Books | Page 15 of 82

Retro, wily YA lit that jumps between genres and expectations with glee

Retro, by Sofia Lapuente and New York Times-bestselling author Jarrod Shusterman is an unlikely candidate for the cat video and potato chip challenge. That’s our internal and highly unscientific procedure for reviewing things. Essentially, if you’re able to partake in said thing and are able to read, or do it only one time, then it would fail the potato chip challenge. This is a case where Retro passes the challenge that’s normally reserved for illustrated books and collections of comic strips, in addition to potato chips and cat videos. Just try to watch only one cat video, and you’ll fail quickly, much like trying to read only one chapter from Retro.

Retro is YA lit that’s written for the reluctant reader. It dabbles enough in thriller, relationships and mystery to reel in those who simply want a breezy read.

Retro, read all about it, retro

How the Stars Came to Be: Deluxe Edition, a lush, statement folk story

Folk stories shouldn’t have an age ceiling. Most of the folk tales that I’ve encountered have enough details in them to merit a feature-length movie. The really great ones can also be distilled into simple stories that are short enough, in that package, to be enjoyed by young audiences. How the Stars Came to Be Deluxe Edition, is an illustrated fable book that feels like it belongs in your hand. It’s a beautifully illustrated book whose regal impression is felt from the moment that you lay eyes on it. The front and back of the book have gold inlays where some of the stars in the sky are, in addition to the main character’s jewels and hair.

How the Stars Came to Be: Deluxe Edition is a folk story about the stars with detailed art that speaks to everyone in a museum quality manner.

Its a fine line between art and book with this one

Great Battles for Boys, fabulous non-fiction for ages 8 and up

But what about girls?, I can hear that being asked now. I’m casting a wide net that’ll describe a majority of boys, but not all boys. I’ll cast the same wide net and say that a series of emerging reader books on unicorns or kittens will be a big hit with girl readers in second grade. Whenever I teach ELA and I have to attribute one trait to a group there are always a couple who will say, “But, I….”, and yes, you might be the exception to that. Great Battles for Boys is a series of books that hits the reluctant reader boy on the head in an enjoyable and historical way.

Great Battles For Boys is a series of non-fiction books that are concisely written in a way that elementary school readers will immediately be attracted to.

Boys, girls, non-fiction or kidlit fans unite

Nature is an Artist is a toddler’s first canvas or a relaxing read

Storytime! It’s that time when pre-k or kindergarten kids need a story read to them. It’s the book that they look at or listen to as they’re winding down for the day, or just for a little bit. The text in great storytime books usually rhymes and has illustrations that are colorful and loaded corner to corner with various hues. Nature is an Artist is one of those storytime books. Its premise is as direct as the title and will have toddlers through kindergarten hopefully looking at the things around their outside world in a different way.

Nature is an Artist is a soft, dreamy look at how kids can see the beauty in nature in ways that are obvious, but often overlooked.

Now this is an ‘art in nature’ book that we can dig

No! Said Custard the Squirrel, super silly fun for crawlers-pre k

Pre-k and very early elementary school students need silly time. No! Said Custard the Squirrel is geared and targeted right at the silly spot that ages three through six crave. On the book’s cover we see a duck who is properly dressed as if they’re an artist politely, but firmly telling a curious possum, no. The possum is dubious of the duck’s claim, thus the story behind, No! Said Custard the Squirrel.

No! Said Custard the Squirrel is a beautifully silly, simply tale about being yourself, with charming and subtle illustrations.

Gird your loins for read-aloud fun

When Dinosaurs Conquered the Skies, a STEM sibling by another name

Family, especially the older branches in our trees can be complicated, can’t it? When Dinosaurs Conquered the Skies is an illustrated book whose sibling we read in 2022. That book, When Plants Took Over the Planet is a gorgeous illustrated book that’s all about the massive wave of plants that crept out of the water millions of years ago. Its sibling, When Dinosaurs Conquered the Skies is cut from a similar cloth in its layout and illustrations. However, in reading it I decided to treat it as a narrative book, instead of a reference book and the result was quite interesting.

Birds, why did it have to be birds?

My First Book of Japanese, a great template on learning Nihongo

By its title, My First Book of Japanese could easily be mistaken for a children’s book on colors, shapes, and numbers. Actually, it could be used as an introductory vehicle for young children to Japanese. It could also be great for elementary, middle, or high school students to learn basic words. I spent a couple of years living in Japan and My First Book of Japanese is a great refresher for my vocabulary.

My First Book of Japanese is a vocabulary-centric way of learning blocks of the language. Its illustrations and presentation make it great for ages seven and up.

Good for tourists or budding linguists

Quest Kids and the Dragon Pants of Gold, kids love this cloth

Xerox and Coca-Cola are brand names that have become synonymous with their product. Cola, soda, or ‘make a copy’ are their siblings that are hiding in plain sight. Likewise, books that are closely associated with their contemporaries are often grouped together, for example, it’s like Harry Potter, Wimpy Kid, or Dog Man. For young readers of a certain age or period of their life, Wimpy Kid, and the world that surrounds him, represent their go-to entertainment. However, Wimpy Kid, when used in those instances is an adjective and not a noun. Quest Kids and the Dragon Pants of Gold is a great example of that being used as an adjective. It follows the cartoon and text format to an extent; but has aspects that allow the book to be embraced by readers who are younger, as well as, reeling in those reluctant readers.

Quest Kids and the Dragon Pants of Gold is mglit that’s cut from the wimpy cloth, but it’s bigger, more entertaining and fun for grades 5 and up.

It is Ok to be compared to something else and still be awesome