The Princess and the Warrior by Duncan Tonatiuh - ESSENTIAL

Tonatiuh, Duncan The Princess and the Warrior, PICTURE BOOK. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2016. $16.95. Content: G.  

Izta is the daughter of the emperor.  Although she has many suitors, she does not wish for a life of ease and wealth.  She loves a warrior named Popoca. Her father agrees to let them marry if Popoca will defeat their enemy Jaguar Claw.  When their enemy turns the tables on Popoca, all may be lost.  

This retelling of the legend of the two volcanoes of Mexico City is simply, yet beautifully told through both text and pictures.  A great legend to use as an introduction to a folklore or multicultural unit.  I loved that Tonatiuh used Natuatl words (the language Izta and Popoca would have spoken) rather than Spanish.  Includes a glossary, author’s note and a bibliography.  

EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL Lisa Librarian

Du Iz Tak by Carson Ellis - ADVISABLE

Ellis, Carson Du Iz Tak? PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2016. $16.99. Content: G.  

When two damselflies discover a small shoot beginning to grow, the bugs in the community work together to make it a fun fort for the whole season! Outside forces, like a spider, cause trouble, but only for a while.  

Using an imagined language and very detailed pictures, this story is a beautiful example of inference, letting the reader decide what is going on.  I especially loved the season passing by watching the plant grow and eventually die.  What a beautiful story.  

EL (K-3) ADVISABLE  Lisa Librarian

The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau - OPTIONAL

LaReau, Kara The Infamous Ratsos, illustrated by Matt Myers. EARLY READER. Candlewick Press, 2016. $14.99. Content: G. 

Louie and Ralph Ratso want to show everyone what bad guys they are, but every one of their mean tricks turns out differently than they expected.  They steal a hat - turns out they stole it back from a bully. When their dad finds out what they’ve been doing, they start looking for ways to be kind and helpful. 

I’m not a big fan of naughty kids whose actions somehow turn around and make them heroes (like Curious George) so I struggle a little with the premise.  That being said, the illustrations are adorable, the story of boys wanting to be tough like their dad is sweet but the lesson seems a little contrived.   This early reader will be enjoyed by boys who might not like to read. 

EL (K-3) OPTIONAL  Lisa Librarian

We are Growing by Laurie Keller - ESSENTIAL

Keller, Laurie We Are Growing EARLY READER. Hyperion Books for Children (Disney Book Group) 2016. $9.99. Content: G.  

When 8 blades of grass all start growing at once, they recognize the special in each other (who is the tallest, the pointiest, the curliest) but Walt isn’t any of those things. What makes him special?  

Introduced by Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie, this early reader has the same comic sillyness, the characters telling their own story in word bubbles and pictures.  A fun lesson in diversity and equality, this is a nice continuation to the series, and is the 2017 winner of the Geisel Award.  

EL (K-3) ESSENTIAL Lisa Librarian

Wish by Barbara O'Connor - OPTIONAL

O’Connor, Barbara Wish, 227 pages.  Farrar Straus Giroux, 2016.  $17.  Content: G (some mild bullying)

With her dad in jail and her mother battling depression, Charlie (Charlene) has been shipped off to a small North Carolina hill town to live with her aunt and uncle.  Every day she searches for anything she can make a wish on – hoping to get back to Raleigh and have her family back together.  Charlie has a lot of growing up to do and a lot to learn about the meaning of family.

O’Connor’s book is a tender look at girl struggling to find her place.  She makes plenty of mistakes, but eventually recognizes each time when she needs to apologize.  For girls who like charming realistic books, this is a good choice.

EL – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Hidden Figures by Margot Shetterly - OPTIONAL

Shetterly, Margot Lee Hidden Figures: Young Readers Edition, 206 pages.  Harper, 2016.  $17.  Content: G.

During World War II and into the age of NASA, women were prized for their mathematics abilities and were used extensively as computers, to calculate the complex problems needed for engineering tasks.  Because of segregation in the United States, however, black computers faced many diverse challenges – from being overlooked for advancement to simply finding a place for the restroom.

I think I am glad that I saw the movie before I read this book.  Otherwise, I’m not sure I would have persisted.  As interesting as this hidden part of history is, the narrative does not flow well, and I think it will discourage many of the kids who might pick it up.  Whoever wrote the screenplay did a masterful job of breathing life into the disparate parts.  I’d love to hear from someone who read the book before they saw the movie!

MS – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Runs with Courage by Joan Wolf - ADVISABLE

Wolf, Joan M. Runs with Courage, 211 pages.  Sleeping Bear Press, 2016.  $17. Content: G (some mild abuse).

Four Winds has been told by her tribe that she is going to a school to learn the white man’s ways so that she can become a bridge for her people.  When she arrives, however, the teachers of the school try to strip away her identity as a Lakota.  When she runs back to her tribe, she learns that her being at the school is the only thing keeping them from starving on the reservation they have been forced to inhabit.  Four Winds returns to the school, determined to find a real way to help her people survive.

Wolf has written an excellent book about the Indian Schools and the struggles and abuses of the system.  I am afraid that the only way this book will get attention, however, is if a teacher decides to read it with their class.  So make sure you share this with your Language Arts and history classes.

EL – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Marvin and the Moths by Matthew Holm - OPTIONAL

Holm, Matthew and Jonathan Follett Marvin and the Moths 368 pages. Scholastic Press, 2016.  $16.99.  Content: Language:  PG  Mature Content: PG  Violence:  PG

Marvin Watson has just started middle school.  Unfortunately for him, his very popular and much richer cousin Little Stevie is attending the same school and likes to pick on him.  Marvin ends up befriending Lee, nick-named “Smell-Lee” since he has an awful odor constantly emanating from him.  Their trio is rounded out with Fatima Curie, dubbed “Robot Girl” because of the metal and electronics that surround her.  At home, Marvin’s mother just had a baby and when his bedroom gets turned into the nursery, he is moved up to the attic.  It is up in the attic where he first encounters the three giant, talking moths.   Marvin lives in the town of Butcherville, home of Pork Loaf International, the company that makes the world famous Pork Loaf Log Roll.  It is discovered that Marvin’s experiments with some of the Pork Loaf products may be the cause of the giant moths as wells as the Elephant Vampire crisis that the town is suffering from.  Animals, including Big ‘Un, the giant elephant at the zoo, are going missing.  Add in a giant, Shakespeare-quoting spider and you have an interesting read. 

The story is accompanied by many full-page illustrations as well as short interludes that give the background of the mysterious Elephant Vampire.  The book definitely has an interesting cast of characters that middle school students may be able to relate to.  The ending of the book lends itself to a sequel. Readers may be familiar with Holm’s other work, including the Squish and Babymouse series.  Unfortunately, I think this book will appeal to a small population of students. 

MS – OPTIONAL.  Reviewer:  Nancy W.