A Bear's Life

Ian McAllister is responsible for both writing and the breathtaking photos included in “A Bear’s Life.”  The photos of wildlife in the Great Bear Rainforest and especially the rare spirit bear capture moments in time in the lives of bears.  A map is located on the front cover flap of the dust jacket and I find it helpful, but I think it would be better suited within the context of the book or as part of an author’s note.  Likewise, I think an author’s note with further information about the Great Bear Rainforest would be helpful.  A link is included in the author’s biography on the back cover flap of the dust jacket and I intend to check it out to learn more. 

You can too: www.pacificwild.org 

www.greatbearbooks.com 

As my son LOVES book about animals, this was an instant favorite in our house!

https://pacificwild.org/about/our-team/ian-mcallister 

@pacificwild

Title: A Bear’s Life

Author: Ian McAllister and Nicholas Read

Published 2017 by Orca Book Publishers

ISBN: 978-1-4598-1270-3

This book was sent by the publisher for review purposes.

If You Were the Moon

Jaime Kim’s illustrations seem to glow like the moon, or more accurately, like the moon reflects or catches and throws the sun’s light.  The animated illustrations and descriptions of each trait of the moon make If You Were the Moon a perfect companion to science lessons about the moon, either in introduction or review of these concepts. I love the idea of the moon whispering wisdom from the sky and also holding the earth in balance, a soothing constant reinforcement.

www.LauraSalas.com 

@LauraPSalas

https://www.jaimekim.com/

Water Can Be
A Leaf Can Be

Title: If You Were the Moon

Author: Laura Purdie Salas

Illustrator: Jaime Kim

Published 2017 by Millbrook Press

ISBN: 978-1-4677-8009-4

This book was sent by the publisher for review purposes.

Dazzleships: World War I and the Art of Confusion

Dazzleships: World War I and the Art of Confusion is one of those stories that strikes me as almost fantastical, or even wondering at how this is not more discussed and widely known.  During World War I, German submarines were torpedoing ships but not just military ships, they were torpedoing without regard to the passengers, or cargo.  One such ship, The Lusitania, is the most well known in my measure and carried munitions along with passengers, including 120 Americans.  As a result, the British Royal Navy was ready to try anything, including a new idea proposed by Norman Wilkinson to paint ships in patterns that would be confusing under the water, camouflaging what direction the ship was headed in and therefore wasting torpedo missiles that would miss their mark.  Even King George V was fooled in a demonstration of how the patterning works.  

Chris Barton does a spectacular job of bringing the story to the pages, highlighting events that helped to move this improbable, unlikely idea forward.  As the story itself is artistic, Victo Ngai does a masterful job of bringing the colors and patterns to the reader.  As is noted in the Author’s Note, it is difficult to appreciate the Dazzle Ship designs when viewed in black and white photos, as were taken at the time.  The fact that women helped to get the job done only makes it even more powerful.  At a time when women’s roles were minimized and marginalized, the fact that they were involved seems surprising, but much like early female coders and programmers [who were only noticed when someone looked back at photos and questioned who the women were and that person was told, they were models used for the photo opportunity but I digress], their talents were put to use in the war effort.

Chris Barton writes that the US and British Royal Navy disagreed on the effectiveness of the painting of the ships, some felt that “…at the very least, the sailors on those ships just felt better knowing that something had been tried to keep them from getting torpedoed.”  Isn’t that really the point?  When there is a problem, sometimes doing something, anything, even painting ships in wild, colorful patterns, is better than nothing. 

http://www.chrisbarton.info

@Bartography

http://victo-ngai.com/

@victongai

Title: Dazzleships: World War I and the Art of Confusion

Author: Chris Barton

Illustrator: Victo Ngai

Published 2017 by Millbrook Press

ISBN: 978-1-5124-1014-3

This book was sent by the publisher for review purposes.

Lost in Outer Space: The Incredible Journey of Apollo 13

Citing numerous and varied sources, Tod Olson’s “Lost in Outer Space: The Incredible Journey of Apollo 13” is well researched.  Having watched the movie Apollo 13, I felt pretty comfortable that I knew how this would all turn out.  And yet, reading along with the astronauts and the crew on the ground as they worked the problems, it was stressful moment to moment and having every word, every breath recorded only added to that feeling.  What I found interesting was how much focus Olson put on Barbara Lovell’s perspective.  Barbara, Jim Lovell’s oldest daughter had to grow up quickly being the daughter of an astronaut and having much responsibility for her younger siblings on a regular basis.  I think young readers will relate to the perspective of being a child during the space race and the empathy of imagining a father being blasted into space on multiple occasions.  “Lost in Outer Space” was the unfolding of the best laid plans and what could still go wrong.  Tod Olson’s telling accompanied from photographs from the time help bring this story to a new generation.  I'm excited to check out other books in Tod Olson's "Lost" series!

http://todolson.com/

@tod_olson

Title: Lost in Outer Space: The Incredible Journey of Apollo 13

Author: Tod Olson

Published 2017 by Scholastic, Inc.

ISBN: 978-0-545-92815-1

This book was sent by the publisher for review purposes.

Manjhi Moves a Mountain

In schools, there is currently a focus on grit, resilience, perseverance and what an amazing example of all three in Nancy Churnin’s Manjhi Moves a Mountain.  That it is a true story only makes it more inspiring.  Two villages, separated by a mountain.  One has resources, the other does not.  So why not bring those two worlds together?  That is what Manjhi sets out to do.  With beautiful illustrations, Churnin and Popovici bring this true story across the oceans to readers half a world away.

http://www.nancychurnin.com/about/ 

@nchurnin https://twitter.com/nchurnin 

http://www.dannypopovici.com/ 

@dannypopovici https://twitter.com/dannypopovici 

This book was sent by the publisher for review purposes.

Title: Manjhi Moves a Mountain

Author: Nancy Churnin

Published 2017 by Creston Books

ISBN: 978-1-939547-34-7

Stormy Seas: Stories of Young Boat Refugees

While stories of Syrian refugees have dominated news over the past several years, I haven’t read a compilation quite like “Stormy Seas” before with stories from refugees of many different events.  The overwhelming takeaway for me is that refugees aren’t trying to get somewhere.  But they are trying to get away.  The devastating circumstances that drive people away from their homes often builds over time in the country from which people are fleeing but from the outside global community appears to be both sudden and unexpected.  As a result, countries welcoming (or not so welcoming as reality seems to deem) refugees are often unprepared for the influx of people.  Stormy Seas presents the people behind the gates of the camps who risked everything to make it that far.  Including stories from Germany, Vietnam, Cuba, Afghanistan, and the Ivory Coast, young readers will relate to the stories of the 11 to 18 year old narrator’s of their own experiences.  

“I am not particularly interested in going to America.  I am interested in staying alive.” - Ruth

The book design with quotes pulled out and emphasized will draw the eye of the reader.  The timelines included in each story helps to understand the span of time relative to war or other genocidal catastrophes.  The photographs and consistent color scheme help to connect the dots of our collective history relative to refugees.

http://www.marybethleatherdale.com/ 
@mbleatherdale
http://eleanorshakespeare.com/ 
@eshakespeare

Title: Stormy Seas: Stories of Young Boat Refugees

Author: Mary Beth Leatherdale and Eleanor Shakespeare

Published 2017 by Annick Press

ISBN: 978-1-55451-896-8

This book was sent by the publisher for review purposes.

A Book-Ish Advent Calendar

A couple of years ago, a fellow blogger posted about a bookish advent calendar.  The idea, instead of unwrapping a piece of chocolate each day for the 25 days leading up until Christmas, instead, unwrap a book each day to read before bed (or anytime, really, but bedtime seemed to be our go to).  I did this that first year with some Christmas/holiday/winter books that we had on hand and supplemented with books I borrowed from the public library.  That first year, I followed the blogger’s suggestions as closely as I could as far as which book correlated to which day.  In the years since, I have build up our personal collection but I’m always on the lookout for more holiday books.  Lo and behold, Candlewick Press had a number of holiday books suggested to review and I jumped at the chance.  Rather than wait until closer to the holidays, I’d rather share these NOW so you have an opportunity to get them and prepare your own bookish Advent Calendar.  Or, adapt this idea to make a bookish 8 nights of Hannukah.  I’ll find some good ones for Hannukah too, just putting out the books that have been sent my way so far.  And why stop there?  Let’s do 14 books leading up to Valentine’s Day…the creative juices are flowing now!

 

 

 

 

We're Going on a Bear Hunt: Snowglobe Edition
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Make and Play Christmas
Make and Play Nativity
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Press Out and Color Christmas Ornaments
Gift Boxes to Decorate and Make: Christmas
A Christmas for Bear
Red and Lulu
Elf in the House
The Christmas Fairy
Pick a Pine Tree