They Say Blue, written and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki. Groundwood, 2018. $19.95 ages 4 and up

" ... but I don't need
to crack an egg to know
it holds an orange yolk
inside. I can't see my blood,
but I know it moves around
my body even when I am
perfectly still."

And when we play,
I feel it race faster
to keep up,"

Wow! I was watching the announcements yesterday from Roger Sutton, editor of the Horn Book, for the winners of the Boston Globe-Horn Book awards for 2018, and this is the winner in the picture book category. Congratulations, Jillian! It is a well-deserved award, and I will tell you why I think so.

I have just spent a month with a three-year old. Her wonder at the world, what she knows, and what she has seen, was evident every single day. Her imagination knows no bounds. Jillian Tamaki, in her first picture book for young children, has perfectly captured that world. Her young narrator loves the water, and notes that she has been told it's blue; but, it is not when it flows through her hands. Those things she can see, and some she can't, and what she can imagine, are expressed in lovely, flowing language that carries readers from page to page.

Her joy is shared with quiet candor as she moves from taking note of the colors she sees to the imaginative matters of her mind. When a grey sky and rain spoil her fanciful boat journey across a 'golden ocean', she bends to note the appearance of a purple flower and switches her attention to the new growth found in spring's arrival. From there, readers are invited to an appreciation for the passing of the seasons. It is the way a child's mind works!

There are so many opportunities to pause and consider the awareness of this child, and to talk about what is happening. In spring warmth she stretches her arms to the sky and becomes a tree. From that new perspective, she makes a decision:

"Standing tall, I angle my green
leaves to feel the sun.
I think I'll stay quiet and listen to
the sounds of the summer."

How lovely! Ms. Tamaki's acrylic and Photoshop artwork swirls with movement and an awareness of the child's internal rhythms, as she revels in everything she sees around her.

Imaginative and wonder-'full'!
                                                                           

All The Animals Where I Live, by Philip C. Stead. Roaring Brook Press, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2018. $26.99 ages 5 and up

"There are a lot of animals
where I live.
But the most important one
is my dog. Her name is
Wednesday.
Wednesday is not from here.
She is from the pound in
Baltimore.
Wednesday has lived a lot of
places, but this place is her
favorite."

If you are a fan of Philip C. Stead's work you will have met Wednesday in a past book, Ideas Are All Around. This time, he shares his thoughts on living in a rural setting after living in the city. As he did in that previous book, he invites readers on a bit a a journey through the neighborhood. He is very content with this new life and, in sharing it with readers, it leads him to visit memories of his "Grandma Jane".

"If my Grandma Jane had been an animal
she would have been a hummingbird -

flitting and buzzing and always busy,
gathering fluff and knitting it into a comfortable nest."

His grandmother loved nature and animals and would very much enjoy a visit with his family in their new environs. Wednesday also loves where they are living now. There is much to see and to hear, and to consider as one day moves on to the next.

"At night it is quiet.
But only until you listen.
There are a lot of little things playing their music in the moonlight.
Then the coyote howls, and nothing moves."

Seasons come and go. Wednesday watches, listens and protects as best she can.

This is a peaceful meditative journey with an artist who sees wonder in the natural world, and shares it in details that are sure to engage and delight those who also love the feeling of calm in memories and observations shared.
                                                                   

Bob, written by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead, with illustrations by Nicholas Gannon. Feiwel and Friends, Macmillan. Raincoast. 2018. $22.50 ages 8 and up

"I had lots of time to think in the closet, of course. It's like I was alone, but I wasn't alone at the same time. I made a home for myself inside my head and I decorated it with all the things I learned and thought about and made with my Legos. I got in touch with my inner Bobness! I know Livy feels awful about leaving me for all those years, but after that admittedly rocky adjustment ... "

It's been five years since Livy has been back to Australia to visit her grandmother. Now, she is ten. When she gets there, she has an intuition that something important is in the house. As she settles in to the guest bedroom, she opens the closet door and remembers what it is she forgot.

It's Bob! Bob is “a small zombie wearing a chicken suit ...”. He is perched atop a large dictionary where, he is quick to tell her, he has been since Livy left him there five years ago when she returned home to Massachusetts. At the time, she promised to return and help him find his way home. Neither knew then where that might be. Bob is not impressed with how long it has taken for her to return.

As the become reacquainted, Livy realizes just how special Bob is, and why she liked him so much from the beginning. He is loyal, kind, smart, and obviously, very patient. Memories from that  first trip return, and a sense that a memory triggered might be the answer they need to send him home.

Livy is worrying about missing her mother who will soon be off to visit old friends, leaving her with Gran Nichols. Gran is worrying about the drought that is threatening her town. Bob, though endlessly patient and still dressed in his chicken disguise, would really like to find his home and family. Will they be able to solve the mystery? Will Bob finally go home? We can only hope.

What a beautifully told this collaboration this is! That should come as no surprise given the wealth of talent for storytelling the two share. In alternating voices, they create a story of love, friendship and the beauty of a child's belief in magic. Each character is fully developed, and memorable.


https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/73513-bestselling-authors-stead-and-mass-team-up-for-a-tale-about-friendship.html

The Prince and the Dressmaker, by Jen Wang. First Second, Macmillan. Raincoast. 2018. $23.99 ages 12 and up

"When I saw you last night, something clicked. You really were Lady Crystallia! It was you, but you were more. Bigger. More amazing.  You were like a goddess version of yourself ... it was magic.

You know, I felt it, too! Something about wearing your dress transformed me. It's the first time I  felt worthy of this."

When Prince Sebastian meets Frances, he has no idea that his life is about to change. In a graphic novel, set in the late 19th century in Paris, and featuring a royal house, Jen Wang weaves a fascinating fairy tale that focuses on issues of identity, acceptance and prevailing tastes in fashion.

Frances, a young seamstress, is tasked with creating overnight a new dress for a spoiled and dismissive young society woman. It is to be worn at the Prince's birthday ball. The dress is both scandalous and much admired; the following day Frances is asked to act as a personal dressmaker for a mysterious client. She accepts and soon learns that her client is none other than Prince Sebastian himself, who loves to dress in women's clothing. Soon, society is swooning over the beautiful fashions being worn by Lady Crystallia, Prince Sebastian's alter ego. The two become fast friends, and Frances promises to keep his secret. Sebastian is in a constant state of worry that his parents, and any potential bride, might discover that he likes to dress as a woman. He is an honorable young man, and doesn't want any scandal to reflect on his parents' regal position. Nor does he want any young woman chosen for him (although he is still very young) to be embarrassed by his alter identity.

 “This is who I am. I’m a prince who likes to wear dresses.”

There is a hint of romance between the Frances and Sebastian, but the focus is mainly about their friendship. After meeting a long-admired fashion icon, Frances worries that she is not doing the work she is destined to do. She is suppressing her imagination and flare for design to Sebastian's needs, and not meeting her own. Although they bring out the best in each other, is it possible for the two to remain friends?

There is magic in Jen Wang's elegant, colored illustrations. The fashions are unique and gorgeous, there is movement evident on every page, and the facial expressions are perfection. It is a fairy tale meant for a contemporary audience, and works beautifully. Her storytelling is impeccable, allowing readers to smile, weep, gasp and thoroughly enjoy this very special graphic novel.

The Funeral, written and illustrated by Matt James. Groundwood. 2018. $18.95 ages 5 and up

"Norma was practicing
her sad face in the mirror
in her parents' room. Though
she was, in fact, pretty
happy.

It was a day off from
school, and she would
be spending it with her
cousin Ray. Her
FAVOURITE cousin."

This is the first book that Matt James has both written and illustrated. I certainly hope it will not be his last. I am sure you have been to a family funeral with your children, and have wondered how it is affecting them. This is a very realistic portrayal of the few attended by my children when they were young.

A death in the family is sad. There is no other word for it. We meet Norma a few days after a phone call reports the death of her mother's great uncle. Norma will not be in school today. She will attend Great-Uncle Frank's memorial service with her family. Norma is aware of funeral protocol, and is practicing her sad face. She knows she should be sad but, in truth, she is looking forward to seeing her cousin, Ray. He is her FAVORITE!

All of this is vrty real for many young children. They have little capability to grasp the same meaning for death as happens with adults, especially when their experiences are few. Norma sees the fun in funeral, as Matt James so aptly points out on the cover. She and Ray hope to have a chance to play at the church while their parents visit following the service.

The service is presented with candor, and with its many elements - being in church, the back and forth between cousins before the long service begins, the unfamiliar sights and smells, the organist and the music, the refreshments in the church annex, the memorial photographs from Uncle Frank's life. Both children reflect on his life and Ray quietly asks, "Is Uncle Frank still a person?" Then, the two are released to the churchyard for time together - the fun part for them.

Matt James uses mixed-media to create his impressive and expressive artwork. There are many poignant moments of both sadness and joy, reflected in a wide diversity of composition and  perspective. I have read it numerous times, and find something new in the art every single time I do. Detailed and lovely, it is testament to Mr. James' great talent. Readers can see that Norma understands the solemnity of the service, while also exhibiting her own lively nature. Once she and Ray have the opportunity to be alone on their own, they do have a great time. Those images are filled with color, joy and exploration. I think he presents a perfect portrayal of a funeral from a child's perspective and the varying reactions of all those in attendance.

"I think Uncle Frank would have liked his funeral."
                                                                        

Come Home Already! Written by Jory John and illustrated by Benji Davies. Harper, 2017. $21.99 ages 4 and up

"I'm just so bored!
I wonder what ol' Bear
is doing right this second.
I bet he's having so much
fun without me."

"Ugh. There's got to be
an easier way to set up
a tent. Ah, never mind.
I'll figure it out later.
Time for some fishing."

Duck and Bear are back, and I couldn't be happier! I love reading these books, and kids love hearing them. I was recently reading at a K-8 school that I have been visiting every year for a while. In fact, this year was the tenth anniversary of my first visit there.That means that some of the kids have been there every year since I started. It is lovely to be with them, and hear their comments about years past. When I pulled out this book to read to the grade 7/8 class, there were fond remembrances of the first two books. When I asked for a descriptor for Duck, the answer came quickly ... annoying!

Yep! Duck is annoying. His daily visits to the sedate and solitary Bear next door can certainly cause consternation. Duck doesn't change, and Bear adjusts. So, when Duck makes his daily ebullient trip over for a visit, he is stopped in his tracks by a sign on the door reporting that Bear has gone fishin' and will be back in a week. FISHING! How could Bear go without telling Duck, without asking him along, without considering how lonely Duck will be without his friend.

In the meantime, Bear plods along a forest path to his favorite camping spot, alone and quiet and without his pesky neighbor. He is joyous in the quiet solitude of the woods. Back at Duck's house, Duck is trying to make sense of a day without Bear, and decide what to do. Nothing comes to that will fill the void. He calls loudly for Bear to 'COME HOME ALREADY!'

Bear is beginning to rethink his fishing trip. It's hard to set up his tent, it starts to rain, the fish aren't biting, and he's hungry! With Bear sighing about his troubles, and Duck sighing over his missing friend, Duck makes a decision that is sure to change the trip entirely.

The characters are polar opposites, the drama always perfect for reading aloud, and the expression-filled illustrations laugh-out-loud funny. They perfectly complement the writing and make this a duo readers want to meet again and again. Thanks to Jory John and Benji Davies for perennial favorites!

If Wendell Had a Walrus, written by Lori Mortenson and illustrated by Matt Phelan. Henry Holt and Company, Macmillan. Raincoast. 2018. $24.99 ages 4 and up

"Then they'd jump on
Wendell's bike and pedal
right past Old Mrs. Quimby's
house. Wouldn't she be
surprised!
They'd climb trees,
build forts,
fly kites,

RUN!"

One day while out riding his bike, Wendell takes note of a walrus-shaped cloud. That gets him thinking about a real walrus, and that he might like to have one. Should he find one, he has the perfect name for it - Roger. They would share a love of jokes, the 'punnier' the better. They would surprise Mrs. Quimby as they sped past her garden, Roger being pulled in a wagon by Wendell on his bike.

Some of his imaginings fall flat when he remembers that walruses can't climb trees, build forts without incident, or fly kites. No matter. They would love being together, and spend as much time as possible having the time of their lives.

But, Wendell doesn't have a walrus.

Maybe Uncle Zed's Pet Emporium has one for sale.

"Sorry," said Uncle Zed.
Unfortunately, he didn't
expect a walrus shipment
in the foreseeable future."

So, Wendell stuffs a note in a bottle and launches it into the ocean, asking any walrus to come visit. What he gets instead is a new friend!

Matt Phelan uses pencil and watercolor to create the warmth and energy of the setting, while also ensuring that the humorous encounters between the walrus he wants to have and Wendell himself are lighthearted and engaging. 

The final image is a real hoot!
                                                                           

Albert's Tree, written and illustrated by Jenni Desmond. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House, 2018. $21.99 ages 4 and up

"My tree is crying. I'm trying to cheer it up," said Albert. "Well, when I'm sad, I eat grass," said Caribou. So Albert and Caribou gathered lots of grass. "We've brought you some grass, Tree," said Albert. "Please cheer up." But the tree just kept wailing. Why is your tree crying, Albert?" said Squirrel. "I don't know," said Albert with a sigh."

Seasons come and go, and there is much to like about each one of them. We all know bears sleep in the winter, and awaken in the spring with a need for food and perhaps even friendship.

Albert is no exception. In spring, he races to his favorite place in the forest - his tree. Albert loves its branches, its beauty, its secluded spot and its serenity. Perched on its most comfortable branch, Albert is suddenly aware that there is a noise coming from his tree. It is crying ... no, wailing!

But, everything about the tree is just as Albert remembers it. He begins to inspect it from every angle, and remains puzzled by the noise. Rabbit hops up, with a question and a suggestion. Might digging holes help? Nope, the crying does not cease. Caribou wonders about grass. Grass always makes Caribou happy. Second failure! The tree just keeps howling!

Albert begs it to stop. Nothing helps, until Albert thinks about what makes him happy. He asks a whispery question, and the tree is finally able to explain why it is sad.

"Because I'm scared of the big hairy monster."

Only then does Bear realize that their is another creature in residence in the tree with a reasonable fear, and he knows just what to do.

Artwork is created in mixed media, and makes for a grand read. The endpapers offer up a special treat. Jenni Desmond's use of texture, white space, and bold color keep readers in constant contact with the soft, gentle bear that is full of love for his tree. You just want to reach out and give him a hug. My grandgirls are going to love it!
                                                                                 

Gordon: Bark to the Future, by Ashley Spires. Kids Can Press, 2018. $16.99 ages 8 and up

"*GASP!*
Where is his secret lab?
Where is his bed?
Where is his dish?
Where is his bone?!?

YIPE!
HOLY FUZZBUTT!

GORDON DOESN'T
LIVE HERE!"

Only one agent can protect the humans from alien attack. His partner Binky has been captured, calls to P.U.R.S.T (Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel) have not been answered, and the humans need help. Is Gordon too late? There is no time to test his new time machine to ensure it can do what it is designed to do. He will have to take a chance, go five days back in time, and attempt to thwart the contemptible flies wanting to make his humans' lives unbearable.

A 'bug' in the machine causes him to go back FIVE YEARS. Is there nothing to be done? He has no fuel to get home, he can't change what has happened because of its effects for the future, and dogs are the enemy. Can a dog do what needs to be done to change the future?

You may be missing Binky, but Gordon certainly helps ease that pain. We are constantly aware of Gordon's thought processing and decision-making, as well as his occasional senior moments - balls and steak can be real distractions. Gordon must depend on his mental acuity to find a solution. Can he do it?

Laugh-out-loud funny, witty, full of action and angst, kids new to the series will want to go back and find all books that have led Gordon to this time in his life. Emerging readers will love it, fans will be thrilled to have another adventure to enjoy, and all will look forward to the next installment.
                                                                              

Greetings From Witness Protection, written by Jake Burt. Feiwel and Friends, Macmillan. Raincoast. 2017. $23.99 ages 12 and up

"The first time I crashed a new school midyear was a disaster. The second time was ... well, okay, that was a disaster, too. By the third time, I started getting the hang of it. I guess that's one of the reasons the marshals picked me - I've done this sort of thing before. Granted, not as Charlotte Trevor, and not with people's lives at stake, but I know enough by now to have a plan ... "

I read a review of this novel, and knew that I wanted to read it. Thankfully, I did just that - and in one day! I only hope to meet Nicki and her new family at some future date, to see how they are doing.

Nicki is a foster kid, with some issues. The Trevors are a family in need of help. The U.S. marshals are taxed with putting the Trevors into the Witness Protection Program, and finding a way to keep a deadly crime organization from finding them. What if they change the family composition, move them to a new home, and let them start over with Nicki/Charlotte as their daughter? What could possibly go wrong?

Indeed.

Nicki/Charlotte is an crackerjack character - abrasive and charming, a pick pocket when nervous, thoughtful and kind, and looking to be loved. She is 13. Her life can only get better, she hopes. She does her best to maintain a quiet, inconspicuous life and keep her new family out of trouble. Her relationship with her new 'brother' is funny, and often contentious. Her past is not particularly conducive to her fitting in, but she does.

The Trevors love her and value the help she gives to keep them out of the public eye. She does nothing to make herself visible. She's not nearly as cool as she really is, she gets average grades, she makes few friends, and she doesn't do as well as she could do at basketball, even though she could be fantastic. Flying under the radar is not easy; it takes a lot of work and diligence to keep it that way.

Nicki's first person narration is powerful and strong, real and endearing. You will be happy to meet her. The pace of the story is quick, the bonds are strong, and there is a lot of fun mixed with the frightening chance for revenge if they are found. The ending is powerful, and will have readers hoping Jake Burt has another great story to tell.

Summer Color, written by Diana Murray and illustrated by Zoe Persico. Little Brown and Company, Hachette. 2018. $23.49 ages 4 and up

"The wind starts to stir.
A few drops pitter-patter,
and critters that creep in
the grass quickly scatter.
Rain batters down on the
blustery scene,
as cardinals fly into
treetops so green."

The family has gathered to have a cool drink together on a warm summer day. Two children can't ignore the allure of summer freedom and are off to explore the countryside. Away from the yard, down the path past the well, and through the meadow they run. Realizing they are a distance from home when a storm blows up, they must make a mad dash for  safety. As they go, they continue to take note of their beautiful natural surroundings - a creek, a waterfall, the nearby lake and the meadow.

"Our soggy shoes squeak when we race through the door.
We crowd by the window and watch the rain pour."

I like the way the author weaves common colors through the entirety of her verse. The pace picks up  quickly as the children notice the dark gray clouds and run home, in contrast to the drowsy and relaxed pace at the beginning while the family enjoys refreshment in the summer heat. Readers will enjoy the setting, and the day's action, noting the many affable details included in Zoe Persico's lively digital artwork.

It will strike an agreeable note with little ones as they enjoy the rhyme and rhythm of the text, and their introduction to the colors in this wondrous world.

Bat Citizens: Defending the Ninjas of the Night, by Rob Laidlaw. Pajama Press, 2018. $22.95 ages 9 and up

"Sometimes bats enter buildings through tiny holes or gaps that lead into attics, basements, or spaces between walls. People often want them removed, but if pups are present, the bats should be left alone until the pups have weaned and both females and pups have left for the season." 

Young readers love knowing as much as they can about bats. Rob Laidlaw writes terrific nonfiction on topics that kids love to read. It's a win-win situation. No one will be disappointed when sharing this new book.

Rob's writing style is conversational, and personal. He provides clear information, based on up-to-date study and creates a book that is perfect fare for his target audience.
He begins with a useful table of contents, one of the features I like to see to help kids find what interests them most. There are five main sections: It's A Bat World, Unbelievable Bat Biology, Bats for a Healthy World, Bat Challenges and Solutions, and finally Being a Friend to Bats.

The introduction is concise, offering a quick look at what we can expect from the book. A number of topics are covered in each section. These are far-ranging, and accompanied by numerous photographs, "Bat Facts" and "Batty Ideas" boxes to add appeal and enhance learning. "Bat Citizens" are frequently introduced with text explaining what each does to improve conditions for the animals they love.

In an entry called Safe Havens for Bats, a 'batty idea' box asks "Which Roost?" And we learn:

"Maternity roosts are where female bats gather to bear their young.
Their combined body heat may help to create a warm environment
for the helpless pups.
Hibernacula are winter hibernation roosts. During
winter, bats need stable, cool temperatures that do
not change very much, and moist air that helps reduce
the loss of body fluids."

On the facing page we learn about Dara McAnulty, a 13-year-old Irish conservationist "who does whatever he can to help bats and other wild animals. Dara blogs about bats, his own wildlife sightings and research, and his thoughts about wildlife conservation. He constructs bat boxes for local gardens, schools, and other organizations. He also goes out with a local group to do bat detecting, and he contributes his findings to a database that helps scientists studying bats."

Pretty admirable stuff!  And he's not the only one. I counted 11 entries for Bat Citizens. Worthy work they are doing for bats, for scientists, and for our planet. Kids will enjoy reading about their work, and thinking about what they might do to make the world a better place.

The information provided throughout is easy to follow, answers most common questions and leaves readers with a good amount of knowledge concerning these oft-maligned creatures. The final section provides ideas for being a friend to bats. Making sure that buildings are safe for bats to make their homes there, bat mapping, understanding how important bats are to a healthy world, raising money to help fund bat research, and celebrating their place in the world. A list of 14 Ways You Can Help Bats, and a list of the many organizations that help bats around the world are presented. A glossary and index follow.

 Impressive and well-researched, as are other books by Rob Laidlaw, there is much to like about this fine book.

“I hope this book changes the way you think about bats and inspires you to get active helping them.”
                                                                                                          (-Rob Laidlaw in his introduction)

The Backup Bunny, written by Abigail Rayner and illustrated by Greg Stones. North/South. 2018. $23.95 ages 4 and up

"That was when I saw him.
BUNNY.
He was slumped over the
edge of the tree house.

I decided not to mention it.
This was my chance.

I couldn't go back to the
sock drawer yet."

I am eager to share this new book with my daughter and her daughters later this week. It could be our story - with a few tweaks. When they visited last year at this time, the little one had just had her first birthday. She was mobile and needed constant supervision as she liked to explore, and loved the bathroom. She carried her stuffed bunny, Lady Grey, at all times. She loved, and continues to love her. Whenever the bathroom door was left open, she made a beeline for it, obviously aware that Lady Grey loved water and baths. The first time she was dunked in the toilet, it sent us into a tailspin. Who knows why? The water was clean and the toilet spotless. We wrung Lady out, put her in the dryer - all the while hoping that she would come out as loved as when she went in. Mom decided we needed a backup, rushed to get an exact replica at a local bookstore, and came home content that we had a solution should there be further incidents. The next time it happened, we took care of the drenched one and handed the new one over. It was promptly rejected with  full force - tossed aside as totally unacceptable. Best laid plans ...

The narrator for this backup bunny story is the backup bunny himself. Fluffy lives in a sock drawer, ready to save the day should Bunny ever go missing. Fluffy has happy dreams about what it will be like when he must spring into action. Finally, Bunny is lost and Max is inconsolable. It's what Fluffy has spent long hours imagining. At first, Max seems content.

"Max squeezed me. He pressed me to his cheek.
He petted the tips of my ears.
For a second, I was truly happy.

And then ... SPLAT!"

Max does accept Fluffy as an acceptable substitute for Bunny. They eventually begin to do things together. All end with Fluffy in some untenable position that requires time on the clothesline. There are moments of hope, but bedtime comes and Bunny is called for, not Fluffy. Feeling great guilt for knowing where Bunny is and not saying anything, Fluffy finally spills the beans. Bunny is found and Fluffy returns to the sock drawer for good. Or, does he? 

Fun, fun, fun! Greg Stones gives Fluffy a warm countenance. Feelings are fully on display from start to finish. Humor is clear, and appreciated as Fluffy must endure less that perfect treatment.

All The Way to Havana, written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Mike Curato. Henry Holt and Company, Macmillan. Raincoast. 2017. $24.99 ages 6 and up

"zoom
   cluck
     cluck
       cluck

beside farms, forests,
beaches, and forts,
toward the curved road
by the seawall, ... "

I was very interested in seeing this book, although I have never been to Cuba. My husband, a high school coach and hometown baseball player, visited in the early 1970s as a member of the Canadian national baseball team asked to participant in a tournament held there. He was enamored of the 1950 era cars that were so lovingly cared for by their owners. When I saw this book, written 45 years later and focused on one particular car, I knew how he felt then.

It's old, rebuilt again and again, and remains the family's trusted vehicle as their make their way from their small village to big city Havana. Their trip is taken to celebrate the 'zero-year' birthday of a cousin. While some Cuban cars run beautifully, Cara Cara has her own special sounds ...

"Some of this island's old cars purr like kittens,
but ours is so tired that she just chatters
like a busy chicken -

cara cara, cara cara,
cluck, cluck, cluck ...

Today Cara Cara sounds like a tiny baby chick.
pio pio
    pio pio,
           pfffft."

The car stops, Papa does some more tinkering, and keeps trying until finally they are back on the road. The car fills with others in need a lift, the family, the gift and the cake. Upon arrival in Havana, the boy notices many cars similar to their own. The family party is enjoyed, the trip home uneventful, and further attention must be given the next day to the lovely Cara Cara.

"When he asks me which city-trip car I liked the most,
the answer is easy - our car! This noisy blue one,
with its ragged seats and cloudy windows,
because Cara Cara already belonged to our family
on the day when Abuelo, my old grandpa,
celebrated his zero-year birthday."

A lively telling and incredibly realistic illustrations take readers to the heart of Cuba. I am a huge fan of Margarita Engle; I love her storytelling. Mike Curato has done his homework. In fact, he did his research on a trip to Cuba. Using artwork created in pencil with digital color, readers are drawn to the brilliance of the island colors. The landscapes are detailed and authentic, the street scenes vibrant and full of life. The cars are perfect, allowing readers to see the variety, the mixing and matching that takes place to keep them in running order.

Their cars are as resilient as the Cuban people who keep them running. This celebration of Cuban life will entertain and attract many readers. Notes from both author and illustrator are welcome.

what happens next, written by Susan Hughes and illustrated by Carey Sookocheff. Owlbooks, 2018. $19.95 ages 5 and up

"What I Say About Bully B. When Mom Comes to Kiss Me Good Night: Everything. What Mom Says: That I'm brave for telling her. That she's sorry I feel scared and hurt. That she'll help. What Mom Says Next:
That everyone has their own way of looking at things and people. That each person's way of looking is made of where they're standing ... "

The bullied child is our narrator. Bully B. manages to make life miserable every school day. The text is to the point, the headlines bold and telling. Unsure how to get help, the vulnerable child expresses feelings alone and to readers.

"What I Want to Do on My Way to School:
Hurt something. Squish something.

What I Don't Do on My Way to School:
Hurt something. Squish something.

What Bully B. Does Today:
Swishes right past me like I'm invisible."

Mom sees the sadness, but there is no explanation for it. She suggests a walk. The two have fun, lying on the grass, talking about the vast blue sky. Upon the return home, the child looks at favorite books, considers a real love for Earth and life on it. And wishes Bully B. were an inhabitant of far distant star. Finally, the courage comes to share with EVERYTHING with Mom.

Mom tries to explain that everyone has their own view of the world that comes from circumstance, and Bully B. only sees the differences between the two. She offers advice and a few solutions for changing that perception. One takes special courage. It's worth a try, isn't it? Can they come to some sort of understanding?

If the solution to bullying were easy, we would not have to keep discussing it. Books can make a difference in the way children perceive its causes. Empathy for others is a perfect place to begin thinking differently.

Carey Sookocheff creates characters that are just slightly hazy in appearance. The main character is blue, the bully green and the rest of their world largely without color. Only when a cautious truce results does the world become more colorful and vibrant.

I Got A Chicken For My Birthday, written by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Sarah Horne. Carolrhoda Books, Lerner. Thomas Allen & Son. 2018. $23.99 ages 5 and up

"I guess a chicken
is better than socks.

Or a knitted sweater.

Or underwear.

Anyway ...

I got a chicken for my
birthday."

A chicken is an unexpected birthday gift from Abuela Lola. Ana was hoping for tickets to an amusement park. She may be disappointed, but she handles the situation with aplomb and good grace. Abuela might have gifted something even less attractive. Besides, she likes scrambled eggs!

The chicken is as unexpected as the gift itself. It has no time for chicken feed. Well, candy perhaps. It has no time for laying eggs. It does have an elongated list of needs. Kids will giggle when the list is read - 100 steel girders, 10,000 screws, 60,000 nails, an old lady who swallowed a fly, a hammer, a digger. That is only the beginning. Ana takes the list to heart when she sees her chicken has a plan.

The plan requires assistance from Ana's other pets: her dog has no time for a walk, her cat has no time to play, and her hamster is busy driving the excavator. The chicken recruits countless other animal friends and asks Ana for help as well. First, the chicken wants her to call Abuela Lola and ask her to pack her bags. 

There's a bonus! The birthday gift results in a birthday visit from Ana's much loved grandmother. She arrives in time to see the chicken's plan come to fruition. What a plan it is!

Mixed media artwork is as playful as the text is pragmatic. Bold color, clever details, and full out action will have kids giggling at every turn. Be sure to take the time to read the chicken's entire list! 

I Love My Purse, written by Belle Demont and illustrated by Sonja Wimmer. Annick Press, 2017. $21.95 ages 5 and up

"Hold on, wait a second," said Charlotte, who sat next to him. "Why are you wearing a purse?" "'Cause I want to," said Charlie. "But you're a boy! Boys carry worms in their pockets and toads in their backpacks, not bright red purses!" said Charlotte. "But I love my purse," said Charlie."

Charlie has a purse from his grandmother. It is red and lovely. With its strong handles and wealth of space, Charlie can carry as much as he wants to carry. He loves his purse. No longer will it sit in the closet.

His father tries to dissuade him from taking it to school with the argument that boys don't carry purses. Charlie does! His friend Charlotte has much the same attitude. Charlie listens to her opinion, reiterating that he loves his purse. Older boys also have something to say, but Charlie sticks to carrying the purse he loves. Even the crossing guard notices. Turns out he loves the purse, too - and his own sparkly shoes.

Charlie is just fine with his decision to take his purse to school every day. Those who wonder about his choice voice their opinions, and Charlie listens. But, he loves his purse and that makes carrying it easy for him. I really appreciate the way Charlie's determination inspires his father, his friend Charlotte, the older boy Sam, and the crossing guard to make a changes that make them happier.

"Charlie wore his purse
every day that week. On
Friday he went downstairs
for breakfast and found his
dad flipping flapjacks in the
kitchen. He was wearing his
favorite Hawaiian shirt.

"Hold on, wait a second, Why aren't you
wearing your suit, Dad?" asked Charlie.

"I love this shirt. The world needs to see it!"
proclaimed his dad.

"You don't think your boss is gonna get mad?"
asked Charlie.

"Only thing he could get mad about is not
owning this sweet shirt!" said Charlie's dad."

Bazinga!  Kudos to Charlie for his non-conformist ways. We could all take a lesson, and teach a lesson by sharing this book with our kids.                                                                         

Basketballogy: Supercool Facts You Never Knew, by Kevin Sylvester. Annick Press, 2017. $12.95 ages 9 and up

"The fans at Arizona State have a "curtain of distraction." This is an actual curtain set up near the opposing team's hoop. Just as a shooter gets ready to let go of the ball, students open the curtain. They've revealed everything from dancing unicorns to US Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps dressed in a Speedo and wearing all his gold medals."

We are already into the second round conference playoffs in the NBA post season. With baseball season in full swing, hockey playoffs ramping up, and basketball games to watch, sports fans are in a conundrum for what to watch and when.

We have always been a sports family. So, it's a great time of year to be distracted from everything else, and take time to sit and watch our favorite teams play. Having just finished reading Kevin Sylvester's book about basketball, I am more informed than I have ever been. I thought I knew the game pretty well.

This book is full of facts, figures, rules, plays, stories and minutiae. There is much I did not know. If only, I could keep it all straight in my head! Written and illustrated by Mr. Sylvester, it takes the same form as his 2015 Baseballogy. A clear and extensive table of contents invites browsing through its many double page entries. An introduction reminds readers that basketball is its own entity. It was not developed from any other sport. There have been changes, and the love for the sport has certainly grown.

Moving forward he fills the pages with facts such as this:

"HURRY AND WAIT
Originally, when someone scored a
basket, the game stopped - at least till the
janitor could get a ladder to retrieve the
ball. Naismith finally figured out if they
cut the bottom out of the basket, the ball
could go through, and the game could
resume quickly. Eureka!"

Remember that they had started by nailing peach baskets onto the balcony around the gym floor. With each turn of the page, information is added about the changes that have occurred in balls, rules, court size, the art of dribbling, the shot clock, and players' skill development.

"5221
Ted St. Martin isn't an NBA player,
but he has made free throws his
obsession. He once made 5,221 in
a row. It took his 7 hours and 20
minutes! He's actually broken his
own record 15 times and now helps
train other players. His secret? He
says it's practice."

With appealing artwork, charts, graphs and pages filled with all the basketball information enthusiasts are happy to know, you can not go wrong having this book available to kids who love learning about sports. The author covers facts and stories from the WNBA; addresses questions of salary, TV ratings and attendance, equity, diversity and ownership, and so much more.

The most interesting - and astonishing - comparison concerns the cost difference in attendance from 1960 until today. Anyone who attends public events is aware of the enormous changes that have been made and continue to happen. Kids seeing those money differences from spread to spread will be wishing for a return to common sense.

A ticket then? $1.50 and $4.00 courtside. Basketball was no big deal for many in 1960. Today, a ticket is $40 and courtside is $2,000 for one game! Concession food can set you back another pretty penny when a soft drink is $6.50, compared to 20 cents then. I would bet that 20 cents is much closer to what the concession stand buys it for even today.

Backmatter adds The Original 13 Rules penned by James Naismith in 1891, a trivia test (and answers), references and further reading, an index and a note about the author. 

Stellar!

Trash Revolution, written by Erica Fyvie and illustrated by Bill Slavin. Kids Can Press, 2018. $19.99 ages 10 and up

"Do you carry a backpack to school? If you think about it, a backpack can hold almost everything we need to survive and communicate: water, food, clothing, paper, and perhaps an electronic device. In every chapter of this book (except when we visit outer space) we're going to take a look at something you might carry in your backpack to school. We'll see how it is produced ... "

In doing so, we will also learn what happens when those items become waste. What happens to water, paper, food, plastic, metals and electronics when we are finished with them?

Common items that kids carry with them go through many different stages of development before being used or thrown away. If we take a look at the 'stuff' that surrounds us, it is everywhere. Spring cleaning forces us to look carefully at what we have collected and kept over the past year. It can be overwhelming. As the author discusses the waste cycle, she helps us understand that each and every one of us has a role to play in reducing waste because the world can no longer endure the ever-growing piles that threaten our world.

It will take a lot of thought and hard work to decide how we can make simple changes, and tough ones, to ensure the future of the planet. There is a lot of information to process, but it is written clearly and coupled with terrific illustrations that help with understanding and access. The table of contents is useful for readers in determining what they would like to learn about first. I was interested in two: paper and plastic.

"Worldwide, approximately 270 000 trees are cut down every day for paper production. Ten percent of that is for toilet paper. According to the Toilet Paper Encyclopedia (yes, it exists), 49 percent of people would choose toilet paper as their one desert-island item. Toilet paper ranked higher than food! The same study told us that the average person spends three years of their life on the toilet. That's a lot of paper. (And a lot of time.)"

"Globally, we use 4 billion plastic bags a year. We use them for an average of 12 minutes, but they take 500-plus years to decompose in a landfill. They were first introduced into supermarkets in 1977. So that first bag may be gone by the year ... 2477? Most plastic bags won't decompose (biodegrade) easily because the polymers in them are not recognized as food by microorganisms and they won't eat them."

Where will I start - and what about you?

An introduction, glossary, index and list of resources to provide even more information for those interested are included in backmatter.

Bill Slavin provides a touch of humor in illustrations that both inform and instruct. Charts and sidebars are well done and very useful. I think it is a book that should be in every school classroom and home. Only by informing ourselves and reducing the amount of waste we create on a daily basis can we be part of the solution. Shouldn't we all take responsibility? Isn't it up to each individual to play a part in reducing the footprint we leave every single day. Start with the easy stuff, and work up to bigger things. Do it at school and at home. It will help make the difference we want to see in the world.

Women Who Dared: 52 Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers, and Rebels, written by Linda Skeers and illustrated by Livi Gosling. Sourcebooks, Raincoast. 2017. $23.99 ages 10 and up

"Ida Lewis's father was the Lime Rock lighthouse keeper in Rhode Island. The only way to get to the lighthouse was by boat. Ida loved the water and wanted to tag along. That meant she had to learn to row - and she did. Ida soon became as comfortable in a rowboat as she was on land! When she was fifteen, the family moved into the newly built lighthouse on Lime Rock."

It wasn't long until her father's illness put Ida in charge of the lighthouse. Dropping out of school, she did what she had to do to keep the lighthouse running. She also rowed her younger siblings to school and back every day. Her first sea rescue happened when she was only 16. In the 54 years she spent in the lighthouse, she was credited with saving eighteen people! No one really kept track. The lighthouse at Lime Rock has been renamed to Ida Lewis Rock in honor of her many accomplishments.

The people of Rhode Island may know this story, but I am betting that there are many who do not. That is what I appreciate about reading books that teach me something new, and offer stories that are not familiar to many. I am guessing most of the 52 women included here are not well-known to readers, including adults. I recognized nine names.

Divided into three sections - daredevils, adventurers, and rebels, and dating back to as early as 1740, each short biography is presented on a double page spread that includes a colorful illustration facing a page of text providing the pertinent details for so many lives well-lived. Most lived in the 19th and 20th centuries, while a few are still with us today. Each is given a descriptor prior to the short biography. Ida Lewis's is Lighthouse Keeper and Life Saver.

These women were ahead of their time, working at endeavors few other women had thought to tackle and doing amazing things. Each is fascinating in her own right and will provide inspiration for those who read their stories. Those stories are compelling and will encourage young women to try their hand at unexpected ventures. Be like Keiko Fukuda who chose martial arts over flower arranging and tea ceremonies, or Bessie Stringfield who flipped a coin to determine where she would next visit on her motorcycle, performing stunts at carnivals and fairs to further her travels, or Emma "Grandma" Gatewood who hiked the Appalachian Trail for the first time at 67 - and then did it again 2 years later! They are terrific role models and worth knowing.

One new worthy women for every week in an entire year - there's a goal to have. Wouldn't it be something to learn all you could about each one? An extensive bibliography is included, as well as an index of the names of each of the women presented here.