Freedom Soup by Tami Charles, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara

Freedom Soup by Tami Charles,

illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara

Candlewick Press, 2019, 32 pages

It's a cold, snowy day outside, but inside Ti Gran's kitchen, it is warm and busy. As the beats of traditional Haitian kompa music and dancing fills the kitchen, so does the aroma of traditional Haitian Freedom Soup. And today, Belle, who "has a heart made for cooking," is getting her first lesson on how to prepare her Ti Gran's secret recipe for this  celebrated New Year's Day soup.

And as they mash the epis and the herbs, add the meat, the pumpkin, and the vegetables into a big pot, Ti Gran begins to tell Belle why it is called Freedom Soup and what it means to Haitians everywhere. And even though Belle has heard this story every year, she still wants to hear it again.

Ti Gran, who was born in Haiti, recounts how long ago the people in her country were enslaved, and forced to work hard for their masters. Part of that work was making Freedom Soup, a dish they themselves were never allowed to eat: "Freedom Soup was only for the free," Ti Gran tells Belle. But finally, the Haitians had had enough and rebelled, driving out the people who have enslaved them, and, having won their freedom, celebrated by making and eating Freedom Soup, because now they, too, were free.

And so every New Year's Day, Haitians prepare and eat Freedom Soup, remembering their past and their fight for freedom with every bite.

Some of the reason I really liked about this story of family, history and Haitian independence:

I love stories about traditions, both family and national traditions. Tradition is what connects people to each other, and when shared, has the power to inform and enlighten and add to the lives of others. That is just what this book does. And luckily, there is a recipe for Freedom Soup in the back matter and it looks as delicious as Belle and Ti Gran made it sound.

I loved the warm intergenerational relationship between Belle and her Ti Gran and how connected to each other they feel. Also, knowing important cultural traditions is one of the ways for a young person to feel connected to their past and understanding who they are, and Freedom Soup is a perfect example of just how that can happen.

I loved the dynamic pencil, marker, and gouache illustrations done in a palette of bright blues and yellows that reminded one of the warmth and brightness of Haiti and the surrounding Caribbean waters. Well, except for the last two pages, which bring the reader back to winter's cold and snow, but a look into the windows readers can see how everyone has their own way of celebrating the New Year, including Belle and Ti Gran:

Freedom Soup is such a beautiful story, and  can't recommend it highly enough, not just for New Year's but for everyday.

What more can I say, except

I wish you a very Happy New Year!

This book is recommended for readers age 5+

This book was gratefully received by me from Candlewick Press

MMGM: The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

After a very busy Christmas Eve, I decided to take it easy on Christmas day and just spend the afternoon reading a book. And The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street seemed the perfect book to spend the day with. It's a delightful New York story about a big biracial family and it begins five days before Christmas and ends on Christmas day.

The Vanderbeekers children, twins Jessie and Isa, 12, Oliver, 9 and the only boy, Hyacinth, 6, and Laney, 4 1/2, have occupied the basement and two floors of a Harlem brownstone most of their lives, along with Mama, Papa, Franz the dog, George Washington, a cat, and Paganini, a lop-eared bunny. Above them live Miss Josie and her husband Mr. Jeet, who recently suffered a stroke, and on the top floor lives Mr. Beiderman, their landlord. The Vanderbeeker children couldn't be happier living where they live. They know everyone in the neighborhood, and everyone knows them, with the exception of the reclusive Mr. Beiderman, whom they have never seen.

You can imagination the devastation the Vanderbeeker children must have felt when, five days before Christmas, they were told that Mr. Beiderman would not be renewing their lease and they would have to move by the end of the year. The children may be stunned, disappointed, angry, hurt, and perplexed, but it doesn't stop them from coming up with "Operation Beiderman," a plan to win the mysterious and mean landlord over in the hope of changing his mind. And Mr. Beiderman is an enigma to them. He hasn't left his apartment in the six years the Vanderbeekers have lived in his brownstone, he periodically has frozen meals delivered, and he keeps his windows covered with dark curtains. Papa is the only one who has seen Mr. Beiderman, since he does superintendent duties around the brownstone.

And Mr. Beiderman proves to be a hard nut to crack. Enticing him to change his mind with delicious chocolate croissants for the local bakery doesn't work, nor does the wonderful old Duke Ellington record they leave for him after learning that he likes jazz. Nor does Hyacinth's hand stitched holiday place mat, or the petition signed by everyone they know in the neighborhood. As the time until moving day gets closer and closer, will the Vanderbeeker children come up with a plan that will finally work? Or are they destined to leave behind everyone and everything they love about living in a brownstone on 141st Street in Harlem forever?

I have to admit I have a weakness for middle grade books about large, loving families like the Vanderbeekers (and of course, the Penderwicks). And I really enjoyed reading this book and I'm looking forward to reading more about the Vanderbeekers.

Some of the things I really liked about this book are:
I thought all the characters were believable and well drawn. Everyone had just the right amount of eccentricity, so that who they are feels authentic and not forced. The kids felt like real kids. They know their way around the neighborhood and they know things about their home that the adults have not idea about - how to get up to the Roof of Epic Proportions via fire escape for secret meetings, the secret floorboard in the twins bedroom, how to avoid squeaky stairs.

I loved that there were no screens - none of the Vanderbeekers kids have a cell phone, and because of the move, even their Internet is turned off. Which means - no easy answers about the mysterious Mr. Beiderman. Learning he has once been at City College, they had to walk to the college in the hope of finding information.

The main message the Vanderbeekers learned is to never never assume a person is who they appear to be. Jessie has to learn this about her twin sister Isa the hard way, and all of the kids have to learn it about Mr. Beiderman.

My favorite part, however, is this - if it takes a village to raise children, this book shows us that the village can easily be the neighborhood right outside our front doors. This is a lesson I learned when my Kiddo was growing up and so many friends and neighbors added so much to her life. And Karina Yan Glaser depicted it so perfectly, it was like a gift on Christmas day.

If you haven't read The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, you might want to give it a read. If you have already read it, lucky you.

Be sure to check out the other Marvelous Middle Grade Monday offerings, now being carried on by Greg at Always in the Middle. 

This book is recommended for readers 9+
This book was purchased for my personal library

December by Katharine Pyle

I know it's a little old fashioned, but this has always been one of my favorite Christmas poems. It was written by Katharine Pyle (1863-1938), a prolific children's author and illustrator and published in an anthology of her writing for children in 1899.

Source: Prose and Verse for Children by Katharine Pyle, with pictures by the author.
             American Book Company, @1899
You can read the entire book HERE

Wishing You Very Happy Christmas

and

🎄10 Last Minute Picture Book Gift Suggestions 🕎

My young readers and I were going through some of the books we've read and loved this year, many of which have been included in previous picture book roundups. The books I'm including in this roundup have all been read and loved and we all agreed they would make great gifts for your young readers (and so would any of the books included in a roundup).

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper,

illustrated by Carson Ellis

Candlewick Press, 2019, 32 pages

The poem "The Shortest Day" was originally written in 1977 for The Christmas Revels, performed every year to celebrate the Winter Solstice and welcoming in the Yule season. Now, this iconic poem has been put into book form and what a book it is! Beginning with a two page wordless spread of bright sun in the sky, and shadowy figures, a page turn reveals a sinking sun, and people gathering wood. More page turns begin "So the shortest day came/ and the year died,/And everywhere down the centuries/ of the snow-white world/ Came people singing, dancing,/ To drive the dark away." The subtle but powerful, truly atmospheric gouache illustrations harmonizing with the words of the poem brings the readers from what appears to be the early days of pagan rituals (reminding me of Stonehenge) to modern day celebrations of caroling, feasting, giving thanks and spending time with dear friends, and a sincere hope for peace. "The Shortest Day" has always been a favorite poem of mine, and one I used often in school, and this book only makes it better thanks to the illustrations. And because of it, there are two new items on my bucket list, 1- to go to Stonehenge for Winter Solstice, and 2- to go to Massachusetts for The Christmas Revels. For now, I'll just have to be happy sharing this book with my young readers.

Small in the City

written and illustrated by Sydney Smith

Neal Porter Books, 2019, 40 pages

Follow along on a cold winter day as a young boy rides a streetcar into the center of a city, disembarks, and begins walking through the streets.  Dwarfed by the tall buildings and traffic on all sides, the child begins "I know what it's like to be small in the city." Continuing through the streets, at first it feels as though the child is speaking about himself, and that perhaps it is about his own experience, but as the story progresses, readers realizes that he is thinking about his lost cat. His suggestions of how the cat could find safe spaces, under a mulberry bush or up a walnut tree, ways to avoid dangerous spots, biting dogs, dark alleys, or warm up in from of a dryer vent until it can find its way home are a reflection of his hope for the survival of his missing kitty. As the story progresses, so does the falling snow until at last it is quite heavy and the young child returns home, knowing that ultimately the cat will be all right. This is a very emotionally charged story, especially if you have ever had to search for a missing loved pet (I have, 2 of my 5 readers have, too). The text is rather spare, confined to the narrator's thoughts, but much of the story is told wordlessly in a series of small graphic frames, all of which seem to stress the child's being alone in such a big, busy city, and the aloneness the missing cat may be experiencing. The illustrations, done in ink, watercolor and "a bit of gouache" are beautiful, poignant, and yes, even heartbreaking, but ultimately also hopeful.    

Stormy: A Story About Finding a Forever Home

written and illustrated by Guojing

Schwartz & Wade, 2019, 34 pages

This wordless picture book begins with a series of frames showing a small dog with curly red fur sleeping under a bench in a park when a woman comes along and notices it. She leaves, but the next day she returns, this time offering a ball in the hope of luring the dog over to her, but it still keeps its distance. Returning again, the little dog begins to warm up to her and one day follows her as she goes home. From her window, she notices the puppy sitting in front of her building, but when it being to rain, the dog leaves to find shelter, hiding in a cardboard box by a garbage pail. Noticing the dog gone, the woman runs out to the park bench to look for him. Disappointed, she returns home, drenched after her umbrella breaks in the wind, when she notices the ball she had given the dog lying in the street, and then finds the dog in the box. Naturally, she brings the dog home, dries it off, and feeds it, gives it some cuddling, and the two head to bed, with the dog on a pillow at the foot of the woman's bed. My young readers loved this story, probably because of the heartwarming ending. But they had fun narrating the story based on the illustrations, and this scruffy little puppy had a different name every time we read this book. The back of the dust jacket says this is "a story about patience, kindness, and trust" and this generated some interesting conversations about how these qualities played out in the story and how they can be important in real life. I love the endpapers - in the front, there is the bench, a tree next to it, and the dog under the bench sleeping under a very overcast sky; at the back is the same scene but without the dog and with a blue sky. And isn't Stormy just a perfect name for this sweet little stray who finds a forever home.       

Odd Dog Out

written and illustrated by Rob Biddulph

HarperCollins, 2019, 32 pages

On a busy city street, dachshunds are busy going about their day - some in business suits, others driving in cars, still more in stripped jersey's playing soccer. Turn the page and there are more dachshunds involved in more activities. What's the most noticeable thing about them? Members of each group look exactly alike. And then there is one who's different: "Someone on this/ busy street/ is dancing to a/ different beat." Dressed in colorful stripes, matching hat, and headphone she not only stands out, she also feels lonely and left out. So, she sets off looking for a place to belong. And finds Doggywood, where everyone looks just like her. Well, almost everyone: "Somebody this/ afternoon/ is whistling a/ different tune." But this is a dog who loves being different, and so should our Odd Dog, he tells her. Suddenly she realizes "That dog is right/ It's plain to see/ there's nothing wrong/ with being me." Odd Dog immediately heads home and is welcomed back with open arms - it seems she was missed in her absence. And best of all, they are all dancing to a different beat now. too. Teaching kids to have the courage to be who they are isn't an easy task in the face of some much pressure to conform. This is a book that tackles this problem head on even while distancing the issue by using dogs instead of kids and all done in catchy light verse, that harmonize perfectly with the brightly humorous illustrations. My kids love this book and we've read it many times over this last week. I suspect we'll be reading it many more times.

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story

by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

Roaring Brook Press, 2019, 42 pages

Fry bread is the story of family, friends, and food - specifically fry bread, a Native American tradition and a culinary delight. Told in short, simple free verse, the book begins with a group of diverse kids gathering around the kitchen table where their Nana is starting to prepare some fry bread. Each two page spread begins with the words "Fry Bread is..." describing not just the ingredients but also the shape, the sound, the color. But fry bread is also time spent with family and friends, and importantly, it is history, a new post-colonial bread created with what was made available: "Fry bread is history/ The long walk, the stolen land/ Strangers in our own world/ With unknown food/ We made new recipes/ From what we had." Maillard has written a modern story for today's Native Americans that stresses the importance of community, strength, and survival and all centered on a bread that is shared by indigenous people across the country: "Fry bread is us/ We are still here/ Elder and young/ Friend and neighbor/ We strengthen each other/ To learn, change, and survive." Maillard has included a family recipe for making fry bread, which sounds delicious, and an Author's Note that goes into more depth about fry bread and it's place in the lives of Native Americans. None of my young readers have ever had fry bread, but they could still relate to its importance because of traditional favorite foods in their own families. 

Roly Poly by Mem Fox,

illustrated by Jane Dyer

Beach Lane Books, 2019, 40 pages

Roly Poly is an only child and he thinks that is just fine. Everything - his parents, his bed, his favorite walrus tooth - are all his and his alone. Until one morning when Roly Poly wakes up to a little stranger in his bed. It's his new little brother and Roly Poly isn't very happy about it, telling his mom: "But I never asked for a little brother and I don't want one now." Monty keeps trying to play with Roly Poly, who just walks away or pretends he isn't there, repeating what he told his mom. When Monty takes his favorite walrus tooth, and then the fish Roly Poly has just caught, he's had enough and tells Monty to get lost just as the ice beneath his little brother begins to crack and drift away. Pretending not to hear Monty's cries for help, Roly Poly finally gives in, diving into the icy water and swimming out to the ice floe to save his little brother. From then on. Roly Poly and Monty "...lived happily ever after. Well...mostly." Told in spare text, Mem Fox has really captured the feelings and common reaction of an only child getting a younger sibling and suddenly having to share everything. It's really a simple enough story, with lots of white space for young readers to muse on their own experience of getting a new sibling. The illustrations are simply charming. The polar bear family is made of felted wool, and place in scenes giving the story a real 3-D feeling. Did my young readers like Roly Poly's story? Well, yes, but most of them are not first borns, so they related more to Monty and had their own stories to tell about being the Monty in their family (for the record, I'm a Monty, too). 

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o,

illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Simon & Schuster BFUR, 2019, 48 pages

Colorism isn't usually an issue you would expect to see in a picture book, but actress Lupita Nyong'o does just has done just that and has done it well. "Sulwe was born the color of midnight" in a family of lighter skin parents and sister. While everyone at school plays with her sister, five-year-old Sulwe hides by herself to avoid being made fun of. She tries all kinds of things in the hope of lightening her skin, even praying, but no matter what she tries, nothing works. Then, Sulwe, whose name means star, is visited one night by a shooting star that takes her on a journey, and as they go, the star tells her the story of sisters Night and Day, who loved each other very much. Everyone else loved Day but Night, not so much, so Night decided to leave. Now, it was Day all the time and people loved it, until they began to miss Night. It turned out people needed Night as much as they needed Day. Sulwe faces the next day with a completely different attitude: "There would be no hiding anymore. She belonged out in the world! Dark and beautiful, bright and strong!" If you read the Author's Note, you'll learn that this story came out of the Nyong'o's personal experience of being treated the way Sulwe is in the story, as are so many kids are in their own lives. Nyong'o doesn't skirt the issue of colorism and low self-esteem nor does she try to sugar coat them, recognizing the importance of addressing them head on for the very young. Vashti Harrison's artwork is particularly beautiful and completely compliments the text. 

The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh

by Supriya Kelkar, illustrated by Alea Marley

Sterling Children's Books, 2019, 28 pages

Harpreet Singh, a young Sikh, loves colors and uses them to express his feelings. In fact, he has a color for everything: yellow for when he feels sunny, pink for celebrating, red for a boost of courage. And he takes special care of his colorful patkas (the head covering worn by Sikh boys). But when his parents announce that the family will be moving, all the bright, happy colors go out of Harpreet's life, replaced by blue when he feels nervous, gray when he feels sad, and white when he feels shy and doesn't want to be seen. Harpreet wears white all the time in his new school, where he sits alone, not making any friends. His parents try to convince him to wear his old favorite colors, but Harpreet wants none of it. One day, however, when he finds a lost hat, and returns it to a girl in his class, it looks like the beginning of a new colorful, fun friendship. This is an interesting story. How often do you find a picture book with a character who is Sikh. Not wanting to move away from what is familiar and comfortable, though, is a common problem for kids, but when cultural and religious differences come into play, it makes the move that much harder for them. The text is brief and straightforward, but it is in Marley's colorful illustrations that readers will notice Harpreet's challenges - the odd looks he gets  because of his lunch of chapati and dal her, the difficulty at spelling his name on class party invitations. Be sure to read the back matter which includes A Note From Simran Jeet Singh, a scholar of Sikhism, on the importance of Sikh men covering their heads as part of their religion.

Mr. Posey's New Glasses by Ted Kooser,

illustrated by Daniel Duncan

Candlewick Press, 2019, 40 pages

Most people have routines and their lives begin to take on the feeling of sameness. That's OK, but sometimes people need to look at their lives through new eyes. That's the premise of this book, but as one of my young readers pointed out it's also about friends. It begins when Mr. Posey wakes up one morning and decides his dull, boring life needs a new pair of glasses. And so he invites his young friend and neighbor Andy along on a trip to the Cheer Up Thrift Shop to see if they can find a pair of glasses through which Mr. Posey can get a different perspective of his world. After rejecting pair after pair, Mr. Posey puts his old glasses on, just as Andy asks him if he could buy him a wheel. But when Mr. Posey can't see what Andy has, his friend tells him to clean his glasses, and voila! clean glasses are just the thing needed to make Mr. Posey's life less dull and boring. They buy the wheel instead of glasses, and have lots of fun with it on their way home. I liked this story on so many levels. First there's the intergenerational aspect and the way Andy and elderly Mr. Posey get along so well. Then there's the fact that Mr. Posey is white and Andy appears to be African American and it's just a fact of who they are. And third, I liked the idea that we all have the power within ourselves to look at life differently. The digitally created illustrations are fun and very expressive, especially when the two friends are trying on glasses.

Fly!

written and illustrated by Mark Teague

Beach Lane Books, 2019, 40 pages

Mama bird has been bringing juicy worms to her fledgling long enough and now it's time for her baby bird to learn to fly and find his own worms. After a bit of a temper tantrum, the little bird gives flying a try but falls to the ground. Mama bird is determined her chick will learn to fly, while baby adamantly refuses to give flying another chance and instead comes up with all kinds of ideas that will get him airborne without his having to do any work. It's clear that mama isn't buying any of those ideas. Next, she tells him that when autumn comes, they need to fly south to Florida, and again baby comes up with ideas to get him there without flying. Mama warns him about hungry dogs and cats who might find a baby bird a fun toy or a tasty treat, but it's the threat of an owl that finally gets him out of the nest and flapping his wings. Next thing baby bird knows, he's finally airborne on his own and can fly. There is finally peace in the nest, and Mama and baby are happily together again. This is a wordless picture book that uses pictures in the speech bubbles in place of words and it works beautifully. My kids each took a turn telling the story using just the illustrations and had so much fun doing it. The message is clear, and the acrylic illustrations are just lovely. This is a book my young readers want to return to again and again.

🎄Nonfiction Suggestions for Holiday Gift Giving 🕎

Here are some gift suggestions for fact loving readers of all ages on your holiday list! 

Don't Let Them Disappear: 12 Endangered Species Across the Globe

by Chelsea Clinton, illustrated by Gianna Marino

Philomel Books, 2019, 40 pages

As more creatures begin to disappear from the earth forever, this book looks at 12 familiar species from around the world that are getting closer and closer to becoming extinct themselves if nothing is done to try to save them. Giraffes, gorillas, blue whales, rhinoceroses, giant pandas, whale sharks, polar bears, lions, sea otters, orangutans, tigers, and elephants are all introduced with interesting facts and information about their individual characteristics. Included is how and where they live, the causes for us to be concerned about their dwindling numbers as well as their endangered status and, most importantly, which of them are at risk of disappearing, each one ending with the plea "Don't let them disappear!" Each species gets a two page spread accompanied by very appealing, colorful and emotional gouache illustrations. In addition to information about these creatures, Clinton includes a useful key defining the different levels of risk, ranging from not endangered to extinct. And back matter consists of reasons species are endangered, as well as a list of proactive suggestions that young people and their families can do. This is an excellent book to start a needed conversation with young people.

You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks

written and illustrated by Evan Turk

Atheneum BFYR, 2019, 56 pages

It's a terrible possibility to think about, but our national parks may start disappearing one of these days. However, until that happens, they are here and they are wonderful. In this book, using simple free verse sentences, just a few lines on each two page spread, Turk repeats the titular phrase You Are Home throughout, as he paints a breathtakingly beautiful picture of life in each of 23 out of our 60 different National Parks, from the chipmunk sleeping in her burrow in Shenandoah and prowling bobcats in Yosemite to the ancient rock carvings in Mesa Verde National Park and "the child whose ancestors/ lived on these lands before/ the stars and stripes/ took them as their own: YOU ARE STILL HOME." In fact, poem and pictures instill in the reader that same sense of belonging regardless of who you are and where you live. Readers are reminded that there is "a sense of belonging/ sung by the streams,/ from valleys to peaks,/ through millions of hearts." Back matter includes A Note From the Author, a Map showing the location of all 60 National Parks and More About the Parks And Animals In This Book. This book is too sophisticated for my young readers, but I spent a lot of time myself reading the text and exploring the stunningly textured illustrations done with pastel on black paper. I can guarantee, you will, too.

Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff 

by Stephanie Warren Drimmer

National Geographic Kids, 2019, 256 pages

I'm known among friends as the Duck Tape Queen because I truly believe a roll of this wonderful silver tape can be used to fix everything, so naturally I had to known the original of it. It is a miracle tape that was developed during WWII and it even saved the lives of three Apollo 13 astronauts in 1970. And this is just one of the fact you will find in this chockablock books of fascinating origin stories. From peanuts butter to jeans to holidays and traditions, this book has it all. This small 7'x7' book is divided by category into 10 chapters, each with the beginnings of 10 related items. There are plenty of full color photographs and sidebars with additional information throughout. This is the kind of book I would have loved as a young reader, and would have enjoyed reading it them as much as I have. It is an ideal gift idea that can provide hours of fun for the whole family, at home or on a trip (in fact, my Kiddo asked if she could have it to read on her plane trip back to China and to use in her classes over there). 

Your Amazing Digestion From Mouth Through Intestine

by Joanne Settel, PhD, illustrated by Steve Björkman

Atheneum BFYR, 2019, 112 pages

This may look like an odd book to include on a holiday gift suggestion list, but I suspect there is more than one kid out there who has questions about what happens to the food we eat after it is swallowed.  Well, here are the answers, all in kid friendly terms. The book is divided into five parts, written in iambic couplets (no easy task for a nonfiction book), with "Cool Facts" prose sidebars giving even more information. Beginning with nutrition, Settel explains what is in the food we eat, the carbs, the proteins, the fats, the vitamins and minerals. From there, she goes through each part of the digestive process from tasting to swallowing to what happens in your stomach to waste, looking at a variety of issues related to each step, issues like why chili makes you sweat, why milk comes out of your nose when you laugh, why your stomach gurgles, and why poop can smell so bad. These are important things, things kids wonder and sometimes laugh about. So naturally, Settel uses humor in her text, and Björkman's watercolor, pen, and ink spot illustrations reflect both the humor and the serious side of what is being said. Back matter includes an extensive Glossary, suggestions For More Information, References and Additional Reading and an Index. 

Suffragette: The Battle for Equality 

written and illustrated by David Roberts

Walker Books, 2019, 128 pages

One of the things we've learned in recent elections is that women and their vote can make a big difference. In this compelling history of the women who endeavored to get the right to vote, young readers will discover the roots to that struggle in both the United Kingdom and the United States and meet the women who made it finally happen. Roberts begins his history by defining just what suffrage is, then beginning in 1832, he traces the fight for the right to vote chronically, focusing in the many different women suffragettes on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as some of the men who vehemently did not want women to have a franchise. The writing is straightforward and Roberts makes a complex topic quite understandable for young readers. His watercolor, ink and pencil illustrations done in a soft pastel palette are just exquisitely rendered - there is a certain delicacy together with a strength of determination that is unmistakable. This is a book that is so chockablock with information that it will require more than one reading to take it all in. This is a wonderful gift for anyone, but especially a young girl who is just beginning to take a greater interest in the world around her and who will be voting someday soon. Personally, every time I stand on line waiting to cast my vote, I think about those brave women who came before me. And now I have an even clearer picture of The Battle for Equality.

Leading the Way: Women in Power

by Janet Howell and Teresa Howell.

illustrated by Kylie Akia and Alexandra Bye

Candlewick Press, 2019, 144 pages

Meet the fifty women whom Janet Howell has chosen to honor in this anthology, which has been published in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote. Included are women politicians, like feminist Bella Abzug, Tammy Duckworth, who was a Lieutenant Colonel in the army before she was a Congresswoman and later a Senator from Illinois. Also represented are people like Madeleine Albright, US ambassador to the UN, and US Secretary of State under President Clinton; activist and journalist Ida B. Wells-Barnett (yeah, I didn't who she was either, but I do now), Supreme Court Justice and Nancy Drew fan Sonia Sotomayor and her fellow Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Young readers will meet women mayors and governors, gutsy ladies like Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Jordan - all leaders, all trailblazers who made a difference in some way for today's young people. Back matter includes A Take Action Guide, and More Leaders to Discover. Each luminary is highlighted with a digitally rendered illustration and colorful circular Power Symbols that represent their specific character qualities, such as Integrity, Persistence, and Courage among others (there is a key at the beginning of this book). Pair this with Suffragette: The Battle for Equality for a well-rounded history of women and the fight for equality.

Encyclopedia of American Indian History & Culture:

Stories, Timelines, Maps, and More

by Cynthia O'Brien

National Geographic Society, 2019, 304 pages

As our awareness of this country's indigenous peoples comes more and more to the fore, I think we often realize how little non-Natives know about the history and culture of these very diverse people beyond the usual stereotypes we've been given. Now, here is a book that can help  change that. It is an encyclopedic introduction to more than 160 federally recognized tribes, and is divided into eight geographical regions - the Arctic and Subarctic, the Northeast, The Southeast, the Plains, the Southwest, the Great Basin and Plateau, the Northwest Coast, and California. There is a guide that explains how to use this book, followed by an Introduction, and a wonderful full-color map that shows where the eight different regions are. Readers will discover the stories, the history, the religion, culture, and more about the Native Americans in each region, and how their way of life had adapted to the different conditions in each one. As you would expect from a National Geographic publication, there are copious color and black and white photographs, as well as maps and timelines. Back matter includes a Glossary and a list of all the Federally Recognized Tribes. My kids are a little young for this book, but we've read most of the stories that are included and they really enjoyed them, which led to conversations about Native Americans, including the stereotypes they are already familiar with. I've also lent this book to older kids who used it for school during Native American Heritage Month (November), and their response to it was really positive. While it is not a in-depth look at each tribe included, it is a good stepping stone for more detailed information.It's a big, heavy book, but I keep it on the coffee table for people to pick up and go through.

🎄A Christmas Picture Book Roundup🎄

Christmas is coming and here are some wonderful picture books to make your holidays even merrier and brighter than usual. 

The Bear and the Star by Lola M. Schaefer,

illustrated by Bethanne Anderson

Greenwillow Books, 2019, 40 pages

On December morning, Bear wakes up from his winter nap and saw a new, just barely visible star in the sky. He then began a search for a strong, tall tree "a tree that would be the center/of all to come." Finding that, Bear let out a mighty roar East, West, North, and South that echoes throughout the land, letting animals and people know it is time and summoning them to the tree he found. They come from everywhere, people put down their tools and stop what they are doing, "Then they gathered/mask and drum/ scroll and shawl/ candle and copper/ flower and oil." As the star rises in the sky, animals, birds, and people gather round the tree in celebration, "because it was time.../for peace." When I first read this book, I thought it would be another typical Christmas story but with breathtaking, richly textured oil painted illustrations so I was so pleasantly surprised at the ending. It is a Christmas story of sorts, with the star rising in the sky, the tall evergreen tree, and all creatures celebrating, but the call with the message "it is time" is about peace, not the birth of Jesus. But, lets face it, what better time is there to celebrate the idea of peace than during the season of "Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards all people!"

Wintercake written and illustrated by Lynne Rae Perkins

Greenwillow Books, 2019, 48 pages

It seems that Thomas, a roly-poly bear-like creature, has misplaced his basket of dried apples, berries, plums, apricots, grapes, and cherries, after fetching them from his special fruit-drying spot. Lucy, an large indeterminate  yellow and red bird, helps him look for his basket, but with no luck. Now Thomas won't be able to make his special wintercake for Winter's Eve. When a winter storm hits, Lucy decides to go home, but the storm is so bad, she stops at a lovely warm tea room where she over hears a large brown furry creature talking about finding a basket of dried fruit, perfect for a wintercake. When the fellow leaves with the baskets, Lucy follows him to Thomas's home, where the guy she has quickly thought quickly decided was a "scoundrel: instead returns the basket to Thomas. Touched by his kindness, Thomas and Lucy decide to make a wintercake and share it with this stranger, whose name we learn is Tobin. But, finding the stranger's home is further away then they had anticipated and fraught with obstacles. Will they be able to find this good Samaritan and celebrate Winter's Eve together? What a charming winter story full of whimsey, twists and turns, snap judgements, new friendships and traditions. The illustrations emanate warmth when the animals are inside and winter cold what they are outside, but always work in harmony with the text, both so richly textured. I worried that the longer length of this book might not work with my young readers, but they loved it, making this book an unalloyed delight for the holiday season.

Bird Count by Susan Edwards Richmond,

illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

Peachtree Publishing Company, 2019, 32 pages

Every year, the National Audubon Society conducts its annual Christmas bird count and once again, Ava and her mother will be participating in it. Together with Big Al, they will drive and walk through the same route they follow every year: fields, woods, wetlands, neighborhoods, even the center of town. This year, after Big Al goes over the rules with Ava again, she is given a really important job: keep the tally of all the birds they spot during their day of bird counting. Richmond has cleverly woven in the details of how the bird count is done, as well as a brief description of what the different birds look like that Ava's team sees throughout the day, and illustrator Coleman is equally as clever at placing the birds in various places on the page for readers to find, as well as a sidebar tally of the birds spotted. This is an excellent book for introducing young readers to the fun of bird watching and counting, something Richmond is has done for years herself. Back matter includes information about each of the birds featured in Bird Count, an Author's Note, and resources for finding more information about birds and bird counts.

The Most Wonderful Gift in the World

by Mark Sperring, illustrated by Lucy Fleming

Tiger Tales, 2019, 32 pages

It's Christmas morning and Esme and bear have finished opening all their presents save one. But the tag says the gift is for Little Bunny Boo-Boo. The friends decide to find Little Bunny Boo-Boo and make sure she gets her gift. But how do you find someone you don't know? Follow the signs that direct them to Little Bunny Boo-Boo, of course, even if they do say things like 'Treacherous Path' 'Howling Gale' and 'Deep, Deep Snow Drifts, Warning: They Really Are Deep!' Perseverance pays off when the finally arrive at Little Bunny Boo-Boo's front door. What a surprise for Esme and Bear when she opens her gift, the box is empty except for a note from Santa. But Little Bunny Boo-Boo, who has just moved into her little cabin, has gotten just what she asked for - two new honest and true friends. What a happy Christmas all around! Christmas is about family, friends, and the joy of giving and sharing, but it's not a fun time to be alone, and this is a good story for reminding young readers to think of others. After all, people enrich our lives so much at the holidays, and all year long. As much as they liked this story, at first, my young readers had kind of a hard time grasping the fact that not everyone has family and friends to celebrate the holidays with. They did agree that being part of a family or being a good friend can be the most wonderful gift in the world and is not something to be taken for granted. I think we will revisit this story again before the holidays are over. 

Dasher 
written and illustrated by Matt Tavares
Candlewick Press, 2019, 40 pages

Have you ever wonder how Santa got his team of reindeer? In this atmospheric origin story, readers meet Dasher and his reindeer family, part of J.P. Finnegan's Traveling Circus and Menagerie. It's not a pleasant life, but young Dasher's mother tells stories about living in a cold, snowy place "free to roam under the glow of the North Star." One night, Dasher escapes and following that star , she eventually runs into Santa Claus and his horse Silverbell. It's Christmas Even and there are toys to be delivered, but the sleigh is too heavy for Silverbell, so Dasher volunteers to help. It works out so well, but Dasher misses her family, wishing they could escape the circus and join her. Naturally, Santa grants her deepest wish, and off they go to rescue Dasher's family. The next Christmas, Santa and his sleigh are pulled by none other than Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. This is a fun backstory, and Tavares ends it at just the right point for pairing it with The Night Before Christmas, which I did with my young readers and they loved it. The watercolor, gouache, pencil and pastel illustrations capture the hot pen the reindeer are kept in and the cool snowy place that becomes their new home. Tavares light play in the illustrations give the story a magical feeling, suitable for a magical season. This will definitely be a classic, at least with my young readers.

The Great Santa Stakeout by Betsy Bird,
illustrated by Dan Santat
Arthur A. Levine Books, 2019, 40 pages

The thing that makes Santa Claus so mysterious is that no one ever sees him. But Freddy Melcher is Santa's #1 fan and this year, he is determined to get a self with his idol to add to his very vast collection of Santa memorabilia. Naturally, he's a boy with a plan. First, string cans across the roof so Santa can't land undetected. Next, add a few well-place motion-sensitive cameras around the Christmas tree, followed by a pressure-sensitive plate of cookies, and finally, practice staying up late. What could possibly go wrong? After all, Freddy is convinced he has hidden his plans from Santa so well, he wouldn't suspect a thing. Or does he? Yes, Freddy doesn't get a selfie with Santa, but he gets something almost as good - a handwritten note from Santa that reads "NICE TRY, FREDDY! SANTA" Oh well, there's always next year for a selfie. Santat's whimsical and very colorful ink and watercolor illustrations include fun objects detailing Freddy's Santa obsession and are the perfect compliment to Bird's humorous text. But, in point of fact, even my young readers know that you can't fool Santa - he knows all, he sees all.

Tomie dePaola's Christmas Tree Book
written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Holiday House, 2019, 32 pages

As a family heads out to by a Christmas tree, the kids wonder about how the tradition of decorating a fir tree at Christmas began. Luckily, their parents have ready answers, beginning in the Middle Ages when December 24th was called Adam and Eve Day, and a tree was made of evergreen branches and decorated with apples to represent the Tree of Paradise. The development of more customs and traditions are discussed and how the evergreen branch progressed to the indoor Christmas tree. There's lots of interesting information presented as the family buys, brings home and decorates their own Christmas tree. Different families have different traditions, an idea that is echoed at the end of the book: "The main thing is that every family's Christmas tree is very special to that family." This is an sweet book with lots of facts about Christmas, all done using dePaola's signature colorful illustrations. At the end of the book, there is a template and instructions for printing, coloring, and putting an angel together to put on top of a tree, or to just hang on the tree. Perhaps the beginning or addition of a family homemade ornament tradition.

The Crayons' Christmas written by Drew Daywalt,
illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Penguin Workshop, 2019, 52 pages

This is the third book in the Crayons series, and it's just as funny as the first two books, and this time it's interactive. This time, Duncan takes a back seat to the crayons, who have a life of their own, right down to the six envelopes with removable content.  The first letter, addressed to Peach, is from her parents living in Florida. In their envelop, is a card and some much needed clothing in paper doll form. Next, is a box of decorations for the crayons' Christmas tree, followed by a recipe from Beige's dad for gluten free Christmas cookies and hot cocoa. a Hanukkah card and dreidel from Gray, a gift that's a game for all the Crayons and followed by an envelop containing a map of Esteban and Neon Red's travel about the world. Lastly, is a pop-up Christmas tree, a gift from the Crayons to Duncan. It's a fun book, but a risky one. It would be easy to lose the contents of each envelope. Luckily, most kids have there own crayons, paper and imagination and could make replacements as the originals get lost or ruined, making this an even more interactive book. It's a lot of fun and like an animated movie for kids, there is plenty of humor that will appeal to adults reading this to their kids.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt: 
Christmas Activity Book
Candlewick Entertainment, 2018, 32 pages

 If you are looking for a Christmas activity book, look no further than this one. It is chockablock with stickers some of which kids can use on different pages in the book and others that can be used for the different craft projects. For example, there are snowflake stickers to add onto the homemake paper garland that can be hung on the tree or in the window. There are instructions for making a wreath using leaves, twigs, and pinecones. In addition, there are recipes and instructions so kids can make a Christmas cake for birds, tree decorations, even Christmas cookies using puff pastry, with some adult supervision. And there are games and jokes scattered throughout. As part of the Bear Hunt books, the main focus of all the activities is nature and the outdoors, including exploring outside to see what creatures can be spotted right at home. There is something for everyone in this slender book that is packed with holiday fun. 

MMGM: Dog Driven by Terry Lynn Johnson

I loved reading Terry Lynn Johnson's earlier book Ice Dogs, so I was pretty excited to get a copy of Dog Driven to read. And I wasn't disappointed, in fact, I couldn't put it down.

McKenna Barney, 14, knows there is something wrong with her eyesight, but she's worked hard to hid it from everyone, even at the cost of dropping out of favorite activities and alienating her best friend. But McKenna still has some sight, especially peripheral vision, though she knows she will have to give up her beloved dog sledding at some point. However, after seeing how overprotective her mother is with her young sister Emma, 8, doing everything for her and not allowing her to gain any independence, McKenna isn't ready to lose her freedom, too.

For now, though, there's one more race and Emma, who has been dealing with Stargardt disease, which is juvenile macular degeneration, for most of her short life, manages to talk McKenna into entering. The Great Superior Mail Race is important to Emma, because the mushers will follow the route of the long ago Canadian mail couriers, delivering mail that will be stamped Delivered by Dog Team on them and it is open to mushers age 14 and up. Emma's plan is to write a letter to the Foundation for Fighting Blindness, asking for more research to be done on Stargardt disease. And she figures, if sister McKenna wins the race, surely her letter will be read aloud on TV. But when Emma figures out that McKenna also has Stargardt's, the sisters make a deal - if McKenna doesn't deliver Emma's letter, they will tell their parents about her loss of vision.

McKenna is an experienced musher and knows her dogs well, but even so, it is a dangerous race through the Canadian wilderness. Luckily, she meets two other young mushers who help her along the way. Harper doesn't like sled dog racing but her father wanted her to do this race, convinced it would change her mind about it. There have been mushers in her family for generations, the family is well off and her dogs are top notch. Guy, pronounced Gee, also comes from a long line of dog sledders, but now his mother has passed away, and his father wants to give up the dogs to save money as his delivery service flounders. Guy is hoping to win the race and perhaps get his father's a contract with Amazon, which would mean keeping the dogs to make deliveries with.

McKenna, Harper, and Guy are the only teens in the race, and I guess I was a little surprised they didn't know each other already, but that aside, they did develop a nice friendship, often helping each other when needed. But it is still a race they all have a reason to want to win and McKenna's eye condition is becoming more obvious. Will either new friend take advantage of McKenna's condition to win.

Dog Driven is, to say the least, an action packed nail-biter. The story is narrated by McKenna so the reader knows exactly what is going on in her head as she struggles with the fact of losing her sight. At the same time, the reader also sees everything happening through her eyes, which realistically includes the difficulty she has seeing most of the time. Loss of vision under normal circumstances is difficult, but under the circumstances of dog sledding in the Canadian wilderness is downright perilous. But McKenna has a wonderful relationship with her dogs, and knows and trusts them to do what a good sled dog would.

I really liked McKenna's and her sister's relationship,  too, and I could completely understand why McKenna didn't want her parents to know about her deteriorating eyesight. She sees how her mother does everything for her sister, and won't let her develop the skills she needs to be more independent.

The race is a competition and McKenna, Guy, and Harper each have their own personal reasons for entering it, but it was nice to see how they were still able to become friends and even help each other out when needed. And the details of what the weather and terrain conditions are like for a race like this are amazingly real, probably because Johnson was at one time a dog sledder herself. I have to admit, the idea of being out on part of a frozen Lake Superior is not my idea of fun, but it certainly made for exciting reading. There is a map at the beginning of the book that shows the route the mushers took, so that you can see exactly where McKenna throughout the race. I found myself referring to it frequently

One other thing: throughout the story are letters that take the reader back to when the mail was being delivered by dog sled only, as well as some modern letters the racers are carrying for the competition. I could have enjoyed this book thoroughly without them, but they are at least brief.

Dog Driven is a book that completely took me out of my life as a NYC girl, and put me into a totally different world. It was a wonderful experience, and I can't recommend reading it highly enough.

You can find out more about Stargardt Disease HERE

This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was a ARC gratefully received from Blue Slip Media

Be sure to check out the other Marvelous Middle Grade Monday offerings, now being carried on by Greg at Always in the Middle. 

☃️Let It Snow! A Winter Wonderland of Picture Books☃️

My young readers love snowy stories and these are some of our new favorite picture books that we would like to share with you. We don't get as much snow in NYC as other places, so snowy stories are always fun, without the slippery slush that follows a beautiful snowfall. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

Red Sled written and illustrated by Lita Judge

Little Simon, 2019, 38 pages

 After a day of sledding, a young child returns home, leaving her sled outside the door. That night, along comes a bear, sees the sled and creeps away with it. It doesn't take long for bear to be joined by various woodland creatures as he sleds downhill. Rabbit, moose, two raccoons, possum, hedgehog, and mouse all join in the fun until...oops, a crash landing at the bottom of a steep hill before returning the sled. Next morning, the child notices the bear's footprints, and following them, joins the woodland creatures for some more sledding fun. My kids love this book and I was happy to have this new board book because it could be left for the kids to "read" on their own without having to worry about ripped pages. As was the original hardcover picture book, it's a charming wordless, but not soundless book. There's onomatopoeic sounds on each page and I would hear my young readers imitating the sounds as they went through the story, laughing all the way (and I suspect wishing they could join in the fun).

Snow Still written and illustrated by Holly Surplice

Nosy Crow, 2019, 22 pages

Another new favorite board book, a little fawn steps out into a world covered in snow one morning. As he sets out to explore this new white world, he discovers just how slippery can be. But there's also so much to see and observe around him. There are the two rabbits to chase and seek after they hide from him, there are seven little birds sitting on a tree branch, the silence of a owl flying over head, and the chilliness of new falling snow on a winter day. As the snow deepens, it's time to return home and to the warmth and safety of mom and sleep. This is a sweet story, told in rhyming couplets, with only two descriptive word on each page, each beginning with the word snow. My kids liked having this read to them during resting time and later exploring the fawn's winter wonderland with each other. The seasonal watercolor and ink illustrations are done in winter whites and blues and are just delightful.  

All Around Bustletown: Winter 

by Rotraut Susanne Berner

Prestel Junior, 2019, 14 pages

Bustletown is one busy place, even on a snowy day, in this oversized board book. Follow Lisa from home as she makes her way to the skating pond, finding a lost wallet and key on her way and returning them to Billy, who's on his way to jpg in the park. Anne is supposed to meet friends at a cafe, but overslept and must hurry, hurry through Bustletown. Oliver and his dad take the bus to the cultural center, then his dad heads to the store to buy a special present for Oliver. Bonnie the cat is tooling around town looking for some tasty tid-bits to eat. These are just some of the stories kids can follow. Each two page spread is filled to the brim with people, activity, cutaways of buildings to show what's happening inside. There's an apartment building, a train station, a department store, the cultural center, and of course, the very busy town square. And it's not just people who are pursuing their day, there are also some pretty busy dogs, cats, and birds. The pages are bright and colorful, the people distinct and easy to follow, and the pages are not so busy that young readers will feel overwhelmed. Mine had lots of fun talking about what everyone in Bustletown is doing, and comparing it to their similar experiences. This is a fun seek and find book that will keep kids as busy as the residents of Bustletown.

A Day for Skating by Sarah Sullivan,

illustrated by Madeline Valentine

Candlewick Press, 2019, 32 pages

Told in a brief, playful rhyme, this book has quickly become a favorite with my young readers, none of whom, ironically, have ever skated, but want to try it someday. In this story, a young girl and family head out to the frozen pond for a day of skating and family time. The young girl in a novice skater and when she falls, her dad gently reassures her that it's is part of the learning process. There are lots of other skaters on the ice, with varying degrees of skill, and everyone is having a good time. The family takes a break in the snack bar hut to eat and warm up, then it's back out on the ice - no falls this time. As the day comes to a close, the tired family heads home to a warm bath and a bedtime story. The watercolor and color pencil digital illustrations capture the cold day perfectly, especially the passing of time in the changing color of the sky, and the movement of the skaters. The skaters are a very diverse group, including kids of color, a girl in a hijab, and father wearing a yarmulka, and even a girl playing ice hockey. The ending is a pleasing picture of the forest animals taking their turn on the ice, so of whom you may notice watching the kids during the day as they had fun. I used to love ice skating and personally found this to be a really delightful family story.

Snowy Race by April Jones Prince, 

illustrated by Christine Davenier

Margaret Ferguson Books, 2019, 40 pages

It's a very special day, a day when a little girl gets to ride along with her dad on his snow plow. Told in simple rhyming couplets, readers follow a young girl as she wakes up one snowy morning, gets dressed, eats breakfast, and, all bundled up, she's off with dad to get the snow plow out of the garage. Plowing through fields and town until arriving at the train station. My young readers loved the fact that none of their predictions about why father and daughter ended up at the train station. Were they going to race the train? Trains are too fast for snow plows. I loved the look of surprise when we turned the page and saw the girl running towards an arriving passenger. Her mom? Her favorite auntie? Her beloved grandma? Then, it's a race home to a cozy warm house with mom AND dad. This was an exciting picture book to share with my kids because there was so much to speculate about based on other snow plow books we've read, but it turned out to be such a different story. The couplets are short but very expressive, capturing the little girl's excitement at riding in the plow with her dad, racing to the train station in time in such a heavy snowstorm, and greeting her mom. The illustrations are done in a pastel palette with ink and manage to evoke both the cold of the snow storm and the warmth of the family at the same time. We've read this book in F&G form and it's been loved a lot. Needless to say, I can't wait to get the hardcover available November 26, 2019 for our little library of favorite picture books.

Some Snow Is... by Ellen Yeomans,

illustrated by Andrea Offermann

G.P. Putnam's Sons BFYR, 2019, 32 pages

How many snows are there? According to this book, there are many different kinds of snow and each kind is chronicled in this lovely expressive picture book that takes readers through the snow possibilities of three seasons and kids reactions to them: From first snow ("Some snow is First Snow. /We've waited for so long snow. /It it really snow snow?/or only heavy rain?") to Sleet Snow, Fluff Snow, Angel Snow (snow angels everywhere), Snowball Snow, Driveway Snow (the worst, lots of shoveling), Tracking Snow (which critters belong to those footprints), Yellow Snow (stay away from that snow), Sledding Snow, Snow Day Snow, Snowman Snow, and Spring Snow (mostly mud and rain), until finally, there's no more snow ("Soon, soon, all gone snow./We've waited for so long snow./Please, please, no more snow.../our bikes are whispering") and spring is on the way. I love books that pull my kids into lively conversations and this one really did that. Each four line stanza ends with the word snow, except the last line, so there is really a wonderful melodic quality to each kind of snow. The season watercolor, pen and ink illustrations are detailed and really added to the snow conversations we had as my young readers explored each page thoroughly. The truth of this book is that we are always excited for the first snow and tired of the last one.   

One Snowy Morning by Kevin Tseng,

illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte

Dial Books, 2019, 32 pages

When I first read this delightful book, I laughed out loud, but I wondered how my young readers would react. Well, they loved it, too. One snowy morning, friends squirrel and chipmunk spot what they see as a giant pile of snow but reader know is a snowman. Mistaking the different parts that make a snowman a snowman, the friends make what readers know are incorrect assumptions about each one. The eyes are lumpy kickballs, the stick arms are wooden legs, the hat is a rowboat, the not a rare dragon's tooth, and my favorite, the mitten are fish puppets. As more and more woodland animals gather round, they strip the everything off the snowman, taking it back to their lair where they prepare a lovely dragon tooth soup for their friends. But what if someone else had been planning a dragon-tooth-soup party? The friends take what components they still have and return it to the snowman - sort of. Did my young readers like this book? They loved it, and they thought making the wrong assumptions about each snowman component was hilariously funny because "everybody knows how to make a snowman!" The spare text is very tongue-in-cheek and harmonizes perfectly with the wintery digitally colored pencil illustrations. We've read this a number of times now and it never gets old. What fun!

Bear is Awake! An Alphabet Story
written and illustrated by Hannah E. Harrison
Dial Books, 2019, 32 pages

One winter morning, a hibernating bear wakes up, and makes his way to a cabin, ringing the doorbell to be let in. The little girl who lives in the cabin doesn't know what to do with the bear, so she ties a silly yellow hat on him and they head off to the library. Along the way, people reactions to the bear are hilarious, and where do they first go? To the library, of course, where bear joins story time while the girl reads a book about bears. Then, it's off to a grocery store, and home again. Eventually, bear ends up back in his cave to finish his winter sleep. This book is just laugh out loud funny. Words and illustrations match perfectly, the body language and facial expressions on bear and people are both playfully and skeptically expressive. It's a book that cleverly tells a story using words (and not too many of them) for each letter of the alphabet. Each alphabet letter coordinates with a wintery gouache illustration that offer clues as to what is happening but also allows the reader to more fully narrate the events. As we went through the alphabet and pictures, each child took a turn telling the story based on the letter/picture cues (and which we have done repeatedly). My young readers loved it, and I loved it, what a great interactive book this turned out to be. We has so much fun with this book.