211. Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey

Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey. Erin Entrada Kelly. 2021. 160 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: There is a magnolia tree in Marisol Rainey's backyard. The tree is named Peppina. It is perfect for climbing. The branches are practically made for human feet. It's as if Peppina wanted to say: Step here, and here, and here. 

Premise/plot: Marisol Rainey stars in a new early chapter book series. In this one, Marisol slowly but surely--with plenty of struggles along the way--works to overcome her fear of climbing trees. Marisol struggles with [little] fears and [little] anxieties that add up day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year. 

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, love, love, love Marisol. I think she's a GREAT heroine. I'm so glad to have met her. This book has all the feels. I can't recommend it highly enough. I'm sure I'd have read this a million times as a child. It was so awesome.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems

Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems. Kristine O'Connell George. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. 2011. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 47 pages.

Soccer Game

My friends are cracking up,

pointing at that little kid

wearing a ruffled petticoat

flowered hat

long white gloves

plaid pants

earrings like chandeliers

and plastic high-heeled shoes

with rhinestones.

That kid who's jumping up and down

on the bleachers

waving her feather boat

yelling at me,

Goooo, Jessica!

I pretend I've never seen 

that kid ever before

in my whole entire life.

I really enjoyed this picture book! This "story" is loosely told through a collection of poems. The poems focus on the oh-so-complex relationship between a big sister, Jessica, and her little sister, Emma. I liked many of the poems. Like "Emma's Hand," "Translator," "Bed Partner," Picture Books," "Snooping," "Cheating,"  and "Emma's Birthday." I'll be honest, I liked almost every single one. They were all so good, so true, so right.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers