RICBA Nominees 2023

I already finished all 20! It helped that I had already read 6 before the list was announced. Here's what I thought of them ... favorites at the top. 

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Should be required reading in every school.

 

Bartali's Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy's Secret Hero by Megan Hoyt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

(NOTE: I wrote this review last year before it was on the list.) 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. 

 

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(NOTE: I wrote this review last year before it was on the list.) I am thinking about doing a Mock Sibert with my 2nd graders this year, but this one might be too traumatizing for 7 year olds. Maybe I'll read it to 5th grade? Unbelievable that it was covered up for so long.

 

The Adventure Is Now by Jess Redman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Finally! The new go-to book for every time a kid asks me for a book with an "adventure." Short chapters, lots of action, some feelings, and silliness. Also I think I might use the list of misspelled words on p. 118 as a brainteaser for my students.

Playing the Cards You're Dealt by Varian Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh, I hope my kids give this one a chance. I liked it way more than I expected. Realistic portrayal of family drama, friendship woes, stressing about an activity ... and I really want to learn how to play spades now.

 

Bea Is for Blended by Lindsey Stoddard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The family situation was a bit run-of-the-mill, but the soccer team drama bumped this up a star for me. Wow, Principal Meesley sucked. Loved that the team took the situation into their own hands and received so much support - but not interference - from their families.

I did think it was weird that the season seemed to have consisted of only four games before the semifinals? I guess there aren't a ton of teams floating around rural Vermont?

 

The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interesting, pretty fast-paced, and most of the questions I had were answered as the book went on. I would like to smack Sai, though. Moral of the story: Don't jump to conclusions.

p. 28 - "Just because everyone says something doesn't mean it's true."

 

She Was the First! The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm by Katheryn Russell-Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had always heard of Shirley Chisholm, but never knew that much about her. What a role model!

 

Maya and the Robot by Eve L. Ewing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We need more books like this! Fast pace, illustrations, non-white characters, large type, just over 200 pages. Extra star for checking these boxes.

 

Allergic: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had the same reaction when I got my environmental allergies test done several years ago ... although for some reason, I can handle horses and rabbits. No trees or grasses, though.

Anyways, good realistic plot threads with situations my students will be able to relate to. So long as they can actually read the print. I have on my glasses and lots of lights and still had trouble reading some of the dialogue.

Willodeen by Katherine Applegate
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My favorite part was Willodeen doing an experiment to test a hypothesis.

Some jarring parts were Mae saying "Moi" and quoting Shakespeare. There was mention of the railways coming through, so is this supposed to be set in rural England during the 1800s? Mr. Burke mentions having seen gas lamps in "the capital." The internet tells me Baltimore had gas lamps in 1814 ... are we set in rural America?

 

Shark Summer by Ira Marcks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wow, that Captain Atwood story was DARK.

 

 

Katie the Catsitter by Colleen A.F. Venable
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(NOTE: I wrote this review last year before it was on the list.) OMG next year's third- and fourth-graders are going to go bananas for this.

 

Unsettled by Reem Faruqi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hoo boy; I'm not one for trigger warnings, but there is a miscarriage and domestic abuse and a hate crime. That being said, this kind of shit happens all too often.

I feel like the "poetry" is once again the kind of sticking returns into sentences, but overall a decent addition to the recent spate of immigrant stories. My suburban students need to be exposed to other cultures and gain some empathy.

 

The People's Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art by Cynthia Levinson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am not familiar with Shahn's art at all.
Students will not be familiar with Czar Nicholas.

I wanted more about graphic design and sign painting ... they count as art to me!

How did Ben get the money to travel around the world?

I liked the text a lot, but the illustrations were disconcerting.

Also ... really ... per the author's note, Ben met his FRIEND Bernarda while he was already married? Sorry, Tillie, you get no mention in the book, even though Wikipedia tells me you were his travel companion.

And mentioning Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange as fellow photographers would have been nice. Ben wasn't the only one taking pictures.

Wondering if the art teacher would be interested in a project involving the history of murals ...

 

Chunky by Yehudi Mercado
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Could have done without Chunky himself. Although a lot of Hudi's jokes were lame, I liked that he kept trying to find his place ... and finally found it.





Saving American Beach: The Biography of African American Environmentalist Mavynee Betsch by Heidi Tyline King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Gorgeous illustrations, but the information seemed to have some gaps. Who sold the land? Was it taken by eminent domain? How much was developed? The text says "all that was left was a sliver of land." Did George W. Bush actually sign the law?

 

Simon B. Rhymin' by Dwayne Reed
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I found the raps a little cringey, but maybe my students will like them.

I did like that Simon realized that homeless people deserve respect, and I wonder if this book could inspire a PBL project? Not that I want to read the whole thing out loud ...

Also, I was surprised that we weren't told outright that (view spoiler)[Bobby is homeless (hide spoiler)] ... I am correct in reading between the lines here, yes?

 

Sona Sharma, Very Best Big Sister by Chitra Soundar
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I will have to ask my students of Indian descent if they have naming ceremonies.

 

Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear by Trang Nguyễn
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Beautifully illustrated, but the story itself is meh.

How did the girl who got a glimpse through a window of a bear KNOW that that very same bear, Misa, was at the sanctuary?

How does one just go around visiting forests?

Who is caring about the frogs that Sorya is trying to eat?

Did Chang really just hang out in the forest for MONTHS with a bear?

Second book I read this week that told me that pandas are now considered part of the bear family. When I did a report in elementary school, they were not. How things change.