Picture Books
Who Done It? by Olivier TallecMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
May skip the love and pee pages for PreK.
Who What Where? by Olivier TallecMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
"Who Done It?" is too easy for K, and "Who Was That?" is too hard, but this one is JUST RIGHT for me to use in a lesson about illustrations.
Early Reader
The Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo by Simone LiaMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I love these characters. They are so dramatic and ridiculous.
Middle Grade Novel
Almost There and Almost Not by Linda UrbanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Read this in one sitting while home sick. Loved it. We are totally in Callie's head, and I loved her. She reminded me of my nephew, although he has been in the loop on his parents' issues for years, and he's not even 11 yet. The ghosts were an interesting twist, and I cried at the end.
Issues: WTF with the cleaning service folding clothes in drawers and MAILING LETTERS THEY FOUND IN A BOX UNDER A BED???????? Callie needs to write them a bad review. Or at least a letter. And Isabelle was just the worst. I mean, yes, people suck, but WOW she was the WORST.
Nonfiction
Bartali's Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy's Secret Hero by Megan HoytMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
WOW. Amazing. And to think Bartali never told anyone about what he did. True bravery.
I don't think my 2nd graders would have enough background knowledge for this book to resonate with them, but this would make an excellent readaloud in higher grades to highlight a heretofore unknown resistance fighter. (NOTE: This was announced as a RICBA 2023 nominee, so now I HAVE to read it to grades 3-5!)
The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Eugene YelchinMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Talk about sense of place. Yikes. I'm always stunned by how powerful dictators can bend the will of millions.
Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars by Laurie WallmarkMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Supergenius!
Now I am having ideas for a coding unit next year ...
The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest by Heather LangMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
For reals? Nobody had the idea until 1979 to look at the top of the rainforest? Lively, interesting text with tons of extra facts unobtrusively written on leaves in the illustrations. They're not necessary for understanding the book but are a great bonus.
Fatty Legs: A True Story by Christy Jordan-FentonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Whoa. Pure horror. And then her sisters still wanted to go!!!
Why didn't the Swan do more to save the students from the wrath of the Raven? That bothered me. A lot.
Odd Bods: The World's Unusual Animals by Julie MurphyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Simple and fun. My 1st graders loved the red-lipped batfish. I want to know more about sea slugs. So pretty.
A True Wonder: The Comic Book Hero Who Changed Everything by Kirsten W. LarsonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I had no idea Wonder Woman was on the first Ms. magazine cover! Or that after WWII the new editors tried to make her Suzy Homemaker. The format makes it kind of difficult to do as a Sibert readaloud, but I will put it on my wish list.
Make Meatballs Sing: The Life and Art of Sister Corita Kent by Matthew BurgessMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Liked it a lot better on second read. The overall message of "find your own way" and "it doesn't have to be like this" was gotten across effectively with fabulous artwork. However, I feel like anyone who didn't grow up Catholic will have questions like: 1. why did she choose to be a nun? 2. what did they mean by "reforms" and 3. how had her art "crossed the line"?
For Grownups
Sometimes I Lie by Alice FeeneyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Huge twist I should have seen coming. Such fun! For, you know, murder and deception.
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