Six Dots - Disability or Differences

Title: Six Dots

Genre: NonFiction picture book, Disability or differences

Targeted Age: K-4

Plot Summary: A young Louis Braille, loses his site at age 5. He has a great desire to read and learn yet not even at his blind school are there realistic methods or tools that make this possible. As a teenager, Braille invents a system of dots for reading that is still in use today.

Justification for book choice: There are many books that focus on inventors and inventions. The invention of a language that can unfold the world to those without sight, being created by someone who was blind himself and so young is worth celebrating. In this picture book families can learn together about the Braille language and that is was named for a youth named Louis Braille.

Evaluation: Six Dots enfolds the story of a smart, young boy who lost his sight at the age of five. While Braille is a common term as the name for a written language, the person Louis Braille as the inventor is less recognized. The illustrations changing from full color to the equivalent of a photo negative, powerfully enforce the shock of losing of sight. Retelling this true story through pictures brings it to life, easier to imagine such a young inventor. The addition of fictional dialogue helps bring facts into the narrative. As a whole, this book is a very good book for sighted families to learn more about the dots they see in elevators and on signs. Unfortunately, the formatting and construction of the book does not include any Braille bumps, only photos of the letters but there are lots of resources provided at the end to learn more. 

Citation: Bryant, J. (2016). Six Dots (B. Kulikov, Illus.). Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

The Curie Society - YA Graphic Novel

Title: The Curie Society

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

Targeted Age: Middle School - Early High School

Plot Summary: Three new female freshman university students, with varied personalities, talents and skills, discover themselves roommates. The soon receive an invitation and a challenge, will they choose and learn to work as a team? The secret Curie Society supports and benefits from the strength women scientists, the students much choose which connections and goals they deem are most important to them. 

Justification for book choice: A graphic novel focused on strong YA STEM students. Although the main characters in the book are university students or older, the writing style is focused on young adults. The focus is on the strength and possibilities of women in science and technology professions and studies.

Evaluation: The Curie Society introduces readers to three successful, talented, smart but very different college freshman students. The character development of the women is done a piece at a time, and each character wins the reader over as more information is provided. The colorful illustrations add depth to the dialogue and keep the story moving forward while also adding nuanced emotions and reactions. The plot addresses challenges of teamwork, discernment, and trust. The near absence of male characters portrayed in a positive light just emphasizes the theme that women can be successful in whatever they choose. 

Citation: Einhorn, H., Staffaroni, A. (2021). The Curie Society (S. Liao, Illus.). MIT Press.

Yuck, You Suck! - Poetry

 

Title: Yuck, You Suck! Poems about Animals that Sip, Slurp, Suck 

Genre: Children's Poetry

Targeted Age: PreK-6th grade

Plot Summary: This is a short collection of poems focusing on animals and insects that sip, slurp and suck. It is entertaining for the audience and the reader, no matter the age. Through images described by the words and portrayed in colorful illustrations, learning about "suckers" has never been so much fun!

Justification for book choice: I was drawn in by the slightly irreverent title that I knew would be found funny for kids. The poems covered multiple animals and insects with entertaining and engaging illustrations.

Evaluation: In Yuck, you suck! the combination of humorous, but true poems with colorful and entertaining illustrations draws the reader in and will lend itself to multiple readings. Reminiscent of Shel Silverstein, this is a book of poems that will not result in groans regarding poetry. Kids of all ages will enjoy learning new information about butterflies, jelly fish, pigeons, elephants and more! While some of the "suckers" are generally unpleasant, the illustrations keep everything light hearted. In addition to the poetry, addition resources have been provided at the end of the book for additional learning.This would be a good read for an elementary story time that will no doubt encourage strong reactions from listeners. Reading it as an ebook works better on larger screens (ipad or larger) and unless projecting on a TV or screen, reading one on one is better to enjoy the illustrations. The images are too small to really engage with on small devices.

Citation:

Yolen, J., & Stemple, H. (2022). Yuck, you suck!: Poems about animals that sip, slurp, suck (E. Nobati, illus.). Millbrook Press.

Elf Dog & Owl Head - Fantasy

Title: Elf Dog and Owl Head

Genre: fiction, fantasy

Targeted Age: 3rd - 6th grade

Plot Summary: While the Covid-19 virus isolates Clay's life from his friends and interactions outside of his home, a magical elf dog, named Elphinore, finds herself unexpectedly in the mortal world. As they spend time together in the nearby woods, the barrier between Clay's reality and the magical realm opens, and the two worlds interact providing joy, adventure and risks for all.

Justification for book choice: This book is a 2023 Newbery Medal Honor Book. I remember entering it in a book list for my local library during my summer practicum. It was also being promoted at one of the library conventions I attended this year and I received a complimentary copy of it. Fantasy and interactions between mortal and magical worlds is very popular right now and I believed it was a benefit to read.

Evaluation: The setting for Elf Dog and Owl Head of life during a pandemic is very relevant for the generation of kids that have lived through the Covid-19 disruptions. The feeling of isolation and being trapped at home resonates with nearly everyone who reads this story. This is also true for both Clay and for the elf dog, Elphinore. For a fantasy book, it does a good job of introducing enough about the early characters to draw readers into the story. The world building aspect of the new characters they meet in the woods, is weaker and feels a little unfinished. I was left wishing for more connection to them. The length and language will match with older elementary or middle school but older readers will be left wanting for more details. Overall, this book pointed out that places of adventure are all around us, and it is often our perspective that can make the difference.

Citation: Anderson, M.T. (2023). Elf Dog and Owl Head (J. Wu, Illus.) Candlewick Press.

Big - Texas 2x2 Booklist

Title: Big

Genre: Picture book

Targeted Age: PreK-3rd Grade

Plot Summary: A happy young girl is overwhelmed with negative feelings when judged and excluded and labeled because she isn't the same size as other kids her age. 

Justification for book choice: Texas 2x2, This book has won multiple awards and Vashti Harrison is a wonderful writer/illustrator. 

Evaluation: 

Character: The first page introduces us to a happy baby girl. As she learns and grows, being a "big girl" is good. But as time goes one, the word big becomes a negative word. As she goes through familiar scenes on the playground, mall, and school it is through her facial expressions that we understand how she feels as she has very little dialogue. I think it is powerful that the girl is never named. It gives the character both anonymity but also gives place for the reader to put themselves in her place or to see her anywhere or everywhere. We are thus experiencing the emotions with her as she changes from happy to sad, judged and embarrassed, then regains self love and returns to happy again.

Style and Language: Harrison's use of narration is kept very minimal both in actual size and use. She uses the illustrations to do a lot of the story telling. I think it is significant that she uses the word big as both a positive and a negative term for describing the little girl. The words that others use to describe the girl are in lighter shades and hues and use various fonts that differ from the "official" narration. This suggests that their importance is less, even though their fonts can be very large on a page. Even if they are less important the result of such statements still impacts the little girl. The positive words flow in a wind like manner and by the warm colors on those pages indicate that they are good.

Illustrations: Harrison's use of color clearly keeps the focus on the girl and how words affect her for good and bad. By always having the girl in color, the images evoke more emotion and feelings than the words alone. Some of the most powerful pages are only illustrations without any words. Because the little girl's face is the most clear and focused section of illustration on every page, the reader is aware of her feelings and reaction. The reader is drawn to see things from her perspective as she works through some tough feelings. 

Citation: Harrison, V., (2023). Big (V. Harrison, illus.). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.