During the 2021-2011 school year, 138 school districts in 32 states banned more than 2500 books.

I am interested in the complex issue of book banning and with the current climate of books being removed from classroom and library shelves in some States mostly because of race, sexuality and gender content. I am  deeply concerned. Now more than ever we need to provide young people with books that help enrich understanding of themselves, of the world. My book Teaching Tough Topics was written to help teachers use children’s literature to build a deeper understanding of social justice, diversity and equity. Yes, teaching such topics as racism, poverty, bullying, the refugee experience and physical and mental challenges can be ‘tough’ but it is essential that we provide students with resources and present strategies that help them develop as caring citizens of the world. In  a speech given by Canadian author activist, Deborah Ellis at the 36th IBBY International Conference, offered the following wise words: 

“Good children’s literature is not the sole key to a sustained livable future for all, but it is certainly one of the keys…” (see preface (p. 7) Teaching Tough Topics

Years ago I attended a session Book Censorship in Children’s literature and Katherine Paterson was on a panel discussing the banning of her very special title Bridge to Terabithia.  Her concluding message has stayed with me: Do we want to prepare our children or protect our children. Now, more than ever, with complexities of racism, immigration, sexual identity, bullying etc. we need books that help students learn about themselves, learn about others, be compassionate of differences and take action to uphold tolerance. 

YOU CAN’T SAY THAT! compiled and edited by Leonard S. Marcus  (professional reading)

Writers for young people talk about censorship, free expression, and the stories they have to tell (voices include Matt de la Pena, David Levithan, Katherine Paterson, Dav Pilkey, R.L. Stine, Angie Thomas. Leonard S. Marcus, one of the world’s leading voices about children’s books interviews the authors who each offer stories about having one or more of their books banned  banned, each frankly sharing their thoughts about the freedom of expression.   You Can’t Say That! helps parents, educators, librarians, politicians and young people come to understand the impact of combatting First Amendment challenges. I found this to be a very inspiring read, prompting me to revisit several titles by the authors to consider what the ‘problems’ might be.  I embarked on a little reading project to re-read a dozen titles that were highlighted in You Can’t Say That!  This posting is an overview of the titles, accompanied by comments presented in the author interviews in Marcus’s book. 

*Note: Jerry Spinelli and Mildred D. Taylor were not featured in Marcus’s book but are included her because for me they were very much worth revisiting and thinking about why they would have been banned.

CENSORED BOOKS: TEN TITLES

AND TANGO MAKES THREE by  Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell; illus. Henry Cole (picture book) (2005)

An important true story about two penguins in Central Park who made history because they were boy penguins who did everything together, fell in love, and made a home where they slept together.  This version is accompanied by a compact disc with the story narrated by Neil Patrick Harris. Written in 2005, And Tango Makes Three is a warm story of same sex relationships, which has been challenged and has been on the top ten list of banned literature in some schools and libraries, since it was deemed inappropriate for children. And Tango Makes Three is a story about family and a story about trying to get something you want – and then getting it.

 Justin Richardson:“Abstinence-only education, for example, is the only form of education I can think of that is based on the premise that withholding knowledge is what’s helpful for a child. It obviously makes no sense. But that’s the fear.” (page 158)  Tango was the very first penguin in the zoo to have two daddies. 

BOY MEETS BOY by David Levithan (2003)

It’s just about 20 years since the publication f David Levithan’s groundbreaking book about teenage gay love. This is a book about boy meeting and falling in love with boy, boy losing boy; and boy love rekindled. Paul is the central character of the story (I’ve always know I was gay, but it wasn’t confirmed until I was in kindergarten.”) and when he meets Paul he is smitten. Falling in love isn’t easy for anyone and this book gay romance seems ‘normal’ with stories of ex-boyfriends, loyal friends, loving families, and a vibrant character who is both homecoming queen and starting quarterback.  Narrative and conversations will certainly ring true for many straight, queer and/or otherwise. Of course books with boys meeting boys are forever challenged, even though the abundance of  LGBTQ titles has exploded since this book came out in 2003.  Some Leviathan titles include: Another Day, Two Boys Kissing, Every Day, The Realm of Possibilities, Answers in the Pages.

David Levithan  … the fact that my book and my identity are being attacked at the same time isn’t particularly pleasant. And if you want to rub me the wrong way, say that evergreen phrase, “You must be so happy that your books are being challenged – you’ll sell so many more books!” The response to which is: “Yes, more people in that community are likely to read my book now. But it also mens that the queer kids and allies in that community have to defend themselves and the book in the place where they live, and it means that there are likely librarians or teachers who have put themselves in the line of fire to defend the book.” Intellectually, I know that free speech will prevail – it almost always does – and I know that some good conversations will come out of it. But it’s still harrowing to have to face such intolerance on your home ground, and it never feels good to know that people have to go through that.” (page 71)

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA by Katherine Paterson (1977)

Summary (inside cover): “The life of a ten year old boy in rural Virginia expands when be becomes friends with a newcomer who subsequently meets an untimely death trying to reach their hideaway, Terabithia, during a storm.” This iconic novel has been criticized for its gutter and unholy language (Jess says the word ‘Lord’ a lot); the undermining of family values (Leslie calls her parents by their first name) and for the element of death (young people should not ready to be exposed to grief).Am so pleased that this little project to revisit titles I’ve read before connected me to Bridge To Terabithia one more time. It is indeed one of the top 10 books published for young people in the past years. Imagine that in 2027, it will be the  Newbery award-winning novel’s 50th anniversary. Note: I am honoured to have an interview “Dealing with Bereavement Through Children’s Literature”  with Katherine Paterson included in my book Teaching Tough Topics (page 107-108)

Katherine Paterson: “… if a book has power, you really can’t control the pwoer. The reception of the power is the reader’s choice. I don’t think you can decide for another reader what might be damaging for them, and I think most children would stop reading if they realized it was something that was hurting thme or if it was something they didn’t want to understand.” (page 119)

“I heard of a minister who said he was making it his ‘mission in life’ to get Bridge to Terabithia off the shelves of every library in school. I thought Man, get yourself a larger mission. (p. 114)

CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS AND THE SENSATIONAL SAGA OF SIR STINKS-A-LOT by Dav Pilkey (2015)

This is the twelfth novel by genius author Dav Pilkey who’s Captain Underpants comic and comical adventures have delighted millions of young readers since first published in 1997. Pilkey’s work has been criticized and continues to be on the top banned book-lists for its offbeat humour and inappropriate  use of language (e.g., fart tinkle, pee-pee) and a view that comic books are ‘dangerous’. How could a book with the word ‘underpants’ be ‘good for children’. In this book, beloved characters George and Harold travel 20 years into the future and we learn that George is happily married with a family as is Harold, except Harold has  is happily married with husband named Billy. My oh my! 

Dav Pilkey: “If the reality you’ve constructed for yourself and your family can be shattered by a children’s book, maybe children’s books aren’t the problem.” (p. 139)

GOOSEBUMPS: THE HAUNTED MASK by R. L. Stein (1993)

It’s Halloween and Carly Beth Caldwell is determined to take revenge on Steve & Chuck who have been known to constantly come up on Carly and frighten her. It is her turn to make them scream and so on Halloween night, instead of wearing the duck costume prepared by her mother, Carly goes to The Party Store to purchase the uglies goriest, scariest destined to frighten others. But Carly learns that the mask has powers of its own and goosebumps arise. Another great horror “safe scare” adventure by master storyteller R. L. Stein, though challenged by some who considered it to be ‘inappropriate’ and ‘too scary’ for kid and one columnist, Diana West who claimed that ‘Goosebumps was really pornography for kids’.

R. L. Stein: I learned that rule number one is: never defend yourelf. I was taught that by a media coach.

THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS by Katherine Paterson (1978)

Galadrial (Gilly) Hopkins has moved from foster home to foster home and now she is living with Trotter and Gilly is so unhappy. All she wants he is to be reunited with her mother who now lives in California.  Gilly is feisty, smart, rude, resilient, hopeful and oh-so-tought  Hopkins. If there was anything her short life had taught her, it was a person must be tough, Otherwise you were had. (p. 86) And yes, she is the GREAT Gilly Hopkins. This book has been criticized for the ‘bad’ words that are part of Gilly’s vocabulary (e.g, God, damned, hell, retarded). She is also a character who lies and steals and has terrible prejudice against African American people. 

“Oh my poor baby,” 

Gilly was crying now. She couldn’t help herself. “Trotter, it’s all wrogn. Nothing turned out the way it’s supposed to.”

“How you mean supposed to? Life ain’t supposed to be nothing, ‘cept maybe tough.”

“But I always thought that when my mother came…”

“My sweet baby, ain’t no one very told you yet? I reckon I though you had it all figured out.”

“What?”

“That all that stuff about happy endings is lies. The only ending in this world is death. ” (p. 207)

Katherine Paterson: I think up to a certain point, children need to have happy. endings. By the time they’re nine or ten, children of intelligence are looking around and realizing that the world is not all happily-every–after. That is when they’re going to be ready for a book that mirrors the reality of what they’re learning about.” (p. 119)

HEATHER HAS TWO MOMMIES by Leslea Newman; illus. Laura Cornell (picture book) (1989)

This iconic picture book was first published in 1989 (originally  illustrated b Diana Souza) and was one of the first (the first?) to introduce Heather, who is the only girl in her class who doesn’t have a daddy, but has two mommies. This picture book was one of the most frequently challenged books of the 1990’s. 

Leslea Newman “I am sorry that any child has to grow up knowing that for no reason on earth their family is looked down upon as worthy of scorn or as immoral. It makes me sad and furious and determined to write more books about LGBTQ families, despite some people wishing I would not do so? ” (page 102)

*MANIAC MAGEE by Jerry Spinelli (1990)

Jerry Spinelli won the Newbery Medal for Maniac Magee, which I would argue is one of the top ten novels for middle age readers of the last 30 years. A classic, indeed that has sold over 3 million copies. I have fond memories of reading this book aloud to my grade five class (they voted it the best of my read aloud books that year). Inspired by the issue of books that have been challenged it was rewarding to read Spinelli’s book. Do yourself a favour and read it again. And if you haven’t read it, put it on your ‘must read’ list.  Maniac Magee is a mighty fine fictional hero, a boy who is orphaned and, now homeless, he is on the run from settling into a home to call his own. And on the run he is. He is a legend as a runner, as someone who can untie knots, as a home-run hitter, as a literacy teacher but most of all for bringing together kids from the Pennsylvania town of Two Mills and the segregated life of blacks and whites in the East End (blacks) and those from the West End (whites). In this book, Jerry Spinelli shows his marvel at storytelling and sentence writing. WOW! (“He didn’t figure he was white any more than the East enders were black. He looked himself  over pretty hard and came up with at least seven different shades and colors right on his own skin, not one of them being what he would call white (except for his eyeballs, which weren’t any whiter than the eyeballs of the kids in the East End.” (p. 58)

Even though it is regularly assigned to fifth and sixth grade readers in schools, Maniac Magee is frequently on the American Library Associations list of challenged books. (mild profanity, a kid choosing to beat the system by living on the streets   and especially the depiction of racism.) In the early 1990s’ the South African government distributed  copies of the book to help transition during the end of apartheid. Spinelli has never shied away from tough topics (Wringer/ peer pressure towards violence; The Warden’s Daughter / a girl grows up without a mother in a county prison and Milkweed (the story of a Jewish boy set during the Holocaust).

Jerry Spinelli  has said in interviews, that he is only concerned about telling a story with believable characters and doesn’t worry whether kids can handle more mature themes. “Its the world their growing up in…They have their own problems, the same problems that I had when I was their age.” 

MEXICAN WHITE BOY by Matt de la Pena (2008) (YA)

I’m familiar (and admire) picture books author Matt de la Pena, the first American Author to win the Newbery Medal for Last Stop on Market Street, illustrated by Christian Robinson.  Milo Imagines the World (illus by Christian Robinson) was on my top five list of picture books in 2021. His novel titles include Ball Don’t Lie, We Were Here, and I Will Save You. Mexican White Boy is his second novel which tells the story of Danny who is Half-Mexican brown and who is quiet and introspective. “He’s Mexican because his family’s Mexican , but he’s not really Mexican. His skin is dark like is grandma’s sweet coffee, but his insides are as pale as the cream she mixes in.” (p.90).The story is set in san Diego close to the Mexican border where he hopes to be reunited with his father who supposedly moved there. Danny is spending the summer with his father’ family where he develops a friendship with Uno, who also longs to be reunited with his father. De La Pena paints a vivid portrait of life in a barrio in Southern California and his raw, gritty,  portrayal of Mexican, Black and White adolescent friendships and rivals is told through powerful storytelling. The game of baseball predominates many narrative events: “People would have to see Danny pitch to believe it.” The character of Danny came out of the author’s personal family experiences. Controversy for this book title began in Tucson Arizona when the Mexican-American Studies Program was being challenged by people in power. Somebody from the program had mate the statement at a Mexican American event that “Republicans hate Mexicans. the book was caught up in a political struggle. 

Matt De La Pena ended up visiting the high school to which he was originally invited: The closing of the program had actually further motivated the Mexican American kids. The had begun to fight for the program. At one point, they had even chained themselves to some desks in city hall. They were activists now. That visit, which the savvy school librarian had managed to arrange without the superintendent or the principal knowing about it, was the most powerful experience I ever had has an author….The experience “made me understand the power of literature. It made me realize that a book is bigger than a book.”  (p. 9-10)

*ROLL OF THUNDER HEAR MY CRY by Mildred D. Taylor (1976)

Cassie Logan lives with her family, farmers in Mississippi in the 1930s. The novel features the racist attitude of American Whites in telling the story of the Logans who battle racism to keep their land and stay together. The episodes of racism are harrowing: The Logan children are harassed by a school bus full of white children,  Cassie takes a trip to a nearby town and is greeted with disrespect, The Wallace boys (owners of the local store) burn some black men (killing one), The blacks are urged to boycott the store, Papa Logan’s leg is broken during a violent attack, the Logan family is force to pay a loan. The novel was the recipient of the 1977 Newbery Medal.  This is a powerful novel, rich in narration, about a family that struggles with indignities, lives with pride and strength and fights for freedom and justice. The Logan family appear in a number of novels by the author  (The Land, Mississippi Bridge, Song of the Trees, Let the Circle Be Unbroken).

A frequently challenged book for its harsh depiction of racism and is use of racial slurs. Jim Crow laws, White supremacy, racial lynching have resulted  in the banning of this book for fear of harm to black students. 

SHOUT OUT: THREE TERRIFIC NOVELS

The following recent titles for middle years readers unpack the topic of censorship and how students take action to deal with book banning. 

ANSWERS IN THE PAGES by David Levithan

This rather short novel (163 pages) is presented as three alternating narrative: 1) an adventure story about two boys who are trying to prevent an evil genius from acquiring The Doomsday Code that will destroy life; 2) a relationship story about two young boys  who come to realize that their might be falling in love; 3) 2) a ‘now’ story, where Donovan’s mother protests the teaching of The Adventurers because the two characters (as we learn on the last page realize they deeply love each other .When out gay teacher, Mr. Howe  brings the novel The Adventurers into the classroom for all his students to read, troubles erupt in Donovan’s life  and the life of the school. Moreover,  learning unfolds as students, educators and families fight to stand up for their beliefs and fight for what’s right.  Kids might have many questions about , but they are sure to find some ‘answers to their questions, in the pages’ of David Levithan’s  important new book,  indeed worthy of a shout-out.  

excerpt from Answers on the Pages

“There is nothing about being queer that deserves censorship rather than expression. Nothing. This should not be a matter of debate because a person’s humanity should never be a matter of debate. Instead it is a matter of the highest principal we can aspire to, which is equality.”

ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES by Amy Sarig King 

Mac and his grade 6 classmates are assigned to read The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen, a powerful novel about time travel in to the Holocaust. As they embark on the reading the book, they discover that some words have been blacked out because someone deemed them in appropriate for young readers (Spoiler: the word ‘breasts’ has been scratched out Mac and his friends are determined to confront censorship and meetings with the principal and with the parents’ council add to the students’ frustration. This is an engaging  story about activism and young people’s determination to uphold the TRUTH (even about Christopher Columbus and his discovery of American). 

BAN THIS BOOK by Alan Gratz

A fourth-grader fights back when her favourite book is banned from the school library. In protest, she starts her own illegal locker lending library which becomes a huge successful venture. 

OF SPECIAL INTEREST

GENDER QUEER: A memoir by Mia Kobare (YA)

The most banned book of 2021-2022, removed from school libraries and classrooms on at least 41 separate instances. 

People who are ‘genderqueer’ may see themselves as being both male and femaile, neither male nor female  or being completely outside these categories. Presented in graphic format, this memoir recounts the author’s journey from adolescence to adulthocod and with honest words and images provides and exploration of gender identity and sexuality.  The author pours out her heart, her confusions and her grappling of how to come out to her family and society. They ultimately define as being outside the gender binary. The book was banned and challenged for its LGBTQIA+ content and for its explicit images (i.e., masturbation and fantasies, the trauma of a pap smear test, the use sex toys). 

FYI; Article Toronto Star

by Ira Wells, November 27, 2022

“I joined a book club at my kids’ school, unwittingly writing myself int a long history of literary censorship” 

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2022/11/27/i-joined-a-book-audit-at-my-kids-school-unwittingly-writing-myself-into-a-long-history-of-literary-censorship.html

FYI: Article… New Yorker magazine

by Jessica Winter, July 11, 2022

“What Should A Queer Children’s Book Do?” 
How a vital burgeoning genre or kid lit is being threatened across the country

ttps://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-education/lgbt-books-kids-ban

FYI: BANNED BOOKS: The World’s Most Controversial Books, Past and Present

DK Penguin Random House

Page by page, this book provides a document of controversial, provocative, and revolutionary literature whose publication has been been curtailed at some point in history. An overview and description of titles that have been  is provided in 1-3 pages, with illustration. Some titles include The Canterbury tales, Frankenstein, Ulysses, 1984, The Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingvird, I Know Why the Caged Bird sings, The Handmaid’s Tale, and more recently The Kite Runner, The Absoultely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and ,.

>>>>>>>>   <<<<<<<<

Of the 2500 books challenged in school districts in the United States, do any of these banned book titles surprise you?

Harriet the Spy (Louise Fitzhugh); Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White); The Giver (Lois Lowry); The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis); A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L’Engle); The Giving Tree (Shel Silverstein); The Family Book (Todd Parr); Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak); Drama (Raina Telgemeier); The Call of the Wild (Jack London); Speak (Laurie Halse Anderson); Where’s Waldo? (Martin Hanford); THe Witches  (Roald Dahl); The Hate U Give (Angie Thomas): The New Kid (Jerry Craft); George/Melissa (Alex Gino): All Boys Aren’t Blue (George M. Johnson): Gender Queer (Maia Kobabe); If I ran the Zoo (Dr. Seuss); Maus (Art SpiegelmanTo Kill a Mockingbird  (Harper Lee): (The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank); 

 It has been a great month for reading great books. Several titles are deserved of shout-outs and will be on my list of great reads of 2022.  Special favourites are titles by favourite authors who have given us another great title where we once again meet beloved characters (Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout; Maureen Fry: and the angel of the North by Rachel Joyce and All The Broken Places by John Boyne).

BANNED BOOKS: The World’s Most Controversial Books, Past and Present /DK Penguin Random House / nonfiction

Page by page, this book provides a document of controversial, provocative, and revolutionary literature whose publication has been been curtailed at some point in history. An overview and description of titles that have been  is provided in 1-3 pages, with illustration. Some titles include The Canterbury tales, Frankenstein, Ulysses, 1984, The Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingvird, I Know Why the Caged Bird sings, The Handmaid’s Tale, and more recently The Kite Runner, The Absoultely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You.

THE BOY WITH TWO HEARTS: A story of hope by Hamed Amiri / biography

After his mother speaks out against he Taliban and is threatened with being executed, Hamed Amiri’s family is forced to flee Afghanistan and set out on a dangerous journey for a year and a half across Russia and Europe before arriving in the UK. Episodes of hiding and robbery and survival are harrowing. Moreover, the author recounts his brother’s crisis with a damaged heart and the desperate need to seek asylum and get sound medical care in the UK. I chose to read this book because I went to see a theatre production of this family’s story at the National Theatre. The harrowing autobiographical story was better in book form than as a play which was a faithful translation of the Amiri journey as refugees and the brother’s deteriorating heart condition. 

JUST BY LOOKING AT HIM by Ryan O’Connell

This is the story of Elliott, a thirty-five-year old, gay fellow with Cerebral Palsy. He has a well-paid job as a writer for a Television comedy.  He has a rather steady relationship with Gup but even though they’ve been together for 6 years (five and three-quarters), Elliott is questioning his gay lifestyle, his new-found interest (obsession) in hiring sex workers, his drinking problem and his identity as a disabled person. Ryan O’Connell has appeared in the Netflix series Special and currently can be seen as a character in Queer as folk. As a writer, he is observant, witty and often moving in his reflections and introspections. This is a book layered with honesty, heart and laughter.   

PICTURES FROM HOME by Larry Sultan (photography; autobiography)

I had never heard of the American photographer, Larry Sultan, but when I learned that his book Pictures From Home was being made into a play that was going to be produced on Broadway in 2023, I decided to get this book in preparation for seeing the play (starring Nathan Lane, Zoe Wannamaker and Danny Burstein).  Sultan’s work is documentary in style, with staged images (that seem to be spontaneous candid shots). In this book, first published in 1992 and re-released in 2017. photographs that apparently features still footage excerpted from home movie , along with is a tribute and story to his parents Irving and Jean and their life in Southern California suburbia. Throughout the book, the author’s voice and transcripts of his mother’s and father’s   conversations help create a biography of an All-American Family (a Jewish family), the pursuit of the American dream and the a revelation what may seem ordinary inside and outside a home. I look forward to seeing the play. 

SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE by Claire Keegan

A good friend suggested that I might like this book. (Isn’t it terrific when your friends know what books you might like?) Small Things Like These is a small novella  (114 pages) but it’s themes and emotions are so affecting. The story is set in 1985 Ireland. The protagonist is Bill Furlong, a coal and fuel  merchant who’s business keeps his family wife of five girls afloat while others are struggling. Christmas is approaching and Bill goes about his deliveries, with stories of his past swimming through his head. An encounter with nuns at a local laundry sets further contemplation and worries for Furlong.  A quiet book where the landscape of an Irish community and the landscape of a compassionate hard-working man’s mind intersect.  A gem of a book!!! 

SHOUT OUT

ALL THE BROKEN PLACES by John Boyne

All the Broken Places is a sequel of sorts to the author’s international bestseller The Boy in the Striped Pajamas which has sold over 11 million copies worldwide and is a huge success, despite some controversy of historical accuracy.  Boyne first conceived the idea for this new novel  shortly after completing The Boy in 2006. This book centres on the character of ninety-one year old Gretel Fernsby, now living a comfortable life in London but deeply haunted by the crimes of her father the commandant of Auschwitz and the responsibility she had in her brother’s death. The narrative and settings of Gretel’s story change from London, to Paris, to Australia to Berlin.  The widow is determined to hold the secrets of the past in her heart until confronted by others who will unpack the truth. A central story involves her relationship with young Henry who lives in Greta’s apartment building. Henry’s abusive, domineering father is something that Gretel hopes to deal with, even though it threatens her true identity and current comforts in life. I’m not sure that it is essential to have read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas but having that story inside you will certainly have an impact on reading this sequel. And even thought the audience for Pajamas was young adolescents, All the Broken Places is intended for adult readers. I am a HUGE fan of John Boyne’s writing (both for adults and young people).  I’ve always wondered when reviews commented that a book was ‘gripping’ but All the Broken Places was Gripping with a capital G.  A devastating story of grief and of guilt. A At the top of my best reads of 2022, if not at  the very top! Astounding!!!!

SHOUT OUT

AMY & LAN by Sadie Jones

I’m drawn to adult books which have young people as the central protagonists (e.g. Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart) and British author Sadie Jones presents two narrators, Amy  & Lan, two dear friends who grow up in a west country farm in England. Amy’s and Lan’s parents who are best friends (and another family) move to place called Firth determined to fulfill a dream of living on a farm. The chapters alternate between Amy and Lan’s voices as they observe a life of growing vegetables, milking goats, slaughtering chickens and scything hay. The grown-ups are far too busy to keep an eye on their children which suits Amy & Lan as they have adventures of their own, partake in celebrations and countryside rituals and come-of-age through encounters of family, friends, strangers and animals. The family’s decision to move from the city was a brave one and persevere they do.  As the two main characters pass from year to year they offer a telescopic view of nature, loyalty and betrayal. I so loved the farm as character. I so loved the bond between this young boy and girl, their courage, humour and resilience. I so loved this book. 

SHOUT OUT

LUCY BY THE SEA by Elizabeth Strout

My oh my! What a special writer Elizabeth Strout is, indeed one of my favourite authors for adult fiction. I have always enjoyed reading about Lucy Barton (My Name is Lucy Barton; Oh William!) and I’m going to say that this new novel is the best of the best. In this story Lucy’s ex-husband lures the celebrated author  away from her home in New York to live in a little house in Maine in order to be protected  her from the trials and fears of the  Pandemic. We learn about Lucy’s dealing with the grief after losing a loving husband, of her devotion to her two daughters, and events from her years of poverty that shaped her outlook on life. It is a  story of panic and worry and regrets and hope and deep human connections. What a marvel Elizabeth Strout is at conjuring fictional memories, dreams and conversations. Oh those wonderful wonderful anecdotes :Lucy/ Elizabeth conjures up about people sin her past and present life. As Lucy, Strout writes. “This is the question that has made me a writer: always the deep desire to know what it feels like to be a different person.” I finished reading this early this morning with goosebumps on my skin and in my heart.Absolutely Lucy By The Sea will be on my top list of great reads in 2022.  Exquisite!

SHOUT OUT 

MAUREEN FRY and the Angel of the North by Rachel Joyce

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is one of my all time favourite novels. I so enjoyed The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy where we revisit a special character from the first book. With Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North, Rachel Joyce completes the trilogy. Settled into her life with her husband, Harold, Maureen Fry  receives unsettling message from Northern England and is determined to embarks on a journey to visit the Garden of Relics assembled by Queenie in Northern England. Her mission is to find an answer to the mysterious monument created for her son, David, who had committed suicide. Readers accompany Maureen as comes to term with her past, deals with grief and comes to learn more about herself and the world of kindnesses and love.  Joyce has written another novel with deep feeling, p0werful encounters, and poignant views of the world we live in.  Thank you Ms. Joyce for this touching novel , which though short  (126 pages), packs a punch for one of your many fans. 

>>>>>  SHOUT OUT <<<<<

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO 52 Large and Small Joys for Today and Everyday

Sophie Blackall

A handbook of personal stories and paintings; a list of 52 things to look forward to 

Award winning author-illustrator Sophie Blackall (Hello Lighthouse; If You Come to Earth…) presents a collection of joyful things to consider, to aspire to to ensure that we life is lived optimistically. Through 52 short personal stories accompanied with remarkable paintings, Blackall offers a handbook of things to notice to make the most of our time here on Earth: A Hot Shower; A New Word; First Snow; A Full Moon; Listening to a Song You’ve Never Heard Before; Moving the Furniture Around; Making A List; Coming Home. I so loved this inspirational gem that I bought 10 copies that will take care of much of my Christmas / Chanukah gift-giving for friends and relatives young and old.  

This posting features a list of 10 titles, each one rather different from the next. Some favourites of the batch, made the SHOUT OUT list.

COCOA MAGIC by Sandra Bradley; illus. Gabrielle Grimard

Great Uncle Lewis owns a chocolate shop and eight year old Daniel loves helping to mix, pour and mold chocolates. Daniel is also is on a secret mission to share chocolate delights with students in his class who seem to be having troubles. Cocoa Magic is a delicious story about empathy and  spreading kindness.

“The gift-giving was unstoppable.”

THE DON’T WORRY BOOK by Todd Parr

We all worry at sometime, but master picture book artist, Todd Parr captures things that some young people might worry about (meeting someone for the first time, the dark, when someone is being mean, when you are alone) and offers advice on how to conquer worrying (take deep breaths, visit friends, dance, and most of all remembering everyone who loves and takes care of you. Another Parr winner!

“Worrying doesn’t help you. If you are worried, talk to someone you love about it. It will make you feel better.”

FROM FAR AWAY by Robert Munsch and Saoussan Askar; illus. Rebecca Green

This story was originally published in 1995 with illustrations by Michael Martchenko.  In 2017, Munsch and Askar’s story was published with new illustrations by Rebecca Green.  The book first grew out of a letter that Saoussan Askar wrote to Munsch about her life as a refugee. When war strikes her city, Saoussan is forced to leave home and move far away. Based on Askar’s experiences, life for the young girl in a new school is scary and confusing (the plane ride; the teacher’s conversations; playing with others; going to the washroom, a paper skeleton).

A note from the author: Sauossan completed a Bachelor degree in Health Studies and a Master of Arts degree in Sociology. 

“Writing and publishing this story made me realize how many people struggle with finding a place of their own and with being understood by those around them. I have had people from all walks of life share with me their own stories of struggles and integration.”

LIKE by Annie Barrows; illus. Leo Espinosa

How are we, as humans like other things on earth – a tin can, a swimming pool, an excavator, a mushroom, a hyena.  A book that introduces the concept of simile, but more than that it is a celebration of human differences and similarities. 

“I am more like you than I am like most things on Earth.”

THE REAL “DADA” MOTHER GOOSE: A Treasury of Complete Nonsense by Jon Scieszka; illus Julia Rothman (poetry)

Jon Scieszka first began to delight readers with his comic gem The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. His fractured poems of parody  in Science Verse and Trucktown Truckery Rhymes  provide a joyful word-play journey into the world of nursery rhymes.  The Real Dada Mother Goose is a collection of absurd, nonsensical and oh-so-inventive rhymes of poems that may or may not be familiar to young readers. Includes such formats as code, hieroglyphics, comic strip,  crossword, recipe,  rebus, and anagram. Clever! Clever! Clever! Note: Dada = the rejection of reason and rational thinking. 

Jack be imble-nay.

Jack be ick-quay.

Jack ump-jay over-yay the andlestick-cay. 

SUN IN MY TUMMY by Laura Alary; illus. Andrea Blinicke

Sun In My Tummy describes how plants turn air and water and sunlight into food. In free verse style, the author introduces readers to the concepts of matter and energy and how the sun’s light becomes fuel for our bodies through the food we eat. This is a great great STEM story. 

“Inside everything if you look deep enough, you will find the sun. Warm-hearted. Generous. Giving.”

TELLING STORIES WRONG by Gianni Rodari; illus. Beatrice Alemagna; translated from the Italian by Antony Shuggaar

As he tells the story of Little Red Riding Hood,   Grandpa keeps mixing thing up, only to be corrected by his granddaughter.  Gianni Rodari is concerned to be the father of modern Italian children’s literature and this whimsical, twisted tale is sure to delight , bring smiles and ignite ‘baci’ between adult and young reader. 

“Oh right! So the horse said to her…”

“What horse, Grandpa? It was a wolf?”

SHOUT OUT

THE BLUE SCARF by Mohamed Danawi; illus. Ruaida Manna

Layla is given a beautiful new blue scarf which she wears with pride. When a gust of wind carries the scarf away, Layla sets out to leave her blue country  and journeys by boat to other worlds, each of a different colour. This is a poignant that works on many levels, but particularly for mining the theme of emigration and acceptance.  What a special picture this is!

“Proudly wear who you are no matter where you are.”

SHOUT OUT

STILL THIS LOVE GOES ON by Buffy Sainte-Marie; illus. by Julie Flett

I was thrilled to see this title listed as one of the top ten illustrated books of the year, according to the New York Times.  Award-winning Cree-Metis author and illustrator, Julie Flett has provided stunning images to match the lyrics by Cree singer-songwriter, Buffy Saine-Marie. The words and images combine to present a love letter to the seasons, to community and to Indigenous traditions.  Wow!

“In every dream, I can smell the sweetgrass burning. And in my heart, I can hear the drum.”

SHOUT OUT 

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO 52 Large and Small Joys for Today and Everyday

Sophie Blackall

A handbook of personal stories and paintings; a list of 52 things to look forward to 

Award winning author-illustrator Sophie Blackall (Hello Lighthouse; If You Come to Earth…) presents a collection of joyful things to consider, to aspire to to ensure that we life is lived optimistically. Through 52 short personal stories accompanied with remarkable paintings, Blackall offers a handbook of things to notice to make the most of our time here on Earth: A Hot Shower; A New Word; First Snow; A Full Moon; Listening to a Song You’ve Never Heard Before; Moving the Furniture Around; Making A List; Coming Home. I so loved this inspirational gem that I bought 10 copies that will take care of much of my Christmas / Chanukah gift-giving for friends and relatives young and old.  

FYI

Each year the New York Times selects a list of the best illustrated books. The following list presents the titles of the 10 winners for 2022 as published in the New York Times, Sunday November 13, 2022.

BEDTIME FOR BO by Kjersti annesdatte Skomsvold; illus by Mri Kanstad Johnsen (translated by Kari Dickson)

FARMHOUSE by Sophie Blackall

THE NEW ROOSER by Rilla Alexander

NIGHT LUNCH be Eric Fan; illus. Dona Selferling

STILL THIS LOVE GOES ON written by Buffy Sainte-Marie; illus. Julie Flett

TELLING STORIES WRONG by Gianni Rodari; illus. Beatrice Alemagne

THE UPSIDE DOWN HAT by Stephen Barr; illus. Grace Zhang

WHERE BUTTERFLIES FILL THE SKY by Zahra Marwan

THE WRITER by Davide Cali; illus. Monica Barengo

YELLOW DOG BLUES by Alice 

This posting includes a range of fiction, nonfiction, biography, poetry titles that served me great reading pleasure over the past 6 weeks and guaranteed to engage readers from grades 5-9.  I’m betting that some of these titles will be receiving awards. 

FICTION

ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES by Amy Sarig King 

Mac and his grade 6 classmates are assigned to read The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen, a powerful novel about time travel in to the Holocaust. As they embark on the reading the book, they discover that some words have been blacked out because someone deemed them in appropriate for young readers (Spoiler: the word ‘breasts’ has been scratched out Mac and his friends are determined to confront censorship and meetings with the principal and with the parents’ council add to the students’ frustration. This is an engaging  story about activism and young people’s determination to uphold the TRUTH (even about Christopher Columbus and his discovery of American).

 THE BOY LOST IN THE MAZE by Joseph Coelho (YA) (FREE VERSE)

This sophisticated narrative told in poems  connects the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur with the story of a teenager who is on a quest to find his biological father.  Theseus bravely conquers or murders enemies who interrupt his path to find his father. Theo, a modern-day youth in his final year of school is tricked on his own journey to find out the truth about is father. Both journeys intertwine as two youths discover the meaning of manhood.  The stories are outlined in alternating chapters with staggering illustrations by Kate Milner. At times, Coelho offers readers a choose your own adventure alternative plots to follow. Unique in form and content, with vivid poetic verbal and visual images, The Boy Lost in the Maze is a strong exploration of myth and reality for strong readers.  

THE DOOR OF NO RETURN by Kwame Alexander (YA) (FREE VERSE / HISTORICAL FICTION)

Award-winning poet, Kwame Alexander tells a powerful story about an eleven-year-old African boy named Kofi  Offin, who gets stolen and sold into slavery.The story is set in Ghana in the 19th century and through poems, tells the story of Kofi’s life in school, bullying, his adoration of a village girl, his admiration of his older brother, and his skills as a swimmer. The final part of the book is harrowing describing Kofi and other black boys who are on board a ship where they will lose any sense of freedom they hoped for. To be sure, another awards awaits Alexander for this remarkable historical fiction that is an opening of doors thatprovides a back story of slaves, and truth about the history of African Americans. This is the first book of a trilogy, the saga of an African family that helps to fulfill the African proverb: We desire to bequeath two things to our children; the first one is roots; the other one is wings.  

THE LAST BEAR by Hannah Gold 

I’m always intrigued to read Waterstones Book choice of the year and The Last Bear is the 2022 winner of best fiction.  A young girl and her father or on a mission on an Arctic post for six months. Her father is so immersed in his research to measure the changing Northern temperatures, that April is free to wanter the island on her own. Even though she was informed that polar bears no longer live on Bear Island, she is astounded one day toe meet a bear who is lonely, hungry and just like April, a long way from home. April and Bear come to develop a strong bond and the two friends journey throughout the island (April rides bears back). April keeps Bear a secret from her father (who really isn’t paying much attention to her) but  April questions why bear is alone and how climate change has removed in from his famiiar life she takes action and becomes determined to save the bear  – and take action to save the planet. An inspiring story about animal/human bonding and an important story to help readers thing about climate change. A thrilling adventure!

SPACEBOY by David Walliams illus. Adam Stower (ages 9-12) 

Once a year i got to read a new novel by David Walliams and have a good adventurous and humourous read.  Dare I say that Mr. Walliams’s recent title seems to make a little shift in narrative, characterization and formatting.  The protagonist is not boy, but a twelve-year old orphaned girl named Ruth. This story is not set in the UK, but in America in the 1960’s.  Events are still wild but didn’t seem as preposterous (or rude) as Billionaire Boy, Ratbuger, Demon Detnist or Bad Dad.  The author takes readers on a journey with a flying saucer that crash-lands in a cornfield and the meeting up with an Alien creature.  This novel,  like previous fictional titles by the author, is filled with varied fonts, inventive words and an abundance of illustrations by Adam Stower whose comical style accompanies Walliams comical style (and now seems to be the authors’ partner in mischievous narrative). A story of alien creatures and space race adventures between America and Russia is sure to please  young readers as much as it did with me.  

TYGER by SF Said

Readers are quickly drawn into the story when Adam, who is forced to live in a ghetto with his Muslim family, when early in the novel he discovers something incredible in a rubbish dump in London, It is Tyger and Tyger is in danger. Adam (who dreams of being an artist) and Zadie (who dreams of being a writer),  are determined to save the tyger at all costs. But this is a more than a survival story. Set in in an alternative 21st. century London, the world is on the verge of destruction and Tyger inspires the two friends to use their powers of perception, imagination and and to save their family and their community.  A friend from England highly recommended this novel by award-winning author SF Said, best known for his novel Varjak Paw. The reviews from Britain have the stuff of any author’s dream: “an utter masterpiece”; “breathtaking”; “absolutely blown away”; “extraordinary”; “a gem”; “a classic”; ‘the publishing event of the year”.  Tyger is a magical, mythical story with stark cinematic images and thrilling adventure that are sure to engage lovers of fantasy. Disclaimer, I am not a lover of fantasy and tend to stay away from Dystopian narratives.  There is no doubt that SF Said is a great storyteller and has here presented a thought-provoking good vs evil work about colonialism, classism, racism and spirituality. There are some breathtaking episodes (public hanging; entering a magical world beyond doors ).   Breathtaking too are the dynamic black and white illustrations by artist Dave McKean which add power as the pages are turned. Yes, a thrilling ride and a challenging one for its allusions,  symbolism and fantasy. 

THE UNDERCOVER BOOK LIST by Colleen Nelson

Tyson is known as the class troublemaker and Jane the the class bookworm join forces within a secret club to find Jane a new book-loving friend. Canadian novelist, Colleen Nelson weaves two stories together. where each character discovers their own self-reliance and courage to overcome obstacles. This novel is a finalist for several book awards and will particularly engage middle-age readers who think about their identities (who doesn’t?) and how caring, empathetic  friendships are built.

NONFICTION 

THE ANTIRACIST KID: A Book about Identity, Justice and Activism by Tiffany Jewell; illus. Nicole Miles 

Tiffany Jewell is the author of This Book is Anti-Racist and this publication guides readers into answering such questions asWhat is Racism? and What is Antiracism. This informative how-to book is divided into three sections: IDENTITY; JUSTICE; RACISM helping to teach readers how to recognize racism and injustice and motivate them to think about what they can do about them at at school, in the community, in the world. The book is beautifully laid out with colorful illustrations, quotes vocabulary and facts. Hooray for this thoughtful – essential guide for caring citizens ages 9-13. Bravo!

THE MISSING by Michael Rosen (Ages 11+) (BIOGRAPHY)

British author Michael Rosen had heard stories about his great uncles who were there before the war, but not after. Rosen embarks on research to discover the true story of his family in World War II and takes readers on an investigative journey to find about the disappearance of people lost during the holocaust. 

MORDECHAI ANIELEWICZ: NO TO DESPAIR by Rachael Hausfater (Ages 12+)
(translated by Alison L. Strayer) (BIOGRAPHY)

Set in Poland during the Holocaust, No to Despair is a powerful account of the final days of the life of Mordechai Anielwicz, the young leader of the Jewish Fighting Organization that led to the insurrection agains the Nazi control. Anielewicz was a revolutionary leader with resolve and immense strength of resistance with obligations to defend each other, no matter the costs. “The opposite of despair is not hope, it’s struggle.” This title is part of the “They Said No” historical fiction series from Seven Stories Press for young readers about protestors, activists and revolutionaries (e.g., Harvey Milk, Primo Levi, George Sand, Victor Hugo)

OVERHEARD IN A TOWER BLOCK by Joseph Coelho; illus. Kate Milner (ages 11+) (POETRY)

Joseph Coelho, award-winning poet,  is the Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2022-2024. Overheard in a Tower Block is an anthology of his poems illuminating life growing up in a city. 

As your book forms its leaves,

as you leave the story for others to read,

make sure you bind well your spine,

Don’t let the ink smudge on a word.

For you yourself are a book.

You yourself are a library. 

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SHOUT OUT: FICTION

A ROVER’s STORY by Jasmine Warga

Resilience (Rez for short) is a robot built to explore Mars and send information about life on the planet. When Mars and his companion, a friendly drone helicopter named Fly, navigate Mars, they soon discover the dangers of dust storms and giant cliffs. From the beginning of the story, we learn that Rez is developing humanlike emotions which is most unusual for a Rover. The novel is structured into five parts (‘Preparing’; ‘Launch” ‘Roving’; ‘Our Mission’; ‘Home’.) Interspersed throughout the novel is a series of letters written over decades by Sophie, the daughter of a NASA scientist who helped to create the robot. Though Rez will never read these letters they bring an added sense of humanity  to the narrative.  The adventures are told in the first person view of the robot which inspires both understanding and compassion for readers about space exploration.  This book came to me when I asked a bookseller to recommend the best book she recently read who handed me a copy of A Rover’s Story with great enthusiasm, This piece of fiction, inspired by real life Rovers,  is guaranteed to be a huge success read widely by readers, especially 9- 12. It is already listed on The New York Times bestseller’s list for Middle Age fiction. An enthralling read!

Author’s note: “To me, a novelists job is to use fiction to take something true and bring it to life in a unique and exciting way. This isa book that is informed by scientific facts but made whole through imagination.”

SHOUT OUT: FICTION

TWO DEGREES by Alan Gratz (fiction, ages 10-14)

Author, Alan Gratz has done it again. He’s written another thrilling adventure story – make that THREE amazing stories  – in this novel about characters entrapped in three climate disasters. The book is divided into six parts, plus epilogue. Each part presents a narrative about different characters. This alternating has worked successfully for Gratz before (Refugee; Ground Zero) and in this novel, the author presents grab-your-throat adventures that moves the readers along (I suppose, one could choose to focus on one story at a time). Akira is caught in the wildfires of California; Own and George are threatened by hungry polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba and Natalie is dragged into a massive hurricane which comes crashing through Miami. Each of these characters are swept in the devastating effect of climate change and it is more than their stories of survival that connects them. This is a powerful important novel of our times, helping readers thing about the urgency of the climate crisis and what individuals can do to make a difference. This book, like other Gratz titles, will be widely read. This book should be read. Fasten your seat belts, this is an amazing work of fiction. Amazing! 

SHOUT OUT 

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO 52 Large and Small Joys for Today and Everyday

Sophie Blackall

A handbook of personal stories and paintings; a list of 52 things to look forward to 

Award winning author-illustrator Sophie Blackall (Hello Lighthouse; If You Come to Earth…) presents a collection of joyful things to consider, to aspire to to ensure that we life is lived optimistically. Through 52 short personal stories accompanied with remarkable paintings, Blackall offers a handbook of things to notice to make the most of our time here on Earth: A Hot Shower; A New Word; First Snow; A Full Moon; Listening to a Song You’ve Never Heard Before; Moving the Furniture Around; Making A List; Coming Home. I so loved this inspirational gem that I bought 10 copies that will take care of much of my Christmas / Chanukah gift-giving for friends and relatives young and old.  

This book, by two British  children’s literature masters ,Michael Morpurgro (author ) and Michael Foreman (llustrator) to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee.  This treasured book is a celebration of Britain’s longest reigning monarch and beloved world figure. With her passing September 8, 2022, This is A Queen further serves as a tribute to the history and monumental life of a monarch devoted to crown, country and family.  This is an exquisite keepsake for past, present and future generations, young and old. 

“There once is a Queen ever constant to her people…”

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Shout Out to the MARILYN BAILLIE best picture book of 2021 awarded to TIME IS A FLOWER written and illustrated by Julie Morstad.

Shout Out to Sheree Fitch and illustrator Carolyn Fisher for winning the first David Booth Poetry Award for their picture book SUMMER FEET

Shout Out to David A. Robertson and illustrator Julie Flett for receiving the $50 000 TD Canadian Children’s Literature prize for their picture book ON THE TRAPLINE as best book of 2021.

Ten Great Novels for Readers ages 9 -12, each deserved of a shout out. Some titles are sure to appear on my top ten list of books at year’s end. 

SHOUT OUT

KEY PLAYER: A Front Desk novel by Kelly Yang

We first met Mia Tang in the terrific novel, Front Desk and once again we encounter the adventures he spirit,  the talent and activist nature of this Asian American character. This is the 4th book in the series Front Desk, Three Keys and Room to Dream and readers who have joined in her experiences along the way will not be disappointed as Mia, her friends and family fight for social justice. (note: The books are self-contained. You do not really have to read them in chronological order). Readers come to admire Mia as much as they did in book one and over the years, we get to know Mia deeper, like a good trusted friend. In Key Player, the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup comes to Pasadena. Team China was playing against Team USA. This competition is a strong step for women in sports and for Mia as a Chinese American girl she is conflicted about who she should root for.  As a budding journalist, Mia is determined to meet with the Chinese players and for Mia, where there’s a will there’s a way,  as she battles, sexism and classism and racism. (“You want to rout for China? Then go back to China?” / “I knew you guys were going to be difficult. My colleague warned me. He said, “Don’t take on new immigrants. They’re going to be a lot of work.”‘”Where are you guys from? he asked. “Right here in Anaheim!” I said. But where are you really from?”. Woven into the plot is Mia’s family’s wish to find a house of their own to live in, a Math competition which her best friend Lupe enters (and Mia’s mom coaches), and the return of the tough, Mr. Yao, co-owner of the motel and the tough control he has over his son Jason who is a talented chef. 

As with the other titles in the series, events for this novel are drawn from Kelly Yang’s own past. In the author’s note she writes: I wondered if the stadium – and the United States – had room for both the Chinese and American parts or me. My greatest hope in writing Key Player is for kids to understand that there is room. There’s room for all parts or you. All your history, and hopes and dreams, and shins you’re still figuring out too.”

Kelly Yang writes great books, filled with heart, adventure and humour. Moreover, the Front Desk series guides readers to think about discrimination and the quest for immigrants to find a place where dreams can be realized as they find a place to belong. Kelly Yang’s books must be read. 

P.S  Yang dedicates her book “To everyone who has ever struggled in P.E., like me.

MY LIFE BEGINS by Patricia MacLachan

Patricia MacLachlan is a beloved author (Sarah, Plain and Tall, Word after Word after Word, The Poet’s Dog, Baby) who’s tender stories have  filled the hearts of young readers ages 8-11 for many years. The celebrated author passed away in 2022 and My Life Begins is her first novel published after her death. MacLachlan tells the story of nine-year old Jacob who more than anything would like a puppy but when his mother gives birth to triplets, dreams of getting a new pet need to be put on the side. He gives his three sisters a name: The Trips and through a school research project, Jacob observes and document the growth and charm of his three new sisters. This is an unfussy, rather gentle story about sibling relationships and a  warm portrait of  babies and a boy and change. Thank you for your wonderful wonderful books, Patricia MacLachlan. 

OMAR RISING by Aisha Saeed

We first met Omar in Aisha Saeed’s fine novel Amal Unbound. In this story, Omar is enrolled in the Ghalib Academy a prestigious school in Pakistan that will give Omar, the son of a servant, opportunities for a better future. Upon his arrival, Omar learns that scholarship students cannot join clubs, or teams (he is keen to play soccer) and is obligated to complete 5 hours of extra  chores. each week. Omar invests himself heart and soul into his studies  but when he learns that the school ‘weeds out’. scholarship students like him he is devastated and is moved to take action to change the school rules.  A strong portrayal of school life, academic achievement, friendships and class discrimination. It is an engaging story of a equity and one determined boy’s ‘rising’ and fight for justice. 

THE SECRET BATTLE OF EVAN PAO by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

After their father disappears (a bad business venture), Evan Pao (Pow) moves with his mother and sister from California to Haddington Virginia. Evan discovers that he is the only Chinese American student enrolled in the school, and even though Evan hopes to make the best of it, he and his family encounter Anti-Asian racism. The school name is Battleford and Evan’s teacher is proud to organize Battlefield Day when students dress up like it’s the Civil War and live like people did back then. The project inspires Evan to learn about Chinese soldiers who may have been involved in the War from 18612 to 1865 in the fight between the north and south over slavery.  Evan needs to figure out how his   culture fits into the past, deals hate crimes in the present and move to a future where neighbours accept each other for who they are. Each chapter is centred on. different novel character narrated in the third person.

THE TRYOUT by Christina Soontornvat; illus. Joanna Cacao (graphic autobiography)

The author recounts her experiences of trying out for cheerleader in seventh grade which for her was an ‘exhilarating, horrifying, empowering, and nauseating all at once.’ Soont is Thai/Chinese and her family owned a restaurant in a small town in Texas. When she enthusiastically decides to join the try-outs for the school cheerleading squad (the grade 7 students vote for the winners), she discovers more about competition, loyalty, popularity and especially racism. A boy in her class calls her “Rice Girl” and gets away with it. Christina Soontornvat’s story can resonate with many students today who feel that they are outsiders because of their skin colour or religion.  Three cheers for this terrific, honest story about cheerleading – and fitting in. 

WOLFSTONGUE by Sam Thompson

The story takes place in an underground city, deep in the forest, in a world built by wolves, a world where the foxes live. Silas, a boy who is continuously bullied at school because he is unable to speak out loud helps an injured wolf and is then invited into the secret Forest world dominated by the leader Reynard the fox. A gripping adventure unfolds where Silas (Wolfstongue) is on a mission to help rescue the stolen baby wolves and fight for the last remaining wolves to survive. I’m rather fond of books with  anthropomorphic animal characters (Abel’s Island by William Steig;The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo; The One and Only Ivan by  Katherine Applegate, and much preferred a different story about a fox named Pax  by Sara Pennypacker but I wasn’t as gripped by this book as I’m sure many readers ages 8 to 12 will be. Cover reviews : “The best animated adventure since Watership Down “(The Times); “A hugely original tale” (The Irish Times); “Gripping and profound” (New Statesman); “One of the most extraordinary children’s books I’ve ever read”. Wolfstongue is Irish writer Sam Thompson’s first book for children (, with black and white illustrations by Anna Tromop that show vivid images of story events)  and is certain to be enjoyed by young readers who like to delve into ‘animated’ ‘original’ ‘gripping’ ‘extraordinary’ animal adventures. (spoiler: A sequel The Fox’s Tower will be forthcoming in 2023). (I don’t think I’ll be reading it!!)

THE WORLD’S WORST PETS by David Walliams’; illus. Adam Stower (short stories)

Another wild and funny, ridiculous  and joyous,  collection of ten stories of naughty characters such as Picasso The Pony, Monty The Musical Dog, Furp the Fish and Zoom the Supersonic Tortoise. For millions of readers who have laughed at The World’s Worst Children, The World’s Worst Teachers, The World’s Worst Parents by bestselling author David Walliams, welcome to another whacky reading adventure. To those who haven’t enjoyed a Walliams title, and the brilliant graphic formatting of words and pictures, what have you been waiting for? Shout out to illustrator Adam Stower for cartoon-like drawings that hop, skip and jump off the page, (from page to page).

WORSER by Jennifer Ziegler

Things are going from bad to worser for 12-year-old William Wyatt Orser / W. Orser / Worser. His father died when he was four years old. His mother has had a stroke and is recovering slowly. Artistic, Aunt Iris, has moved into his house and seems to be taking over as surrogate parent (She calls him ‘Potato’). When he enters grade 7, he is  summoned to the principal’s office and they don’t see eye to eye. The school library, a place of refuge for Orser is now closed after school hours. He pines for a girl named Donya who doesn’t seem to feel the same about him.  When the school Literary Club is about to dissolve, Orser saves the day by arranging to have them meet at a local bookstore where he’s made an arrangement with the owner by offering to clean up the storage room. Worser is also a word fanatic and keeps a list of strange words, delicious words, word patterns collected in his lexicon collection he calls ‘Masterwork’. Worser laments that things can’t be the way they always were, especially with the warm relationship he had with his mother, and he struggles to overcome authority, grief and loneliness. This is a wonderful, amusing and heartfelt novel about activism, friendships, family, middle years changes and, yes, word power. 

SHOUT OUT

THE FORT by Gordon Korman

This novel is Gordon Korman’s hundreth book.  Mazel Tov!

In the aftermath of a hurricane, four middle school friends discover an underground bomb shelter. Actually, Ricky, an outsider to the group, is the one who found the trapdoor that lead to the well-equipped underground fort which the five boys vow to keep a secret.  Korman presents each of the chapters  the point of view of one of the characters, each with his own story.  After his presents are forced into rehab, Evan lives with his grandparents, Jason is the pingpong ball in a divorce settlement, Mitchell has a compulsive disorder and lives with his mother who is doing her best as a single mother and CJ who is consistently bruised and battered because of what he says are careless accidents.  The plot thickens when Evan’s older brother and his loathsome friend are out to threaten the boys until they confess where they suddenly are getting money to spend (i.e., expensive silverware left by the shelter’s owner). The Fort is an engaging story about boys sharing secrets and adventures but beyond the terrific plot, is a story that sensitively and realistically deals with such issues as divorce, OCD and abuse. Gordon Korman is a genius at telling appealing stories that appeal to middle-age readers, stories that ring true in discussing friendships, stories that have an out-of-the box inventive narrative that is the stuff of novels.  Mr. Korman deserves a huge shout out for his 100th publication and the multitudes of fans around the world will surely join  along in the shout out, and thank, this terrific author for providing terrific books. 

SHOUT OUT

ODDER by Katherine Applegate

Wow! a new book by Katherine Appelgate. I’m a fan and was thrilled to see that she has written another free verse novel (I’m so fond of Home of the Brave) and another story honouring the world of animals (I’m so fond of The One and Only Ivan). Odder is an otter. Life is grand for Odder the brave curious sea otter as she enjoys frolicking off the coast of Central California. One day, Odder is attacked by a great white shark and when she is rescued by humans she learns about the possible dangers of swimming freely in the ocean and humans who care and protect for endangered animals. The story is inspied by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that paired surrogate orphaned pups with surrogate pups. Katherine Applegate has – of course done extensive research about sea otters and presents a rich hybrid of novel, non-fiction and poetry in this wonderful wonderful book. 

Humans envy the way

otters sleep on the water, 

paws linked,

untroubled as lily pads.

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CANADIAN CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARDS  WERE ANNOUNCED AT AN EVENT ON SEPTEMBER 29th.

Eight prizes in total were awarded \t:

• On the Trapline, written by David A. Robertson and illustrated by Julie Flett (Tundra Books), won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award ($50,000)
• Time is a Flower, written and illustrated by Julie Morstad (Tundra Books), won the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award ($20,000)
• The Power of Style: How Fashion and Beauty Are Being Used to Reclaim Cultures, written by Christian Allaire and illustrated by Jacqueline Li (Annick Press), won the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non‐Fiction ($10,000)
• Second Chances, written by Harriet Zaidman (Red Deer Press), won the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People ($5,000)
• Iron Widow, written by Xiran Jay Zhao (Penguin Teen Canada), won the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award ($5,000)
• Elvis, Me, and the Lemonade Stand Summer, written by Leslie Gentile (DCB Young Readers), won the Jean Little First-Novel Award ($5,000)
• Iron Widow, written by Xiran Jay Zhao (Penguin Teen Canada), won the Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy ($5,000)
• Summer Feet, written by Sheree Fitch and illustrated by Carolyn Fisher (Nimbus Publishing), won the David Booth Children’s and Youth Poetry Award ($3,500)

The fourteen picture books featured in this posting came my way this summer. A great celebration of art and text with titles that vary in theme (gender identity, dream worlds, war time, bears and pizza!)

SHOUT OUT

 

 

 

by Michael Morpurgo; illus. Michael Foreman

This book, by two British  children’s literature masters ,Michael Morpurgro (author ) and Michael Foreman (llustrator) to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee.  This treasured book is a celebration of Britain’s longest reigning monarch and beloved world figure. With her passing September 8, 2022, This is A Queen further serves as a tribute to the history and monumental life of a monarch devoted to crown, country and family.  This is an exquisite keepsake for past, present and future generations, young and old. 

“There once is a Queen ever constant to her people…”

ALL THE COLORS OF LIFE by Lisa Aisato

A richly illustrated collection of wondrous images by one of Norway’s celebrated illustrators. Simple text accompanies lively, atmospheric and cartoon-like characters in rather dramatic full-page pictures that inspire puzzlements and story-making. 

Remember being curious?
And how we discovered new worlds…

AND TANGO MAKES THREE by  Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell; illus. Henry Cole

An important true story about two penguins in Central Park who made history because they were boy penguins who did everything together, fell in love, and made a home where they slept together.  This version is accompanied by a compact disc with the story narrated by Neil Patrick Harris. Written in 2005, And Tango Makes Three is a warm story of same sex relationships, which has been challenged and has been on the top ten list of banned literature in some schools and libraries, since it was deemed inappropriate for children.  In the book, You Can’t Say That, Justin Richardson tells interviewer Leonard Marcus’ “Abstinence-only education, for example, is the only form of education I can think of that is based on the premise that withholding knowledge is what’s helpful for a child. It obviously makes no sense. But that’s the fear.” (page 158)  And Tango Makes Three is a story about family and a story about trying to get something you want – and then getting it.

Tango was the very first penguin in the zoo to have two daddies. 

BEAR HAS A BELLY by Jane Whittingham

A great picture book for toddlers with crisp, colourful photographs featuring children and animals in a recognition and celebration of body parts. The simple four line rhymes and repetitive syntax adds to the appeal of this book. Also by the author: Animals on the Move. 

Fox has a nose
A black , shiny nose.
Fox has a nose.
I do too!

DINOS DRIVING by Lynn Leitch; illus. Scot Ritchie

Kids who love cars + Kids who love dinosaurs will enjoy this book where each dinosaur (Tricertops, Diplodocus, Carnotaurus) in this book drives a different vehicle (e.g., limousine, motorcycle, bus).

Velocirapator drives a mini car.
Iguanodon drives electric.

GOODNIGHT RACISM by Ibram X. Kendi; Cbabi Bayoc

Ibram X. Kendi, author of bestselling book, Antiracist Baby has written a bedtime book for children heading off to sleep, and dreams and the watching moon.  There is a message of justice and antiracism in an imagined world where we can say Good night to injustice, inequality, hate and hurt. 

Dream, my child; create my child.

A new world – a new future – awaits. 

HEATHER HAS TWO MOMMIES by Leslea Newman; illus. Laura Cornell

This iconic picture book was first published in 1989 (originally  illustrated b Diana Souza) and was one of the first (the first?) to introduce Heather, who is the only girl in her class who doesn’t have a daddy, but has two mommies. This picture book was one of the most frequently challenged books of the 1990’s. In the book You Can’t Say That! Newman was interviewed by Leonard Marcus shares her view about censorship: “I am sorry that any child has to grow up knowing that for no reason on earth their family is looked down upon as worthy of scorn or as immoral. It makes me sad and furious and determined to write more books about LGBTQ families, despite some people wishing I would not do so? (page 102)

Each family is special. The most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other.

SHOUT OUT

A MODERN PARENTS GUIDE TO NURSERY RHYMES by Jennifer Griffin

This is not ‘officially’ a picture book but I purchased this little collection of nursery rhymes because it helps to remind parents and teachers about the importance of introducing young people to poetry. I one read a piece of research that suggested that if children had 8 rhymes learned in their head at a young age, it can help lead to literary success. I believe it. The subtitle of this book is “Because its two o’clock in the morning and you can’t remember ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’. This collection of over 70 classic rhymes (some translated into French and Spanish) is a wonderful collection, accompanied with tidbits of information and reading tips and spot illustrations)  reminding us of  verses, finger rhymes, songs that you might have learned from Mother Goose and will  you to others you might not be familiar These poems are worth sharing OUT LOUD one on one or with groups of kiddies. A gem!

If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops

Oh what a rain that would be!

IF YOU DREAM IT YOU CAN DO IT! Colleen Nelson & Kathie MacIsaac;iIllus. Scott Ritchie (nonfiction)

How 25 inspiring individuals found their dream jobs (e.g., Wedad Amiri; clothing designer / David A. Robertson, author / Ismail Ferdous documentary photographer / Dr. Raphael Malbrue, veterinarian/ Stephanie Harvey, gaming expert).

Some people discover their job by accident. For others, the job is a goal they are determined to achieve.

 SHOUT OUT

PIZZA: A Slice of History by Greg Pizzoli

A terrific non-fiction picture book that celebrates the delight of eating pizza of any kind. The possibilities abound for integrative activities (art, math, research) as readers learn about the history of Pizza (was it the Greeks? the Persians? the Italians?) and Raffaele Esposito who made ‘legendary pies’ for all.  This is a yummy yummy book? Grazie a mille, Mr. Pizzoli.

All over the world people love pizza.

But where did it start? 

When did it happen?

Who made the first pizza?

ROOM IN YOUR HEART by Hunzang Choden; illus.Pema Tshering

A dear friend gave me two books that she purchased in Buhtan. A little old woman lives in a little house in the mountains. She is alone except for a cat, a dog and a hen.  One by one, strangers come to visit (A monk, a courtier, a woman, two men and a donkey and each time, the woman welcomes her guest, squeezing them into the small space and providing them with nourishment. A lovely tale of generosity of spirit. Also by the author: Aunty Mouse. 

There will always be room in your home,

as long as there is room in your heart.

THE SUITCASE by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros

A beautiful allegory of the immigrant experience that tells the story of a weary stranger who is met with questions from animal citizens who want to learn about the newcomer’s story – especially what is hidden in that suitcase.  In the end, a story about acceptance and kindness. This is a book that is worth digging deeper to what may seem like simple storytelling. Wonderful!

A strange animal arrived one day,
looking dusty, tired, sad and frightened.
He was pulling a big suitcase.

WHILE YOU SLEEP by Jennifer Murano; illus. Miki Sato

In lyrical, soothing couplets, author Jennifer Murano offers young children  a comforting bedtime book to send them off to dreamland while the natural world prepares for a new day. Miki Satos colourful textured collage art is both simple and rich – and that’s a good thing. 

Clouds are stuffed, sewn and mended,

Paints for flowers and feathers blended.

SHOUT OUT

PLEASE WRITE SOON by Michael Rosen and Michael Foreman

A young boy named Bernie, living in London, exchanges letters with his cousin Bernie, a teenager living in Poland. Solly is evacuated and adjusts to life in English countryside. Bernie, is fleeing from the danger Jews faced in Warsaw and is sent to labour camp in Russia. The book is presented as an exchange of letters exchanges information, observations and worries about World War II. Readers learn of historical events such as “Anders’ Army”, the battle of Monte Cassino and the of concentration camps.  In this moving picture, inspired by Michael Rosen’s family history, questions about the meaning of war and concerns for survival, freedom and hope are given a heartfelt portrait through epistolary narratives. Michael Rosens’ evocative black and white illustrations (often accented with red) are, as always, remarkable. A beautiful picture book creation. 

I remember your mum say, People have to have hope. If we don’t have hope, we have nothing.

PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES x5

ESSAYS x2

STORIES x2

FICTION x1

ABOVE AND BEYOND THE WRITING THE WRITING WORKSHOP by Shelley Harwayne (professional resource)

Shelley Harwayne work has always remained centred in the teaching of writing,, Her experiences in the past two decades learning from her grandchildren, volunteering in schools and as a consultant has provided her with the opportunity to re-examine and re-consider the writing workshop by helping teachers who are faced with new obstacles, mandates and scripted programs, thus sacrifice the original principles of writing workshop. The 24 chapters in this resource are  is filled with student samples,  and practical lessons and a wealth of recommended book lists including titles to enrich our teaching. Shelley invites teachers to take back their writing workshops, find time for professional conversations, try out new ideas with colleagues.”Shelley believes children who write what matter to them – their experiences, their beliefs, their observations – will find their lives enhanced. She seeks to raise activists who, by becoming more aware of the world and asking why things are the way they are, will be empowered to make it better. (“from the back cover).

FINDING A PLACE FOR EVERY STUDENT: Inclusive practices, Social Belonging, and Differentiated Instruction in Elementary Classrooms by Cheryll Duquette (professional resource)

A comprehensive guide that provides information and strategies  and case studies to work with students with such exceptionalities  as autism, mental health issues, learning disabilities, behaviour challenges, intellectual disabilities, Spectrum Disorder, giftedness . The organization of the book into three main themes: Inclusive Practices, Social Belonging and Differentiated Instruction, encourages   classroom teachers to consider programming where that every student grows, feels successful and finds a place in the classroom, in their world. 

FROG AND TOAD ARE DOING THEIR BEST: Bedtime Stories for Trying Times: A Parody by Jennie Egerdie; illus. Ellie Hajdu (stories /parody)

I bought this book to see how my Arnold Lobel’s beloved characters might fit into the here and now. As stated in the front matter ‘this parody has ot been prepared, approved, or authorized by the author of the Frog and Toad books or his heirs or representatives.”   Alas, a I did not find this book particularly amusing or satirical. Time means nothing” said Toad. “Time is just the thing that happens between snacks. “My new Year’s Resolution, ‘ said Toad as he flopped down in his seat, “is to get really muscular this year.” / “I smile because I need everyone to like me.”  An attempt is made to update the tales e.g., Fitbit, Bank Account, The Lottery,  Camping) but alas Jennie’s efforts and Hajdu’s feeble sketch illustrations didn’t work for me. For heart and punch, it’s back to Arnold Lobel I go.  Treasured children’s literature heroes, they are. 

SHOUT OUT

THE BEST OF ME by David Sedaris (fiction/ nonfiction)

Any writing by David Sedaris gets a loud shout out from me. He is a favourite author and I’ve read all his books. The Best of Me is a collection of 40 autobiographical and fictional pieces that have appeared in his previous published collections. I have read all these stories previously but  it was a fantastic treat to revisit these titles and a curiosity to discover which of the selections Sedaris (and editors) could be considered ‘the best’ from such collections as Calypso, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Dress your Family in Corduroy and Denim and Me Talk Pretty One Day. I would gladly re-read all these books and try and come up with a list of Larry favourites.  (I would hard time narrowing down ‘the best 18 stories in his most recent book Happy-Go-Lucky).  Sedaris always makes me laugh and always makes me wish that I could had the ability to write live like he does and write like he does.  The following words that appear on the back book cover of The Best of Me sort of capture the thrill of reading this oh-so-funny, oh so-wise genius: hilarious, elegant, glorious, poignant, jollity, deliciousness, honest, reflective, tender, scathing, sardonic, wry, moving outrageous, 

#I WISH MY TEACHER KNEW: How one question can change everything for our kids by Kyle Schwartz (professional resource)

One day, third grade teacher Kyle Schwartz asked her students to fill in the blank in this sentence: “I WISH MY TEACHER KNEW_____”. Some of the results were humorous, some heartbreaking. Many answers were moving, all were enlightening. The student answers opened Schwartz’s eyes to the need for educators to understand the unique realities their students face in order to create an open, safe, and supporting classroom environment. When the author shared her experiences online, teachers around the globe began sharing their own contributions to #IWishMyTeacherKnew. The book provides a look at systemic problems that affect students nationwide (e.g., poverty, mobility, trauma, relationships). Kyle Schwartz’s experiences as an educator provides her with significant insights and research into how we can reach and teach every student. Reading these stories from the classroom can help educators, family members and students consider how we can help students to tackle challenges have ourschools be places where they “can produce resilient, creative and passionate learners who will improve our world.” (p. 219)

MAKING LOVE WITH THE LAND by Joshua Whitehead (essays)

It’s interesting the books we choose to read. I came to read Joshua Whitehead’s wild and wonderful Jonny Appleseed (2018) when it won Canada Reads (and other awards. And so I was intrigued, after reading a strong review, to read the new publication by the Oji-Cree/nehiyas, Two=Spirit Indigiqueer celebrated author, a collection of essays which had mostly been previously published in earlier forms. Essays? Even Whitehead comments on this writing: “As for this new work of storying, the work of this book: Do I call it biographical, Autofiction? Autobiograpical? I lean towards the categorization … of “biostory”.  Joshua’s writing is astounding.  He has an extraordinary way to express his views about body and land and pain and writing and personal history.  Make no mistake, his writing is poetry.  Disclaimer; I was quite intimidated as I read through the ten essays, sometimes reading sentences two or three times. In the opening piece I read the following:“Sometimes I tell myself I’d slice a skyscraper in half and swallow it whole – vats of magnesium breaking down the highways in my gut that block the transmission of neurons that calm and hold me when I need this.” (Page 12). Usually, I’d give up but I decided to persevere and read each essay, I felt that I only got a fraction of Joshua Whitehead’s intellectualism.  Brilliant but not accessible. Not sure who I could recommend this book to. 

Excerpts. 

“My belly is full of quantum physics, elements making love to one another – metal plate organs, earth meet water, and at the atomic level, I am a kind of biotech.” (Page 12)

“Is autobiography a treaty-making, if the treatise is the narrator as subject? Is the treatise of such treaty the desire to petrify and archive? What forms of colonial violence do I underpin when I mark myself with form and genre as glyph and brand?” (Page 77)

“I imagine that in that moment when dairy  meets my flora, I too will spew out life from all this pain, my excrement a type of exorcism, a universe posited in my esophagus, wretched me retching terra.” (Page 139)

MY POLICEMAN by Bethan Roberts (fiction)

I decided to rad this novel in advance of the movie release this fall. My Policeman, published in 2012 is by British author Bethan Roberts who has written an intriguing, captivating love story set in Bristol England.  It is the 1950’s and Marion is smitten and marries Tom, a policeman.  Patrick who works in the Brighton Museum would also say that Tom is ‘My Policeman’. The narrative switches from the 1957 to 1999 and is presented both as Marion’s confessional and as Patrick’s story of passion for the handsome policeman. Two lovers share one man in a time when lives were destroyed by intolerance. It was great to read a great love story. I look forward to seeing  the movie, starring Harry Styles (and perhaps weeping). 

PEOPLE LOVE DEAD JEWS: Reports from a Haunted Present by Dara Horn (essays)

Dara Horn is the author of five novels, but in this collection, she presents a series of essays related to Jewish culture both ancient and contemporary. When she realized that her writing assignments were always about dead Jews, not living ones.  The author presents extensive research drawn from her own religious studies, her family life, her travels, and interviews with others.  Some titles include ‘Frozen Jews’, ‘Executed Jews’, ‘Legends of Dead Jews’, ‘Fictional Dead Jews’, ‘Dead Jews of the Desert’ uncovering such subjects as the veneration of Anne Frank, family name changes at Ellis Island, Jewish history in Harbin China, the tragedy of Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue and Auschwitz, a well-received traveling exhibition. In ‘Commuting with Shylock’ Horn tries to explain the meaning of Shakespeare’s character to her wise, curious ten-year old son.  Each of the essays helps to illuminate and the complexity of modern-day antisemtism. Horn’s views may at times seem to be provocative but always informative, challenging our assumptions about Jewish people living and dead.

SHIFTING THE BALANCE: 6 ways to bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Program by Jan Burkins and Kari Yates (professional resource)

This best-selling, informative, resource has exploded  the world of Reading Instruction and is an important book for confirming, stretching and challenging our assumptions about the teaching of reading in the early grade. Though there are always some tensions about approaches to teaching phonics and guiding learners into meaning-making, the two authors provide extensive research to help us literacy educators to re-evaluate – perhaps shift – their practice. The book is  divided into 6 chapters each illuminating thoughts about embracing and balance. The framework for each chapter is extremely helpful: Clearing Up Some Confusion/ Misunderstanding/ A Short Summary of the Science, Recommendations for Making the Shift and Questions for Reflection. The charts, coloured headings and lists are all helpful. I read this book page by page with pencil in hand and I have many underlined statements, passages with asterisks, question marks in the margin for me to consider. In the afterward, the authors admit that the topic is “enormous and controversial and complex” send in an invitation to readers about what educators will next do to teach the readers in front of them tomorrow  They invite you to pick one of the shifts and roll up your sleeves. It’s complex!

YOU CAN’T SAY THAT! compiled and edited by Leonard S. Marcus (professional resource)

Writers for young people talk about censorship, free expression, and the stories they have to tell (voices include Matt de la Pena, David Levithan, Katherine Paterson, Dav Pilkey, R.L. Stine, Angie Thomas. Leonard S. Marcus, one of the world’s leading voices about children’s books interviews the authors who each offer stories about having one or more of their books banned  banned, each frankly sharing their thoughts about the freedom of expression.  Censorship has for decades been a challenge on individual, and society an now more than ever where books are being removed in some states, particularly because of race as well as sexuality. You Can’t Say That! helps parents, educators, librarians, politicians and young people come to understand the impact of combatting First Amendment challenges. I found this to be a very inspiring read, prompting me to revisit several titles by the authors to consider what the ‘problems’ might be. (e.g. Bridge to Terabithia and The Great Gilly Hopkins (Katherine Paterson); Boy Meets Boy (David Levithan): The Hate U Give (Angie Thomas) and Heather has Two Mommies (Leslea Newman).different 9

“People disagree about what protecting the young means as it relates to books. In fact, one of the most basic changes in books for young readers over the past half century has been a rethinking of this questions, with most authors turning away from the goal of sheltering young people from a knowledge of the world’s dangers and toward the very different (not not less caring) goal of preparing the young to live in the world in which they find themselves by forthrightly providing them with critical information and understanding.” (Leonard S. Marcus, Introduction, p xviii)

Five of the ten novels listed below have been published in 2022. I dug into some other titles written not too long ago and revisited an award-winning classic from 1983. Three of the novels deal with queer identity. One novel takes place in Indonesia. One takes place on another planet. One book is a short story collection. Two of the novels are designated as YA fiction. Five titles are by Canadian authors. All ten novels have kept me good company in the heat of July. 

ALICE AUSTEN LIVED HERE by Alex Gino (2022)

The setting of this story is Staten Island New York, When their grade seven history teacher assigns a class project to report on historical figures who contributed to the history of the borough of Staten Island, Sam and their friend, TJ who both identify as nonbinary, embark on a research project uncovering the story of photographer Alice Austin who lived with a female partner for decades. The project is part of a contest for a new statue to be erected to celebrate the history of a signifcant historical figure. The two friends conduct top-notch research including  online reaearch, a visit to a nearby museum, and discussions with a lesbian neighbour. Sam and TJ not only discover much about local queer history but learn much about their own friendships and identities. Alex Gino, author of Melissa, writes enlightening stories – important stories –  about young LGBTQ+ young people and Alice Austin Lived Here is an important story about the past informing the present and for taking action for what you believe in. 

SHOUT OUT

BERANI by Michelle Kararusman (2022)

This fine novel, set in Indonesia is a story of activism and animal rights, choices and consequences. The story is told through the eyes of three characters in chapters with alternating voices: Malia lives a privliged life despite the death of her indonesian father. Her Canadian mother plans to return to her homeland, news that is upsetting to Malia since she is passionate about fighting for the preservation of her countries rainforests. Ari has been luck enough to be sent to a school and even though he is away from his family who work the farms, his academic success and prowess playing chess is encouraging. Still, Ari worries about the orangutan, that his uncle won in a bet and now keeps in a cage.  Ginger Juice, the orangutan tells her story, remembering time with her mother but the tragedy of  of being taken way from the rainforest, a place that was once a happy home, but  is now a palm oil plantation.  The three perspectives are woven together as readers enter the worlds of three conflicted, fearful  characters and become compassionate about the choices they are forced to make. Readers will be  introduced to a setting that may be unfamiliar to them. Moreover, the author builds readers’ compassion as they learn about the circumstances and choices of each character who bravely confront the odds of class, culture and climate change. This is a wonderful novel and my guess it will be on several Canadian award lists in the year ahead. 

BLACK BOTTLE MAN:  A fable by Craig Russell (YA)

Rembrandt is the central character of this novel who, as a young child in small rural community,  learns of the arrival of  a man wearing a black top-coat carrying a magic bottle the sets’ a deal with the devil’ plot’ in motion. In Young Rembrandt, his Pa and his Uncle Thompson set out on a journey determined to undo the wager made with the stranger They move from around a lot since the Pact with the Black Bottle Man means that they cannot stay in one place for more than twelve days. If they do, terrible things could happen until they find a champion to defeat the devil. Russell is a talented writer who composes sentences with vivid detail and fine wordsmithing (e.g., “There is a quality to pain that attracts attention: the attention of those who wish to help, and the attention of those who enjoy the distress of others.” (p. 79) / “They were people cast from the same metal, him and her. Not fancy like gold or silver, but something more common like brass. Long used in the world and stronger for being all mixed up.” (p. 106). Russell also creates episodes that arouse great cinematic-like images in the mind (e.g., the eager arrival of a postal package, the stink of a homeless shelter, a first kiss, the selling of a horse). I am fond of fiction that presents different voices and different time periods and the headings for each of the rather short chapters, indicate who, where and when the action is taking place.  Teenagers who rely on linear narratives for their reading pleasure might be somewhat perplexed with the back and forth chapters settings that take place in different decades (mostly during the depression era and the unfolding of events in the year 2007). A backstory about a character named Gail interrupts the main storytelling as does anecdotes about Rembrandt’s family and his spontaneous wanderings over eighty long years. Many questions and puzzlements popped into my head as I read this unique novel over two days  This book is promoted as a fable, with a target audience of Young Adult readers.An intriguing read indeed. 

DEAR MR. HENSHAW by Beverly Cleary; illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

I’m very fond of this Newbery Medal winning novel, written in 1983 by the remarkable, favoured author Beverly Cleary. Ever since he read books by Boyd Henshaw when he was in grade two, Leigh Botts has become a devoted fan. Now Leigh is in sixth grade and decides to write letters to the author sharing his school troubles (stolen lunchbags) and his yearning to be reunited with his father who is a cross-country trucker.  Mr Henshaw does write back to  Leigh offering advice and support. The Dear Mr. Henshaw letters are balanced by Leigh’s personal diary entries to ‘Dear Mr. Pretend Henshaw’  an important forum  for Leigh confide and reflect. I love this book!!!!

HARVEY TAKES THE LEAD by Colleen Nelson (2022)

Harvey, the loveable West Highland Terrier returns in the third book (Harvey Comes Home; Harvey Holds His Own) be award-winning author, Colleen Nelson. The story once again take place in a retirement villa where the hiring of new Assistant Director means enforcing new rules, making  visits by Harvey rather difficult. Mr. Kowalski, a resident at Brayside shares his worries about his wife who is hospitalized and his stories about life during World War II. Characters Magie and Austin reappear, each having problems at school. Harvey Takes The Lead is an engaging story with adventure, warmth and personal connections. 

HEARTSTOPPER by Alice Oseman (Graphic novel) (YA)

Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. For a graphic novel, I’d say that the amount of verbal text is somewhat limited but the story of adolescent  relationships and mixed-up emotions comes through beautifully. This is the first of four graphic novels in a series made into a Netflix TV Series.  The book does the series proud, the series does the book proud.

IN THE KEY OF US by Mariama J. Lockington (2022)

This novel is centred on two thirteen-year-old girls, Andi and Zora, the only black girls attending the Harmony Music Camp one summer. Each girl has special music talents (Andi=trumpet: Zora=flute). Each girl brings baggage from the past. Andi’s mother was killed in a car accident and the young girl now lives with her Aunt and Uncle who are expecting a baby. Zora is burdened with the high expectations her parents have for her future. The book is divided into four sections (four weeks in summer camp), alternating voices. The camp adventures are well-described, as is the lesbian relationship between the two girls. In fact, coming-out doesn’t seem to be an issue that the author digs into.Andi and Zora’s friendship and romance seem to blossom naturally, as they learn about each other – and themselves. Lockington weaves in episodes from the past lives of the two girls to help us understand the turmoil they have gone through in dealing with grief (Andi) and fighting with friends (Zora).  

THE LION OF MARS Jennifer L. Holm 

In the world of fiction, there is indeed life on Mars. The protagonist of this science fiction story is eleven-year old Bell with family members and other adults on this mission seem to live an ‘ordinary’ in different circumstances (algae is the primary food ingredient). There are rules that need to be followed and when a virus breaks out in the settlement, with the grown-ups getting sick, the young people are desperate to break the rules (Do not go outside without a buddy/ Keep a glow-stick in your pocket / Do not go beyond the flag) and head out to other foreign settlements that they have been forbidden to visit. (Settlement Rule: No contact with foreign countries, ever). This Barnes and Noble summer choice book will appeal to middle-years people  who enjoy reading about space adventures  

RESTART by Gordon Korman

Gordon Korman writes good books, entertaining, funny, adventures about  kids who get into problems, mostly in school settings. Middle Age readers can certainly identify with the plot, setting and characters that Korman presents. The premise of Restart is intriguing. When Chase has an accident falling off the roof, he looses his memory and needs to restart his life when he returns to school. The issue is that Chase, football hero, was also known as the uber school bully. Chase now has the opportunity to restart his life and show kindness to others, despite the scepticism of those he has harmed and his partners in bully crime.  Chapters are presented as multi-voiced narrativesAs with most of his novels, Korman presents some farcical , sit-com-like episodes which delights his reading audience, I’m sure, but is somewhat of a distraction for me. (e.g., a character covered in shoe polish gets stuck in a tuba; a bully episode that involves a fire extinguisher; a mad chase in a senior’s home). 

WAR AT THE SNOW WHITE MOTEL by Tim Wynne-Jones (short stories)

Master storyteller Tim Wynne-Jones has written a number of short story collections (Some of the Kinder Planets; The Book of Changes; Lord of the Fries) along with some fine novels. In this 2020 collection, captures moments in character’s life that centre on such issues as bullying, dementia, anxiety, activism. Setting (a motel, a forest, a rural community) are important characters within Wynne-Jones stories. The book is introduced with the Zen saying “When you get to the top of the mountain, keep climbing.” which serves as a significant mantra for characters who are courageous, resilient and hopeful for better life now and in the future. 

SHORT STORIES x2

POETRY x3

FICTION x4

NONFICTION x2

 SHOUT OUT

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY by David Sedaris

The newest collection of short stories that are,very very funny and yes, quite moving. This will be at the top of my list of favourites for 2022. I wish I could write like Sedaris. Happy and lucky to be able to read him. 

LEARNING TO TALK by Hilary Mantel

Hilary Mantel, two-time winner of the Booker Prize, author of the Wolf Hall trilogy has written short stories about childhood and youth, drawn from her early years growing up in the 1950’s in a village in the north of England. Stories of loss and identity and identity, the 7 soulful short stories are part memoir, part imagination, originally published between 1987 and 2002 and have now been published for release in  North America. Even though slim at 157 pages, some stories (‘Learning to Talk’ and ‘Third Floor Rising’) are better than others. 

NEW YORK CITY HAIKU from the readers of the New York Times

In celebration of National Poetry month (2014), the New York Times put out a call for citizens to write about the Big Apple by submitting snapshots of the sites and people written as  three-line HAIKU (five, seven, five syllables). Poems were created under such themes as ‘strangers’, ‘solitude’, ‘commuting’, 6 a.m.,’ and ‘kindness’. This book is a collection of 150 entries and was a fun way to read poetry and an inspiring way to be a part of it, New York, York. 

I see all of you

And you see me sitting here

We all stare ahead.

TIME IS A MOTHER by Ocean Vuong

I rather enjoyed the award-winning author’s novel On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous so decided to delve into this poetry collection of poems of tribute, memory and grief as Vuong searches for meaning following the death of his mother. Truth be told. I didn’t ‘get’ most of the poems and found myself working too hard (or not). Too oblique for me. My  poetry-reading brain just didn’t click in . Oh well!

the tub is a red world save for the silent

    island of fur flickering

in my fugitive words guys I say

   just wait for me alright

THE WAR POEMS by Siegfried Sassoon

After seeing the marvelous movie BENEDICTION directed by Terence Davies I wanted to read the War Poems by Siegfried Sassoon who served on the Western Front in the first world war, and later was charged for speaking out against the war. This collection of 60+, fairly short poems, presents stark image of the ugly truths of the trenches, the soldier’s dreams and those left behind. Astonishing.

“The battle winks and thuds in blundering strife.
And I must lead them nearer, day by day,
To the foul beast of war that bludgeons life”
(excerpt from ‘The Dream’)

NIGHTCRAWLING by Leila Mottley

That this novel was selected by Oprah Winfrey intrigued me. That this debut novel was published when the author was 19 years of age intrigued me. It is 2015 and Keira Johnson is months behind in the rent. Her father, a former Black Panther died of cancer after being released from prison. Her mother is in prison after drowning her baby daughter. Her older brother Marcus with dreams of becoming a famous rapper, refuses to get a job and he too ends up in jail. Keira is desperate to get work to support herself and her crack addicted neighbour’s son. Things spiral downwards when 17 year old Keira is at the centre of sex-trafficking where the johns are police. The story is set in Oakland California which has the reputation of being at the top of the list of criminal cities in the United States.  Mottley was inspired to write this story in response to a 2015 court case in which the Oakland Police Department was accused of sexually exploiting a teenager. Nightcrawling’s readers accompany Kiera through the streets of Oakland and  come to the desperation of black citizens living poverty and tragedy.  The book opens with description of a swimming pool filled with dog poop. A grim metaphor of a grim story. 

MOONSTONE: THE BOY WHO NEVER WAS by Sjon

On a recent trip to Reykjavik I stepped into a book store to investigate titles written by Iceland writers and an employee recommended this title by  one of Iceland’s award-winning authors. The story is set early in the 20th Century when the Katia volcano erupted, the Spanish flu comes ashore killing hundreds. The protagonist of this short (142 pages) novel is Mani Stein, an orphan,  a film fanatic, a male hustler who like the citizens of the time struggles to survive, find love as the capital city of Iceland transforms. An often poetic narrative that blends imagination and reality in a unique setting.

SCHOOL DAYS by Jonathan Galassi

Sam Brandt teaches English at an uber-preppy boarding school and one day in the year  in the year 2007, he is called in to investigate an allegation of a sexual assault that may or may not have happened decades ago. Readers are transported back to 1964 where stories of privileged, bright boys abound with friendships, crushes, yearning, and sexual adventures. My oh my there was a lot of gayness merrily going on (a bit too ‘accepted’ and abundant/confusing for me).. Sam, as others did, contemplate their sexual identity, often drawn from their admiration of a charismatic (closeted) teacher. In the last third of the book, the narrative returns to 2007 (and eventually 2017) where Sam and his former classmates question their past struggle to understand what happened all those years ago and what impact it had on their adult selves.

THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS by Laurie Frankel

At five years old, Claude loves wearing a dress, dreams of being a princess and knows that when he grows up he wants to be a girl. Claude ‘becomes’ Poppy and even though he has strong support from mother and father, problems in Poppy’s life emerge with his family (Poppy is the youngest of five brothers), his friendships (with girls), the world outside his home. but mostly within Poppy herself. This is a powerful story about parent and sibling relationships and a powerful story about being true to self as a transgender young person, uncertain of what the future will bring.  I was intrigued and sometimes challenged by the family’s discussions, arguments and decisions to both protect and prepare Claude/Poppy.  I would highly recommend this Reese’s Book Club novel, even though the last third of the novel lessoned my emotional response to the story.  

THE GIFT OF STORY  by John Schu

John Schu is a popular conference speaker and school presenter who is on a mission to help everyone find the books that their hearts need. This book provides the author with a chance to explore the affective side of the reading life by considering story as healer, story as inspiration, story as clarifier, story as compassion, story as connector. The book includes voices from teachers, librarians and authors. Throughout the book, a number of authors define what story means to them and of there is a wealth of Mr. Schu book suggestions that includes book cover images, synopsis and applications. John Schu’s passion, enthusiasm and inspiration leap off every page of this celebration of story and worship of children’s literature.  He is children’s book lover extraordinaire. 

“Story connects us. It gives us calm in the storms of life. It rejuvenates us. It helps us feel safe. Reading someone else’s story can inspire us to tell our own stories and live an authentic life. Stories contain the healing power to make our hearts calmer and more compassionate, comfortable and roomy.” (p. 131)

NEW YORKERS: A CITY AND ITS PEOPLE IN OUR TIME by Craig Taylor

Journalist CraigTaylor interviewed hundreds of New Yorkers about their experiences about living in New York and this book documents 75 conversations that provide a remarkable testament to living, surviving, and dreaming a range of experiences.  A window cleaner, an elevator repairman, a lice consultant, a private cook,  a meditation teacher, a subway conductor, a retired 911 dispatcher, a security guard at the Statue of Liberty are some of Taylor’s subjects.  Everyone has a story, everyone is a story and this book is a fascinating portrait of a the people and in a city that never sleeps.