Love Is in the Bear by Judith Henderson
Spring was a few weeks ago, or it will be in next year. But regardless of how you count the seasons, there is a special moment in the day, early when you can smell spring in the air, even in your sleep, like Bear does. And if Bear had slept one second longer, he would have missed the event that is the center of Love Is in the Bear. Okay, so that is a bit poetic, but so is this picture book (due mid-October 2023, […]
Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca
Awhile back I found a reader copy by Rajani LaRocca called Mirror to Mirror. I was interested in it due to the diverse characters and the prose poetry format. However, as I started reading (at lunch) it was going slowly, and I put it aside. I picked it up months later and was able to finish it finally. It was mostly worth the wait. I say mostly, as for me, there were a few bumps. I was not a fan of some characters, and a […]
Broadway Baby by Russell Miller
When I started Broadway Baby my first thought was well, this is cut…. Whoa! That’s a bit off-putting! The tone of the book is a 45-year-old man talking to us, but the character is wearing snazzy diapers and fabulous clothing. I got vibes of all the promos and images of Man From Oz (as I have not seen it) and realized there are several Broadway hits in the imagery. Russell Miller and Judith A. Proffer set out to honor the bright lights, and regardless of […]
Juba: A Novel by Walter Dean Myers
CBR15Passport I own Based on true events of a little-known dancer of the pre-Civil War era, Juba: A Novel by Walter Dean Myers is a story of race and fame. This is the story of the man who invented modern tap dance. There is a mixture of humor and seriousness to the text as well as the overall tone. There is some language used (the N word and “racoon” without the “ra”) and talk of violence that happened (in the south and even north) therefore, […]
Something Wild by Molly Ruttan
Hannah loves playing violin, but not in front of people. Of course, she has a recital. On the day of, Hannah wishes for Something Wild to happen. And due to some wonderful imaginative situations, the laughs (and some well needed inspiration and self-confidence) happen. Molly Ruttan has created a tale of cleverness and overcoming stage fright in a fresh, vibrant, manner. Story and text mix together to create magic and humor. Overall, the ideas that Hannah get (her outfit disappears, dolphins in the fountain whisk […]
Moonwalking by Zetta Elliott and Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Moonwalking is an interesting story about friendship in early 1980s America. The characters are both likable and relatable, and the (SPOILER) not so happy ending, is a nice change of pace from having it “all be okay” and working out in the best possible outcome. The tone mostly feels realistic (though I am not sure (SPOILER) if Pie sending his address to JJ would have happened). The supporting cast could have been explored a bit more, but what is needed to promote and support the […]
