Posted in PB, So Many Good Books

Let’s Dance!

Perfect Picture Book Friday

Let’s Dance! (Boyds Mill & Kane, 2020) by Valerie Bolling and illustrated by Maine Diaz has recently danced out into the market. I love the simplicity of the rhythmic language contrasting with the beautiful details in the illustrations that together highlight different types of dances. It’s very difficult to pick a favorite spread.

There’s breakdance, West Africa’s kuku, line dance, Cuba’s cha-cha, ballet, Irish step dance, and more. This book will introduce children (and perhaps their parents) to dancers from around the world in such a fun way.

Even Valerie Bolling’s bio starts with rhythm–read it here. This is the author’s first picture book.

Illustrator Maine Diaz shares an online portfolio here (two pages, so click another icon on her page as well) and her bio here.

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Posted in PB, So Many Good Books

Not Quite Snow White

Perfect Picture Book Friday

Today’s delightful book is Not Quite Snow White (Harper, 2019) by Ashley Franklin and Ebony Glenn.

“For Tameika, it was always the right time and place to dance and sing.” She’s confident, adorable, and fun. She’s played different roles in a variety of shows. She has a helpful attitude with her friends. But when she plans to audition for Snow White, she hears whispers that make her doubt.

My favorite line is “She loved herself as much as she loved music and movement.” I love the ending. And I love the art–perfect marriage between words and illustration.

You can see what author Ashley Franklin is up to by following her on Twitter.

Check out Ebony’s lovely illustrations here–be sure to click on the screen to see them all. Read about the illustrator here.

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Posted in #Giveaway, PB, So Many Good Books

My Hair

Perfect Picture Book Friday

My Hair (Faber & Faber, September 2019) by Hannah Lee and illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan is such an appealing book. And I have one copy to give away. (Comment for a chance to win–I’ll randomly draw a name on August 13th. USA only.)

Getting ready for her birthday, a little girl has to decide how to style her hair. Dreadlocks, braids, shaved, cropped, wrapped? She shares about her family and friends and their hair before deciding on something else.

The story is written in rhyme and makes me smile each time I read it. The illustrations are adorable.

Read more about UK debut author, Hannah Lee’s book publication, here. Info about illustrator Allen Fatimaharan and his work can be found here. This is his first picture book, too.

FYI, I received one copy of the book for an honest review.

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Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Boy Bites Bug

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Today I’m sharing a contemporary book, Boy Bites Bug (Abrams, 2018) by Rebecca Petruck. This is a story about friendship, prejudice, and learning about yourself. Plus there’s bug jokes and wrestling, which makes it fun.

Middle schooler Will Nolan tries to divert everyone’s attention from his best friend’s racial comment to Eloy, the new kid at school. Eating a bug gives Will notoriety and helps him come up with an unusual idea for a school project. But, he’ll need help from Eloy. Darryl’s already mad. Will this ruin their friendship?

Rebecca is also the author of the YA novel, Steering toward Normal. You can read about her here.

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Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Song for a Whale

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Song for a Whale (Delacorte Press, 2019) by Lynne Kelly is an incredible story. I loved it so much.

Iris is a tech genius who restores old electronic equipment such as antique radios. She’s also only twelve. Being the only deaf person at her school is very difficult. When she learns about Blue 55, a whale who can’t speak to other whales because he sings at the wrong frequency, Iris gets an idea. She wants to communicate with Blue 55 to show him he’s not alone. However, there are lots of obstacles in her way–like being 3000 miles away.

My grandparents and father repaired electronic equipment so loved reading about a character interested in the subject. The uniqueness of a deaf person wanting to help someone else hear is so cool, too.

I recommended Lynne’s book Chained here. Read about Lynne on her author site.

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