What do you do when your friend is sad? How do you help them feel better? Do you offer treats, make them laugh, listen? Through rhyming text, the narrator offers suggestions of how to help a friend: make him laugh, take a walk, listen. A young boy tries to cheer up an elephant who really just needs someone to listen. The pages consist of 1-2 sentences per 2 page spread. The colorful illustrations bring life to the texts and convey the elephants emotions. Perfect for helping young readers learn about feelings and helping others.
Category Archives: Recommend
The Blood of Kings
by Matt Myklusch
An action-packed graphic novel set in a medieval land surrounded by more modern kingdoms. It is being attacked by Night Lander warriors every evening. Skerren finds himself defending his kingdom and his king from this invading force and from enemies within as well. The story moves along with plenty of visual action and plot twists. I liked the map at the beginning of the book, but wished that it had included more of the kingdoms that actually appeared in the book. For instance, the Night Landers home location was not on the map.There are other books in the Imagine Nation world, so perhaps those books included information I felt was missing in this volume. Clearly, Skerren’s friends, Jack and Allegra, were in other volumes. This book alluded to earlier adventures with the friends. Graphics are bold & colorful and the pace of the story moves right along.
The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner by Erin Stewart
This upper elementary/middle grade novel is perfect for many readers: anyone managing an anxiety disorder, anyone who loves to write fanfiction or fantasy, anyone who’s been bullied, anyone who’s lost a parent, anyone receiving support from a therapist, or anyone who worries or fixates on worst case scenarios. Zoey Turner lost her father to a bus accident and now struggles with debilitating anxiety. Her fears include but aren’t limited to buses, germs, crowds, cars, the deep end of the pool, and she spends her time googling worst-case scenario facts. She is obsessed with Raven M. Wells, author of her favorite fantasy series about a hero’s journey. Cleverly, this is exactly what Zoey finds herself embarking on after she obtains what she believes to be a “magic pencil” at the author’s signing event because when she proceeds to write with it, her stories come true. Readers will ponder what they would write if they had a magic pencil. Zoey’s quest includes: a supportive mother; book store owner, Jada; Derek, a boy bullied by others; and best friend, Lena, who loves and supports her, but who is also being pulled into a new circle of not-very-nice girls. During the course of her quest, Zoey learns that it’s okay to need others, courage means acting in spite of fear, “bad things…happen to all of us, be we decide how those things change us” (298), the magic is in us, and we can’t just be the hero; rather, we have to become one. All powerful and necessary messages. The twist at the end will delight readers while they cheer Zoey on during the final stages of her hero’s journey.
Heartfelt by Elaine Vickers
What is love? How do you show love? The main character makes small hearts and gives them away after completing acts of kindness. The character uses their senses to describe love. Love feels like a gentle hand to lift you up if you fall down. Love tastes like warm cookies we take to the neighbors. The diorama illustrations are colorful and help carry the story. Many small acts of kindness are demonstrated through the words and collage illustrations of this book.
With Just One Wing by Brenda Woods
Reviewed by North Thurston High School student, Michelle E.
This is an exquisite middle-grade novel that sensitively explores identity, belonging, and the intricacies of adoption. Readers are transported into a heartfelt coming of age story through nearly twelve-year-old Cooper “Coop” Garnet’s eyes, who finds himself needing to rescue an injured mockingbird. Coop, who was adopted at infancy, struggles with questions about his birthmother and where he fits into his beloved, yet adoptive family. Coop and his buddy, Zandi, find an orphaned fledgling, who only has one wing; it won’t be able to fend for itself. They choose to take care of the bird, and name it Hop. As Coop pours his energy into Hop’s care, he starts to notice parallels between the bird’s plight and his own abandonment and acceptance issues. This experience teaches him about love, sacrifice and the complexities of his own adoption. Woods uses straightforward, conversational language to enliven Coop’s first-person narrative, helping to explain complicated feelings to young readers. Ideal for fans of… The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng; Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan Readers who enjoy tales of personal transformation, family relationships, and the redemptive power of tending to another’s needs will especially resonate with With Just One Wing, a warm, approachable family story with believable conflicts and satisfying resolutions. The complexity of Woods’ story mirrors the intricacies of relationships woven among those we love, the sense of responsibility we have for families we choose, and how to balance that with the hard realities of life. More than a heartwarming book, this is a great addition to middle-grade literature because it reads like a love letter mixed with life lessons.
Unstuck by Barbara Dee
Reviewed by North Thurston High School student, Michelle E.
This is a terrific middle-grade read that explores writer’s block, how friendships aren’t linear in their growth, and family expectations. By seeing it all through the eyes of seventh grader Lyla, readers get an authentic view of young writers trying to work through these struggles so they will enjoy it and possibly be inspired by it as young authors and middle schoolers. The story follows Lyla, who is excited when her English teacher gives her a daily creative writing assignment. While she spent the last year mentally building an elaborate fantasy novel, this is now her chance to put her story on paper. While trying to work through writer’s block, Lyla also deals with changing dynamics with her best friend, Rania, and the buildup of pressure to do well in a town writing contest. Dee captures that sensation of middle school – the bittersweetness of shifting friendships, the burden of academic (and personal) expectations – perfectly. Lyla’s internal conflicts about perfectionism and self-doubt, in addition to the practical writing advice embedded into the narrative itself, offers useful lessons to young authors dealing with such obstacles. This novel is ideal for fans of Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary and Front Desk by Kelly Yang. All in all, Unstuck is a tender, comical meditation on making your way through life as a young writer on and off the page. Barbara Dee is a fabulous storyteller, and the lessons in this book empower readers to feel comfortable expressing their creative passions, while also dealing with adolescent trials with empathy and resilience. This novel is a welcome addition to middle grade literature.
Not Nothing by Gayle Forman
Reviewed by North Thurston High School student, Michelle E.
This heartwarming and deeply moving middle-grade novel should be required reading for everyone who has ever grappled with guilt, redemption, or finding their voice in an unlikely setting. Forman tells such a lovely story of an unlikely friendship formed between a troubled twelve-year-old boy and a 107-year-old man who has had no voice for years. This novel is a tender and evocative novel about forgiveness, resilience, and healing. The plot centers around Alex, a boy who winds up doing community service at a retirement home after a mistake leaves him in some hot water. Although he’s reluctant at first, he changes when he meets Josey, an elderly Holocaust survivor who has been rendered unable to speak. As Alex starts to spend more time with him, he gradually unravels his past and learns the true cost of silence. Their connection deepens and urges them both to face bad memories and believe in the present. Not Nothing is both a funny and nakedly honest story of second chances and how we connect, and Forman juggles those emotions with grace. This book is ideal for fans of… The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Restart by Gordon Korman, and The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. It is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel, and is a significant read for all. Highly recommended!
Ladybug Launch by Melissa Trempe & Natalia Ojeda
Ladybug Launch is inspired by a true story of the author’s experience in the project of sending ladybugs to space. Two stories run parallel to each other throughout the book. Natalia, a young girl in Chile, wonders if she could be the first in her family to attend university. Luna, a chinita (ladybug), longs to go to space. One day Luna finds her attending school with Natalia when Natalia’s class is creating an experiment for space. If humans can live in space, they would need to grow food. If they grow food, they will need something to combat the pests. This book is fictional with an anthropomorphized ladybug, but does include an author’s note at the end recounting her real experience with this experiment. Spanish words are included throughout the story and a glossary is included at the back as well as websites for further information about ladybugs and NASA.
Lost Stick by Anoosha Syed
While out for a walk, Louise throws a stick for Milo. Milo brings it back again and again because it makes Louise happy. One time Louise pretends to throw the stick and Milo thinks she has thrown it really far, so Milo goes in search of it. He searches the neighborhood, puts up posters and eventually sets off around the world looking for stick. He finds a lot of different sticks, but not Louise’s stick. Through the illustrations you can see that at the same time, Louise is searching for Milo. Pay careful attention to the bright, detailed illustrations to see the emotions of Milo and Louise as well as details of the story.
I Want to Read ALL the Books by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
When Hana learns that books can answer her questions, she sets out on a mission to read all of the books. She starts with reading all of the nonfiction books on her shelf and then the fiction books. Soon she has read all of the books in the house and her friends’ houses, but her list of questions just keeps on growing. Hana’ wants to buy all of the books. ‘s mom takes her to the library, but Hana becomes overwhelmed that she will never be able to read all of the books. After a talk with the librarian, Hana starts a book club with her friends so they can share their books.
The pictures are colorful and the characters are diverse. The font changes to express how Hana is feeling throughout the story. A wonderful about the importance of curiosity and sharing the books we love.