Children's Lit Review

  Falatko,Julie. No Boring Stories. illustrared by Charles Santaso. Viking. 25 locations. 2018. ISBN 9780698406083 ages (4 and up) No Boring Stories is a hilarious comic strip style ebook that tells the story of misfit animals that never get featured in a typical picture book.  Tired of books about bunnies, kitties and puppies, these animals band together to create a story, starring them as the action heroes. When a bunny intrudes on the meeting, the misfit animals kick him out of their meeting, without hearing about his excellent idea. A book that signifies the importance of representation and acceptance Falatko creates a truly un-boring story filled many laughs. In ebook format, this book is easy to read beacuse there is no page break from the spine, so the comic strip in completely linear. 

Hooks, Bell. Grump Groan Growl. Illustrated by Chris Raschka. Disney Hyperion. 40p. 2017. Ages (1 and up) Hooks describes what its like when a young child or in this case a lion has a bad day. Raschka's illustrations shows how a bad day can make one feel like everything is chaotic and wild. Written almost as if it was a poem, this picture book main message is to let go of your frustrations. When a bad mood is on the prowl, take a minute to just breathe and and take a moment for o yourself. Positivly showing that anger is a common emotion, creating a conversation that you cant let angerconsume who you are.

Agee, John. The Wall in the Middle of the Book. Dial. 42p. 2018. ISBN 9 780525555452 Ages As an ebook, the illustrations of this book make no sense, because the wall is right where the spine of a book would be. However, it still gets the point across. A little knight is fixing a brick on his side of the wall, as he climbs up the ladder, he fails to realize how the water levels on his side of the wall are rising. He goes on and on about the dangers on the other side of the walls oblivious to his own endangerment.  Agee creates suspense as the water rise on whether or not the knight will notice and what will he do when he does see. What doesn't correlate well is why the knight's side of the wall flooding? 

Zimmerman, K. How a Mouse Saved the Royal Cat. Illustrated by Michelle Zimmerman. 14p. 2017. Ages (5 and up) An interesting ebook, with barely any pictures. The illustrator digitally colored the handful of images within the story, which is unlike the original book, which is printed in black and white. This is the story of how a cowardly cat, keeps his home because of the everything he was afraid of, mice! Though this is an excellent story on problem-solving, the pictures were lacking in the ebook edition. There could have been much more images to enhance the story further.

Hughes, Langston. This Is My Dream! illustrated by Daniel Miyares. 32p.2017. Random House. ISBN 97803995550195 Ages (3 and up) Illustrations based on the poem "DreamVariation" by Langston Hughes,  Miyares contrast the two parts of the poem by showing inequality and hope. In the first half of the poem, inequality is shown with darker colors; greys, browns, and dull tone to the images.  The reader is also shown that this isn't a present day, this still the time of segregation, which is represented by the whites only and colored only water fountains. The second half of the poem shows hope, the pictures are much brighter and full of life, with children being united. A great poem to introduce inequality and injustice to younger children.

Kerstein, Lauren H. Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves. Illustrated by Nate Wragg. Two Lions. 22 locations. 2019. ISBN 978154204932 Ages (3 and up) Exclusively released on Kindle, Rosie and Charlie are getting ready to head to the pool, but some preparation needs to happen before they can enjoy the water. Charlie prepares for the pool with sunblock and snacks, lots of snacks, especially skunk gummies. Before Charlie and Rosie go into the pool, Charlie goes over the rules with Rosie. Though Rosie is a dragon, she and children have the same pool rules! This fun and the colorful ebook will have dragons and children alike learning about pool safety, while still having fun. Available everywhere June 2019, this is a must-have summer read.

De Anda, Diana. Mango Moon. Illustrated by Sue Cornelison. Albert Whitman Company. 32p.2019. ISBN 9780807549575 Ages (6 and up) This heartfelt book discusses the hard topic of deportation, that is very realistic to some young readers. Told through the eyes of young Marciela, we see her perspective of having to live with the reality of her father's deportation. Filled with sadness, and lonliness, Marciela's feelings will break your heart. Left with an unresolved ending, Marciela hopes that her father is thinking of her under the same mango moon. Cornelison's portrayal of her characters are soft portraits, focusing on the representation of emotions rather than facial features. By not disclosing a country to be deported to, this books represents the many children facing this reality because their parents are undocumented.

Elliot, Hannah. Lunar New Year. Illustrated by Aliana Chu. Little Simon. 24p. 2018. ISBN 978153443303 Ages 3 and up   This ebook really explained the meaning of why and how the Chinese celebrate the Lunar NewYear. Elliot really captures the importance of tradition as well as spending time with family. Along with her informative text, Elliot uses the opportunity frequently to translate English words into Chinese. The beautiful illustrations by Chu, express the importance of the color red, and how it symbolizes good luck. Originally published as a board book, the ebook opens up the audience to a broader age group.

Harris J. Salam Alakium: A Message of Peace. Simon and Shuster. 40p.2017 ISBN 9781481489386 Ages (1 and up) Originally a song performed by author Harris J, this lyrical picture book defines what it is to bring peace on earth. Using the term Salam Alakium, the informal Arabic translation of "peace be upon you." While reading this ebook, one can also listen to the song in the background, as the lyrics and book are almost identical. With the beautiful illustrations by Ward Jenkins, we see how one boy lights up his community with one small gesture of kidness. His kidness becomes contagious, infecting everyone to brighten up the city.  The vivid illustrations show many different ethnicities coming together to bring peace.

Kerasco ë t. I Walk with Vanessa: A Story about a Simple Act of Kindness. Schwartz & Wade. 40p. 2018. ISBN 9781524769567 Ages (6 and up). Vanessa has just moved into a new house and has to start a new school. A book told only through illustrations demonstrates how a simple act of kindness can turn you from a bystander to an upstander.   As an eBook, this book resembles a slideshow. The reader has to narrate the pictures for the audience. Kerasco ë t, captures the anxiety of being a new student to the loneliness of being bullied. She also shows how a bystander is just as guilty as the bully for allowing another person to be hurt. The new friends in the story become upstanders because they make sure that Vanessa isn’t alone. At the end of the story, the author includes a snippet on how to stand up to a bully,for children, and for   parents a list of words to use to describe scenes and characters while reading.