312. The Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons

The Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons. Leanne Hatch. 2023. [August] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Violet was in the art supply aisle when she first spotted them. There were small boxes, medium boxes, big boxes, and...super big boxes. The super big box of crayons had all the colors she would ever need. Eighty-four to be exact.

Premise/plot: Violet, our protagonist, is so thrilled and excited to get a super big box of crayons from the art store. However, she's so happy and proud own them and that they are in such pristine, perfect condition--unlike her old crayons which are junk--that she finds it impossible to enjoy them as intended--coloring. But crayons are made for coloring. They are made to bring joy, and that joy is best expressed through their actual, actual use. Can Violet learn something from her LITTLE sister about how to best use her new crayons? (AND perhaps just perhaps a little about how to best live life.)

My thoughts: I really LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. I could relate to it completely. Perhaps not with crayons exactly. But with other things--many other things. (Like fabric). I enjoyed this one. I loved Violet and Marigold--the sisters. I loved the problem and solution.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

205. Hope In the Valley

Hope In the Valley. Mitali Perkins. 2023. 304 pages. [Source: Library] [J Fiction; MG Fiction; everybody-fiction, "historical" fiction, realistic fiction]

First sentence:  Our front porch is a mess. Stepping around a discarded skateboard and a rusty tricycle, I avoid a couple of splintery wooden chairs and make my way down the steps. As I cross the street to the old Johnson place, I move slowly, casually, in case eyes are tracking me. The riskiest part of this escape is ducking behind the overgrown oleander bushes. But I'm careful as always. There. Now I'm hidden.

Premise/plot: Hope in the Valley is set in the early 1980s, I believe, in California. Pandita Paul, the protagonist, is going to be an eighth grader in the fall. And she doesn't like change--not this change nor any other, not really. Perhaps because she's already experienced one of the biggest changes she could face--the death of her mother. (And it happened on vacation, when they were visiting her grandparents in India). She is holding onto every single memory, every single moment. She has a BIG secret that her and her mother held. The abandoned mansion across the street is their favorite "quiet" place. In particular the porch swing on the porch. There's a cushion where they hid letters, notes, pictures. This is her "safe place" mentally and emotionally. But soon after her birthday (or perhaps on her birthday), she learns that it is soon to be demolished and sold. She's crushed, angered, scared. Can she find a way to save the past? 

Of course, that's only ONE of a handful of story threads in the novel...

My thoughts: I absolutely ADORE this one so much. I loved the main character. I loved getting to know her older sisters. I loved meeting her friends--not all of them her own age. I loved the characters, the relationships, the stories. I loved the inclusion of drama camp and SOUND OF MUSIC. It is just a fantastic coming of age story.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

61. Good Night, Sister

Good Night, Sister. Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt. Illustrated by Lucy Fleming. 2023. [February] 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Kat sits on the floor of her bedroom. Her new room, which will be just for her. She slides on her pink fluffy slippers and looks up at her younger sister. "Tina," she says, "tonight I get to sleep in my big girl room for the very first time!"

Premise/plot: Kat and Tina are sisters. Kat has a new 'big girl' room. Tina remains behind in their old room. She's nervous about sleeping alone. Kat is confident that Tina will be okay. She even gifts her all her old stuffed animals. [There's a cheese-ful rhyme]. But when a thunder storm comes, whom will comfort whom????

My thoughts: I liked the premise. It felt relatable. It can be a big adjustment to go from sharing a room to NOT. The text is all cheese. It's certainly serviceable. It's not awful. It's just not super-fantastic. Definitely feels a bit Full House-ish. 

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

63. Pencilvania

Pencilvania. Stephanie Watson. 2021. [August] 384 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Ever since she first learned to hold a crayon, Zora loved to draw.

Premise/plot: Pencilvania is Stephanie Watson's newest middle grade (fantasy) novel. Zora, our heroine, loves, loves, loves to draw--always has. But does that mean she always will? Her mom has a special word, VOOM, for describing when her daughter is in the zone and FEELING the art. Her mom appreciates her daughter's talent--some of Zora's drawings have become part of her mom's permanent collection. Frankie, her younger sister, also loves Zora's art. Especially when Zora draws horses for her. (Frankie loves, loves, loves horses).

But after her mom dies--of leukemia--Zora loses her voom. Every time she tries to draw, she ends up having a panic attack. On her sister's birthday, Zora tries one more time--for her sister--to draw. But that leads to a burst of anger leading to...well...the start of the adventure.

Pencilvania is the fantasy land our characters find themselves in. It is a land created--quite unintentionally in many, many ways--by Zora. EVERY drawing Zora has ever done--EVER, EVER--comes alive and lives in Pencilvania. From the earliest scribbles--the eeks--to the latest (a traced horse done the day of her sister's birthday) all are there. But all is not well in Pencilvania. TROUBLE is afoot.

Can Zora find a way to save the day?

My thoughts: While it isn't all that unusual for middle grade novels to handle grief in one way or another, I found the fantasy world of Pencilvania to be entirely unique. (Well, mostly). I love the premise! It's cute, adorable, relatable. I also thought it was clever. I loved the world-building! I loved that there was a SEVEN LEGGED HORSE, and that this horse is one of the central characters. I also loved, loved, loved the eeks--the earliest drawings, her stick figures, if you will. I loved the HAMSTERS IN PAJAMAS. There were plenty of little details that come together to create such a perfect fantasy world. (Like the thousands of baby lakes. Or how EVERY sun that she ever drew exists in this world so everything is always sunny!)

I liked the conflict as well. Everything just seems OH SO RIGHT about this novel. 

I personally loved, loved, loved it. I did. I loved everything about it. I loved the relationship between Frankie and Zora. I loved the emotional journey--highs and lows. I loved how imaginative and creative it was. It balances a super fun premise with authentic feelings of grief. This book has plenty of heart. But it isn't a heavy, heavy novel.

Quotes:

• “We gather here today,” said the hamster, “like every day, to celebrate our creator. To offer our gratitude for the magnificent world she has made!” All of the hamsters raised their balloon strings high, like torches. 
• “Well,” Airrol said, “as you looked at us, we looked back at you. Yours was the first face any of us ever saw. Everyone knows you created them, and they adore you for it.” In her mind’s eye, Zora saw the angry protesters by the Zoracle. “Not everybody adores me.” “True,” Airrol said. “But most of us do. And why wouldn’t we? You drew the whole of Pencilvania. Every creature, every blade of grass…” He looked up at the uneven puffs of white drifting overhead. “You drew the clouds, probably when you were just figuring out how make circles. 
• “Everything you draw gets to decide what it’s going to be and do in Pencilvania. When a drawing arrives, first they pick a name. To make it official, they tell the Zoracle. Then they get on with the business of being themselves.” “Wait, you named yourself?” Zora asked. “Naturally,” Airrol said. “It’s my name. I have to answer to it. Shouldn’t I pick it?”

© 2021 Becky Laney of Young Readers

3. Sisters First

Sisters First. Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush. Illustrated by Ramona Kaultizki. 2019. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

First sentence: Before there was you, there was only me, and life was becoming a little lonely. There were friends to laugh with and dogs to chase, but I still said a prayer as I pictured your face...

Premise/plot: This celebrity penned picture book celebrates sisterhood. The text is super sweet and super predictable. This one is safe to judge based on the cover. You get exactly what you’d expect. It is written in rhyme.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I didn’t love, love, love it. But I liked it. The text felt a little forced to me because of the rhyming. Sometimes it felt natural and smooth. Sometimes it was a bit awkward. It worked more than it didn’t. So overall I liked it.

Text:3/5
Illustrations:3/5
Total:6/10

© 2020 Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Two Mutch Sisters

The Two Mutch Sisters. Carol Brendler. Illustrated by Lisa Brown. 2018. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: The Mutch sisters were collectors. It started when they were very little girls. First there were two toy teapots. One for Ruby, one for Violet. As the sisters grew, so did their collection....

Premise/plot: The Mutch sisters have TOO much stuff. At least one sister thinks so. Ruby, not so much. One day she has had ENOUGH. She's ready for a change. What will Violet do next....?!

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. It is a unique story. Usually when senior citizens appear in picture books, they show up as grandpas and grandmas. The focus is still mostly on the kid. But in this one, we have two heroines--a pair of sisters. And the focus is on their habits, their hoarding behaviors.

Text: 3.5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3.5 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2018 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

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same. Grace Lin. 2010. July 2010. Little, Brown. 43 pages.

Ling and Ting are twins. They have the same brown eyes. They have the same pink cheeks. They have the same happy smiles. People see them and they say, "You two are exactly the same!"
"We are not exactly the same," Ling says.
Ting laughs because she is thinking exactly the same thing!

I really enjoyed Grace Lin's Not Exactly the Same. I thought it was a great early chapter book for young readers. The book is divided into six chapters. The stories are about simple things, ordinary things. But that doesn't mean they are boring! I enjoyed the simplicity of it. How it captured life. I think my favorite story was "Making Dumplings."

See also Grace Lin's Year of the Dog and Year of the Rat.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Piper Reed, Navy Brat

Holt, Kimberly Willis. 2007. Piper Reed, Navy Brat. Henry Holt. 146 pages.

It was pizza night.

Meet Piper Reed. She's a middle child. And she's a handful. A lovable handful though. Her father is in the navy which means the whole family is in the navy. In this book--the first in the series--Piper learns that the family is moving to Florida. What will that move mean for the whole family? for Piper? Will she make new friends? Will she get her Gypsy Club started again? Will she ever get along with her sisters?

This is an enjoyable book, and a great start to the series.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Sisters 8: Annie's Adventures

Baratz, Logsted, Lauren. 2008. The Sisters 8: Annie's Adventures. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 136 pages.

The story always begins the same.
Once upon a time, there were eight sisters who would all one day be eight years old. At the same time.

Eight sisters. Eight books. One mystery to solve. Annie, Durinda, Georgia, Jackie, Marcia, Petal, Rebecca, and Zinnia are sisters: octuplets to be exact. But are they more than what they seem? When their parents disappear one New Years Eve, the girls are left a mysterious note. A note mentioning something about powers and gifts. Can these eight sisters come together and solve the mystery of what happened to their parents? Will seeking to discover their powers and gifts help solve this mystery? Who's leaving the notes in the first place? Are their parents alive or dead? And how long can they fool the whole town into believing that everything is just fine at their house?

If I had only one word to describe this one, it would be silly. Is that a good thing? A bad thing? I think it might depend on what you're looking for, what you need. I think this one could appeal to some readers. After all, it's the first in a series that promises at least eight books. (One book for each sister.) And there's a certain comfort that comes with reading a series. (I certainly read my fair share of the Babysitters Club.)

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Zelda and Ivy: Keeping Secrets

Kvasnosky, Laura McGee. 2009. Zelda and Ivy: Keeping Secrets. Candlewick Press.

These foxy sisters are back for another adventure. Sibling rivalry, fox style. Zelda is the older; Ivy the younger. In the first chapter, the reader learns that Ivy is not so good at keeping secrets. Zelda sets up Ivy and her friend, Eugene, by telling them both a secret. It's all good fun. Surprising? Not really. Secrets are hard to keep sometimes. In the second chapter, Zelda decides to prank Ivy. Ivy did start off teasing Zelda, so does she deserve it? Maybe, maybe not. Read and see for yourself if Zelda's prank goes according to her plan. In the third chapter, we see how differences of opinion can be resolved--Ivy and Eugene want to be quiet; Zelda wants to be loud, loud, loud. Who will have the last laugh?

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

The Newest Dancer

Ormerod, Jan. 2008. Ballet Sisters: The Newest Dancer.

Bonnie and Sylvie are back for their second adventure in The Newest Dancer. This is a fun and playful early reader that is just right for young ballet enthusiasts. It's delightful. Just a real treat to read. The book has three chapters or three adventures, "Ballet Day," "The Not Birthday," "The Newest Dancer." Sylvie, for those that haven't read The Duckling and the Swan--the first in the series--is the younger sister. She's always copying her older sister. Wanting to be just like her big sister. This includes dancing like her big sister. In The Newest Dancer, Sylvie gets her chance to really be like her big sister by joining a ballet class all her own. I loved this book, and I can't recommend it highly enough!

32 pages.

The Duckling and the Swan

Ormerod, Jan. 2007. Ballet Sisters: The Duckling and the Swan.

I loved this book. It's an early reader that is just right for young readers. The first book in this series is "The Duckling and the Swan." It focuses on a pair of sisters--one older, Bonnie, one younger, Sylvie--who loves all things ballet. The book is broken into three chapters, or three adventures: "Ducky Dancer," "Braids," and "Miss Trish's Class." The book is delightful, charming, and just pure fun.

Ducky Dancer

Mom and Sylvie
get me from school.
"I am a swan," I say.
"And you are a duckling."
"I'm a ducky," Sylvie says.
At home, Sylvie
and I dress up.
Then we dance.
"I'm a princess," I say.
"You must bow to me."
"Okay," Sylvie says.
We dance into the garden.
"I'm a fairy queen," I say.
"And you are an elf."
Sylvie cries, "I dont want
to be an elf."
Mom sweeps Sylvie up
and carries her
from flower to flower.
"Sylvie is a buzzing bee,"
says Mom.
Then I am a swan again.
And Sylvie is a duckling.
She waddles.
She flaps her wings.
She takes a bow.

This one is a must if your little ones love dancing and playing make believe. It's just a real joy to read. The illustrations are perfect.

32 pages.