The Thing Lou Couldn't Do by Ashley Spires

We all have fears. Facing those fears are often difficult, but hurdles we take on because once overcome, we are better people.

In the charming picture book, The Thing Lou Couldn't Do, Lou, who loves adventures with her friends, is suddenly faced with a new challenge: climbing a tree. Lou tries to suggest other, down to earth, adventures, but her friends decide to climb the tree, and scamper up. Lou avoids the situation, making excuse after excuse (we've all been there). Lou finally admits to her friends that she can't climb a tree, but even after their offers of help, she just wants to be alone. She starts imagining all the ways she can get up the tree, and finally decides to face her fears. She attempts to climb the tree, and gets so far, and then falls. Her friends, concerned, come down to see if she is okay. Lou is fine, and all move on to another adventure. As Lou runs to join them, she looks back at the tree, knowing that she will be back to try again. Maybe even tomorrow.

The story perfectly captures facing fear, avoiding the fear, then confronting it head on. The story is not wordy or preachy, and Lou's facial expressions perfectly capture what she is feeling. The colorful digital illustrations are adorable, with conversation in speech balloons. While we will laugh at her antics and excuses, we will relate, because we have all been there.

Mark's Book Picks Rating: 4.5

Reading Level: 2.0 • Interest Level: P-2 • Lexile Level: AD500L • AR Points: Test not available

Publisher: Kids Can Press • Copyright: 2017 • Pages: 32 •  ISBN: 978-1-7713-8727-9 • Available in publisher's hardcover binding

Triangle by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen

Triangle leaves his home to play a sneaky prank on Square. He walks past triangles of all sizes, past shapes with no name, and past squares of all sizes, until he get's to Square's house. Triangle stands outside Square's door and hisses like a snake, because Triangle knows that Square is afraid of snakes. Triangle laughs, enjoying his mean trick on Square. When Square discovers it is a mean trick, Square chases Triangle all the way home...where now the joke is on Triangle...or is it?

A delightful book that is a perfect read aloud and fantastic teaching tool. I loved the precise writing. The sentences are simple and to the point. The illustrations are layered and textured with graphite and watercolor washes, but match the writing in their precision and simplicity. Look for the expression in the eyes of Triangle and Square; they are so revealing of what they are feeling. There's much to discuss here: shapes, size, feelings,  pranks.

Mark's Book Picks Rating: 5

Reading Level: 2.1 • Interest Level: P-2 • Lexile Level: AD310L • AR Points: 0.5

Publisher: Candlewick Press • Copyright: 2017 • Pages: 48 •  ISBN: 978-0-7636-9603-0 • Available in Perma-Bound Styleline binding

Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer, Art by Doug Holgate

If you are a fan of the Lunar Chronicles (and who isn't?), then you can join in the satisfaction that the adventure continues! Iko, an android, is front and center here. She is just as much as a vain fashionista as ever, but is serving her owner Cinder (also known as Queen Selene), by eradicating Earth of Lunar Wolves, who were left over after the end of the war between Luna and Earth. Lunar Wolves, genetically engineered beasts who thirst human blood, have been called back to Luna, but those that remain have been killing, as one of the alpha wolves recruits his fellow soldiers to hold hostage all the people that Queen Selene (Cinder) hold dear as ransom to meet their demand to reverse what has been done to them, so they can live a normal life.

This is clearly the first volume of many to come. Meyer craftily provides backstory and interweaves all of the main characters from the novels into the story arch. My imagery from the novels (which you can read all my reviews by searching "Lunar Chronicles" in the blog search box) is so strong, that I found the imagery in the graphic novel disappointing. The characters looked too cartoonish for me, but I must concede that graphic literature is not my favorite. All in all, this is a fun read, and if you are a fan of the Lunar Chronicles, you will certainly enjoy being back in with all your favorite characters.
Mark's Picks Rating: 3.5

Graphic Novel • Reading Level: 4.7 • Interest Level: 7-12  • AR Points: 2.0
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends • ISBN: 978-1-250-07826-1 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding

The Terrorist's Son: A Story of Choice by Zak Ebrahim

It's hard to imagine the unimaginable. But to actually live the unimaginable is beyond conception. Such is the life of Zak Ebrahim, whose father is the assassin of Rabbi Kahane, a prominent, albeit somewhat radial Jewish leader, as well as the mastermind of the underground bombing of the World Trade Center in New York. Ebrahim provides sufficient background so the reader can grasp what might have motivated his father's radicalism. More importantly, this is a story of how Ebrahim lived through indoctrination and retched suffering in his most formidable years and ultimately made the choice to embrace nonviolence, and be open to listening and understanding people of all types. Originally a TED talk, this book provides more detail and a more complete picture of the young man's life. Recommended for high school, this book will foster a great deal of conversation on many levels.

Reading Level: 6.5 • Interest Level: 9+ • AR Points: 4.0 • Dewey: 921 •  Subject Headings: Terrorism. Psychological aspects • Publisher: Simon & Schuster • ISBN: 978-1-476-78480-9

We're All Wonders • Written and Illustrated by R.J. Palacio

Auggie is a very ordinary kid. He likes to ride his bike, play ball, eat ice cream. Yet, in one simple way he is not ordinary, he doesn't look ordinary. For that, he suffers painful stares, comments, and being ostracized by others.  Auggie's full story is told in the phenomenally popular book, Wonder by R.J. Palacio (See the full review of Wonder here). In this picture book, which Palacio has illustrated herself, she perfectly encapsulates the essence of the full book.

"I know I can't change the way I look. BUT maybe, just maybe, people can change the way they see."

The book is profound on many levels, and can easily be used with younger children all the way to older children. Use the book to discuss our differences, how we judge people, and the effects of how we judge people. The book could be used as an introduction to the novel, or,  it could be used following the novel as an introduction to a project based on how each one of us are different. I highly recommend this picture book for all libraries.

Mark's Book Picks Rating: 5

Reading Level: 1.5 • Interest Level: P-2 • Lexile Level: AD370L • AR Points: 0.5

Publisher: Knopf •  ISBN: 978-1-524-76649-8 • Available in Perma-Bound Styleline binding

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

You may be wondering, this is an adult book. Why is it here?  Well, I was doing a long-term subbing stint for a friend who teaches middle school English. In walks a student, a 7th grader who is an avid reader, with A Man Called Ove in hand. As I started to questioned her, she said. "MR.B! YOU MUST READ THIS!" And so I did.

Ove is a man who is very set in his ways, stubborn, and inflexible. He gets angry when his routine is broken. Early on, we discover he is trying to commit suicide. The love of his life, his wife Sonja, has passed away and he no longer feels that life is worth living. The ensuing chapters switch between interruptions that either prevent his suicide attempts, or disrupt his daily routine, and flashbacks that help us to understand his love for his wife, and why he is the man that he is. I don't like to give away too much; this book will make you laugh, make you cry, make you angry, make you overjoyed, and most of all will endear you to a man called Ove. Following is a passage, that moved me, and I found instantly relatable to my own life:

"Loving someone is like moving into a house. At first you fall in love with all the new things, amazed every morning that all this belongs to you, as if fearing that someone would suddenly come rushing in through the door to explain that a terrible mistake had been made, you weren’t actually supposed to live in a wonderful place like this. Then over the years the walls become weathered, the wood splinters here and there, and you start to love that house not so much because of all its perfection, but rather for its imperfections. You get to know all the nooks and crannies. How to avoid getting the key caught in the lock when it’s cold outside. Which of the floorboards flex slightly when one steps on them or exactly how to open the wardrobe doors without them creaking. These are the little secrets that make it your home.”

Mark's Book Picks Rating: 5

Reading Level: 6.1 • Interest Level: 9+ • Lexile Level: 870L • AR Points: 15
Publisher: Simon & Schuster • ISBN: 1-476-73802-5 • Available in Perma-Bound binding

Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio pictures by Christian Robinson

Gaston is one of four puppies belonging to Mrs. Poodle. Mrs. Poodle taught her puppies how to be proper poodles, with fine poodle manners. Gaston loves his family, always trying the hardest. But, Gaston was different. He grew bigger and faster. His ears and tail were different. Even his bark was different. One day, Mrs. Poodle takes her family to the park. There she meets Mrs. Bulldog and her family, where both moms discover that a terrible mistake has been made. Gaston looks like Mrs. Bulldog's family. In Mrs. Bulldog's family, Antoinette looks like Mrs. Poodle's family. It appears that a switch was made when Gaston and Antoinette were born! What are they to do?

This sweet story whose text is loving and to the point comes alive with Christian Robinson's gorgeous acrylic paintings. His style is fluid and animated, with the texture of the brush adding to their depth. Kids will love the story on its surface but there is much to discuss here. Looking different, family, blended families and acceptance can be deeply explored.
Mark's Picks Rating: 5

Reading Level: 2.8 • Interest Level: P-2 • Lexile Level: AD500L • AR Points: 0.5
Publisher: Atheneum • ISBN: 978-0-605-86135-0   Available in Perma-Bound Styleline Binding

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands

In 1665 London, orphaned Christopher Rowe gets a lucky break. He is chosen to be Master Benedict Blackthorn's apothecary apprentice. Christopher loves his master, loves the apothecary, and sometimes gets himself into trouble with his best friend Tom Bailey. Life is good. Until mysterious murders of apothecaries start spreading across London. Master Blackthorn gives Christopher an usual puzzle for his birthday, he leaves cryptic messages, and then too, Master Blackthorn is murdered. The rumor is it is the Cult of the Archangel, but what do they seek? Why all the murders? Christopher is determined to figure it out. He must sort through Master Blackthorn's clues to find the key.

This medieval adventure with puzzles, potions and plot twists galore will have readers glued to the pages. I really enjoyed the read and found most of the plot twists unpredictable. Correlates well with the seventh grade medieval history curriculum focusing on guilds and apprenticeship. This is the first book of the Blackthorn Key series. Book 2, Mark of the Plague and Book 3 The Assassin's Curse are already out.
Mark's Book Picks Rating: 4

Reading Level: 4.6 • Interest Level: 4-7 • Lexile Level: 630L • AR Points: 10
Publisher: Aladdin • ISBN: 978-1-4814-4652-5  Available in Perma-Bound binding.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

How perfect a world would be if the concept of death were eliminated. All disease and illness gone. Procedures to repair and regenerate body parts is routine; fall off a building? No problem, you'll be back to norm in no time. War? A thing of the past. Aging? Just have it reversed.  Hunger? There's food for everyone now that any food is synthesized. Sounds great, huh? There is a bit of a problem in this future society. How do you regulate population growth? Recognizing the issue, a system is in place. Honored and revered, a Scythe's job is to randomly determine people who will be gleaned which is a kinder word for elimination. The method of elimination is determined by the Scythe. Citra and Rowan are two teenagers who have been chosen to apprentice with Scythe Faraday. Both are feisty and unwilling at first, but once convinced are determined. When attending a Scythe Council meeting, an adversary insists that each Scythe may have only one apprentice. It is determined that their training will be a competition and the winner must glean the loser, and so the adventure begins.
Scythe is classic Shusterman with writing and plot development that makes the reader plunge into this dystopian world and forget reality. This is the first book in Shusterman's Arc of a Scythe series. A Printz Honor Book
Mark's Book Picks Rating: 4

Reading Level: 6.5 • Interest Level: 7-12 • Lexile Level: 830L • AR Points: 17
Publisher: Simon & Schuster • ISBN: 978-1-4424-7242-6  Available in Perma-Bound Binding

All About Families by Ruth Owen et al

All About Families helps a child understand the concept of family. I really like this book because it is designed to initiate a lively informative discussion between parent or teacher and children. There is little text so the discussion is open. The illustrations help drive the discussion where the adult first asks the child to describe what is happening in the picture, and then can relate it to the child's personal experience. All types of families are presented, allowing all children to make connections to the concepts. The colorful pictures are grouped by question or concept, such as What is a Family?, Who Takes Care of Me?, Brothers and Sisters, A New Baby and so on. The "Tips and Ideas" section at the end of the book provides more discussion suggestions, and the "My Family Activities" section provides activities to extend the concept beyond the book. Part of the First Words and Pictures series.

Reading Level: k-3 • Interest Level: k-3  • Lexile: 140L • Dewey: 306.85 •  Subject Headings: Families. Juvenile literature • Publisher: Ruby Tuesday Books • ISBN: 978-1-911341-81-9