Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge #NFPB2018- June 27, 2018

When You Look Out the Window: How Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin Built a Community by Gayle E. Pitman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A refreshing picture book biography of two prominent active lesbians, Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin. Looking out their window, they see how San Francisco has changed over the years since they first stepped in the city. A Reader’s Note gives additional information why these places are significant and how Lyon and Martin contributed to LGBTQ- and particularly lesbian- activism. Great backmatter material also showcases why reading about LGBTQ history is important.

They She He Me: Free to Be! by Maya Gonzalez
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Gender identity pronouns are tackled in this picture book showcasing everyone’s diversity. The actual story text is super basic but the backmatter material is great for parents and educators to help start conversations about this subject.

View all my reviews

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My Reading Week #IMWAYR- June 25, 2018

I changed the name for my “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” posts to “My Reading Week.”

I’ve been in another one of my blogging slump so I’ll probably be taking next month off. I’ll still post on the Facebook page from time to time.

I went to New Orleans last week for a children’s bookseller conference. Maybe I’ll write about it more for an upcoming post but I’ve shared some pictures here.

Since last time, I posted:
–Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge Wednesday- June 6th
–June’s Picture Book of the Month Pick- Part 2
–Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge Wednesday- June 13th

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hilarious, great for read-aloud. Thankfully it wasn’t as dark as I originally thought it was!

The Doll Hospital by Kallie George
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A cute story for fans of the show Doc McStuffin. A doctor ends up having a much busier day than she anticipated but that doesn’t stop her from helping out anyone who comes in. Playful illustrations.

Little Robot Alone by Patricia MacLachlan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A friendship is literally made in this charming story about a lonely robot and how his creativity helped solve that problem.

Hoot & Olive: Brave Enough For Two by Jonathan D. Voss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cute- and may be a bit too cute- about a girl and her stuffed owl who go off on adventures. Reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh, this would make for a sweet story time.

Baby’s First Words by Stella Blackstone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The cover drew me in. I just love the diversity of the characters even though it’s just your typical word board book.

The Long Island by Drew Beckmeyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I loved the cover. And the premise sounded interesting but somehow the story fell a bit short for me.

The Boy Who Cried Fabulous by Lesléa Newman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A boy can’t stop seeing all the fabulousness in the world around him but it eventually gets him in trouble with his parents. But that doesn’t get him down for long when a fabulous idea comes to him which may help his parent see things differently.

Mom, Dad, Our Books, and Me by Danielle Marcotte
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A celebration of reading. It’s not just at home and a family act but it’s everywhere and for everyone.

The Little Barbarian by Renato Moriconi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This wordless picture book is full of delightful surprises and will make you want to read it again and again. The art work reminds me of Carson Ellis.

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lucy may be a genius- thanks to being struck by lightning at a young age- but she finds out there’s no clear cut solution to the problems middle school presents. Fans of Wonder will love this novel.

We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices by Cheryl Willis Hudson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An inspiring anthology for upper elementary and middle school grades that tackles current issues that have happened in the past. It’s a good reminder that things can be overcome but it takes time and teamwork.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fun, entertaining read before the movie comes out. Peek into the outrageous lives of the rich and famous full of backhanded compliments, designer clothes, delicious food, and family secrets. A page-turner, for sure.

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fascinating subject and easy to follow text for a nonfiction book about first impressions and all the things that help or hinder our instantaneous decisions.

Review Notes
***= Recommended
****= Highly Recommended
*****= Favorite

You can view all the books I’ve read at my Goodreads page.

Thanks to Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers for their focus on Children’s Literature of this meme!

If you’re on Twitter, don’t forget to use the hashtag #IMWAYR when sharing your link!

Please like The Chronicles Of A Children’s Book Writer Facebook page!

— — — — — — — THANK YOU FOR READING! — — — — — — —

 

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge #NFPB2018- June 13, 2018

Randolph Caldecott: The Man Who Could Not Stop Drawing by Leonard S. Marcus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve always been curious who Randolph Caldecott was and why an award was named after him. This picture book was a bit too long for my liking but it did answer my questions. I loved that we were able to see some of his sketches and finished products. Even without going through the history of picture books, it was clear how he changed the game. Includes extensive backmatter material.

I would love if there was a picture book about Kate Greenaway who was mentioned here and also has an award named after her!

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June’s Picture Book of the Month Pick- Part 2

As part of my Commitment to Literacy: Picture Book It challenge, I wanted to spotlight one book that I’m completely in love with. Throughout the month, I’ll do multiple posts based on the book. I hope you will end up picking up the book and joining in on the conversation.

Previous posts:
All posts pertaining to January, February, March, April, and May’s Picture Book of the Month picks have been archived over at Picture Book It.
-June’s Picture Book of the Month Pick- Announcement

June’s Picture Book of the Month is Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders
and illustrated by Steven Salerno.

This week I wanted to share a few things.

First up, it’s the book trailer for Pride.

And, I love this interview the author did with The Horn Book’s Roger Sutton.

Finally, catch Rob Sanders’s interview on Matthew Winner’s The Children Book Podcast.

Discussion
What did you think of Pride?

How will you be celebrating Pride Month? What does Pride mean to you?

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— — — — — — — THANK YOU FOR READING! — — — — — — —

 

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge #NFPB2018- June 6, 2018

Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere by Barb Rosenstock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fascinating read about the first deep ocean explorers. The art is absolutely stunning especially the foldout towards the back. Author’s note includes more information about the explorers. Illustrator’s note provides more about her process. Definitely worth the read.

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My Reading Week #IMWAYR- June 4, 2018

I changed the name for my “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” posts to “My Reading Week.”

This week, I posted:
–Reviews: Jacqueline Woodson’s Upcoming Books
–Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge Wednesday
–June’s Picture Book of the Month Pick– Read my review of Pride by Rob Sanders and Steven Salerno.

Imagine! by Raúl Colón
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A wordless picture book that celebrates how art and creativity can impact someone’s life. A young boy ends up a going on a wild adventure while visiting an art museum.

Iver and Ellsworth by Casey W. Robinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A sweet story of friendship with an old man and an inflatable rooftop bear.
Inky the Octopus: Bound for Glory by Erin Guendelsberger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Based on a true story about Inky the Octopus who escaped his aquarium to return to the ocean. Includes other famous octopus who’ve done some incredible things.

Starry Skies: Learn about the constellations above us by Samantha Chagollan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A cute enough book that could have been truly special if additional information about each constellation was given. But I’m sure readers will be inspired to look at the night sky and find shapes on their own.

Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A fun interactive book about meeting and befriending a shy dinosaur.

Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The author traces a family history one quilt patch at a time from slave days to the civil rights movement to present day. A powerful story of cruelty and resilience, of dark times and hope.

Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! – The Itchy Book! by LeUyen Pham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What do you do with an itch? Scratch it, of course. But there’s a rule engraved in stone: Dinosaurs do not scratch. Find out what happens to a bunch of itchy friends trying to follow this rule.

I Lost My Tooth! by Mo Willems
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A funny new series that will surely be a hit with beginning readers especially if they’ve enjoyed Mo Willems’ Elephant & Piggie and Ben Clanton’s Narwhal and Jelly series.

The Alcatraz Escape by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jennifer Chambliss Bertman’s Book Scavenger series has been great fun to get lost in. The Alcatraz Escape wrapped things up nicely with more mysteries to solve and a blend of historical fiction thrown in. I also enjoyed that these books were a tribute to booklovers and bookstores and booksellers. (Loved the Binc shoutout and all the book recommendations like Hello, Universe and Al Capone Does My Shirts.) The ending brought up many things to think about, as well.

Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A mix of Holes by Louis Sacher and Hatchet by Gary Paulsen and Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Scar Island finds a group of delinquent boys fending for themselves after a freak accident. Emotional and gripping full of twists and turns and surprising characters.

It’s a Bunny-Eat-Bunny World: A Writer’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving in Today’s Competitive Children’s Book Market by Olga Litowinsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed learning about the picture book publishing history and getting behind the scenes glimpses of the process once a book is signed. Definitely a must read for any aspiring kidlit creator.

Review Notes
***= Recommended
****= Highly Recommended
*****= Favorite

You can view all the books I’ve read at my Goodreads page.

Thanks to Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers for their focus on Children’s Literature of this meme!

If you’re on Twitter, don’t forget to use the hashtag #IMWAYR when sharing your link!

Please like The Chronicles Of A Children’s Book Writer Facebook page!

— — — — — — — THANK YOU FOR READING! — — — — — — —

 

June’s Picture Book of the Month Pick

As part of my Commitment to Literacy: Picture Book It challenge, I wanted to spotlight one book that I’m completely in love with. Throughout the month, I’ll do multiple posts based on the book. I hope you will end up picking up the book and joining in on the conversation.

Previous posts:
All posts pertaining to January, February, March, April, and May’s Picture Book of the Month picks have been archived over at Picture Book It.

June’s Picture Book of the Month is…

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag
Text by Rob Sanders
Illustrated by Steven Salerno
[Hardcover, Ebook]
Published by Penguin Random House
April 10, 2018

Summary
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Rainbow Pride Flag with the very first picture book to tell its remarkable and inspiring history!

In this deeply moving and empowering true story, young readers will trace the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today’s world. Award-winning author Rob Sanders’s stirring text, and acclaimed illustrator Steven Salerno’s evocative images, combine to tell this remarkable – and undertold – story. A story of love, hope, equality, and pride.

Review
Pride and hope take center stage in this picture book focusing on LGBTQ activist Harvey Milk and how the rainbow flag became a symbol for those things. It traces how the latter has evolved from Gilbert Baker’s original concept to its current incarnation. How I wish it would have mentioned its evolving design as well. Includes biographical notes, timelines, and photos in the back matter.

Discussion
What did you think of Pride?

How will you be celebrating Pride Month? What does Pride mean to you?

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— — — — — — — THANK YOU FOR READING! — — — — — — —