Category Archives: Highly Recommend

Let’s fly : Barrington Irving’s record-breaking flight around the world

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Written by Barrington Irving and Chana Stifle; illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice

Barrington Irving is the first Black man and (at the time) the youngest person to complete a solo flight around the world. His life and inspirational flight are detailed in this picture book biography. Barrington, born in Jamaica and living in Florida, played football in school as a way to move past the “badgering” of his classmates. One day, his life changed when he met a Black pilot at his parents’ bookstore. The pilot, Captain Gary Robinson, asked “Have you ever thought of becoming a pilot?” This changed Barrington’s life. Captain Robinson gifted him his first lesson and after that Barrington worked hard, studied hard and practiced, earning his pilot’s license. Captain Robinson challenged him to help others like he had helped Barrington and he created an after school STEM program. He didn’t stop there, though. He wanted to inspire kids even more. So, he decided to fly solo around the world. It was hard to get the plane, plan the trip and find the funding to do it all. But, he persevered and succeeded, culminating in a record-setting flight of 26,800 miles in 97 days.

In addition to the story of his life and flight, this book shares more details such as a two page spread of the a cockpit with labels, a map of his flight path with stops, a timeline, facts, bibliography and some great quotes from Barrington. Given the extras, this book is a great fit for a variety of ages and reading levels. Illustrations are crisp and fit the text nicely.

Add this to your biography section and it will fly off the shelf! Highly recommended.

Being Home

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Written by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Michaela Goade

A young Cherokee girl, her mom and her dog pack up and leave the city to return to their ancestral home. She leaves behind the crowded streets, quick pace and lack of family to a place where there is room to roam, a different tempo, and that connection to her family now and from the past. Her travels are documented in her drawings as her mom drives toward their ancestral lands. When they arrive, they are surrounded by family who happily help unload their belongings, they visit and play. The tempo is slower and she is home.

Spare text and richly hued illustrations convey the warmth and excitement of the this change. The depth of her connection to her family and home is shown in the final pages as she happily engages with her relatives and her place. Sorell (Cherokee Nation) and Grade (Tlingit and Haida) combine their considerable talents to create a special story. Highly recommended.

From Rain Clouds to Rainbows

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Written by Marion Dane Bauer and illustrated by John Wallace

Three short nonfiction stories about rain, clouds and rainbows are together in one early reader book. Each story gives information in short, simple sentences, introducing scientific words and concepts along the way and ends with “Facts about…” that topic.

“Rain” starts with two children under a hot sun. The grass is dry and the flowers are wilting. But, then a gray cloud covers the sun and the rain comes. After it stops, the sun comes out and the puddles dry. The clouds build up again and the rain returns. This quick trip through the water cycle mentions that the small drops of rain come together to make the clouds, growing larger and finally falling. The facts at the end are interesting and noteworthy.

“Clouds” describes the three kinds of clouds, what they are made of and everything they do. They give us shade during the day, keep us warm at night by blanketing the earth and bring us rain, snow and thunderstorms. Facts at the end include this cool one – “Even a small cloud can be as heavy as ten large elephants.” Wow!

“Rainbows” starts out with rain and clouds, moving into that first peek of a rainbow. Colors are noted we learn that a rainbow is actually a circle! we don’t see the full circle from the ground because the Earth gets in the way. What!?? How cool is that?

Colorful illustrations move the spare text along and the points woven into each story are enriched even further by the added facts at the end. Kids will learn so much about rain, clouds and rainbows without even realizing that they are learning. And, the adults in the room will learn some cool facts right along with them! Pick up this book to add to your weather section. Highly recommended.

Cold

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written by Tim McCanna and illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki

What is “cold”? It is many things – a desert at night, a bat-filled cave, a deep ocean or a meadow with snowflakes falling. it is a feeling and a promise. And, it is a place where animals and humans live and can thrive.

Told in eloquent rhyming prose and accompanied by gorgeous illustrations, the concept of “cold” is described in a way that draws in the reader, who can imagine the feeling of being cold as they turn the pages. The story is calm and the detailed illustrations convey that gentleness in a beautiful manner.

Explanations of cold and climate change are added to the end, giving some good scientific information in short, accessible paragraphs. Why we have winter and how animals are adapted to the cold weather is clearly noted. The notes on climate change are concise and factual and the empowering suggestions for helping to fight it are realistic for kids and their adults.

This book will be a great addition to your library as a sweet wintertime read aloud as well as a start to a winter weather or climate change lesson. Highly recommended.

Vulture View

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written by April Pulley Sayre and illustrated by Steve Jenkins

Take a look at the daily life of a vulture from its graceful soaring flight to its meticulously clean feathers. This species provides a great service by cleaning up after everyone by eating what no one else really wants. Carrion eaters are an important part of nature’s food web and vultures do a great job of it. End matter and author’s notes have been updated and reflect the newest information available about these often maligned scavengers. Illustrations have been color enhanced as well.

Add this award-winning book to your nonfiction section. It will become a favorite among students, who will delight in the daily life a this majestic bird. If you already have it, I suggest an update. It’s worth it! Highly recommended.

And Tango Makes Three

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written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell and illustrated by Henry Cole

Roy and Silo are a penguin couple. They build a nest of rocks together just like the other penguin couples at New York’s Central Park Zoo. But, unlike the other penguin pairs, they cannot produce an egg – they are both males. They try to hatch a rock, which doesn’t result in a chick. Their keeper, Mr. Gramzay, solves that problem by giving them another couple’s second egg to hatch (penguins will only hatch one egg, but sometimes lay two). Little Tango hatches and is loved by her parents.

This story is based on a true occurrence at the Central Park Zoo, where Roy, Silo and Tango made their home for many years. This is a gentle reminder that there are loving, diverse families in the world and acceptance of those differences is natural. In this case, it is a family of a tiny penguin chick and her two loving fathers, who “knew just what to do” as they take care of their adopted offspring.

Accompanying illustrations are softly hued watercolors and add to the gentleness of the story. Originally published in 2005, this book is still fresh and necessary. It is a very organic approach to tolerance and the notion that diverse families exist everywhere, even in a penguin colony. New additions include educator notes and afterward by author Eliot Schrefer. Highly recommended.

As You Wish

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by Nashae Jones

Eighth grader, Bernadette (Birdie) Nkrumah has been best friends with Deve Banerjees since they were young. Birdie has always been just a little low on the social pyramid at school, mostly because she struggles to keep her overprotective mother under control which makes her just a little bit weird sometimes. This year she has PLANS! This is the year she’s going to get a boyfriend and be more normal. Deve does not understand this plan – he likes her just as she is. Birdie quickly learns that her family is related to an ancient family from Ghana who achieved the trickster god Anansi’s favor. Periodically down her family line, Anansi appears and grants the person 3 wishes. Wisher beware because Anansi never grants a favor without a hidden trick hiding in the fine print. Birdie thinks she’s being clever, but with every wish, the consequences get more tangled. I really enjoyed this book. Birdie’s older cousin was the protagonist of Nashae Jones’ other book Courtesy of Cupid and makes several appearances in this story. It is a completely separate story, and unnecessary to have read the other book first or at all. (Their families sure have been blessed – cursed?- by the gods, however!) 

A wonderful, magical, gently romantic book of finding one’s person who might just be standing right in front of you. I also really enjoyed the mythological character of Anansi in this story. Perfect book to put in the hands of a middle school reader looking for romance that is not at all over-the top. There’s not even any kissing.

Enter the Body by Joy  McCullough

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Reviewed by OHS substitute, Victoria O.

Juliet. Ophelia. Cordelia. These are names you are likely already familiar with, as they are among the most iconic heroines to ever grace the pages of William Shakespeare’s famous tragedies, all of whom suffer grisly ends by the time the final curtain falls.

In “Enter the Body,” these ill-fated women and girls are given new life by author Joy McCullough, who allows each to retell her story from her own perspective, reclaiming their well-worn tales to create a vibrant new narrative, teeming with righteous fury, unresolved trauma, and a deep desire to be heard.

Each chapter focuses on a different character, alternating between stark prose poetry in which one heroine narrates the sad trajectory of her life before shifting back to a mysterious, liminal space occupied by Shakespeare’s other unfortunate leading ladies. This space takes the form of a dimly lit, below-stage purgatory with a trap door through which each girl comes crashing down every time they are forced to (once again) relive their harrowing experiences on stage. As the heroines take turns telling their stories, the others look on, recalling their own past lives and how the pain, violence, and heartbreak suffered by each is often echoed in the others. 

Reading this book is like watching a series of searing monologues steeped in female rage and driven by a deep sense of historical injustice for women who were permitted little control over their own bodies, much less an ability to direct their own lives. Highly recommended for those who enjoy Shakespearean drama updated for a modern audience and retold through a darkly feminist lens. 

Dinosaur Roar!

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Written and Illustrated by Paul and Henrietta Stickland

In a fun and well illustrated way, this book simply discusses opposites. First, what kid doesn’t like dinosaurs? Second, it’s cartoon-like nature will attract all. With two simple sentences on each page such as, “Dinosaur weak, dinosaur strong” as well as rhyming throughout, this book will attract all emerging readers. This will also be a great and short read-aloud for for any librarian or family member.

I strongly recommend this book for libraries who serve preschool and primary readers.

Snow Is… by Laura Gehl

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“Snow is the feeling the moment you wake. Snow is a stillness before the first flake.” Through rhyming text, this book takes a look at the joy found in snow as a young boy and his family enjoys a day in the snow. The main colors in the illustration of blue, gray and white take on the feeling and look of snow, while the pops of red in the family’s house and clothing stand out. A sweet celebration of snow.