Written by Juvvie Ajayi Jones, Illustrated by Joey Spiotto
Luvvie is experiencing her first day at a new school. After she introduces herself to the class, Tommy teases her about her unique name. This upsets her and she calls him Dummy just as the teacher is walking by. After the teacher asks her to apologize she is upset for the rest of the morning.
This book is about a few common occurences that can happen in the classroom. In the end, the teacher helps to resolve the situation and all end up being friends.
Yalda Night is an ancient Persian celebration that occurs on the Winter Solstice. It is a celebration of darkness being defeated by light. Choori and Shooli are young divs (malevolent supernatural beings) heading out on their first Yalda Night to cause trouble and ruin families celebrations. When they join a family and try to ruin the night they only find that nothing can do that as long as loved ones are together.
This adorably illustrated picture book would need some explanation of this Persian holiday for those who may not know about it. It could also be an opportunity to introduce other cultural celebrations from around the world. I recommend this book as and extra purchase for elementary libraries that are interested in holidays and celebrations around the world.
Taehee and her college friends all have secret lives from their parents and grandparents – Korean families with different generational expectations of their children. They all get tricked into going to Taehee’s grandmother’s farm for Daeboreum, the first full moon of the year. Taehee had overheard her grandmother and her friends discuss spooky plans for the celebration and Taehee is hoping for her friends’ help in surviving the overnight stay at the farm that her parents are requiring that she attend. Along the way, the kids and the grannies all get what they need in surprising ways. The reader learns a bit of history of Korea, a bit of tradition and how modern generations are finding their way through all of it.
The characters are a bit older than my middle school readers since they are in college, but the book is otherwise perfect for middle school audiences. I liked the bright bold illustrations, with muted ones indicating historical events.This multi-cultural, multi-generational book should be a hit with graphic novel lovers.
Lucinda’s neighbors scurry inside and close their doors tightly as the sounds of battle grow near. Lucinda peers outside before locking the shutters. As family and friends gather inside, the earth trembles, flashes of light burst between the shutters and sounds and smells of battle pervade the house. Lucinda wonders how her mother can continue to cook with all that is going on. Her mother explains that everyone does their part in the family when times are rough and her part is to cook. Lucinda helps her mother and finds that by being part of the solution makes a difference in how she copes with the uncertainty of armed conflict.
The juxtaposition of the percussive rat-a-ta-tat with the soothing sounds of her mother cooking and the supportive actions of her Abuelo and Tia create a story of human resilience and unity. While a complex and troubling topic, this soothing story is still clearly written for young children.
The story is set in the 1950s during the Cuban Revolution and is based on a story the author’s mother told her. The recipe for Mama’s picadillo is included.
This book is also available in Spanish – Una luz para Lucinda: Una historia de la Revolución cubana (978-1-62354-819-3)
A beautiful new printing of the stories and poems by Edgar Allan Poe. I found my old favorites and a few that I had never read before. I had never read “Manuscript Found in a Bottle”, the opening tale and enjoyed discovering something “new” by Poe. I found all my old favorites with “The Cask of Amontillado”, “The Tell- Tale Heart” among others. The same was true in the poetry section. My favorite of “Annabel Lee” was at the end of this section of the book, while ones I had never read before, like “Al Aaraaf” opened this part of the book. And, of course, it includes The Raven! A collection by Poe would nevermore be complete without it.
If you’re looking to replace an old, sad copy of Poe’s works, this book has an appealing cover and a comprehensive list of his works. It is not noted with definitions or translations,so readers should know it’s in Poe’s original language. It looks like part of a series of classic reprintings including Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and The Phantom of the Opera.
This early reader story follows May and her large family as they decide to make homemade pizza together. With so many siblings helping out, their simple plan quickly turns into a funny and chaotic situation. As the pizza gets more complicated, May and her family must work together to solve the problem. The story shows the humor and teamwork that comes with being part of a big family.
I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a fun, easy-to-read book that highlights teamwork and family life in a way that will appeal to early elementary students. It is also a good addition to early readers or Ready-to-Read collections.
Written in a variety of verse forms, this is an interesting biography of the mother of climate science who was overshadowed in the history of science by men who claimed their spots after her, but in her limelight. Eunice Newton Foote was a scientist, inventor, mother, and political activist in a time when women rarely got to claim their acknowledgements. This verse biography spans her lifetime from 1819 to her death in 1888. It covers women’s role in science education, membership in scientific organizations, the history of early patents (& who was allowed to claim them), women’s civil rights, the Civil war and the subsequent Reconstruction era. The book ends with one final poem about 2010 when a retired petroleum geologist comes upon an old book with her paper on climate science from 1856, predating the one by John Tyndall in 1859.
I learned a lot of history in this book, including the life of one pretty amazing woman. I enjoyed they variety of poetic forms. Most are free verse, but some are long, some short, some are more concrete in form. I hope this fascinating book finds readers who will enjoy it as much as I did!
This story follows Ellie, an elevator who works in a busy apartment building and loves helping the people who ride her every day. She especially cares about Thea, a girl who used to be happy and full of energy. But after her best friend moves away, Thea stops smiling, and Ellie wants to help her feel better. Even though Ellie is just an elevator, she finds a special way to bring joy back into Thea’s life. The story shows kindness, friendship, and how small acts can make a big difference.
I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a sweet and creative story with a strong message about caring for others and helping friends through hard times.
This picture book follows Bea as she visits her great aunt Portia and discovers a hidden attic full of records. Portia shows her that there is a song for every feeling, and together they listen, dance, and explore how music can match different emotions. Based on the song “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae, the story is warm and uplifting. It shows how music can help people express feelings and connect with others.
I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a good read-aloud that helps students understand emotions through music.
I read this book in approximately four hours. It was very hard to put down. The story follows Ara, a girl who is growing up in a cult, and her older brother Leo, who has just enough memories of the outside to start to question everything that they have been made to believe in Jupiter Station— the neopagan, planet worshiping cult they have been brought to.
It’s really hard to talk about this book without revealing too many spoilers, but I found it very hard to put this book down because I was so invested in the characters uncovering the truth of their situation. As a reader, you very quickly understand that they are in a cult, and it is so jarring to be reading from their point of view as they navigate the world beyond what they have been made to believe it is.
And at a very slim 200 pages, I think that this would be a great book for any reader, but especially reluctant readers. Short chapters keep it engaging.
There are moments in the book where characters reflect upon real world cults, which introduces a little bit of history, which I appreciated.
Honestly, the only thing I did not like about this book was the cover. It makes the book seem like more of a tragedy or an emotional book rather than an extremely high stakes suspenseful book.
Reviewed by Komachin Middle School Staff, D. Moulton
