Monthly Archives: January 2023

Elem./MG – Doodleville: Art Attacks!

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Sell, Chad. Doodleville: Art Attacks! Alfred Knopf, 2022. 978-1-984-89474-8. 250 p. $12.99  Grades 3-6.

Drew’s art club and the Doodles are back in Doodleville: Art Attacks!, which left off where Doodleville ended, with Levi, a doodle (who like the other doodles, can come to life), “borrowing” a baby from a portrait in the Art Institute of Chicago. The baby’s mother is not pleased, and chaos ensues in Art Attacks, as everything seems to go awry in an attempt to reunite the baby with its mother. It begins with bringing the baby back to the institute, where, through a series of events, spurred by Levi’s fear of the mother, the cat statue in Dorian Gray’s portrait is broken, enraging Dorian. Levi, afraid of the mother, once again steals (and hides!) the baby and the Mom, blaming Dorian, amasses and army of art to find her baby. Dorian, on his end, gets his own crew together. Drew’s art club, disagreeing on how best to proceed, first adds to the problem, fractures in argument, then comes together to get the art institute back on track.

THOUGHTS: Doodleville: Art Attacks! clearly is a continuation of the first book, and the two should be read in order, or it won’t make sense. Doodleville’s greatest strengths lie in the value it puts on the arts and imagination through its strong art/adventure storyline–unusual in the graphic novel market. The original cast is full of diverse characters (and their doodles) and it is, indeed, their diversity of thought and action that creates some of the conflict in the book. Gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other leads to an increased ability to work together and problem solve toward an ending that satisfies all–and creates a space for children in the Art Institute of Chicago. Recommended for its readability, creativity, and emphasis on the importance of art, as well as its cast of characters.

Graphic Novel          Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD

Elem. – Farmhouse

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Blackall, Sophie. Farmhouse. Little, Brown, and Company, 2022. 978-0-316-52894-8. 32 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

This book, which is written in one long sentence, tells the story of a farmhouse and the family who makes the house a home. The house, occupied by 12 children and their parents, is part of a 19th century dairy farm, and each spread details the day-to-day lives of the family members. They perform chores, play, squabble, read, cook, make mischief, share secrets, and dream of the future all together under one roof. Eventually, the children grow up and move away, and the house falls into a state of disrepair. It sits empty, except for its many new animal inhabitants, until the author herself purchases the property and salvages what she can from the old structure. Using the books, maps, sheet music, clothing, keys, and buttons she finds inside as inspiration, Blackall created this book, weaving together a tribute to the house and the family who lived in it so many years ago. This book’s stunning illustrations were created using a variety of mixed media, including Chinese ink, watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil. Blackall also incorporated additional materials she salvaged from the farmhouse, including wallpaper, newspaper clippings, clothing, string, curtains, and handkerchiefs.

THOUGHTS: This book is so visually impressive that each repeated reading will uncover previously unnoticed details. Each spread bursts with the personalities of the family members, and readers will enjoy flipping back and forth between pages, noting how the family and the farmhouse change over time. It’s a tribute not only to one family and one farmhouse, but to the way time passes and things change. Physical items are left behind, but so too are their stories, waiting to be rediscovered by new generations.

Picture Book          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

Elem. – A Seed Grows

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Portis, Antoinette. A Seed Grows. Neal Porter Books. 978-0-8234-4892-0. 32 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

This minimalist circle story recounts the life cycle of a sunflower for the youngest scientists. The title page features a bird with a sunflower seed in its beak. The seed falls onto the soil where the sun shines on it, and the rain waters it. It sprouts, breaks through the soil, and continues growing and growing, forming a bud, then a flower. The flower eventually fills with seeds which drop to the ground where a flock of birds finds them, completing the circle. Backmatter includes information about the parts of a seed, the parts of a sunflower plant, and additional information about what seeds need to sprout and thrive. Most double-page spreads feature a few words of text on the left side and a vibrant full-bleed illustration on the opposite page. The bright, oversize illustrations were created using different printmaking techniques, and their uncluttered simplicity reflects the beauty of the seed’s change and growth.

THOUGHTS: This will be a useful addition to primary grade units about flowers and plant life cycles. The beautiful illustrations will grab readers’ attention, and the sparse text will help emergent readers build confidence and reading fluency.

575.6 Plants          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

Elem. – I Like This, You Like That

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Ashman, Linda. I Like This, You Like That. Abrams Appleseed, 2022. 978-1-419-75089-2. Unpaged. $16.99. PreK-1.

Written as dialogue between friends, this book follows two children as they compare their likes and dislikes with one another. They discover that they don’t have much in common; in fact, they are opposites in many ways. Will they be able to accept their differences, or will these differences get in the way of their friendship? Told in rhyming verse and accompanied by soft, playful illustrations, this is a charming tale of friendship and acceptance.

THOUGHTS: The lyrical, rhyming text makes this book the perfect read-aloud choice for young children. It also would serve as an excellent segue into discussion about accepting others for who they are and respecting their differences. Two different genders and two different skin tones are represented in the story, further emphasizing the fact that our differences should not interfere with our friendships.

Picture Book          Julie Ritter, PSLA Member

YA – Dig Two Graves

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McNeil, Gretchen. Dig Two Graves. Hyperion, 2022. 978-1-368-07284-7. 352 p. $17.99. Grades 7-12.

Neve’s life seemed to derail from the moment her dad had a mental health breakdown and couldn’t return to his IT job, forcing their family to move into Grandma K’s old house in Carlsbad, CA where Neve’s mom grew up. Things were looking up for a while when Neve and Yasmin, a recent Chicago transplant, became friends. That turned out to be disastrous, and now Neve is even more of a social pariah at school. Before Yasmin, Neve already was considered an outcast due to her love of classic black-and-white film noir and its fashion which earned Neve the nickname “I Love Lucy.” With no friends and an offer of one year’s college tuition plus room and board from Grandma K, Neve accepts a spot at GLAM  Camp (Girls Leadership and Mentorship). While her mom (a former GLAMster) and Grandma K think GLAM will be a great reset before senior year, all Neve sees upon arrival are the types of girls she’d love to avoid. But no one at GLAM knows Yasmin, so even among a sea of fancy luggage and peppy girls, maybe it won’t be all that bad. Neve seems to luck out with her roommate Inara, a returning GLAMster who wears an impressive amount of plaid, but it’s Diane who captures Neve’s attention. Though polar opposites, the two bond over the ways they’ve been wronged by others, and by the end of GLAM they’re the best of friends. When a late night confessional on the last night of camp ends in a bargain – “if I took care of Yasmin and you got rid of Javier” – Neve suddenly feels uncomfortable, but of course it’s just exaggerated, exhausted conversation among friends. No one actually would get rid of anyone, right? But when Neve returns to school and everyone suspects her of foul play, a text from an unrecognizable number, “Your turn, BFF.” chills Neve to the bone. Was Diane serious, and will Neve have to keep her end of the bargain or is there another explanation for this mess she’s gotten herself in?

THOUGHTS: Hand this character driven thriller to classic film fans and those who like books by April Henry (Two Truths and a Lie) or Karen McManus (Nothing More to Tell). Recommended for high school collections where stand alone mysteries are in demand.

Mystery          Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

YA – My Name Is Jason. Mine Too: Our Story, Our Way

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Reynolds, Jason, and Jason Griffin, illustrator. My Name Is Jason. Mine Too: Our Story, Our Way. Atheneum, 2022. 978-1-534-47823-7. Unpaged. $19.99. Grades 7-12.

College roommates turned best friends, Reynolds and Griffin moved to New York City with the hopes of pursuing their poetic and artistic dreams. Though glamorous, life in the city wasn’t easy and to make it work they had “No food. For the first six months we only ate cereal, peanut butter toast. Tuna. Fried Tuna. Tuna and rice. Rice and soup.” With little aside from their friendship to sustain them, they figure out ways “to make it” against the odds when everyone else seems to think they’re “probably stupid.” Griffin’s multimedia art including watercolors, collages, and sketches compliment Reynolds’ poems as their story unfolds. A tribute to their perseverance and friendship, this stunning work encourages readers to follow their dreams even when they seem unattainable and emphasizes the importance of having a good support system to help you get there.

THOUGHTS: The powerhouse duo behind Ain’t Burned All the Bright is back for another artistic collection of poetry. Fans of Reynolds’ work will enjoy learning the story behind how he got where he is today. Highly recommended for middle grade and young adult collections.

Poetry          Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD
Graphic Memoir

YA – Very Bad People

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Frick, Kit. Very Bad People. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2022. 978-1-534-44973-2. 416 p. $18.99. Grades 7-12.

It’s Upriver, the first trimester at elite boarding school Tipton Academy, and Calliope is a transfer junior. Leaving her tiny Adirondack Mountain town of Plover Lake – and her father and two younger sisters – is terrifying and exhilarating. Plover Lake is full of pitying stares, and it’s suffocating, but it’s all Calliope’s ever known. Determined to learn more about her mom who died tragically in a mysterious car accident that all three sisters survived, Calliope intends on taking advantage of the new opportunities afforded to Tiptonians. She has more goals than the Ivy League connections some of her classmates covet. As Calliope begins to adjust to her new setting, she is recruited by Haunt and Rail, an elusive and exclusive secret society that has fought for social justice causes since its founding in 1956. Both excited and nervous to be part of meaningful campus change, Calliope commits herself to Haunt and Rail’s cause, becoming a “ghost.” While Calliope feels more connected to Tipton and to her mom with each day, she feels like she’s losing the connection with her sisters and her friends back at Plover Lake. And with the Haunt and Rail meetings and “larks” (pranks) conducted in the middle of the night, she’s always tired. A possible connection between Haunt and Rail and the accident that killed her mom gives Calliope a new sense of purpose, but will she have time for her friends, her classes, her family, Haunt and Rail, and a possible boyfriend? As everything begins to pile up, Calliope has some choices to make, but they won’t be easy, especially when she has to keep such a huge part of her life a secret from everyone she loves.

THOUGHTS: Another compelling boarding school/secret society mystery, hand this one to fans of dramas like The Ivies, Truly Devious, or Looking for Alaska. Recommended for young adult collections.

Mystery          Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

Elem. – This Story is Not About a Kitten

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De Seve, Randall. This Story is Not About a Kitten. Illustrated by Carson Ellis. Random House Studio, 2022. 978-0-593-37453-5. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-2.

When a scared kitten is discovered beneath a car, an entire neighborhood comes together to help coax the kitten out, care for it, and find it a home. Readers will discover, however, that the story is not about the cat; rather, a much loftier concept is at play. Young readers will adore this endearing story about the value of compassion and community.

THOUGHTS: The beautiful gouache illustrations in this book depict a wonderfully diverse neighborhood. People of multiple colors, ethnicities, ages, shapes and sizes are included. Repetition and rhyming text make this a delightful read aloud for young children. The importance of the book’s message – that working together is beneficial for all – cannot be overstated either. Overall, this is a solid purchase for libraries servicing young children.

Picture Book          Julie Ritter, PSLA Member

Elem. – Everything in Its Place

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David-Sax, Pauline. Everything in Its Place. Illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow. Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2022. 978-0-593-37882-3. 32 p. $17.99. Grades K-3. 

Nicky is a shy student who is struggling to find a group of friends with whom she feels comfortable. While her classmates run and play at recess, she spends time in the library helping Ms. Gillam shelve books. She feels at home in the library because everything has its place, and Nicky is comforted by the predictability and routine the space offers. When Ms. Gillam shares the news that she will be attending a week-long library conference, Nicky’s heart sinks at the idea of spending the entire next week outside on the playground. She’s still upset when she visits her mother’s cafe after school, but seeing the familiar patrons enjoying their food comforts her a little. She’s especially glad to see Maggie, a short-haired woman who loves poetry and riding her motorcycle. When Nicky asks Maggie if riding her bike is scary, Maggie replies that everything in life is a risk, and Nicky notices how happy and free Maggie looks as she rides away. The next week, emboldened by Maggie’s words, Nicky files out to the playground with her classmates. She pulls a book from her bag to read, and she is surprised when another girl joins her, confiding that she loves reading poetry too. Mixed-media illustrations featuring collage shapes cut from library cards and purple crayon drawings bring this story to life and underscore the idea that the library is a safe space for Nicky. 

THOUGHTS: Finding your “tribe” can be difficult, and this story is an important one to share with students who are struggling to fit in with their peers or find a niche group of friends. It’s also one to share with students who may feel shy, bashful, or who may lack self-confidence. The idea of taking risks and chances, no matter how scary they may seem, may jump-start conversations during Morning Meetings, 

Picture Book          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

Elem. – Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion

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Stocker, Shannon. Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion. Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth. Dial Books for Young Readers. 978-0-593-10969-4. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades 2-4.

“This is a story of music…of obstacles…of hard work…[just] listen.” As a young child growing up in Scotland in the 1960s,  Evelyn Glennie loved listening to her father play the accordion and her mother the organ. By the time she was eight, she had developed a strong love of music and could even play the piano without sheet music. The girl’s life changed by age twelve when she lost her hearing. Glennie did not want to go to a school for the deaf, but instead dreamed of going to school to learn music. At her secondary school, the young musician discovered the wonders of percussion instruments.  Her music teacher encouraged her to “feel the music…resonate” throughout her entire body. Evelyn learned to listen in a different way by noting where the vibrations were felt in her body. She could feel in her legs the rumble of cars on the road and could even tune percussion by where she felt the vibrations. The percussionist was initially rejected  by the Royal Academy of Music, but insisted on a second audition and was admitted. All music schools then agreed to offer applicants with disabilities the opportunity to audition. As a student, Glennie performed her first solo and won competitions. Her career blossomed, as she recorded albums and performed on television. As the first full-time solo percussionist, Evelyn received two Grammy Awards and many other honors, including an O.B.E from Queen Elizabeth. Still performing today, often barefoot, this Scottish musician did not see her deafness as a limitation, but instead says that it  “made me a better listener.” Stocker describes her connection to Glennie in the author’s note.  Holzwarth’s vibrant drawings are done in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil and help bring the music alive. The illustrator depicts the kinetic energy of the sounds, which appear like waves emanating from the drums and mallets and enveloping the audience.

THOUGHTS: This wonderful picture book is a tribute to this amazing musician who overcame adversity to achieve her dream. It is a good choice for character trait units and for music teachers to inspire student musicians. A first purchase for elementary collections.

Biography          Denise Medwick, Retired, PSLA Member
92,921, 786.8092 Percussion

Tags: Picture Book, Biography, Musicians,  Percussionists, Perseverance, Deafness, Evelyn Glennie