Picture Book Pick: This Book Is My Best Friend

 

This Book Is My Best Friend

by Robin Robinson

Illustrations by the author 

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

2023

32 pages 

ISBN: 9781665906814

Two kids find each other through their love of one book. Sunny loves the book because it's about robots and she dreams of being a robot when she grows up. Aarush likes the book because it has a mouse and he loves mice. For him, it's a quiet book he can read and escape to even when his siblings are noisy.

They each want the book because it's their best friend. They try to talk each other into getting a different book, but both of them want Factory Friends. They realize the robot and mouse in the book become friends, so why can't they become friends and share the book? 

The kids are depicted not as brats or argumentative. Each of them presents their point of view and are allowed to talk without the other interrupting. They take turns. They share and they come to a solution they both agree upon. They read the book together in the library and each of them goes home with a stack of books.

Heartwarming, sweet and profound, this picture book is a winner! I can't count the number of times a student has said to me or another student, "This book is my best friend." One student kept checking out the a same book all year. When I asked if I could get him something else, he said, "No, this book makes me feel better." At the end of the year, I bought a new copy and gave him his choice: take the brand new shiny copy or keep the well-loved, well-used book he loved. He chose the older copy because it was his best friend. I hope he kept that book forever. He was so happy when he left the library with his friend that finally belonged to him. 

Books are truly friends to so many children, and this picture book captures the childhood feeling of loving a particular book and knowing it's your friend. 

Highly, highly recommended grades pre-K and up. 

Novel In Verse: The In-Between (a memoir)

 

The In-Between

a memoir by Katie Wingate 

Aladdin

an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division 

304 pages

ISBN: 9781665929325

Middle grade readers who love novels in verse are in for a treat: The In-Between. Filled with compassion and honesty, grit and determination, emotion and angst, this novel captures that in-between anxiety of too many questions and never enough answers. 

Katie Wingate and her family have been uprooted so many times. When they are evicted from their apartment, they have nowhere to go and no plan to survive. Her mother moves them into an extended-stay motel room--Katie, her younger brother and sister and her mom all sharing a small space, one phone, one bathroom and one desk. Living on top of each other, it's impossible to have a moment alone, so Katie turns to her notebooks. She seeks solace in writing. 

Middle school is hard enough without being "homeless." Katie pours her energy into her verse. She feels cramped in quarters that seem to be shrinking by the day and her mother who's usually a dreamer and happy-go-lucky, but who is now sinking deeper and deeper into depression. Mom can't find a job anywhere. Even an Italian restaurant turns her down, telling her she is "over-qualified."

Katie blows up at her mother and runs from the room, hoping to go live with her father. When Dad tells her about the divorce, Katie sees both sides and is able to make amends with her mother. Her mom is doing the best that she can with limited resources. Ramen for every meal is their norm. When they run out of food and money, Katie realizes they will go hungry until the child support check comes in.  

In-between is never easy to navigate. Not for Katie, not for her siblings and certainly not for her mother. After what seems like forever, Mom gets "the job" and they are moving again. Katie knows this might not be the last move, but it's a start in the right direction. 

Recommended grades 5 and up. A solid pick for reluctant readers. 

Graphic Novel Chapter Book: Paige Proves It

 

Paige Proves It: The Mystery Monster

Book 1 (graphic novel chapter book)

by Amy Marie Stadelmann

Illustrated by the author 

Aladdin

an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division 

2021

112 pages  

ISBN: 9781534451612

Eight-year old Paige loves facts; in fact, she collects them. Strange facts like bananas are actually berries and Uranus was originally named George; Paige counts how many windows are on her street and collects facts about her neighbor Penn.

Penn and Paige become friends even though Penn talks too much--way too much. Penn tells her that they have a MONSTER on their street. Paige must collect facts because only facts will prove if they have a monster or not. The pair collect information and facts which Paige is careful to record each fact in her notebook. 

On the night of the Full Moon Festival, the kids hear howling and become convinced there's a werewolf on the loose. Paige must document facts to prove it. 

This easy to love format--graphic novel chapter book--makes Paige Proves It a great choice for reluctant readers. So often graphic novels don't center around a female character, so this is a welcome gem. 

Recommended grade 4 and up. 

Non-Fiction Pick: Save the...Whale Sharks

 

Save the...Whale Sharks

by  Anita Sanchez

Introduction by Chelsea Clinton 

Philomel

An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

2022

79 pages

ISBN: 9780593404270

Informative and important for readers of all ages learning about marine life and conservationism. Whale sharks are an endangered, mysterious species--mysterious because they travel thousands of miles always on the move for food. sometimes at depths of over one mile from the surface. One whale shark named Anne was tracked using a GPS device. Scientists discovered Anne had traveled 12,500 miles! Since whale sharks are hard to track, they don't know if all whale sharks travel this far or if Anne is a one-of-a-kind world traveler. 

Whale sharks aren't whales. They are huge fish and are sharks. Huge sharks, but so gentle, divers can get close to them.  

Every whale sharks has a unique pattern or constellation of spots which allows scientists to identify each on. Using a method developed by physicist Edward Groth and used by NASA to map stars, marine biologists can identify every known individual and add new sightings to their database. 

Whale sharks are gentle giants but they are at risk. The biggest danger to whale sharks and other marine wildlife is plastics. Even tiny particles of plastic called microplastics are dangerous. They give off toxins that hurt the whale shark's body including their ability to reproduce. For an already endangered species, this is an emergency. There are things we can all practice to help save these beautiful animals. 

Complete with facts pages and steps we can do take to help the whale shark, Save the...Whale Sharks is perfect for anyone who loves animals, the ocean and this planet we call home. Only humans can save our endangered friends, so we must step up to the plate. 

Highly, highly recommended grade 4 and up. Perfect for all collections and a great choice for reluctant readers.