Elem./MG – Home Away From Home

Posted on January 17, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Lord, Cynthia. Home Away From Home. Scholastic, 2023. 978-1-338-72611-4. $17.99. 212 p. Grades 4-7.

Mia is thrilled to be spending the summer with her grandma in Stone Harbor, Maine. Usually, Mia and her mother spend the summer there, but this year, she is going alone. Her mom is staying behind to find a new house with her new boyfriend, and Mia does not want any part of it. At least at her grandma’s, things will be just as they always were. She will get to spend time with grandma and all of the birds she loves to spot around Stone Harbor. But when Mia arrives, she meets Cayman, a boy her age who lives down the street and has been spending a lot of time with her grandmother. She doesn’t like having to share grandma with anyone, but she tries to give Cayman a chance. She invites him to see the eaglets in their nest, so Cayman and Mia trek through the wooded trail to visit them. When they arrive, they notice a strange white bird flying nearby. It doesn’t seem to be native to the area. Mia snaps a picture. When they get back to her grandma’s house, Cayman decides he is going to the library to find out what kind of bird they saw. But Mia feels a connection to the bird who seems a little displaced like she feels right now. She wants to find out about the bird before Cayman. Ignoring her mom’s rules about posting personal information online, she posts the bird picture on a birding website along with her location. Suddenly, there is a flurry of people traveling to Stone Harbor to see the bird. The secret is out, the bird is possibly in danger, and it’s all Mia’s fault.

THOUGHTS: Mia’s struggle with change is combined with an important message about respecting wildlife. Lord’s novel is heart-warming, comforting read with relatable characters. This is a must-buy for upper elementary and middle grade librarians.

Realistic Fiction

YA – The Blood Years

Posted on January 8, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Arnold, Elana K. The Blood Years. Balzer + Bray, 2023. 978-0-062-99085-3. 390 p. $19.99. Grades 9-12.

Based on events in the life of her own grandmother, Elana K. Arnold’s The Blood Years is a masterful and deeply moving work of historical fiction for teens. Spanning the years from 1939 to 1945, it follows the experiences of Frederieke Teitler’s teenage years in her beloved hometown of Czernowitz, Romania. “Rieke” lives with her depressive mother and headstrong older sister Astra (their father has abandoned the family) until her beloved grandfather, Opa, brings them to his apartment. It is the first of many times that Opa will shield Rieke from life’s cruelties. First introduced as a typical thirteen-year old attending school and dance classes with Astra, Rieke goes on to experience the stripping away of Jewish peoples’ rights as she moves through her teen years. Her situation changes dramatically as first the Russians and then the Germans occupy her city, and as a persistent cough leads to a dire diagnosis. As the circumstances in Czernowitz worsen for Jews, Opa’s ability to shelter his girls is pushed to the limit.

THOUGHTS: In her latest novel, Arnold truly proves that what is most personal is also most universal. The dehumanization of Jewish people during WWII is portrayed through the experiences of one young woman; Rieke’s trauma and resilience will not soon be forgotten by readers.

Note: The Blood Years contains anti-Semitic slurs and depictions of sexual assault.

Historical Fiction

Elem. – Love Makes a Garden Grow

Posted on September 10, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Yoo, Taeeun. Love Makes a Garden Grow. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-1-534-44286-3. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-2.

Among a garden full of beautiful blooms and lush greens, a young girl grows. With a watchful, loving eye, her grandfather cares for her and his plentiful plants. The two favor different flowers – she peonies, he orchids – but they care for the garden together, humming to the plants. Surrounded by plants, the little girl feels her grandfather’s love. As she grows and experiences life’s changes – like moving away and eventually having a family of her own – plants make her feel like she is loved and home.

THOUGHTS: This sweet intergenerational story would be perfect to celebrate grandparent’s day. Stunning pencil illustrations are brought to life with digital coloring. Highly recommended.

Picture Book

Elem. – The Bird Feeder

Posted on February 28, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Larsen, Andrew. The Bird Feeder. Illustrated by Dorothy Leung. Kids Can Press, 2022. 978-1-525-30483-5. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-6.

Grandma loves birds, and when illness causes her to move into her grandchild’s house, she brings her beloved bird feeder with her. Together, grandma and grandchild watch birds, talk, and draw together. When grandma moves to a hospice, Mom describes hospice as a place where she will be more comfortable and receive special care. The grandchild feels sad and hopeless about grandma’s move–unable to fully understand that is where she needs to be now… but over time realizes hospice isn’t a scary place and Grandma is still Grandma, even in this new place. On the child’s second visit, the bird feeder is hung outside the grandmother’s window, and they are back to watching, drawing, and spending time together. Over time, grandma sleeps more and spends more time in bed, waking when the therapy dog visits. One of the birds builds a nest in the birdfeeder tree. Grandma sees the nest, but her grandchild is sad that she passes away before she sees the birds leave the nest. The connection to grandma remains strong for the child, however, in the drawings hung around the house, the birdfeeder hung on a branch outside the bedroom window, and the child’s love of birds.

THOUGHTS: The Bird Feeder’s illustrations and text work together beautifully to tell a story that centers on terminal illness that is both comforting and honest. Mom is shown as a reassuring presence, and the grandchild could be a boy or girl, leaving the reader to connect to the child in their own way. Grandma is depicted growing more tired and less able as the book progresses, but she surrounded by love in family, the hospice facility dog, and the growing collection of artwork she and her grandchild created. The ending gives a nod to how our loved ones live in us, even when gone. A highly recommended, must-have for library shelves for the moment a child or family needs this book.

Picture Book Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD

MG – If You Read This

Posted on January 4, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Getten, Kereen. If You Read This. Delacorte Press, 2022. 978-0-593-17004-5.$16.99. 168 p. Grades 4-7.

It has been three years since Brie’s free-wheeling, spontaneous, loving mother succumbed to cancer. Papa buries himself in work at the Jamaican resort he manages, and Brie feels invisible to him and her Nana. Only her good friends, Smiley and Femi keep her going. When Brie’s twelfth birthday arrives, she is unhappily surprised by a big party with everyone she knows from her close knit island neighborhood. Only the bestowal of a special gift from her deceased Mama makes the day memorable. Inside a box, Brie finds letters from her Mama taking her on a treasure hunt to her Grandfather Brim’s home in search of a secret door. Her father arranges for the trip, which turns into a family affair with aunt, uncle, grandmother, and best friends, but he does not accompany them–disobeying her mother’s directives. Grandfather Brim’s home is magical and organic with tree-chairs, fairy lights, and bright colors. Brim has dementia, though, and now lives in a care facility. With each letter, Brie receives another clue to finding the secret door; but can’t shake her disappointment that her Papa isn’t with her, convincing her that he must not care about her. In one of the letters, Mama tells Brie of a key which leads to a visit to Grandfather Brim at the care home and his abduction by Brie. Her actions enable her to get the necessary key, but incur Papa’s anger. Brie finds the secret place her Mama intended for her and discovers her father’s hand in this special gift. This revelation helps to restore Brie’s and Papa’s relationship and secure a plan to include Brim and this unique place in her life. This heart-warming story of loss and love includes Jamaican dialect and cultural traditions that create an authentic setting.

THOUGHTS: Author Kereen Geffen creates strong characters, from Brie’s effusive mother, to her insightful friend Femi, to the town’s bus driver, Jackfruit–all are described deftly. In addition to dealing with her grief and consequent feelings of inadequacy, Brie has to cope with her grandfather’s dementia. He recognizes Brie as his daughter. Brie remembers her mother’s cavalier ways fondly, but Papa had to deal with some negative backlash from his wife’s impulsivity. The vehicle of the letters leading to the secret room is different, especially since it entails only three letters with clues to a specific place. Readers who like family stories or who have suffered the death of someone close may like this book.

Realistic Fiction Bernadete Cooke, School District of Philadelphia

Elem. – Every Dog in the Neighborhood

Posted on January 3, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Stead, Philip C. Every Dog in the Neighborhood. Neal Porter Books. 978-0-823-44427-4. 48 p. $18.99. Grades K-5.

Louis and Grandma are walking through their urban neighborhood when Louis mentions his desire for a dog. Grandma says there are enough dogs in the neighborhood already, and that makes Louis wonder exactly how many dogs do live nearby. He decides to conduct his own census, going door-to-door and collecting information about how many dogs each neighbor has. During his interviews, he meets many dog breeds as well as a diverse group of neighbors. While Louis is gathering his information, Grandma is busy with a project of her own: turning an overgrown lot into a neighborhood dog park. This story bursts with go-getter spirit, and readers will cheer for both Louis and Grandma as they each work to build connections and make their neighborhood a better place.

THOUGHTS: This book has some civic tie-ins, as both Louis and Grandma write letters to City Hall, and the replies they receive inspire them to action. It also features characters canvassing a neighborhood, compiling data, and working toward causes they believe in. The idea that you’re never too young or too old to make a difference in the world shines through, and readers will love picking out each of the dogs and their owners as they all enjoy the new dog park on the final spread.

Picture Book Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

Elem. – Nana, Nenek & Nina

Posted on November 10, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Ferneyhough, Liza. Nana, Nenek & Nina. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2022. 978-0-593-35394-3. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades K-2.

Nina loves visiting her grandmothers, one who lives in Malaysia and one who lives in England. Nina goes back and forth between each grandmother explaining the different and similar things that she does with them. Each grandmother has a garden, each visits the market, and each one cooks dinner but each one is slightly different based on where they live. Nina has a little dinosaur that she brings with her, so the reader can have fun finding the dinosaur hidden in each illustration. The text can be complicated to follow at times, but the journey of watching Nina visit each grandmother is wonderful to follow along with.

THOUGHTS: This would be a great book to share for a grandparents day event; however, it might not be the best read-aloud with extremely young children as it can be complicated the way the text is set up.

Picture Book Mary McEndree, Lehigh Valley Regional Charter Academy

Elem. – One Thursday Afternoon

Posted on October 13, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

DiLorenzo, Barbara. One Thursday Afternoon. Flyaway Books, 2022. 978-1-974-88837-1. $18.00. 40 p. Grades K-3.

When Granddad picks Ava up after school on Thursday, she just wants to go home. She is having a bad day and would just like to be alone. Granddad suggests the two go for a picnic and to the woods to paint together. He promises not to talk so that the two can be alone together. Granddad drives to a nature trail, where he and Ava have a quick snack and then set up to paint. Granddad encourages Ava to use all of her senses before she uses her paintbrush. Ava takes time to be aware of the smells, sights, and sounds of the woods, and she finds herself suddenly overcome with emotion. She explains to Granddad that she is upset because her school practiced a lockdown drill today. Granddad listens patiently, gently acknowledges Ava’s feelings, and admits that he too was scared of emergency drills when he was in school. As the two continue to paint and talk, Ava begins to feel better. Talking helped, as did being in nature, concentrating on her senses, and creating art. Throughout, Granddad provides an excellent example of how to be a good listener and how to approach discussing difficult and scary topics with young children.

THOUGHTS: Simple and straightforward, this is a beautiful picture book that will be an excellent addition for school library Social-Emotional Learning collections. DiLorenzo is careful never to detail the specifics of the lockdown drill or the reasons schools have to practice them. Granddad only promises to listen and be present for Ava. A well-crafted story that models active listening and provides an excellent example of how to handle tough conversations with children who are anxious.

Picture Book Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD

Elem. – Can Sophie Change the World?

Posted on October 13, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Wallace, Nancy Elizabeth. Can Sophie Change the World? Chronicle Books, 2022. 978-1-452-18156-1. $16.99. 32 p. Grades PK-2.

When Sophie asks her Grandpop what he would like for his birthday, he replies that he doesn’t need anything but would love it if Sophie would change the world. Grandpop explains the basic concept of mitzvah and asks Sophie to do kind deeds in his name. Sophie is worried she won’t be able to change the world. Throughout the week Sophie performs simple acts of kindness: helping a friend, picking up trash, watering a neighbor’s plants, playing with her baby brother. When Sophie sees Grandpop the following Sunday, she confesses she has not changed the world. Grandpop gently explains how each and every act of kindness does indeed change the world. Together they create a flower shaped birthday card, writing each mitzvah on a petal. Illustrations by Aura Lewis.

THOUGHTS: Though the definition of mitzvah has religious implications, the book does not mention any other religious teaching or tradition. Sophie’s house is decorated with a menorah and a Star of David. This is a sweet story that simply shows the direct results of kindness and introduces the term mitzvah to children. Incorporated in the storyline are the days of the week, as well as encouragement for problem solving, being kind, and taking care of others.

Picture Book Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD

Elem. – My Hands Tell a Story

Posted on September 23, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Lyons, Kelly Starling. My Hands Tell a Story. Reycraft Books, 2022. 978-1-478-87061-6. 36 p. $17.95. Grades K-3.

When Zoe’s grandmother waves her into the kitchen so they can bake bread together, Zoe is mesmerized by the magic and power in her grandmother’s hands. Grandma’s hands knead, push, and pull the dough until it’s just right. Grandma gently guides Zoe’s hands through the motions as well. While they wait for the dough to rise, the pair sit and talk. Readers learn about Grandma’s past and all the things her hands have done: Raised children, planted gardens, typed and filed. Zoe wonders what she might accomplish with her own hands someday, considering possibilities like drawing, building, writing, making music, and baking. When she and Grandma high-five to celebrate the first bites of their freshly-baked treat, Grandma notes that although Zoe’s hands are similar to her own, they will go places Grandma has never been. This inspiring, intergenerational story is rooted in love and celebrates the strong bond between grandmother and granddaughter. Vibrant, oil-painted illustrations beautifully capture heartfelt moments and the closeness these two share. The endpapers include a recipe for the same cinnamon bread Zoe and her grandma bake together in the book.

THOUGHTS: Many students will make connections to the idea of cooking or baking a favorite food with a grandparent. This will also be a perfect choice for Grandparents’ Day read-alouds. Additionally, this title can be used as a discussion starter about things students hope to accomplish with their own two hands.