Books | Page 33 of 82

AfterMath, mglit on loss, tragedy, growing up, family, and some math puns

Middle-grade books about tragedy don’t need to be a drag. Some topics and some characters certainly need to have their story presented in a book that’s clearly dramatic and mglit readers can still learn from them. Take for example the topic of school shootings. It’s an event that happens at schools and students have drills to prepare for them. However, because they happen, they occur too often, and when it does happen it impacts the kids in that particular school in ways that others can’t fathom. AfterMath is mglit that deftly walks the line of drama, feelings of melancholy, school shooting, coming-of-age, and death of a family member in a way that readers can empathize with and learn from.

great Realistic fiction that you wish it wasn’t

Run, Book One-an educational, great, and real graphic novel

Graphic novels can get a bad rap with some audiences. Some parents might take issue with what they see as being the sole topic of graphic novels, superheroes. Of course, librarians and young readers all over know that graphic novels encompass so many more topics than just superheroes in tights. For a while, Maus was considered the go-to graphic novel for upper-middle school readers. The March trilogy of graphic novels is another one that made the genre more respected in the eyes of reluctant educators or readers who might’ve been averse to the medium. Run: Book One picks up right where March, Book 3 left off, immediately grabbing readers by the pages into this story of ‘good trouble’ that set John Lewis on his way.

Run, Book One picks up where the March graphic novel series ended. It’s the powerful start of John Lewis’ life in leadership and the events that took him there.

Solid art, great story in this graphic novel for upper middle and older

Song For Jimi is story-driven poetry with standout art for ages 7 and up

After reading thousands of illustrated books I just realized something about the genre. You do not need to read the entire book in one sitting. Granted, being able to read the book in its entirety is part of the appeal of an illustrated book. They tell a story in a large, oversized format that’s also loaded with illustrations. However, some illustrated books must be broken up into segments, nay, much like their thicker cousins, they too require chapters. Song For Jimi is the first illustrated book that has made us realize that when done properly, this format can be as much as a coffee table book, a multi-day read-aloud story to elementary school students and so much more.

Song For Jimi is an illustrated book like no other. It tells a story in poetry, demands time to do so and rewards young audiences with stunning art and verses they normally wouldn’t dig, or read.

Kids will like it, yes they will- plus it ups their cool factor

Magnificent Women of Marvel, collectible/novelty or board book?

When is a board book not a board book? When it turns into a store. OK, that is not the answer, but it’s a question that one might be asking themselves when they pick up Magnificent Women of Marvel, Pop Up, Play and Display!. Sure, the pages are printed on board book thickness, which might imply that the book is geared for crawlers through kindergarten readers. However, when you look at the text it’s far too wordy and has pop-up elements on each page that are in no way able to withstand a crawler’s clumsy hands. The best way to think of Magnificent Women of Marvel is to use terminology that one would normally use with Ray Stevens or Dickie Goodman.

Who are you, no really, who are you

Cold War Correspondent, great storytelling on an area not covered in school

I make no bones about the fact that I absolutely love the Hazardous Tales book series from Nathan Hale. My only complaint about that non-fiction graphic novel series is that the pages and the font are too small. As if sensing my very wishes, Amulet Books published the Bigger & Badder Editions of some of the previously released Hazardous Tales. In my effort to temp the universe I complained about bad music on the radio and a lack of free pizza, to no avail. Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales Cold War Correspondent ups the ante to this series by making readers learn about a subject that they probably know nothing about in a manner that’s intelligent, funny, and respectful.

Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales Cold War Correspondent takes the complex, hazy era of post WWII and crystallizes it into an intelligent and approachable graphic novel.

Make the unteachable fun for middle school? Hold my pen says Nathan Hale

With Great Power, a fab illustrated look at Stan Lee for grades 2 and up

Imagine that you are tasked with creating a book about someone whose life has made a worldwide impact. They help found an entire industry and the look of their creation is one that every kid aged three and up knows. That is a daunting task. Now take this person’s life and make an illustrated book on it without directly using the style that most people are familiar with. The task is even more daunting now. With Great Power, The Marvelous Stan Lee is an unauthorized biography that nails the early life of Stan Lee to the floor. It’s entertaining, has great non-Marvel type illustrations, as well as, nuggets of information that even the comic or Marvel kids in elementary school will be surprised to learn.

Read on, young true believers

Egg Marks The Spot is intelligent storytelling for young readers

What if the book DNA from Indiana Jones and Frog and Toad were magically strewn together? It would be a rollicking adventure that followed two friends as they went about their quest for a relic, or perhaps a rock. But, we’d also need to include lots of intelligent banter between the friends that are on par with an age-appropriate Sherlock. Egg Marks The Spot is a Skunk and Badger Story and is very close to fulfilling that order. The result is the second book in a series that’s smarter than most kids are used to reading, that’s partnered with more action than you’d expect from a skunk and a badger.

This proves that smart books aren’t a chore for kids to read

Revver The Big Race Home, still ripping doughnuts for elementary school

Revver The Speedway Squirrel was one of the mid through early middle school comfort reads released in 2021. The premise about a squirrel and how he’s able to communicate with humans, in addition to not getting squished by cars going 150 miles an hour is inherently interesting to elementary school kids. It’s Frogger, but in a kidlit friendly way that makes you root for the squirrel and the humans. Revver The Speedway Squirrel: The Big Race Home sees our favorite squirrel traveling with the race crew. Reluctant elementary school readers unite because this book continues the folky, adventuresome tales of a rodent with a shade tale and a penchant for speed.

Back for more reluctant reading elementary school fun