#pre-k-6th

[iabookreviews]

Alma and How She Got Her Name

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal is a 2019 Caldecott Honor Book that's found on the ALA Book Resume for being challenged, and tells the story of a young girl named Alma asking about her name.

Cover

Genre

The genre of the story is fiction, and I read this book as a physical copy.

Target Age Group

The target age group is listed as 3-8 years old, and has a grade level of preschool-3rd.

Summary

Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela thinks her name is too long and goes to ask her dad about why she has so many names. Her dad then tells her the story of her name, and Alma realizes her name might fit her after all.

Justification

I needed to select a banned or challenged book, and when my first pick on the ALA Book Resume ended up being out of the publication range, I had to look for another one. I found this book, and the illustration caught my eye. The fact that red is the only color used on the cover and throughout the book was something that stood out to me.

Evaluation

The three criteria used for evaluation are Style and Language, Illustration, and Mood.

The style and language of the book is perfect for a story book, as it’s kept simple and repetitive to be read aloud to younger readers. There’s not too many words on the page, but there’s enough to paint a picture of each of the relatives Alma is named after. The names themselves are also wonderful because they come from a place of heritage, instead of any stereotypical names that could possibly be seen in some forms of media.

The illustrations of the book are charming and beautiful, at first maybe seeming like there’s a lack of color. However, the only colors used in this book are red and blue, and it helps make what’s on the page pop. It draws emphasis to Alma and different pieces of family history that make up her name in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming, or like the color is reserved specifically for these moments. However, it makes the book feel like one that has to be picked out by a parent or teacher, as the lack of multiple colors might draw younger readers away.

The mood of Alma and How She Got Her Name is lighthearted and encourages kids with lengthy names to find out what their names mean to learn about their heritage and embrace the long names. The book starts with Alma feeling the way many of these young readers might feel, which is that their name is too long and doesn’t fit, and with the set mood of encouragement and learning, they’ll be inclined to embrace that long name after they ask about what they were named after. Never in the book is there a point to show that kids should feel ashamed about a long name.

Reference

Martinez-Neal, J. (2018). Alma and How She Got Her Name. Candlewick

[iabookreviews]

The Hidden Witch

Molly Ostertag's graphic novel The Hidden Witch serves as a sequel to another graphic novel of hers, and dives into the world of magic and stereotype breaking standards, bringing a refreshing read to the world of graphic novels.

Cover

Genre

The genre of the story is fantasy fiction and is a graphic novel. I read this book as a physical copy and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Target Age Group

The target age group is listed as 8-12 and the grade range is 3rd-7th.

Summary

Aster is trying to get to used to being a witch and not a shapeshifter, like every other boy in his family was when his friend Charlie, from the non-magic part of town, has a curse attached to her. Now having to juggle his classes to help catch up with the other witches and helping his friend before more people end up cursed, or hurt.

Justification

I needed to select a graphic novel for my reading to help finish off the list, and I found it on the ALA Book Resume. I'd already selected my book for the banned/challenged category, so I decided to use it for the graphic novel category. The illustration of the cover caught my eye because I recognized Ostertag's style, and I went to get the book to read.

Evaluation

The three criteria used for evaluation are Style and Language, Plot, and Illustration.

There’s not much for style and language as this is a graphic novel, but the bits of dialogue support the scenery and flow naturally to carry conversation. The use of sound words is also helpful to support the illustrations and the scenery, and do a great job of not being too overwhelming and overtaking the panels in the novel. The dialogue feels natural and like it would be between kids nowadays and paints a realistic picture of the world the novel takes place in.

The plot of the story is also nice, but it’s hard to determine the main conflict and antagonist of the story until later on in the story. It might be because this book is a sequel to another graphic novel, but it’s still tough to find that big question right at the start of the novel that pushes the plot forward. However, once it’s established that they need to find a witch that needs their help and that Aster needs to finish his lessons with his grandma to better understand his magic, the plot flows along and wraps up nicely.

Similarly to The Girl from the Sea, Ostertag’s illustration style is that in-between style to not be too young or too old for readers. Not too cartoonish to feel like it’s a picture book, but not too realistic to make it feel like it’s too old for them. The expressions of this novel and the way emotion is portrayed through the faces, body language, and even the magic that’s illustrated on the page. The colors are bright as well and catch the emotion of the scene being placed in front of the readers.

Reference

Ostertag, M. K. (2018). The Hidden Witch. Graphix.

[iabookreviews]

When Clouds Touch Us

When Clouds Touch Us by Thanhhà Lai is a verse novel that covers the hefty topic of the reality of refugee living, and was on the 2024 Notable Poetry Books and Verse Novels list that was selected by the NCTE Children’s Poetry Award Committee. I read this book physically after obtaining a copy from my local library.

Cover

Genre

The genre of the story is historical fiction, but I've selected to use for the verse novel category.

Target Age Group

The target age group is listed as 8 to 12 years old, or 3rd to 7th grade.

Summary

Hà has finally settled when her mom tells her that they're going to be moving to Texas for a new job, and she doesn't want to make the move and tries to push it off. When it fails, Hà knows she has to start all over again, and she hopes that maybe things will work out again like they did before.

Justification

I wasn't sure where to start when it came to picking out a verse novel, and I did some searching around before finding the Notable Poetry Books and Verse Novels list. After confirming that it was a reputable list through some research, I began to look for a title that would work and catch my interest. For this book, the story compelled me, as did the cover and the title.

Evaluation

The three criteria used for evaluation are Style and Language, Plot, and Characters.

The style and language of the books is very nice and works for a verse novel, as it’s poetic and rhythmic. The poems are consistent in form, which helps the story flow because readers will be focused on the information in the poems, rather than any changing forms. The rhythm is nice as well, as it helps the story flow. The only thing that didn’t exactly work with me, though this might be a personal preference, is the choppiness of the poems and segments. It made my reading feel very stop-and-go and like I had to re-read sections to understand where I was. 

The plot of the novel is clear and consistent, and everything seems to tie up in a nice manner because the big question is answered. That question is able to be determined from the very beginning, even from the synopsis in the front flap of the book: will Hà be able to fit in again? It’s a good yes or no question, especially considering that since the start its clear to discern that she had already faced this struggle and made it through, and she doesn’t want to have to do it all over again. 

The way the characters are portrayed in the novel is fascinating because the pictures of them are painted through poem and verse, and they do have distinguishing factors that stand out. However, the names sometimes meld together, and there could be a bit more building to them and their actions. We get a clear picture of Hà, as the novel is written through her perspective, but there’s not much to make the rest of the characters stand out other than small details, like what her brothers thought about the plant.

Reference

Lai, T. (2023). When Clouds Touch Us. HarperCollins.

[iabookreviews]

Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You

Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You is the 2020 winner of the Schneider Family Book Award, and is a book written by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and illustrated by Rafael López to highlight the differences that can come to light with disabilities. I obtained this book as a physical copy and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Cover

Genre

The genre of the story is creative non-fiction, and I've selected it to be used for the disability and differences section of the list.

Target Age Group

The target age group is listed as 4 to 7 years old, or preschool to 3rd grade.

Summary

In this book, all sorts of disabilities and differences are discussed and shared as experiences are shared. They all work together on a garden while talking about what they go through and what it's like, and pass on the torch as they carry on conversation.

Justification

The Schneider Family Book Award is given to books that accurately the disability experience of children and adults, and upon discovering it, I knew it would be a good list to locate a book for the disability and differences category. I did some browsing through the list and stumbled upon this book, and the bright colors caught my eye. After looking to make sure this book would work, I got a physical copy, and then got to reading.

Evaluation

The three criteria used for evaluation are Style and Language, Illustration, and Mood.

The style and language of this book doesn’t shy away from tough words and provides good information for young kids who might not fully grasp the concept of disabilities or other differences. It’s a case of a book not hesitating to jump in and inform readers of what they’ve picked up, and doesn’t try to make the information simpler in assumption that readers won’t get it. The only downside is that there is a lot of information placed on pages, and it might slowly dwindle the attention span of younger audiences that picked up the books or sat down for the storytime. Other than that, the creative use of questions to lead to the next person and page is something I thoroughly enjoy.

This is the 3rd book I’ve read with Rafael López as an illustrator, and I think I’ve finally gotten an understanding of how his style works. The shapes and style of people might change and be different, but there is always going to be bright color, full page illustrations, and beautiful imagery being used as a metaphor. Focusing on this book, the garden imagery and the combination of realistic scenes with fantastical ones is eye catching.

The mood of this book is incredibly lighthearted and full of cheer, as well as displaying an eagerness to teach and learn. The smiling faces in the illustration and the use of exclamation points and enthusiasm in the words help contribute to the mood. The positivity surrounding the discussion of disabilities and difference is incredibly helpful, as it lets kids know that there’s nothing wrong with someone being different in a way they can’t control. It sets the tone for when they go out into the world and see someone that’s acting differently or looks different, and knows that all they have to do is just ask if they want to know what’s different.

Reference

Sotomayor, S. (2019). Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You (R. López, Illus.). Philomel Books.

[iabookreviews]

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music

Drum Dream Girl is the 2016 Pura Belpré Medal Illustration winner and an informational picture book that details one girl's dream to play the drums, written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael López. I read the book as an ebook, and enjoyed seeing the full-page illustrations spread across the screen.

Cover

Genre

The genre of the story is informational, due to the fact that it's heavily based on the childhood of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga. This book was selected for the informational category of the list.

Target Age Group

The target age group is listed as 3 to 7 years old, or preschool to 3rd grade.

Summary

Girls aren't allowed to play the drums because that's a boy's job, that's what she was told all along, no matter how badly she wanted to play the drums. That didn't keep her from practicing and dreaming, and hoping that one day she could play the drums.

Justification

I needed to select a informational or biography book for the list, and I wasn't sure what to do. I turned to look towards the Pura Belpré awards list to locate a book that would work, and this one caught my eye. The colorful illustrations and seeing the information in the synopsis told me that this would be a good book to use for this review and to evaluate.

Evaluation

The three criteria used for evaluation are Style and Language, Accuracy, and Illustration.

When it comes down to style and language, the book definitely delivers. The rhythm of the book moves nicely and reads like a poem would. The addition of rhythm is also smart, considering this is another book about a historical music figure. The use of spacing and line separation is also smart, as it helps those reading this book aloud figure out the pacing and way it should be read. With reading to yourself, it tends to stagger a bit, so this book might be a bit more geared for reading out loud. The word choice is also good, nothing too complex and nothing too simple. 

With accuracy, no solid research method was stated to determine where the information came from, and there weren’t as many articles to check if the information was accurate. However, in the acknowledgements section of the book, an autobiography about the all-girl band by one of Millo’s sisters was mentioned, and I can assume that this is where the information came from. It’s safe to assume that the information is accurate, considering the lack of articles detailing Millo’s life, and the use of an autobiography shows a reliable source was at least considered in the writing process.

The illustrations of Drum Dream Girl certainly add a lot to the story, as they’re not only big and colorful, but they stretch across the whole page on all the pages. This is a wonderful book for those that love pictures in books because there is no shortage of them. The style of the art is also very pleasant to look at, and it feels traditional in a way with the way the people look in the pictures. Also, another highlight is the way the music and drumming is portrayed in the drawings with floating, flying, and colorful rhythms, as it focuses on the part of music that makes people feel like they’re being lost in the music as they’re playing.

Reference

Engle, M. (2015). Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music (R. López, Illus.). Clarion Books.

[iabookreviews]

El Chupacabras

El Chupacabras is the 2020 Bluebonnet Award winner written by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Crash McCreery. I read this book as a physical copy obtained from my local library, and enjoyed seeing the bilingual tale on physical pages.

Cover

Genre

The genre of the story is fiction, or a folk tale retelling.

Target Age Group

The target age group is listed as 4 to 8 years old, or preschool to 3rd grade for grade level.

Summary

The story details Carla and her father Hector's life on a goat farm when one night, one of their goats is turned into a pancake by the Chupacabra. It's a fearsome beast, or so they've heard, and they work to find a solution to protect their goats. However, they learn that sometimes trying to help can do more harm than good.

Justification

So, I needed to pick out a Bluebonnet award nominee or winner, and this book wasn't my first choice. I realized that the original book I selected was published just outside the 10 year mark, so I needed to find another one. When browsing, the main thing that hooked me and made me select this book was the "bilingual tale" part of the title. I did a bit of looking and realized that the story was told in English and Spanish at the same time, and I simply had to see how that worked. My main thought going into it was thinking there would be one English and then one Spanish sentence, but I had no real idea until I had the book in my own two hands to read it.

Evaluation

The three criteria used for evaluation are Style and Language, Illustration, and Plot.

The style and language of the story is fascinating because it tells it in English and Spanish simultaneously. The parts in Spanish are written in English in the following sentence, and it’s the same the other way around. The only time this doesn’t happen is in dialogue sometimes, but it still stands as a strong element that stands out from other books. There’s a lot of emphasis in certain parts as well with strong word choices, describing the big impacts and adding to the twist that eventually comes. It’s still easy to read and doesn’t give too many hard words for young readers.

The illustration is definitely a strong point of the book because of the use of color and detail to the art, as well as the Chupacabra’s design. For color, the scenes of night and in dramatic pieces the colors are bolder and darker, drawing attention to frightened eyes or other details. In general the art is incredibly detailed and calls attention to small pieces, like the goats reaction to the magic dust and the flower cart. The art style is more realistic, aside from the more fantastical pieces, but it’s pleasing to the eye. The way the Chupacabra is drawn is my favorite part, because when Carla and Hector are talking about it, it’s drawn as a horrifying monster. Then, the page is turned and it’s seen that the Chupacabra isn’t a big monster and is instead a small creature, not this large, horrific monster everyone viewed it as.

The plot was enjoyable, and the twist of the story worked well. It began with fearing this presumed monster that sucked goats into pancakes and wanting to stop it, to needing the Chupacabra’s help to return the goats to normal after the magic dust turned them big. There is a lack of a big dramatic question in my opinion, but I don’t think it’s needed in this case because of how straightforward the story is with the presumed plot, and then the twist. If it did have one, my best guess for it would be “Do Carla and Hector stop the Chupacabra?” The only issue is that the question would likely be left as a sort of because of the way the conflict was resolved. But at the end of the day, the conflict was resolved neatly and made a complete plot.

Reference

Rubin, A., McCreery, C. (2018). El Chupacabras. Dial Books.

[iabookreviews]

Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln

Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln is a biographical story written by Margarita Engle, and illustrated by Rafael López. It's a Pura Belpre winner, and was found on that list of awards. I obtained a copy of the book from my local library, and thoroughly enjoyed flipping through the pages and seeing the illustrations.

Cover

Genre

Dancing Hands is a biography.

Target Age Group

The target age group is listed as four to eight years old, and grade wise, for preschool to third grade.

Summary

The book details the childhood of Teresa Carreño, her move to the united states, and her path to eventually playing for President Lincoln. Yet, Teresa worries that her music won't be able to comfort those who need it, and she must overcome her own worries to succeed.

Justification

Much like Atticus Caticus, the cover art immediately grabbed my attention when I was looking at the Pura Belpre awards list. The contrast of gray and the colors coming from the piano had me admiring it, and I simply had to know what this book was about. Biography books for kids are always fascinating to me, and I was curious how this one would go because sometimes authors focus too much on providing information and not telling a story. On the other hand, sometimes they get too wrapped up in telling a story that the facts get muddled and lost. I wasn't sure if this book would fall into either category, but the only way to find out would be to read the book for myself.

Evaluation

The selected criteria for evaluation are Style and Language, Illustration, and Accuracy.

The style and language of Dancing Hands is subtle and isn’t exactly noticeable due to the fact that reading it feels like a normal book, but looking at the way the sentences are structured and separated, it’s clear that there’s meant to be a rhythm while reading. The language isn’t too complex, but it’s also not too easy to look down on young readers. Bigger words are included to describe whatever scene is being portrayed in the illustrations, as well as carrying along the story. The language to craft together scenes is also very descriptive and adds to the tale, preventing young readers from getting too bored and seeing this as just a book of information.

The illustration is my favorite part of this book because of the detail placed in it. Not only does it add to the story, but the fact that the use of color is incredibly present is something I adore. In scenes where there’s an absence of music, the colors are darker and drab, dulled down compared to the scenes where music is being talked about or played. In those scenes, the colors are bright and vibrant, paired with drawings of nature coming from and surrounding the piano. Even on the cover, the distinction of color is present and fascinating. Color is definitely the main illustration device used in this book, and it’s wonderful.

When it comes to accuracy as this is a biographical story, it’s important that information be correct. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate how Engle got her information for this book and see if she used reputable sources. However, the information is still accurate. An article written by Holly Chung about Teresa Carreño’s life was something I used to cross reference the book and the facts being stated, and it all lined up in a neat manner. The book states Carreño’s childhood with correct information of her move to the United States and the journey to play the piano for President Lincoln. Some details are omitted, such as her study under Louis Moreau Gottschalk (Chung, 2023), but the simple nature of the book doesn’t require specific details of her life.

References

Chung, H. (2023, September 6). Virtuosity and nostalgia: Teresa Carreño and Chopin. Classical KDFC. https://www.kdfc.com/articles/virtuosity-and-nostalgia-teresa-carreno-and-chopin

Engle, M., López, R. (2019). Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

[iabookreviews]

Atticus Caticus

Atticus Caticus is a short storybook written by Sarah Maizes and illustrated by Kara Kramer that goes over the silly activities of a cat named Atticus. This book is on the Texas 2x2 reading list, and I read it physically, having checked it out from my local public library.

Cover

Genre

The genre of this book is fiction.

Target Age Group

The designated target age group is 2 to 7 years old, and grades vary from pre-school to second. Ultimately, it's geared towards a younger audience.

Summary

Atticus Caticus is a short, lighthearted book that details a boy talking about everything his cat gets up to. From jumping around, chattering with a bird, and playing, kids will surely be entertained by seeing what Atticus gets up to.

Justification

I needed to pick out a book from the Texas 2x2 list, and the cover art of this one caught my eye. The scribbles and childlike artstyle reminded me of some of the books I read and listened to when I was back in elementary school, so I had to put it on my list of books to review. The simple summary and claim of inspiring poetry had me wondering what this book was like, and upon reading it, I knew exactly what they meant by it.

Evaluation

The selected evaluation criteria are Style and Language, Illustration, and Mood.

The style and language of Atticus Catticus is perfect for a storybook because not only is the word choice single, but every sentence rhymes with the one it’s paired with on the page. There’s also a repetition of the “at-at-ticus” sound, a different word being put in front of it each time to provide a fun rhyme you get every few pages or so. The style and language make it clear that this is a book better read aloud rather than simply in your head, and appears to be designed for storytelling. The presence of stretched out sound words points to this as well, because those types of words are better for out-loud books.

The illustrations of the book add a level of charm to the story, especially because it’s told through the eyes of a child talking about his cat. The scribble style of the art makes it feel like it was drawn by this kid, and the colors are very appealing. The size of the drawings make an impact as well, as they’re large and able to be seen if you were looking at it from a short distance. Read-alouds were definitely considered in the illustrating process, and it shows a distinct level of care put into making sure the reading experience is wonderful.

The mood of the story is lighthearted and positive, as it’s written to be a silly story talking about what a cat does during the day. It seems like something fairly straightforward, but keeping the illustrations and language in mind, it’s clear that the author and illustrator had a vision for how the story would go and should be read as. They set a clear path with the designated mood, and strolled through it with ease. The rhymes and rhythm of the story also add to the mood and makes reading it a fun experience and one that could be done as a call and response in the classroom.

References

Maizes, S., Kramer, K.. (2021). Atticus Caticus. Candlewick.