These are my opinions; after previewing the list, as predicted, the kids can't wait to read Wagnificent and They Call Me No Sam!
Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel MillerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this! Fully plan to read it out loud to my students next year and have them create their own personal socks.
Search for a Giant Squid: Pick Your Path by Amy Seto ForresterMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Well, I never found the damn squid, but what a great combo of science and choose-your-own! My students will love it.
Stranded!: A Mostly True Story from Iceland by Ævar Þór BenediktssonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I feel like Mitch Hedberg when he was concerned for the Dufresnes ... did the boatman die? Get kidnapped? Or should he be arrested for endangerment? I need closure! Fun story - near-death aside - with super fun illustrations. After reading for RICBA, I will have the kids do research on Iceland, volcanoes, and Norse mythology.
The Life-Changing Magic of Chess: A Beginner's Guide with Grandmaster Maurice Ashley by Maurice AshleyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Life lessons sprinkled in among chess moves. Like "Losing is Learning." (To quote a former student, "Now you're a loser, just like me!")
The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class: Emma McKenna, Full Out by Kate MessnerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Exactly the kind of books we need more of! Short, illustrated, relatable. Perfect for 3rd grade. I will be buying the entire series.
Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic: A Graphic Novel by Sangu MandannaMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Extra star because I could read the lettering and the panels made sense. Kind of predictable story, but for kids who don't have decades of reading books behind them, they will be surprised. And I liked the point that without the earth magic, the rest of the students wouldn't have what they needed. Why did Grim have to be SUCH an a-hole, though?
Mixed-Up by Kami GarciaMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Honestly, made me wonder how many of my students have unaddressed reading issues and that's why they love graphic novels so much. Very much appreciated the font style and size for my middle-aged eyes.
Invisible Isabel by Sally J. PlaMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I'm still so annoyed that anxiety wasn't a diagnosed thing back when I had stomachaches all the time and threw up a lot. But now I have meds! Yay!
A short, gentle book that I may start as a readaloud to encourage kids to pick up as a RICBA nominee.
The Happy Shop by Brittany Long OlsenMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I do like when the point is made that all feelings are valid.
Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos by Nathalie AlonsoMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Enthusiastic text and vibrant illustrations, but if you aren't familiar with the game, a lot will go right over your head. Which I fear will be the case with many of my students. However, many of them speak Spanish as their home language, so that part will resonate.
My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story by George TakeiMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
An important piece of history ... but I feel like this book didn't adequately express the horror of the situation. Granted, these weren't death camps, but I thought it painted too rosy a picture of life behind barbed wire. Today's readers need to know just how nastily the government can treat people. Don't sugarcoat because they are 8. You were only 4.
Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy Mills by Billy MillsMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
My big takeaway was how far we've come with diabetes monitoring and treatment. Although ... are people on reservations able to take advantage of these improvements? Literally half of them don't even have access to "reliable water sources, clean drinking water, or basic sanitation." But we found tens of millions for a parade yesterday. #gross
Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature by Lynn BrunelleMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I am all about having books about gross stuff in the library, but this one was a bit TOO gross for me. I literally felt ill reading about a couple of the animals. Like baby koalas eating their mom's poop. So I will NOT be doing it as a RICBA readaloud.
Not sure the haiku added much to the book, or that it will be appreciated by the students. But I'm sure they will love knowing that lobsters pee out of their eyes. And I can't believe I never learned that caterpillars dissolve into goop inside their cocoon. Blech.
Wagnificent: The Adventures of Thunder and Sage by Bethanie Deeney MurguiaMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I'm not a huge fan of dogs, and the wolf was creepy, but I think I will need more than the two copies I've already ordered to keep up with the demand after previewing the RICBA list.
Picture Purrfect by Hilda Eunice BurgosMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Reminded me of Art Club but not as good. How does the cat know so many words?
Off the Map by Meika HashimotoMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
I have to state right off that I'm not a huge fan of nature survival stories ... because you could have just stayed home! I guess this was fine, but not for me. One disastrous situation after another. I was kind of hoping someone would die to make it more interesting.
They Call Me No Sam!: A Graphic Novel by Drew DaywaltMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Sam kind of sucks, and the magic sand oven was disgusting. But I bet my students would love it.
Wrath of the Rain God by Karla Arenas ValentiMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
I could not suspend my disbelief with the whiny gods.
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