Benjamin Grows a Garden is the follow-up to Benjamin’s Thunderstorm, and it’s another beautifully crafted realistic fiction story by Melanie Florence. While the previous book followed Benjamin as he enjoyed a rainy day and thought about the Thunderbird, this story follows him as he plants, cares for, and eventually harvests fruits and vegetables from his garden. The book includes Cree words throughout, with a pronunciation guide in the back. Pichette’s illustrations are eye-catching and unique, and kids will be drawn to the bright colors and beautiful depictions of the natural world. It feels like a celebration of the garden and all it provided. This will be an excellent addition to any elementary library.
Sera Watkins was born with a heart condition that required a heart transplant. Arriving back at her family’s summer house in Cape Cod, she plans to perfect her art and avoid her former best friend, neighbor, and recipient of her old heart valves, Luke Tisdale. The complex relationships Felleman creates between the characters makes this teenage romance feel real and truly special. The way Sera is not defined by her illness is truly inspiring. The author’s writing style throughout the novel really allows for a wide range of emotions to be felt by the reader. The romance is sweet, but can also be intense at times. The variety of characters in this novel is amazing; they are relatable and complex. I felt like the depth of Luke’s character was not thoroughly conveyed through the small amount of chapters featuring his perspective. I thought it would’ve added to the story if we could hear more about his life and ideas. In the beginning, I thought some of the plot points in the book were somewhat predictable, but as I continued to read, more twists and surprises showed up making it an addictive read. I would recommend this book to someone who likes romance, deeper themes about life and death, and books that make you emotional. I think you should read this book because it shares the important lesson of making the most of the time you have and growing the relationships you have with others. Overall, this book was really great and I’m so glad I read it.
Dante Nimrod Inferno is your typical 6th grade demon – uncool, goofy and ready to to change his reputation in middle school. Bullied and laughed at ever since his pants fell down in the cafeteria, he plans a fresh start in a new school, where his elementary classmates combine with the kids from the school in Blisshaven. New school means new Dante, right? Not really, because the same yucky bullies are there and his old reputation is lingering. Virgil, a brainy new friend from Blisshaven, enters the story and becomes a rather unwitting ally in Virgils’ quest for greatness. The story ends with a huge school competition (kind of like middle school Jeopardy) in which the teams are in a nail-biting near tie for the win. Dante’s knowledge of comics saves the day for Virgil and him in and they win, becoming slightly more cool and ready for more adventures.
While young readers may not get the references to Dante’s Inferno, they will certainly understand the burps, farts, annoying siblings and schoolyard escapades in this book. And, they will really get into all the hilarious illustrations that are generously peppered throughout the story. Hand this book to those readers who enjoy Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Timmy Failure. They won’t be disappointed. Recommended.
Written by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and Illustrated by Natasha Donovan
Michael is on his way to the soccer field for some solo practice, when he is nearly hit by something. Jet, the “bird nerd” sister of a fellow soccer player, is nearby and explains that it is a snowy owl. They have a wealth of knowledge about birds and shares with Michael, who finds himself growing interested in this magnificent creature. When he goes back to the field the next day, the field is overrun by birders, who want to see this bird themselves. Jet gets his attention and asks for help to take the owl, who is now looking very ill in a cardboard box, to a bird rehab center some distance away. They sneak past the crowds and enlist the help of another young bird enthusiast, who loans them a motorized bike. Through a snow storm and dark woods, they manage to deliver the sick owl to the vet at the rehab center. Their parents find them there and the owl is saved. The story ends with the owl release and Jet and Michael successfully reaching out to the school principal about the dangers of rat poison, which poisoned the rat that the owl ate and was, in turn, poisoned as well.
This satisfying story packs a lot into 135 pages and does so very seamlessly. Characters are realistic and their interactions make sense. Jet comes through as younger, stubborn and passionate about birds and conservation while Michael is focused on soccer and following the rules, struggling at times with their trajectory but slowly building a great deal of empathy and respect for Jet’s ideals and gaining an insight into the world around him. The writing moves us through the story at a good pace and the black and white illustrations are a nice addition without overpowering the words. Add this to your collection for those readers that enjoy animal stories with a good dose of adventure along the way.
In this memoir addressed to women, survivors, writers, and readers, Jeannine Atkins documents her journey to unravel the emotions and relationships in trauma’s aftermath. The book is written and reflected on in verse; it presents the lessons learned by the author from each person in her life – and from herself.
This book is incredibly immersive for being a memoir – everything was visible in the mind, and many verses hit painfully and deeply in a relatable way. The intentional ambiguity of Atkins’ diction was very thought-provoking as well.
This novel is incredible for those drawn to themes of psychology, social behavior, and seeking healing & closure. This novel really makes you think about how every single person has untold experiences and struggles – but also healing and hope are possible.
Things that work well for the book: Authenticity – sometimes the chronology feels like a blur, or perhaps a misrecalled memory; there were also repeated descriptions and motifs (deja vu); the author doesn’t go too in-depth when writing about other people and describes them in similar ways; these all add to the relatability of one’s mental state being so off that days, people, and experiences blend together.
Subtle theme of ‘hidden dangers’ – things that make you think “this wont happen to me,” or “this isn’t hurting me” until you realize too late; shows how simple yet unpredictable people are – I personally enjoy seeing this in literature; allusions that mean even more if you know about them (Icarus, Sylvia Plath, Ruby Bridges, Picasso, Guernica, Monet, etc.)
Favorite Lines: She won’t know that ill always remember her. (273) I don’t fit in my body and I don’t want to have one. (26) I’d looked out for us. that wasn’t wrong. (31) A pillow. a brick. breath ending. (34) Where a boy fell, feathers and waxen wings on fire. no one looked up. everyone was busy. (38) I miss stumbling into moments when a girl in a book seemed to become me. (50) We think we want an ending but mean a victory. (103) While rocks are battered by waves, sand ever so slowly, beautifully crumbles. (229) The only proof she fought hard enough is if she’s dead. (233) It was hard, never getting enough sleep, but I loved holding a life in my arms. (236)
Things that do not work well for the book: The timeline was somewhat confusing, but I did say I liked this part because it may have been intentional. It also allows for parallels to be made between reality/fiction and people.
John Parra’s This Moment Is Special is a sweet story celebrating the small moments of Día de los Muertos. The boy in the story shares each activity and explains how it makes him feel or helps him grow. The final sentence on each page is repeated in Spanish, and I found this more impactful than the single-word translations more commonly found in children’s books. The illustrations are beautiful. Parra creates richly textured backgrounds and fills each image with symbols of Día de los Muertos. It’s a lovely book, and I look forward to displaying it in the fall.
Lazar’s follow-up to the Sasquatch Award-winning Flat Cat sees Flat Cat attending school with a neighbor. Kids will love seeing the familiar structure from the beginning of the first book but will be treated to an entirely different type of story as Flat Cat is used for things like a paper airplane and a homework assignment at the school. Flat Cat poofs up again by the end of the story, and kids will love seeing him rolling around the classroom. Fans of the original will enjoy seeing Flat Cat in this new setting, and everyone will love the moment when Flat Cat transforms into his poofy version.
Written by Claire Tattersfield and illustrated by Rob Sayegh Jr.
Cupig loves Love. She also loves Christmas. So, when Santa falls sick and makes an emergency call for help, she knows she’s the right one for the job. After a short briefing, the Santa substitute (still wearing her heart-festooned underwear) sets off to deliver gifts. Unfortunately, she perceives the typical Christmas cheer (decoration, lights, cookies & milk, etc.) as hazards that must be fixed and proceeds to take care of everything. With all the decoration dismantling and food safety protocols maintained, she forgets to leave the gifts at all the homes she visits. Upon her return to the North Pole, Santa explains her mistakes and she promptly returns to all the houses to fix her fixes. She also leaves gifts, thank goodness. On Christmas morning, she opens her gift, a lovely pair of Christmas underwear and understands that giving is a wonderful way to show love, too!
Cupig is a very confident hero, who is willing to acknowledge her mistakes and fix them. Rhyming text and bright collage illustrations make this a fun new holiday read. Recommended.
Written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Mark Teague
Bat, Cat and Rat are a trio of great friends, who make Fall the most fun time of year. Three (and a half) short stories relate their autumn adventures, which involve leaves, pumpkins and Halloween. Through the text and illustrations, the reader comes to realize that these three friends have very different personalities. Cat is very serious, Rat is silly and Bat is a problem-solver. They work well together, with some typical bumps along the way, and always end up on a positive note.
Text is simple and accessible to new readers and Teague’s signature cartoon-like characters add to the story with their expressive features. The illustrations, rendered in acrylics, are warm and invite the reader into the book.
This is the fourth volume in the Bat, Cat & Rat series and is a great addition to updated collections. Beginning readers will enjoy the ride along with these three sweet friends. Recommended.
Sammy wakes up in the morning, takes off her bonnet, and gets dressed. Today is the first day of school! Sunny, her cute dog, accompanies her as she gets ready. After Sammy is dropped off at her first day of kid school, Sunny is dropped off at the first day of puppy school. Both kid school and puppy school are full of firsts, feelings, and learning. The end of the day comes with the realization that tomorrow will be the second day of school.
A sweet and charming introduction to the start of school. The parallel story of Sunny’s puppy school experience helps calm possible anxiety through shared experiences and routines.
