78. Oh, Sal

Oh, Sal. Kevin Henkes. 2022. [September] 144 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Sal was upset--more than upset--and, surprisingly, it didn't just have to do with the new baby.

Premise/plot: Oh, Sal is a companion novel to The Year of Billy Miller and Billy Miller Makes a Wish. Billy Miller has a four year old sister named Sal. Her story is set during the last week of December. (Christmas is over, but, but the novelty of the presents is not.) On this fateful not-so-great day, Sal is troubled by a couple of things a) the new baby (still nameless) is getting ALL the attention, b) her FAVORITE, FAVORITE, FAVORITE pair of underwear is completely missing c) her Uncle Jake keeps teasing/annoying her. 

So one of Sal's Christmas present was a package of days of the week underwear. Her favorite pair is WEDNESDAY. Wednesday has a POPPY flower on it. She must find POPPY and so the search is on...but it isn't easy for everyone to drop everything and start looking for missing underwear. Especially if one is hoping not to be teased by the visiting Uncle Jake. 

My thoughts: This one may sound a little odd or absurd. I mean why should readers care about Sal's terrible, horrible day, especially when with a little perspective--which most readers will have--that her bad day isn't all that bad in the great scheme of things. But the narrative works. Or at least it worked for me. Sal was a character that was easy to relate to. And sometimes it's the little things that can seem so BIG. The whole book felt like it would be a story passed down and repeated again, again. Sal most likely won't remember this--not really. But the stories her family tells about this day, well, she'll definitely be hearing about it for years--decades. And there's something super realistic and authentic about that. 

This is the third book to star the Miller family. I love, love, love, love this family. It was just delightful to spend time with them again. SAL was a character that I just loved so much. I have been Sal.

Quotes:

Sal cried so hard her throat felt scraped. She was exhausted. The minutes seemed like hours. How long had she been miserable in her room? Shouldn't someone have come to check on her? Did no one in the whole entire world care about her anymore? 

She felt so grown-up, she pretended she was a teacher and then the president.

That would be her wish--to make it through the entire day without crying.

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

77. Leave It to Plum

Leave It to Plum! Matt Phelan. 2022. 128 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: It was a fine, crisp morning at the Athensville Zoo. A peacock and an alligator were in the middle of a staring contest.

“You blinked,” said the small peacock named Plum.

“I haven’t blinked since Tuesday,” said the large alligator named Mike.

They stared.

And stared.

Premise/plot: Plum, our protagonist, is one (of many) of the peacock ambassadors for Athensville Zoo. Peacocks, as ambassadors, roam free in the zoo. But someone is mighty jealous, a small marsupial, a ningbing, named ITCH. He'll stop at nothing [insert evil laugh] to bring down the peacocks. If the zoo needs an animal ambassador it should be HIM. He comes up with a multi-faceted plan that is sure to succeed...or will it? Can Plum figure out what is going on and put an end to it???? Can he redeem the reputation of the peacocks and restore them to their rightful place?

My thoughts: This was a delightful animal fantasy. Plum is our main character, but, there is plenty of animal characters readers meet throughout the book...including a cat named JEREMY. 

I enjoyed this illustrated chapter book very much. I found it charming and sweet but not too sweet! I would definitely recommend this one.

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

76. Recipe for Disaster

Recipe for Disaster (Didi Dodo, Future Spy #1) Tom Angleberger. Illustrated by Jared Chapman. 2019. 128 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence:  Inspector Flytrap's phone rang. And rang. And rang. Finally a really loud taped voice said: "Hello, you've reached the office of Inspector Flytrap and Inspector Nina the Goat. They are not in the office today, because Inspector Flytrap's grandmother has come to visit. Please leave a message at the sound of the bleat."

Premise/plot: Koko Dodo, the cookie chef, has a BIG DEAL problem. However, Inspector Flytrap being unavailable on this particular day, Koko Dodo reluctantly turns to DIDI DODO, FUTURE SPY. The 'big deal' problem, SOMEONE has stolen his top-top-secret fudge sauce (or perhaps the recipe???) The BIG cookie contest is today. There is great urgency....to solving this case and remedying the situation. Koko Dodo may be reluctant to jump in with Didi Dodo's plans. Because, to be fair, they are crazy, wacky, over-the-top....and physically dangerous. Speed, speed, speed--more speed. They must work fast and their plans must be super flexible...and adaptable...because you never know what might happen.

My thoughts: What a hilarious book!!! I loved every moment of this one. 

"Where are we going now?" I yelled as Didi Dodo skated us out of town.
"To Cousin Yuk Yuk's Pickled Rhubarb Relish Farm!" she shouted back. "It's down in Dangerously Steep Valley."
"How far down?"
"All the way down!"
And we kept picking up speed as we went!
"This is TOO daring!" I yelled.
And then the pavement ended and the road became a dirt road.
Now we were picking up speed and going whumpita-whumpita-whumpita!

So many scenes that just had me laughing. I do recommend all three series.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

75. Inspector Flytrap

Inspector Flytrap (Inspector Flytrap #1) Tom Angleberger. Illustrated by Cece Bell. 2016. 112 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: My phone rang. "Hello," I said. "Flytrap Detective Agency." A slow voice started asking me questions. "Is this Mr. Flytrap?" "My name, I answered, "is Inspector Flytrap. I am a detective." 

Premise/plot: Inspector Flytrap and his handy-not-so-handy assistant Nina (who's a goat) solve a handful of 'big deal' mysteries in Tom Angleberger's Inspector Flytrap. It is the first in a series. As these two are solving one mystery after another after another, hilarity ensues. 

My thoughts: I loved this one. I am late to the party, I admit. Only just now discovering a series that started in 2016. But late or not, I am here for it. I first discovered Angleberger's WACKY, WACKY, whimsical world with his DJ Funkyfoot series. Three series are interconnected--Inspector Flytrap, Didi Dodo, and DJ Funkyfoot--and take place in this world. 

All of the series are illustrated chapter books or early chapter books. 

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

74. Who Was Johnny Cash?

Who Was Johnny Cash? Jim Gigliotti. Illustrated by Gregory Copeland. 2022. [June] 112 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: J.R. Cash burst through the back door of the family's house in Dyess, Arkansas, one day in 1947. As usual, he was singing.

Premise/plot: One of the newest titles in this biography series by Penguin is of Johnny Cash. (I've always called them "big head" biographies. But apparently they are Who HQ biographies). What you see is what you get--no big surprises. This is a biography of singer Johnny Cash written for an mid-elementary school audience. This one--like all the others that ever were or ever shall be--are heavily illustrated. 

My thoughts: I never knew I liked Johnny Cash--no, loved Johnny Cash--until I read G. Neri's picture book biography Hello, I'm Johnny Cash. After reading the picture book, I began listening to Johnny Cash's music and discovering his work album by album. I love so many songs. I liked this biography. Definitely more text than the picture book. Still illustrated. I think one of my favorite, favorite things about this one was the illustrations.

I'm not super familiar with all the titles in this series. I've just read a handful. But I do like this one. 

 

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

73. The Sweetest Scoop

The Sweetest Scoop: Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Revolution. Lisa Robinson. Illustrated by Stacy Innerst. 2022. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Close your eyes and imagine holding an ice cream cone. Now take a lick...What does it taste like? Chocolate? vanilla? strawberry? A cool swim on a summer day? What about Wavy Gravy, Truffle Kerfuffle, or Chubby Hubby? What's the scoop on those wacky flavors?! Let's find out...

 Premise/plot: The story of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream begins rightly with Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. These two boys met in 1963 when they were twelve... It is a story that celebrates food, friendship, invention, and to some extent the joy of living. 

My thoughts: I didn't know I needed this book. I liked the narrative of this one (until I didn't). I loved that it was packed with information. It was entertaining and informative. Who knew that these two first wanted to have a BAGEL shop??? (I certainly didn't.) I loved that when they couldn't afford to pay the plumber they offered him a membership in the Ice Cream For Life club--which they invented on the spot.

I learned so much reading this one. And of course it didn't "feel" like learning. It just felt like pure fun and delight. 

I really enjoyed the text (for the most part). I wasn't as crazy about the art. The illustrations aren't my favorite style. But they don't have to be. It's not all about me. Reading is so subjective as is art. 

So I didn't love, love, love the last few pages of this one. It became a bit didactic--if that's the right word. It is my personal opinion that ice cream should not be political. That ice cream shouldn't get involved in "us" versus "them" cultural/social/political wars. I know we live in days where every single brand, every single company, every single business feels the need to have strong opinions on everything and show the world where they stand. I am not saying these last pages are a "big deal" or a "deal breaker." I'm not.

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

72. A Cat About Town

A Cat About Town. Lea Decan. 2022. 44 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Well, hello! I'm Cat. And this is Lisa. She takes care of me. I am HER cat.

Premise/plot: CAT stars in this picture book. Each day of the week Cat is living with someone else and living life large. But on Sundays she returns home to Lisa. 

My thoughts: The book has a SUPER LARGE format. But don't expect it to be packed with text. Quite the opposite actually. The text is super simple. Two to three sentences per two-page spread. While not every spread is exactly the same, many feature a large amount of white space. It's a definite design choice. The text definitely follows a pattern... On Monday.... On Tuesday.... On Wednesday... etc. 

I liked this one okay. 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

71. Flipping Forward Twisting Backward

Flipping Forward Twisting Backward. Alma Fullerton. 2022. [July] 144 pages. [Source: Review copy]

 First sentence: In the gym club
there's always someone
who flies higher
and works harder
than everyone else.
In the gym club
there's always someone
who pushes to be
number one.
In the gym club
there's always someone
who can do
anything.
When I am
in the gym club
that someone
is me.
There's
no better feeling
than being number one
when everywhere else
you're last in line.

Premise/plot: Flipping Forward Twisting Backward by Alma Fullerton may just be my new favorite children's book published in 2022. Claire, our protagonist, excels in gymnastics. She absolutely loves it; she loves her teammates. What she is not loving is school. And not for the reason you may be thinking. (Though to be fair, I don't know what you are thinking.) Claire may be in fifth grade, but, Claire has a secret, a big secret, a secret that is getting heavier and heavier by the day. Claire cannot read. 

Flipping Forward Twisting Backward captures Claire's struggle as she begins to ask for help--beg and plead--for help. 

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved this one. I loved the characters. I love Claire. I love that she has a great supporting cast. She has some great friends and teammates. She has a great big sister. There are a few adults that really do want to help. (Including a principal that is actually super-helpful). But not all the characters are supportive and compassionate. Trigger warning, Claire is the victim of bullying at school. And even her teacher's words and actions can be seen in a biased way. (Though I am not saying the teacher is a bully.) I loved the story. I loved seeing ALL of Claire's life--at home, at school, at the gym. I loved that there was a balance of things going wonderfully right and going horribly wrong. This realistic balance carries over in the characterization as well--very human. No one is all good or all bad. Even the most difficult characters have redeeming qualities on display--now and then. For example, her mother, whom I wanted to yell at or "shake" for a good bit of this novel. I thought the subject of learning disabilities is (and was, and probably ever shall be) relevant. In this case, we're talking dyslexia. I also loved the writing.

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

70. Tiny Tales: A Feast for Friends

Tiny Tales: A Feast for Friends. Steph Waldo. 2022. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Whoosh! Snap! Zzz. Zzz.

Premise/plot: Tiny Tales: A Feast for Friends is an I can Read Comics, level 3. The plot of this one is simple: Snail is determined to get an apple (from the tree) to share with her friends. Snail's intentions are great, but, how does a SNAIL pick an apple from a tree. It's so HIGH and out of reach. But Snail is super determined. Will Snail succeed?

My thoughts: I liked this one okay. It is cute enough and predictable enough. For young readers this might be a good pick.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

69. The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza

The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza. Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Shawn Harris. 2022. 320 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: SOMEWHERE ON EARTH [Ding, ding, ding, ding] Captain! [Snort] The storm bell? But there's not a cloud in the sky! It's not a storm, Captain...it's the moon! I've never seen her drive the tide so wild! What is going on?

Premise/plot: The moon (and subsequently the earth) is in GREAT PERIL. The moon is being eaten by alien rats who have invaded and set up a fortress on the dark side of the moon! First Cat (the hero of this mission AND the hero of this book) has been given a huge mission. He must go to the moon, stop the rats, and save 'the world.' But First Cat (who speaks only in meows) won't be alone...joining First Cat is a stowaway computer (the invention of an evil scientist) and the Moon Queen. The three will have many adventures (along with some misadventures) on their quest. Along the way, First Cat will have a couple of opportunities....to eat pizza....but will he ever actually get to EAT pizza in space????

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved, loved this crazy ride of a book. It was FUN. It was packed with action and adventure. It was funny, zany, whimsical, delightful, hilarious. There were some sequences that had me grinning from ear to ear. I started hearing different voices for all the characters. I'm not sure how often graphic novels are read alouds, but this one could work--especially one on one. I think it has plenty of kid appeal, but, I also think it has appeal to adults (especially adults who can laugh at genres and sub-genres that they love). This one pokes some gentle fun at science fiction AND fantasy. It's imaginative and joyful. If you were looking to book talk this one, you could almost open it up to any scene/section and find something that would "sell" the book.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

68. New Pup on the Block

New Pup on the Block (Wednesday and Woof #2) Sherri Winston. Illustrated by Gladys Jose. 2022. 96 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "May we interview the twins?" I ask. Mrs. PomPom frowns as we climb her front porch. Five minutes ago, she ran into my yard yelling that she'd been robbed and needed help. Believe it or not, that happens to me a lot. 

Premise/plot: Wednesday and Woof are starring in their second mystery in New Pup On the Block. While hanging out with a new friend (and new friend's service dog), her brother's drone is stolen. Can Wednesday and Woof piece together the clues to discover the thief? 

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. I think I liked it more than the first book (which makes sense for an early chapter book mystery series). I am getting to know Wednesday more. It is definitely a mystery, but the characters have substance.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

67. Wednesday and Woof #1 Catastrophe

Wednesday and Woof: Catastrophe (Wednesday and Woof #1) Sherri Winston. Illustrated by Gladys Jose. 2022. 96 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "Hey, Woof, do you see what I see?" 

Premise/plot: Wednesday and Woof star in their first mystery in a new mystery series for young readers. This is an illustrated chapter book, a mystery. Wednesday and Woof (well, probably technically Wednesday) take a case for their neighbor, Mrs. Winter. Her cat, Autumn, has gone missing. Can Wednesday (and Woof) solve the case in time? (Mrs. Winter is due to leave on vacation very, very soon.) These two are determined to follow all the clues and not rush to conclusions, but, sometimes that is difficult to do when you think you've got enough information to solve (when you really don't). 

My thoughts: I liked this one. It's always good to see another series for this age group, and a mystery series at that. There's a handful of clues sprinkled throughout the book so young readers can try to solve the case as well.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

66. If You Go Down to the Woods Today

If You Go Down to the Woods Today. Rachel Piercey. Illustrated by Freya Hartas. 2021. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Hello! I'm Bear! Can we be friends? I'd love it if we could. Perhaps you'd like to see my home, the world inside the woods?

Premise/plot: A poem introduces each spread of illustrations. There are "more than 100 things to find" as Bear brings readers into his woodsy environment. The book celebrates nature and friendship. (Though it isn't necessarily a natural NATURE. The animals definitely are doing very human things. The animals aren't really acting as animals.)

My thoughts: While the spreads definitely work together as a whole, they also stand alone in many ways. Each two-page spread is a scene. Readers are being invited IN. Most spreads have around twelve "hidden objects" to find. The illustrations are super busy--as you'd expect--and there are plenty of details. There is so much more to "discover" than just those particular illustrations. (Readers are asked to find animals, insects, flowers, etc.) The poem serves as an introduction to the scene.

I'm honestly not sure what the intended age of the audience is. Is this a book meant to be a read aloud, a shared experience between parent and child? (I do NOT see this one being a group read aloud, the illustrations would be way too small to be seen). Or is this meant to be a book read on your own? Is it for preschoolers? Or is it for elementary grades? What reading level do you need to be to get the most out of this one? Is this one that you could just "read" by looking at the pictures? Do you need to love poetry to love this one? 

One slight concern if this one is meant for children to read on their own (as opposed to a read aloud) is that the poems blend print text and cursive text. Some words do appear in cursive. Cursive can be tricky for (some) children to read. Cursive isn't always consistently taught in schools. And it definitely comes later in the reading/writing process. 

Another concern is that some of the art is definitely lost in the gutter. Each spread loses out here. And I think *some* of the hidden objects that readers are supposed to be finding are "hiding" in the gutter, or partly in the gutter. 

Quote:

Winter Brings the Cold Winter Sports

The sun is lower in the sky
and many trees are bare.
The snowflakes spiral silently
through peaceful silver air.
The wood is not so quiet, though:
it rings with rowdy glee.
We've all met up, with chattering teeth,
to sled and skate and ski.
We teeter, totter, twirl, and glide,
make angels in the snow.
We slide around the icy trees
and dodge the mistletoe.
And when our toes are truly cold,
we gulp a steaming drink.
Then out again to seize the day
before the sun can sink!

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

65. Before Music: Where Instruments Come From

Before Music: Where Instruments Come From. Annette Bay Pimentel. Illustrated by Madison Safer. 2022. [June] 88 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Music doesn't come out of nothing. It always starts somewhere... Before music, water drip...drip...drips. It washes away soil and eventually fractures the rock underneath. Someone selects a few of the stones....and strikes their edges tink tink tink listening as he shapes the stone. He is making... a rock gong.

Premise/plot: Before Music is a global exploration of the history of musical instruments and music. It is arranged according to the materials from which the instruments are made. (Of course, some instruments are made from multiple materials. Probably many are made from multiple materials). This over-sized picture book (trust me, it is VERY oversize), also spans time--thousands and thousands and thousands of years. 

My thoughts: So much information is packed into this picture book. Proof that you should never make a quick judgement about picture books and who they are written for. I think music lovers of all ages will find something of interest in this one. 

If I could change one thing about this one, I think it would have been super helpful if it had had a table of contents. The book is clearly organized and arranged in a specific order. There was method involved. 

If I could amend that to changing TWO things about this one, I would add that it would have been great if it had had page numbers. Those two things would have gone a long way in making this one more useful as a reference book. 

When I say reference book, I don't mean it a negative way. I don't mean "boring" or "dull" or even "taste specific." I mean that it is packed with so much information that one can keep coming back to it again and again and absorbing it at your own pace. 

The general arrangement

ROCKS
FOUND OBJECTS
CLAY
GOURDS
STRINGS
METAL
WOOD
REEDS
FLEXIBLE SHEETS (leather, felt, etc.)
HUMAN VOICE

I think for the right reader this one could be fascinating. I wish it had a few more helps in it. Pronunciation guide for instruments (since it spans the globe and spans time). Sure everyone knows how to say drum or piano or saxophone, but there are hundreds of instruments that will be brand new to readers (no matter your age). 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

64. Yellow LIke a Submarine, Purple Like the Rain

Board book: Yellow Like a Submarine, Purple Like the Rain: A Rocking Book of Colors. Duopress Labs. Art by John Coulter. 2022. April. 20 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Yellow like a submarine, purple like the rain...
...the world is full of colors rocking all around.

Premise/plot: This is a rock-inspired color concept books for music loving parents (and grandparents) to share with the little ones in their lives. It is a board book. The colors introduced are red, blue, black, white, silver, green, yellow,  and pink. Rainbows are also celebrated with a nod to neglected colors like orange and purple. 

Here is how red is introduced:

Red is for 99 Red Balloons soaring over Strawberry Fields on a Ruby Tuesday.

My thoughts: I liked this color concept board book. It does list the songs and artists mentioned throughout the book. Definitely this list is more for adults (obviously). While parents may choose this board book because of the "rock" theme, little ones can enjoy the hands-on experience of lap-time of read aloud time. 

Part of me is annoyed (slightly) that there is no author listed. It is never a good sign when publishers are like, well, the author just doesn't matter--no credit needs to be given. That being said, the book is bright and colorful. The text is more than adequate for teaching colors. Some spreads have a better rhythmic flow--I love the red example--than others. But overall, I definitely liked it.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

63. The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster

The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster. Mo Willems. 2022. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Roller coasters! I have been aquiver with anticipation--ever since I first heard about them...ten minutes ago! Riding will not be easy. 

Premise/plot: Pigeon is back in a new picture book! (I am refraining myself from adding six thousand exclamation points.) In this newest Mo Willems book, our beloved Pigeon is preparing to ride...a roller coaster. Will it offer ALL the thrills that he's expecting???? 

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, love, love, love this picture book. Is this my absolute favorite in the series? Probably not my number one. But definitely in my top three. What I love about Mo Willems--in general--and in this book specifically, is that every word seems to perfectly belong. Every single page has a just-right feel to it. The story has great pacing. I happened to love, love, love the climax of this one. 

Definitely recommend this one. I recommend ALL the Pigeon books. I do. I especially love Mo Willems when it comes to his series. (I do tend to like his work more often than not.) I do tend to GUSH. But to be fair, Pigeon feels like a FRIEND at this point. And I'd not really expected *more* adventures with him. So this was just a DELIGHT.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

62. Endlessly Ever After

Endlessly Ever After: Pick Your Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings. Laurel Snyder. Illustrated by Dan Santat. 2022. 92 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Your mama shakes you out of bed. She says, "My darling dear, you need to run to Grandma's quick! She's feeling ill, I fear. Now take this cake, to cheer her up, and have a lovely day. But mind the path! For danger tends to lurk along the way." 

Premise/plot: This picture book is a choose your own adventure fairy tale. Readers become "Rosie" the heroine of more than a dozen (honestly I did NOT count so don't hold me to that) fractured fairy tales. The first decision you, dear reader, must make is whether to wear the RED CAPE or the faux fur coat. But that is just the beginning of the decisions readers are called upon to make. Some story threads end quickly--very, very quickly. (For example, one decision has you heading straight back to your own house to try again another day!) But beware, not all decisions end happily ever after. In fact, quite a few end up with you (the reader) dying. 

This choose your own adventure book begins like Little Red Riding Hood, but how it ends is up to you. Plenty of paths borrow from other fairy tales. (So many fairy tales!)

My thoughts: I'm still not sure if I explored EVERY path of this one. I tried. I think if I had a print copy in hand instead of an e-book (library checkout), I'd have made sure I tried EVERY SINGLE path. Clicking the links worked way better than I thought, to be fair. But it's just hard to keep track of every crossroad. Usually I read choose your own adventure books with a notepad and pen...and a handful of paper scraps. I mark each crossroad, I plot out every possible combination. (I sometimes indicate which paths lead to quick ends.)

I liked this one. I did. I really loved the creativity of it. I enjoyed the text, for the most part. It was entertaining. I could see how this one could be appealing to kids in various situations--at home and at school. I could see this being great to read on your own OR great to read aloud, just parent-and-child. I could see this being fun to add to your home library or your classroom library. Fairy tale units are still a thing, so this could be a fun addition. 

I didn't personally love the illustrations. That is not a deal breaker for me.

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers