167. Just Harriet

Just Harriet. Elana K. Arnold. 2022. 208 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: My name is Harriet Wermer. There are some things you should know about me before I tell you everything else. Let's start with the worst things first. Sometimes I lie. I don't know why I lie, and it's usually about dumb things that people figure out right away, or really soon. 

Premise/plot: Harriet's summer doesn't go according to her plan. [Well, her parents' plans either if you think about it]. Her mom--who is pregnant--is put on bed rest. Harriet [and her cat Matzo Ball] are sent to live with her grandmother [nanu] who owns a bed and breakfast [and a dog]. Harriet normally loves, loves, loves to spend time visiting her nanu on the island. But not for the whole summer, not in this way with her mother being sick and her father being worried. But sometimes what you DON'T WANT is exactly what you need. There is a light mystery in this coming of age novel starring a soon-to-be fourth grader.

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed Just Harriet. I loved Moneypenny [the dog] and Matzo Ball [the cat]. I enjoyed the special relationship between grandmother and granddaughter. I liked seeing Harriet explore the island and work on a little light mystery. Harriet is really taking the time to consider what her father's childhood on the island was like. [Which I appreciated.] It was a good read.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

140. Just Right Jillian

Just Right Jillian. Nicole D. Collier. 2022. [February] 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: It's all Rashida's fault. Well, my Mama says don't say that. "Never start a story with the other person," she says. But sometimes you gotta start with the other person to tell the story. Only this is not a story story. It's the truth. 

Premise/plot: Just Right Jillian is a coming of age novel starring an awesome (but super shy) heroine, Jillian. She's made a promise to her grandmother (before she died) that she would try to come out of her shell, that she would try to speak up and speak out, to be her truest self. Jillian sees participating in the Mind Bender (the school's biggest [academic] competition) as a way to keep her word. But it won't be easy for Jillian to learn to speak up. She may know the answer; she may know the RIGHT answer. But speaking up and saying it aloud is another thing. 

Just Right Jillian is the perfect blend of home and school life. Readers get a chance to see Jillian at home (with her parents) and at school (with her teacher and classmates).

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love this one. I love how the character's growth and development parallels that of the classroom's project--hatching chicks from eggs. I love the narration and writing. I love the story. I love the characters. I love how everything is JUST RIGHT. 

This novel deserves all the love and attention. I don't know that it will receive it come award time, but it's won my heart.

Quotes:

My heart was safe with her. "You'll grow out of shyness, Jilly," she said more than once. "But don't hide! Being shy is one thing. Hiding is something else." I never really knew what she meant by hiding. Until today. Hiding means you're lying. You know what your heart wants, and you're scared, so you do the opposite. Hiding hurts. A lot. 

At school, I don't think my classmates really see me, either. Maybe no one can. Except Ms. W. She has x-ray vision. What I wanna know is, does she see a winner or a loser? Or something in between?

How do you stop yourself from disappearing? Do you wear something special? Do you grow out of it and wake up brave? Do you just hope for the best and see what happens? Maybe tomorrow will be different. Maybe tomorrow, they will see me. Maybe tomorrow, I will be brave. 

Today I would not blend in with everyone else. Today I would be Jillian in Purple and Pockets.

I had on Purple and Pockets, so all was not lost.

The toughest battle, the most important one, is always the one inside.

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

88. Ways to Share Joy

Ways to Share Joy. Renee Watson. 2022. [September] 208 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence:  I am a girl in the middle. Stuck in between my older brother, Ray, and baby sister, Rose. Being in the middle means I have my brother bossing me around telling me to do this, do that. It means I am called on to help out with baby Rose when she needs to be rocked, fed, changed. 

Premise/plot: Ways to Share Joy is the third book in the series by Renee Watson. The first two books are Ways To Make Sunshine and Ways to Grow Love. (Both highly recommended). So Ryan, our WONDERFUL heroine is in fifth grade now. The book occurs between October and November of her fifth grade year. The book begins with a Halloween/harvest festival at church and ends with a lovely Thanksgiving celebration/birthday weekend. (Her grandma is having a big, super-surprise birthday). Time is divided between Ryan's life at home (with her immediate and extended family) and at school. 

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, crazy love this series. I do. It would be awesome to sit down and read all three books back to back to back. (Like I used to do with the Ramona Quimby series by Beverly Cleary.) Ryan Hart has to be one of my all-time favorite heroines. I love Ryan's family. (Though Ray is quite a STINKER in this one.) I love seeing her and her family celebrate. The characterization is so well done in this one. Please let this series never end.

Quotes:

"How about, for every piece of chocolate, we have to tell something we're afraid of," Then I say, "You start," because I realize for the first time that I have no idea if Dad has any fears. He's always the one coming to the rescue. I don't know what makes his heart pound, his palms sweat. .... "I'm afraid moments like this won't happen as you get older." "What do you mean?" I ask. "I'll never say no to chocolate for breakfast." "No, what I mean is--well, you're in the fifth grade now. Next year, you'll be in middle school and I...I just hope you always remember that your daddy loves you. I know I'm missing out on a lot because of my work schedule, but, well, all this hard work is for you."

I can't believe Kiki doesn't like elephant ears [funnel cakes]. We've been friends our whole lives and somehow I didn't know know this. I guess there is always something to learn about a friend, even the friends you know really, really well.

In these photos, she is just a girl. Just a girl who doesn't know she will marry one day and have two daughters and that her grandchildren will love her more than the stars love to cling to the sky.

Joy is something deep, deep down. Joy isn't always based on how you feel, but what you know. And sometimes Joy is happening even when frustration and sadness is happening. So, that's why I said what I said. Today, I am reminded of how much this family loves me. And my heart is truly overjoyed.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers

46. Ten Baskets of Biscuits

Ten Baskets of Biscuits. Kelly Kazek. Illustrated by Michelle Hazelwood Hyde. 2021. [April] 32 pages. [Best guess on pages][Source: Online YouTube video]

First sentence: The night before visiting Grandma Charley couldn't close her eyes. She was just too excited and full of butterflies.

Premise/plot: Charley is so very excited to be visiting her Grandma that she can't sleep. Her mom suggests that instead of counting sheep (to fall asleep) she should count the things she'll see at Grandma's house. Thus the counting begins:

One big Grandma kiss
And one big Grandma hug
That smelled like biscuits
And felt like love.

My thoughts: I really LOVED this one. I discovered it on YouTube. It appears to be the whole book. I could be wrong. But we do get all ten numbers. I'm confident that even if it wasn't the whole book exactly, my thoughts are so strong--LOVE, LOVE, LOVE--that I think any missing content wouldn't change my mind.

I love books that highlight the super-special-strong bond between grandparents and grandchildren. I love the imagery in this one. We get quite an idea of what this Grandma is all about! And the book is highlighting Southern grandmas. I love the narrative. Books written in rhyme don't always work well for me. I can be a bit harsh and judgmental if they don't. A rhyming book needs to really be a great read aloud. It needs to feel natural--not forced--and authentic--not fake. This one excels!

It was a sweet read. It captures dozens of joyful moments. And to be fair, the smell of gluten does resemble the feeling of love.

 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mimi's Adventures in Baking Gingerbread Men

Mimi's Adventures in Baking Gingerbread Men. Alyssa Gangeri. Illustrated by Chiara Civati. 2015. 38 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "Mimi, time to wake up!" Mimi peeked out the window and saw..."SNOW! MOM! It's a snow day!" She yelled as she rushed downstairs.

Premise/plot: A little girl bakes gingerbread cookies with her grandmother on a snowy winter's day.

My thoughts: Baking can be fun. And few things are more fun for a child than baking with a beloved adult. In this case, it's NONNI. Simple baking techniques are shown in this one.

Overall, I liked this one. The story is the most thrilling but it does try to capture the joy of an experience that actually is thrilling.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10 

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Mimi's Adventures in Baking Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mimi's Adventures in Baking Chocolate Chip Cookies. Alyssa Gangeri. Illustrated by Chiara Civati. 2015. 38 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Mimi dreamed of fluffy clouds of flour floating over mountains of chocolate chips with untouched ski slopes of sugar...when she woke up, Mimi knew exactly what she wanted to do. "Nonni, can we please bake chocolate chip cookies? I've been dreaming about the ingredients all night!" Nonni pulled out her giant cookbook and they searched for the recipe.

Premise/plot: A little girl bakes chocolate chip cookies with her grandmother. There is a light story driven by the recipe and the baking process.

My thoughts: Baking can be fun. And few things are more fun for a child than baking with a beloved adult. In this case, it's NONNI. Simple baking techniques are shown in this one. For example, how to read a recipe, how to measure, how to mix, how to crack an egg, etc.

Mimi measured 1 cup of chocolate chips and poured them in a bowl. Then she measured a 1/2 cup. "Now we need 3/4 cup of granulated sugar," said Nonni. "Three of these?" asked Mimi with a 1/4 cup measure in hand. "Yes, three of those." 

Overall, I liked this one. The story is the most thrilling but it does try to capture the joy of an experience that actually is thrilling.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10


© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Your Mommy Was Just Like You

Your Mommy Was Just Like You. Kelly Bennett. Illustrated by David Walker. 2011. Penguin. 32 pages.

Your mommy was born bright-eyed and fuzzy-topped. Just like you.
I'd rock her and blow on her tummy and tickle her toes.
She'd giggle and coo, and play 
"Where's Baby Peek-a-boo?"
Just like you.

I really enjoyed this sweet picture book. It's a great story focusing on family life. It's narrated by Grandma! And does she have some stories to tell to her granddaughter! All about when the little girl's mommy. Stories about when she was sweet as sweet can be, and stories about her fits and tantrums! In each story the grandmother shares with her granddaughter, she points out her mommy was once just like her.

It's predictably cute and adorable and sweet. I really found it enjoyable. I loved reading the stories and looking at the illustrations.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10

© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Knuffle Bunny Free

Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion. Mo Willems. 2010. September 2010. HarperCollins. 52 pages.

One day, not so long ago, Trixie took a big trip with her family. They were on their way to visit Trixie's "Oma" and "Opa" in Holland. So that meant taking a taxi to the airport, waiting in line, watching Knuffle Bunny go through the big machine, waiting some more, and (finally) getting onto a real airplane!

Trixie is back in her third adventure. She's lost Knuffle Bunny at the local laundromat, the local school, what's next? The airplane, of course! It has been a few years since Trixie went boneless at the loss of Knuffle Bunny. Her parents tell her again and again that she is bigger now. Her grandparents tell her again and again that she is bigger now. But is it true? Can Trixie be okay without Knuffle Bunny by her side? (It helps when Trixie dreams of Knuffle Bunny having adventures in China--the next destination for that plane. It does NOT help when Oma and Opa try to buy her a replacement bunny--that speaks Dutch and dances!)

It's not quite what I was expecting. To be honest. Because I wasn't expecting Trixie to be this mature. To be okay with her loss this time. I think this surprises her parents a bit too! I'm not sure I loved it. Not in the same way I loved the first one or the second. But I liked it.

The art--like always--is fabulous! My favorite illustration? Trixie in the bathtub! My favorite twist? Reading Trixie's "first letter." When you read the book--be sure to read this letter! It might be easy to miss.

The Knuffle Bunny books should be read in order. My reviews of Knuffle Bunny and Knuffle Bunny Too.



© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Princess Baby on the Go

Princess Baby On the Go. Karen Katz. 2010. August 2010. Random House. 14 pages.

"Princess Baby, are you ready to go do your sleepover at Grandma's?"
Not yet, I need to find something important.
Is it in my closet?
No, but here's my velvet bathrobe!
Is it under the table?
No, but here are my sparkly slippers!

Princess Baby is back, and this time she is packing for an overnight trip to Grandma's house. What does a baby need? What does a princess baby need? Lift the flaps and see which things are a must! Can you guess what is most important to this princess baby?

I liked this one! It was very fun, very cute. I do like Karen Katz. I enjoy her board books very much. While I don't love this one as much as Where is Baby's Mommy? Where is Baby's Bellybutton?, Toes, Ears, and Nose!, Where is Baby's Beach Ball? and What Does Baby Say? I did still enjoy it.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Perfect Gift

The Perfect Gift. By Mary Newell Depalma. 2010. (January 2010). Scholastic. 32 pages.

Little Lorikeet found something that the larger lorikeets had missed! "I will take this to my grandma," She thought. But it was not easy.

It definitely wasn't easy. This little bird has the toughest time trying to bring the luscious, red, ripe strawberry to her grandmother. When it falls into the water, all seems lost. But with a little help from some new-friends, Lorikeet keeps on keeping on. She perseveres. Determined that she just has to have a gift--the perfect gift--for her grandma. She doesn't want to visit her and not have something to give her. What's a bird to do when all seems lost? Can she find a new perfect gift?

This one has a crocodile. I was being oh-so-silly and completely didn't catch the foreshadowing of the cover! So I was VERY surprised at the turn of events. Luckily, Lorikeet made the right choice.

How often do you miss the obvious? Are you good at picking up clues? Or am I the only silly one out there?!

© Becky Laney of Young Readers