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Title: Lily and Dunkin Author: Donna Gephart Publisher: Delacorte Press, May 2016 Ages: 10-14 Themes: Transgender children, manic depression, bipolarity, mental illness, bullying 352 pages Opening: Girl Lily Jo is not my name. Yet. But I am working on that. That’s why I am in the closet. Literally in my mom’s walk-in closet … Continue reading →

I am so very happy to welcome back Sylvia Liu onto Miss Marple’s Musings as part of the blog tour for her debut picture book, A MORNING WITH GRANDPA. This manuscript won the 2013 Lee and Low New Voices Award … Continue reading →

Title: I Am J Written by: Cris Beam Published by: Little Brown, 2011 Themes/Topics: Diversity, LGBTQIA, transgender teens, coming of age, New York, cutting, friendship, emotional problems Suitable for ages: 14+ Opening: J could smell the hostility, the pretense, the utter fake-ness of it all before they even climbed the … Continue reading →

Title: The Knowing Book Author: Rebecca Kai Dotlich Illustrator: Matthew Cordell Publisher: Boyds Mills Press, 2016 Themes: Enjoying the journey, discovery, what we can know, what we don’t know Ages: 7-11 Opening: Before you forget …look up. Synopsis: Inspiring and wise, this story begins and ends with the sky that is always above you. In … Continue reading →

Title: Little Bitty Friends Author: Elizabeth McPike Illustrator: Patrice Barton Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for YOung Readers, February, 2016 Themes: spring, small animals, rhyme Ages: 0-2 Genre: concept picture book Opening: (first two spreads) Little bitty steps marching one, two, three, Little furry caterpillar, tickle, tickle, knee. Synopsis: Sharing strawberries with a wee mouse, stretching up skyward … Continue reading →

Title: Ira’s Shakespeare Dream Written by: Glenda Armand illustrated by: Floyd Cooper Published by: Lee & Low, May 2015 Themes: African Americans, biography, Ira Aldridge, Shakespeare, acting, diversity, abolition of slavery in the USA Ages: 7-11+ Genre: Picture Book Biography Opening: IRA COULD NOT KEEP STILL as he waited in the balcony of … Continue reading →

What a great way to celebrate the UN’s World Wildlife Day, than to introduce the second book in this series about children caring for animals. Title: Tortuga Squad-Kids Saving Sea Turtles in Costa Rica Written and photos by: Cathleen Burnham Additional photos by: … Continue reading →

Title: The Green Bicycle Author: Haifia Al Mansour Publisher: Dial Books for young Readers, 2015 Age: 9-13 Themes: family, dreams, life in Saudi Arabia as a girl, coming of age, role of women/girls Opening: Wadjda wasn’t thinking about her ticket to heaven. You could see it on … Continue reading →

I know, I know, I promised you interviews on Tuesdays and here I come with a book review. This is a book of passion and courage; a book championing, as I often do on my blog, the rights of other … Continue reading →

Title: Mango, Abuela and Me Author: Meg Medina Illustrator: Angela Dominguez Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2015 Themes: love, learning new language, making friends Awards: Belpre (Author and illustrator) Honor Books, 2016 Ages: 3-7 Opening: SHE COMES TO US in winter, leaving behind her sunny house that rested between two snaking rivers.         … Continue reading →

I am shuffling my blogging schedule around a little this year. With my new job and a desire to have this next novel’s first draft finished by June, I shall be reducing my posts to twice a week. Tuesdays will … Continue reading →

Title: Traffick (sequel to TRICKS) Author: Ellen Hopkins Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, November, 2015 Themes: sex trafficking of minors, tricks, homosexuality, homophobia, transphobia, family relationships, romantic relationships, abuse, Las Vegas Genre: Contemporary YA Ages: 14+ Opening: A Poem By Cody Bennet Can’t Find The courage to leap the brink, free-fall beyond the … Continue reading →

I confess to changing my choice today to Perfect Poetry Book Friday, but with good reason. This book deserves wide promotion and it fits perfectly into the aims of our blogging group to recommend high quality books with pictures for … Continue reading →

Title: DIRTMEISTERS, Nitty Gritty Planet Earth Written by: Geologist Steve Tomecek Illustrated by: Fred Harper Published by: National Geographic Kids, 2015 Themes/Topics: geology, the Earth, rocks, earthquakes, fossils, evolution, experiments, scientists Suitable for ages: 8-14   Opening: Dirtmeister is a nickname I picked up a long time ago because … Continue reading →

If you aren’t familiar with the Nat Geo kids publications you should be. I came to them late as an adult, but as a kid I devoured their adult magazines anyway (mostly on the toilet, as one does.) National Geographic … Continue reading →

As regular readers of my blog know, one of my passions is the conservation of our planet and all its species, and today’s post returns to that theme. There is only one of my childhood heroes that followed me into … Continue reading →

Title: breath to breath Written by: Craig Lew Edited by: Emma D. Dryden Published by: Relish Media. Expected date- November, 2015 Themes/Topics: child sexual exploitation, empathy, parental addiction, memory suppression, football hazing, secrets Suitable for ages: 14+ Reviewed from an ARC won through a Goodreads … Continue reading →

Some may not consider graphic novels a teaching tool, but in recent years graphic storytelling has been used as a medium to explore different kinds of stories for broader audiences. Because of this, these books are finding their way into more and more classrooms and libraries.

Why teach with graphic novels?

• Kids love them – even the most reluctant readers

• They build visual literacy and require readers to use both sides of their brains

• They offer visual support that can aid reading and comprehension for English language learners and kids with some learning disabilities, such as Dyslexia

• They inspire kids to create their own stories

• They deliver rich stories with terrific art – a winning combination

Looking for just the right graphic novel for your young reader? Here are a few of our favorites:

For Kindergarten – 2nd Grade

TOON publishes fun comics that early readers can read by themselves or side-by-side with an adult, and each is vetted by literacy experts. With original stories, quirky characters, and plenty of age-appropriate wit, TOON Books enthrall both the emerging and reluctant reader. Every book has been vetted by literacy experts to ensure the language and narratives are appropriate for independent readers.

For 2nd – 4rd Grade

Hamster and Cheese (Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye Series #1) Written by Colleen AF Venable; illustrated by Stephanie Yue

Ingredients: a guinea pig who solves crimes, a pet shop full of entertaining animals, and a missing sandwich. Put them all together and you get this hilarious graphic novel, the first in a wonderful series. It’s a great pick for readers of early chapter books, animal lovers, and/or detectives in training.

For 4th – 6th Grade

Roller Girl Written and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson

Yes! A roller derby graphic novel for kids! This delightful book tells the story of a girl who is learning how to stay on her feet – both on roller skates, and in friendship. The story is engaging, the art is super appealing, and adults will love the book’s subtle, underlying advice about how to be a good friend and a good son or daughter.

For 5th – 8th Grade

Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor Written and illustrated by Nathan Hale

The newest book in one of our favorite series is a true show-stopper. Just how much do you know about Harriet Tubman? The facts contained in this biographical narrative will blow your mind. It’s captivating, entertaining, and will make your kids eager to learn even more about American history and one of its most remarkable heroes.

For 8th Grade – Adults

March: Book One and March: Book Two Written by John Robert Lewis and Andrew Aydin; illustrated by Nate Powell

These remarkable, New York Times-bestselling graphic novels belong in every program serving young adults! Congressman John Lewis recounts his role in the Civil Rights movement, introducing readers to pivotal moments that changed a nation. Readers follow his personal experiences and learn the motivations of the heroic young men and women who waged a war against segregation.
Members of First Book’s community of educators who have used graphic novels in the classroom can attest to the fact that they can reinforce new vocabulary, visual literacy, and reading skills. If you work with kids in need, you can find these graphic novels and more on the First Book Marketplace.

The post 5 Reasons to Teach with Graphic Novels appeared first on First Book Blog.

Title: CIRCLE SQUARE MOOSE Written by: Kelly Bingham Illustrated by: Paul O. Zelinsky Published by: Harper Collins Children’s Books, 2014 Themes/Topics: shapes, moose, zebra, friendship Suitable for ages: 3-7 Opening: Shapes are all around us. We see them every day. Have you ever looked … Continue reading →

Title: National Geographic Kids ALMANAC 2015 Published by: National Geographic Themes/Topics: Science, nature, gales, culture, history, going green, geography Suitable for ages: 8-13 Paperback, 352 pages, nonfiction, Three Snippets: Page 112 has a monthly sky calendar saying what is happening in the skies … Continue reading →

I decided to pursue publishing after a trying my hand at a couple different career paths after college.  Like most 21-year-olds, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life, and I was learning the hard way that the best jobs don’t come easy. At the end of every day I would drive home from whatever job (teacher’s aide, exec asst for generic company, waitressing, movie theater, B&N) to my apartment (basement of some elderly woman’s home) and turned on the radio (I didn’t have cable or internet). I would cook some mac n’ cheese (store brand) and jump on my computer to retweak my resume and personalize cover letters to mail the next day (printed on fancy resume paper—the most expensive thing I likely owned at the time aside from my cell phone).  Then when the pot and plate were cleaned (no dishwasher), I would pull one of the dozens of books I owned from my shelves, plop down on my futon, and read.  My boyfriend (now husband) was in law school (so he was always deep in the bowels of the law library), and though I had friends, I was tight on funds (Taco Bell and hanging in the park, anyone?).  So a lot of the time it was just me and books. And I knew I would find my path soon enough. I was happy.

Fast forward to Dec 16, 2011. I’ve now found my path (already 5 years into publishing) and I’m at a publishing party.  Like all publishing parties, I know some people and I don’t know many others, but I’m always comforted by the fact that we all have one thing in common: a love of books and reading.  So talking to a new person at these kinds of things is easy enough for me—usually I start with something I’ve read recently that I enjoyed.  That’s exactly what I did when I met Adam Silvera that night.

We hit it off, but at the time I didn’t realize that I had just met one of the most kind, supportive, passionate and die hard book people in the business. He just seemed like a nice guy that worked at a bookstore and since I used to work in a bookstore, I was all “we should hang out sometime.”

Adam Silvera is one of those brilliant people that is infectiously enthusiastic about books, particularly children’s and young adult.  He reads everything he can get his hands on, and then he turns and shares those stories with others.  I can’t tell you how many books this guy has put into into the hands of kids, parents and teachers with a recommendation that makes you want to read it right away. The dude is a book pusher, a literacy advocate and he has a keen eye for the really good stories.  He knows what kids and teens will like.  And he has helped to launch the career of many authors I know. (Does anyone remember Leigh Bardugo’s debut pre-order campaign for Shadow and Bone? Well guess who orchestrated it back before she was a bestseller….)

And all while he’s been doing a kickass job getting books into readers’ hands, Adam was working away quietly on his own story.  I am honored to have read this one very early on (and again recently), and it is truly brilliant.  The book is MORE HAPPY THAN NOT and it publishes today.  I won’t put a review up here, because I no longer review online (and I’m pretty sure we don’t post them on pubcrawl anyway). But I do give this book a very, very enthusiastic recommendation. Aaron (the protagonist) lives in the Bronx (where Adam actually grew up). His story is both beautiful and heartbreaking, and his voice is authentic and raw. This is one of my top reads this year.  Hell, it’s one of my top reads, period.

Here’s the official description:

Part Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, part Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Adam Silvera’s extraordinary debut confronts race, class, and sexuality during one charged near-future summer in the Bronx.

The Leteo Institute’s revolutionary memory-relief procedure seems too good to be true to Aaron Soto — miracle cure-alls don’t tend to pop up in the Bronx projects. But Aaron can’t forget how he’s grown up poor or how his friends aren’t always there for him. Like after his father committed suicide in their one bedroom apartment. Aaron has the support of his patient girlfriend, if not necessarily his distant brother and overworked mother, but it’s not enough.

Then Thomas shows up. He has a sweet movie-watching setup on his roof, and he doesn’t mind Aaron’s obsession with a popular fantasy series. There are nicknames, inside jokes. Most importantly, Thomas doesn’t mind talking about Aaron’s past. But Aaron’s newfound happiness isn’t welcome on his block. Since he’s can’t stay away from Thomas or suddenly stop being gay, Aaron must turn to Leteo to straighten himself out, even if it means forgetting who he is.

You’re probably wondering what “The Reason I Love This Business” is.  And that’s easy.  It’s the people in it.  The ones like Adam who do it for the love of it, and who share that love with others.  That is the reason I am so very happy that I finally found my path in books.

Now go check out his book already! You won’t regret it.

Our May book list includes fun, magical books featuring adventures with an adorable elephant, funny stories about sisters for young readers, the story of strong man Charles Atlas, a laugh-out-loud tale about pranksters and one of the best teen romances ever written.

Pre-K – K (Ages 3-6):

Little Elliot, Big City By: Mike Curato

Elliot loves the adventure of living in the city but his size often gets in his way. Readers’ hearts will melt when Elliot meets an unlikely friend at just the right moment and the two take on the town together. A sweet, beautifully illustrated book!

The post Monthly Book List: Our Five Favorite Books for May appeared first on First Book Blog.

Category #6 is up today, and while Brown Girl Dreaming was one of my favorite reads of last year, I have opted to review the young reader’s edition of Malala’s story, which is co-written by the talented YA author (and … Continue reading →

Title: family begins with a… Wish Written and illustrated by: Matthew Cordell Published by: Disney Hyperion, 2015 Themes/Topics: parents, elephants, waiting a long time for a baby Suitable for ages: 4-7 Opening: At first there is us. There is only us. But even before … Continue reading →

Today I am reviewing a book from category #8. I have read many Walter dean Myers’ books, but chose JAZZ because I have just completed writing a YA novel set predominantly in New Orleans and I am living a stone’s … Continue reading →