152. Monet's Cat

Monet's Cat. Lily Murray. Illustrated by Becky Cameron. 2020. [May] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Monet was a famous painter with a magic cat. Her name was Chika. She was made of delicate pottery, and lay on a cushion, cool and still, until...Monet tapped her three times with his paintbrush. Then Chika came alive!

Premise/plot: Chika and Monet have lovely adventures together by visiting the paintings in the museum--literally. The two can hop in and out of the artwork! Of course, Chika may be having a bit more fun than Monet--who is chasing her! How much trouble can one cat be?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I liked it. I do like French impressionists. It's playful and art appreciation all at the same time.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

151. A Walk in the Words

A Walk in the Words. Hudson Talbott. 2021. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Drawing always came naturally to me. I drew all the time. I just did it, like breathing.

Premise/plot: Hudson Talbott shares his own story--one that perhaps many, many children (and adults) can relate to--of how learning to read and actually reading was difficult for him. He contrasts his experiences with words with his experiences drawing. He describes his experiences with great detail and imagery--making use of art. The picture book is very visual. "A whole page of text looked like a wall--keeping me out." What he realized is that both art and text can tell stories--great, wonderful, marvelous, amazing stories worth experiencing.

While reading felt overwhelming and exhausting, his approach was practical and ultimately inspiring. "I grabbed overwhelm and broke off over so it just said whelm. It meant the same thing but was more my size. Now I could whelm the words before they overwhelmed me. I'd just read at my own pace. After all, it was my walk in the words. I took time to look for words that I knew. There they were! Like stepping stones leading me onward."

My thoughts: I loved the art. It was so visual, so essential, so fundamental to the story. I loved the text. The story is ultimately a love song to stories...to storytellers...to books. I would recommend it to teachers and parents especially.

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

149. I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900

I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900. (I Survived #21) Lauren Tarshis. 2021. [September] 144 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Noooooooo! A powerful blast of wind grabbed hold of eleven-year-old Charlie Miller and threw him into the raging flood.

Premise/plot: This title is the newest in Lauren Tarshis' ever-popular I Survived Series. Charlie Miller lives with his family on Galveston Island. He loves his family, loves learning magic, HATES being bullied. (Gordon Potts is one reason why he's not looking forward to starting school again.) But life on the island is about to go topsy-turvy.

My thoughts: I have read a couple of adult titles on the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. I have found them fascinating, disturbing, compelling. While the complexities of the story are tamed down considerably for this children's book, it is still a good read. The majority opinion on the island at that time--and in at least some "scientific" circles was that a hurricane could not happen there. That Galveston was safe--as is. That no evacuation would be necessary. It sounds so silly, so presumptuous with hindsight, doesn't it?!?!

I liked this addition to the series.

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

148. Jazz for Lunch

Jazz for Lunch! Jarrett Dapier. Illustrated by Eugenia Mello. 2021. [September] 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Struttin' with Auntie Nina
down to a club,
We're gonna hear some music
and then eat some grub.

Premise/plot: Jazz for Lunch! celebrates jazz music, food, and family. Auntie Nina and her nephew have a special relationship. She shares her love for cooking and her love for JAZZ with her young nephew...teaching him both how to cook and how to appreciate jazz.

This book--entirely written in rhyme--starts with the two going to a jazz club. But it also has the two going to her place to cook a great meal (while listening to jazz).

Jazz for LUNCH!
The beats got SOUL!
Jazz for LUNCH!
Ham on a ROLL!
Jazz for LUNCH!
The tunes got swing!
Jazz for LUNCH!
Shout, dance, and sing!

(Jazz for lunch being the refrain carried throughout the picture book.)

My thoughts: This book celebrates so many things. Yet it never seems too busy. It feels natural--right. The end papers--if you pay close attention--can serve as an introduction to readers of all ages of some jazz legends.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

146. The Singer and the Scientist

The Singer and the Scientist. Lisa Rose. Illustrated by Isabel Munoz. 2021. [April] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Peeling back the velvet curtain, Marian peeked out at the chatting audience.

Premise/plot: Set in 1937 in New Jersey, The Singer and the Scientist tells the story of the friendship between Marian Anderson (the singer) and Albert Einstein (the scientist). After her performance, Marian is troubled to learn that she won't be allowed to stay at the local nearby hotel--it's a whites-only hotel, no exceptions. Einstein, who was in the audience, overhears invites her to stay at his own home in a guest room. The two become friends and learn that they share many things in common.

My thoughts: What a great picture book! I loved the narrative. I loved the illustrations. It was just beautifully done.

Quote:

His voice boomed loudly as he explained that the Nassau was a whites only hotel. All the talking in the lobby ceased. Everyone looked at Marion, but not as a star. Not even as a person.

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

144. The Gilded Girl

The Gilded Girl. Alyssa Colman. 2021. 352 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Izzy watched through a crack in the door as the young ladies in the parlor burst into flame.

Premise/plot: The Gilded Girl is a retelling of The Little Princess set in New York City in 1906/1907. Emma Harris, one of our heroines, plays the role of the 'spoiled' little rich girl. (She's not spoiled. Emma Harris even before the fall that everyone knows is coming has a heart of pure gold.) Izzy, our other heroine, is a servant at the school. 

The school is where the book perhaps takes the most liberties. For this isn't just any elite boarding school, it is Miss Posterity's Academy for Practical Magic. She teaches wealthy young girls how to do magic, how to prepare for the Kindling Ceremony and the Kindling Winds that blow every December. Those whose magic is kindled can become licensed magicians. Magic is only for the wealthiest, most prestigious classes of society. Otherwise one's magic is snuffed out at age 12. 

Izzy has magic--though a servant--and she does not want it snuffed out. Emma is forced into servitude. She also doesn't want to lose her magic. These two work together as servants and secret students to see if they can hold onto their magic despite their poverty.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one very much. The intended audience for this one were born probably between 2008 and 2012. Today's generation may or may not be familiar with the story of The Little Princess. Most probably wouldn't have read the original. Some may have seen it adapted for film. It is not labeled by the back copy (jacket copy) as being a retelling of The Little Princess. I am curious if this was intentional. Because it is glaringly apparent if you're an adult that this is without a doubt The Little Princess newly adorned.

I think my favorite part of The Gilded Girl was the "house dragon" (aka the black cat pictured on the cover) named FIGGY PUDDING.

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

143. Raised in a Barn

Raised in a Barn. (Good Dog #2) Cam Higgins. Illustrated by Ariel Landy. 2020. [December] 128 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The sky was a clear blue.

Premise/plot: Bo loves playing with Comet the new colt on the Davis farm. Comet loves playing with Bo. These two--though different--have quite a good time together. But silly Bo, well, he decides it is HIS job to teach Comet how to be a horse!!! The results aren't that great. This chapter book has a few adventures and misadventures with this pair.

My thoughts: I liked this one. I definitely liked the first one better. But I think that's just how it may be with this series books. I can see that some titles I may especially like, and others maybe not as well. Still, Bo is super cute and adorable. I think the series would make a lovely addition in homes and libraries.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

142. Happily For Now

Happily for Now. Kelly Jones. Illustrated by Kelly Murphy. 2021. [May] 288 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: THINGS ARE A lot simpler in fairy tales. I mean, when you read about some girl going around covered in ashes who gets treated way worse than her stepsisters, it’s pretty clear somebody should get that girl some help. Then again, who knows what she thought when she woke up every morning? Maybe she thought, Well, things could be better, but they could be a lot worse, too. (Trust me, they could—and in lots of fairy tales they are. If you’ve ever read the original versions, you know they get gruesome fast.) Maybe she was glad her stepmother was bugging her stepsisters instead of her about what they wore or why they didn’t go out and find someone rich to marry. Maybe she was okay with doing her own thing.You get used to what’s normal for you.

Premise/plot: Fiona may not "want" to go stay with distant relations while her mother seeks treatment, but, sometimes you don't always get what you want, you get what you need. So Fiona finds herself heading to the farm to live with Great Aunt Alta, Aunt Becky, and Great Uncle Timothy. (Aunt Becky and Uncle Timothy manage the family's bakery.)

Fiona is a fairy god-person in training. (That's how she copes with what life throws at her.) And she's determined to be a fairy god-person in her new situation. She has a feeling that her relations definitely need some help and intervention....and it turns out they do. Now whether Fiona's wish-granting goes off according to anyone's plans...well...that's up for debate.

But life will never be the same after Fiona comes to town.

My thoughts: I really LOVED this one. I thought it was a great read. I enjoyed the characterization so much. I loved meeting the extended family--flaws and all. I loved getting to know all the people in the community. When well done--like this one is--a wide cast of characters is such a delight.

Quotes:

I thought about the questions Ms. Davis and I liked to talk about, and picked a good one. “What’s your favorite kind of cookie?”

See, a question like that seems like no big deal, so it doesn’t make you nervous. You can’t get it wrong. But cookies can tell you a lot about a person. For instance, my favorites are oatmeal with chocolate chips. Ms. Davis says they’re a lot like me: you might not notice right away that they’re something special, but once you do, you’ll never make that mistake again. Ms. Davis’s favorites are these spicy molasses cookies she makes. She says they’re just like her: they keep getting better with age, and people always remember them. Great-Uncle Timothy didn’t say anything. Maybe he needed to think about it, or maybe he was still feeling shy around me. Or maybe he just didn’t like to talk that much.

FAIRY-GODPERSON TRAINING: LESSON 1

Find someone who seems unhappy.

Observe what’s really going on.

Encourage them to make one small change.

FAIRY-GODPERSON TRAINING: LESSON 2

Find a situation you don’t feel good about.

Discover your truth—what you really think, not what someone else thinks you should think.

Speak your truth. You might tell it to the person in the situation. Or you might find someone else to tell—someone you trust who might be able to help. Or someone you could ask for advice.

Observe what happens when you wield the power of your truth. It might not be what you think will happen. But you can still learn something from it.

 

FAIRY-GODPERSON TRAINING: LESSON 3

Figure out something you want to do. Something for you, not for anybody else.

Make a plan to help yourself do it. Tell a buddy or a helper about your plan. Ask them to cheer you on and keep you accountable, so you’ll actually do it. It’s easy to shove your own plan aside to help someone else if no one’s there to remind you.

Put your plan into action. Think about what works, and what could work better. What’s harder than you expected? What’s easier?

You can use what you learn when you help others. Where do you think that person might get stuck? Maybe someone could cheer them on, too.

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

141. Home Is Where The Heart Is (Good Dog #1)

Good Dog: Home Is Where The Heart Is (Good Dog #1) Cam Higgins. Illustrated by Ariel Landy. 2020. [December] 128 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Mud. Is there anything better than the cool feeling of it against your fur or the way it squishy-oozes between your paws?

Premise/plot: BO is the GOOD DOG (of which the title speaks). Bo has a fabulous life on the farm. He loves his parents (Jennica and Darnell) and his siblings (Imani and Wyatt). He loves all the animals on the farm; he even tolerates the two barn cats, King and Diva. Yes, life is GOOD--just about perfect. But on this perfectly, perfect day which starts out with Bo playing with his friend Zonks (a pig) in the mud, well, it ends with his dog tag turning up missing! Can he retrace his steps and find his special tag?

My thoughts: Bo is cute and adorable, super precious, irresistible. The mystery to solve is light, but who cares when the dog is so sweet, so cute, so lovable??? This is the first book in a new series of early chapter books. The book is heavily illustrated. But I'm not complaining, BO and the others on the farm (including his human family) are adorable.

I liked this one very much. I am definitely going to be seeking out the other books in this series. I want to say there are six books now!!! Would recommend for younger grades in elementary...especially for dog lovers.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

140. The Longest Storm

The Longest Storm. Dan Yaccarino. 2021. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: A storm came to our town. It was unlike any storm we'd ever seen. No one knew how long it would last. We were going to have to stay inside, maybe for a long while.

Premise/plot: A father and his children struggle with all the many, many uncertainties of being house-bound for a long, long, long, LONG, long, long, long time. The illustrations and text tell the story of their emotional roller-coaster-like journey. It isn't so much what is going on outside the house in the midst of the storm as what is going on mentally and emotionally within the house.

 My thoughts: The Longest Storm could definitely be a picture book for those aged 9 to 99. It is an abstract picture book in some ways. You could easily say it was about mental health or the importance of having coping strategies in place OR you could focus more on the relationships. You can love someone without *liking* them all that much. And relationships can have very tense moments that build and build. Life happens. There are BIG emotions. But the book also shows the importance of being kind and intentional. After all having BIG emotions doesn't make you a villain.

For those wondering...it does have a happily ever after ending tacked on at the end. This makes sense in some ways. Who wants to end a book in the middle of the storm when everything is still so unknown and uncertain? Even though in real life, the transitions from beginning, middle, and end aren't so precise and exact. When you're going through the big storms in life, it would be nice if you could just turn a page and suddenly everything be all brand new and ready to go...but life isn't like that.

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

139. Negative Cat

Negative Cat. Sophie Blackall. 2021. [August] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: On day 427 of asking for a cat...my parents finally give in.

Premise/plot: The boy who stars in this story has been BEGGING his parents for a cat. (426 off-screen days of begging for a cat. I can sure relate!) When his parents do say yes, there are a few conditions. He has to keep his room clean--or cleaner. He has to read for twenty minutes a day...at least. And he has to do a better job of keeping in touch with his Grandma. But the cat he picks from the shelter ends up being...well...a negative cat. Plenty of people in the family give up on Max (the cat), but not the boy. NEVER the boy. It turns out what this "negative cat" needs is to be read to!

My thoughts: I like this one I do. I love, love, love cats. I love, love, love reading. A story that combines my two favorites--I'm going to like it maybe even love it. If I have any hesitation about this one at all it is that the family considers taking the cat back to the shelter like it's no big deal to dump a pet. Fortunately, this doesn't happen. The little boy discovers Max loves to hear him read aloud...and all is well and good. 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

138. Say It Out Loud

Say It Out Loud. Allison Varnes. 2021. [August] 256 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "Truth or dare?" Maddie asks from the other couch, her eyes pleading with me to play along.

Premise/plot: Maddie and Charlotte are best, best, best friends. Have been for almost forever. But now that they're in sixth grade, well, can one bad decision undo years of friendship? So what was that one bad decision? Not speaking up--like her friend Maddie--when a classmate is bullied on the bus. Also choosing to sit somewhere else on the bus because now the bullies are targeting Maddie. Charlotte--the day of--felt justified for separating herself from her friend. After all, Charlotte has a stutter and would make a super-easy target for two bullies like Tristan and Josh. Surely, self-preservation is something her friend can understand, right?! But it doesn't take long--not even twenty-four hours--before Charlotte realizes that she's made a mistake. But how can she make up for it?

My thoughts: Though it seems like it takes FOREVER AND A DAY for Maddie and Charlotte's friendship to get back on track, the book highlights Charlotte's transformation into someone who goes out of her way to speak kindness into other people's lives. Anonymous kindnesses to be sure--encouraging notes filled with positive messages and feel-good vibes.

The other story--perhaps the "main" story???--is of Charlotte and her drama classmates trying to save the drama program at their school from being cut. The author really only shows us TWO classes--Charlotte's homeroom and Charlotte's drama class. [She also has sessions with a speech therapist]. They will be performing The Wizard of Oz.

This is a coming of age novel featuring sixth graders who are learning how to survive middle school as best they can. Lots of messages about friendship.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

137. Halfway to Harmony

Halfway to Harmony. Barbara O'Connor. 2021. 240 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The night that Posey and Evalina moved to Harmony, Georgia, Walter Tipple had that dream again. The one about his birthday.

Premise/plot: Walter Tipple is still mourning the loss of his older brother, Tank. But his summer--and life--take a turn for the better AFTER Posey, Evalina, and Porkchop (the dog) move in next door. From the start these kids are drawn to each other and to some adventures/misadventures. Like finding a "dead" body in the woods. That turns out to be the knocked unconscious JUBILATION T. FAIRWEATHER aka "Banjo" who has dreams of his own...dreams involving a hot air balloon and a certain contest. But dreams don't always go as planned....

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one! I love Barbara O'Connor's books. I really loved the characterization of Walter and Posey. And Banjo was a hoot. The book dealt with some heavy subjects but not in an oppressive way. I felt the resolution was as happily ever after as one would expect in such a case.
I thought the book did a good job of honoring Tank.

 YES, there is a dog on the cover. But it is a SAFE READ.

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

135. See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat

See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat. David LaRochelle. Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. 2021. [September] 64 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: See the dog. 

Premise/plot: See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat is a companion book to LaRochelle's See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog. In this early chapter book (or early reader???), the cat has a bit of fun with the narrator. The narrator is still being BOSSY, but the cat can hold her own.

The cat is substituting for the dog... The three stories are "See the Dog," "See the Lake," and "See the Sheep." By the end of the book, the cat is ready to QUIT.

My thoughts: I really LOVED both books. I especially loved, loved, loved the first book. But both books are fun, fiesty, silly, wonderful, delightful. I really enjoyed the humor and the simplicity. You don't need a lot of words in order to laugh.

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

133. Trailblazers: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda: Raising Theater to New Heights. Kurtis Scaletta. 2021. [January] 192 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: On May 12, 2009, Lin-Manuel Miranda decided not to do what the president had asked.

Premise/plot: This is middle grade nonfiction--a biography of Lin-Manuel Miranda. The book focuses on his life--birth to present--and his career--from early days to present. The book provides background and context to musical theater and Broadway. It includes mini-biographical sketches on those that have worked and collaborated with Miranda.

My thoughts: I found this a quick, informative read. I liked learning a few new-to-me details. I hadn't heard that he was reading at 3 years old! (Just one example). I would definitely recommend for fans of Hamilton or In the Heights.

It is always refreshing to see new and contemporary biographical offerings for students to choose from.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

132. The Magical Bookshop

The Magical Bookshop. Katja Frixe. 2021. [May] 176 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: If your best friend tells you that she's moving away, it is time for Red Alert.

Premise/plot: The Magical Bookshop is translated into English from German. This middle school book stars Clara, our heroine, who is mighty upset that her best, best friend, Lottie, is moving away. Her new teacher, Ms. Rose, happens to be the "other woman" and the cause of her best friend's abrupt removal.
But no matter how many things--big, little, medium--seem to go wrong, there's always Mrs. Owl's MAGICAL bookshop. It will always, always, be there, right????

Clara LOVES to spend all her free time at the bookstore. There's a TALKING cat and a TALKING mirror--both always giving advice. And Mrs. Owl's always kind and super-helpful.

My thoughts: This one is definitely light on actual plot but stars plenty of interesting characters. It depends on what you're looking for in a book. I liked the lightness of it. And it has a slightly old-fashioned feel to it.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

131. The Hedgehog of Oz

The Hedgehog of Oz. Cory Leonardo. 2021. [February] 400 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Tucked between a brick apartment building and a busy corner deli, on a storybook tree-lined street, sits a theater. A run-down but beautiful theater.

Premise/plot: Marcel (our Oz-loving hedgehog) lives at The Emerald City Theater with Auntie Hen and Uncle Henrietta (two chickens). He misses *his* Dorothy--the little girl who gave him a happy, happy home. But that was BEFORE and sometimes it's too painful to think about before. But before readers get properly settled into a routine with Marcel and company, the theater is closed and the animals are rounded up and dumped. Marcel finds himself separated from his chicken friends...and in the woods. Here he'll have to start completely over making new friends...friends that may eventually feel like family...but it's exhausting work being LOST and LONELY and SAD. Where does he go from here? Does he try to get back to the theater in the city? Does he try to find *his* Dorothy (that's not her real name)? Does he make peace with his new circumstances?

My thoughts: I wanted to love, love, love this one. I did. I absolutely love the cover. If I was giving out stars based on the cover alone, I'd give it a five easily. I do typically love animal fantasy. So my hopes were very high.

I didn't quite love, love, love this one. I loved elements of this one. I particularly loved the wisdom of Oona the moth. She has without a doubt some of the best lines of the whole book.

"Oona?" he tried. "Have you come to help me now--help me get back to the theater?"
The moth gave him a sad sort of smile. Her voice was quiet. "No, Marcel. Not in the way you'd like, I'm afraid. What you're asking isn't that easy."
"Oh." At her words, something inside Marcel deflated.
He'd been thinking about something for a little while now. Since he'd lived in the theater, he'd seen an awful lot of movies, and a movie journey was usually pretty easy at first. But somewhere around the middle and all the way to the end, things always got hard if you were one of the characters.
"The rest of the way," he asked Oona. "Do you think it will be dangerous?"
"I don't know, Marcel." Oona's eyes were soft. She thought for a moment. "But maybe we're not meant to. To know, that is. If we knew every turn of the journey before we set out..." she smiled. "Well, I wonder if we'd ever want to take that first step. Or that first flight, if you were me."

and later

"I think you have lost something, Marcel, my hedgehog friend."
He had. He'd lost Dorothy. Lost her forever.
"But I wonder if one of the things you've lost isn't the most important thing you need to find--something you need more than all the rest. Not someone, not somewhere. It's not what you think."
"It's not? But what else is there?" he asked, as Oona stretched out her wings.
"I think you'll find it," she said simply. "Sometimes you can't know what you've lost until it's sitting right there in front of you."

and much, much later

"Marcel, don't you know?"
He shook his head. What else was there to know?
Oona gave him a small smile. "We're all a little lost before we're found."
Marcel stopped crying. He sniffled. "We are?" he asked shakily.
"Oh yes. I think so. But I'm sorry you're lost. I'll help you if I can."
Marcel shook his head. "You can't. But thank you. Just being here is enough."
The moth's face changed then, and she looked at him intently. "Marcel, do you believe?"
"Believe what?" he asked.
"Marcel," she repeated. "Do you believe?"
Marcel knew what she was asking. Did he believe he could be found.

Marcel meets a handful of other animals (a mouse, a raccoon, a squirrel) who join him on his journey-quest. And the quest is DANGEROUS. There's even an "evil witch"....not really...but they embrace the concept of the OWLS being evil witches.

One of my favorite quotes from the book: Loss always breaks you. But love--even love that spans miles and time--finds a way to mend the broken places.

So what didn't work for me? I had a hard time suspending my disbelief 100%. It stretches your belief to extremes to get to that super-super happy ending. I don't know if this would have bothered me if I was a kid.

BUT that's a whole other issue. I've mentioned before--and even just recently--that I was a super super sensitive reader as a kid. And if a book even looked remotely that it had a death in it, I would have avoided it completely. This book LOOKS like it would be safe. But it ISN'T. It really isn't. NOT all the animals you meet survive the journey. In other words, you get attached to characters that may DIE all so that Marcel can get a chance at a happy ending.

And then there's the whole issue of OWLS.

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

130. Secondhand Dogs

Secondhand Dogs by Carolyn Crimi. 2021. [July] 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Gus lifted his head and sniffed the chilly November air. The smell of dead leaves wafted through the windows and into the cramped kitchen. Someone a few houses down had a fire burning in their fireplace and that smell, too, curled its way inside.

Premise/plot: Miss Lottie rescues dog. Gus, one of our main narrators, was her first rescue and is the leader of the pack. Through the years, the pack has expanded. Miss Lottie has a LOT of love in her heart. When the novel opens, the pack includes: Gus, Tank, Roo, and Moon Pie. But a new member has come into the house--for better and worse--and not every one in the pack thinks it's a good fit or match. Decker, well, Decker doesn't much appreciate any of the dogs--he wants to be the one and only dog--and he doesn't much appreciate Miss Lottie either--not for who she is and what she does.

The book chronicles their adventures and misadventures as they adjust to Decker's arrival...

My thoughts: Secondhand Dogs reminds me of some of Patricia MacLachlan's animal stories...and then, of course, there's Kate DiCamillo. I really loved everything about this book. The writing. The characters. The alternating characters. The story. The premise--the idea of each dog being born with a special, unique gift. The emotional depth of both the animal and human characters. The ending. This one was just a treat of a book. I highly recommend.

Would I have read this book as a child? That's a good question--though not particularly relevant, perhaps. But I bring it up because as a kid I was a super-super sensitive reader. I was hesitant/reluctant to read ANY book with a dog on the cover. Would the dog make it through the book? Would the dog die? Would it get run over? Would it get sick or be poisoned? Was it an older dog who might die naturally? I just didn't have any trust in authors who books with dogs on the cover. NO DOGS die in Secondhand Dogs. So you can breathe easy there. But it is an emotional book with a few intense scenes. Quinn, a human boy, works for Miss Lottie, and his home situation is ROUGH. (He's being BULLIED). This might be a trigger for some. But no dogs die during the book. (I believe there is brief mention of a former dog who had died long, long, long before this novel starts.)

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

129. Pizza and Taco: Super Awesome Comic

Pizza and Taco: Super Awesome Comic! Stephen Shashkan. 2021. [August] 72 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence:
Pizza: Hey, Taco! Taco! Taco! Taco! Taco! Hey, Taco!!! TACO!!!
Taco: Oh, hey, Pizza.
Pizza: Whatcha doing?
Taco: I made a comic!

Premise/plot: In their THIRD adventure, these two best friends decide to work TOGETHER to write a comic book (or possibly a graphic novel). They start by brainstorming. What should their comic be about??? So many choices! So tough to decide! What about superhero wizards who do martial arts in outerspace???

But will working together to create a comic book damage their friendship? What if these two were to have....ARTISTIC differences???? CAN this comic be saved? Can this friendship be repaired?

My thoughts: I really LOVED this one. I thought it would be hard--if not impossible--for this one to be better than the second adventure, Best Party Ever. It may be too close to call. It was relatable. It was silly. It was able to throw in some real world advice for how to work together: Listen, Be Positive, and Compromise. Overall, I loved it.

Definitely recommend this series. It kept growing on me. I want more, more, more!

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

128. Pizza and Taco: Best Party Ever

Pizza and Taco: Best Party Ever (Pizza and Taco #2) Stephen Shashkan. 2021. [January] 72 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence:
Pizza: I'm bored.
Taco: What do you want to do?
Pizza: I don't want to sit around and do nothing. What do you want to do?
Taco: I don't know!

Premise/plot: Pizza and Taco are back for their second adventure in Best Part Ever. The two start out BORED as can be. The case seems hopeless...until one of them gets the idea to throw a party. The two go all out with party planning. Will this be the BEST PARTY EVER? Or are the two demonstrating how NOT to throw a party?

My thoughts: I loved this one. I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. It was brilliant from the start. Pizza and Taco couldn't be more relatable! I loved their invitation list which gives readers a chance to meet other characters in this world. They ended up inviting: Cake and Icecream, the Chicken Tender twins, Hamburger and Hotdog, and Cheeseburger.

My absolute favorite, favorite scene occurs when ICE CREAM hears a clap of thunder. He has a MELT DOWN--with lots of screaming--because he's afraid of loud noises.

I definitely recommend this series. Very silly. Very fun.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers