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2.59k reviews by:
librarybonanza
Age: Middle School+
Music: Hip Hop
Tough Issues: Poverty, racial discrimination
Another incredible story about an African-American city teen full of rich characters, action, and relevant issues in the black community involving power-hungry authority figures that target black youth. And that's where the similarities to The Hate U Give end! And comparing the two is such a disservice to Bri's story.
Thomas took on a tough character. Bri is impulsive, unapologetic, and stubborn. The trauma of her father's death and her mother's drug abuse is still raw and her family is behind on their utility bills. All this makes Bri an unstoppable rapper. She's smart, quick-witted, and fierce. Then she's caught up in a case of racial discrimination when two security guards throw her to the ground for selling candy bars at school. She records a song about the event that criticizes the profiling of black kids and teens, and it's on everyone's lips but her lyrics are soon taken out of context and it transforms from a parody to a reality for Bri. But the notoriety could be her way to fame and a way to help her family out of poverty.
A great springboard for discussions on poverty, hip hop, influence of music, racial discrimination, overzealous authority figures, violence against African-American people, drug addiction, private schooling, and young people's motivations and aspirations.
Music: Hip Hop
Tough Issues: Poverty, racial discrimination
Another incredible story about an African-American city teen full of rich characters, action, and relevant issues in the black community involving power-hungry authority figures that target black youth. And that's where the similarities to The Hate U Give end! And comparing the two is such a disservice to Bri's story.
Thomas took on a tough character. Bri is impulsive, unapologetic, and stubborn. The trauma of her father's death and her mother's drug abuse is still raw and her family is behind on their utility bills. All this makes Bri an unstoppable rapper. She's smart, quick-witted, and fierce. Then she's caught up in a case of racial discrimination when two security guards throw her to the ground for selling candy bars at school. She records a song about the event that criticizes the profiling of black kids and teens, and it's on everyone's lips but her lyrics are soon taken out of context and it transforms from a parody to a reality for Bri. But the notoriety could be her way to fame and a way to help her family out of poverty.
A great springboard for discussions on poverty, hip hop, influence of music, racial discrimination, overzealous authority figures, violence against African-American people, drug addiction, private schooling, and young people's motivations and aspirations.
Age: Toddler
Not much of a story here, but a celebration of outdoor play. Two words per page, an ability to shorten if needed, and large illustrations make this an excellent read aloud.
Not much of a story here, but a celebration of outdoor play. Two words per page, an ability to shorten if needed, and large illustrations make this an excellent read aloud.
Age: Toddler-Preschool
Community Helper: Dentist
Familiar Experience: Visiting the dentist
A crocodile and a dentist use the same exact words to express their reservations about a dentist's visit. A neat way to show compassion towards a profession that some children fear. Simple text for toddlers to follow along and humor for the preschoolers.
Community Helper: Dentist
Familiar Experience: Visiting the dentist
A crocodile and a dentist use the same exact words to express their reservations about a dentist's visit. A neat way to show compassion towards a profession that some children fear. Simple text for toddlers to follow along and humor for the preschoolers.
Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade
Bugs: Bees
Nature: Flowers
High-energy words accompany the busy day of a bee and his hive. A great demonstration of nonfiction material for a younger audience that may need some oomf in their reading.
Bugs: Bees
Nature: Flowers
High-energy words accompany the busy day of a bee and his hive. A great demonstration of nonfiction material for a younger audience that may need some oomf in their reading.
Age: Infant-Toddler
Things That Go: Car
Solid white backgrounds make the red car pop on every page as it experiences different "transformations" through the weather and repairs. Fun!
Things That Go: Car
Solid white backgrounds make the red car pop on every page as it experiences different "transformations" through the weather and repairs. Fun!
Age: Preschool
School: First day of Kindergarten
Clothing: Shoes
Lena is ready for Kindergarten but her shoes are not feeling it. With the help of her personable headband and a little game of jealousy, Lena's shoes decide to be brave and go to school. A fun way to look at first-day-of-school jitters and a couple ways that children can overcome them. I love dad's role in this book, as he encourages Lena to come up with a solution by asking questions and playing along with her imagination.
School: First day of Kindergarten
Clothing: Shoes
Lena is ready for Kindergarten but her shoes are not feeling it. With the help of her personable headband and a little game of jealousy, Lena's shoes decide to be brave and go to school. A fun way to look at first-day-of-school jitters and a couple ways that children can overcome them. I love dad's role in this book, as he encourages Lena to come up with a solution by asking questions and playing along with her imagination.
Age: Kindergarten-1st grade
Omek and Yelfred go to skrool, just like kids on planet Earth. They learn to count, they read books (or eat them), and they have friendship problems, like when your best friend starts hanging out with someone else. After a cafeteria food fight, Omek and Yelfred become friends again with another to join their group.
The made up words will make this a delight to read aloud, for readers that love to add voices to their stories. Listeners will delight at the silly differences between school on Boborp and their own school.
Omek and Yelfred go to skrool, just like kids on planet Earth. They learn to count, they read books (or eat them), and they have friendship problems, like when your best friend starts hanging out with someone else. After a cafeteria food fight, Omek and Yelfred become friends again with another to join their group.
The made up words will make this a delight to read aloud, for readers that love to add voices to their stories. Listeners will delight at the silly differences between school on Boborp and their own school.
Age: Kindergarten-3rd grade
A kind-hearted, curious girl is intrigued by the boy that never speaks in her class and gently tries to make friends with him. A strong story for encouraging empathy, kindness, patience, and embracing a personality that may be different from your own.
A kind-hearted, curious girl is intrigued by the boy that never speaks in her class and gently tries to make friends with him. A strong story for encouraging empathy, kindness, patience, and embracing a personality that may be different from your own.
Age: 4th-6th grade
History: 1990s Anaheim, CA
Identity: Recently immigrated Chinese family
Tough Issues: Poverty, racism, exploitation
First line: "My parents told me that America would be this amazing place where we could live in a house with a dog, do whatever we want, and eat hamburgers till we were red in the face. So far, the only part of that we've achieved is the hamburger part, but I was still holding out hope."
An exceptionally interesting story of a Chinese-born girl as she and her hard-working family strive to make ends meet while opening their hearts to their neighbors and fellow Chinese immigrants. Amidst the hardship that Mia experiences from poverty, she is still able to extend compassion towards an African-American neighbor who endures the added burden of a racist justice system.
Even with all of these wonderful themes and amazing characters, the story drags at the end with multiple endings and could have easily been shortened by 50 pages, which may make it hard to enjoy for its young readers. I'll still recommend the hell out of it, though.
Book jacket synopsis: Mia Tang has a lot of secrets.
Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.
Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed.
Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language?
It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?
History: 1990s Anaheim, CA
Identity: Recently immigrated Chinese family
Tough Issues: Poverty, racism, exploitation
First line: "My parents told me that America would be this amazing place where we could live in a house with a dog, do whatever we want, and eat hamburgers till we were red in the face. So far, the only part of that we've achieved is the hamburger part, but I was still holding out hope."
An exceptionally interesting story of a Chinese-born girl as she and her hard-working family strive to make ends meet while opening their hearts to their neighbors and fellow Chinese immigrants. Amidst the hardship that Mia experiences from poverty, she is still able to extend compassion towards an African-American neighbor who endures the added burden of a racist justice system.
Even with all of these wonderful themes and amazing characters, the story drags at the end with multiple endings and could have easily been shortened by 50 pages, which may make it hard to enjoy for its young readers. I'll still recommend the hell out of it, though.
Book jacket synopsis: Mia Tang has a lot of secrets.
Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.
Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed.
Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language?
It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?