Every month, we post an annotated bibliography of books that were rated ‘Outstanding’ and nominated for our Distinguished List at our previous month’s meeting. Members can see full reviews of these books and many more in the January edition of BayViews.
PICTURE BOOK
Furqan’s First Flat Top/ El Primer Corte de Mesita de Furqan written and illustrated by Lui-Trujillo, Robert; Come Bien Books 2016
The relationship between a father and son unfolds during the son’s first trip to the barbershop. Liu-Trujillo provides an authentic bilingual (Spanish) story of an Afro-Latino family. (K-3)
Nanette’s Baguette written and illustrated by Willems, Mo; Disney-Hyperion 2016
This hilarious rhyming picture book shows a frog’s first solo trip to the bakery, in a hand-drawn paper village where Nanette gets a baguette, eats it, is beset with regret, but is given a chance to reset. (PS-2)
FICTION
Dara Palmer’s Major Drama written by Sheva, Emma and illustrated by Crawford-White, Helen; Sourcebooks Jabberwocky 2016
When Dara Palmer, a 5th-grader adopted from a Cambodian orphanage, doesn’t get the lead role in The Sound of Music, she begins to wonder if it’s because she doesn’t look like what Maria “should” look like. Dara’s narration brims with hyperbolic-tween personality in this insightful look at becoming increasingly aware of one’s “otherness”, while, at the same time, learning to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. (3-6)
Garvey’s Choice by Grimes, Nikki; WordSong 2016
Overweight, black middle-schooler Garvey finds comfort in books and food rather than sports, against his father’s hopes, but comes into his own upon joining the school chorus. Grimes’ verse novel, though brief, packs an emotional punch, with Garvey being an immensely relatable and sincere protagonist. (4-7)
Like Magic written by Vickers, Elaine and illustrated by Not, Sarah; Harper Collins 2016
Three 10 year old girls are struggling with changes in their lives, when a mysterious box from the library’s lost and found magically brings them together. This heartwarming story of family, friendship, and growing up is filled with diversity and is a fantastic read for children just entering adolescence and trying to find their place in the world. (4-6)
A Taste for Monsters by Kirby, Matthew J.; Scholastic Press 2016
This impeccably plotted and paced Gothic story of redemption mixes real and fictional characters, and is set in a wonderfully drawn late 19th Century London. 17 year-old Evelyn Fallow gets a job as maid and companion for Joseph Merrick, aka the Elephant Man, who is being haunted by the victims of Jack the Ripper. (8-10)
NON-FICTION
The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life written by Alexander, Kwame and illustrated by Neave, Thai; HMH Books for Young Readers 2017
With a dynamic combination of original text, quotes, photographs, and graphics, Kwame Alexander (The Crossover, 2014) inspires young readers to reach for their goals and give it all they’ve got. Neave’s dynamic photographs and the book’s and striking graphic design elements bring powerful energy to this collection. (4-8)
BIOGRAPHY
Fred Korematsu Speaks Up written by Atkins, Laura and illustrated by Houlette, Yutaka; Heyday 2017
Korematsu is considered the “Rosa Parks” of the movement protesting the Japanese-American Relocation which occurred during WWII, and this new biography has a dual text – the biographical passages are very simple and brief, almost free verse, telling his personal story using his first name Fred. The other areas of the book describe related history. Included are photos provided by the Korematsu family and details of his life that have not been previously published in books for youth. (3-8)
Radiant child : the story of young artist Jean-Michel Basquiat written and illustrated by Steptoe, Javaka; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; First Edition 2016
Javaka Steptoe introduces children to Jean-Michel Basquiat, a modern American artist who was “known for his charisma, energy, and bold, captivating art.” Steptoe’s style, using found objects and painting with vivid, striking colors, captures the expressive feeling of Basquiat’s work, in this striking, thoughtful look at a revolutionary artist. (1-4)
FOLKLORE
The Singing Bones written and illustrated by Tan, Shaun; Arthur A. Levine Books 2016
The Singing Bones presents excerpts of 75 of the tales of the Brothers Grimm, in all their beauty and brutality. Photographs of original sculptures accompany each tale, evoking both the feeling and content of the story. Additional resources about the brothers and the tales make this a well rounded, engaging read. (5-A)
POETRY
Catching a Story Fish written by Harrington, Janice; WordSong 2016
A sophisticated novel-in-verse, Catching a Storyfish tells the story of Katharen, or Keet as she’s called, a young girl who loves to tell stories. Katharen and her family have moved from Alabama to Illinois, where her classmates make fun of her southern accent and she struggles to make friends. Keet stops telling her signature stories until a new friendship with a Latina classmate, a family crisis, and inspiration from a visiting storyteller give her the courage to start telling stories again. Subtle cues in the text suggest that Keet is African American. A moving story of friendship, family, and the universal desire to fit-in. (4-8)
One Last Word: Wisdom of the Harlem Renaissance written by Grimes, Nikki and illustrated by Cabrera, Cozi; Bloomsbury USA Childrens 2017
Grimes finds “fuel for the future” in the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance, pairing short poems from that era with her own original poems. Each pair of poems is accompanied by a full-color illustration by leading contemporary African American children’s artists, adding to the artistic interpretation of these resonate themes. (6-9)
Somos Con Las Nubes (We Are Like the Clouds) written by Argueta, Jorge and illustrated by Ruano, Alfonso; Groundwood Books; Bilingual edition 2016
These moving poems, along with the beautiful and sometimes abstract illustrations offer a glimpse into the life of unaccompanied children who are making their way through the harsh migration from Central America to the United States. These vignettes offer the reader an empathetic view of a risky yet hopeful journey. (3-6)
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