A poetry anthology + a graphic memoir + + a novel + a book of

meditations + short stories + a professional text  + essays x2 +

script x 2 = A mixed bag of ten terrific titles, old and new. 

THE BOOK OF BIRD POEMS compiled by Ana Sampson; illus. Ruyto Miyake / poetry / 2024

I don’t buy many poetry anthologies (do you?) but this book caught my attention. My friend, Jennifer and I have a thing about birds (‘Birds of a feather,’ are we1).  Bird poems were very special to my dear friend David Booth. His final publication Bird Guy:Wally Karr’s Poems About Birds: 9th Grade English Project (2018) is a testimony to his dedication to illuminating the life of our feathered friends. I know that The Book of Bird Poems would have been a gift I’d have given David.  I read each poem in the book chronologically. In fact, I read this book while sitting on a bench in Central Park, fondling thinking about Jennifer, and David and birdsong. Ans Sampson has collected about 100  classic poems from the past 200 years accompanied by artist Ryuto Miyako’s sublime images of  ourwinged friends whose flight is frozen on the page. 

Snippets

The thrushes sing as the sun is going, And the finches whistle in ones and pairs, (from ‘Proud Songsters’ by Thomas Hardy.)

Sing cuckoo now, sing cuckoo!/ Sing cuckoo, sing cuckoo now! (from ‘Cuckoo’ (Anon)

Dark and lugubrious, his eyes / signify no intent beyond brooding. (from ‘The Condor’) by Michael Hogan)

He clasps the crag with crooked hands; / Close to the sun in lonely lands, / Ring’d with the azure world, he stands. (from ‘The Eagle’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson).

Something told the wild geese/ It was time to fly, – / Summer sun was on their wings, / Winter in their cry. (from ‘Something Told the Wild Geese’ by Rachel Field)

If you were an owl, And I were an owl, And this were a tree, And the moon came out, / I know what we’d do. (from That’s What We’d Do by Mary Mapes Dodge)

Tell the air to hold me in the rushing heart of it/ And keep its path straight (from ‘ The Arctic Tern’s Prayer’ by Mary Anne Clarke)

EMBERS: One Ojibways’ Meditations by Richard Wagamese / meditations / 2016

Isn’t it wonderful to have conversations with friends while meeting for breakfast? My friend Marion and I were chatting about books that we’ve been reading and she highly recommended Richard Wagamese’s Embers which I ordered promptly from Amazon before finishing my omelette. Marion said she often returns to this book to reflect on the  wise words by one of Canada’s foremost First Nations authors and storyteller. Embers is a collection of lessons that the author absorbed from the mundane and sublime. The book is divided into 7 sections: Stillness, Harmony, Trust, Reverence, Persistence, Gratitude, Joy. Each section features observations and reflections and questions presented in paragraphs.  Evocative photos that capture nature’s  glory appear throughout capturing the contemplative, spiritual  mood of the book.  Using post-it notes,  I marked pages particular memorable thoughts  that invited me to pause and ponder. I used almost a full pad of sticky notes.  Conversations between the author and old woman are particularly inspirational. Thank you Marion for this book session. Like you, I will surely return often to Richard Wagamese’s Embers.

Some gems

“I want to listen deeply enough that I hear everything and nothing at the same time and am made more by the enduring quality of silence.” (p, 23)

“Teachings come from everywhere when you open yourself to then,. That’s the trick of it really. Open yourself to everyone, and everything opens itself to you.” (p, 58)

“Remember  to remember”. (p. 85)

“I’ve been referred to as odd before. Nowadays, I refer to myself as “awed”. I want awe to be the greatest ongoing relationship in my life.” (p. 90)

“Knowledge is not wisdom. But wisdom is knowledge in action.” (p. 130)

“All we have are moments. So live them as though not one can be wasted. Inhabit them, fill them with the light of your best good intention, honour them with your full presence, find the joy, the calm, the assuredness that allows the hours and the days to take care of themselves. If we can do that, we will have lived.” (p. 161)

EVERY DAY A LITTLE DEATH: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Stephen Sondheim; edited by Josh Pachter / short stories /2025 

Put the name Stephen Sondheim on the cover of a book and you’ve got my attention. The premise of this crime fiction collection is that each of the 20 short stories, written by twenty different authors,  is inspired by the songs of Stephen Sondheim. Editor, Josh Pachter organizes the anthology by presenting stories in chronological order of a musical’s release date. The story titles are indeed drawn from the score of each show (e.g., “Tonight” from West Side Story; “Hello Little Girl ” from Into the Woods; “Losing My Mind from Follies. In many instances, character names are invented from character names that appear in the shows or the actors who played the roles.  For example, in “Everyone Ought to Have a Maid” A Funny Thing Happened To Me the Way to the Fortum” the characters are called Zero and Michael Crawford (they starred in the movie;  Angela Fay a dancer at the Cookie Jar  is featured in the story “There Won’t be Trumpets” from Anyone Can Whistle) (Angela Lansbury played the mayor; Lee Remick played Nurse Fay Apple, the cookies were citizens of a local asylum was a dancer at the Cookie Jar; Dorothy Peters  (i.e. Dot (the character and Bernadette Peters is the actress who played Dot in the original production of the musical) is the central character of the story  Sunday in the Park with George. Those ‘in the know’ might be amused by such character names as Robert Dean Jones; Toni Bates Chip Baker and Luisa Tarchetti.  To add to the reading pleasure, aficionados might be pleased to discover references to the plots or settings of play they are likely familiar. Some stories adeptly accomplish the conceit of the book by hitchhiking on the theme of the play and these were the selections I enjoyed the most. In “Every Day a Little Death’ by Josh Pachter, Anne and Charlotte, best friends discuss marriage and  infidelity . Charlotte knows that Ann is having liaisons with her husband(beware of the lovely new tea, Charlotte). In “Together Wherever We Go” by Jeffrey Marks, a mother  Mama Rose) and her daughter (Gypsy)  experience a murder in a dive bar.(“Gypsy thought back across all the history she and her mother had shared and sighed, “No, I’ll go with you, Mama. When you’re in the soup, I’m in the soup. For better or worse, Mrs. Hovick, you and I are in this together.” Get it? Each story does is a mystery with a murder, robbery, a kidnapping or puzzle to be solved.  I found Every Day A Little Death to be lovely  company on a recent Saturday night plane trip (not from Barcelona). 

LOW-HANGING FRUIT: Sparkling Whines; Champagne Problems and Pressing Issues from My Gay Agenda by Randy Rainbow / essays / 2024

Randy Rainbow is one funny funny guy. You can quote me on that. This collection of essays provides the entertaining comedian to observe, to kvetch to criticize as “a privileged white male complaining about a bunch of shit.” (book jacket). In the opening essay entitled ‘Letter of Resignation’, the author begins by writing a letter to ‘Dear Stupid People’ and goes on to relieve himself of any responsibility for subway riders who choose settle disturbingly close to others, those who bury themselves in tier iPhones as they slowly cross the road, those who don’t say thank you to strangers who open doors for them, those who remove shoes and socks on airplane, those who publicly use the FaceTime feature – stupid people all. Other funny essays include, ‘Randy Rainbow for President’ (“Experience is overrated and competence is the last thing a person needs to win an election”); ‘My Name is ‘a’, a skewing account of Streisand’s 966 page biography; ‘I Feel Bad About My Balls’ (“I do not  have the perfect proportions of Jacob fucking Elordi. I never will, and for that I take serious issue with whoever is reponsible.”): ‘Life Sucks, Wear the Damn Lipstick’ (“I can watch a makeup tutorial for hours on end without getting bored and always learn something new and constructive.”). Oh-so clever essays are presented in different writing genres (i.e.,a eulogy (‘RIP, My Attention Span’); poetry (‘Would That I Had an Ass’ and ‘Where do Trolls Come From’); messages (‘Memos to my Upstairs Neighbour: An Emotional Odyssey in Six Parts’); social media comments and replies (‘From the Peanut Gallery’) lists (‘Do I Hear a Schmaltz’ and  a anthropomorphic monologue where Randy writes the world according to Tippi, hisChinchilla Silver Persian cat (‘Notes from a Litter Box’). A shout out goes to Chapter 15, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen… My Mother (the Sequel’), Randy’s conversation with his mother (“Mom: Giving birth to you was the gayest thing I’ve ever done.”). Randy Rainbow shares strong views that include “pet peeves, irks, irritants and annoyances and grievances” about airport greeters, dating apps, hosting an awards show, and, oh yes, Donald Jessica Trump. I love Rainbow’s satirical YouTube videos and I loved his biography Playing With Myself.  Rainbow is one funny funny guy. You can quote me on that.

Funny Stuff

“The sad reality is that I have no social life whatsoever when touring. Why, you ask? Because I was born too soon and started too late – that’s why!” (p, 80)

“I learned this logic from my grandmother…She’d spot a tall, blond, statuesque woman with voluptuous curves and a killer rack walking through the mall and say ‘See? That’s the body I’m supposed to have,’ as though she ordered achocolate ice cream cone and somebody accidentally gave her pistachio.” (p. 91)

“You know that Alfred Hitchcock thriller called The 39 Steps. That was actually based on my daily skin-care regimen. (p. 95)

“Why do you think everything annoys us all the time? Are we hypoglycaemic or just Jewish? (p. 148)

“People who say ‘You look tired’ and have no idea what they’re saying is wildly offensive. These people are terrorists.” (p. 192)

“I have never understood wrestling as a sport. Like, why not just fuck?” (p. 197)

“OH, MARY!” by Cole Escola / script / 2025 

Mary Todd Lincoln finds  life in the White House – and her husband – to be to be oh-so-boring. Booze and a dream of starring in a cabaret keeps her going,  Mary is hysterically funny  Cole Escola is hysterically funny, “Oh, Mary!” is hysterically funny on stage and on the page. I laughed out loud when I read this 48 page script.  I was lucky to have seen this show on Broadway – the funniest play I’ve seen in years. Yes, the brilliant live  performances (and the sensational costume) make thsi a unique theatre-going experience.  “Oh, Mary!” and Oh, Escola have a great future in world of theatre, with this riotous play, which even the author has called ‘stupid’.  Hysterical. 

Excerpt

Abraham: Because actually a dead wife would do wonders for the president’s reputation in the South right now. Take the acting lessons, you fucking moron.

Mary: The South of what?

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde / novel / 1890

In this iconic novel by the infamous Oscar Wilde, the handsome and wealthy,  Dorian Gray has a portrait of himslef by a reputable artist. Gazing at the image, Dorian hopes to stay forever young and beautiful forever wishing that the painting age instead of him.Gray keeps the piece of art hidden from the world and when he continues to live a ife of excess and pleasure and seediness, the painting transforms growing more and more grotesque thus reveaaling the true nature of Dorian Gray’s life.  The novel explores the dangers of embracing a purely aesthetic view of the world. Overall, the theme of this story seems to be that the pursuit of pleasure, with little regard for consequence cn lead to unhappiness and corruption.  By describing characters and social habits of the upper classIt is story that reveals a commentary on Victorian society. Women are portrayed as intellectually inferior,  To be sure, Oscar Wilde’s homosexual lifestyle is filtered through the relationships of some male characters expressing a str0ng attraction to one another.

The Picture of Dorian Gray was originally published in a monthly magazine. Even though it wasn’t critically well-received (i.e. immoral, hedonistic), the work was defended as a work of art by the author and was published as a novel in 1890. I found myself reading this 230-page novel fairly slowly. Oscar Wilde is oh so clever in his commentary and I ofen re-read some sentences a couple of times. Wilde is the guru of epigrams (pithy sayings or remarks expressing an idea in a clever, amusing and ‘profound’ way.  Some examples:

“The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself.”

“Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing,”

“Sin is a thing that writes itself across a man’s face. It cannot be concealed.” 

‘Pleasure is Nature’s test: her sign of approval. When we are happy we are always good, bu when we are good we are not always happy.”

Of particular interest is the preface to the novel that espresses Wilde’s wild philosophy of art:

“The artist is the creator of beautiful things.”

“The critic is he who can transfer another manner or a new material his impression of beautiful things.”

“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful Things are the cultivated. For those, there is hope,”

“All art is quite useless.”

“There is no such thing as a moral or immoral book. Books are well-written or badly written. That is all. 

A black and white film version of this story ws released in 1945 starring George Sanders, Angela Lansbury., Donna Reid, Peter Lawford and Hurd Hatfield as Dorian Gray. Going to see the play version of this story, inspired me to read this classic novel beforehand. The Broadway play is preented as a one-woman performance starring  Sarah Snook, (of ‘Succession’ fame) who brilliantly portrays 26 characters.  What an explosive performance!Technological wizardy is a marvel of this production directed by Australian Kip Williams.  

PREPARED CLASSROOM: Ready to Teach, Ready to Learn by Gail Goushey and Allison Behne / professional text / 2025

Gail Bushey and Allison Behne, criers of the Daily 5 Framework and Cafe Literacy Systems have written a practical handbook inviting teachers to reimagine their teaching practices to boost student engagement, collaboration and independent learning. The resources is divided into two sections: Section 1 offers roadmap to  strategies to consider in order enrich a classroom environment that fosters positive relationships and  establish daily routines  that promote effective management and student involvement. Section 2 presents 52 lessons 1involvement and effective  lessons that consider action, interaction and joy (e..g Exit Slips, I Wish My Teacher Knew,  Brain Breaks, Taking Turns, What To Do When You are Finished. The authors use a friendly voice to teachers and effectively present ideas through a framework that includes Understand (Why?); Prepare (Students): Teach (Explicitly); Support (Pivots). Prepared Classroom is a comprehensive, practical guide for teachers hoping to reflect on current practices and consider effective ways for students to excel. 

UNCLE VANYA by Anton Chekhov / script /  1897

Uncle Vanya ” explores themes as diverse as male mid-life crisis; men’s exploitation of the natural world and of women; the ruin that massive destruction of Russia’s forests will cause; peasants’ subjection to hunger, ill health, illiteracy, and ignorance and hope for a joyful life after death as a consolation for the miseries of earthly existence.” (from preface notes in the Dover Thrift Edition)

The setting is an estate in nineteenth-century Russia. A retired professor, his second wife, his brother-in-law and daughter from a previous marriage lived lives of frustration and despair.  From the preface note ‘Uncle Vanya is a “haunting portrait of the sense of futility and wasted lives that burdened men and women enduring disappointments and frustrations and rural tedium.” What prompted me to read this classic play was a recent viewing of NT Live one man performance of VANYA starring Andrew Scott who portrays all the characters in a modernized version of Chekhov’s play. This was the second time I watched this must-see spectacular performance. Mr. Scott you are brilliant!

SHOUT OUT! 

FEEDING GHOSTS by Tessa Hulls / graphic memoir

This prize winning graphic memoir works on many levels. It is Tessa Hulls story the jumps across 80 years in which the author /illustrator maps her family’s history, the historical events of the Chinese Communist Revolution and a personal coming of age history filled with questions, anger, frustration, and self-determination in the quest to make meaning of life, loss, and love. It is essentially the story of three generations of women: Shun Yi, journalist who once wrote a memoir about her persecution and survival and eventually came to have a breakdown and was committed to a mental institution, Tessa’s mother, Rose who struggles to take care of Sun Yi and Tessa who is determined  to escape her mother’s fears and religious  beliefs,  and decides to leave home and travels to remote parts of the world, hoping to find freedom, but moreover to unravel the struggles that shaped her family. The unique visual storytelling allows  the author to synthesize her family’s history and provide a context for her to reconnect with her estranged mother and examine the lasting effects of trauma. The book took almost a decade to complete so that Tessa Hulls could conduct extensive research (quotations from many resources are filtered throughout) on come to terms with the impact of her grandmother’s and mother’s mental health – and that of her own.  It is a book where creating art helps an artist to seeking and finding ghosts that are hidden in one family’s past. 

Although speech bubbles  appears throughout, most of the verbal  text is presented through narrative captions with crafted , often poetic, statements that provide information, relate experiences, and convey deep reflection. (see excerpts below*). The writing is frequently the stuff of therapy as the author confesses how the experiences as daughter and artist have shaped her identity . (“I grew up living in a lockstep of my greatest fear: imprisonment bound by internet rules far stronger than any external chains (p. 325)   Hulls often unpacks how the process of creating this book has helped her to look into the meaning of her grandmother’s life, her mother’s life and her relationship to them.(“Collaborating on this book has given us a framework to explore the fraught territory between us. And while we both run for cover when missteps create huge explosions.” p. 337). Hulls’  staggering  illustrations of white highlights cut into like dream-like /nightmare-like) expressionist interpretation of what the author is thinking and feeling. I gasped at many of the full page images (e.g. Mother as a puppeteer over her daughter, each with snake-like flames roaring from their mouths (.p. 256) . Panels are not only filled with characters portrayed with varied emotions but Hull fills each panel space with scratchy- textured backgrounds and cinematic, ghost-like people, places and things. .  Though I usually can breeze through graphic novels,  I found that I could only read Finding Ghosts in small chunks, taking rests between every dozen pages or so. I became aware that I re-read narrative texts at least twice to savour Tessa Hulls sophisticated language and revelations of this troubled, talented sole. I also lingered over the illustrations in paying attention to details conveyed by the text as well as images drawn from the Hulls’ brilliant mind.  Astonishing!

The first time a graphic novel received the 1992 Pulitzer Prize was Art Spiegelman’s for his book Maus. Feeding Ghosts won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in the autobiography/memoir category. It is the most original, powerful publication of the year. Feeding Ghosts is a graphic memoir masterpiece!

Excerpts *

“There were no messy realities to contradict the perfect illusion of the China she held within herself, an unchanging snow globe where a mother and daughter remained eternally locked in a an embrace of uncomplicated filial piety.” (p. 93)

“Writing this book has allowed us to see the threads of this knot – how love, fear, culture, and mental illness are intricately bound.” (p. 122)

“Being mixed in America is a constant sociology experiment in a culture obsessed with forcing binaries. Where does someone with a. foot in both worlds and a home in neither fit in?” (p. 160)

“Going home was like standing in a hurricane where my family’s narrative about me – broken, cold, selfish, angry, unstable – pelted my skin like hail. By the end of each visit I’d wonder, where they right? Was I in fact crazy? Was I lying to myself about who and what I was? Was anything real?” (p, 313)

“Creating this book has not been a panacea for me and my mom. ‘Two steps forward, one step back’ does not do justice to the violent eruptions of mutual hurt and flights for self-protection that have peppered this journey.” (p. 337)

“What are you learning through making this book?” / I’m learning how to stand closer to my mother’s pain. And in order to do that I’m having to learn, how to stand closer to my own.” (p. 348)

SHOUT OUT! SHOUT OUT!

LESSONS FROM MY TEACHERS: From Preschool to Present

by Sarah Ruhl / essays / 2025

“This is a book about many of the teachers I was lucky enough to have had over the course of my life. It is, in a way, a portrait of my life told through portraits of my teachers.” (Introduction, p.3)

Sarah Ruhl is a playwright (The Clean House, Eurydice),   an author (Smile: A Memoir; 100 Essays I Didn’t Have to Write) and a professor at the Yale School of Drama where she has taught for over a decade). Lessons From My Teachers is a collection of 60 essays where Ruhl shines a light on educators, mentors and those who influence our lives from day to day.  Ruhl’s memories of important teachings arise from her personal and professional life, in sickness and in health, as student and as a teacher. Special recognition is given to Sarah Ruhl’s mentors in her theatre world (i.e., Paula Vogel, Beth Henley, Maria Irene Forbes, Joyce Piven)  Here are some titles of the the essays in this book: ‘The elementary art school teacher who gave me an assignment I hated’ (4); ‘Lessons from a marriage’ (23); ‘When your babysitter is also your dharma teacher’ (35); ‘My dog knows everthing’ (42); ‘A practical use of meditation (55); Can you be your own teacher?’ (p. 57). 

Everyone is a learner. Everyone is a teacher. This book provides the author with a chance to pay tribute to her classroom teachers, family members, children, community members, spiritual guides, theatre colleagues, and the students in her courses and through her stories, she provides readers with inspiration to pay attention to, and reflect upon, all those who help to shape our lives.   As a classroom teacher, university instructor, workshop presenter, brother, uncle and friend , I was quite moved by the stories Sarah Ruhl shares and found the book which is divided into three parts (Roots; Branches, Flowers)  to be a gift of meditation, reflection and gratitude.  Readers can helped to dig into their own memories of people, place and things that are the stories that shape us within the school of life.  

Dear Sarah

About thirty years ago, I purchased a long banner to decorate one of the walls in           my 5th grade classroom. It read “Everyone is a teacher, if we choose to let them be.” I don’t know who to attribute this precept to , but I believed that each member of a classroom has something (stories)  to contribute.  Hopefully,  it  served as a mantra for what I hoped my students would  come to believe too.

Larry

I have already read some mighty fine books this year but Sarah Ruhl’s book will be, I’m sure, at the top of my list of 2025 titles. I have ordered a batch of copies to gift my  friends, whether they are teachers or not.  Each essay provides a poignant lesson about teaching, learning, and living. As Sondheim reminds us, ‘No One is Alone.’

Excerpts

“Middle C does not move. But the middle of life is never certain: we never know where the middle is until life ends.” (p.33)

“I think if I were to ask my grandmother what the secret of life was, she would tell me that it was to be always and forever interested, deeply interest in other people and the world.” (p. 64)

“… we remember what we are given more than we remember what we gave away, if the gift was freely given.” (p. 72)

Max “taught me that students sometimes make the best teachers.” (p. 152)

“Sometimes you have to go to your neighbor’s door and knock.” (p. 175)

“I only know that my dreams are sometimes my best teachers. Art is a dream we are allowed to have together: when we sleep we dream alone.” (p. 182)

“There are no former teachers, not really. Teachers – the ones who truly taught you – don ‘t stop teaching you, even after you leave their classroom. Teaching, over time, is ultimately unbounded by the classroom. Just as love is unbounded by time.”  (p. 216)

I have a memory of seeking out the biography section of the Wychwood Children’s library as a young reader. Why was I intrigued  by the story of Alexander Graham Bell? Reading  about of the lives of others is fascinating. We may choose to read an author’s autobiography because we are familiar with their life as a celebrity (Barbra Streisand, Randy Rainbow) or an author (Salman Rushdie, Allen Say). Other memoir titles we may  dig into because the story told intrigues (an Orthodox transgender rabbi, a queer muslim activist, childhood sexual abuse).  Each of the ten authors delve into their memories and create a literary map of their lives that reveals a discovery of self and a reflection of their mental and emotional growth (and sometimes physical growth). Everyone has a story to tell. Published memories invite readers to come into their world as they share events from their lives,  their relationships, their views. These are stories of courage and tenacity, I am fascinated by these life stories and often while reading memoirs I think “How do  these stories connect to my own life stories?”  and, too, given the circumstances  and choices and hopes that each of these authors share, “What would I do if I were in their place?”.  A good book helps us learn about others in order to  learn about ourselves. 

SHOUT OUT

The following two memoirs, each published by an author of renowned, were a punch in the gut for me. Hanif Kareshi tells a story of his recovery from a traumatic fall that  required constant hospital care. Salman Rushdie presents a meditation on his reovery from a violent knife attack while giving a lecture on the importance of keeping writers safe. Each story is deeply personal, honest and philosophical.  Each powerful story is about how FATE can  interfere and  alter our lives in an instant and how recovery is dependent on hope, faith, and  love. Both stories shattered me – there but for the grace of God, go I.

KNIFE Meditations after attempted murder by Salman Rushdie / 2024

My birthday is on August 12. On August 12, 2022, 27 seconds changed the life of British Indian writer Salman Rushdie. While  onstage preparing for a presentation at the Chautauqua Institution, the author was attacked by a masked man wielding a knife who repeatedly stabbed Rushdie’s body and face, including his eye. Since living in fear from the fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini, after the publication of his book The Satanic Verses ((1989) Salman Rushdie lived a fearful life. Two nights before the conference,  Rushdie had a nightmare that was a premonition of a violent attack.  Rushdie’s first thought “So it’s you. You are here.” Ironically, Rushdie’s lecture was the importance of keeping writers safe from harm. Knife details the traumatic events of the day of the attack and his journey towards physical and mental healing. Eliza, his devoted wife, along with teams of doctors and therapists and loyal friends helped to give the Booker Prize winning author strength to recover.  Salman Rushdie chooses not to name his assailant (i.e. “A” but in Chapter 6, he records a conversation that never occurred,  a brilliant imagined interview between him and “A” . The book  is divided into two parts: ‘Part One: The Angel of Death’; ‘Part Two: The Angel of Life’. Writing this memoir has  provided the author with a forum to makes sense of the unthinkable. (After half a year of nothingness, the writing juices had indeed started to flow again.” (p. 173). The writing is a brutally honest, moving meditation of finding resilience and moving forward day by day and find “the willingness to go on fighting the good fight.” (p. 201).  The book is filled with social commentaries, and reflections about religion, free speech, social media, literature and other authors. Note: The cover of this book, depicting the word ‘knife’ being slashed,  is staggering and worthy of an award. Knife is deserved of an award. It needs to be read. 

Excerpts

“I don’t like to think of writing as therapy – writing is writing, and therapy is therapy – but there is a good chance that telling the story as I saw it might make me feel better.” (p,129)

“Art is not a luxury. It stands at the essence of our humanity and it asks for no special protection except the right to exist. / It accepts argument, criticism, even rejection. It does not accept violence.” (p. 168)

“My way of trying to deal with PTSD was to claim, most of the time, that I was okay. I told my therapist, “I don’t know what good it does to complain?” He laughed. Don’t you know that the reason you are here is to complain?” (p. 174)

“Who am I? Am I the same person as I was on August 11, or am I now another?” (p. 198)

SHATTERED by Hanif Kureishi / 2024

While I was browsing in a  book store, the jacket cover caught my attention.  A sombre beige background with the hanif kureishis name, the title of the book and the word memoir featured in a deep plum colour font, all in lower case. Filling the page in grey font are the words ‘two weeks ago a bomb went off in my life which has also shattered the lives of those around me. at least I haven’t lost the one thing that was most valuable to me which is the ability to express myself.” I was somewhat familiar with the author’s name: The Buddha of Suburbia (novel) ; My Beautiful Launderette (screenplay). Late in the year 2022  while relaxing in his  apartment in Rome, Hanif Kureishi  stood up, fell flat on his face, breaking his neck.  Paralyzed,  he could no longer walk.  Over the next year, Kureishi was confined to hospital wards and was totally dependent on the care of others. Unable to move his hands to compose, the author , with the ability to speak, relied on family members to record his thoughts and feelings about what is happening to him as well as reflections on is life as a father, husband and creative life. Shattered is the results of this extraordinary process where the author reveals his views on parenthood, immigration, sex, psychoanalysis and the art of writing and his faith that he will one day be able to return to his home.  The dispatches were edited, expanded and interwoven into the publication I held in my hand, a book that left me shattered, astounded by the heartbreaking honest account of loss, of pain, of dependency, of gratitude and hope. Strange how life can change in an instant and Kureishi’s memoir is a testimony to  how resilience and love that can help to conquer calamity. This powerful  book – harrowing and inspiring – will be on the list of my favourite reads of 2025. 

Excerpts

“It took some time to get used to the utterly serious nature of my injury and how life-changing and permanent it is. There’s no going back, though I wish all the time there was.” (p. 112)

“I exist in a constant state of panic, fear and tearfulness. I want to escape myself.” (p. 114)

“Wit is the brilliant expression of a truth, a way of exposing something with concision and effect, making the world seem like a brighter place…If I am funny, in conversation, it is something I had to learn and cultivate; it is a form of creativity, as is all conversation.” (p. 279)

“We are in constant development, never the same as yesterday. All the time we are changing, there is no going back. My world has taken a zig where previously it zagged; it has been smashed, remade and altered, and there is nothing I can do about it. But I will not go under; I will make something of this.” (p. 323)

 SHOUT OUT… David A Robertson

ALL THE LITTLE MONSTERS: How I Learned to Live with Anxiety by David A. Robertson  / 2025

Brilliant author, David A. Robertson,  has opened up his heart and his mind to describe his journey of living with – and through – anxiety.  This memoir takes a plunge into the depths of confronting and competing with ‘all the little monsters’ who whisper in his ear ‘you can’t do this!’ Readers learn about the fears, the compulsions, the depression of  Robertson struggles to get out of bed, to climb those stairs to ‘get on with it’.  The honesty that Robertson sticks to as he recounts his experiences with anxiety and a heart condition, are presented, not only to get to learn about what the author is going through but is moreover written, to help others who are going through similar trials and let them know that they are not alone.   There but for the grace of God, I do not suffer from anxiety, or know someone who does, but this book  helped me understand in some way what those who deal with anxiety and depression might be going through. It also raised awareness to look around me and become aware of what someone, like Robertson, might be experiencing, even though I might never know that they are struggling with mental health issues. All the Little Monsters is a brave, intimate book.  Accounts of family and friendship supports, therapy sessions, hospital visits , breakdowns, panic attacks and medications are heart-squeezing. I found myself turning down the corners of over a dozen pages as I read wise philosophical views of what the author was / is going through. As I read this book, I wanted to reach and out shake this mans  and I was lucky enough to do so when I listened to him share his stories aloud during a conference session. David A. Robertson, you are a hero. This revelatory memoir is VITAL reading. 

Astonishing to me is the fact that despite his mental health issues (because of them?) David A. Robertson continued to write and write and write. He is at the top of the heap of Canadian authors. As a  Cree author his revelations of Indigenous issues are essential for readers young and old. He is prolific. He has won awards for his picture books When Were Alone and On the Trapline. His Misewa Saga series is enjoying popularity for middle-grade readers.  I am very fond of a recent publication The Kodiaks which is a terrific novel  about playing hockey, about being on a team and about confronting anti-Indigenous racism. His novel, The Theory of Crows is staring at me from my book shelf and I look forward to reading it  soon. 

Some excerpts

“As far as I’ve come in my journey with mental health, Im intimately aware that its a journey with no finish line, and one that often has wrong turns that lead you back to a place you’ve already been.” (p..105)

“Sharing what I’ve been through and what I’m afraid of and then facing those fears by ignoring the voice that tells me to be afraid have all been a boon to my mental health.” (p. 143)

“I can do hard things. I repeat that in my mind these days, like a mantra, each time the voice in my ears tells me I can’t do something, even the smallest thing, even the most ridiculous things every day. / I can do hard things, and so can you.” (p. 173)

“I live with depression that comes and goes like the tide. Anxiety is always there with me, no matter what time of day, no matter what is going on in my life, and no matter where I am. I pack it in my suitcase with my socks and shirts and jeans, both what it was and what it is.” (p. 248)

BLACK WATER: Family, Legacy and Blood Memory by David A. Robertson / 2020

“I love being recognized as an Indigenous writer by my colleagues and by Indigenous kids who might be inspired by what I’ve accomplished, but someday I want to be known as a great writer, not a great Indigenous writer, which seems to imply that the measures of excellence are different between the two. They aren’t. Or at least, they shouldn’t be.” (p. 142)

David A. Robertson’s is the sone of a white mother, Beverly. He is the son of a Cree father, Dulas – or Don as he became known. Growing up, Robertson knew nothing of his Indigenous roots. His father’s absence from the family left Robertson without any teachings or knowledge of his father’s early experiences, especially those of Don’s early childhood on a trapline in the bush of Manitoba and life on reserve where he was forbidden to speak his language Swampy Cree. The author was only left with ‘blood memory’, that he was encouraged and challenged to put together. (“When I put my foot onto the ground in Norway House, a feeling came over me that I’d come home. It was a feeling I now recognize as blood memory  –  that the memories and lives of my ancestors, of Dad, are woven into the fabric of my DNA. That everything they lived through, everything they experienced, lives within me.” (p. 257)

In this memoir, Robertson and  his father come to deepen their bond through a journey to the trapline, a journey which had him come closer to his father, to himself and their connection to the land. The book is a loving tribute to Donald (Dulas) Alexander Robertson, a wise minister, educational leader, activist, and father. The book deepens a reader’s understanding of family and identity and legacy. To come to grips what it means to be Indigenous, Black Water is a moving personal story that is essential reading. 

As I read Black Water, I often found myself turning down the corners of pages for the beautiful words and precepts that this gifted author has written. Here are some samples:

“I’ve watched him look out over the water. I’ve seen his face. It makes me feel a part of those memories, as if they’re as much mine a they are his. And maybe there’s some truth to that.” (p. 60)

“When Dad and I discuss reconciliation, he talks about it, within the context of healing, as an act of remembering. We learn more about today when we know about yesterday. We know more about the direction we are headed if we understand where we are now. Yesterday has led us to today, and today will lead us tomorrow.” (p. 62)

Dad suggested ” that teacher training programs prepare educators to work with Indigenous children by emphasizing that they teach from the known and work towards the unknown, That is to say, they should connect with students based on the students’ world view, not the teachers.” (p. 104)

“When Dad sits in the chair and stares out the window, he’s trying to think back on the way he lived and ask himself questions. What is this knowledge? How can he remember it, reclaim it, so that it becomes useful to him once more? How can it be passed on to the next generation, to ensure its legacy.” (p. 109)

“The choice my parents made, then, was not to hide the Indigenous part of our identity, our genetic makeup. or to raise us as non-indigenous, but rather to raise us as humans and let us fine for ourselves what it means to be Indigenous. Let us go on that journey of discovery in our own way, in our own time. And that begs the question: What is Indigenous identity?” (p. 172)

“What is Cree identity? There isn’t one Cree identity. There as many Cree identities as there are trees in the forests that line the rivers that lead m home when I visit Norway House and Black Water. There are as many Cree identities as there are Cree people.” (p. 174)

“Most of the time I’ve come to accept that you can’t change the past. You can only learn from it.” (p. 184)

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BECOMING EVE: My Journey from ultra-orthodox rabbi to transgender woman by Abby Chava Stein / 2019

Abby Chava Stein was raised in a Hasidic Jewish community in Brooklyn where laws  and practices of eighteenth-century Eastern Europe were strictly enforced. All aspects of modern life were shunned, Yiddish and Hebrew were her only spoken languages. Abby was the first-born son in a rabbinical family. From an early age Abby knew that she was a girl. With no access to media and no one to term to, her desires, confusions and hopes were suppressed. What was expected of her was a strict devotion to Jewish laws and an ultra commitment to studying, studying, studying. Much of this story recounts Stein’s school experiences, her fervent commitment to reading and her sometimes outspoken views with those in authority. Forced to suppress her desires for a new body, she sought forbidden religious and secular texts and the essential need to ‘become Eve’ led her to an exodus from Ultra-Orthodox manhood, leaving home, her family (including a wife and son), abandoning traditions and expectations. She is the first openly transgender woman raised to have. been ordained in an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Institution. Today, she is a rabbi, an activist, a blogger, a model and passionate speaker about her transformative journey.  Readers accompany Abby Chava Stein’s  in her studies, her relationships with peers, her involvement with family, her first encounter with love, her engagement and marriage but most of all, understanding the truth of her nature and her longing. We partake in the author’s  journey to combat everything around her telling her not to do and work towards living an authentic life. This memoir offers readers an education – and a questioning – about the demands of Hasidic religious practices. This is a compelling story. NOTE: Becoming Eve was produced as a well-reviewed off-Broadway play in the spring of 2025. I longe to see any production of this play someday. 

Excerpt

“I would try to immerse myself in my studying. Then, buy thoughts about being a girl would return, and I would turn to philosophical questioning, trying to convince myself that I was only having these thoughts because of my religious disconnect. Then I would decide that I did not believe in any of the religious teachings at all, and my anxiety would surge as I saw no way out.” (pages 153-154)

DRAWING FROM MEMORY by Allen Say / 2011

“Let your dear child journey” is an old Japanese saying Allen Say first heard from his mother. 

Allen Say is one of children’s literature most gifted author/illustrators. Many of his  picture books are drawn from memories to life important events and people from Say’s life (Tea With Milk, The Bicycle Man, Home of the Brave, Kozo the Sparrow.  In Grandfather’s Journey, Winner of the Caldecott, 1984 –  Say narrates his grandfather’s immigration between Japan and the United States. Drawing from Memory is a unique memoir presented in picture book format with photographs, sketches and illustrations spread throughout.  Short passages that appear on each page synthesize the artist’s journey as he dedicated himself to gaining drawing and painting expertise. Nothing was going to get in the way of Allen Say’s dreams to be the best artist he could be. The book gives Allen Say the opportunity to tell the story of becoming a renowned artist, fighting against the wishes of his father who didn’t approve of his son’s interests. Say pays tribute to celebrated Japanese cartoonist,  Noro Shinpei,  who became his ‘Sensei’ (master or teacher) and whom the young artist  recognized as his ‘spiritual father’. Allen Say’s inspirational story recounts his life in Japan  before moving to America. Special you are, Mr. Say. 

PLAYING WITH MYSELF by Randy Rainbow / 2022

Playing with Myself is a memoir that answers the question, “Can an introverted musical theatre nerd with a MacBook and a dream save the world, one show at a time?” (from book jacket)

Randy Rainbow (real name) is  a remarkable talent. Randy  Rainbow is wickedly funny.  His satirical videos (particulary those criticizing Donald ‘Jessica Trump) have captured the attention of hundreds of thousands. Playing with Myself the ups and downs story of Randy’s (dare I say we are on a first-name basis?!) is fascinating indeed. The comedian digs into his early family life, his over-imaginative, introverted childhood, his love of his mother, his adoration of his grandmother, Nanny Irene,  and his tumultuous relationship with his father. When he decides to make the brave leap to move  from Florida to New York, Randy reveals himself to be a tenacious, spirited, hard-working individual as he pursues his dreams of ‘making it there’.  Recounts of  taking odd jobs (e.g., Hooters host), delving into the world of showbiz (working in a production and management office) and taking any come-what may opportunities to perform are worthy of applause. Embarking on the world of making videos in his apartment provided the opportunity  to critically comment on politics and the news of the world  (e.g., COVID) . Musical theatre runs through Randy’s blood and has given him a lifeline to take risks and make us laugh through his brilliant inventive lyrics and joyful (i.e., gay) productions.    Reading this book has taken me through a rabbit hole of digging into some of popular YouTube video spoofs. His recent piece, “Defy Democracy”,  taking another stab at DJT, , is hysterical. His ‘interview with Barbra Streisand is hilarious and last night at 1 a.m, iI woke up at 1 a.m to watch his lip-synching rendition of Patti Lupone’s audio book of her memoir. Funny! Funny! Funny!. Randy you are an entertainment hero. You are a hero for gays.  Courageous and audacious, you are! (“Weird is good. Be weird.” (p. 23). I look forward to seeing you perform live some day. I look forward to reading your newest publication, Low-Hanging Fruit.  Carol Burnett, Patti Lupone, Audra Mcdonald and  Stephen Sondheim are  big fans.  I am too!

SAD TIGER by Neige Sinno (Translated from the French by Natasha Lehrer) /2023 / 2025

Apparently this publication took the country by storm when it was released in France in 2023. It is the winner of several book awards in 2023 (e.g. Le Monde Literary Prize, The Prize Femina). As I embarked on digging into memoirs this month, the devastating story of a woman’s account of her experiences of being sexually abused as a child. Neige Sinno unpacks facets of her memory as well as that of her mother and father who repeatedly raped her. Not only does the author chronicle events from her childhood life, but in the second section of the book, ‘Ghosts’ she talks about how she made sense of what happened to her and how reading literature and writing this memoir helped her to restore her sense of self and her place in the world. What intrigue me was the author’s meta approach to creating this memoir, a device that had her reflect upon the purpose of her telling her story for herself – and for an audience of readers; “‘Why?’ Why am I writing this book? Because I can,.And like the soldiers, the answer shatters into an infinite series of fractals that lead to melancholy but also to rage and joy.” (p. 208). There are many fictional and nonfictional accounts of child abuse, and Niege Sanno’s reflective and meditative approach to her experiences help to make Sad Tiger an extraordinary story by a gifted writer who has lived through and is living through this  trauma.

Excerpts

“In order to be free, I was going to have to choose what baggage I wanted to hang on to and what I could lose.” (p. 157)

“Child sexual abuse is not an ordeal, an accident of life; it is a profound and systematic humiliation that destroys every foundation of the self. If you have ever been a victim of it, you are always a victim. And you will be a victim forever. For even if you recover, you never truly recover.” (p. 159)

WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE: A Queer Muslim Memoir  by Samra Habib  / 2019

Samra Habib, an Ahmadi Muslim grew up in Pakistan where she faced threats from Islamic extremists. Her family lived ti Canada as refugees and Habib encountered bullying, racism, poverty – and an arranged marriage. Her feminist spirit and her creative talents were ready to burst forth. Significant to the life choices Samra Habib made was her exploration of  her queer sexuality as she travelled around the world. Obedience to her family and religion was problematic for the author being true to herself, but in the end, fierce determination and faith in herself moved her forward to becoming the authentic queer woman she became.  We Have Always Been Here is a story of family, culture,  traditions, community  and pride, a remarkable story  breaking through family and society expectations. It is the story of pursuing and holding on to authentic identity:  “There’s no denying that my identity as a queer Muslim is the lens through which I see and engage with so many aspects of my daily life: fashion, music, literature, social media, politics, history, activism, sexuality, gender, faith art. Basically, everything.” (p, 214)  The author’s story is a testament to a life where both learning from others and treasuring ourselves matters.  This memoir was deemed the 2020 Canada Reads winner. 

Excerpts

“For me, practising Islam feeds my desire to understand the beauty and complexity of the universe and to treat everyone, regardless, regardless of their beliefs, with respect. My faith inspires kindness, patience, and self-reflection in my daily interactions.” (p. 171)

“Being Muslim is one of the absolutes about myself I can be sure of. It serves as an anchor when I’m lost at sea. It helps me come back to myself, and it leads me to others, who’ve struggled to reconcile seemingly disparate parts of themselves. For me it’s not something I can put on and take off like a garment.” (p. 214)

WHALE EYES: A memoir about seeing and being seen by James Robinson; illus. Brian Rea / 2025

STRABISMUS: A condition of eye misalignment where the eye muscles aren’t able to keep the eyes aligned  when looking at something. With Strabismus (or crossed-eyes), The eyes my turn in, out, up or down.

WHALE EYES: Thought not a technical term, it is one that James Robinson uses to describe his own visual disability. The eye condition is basically whale eye because it resembles a large wide eye of a whale, seen from the side

James Robinson shares his experiences of growing up with misaligned eyes recounting his experiences with classmates who, confused or repulsed  would stare at him. Robinson describes how he wrestled with words on the page, failed eye exams and often struggled with those who stared at him.   The book cleverly provides interactive experiences of the author’s struggles (e..g, eye test experiments). True to the subtitle of this book – a memoir about seeing and being seen – Robinson, has written this memoir to talk about his experiences of seeing and unpack the experience of ‘being seen’ as a person with a disability. Ultimately, his story is intended to help others confront any discomfort they may have when meeting others with a disability. Robinson  provides facts and explanations and stories that provide information and explanations of what life is like for him in school and beyond. I came across this book in the YA section of a book store, The first half of the book entitled “My Eyes” describes Robinson’s world and indeed provides inspiration for readers, ages 12+.  Part Two “Your Eyes” is somewhat more philosophical,  technical and somewhat sophisticated approach to explain how what it means to be seen and help readers be more thoughtful and caring ‘see-ers’. Such components as ‘Out-Trigue’, ‘Tension’, ‘Machinations’, and ‘Opti-cism’ may not have as strong appeal to young adolescents as adults who read this book.  The book is brilliantly illustrated  with  images  (often comical)  that interpret, extend and enrich the author’s story.  by artist, Brian Ray. High praise for the graphic images and  layout that help to make Whale Eyes an exceptional publication. 

NOTE; James Robinson is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His twelve-minute video for the New York Times (July 14, 2021) watch is essential viewing.  Whaeyes.org/ watch

THE YEARS by Annie Ernaux / 2008 / English Translation by Alison L. Strayer / 2017 

Seven Stories Press claimed that this autobiography that is ‘at once subjective and impersonal, private and collective.”

This hybrid memoir spans the years 1941-2006. by Nobel literature prize-winning author (2022), Anne Ernaux. She uses the pronoun ‘we’ instead of the expected ‘I’ of autobiography and when writings about her personal history from childhood, youth, and adulthood, she uses  the third person voice (i.e., she). Drawing on notes from six decades of diaries, the author takes a close-up look at French society just after the Second World War into the early 21st century by giving reference to personal photos, books, song titles, radio and television and movies. The author digs into such issues as consumerism, illegal abortion, a troubled marriage, her mother’s Alzheimer and experiences with cancer  in rather short passages.  The writing is fearless, critical and both personal and universal.

 

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Ten  favourite memoir titles from previous postings

BORN A CRIME by  Tevor Noah / 2016

EDUCATED by Tara Westover / 2018

FRIENDS, LOVERS AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING by Matthew Perry / 2022

I. M.: by Isaac Mizrahi / 2019

I WAS BETTER LAST NIGHT by Harvey Fierstein / 2022

PERMANENT ASTONISHMENT by Thomson Highway / 2021

RUN TOWARDS THE DANGER: Confrontations with a body of memory by Sarah Polley / 2022

SMILE: A memoir by Sarah Rulen / 2021

SPARE by Prince Harry / 2023

TOO MUCH IS NOT ENOUGH: A memoir fumbling toward adulthood  by Andrew Rannells / 2019

Some favourite Graphic Memoirs

CAN’T  WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING MORE PLEASANT?   by Roz Chast / 2016

DUCKS: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton /2022

FEEDING GHOSTS by Tessa Hulls / 2024 (winner of the Pulitzer Prize)

FUN HOME A Family Tragicomic  by Alison Bechtel / 2006

GENDER QUEER byMaia Kobabe / 2019

PERSEPOLIS: The Story of a Childhood by Mariane Satrapi (Also: PERSEPOLIS 2) / 2000/2003

STITCHES by David Small /2009

This posting offers 11 new picture titles (mostly 2025 releases)  with appealing characters who learn with and from each other.

SHOUT OUT

CHOOCH HELPED by Andrea L. Rogers illus Rebecca Lee Kunz

Chooch has just celebrated his second birthday and his older sister, Sissy, is aggfravated because her baby brother seems to  be get away with everything, even though in Sissy’s eyes, he’s always messing things up. But Chooch just wants to help others whether it’s painting a mural, tuning up bicycles, making moccasins, playing guitar, preparing dumplings.. When Chooch interferes with Sissy’s pottery-making, the young girl loses her temper but soon comes to learn the importance of being patient and  what it means to be helpful. This wonderful simple story works as a heartwarming  a story about an older sibling learning to make space for a new child; and a powerful celebration of Cherokee cultural traditions.  Another strong feature of this publication is the inclusion of Cherokee language (e.g., usdi = baby young; ageyutsa – girl/daughter, explained in a glossary at the end of the book. The artwork, infused with Cherokee iconography and symbols is exquisite. A lot of care was put forth by the team who helped to create this marvel of. picture book. Chooch Helped is Winner of the Caldecott Medal, 2025.  This book gets a standing ovation from Dr. Larry.

A KIDS BOOK ABOUT BANNED BOOKS by The National Coalition Against Censorshipn (NCAC)

The National Coalition Against Censorshii- (NCAC) is an alliance of more than 50 national nonprofits committed for kids right to read. For decades, many titles have been challenged for telling stories and tackling topics that make some people eel uncomfortable. This nonfiction title target audience is middle years  and YA readers (and the grown-ups in their lives).  The book provides information and insights into books that are challenged, banned or censored – now more than ever, it seems.  This book tells us that we want readers to read books To Learn, To Discover, to Explore and to Feel. When adults  ban books, –  i.e.,  taken out of a library or school because someone says  they don’t think it’s right for kids  – they are taking away access to books to help readers, grow, learn and feel seen. A Kids Book About Banned Books is a title presented with bold font, a simple black white, red and gold palette. The. book offers  questions and facts that can prompt kid to kid and adult to kid  conversations which may lead readers to take an active approach to speak out about the freedom to read. 

I remember hearing Katherine Paterson speak on a panel  about censorship many years ago. Her novel, Bridge to Terabithia, was at one time one of the best read and most censored children’s literature titles. Her words “Do we want to protect our children or prepare them?” from personal stories and world issues that some adults think are dangerous, scary, or too grown up.

Excerpt

“Because you will meet a LOT of people in your life, and you won’t agree with everyone you meet. It’s important to learn how to have conversations with  people with think differently than you do.” 

NOTE: When I bought this book, I also bought myself a tote bag (what another tote bag?) that reads BANS OFF OUR BOOKS. 

A KIDS BOOK ABOUT BELONGING by Kevin Carroll / 2023

This book speaks directly to kids. What does it mean to belong? What does it feel like when you belong to a group or family or team? What does it feel like when you don’t? This picture book helps young readers to considers  the comfort and connection – and sometimes struggles – of  fitting in anywhere.  The opening page advises “This book is best red together, grownup and kid.” With spare graphics, spare text presented in tan, black or white font, this is an ideal resource to have conversations with young people ages 5+ about loving, accepting appreciating, caring and supporting yourself. 

Excerpt

“You might event think you need to pretend you’re somebody you’re not, just to belong. Or that you need to wear a mask over your the real you to fit in.”

BABY’S FIRST BOOKS OF BANNED BOOKS; illus. Laura Korzon

Yes, this is a board book for babies and I’m not sure that toddlers would appreciate the intent of this book. The Kite Runner by Kahled Hosseini, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood are far away from their wee kid world.  Still, I purchased this little book because I like the simple statements to encapsulate the power of a good book, even thogh it’s been banned. . For example, “I speak up when someone is in trouble” accompanies the title Maus by Art Spiegelman ; I feel good telling the truth accompanies To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and “I’m Free to be Me” accompanies Alex Gino’s Melissa. It’s never to early to teach the importance of being free to read, and Baby’s First Book of Banned Books provides” lessons for rebellious young readers” and old readers too.

THE FABULOUS EDWEENA by Edwin Dumont; illus. Melissa Cho

Edwin is very excited about the upcoming figure skating competition.  To prepare for the event he  once again invades his sister, Patsy’s closet and comes out of the closet dressed as Edweena Louisa wearing   a a colourful dress, boots, fancy gloves and a pink belt and glimmering dangly earrings. Adding make-up and a wig excites Edwin because he will be the only one dressed in drag. Will his classmates make fun of him? Will he win the competition? This is a story about being true to yourself and living with the credo that “a dream is a wish your heart makes.”.   Edwin Dumont you are fabulous and there’s one word to best  describe this picture book – FABULOUS!

LITTLE BIRD LAILA by Kelly Yang; illus. Xindi Yan

Kelly Yang is a proflific and terrific novelist. Her Front Desk series is very popular with middle years readers I love her books. Little Bird Laila is her newest release, a picture book that tells the story of a young Chinese girl who becomes her parents’ teacher as they learn the English language.  Yang highlights some of the challenges of learning how to acquire new vocabulary, understand the meanings of idioms (‘Don’t beat around the bush’)  and pronounce words properly as Laila translates English to Chinese. (“Just because something’s hard doesn’t mean you give up, right?”). Laila is a great teacher and many young readers will identify with her attempts to help family gain confidence when learning a second language. 

ORRIS AND TIMBLE: Lost and Found by Kate DiCamillo / chapter book

Orris the rat and Timble the owl are friends. Can a rat and owl really be friends?  Storytelling is one thing that binds them. One day, Timble doesn’t  show up in the barn as expected  Timble fears that his owl friend has abandoned him. Spoiler alert Timble, a little more grown up returns to visit his friend and has a lovely story about getting lost to tell his rat friend. Every sentence in this short book is simple and exquisite (e..g., ‘The sun rose and gray dawn turned into day. Light filled the barn.’; ‘From deep inside the velvet slipper, Orris could feel the owl waiting’. He arrived with a great rush of feathers that smelled of nighttime air’. The clarity of dialogue enriches character and setting: “By the light of the stars, by the light of the moon, I will always return.” said the owl.”  Each word is perfectly chosen. But that’s no surprise – Kate DiCamillo is a storytelling genius . Mok’a beautiful illustrations are story moments unto themselves (Lonely Orris gazing into the night sky longing for his friend; Oris crawling in a velvet slipper; Owl hovering over a country landscape;  Orris and Timble reunited underneath the gaze of a crescent moon), Lost and Found  is the second book in trilogy (Book One: Orris and Timble: The Beginning).

Hooray for GROUNDWOOD / HOUSE OF ANANSI PRESS   / 2025 releases 

ROCK by Laurel Croza; Illus. Matt James 

Laurel Croza and Matt James are the team who published the award-winning book I Know Here (2010)  (Marilyn Baillie Picture book boaward, Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award. Once again the author and illustrator have created a special publication about an seagull and a rock getting into   argument. Seagul mistakes the rock for food, but the rock, is proud to be ‘just a rock ‘amongst an infinite number of other rocks’. This is one terrific story about what the significance of a miniscule  part of nature that could be considered insignificant  Laurel Croza’s verbal text and dialogue  is spot-on  and the illustrations featured in mainly two-spreads with  various perspectives of the seagulls are a WOW!  Applause to Croza and James for another stellar House of Anansi publication. This book rocks!

THE ONE AND ONLY QUESTION by Norma Charles and Andrea Charles; illus. Ken Daley

It is the first day at a new school for Kyle and he is bracing himself what might happen if someone calls him the N-word, like they did at his old school. As the day unfolds, Zeke is sure that it’s going to be the worst day ever  (e.g., a stain on his favourite shirt; a frowning bus-driver, a hor stinky classroom in a soggy sandwich for lunch). Most of all. he is suspicious that someone is going to call him the N-word. What will he say? What will he do?  A random act of kindness brings comfort to the young student and things won’t be so bad. The One and Only Question is an important story about ways to handle bullying, racism and belonging. 

SOMETIMES I EAT WITH MY HANDS by Kid Haile 

There is absolute joy on the face of the little girl pictured on the cover of this picture book, and when we meet this character, Feven we learn that she delights in trying new foods (i.e. broccoli, watermelon and mac’ n’cheese. Which utensil to use is sometimes a puzzlement, but when Granma comes for a visit, the family gatherrs around the table to eat injera, an Ethiopian and Eriteran flatbred and knows that sometimes eating with our hands can be a joyful thing!h With sparse text and happy colourful illustrations, this picture book is deeeeelicioussssss!

SUNDAYS ARE FOR FEASTS by Leila Boukarim=; illus. Ruaida Mannaa

It is summertime and Yasmine is visiting her family in Lebanon.  Getting together for lunch is a weekly  ritual and on one occasion Yasmine is given the responsibility of preparing hummus. Will she succeed? Will her crank uncle Ammo Farouk approve of Hummus a la Yasmine? Sundays Are for Feasts is a wonderful celebration of family, traditions, Lebanese culture and Hummus! (recipe included). 

I’m hoping to clean up my shelf of ‘to read’ books and have recently enjoyed three FICTION, three  MEMOIR and three PROFESSIONAL TITLES published fairly recently. There’s still about a dozen more titles which I hope  to get to as springtime unfolds. I don’t usually write about movies, plays and TV series I’ve enjoyed but in this posting I strongly recommend an unmissable Netflix series.

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 >>>>> FICTION <<<<<

GOING HOME by Tom Lamont (2024)

The premise of this book intrigued me. The fate of a young toddler, Joel,  is questionable when (spoiler aler) his mother, Lia,  commits suicide. Ben and Teo were part of Lia’s friendship circle and because he offered to babysit one day, Teo know bears the responsibility of taking care of Joel. Ben and Teo have enjoyed a strong friendship since their youth. Teo has a responsible job that he rather enjoys. Ben is a rich self-indulgent chap.  Are either of these two single guys prepared to be fathers? Will they? Two other characters add some dimension to the story: Sybil Challis is the rabbi at a local synagogue who’s duties to her congregation is wavering and Vic, Ben’s father who’s health is ailing. The setting is North London.  Yes, an intriguing premise but as the novel plods on I became less and less interested in how fatherhood changes these two central characters. Skipping to the end to find out who Joel ends up would have been enough for me, but I avoid reading the ending of a book.  I often like books where different sections are devoted to different characters but this device didn’t seem to add anything, especially as told from the third person voice. The author has readers do lots of inferring (sometimes from sentence to sentence).  For example, we never learn much about Lia’s suicide (not that we need gruesome details), but I wondered about the shift from Joel’s life with his mother to coming to live in a new home.  Why wasn’t there a chapter entitled ‘Lia’? Can’t say that I loved this novel. Oh well. 

WHAT I KNOW ABOUT YOU by Eric Chacour (translated from the French by Pablo Strauss) (2023 / 2024)

Tarek’s life -map seems to be one that is pre-destined by his Christian father, mother and sister. He will get a proper education, become a doctor like his father, he will marry and have children.  Those plans become topsy-turvy when Tarek meets Ali, a young man from a world that is different from the one Tarek leads.This beautifully written book by French Canadian author, Eric Chacour is the winner of several French literary prizes and was also shortlisted for a number of book awards, including Canada Reads, 2025.  Originally published in 2023 it was a bestseller in its original Quebec edition which was then translated from the French by Pablo Strauss in 2024. The construction and choice of voices are  intriguing and appealing strengths of this novel. Part One (You) is told in the 2nd person voice, Part Two  (Me) in the first person and a Part Three (Us)serves as an epilogue to the story. There are 50 chapters in this 222 page novel.  The story spans the years 1961 – 2001 and is presented in passages that go back and forth in time travelling from Egypt to Montreal to Boston. I was totally immersed in the life of Tarek as I learned about his loyalty to family, his work as a doctor, his troubled marriage and his life as a gay man.  What I Know About You is a love story, albeit a sad, heartbreaking one. where shame and secrets smother the lives of a man, his lover, and a son that is unknown to him.  Chacour’s writing is precise and masterful and deserved of any awards consideration. This book was highly recommended to me by two friends. I’m so glad I read it. 

Excerpt (p. 76)

“It’s not my place to say what happened that night. I’ll never side with those who judge, but at the same time I’ll do my best not to imagine it. That part belongs to you, that’s all. I’ll settle for specualting on how obsession took hold in the days that followed.”

SHOUT OUT!

THE TREES by Percival Everett (2021)

“There is something really strange going on,” Jim said. “”I realize that’s obvious. but I mean something really, really strange.” (p. 250) 

Percival Everett’s book JAMES, winner of several book awards (The National Book Award, Kirkus Prize, Carnegie Medal), was one of my favourite fictional reads in 2024. I figured it was time to dig into some other Everett books (He’s written over 30) and a friend recommended, The Trees, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, 2022. I’m grateful for my friend’s  recommendation. I loved this  novel. It is the story of brutal murders that began in Mississippi and quickly spread throughout the country. Not only are  bloody bodies of white men  discovered, but an unexpected second dead body is  found in each crime scene, a body of a Blackman that resembls Emmett Till.   Something strange is going on and a remarkable quirky cast of characters  – and readers – are in for a wild ride to find out what that something is.  The author digs into the history of racist White folks and the legacy of lynching in the United States.  I was intrigued a from page to page and appreciated the rather short chapters that informed and entertained me. Are you ready for a satirical look at White Supremacy? The Trees is gruesome, provocative and funny, funny funny! More Percival Everett for me!

FYI: These characters names provide evidence of the author’s sharp wit: Hot Mama Yeller; Junior Junior; The Doctor Reverend Cad Fondle; Mama Z; McDonald McDonald; Herberta Hind; Helvitica Quip; Pick L. Dill.

 >:>>>> MEMOIRS <<<<<

PLAYING WITH MYSELF by Randy Rainbow (2022)

Playing with Myself is a memoir that answers the question, “Can an introverted musical theatre nerd with a MacBook and a dream save the world, one show at a time?” (from book jacket)

Randy Rainbow (real name) is  a remarkable talent. Randy  Rainbow is wickedly funny.  His satirical videos (particulary those criticizing Donald ‘Jessica Trump) have captured the attention of hundreds of thousands. Playing with Myself the ups and downs story of Randy’s (dare I say we are on a first-name basis?!) is fascinating indeed. The comedian digs into his early family life, his over-imaginative, introverted childhood, his love of his mother, his adoration of his grandmother, Nanny Irene,  and his tumultuous relationship with his father. When he decides to make the brave leap to move  from Florida to New York, Randy reveals himself to be a tenacious, spirited, hard-working individual as he pursues his dreams of ‘making it there’.  Recounts of  taking odd jobs (e.g., Hooters host), delving into the world of showbiz (working in a production and management office) and taking any come-what may opportunities to perform are worthy of applause. Embarking on the world of making videos in his apartment provided the opportunity  to critically comment on politics and the news of the world  (e.g., COVID) . Musical theatre runs through Randy’s blood and has given him a lifeline to take risks and make us laugh through his brilliant inventive lyrics and joyful (i.e., gay) productions.    Reading this book has taken me through a rabbit hole of digging into some of popular YouTube video spoofs. His recent piece, “Defy Democracy”,  taking another stab at DJT, , is hysterical. His ‘interview with Barbra Streisand is hilarious and last night at 1 a.m, iI woke up at 1 a.m to watch his lip-synching rendition of Patti Lupone’s audio book of her memoir. Funny! Funny! Funny!. Randy you are an entertainment hero. You are a hero for gays.  Courageous and audacious, you are! (“Weird is good. Be weird.” (p. 23).I look forward to seeing you perform live some day. I look forward to reading your newest publication, Low Hanging Fruit.  Carol Burnett, Patti Lupone, Audra Mcdonald and  Stephen Sondheim are fans.  I am too!

SHOUT OUT!

ALL THE LITTLE MONSTERS: How I Learned to Live with Anxiety by David A. Robertson  (2025)

Brilliant author, David A. Robertson,  has opened up his heart and his mind to describe his journey of living with – and through – anxiety.  This memoir takes a plunge into the depths of confronting and competing with ‘all the little monsters’ who whisper in his ear ‘you can’t do this!’ Readers learn about the fears, the compulsions, the depression of  Robertson struggles to get out of bed, to climb those stairs to ‘get on with it’.  The honesty that Robertson sticks to as he recounts his experiences with anxiety and a heart condition, are presented, not only to get to learn about what the author is going through but is moreover written, to help others who are going through similar trials and let them know that they are not alone.   There but for the grace of God, I do not suffer from anxiety, or know someone who does, but this book  helped me understand in some way what those who deal with anxiety and depression might be going through. It also raised awareness to look around me and become aware of what someone, like Robertson, might be experiencing, even though I might never know that they are struggling with mental health issues. All the Little Monsters is a brave, intimate book.  Accounts of family and friendship supports, therapy sessions, hospital visits , breakdowns, panic attacks and medications are heart-squeezing. I found myself turning down the corners of over a dozen pages as I read wise philosophical views of what the author was / is going through. As I read this book, I wanted to reach and out shake this mans  and I was lucky enough to do so when I listened to him share his stories aloud during a conference session. David A. Robertson, you are a hero. This revelatory memoir is VITAL reading. 

Astonishing to me is the fact that despite his mental health issues (because of them?) David A. Robertson continued to write and write and write. He is at the top of the heap of Canadian authors. As a  Cree author his revelations of Indigenous issues are essential for readers young and old. He is prolific. He has won awards for his picture books When Were Alone and On the Trapline. His Misewa Saga series is enjoying popularity for middle-grade readers.  I am very fond of a recent publication The Kodiaks which is a terrific novel  about playing hockey, about being on a team and about confronting anti-Indigenous racism. His novel, The Theory of Crows and his memoir Black Water are staring at me from my book shelf and I look forward to reading both of them soon. 

Some excerpts

“As far as I’ve come in my journey with mental health, Im intimately aware that its a journey with no finish line, and one that often has wrong turns that lead you back to a place you’ve already been.” (p..105)

“Sharing what I’ve been through and what I’m afraid of and then facing those fears by ignoring the voice that tells me to be afraid have all been a boon to my mental health.” (p. 143)

“I can do hard things. I repeat that in my mind these days, like a mantra, each time the voice in my ears tells me I can’t do something, even the smallest thing, even the most ridiculous things every day. / I can do hard things, and so can you.” (p. 173)

“I live with depression that comes and goes like the tide. Anxiety is always there with me, no matter what time of day, no matter what is going on in my life, and no matter where I am. I pack it in my suitcase with my socks and shirts and jeans, both what it was and what it is.” (p. 248)

SHOUT OUT!

SHATTERED by Hanif Kureishi

While I was browsing in. book store, the jacket cover caught my attention. A sombre beige background with the hanif kureishis name, the title of the book and the word memoir featured in a deep plum colour font, all in lower case. Filling the page in grey font are the words ‘two weeks ago a bomb went off in my life which has also shattered the lives of those around me. at least I haven’t lost the one thing that was most valuable to me which is the ability to express myself.” I was somewhat familiar with the author’s name: The Buddha of Suburbia (novel) ; My Beautiful Launderette (screenplay). Late in the year 2022  while relaxing in his  apartment in Rome, Hanif Kureishi  stood up, fell flat on his face, breaking his neck.  Paralyzed,  he could no longer walk.  Over the next year, Kureishi was confined to hospital wards and was totally dependent on the care of others. Unable to move his hands to compose, the author , with the ability to speak, relied on family members to record his thoughts and feelings about what is happening to him as well as reflections on is life as a father, husband and creative life. Shattered is the results of this extraordinary process where the author reveals his views on parenthood, immigration, sex, psychoanalysis and the art of writing and his faith that he will one day be able to return to his home.  The dispatches were edited, expanded and interwoven into the publication I held in my hand, a book that left me shattered, astounded by the heartbreaking honest account of loss, of pain, of dependency, of gratitude and hope. Fate is a funny thing. Ahh, the things we (I) take for granted! Strange how life can change in an instant and Kureishi’s memoir is a testimony to  how resilience and love that can help to conquer calamity. This powerful  book – harrowing and inspiring – will be on the list of my favourite reads of 2025. 

Some excerpts

“It took some time to get used to the utterly serious nature of my injury and how life-changing and permanent it is. There’s no going back, though I wish all the time there was.” (p. 112)

“I exist in a constant state of panic, fear and tearfulness. I want to escape myself.” (p. 114)

“Wit is the brilliant expression of a truth, a way of exposing something with concision and effect, making the world seem like a brighter place…If I am funny, in conversation, it is something I had to learn and cultivate; it is a form of creativity, as is all conversation.” (p. 279)

“We are in constant development, never the same as yesterday. All the time we are changing, there is no going back. My world has taken a zig where previously it zagged; it has been smashed, remade and altered, and there is nothing I can do about it. But I will not go under; I will make something of this.” (p. 323)

>>>>>  PROFESSIONIAL TITLES <<<<<

FAIL-SAFE STRATEGIES FOR SCIENCE AND LITERACY by Sandra Mirabelli and Lionel Sandner (Pembroke Publishers, 2023)

This is an excellent  – important – teacher resource where the two authors connect science and language arts by focusing on how students use literacy strategies to learn key science concepts. Mirabelli and Sandner share their expertise and provide research designed to introduce thinking routines in the classroom (Chapter 3).  Especially noteworthy is the offering  of 25 hands- on science-literacy strategies where students are encouraged to Observe and Wonder; Predict and Infer; Sort and Categorize; Analyze and Interpret; Conclude and Apply. Activities such as ‘Can You Lift This?’; ‘Kissing Candles’; ‘Piercing Pencils’ and ‘Reaction in a Bag’ are outlined with clarity, step by step instructions  and accessible reproducible graphic organizers. Fail-Safe Strategies for Science and Literacy  an engaging resource that gives teaches confidence as they strive to integrate reading, writing, listening and speaking into science content  in order to help students make sense of the world. 

THE HEART-CENTERED TEACHER: Restoring Hope, Joy and Possibilities in Uncertain Times by Regie Routman

(An Eye on Education Book / Routledge, 2024) / available through Pembroke Publishers in Canada. 

This title was outlined in a previous posting but I have since re-visited the book  in order to dig into Routman’s wise views about striving to be a teacher with heart.  

In the book’s opening, ‘A Letter to Readers’, the author’s lead sentence reads: “My goal, dear reader is to write to you like I’m talking to you, as a fellow traveler on life’s winding road, to share my journey with candor and humility.” I’m always eager to dig into a new Regie Routman publication, and when I read over the table of contents, I knew that this recent release would be a must-read. With chapter headings such as ‘Loving Our Students’, ‘Promoting Equitable Opportunities’ ‘Championing the Reading/ Writing Connection’, and ‘Becoming our Truest Selves’, I knew that the author would help us to think carefully about “developing, nurturing and sustaining caring relationships — in our teaching lives, our home lives, and in the happy intersection of both.”  Routman conveys such topics as  Telling Our Stories, Science of Reading,  Seeking Mentors, Libraries, Living with Loss, The Importance of Friendships,  Reading Aloud, Choosing and Using Literature, and Establishing a Reading Life.Particularly noteworthy is Chapter 5, ‘Developing Professional Knowledge’, which is essential reading for classroom teachers, consultants and administrators. 

At the heart of Regie Routman’s professional and personal journey are stories; stories of working with young people (particularly  marginalized children) tutoring an adult, professional experiences as a writer, speaker, and consultant in residency projects, tributes to friends, colleagues and family. Noteworthy too is the wealth of practical strategies that I (we) need to consider to improve our practice and our relationships. A new Regie Routman publication is not only a cause to “nourish the heart, mind and spirit” but a cause for reflection and celebration.With The Heart-Centered Teacher, she invites us to consider where we are and points toward the path for what we could be, what we should be, as educators. Routman has abs0lutely met the challenge of  providing a professional title that helps us consider the importance of ‘Restoring Hope, Joy and Possibility in Uncertain Times’. 

Reading this book with pencil in hand, I chose to put check-marks, question marks and asterisks in the margin alongside ”aha’ passages that invited me to pause,  to wonder and to question. Here are a few of Regie Routman’s pearls of wisdom: 

Considering a Joyful Inclusive Culture

“… a welcoming and caring culture is a necessity for high, schoolwide achievement and that we all have the opportunity and responsibility to work to make the culture a positive one for learning and living.” (p, 83)

Considering the Human Element

“…first and foremost  – before any subject matter – we are teaching unique human beings and relating content to their strengths, knowledge, interests, needs and culture.” (p 101)

Considering the Science of Reading

“From the start, we must view learning to read asa language and thinking process,not just a sounding-out words process.  Reading and comprehension must be our first and primary goal in teaching reading, and phonics is but one necessary tool in this multi-dimensional process. (pp. 114-115)

Considering Delight and Meaning

“However and wherever we teach, I believe delight, wonder and meaning must be at the center of creating an intellectually, and emotionally environment for all learners.” (p. 146)

Considering Great Literature

“You can’t make a great fruit tart from a second-rate fruit, just as you can’t teach reading well without first-rate literature.” (p.181)

LITERACY INSTRUCTION: Practical evidence-ebased classroom strategies to inspire studnet readers and writers by Karen Filewych (Pembroke Publishers) (2025)

Karen Filewych newest publication provides a practical, clear overview of the components of an effective literacy program.  The book elementary teachers a guide to a wide range of strategies grounded in research.Chapter titles include ‘Preparing your Classroom for Literacy Instruction’; The Role of Language in Our Classrooms’; ‘Planning: Your Year, Your Week, Your Lessons’.   Literacy  Instruction is accessible and comprehensive by providing a wealth of reading and writing and talk and word study lessons the book. Key terminology, methods and research are woven throughout It’s a terrific resource to help teachers to not only reflect on their programs but to plan effective literacy instruction to help enrich literacy success for all. Hooray for Karen for providing novice and experienced teachers a gem of a professional book.

>>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<<

  SHOUT OUT! 

 >>> NETFLIX  MINISERIES <<<

ADOLESCENCE

This is a four part miniseries. It received 100% favourable ratings from the crtitics. Each episode is filmed in one continuous shot (Amazing!). The story is centred on a a 13 year old boy, Jamie Miller who is arrested for murdering teenage girl in his school. Episode #1 unpacks the boy’s arrest and police questioning; Episode #2 is the detectives searching for the knife that was used and also searching for a motif; Episode #3 features an interview between a therapist and Jamie (Note: This one hour is the most staggering one hour to be seen on Television this year… the critics agree). Episode #4, explores the impact of the crime on  family as well digs into the guilty feelings of the mother and father.  Each performance in the series is deserved of an award.  Kudos to the writers, Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham (who also plays the father  – brilliantly!) .Adolescence is harrowing, tough stuff that has viewers thinking about many tough issues, i.e. social media, parenting, bullying, nature or nurture, toxic masculinity and incel culture (incel  =_ involuntary celibate, usually heterosexual males who are frustrated by their lack of sexual experience   and so blame, objectify and denigrate women). Adolescence is not a ‘whodunit’ crime, but probes the why of killing acts.   I’m sure I won’t see a better streaming series this year / this decade. Powerful- and and unmissable!

This posting includes a mixed-bag of ten titles including; middle-age readers, fiction YA fiction and nonfiction, a poetry anthology. It’s great to be able to dig into some very appealing book with a 2025 publication date, and I look forward to reading new releases as the months roll by, some that dig into such tough topics (e.g., grief, racism, missing Indigenous women, and gay love).

ALONE byMegan E. Freeman / verse novel / 2022

When an emergency announcement forces everyone in town to evacute, twelve-year old Maddie finds herself to be the only living resident. She has only herself )and a rottweiller companion) to rely on. How will Maddie survive from day to day? Will encounters with blizzards, looters, fires, flood, dogs over the years defeat her? How will she get through hunger, fear and loneliness? (“I do have to give myself pep talks. I do have to keep myself company.” p.253). Will she ever come to be rescued ?  Survival stories  of hope and resilience (Hatchet; Island of the Dolphins) have great appeal for many readers. Freeman’s free verse style enhances the pace, the tension and the introspection of this courageous young teenager. I look forward to reading Megan E Freeman’s recent release, Away, a companion to Alone.  

DEAR MANNY by Nic Stone (YA) / 2025

This novel is the final instalment in the remarkable trilogy of titles that ignites thought for young adolescent readers about racial discrimination.  Nic Stone’s first two Dear books have been widely banned across the US, since it deals with the loud cry that Black lives and Black history should be  eliminated e in public education.  In Dear Martin,  Justyce McAllister, an honour student, and loyal friend has left his rough neighourhood and is inspired to write a journal  letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  when he experiences police violence and racial injustice.  In Dear Justyce. an incarcerated teenager writes letters to his best friend  about his experiences in the juvenile justice system, an experience that deems to rob Black boys of their childhoods.  Now with Dear Manny, we are introduced to straight and white Jared Peter Christensen who is running for president of Junior Class Council  at his college  He is running on a  platform  focuses on increased inequity and inclusion on campus. His competition is John Preston LePlante IV who is compaigning against ‘representation matters’ claiming that DEI means ‘didn’t earn it’.   A third opponent, Dylan Marie Coleman, a sharp, scrupulous Black girl,  enters  the race  challenging Peter’s  privilege, values and loyalties, especially since he has developed a crush on his opponent. In this novel, Jared writes letters to his best friend trying to confront his beliefs and hidden secrets , just as readers of this novel will question democracy, the principals of the American constitution . The multimodal format (letters, text messages, transcripts and third-person narrative) are masterfully handled by an important  bestselling author. Nic Stone’s books are essential reads to dig into matters of race, class and justice. that are indeed challenging matters of contemporary society. 

FIND HER by Ginger Reno / 2024

Wren’s mother. a victim. of Missing Indigenous women  has been missing for a number of years. Wren is very close to her grandmother. Elisi,  who brings comfort and wisdom and lessons of  Indigenous ways to her granddaughter who has hopes of being reunited with  mother.  Wren’s father, a policeman, who is dutiful to the demands of his job, but also troubled by the disappearance of his wife.  Disturbing news of lost and cruel treatment of pets in the Oklahoma community, spurs Wren on to become detective and find out who s behind these tragic events.  Find Her is a mystery story.  The tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Movement (MMIWG) filters throughout the story  of through the quest of a  tenacious Cherokee middle school young teenager hoping to seek justice and answers to animal abuse. Bravo to author Ginger Reno for presenting readers with a sensitive, compelling novel about injustice and hope. 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY by Maria Marianayagam / 2025

What would you do if you won a million dollars? Who wouldn’t want to be the one to discover the million dollar prize-winning wrapper of a popular chocolate bar? Would you still claim the prize if you stole the chocolate bar? Ajay (pronounced Ah-jay) Anthonipillai is burdened with the choice of revealing his secret discovery. His modest family from Sri Lanka is struggling to make ends meet and sure could use the prize money. But Ah-jay is faced with the  dilemma of telling the truth knowing that the theft is against the Ajay’s ethical upbringing as well as the rules of mastering karate. Ajay’s Tamil parents, wanting the best for Ajay and his sister have have strict rules: Straight A’s only; There is no such thing as  no homework dy; never owe anyone anything. Now that he is in grade 8, Ajay is determined to once again be recognized as student-of-the-year like he was in grade 7. Only top marks will do. Marianayagam has told an compelling story about ethical choices, family values and the pressure of being a young teenager. Readers will likely be on Ajay’s side as he gets more and more caught in up in  web of lies. Readers will likely wonder… ‘will Ajay ever cash in the prize?’ Should he? Bravo to Maria Marianayagam for a terrific story  that will strike the chord of  many teenagers who are challenged to balance academics, bullying and family expectations. Bravo to Maria Marianayagam for a terrific debut novel portraying the dynamics of a contemporary  Tamil family. 

excerpt, p. 182

“I had all these reitauls because I wanted to my life to be perfect. Perfect student. Perfect son. Perfect everything. And what about my life is perfect anymore/ Nothing. I was a thief. And now I’d nearly killed someone.

RUN AWAY  WITH ME by Brian Selznick (YA) / 2025  

Yes, you can sometimes judge a book by its cover. The image on Run Away With Me depicts, in. dream-like image, two boys kissing and this illustration sits atop  fragment of the cityscape in Rome.  This  cover is a preview to this remarkable story about a growing love between two boys who experience the wonders and history of Roman art and history.  Flipping through the book, readers will encounter 95 pages of black and white pencil drawings that establish the setting and adventures that will unfold as the narrative proceeds. (another 20 or so black and white images appear at the conclusion of the book). That these stunning drawings are created by master illustrator Brian Selznick assures readers that they will be experiencing a powerful creation of words and pictures.. Selznick is known for his art for the novels by Andrew Clements (e.g., Frindle, Lunch Money; The School Story,). His marvel of book, exploding with fantasy realistic images is The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007),  the Caldecott winner .  Other titles that balance Sleznick’s brilliant art and verbal text style include Big Tree, The Marvels and Wonderstruck. 

When his mother is assigned to work in a museum dedicated to the preservation of books, sixteen year old Danny is spending the summer in Rome.  Walking the streets of the city, Danny hears a voice call out ot him which leads to an encounter with a beautiful boy named Angelo. The two teenagers end up spending time together and Angelo who seems to know much about the ancient city, its architecture and monuments and serves as a Danny’s (and the readers’s) tour guide to the wonders of the sights and secrets and stories of the city. A strong friendship develops. Moreover, Danny develops a strong attraction to Angelo and falls in love for the first time (“So  what could we do with the pain growing in our bodies that threatened to overwhelm us if we thought too much about it? (p. 207) Danny and Angelo make the most of their time together, even though Danny knows that his vacation days are limited and he will have to return home. Brian Selznick tells an exotic story of gay love filled with  adventure mystery, passion. His art work, as expected, is astonishing.  Bravo to you Mr. Selnick for your first venture into YA fiction.

Excerpt (p. 140)

“Did you ever notice that everyone things that their own ife is normal, but each persons’ life is so different?”

“I auppoaw.”

“So what is normal, really? I’d say nothing. Nothing is normal.”

THE SHAPE OF LOST  THINGS by Sarah Everett /2024

Canadian author, Sarah Everett, received high praise (and a Governor General Award) for her novel The Probabilty of Everything. The story presents an unusual and powerful approach to grief. It was on my 2023. list of favourites and I was very pleased to discover The Shape of Things, another original story by this gifted writer. The world changed for Skye Nickson when her father absconded her older brother Finn. There have been no answers to the mysterious disappearance of her brother who she hadn’t seen in four years. One day, Finn is found but his reappearance also holds mysteries. Sky is convinced that this quiet, secretive teenager is not the brother she fondly remembers joking with and having secrets with. Is it possible that this Not-Finn is someone else entirely? Skye is determined to find out the truth, with determined sleuthing and with the help of her old Polaroid camera. The Shape of Lost Things is another original compelling story from a mighty fine novelist. 

Excerpt, p. 254

“And I don’t know if this means anything except that sometimes another thing that can change is how peole look to us, depending on how close or far or wide or grainy or clear the picture we have of them is.”

WORDS WITH WINGS AND MAGIC THINGS by Matthew Burgess; illus. Doug Salati /Poetry / 2025

There are so few poetry anthologies for young people published each year and I’m drawn to new collections designed to delight and enhance the wonder of words. The title of this anthology had appeal. The book is organized into 7 sections, each with a title that begins with a word that begins with “W” (Welcome, Wonder, Wild, Where, Windows, WHOOPS & Whallops; Whispers and Well Wishes. A noteworthy feature of this publication is that each section is introduced with two full page spreads, first introduced by a die-cut page followed by a fantastically illustrated scene. Despite the division of sections, the tone of the book, however, seems constant (most any poem could appear in any section). The poet expands and explodes the familiar (e.g., the number zero; dancing, a stone, ducks, trees, puddles etc.) often exploding at times into absurdity which is the stuff of ‘magical, nonsensical,  poetry (e.g., ‘A Dragon Pinata;’; ‘Alligators on the A Train’ ; The Hungry Yeti’; ‘Ice-Cream’; ‘Primordial Slime’. The marvelous art work by Caldecott-winning illustrator (Hot Dog), Doug Salati is  adventurous and fanciful and are poems unto themselves (thought: it might be fun to have students create poems from the magical art work that appears throughout. I read the the poems in Words with Wings and Magic Things in chronological order and I have a hunch that young readers will delight in some of Matthew Burgess’s pieces, but will be puzzled by the narrative and message of a number of poems. Praise goes to any book that enhances the wonder of words. This is a worthy new collection for reading aloud with a group of youngsters in classrooms or side by side with an adult. 

Excerpts

> from opening page: ‘Whispers and Well Wishers’

Summon up your deepest wish and toss it in the well –

The truest source within your heart where all the magic dwells.

> from ‘Me in this Tree’

“All I want to do today

is to myself in a different way” 

> The Tomato

Plump in the palm, ripe to the brim, topped with a cap/ as if ready to spin, glowing as if with/ some sunset within, /I had to say ‘thank you’ / before I bit in.

> from ‘The Tiger in My Belly’

There’s a tiger in your belly

You’re the one he’s rooting for

If you ever need some strength,

Close your eyes and hear him ROAR. 

FYI

The following two novels are parallel in their telling of two girls who deal with the death of their best friends and the challenging  journey of living with sorrow, moving on, but never forgetting the love s0meone who has passed. 

ALL THE BLUES IN THE SKY by Renee Watson (free verse) / 2025

Thirteen year old Sage is mourning the loss of her best friend who was killed by a drunk driver on the morning she was on her way to Sage’s birthday. This novel, presented in free verse deeply reveals Sages’ grief, especially by attending Grief Group counselling sessions where others share their stories of deal with those in their life who have passed. As the novel unfolds we learn about Sage’s dream of becoming a pilot, her first kiss experience and her encounters with friends and family who help to heal Sage on her journey.  “I hope this book reminds every reader in the midst of sadness and grief, there can be joy and goodness.” (from Author’s Note. page 182)

Excerpt 179

… it’s okay to cry,

it’s okay to be angry,

it’s okay to love.

… its’ okay to feel all. 

TELEPHONE OF THE TREE by Alison McGhee

Ayla and Kiri were faithful friends with a special devotion  for each other. Their bond is reinforced by their admiration of trees – They each want to be a tree when they grow up)   The two  a special connection throughout their childhood, until one day Kiri was killed in an accident. Ayla is struggling to accept Kiri’s death and is convinced that they will return to celebrate their eleventh birthday. One day, Ayla discovers a mysterious telephone that appears in the limbs of a tree.  The telephone serves as a vehicle for people in the community to ‘call[ their loved ones’ who have passed on.  This poetic narrative is presented in passages that are each one page.  Telephone of the Tree presents readers with an emotional account of death, loss and remembrance and the importance of moving on despite the grief that may smother us

The premise of this story was inspired by the story of the wind phone in Ostsuchi ,Japan created by artist Itaru Sasaki who built the phone booth so he could speak to his cousin who had passed in the  Earthquake Tsunami disaster in 2011. Villagers were drawn to the disconnected rotary phone to connect with people they had lost in their lives. Special Note: The picture book The Phone Booth in Mr Hirota’s Garden by Canadian author, Heather Smith; illus. Rachel Wanda.

 SHOUT OUT!

EVERYTHING I LEARNED ABOUT RACISM I LEARNED IN SCHOOL (YA / Nonfiction)

These days I’m a bit more careful about the picture books I choose to buy. I tend to favour books that deal with DEI and yes, address tough topics, as the following list of recent 2024, 2025 releases reveals: 

ADRIAN SIMCOX DOES NOT HAVE A HORSE by Marcy Campbell; illus. Corinna Luyken / 2018 / bullying, poverty, kindness

Adrian Simcox claims he owns the most beautiful horse and he is pleased to tell this to anyone who will listen. Chloe, however, refuses to believee him: How could he keep a horse, feed a horse when he only is able to wear shoes that have holes in them. Chloe complains and complains but comes to learn an important lesson when her mom escorts her to Adrian’s home.  I was aware of this special picture book but recently decided to purchase it after reading about it in Regie Routman’s book The Heart-Centred Teacher  stating that it’s a poignant book about bullying, poverty, judging others without knowing  their ‘back story’ and – ultimately – the power of kindness and a vivid imagination to set things right.”….”This one is a gem for reading aloud and having up follow-up conversationis – for learners of all ages.” (p. 88) I absolutely agree.  Thank you-Regie. This one is a gem. 

BLUE IS THE ONLY COLOR IN THE RAINBOW by Deanna Hart; illus. Chrish Vindhy / 2013 / diversity

Jasmine is a young girl is so devoted to the color blue (clothes, toys, food) and so when she gets a furry monkey, Mango,  as a gift, she is reluctant to play with him because he is red. Mango takes Jasmine to place called Prisma where ‘the sky swirled with everything was colorful bright and happy and Jasmine comes to accept that blue is not the only color in the rainbow. This picture book presents appealing story by the author of A Firefly Named Felix. 

THE COLOR MONSTER GOES TO SCHOOL by Anna Llenas / 2018 / kindness

With this purchase, I now have the set of Color Monster books that are the perfect resources for helping young children understand emotions. (The Color Monster: A Story about Emotions; The Color MOnster: A Pop-up Book of Emotions; Dr. Color Monster An emotional toolkit). In this title, Color Monster has anxiour feelings about the first day of school, but new friends and new school adventures help him through the day.  I’m very fond of these lively books, not only for their capacity for helping children connect to the different feelings they may experience from day to day but for the exuberant, child-like – and colorful – artwork that were executed in a variety of media including crayons, watercolor pencils  acrylics and collage. 

EVERYONE STARTS SMALL by Liz Garton Scanlon; illus. Dominique Ramsay  / 2024 /  nature and the environment

Small or big, high or low, soil, wind and water, everything in the natural world is connected. The water from a creek and a river quenches the thirst of the tree. The sun’s rays help to give the world fruit and. Insects of the forest work in harmony. This is a very special picture book that pays tribute to the resilience of the planet with vivid word images and vibrant lively illustrations. Liz Garton Scanlon and Domique Ramsay have created a rich,poetic, nonfiction document to help young readers learn about and ponder Earth’s ecosystems  and  recovery as the world experiences the effect or climate change.  

Excerpt

“Water grows too, tumbling end over end, picking up speed along the way. It’s not a race, says Tree, but Water keeps rushing toward the sea and Tree keeps stretching toward the sky.”

GIRL TAKES DRASTIC STEP How Molly Lamb Bobak Became Canada’s First Official Woman War Artist by Jillian Dobson; illus. Genevieve Simms /2024 / gender; Canadian history

The opening sentence reads: “Molly always knew she was artist.” Author, Jillian Dobson tells the story of Molly Lamb, who more than anything dreamt of capturing the events of World War II but found herself overcome with obstacles. Molly’s ‘drastic step’ was joining the Canadian Women’s Army Corps but soon discovers misogynistic attitudes when her commanders claimed that the front lines were no place for woman. Her tenacity eventually led Molly to realize her dream and become the first official woman war artist working overseas. Jillian Dobson and Genevieve Simms were inspired to tell this story by inspecting the artist’s headlines (e.g., ‘If Only… Maybe.. Perhaps..,;’ Lamb’s Fate Revealed  stories and illustrations that filled her 226-page newspaper style journal. This special biographical picture book brings to life wartime experiences of women who supported the war effort. Girl Takes A Drastic Step is a celebration of feminism, perseverence and artistry. 

GRAY by Laura Dockrill; illus. Lauren Child / 2024 / emotions; kindness

Gray is a gloomy colour. It’s a colour that conveys a sombre mood and a feeling of sadness. It is a colour that, yes we all feel at some time. Scribbles on a page, puddles in the road, tea gone cold, are times when we  ‘don’t feel like me’. This is a book that many readers will connect to, reveal how they are feeling   and to let them know that they are not alone. With simple text and evocative full-page illustrations, featuring die-cut pages, this picture book helps children to identify with their feelings of being unhappy, while at the same time offering assurance and comfort to readers to let them know that they are ‘big red hugs’ and ‘blue lullabies ‘ awaiting them.  This is a  brilliant, stellar picture book that needs to be shared (and discussed). (Note: Gray is a worthy companion to the Dr. Color Monster books by Anna Llenas).

Excerpt

“I love you however you are feeling… and my love won’t change, even when you are gray.“

The following two picture books are by author Matt De La Pena and illustrator Loren Long, each a champion in their contributions to  the world of picture books.. Each title is celebration of universal human experiences providing readers through lyrical text and poignant illustrations a vehicle to reflect on and appreciate the value of having LOVE and HOME.

HOME by Matt de la Pena; illus. Loren Long / kindness / 2025

Home is a tired lullaby. Through the back window of an old truck you watch the only home you’ve ever known. Home is not a house you leave behind but the people who walk beside you. Home is not the walls we build up around our orderly little lives but the wild wild world outside.  Home is surviving hurricanes and floods and hard times when forced to move on. A wish made on the first star you see is home. Home is the thump, thump, thump of your own human hears as you stadnd in a forest of redwoods. 

“It’s the thump, thump, thump / of the earth’s sentimental song inviting you into the harmony of things.”

LOVE by Matt de la Pena; illus. Loren Long/ kindness / 2018

The sound of parent voices over a newborn’s crib is love. Love is running through sprinklers in a concrete park. Love is comforting a child when they have a nightmare. Love is lying on a field of flowers. Love is made-up stories, listening to a busker outside a subway station, staring at your face in the bathroom. Love is treasured friendships. Love is universal. Love gives us comfort in troubled times. . Love gives us connection.

“Stars sjome ;pmg after they’ve flamed out.. and the shine they shine with is love.”

THAT DAY by Pierre-Emmanuel Lyet / 2024 / death, loss and remembrance

Translated from the French, this warm picture book celebrates one boy’s cherished memories about a grandpmother who recently passed away. A simple story about death, loss and remembrance, filled with lovel The brightly coloured artwork fill the pages – and the heart.

“I don’t remember the last time I saw you / but I know what it felt like to hold your hand.”

SHOUT OUT !!!!

THE LITTLEST DROP by Sascha Alper; illus. Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkneym/ 2025

The forest is on far, and the animal habitants just choose to flee to safety. But not the hummingbird who flew to the river, filled her tiny beak with just the littlest drop of water which  she deposit over the ferocious fire. Back and forth, Hummingbird flew letting the water fall drop by drop by drop.

“Hummingbird, wht are you doing?” elephant asked. “You are just a small bird.”

“I am doing what I can.”

Jerry Pinkney (1939 – 2021) illustrated more than 100 children’s books, many with Black characters. Much of his work bring to life traditional tales and fables. He was honoured with many awards including the Caldecott prize  for John Henry (2000);  Noah’s Ark (2003) and for the book The Lion and The Mouse (2010) . The Littlest Drop is worthy of a big shout out, not only for its important message thag we all have the power to chance the world, but the book was the final work that renowned artist Jerry Pinkney was working on before his death.  Brian Pinkney, worked on  his father’s blak and white sketch by adding colour and some embellishments to his father’s draft work.  The  art work is a WOW… (another Caldecott, perhaps (I say, ‘yes’).  

This is a must-share story to help young people think about doing being an participants in their world. 

NOTE: This parable originated by the Indigenous Quetchua people of South America. Sascha Alper’s version was inspired by a telling from Wangari Maathai, the first African woman and first environmentalist to win the Noble Peace Price. Noteworthy too is a version by Haidan author / illlustrator  Michael Nichol Yahgulanass who created the inspiring picture book The Little Hummingbird (2010)

Great to have some great reads to start the new year.  Most of these titles were published in 2024. Three wonderful titles are  verse novels / two wonderful novels  are told from a dog’s point of view / one title is a wonderful poetry anthology. Each of these ten books deserve at least a four (out of four) star rating from Dr. Larry.

4 titles are by British authors.

3 titles are by U.S. authors.

3 titles are by Canadian authors.

A DUET FOR HOME by Karina Yan Glaser (2022) 

The author has given readers vivid insights into what it means to live in a homeless shelter. The story is centred on 11 year old Chinese girl named June, her young sister Maybelle (who loves dogs), her mother (who mostly stays in bed mourning the loss of her husband. We also learn about Tyrell who has lived in the South Bronx shelter for over 1300 days.  June has a special talent for playing the viola (vee-ola) and is determined to practice, practice, practice, despite the rule of having no instruments in the shelter. Tyrell is hopeful that he can learn to play the violin. Music gives these two characters reasons to dream and hope. When a new government policy threatens the residents of Huey House, life for June and Tyrell lead them to take action. The novel is presented in alternating voices of June and Tyrell. A Duet for Home is a special story that examines the circumstances, the trials, and the politics of those who are homeless. It is a story of resilience and optimism. 

THE KODIAKS: Home Ice Advantage by David A. Robertson

To start, let me say that I am not a hockey fan. Let me also begin by saying that David A. Robertson knows hockey. The play-by-play description of each of the character’s games is filled with the action, thrills and tensions of the mighty travelling puck. Alex Robinson’s family has moved from their reserve community to Winnipeg. Like any kid on the move, Alex is trying to find a place of belonging and his passion and talent lead him to find purpose when he joins the local hockey team, The Kodiaks.   Alex proves himself to be one of the best players, but he also becomes a target because he’s Indigenous. Intentional or not, slurs about his Indigeneity are hurled at Alex and he is challenged with the choice to stand up to the racist jerks or continue to support the team he loves. The discussion of Anti-Indigenous Racism is a notable feature of this exciting story. I’m assured that young hockey lovers would love this book. The Kodiaks (Book One of the Breakout Chronicles) is a marvelous story about being a member of a sports team and I’m assured that any kid who’s participated in a team sport would understand and identify with the joys and frustrations of competition. This is another very special book by a very special author. 

Excerpt (p. 180)

“There was going to be somebody at some point, who would say something ignorant. Alex knew that. But he knew, now, that when it did happen, it would be their problem, not his.”

ONE BIG OPEN SKY by Lesa Cline-Ransome / Verse Novel

One Big Open Sky is a remarkable, poignant piece of historical fiction describing the perilous wagon journey in 1879 of the Black Homesteaders movement heading west.  The narrative is beautifully revealed in three first-person voices (women) written in exquisite free verse style. Young Lettie is the central character recounting the dangers her family experienced as they trudged forward on a covered wagon from Mississippi to Nebraska. This is a story of opportunity  and dreams that emancipated black families, like Lettie’s  pursue in order to claim the independence they’ve strived for over generations hoping to own their own plot of land.  Readers accompany Lettie, her mother and father and two brothers in their long brave journey experiencing such hardships as hunger, storms, crossing rivers, community and loss. Alongside Lettie’s entries, we get inside the families trials and tribulations through the voice of her mother, Sylvia and a young teacher named Philomena. That the novel digs into the restrictions – and fierce -determination of strong women, adds a special dimension to this story. This novel was awarded a 2025 Newbery Honor book distinguished. I agree that Cline-Ransome’s book is deserved of praise and honours. It is a mighty portrait of survival, emancipation and freedom of what is an underrepresented historical era.

OUT OF THIS WORLD  by Michael Rosen / Poetry

This is a grand, brand new collection of poems by beloved British author and former Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen. The twelve narrative free verse poems (with some splashes of rhyme) inspire thoughtful reflection, particularly when they are drawn from memories of our families. (e.g., The Schoch; Letters; Family Secret). Some poems display Rosen’s creative imagination (e.g. March 30, AD 3528; Time Travel; Red Blood Cell. The final poem, Riddles’, is a brilliant wrap-up of all the pieces we’ve encountered in the book. The black and white drawings by Ed Vere compliment the text. If I were to write a poetry book, I’d love to have Mr. Vere as my illustrator.  This collection is subtitled: “Poems to make you laugh, smile  and think”. Indeed they are! The title of this anthology is a perfect  review of Michael Rosen’s talent.  I look forward to reading Out of This World again. 

POPCORN by Rob Harrell

“Dedicated affectionately to the anxious, the worried, the stressed, and the generally freaked out.”

Andrew Yaeger is having a terrible horrible no good very bad day. The action of this story takes place in the school day in the life of Andrw who suffers from OCD, anxiety and panic attacks. It’s picture day and this grade seven student has prepared himself to look good for the photo, but is not prepared for all the mishaps that come is way (a flying ketchup bottle, an exploding test tube, an abusive bully and a grandmother who has gone missing.  The kernels of corn in Rob’s stomach are getting hotter and hotter until they threaten to pop and create a nightmare for Andrew as the mishaps of the day build and build.  Most of the action takes place over the course of  a single school day, but that narrativer is interrupted with 1) stories of Andrew’s relationship with his grandmother (G) who has Alzheimer’s and now has taken over  Andrews bedroom room and 2) Andrew’s visits to a therapist who helps him deal with his problems. Rob Harrell (Wink) unpacks how a young person deals with mental challenges and remarkably he does so with funny funny stuff. The spot illustrations nd graphic “Anxiety File” graphic panels provide comic relief to Andrew’s woes. Harrell knows what Andrew Yaeger is going through, because he himself was 100 percent a “Kid with Anxiety”.  This is a terrific  terrific read with an A+ recommendation from Dr. Larry.

REASONS TO LOOK AT THE SKY by Danielle Daniel  / Verse novel

I am a fan of Danielle Daniel’s picture books (Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox, Sometimes I Feel Like a River, I’m Afraid, said the Leaf) and was pleased to enjoy her recent publication for Middle Years readers, a novel told in free verse Eleven-year-old Luna is passionate about  all things to do with Space. She dreams of becoming an astronaut and hopes to secure a spot at NASA’s space camp for young people. She is especially excited when the science curriculum presents a unit on Space and she is excited about immersing herself into a project that promotes her interests and talents.  Disppointment enters Luna’s life when her beloved classroom teacher, is replaced with a substitute teacher, Ms Manitowabi ,who is keen on weaving art into the science program. Changes in her family life and her friendships add to Luna’s woes. Facts about the Solar System, haiku poetry, and learning about Indigenous sky stories are appealing features of Daniel Danielle’s star-filled art-filled novel. 

SUPER SLEUTH by David Walliams

Oh, Mr. Walliams you’ve done it again!!. Quirky characters (e.g., Aunt Gladys who hates children; The Black Widow, elderly Norwegian lady;  Shariff, Egypt’s superstar sleuth; Frau Frohlich,  a German Detective madcap adventures, a body found in a giant blancmange dessert; the afrozen body of a chef (wearing only his undercrackers) trapped found in an iceberg; a nun c coming to the rescue in her  bike-o-plane contraption;  o and a dynamite plot (i.e., murders aboard a transAtlantic cruise liner). The heroine of our story, is Dilly, who loves cracking cases along with her faithful companion dog named Watson who has been well-trained to sniff out clues.  Super Sleuth is yet another page turner from masterful, comical storyteller, David Walliams. In fact, the pages seem to turn themselves as readers join Dilly and Watson aboard the Masquerade Ocean Liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Adam Stower’s masterful, comical illustrations add to the fun of reading this novel, particularly with his abelled diagrams of people (e.g., Morosov, the brooding Russian novelist; Sister Ruth, the world’s greatest nun detective), places (e.g., the Masquerade ocean-liner, a submarine), and things e.g, Perfect Place Setting; a whisk murder weapon. Super Sleuth is a super book. Funny, whacky  stuff. No wonder Mr. Walliams books have been sold by the millions! And millions!

UNSINKABLE CAYENNE by Jessica Vitalis  / Verse novel

Knowing that I enjoy reading verse novels, a friend recommended Unsinkable Cayenne to me. I’m glad she did since this is a story that not only unpacks the complexity of trying to fit in in middle-school, but addresses issues of poverty and classism. The story is set in 1985 in a fictional town in Montana. Cayenne’s family has moved around a lot in their sticker-covered van and because of her sage-burning, free-spirited mother and moody father (suffering from PTSD), Cayenne feels that her life is weird. With the hopes of settling down and finding a job, Cayenne’s father settles the family into a new home. For this seventh-grader it also means that she is challenged of finding a way to fit in with the popular girls, class projects, attending parties and games. and finding a way to hide that her family is living in poverty and can’t pay the rent on their new home. Drawb frin her own family’s transient childhood experiences, Jessica Vitalis a very fine job of revealing the woes that many young adolescents face. Throughout the novel, references are given to birds who serve as symbols for Cayenne’s experiences. The history and fate of the Titanic disaster also plays an important part in helping Cayenne come to terms with what life has dealt her.  Thank you for recommending this book, my friend. Unsinkable Cayenne is a special title to add to my Verse novel collection 

Excerpt (p. 69)

“In middle school/ there are two choices/fit in/ or stand out. Trust me, you do bnot, want to stand out./ At least not/ for the wrong reasons.” 

>>>>>>>>   <<<<<<<<<

SHOUT OUT (Five stasrs *****)

Novels with dog characters have great appeal for middle year readers. Such titles as Where the Red Fern Grows (Wilson Rawls), Sounder (William H. Armstrong), Shiloh (Phyllis Reynolds Naylor), Stone Fox (John Reynold Gardiner) and Because of Winn-Dixie (Kate Di Camillo)  can be considered treasured reads for many young people. While visiting London in January I purchased two new novels each story told from the point of views of a devoted dog, each caught up in the perils of war time.  Both books were absolutely terrific!

COBWEB by Michael Morpurgo

Although he has written many books over many decades, I first became enamoured with beloved award-winning Michael Morpurgo’s masterful storytelling after reading his celebrated title War Horse. I have since collected a bookshelf of Morpurgo titles and was thrilled to dig into his most recent publication, Cobweb, another story about a brave, loyal dog, set in wartime. The setting is Britain 1815 and  the war with Napoleon is threatening the nation. Cobweb lives a contented life on a country farm with Bethan and her father until he is taken away to become a Drover’s dog, herding sheep and cattle for hundreds of miles. Cobweb becomes intwined  with the Battle of Waterloo, where he eventually meets up with a heroic soldier who has a might y story to tell. This novel is a heartwarming, adventure story of Loyalty with a capital ‘L’ and Bravery with a capital ‘B’. Cobweb is another incredible story  told from the point of view of an animal by an incredible author. I was also comforted by the fact that Michael Foreman illustrated this book. What a team, Morpurgo and Foreman are!  Mr. Morpurgo, you are a treasure. 

I AM REBEL by Ross Montgomery

Rebel enjoys. as simple life on the farm and is fiercely loyal to how owner, Tom. When war approaches, Tom is determined to join the rebellion to defeat the Kings’ men and chooses to leave behind life on his farm, as well as his faithful dog. Even though Rebel knows that war is dangerous, he will stop at nothing to save the human he loves: “I am here, and that I’ll always be here, because I’m his dog and he’s my boy and I love him.”  This is a ‘dog story’ extraordinaire and was the winner of  Waterstone’s children’s book of the year, 2024. That recognition caught my eye and I was rewarded with a heartfelt adventure story. I wish I had a junior class to read this novel aloud to. I hope North American readers meet this wonderful wonderful British title. I Am Rebel  is a thrilling adventure story, of Loyalty with a capital ‘L’ and Bravery with a capital ‘B’ guaranteed to pull the heart strings. A winner indeed. 

Excerpt (p. 230)

“He never even asked me to follow him. He told me not to, Jaxon.”

“Then why are you doing it?”

“Because… “I fumble for words. Because that’s what love is. It pins you to things. It makes you do things that aren’t right or clever or sensible, because you’re not doing them fro you. And that’s exactly what makes them important. Because if you haven’t got something outside of yourself to love, then you might as well be nothing.” 

>>>>>>> <<<<<<<

FYI

The NEWBERY Awards for distinguished contribution to American literature for children were announced on January 27th.

Newbery Medal: THE FIRST STATE OF BEING by Erin Entrada Kelly

Newbery Honors

ACROSS SO MANY SEAS by Ruth Behar

MAGNOLIA UNFOLDS IT ALL by Chanel Miller

THE WRONG WAY HOME by Kate O’Shaugnessy

ONE BIG OPEN SKY by Lesa Cline-Ransome

*LARRY’S CHOICES

AND THEN, BOOM by LIsa Fipps

KAREEM BETWEEN by Shifa Saltagi Safadi

TREE TABLE BOOK by Lois Lowry

Over the holidays, I’ve tried to reduce my piles of books that stare at me. I’m getting there. Many titles foster understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion. This posting offers ten titles, each corresponding to a chapter in my book Teaching Tough Topics: How to use children’s literature to build a deeper understanding of social justice, diversity and equity.

EVERYTHING WE NEVER HAD by Randy Ribay / chapter 1: Race and Diverse Cultures + chapter 1: The Immigrant Experience (ages 12+)

This novel is framed by the lives of four characters over four generations. First m in 1930, we meet Francisco who has left the Philippines and struggles to eke out a living picking apples in California. In 1965, we are introduced to Francisco’s son, Emil. who refuses to be a like his labor organizer father and is determined to ‘make it’ in America. Emil gives birth to Chris. who in 1983, feels smothered by his overbearing father, and eventually his hungry to learn more about his Filipino history. In 2020, the world experiences the global pandemic and Enzo, his father and abrasive grandfather struggle to get along.  The author takes readers back and forth in the lives of the characters. Randy Ribay is a gifted writer. He not only tells a compelling story,and present historical fact with clarity but he digs deep into the thoughts and feelings of his characters. Everything We Never Had is a poignant intergenerational story and a special account of Filipino immigrants striving to make a success as they pursue the American dream.  Hooray to Randy Ribay for presenting Filipino characters with authenticity. Hooray for the Maghabol family who persevered and stood up for all they believed in.  Hooray to all  immigrants, like Francesco, Emil, Chiris and Enzo who strive to succeed and are filled with hope.

Excerpt (p. 250)

…”when it comes to repairing relationships, you can keep the door open, but you can’t make the other person walk through it.”

ACE AND THE MISFITS by Eddie Kowooya / chapter  2:  The Immigrant and Refugee Experience

“Ace” Katumba arrives in Canada from Uganda and he is quick to settle into an unfamiliar culture of his new home. School life presents some particular challenges as Ace strives to maintain high grades and find a place a belonging with other Grade 8 students. Like many new immigrants, Ace feels alone and lacks self-worth, but the author presents a heartwarming journey of overcoming fears, gaining confidence and pursuing dreams. This is a beautiful debut novel by written by a Canadian Immigrant from Uganda. An African proverb introduces each chapter:”Kind words do not wear out the tongue”; “However far a stream flows, it never forgets its source.” “The firewood we gather in our youths is what we will warm ourselves with in old age.”

THE KODIAKS: Home Ice Advantage by David A. Robertson / chapter 3: Indigenous identities

To start, let me say that I am not a hockey fan. Let me also begin by saying that David A. Robertson knows hockey. The play-by-play description of each of the character’s games is filled with the action, thrills and tension of the mighty travelling puck.  Alex Robinson’s family has moved from their reserve community to Winnipeg. Like any kid on the move, Alex is trying to find a place of belonging and his passion and talent lead him to find purpose when he joins the local hockey team, The Kodiaks.   Alex proves himself to be one of the best players, but he also becomes a target because he’s Indigenous. Intentional or not, slurs about his Indigeneity are hurled at Alex and he is challenged with the choice to stand up to the racist jerks or continue to support the team he loves. The discussion – and lessons – of Anti-Indigenous Racism is a notable feature of this exciting story. I’m assured that young hockey lovers would love this book. The Kodiaks (Book One of the Breakout Chronicles) is a marvelous story about being a member of a sports team and I’m assured that any kid who’s participated in a team sport would understand and identify with the joys and frustrations of competition. This is another very special book by a very special author. 

Excerpt (p. 180)

“There was going to be somebody at some point, who would say something ignorant. Alex knew that. But he knew, now, that when it did happen, it would be their problem, not his.”

WHEN WE FLEW AWAY: A novel of Anne Frank before the Diary by Alice Hoffman / chapter 4: The Holocaust

Alice Hoffman has written over 30 books including some YA titles (Aquamarine, Nightbird, IncantationA). This recent publication is an astonishing attempt to tell the story of Anne Frank and her family’s experience of surviving the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. When We Flew Away can be considered a prequel of sorts to the iconic Diary of a Young Girl, which Anne wrote while she and The Frank family  were in hiding during World War II. The published journal became one of the most central texts of Jewish experience during the Holocaust.  Writing this novel was certainly an ambitious project for Alice Hoffman but she has risen to the occasion by doing extensive research to tell the heart-wrenching story of the girl millions of readers have come to know and respect. Like Alice Hoffman who first read the diary when she was twelve years old, readers have come to recognize that the venerated book changed the way we looked at the world. Hoffman paints a vivid portrait of a creative, fearless girl becoming a teenager, “the girl who was always questioning, who had so much to say, the one who wished she could fly away and see the world.” (p. 31).

Fictionalized accounts of Anne’s relationships with her parents, older sister, grandmother, friends and boyfriend provide readers with step into the heart and mind of an audacious young lady as well as a historical account of Jews were caught up in the inescapable violence of Nazi power.  I wholeheartedly recommend reading this book that serves as an extended foreshadowed account of what we know will happen to Anne and her family. You will likely want to re-read the notorious diary again. I do. The book is published under the cooperation with the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

Excerpt (p 61)

What happened in Germany had begun as a tiny see of hatred, the smallest blister, a few evil men. How could Oma tell her beloved granddaughter waht could happen when that seed bloomed? How could she reveal to her sweet child that evil was everywhere, in the hearts of your neighbors, and the postman and your friends next door? Hatred was contagious, it spread from one household to the next, a slow infection of the spirit of the soul. 

POPCORN by Rob Harrell /chapter 5: Mental Challenges

“Dedicated affectionately to the anxious, the worried, the stressed, and the generally freaked out. “

Andrew Yaeger is having a terrible horrible no good very bad day. The action of this story takes place in the school day in the life of Andrw who suffers from OCD, anxiety and panic attacks. It’s picture day and this grade seven student has prepared himself to look good for the photo, but is not prepared for all the mishaps that come is way (a flying ketchup bottle, an exploding test tube, an abusive bully and a grandmother who has gone missing.  The kernels of corn in Rob’s stomach are getting hotter and hotter until they threaten to pop and create a nightmare for Andrew as the mishaps of the day build and build.  Most of the action takes place over the course of  a single school day, but that narrative is interrupted with 1) stories of Andrew’s relationship with his grandmother (G) who has Alzheimer’s and now has taken over  Andrews bedroom room and 2) Andrew’s visits to a therapist who helps him deal with his problems. Rob Harrell (Wink) unpacks how a young person deals with mental challenges and remarkably he does so with funny funny stuff. The spot illustrations nd graphic “Anxiety File” graphic panels provide comic relief to Andrew’s woes. Harrell knows what Andrew Yaeger is going through, because he himself was 100 percent a “Kid with Anxiety”.  This is a terrific  terrific read with an A+ recommendation from Dr. Larry.

UNSINKABLE CAYENNE by Jessica Vitalis (Verse novel) / chapter 6: Poverty

Knowing that I enjoy reading verse novels, a friend recommended Unsinkable Cayenne to me. I’m glad she did since this is a story that not only unpacks the complexity of trying to fit in in middle-school, but addresses issues of poverty and classism. The story is set in 1985 in a fictional town in Montana. Cayenne’s family has moved around a lot in their sticker-covered van and because of her sage-burning, free-spirited mother and moody father (suffering from PTSD), Cayenne feels that her life is weird. With the hopes of settling down and finding a job, Cayenne’s father settles the family into a new home. For this seventh-grader it also means that she is challenged of finding a way to fit in with the popular girls, class projects, attending parties and games. and finding a way to hide that her family is living in poverty and can’t pay the rent on their new home. Drawb frin her own family’s transient childhood experiences, Jessica Vitalis a very fine job of revealing the woes that many young adolescents face. Throughout the novel, references are given to birds who serve as symbols for Cayenne’s experiences. The history and fate of the Titanic disaster also plays an important part in helping Cayenne come to terms with what life has dealt her.  Thank you for recommending this book, my friend. Unsinkable Cayenne is a special title to add to my Verse novel collection 

Excerpt (p. 69)

“In middle school/ there are two choices/fit in/ or stand out. Trust me, you do bnot, want to stand out./ At least not/ for the wrong reasons.

WILDFUL by Kengo Kurimoto (graphic novel) / chapter 7: Death Loss and Remembrance

Poppy  is sad about the passing of her Gran. Her mother is grieving and is reluctant to leave her home. One time, when Poppy takes her dog for a walk around the neighbourhood she discovers an old fence and slides through to enter the world of a forgotten forest. A new friend escorts her through the wilderness and helps Poppy discover the wonderw of the wilderness. After encounter the marvels of birds, flowers,  badgers and stars , Poppy is determined to help her mother experience the healing powers of nature. Wildful is a mostly non-verbal graphic story, revealed in monochromatic panels.  The brilliant style of Kengo Kurimoto lures readers to pay attention to the magical mindful world of the wildful. This book s a remarkable achievement of visual storytelling and was selected as one of the New York Times top ten reads of 2024.

ONLY THIS BEAUTIFUL MOMENT by Abdi Nazemian : chapter 8: Gender and Homophobia + Chapter 1: Race and Diverse Cultures (YA)

“… my favourite day was today, because it holds every preceding day within it.” (author’s note, p. 388)

Only This Beautiful Moment is an engrossing intergenerational story, describing the lives of three Iranian men, each experiencing prejudice and hate in their lives at different time periods. in 2019, Moud is a gay teen living in Los Angeles is, madly in love with another boy but when he accompany’s his father to Thehran because of his grandfather’s impending death, he  comes to learn more about family secrets as well as his culture. In 1978, We meet Saaed, an engineering student who is forced to leave Teharan when he becomes involved in America revolutionary protests. Saaed is sent to live with his grandmother, a person he never new existed in America, In 1939, we enter into Bobby’s life, a child celebrity under the thumb of his mother. Bobby’s Hollywood experiences take him into the gay world of  This  nightclubs . Nazemian brilliantly weaves past and present together interconnecting the lives of grandson, parent and grandparent. Moreover, the novel exposes hidden secrets of family, of gay sexual awakening and cultural history. The author not only unpacks he  Iranian queer experience but tells. a universal rich story about making choices, about activism, self-discovery, forgiveness and love. The author tells us that this novel is a story of  ‘ resilience of the human spirit’ and an ‘ode to the bonds of family.. (page 389).  Only This Beautiful Moment is the winner of the LGBTQIA Stonewall Ad (2024), Lambda Literary Award (2024) as well as the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award (2024).

Excerpt (p. 295)

“History is a quilt. You pull one thread and everything changes. I’m here. Your father is here. You’re here. We cant’ change that. But we can be honest with each other.” 

HOW DO YOU LIVE? by Genzaburo Yoshino / chapter 9: Bullying+ chapter 10: Ripples of Kindness

The fact that this book has sold millions of copies in Japan that it was first published in 1937 (translated into English in 2021) and that it is a rich reading experience for young adolescents as well as adults make this an intriguing title. For purposes of this posting I was contemplating placing it in Race and Cultures because of the Japanese, or in Ripples of Kindness since it deals with moral, ethical issues and digs deep into the realm of belonging.  But How Do You Live? has some powerful narratives about the bullying and how to reflect on the world of the bully, the bullied and the bystanders

As we go through the journey life, most of us wonder: “What’s it all about, Alfie?” Some questions that frame this book: How do we live our lives as caring citizens of the world, How do we  pursue our dreams? How do we build  trusting  family and friend relationships? What does the class structure we are born into influence our views of the world? As young people move into adolescenthood they come to think about their identities, the ‘invisible knapsacks’ they carry. and their place in the world today and tomorrow?  Following the death of his father, a fifteen year old teenager named Copper encounters changes particularly in his education, his friendships, and in his insights into history (Napolean’s conquests), and science (Copernicus)  talent (making tofu, playing sports).  In a number of chapters we are told stories of Copper’s every day life but these chapters are  framed  with chapters that appear as journal entries from Copper’s uncle who shares advice wisdom, and raises questions for that help Copper consider what matters most. In a translator’s note we are told that Yoshino wanted to write an ethics textbook but turned to the novel format that containing lessons and messages about thinking for oneself. That the book was written in 1937, speaks to the universal quest to of being living a life “like a true human being.” In particular, I was knocked out by the strong lesson  to be learned about the question os standing up for others when encountering bullies and determining ‘What should you do: ‘What would you do?’.  Genzburo Yoshino has indeed accomplishd his  goal  to have his character reflect on the question “How Do you Live?” and as readers, young and old connect to Copper’s story, they too will wonder .  ‘How Do You Live?’ and “How will you live?”  

As I write about this book I recognize what a philosophical marvel this is. Everyojne needs an uncle to help us sort out confusions and guide is into a path of well-being, belonging and kindness. With this book, Yoshino serves as an uncle to us all. How lucky we are to have this translation. I also look forward to seeing the film version by renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away; My Neighbor Totoro) 

Excerpt; (p, 275) (Reminder… this book was written in 1937)

“I think there has to come a time when everyone in the world treats each other as if they were good friends. Since humanity has come so far, I think now we will definitely be able to make it to such a place. So I think I want to become a person who can help that happen.”

CARTER AVERY’S TRICKY FOURTH GRADE YEAR by Rob Buyea / chapter 10: Ripples of Kindness

Avery Carter can’t sit still and often has outbursts saying whatever is on his mind. He has a reputation for being ‘difficult’.  No teacher has ever liked Carter. He enters grade four wary of his new teacher, Ms Oliva (Owl-ivia)_Krane but he needn’t have worried. Ms. Krane knows how to handle Carter’s energy and they quickly come to understand each other.  When Ms. Krane is on leave due to her pregnancy, Avery has a new problem to contend with when Lieutenant Gene Boss, retired from the U.S. Navy takes over the class. Making things worse, Missy Gerber is a annoying bossy classmate who bosses Carter even when they come to work on school projects together. I have been a Rob Buyea fan ever since reading his books about beginning teacher Mr. Terupt. Buyea knows the workings of a classroom. He knows middle years kids. With this new novel he shows understanding and respect for ADHD students and tells an engaging story that demonstrates that “you can get more flies with honey than with vinegar”.   Like August Pullman in R.J. Palacio’s Wonder, KINDNESS  is what saves Carter Avery from a terrible year in school. Highly recommended. 

Reading ‘short’ books is a nice diversion, and often an entertaining one. 

BELIEVE IN THE WORLD: Wisdom for Grown-ups from Children’s Books collected by Amy Gash and Elise Howard, illus. Eleanor Davis (Quotations) (139 pages)

The authors have collected nearly 400 quotations from a wide range of children’s books, new and old, half of which I have read. Some excerpts are wise, some are whimsical, some are moving and many are inspiring. but nearly each choice is worth pondering. The book is organized into five sections: How To Be Good in the World; How to be Joyful in the World, How to be Strong in the world, How to Be at Home in the world; How to Believe in the World.  Specific titles to frame the collection appear in each chapter (e…g., ONE: Kindness; Acceptance, Courage, Confidence, Forgiveness) This uplifiting book is right up my alley blending children’s literature with adult well-being. 

NOTE Believe in the World collection of quotations  is a worthy descendent to the book WHAT THE DORMOUSE SAID: Lessons for Grown-ups From Children’s Books by Amy Gash (ed)  / 1999 

Samples

Trust dreams Trust your heart., and trust your story. ~Neil Gaiman, Instructions

“I will do it tomorrow,” said Toad. “Today I will take it easy.” ~ Arnold Lobel, Days with Frog and Toad.

It’s going to be okay. I’ll make friends, and if I don’t I’ll borrow books from the library.  ~ Kelly Yang, Front Desk

There’s as many ways to live as people. ~ Louise Fitzhugh, Harriet the Spy

Even the silence has a story to tell you. Just listen. Listen. ~ Jaqueline Woodson, Brown Girl Dreaming

THE REST IS MEMORY by Lily Tuck  (114 pages)

This is a work of fiction, based on fact. After reading an obituary of the photographer Wilhelm Brasse, who took more than 40 000 pictures of prisoners in Auschwitz, the author was struck by 3 photographs of Czeslawa Kwoka, a Catholic girl from southeastern Poland.  Tuck was only able to discover bare facts about this girl but has chosen to invent brutal details about this teenage girl, her family and the brutal experiences which led to her death after three months in a concentration camp. Lily Tuck has chosen to fill her pages with short passages (somegtimes one or two sentences in length), weaving in authentic historical facts of Commander Hedwig Hoss, harrowing  treatments of prisoners,  a short story, ‘This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentleman’ by Tadeuz Borowski and a children’s tale from Janus Korczak. She provides footnote references throughout (sometimes acknowledging Wikipedia). The Rest is History is a testimony to almost 6 million Poles who were killed of which 2 million were non-Jews who died in prison, were forced into labor, executed or sent to concentration camps.  Some readers might have hoped for a more linear narrative of the Polish girl’s life but I was fascinated by Lily Tuck’s  back and forth timelines, her brief anecdotal recounts and her blend of fact and fiction. Brief though this is, The Rest is Memory is yet another heart-wrenching publication of The Holocaust history.  This book is the first publication I’ve read with a 2025 imprint.

Excerpt (p. 90)

The thread spun from the prisoners’ hair ws used to make yarn, felt and socks for submarine crews and railroad workers. One kilo (2.2 pounds) of hair was worth 0.50 Reichsmark – about $109. By 1943, the twenty boxcars filled daily with the prisoner’s confiscated property, which Rudolf Hess boasted about to Himmler, also held sacks of human hair. 

HOW SONDHEIM CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE by Richrd Schoch (Nonfiction) (235 pages + Notes and Index) / nonfiction

Stephen Sondheim died on November 26, 2021. Much has been written about him. Much will be written about him. Sondheim transformed musical theater and it is the author’s contention that his works have the power to transform us too.  Each chapter highlights a Sondheim musical, presented in chronological order of production. Each title is accompanied by a subtitle shining a light on a central theme (e.g., ‘Gypsy: How to Be Who You Are’; ‘Company: How to Get Close’, ‘Follies: How to Survive Your Past’).  In many cases, attention is given to particular songs  (‘Being Alive’, ‘Someone in a Tree’, ‘Moments in the Woods’ and ‘Send in the Clowns’ (which gets about 10 pages).  Anecdotes and references are aptly filtered throughout each chapter, Richard Schoch makes the case that Sondheim’s greatness lies beyond the clever (genius) lyrics but rest in the ability to reach, relate and reflect on our own personal life stories.   Shoch digs deep into the composer’s creative process but moreover helps us realize that Sondheim understands us, reveals us and enriches us. This book is for Sondheim fans and inspires me to see any of his musicals again. And again. And listen repeatedly to his scores on the CD’s (yes, CD’s) I own. I’m not sure that the book will change my life but I was impressed with Richard Schoch’s writing because I though carefully about Sondheim’s as a teacher and how I / we might connect to the themes of his work. Truly, “no one is alone.” How Sondheim Can Change Your Life is on my list of favourites for 2024.

I AM FULL: STORIES FOR JACOB by Dan Yashinsky (2023) (153 pages)

This book was given a SHOUT OUT in one of my grown-up read postings, December 2023.  It is a book written in the shadow of grief. It is funny. It is  heartbreaking.It is filled with heart. And hands on heart, it was the best book that I’ read in 2023. I was so glad to have read this again recently, and know that I will turn to it again (and again). 

Jacob Evan Yashinsky-Zavitz lived a life of courage  and resilience in dealing with a genetic condition known as Prader-Willi Syndrom (PWS) which forces those with the disease to deal ewith  intense hunger known as hyperphagia.  But what a rich life and full life Jacob created for himself especially as a fisherman, a photographer, a jewellery maker, a poet, and a crossing-guard.  A tragic death, at the age of 26,  as a result of a car accident put his father, family and friends on a journey to deal with grief. 

In the Prologue to the book, Dan Yashinsky writes: “I started writing this chronicle about six month’s after Jacob’s death trying to find a way to remember, to grieve, perhaps to find a shred of meaning in this unspeakable loss.” Dan Yashinsky, master professional storyteller, began gathered  texts that make up this requiem.  The ongoing journal that Dan kept recording his son’s adventures and misadventures, the unforgettable expressions Jacob uttered at all stages of his life, the trials and triumphs he experienced provided the a rich source for the author to pay tribute to his son by presenting narratives in Jacob’s imagined voice as his guide. The anecdotes and reflections are written in the first person.  A collection of poems, speeches, letters, notes and photographs are compiled to paint a mighty portrait of this heroic hat-loving, fishing-loving, food-loving, joke-loving, family-loving human who learned to embrace his disability rather than ignore it. 

At his funeral, Jacob’s brother said: “love continues to exist in the world, even though (my) little brother has gone to be with his ancestors. Somehow, love remains”.

This is a life lived with love. This is a  book of LOVE.  This is a book of remembrance. 

KILLING TIME by Alan Bennett (103 pages), 

In this slim volume, master playwright and storyteller, Alan Bennett invites us into  council home for the elderly, where a quirky and endearing cast of characters seem to get by from day to day, as their days fade.  Residents  and staff include a compulsive knitter, a chiropodist, an archaeologist, a hairdresser and a pervert who enjoys showing off his willy. Set during Covid, staff are hospitalized and protocol is disrupted. and the seniors hang on to what’s left of their memories as the threat of death overhangs in Hill Top House.   I cared for these characters and  found myself laughing out loud often by their behaviours and utterances. (“Am I dying?” she said to Phyllis. “Dying?” said Phyllis. “Let’s get old age out of the way first.” Like reading his other books –  The Uncommon Reader and Smut: Two unseemly stories –spending time with Bennett’s writing, however brief, is an absolute delight.

Excerpt (p. 91)

“I suppose you can’t have sex with it (Covid) either. No singing, no praying, no sex,”

“You can have sex if you’re in a bubble.”

“Where do you get them?”

“What?”

“These bubbles.”

LAGOM: What you need to know about the Swedish art of living a balanced life by Barbara Hayden (2019/ 85 pages) / nonfiction

This was a lovely gift from a lovely friend in Helsingborg, Sweden. Lagome (“Lah-gome”) means ‘just enough’ and presents the Swedish lifestyle that you do not want to have too much of something and by pursuing extremes youwill not be able to enjoy life. Such chapters as  ‘Take Enough Breaks in Your Day;. ‘Learn to Listen More’, ‘Perform Acts of Kindness and ‘Lagom as a Part of Being Mindful’  offer sound advice.  The invitations to “Work on Your Own Capsule Wardrobe’ and ‘Declutter Your Home’  and ‘Eat Less’ makes sense to me.  Lagom invites readers to think about when we get ‘just enough of everything we need, we will lead a happier, healthier life. Thank you Lagome for helping me think about where I am in life and where I might go in order to lead a balanced life. Thank you, Petra for the gift. 

THE PARTY  by Tessa Hadley  (112 pages)

This novella was recommended to me by a salesperson at Waterstone’s book store. The story is set in Bristol and is centred on two sisters Moira and Evelyn, who attend a party in a dockside pub and become intrigued (and repelled) by two worldly men who approach them. In the third part of the novel, the two sisters accept an invitation to visit the mansion that Paul owns with his brother and sister. On this night, Moria and Evelyn, come face to face with the mysteries of human desire and in the end they learn things about each other, about themselves as they venture forth into adulthood.

THE YEARS by Annie Ernaux / 2008 / English Translation by Alison L. Strayer / 2017 / Memoir (231 pages)

Seven Stories Press claimed that this autobiography that is ‘at once subjective and impersonal, private and collective.”

This hybrid memoir spans the years 1941-2006. by Nobel literature prize-winning author (2022), Anne Ernaux. She uses the pronoun ‘we’ instead of the expected ‘I’ of autobiography and when writings about her personal history from childhood, youth, and adulthood, she uses  the third person voice (i.e., she). Drawing on notes from six decades of diaries, the author takes a close-up look at French society just after the Second World War into the early 21st century by giving reference to personal photos, books, song titles, radio and television and movies. The author digs into such issues as consumerism, illegal abortion, a troubled marriage, her mother’s Alzheimer and experiences with cancer  in rather short passages.  The writing is fearless, critical and both personal and universal and certainly original. 

THIS IS THE STORY OF THE CHILD RULED BY FEAR by David Gagnon Walker (Script) (60 pages)

This is a rather short script about a production that involves a narrator + audience involvement by having 7 readers volunteer to read different parts (as well as audience members reading the chorus).  This is an intriguing excerise in interactive storytelling. The story is a fable of sorts about an imaginary civilization where characters confront their anxiety and fears about a collapsing world.  The playwright’s notes suggests taht this is a play “about worry and wonder, loneliness and community, beauty and despair, stories and life.” The collaborative nature of this play is intriguing. The narrative is often poetic and abstract. What’s missing from an independent reading is the video visuals that appear throughout. This piece is an interesting premise  by an emerging Canadian playwright, that I hope to be able to see someday.

SHOUT OUT

FIRE by John Boyne (167 pages)

“Fire takes the reader on a chilling uncomfortable, yet utterly compelling psychological journey to the epicentre of the human condition” ( from book jacket blurb)

Freya works as a surgeon in an Irish hospital  who has a strong reputation for specializing in skin grafts. She lives a rather privileged existence but she is haunted by a trauma from her past. When she was twelve years old she was tormented by two teenage boys, two years older than her  and a cruel incident  has haunted her and spurred a life of revenge. Fire is the third book in ‘The Elements’ quartet (Water, Earth, Fire, Air). Each of the books is a stand alone, although narrative elements thread each book. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. John Boyne is at the top of my list of favourite authors. Fire is a chilling, chilling, spellbinding read. 

The titles listed below were written several decades ago (0r more). Each of these ten books intrigued me for some reason and I enjoyed reading these Children’s Literature Classics as well as some  Grown-up books that came my way.  Some choices were selected because I have seen theatre productions of these titles in New York in London. 

YOUNG PEOPLE


BALLET SHOES by Noel Streatfeild /1936

WHY? Read this in preparation of seeing the theatre production at the National Theatre in London

Since its publication many decades ago, Ballet Shoe has been a favourite of thousands of young readers (girls?). it is the story of three girls, the adopted Fossil sisters, each discovered as a baby by Great Uncler Matthew (GUM), an elderly professor who travels the world. The girls come to live in England with the very GUM’s practical great niece Sylvia and a nanny named Nana. To make ends meet, Sylvia takes end a group of boarders who contribute to the girls education by tutoring them. Each of the girls has a special talent. Pauline longs to be an actress. Petrova wants to fly planes and Posy wants to dance dance dance.  The story is mostly centred on the Children’s Academy of Dancing and Stage training where they embark on rigorous training to enrich their talents which may or may not lead to their vocation in the arts. Readers who enjoy this story are likely cheering on the three determined children as they grow up, develop a warm sisterly relationship, practice practice practice dancing and acting and pursue their dreams, and perchance fame in each of their pursuits.  Although it has entranced readers for generations, I wouldn’t say this is my favourite children’s book, but I am not British, a girl or a wannabe ballet dancer! However, Hurrah, Hurrah for any book that espouses the arts!!!!

PIPPI LONGSTOCKING by Astrid Lindgren / 1950

WHY? Read this in preparation of a visit to Sweden (presenting 2 workshops to teachers)

I’m sure I read this classic Swedish novel  many years ago, but re-reading Pippi Longstocking while riding on a train from Copenhagen, Denmark to Helsingborg, Sweden provided me with some delightful (and hilarious) reading on my journey. What a character Pippi is!! The nine-year old girl lives in an old house (Villa Villekula) in an overgrown garden in a tiny little town. She has no parents to tell her what to do and her adventures with neighbours Tommy and Annika show how unique and outrageous, how brave and clever this character with crazy red pigtails is. Such rollicking episodes as walking backwards, making pancakes by throwing eggs into the air,  being a ‘thing-finder and discovering  an empty can over her head to pretend it’s midnight, outwitting two policemen who have come to take her to a children’s school; horseback riding; going to school and drawing a picture of a large horse on the classroom floor;  going on a picnic and getting into a fight with a bull; going to the circus and winning one hundred dollars by lifting  strong man the Mighty Adolf up into the air. No wonder that this title, created  by renowned author Astrid Lindgren (winner of the 1958 Hans Christian Medal)  has been a favourite for generations of Swedish citizens and – for readers around the world, There are two sequels: Pippi Goes On Board and Pippi on the South Seas. Oh what fun Pippilotta Delicatessa, Windowshade, Mackrelmint Efraimsdotter Longstocking, (and her pet monkey,  Mr. Nilsson, are.  Pippi Longstcoking is a fun and absurdly funny classic to be read – and read again.  

BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE by Kate DiCamillo /2000

WHY? I am a Kate DiCamillo fan and after enjoying recent publications (Ferris; The Hotal Balzaar) I wanted to re-read her first novel publication.

On page one of this novel we are introduced to India Opal Buloni, a young girl who lives with her daddy, the preacher. One day she was sent to buy some groceries at the nieghbourhood Florida store (Winn-Dixie) and she came back with a dog (Winn-Dixie).  As the story unfolds we meet a remarkable cast of characters: Otis, a guitar playing, pickle loving worker at the  local pet store’ Gertude a squawing parrot, Gloria Dump, who was rumoured to be a witch, but is a recovering alcoholic with a heart of gold (who owns a tree with hanging bottles), Miss Franny Block, somewhat neurotic soul who’s in charge of all the books in the library; Amanda Wilkinson who’s face was always pinched up like she was smelling something really bad; Sweet-Pie  Thomas who was only five years old, Dunlap and Stevie Dewberry, two brothers who looked like twins, but weren’t , But readers hearts will wrap especially wrap themselves around the rescue dog, Winn-Dixie  who has a human-like smile, who loves to listen to stories, who is afraid of thunder, who is able to catch mice without harming them, and who is as loyable and lovable a canine as anyone would want for a pet – especially India Opal Buloni.  With this Newbery Honor Book, Kate DiCamillo has stepped up the ladder whose books are fantastic and seem to have gotten better as the climbed up and up that ladder (The Tale of Desperaux, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Flora and Ulysses). I’m so glad I re-read this book and look forward to spending time re-visiting other books by this author. You  are a wise, funny, errific storyteller, Kate DiCamillo who has grown and grown because of Because of Winn-Dixie. I love your books.  Of course, kids do too. 

Excerpt (p. 96)

“It’s different  for everyone,” she said. “You find out on your own. But in the meantime, you got to remember, you can’t always judge people by the things they done. You got to judge them by what they are doing now.”

GROWN-UPS

THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain /1884/1885

WHY? James by Percival Everett was at the top of my 2024 list of favourite books and I promised by self I would read Mark Twain’s story which inspired Everett’s brilliant book.

This is the classic story of a young boy named Huck Fin who runs away from home and travels down the Mississippi River. He is accompanied by Jim, an escaped slave and the two companions encounter a cast of  colourful characters and experience a wide range of adventures, funny, fascinating and suspenseful. The book digs into the themes of freedom, friendship and societal norms. As stated on the back cover, ‘the book is famous for its vivid portrayal of American life and its critique of social issues.’   If truth be told, I found myself skipping sections, hoping tHuck and Jim would get on with their journey. But who am I to argue with a classic?

OUR TOWN by Thornton Wilder/ 1938

WHY? I saw a Broadway production of this play in January 2025. I sometimes like to read the play after having watched it. 

“Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? – every minute.” (p. 108)

I am a fan of this classic script by Thornton Wilder, which is one of the most produced plays across North America. I have seen and enjoyed several productions and am often moved by the story of life in the small village of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. Most of all, it is an allegorical representation of all life. The play, in 3 acts, introduces us to a community, to a marriage and to death. Noteworthy, is the minimalist use of sets for producing this play. I was somewhat disappointed with a recent production I saw in New York, with Jim Parsons as the Stage Manager (terrific) and featuring a cast of actors both black and white.  I’m glad I saw it, but there were some artistic choices that didn’t, for me, enrich the simplicity and heart of this great play. 

ROOMS FOR RENT IN THE OUTER PLANETS: Selected Poems 1962-1996 by Al Purdy / 1996

WHY? Raise your hand if you received a poetry anthology as a gift this past year. For Channukah/Christmas a dear friend gifted me Al Purdy’s poetry collection.  Maybe poetry wouldn’t have been my first choice of books to read during the holidays,  I decided to dig into this book, poem by poem since it was a gift. 

Margaret Atwood claimed Purdy to be ‘the voice of the Canadian vernacular.’  Michael Ondaatje wrote, “Who is he like, you ask yourself. And in Canada there is no one. I can’t think of a single parallel in English literature… What a brave wonder.”   I do tend to buy poetry from time to time (especially for audiences of young people). Rooms for Rent in the Outer Planets  (a Canada Reads finalist, 2006)  is a selection of three decades worth of thought-provoking work poems by the man described by the Globe & Mail as “the greatest of our poets.”  Confession: For me, this poet’s work is of the ‘I don’t really get it’ ilk. I tried. There are glimpses of narratives hidden in each piece, there are some astonishing sensory images (e.g., ‘chain saws stencil the silence in my head’ (p.81); ‘it is moonlight milk pouring over the islands’ (p, 107); ‘listening how the new house built with savaged old lumber bent a little in the wind and dreamt of the trees it came from’ (p., 17)  (many which I struggled to quickly grasp), and there is no doubt wordsmith genius throughout but if truth be told, I found most pieces mystifying or challenging. I often slowed down to read the poems. I tried to paint pictures in my head.  Line by line, the language was rather accessible, but poetic arrangements and some new vocabulary puzzled me (e.g., ‘uxurious’ wife beater; a great ‘Jeroboam’, ‘trilobites’ and swamps). The ‘messages’ sometimes escaped me.  Perhaps hearing these poems out loud. Perhaps having someone to talk to help me unlock the meanings might have helped.  And so I dare to admit, that my brain cells didn’t connect to the brain of ‘the greatest of our poets.’ Should I try again?

Excerpts

“… suddenly/ I become the whole damn feminine principle so /happily noticing little tendrils of affection steal /out from each to each unshy honest / encompassing golden calves in Israel and slum babies in Canada.” (from ‘The Winemakers Beat-Etude’ (p. 54)

“Not again shall bud conceive/ or the stars bear witness/ and lightning flas over chao/ nor any deity of teh flesh send hsi small amphibians scuttling onto land for safety/ the amino acids are dissolved/ their formulas forgotten.” (from ‘Adam and Eve’ (p. 118).

TALES OF THE JAZZ AGE by F. Scott Fitzgerald /1922

WHY? In preparation for seeing the musical “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” based on Fitzgerald’s short story.

These eleven stories, written over 100 years ago,  have a contemporary appeal to them in their study of relationships, dreams, infatuation, class and culture.  Though Fitzgerald captures a Jazz age place and time, the stories describe pursuits of love (The Camel’s Back):  drinking and gambling and lusting (Jelly Bean); class (The Diamond as Big as the Ritz) and a girl in a bathtub (Porcelain and Pink/ script). The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an intriguing, engaging reading challenging readers to suspend disbelief about a man born as an adult in his 70s and the narrative works backwards as he gets younger and younger while the people around him age.  Benjamin’s schooling, marriage, and business successes are described throughout in a life story that spans decades in a story told in less than 20 pages 

Note: There is a film version of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button starring Brad Pitt. However, the screenplay only borrows from the premise of the Fitzgerald story and invents an entirely new life for this character. 

WHAT THE DORMOUSE SAID: Lessons for Grown-ups From Children’s Books by Amy Gash (ed)  / 1999

WHY? Believe in the World: Wisdom for Grown-ups from Children’s Books is a 2024 publication of quotations collected by Amy Gash and Elise Howard. This book provides references to some classics as well as some 21st Century titles.  What the Dormouse Said is a noteworthy prelude to this recent release of quotations.

This is a collection of inspirational quotations from children’s literature is organized under such headings as’ Faith and Courage, Imagination and Adventure, Practical Musings, Character and Individuality, Acceptance, Goodness and Silence. We met words of wisdom from such authors as William Steig, Antoine de Saint-Expuery, Aesop, Dr. Suess and Judy Blume. In the preface to the book, author Judy Blume writes that What the Dormouse Said “reminds us that we should never grow so old, or change so much, that we cannot find room in our hearts for the wisdom of children’s books.” (p. xii).

Samples

I hate being good. ~ Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers, 1934

Shirking responsibilities is teh curse of our modern life – the secret of all the unrest and discontent  that is seething in this world. ~ Anne’s House of Dreams, L.M. Montgomery, 1917

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. ~ The Little Prince, Antoine de  Saint-Exupery, 1943

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANNE FRANK by Nathan Englander, (Short Stories) /2012

WHY? In preparation for seeing the theatre production in London.

This  collection of eight short stories by award-winning author Nathan Englander isn’t that old (published in 2012)  and even thought I read it when it was first published I decided to re-visit the  book particularly for the title story. Two Jewish couples are meeting in the kitchen of the husband and wife who live in Florida. Lauren/ Shoshana and Mark are an orthodox couple visiting from Israel. This is a reunion of the two women who once went to a Yeshiva school and were best friends. This is a room with ‘four Jews bitching’ as they discuss religious convictions, being kosher, smoking pot, parenthood, and The Holocaust. What they talk about when they talk about Anne Frank is centred on a ‘game’  of who or who might not take the responsibility of taking a Jewish person into hiding. This was a clever and intriguing story of two marriages, four viewpoints and one provocative dilemma. 

THE YEARS by Annie Ernaux / 2008 / English Translation by Alison L. Strayer / 2017 / Memoir

WHY? In preparation for seeing the theatre production in London.

Seven Stories Press claimed that this autobiography that is ‘at once subjective and impersonal, private and collective.”

This hybrid memoir spans the years 1941-2006. by Nobel literature prize-winning author (2022), Anne Ernaux. She uses the pronoun ‘we’ instead of the expected ‘I’ of autobiography and when writings about her personal history from childhood, youth, and adulthood, she uses  the third person voice (i.e., she). Drawing on notes from six decades of diaries, the author takes a close-up look at French society just after the Second World War into the early 21st century by giving reference to personal photos, books, song titles, radio and television and movies. The author digs into such issues as consumerism, illegal abortion, a troubled marriage, her mother’s Alzheimer and experiences with cancer  in rather short passages.  The writing is fearless, critical and both personal and universal and certainly original. 

SHOUT OUT

HOW DO YOU LIVE? by Genzaburo Yoshino /1937 / 2021 (English Translation)

WHY? An intriguing review in the New York Times + book blurb “The Heartwarming Classic: over two million copies sold. This is a book for young adolescents who are coming to learn about their identies and their place in society as well as for adults of any age, who have come to wonder ‘What is a life well-lived?”

As we go through the journey life, most of us wonder: “What’s it all about, Alfie?” Some questions that frame this book: How do we live our lives as caring citizens of the world, How do we  pursue our dreams? How do we build  trusting  family and friend relationships? What does the class structure we are born into influence our views of the world? As young people move into adolescent hood they come to think about their identities, the ‘invisible knapsacks’ they carry. and their place in the world today and tomorrow?  Following the death of his father, a fifteen year old teenager named Copper encounters changes particularly in his education, his friendships, and in his insights into history (Napolean’s conquests), and science (Copernicus)  talent (making tofu, playing sports).  In a number of chapters we are told stories of Copper’s every day life but these chapters are  framed  with chapters that appear as journal entries from Copper’s uncle who shares advice wisdom, and raises questions for that help Copper consider what matters most. In a translator’s note we are told that Yoshino wanted to write an ethics textbook but turned to the novel format that containing lessons and messages about thinking for oneself. That the book was written in 1937, speaks to the universal quest to of being living a life “like a true human being.” In particular, I was knocked out by the strong lesson  to be learned about the question os standing up for others when encountering bullies and determining ‘What should you do: ‘What would you do?’.  Genzburo Yoshino has indeed accomplished his  goal  to have his character reflect on the question “How Do you Live?” and as readers, young and old connect to Copper’s story, they too will wonder .  ‘How Do You Live?’ and “How will you live?”  

As I write about this book I recognize what a philosophical marvel this is. Everyojne needs an uncle to help us sort out confusions and guide is into a path of well-being, belonging and kindness. With this book, Yoshino serves as an uncle to us all. How lucky we are to have this translation. I also look forward to seeing the film version by renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away; My Neighbor Totoro) 

Excerpt; (p, 275) Reminder this book was written 1in 1937

“I think there has to come a time when everyone in the world treats each other as if they were good friends. Since humanity has come so far, I think now we will definitely be able to make it to such a place. So I think I want to become a person who can help that happen.