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2.59k reviews by:
librarybonanza
DNF. Absolutely love the concept, the conflict of racism in a magical world, and the AAE dialect is a breathe of fresh air in fantasy literature. However, I personally loathe extremely self-absorbed and big-headed protagonists. The plot writing also felt somewhat lazy and would propel the main character through scenarios that should have been met with resistance. These two things made me begrudgingly open the audiobook and my TBR list is just too long for that.
Age: 1 years - preschool
Shapes
Thong uses a rolling rhythm as she explores the shapes in our lives. Its uniqueness comes from the smattering of Spanish words throughout and the focus on a Latino lifestyle and the shapes existing within that culture. Thong occasionally asks the reader to find the shapes and objects described in the images that are full of noticeable shape examples. A simple subject such as shapes could easily be trashed but Thong pulls it off with class.
Shapes
Thong uses a rolling rhythm as she explores the shapes in our lives. Its uniqueness comes from the smattering of Spanish words throughout and the focus on a Latino lifestyle and the shapes existing within that culture. Thong occasionally asks the reader to find the shapes and objects described in the images that are full of noticeable shape examples. A simple subject such as shapes could easily be trashed but Thong pulls it off with class.
Age: Preschool-1st grade
Family: Granddaughter/Grandma, family gathering & tradition
Location: Japan
A little girl joins her grandma, aunties, and friends as they partake in a joyous, communal, and relaxing day at the bath house. Naked women's bodies of all shapes and sizes are present. If you haven't been to one yourself, bath houses provide a very affirming and accepting atmosphere, which is gracefully captured in this lovely picture book.
Family: Granddaughter/Grandma, family gathering & tradition
Location: Japan
A little girl joins her grandma, aunties, and friends as they partake in a joyous, communal, and relaxing day at the bath house. Naked women's bodies of all shapes and sizes are present. If you haven't been to one yourself, bath houses provide a very affirming and accepting atmosphere, which is gracefully captured in this lovely picture book.
Age: 1st grade-3rd grade
Identity: Nahua (Aztec) model and teacher
Identity, author: Mexican American
Identity, illustrator: Mexican and American
Location: Mexico (Milpa Alta and Mexico City)
Nonfiction: 1897-1965
A celebratory representation of a unique Indigenous Nahua woman that never let go of her culture and, instead, shared it with the world and revived it in the classroom. Tonatiuh's distinct illustrations are full of emotion and movement. He also reinterprets several pieces of art throughout the book and weaves them into the plot of the story. A lovely contribution to the illustrated biographies section.
Identity: Nahua (Aztec) model and teacher
Identity, author: Mexican American
Identity, illustrator: Mexican and American
Location: Mexico (Milpa Alta and Mexico City)
Nonfiction: 1897-1965
A celebratory representation of a unique Indigenous Nahua woman that never let go of her culture and, instead, shared it with the world and revived it in the classroom. Tonatiuh's distinct illustrations are full of emotion and movement. He also reinterprets several pieces of art throughout the book and weaves them into the plot of the story. A lovely contribution to the illustrated biographies section.
Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade
Identity: Mixed race-white mother, black father
LGBTQ: Transgender Boy
Identity: Parents of a transgender girl
The past couple years have brought out some remarkable picture books introducing and starring transgender children. Along the lines of Sam Is My Sister and My Maddy, this book introduces the transgender experience in accessible language that speaks to a young audience that is first being introduced or currently experiencing it themselves. Academic and medical terminology is saved for the afterword and, instead, the stories focus on an interesting plot that welcomes change, answers questions, and ends triumphantly.
As the authors note in the end, "the support Calvin receives is based on best existing practices." With nervous trepidation, he tells his parents about his true self and is welcomed with open arms by his immediate family and grandparents. The big change causes more anxiousness when Calvin has to return to school but adults and children greet him by his new name with ease and acceptance, having been told in advance so that Calvin is free to be himself without explaining the change to everyone he meets.
Identity: Mixed race-white mother, black father
LGBTQ: Transgender Boy
Identity: Parents of a transgender girl
The past couple years have brought out some remarkable picture books introducing and starring transgender children. Along the lines of Sam Is My Sister and My Maddy, this book introduces the transgender experience in accessible language that speaks to a young audience that is first being introduced or currently experiencing it themselves. Academic and medical terminology is saved for the afterword and, instead, the stories focus on an interesting plot that welcomes change, answers questions, and ends triumphantly.
As the authors note in the end, "the support Calvin receives is based on best existing practices." With nervous trepidation, he tells his parents about his true self and is welcomed with open arms by his immediate family and grandparents. The big change causes more anxiousness when Calvin has to return to school but adults and children greet him by his new name with ease and acceptance, having been told in advance so that Calvin is free to be himself without explaining the change to everyone he meets.
Age: High School
Identity: Iranian American
History: 2002
I could not get enough of this book. Fans of John Green and David Levithan need to get their hands on this book PRONTO. Absolute top favorite of my reads in the past 5 years.
Identity: Iranian American
History: 2002
I could not get enough of this book. Fans of John Green and David Levithan need to get their hands on this book PRONTO. Absolute top favorite of my reads in the past 5 years.
Age: Preschool-1st grade
Identity: Caribbean (author is Trinidadian American)
Little Naya sneaks out of her house at night to prove her mom wrong, that jumbies do exist--she just needs to find one first. Naya finds creatures in the forest that match her exact description of various jumbies, but they convince her otherwise and join her, one-by-one, on her quest to find a jumbie. Repetition, a fun quest, and the variety of monsters are extremely appealing to children.
Identity: Caribbean (author is Trinidadian American)
Little Naya sneaks out of her house at night to prove her mom wrong, that jumbies do exist--she just needs to find one first. Naya finds creatures in the forest that match her exact description of various jumbies, but they convince her otherwise and join her, one-by-one, on her quest to find a jumbie. Repetition, a fun quest, and the variety of monsters are extremely appealing to children.
Age: Preschool-2nd grade
Identity: Variety of physical disabilities
The book starts out with a group of mixed-ability friends living their best lives and experiencing a variety of emotions like patience, determination, and curiosity. The book continues to look at injustices against disabled people and how communities can work together to overcome. Shifting between the two goals of the book (joy of culture and the fight for disability justice) provides a delicate balance of celebration and the necessity for change.
While this book has excellent read-aloud potential at storytime and in the classroom, the illustrations provide a lot of intriguing and fun scenarios for one-on-one readers to absorb and investigate.
Identity: Variety of physical disabilities
The book starts out with a group of mixed-ability friends living their best lives and experiencing a variety of emotions like patience, determination, and curiosity. The book continues to look at injustices against disabled people and how communities can work together to overcome. Shifting between the two goals of the book (joy of culture and the fight for disability justice) provides a delicate balance of celebration and the necessity for change.
While this book has excellent read-aloud potential at storytime and in the classroom, the illustrations provide a lot of intriguing and fun scenarios for one-on-one readers to absorb and investigate.
Age: Preschool-1st grade
Location: many African cultures
Identity, author: South African
Ubuntu is an ancient philosophy meaning "I am, because you are." With 1-3 sentences per spread, Moahloli and McDonald demonstrate how our feelings and well-being are tied to those around us. Children will surely connect to the simple and repetitious concept paired with the relatable scenarios.
Location: many African cultures
Identity, author: South African
Ubuntu is an ancient philosophy meaning "I am, because you are." With 1-3 sentences per spread, Moahloli and McDonald demonstrate how our feelings and well-being are tied to those around us. Children will surely connect to the simple and repetitious concept paired with the relatable scenarios.