Monster Locker by Jorge Aguirre and Andres Vera Martinez

 Wow. It's hard to know where to begin to review this book - it's just that amazing. So, quick summary first I guess.

It's not a good start to the new school year when Pablo's abuela drags him out of bed to save their nonexistent goats. Once he remembers he's in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, he realizes that doesn't make things any better - his sister is insisting he learn to waltz for her quinceanera, his parents won't get him a phone, he runs into a weird new kid, and he's still unpopular at school, due to... the incident. Oh, and he's gotten stuck with a haunted locker in the haunted basement.

Pablo's plan is to lie low and just make it through middle school, but it's getting harder and harder to do that as things just keep happening! When an inky black monster named Obie pops out of his locker and offers to help him summon monsters from mythology to solve his problems, he's hardly even surprised. He is surprised and overjoyed when he finds a phone in his locker - his parents finally got him a phone!? Nope, turns out it's a trick and the next thing he knows Pablo has summoned Coatlicue and she is NOT happy. She's decided it's time for all the ungrateful humans to pay for what they've done, starting with Pablo's middle school, the firefighters who show up (his mom gets transformed into an armadillo), and everyone she can get her stone jaguar claws on.

Readers are in for a wild ride, as one moment Pablo is debating the merits of tacos with his new friends, and the next minute he's using D&D rules to try and plan a strategy for saving his hometown. There's a sharp reality to the story, despite the mythical monsters, as the students deal with racism and hostility in their own ways and Pablo finds a way to honor his heritage and still be himself. At the same time, the story never takes itself too seriously, with Pablo's hilarious interactions with his abuela (where has she even been keeping those bones!?) and his determination to save his new friends, his family, but maybe not the bullies... Every kid is a unique character, showing all the drama, awkwardness, and struggle of middle schoolers, from Pablo's former best friend, who falls back on threatening to call I.C.E. on the Hispanic kids, to his new friend Maggie who has declared war on all technology because she's tired of dealing with the girls' group chat.

Verdict: For a story about ancient mythical beings returning to unmake the world, this is real, funny, and hits home in all the right ways. I've been looking for books that center Hispanic experience in the Midwest for a long time and never expected to find the perfect book in a fantasy graphic novel starring a nerdy short kid and a bloodthirsty goddess. Aguirre hits every point for the classic middle grade audience and I highly recommend this for all public and school libraries.

ISBN: 9781250749734; Paperback on Baker & Taylor for $9.44

Published October 2024 by First Second; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Mo Netz

This debut creepy fantasy is a little rough, but fills several needed niches in the middle grade fantasy genre.

Jerry is used to moving around. Ever since her dad died and they lost their home, she and her mom have been bumping from motel to motel as her mom picks up temporary cleaning work. Jerry stopped going to school after she was attacked by a bully, and she's all alone except for her imaginary friend, a mini dragon with the voice of her Jewish uncle.

When they arrive at the Slumbering Giants motel, Jerry thinks things will go on as they always have. She'll stay in the motel room, maybe explore a little in the parking lot, until they move again. People will look at her, at her wheelchair, and make up their minds about who she is before they even talk to her. They'll move on soon and it will start all over again.

But this is different. The motel is old and run-down, surrounded by creepy woods. Her mom doesn't get a uniform and starts disappearing at odd hours. Paul, her dragon, won't leave her alone about trying to make friends, especially with the chatty and odd girl she's seen hanging around. Although she's wary about trusting or even talking to other people, Jerry is also determined to solve the mysteries and maybe even consider the possibility that she's found a new home. But when she and Chapel, the girl she's met, find themselves in the scary and dangerous woods searching for Jerry's missing mom, they aren't sure if they'll survive long enough to become friends.

The story moves quickly, roughly setting the scene and characters, gradually bringing in creepy occurrences and phenomena, and then plunging the two girls into the frightening woods where they make rapid discoveries about the menace. The story isn't really long enough to fully develop the plot and characters, but with the need for shorter books (this is 200 pages) that's acceptable and leaves lots of room for kids to mull over the story and draw their own conclusions. Netz notes that he consulted sensitivity readers when forming his characters (Chapel is Black and Jerry uses a wheelchair) but also speaks from his own experience as a wheelchair user and specifically wrote this to center a disabled kid in a fantasy adventure. The practical challenges and uses of Jerry's chair are smoothly woven into the story and clearly realistic. Adult readers might find the quick friendship of Jerry and Chapel and the happy resolution a little too pat, but this is perfect for middle grade readers, especially towards the younger end of the spectrum.

Verdict: This debut is a good length with a creepy and interesting story, intriguing characters, and a satisfying ending. It's a strong choice for libraries looking for more diversity, especially picturing kids with disabilities, as well as books that will capture the attention of young readers.

ISBN: 9780063266537; Hardcover at $10.63 on Baker & Taylor

Published March 2024 by Clarion; Purchased for the library

The party diaries: Awesome orange birthday by Mitali Banerjee Ruths, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

 The most popular Branches series tend to be the humorous and fantasy ones, but some of the recent realistic fiction ones have solid circulation.

The first "Party Diaries" introduces Priya, an Indian-American girl who is interested in helping animals, especially cute Quokkas, and loves to plan parties. When her mom's friend, Layla Aunty, asks her to plan a party, Priya is excited at the opportunity to earn some money to help the animals. But planning a party turns out to be a lot of work and several things go wrong. Fortunately, she has her friends and family to help and puts on a very successful, orange-themed party. The book ends with some crafts, discussion questions, and a note from the author and illustrator.

There are plenty of grade-school girls who like to make crafts, are interested in helping animals, and would love to plan parties. Whether it's their own preference or stereotypical expectations, there are few boys who are willing to read these slice of life, realistic stories though.

Verdict: There are several books in this series already and it circulates fairly regularly although not as much as some of the more popular series like Dragon Masters. A strong addition to most library collections.

ISBN: 9781338799613; Published January 2023 by Scholastic; Purchased for the library

The Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Monster and the Maze by Maple Lam

 This looked cute and I was flipping through it; I initially didn't think I'd like it, as it pushed heavily towards the trope where myths are reinvented with happier endings. But it really works in this context and it was funny, quirky, and sweet.

The story begins with the mysterious appearance of a monkey - from inside a rock! The comic follows the general origin story of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, on his quest to become a god, rampage through the heavenly kingdom, and eventual imprisonment by a pantheon of gods. However, the gentle elder god Venus is kind to Sun Wukong and advocates for him to learn to use his strength and power wisely - and perhaps someday become a god. With his powers partially shackled, Sun is sent out to fight against not only the monsters of the world, but a great and powerful evil. His first mission takes him to Greece and the island of Crete, where he is accompanied by the adorable three-headed Cerberus puppy on a mission to destroy the monstrous Minotaur. But is the minotaur the real monster?

Lam's art is cartoon-style but includes a fun range of body types, including both the weird and wonderful representation of gods from around the world as well as lots of exciting action in fights. Sun Wukong bounces energetically through the panels, filled with anger, excitement, and energy.

Full of thoughtful interjections about what makes a monster, happy endings for all, even King Aegeus, as well as plenty of fights and farts, this book has something for everyone. The author explains the mythology of each of the deities and personalities in the back, as well as her own experiences of mixed heritage and feeling like an outsider.

Verdict: Hand this to fans of both Percy Jackson and Dogman and be ready to order Sun Wukong's next exciting adventure! Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9780593524633; Published April 2024 by Putnam; Added to library order list

Browsing the beginning chapter books: Binder of Doom: Brute-Cake by Troy Cummings

Genre: Humor; Creepy

Protagonists: Male, Black

Reading Level: 400s

Series: Complete with 4 titles

Originally reviewed in August, 2019

Review: Long ago I read and reviewed the first book in the "Notebook of Doom" series, Rise of the balloon goons. Unlike some Branches series *cough* Owl Diaries *cough* where I was totally wrong that they would be popular, I knew right away that this one would fly off the shelf. This series has certainly followed through on its promise, producing book after book of mildly creepy, funny, and wacky monsters. The format and reading level have attracted readers of all ages - I even have middle schoolers who love to read it, as well as parents reading it with their kids!

Naturally, when I saw the series was set to continue, I had to pick up the first book in the new series. The story opens with Alexander Bopp, (black) hero of the Super Secret Monster Patrol, feeling down in the dumps. They've fought off all the monsters (well, except for the members of the patrol themselves...) and now his friends are busy for the summer and he feels lonely. His dad signs him up for a summer class at the library and there he starts encountering strange occurrences which lead him to discover... a whole new set of monsters! He starts a new binder and gets back with his friends, but will they be able to defeat the Brute-Cake?

I love that Alexander is still the leader, not the sidekick or the "friend" of the white kids. I love the positive image of the library - although I don't know of any libraries around here that offer "summer camp" type experiences where you can drop off your kids, there are many libraries that do this, so it's not unrealistic to include. The book is full of silly monsters, just the right amount of peril, and lots of black and white images. Of course, there are also the monster stat pages, goofy jokes, and clueless parents.

Verdict: Sure to fly off the shelves just like the Notebook, make sure you've got plenty of copies of the Binder - and maybe think about trying some of those library activities!

Revisited: I was disappointed that this series never went past four volumes, but it and the original series both continue to circulate briskly and are worth purchasing if you missed out on them when they were released.

ISBN: 9781338314670; Published May 2019 by Scholastic; Borrowed from another library in my consortium (all my copies are checked out!); Purchased two copies for the library

Saving H'non: Chang and the elephant by Trang Nguyen and Jeet Zdung

Chang, the intrepid young student and conservationist of Saving Sorya, returns and this time she's involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of H'non, an abused and elderly elephant. The journey of Chang - and H'non - is a complex one, ranging from Chang's research into the evolution of elephants to an honest look at the complexities of using elephants for labor and as tourist attractions. There are graphic images of the abuse H'non suffers and the cruelties of her owners, but also a realistic appraisal of the struggles of the local families to support themselves and the relationship between them and the elephants. Chang faces her own prejudices and feelings as she is put in charge of supervising a local trainee to care for H'non and the story ends in a joyful and upbeat moment as H'non is fully returned to the wild.

The art is meant to be Chang's notebook and it is very similar to a nature journal with lots of individual illustrations, little asides, facts, and more. In general, it's a watercolor wash of sandy browns and pale greens. Every page is a beautiful surprise, from a reflective view of a starry night to an explosion of green vegetables at the market. The intricate art matches the story, exploring the emotions, heartbreaks, and challenges the conservationists face as well as the feelings and struggles of the local townspeople and their relationship with the elephants.

I loved Saving Sorya, but I was sad that it didn't fly off the shelves as I'd confidently expected. However, it did circulate reasonably well and I still think the unique collaboration of these creators is worth adding to library shelves and promoting to readers as well as their new creation. It's worth considering that it might find more readers in the nonfiction area (and by nonfiction circulation standards, it has circulated very well) and I'll also make it a point to promote these books more in the near future.

Verdict: If you can purchase only one of these titles, I think the newest one is more accessible, featuring a more familiar animal, the elephant, instead of the sun bear. Promote to readers who love animals and graphic novels, to those interested in animal welfare, and to teachers introducing their students to global issues and wanting to use high-quality graphic novels in classroom study units.

ISBN: 9780593406724; Published October 2023 by Dial Books for Young Readers; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Period: The quick guide to every uterus by Ruth Redford and Aitana Giraldez

This brief and inclusive guide walks kids through the basics of puberty, menstruation, and includes practical tips on dealing with periods at school, using different types of menstrual products, and commonly asked questions. The four people primarily featured in the comic are two female-presenting kids with brown skin and dark hair, one white, pink-haired student with a "she/they" pronoun pin, and one white student with a pixie-cut who acts primarily as a calming and knowledgeable advisor.

The comic panels are mixed with panels of information and generally do a good job presenting the information, although there are some odd juxtapositions where it's unclear how the text is flowing.

I have two cons to this title - first, although a person in a wheelchair is pictured at one point, there is no information on handling your period with a physical disability or challenge. Secondly, and this is a major issue for me, on page 10 when the book goes over puberty and lists what will happen, while it includes "might" before hormonal changes and feelings, the book states "You start to have sexual thoughts and feelings." This isn't even about someone being asexual or aromantic - making this sound like a part of puberty that happens automatically to everyone with a uterus, along with getting a period and growing breasts, is misleading to kids who are worried about whether they're developing "normally" with everyone in their age group. The book is careful to be inclusive otherwise and this could have been solved with a simple addition of the word "might" as used regarding other feelings, or "some people might" would be even better!

Verdict: This is a good overview and is very brief, so there's not a lot of room to expand on the concepts. It's reasonable that the information wouldn't be in depth. Except for that one statement, I would recommend this wholeheartedly as an addition to collections on puberty. Libraries might still choose to purchase it as a supplemental text, but I won't do so until it's been updated.

ISBN: 9798887700441; Published 2023 by Mayo Clinic; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Jose and Feliz play Futbol by Susan Rose and Silvia Lopez, illustrated by Gloria Felix

 I don't often review bilingual books; although I try to keep this collection updated, it's not a very popular area. We do have a small population of Hispanic folks in our town, but most of them do not read Spanish and while they do use the library, books are not often something they're looking for. We tend to focus more on our special needs population, which is much larger. Anyways, I do occasionally get asked for materials for schools and individuals and when I purchase Spanish-language or bilingual materials I focus on younger titles. I was very excited to see this new title which is a beginning chapter featuring sports! something I'm always looking for, but also includes some Spanish language.

Jose is super excited because he's been chosen for the soccer team, el equipo de futbol! He practices hard and discovers that his dog, Feliz, is also a great player, although he doesn't always play the right way. When Feliz comes to Jose's first practice, he comes on the field and they decide to make him their team's mascot. At their first game, Jose is worried Feliz will misbehave, but he does everything just right!

Simple color illustrations fill each page with the text in a small font against blue sky or cream walls. This is being published as an early reader, but I would not put it in that category for several reasons. It's a small paperback, 7.5 x 5 inches, and the text is in a much smaller font than is typical for an easy reader. The text is also lengthier, using simple sentences but including dialogue, Spanish words, and short paragraphs. I am not a huge fan of the small size of these books - they feel awkward and hard to read, unlike the wider Acorn or Branches from Scholastic, but Penguin has been publishing and republishing many of their popular easy readers and beginning chapters, like Fenske's squirrel titles, in this format.

Verdict: This is a stand-out offering, featuring a popular subject, sports, Hispanic characters, and integrating Spanish language. While the format is not ideal, it will fit very well into the paperbacks in my bilingual section. This is the second book in the series, the first introducing Jose and Feliz, and I hope there will be future titles - with more sports!

ISBN: 9780593521199; Published November 2023 by Penguin Workshop; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library (first title in series purchased)

Browsing the Beginning Chapter Books: Anna Hibiscus; Hooray for Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke, illustrated by Lauren Tobia

Genre: Realistic fiction

Protagonists: Female, African/Canadian

Reading level: 500s

Series: 5 chapter books

Originally reviewed in 2010

 

Review: Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. We're never told exactly what country, but it's probably coastal Nigeria, since the author grew up in Nigeria and Anna lives near a big city near the coast. Anna lives in a compound with her Canadian mother, African father, and a huge family of cousins, aunts, uncles, and her twin baby brothers, benevolently ruled over by her wise grandparents.

In her first set of adventures, Anna's mother tries to have a family vacation with just her immediate family - and Anna and her mother realize just how much they need all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents! An aunt who has been in America returns home and everyone is worried that she will have forgotten African ways. Anna admires the orange sellers at their gates and disobeys grandfather to go sell oranges - resulting in a painful punishment and a hard lesson. Finally, Anna desperately wants to see snow and works out a way to make her dream come true!

In her second set of adventures, Anna is picked out to sing for a large audience, but it's her twin baby brothers who save the day when she freezes. Tired of all the fuss and painful braiding, Anna decides to opt out of braiding her hair - and learns the hard way that a few hours of pain is worth it! Anna's family tries out a new generator and decides sometimes the old ways are best. Finally, Anna gets her wish to go to the other side of the city but discovers it isn't at all what she had expected.

Anna is an exuberant, sympathetic character. Her very different culture and the poverty that surrounds her middle-class family are clearly portrayed without over-dramatizing issues or confusing explanations. Lauren Tobia's illustrations bring out the humor of the stories and the various characters, helping readers distinguish the members of Anna's big, loving family. Beginning readers will be charmed by this glimpse into a fascinating, warm, exciting, lively world, very different from their own lives. I look forward to introducing our readers to Anna Hibiscus and encouraging them to try something new!

Verdict: Highly recommended! The only drawback is it can be difficult to get Kane Miller's books, especially complete series, through regular vendors. However, these are worth a little digging on Amazon, Book Depository, or ordering direct.

Revisited: The original Anna Hibiscus books were never as popular as I'd hoped they would be. My families that usually like the quieter, slice-of-life stories, did not gravitate to these. However, they do check out occasionally and are a needed note of diversity in my beginning chapter book collection as well as filling occasional requests for younger chapter books featuring children from other countries. Candlewick picked up the titles and started reissuing them in 2022, so they are readily available from all vendors now.

Anna Hibiscus
ISBN: 978-1935279730; Published June 2010 by Kane Miller; Review copy provided by publisher through Raab Associates

New edition published 2022 by Candlewick; ISBN: 9781536225235

Hooray for Anna Hibiscus
ISBN: 978-1935279747; Published January 2010 by Kane Miller; Review copy provided by publisher through Raab Associates

New edition published 2023 by Candlewick; ISBN: 9781536225259

Browsing the Beginning Chapter Books: Astrid and Apollo and the starry campout by V. T. Bidania, illustrated by Dara Lashia Lee

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Protagonists: Male/Female Siblings: Hmong
Reading Level: M
Series: Currently 16 titles; 4 new titles released each August
Originally reviewed in November 2020

Review: I am really excited for this new easy chapter series from Capstone's Picture Window imprint. The only thing I could be more thrilled about would be if they offered series featuring kids with disabilities, and I'm confident those will not be long in coming (there's already an easy reader featuring a Deaf girl, Emma).

Many people think of the Midwest as a very white, homogenous place and while that is certainly true in many cases, especially in small towns, there are actually large groups of ethnically diverse people concentrated in various areas. In my own corner of Wisconsin, there is a large Hispanic population, small but significant group of Japanese and Koreans (mostly exchange students - we have a Kikkoman factory) and a handful of Pakistani and South Asian folks. Only a few hours north there is a significant presence of Americans of Hmong descent and after many years of them being largely ignored it's wonderful to see literature featuring these kids start to emerge.

The Hmong population in Minnesota is, I believe, larger and that's where this book is based, as is its own voices creator. The story starts with an introduction to Astrid, Apollo, and their parents and little sister Eliana. This includes their Hmong names, pronunciation, and translation. There's also a simple definition of Hmong.

The story is told in five chapters. The family is going camping and Astrid is scared of the dark - and of the frightening stories her older cousin has told her. Apollo initially coaxes her into coming along to join them and with the support of her family and her own courage she ends up having a great time. There are gently humorous moments, like sneaky raccoons and a stinky outhouse, and also an enjoyment of the beauties of nature and the night sky. The kids compare their Hmong names to the stars they see, eat both Hmong and "American" food, and say hello to other Hmong families who are also camping.

Back matter includes more detailed facts about the Hmong, a list and explanation of some popular Hmong foods (now I want eggrolls...), a glossary, and discussion and writing questions. There's also a thumbnail introduction to the author and illustrator, both from Minnesota and of Hmong descent.

Verdict: I have several readers who really enjoy these simple, slice-of-life stories and I am thrilled to be able to finally have books portraying this important and often overlooked ethnic group in our state.

Revisited: This hasn't really flown off the shelves, but it circulates steadily and is a staple when provided a wide range of titles to my schools. You may not need the full 16 titles, but most libraries should have at least a couple.

ISBN: 9781515861317; Published 2020 by Capstone; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Browsing the Beginning Chapter Books: Aven Green, Sleuthing Machine and Aven Green, Baking Machine by Dusti Bowling, illustrated by Gina Perry

Genre: Realistic fiction

Protagonists: White female, physical disability

Reading level: 500s

Series: Currently four titles available

Originally reviewed in September 2021

Review: I know a lot of people really, really loved Dusti Bowling's middle grade novels about Aven Green, but I never got around to reading or purchasing them. I was interested in the chapter books though, since I just finished updating our beginning chapter book section, so I was pleased to get review copies to look at.

Aven Green briskly introduces herself in Aven Green, Sleuthing Machine and gets the boring stuff out of the way first. No, she doesn't have arms, yes, she was just born this way, and now on to the important things - like solving mysteries! With her "brain of many cells" Aven Green has solved a lot of simple mysteries, from missing dessert to stinky feet, but now she's ready to be a real Private Investigator, or P.I., and solve some real mysteries from missing food at school to her great-grandma's disappearing dog and why new girl Sujata looks so sad. Luckily, with the help of friends and her own smarts, Aven Green, sleuthing machine, is able to bring all the cases to a happy solution.

In her next adventure, Aven plans to join with her friends, including new friend Sujata, to bake an award-winning dessert for the fair. Unfortunately, it doesn't work out as she'd planned and they end up having a big fight - and even quiet Sujata refuses to work with Aven any more! Aven's big personality and strong opinions won't help her here; she's hurt her friends' feelings by refusing to try their desserts or compromise in her plans and when she tries to find someone else to enter the contest with, he gets upset with her too! With her many brain cells and excellent ideas, will Aven figure out a way to win back her friends and still enter the contest?

Black and white illustrations are scattered throughout the book, showing how capably Aven has adapted to school and life in general, and her classmates and friends are a racially diverse group. Aven is a strong personality, a la Junie B. Jones, but her parents and teacher kindly but firmly rein her in when necessary, helping her to be more aware of boundaries and the feelings and needs of others. It's great to see more diversity in abilities in beginning chapter books and there appears to be some economic diversity in the families as well, something that's almost as rare.

There is a typo on page 8 of Aven Green Sleuthing Machine, and, generally speaking, younger versions of even popular series are unlikely to attract a new audience, but this stands well on its own. I will say that Aven's teacher is way more long-suffering than I would be with her antics, as are her friends with her bossy and take-charge personality, but there are good lessons about friendship and making things right when you mess up woven into the story, especially in Baking Machine. The second book also includes a large number of recipes in the back for kids to try.

Verdict: If you are looking to diversify your beginning chapter collection, this is a strong addition and will appeal to readers who like Junie B. Jones, Judy Moody, and other exuberant and humorous girls.

Revisited: Aven's fourth adventure features sports (soccer) which is a great addition as we need more beginning chapters featuring sports. It's the most popular one by far, but the series as a whole circulates steadily and consistently. I've recommended it to many teachers and quite a few kids pick it up on their own as well. A must-have for most beginning chapter collections.

Aven Green Sleuthing Machine
ISBN: 9781454942214

Aven Green Baking Machine
ISBN: 9781454942207

Published 2021 by Sterling; Review copies provided by publisher

Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata

Nayra is near a breaking point. Constant harassment at school, pressure from her family, who think she should just tough it out like her siblings did, and increasing frustration with her friend Rami, the only other Muslim student, all come to a boiling point one Ramadan. While she's on a website that focuses on preserving Muslim oral history, she and the others get a strange message from someone claiming to be a djinn. Only Nayra is gullible - or desperate - enough to answer and is shocked when the djinn shows up. Marjan at first appears to be intent on helping Nayra deal with her complicated life - and they do have a lot of good advice to offer - but they're hiding secrets of their own. When everyone's secrets meet, will Nayra be able to salvage her friendships and find a way forward, or will everything collapse?

There's a quasi-manga style to the artwork, shown in the choppy hairstyles, big eyes, and exaggerated movements. Ata has a style all their own though, weaving myth and oral history throughout the contemporary story with Marjan's storytelling, illustrated in bright motifs of pink, purple, and turquoise.

This is a unique offering, delving into friendship and family challenges, like the memoir style popularized by Raina Telgemeier, but weaving in the challenges of Nayra's exploration of religion and her struggles with harassment from students and indifference from teachers as well. Her struggles and culture are expanded through the introduction of Marjan and the focus on memories, secrets, and the sharing of stories. The ending is left open; Nayra introduces the djinn to her family and they agree to set aside differences and discussions and have a peaceful Eid together, promising to listen to Nayra later. Nayra's complicated relationship with Rami and her desire for a more accepting atmosphere will resonate with readers trying to find their own identities and move forward into their own future.

Verdict: I don't think this is the first choice I'd give kids who are unfamiliar with Arabic culture and Muslim religion, but it's a good starting point for a discussion and, aside from the educational aspect, it's a strong story with beautiful art.

ISBN: 9780593117118; Published February 2023 by Viking; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

There might be a Kazoo Emergency by Heidi E. Y. Stemple, illustrated by Selom Sunu

This comic easy reader starts out wacky and goes completely off the rails very quickly. I love it!

Gregory James and Lola, the two main characters, show up before the story to explain how to read comic panels and speech bubbles. Gregory James has light tan skin, freckles, and exuberantly curly brown hair. Lola also has tan skin with a gap in her front teeth, black hair, and dark eyebrows. There is diversity in body types shown right away, with Lola having a square, broad figure and Gregory being more lanky, wrapped in a hoodie and long shorts.

The story begins with Gregory James walking to the bus stop with a heavy, clanking backpack. Accosted by bullies, his backpack spills an array of random objects across the sidewalk. In chapter two, Lola appears and cheerfully helps him pick up the items, offering to walk with him to school. When she asks about the things he has, including a colander, feather duster, and kazoo, he says "There might be a kazoo emergency."

The two new friends are chatting when suddenly... there is an emergency! A tyrannosaurus has grabbed the bus which is stuck on a hot air balloon! This is the unexpected situation Gregory James has been preparing for, and with the backup of Lola (and his kazoo) he saves the day. The two friends continue on to school, ready for anything.

Cheerful digital cartoon illustrations fill the panels, adding humor to the characters' matter-of-fact delivery as the wacky events accumulate. The art and text is simple but bold, with clear, easy to follow speech balloons and uncluttered panels with strong background colors to make the art and text pop.

Verdict: Ready-to-Read has done some really strong comic easy readers and my only regret about this title is that it doesn't appear to be a series. A delightfully humorous story with a diverse cast, strongly recommended.

ISBN: 9781665920049; Published May 2023 by Simon Spotlight; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Papa's Magical Water-Jug Clock by Jesus Trejo, illustrated by Eliza Kinkz

I am absolutely in love with this delightful new picture book. Jesus is super excited because today he is going with Papa to work as a gardener and, even more exciting, he is in charge of the magical water-jug clock! When the big orange jug is almost empty, it will tell them it's time to go home. They say goodbye to Mama, heading off to her own job, gloves, mop, and cleaning supplies in hand, and they are off. As they mow, clip, tidy, and edge, little Jesus finds it's hot work, not just for him but for the animals he meets. He's surprised and delighted when the magical water jug says it's time to come home - but devastated when Papa admits it's not magical - and they still have eleven houses to go!

Some comforting words from Papa, a quick pit stop and refill of the jug, and the two are off to their next house, Jesus having learned from his wise Papa that "Time and water are precious." and feeling confident in his bond with his father.

Kinkz' hilarious illustrations start with the endpages, depicting Papa as a luchador in a dozen different costumes, "El Mower," "Gutter Governor," or "Super Sodder." Jesus, a stocky little boy with messy swirl of curls, bounces his parents awake, hugs his light-skinned mother, and watches his darker-skinned father, with a mustache and mess of curls like his, put on his boots, belt, and hat to get ready for the day. Imagination and his Papa's efforts to make the work day fun are shown everywhere, from the old rope holding the tools labeled "van security" to Jesus imagining the tall shrubs they are trimming as skinny monsters. Even when things get serious, Papa is kind and understanding, explaining "This job, our family business, is hard, hard work. But work is easier when you can play and have fun at the same time."

This is both a celebration of hard work and the father-son bond. The story is sprinkled with Spanish words and many of the houses they visit have families with Spanish names. The story is a little lengthy for younger children, but it would be easy to shorten it and make it accessible. It is also available in a Spanish edition.

Verdict: This is a great portrait of a family where both parents have service jobs, in landscaping and cleaning, and take pride in their work even though it is hard. I am thrilled to see more books that not only showcase the lives of Hispanic, working class families, but do so in a humorous and joyful way. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781662651045; Published June 2023 by Minerva; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library

Just read a great interview with the author here - I hope he does write more books!

Juniper Harvey and the vanishing kingdom by Nina Varela

June (short for Juniper) is not happy about her family's move from Dallas to a tiny, rural town in Florida. She has no friends and no idea how to make any and her best friend back in Texas has ghosted her. To make matters worse, she keeps having a strange nightmare about a girl in a temple, a sword and a statue.

When she gets roped into attending a dance by her outgoing, goofy mother (who wears cowboy boots and plaid shirts on all occasions), she sneaks away to the art room, where she draws pictures of the girl in her dreams and makes a wish... The next morning, she wakes up to find the girl there. In her bedroom. With a sword.

Galatea is a princess of a floating island and has been ruling since her father left to search for their missing goddess. She is desperate to find the missing crown of horns and save her shrinking and dying home and she's not at all happy to find herself dumped into a strange world with an, apparently, useless girl like June. However, she and June will have to team up with a new group of friends, the quirky but friendly Kamaria, Ollie, Sam, and Noah, if they are going to retrieve the broken pieces of the crown, save Galatea's home, and get her back safely.

The story is at turns funny and frightening as June stumbles through making friends, trying to fit in at the tiny middle school, helping Galatea in her quest, and sorting out her own feelings for Galatea. There are thoughtful interjections about not making pre-judgments and a gentle and kind treatment of June's gradual realization that she likes girls. Her parents are supportive, if a little clueless, and the sad and dramatic moments are dealt with quickly without maximizing the angst. The story ends on a happy note, with Galatea figuring out a magical way to visit and, consequently, June enjoying the school's Halloween dance. There is an epilogue that hints at a sequel, with Galatea's long-absent mother showing up to help her search for her missing father and readers are sure to want to know how Juniper gets involved.

From an adult point of view, there's no way a small Florida town would be so casually accepting of Juniper dancing with a girl at the middle school party and her parents were exasperatingly clueless. It was a nice touch not to focus on stereotypical bullies though, showing that Juniper has trouble making friends both because of her own self-consciousness and because the kids have all known each other forever. Galatea's world is based on Greek mythology, but has lots of individual quirks and world-building that make it unique.

Verdict: I'm trying to scale back on purchasing middle grade fantasy, as interest has definitely waned, but this is not too long at around 300 pages, fast-paced and funny, and with excellent characterizations of kids finding their place and the portrayal of a queer character figuring out who she is. Varela has knocked it out of the park on her middle grade debut and I can't wait to hand this to readers and add it to our 5th grade fantasy unit next year.

ISBN: 9780316706780; Published February 2023 by Little Brown Co; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Adventure Friends: Treasure Map by Brandon Todd, illustrated by Gloria Felix

I may need to speed up the process of browsing my way through our beginning chapter collection, since it's summer and I'm not even done with the A's...

This is a new entry in the Acorn imprint. These titles, including Poppleton, Crabby, and Unicorn & Yeti, are the equivalent of intermediate early readers but sized as small chapter books. Some are in comic layout and some maintain the original illustrated early reader layout. There are currently two titles in this series available. The story is preceded by an introduction to the characters, and a map of the town with a compass.

The story begins with Miguel, with brown skin and black hair, watching as a new family moves in next door. He quickly introduces himself to Clarke, a girl with curly, reddish hair, and they both discover that they like adventures. Clarke, however, knows how to use a compass and likes to make maps and Miguel was thinking more of hunting for pirate treasure. As they use the compass to explore directions in town and in the park, they negotiate their new friendship and learn about mapping.

The colored illustrated include spots, full page, and full spread and show a stereotypical small suburban town with a library, church, market and school and bounded by a river and a park. The two children seem to have the freedom to explore with no adult supervision, although Miguel has what appears to be a simple cell phone clipped to his belt. The only adult they meet is an ice cream man. The text was disappointingly clipped and clunky, admittedly something early readers often fall prey to.

Verdict: This is not my favorite of Acorn's offerings, but it has a reasonable amount of diversity and if you are looking to expand this level of early readers, it's an acceptable additional purchase.

ISBN: 9781338805819; Published January 2023 by Scholastic; Purchased for the library

Browsing the beginning chapter books: Racing Ace: Drive it! Fix it! by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita

Genre: Transportation; STEM
Protagonists: Black, female
Reading level: 330-430
Series: Currently 3 titles, with the last published in December 2022

To be shifted to transitional chapters

Review:   Ace, a Black girl with an explosion of purple curls, takes off in a sparkly purple race car in this simple early reader.

Acorn is Scholastic early reader imprint, creating books that are one step below their Branches series but in a small chapter book format. They are nicely sized for kids to feel they are reading a "real" chapter book, but simple enough for readers who can handle traditional titles like Frog and Toad. In fact, some of the Acorn titles are published early readers like Rylant's Poppleton.

  This cheerful story shows Ace building her car, continuing despite setbacks, and eventually winning the race.

Verdict: The simple text will be attractive to young children ready for more challenging books and this is a nice addition to the Acorn family, with a touch of diversity in the Black, female driver.

ISBN: 9781338553789; Published April 2022 by Scholastic; Purchased for the library

Astrid the Astronaut: Robot Rebellion by Rie Neal, illustrated by Talitha Shipman

This STEM-themed beginning chapter series includes a different science concept in each book. This title, the fourth in the series, has Astrid tackling coding and learning lessons about how to code as well as how to work with friends and family and keep her promises.

Astrid, who uses spoken language and hearing aids, is excited to show her favorite teacher how much her group has learned by coding a special routine for their robot for Ms. Ruiz' birthday. But her plans to have her big sister help fall through when Stella becomes absorbed in her own coding competition and it looks like Astrid will have to confess to her friends that she can't follow through on her promises. With last-minute help from Stella and the determination to be honest and support her sister, Astrid manages to save the day for both of them.

The series generally focuses on space-related STEM, since Astrid wants to be the first astronaut in space with hearing aids, but each also tackles issues of cooperation, friendship, and navigating family relationships. There are black and white illustrations sprinkled throughout the book. Astrid attends a racially diverse school, including the teachers, but she herself is white. The author includes a note on hearing aids and sign language at the end of the book, explaining her choice to have Astrid use aids and spoken language.

Verdict: This fits in with series like Ellie Engineer, Frankie Sparks, Craftily Ever After, Girls Who Code, and Fort Builders. The addition of a Deaf child is a an added dimension and will make this popular in my area, as we have a large Deaf population in the neighboring town and our school emphasizes STEM and maker activities. Recommended if you have an audience for beginning chapter books in this genre.

ISBN: 9781534481572; Published February 2023 by Aladdin; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Liam Kingbird's Kingdom: Liam the lion by Andrew Stark, illustrated by Emily Faith Johnson

Capstone, and their imprints Stone Arch and Picture Window, have a really excellent selection of intermediate early readers and beginning chapter books featuring a diverse selection of children. These are also made by creators from those same cultures. So far they have included several different Latinx characters, Asian characters (including the first chapter books to feature American-Hmong children and their families), and this year their new offerings include an indigenous child, Liam Kingbird, who lives on an Ojibwa reservation and has a cleft lip.

He is introduced with a series of simple statements, including his heritage and cleft lip, but also that he is imaginative and likes to draw. The story focuses on his worries about attending a new school on the reservation. Once there, he meets another boy, Jeremy, who focuses on Liam's cleft lip and initially says some unkind things that make Liam feel bad. After talking to his mom, Liam gets together his courage and with the support of the kids in class sees the positive side of being called a "lion" and settles into his new school.

The author, like Liam was raised on an Ojibwa Reservation and the illustrator is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa. Simple illustrations in color show Liam's feelings and emotions and the text, written in paragraphs, should be accessible to most 2nd graders. The story is followed by some additional information about Ojibwa history and culture, a simple glossary, and some questions to discuss the text. The book doesn't paint Jeremy as a bully, just as a kid who talks without thinking and inadvertently hurts Liam.

Verdict: A must-have for collections already including other similar titles and some much-needed diversity for this age group. This is also a nice, simple story for readers to discuss in class and it's great to see multiple identities smoothly blended into the story as well. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781666395051; Published January 2023 by Picture Window/Capstone; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library

My brain is magic: A sensory-seeking celebration by Prasha Sooful, illustrated by Geeta Ladi

 The story begins immediately after the title, featuring a brown-skinned girl with short brown hair, a blue headband and jumper, glasses, and striped leggings. She holds up a wand, sparking with light, and says "My brain is MAGIC! Let me show you all the things it can do."

The following pages show her in a wide variety of sensory-seeking behavior and dealing with concurrent emotions. She likens her brain to a buzzing bee, an octopus who wants to touch everything, or a sloth. When her brain overwhelms her with sensations and feelings, she does a calming activity, meditating with her grandpa, and then floats off to sleep with her brain as a whale.

Recommendations in the back, from the author who is an audiologist and educator, give suggestions for helping sensory seekers and examples of some of the behavior they may exhibit. Ladi's illustrations are sweet and exuberant, showing a little girl who celebrates her magic brain, even when she is overwhelmed and upset.

I'm not familiar with the term "sensory-seeking" but it appears to be a facet of sensory processing disorder. The suggestions and language used are similar to other titles I've read and the advice appears to be practical and useful.

Verdict: I think all children, neurodivergent or not, will enjoy this book, especially the animal similes. It would be a good title to match with Samantha Cotterill's Little Senses series or to use in a sensory storytime. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781953859617; Published April 2023 by Soaring Kite Books; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library