Coming in March 2018 a wonderful story about a girl who persists in her determination to invent, even when things don't work as they should.  With encouragement from her grandfather she doesn't give up and ultimately helps a "friend" in need.  Imaginative and effective rhyme adds to the joy of the book.   Great to celebrate strong, determined girls and encourage mimicry.

Not coming til Feb 2018 but well worth noting now, this book tells the story of the first woman to run in the Boston Marathon even though it was "against" the rules and she had been denied entry.  Bobbi Gibb loved to run but couldn't join the school track team because it was "against" the rules.  She ran every chance she could and when she learned about the marathon she started to train.
The illustrations add charm to the story with their warm colors and collage feel (and who can resist an old VW bus)  Her white dog companion helps to locate her on a training page and the mile count helps to follow the race when it happens.
An important and inspiring story.

Coming out in mid September this is a book for every library.  Conversational, the author tells us about things we already knew about the State of Liberty and then tells us things we didn't know.   Most importantly, while telling us that her right foot is NOT anchored to the ground he reminds us that the statue and what she represents are constantly moving, and that her welcome is far reaching and unending.  What an important message for today and the future.  The illustrations are equally appealing and universal.

In these dark days here is a list of Social Justice books for all ages of kids, tweeted by award winning author Jacqueline Woodson. https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/

A book that constantly amazes as you suddenly catch on to the author's intent....to tell an alliterative story.   So the story begins with LOTS of A words, moving on the the B's and so on.   Anticipation adds to the fun, how are they going to handle the q's, what about the z's.   A definition of Alliteration appears at the back of the book with suggestions about where to look for others.  And hopefully this might inspire some copy-cats.

Young (and old readers) will puzzle over this wordless picture book. Where is Mr. Crocodile going as he gets up, gets dressed, takes the Paris Metro.  There are double page spreads interspersed with multiple images per page (usually to show lots of action and business).  Some people notice him, others don't and there are other animal characters mingling with the human ones.  His final destination is fun and can spark some interesting discussions.   The soft pastel pictures with a blending of foreground and background add to the gentle joy of this very original story.

In rhyming text that flows naturally and illustrations inspired by the textiles of the indigenous peoples of Peru the author and illustrator give us another version of this well known tale.
And this time the prince, el principe, with a mind of his own, helps resolve things the way they should be resolved.  The use of reds, in both fabrics and faces, adds a warmth to the story as well.  Delightful and the inclusion of so many Spanish words seems perfectly natural and the textual clues and illustrative hints make them easy to understand (and there is a glossary most conveniently placed at the FRONT of the book rather than the back.

 The author of Roller Girl brings us another unique character living a somewhat quirky life.  Her family are key players in a Renaissance Faire and that is the primary life Imogene knows.  Home schooled she is about to enter 6th grade when we meet her and she soon finds that dealing with that life requires a lot of the same skills needed in her role in the faire as a new squire in training.  Each chapter begins in an illuminated manuscript style which adds to the charm of this graphic novel which, along with dealing with bullying, friendship, coming of age, journeying into new worlds also deals with issues involving a life style/income level that is not on a par with those around you.  Original important fun.

Allen Say has taken on the subject of an artist whose life was one of neglect and lack of appreciation and yet his gorgeous illustrations and deliberate text bring to life James Castle and remind us that there are talents that cannot be denied even if they are not recognized by others.  Born deaf to a farming family, Castle was considered a dummy and spent a good part of his life living in deplorable isolated conditions.  But he drew.....with spit and charcoal on whatever scraps of paper he could find.  Say's illustrations, often in the style of Castle,  show the deprivation but also the careful insight and make Castle's world very real.  A memorable book.

Once again Tullet delights with an interactive book requiring only your voice, imagination, good will and willingness to follow his very open ended directions. And color adds to the fun with blue the color choice until things get a bit chaotic. Be prepared for a noisey library and hopefully sounds that you didn't expect. Original, creative, child centered and just plain fun.

 With her usual deliberate research, the author presents a detailed biography not just of this interesting woman but also of her time.  Palace intrigues as well as political ones are an important part of her story.  This is a love story, a coming of age story for the young woman and her country, the conflicts between personal goals/dreams and what the role demands. While we all have seen the picture of the stern little old lady this book makes her a flesh and blood young woman who grows old in a difficult role.

A beautiful book in text and illustration.  Lesa Cline-Ransome chooses to begin Harriet's story as an old woman and her husband's illustration reveals her in all of her dignity, courage and resolution.  And then we are taken back in time through all of her many roles as a strong woman fighting for what she believed in and taking care of others as a general, a nurse and a conductor.   The halo behind her head isn't by chance. While there have been other books about Harriet this one is exceptional and should be in every library.

The Wonderling 
by Mira Bartok (Goodreads Author) 

Edie Ching's review

Jun 30, 2017  ·  edit

it was amazing

A book not to be missed. It is Dickensian in flavor, an orphan fox living in deplorable conditions in an orphanage, finally gains a friend (a small wingless bird) who gives him a new name instead of a number, Arthur, and also courage to go outside the walls. He is definitely an "innocent" and is deceived by a Fagin type and almost lured into a life of crime but it is music that "saves" him and which he ultimately saves. The author is ambitious in the number of settings she creates as well as the many characters and all are well realized.....their are hovels, and sewers and cozy tree homes and an elegant mansion. One of the most positive aspects of the book (and there are many) is a final thought that reminds us that even villainous characters once had kind hearts.....I loved every minute I spent with this book.

READING PROGRESS

June 27, 2017 – Finished Reading

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Copy/paste the text below into your blog.A book not to be missed. It is Dickensian in flavor, an orphan fox living in deplorable conditions in an orphanage, finally gains a friend (a small wingless bird) who gives him a new name instead of a number, Arthur, and also courage to go outside the walls. He is definitely an "innocent" and is deceived by a Fagin type and almost lured into a life of crime but it is music that "saves" him and which he ultimately saves. The author is ambitious in the number of settings she creates as well as the many characters and all are well realized.....their are hovels, and sewers and cozy tree homes and an elegant mansion. One of the most positive aspects of the book (and there are many) is a final thought that reminds us that even villainous characters once had kind hearts.....I loved every minute I spent with this book.

READING PROGRESS

I love the work of Jennifer Donnelly and while to some of her fans this may seem like a bit too "commercial" a venture, the book reflects her thoughtful writing and word choice.  Using the characters of the Disney Film, Beauty and the Beast, but adding a contest between sisters Death and Love, Belle has new choices to make and life lessons to learn.  A lot is said about the writing of a book and who determines your story.  I think this will have broad appeal to romantic young girl and also independent ones who would like their "prince" to be able to express himself genuinely.

Bull  by David Elliott retells the myth of the Minotaur from many viewpoints, but the chief narrator and orchestrator of the chaos that ensues in Poseidon, a vengeful (if well rhyming) god.  The novel is in verse and moves quickly from character to character.  The most sympathetic is Asterion, the child engineered by Poseidon and whom Minos tries to turn into a monster.  Sure to engineer lots of interest in the myth and the "secondary" characters such as Theseus and Daedalus.

Coming in October and not to be missed, another charmer in this series about two kids and their grandfather.  Charlie is bigger, Mouse is "medium".  The language and antics are so true to childhood, understatement reigns and for a few minutes you are transported to a simple life, filled with love, comfort and joy.  What could be better.

A story of abandonment and friendship and finding your "luck".  Blue Montgomery's father leaves him at the family homestead without a word to his family.  He is off to pursue his "luck" as a race car driver.  Blue has the family "curse" of always losing.  Tumble, a new neighbor, works hard to be heroic but something always goes wrong.  In deciding to "save" Blue from his fate she also changes her own.  A thoughtful book that requires a careful reading, but the reader will be well rewarded.

This wonderful book will be the subject of a program at the Library on Congress on May 3 at 10:30 a.m. Coolidge Auditorium, The Jefferson Building in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision.  Sponsored by the Young Reader's Center. Author and illustrator will be present, moderated by the wonderful Deb Taylor.

Do we need another boy and dog book, absolutely when it is as original and thoughtful as this one.  A boy "finds" a dog, but then must give him up.  Years pass but affection doesn't and ultimately they are reunited, but not before dreams are described in illustration and words and the "hard" work of growing up is described.  The illustrations are evocative and also energetic and the language is minimal but powerful.
Just lovely in all respects. Look for it in May.

A riveting read about a group of men with intellectual disabilities who are victimized by their employer, a turkey processing company who views them as "boys" and keep them living in a hovel, with minimum pay and no freedom.  Sporadic attempts to challenge the situation are brushed aside by authorities in Texas (home of the company) and Iowa (where the men live and work).   Equal rights laws are ignored as are human rights.  Those who finally "save" the men are the heroes of this book as are the men and the author.  High y/a appeal.

MAX by Sarah Cohen-Scali, translated by Penny Hueson.

Starting in 1936 the Nazis began a program to ensure the continuation of the superior Aryan race by enlisting perfect young woman to have babies "on demand"; the program was called Lebensborn.  Max was one of the first of those babies and recounts his first 10 years (starting in the womb) in the first person.  We see what a perfect little Nazi he is until his world enlarges and he encounters a Jewish boy posing as a young Nazi cadet and hears thoughts other than those prescribed.  A powerful look at indoctrination that seems thorough but in which there is a small glimmer of hope about the humanity underneath.

TRIANGLE  by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen.
With a cover that is a bit reminiscent of The Three Robbers, this duo enlivens two potentially dull shapes with a simple trickster tale.  Triangle thinks he has bested Square until the latter gets the last laugh.  Could this be a concept book?  You Betcha, and young readers will definitely be able to recognize triangles and squares when the book is finished, but that's secondary to the surprise of finding these shapes with big personalities and big ideas.  A reminder that there is no one definition of a picture book, anything can be a character if your imagination is big enough and the pictures can be gritty , but a good story is a good story.   Original and memorable.

The Underground Railroad  by Colsom Whitehead

This award winning book for adults will resonate with young-adults as well as it portrays slavery from the viewpoint of those directly enslaved and those enslaved by their narrow-mindedness and ignorance.  The rich cast of characters includes those enslaved, those who think they won them, those who try to catch the run-aways and those who try to help them, be they conductors on the railroad or sympathizers.   A powerful look at man's inhumanity to man as well as the human spirit that cannot be defeated.

Amina's Voice by Hena Khan.
This book, under the new imprint Salaam Reads, is by one of my favorite authors whose book Golden Domes, Silver Lanterns, beautifully reminded readers of the communality of celebratins in all worlds as she described those celebreated by Muslimas.  Amina's Voice again reminds us of our shared cares/concerns as we share the life of a young, somewhat shy girl who is worried about changes in friends/frienships, how to be a good daughter/niece/sister (when an Uncle from Pakistan comes and wants to see things in a traditional way).  She would like to perform in a school event but is too shy to do so.  She just happens

 to be Muslim.   This is a well realized young girl who reminds us of the humanity we all share.

Noisy Night by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Brian Biggs is just the kind of good night kids will love.   It is full of rhymes and lively illustrations, journeying up each floor in a skinny apartment building, exploring the noises from above.  There's lots of action in this building and interesting residents.  The language is simple and repetitive, the topic original.  Will it put a child to sleep?  Eventually but I expect there will be lots of readings first.