Elem. – The Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons

Hatch, Leanne. The Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons. Illustrated by Leanne Hatch. Margaret Ferguson Books, 2023. 978-0-823-45230-9. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-2.

Violet is in a store and sees a big box of 84 perfect crayons with every color she will ever need. She dreams of all the things that she can create and draw using all those colors. However, when she gets the crayons home she can’t bring herself to use them. She puts off using them day after day, even when her little sister Marigold asks her if she can use them. Instead, Violet gives Marigold her box of old, broken crayons and Marigold makes drawings with no care. One day, Marigold gets into Violet’s brand new crayons and uses them which makes Violet extremely mad. However this causes Violet to reevaluate her brand-new crayons, and the book ends with the sisters drawing together.

THOUGHTS: This is a sweet story that shows a more realistic sister relationship with a lovely lesson woven throughout the book. This would be a great read aloud for an art class or just as a read aloud to share with a class.

Picture Book

Elem. – Make Way: The Story of Robert McCloskey, Nancy Schön, and Some Very Famous Ducklings

Kunkel, Angela Burke. Make Way: The Story of Robert McCloskey, Nancy Schön, and Some Very Famous Ducklings. Random House Studio, 2023. 978-0-593-37335-4. $19.99. 48 pages. Grades K-3.

As a boy in Hamilton, Ohio, Bob was always able to look at an object and draw or carve or sculpt it. As a young girl in Newton, Massachusetts, Nancy loved to work with nature to create three dimensional sculptures. Bob went on to study art in Boston. Nancy headed to the library after school to study ancient architecture. Both Nancy and Bob grew up hoping to one day be artists. Both faced rejection as they pursued their craft, yet both refused to give up. Eventually Bob came up with the idea to create a story about a family of ducks looking for a home in Boston’s Public Gardens. Make Way for Ducklings, published in 1941, became a classic children’s picture book and won a Caldecott Medal in 1942. Meanwhile, Nancy continued to struggle to find a place to belong. When her family moved to Boston Nancy would stroll through the Public Gardens. Inspired by a young child who wanted to know where Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their family of ducklings were in the park, Nancy came up with an idea for a new project. After creating a prototype of the famous duck family, Nancy worried. The Mallards were Robert McCloskey’s characters, would he approve? Nancy didn’t know Bob, but that didn’t stop her. She invited Bob to visit her studio to view the statue and discuss the possibility of an installation in the Public Gardens. At first Bob was reluctant. He thought the ducks were too small. Undeterred, Nancy re-sculpted the statue on a larger scale. When Bob returned to look at Nancy’s second attempt, he suggested the statue was now too big. Nancy explained to Bob that outdoor sculptures often look too big when displayed inside. To prove her point, Nancy hauled her creation to the sidewalk in front of her house. Bob remained skeptical until a group of children walking down the street started quacking and petting the statue of the Mallard family. The bronze sculpture depicting Mrs. Mallard, Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack was installed in Boston’s Public Gardens in 1987. Bob and Nancy remained close friends until his death in 2003.

THOUGHTS: This enchanting story cleverly weaves the biographical narratives of Robert McCloskey and Nancy Schön through their parallel stories of artistic perseverance. Not unlike the infamous Mallard family, Bob and Nancy each want to find a place to belong and to thrive while raising their families. The full-color illustrations by Claire Keane cleverly pay homage to McCloskey’s sepia sketch style as used in Make Way for Ducklings. A delightful read aloud that will enchant fans of the original picture book.

Biography
813.54 Literature, English (North American)
American Fiction, 20th Century, 1945-1999

MG – Doodles from the Boogie Down

Rodriguez, Stephanie. Doodles from the Boogie Down. Kokila. 2023. 978-0-451-48066-8. 200 pp. $13.99. Grades 3-7.

Welcome to Stephanie’s neighborhood in the Bronx, a.k.a the “Boogie Down,” circa 2000. Steph lives with her single mother and attends eighth grade at Our Lady of Angels School with her besties, Tiff and Ana. Her favorite subject is art, and she would love to attend LaGuardia High School of Music and Art next year, but her very strict Mami opposes the idea of a public high school, based on her own experiences with bullying as a young student. With the high school entrance exam looming, Steph comes up with a mildly deceptive plan to get into LaGuardia. First, she begins prepping her portfolio with the help of her art teacher, Ms. Santiago. Second, she plans to flunk the entrance exam, which isn’t required at LaGuardia anyway. If she’s only admitted to one high school, Mami will have to let her go … won’t she? After all, aren’t a few white lies worth it to pursue her dream of a career in art? Meanwhile, friend drama, mean girls, and a new crush keep Steph on her toes socially. 

THOUGHTS: This debut middle grade graphic novel is a work of fiction based on the author and illustrator’s own life. Stephanie Rodriguez excels at portraying Steph’s Bronx neighborhood, especially the local art that Steph explores with Ms. Santiago. This will be a hit with readers of Big Apple Diaries by Alyssa Bermudez!

Graphic Novel

YA – Borderless

De Leon, Jennifer. Borderless. Caitlyn Dlouhy Book/Atheneum, 2023. 978-1-665-90416-2. 328 p. $19.99. Grades 9-12.

Sixteen-year-old Maya Silva has a promising career as a fashion designer at Salome’ Fashion Institute in Guatemala City. Her best friend Lizbeth is supportive, even when Maya makes the list to show her work at the big fashion show and she does not. Winning would help Maya and Mama make a new start away from the corruption and violence of their avenida. When Lizbeth meets Oscar, Maya keeps her suspicions about Lizbeth’s new boyfriend being a gang member to herself. After school one day, Oscar introduces Maya to his handsome cousin, Sebastian, who has recently been deported from America. He and Maya connect, making it harder for Maya to extricate herself from a situation that she senses could be dangerous. In an ether of young love, she makes bad decisions: inviting Oscar and Sebastian to her house, hanging out with Sebastian when she should be home, persuading Mama to hold off moving to the safer, sleepy hometown of San Marcos. The busy-ness of preparing for the fashion show mounts. Then, the unspeakable happens. Maya witnesses a tragedy that puts her and her mother’s lives in jeopardy. The only alternative to survive is to make the perilous crossing to the United States. Author Jennifer De Leon captures the language and conflicting feelings of a teen caught between a rock and a hard place. Borderless brings home the desperation of living in a neighborhood ruled by gangs and the harshness of being an undocumented migrant in a detention center, but the book has the rush of first love and the bustle of Project Runway. Readers can be enticed by the fashion, yet come away with compassion for asylum seekers.

THOUGHTS: DeLeon has an ear for the way young people talk, so even though the story takes place in Guatemala and all the characters are speaking Spanish, the dialogue is relatable and fresh, with some Spanish words thrown in. Maya’s relationship with her mother is endearing and authentic, and it’s nice that her best friend stays loyal till the end. Maya and Sebastian are in love and do some making out, but Sebastian is the one who shuts down any further sexual activity. Including a fashion design competition lightens the tone. This interesting touch counters the heaviness of the violence and danger infringing on the lives of Maya’s neighborhood. In one brutal scene, she sees Oscar shoot her neighbor’s son, execution style. Fear and anxiety heighten as Maya escapes to the United States, and remain as she lives in the horrendous conditions and uncertainty of the detention center and when she is separated from her beloved mother. The tension in this book is palpable, but the fashion aspect makes it familiar.

Realistic Fiction

Elem. – The Teachers I Loved Best

Mali, Taylor. The Teachers I Loved Best. Illustrated by Erica Root. Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-593-56523-0. $18.99. Grades K-2.

The Teachers I Loved Best is a poem about how teachers that you love aren’t always the easy teachers or the ones who give easy tests. The teachers you love best are the ones who push you to be the best you can be. They are the ones who are supportive of you, or the ones who encourage you to do something even if you aren’t great or perfect at it. This poem also explores how teachers can be anyone such as a crossing guard who makes you want to work hard. Through the book, the illustrations show the different parts of the poem, showing the different teachers and the different scenarios that are described in the book.

THOUGHTS: This is a great book to give to a special teacher in your life, or to use for a teacher appreciation week read aloud. This book is also a great addition to any elementary collection.

Picture Book

Elem./MG – Hands

Maldonado, Torrey. Hands. Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023. 978-0-593-32379-3.135 p. $16.99. Grades 3-7.

Trevor’s mother calls him a “gentle giant” because he’s tall and sweet and would rather use his hands to draw than punch someone. When his stepfather goes to jail for using his hands to strike Trev’s mother, the twelve-year-old believes he needs to learn how to fight to protect his two older sisters and his mother when his stepfather’s incarceration ends. Both his teachers, friends, and relatives constantly tell Trev he has promise and can educate himself, move away from their sometimes dangerous neighborhood, and provide for his family. Haunted by the thought of his stepdad’s re-entry into their lives, Trev and his new pal, P, visit the gym to find someone who will teach them to box. Trev meets a dead-end, though, when the trainer he approaches turns out to be one of his many “uncles” who pledged to his deceased blood Uncle Lou that they would keep Trev on the straight and narrow. Faithful to his family and its private information, Trev holds back on telling P the real reason he wants to box. When his sister’s sleazy boyfriend gets rough for her, Trev shows his strength by punching his fist through a window. This action brings out the negative consequences of violent actions, and makes his life choices even more confusing. As the time of his stepfather’s release grows closer and Trev grows more troubled, he does seek out the advice of his other “uncles” like Uncle Larry, who is a librarian and has a Harry Potter-esque apartment filled with books, and his kind teacher, Ms. Clarke. Like Torrey Maldonado’s other books, Hands is written as Trev would speak and touches on real-life, ethical dilemmas facing kids who live in marginalized areas that can be equally warm and caring and edgy and menacing. This slim book is only slightly didactic, which can be overlooked when the characters and situation ring true, and the ending does not offer a pat solution.

THOUGHTS: Hands deals with domestic abuse but in a way that even younger readers can handle. The stepdad uses verbal abuse because he feels Trev is too “soft,” and Trev witnesses him hitting his mother. The rest of the stepfather’s behavior is told in dialogue with his older sisters. Like other characters in Maldonado’s books, Trev is a good kid with a sensitive conscience and supportive family. He grapples with his conviction that violence is not the answer and his obligation to protect his family. Lessons on decision making can be discussed using Hands. The narration is as Trev would actually speak, yet Maldonado does keep grammar and syntax intact. Mentorship, kindness, and art as self-expression are all important pieces of this book. The author uses many contemporary references that will appeal to the readers. A good read aloud.

Realistic Fiction

MG – A First Time For Everything

Santat, Dan. A First Time For Everything. First Second Books, 2023. 978-1-626-72415-0. 308 p. $22.99. Grades 5-8.

Dan is a quiet, obedient boy both in school and at home. His mother is often sick from her struggle with lupus, so Dan helps out when he can. At school, he follows the rules and tries to stay invisible, yet he still finds himself the target of bullying. Dan has never been outside of his small California town, and he sets his expectations low when he attends a class trip to Europe. But despite the fact that the trip gets off to a shaky start, Dan finds his travels to France, Germany, Switzerland, and England are opening his mind to new possibilities. He discovers he loves Fanta, likes French rap, and dislikes getting lost. Dan also discovers he really, really likes Amy, a girl on the trip with him. As he treks through Europe, Dan continues to push himself outside of his comfort zone as he realizes that the world is a big place – and he has a place in it.

THOUGHTS: As a Caldecott-winning illustrator (and author), Dan Santat is a familiar name to librarians. This graphic memoir about his time in Europe is funny, endearing, and relatable. The illustrations are beautifully done, especially his drawings of various European landmarks. Santat even includes back matter: a note from the author and an explanation of how he recreated his old memories in the pages of this book.

Graphic Novel Memoir

Caldecott-award winning author and illustrator (The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend), Dan Santat puts all the cringe-worthy and awkward moments of his middle grade years into the memoir, A First Time for Everything. Docile, obedient, and hard-working, middle-school Dan has a difficult time shrugging off the memory of reciting an A.A. Milne poem in front of the entire student body and being booed. A European tour with other kids his age the summer before high school finally yanks him into living a more typical adolescent life. As the group of mostly white students jaunts from city to city, shy Dan is coaxed to shed his uptight nature, take some risks, make new friends, and welcome the romantic interest of fellow tourist, Amy. When Dan’s camera doesn’t work well, he resorts to keeping a record of his trip in his detailed, realistic sketches. The graphic novel captures the humor of the group, sampling highlights from each country in food or special event. Colored frames represent present day while Dan’s recollections are black and white. Precious memories is the main theme of this lengthy graphic novel (the reader follows the group for 21 days). It sounds cliche, but Dan’s realization that making the most of each moment is genuine. Back matter contains original photographs.

THOUGHTS: The embarrassing moments, the sometimes annoying friends, and the misbehavior of peers will be relatable to most middle school students. There is not much diversity in the book, save for Dan who is Thai-American. His group is from California; the group they travel with is from the Midwest; and they are traveling only through European cities. Dan breaks out of his super rule-consciousness one night and steals a bike, bulking up his courage to sneak into a Wimbledon tennis match where he is center court with John McEnroe. The memoir teaches that each new experience can change us and help us grow, a healthy lesson for those on the brink of high school.

Memoir, Graphic Novel

This coming-of-age story from Caldecott winner Dan Santat shares the true story of his school trip to Europe when he was 14. Having been bullied and feeling invisible in middle school, Dan was not on board with his parent’s idea to travel to Europe with the same classmates who made fun of him. A series of first experiences gradually open Dan up to the world that lies before him. Will these firsts include his first kiss and first girlfriend?

THOUGHTS: A perfect read for the middle school set, this graphic novel will transport you back to all the awkward feelings of middle school and almost make you wish you could go back!

Graphic Novel

MG – Maybe an Artist

Montague, Liz. Maybe an Artist. Random House Studio, 2022. 978-1-668-85891-2. 159 p. $24.99. Grades 6-9.

When tragedy strikes the nation on September 11, 2001, Liz Montague decides she wants to pay more attention to what is going on in the world and venture out of the little bubble that is her mostly white neighborhood in New Jersey. In fifth grade, she decides she wants to be a journalist. There is only one problem – Liz writes her letters and sentences backwards. Not only that, she reads and speaks differently than other kids. She is, however, talented at drawing. Liz decides that she can still be a journalist – she would just be one that reports about important issues like climate change and racism through her art. As Liz moves on to middle and high school and starts feeling the pressures of growing up, she thinks that perhaps being an artist is not feasible. Liz wants to live up to her stellar sisters, make her parents proud, and save the world (one slice at a time, as she says). Could she really make any kind of a living with art? Would anyone take her artwork seriously? She has to find out. Liz takes a leap of faith and emails the New Yorker to let them know their cartoons should be more inclusive; the response changes the course of her life.

THOUGHTS: Maybe An Artist is the sweetest graphic memoir I have read in a long time. The story of author Liz Monague’s life is so personal and written with lots of emotion and humor. Her relatable stories will resonate with and inspire students. 

Graphic Novel          Danielle Corrao, Manheim Central SD
Memoir

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

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

Elem. – How to Draw a Happy Cat

Berlin, Ethan T. How to Draw a Happy Cat. Illustrated by Jimbo Matison. Astra Books for Young Readers, 2022. 978-1-662-64011-7. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-2.

With simple shapes and step-by-step directions, readers will delight in being taught how to draw a happy cat. But when cat’s frown is upside down, what can the illustrator do to make her happy? Maybe a cool t-shirt, a stuffy, or a skateboard will make cat happy. Only for a little while. What else can we try? Maybe some friends will help cat smile. When the friends go on a high flying adventure, trouble ensues, but will cat and her friends end up happy or not?

THOUGHTS: This title offers the perfect opportunity to teach students how to use simple shapes to draw a lot of fun animals and items. Use it as an introductory read aloud before teaching students how to read directions carefully or follow a multi-step process, or as a fun game of predicting what can we try next to make cat smile. Recommended for elementary collections where how to and drawing books are popular.

Picture Book          Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD