Merci Suárez Changes Gears (Candlewick Press, 2018) by Meg Medina is the 2019 Newbery Winner (in case you missed the news). Here’s a video of what it was like for Meg getting “the call.”
Sixth grade isn’t easy for any kid, but Merci Suárez, a scholarship kid at Seward Pines Academy is struggling with some additional issues–her left eye that doesn’t always track, her unusual living situation, and being stuck in Sunshine Buddies. But when she comes home from school to find a police cruiser outside Abuela’s house, she doesn’t know it’s the beginning of everything changing.
This is a lovely story of a girl negotiating changes in her family, new responsibilities, and having to grow up.
This is Meg Medina’s first middle grade novel. She also writes young adult novels and picture books. See her books here. Read about her and her many awards here.
Author: Susan Uhlig
A Hippy-Hoppy Toad
Perfect Picture Book Friday
A Hippy-Hoppy Toad (Schwartz & Wade, 2018) by Peggy Archer and illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf is a delightful picture book that makes me smile.
Toad is on a teeter-totter twig in the middle of the road, when SNAP he goes flying and lands in a tree. Along his journey he meets a bird, a bee, a cricket, a dog, a lizard, the wind, and a shoe, then ends up back where he started.
The rhyme and rhythm work well. That and the alliteration make for a great read-aloud.
The illustrations are so much fun. I love the toad’s expressions and the leaves are beautiful. Watch for the additional creatures only in the images.
The book won the 2019 Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award, and is a Junior Library Guild Selection.
Author Peggy Archer writes picture books and board books. Read about her here. Take note of her poetry journey. You can follow Peggy on Twitter here.
Illustrator Anne Wilsdorf has illustrated many books in both English and French. See all her books here. Anne lives in Switzerland.
Business Pig
Perfect Picture Book Friday
Business Pig (Sterling Children’s Books, 2018) by Andrea Zuill is a darling book.
Everyone notices their something different about Jasper when he is born. Not only doesn’t he fit in with the rest of the pigs, he continues on a different path. Therefore, when Jasper wants to be adopted he goes about it in a unique way.
I love the humor in the artwork that adds to the humorous text. The book has something for both kids and adults to enjoy.
This is author/illlustrator Andrea Zuill’s fourth book. Her newest book, Sweety, about a naked mole rat, comes out from Schwartz & Wade this month. Read about Andrea here or follow her on Twitter here.
Dear Martin
Dear Martin (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2017) by Nic Stone is one of those oft recommended books that didn’t disappoint. It’s compelling, moving, sad, and hopeful.
Justyce McAllister is a senior at Braselton Prep and despite what his friend Manny thinks, he’s not treated equally. He found that out the hard way when helping his former girlfriend who is too drunk to drive and he gets arrested. He’s released, but the experience wakes him up to the reality of what he’s been reading in the news. And that’s just the beginning. Things are going to get worse. Much worse.
This book made me sad and mad on behalf of Justyce and young men like him. I wish everyone would read it.
Amazingly enough, this book is Nic Stone’s debut. Her newest book is Odd One Out. Read more on her website. Follow her on Twitter here.
The Belles
The Belles (Freeform Books, 2018) by Dhonielle Clayton is a thought provoking and hard-to-put-down book.
Camille and five other Belles are sixteen. It’s their turn to show what they can do in the Royal Square. One will be chosen as Favorite by the Queen of Orléans. That girl will be the one taking care of the beauty for the royal family and the court for the next three years. And, of course, Camille wants to be the Favorite. The test is for each girl to take a naturally gray Orléansian and turn him/her beautiful. Who will win? More importantly, can a dreadful cycle be broken?
This story has twists and turns, shocks and scares, and ugly and beautiful.
I’m excited about the sequel called The Everlasting Rose. Read about it and Dhonielle’s other books here.
Read about the author here. Follow her on Twitter here.