I’m late to the party to celebrate the 2015 Newbery medal book, The Crossover (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014) by Kwame Alexander. But actually it’s never too late to read a good book.
If you haven’t read this believable novel in verse, I strongly recommend it. It’d be especially great for those reluctant readers as it is a very quick read and so accessible. Kids into sports will like it. It’s fun to read for anyone!
That doesn’t mean it’s a piece of fluff by any means. Instead we experience the highs and lows with thirteen-year-old Josh and his twin Jordan (JB). His brother is thinking more about GIRLS than BASKETBALL. Will the brothers even be friends after this year?
Kwame is the author of 21 books. His most recent novel Booked came out in April and looks great.
Read more about the author/poet on his website.
Tag: diversity
Sewing Stories: Harriet Powers’ Journey from Slave to Artist
Sewing Stories: Harriet Powers’ Journey from Slave to Artist (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2015) by Barbara Herkert is a delightful picture book biography. The warm illustrations are done by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Read the illustrator’s comments about the book here.
The story takes Harriet from slave child watching the adults quilt to becoming a free woman, quilter and artist. When I read it, I almost cried when Harriet has to sell her story quilt. Besides the lyrical text of the story, there are patchwork boxes with extra information on each spread.
The back matter is very interesting in this book, too. It includes explanations about her quilts, tells more of her story, and even shows a picture of Harriet.
If you are a quilter or love quilts, this is a “must have” book. But it’s also a good story for kids to understand that even when life is hard, there can be joy and beauty.
Barbara Herkert had another artist biography come out last month as well: Mary Cassatt: Extraordinary Impressionist Painter with illustrations by Gabi Swiatkowska. Other books are in the works; read more on the author’s site.
El Deafo
I loved the graphic novel El Deafo (Amulet Books, 2014) by Cece Bell. Based on her own childhood, four-year-old Cece becomes ill and loses her hearing. The story outlines kindergarten through fifth grade showing Cece’s struggles and accomplishments. I can relate to Cece’s shyness as a child, and felt so sympathetic for her and rejoiced when . . . well, I don’t want to spoil the end if you haven’t read it. Here’s a book trailer with Cece herself talking about El Deafo.
I believe this story is important for kids to read to not only help them understand better how to deal with someone who is hearing impaired, but to learn that differences can be “superpowers” as Cece says. I’m not the only one who thinks it is important as the book is a 2015 Newbery Honor book! On the publisher’s site you can read all kinds of great reviews. Here’s an article about Cece and how she made the book, too.
Author/Illustrator Cece Bell has written and illustrated other books. See details here.
On My Way to Buy Eggs
I love this simple, but sweet picture book On My Way to Buy Eggs (Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 2003) by writer/illustrator Chih-Yuan Chen. Shau-yu is sent to the store to buy eggs. She has simple adventures as she enjoys pretending along the way. The book has a nice mixture of diversity and universal feelings.
I really like how the artist has let us see what Shau-yu is seeing, first through the blue marble, then through the glasses. I also like the use of shadows. Both of these you’ll have to look inside the book to enjoy.
On My Way to Buy Eggs was named a Best Children’s Book by Publishers Weekly.
Chih-Yuan Chen has illustrated and written The Featherless Chicken, Guji Guji (a story about a crocoduck), Best Christmas Ever, and Artie and Julie–all of which have been translated into English and Spanish, as On My Way to Buy Eggs has been. He also illustrated Mimi Says No and Mimi Loves to Mimic. Several of the books have also been translated into German and French.
Waiting for Unicorns
Waiting for Unicorns (Philomel, 2015) by Beth Hautala is a story of loss, loneliness and hope. (We may not all have a wish jar as the main character does, but we all know what wishing is like!)
When twelve-year-old Talia McQuinn moves north with her father she talks about leaving as “Watching things slip away from you until your insides ache and everything feels backward.” But it’s not just a simple move to a new town for Talia and her father. Instead, she’s going from one culture to another. And she’ll have to face it alone since her father will be out hunting whales, and her mother is dead.
This was author Beth Hautala’s first book.
She has recently sold her second book The Ostrich and Other Lost Things also to Philomel for publication in 2017. Read more on her website.