Web where insects and animals can communicate and it was pretty great.

The use of metaphor and lyrical alliteration in the poems give the reader an appreciation and respect for the poet’s diction and the poems’ aesthetic appeal. For example in “Fireflies,” Fleischman writes, “Light/is the ink we use/Night/is our parchment…Insect calligraphers/practicing penmanship/six-legged scribblers” (11-13). Each of the poems is written from the perspective of a different insect or insects and it is a great exercise in switching perspectives. Fleischman's poems are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they also focus on common literary themes like growth, death and rebirth. And he is funny! One poem is a moth's serenade to a porch light and anyone who has enjoyed a sweltering summer night can relate to this and laugh: “Porch/light,/hear my plight!/I drink your light/like nectar/Dream of you/by day/Gaze in your eyes/all night/Porch light!” The moth’s language and feelings towards the light are comically reminiscent of the forbidden love of Romeo and Juliet: “ ‘Keep back,’ they say/I cant!/‘Don’t touch,’ they say/I must!” (19).

I also appreciated the poem about bees from the point of view of the worker and the queen at the same time-what an eye opener. (Part A is underlined, Part B is italicized, joint parts are left plain) For example: “Being a bee/is a joy/is a pain./ I’m a queen/I’m a worker…I’m bathed/then I take out/the hive’s morning trash/then I’m groomed” (30).

I would love to write a poem that describes a school day from my point of view and the point of view of my students and see what it looks like—or even my perspective as a student and a professor’s as a teacher. Book and insect lovers alike will appreciate "Book Lice," that follows a pair of wedded lice living and chewing their way through great works of literature by famous literary figures such as Conan Doyle, Keats, Horace, and Shakespeare.

I also really enjoyed Eric Beddows’ illustrations. They add a great deal to the text of the poems-he is an extremely talented artist. They really help to give Fleischman’s characters even more personality. As I was reading, I kept thinking that the poems sounded like song lyrics of some kind, and I actually discovered that some of them have been made into songs! This is a great interpretation of Moth's Serendade

--> set to music and performed by Shirley Hoffman Warren. What a great example of the many ways one can interpret poetry. After stumbling upon these songs, I looked into other work Fleischman has done, and I was really impressed! There are a number of his works that have been adapted for the stage and re-written as song lyrics. Visit Paul's Website for more information! I would recommend this book in pieces, these poems are meant to be savored one by one and definitely read it aloud! Happy reading!