Remember Us, by Jacqueline Woodson. Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House. 2023. $24.99 ages 10 and up

"And I remember the boy in the park, 
his words erasing me for weeks. What 
kind of girl are you? I remember my 
ball disappearing. My basketball shoes
growing moldy in the back of my closet. 
The hollow place his words left behind.

But now even that has faded. 
And maybe that's what matters. 
That time soothes the sharp sting
of pain. Until only the soft and hazy 
edges of the hurt are remembered."

Sage is 12 and would rather spend time playing basketball than thinking about what most other girls her age are doing. She has few concerns about how she looks, and finds herself feeling uncomfortable spending her time with her girl friends who continually worry about how they look. She and Freddy, a new boy, feel the same about basketball and spend time together shooting hoops and talking New York Knicks. They have much in common. 

Their Bushwick neighborhood is inundated with fires, leaving many families without a home. Sage and her mother will soon be relocating away from the worry and the sirens that disturb their sleep night after night. In the midst of this coming change, Sage is also still grieving her firefighter father's death, leaving his family home, and the way she was treated by a boy at the park. It fills her with self-doubt, and makes her think seriously about taking a break from basketball, which she does. 

The setting of Bushwick in the 1970s is very clear, right from the start. It was a time of worry and hardship for those living there while fires burned all around them. Each chapter, short or longer, is filled with memories and feelings. Sage is part of a wide and close community; her connection to it is powerful. The friendships are strong, and lasting while also being threatened by outside circumstaces. 

Readers will certainly feel connected to Sage, her worries and triumphs. The scenes are so real, the feelings deep and the community strong. This is another exceptional story from an extremely accomplished writer. 

The Wild, written and illustrated by Yuval Zommer. Doubleday, Penguin Random House. 2023. $24.00 ages 4 and up

"The Wild could be still. 
When the Wild slept, so did 
bears and bats and seeds and 
trees. 

The Wild always wanted to give. 
It gave twigs for sparrows to 
make their nests ... "

I think we can all agree that we do need hope for the Earth's future. As strong winds, extreme heat, and a growing number of wildfires continue to burn, an environmental story like this one offers what we need to know. Yuval Zommer has dedicated it 'to the Wild in all of us'. 

There was a time when the Wild was not so far from each of us. There was a place for all the plants and animals who lived there. It was extensive, and stretched from shorelines to the deepest part of the ocean. It could be windy and wonderful, moving from season to season. Animals of air, land and sea had their space in it, quietly welcoming and providing peace for all. 

As people arrived, they cared for the Wild and it cared for them. 

"The Wild is so huge and giving that, there will always be 
enough for us," they said."

It didn't take long until the changes wrought by people who didn't give back created enormous problems in the Wild by taking too much. Plowing, mining, draining, burning, dumping, building changed the landscape; forests and ice formations started to disappear. It took a child to notice that the changes were making the Wild sick. No need for help, the people said. The child began to worry ... until the Wild had nothing left to give. 

The boy used his voice to make people take notice. Soon, others joined him and made their voices heard as well. It is a reminder to all that change must happen in our homes, our cities, and in the Wild. Only then, will the Wild give again. The Wild can only give when we give something back; an exceptionally important lesson to be learned. Healing is possible, if we all do what we can to show we care. 

The wonderful artwork creates a world filled with color and natural beauty, the diversity that is our planet and the destruction of its many resources. Its message is for all of us, children and caregivers alike. Then, take the time to talk about and find ways to make a difference where you are. 

Pepper & Me, written and illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna. Astra Books, Penguin Random House. 2024. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"We keep staring at each other, the scab and me. 
I worried as it began to look more and more scary. 

Hideous scab. 
I was afraid it would stay forever." 

I am a big fan of Beatrice Alemagna's work; I like her quirky sense of humor and the interesting stories she tells. The narrator for this is a young girl. Readers quickly learn that she has taken a fall in the street; the result is blood dripping down her leg and an assurance from her father as he cleans it up that she is going to have 'a beautiful scab'. She is not at all convinced of its beauty. Instead, she thinks it looks much like a hamburger. 

Her mom says it won't take long until it has disappeared. In fact, that is an untruth. The scab goes nowhere. Will it stay forever? Mom agrees that it is big, puts some cream on it, and repeats her assertion that it will fall off. Days pass, the scab remains. Other kids do not have the same issues with their scabs. 

Because of their time spent together, the scab is named Pepper. The day comes when Pepper actually talks to the girl. Pepper explains it will a wait before she is gone, and complains about the name she has been given. A visit to her grandparents brings no sympathy. Just when the girl finally gets used to having the scab as a companion, Pepper begins to change. She is softer and smaller. The two remain content to be together. 

"I began telling Pepper stories ... like about the day I got lost 
in the forest, about my fear of spiders, about my dream to visit
Japan and also have a dog of my own."

One day, Pepper is gone! Where? All that is left is a smooth spot on her knee, and memories. 

The gouache, oil, collage, and wax pencil artwork is excepetional. Always interesting, holding wide appeal, and telling.                                                                                          

Plain Jane and the Mermaid, by Vera Brosgol. First Second, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2024. $19.99 ages 10 and up

 

"Hey, stop it!
You were just a kid. 
A selfish person wouldn't 
have helped me.
A coward wouldn't have 
gone as far as you have ...
Just to save someone who I'm 
pretty sure doesn't deserve it. 

But that's selfish too. No one 
else would marry me. 

I mean, look at me."

Poor Jane! After being treated poorly by her parents throughout her life, the sudden death of the two only adds to her many difficulties. She is being threatened with eviction from the family home. The law says marriage is her only option if she wants to stay. To that end, she suggests a plan to an unhappy young fisherman that they should be married; she would get the family fortune, he would get the money needs to live the life of his dreams. 

It seems to be working until Peter is captured by a mermaid and put in an underwater prison. With magical help, Jane makes her way to the mermaid village far below the surface. It is a dangerous mission, requiring the assistance of cantankerous (while also engaging) seal who helps her learn about the dangers inherent in life under the sea. 

The mermaid (and her sisters) who has taken Peter is vainer that Jane can imagine and uses her beauty to further victimize Jane. Luckily, Jane is learning that she has much to offer. She is persistent in her quest to save Peter and proves she has great worth while doing so. 

Ms. Brosgol creates an expressive and charming character in Jane. She manages to hold her own in a story that looks closely at beauty, daring to do the right thing, and friendship. Middle graders who have a penchant for graphic novels will find much to appreciate in Jane's story. The story moves along quickly, with many twists and turns ... just what many readers are wanting to read. The ending is very satisfying for all. 

The Runaway, written and illustrated by Nancy Vo. Groundwood, 2024. $19.99 ages 5 and up

 

"He was greeted by the smell of cattle and bread.
The runaway ate a warm loaf with potato soup, 
then fell into a deep sleep."

This is the final book in the Crow Stories trilogy. The artwork will be familiar to those who have read the first two stories. Ms. Vo used ink, watercolor and acetone transfer, while also using newspaper clippings from the mid-1800s, to create a prairie landscape that inspires thoughts of the Old West. 

The story begins with a young woman and a boy. A picture in a locket shows the two of them. The young woman leaves. When the boy's mother dies, he is alone and runs away from his home. Having no fear, he hitches a ride on a passing wagon and finds himself in a noisy town where he knows no one. He follows other people as they leave town, hoping he won't have to travel too far to find what he is seeking. 

He searches everywhere, and sleeps in the woods ... until two riders find him there and offer him a chance to go with them. At a small settlement, he is greeted with food and the opportunity for a good sleep. He also finds tiring work in exchange for what is provided to him. When he is ready to begin his search once more, he is met with a huge surprise. A satisfying ending to an interesting series. 

WOO HOO! YOU'RE DOING GREAT!, by Sandra Boynton. Little, Brown and Company, Hachette. 2023. $22.99 ages 3 and up

 

"Or is it ALL too much for you?
So much to learn.
So much to do."

If you have ever felt you could use a bit of inspiration to make your day better, you must meet this very loud chicken! Doesn't matter the cause for your feeling in need of a boost, he's your man. If life has handed you a rotten day, along with a set of worries, there are ways to change that. Put this chicken in charge. 

"Well, I can help you! 
Yes, indeed! 
I know 
EXACTLY 
what you need ... "

You just need someone to cheer for you. WOO HOO! This chicken is up to the job. Convinced that enthusiasm is the answer, the chicken has it in spades. Learning to skate? Practicing ballet? There in no limit on the cheering that will be sent your way; always with a whoop and a holler and a YOU CAN attitude. 

If the chicken makes a mistake, it is sure to be forgiven in light of the fact he gives full support to every chance you take. All that holds him in good stread for the job as your perosnal cheerleader. Bravo! 

A perfect gift for so many reasons and seasons! 

Born Naughy: My Childhood in China, written by Jin Wang with Tony Johnston and illustrated by Anisi Baigude. Penguin Random House, 2024. $ 23.50 ages 7 and up

 

"At night we had only kerosene lamps for light. 
But we did not use those much, because kerosene
cost a lot. When the dark was coming, I had to 
eat my food fast before I could not see it. 
On this night, I ate fast. Like always. Soon our 
house was black, black. There was nothing else 
to do but say good night, then sleep and dream 
about the wonderful fox, the wonderful singing 
with Die, the wonderful well, and our wonderful 
trip together." 

Oh, I loved reading this memoir filled with adventure, humor, and love for family. Jin Wang tells her story, with help from Tony Johnston, about life in Nan Ba Zi in Inner Mongolia, China. There are only 18 homes in their village. Most readers will be very unfamiliar with and surprised by the simplicity and hardship of it. At age 8, in 1982, she lives with her mother, and two brothers in a one-room mud house while her father works far away making bamboo steamers. His visits are few and far between; the joy experienced when he is home is palpable. 

Her storytelling style is chatty and most enjoyable as she shares her tales of family life, friendship, and her cultural traditions. A trip with her father (while he is home for a short visit) to fill their water tank lets readers understand the difficulties that arise when a house has no running water. Nor does it have electricity; everyone goes to bed as darkness falls. Her mother's beliefs and customs are a part of their village life. A few are quite startling and unusual. Other tales include a visit from the traveling popcorn man, being with friends, touching her tongue to a metal doorknob, climbing trees when explicitly told not to do so, and other community events. 

Celebrating the New Year calls for hard work to prepare the house, the food, and the clothing that usher in good fortune for the year to come.  The evening is long as they wait for the old year to turn, and offer a chance to welcome the new year. What good fortune will the new year bring? 

Notes from both authors offer interesting insight into the meeting that led to putting pen to paper and creating this most memorable and delightful read.