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Heidicker, Christian McKay. Scary Stories for Young Foxes. Illus. by Junyi Wu. Henry Holt & Company, 2018. 314 pages. Hardcover $16.99, ISBN 978-1-250-18142-8

Seven fox kits are hungry for stories –– scary stories, the scarier the better. Their mother is fresh out, so they seek out the old storyteller of Bog Cavern. The storyteller agrees to tell the kits stories but warns them that the stories they will hear may terrify them so badly that they may need to leave. The stories follow the lives of fox kits Mia and Uly, and the dangers they face: cursed yellow stench (rabies), cruel foxes, the human world, dangerous creatures in the woods and more. Each story is a cautionary tale for the young foxes about the dangers of the world. Tension and horror build as Mia’s siblings and beloved teacher are taken by the stench, Uly’s cruel family attempt to kill him, and the kits meet a human –– Beatrix Potter who plans to stuff the captured Mia when she’s done studying her. Rich and vivid descriptions from a fox’s perspective make the violence of animal traps, humans, rabies, and territorial disputes large and frightening, deftly turning the banal into horror. The text is complemented by black and white pencil drawings filled with long shadows. At the finish of each tale, one of the fox kits in the audience runs off home, too frightened. Heidicker skillfully twists the tales together leading to a surprising conclusion. Middle grade readers with a taste for horror and a love of animals will be on the edge of their seats, with a little chill as they follow along. Ages 9+

Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. The War That Saved My Life. Puffin Books, 2015. 316 pages. Paperback $8.99, ISBN 978-0-14-751048-9; Hardcover $17.99, 978-0-8037-4081-5

It's 1939 and war has broken out across Europe, bringing destruction in its wake. It offers freedom for 10-year-old Ada and her little brother Jaime. Ada’s spent her entire young life in pain, unable to walk, and trapped in her mother’s squalid flat, kept from medical care and education, and left the victim of cruel, ableist abuse. Until she discovers a programme relocating children of London to the countryside, the only bit of hope that Ada has is Jaime. The relocation scheme is their one ticket out and the siblings take the opportunity eagerly. In the countryside they are begrudgingly taken in by queer-coded spinster Miss Smith who is firm but kind and wrestling with her own trauma and grief. Ada's sensitive and realistically portrayed, though at times frustrating to watch trauma keeps her unable to understand or accept the kindness that her new guardian offers. Miss Smith, Ada, and Jamie help each other heal under the looming threat of war, building a new family, all while knowing that the children's mother could return and separate them. Brubaker deals sensitively with Ada's disability and internalized ableism, though period appropriate language around disability (cripple) is frequently used. Refreshingly, this isn't a magically cured disability story; instead, Ada is given proper medical care and support which gives her freedom and agency and allows her to live with her disability. Depictions of Ada's trigger responses, disassociation, and trauma response are realistic and at times difficult to watch.

Unusually for a WWII historical fiction title, the war itself is only a backdrop adding rich layers to a story about themes of grief, abuse, ableism, and the building of families of choice. Many elements of Ada's story could be moved to a different time and still ring true. An excellent, compelling, engaging and at times harrowing story of trauma, grief, prejudice, healing, and the building of family of choice during a time of war that refuses to shy away from the emotional repercussions of abuse, neglect, poverty, prejudice. Sure to be a hit with children who are into civilian (and child) focused WWII historical fiction. Ages 9+

Hale, Shannon. The Princess in Black. Illus. LeUyen Pham. Candlewick Press, 2014. 89 pages. PLB $14.99, ISBN 978-0-7636-6510-4

Princess Magnolia has a secret identity –– she’s the Princess in Black! When the monsters of the nearby Monster Land escape to cause chaos and steal goats, she and her faithful horse are on the job with a ring of her trusty monster alarm ring. One afternoon while she’s enjoying a tea with Duchess Wigtower, the monster alarm goes off. Donning her disguise, Princess Magnolia nimbly hurries off dodging discovery. At the scene, she employs her ninja skills to defeat the blue monster, rescuing Duff’s goats. Back at the castle, nosy Wigtower could be closing in on her secret if the Princess in Black doesn’t make it back in time. Unbeknownst to Magnolia, Duff who dreams of helping her, might also be onto her. Rich, full color water color and ink illustrations complete with sound effect words during action sequences accompany the text. For the observant kids, there are often little, humorous details to be found in the illustrations. The type is still relatively large, with a variety of page lengths from full page to single sentence. Full page illustrations alternate with full text pages, and partial text pages contain illustrations. The language is still controlled and occasionally sing-songy, but the fast paced action and humor carry the story well. The characters and setting are well-laid out for continuing adventures. For beginning completely independent readers with a taste for action and adventure, The Princess in Black offers humor-filled super hero tale. Gr. K-3, Level 3 to transitional.

Butler, Dori Hillestad. King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth. Illus. by Nancy Meyers. Peachtree, 2018. 47 pages. Hardcover $14.95, ISBN 978-1-56145-880-6

King the dog and his human, young, black Kayla are best friends and solve mysteries together. The mystery today? Kayla’s missing tooth. Kayla’s pretty sure she put her lost tooth back in the tooth fairy pillow on her way home from school, but when she goes to take a look it’s nowhere to be found. Now it’s up to King, Kayla, and Kayla’s friend Mason to crack the case so that she can get her tooth to the tooth fairy. King the dog narrates with a suitably silly and enthusiastic voice describing the clues he sniffs out. Sweet, full digitally colored pencil illustrations with lots of white negative space accompany medium type text. Short simple sentences with limited vocabulary tell the story in a mix of full and partial text coverage pages. Newly independent readers with a love of dogs and mysteries will enjoy following along with King & Kayla. Gr. K-3, Level 3.

Keller, Laurie. We are Growing! Illus. by Laurie Keller. Hyperion Books for Children, 2016. 49 pages. Hardcover $9.99, ISBN 978-1-4847-2635-8

Eight blades of grass are growing together, each in their own special way: curly, silly, tall, pointy, crunchy, etc. The eighth blade is the only one who doesn’t know what kind of grass it is and time is running short for it to figure it all out; the lawnmower is headed for the grass! It’s only after the lawnmower gives all of the blades a haircut that the small confused blade figures out who it is; the neatest! After the cut, the blades of grass assure each other that they will grow again, emphasizing perseverance. To aid the reader, each blade of grass has its own special color of speech bubble. Exaggerated actions and images carry humor throughout the title pairing with the subverted expectations of the lawnmower’s appearance. The entire story is told with speech bubbles and sound effects in large and super large type chock full of sight words, a style familiar to readers of Elephant & Piggie. Scenes of Elephant and Piggie introduce and close out the book, commenting on its contents and adding their own humor. A silly and charming story of perseverance and finding out who you are for early readers. Gr. K-1, Level 1.

Annabel, Graham. Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths. Illus. by Graham Annabel. First Second, 2018. 119 pages. Hardcover $17.99, ISBN 978-1-6267-2561-4

“Oh where oh where did you go Ernesto?”

Sloth best friends Peter and Ernesto spend their days hanging out in their tree looking up at the sky and snacking. One day, energetic and curious Ernesto decides to venture away from the tree in search of new sights, leaving nervous Peter behind. On his adventure, Ernesto befriends other animals as he excitedly explores the unknown. Back home, Peter is overwhelmed with worry. Despite his fears about the outside world, he ventures out in search of Ernesto, Along the way he faces his anxieties about the unknown and makes new friends. While Peter is conquering his fears, Ernesto discovers that there are some things that he should be wary of. A little less scared and a little more cautious, Peter and Ernesto reunite in the middle and head home together.

Clean, crisply lined, character focused illustrations join with simple dialog to tell the story. The basic panel layouts make for a great introduction to the graphic novel format. The large, bold, type text with simple vocabulary and short sentences makes it easily accessible for readers branching out into completely independent reading who are hungering for graphic novels. Fans of Elephant and Piggie will find much to love here, and those who enjoy Peter and Ernesto will be excited to find that this is only the first in a series of adventures for these two friends. A sweet and humorous story of friendship, curiosity, and doing stuff that scares you anyways. gr. K-3.

Kibuishi, Kazu. The Stonekeeper. Illus. by Kazu Kibuishi. Graphix, 2008. 185 pages. PLB $19.99, ISBN 978-1-439-58898-7

All you have to do is listen to the stone.

After Emily and Navin’s father is killed in a car accident, the siblings and their mother move into an old, rundown family home that once belonged to their great-grandfather Silas. The old house hides family secrets, and Emily stumbles upon one of them: a mysterious magical amulet. The house hides something else: the gateway to fantastical other world. A monster from that place abducts the siblings’ mother. The amulet helps the siblings give chase and leads them deeper into the fantasy world, past dangerous creatures to another house, where Silas is barely hanging on to life. With his dying breath he bequeaths the amulet and all that comes with it to Emily and sends the siblings to save their mother. Unclear to Emily and Navin is how much (and if) they can trust the Amulet, Silas, or pink rabbit Miskit. Nonetheless, guided by the amulet and Miskit, the siblings continue the chase, all the while being tailed by an evil elf. The abrupt and suspenseful end marks only the beginning of the larger story, told through the entire series; readers are left with questions and a need for more.

Mysterious and shadowy art with pops of bright colors introduces a wide range of fantastical and creepy creatures, and builds a world that is both beautiful and frightening. The villains are suitably eerie, looming large with very little dialog. The fast pace of the story leaves many unanswered questions about the characters and the world they find themselves in. For kids 8-12 who enjoy fantasy, fast paced action and diving into a series, Amulet is sure to ensnare.

Wang, Jen. Stargazing. Illus. by Jen Wang, color by Lark Pien. First Second, 2019. 208 pages. Hardcover $29.99, ISBN 978-1-250-18387-3

Shy, awkward perfectionist Christine Hong’s life is in for big changes when the outgoing and confident, and messy Moon Lin and her mother move into the extra unit at her family’s home. Rumors swirl about Moon Lin, making Christine wary of her. But Moon Lin’s energetic, friendly, enthusiasm wins her over, and the two girls become best friends despite their differences. Moon entrusts her deepest secret to Christine: she believes she’s from outer space and that celestial beings come and talk to her. Christine struggles with figuring out how she can fit in as the perfect Chinese daughter and envies Moon for her free spirit, and bright confidence. Her feelings of jealousy intensify when Moon makes friends with popular girl Madison. Struggling to deal with her feelings, Christine reveals Moon’s deepest secret to everyone else, hurting Moon in the process. When Moon has a medical emergency, Christine realizes that she has to step up and figure out how to make things right and be a good friend.

Simple, stylized art with clean backgrounds draws the focus in the panels to the characters and their dialog and most of the setting fades away, though cultural details of the girls’ Chinese community are always present. Diverse mixtures of panel and page layouts create engaging spreads and effectively and fluidly create movement and action and communicate emotions. Wang provides a gentle look at the lives and friendship struggles of tween girls trying to find their identities and their way. Overall, a sweet story of friendship, jealousy, finding self-confidence, and forging identities. Age 8-12.

Burcaw, Shane. Not So Different: What you REALLY Want to Ask About Having a Disability. With photographs by Matt Carr. Roaring Brook Press, 2017. 40 pages. Hardcover $17.99, ISBN 978-1-62672-771-7

Many children are curious about people with visible disabilities, which often leads to them asking disabled people awkward, inappropriate or uncomfortable questions about their disabilities. Shane Burcaw is a disability activist/writer with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and this title is his way of answering some of these questions. Based on (and about) his personal experiences, Burcaw answers some of the questions that kids often want to ask him (“What’s wrong with you?”, “How do you do things?” etc.) in plain, matter of fact language interspersed with humor that is easily accessible for early elementary age children. Photos of Burcaw and his friends and family that are occasionally digitally combined with various humorous or absurd images accompany the text.

Burcaw wants kids to know that while many people with disabilities might not look like them, they are not so different from them. His answers to the questions carry messages about respect, kindness, consent, and disability positivity. No references or further readings are given. However, a two-page author’s note at the end, with a more extended explanation of SMA may be of interest to adults sharing this title with kids who want to know more.

An accessible and positive introduction to disability for young children. Ages 5+

Robeson, Teresa. Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom. Illus. by Rebecca Huang. Sterling Children's Books, 2019. 48 pages. Hardcover $16.95, ISBN 978-1-4549-3220-8

This is the story of how a girl from Liuhe, China fought prejudices and overcame many obstacles to become a trailblazing scientist.

Robeson, a writer of children’s nonfiction with a background in the sciences shares the story of this highly successful and intelligent figure in physics from her humble beginnings in rural China to her highly successful career in physics in America, during which she often had to fight against prejudicial ideas about women and Asians to prove her worth. Charming mixed media illustrations with simple, stylized forms, bright colors, and crisp lines surrounded by swathes of clean negative space accompany the text. In some spreads, the text is interspersed within the images, creating engaging layouts. At some points throughout the author attempts to explain the complex physics concepts that Chien Shiung was famous for — explanations that will likely go way over the heads of many young readers without adult assistance. Readers curious about dates will find few within the actual text of the book and will have to consult the back notes. Messages of perseverance, courage, and female empowerment are carried throughout the text, leading to an inspiring conclusion.

Overall, despite the difficulty in simplifying complex physics concepts, Robeson provides a solid and inspiring prose introduction to Wu Chien Shiung’s life and achievements, shining a light on a less well-known figure that will leave readers curious to learn more.

Includes bibliographical references, further readings, a glossary, and an extended note. Gr. K-3

Weatherford, Carole Boston. Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre. Illus. by Floyd Cooper. Carolrhoda Books, 2021. 32 pages. Hardcover $17.99, ISBN 978-1-5415-8120-3

The story goes: "Once upon a time in Greenwood..."

And so, Weatherford lyrically weaves the story of the horrific racist violence of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Despite the horrors, this is also a celebration of black prosperity and perseverance. The first half of the book is the story of the Greenwood community of Tulsa, OK, and the people who called "Black Wall Street" home. The back half is the story of the events of Memorial Day weekend, 1921 in Tulsa: a black teenage boy is falsely accused of assaulting a white woman, fanning the flames of racist sentiment and sparking violence — white mobs, aided and abetted by police attacked and looted Greenwood killing hundreds of its residents, and left everything they built in ashes. The text ends with a call to action against hatred and violence.

Weatherford's powerful text is accompanied by Cooper's soft, organic oil and erasure illustrations. In the stories of prosperity and perseverance, brighter, warmer colors fill spreads. In the story of violence and hatred, colors are muted. A spread of a young, unarmed black man, hands held high, while a white man carrying a rifle stands at his back as the text details the death toll is particularly powerful and resonant — echoing images of contemporary black youth faced with police violence.

While no references or further readings are provided, back notes with historical photographs provide further information on the event.

In a beautifully illustrated text resonant with joy and grief, Weatherford and Cooper provide an accessible and unflinching introduction to a somber and serious topic. Ages 8-12.

Tonatiuh, Duncan. Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's Fight for Desegregation. Illus. by Duncan Tonatiuh. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2014. 40 pages. Hardcover $18.95, ISBN 978-1-4197-1054-4

"Cuando la causa es justa, los demás te siguen." (pp. 33)

Tonatiuh tells story of Sylvia Mendez, her family's case Mendez v. Westminster School District, and the desegregation of public schools in California. Sourced from both primary and secondary sources, including interviews with Sylvia Mendez, Tonatiuh's narrative text is detailed and rich with information. In 1945 in Orange County, CA, public schools were segregated, and Mexican American children like Sylvia Mendez were sent to inferior, segregated schools. Mendez's family was rebuffed when they attempted to enroll her and her brothers into the Westminster school. But Felícitas and Gonzalo Mendez were determined to send their children to a good school, and so began their fight. Gonzalo Mendez joined with other Mexican American families to sue to school district and refute the racist lies that underpinned school segregation. The family won the initial lawsuit, though the decision was immediately appealed and sent to another court. But the Mexican American families of Orange County, CA were not the only ones watching the case — other civil rights groups such as the NAACP were very interested in the case and lent their support. The school district lost their appeal and Gov. Warren of CA signed a law desegregating CA's public school system. The successful results of Mendez were used as a basis in Brown v. Board of Education.

Hand drawn illustrations collaged and colored digitally in a distinctive style inspired by pre-columbian Mixtec artwork accompany the narrative. An outstanding, visually unique, and highly informational addition to any children's collection on civil rights history, highlighting a lesser known, but no less important part of history.

Includes author's note, bibliographical references, glossary, and index. Ages 6+

Martinez-Neal, Juana. Alma and How She Got Her Name. Illus. by Juana Martinez-Neal. Candlewick Press, 2018. 32 pages. Hardcover $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7636-9355-8

What stories are in a name?

Young Hispanic Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela doesn't feel like she fits into her long name and turns to her dad for answers about it. "Let me tell you the story of your name. Then you decide if it fits," says Alma's father, and so begins a journey through their family history. Alma shares each part of her name with an ancestor with a story for Dad to tell. Soft pencil illustrations in limited and muted colors make the present cozy and bring a sense of warm nostalgia to the past. The limited use of color emphasizes characters and objects; red and pink color the present and blue shading colors the past. Each story is followed by a two-page spread where Alma makes connections between herself and her ancestor. Objects from the image of the ancestor reappear in Alma's present in still colored blue further building the connections.

In the beginning the ancestors are alone on a page in photo frames. As Alma's connection with them grows, the frames are left behind, and Alma peeks inside; what was once two separate pages merges into a single spread, blending past and present. Spanish words within the illustrations and pieces of Hispanic cultural imagery (a calavera, figures in traditional Peruvian attire, the sagrado corazón, etc.) suggest cultural identity for the family. A cozy and sweet look at inter-generational connections and the way that names can carry cultural heritage and family histories into the present and future, which may prompt a sharing of personal family history between the child reader and their adult. Ages 4-8.

Marcero, Deborah. Out of a Jar. Illus. by Deborah Marcero. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2022. 40 pages. Hardcover $17.99, ISBN 978-0-593-32637-4

Llewellyn is a little rabbit with big feelings and he does not like them one bit. Fear — an inky amorphous, wide-eyed blog looms large, making him uncomfortable. Overwhelmed, Llewellyn captures his fear in a jar and hides it in a closet at the bottom of a narrow, winding staircase, and with the closing of the door, all seems well; Llewellyn no longer feels afraid. After that, each time he’s faced with another big feeling he bottles it up, until he’s nearly empty. Then, a final feeling emerges; as before, he captures it and takes it to the closet, but this time, it won’t fit and the door won’t close despite his best efforts. After a final determined shove, the dam breaks, the jars crack and the page is awash with a rainbow of colors, flattening Llewellyn.

Relief follows his meltdown, and he discovers that experiencing his emotions is ultimately unavoidable and that feeling them, sharing them, giving them gratitude, and letting them go is richer than hiding them away. Llewellyn’s discovery is treated with a gentleness and gravitas, just as the situations that precipitated his emotions were. A mixture of page layouts (spreads, full pages, and simple panel layouts) effectively communicate the passage of time and set a good pace and rhythm to the reading of the text. Brightly colored mixed media illustrations with loose pencil lines and flowing water colors contrasted against crisp lines and shapes from ink and digital media additions are a visual standout. An excellent addition to any SEL collection, sure to prompt discussions about feelings whether shared in groups or one on one. Stunning visuals paired with a thoughtful narrative that affirms and validates big feelings. Ages 4-8.

King Neil, Aliya. Keep Your Head Up. Illus. Charly Palmer. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021. 32 pages. Hardcover $17.99, ISBN 978-1-5344-8040-7

It’s okay to not be okay.

A black, neurodivergent coded boy named D has a bad start to his day. He tries to stay positive but everything seems to go wrong, one thing after another. Familiar situations from a forgotten gym uniform, to getting passed over for a school duty he likes, to getting chastised in front of his class for accidentally blurting out answers without raising his hand build his frustration. Alone each thing might not be too bad, but together, in a single string they are. Soon enough, D is overwhelmed with his frustration, embarrassment, and insecurities, leading to a meltdown that sees him removed from class. Fortunately for D, he’s got supportive adults in his corner; his principal calms him down, and though his parents bring a few more disappointments when they come to take him out of school, they non-judgmentally acknowledge his feelings and give him space. The entire cast of characters are black.

Acrylic on board illustrations with rich colors and loose brush strokes accompany the text. A cloud is painted above D’s head in every scene that visualizes his mood through its changing color — darker as frustration builds and lighter when it lessens. The physical sensations, facial expressions, and body language associated with D’s moods are thoroughly described, and meltdown is well-defined. D’s frustration and eventual meltdown treated with patience and gentleness by the narrative, and though he’s repeatedly encouraged to stay positive it doesn’t feel patronizing or invalidating (“I just have to try”). An excellent look at emotional regulation for any SEL collection, with attractive illustrations. Overall, a gentle and understanding look at bad days and difficult feelings. Ages 5+

Lê, Minh. Drawn Together. Illus. Dan Santat. Little, Brown and Company, 2018. 40 pages. Hardcover $18.99, ISBN 978-1-484-76760-3

A boy and his grandfather struggle to connect or communicate with one another, but find a common language in art. The boy is dropped off for a visit with his grandfather, which starts out awkward and quiet because they don’t speak the same language. They eat different dinners together and watch TV, and silence looms large, though they each attempt to have conversation, the boy in English and the grandfather in Thai. Despite the disconnect, the love is there, and when the boy picks up a marker and begins to draw, a common ground is found as the grandfather joins him with a brush full of black ink. Together they create a bright, magical and imaginative world of drawings, letting them speak beyond words to make connections.

Sparse but impactful text lets the dazzling illustrations speak and tell the story. In the world outside their drawings, graphic novel paneling tells the story and the white spaces between the panels emphasize the divide between boy and grandfather. When the two connect, paneling is replaced by stunning full-page detailed spreads that reward repeated viewings. The grandson’s bright colors and simple cartoon artwork contrast with the grandfather’s detailed black and white line art full of traditional Thai art imagery and as their connection deepens, the two blend and grandson and grandfather find themselves comfortable without words. A sweet, inter-generational story where the magic and power of art bridges cultural and linguistic divides. Ages 4+

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