Everybody in the Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter Illustrated by Oge Mora

 

Everybody in the red brick building is asleep until "WAAAAAH!",  Baby Izzie howls from her crib. Her loud cries sets off a chain that will one by one, wake everyone up. Each awakened person makes a new sound that will wake the next person. Finally, Pepper the cat is so startled, she jumps on a car, setting off it's alrarm. Now that everybody is awake, its time to quiet down. Everybody eventually goes back to sleep with soothing sounds until Baby Izzie falls asleep to "pah-pum...pah-pum...pah-pum" the sound of her mother's heartbeat.

Young readers will delight in the repetitious, building onomatopoeia, as well as relating to trying to fall asleep amid the noises that surround us. The cast of characters is diverse. The vivid and bold multi-media collages draw the reader in, but the bold texts of the sounds drive the story home. 

Mark's Book Picks Score: 3.5

Reading Level: 2.0 • Interest Level: P-2 • AR Points: NA • Lexile Level: NA • Publisher: Harper Collins • Pages: 32 • Copyright: 2021 • ISBN: 978-0-06-286576-2 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor

 

While Mama is away, Mel decides to bravely wander out of the nest because she decides that it is time she learned to fly.  "Aren't you scared?" asks her sister, to which Mel replies "Yes, but I won't let that stop me!"  Mel jumps from the tree branch and begins to free fall. As she plunges down, many of the other inhabitants of the tree try to save her, to no avail.  Suddenly "SPLASH!" she plunges into the river below.

In the river, Mel discovers who she is and what she is meant to do. The colored pencil and acrylic illustrations bring the story to life, but are greatly enhanced from the unique way the book is bound, opening from bottom to top. A perfect read aloud, that kids will want to read over and over on their own. A 2021 Caldecott Honor book.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4

Reading Level: 1.4 • Interest Level: P-2 • AR Points: 0.5 • Lexile Level: NA • Publisher: Harper Collins • Pages: 40 • Copyright: 2021 • ISBN: 978-0-06-287801-4

Flamer by Mike Curato

This graphic novel is long overdue. This is a brutally honest look at male puberty, focusing on fourteen year old Aiden as he tries to navigate his unsure sexuality, body image, ideals of masculinity, family, friendship, and religion. While not every male reader will see himself in Aiden, he will see himself in one of the many male-types represented at Aiden's one week at summer Boy Scout camp.

Aiden is at Boy Scout camp the summer between Catholic middle school, and  public high school. Aiden loves summer camp, because it takes him away from a painful family and school life. As Aiden navigates through summer camp he discovers that many of the issues the world has thrown at him because he is "different," he will face at summer camp. His body image, lack of athletic ability, effeminate mannerisms, and dreams focusing on a member of his troop, render Aiden powerless when facing the bullying and mocking from fellow Scouts. Fortunately, some of his friends and leaders are not assholes, and show Aiden support.

Much of the story is drawn from Mike Curato's personal experiences. He expressed that when he was a teen in the 90's there weren't any books that mirrored who he was. Feeling marginalized and unimportant, he created Flamer to fill that gap. There was much I related to in this book. This is not all depressing. There is much humor here that will make you smile and remind you of similar experiences.

The art work is rough, with line having the texture of chalk. The drawings are simple but the characterizations and emotion come shining through. The black and white drawings are enhanced by orange and red spot color representing literal and emotional heat. The wide variety of panel shapes and composition, give the book a cinematic feel.

I highly recommend this for all YA collections. The language is real and natural given the age group and setting, but might be considered inappropriate for younger YA. The liberal me, that feels that there are many, even in middle school, that will need this book, would put it in my middle school library. A quote on the cover from Jerrett Krosoczka reads, "This book will save lives." I couldn't agree more.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 5

Reading Level: 3.2 • Interest Level: 9-12 • AR Points: 1.0 • Lexile Level: NA • Publisher: Henry Holt • Pages: 366 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-1-627-79641-5 

King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

Thirteen year old Kingston, or King, is grieving over the recent death of his sixteen year old brother Khalid. Seeing a dragonfly at his brother's funeral, he now believes his brother is embodied as a dragonfly. Every day he walks to the river to visit the dragonflies and his brother. His entire family has difficulty dealing with the grief, his father surprising him with an "I love you" as he drops King off for school. King dreams of his brother and recalls his brother's philosophical musings which are poetic, told with beauty and grace.

King's best friend, Sandy, confided in him that he likes boys, and he is gay. When King told his brother about Sandy he warned King that he cannot be friends with him, or others will think he is gay too. King is struggling with his own sexual identity and racism (King is Black, Sandy is white). King tells Sandy he can no longer be his friend and then reveals Sandy's secret to other friends. Sandy is now ostracized and ignored, Sandy's life is further complicated with a racist and homophobic father who is also the town's sheriff. Sandy follows King to the river, confronts King about their friendship and anger. King reveals his guilt and grief for his brother. The two part, but the next day Sandy is missing. King discovers Sandy in his tent, where he often goes when he needs to be alone. King and Sandy confide in each other, Sandy revealing abuse by his father and King his sexuality.

What follows is a deftly told story of King and his conflict with sexuality, race, and family. Callender beautifully weaves poetic prose to describe believable, real, characters, and the gradual growth of King learning to accept the loss of his brother, accept his own sexuality, and confront family to earn their acceptance. 

The confrontation with his father is particularly moving. In an exchange with his father, King has difficulty understanding why his father is needing some time to accept his sexuality. His father explains that he loves him, but "...it's hard. I've got all these ideas of what it means to be gay. Everything I was told by my father, and  my father was told before me, and I don't know if it's wrong or right, but I know I love you."  King has difficulty with this, asking "But why should it be so hard? Why do have to struggle with me being gay, but you don't struggle with me being Black?" His father tells him it is not the same thing. but King responds "It's the same sort of hate. The kinds of things people do or say because I'm Black feels like the kinds of things people do or say because I'm gay."

Some serious issues of grief, sexuality, and racism are handled perfectly for a middle school audience...but don't kid yourself, this is for everyone. A powerful ending that reassures that life will go on. Have some tissue handy.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 5

Reading Level: 4.9 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 7 • Lexile Level: 830L• Publisher: Scholastic • Pages: 259 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-1-338-12933-5 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Class Act by Jerry Craft

A follow up to Craft's Newbery and Coretta Scott King award winning New Kid, Class Act focuses on Drew Ellis, one of Jordan Bank's Black friends at Riverdale Academy. A new semester has started, and now Drew and Jordan are seventh graders. Drew, like Jordan, attends the mostly white prestigious school on scholarship. He lives in a low-income co-op apartment with his working grandmother. His grandmother has instilled a strong work ethic in Drew, teaching him that he has to work twice as hard to go half as far. While an outstanding student and athlete, Drew has difficulty juggling between Andy, his racist arch enemy, Ashley, a white girl who has a mad crush on him, Liam, his uber-rich white friend, Jordan, who is lighter skinned, and the guys from his own neighborhood.

Craft deftly interweaves middle school life and drama, with racism, and assumptions about race, poverty, and wealth. Drew is jealous of Liam for what he has, paying no attention to how unhappy Liam is. Liam is jealous of Drew for the support from his grandmother and the community around him. Both boys will grow to appreciate each other. Craft's deft artwork adds brevity and humor. Chapter titles and section artwork are analogies of current popular YA books. Periodic sections drawn in black and white, remove the reader from the story to teach about relationships and racism in symbolic and subtle ways.

An excellent follow up to New Kid that confronts the reader with racism and race relations in a non-didactic, humorous way.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4

Reading Level: 2.8 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 2.0 • Lexile Level: NA • Publisher: Harper Collins • Pages: 249 • Copyright: 2019 • ISBN: 978-0-06-288550-0 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding 

White Bird by R.J. Polacio

R.J. Palacio, author of Wonder, has created a graphic novel, based on an interview Julian, Auggie's bully in Wonder, has with his grandmother.  Julian reveals to his grandmother his regrets for the way he treated people, and wishes he could go back in time to correct his errors. She confides that "We are not defined by our mistakes, but by what we do after we've learned from them." This becomes the theme of the story Julian's grandmother reveals when he asks her to tell the story of when she was a young girl in France during the German occupation of WWII. 

Julian's grandmother, Sara Blum, was a well to do Jewish girl in the southern region of France. Her father a surgeon and her mother a math teacher, she was admittedly spoiled, having everything she wanted, as a single child of two loving parents. France falls to Germany and suddenly life changes as German rule and French law starts herding the Jews and sending them to concentration and work camps. Sara has a false security at her private school, where unexpectedly all the Jewish students are removed. Sara hides, and is almost caught, when Tourteau, a fellow student on crutches disabled from polio, leads her safely out of the school and into his family's barn to hide. In hiding for years, Sara's and Tourteau's relationship grows from one where she teased and mocked him for his disability to one of mutual respect and friendship. While fiction, there is much historical fact and characterizations of real people.

Palacio shows her talent as the graphic artist as well as the author. The line drawings and coloring have a tone that lends itself to the seriousness of the narrative. Palacio provides more detailed explanations of events and terms in a glossary following. She admits to not being Jewish herself, but married to a Jew, and feels it is the responsibility of Jews, and non-Jews alike to remember the story of the Holocaust.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4

Reading Level: 3.5 • Interest Level: 5-9 • AR Points: 2.0 • Lexile Level: GN440L • Publisher: Random House • Pages: 218 • Copyright: 2019 • ISBN: 978-0-525-64553-5 

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

The sentiment "THIS IS NOT A HISTORY BOOK!" is repeated several times in the text of the book.

Ahhh, but it is a history book, a history book of the very BEST kind. It's history with a purpose. For young people, or anyone for that matter, to understand racism as it is today in America, to be an anti-racist, one must understand how we got here in the first place. Ibram X. Kendi wrote Stamped from the Beginning" for an adult audience which has been "remixed" for a younger audience by Jason Reynolds. The result is a fascinating history that for me, was an eye opener. Reynolds takes what could be a dry history, and presents it in a conversational narrative that draws you in, and keeps you wanting more...something only the most gifted storytellers can do. 

Stamped reveals how racist ideology, starting in 1415 with a single Portuguese document,  justifying Portugal's pilfering of African society and it's African slave trade, spread through Europe, and then with European colonization spreading it around the world, eventually landing on the North American continent.  The main focus is on African slave trade, and how reliant the American economy was on slave trade and on the American civil rights movement, but references to other instances of racism are mentioned.

This is an essential read and accessible for most secondary students. Tie this with other books, such as This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell to provide students with both the history and the action necessary to be anti-racist.

Mark's Book Picks Score: No rating for non-fiction

Reading Level: 7.4 • Interest Level: 9-12 (I would use it 6-12) • AR Points: 6 • Lexile Level: 1000L• Dewey: 305.8 Publisher: Little, Brown & Co. • Pages: 294 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-0-316-45369-1 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

A story told in verse of two sixteen year old girls; Camino in the Dominican Republic and Yahaira in New York. Camino is at the airport, waiting to greet her father who lives in New York and visits every summer. The plane is late, and it is announced that the plane has crashed. Yahaira is angry with her father. Snooping through his things, she discovers a document that indicates that he has another family. She now understands why he leaves for the Dominican every summer. Suddenly, her anger turns to grief with anger as she learns that her father's plane has crashed.

Camino, whose mother died from cancer years ago and now living with her aunt, is grieving the loss of her father, concerned about how bills and her tuition will be paid, and trying to deal with a lurking danger from which her father is no longer there to protect her. Camino's resentment and anger towards her father's secret family in New York grows stronger. She decides to search for her unknown sister and contact her via social media.

Yahaira is trying to deal with her anger, and now her grief over her father. She has stopped participating in chess tournaments, and has trouble dealing with her mother. The airline has given them a large cash advance on a settlement, and now family members are knocking at the door for money. Fortunately she can turn to her neighbor, best friend, and girlfriend, Dre. Things change when she gets a message from a person claiming to be her sister in the Dominican.

The free verse novel is told in the alternating voices of Camino and Yahaira. The character, strength, and emotion of each girl is beautifully rendered with its own format and rhythm. The alternating voices are combined when the two girls meet. A strong book dealing with loss, grief, love, and the ultimate strength and compassion for familial ties.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4

Reading Level: 5.3 • Interest Level: 9-12 • AR Points: 7 • Lexile Level: HL800L• Publisher: Harper Teen • Pages: 417 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-0-06-288276-9 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

This graphic novel is unusual. Not unusual in a bad way, but in a creatively genius kind of way. Snapdragon is a middle school girl whose dog is missing. Fearing the worst, she decides to visit a woman rumored to be a witch who feeds on roadkill. She discovers the "witch", named Jacks has rescued, and given first aid to her dog. Jacks collects roadkill, cleans the skeletons, articulates them, and sells them on the internet. When Snapdragon discovers a dead opossum, with her young living babies, she asks Jacks if she will take care of the babies. Jacks agrees, but only if Snapdragon will assist her with her work. A friendship ensues, but the story gets more complex as Snapdragon discovers that Jacks is intimately connected to her family and that perhaps Jacks really is a witch.   A heartwarming side story connects Snapdragon to Louis, who would rather be known as Lu, and prefers a dress over pants. Snapdragon's hardworking mother is strict but compassionate, who's previous boyfriend is threatening Snapdragon and her dog. 

With a wide cast of characters of different skin tones and sexuality, they are all presented matter of factly in a heartwarming, accepting way. Sometimes the plot turns a little creepy, but is one that readers will be drawn to and desire more. Excellent for providing a window into the lives of people who live on the outskirts of what is socially acceptable, but are loving, caring, beautiful people. The artwork actually gives brevity to some of the more serious overtones, and the creative use of panel shapes and composition adds to the adventure.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4

Reading Level: 2.4 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 1 • Lexile Level: NA • Publisher: Roaring Brook Press • Pages: 223 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-1-250-17111-5 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson

Fourth grader, Ryan Hart strives to live up to her name, "I do not have a boy's name, I have my name. My name is Ryan and Ryan means 'king' and that means I am a leader -"

The Hart's, a Black family in Portland Oregon, have to make some changes when Dad loses his job at the post office and takes a night-shift job for less pay. The family has to leave their current home, for a smaller one. They need to get rid of one of their cars. They need to shop differently for groceries. None of these changes diminish Ryan's outlook, nor the family's love for one another.

Each chapter is a small vignette of Ryan's and her family's everyday life. Each vignette is sometimes humorous, sometimes heartwarming, sometimes embarrassingly painful, but always with  Ryan facing the circumstances with effort and honesty. In one particular chapter, Ryan begs her older brother Ray to go bike riding with him and his friends. He reluctantly allows her to go. Ray beats his friend in a bike race, and is then challenged by his little sister. Ryan beats her brother, who is already exhausted from the previous race. In celebration, she tosses her helmet, with it landing in a bush. When she goes to retrieve it, she discovers the bush has a beehive. Her brother, lovingly, warns her to be still, but she screams and runs home, sure she is being chased by an army of bees. Once home, crying and out of breath, her mother calms her. Once calm, she starts laughing...not only did she out race her brother, she out ran an army of bees!

While providing a mirror for Black young girls, Renée Watson gives a window, from which all girls will find something relevant and relatable. This title is first of a new series

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4

Reading Level: 4.5 • Interest Level: 3-6 • AR Points: 4 • Lexile Level: NA • Publisher: Bloomsbury • Pages: 177 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-1-547-60056-4 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

Efrén Nava, a seventh grader, lives in a studio apartment with his Amá,  Apá, and twin five year old sister and brother Mia and Max. While they have little, Efrén is thankful for what they do have, and a family that is tight knit and supportive. Efrén does well in school accompanied by his best friend David who is far more outgoing and gregarious than Efrén. 

Coming home from school, Efrén is surprised to find the house empty. His mother always keeps to a tight schedule, and is very protective of Efrén and his siblings. Worried, Efrén starts looking, but soon finds out his mother has been deported, captured by ICE when interviewing for a job. Efrén and his family's lives are turned upside down. Efrén is now tasked with household duties, caring for his brother and sister, while his father working three jobs, is trying to get his mother back.

Efrén has been taught to not burden others with his problems, and to not trust outsiders, so he doesn't share his problems with his friends, neighbors or teachers. Efrén starts to suffer in school, especially when one of his teachers come down hard on him for his tardiness and missing assignments. He will not reach out to his best friend, David, as he doesn't want his pity. But he does share with Jennifer Huerta, one of the smartest in his class. His relationship with Jennifer comes in conflict with his friend David, as Jennifer and David are running against each other for student body president. In the midst of middle school drama, Efrén just wants his mother back, and is willing to put himself in grave danger to help his father with her return.

This is an important book to be shared. As a middle school teacher, Efrén Divided was painful to read. I was, at one time, one of those unforgiving teachers that didn't accept excuses. Fortunately I changed midway through my career, but the book made clear to me my lack of compassion and understanding. Middle school life, as portrayed by Cisneros (a middle school teacher himself), is accurate. More important, is how the current status of immigrants in America, and the unconscionable way families are being ripped apart is brought to the forefront with a story that is carefully drawn to show the emotional toll, and the price our communities pay for governmental policy that is heartless. What happened to "Give me your tired, your poor...?"

Mark's Book Picks Score: 5

Reading Level: 4.5• Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 6 • Lexile Level: 710L • Publisher: Harper Collins • Pages: 260 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-0-06-288168-7 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes & Illustrated by Gordon C. James

Black young men are feared and maligned. Black parents need to teach their sons and daughters how to behave when stopped by a police officer, how they have to behave in specific social situations, how they have to work twice as hard to get half as far, and, as is the message of this book, they are worthy, they are important, they are loved, they are good.

I Am Every Good Thing is a beautifully illustrated ode to the author's and illustrator's sons and dedicated to Black young men who's lives ended far too early. Told in the first person, the poem expresses everything a young Black man is. From son to father, artist to athlete, a difference maker, a leader, a son, a caregiver, "I am a brother, a son, a nephew, a favorite cousin, a grandson. I am a friend. I am real." Every illustration shows the same love, compassion and importance of the words. The beautiful oil paintings use brushwork that evoke the emotion. A necessary message for young Black men that should not have the imperative that it does today.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4

Reading Level: 2.0 • Interest Level: P-2 • AR Points: NA • Lexile Level: NA • Publisher: Penguin • Pages: 32 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-0-525-51877-8 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

A graphic novel memoir of Omar and Hassan Mohammed, two boys, who's father is killed, and get separated from their mother while fleeing the Somalian civil war. Now, having spent years in the Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya, Omar retains the hope of reuniting with his mother, and returning to Somalia. Life in the camp is difficult. He must care for his younger brother who has seizures and doesn't speak. He must wait in long lines to get minimal food and water. Life is desperate. But Omar and Hassan are supported by the community around them, by Fatuma, their "foster" mother, his best friend Jeri, and inspiration from two bright girls, Maryam and Nimo.

Omar is encouraged by his friends to go to school. Omar feels that is out of the question as he must care for his brother. Fatima steps in and tells Omar to go, she will take care of Hassan. Omar is behind others his age, and he's not sure how he will fit in. With support from Jeri, Maryam and Nimo, Omar achieves beyond his expectations, developing into one of the highest achieving boys in his class. As he meets new people, his goals have changed to become a social worker to assist refugee families. While his goal has changed, his love for his brother and search for their mother have not. Omar faces much hardship and challenge in trying to make his dreams a reality.

The graphic format using Victoria Jamieson's clean, simple, artwork will make the intimacy and touching struggle of the Somalian refugees vivid and comprehensible to a young audience. There is much to discuss here, and in light of current events, the topics are relevant and important.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4.5

Reading Level: 3.7 • Interest Level: 4-7 • AR Points: 4.0 • Lexile Level: GN530L • Dewey: 921 • Publisher: Penguin • Pages: 256 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-0-525-55290-8 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

 

Amal Shahid is a teenage boy in New York with a gift for poetry and an artistic talent. He knows the world is unjust and unfair for people of color, especially teenaged boys. Convinced by a friend to play basketball in a newly gentrified, now white neighborhood, Amal goes, against his better judgement. With taunting and racial epithets, a fight breaks out. Amal admits to throwing the first punch, but not the blow that puts a white boy into a coma. A criminal justice system that treats privileged white boys differently, Amal is found guilty of assault, his Black friends take a plea deal, and none of the white boys are charged. He enters the juvenile detention system, innocent of crime, innocent in character. In detention he learns to deal with a heartless system that works to diminish Amal's humanity. Fortunately there are a few who care, who are willing to give Amal the opportunity to expand and express himself through books, words, and art.

Based upon the experiences of Yusef Salaam, one of the Exonerated Five, Ibi Zoboi's free verse is precise, biting, and truthful. The structure of the words in each sentence and on each page adds impact to the meaning. While enough to stand alone, the words are supported by the artwork of Omar Pasha.

While the message is dire, and revealing of the injustice for Black Americans, especially boys, in our justice system, Amal's (and Yusef's) story contains a small glimmer of hope.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4.5

Reading Level: 6.0 • Interest Level: 7-12 • AR Points: NA • Lexile Level: NA • Publisher: Harper Collins • Pages: 386 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-0-06-299648-0 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

 

The deeply personal graphic memoir by Jarret J. Krosoczka, author of the immensely popular Lunch Lady series , is raw, honest, and in no way for the Lunch Lady crowd.

Jarrett doesn't mask the flaws or the deep love he has for his mother, Leslie, and his grandparents, Joe and Shirley, who raised him. He details his life with his mother and the bond they had. She was artistic, talented, and fun loving, but at the early age of thirteen becomes a heroin addict. An addiction that she will never be able to shake. Jarret's mother and grandmother could never get along, but her grandfather did what he could to help Leslie. Leslie is arrested, and Joe decides to take custody of Jarrett before he can become a ward of the state. Life with his grandparents was far from perfect. Shirley had a foul, acerbic mouth with no filter. His grandfather would temper Shirley, but would often come home late, drunk. Jarrett misses his mother immensely. Her letters reveal the love she has for Jarrett, often connecting  the one thing they share; their creativity and artistic talent.

Art is what keeps Jarrett afloat and becomes increasingly important to keeping him centered. His grandfather recognizes his talent and sends him to an art class at an art museum. Here he is formally introduced to the history and creating of comic art. It is his art that drives Jarret, and he is determined not to let his talent go to waste, as did his mother. There are moments of joy, life changing experiences, and opportunity to meet family he didn't know he had. Jarrett does face crisis, gets himself into trouble, and deals with self-doubt, but we know how it ends.

Jarrett's art work is loose and evocative of his feelings and mood. Cell borders and speech bubbles are left undefined for purpose. Ink washes vary in tone from light gray to dark, with only rusty spot color throughout. Endpages and chapter dividers use grandma Shirley's favorite pineapple wallpaper, as well as images of letters and other artifacts from Jarrett's life. 

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4.5 (while non-fiction, I still wanted to rate this book)

Reading Level: 3.5 • Interest Level: 7-12 • AR Points: 2 • Lexile Level: GN510L • Dewey: 921 • Publisher: Scholastic • Pages: 294 • Copyright: 2018 • ISBN: 978-0-545-902489-9 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

I Talk Like a River • Words by Jordan Scott • Pictures by Sidney Smith

 

I Talk Like a River is an absolutely gorgeous picture book, with a touching, heartfelt, and important story about an experience in the author's youth, dealing with his stuttering. The illustrations by Sidney Smith are breathtaking, and Sidney, if you're reading this, I'd love to purchase some if they are for sale.

The story opens with a young boy waking up and thinking of all the words around him that he can't say. "The P in pine tree grows roots inside my mouth and tangles my tongue." As he gets ready for school, he doesn't say a word. In his classroom, he tries to disappear, but the teacher asks him a question, and the class turns to look at him. Wrought with fear, getting out the words is particularly hard, and he just wants to go home. His father picks him up from school, and after hearing about his son's day, he decides to take him somewhere quiet, to the river. While being with his dad in a quiet place soothes him, he still thinks about his horrible day at school. As he wells up with tears, his father tells him "See how that water moves? That's how you speak." The river becomes a simile for all the words bubbling, churning and crashing in his mouth. The metaphor "I talk like a river." becomes a constant reminder, to keep himself from crying, too keep from not wanting to speak. The next time he goes to school, he stands in front of the class to talk about his favorite place; he talks about the river, and he talks like a river.

The illustrations are artworks in and of themselves. The deep blacks, the simple painterly strokes, the page composition, and the use of blurred images help to illustrate the emotion and pain the young boy feels. The interior gatefold is impressively impactful. Closed, it is very tight on the boys face, eyes closed, sad, with strong back light. Opened it is a gorgeous spread of him in the river with dappled light reflecting off the water's surface.

What touched me most was the boy's relationship with his father. An example of a father that was missing in my own life. An outstanding picture book full of empathy and compassion.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 5

Reading Level: 2.0 • Interest Level: K-3 • AR Points: NA • Lexile Level: NA • Publisher: Penguin • Pages: 40 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-0-8234-4559-2 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome • Illustrated by James Ransome

A beautifully illustrated book that describes the great migration through the eyes of a young girl.

A girl and her family, leave their home at the crack of dawn, to avoid the wrath of their sharecropping boss. Headed to the train station with all they can carry, they are traveling north to New York, looking for opportunity. As they are seated in the colored section, the girl sits by the window, watching fields, filled with the labor of sharecroppers picking crops, pass by. She reminisces over the goodbyes from her relatives, her angry Daddy saying No more picking, and her Mama, No more working someone else's land. As they travel from stop to stop, they pass the time playing cards, and the girl reads to her Mama a book given to her by her teacher, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas. As they pass into northern territory, they are no longer required to sit in the colored section of the train car. They move to other parts of the train, where people stare, and motion that they don't want them sitting near them. As they finally pull into Penn Station, stepping onto the streets of New York, she sees the bright lights, tall buildings and stars...their journey has just begun.

The illustrations, done with paper, graphite, paste pencils and watercolor, richly illustrate the text with warmth and compassion. An excellent introduction to sharecroppers and the great migration to the north, looking for hope, freedom and a better life. 

Mark's Book Picks Score: 3.5

Reading Level: 4.2 • Interest Level: K-3 • AR Points: 0.5 • Lexile Level: AD1000L • Publisher: Holiday House • Pages: 48 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-0-8234-3873-0 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

You Matter by Christian Robinson

 

The theme here is that everyone and everything matters. The message is communicated with simple phrases and metaphors that are boldly illustrated with a mix of acrylic paint and collage.

The text itself is sparse but meaningful: 

 

The stuff too small to see.

Those who swim with the tide

and those that don't.

The first to go and the last.

You matter.

When everyone thinks you're a pest.

When something is just out of reach.

When everyone is too busy to help.

You matter.

The illustrations are simple, bold, and reminiscent of a child's artwork, but expertly composed to bring the text meaning. The people are from a multitude of races and cultures. My favorite image is of a crowded , congested street. All the people are faceless except a young girl, wearing a hijab, and a boy in a wheelchair, both with arms up in the air, on one side of the street, and their escaped dog on the other side of the street. Sometimes you feel lost and alone. But you matter.

You'll need to look at the illustrations carefully to see all that is there and the meaning behind them. Carefully look for the connection between a series of images. Most of this will go over the heads of the intended audience, but with some explanation, the younger set will understand.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 3.5

Reading Level: 2.0 • Interest Level: K-3 • AR Points: NA • Lexile Level: AD310L • Publisher: Simon & Schuster • Pages: 40 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-1-534-42169-1 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

 

Gene Luen Yang, author of American Born Chinese, has created a unique graphic novel; part memoir, part high school tournament basketball action, and part sport and religion history, with some experiences of racism and prejudice thrown in. The theme that ties it all together is right on the cover, "From Small Steps to Great Leaps."

Yang teaches math and computer science at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, California. As a comic artist and graphic novel author, he has difficulty balancing family (he has four kids), teaching and comics. Just coming off his last graphic novel, Yang lacks inspiration for a new graphic novel. His wife assures him that life is full of new stories. While walking down the school hall, he overhears students talking about their excitement for the new basketball season at school. POP! Inspiration has been found! He will write a graphic novel chronicling the school's basketball season. The only issue is that Yang is a total nerd, has never been interested in sports, and has no knowledge of basketball. As uncomfortable as it was, he steps into the physical education building to talk to the school's basketball coach, Coach Lou. Welcomed by the coach, they talk for an hour, and Yang knows he has his story. From his conversation he learns that you need to take that step, the step to play, not knowing if you'll win or lose. This becomes the overarching thread throughout the book, not only in sport, but in life.

What follows is background on the coaches and players, giving their history and when they made that first "step". Interspersed is the history of basketball, and how racism gave way to integrating the sport. You'll get some religious and cultural history based on the many cultures and ethnicities of the students. Each of the games the school plays is accounted, with illustrations that create the action and excitement right up to the school's final game in the California State Championship. The story comes full circle with Yang, who learns a lot about people and basketball, but more about a decision he has to make, to take a step, not knowing if he'll win or lose. 

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4.5 (while non-fiction, I still wanted to rate this book)

Reading Level: 3.9 • Interest Level: 9-12 • AR Points: 3 • Lexile Level: HL550L • Dewey: 921 • Publisher: Roaring Brook Press • Pages: 445 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-1-626-72079-4 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read • Written by Rita Lorraine Hubbard • Illustrated by Oge Mora

 

An inspiring story of Mary Walker, who at 114 years old, learned to read!

Mary grew up a slave on an Alabama plantation. Slaves could not be educated, but at eight years old she dreamed of one day being free and learning to read. At fifteen, slaves were freed, but Mary continued to work in the South. A group of evangelists gave her a bible. Looking at all the words inside, she again dreamed that someday she will read. Over the next fifty years she would work as a sharecropper, marry, have a son, be widowed, marry again and have two more sons. At sixty eight, she stopped sharecropping, but would go to church, holding her bible, still dreaming of the day she could read its words. At 114, Mary's husband and sons had died and she was moved to a retirement home. Looking out her window, she would look at the words on the signs of the city, but they meant nothing more than a squiggle to her. When she was told that there would be a class held in her building that would teach her to read, she grabbed her cane and was ready to go. Over the next few years, she did it! Mary learned to read. She was proclaimed the nation's oldest student by the Department of Education, and received honors from President Johnson on her 118th birthday, and President Nixon on her 121st birthday.

This amazing story of determination, empowerment and motivation are boldly illustrated by Oge Mora in cut paper, clippings, marker, pencil and acrylic collages.  Excellent for providing motivation and inspiration to read, as well as an example of the plight of slaves and sharecroppers in a system that denied them basic human rights.

Mark's Book Picks Score: 4

Reading Level: 4.6 • Interest Level: K-3 • AR Points: 0.5 • Lexile Level: AD830L • Publisher: Random House • Pages: 40 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-1-524-76828-7 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding