Imagine a Garden : Stories of Courage Changing the World by Rina Singh and Hoda Hadadi - ADVISABLE

Imagine a Garden : Stories of Courage Changing the World by Rina Singh, illustrated by Hoda Hadadi. PICTURE BOOK NON-FICTION Greystone Kids, 2023. $19. 9781771647137 

Content: PG. One story features tear gas grenades. It doesn't focus on the effects of the tear gas. In another story, a woman receives threats for helping refugees. The threats are not described. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Written in free verse, Singh tells seven stories from around the world of people who took difficult circumstances, and, with courage and resilience, did small things to change the world. A woman in Palestine turns empty tear gas canisters into planters for a flower garden. An artist in Mexico uses the pieces of dismantled illegal weapons to create musical instruments. A soccer lover moves to South Africa and, despite his own troubles, becomes a friend and soccer coach to local boys, helping to keep them in school. Singh includes an ""about the stories"" section at the end.  

I LOVED this book! The cut-paper art was mesmerizing. You don't have to have money or do something big and grandiose to change the world. I found myself wanting to learn more about the people and places in this book. The people in this book are from Palestine, Brazil, India, South Africa, Canada (native), Mexico, and Greece. 

Rachel, Elementary Library Specialist

Witness Trees by Ryan G. Van Cleave, and Dom Dom - MANY

Witness Trees: Historic Moments and the Trees Who Watched Them Happen  by Ryan G. Van Cleave, illustrated by Dom Dom. PICTURE BOOK NON-FICTION Bushel & Peck Books. 2023. $20. 9781638191254 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

In the sweep of wind over grass, near the pulse of rivers stand trees, monuments that have witnessed and continue to witness important events in history. A 1,000 year-old tree in Sherwood forest is now called the Parliament Oak after King John of England Held an emergency session of Parliament during the uprising of 1212 beneath the massive tree. Trees bear witness to the what, where, how, and who of the past. Many other trees are mentioned and the wars and events that they witnessed, including the Hundred Horse Chestnut tree around 4,000 years old. The tree that survived 911 is also included. Some of histories tree witnesses have been cut down, and these important trees need humanities protection. 

The Witness Trees is a beautiful book using verse and rhyme to express the ways very old and young trees have witnessed wars and other very important events in our world’s history. There is also a small text fact on each page informing us about each important tree. The reader is left with a feeling of awe and calm that trees continue to watch over us and continue to do so much longer than our small lifetimes. The illustrations are well done and also contribute to a feeling of peacefulness. Young and old readers will enjoy the story and facts. 

PGPowers

Where Butterflies Fill the Sky by Zahra Marwan - ADVISABLE

 Where Butterflies Fill the Sky: a story of immigration, family, and finding home by Zahra Marwan. PICTURE BOOK. Bloomsbury, 2022. $19. 9781547606511 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The girl loves her home with her aunties close by, the beautiful, blue waters, the butterflies – home. But, her family has been kicked out of their home and have landed is much different, new place. Eventually, she discovers a sense of community and belonging, while still longing for her old home and her family. 

Marwan’s epilogue is a must read – she brings light to one of the ways that people become homeless and need to leave what they thought was their home. If your school has a refugee and/or immigrant population, if you address immigration, nations-statehood, refugees in your curriculum, you could easily share this to add ore dimension to any discussion. Marwan’s illustration are unlike anything I remember seeing before – they are whimsical and concrete simultaneously – everything is dreamlike, but also identifiable. Her color palette enhances that dichotomy in only the best ways. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Moon from Dehradun by Shirin Shamsi and Tarun Lak - ADVISABLE

 The Moon from Dehradun: a story of partition by Shirin Shamsi and Tarun Lak. PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum (Simon), 2022. $19. 9781665906791

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – OPTIONAL; MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The girl’s family has lived in Dehradun for generations. But something has changed and they must quickly, in the middle of the night, leave their home and travel 100’s of miles to a new home. They leave so fast and are so scared that she can’t even go back for her doll that was accidentally left behind. Through the days of their journey, she sees the danger, the feelings of hopelessness and sadness in the faces around her. When she finds a doll left behind by another girl, she hopes that her doll is also being cherished.

I am unsure where a picture book about the partitioning of India would go in the elementary curriculum. I will add it to my middle school collection, because we talk about refugees in several places. My World Geography teachers can also use this in their classroom library during their study of the Indian subcontinent.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Rapunzel: an Islamic Tale by Fawzia Gilani and Sarah Nesti Willard - ADVISABLE

 Rapunzel: an Islamic Tale by Fawzia Gilani, illustrate by Sarah Nesti Willard. PICTURE BOOK. Kube Publishing, 2021. $14. 9780860377344

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The evil Shuna Leng takes the baby Rapunzel in exchange for the rapunzel her father stole to feed his wife. Her Uyghur parents never give up hope, blessing Allah every day and Rapunzel grows into a resourceful young lady who, with the encouragement of friends, is able to save herself from her tower prison.

If you haven’t read any of Gilani’s retold fairy tales yet, you are in for a treat. She takes the familiar tale and weaves in authentic Islamic customs, manners, and details, creating a realistic cultural tale. Whether you teach world religions, world geography, or fairytales, there are many ways you could build a lesson with Gilani’s tales as a guide. The illustrations are a bit amateurish, but convey the story well.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

A River's Gifts by Patricia Newman and Natasha Donovan - ADVISABLE

 A River's Gifts by Patricia Newman, illustrated by Natasha Donovan. NON FICTION PICTUE BOOK. Millbrook Press (Lerner), 2022. $24. 9781541598706

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The history of the Elwha River in Washington state and its importance for salmon and the native tribal people (Strong People) is depicted through simple detailed text and beautiful illustrations. As more people moved to the area and built dams to provide electricity, life on the river changed for the river's wildlife and its people. Did you know that licenses for dams need "renewing like an overdue library book?" What would happen if the license is not renewed? Extra notes from the author, illustrator, and a tribal member all give added insight to the book as well as maps on the endpapers comparing 1950 to 2020.

I was drawn into the book by the gorgeous illustrations. The text is very informative and felt like a mini lesson which could be enjoyed by upper elementary children (although not suitable as a read-aloud) through adults. I learned a lot about salmon, life along the river, and about the building of dams. There are many ways this book could be used to enhance any science curriculum.

CS - Middle School Librarian 

Every Dog in the Neighborhood by Philip C. Stead and Matthew Cordell - ESSENTIAL

 Every Dog in the Neighborhood by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Matthew Cordell. PICTURE BOOK. Neal Porter Books (Holiday House), 2022. $19. 9780823444274

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Louis and his Grandma go on walks every day in an urban neighborhood. Grandma sees something on her walk that she is upset by. She writes a letter to city hall. She encourages Louis to do the same. Louis asks, "How many dogs are in our neighborhood?" City Hall responds and says they don't know. Louis takes matters into his own hands and knocks on every door in the neighborhood. He enjoys getting to know his neighborhoods and especially the dogs writing down their names as he goes.

Stead writes a perfect story for an animal lover. I am a dog lover and had a very close relationship with my grandma and so naturally I loved this book. The names of the dogs are very unique and creative. I like the grandma's example of being involved in civic affairs and how to create change. I can see this book being checked out in a library constantly. It's incredibly charming. The diversity of the cast is many different races. It looks as though Louis and his Grandma are of Hispanic ethnicity.

Emilee-School Librarian