December 2020 – Page 2 – Unleashing Readers

The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez, Illustrated by Lauren Semmer

December 10, 2020 by Ricki

The ABCs of Black History
Author: Rio Cortez
Illustrator: Lauren Semmer
Published: December 8, 2020 by Workman Publishing Company

Summary: While many alphabet books have tackled a range of social justice topics from consent to feminism, there remains an urgent need to explore through a thoughtful lens how Black history has shaped American culture. The ABCs of Black History is a beautiful representation of the ideas and personalities that embody a wide range of Black people, experiences, and ideas in lively verse matched with vivid imagery.

Written by Pushcart-nominated-poet, Rio Cortez and illustrated by newcomer Lauren Semmer, The ABCs of Black History uses the alphabet as a frame to introduce Black history. Beginning with Anthem—an introduction to James Weldon Johnson’s Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing—and ending with Zenith, a tribute to the mountaintop Dr. King spoke about before his death, readers will travel across continents and centuries, navigate triumph and heartbreak, and celebrate creativity and joy.

The poetic text introduces big ideas to engage curious minds. Every letter has a rhyming verse, and every spread is a visual feast. F explores the concepts of farming and food. G is for Go! and the Great Migration from the rural South to the urban North. Then the reader lands in Harlem, New York, where they meet Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes. Contemporary moments are included too. M is for march and message, which explores the culmination of movements that have changed the course of history, from the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965 to the Black Lives Matter movement today. And Q is for queens, acquainting readers with powerful women like Leontyne Price, Queen Nandi, Toni Morrison, Michelle Obama, and many more.

The book also includes robust back matter that offers more information on the events, places, and people mentioned in the poem, from Fannie Lou Hamer to DJ Kool Herc, the Little Rock Nine to Sam Cooke.

A necessary addition to every child’s bookshelf, The ABCs of Black History is an exuberant celebration of history, culture, race, and justice.

Ricki’s Review: Oh my. This is a powerful book. Every single page is beautifully constructed. I simply cannot imagine how long it took to create this book. It is 64 pages of masterful writing and eye-catching illustrations. To call this an alphabet book would be to undermine everything that it is. Each spread features a different letter with numerous words connected to Black history and written in poetic form. Nine pages of back matter offer further information of all of the people, places, and terms used throughout the book. Thus, a child will hear the lilt of a poetic description in a read aloud, and the back matter offers more learning. I describe a child here, but as an adult, I was absolutely captivated by this text. This book is one to read and love and it is one to gift. Also, in case you missed it, look at the cover! I loved this book and give it my highest recommendation.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Teachers might ask each child to select a letter in the book. They can learn more about the people, places, and terms used and share with peers more information about Black history. Then, they might create their own alphabet books about a topic they are interested in researching.

Discussion Questions:

Which letter spread did you like the most? What did you learn?
How does the author incorporate information in a poetic and engaging way?
How do the illustrations elevate your understanding of the text?

Flagged Passage:

E is for explore—to study a place: like Matthew Henson, the Artctic; Mae Jemison, space.

E is for education, for expanding the mind, like Ruby Bridges, Linda Brown, the Little Rock Nine—The first Black children in all-white schools, they opened the doors and challenged the rules.

Flagged Spread:

Read This If You Love: Nonfiction picture books, Black history books, alphabet books, Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History by Walter Dean Myers, Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra by Andrea Davis Pinkney, We March by Shane W. Evans, Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills by Renee Watson, Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford

Recommended For:

Educators’ Guide for A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel

December 8, 2020 by Kellee

A Stone Sat Still
Author & Illustrator: Brendan Wenzel
Published: August 27th, 2019 by Chronicle Books

Summary: The brilliant follow-up to the Caldecott Honor-winning and New York Times bestselling picture book They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel!

A Stone Sat Still tells the story of a seemingly ordinary rock—but to the animals that use it, it is a resting place, a kitchen, a safe haven…even an entire world.

This is a gorgeous exploration of perspective, perception, and the passage of time, with an underlying environmental message that is timely and poignant.

• Filled with stunning illustrations in cut paper, pencil, collage, and paint
• Soothing rhythms invite reading aloud and bedtime snuggles
• Introduces concepts like color, size, function, and time in a way that is easily understandable and teachable for children

With a rhythmic, calming narrative about the stone and its place in the world—and the changing environment—A Stone Sat Still proves Brendan Wenzel’s mastery of the picture book form.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions:

Please view and enjoy the official educators’ guide for A Stone Sat Still (created by me!):

You can also access the teaching guide here.

You can learn more about A Stone Sat Still here.

Recommended For:

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 12/7/20

December 7, 2020 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. It offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

Tuesday: Educators’ Guide for A Girl, a Racoon, and the Midnight Moon by Karen Romano Young, Illustrated by Jessixa Bagley

Thursday: Two New Hanukkah Books You Must Read: The Ninth Night of Hanukkah by Erica Perl and illustrated by Shahar Kober & The Littlest Candle by Rabbis Kerry and Jesse Olitzky, Illustrated by Jen Kostman

Saturday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Sunday: “Character Interview with Jasper Bloom” by Christopher Healy, Author of The Final Gambit (A Perilous Journey of Danger and Mayhem #3)

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Kellee

Here’s the books that Trent and I read this week. There is not a dud in this bunch!

Reading Dream Big, Little Scientists 6 months ago versus this time was a completely different experience! The first time it was definitely just a bedtime story–this time it was a deep dive into all of the scientific fields found in the book. I loved listening to Trent’s curiosity and knowledge about each discipline!
I personally loved Dream Fight of the Century and Her Right Foot so much when I read them, so I was glad that Trent chose them from his shelf!
I also ADORED the Sunny Days book! We read it while listening to the theme song because you can’t read it without singing it!
Where is Our Library? Shows us that once again, Josh Funk can do no wrong.
The second Rocket book is as good as the first! I love her as a kid so much–she shows everything that is good in children!
A Fox Found a Box is a perfect lesson in finding beauty around you, and I love Ged Adamson’s art.
Bobville was a great mixture of funny and lesson!
Fern and Otto is a MUST GET for my elementary teachers and librarian friends. Great allusions to nursery rhymes, beautiful illustrations, a solid story, and an important lesson!
Fairy Science is a fun introduction to the scientific method!
Macca the Alpaca is a good book to discuss bullying but with cute alpacas!
Elmore and Pinky is about friendship and how everyone has a someone out there.

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2020 Goodreads Challenge page or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

Two favorites from this week:

Ahh! I am really excited about The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez. Full review to come this Thursday.

Good Night, Wind by Linda Elovitz Marshall is a retelling of a Yiddish folktale. The illustrations are photos of dioramas. The day after I read this one to my kids, I caught my 4yo sitting in the corner and rereading it—he was slowly turning the pages to soak in the beauty of this one.

Kellee

I am reading for Schneider, so cannot share everything I am reading right now…. However, I look forward to sharing Trent and my reading!

Ricki

Now that my book is turned in, I am doing a new study, which involves a lot of rereading of Indigenous YAL.

Tuesday: Educators’ Guide for A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel

Thursday: The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez, Illustrated by Lauren Semmer

Sunday: Educator Guest Post: “Story Talk: Use Conversation to Fall in Love with a Book–A Reading Resource using Float by Daniel Miyares” by Hillary Wolfe

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

and

Author Guest Post: “Character Interview with Jasper Bloom” by Christopher Healy, Author of A Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem #3—The Final Gambit

December 6, 2020 by Kellee

Character Interview: A Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem—The Final Gambit

On the occasion of the publication of The Final Gambit, the third installment of the Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem trilogy, author Christopher Healy will be interviewed by one of the characters from that series, humble ashman turned heroic sidekick, Jasper Bloom.

Jasper: Okay, I will not take offense to being called a character, because I most certainly am one—as in, look at that Jasper Bloom, ain’t he charming, he is such a character. Nor do I have any problem with most of the other words in that sentence: Humble? Yes. Heroic? Yes. Ashman? Well, to be truthful, I got fired from my job at the ash dump after I missed several days of work on account of I was helping save a certain pair of children from a certain villain who tried to destroy New York in the first book of a certain series. But anyways, I must note my objection to the term, “sidekick.” Jasper Bloom is not sidekick material. Now, if you wanna call Balthazar Birdhouse a sidekick, well, you’d better think twice about that too, ‘cause the man wouldn’t take kindly to it. One time at the dump, I referred to him as my “handy helper” and the man swore revenge with a scheme that involved a water hose, three grapefruit, and an angry chihuahua. You shoulda seen the way—

Christopher Healy: Um, Jasper? Excuse me, but aren’t you supposed to be asking me questions?

Jasper: I’m getting to it! For someone whose job is making up words, you sure don’t want anybody else getting any in, do you?

Christopher Healy: That’s not what I—

Jasper: So, tell me: Why did you set your story in 1883?

Christopher Healy: It was the Golden Age of Invention. And this is a story that revolves greatly around inventors and their inventions. But 1883 was also a very difficult time in history for women to get recognized for their work, which is why so many of the characters—

Jasper: Thank you! I would have also accepted, “Because that’s when Jasper Bloom was around.” Next question! Tell me some new and exciting bits of business from this third book that we haven’t seen in the first two books. I apologize—that wasn’t really a question. It was more of a command. But I do expect you to follow through on it.

Christopher Healy: Well, there are cowboys. And a museum heist. And a swamp man.

Jasper: Ooh, like one of them monsters that are all green and weedy and shamble around like an angry salad?

Christopher Healy: I think you’re thinking of the trolls from my other books. No, this is just a man who lives in a swamp in Florida.

Jasper: Ooh, I lived in a Florida swamp once too. If by “Florida,” you mean “Central Park.” And by “swamp,” you mean “a big flowerpot.” And by “lived in” you mean “fell asleep in after I got tired of chasing Balthazar Birdhouse all over the city and shouting at him to give me my good spatula back.”

Christopher Healy: I didn’t mean any of that.

Jasper: Fair enough. So, tell me. Is there going to be another Perilous Journey book after The Final Gambit?

Christopher Healy: No. That’s why it’s called The Final Gambit.

Jasper: Hmmph! Tell that to Sherlock Holmes! Man appears in a story called “The Final Problem,” falls off a cliff, and then—abra-kazam!—he’s in like forty more stories after that.

Christopher Healy: Um, that’s true, but—Hey, wait a minute. The character of Sherlock Holmes wasn’t even created until 1887. How do you know about—

Jasper: That’s all the time we have for today, folks! In closing, I would just like to say that this book series, A Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem, has a whole lot more than just danger and mayhem. It’s got action and humor and mystery. It’s got flying vehicles, and talking robots, and heroic ashmen (though not in nearly enough scenes, if you ask my humble opinion). It’s got devious, villainous scoundrels that try to pull off some nasty stuff that even Balthazar Birdhouse would think twice before trying. It’s got exotic locations, like Antarctica and Ohio. It’s got historical folks like Thomas Edison and Chester A. Arthur and other people who act in way you might not be expecting them to act if you’ve only ever read about them in history books. And it’s got a couple of spunky kid heroes that even a man of my expertise and abilities is constantly impressed by. I suggest you read it.

Christopher Healy: Why, thank you, Jasper. That was very kind of you to say.

Jasper: You are most welcome. Now, if I could just grab you for a moment, I have a spinoff idea I would like to run by you.

Published December 1st, 2020 by Walden Pond Press

About the Book: The thrilling conclusion to Christopher Healy‘s funny, action-packed, acclaimed alt-history adventure!

It is 1884, and Molly and Cassandra Pepper, Emmett Lee, and Emmett’s long-lost father are sailing back to New York following their death-defying adventure in Antarctica. Having discovered a subterranean world at the South Pole while saving the world from certain doom once again, surely their accomplishments will finally earn them the recognition they deserve.

Unless, of course…well, you know by now.

And so do the Peppers and Lees. They’re used to having their deeds covered up by the government in order to protect powerful men, and frankly, they’re sick of it. And when their return to New York doesn’t go the way they’d planned, they decide that maybe it’s best to go into hiding and accept that, perhaps, the forces aligned against them are just too great.

As the 1884 presidential election approaches, however, our heroes discover a plot against leading candidate Thomas Edison that only they can stop. It’ll be up to them to decide whether to come out of hiding, make the perilous journey to Washington, DC, and do the right thing one last time. Even if it means risking everything they have left.

About the Author: Christopher Healy is the author of The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom series and A Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem trilogy. Before becoming a writer, he worked as an actor, an ad copywriter, a toy store display designer, a fact-checker, a dishwasher, a journalist, a costume shop clothing stitcher, a children’s entertainment reviewer, and a haunted house zombie. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two children, and a dog named Duncan. You can visit him online at www.christopherhealy.com.

Thank you, Christopher, for this hilarious piece–anyone who reads it can see the humor that you bring to your adventures!

Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

December 5, 2020 by Ricki

Sofia is an 9-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. On select Saturdays, Sofia shares her favorite books with kids! She is one of the most well-read elementary schoolers that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!

Dear readers,

I have just finished reading this amazing book about a girl who would stop at nothing to find out the truth about her father! It is called From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks! This book is recommended for ages 8-12.

On Zoe’s twelfth birthday she finds out that her father is sending her letters from jail when she accidentally finds one in the mail. Zoe is confused by the letter because it says that her father had written more letters and decides to keep the letter secret and answer it. She does that because her mom refuses her to have any contact with her dad because of the crime he is in jail for. She knows that her mom will forbid her to write any more letters the second she tells her she has been writing letters to her father. In her reply to the letter she asks a bit about him. Zoe is also an excellent baker, like her father and wants to enter The Kids Bake Challenge!. She asks her mom and her new dad if she can, but they say maybe. They allow her to work at Ari’s Cakes so her mother’s friend, Arianna, can teach Zoe some of her baking tricks. They also say if Arianna gives her a good review then she would probably be able to enter The Kids Bake Challenge!. When Zoe is ready to mail her letter she goes to the street’s mailbox so her parents won’t see the letter. Her dad, named Marcus, keeps on writing her letters and Zoe sends some back along with questions. But one time Zoe’s grandma sees one of Zoe’s letters to Marcus when she is on her way to mail it! Will Zoe get in humongous trouble or will her grandmother be kind about it?

I loved this book so so so much because of how well it was written and how much joy it gave me reading it. I couldn’t put this book down because of the amazing suspense, action and normal life drama that was in it. There were so many cliffhangers in the story, it was just great! Too good for words to express! I loved every second of the journey through this book. I also loved it because of Zoe’s personality. The fact that Zoe was curious, courageous and smart made the book very interesting. It also meant that she would keep digging for the truth about her father no matter how impossible it was. I also loved this book because Zoe’s passion for baking and creating recipes carried on to me and she even inspired me to make up a recipe, Nutella swirl Cupcakes! My mom had a recipe for vanilla cupcakes and I simply just added my favorite thing… Nutella! I’ll include the recipe in case you want to try it out.

Nutella swirl cupcakes recipe

Ingredients

1 ½ sticks unsalted butter
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ½ teaspoons of baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 ½ cups of flour
1 ¼ cups of milk
15 teaspoons of Nutella

Instructions

Grab a big bowl and mix butter, eggs and sugar together. Add vanilla. Grab a medium sized bowl and mix flour, baking powder and salt. Mix all into the big sized bowl using spoonfuls each time of the medium bowl and use the mixer to stir around and add milk. Put into cupcake forms. Add one teaspoon of Nutella into each cupcake (you should have about 15) and twirl with a toothpick. After all that put the cupcakes in your oven and bake at 375 degrees for twenty minutes. Let cool and Voila! You baked Nutella swirl cupcakes! Enjoy!

If you absolutely loved this book then I would definitely recommend Front Desk by Kelly Yang! I have already written a book review about that book so click on the link here Front Desk book review to see the review! I make this recommendation because they are kind of alike in the characteristics of the main characters. Mia in Front Desk is just as courageous and smart as Zoe in From the Desk of Zoe Washington.

**Thanks so much to Sofia for this terrific review!**

Two New Hanukkah Books You Must Read!: The Ninth Night of Hanukkah by Erica Perl and illustrated by Shahar Kober & The Littlest Candle: A Hanukkah Story by Rabbis Kerry and Jesse Olitzky, Illustrated by Jen Kostman

December 3, 2020 by Ricki

The Ninth Night of Hanukkah
Author: Erica Perl
Illustrator: Shahar Kober
Published September 15, 2020 by Sterling

Goodreads Summary: A heartwarming picture book with a fresh twist on a Hanukkah celebration: celebrating a ninth night with new neighbors and friends!

It’s Hanukkah, and Max and Rachel are excited to light the menorah in their family’s new apartment. But, unfortunately, their Hanukkah box is missing. So now they have no menorah, candles, dreidels, or, well, anything! Luckily, their neighbors are happy to help, offering thoughtful and often humorous stand-in items each night. And then, just as Hanukkah is about to end, Max and Rachel, inspired by the shamash (“helper”) candle, have a brilliant idea: they’re going to celebrate the Ninth Night of Hanukkah as a way to say thanks to everyone who’s helped them!

This book is not only a heartwarming and fun story, it’s also an invitation to join in a beautiful new Hanukkah tradition!

My Review: I adored this charming book that truly does encourage a new Hanukkah tradition. As someone who has searched and searched for candles in a city where there are very few Jewish families, I completely understood the panic that Max and Rachel were experiencing. They certainly triumph in this book, and they come out better because of it. I loved reading this book with my children, and when I looked at them, I noticed they were smiling as we read. This book is going to be a family favorite, and I especially love its message of gratitude.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book will make readers think creatively. It would be fun for readers to consider how they might add a twist to a family tradition. They could turn these into their own picture books!

Discussion Questions:

How do Max and Rachel change in the story?
In what ways do they add a new twist to their family tradition?
How does this book teach us about community?
What are you grateful for? How might you share this with your family on a ninth night?

The Littlest Candle: A Hanukkah Story
Authors: Rabbis Kerry and Jesse Olitzky
Illustrator: Jen Kostman
Published September 1, 2020 by Kalaniot Books

Goodreads Summary: Little Flicker is always cheering his friends on with words of encouragement and support. But as the smallest candle in the box, why should he be chosen to be the shamash in the Hanukkah menorah? Isn’t the job of lighting all the others candles too big for him? As it turns out, it’s the size of your heart that matters, and in that department, Little Flicker is huge! This book’s bright and quirky illustrations make it easy to imagine the possibility of a world where candles walk, talk, dance, and sing. Kids will love exploring the details of Little Flicker’s life inside his cozy drawer.

My Review: I loved the way that the Little Flicker (the shamash) was personified in this book! Although this book is focused on Hanukkah, similarly to The Ninth Night of Hanukkah, it is about so much more. Little Flicker has a strong spirit, and kids will see this and recognize his strength. I felt like I wanted to fist pump while reading this book—it has so much heart. We received this book a couple of weeks ago, and my four year old has asked me to read it many times over, and every time, I think I love it more.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Little Flicker is small, but he has a lot of spirit to him. Teachers might ask students to think about and discuss a quality that others might perceive to be a flaw but which can act as a strength.

Discussion Questions:

What is the message of this book?
What did you learn about the meaning of Hanukkah?
How do the authors and illustrator use personification to strengthen the story?

Recommended For:

Happy Hanukkah to you and yours!!!

**Thank you to Casey at Media Masters Publicity for providing copies for review!**

Educators’ Guide for A Girl, a Raccoon, and the Midnight Moon by Karen Romano Young, Illustrated by Jessixa Bagley

March 21, 2021December 1, 2020 by Kellee

A Girl, a Racoon, and the Midnight Moon
Author: Karen Romano Young
Illustrator: Jessixa Bagley
Published: January 7th, 2020 by Chronicle Books

Summary: In a slightly fantastical New York City, one very special library branch has been designated for possible closure. Bookish, socially awkward Pearl, the daughter of the librarian, can’t imagine a world without the library—its books, its community of oddballs, its hominess. When the head of their Edna St. Vincent Millay statue goes missing, closure is closer than ever. But Pearl is determined to save the library. And with a ragtag neighborhood library crew—including a constantly tap-dancing girl who might just be her first friend, an older boy she has a crush on, and a pack of raccoons who can read and write—she just might be able to.

With an eclectic cast of richly drawn characters, a hint of just-around-the-corner magic, footnotes, sidebars, and Jessixa Bagley’s classic illustrations throughout, this warm-hearted, visually magnificent tale of reading and believing from beloved author Karen Romano Young tells of a world where what you want to believe can come true.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions:

Please view and enjoy the official educators’ guide for A Girl, a Racoon, and the Midnight Moon (created by me!):

You can also access the teaching guide here.

You can learn more about A Girl, a Raccoon, and the Midnight Moon here.

Recommended For: