“Best Friends Forever: A World War II Scrapbook” by Beverly Patt
In the spring of 1942 the U.S. government imprisoned 110,000 Japanese and Japanese-Americans who lived on the United States west coast after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. America declared war on Japan, and the fighting that had begun in Europe became World War II. The Japanese living in California were considered a threat to American [...]
“Lulu and the Duck in the Park” by Hilary McKay
“Lulu and the Duck in the Park” (Albert Whitman 2012) by Hilary McKay is a perfect chapter (early middle grade) book from an author who understands how to make both kids and adults laugh. The story begins on a school field trip and moves into the classroom, making this a great read aloud in kindergarten [...]
“Navigating Early” by Clare Vanderpool
In Kansas, near the end of WWII, Jack’s mother dies. His father, off at war, has Jack sent to a boys’ military school in Maine. There, Jack meets “the strangest of boys” whose name is Early Auden. So begins “Navigating Early” (Delacorte 2013) by Clare Vanderpool (Newbery Winner 2011 – “Moon Over Manifest”). Early lives [...]
“Little White Duck: A Childhood in China” by Na Liu and Andrés Vera Martinez
“Little White Duck: A Childhood in China” (Graphic Universe 2012) is the fascinating autobiography of Na Liu, illustrated as a graphic novel by her husband, award-winning artist Andrés Vera Martínez. We are treated to a vision of the disappearing China of Na Liu’s childhood, which began in the city of Wuhan in 1973. In China, [...]
Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker; Central Park School
I introduced my book Josephine (The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker) to the students of Central Park School (K-8) in Midlothian, a south suburb of Chicago. Which means I showed them an image of the book cover illustrated by Christian Robinson, read them the first razzle dazzle pages, and danced the Charleston. Josephine (Chronicle Books) [...]
“Wonder” by R.J. Palacio
“Wonder” (Knopf 2012) by R.J. Palacio is the story of August who has a radically deformed face—no ears, his eyes at cheek level, a cleft palate which has required numerous surgeries. He’s smart and funny, but you can almost imagine the torture he endures from children and adults both, especially when he starts school for [...]
“Liar and Spy” by Rebecca Stead
“Liar and Spy” by Rebecca Stead (Wendy Lamb 2012) has my vote as the next Newbery winner, the highest honor given to a middle grade book. We’ll know what the committee decides nest week, January 28. I haven’t read EVERYTHING this year, so I might have missed something, but this is a great novel, as [...]
“The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate
In 1962, a silverback gorilla was born in the African nation now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. While still a toddler, he was captured, named Ivan, and caged in the U.S. and there he remained for three decades. That true story is the inspiration for “The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate [...]
“Bluefish” by Pat Schmatz
In Pat Schmatz’s “Bluefish” (Candlewick 2011), Travis, 13, has to move into town and live with Grandpa. Travis’ heart is broken over his lost hound, Roscoe. And school is painful. Grandpa has stopped drinking, but Travis knows it won’t last. The only bright spark in his life is classmate, Velveeta, who is the liveliest, flirtiest [...]
“The Dogs of Winter” by Bobbie Pyron
“The Dogs of Winter” by Bobbie Pyron (Arthur A. Levine 2012) is based on a true story from 1990’s Russia. After the fall of the Soviet Union and its infrastructure was in shambles, gone were government-controlled health care, pension plans, and rent control. The poor were so poor they often couldn’t care for their children. [...]