Books For Young Readers Research Articles

Publishing Translated Books for Young Readers in Australia

Publishing Translated Books for Young Readers in Australia

Putting the Sorting Hat on J.K. Rowling’s Reader: A digital inquiry into the age of the implied readership of the Harry Potter series

Compared to the large body of research into gender, race and class in children’s literature, there has been little awareness of the social construction of age in this discourse. Analysing age in contemporary fiction for young readers gives insight in how present-day society models (people of) different ages, and given the decisive role that books play in shaping children’s worldviews, such research contributes to our understanding of how age norms are passed on across generations. This article explores the construction of age in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter in relation to the age of the implied reader. This case study provides a unique opportunity to study age, because the main characters in every volume ‘grow up’ together with the implied readers. This article traces the correlation between the evolutions in form and content in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series on the one hand and an evolution in the age of its implied readership on the other. After scrutinising existing guidelines pertaining to the ideal age at which to read each book, we conduct our own digital analyses on the style and topics of the texts. As well as providing insight into the evolution of these features in the Harry Potter books, this article contributes to the ongoing discussions on the reliability of readability measures and the desirability of explicit age markers on books for young readers.

Fodder for future scientists Chemistry for Kids: Homemade Science Experiments and Activities Inspired by Awesome Chemists, Past and Present , Liz Lee Heinecke, Quarry Books, 2020, 128 pp. This Is a Book to Read with a Worm , Jodi Wheeler-Toppen, Illustrated by Margaret McCartney, Charlesbridge, 2020, 32 pp. You're Invited to a Moth Ball: A Nighttime Insect Celebration , Loree

From a monarch mystery unlocked with the help of Indigenous people to an environmental disaster averted by a chemist who was not afraid of a fight, this year's finalists for the AAAS/Subaru (SB&F) Prize for Excellence in Science Books highlight how diverse perspectives, grit, and a healthy dose of hope are essential to the effective practice of science. Read on for reviews of the finalists written by the staff of the Science family of journals, with help from a few friends.

Interventions: An Interview with Ernesto Cisneros

InterventionsAn Interview with Ernesto Cisneros Frederick Luis Aldama and Ernesto Cisneros It certainly was not obvious that Ernesto Cisneros would become an author of one of 2020's most celebrated middle grade Latinx novels, Efrén Divided. Fresh with a degree in English from University of California at Irvine, Ernesto set out to become a screenwriter. He quickly became disenchanted with the film industry. He returned to university, obtaining a teaching degree from California State University, Long Beach. However, it was while teaching young Latino students that Ernesto fell in love with books—especially books for young readers. Given the lack of middle grade fiction written by and for young Latinos, while teaching by day he would read and write any chance he could get. Ernesto not only received an MFA in creative writing from National University, but he honed his craft by writing numerous YA novels. The publication of Efrén Divided (2020) marks his powerful debut. Here he tells the story of Efrén Nava and his twin siblings Max and Mia as they live in fear of their parents' deportation and then as they struggle to survive once Amá and Apá are deported. Ernesto is currently writing another middle grade novel. He intends to write YA novels next. Frederick Luis Aldama: Ernesto, how might you see you and your work intervening intellectually, creatively, politically in the world? Ernesto Cisneros: Efrén Divided can potentially have a big influence on the mainstream narrative covering stories of Latinx families, including stories on immigration. Along the same lines that Coco (2017) presented a universal story through a Latinx lens, I think my book can do the same. At the heart of the story is the idea of a family doing the best it can to make a life for themselves. It is my hope this book will help readers become sympathetic to the plight and struggles of others who share those same dreams. After all, America's history is founded on the dreams of immigrants. FLA: When writing Efrén Divided,who was your ideal reader? EC: After trying to write for fourteen years, I had pretty much given up. Then my children asked me if I could write something they could read. Suddenly, I had audience, readers who meant the world to me asking me to write a novel that they could to read. And, this was the time right after Trump's election when Latino students in my classrooms were living in fear of deportation and whose parents were being deported. I decided to write for my kids and for my students. I wanted these young readers to not have that sense of disentitlement that many of us, me included, grow up with. I wanted them to be able to see the value of their family and our culture. I wrote it for them. When I finished Efrén I gave it to my kids. They loved it. I thought I'd accomplished what I'd set out to do—I was wrong. I never imagined that the book would reach beyond them and the Latino students in my classrooms. Never would have expected a huge publishing house like HarperCollins would be interested in purchasing it. FLA: How did you get your foot in the door with HarperCollins? EC: After so many years of being declined by just about everyone in the industry, my fantastic agent, Deborah Warren (East/West Literary Agency), would simply not give up. After hearing the way my own children connected to the story, she saw something special about the story. She immediately pitched it. I was surprised and skeptical. I'd been through this process many times before. Deborah sent the manuscript off, and two weeks later we had an offer from HarperCollins. After fourteen years of rejected query letters, a deal had been made. This was the first time that I really saw myself as an author. It was a special moment for me. FLA: Ernesto, you're an author and a schoolteacher. How do you manage to balance writing with teaching? EC: That is the biggest challenge that I face right now. It's not just the academics. I differentiate...

HUMOR OF PALEONTOLOGISTS

It is well known that sense of humor is closely connected to person’s creative potential. Many scientists showed it in their professional activity and literary works. It is true about the professional paleontologists. Humor is undesirable in two main cases. First is the books for young readers, who cannot be expected to understand author’s joke, and encyclopedias and dictionaries, which present the material in objective form. Second case is the strictly scientifictexts, which should be devoid of any ambivalence. Still, there are some examples of the comic effect even in the scientific naming of the extinct organisms, such as Hallucigenia, or Irritator. However, most paleontological jokes are to be found in popular science. They range from slight irony or wry choice of epigraphs to the extensive usage of various jokes. One of the notable examples are books by A. Zhuravlev, who widely uses wordplay in chapter titles. In one of his works, the theoretical material is interlaced with the “paleontological fables”. Quite often these jokes make use of philosophical, philological, and culturological material. That is why they can be seen not as just a way of easier presentation of the complex material, but also as a method of creating a new scientific and cultural context.

Wishlist-worthy books for young readers Follow That Bee! A First Book of Bees in the City , Scot Ritchie, Kids Can Press, 2019, 32 pp. When Sue Found Sue: Sue Hendrickson Discovers Her T. Rex, Toni Buzzeo, Illustrated by Diana Sudyka, Abrams, 2019, 32 pp. Moth: An Evolution Story , Isabel Thomas, Illustrated by Daniel Egnéus, Bloomsbury, 2019, 48 pp.

From cryptic ciphers and wall-climbing robots to dinosaur digs and visits to the planetarium, this year's finalists for the Science Books and Films (SB&F) Prizes for Excellence in Science Books are packed with fun facts, easy-to-do experiments, and plenty of creepy-crawly creatures. Sponsored by Subaru and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, the publisher of Science ), the SB&F competition celebrates high-quality science books for young readers. Read on for reviews of the finalists, written by the staff of the Science family of journals, with help from a few friends.

I'm Sad by M.I. Black and D.R. Ohi

Black, Michael I, and Debbie R. Ohi. I'm Sad. Simon & Shuster Books for Young Readers, 2018.
 This book is about a sad flamingo and his friends, a girl and a potato, who try to cheer him up. This absurd collection of characters talk about whether or not flamingo will always feel sad and what makes them feel less sad.
 Much of the dialog is silly. When the potato says that he knows what cheers him up, the picture is of a happy potato and the word “DIRT!!!” in giant letters. Coming after a discussion of ice cream as a “cheer me up”, “dirt” is unexpected and funny.
 At the end of the book the flamingo asks, “Will you still like me if I’m sad again tomorrow?” The potato responds with an almost nasty, “I don’t even like you now.” This response is meant as a joke and the next two pages show uproarious laughter. However, young children may not understand that it is not usually an appropriate response and some people would find it hurtful. 
 Debi Ridpath Ohi’s simple illustrations do a good job of presenting expressions and emotions. There are often broken black lines around the images, which, strangely, make the characters, particularly the flamingo, look like they are constantly trembling. Apart from that, the images are fun. The most amusing is the one showing the potato as a fourth scoop of ice cream on a cone, with whipped cream and a cherry on top. 
 This book might give a sad young child a few moments of laughter and in the end delivers the message that it’s OK to feel a little bit sad. With these two thoughts in mind, this book is recommended for libraries for young children: daycares, schools, and public libraries.
 
 Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Sean Borle
 Sean Borle is a University of Alberta undergraduate student who is an advocate for child health and safety.

Współczesna książka kucharska dla dzieci i młodzieży jako produkt medialny

<p>Współczesny rynek książki dla dzieci i młodzieży, mimo obserwowanych krótkotrwałych okresów zapaści, stale jest – jak pokazują branżowe raporty – jednym z bardziej stabilnych i dochodowych segmentów polskiego rynku wydawniczo-księgarskiego. Zyski gwarantują oficynom wydawniczym przede wszystkim globalne bestsellery adresowane tak do najmłodszych czytelników, jak i nastolatków. Artykuł omawia zjawisko brandingu, tj. kreowania globalnych marek w sektorze książki dla młodych odbiorców. Branding staje się obecnie ważnym narzędziem międzynarodowego marketingu książki, a tzw. polityka marki (brandu) zajmuje istotne miejsce w taktyce marketingowej wydawców działających w segmencie książek dla młodych odbiorców. Obserwacja globalnego i krajowego rynku mediów pozwala dostrzec tendencję do profesjonalizacji dziecięcej kultury kulinarnej. Przejawem tego zjawiska jest m.in. rozwój przemysłu zabawkarskiego związanego z produkcją akcesoriów kulinarnych, jak również aneksja przestrzeni medialnej zarezerwowanej dla dzieci i młodzieży. W jej obrębie można zauważyć multiplikację telewizyjnych programów kulinarnych, coraz liczniej powstają internetowe projekty kulinarne, gry online przeznaczone dla małych kucharzy, kulinarne aplikacje na urządzenia mobilne. Kulinarny „zwrot tematyczny” dokonuje się także w obrębie rynku książki dla dzieci i młodzieży. Po 1989 roku w segmencie książek kucharskich dla najmłodszych czytelników doszło do imponujących zmian ilościowych i jakościowych. Ewoluowały ich nowe warianty tematyczne i style edytorskie, jak również formaty medialne (kulinarne audiobooki, e-booki), będące refleksem globalnych mód i idei charakterystycznych dla kultury konsumpcyjnej oraz świadectwem kulinarnej emancypacji najmłodszych. W referacie wskazano różnorodne przykłady współczesnych książek kucharskich, które są powiązane z supersystemami rozrywkowymi dla dzieci.</p>

Ocean Meets Sky by T. Fan

Fan, Terry. Ocean Meets Sky. Illustrated by Eric & Terry Fan, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018.
 In this poetic and beautifully illustrated book by the Fan Brothers, readers are invited into a young child’s world of imagination. Finn lives by the ocean and on the morning of what would have been his Grandfather’s 90th birthday, he gazes out to the sea and remembers the words of his Grandfather, “It’s a good day for sailing.” As six year olds are apt to do, he begins to build a boat. Finn’s boat is “hard work,” but takes him on a magical and mystical journey.
 Finn’s world becomes more fantastical and the illustrations more surreal with each turning page. When he “finally reaches the place of his grandfather’s stories,” there are no longer any words. Instead one enters into a silence and stillness found not only in the depths of the ocean but in space above. The authors reinforce this silence by imposing pictures of noiseless conveyances, such as hot air balloons, zeppelins and ancient ships over the picture of a great blue whale. This wordless portion of the book not only allows the reader to bring their own stories to the pictures, but celebrates the orality of the Grandfather’s stories by not limiting them to a predetermined text.
 What Ocean Meets Sky so poignantly depicts is the sadness and loneliness Finn feels at missing his Grandfather. When he states, “I didn’t think the open sea would be so lonely,” one cannot help but be reminded of Max’s similar look of despondency in Where the Wild Things Are, when he sends the wild things to bed, “without any supper.” And like Max, once Finn resolves his inner turmoil, he is able to return home to “a voice calling to him from far away.” He says goodbye to his Grandfather, whose face is superimposed onto the moon. It is a bittersweet illustration, showing Finn’s love in the smallest gesture of a waving hand.
 The book is suitable for readers between four and eight years of age. However the story and illustrations have such depth that I would not hesitate to read it with older children or encourage them to explore it on their own. The Fan Brothers are both alumni of the Ontario college of Art and Design and their detailed and enchanting illustrations make the book worthwhile for readers of all ages.
 Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Melinda Cooke
 Melinda Cooke has been an elementary school teacher for many years. She loves sharing books with her students and delights in the stories as much as her students.

The Sloth Who Slowed Us Down by M. Wild

Wild, Margaret. The Sloth Who Slowed Us Down. Illustrated by Vivienne To, Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2018.
 You’ll want to make a speedy trip to the nearest bookstore to pick up a copy of Margaret Wild’s The Sloth Who Slowed Us Down. Together with Vivienne To’s illustrations, this simple story about how a little sloth can be a big example could make anyone want to stop and smell the roses. Life seems to speed up every day, work needs to get done faster so we have time to quickly make dinner, quickly exercise, and then quickly move on to the next thing we feel like we need to speed through. In her newest children’s book, Wild’s descriptive prose directly mirrors Sloth as he teaches Amy’s family the importance of taking our time and enjoying living in the moment. Realistically, we are all very busy, moving from one task to the next without indulging in the little things, the happy moments and the details. Everyone from busy families to teachers to even grown-ups with grown-up jobs and responsibilities could benefit from giving this adoring story a read.
 The colourful but soft illustrations created by To provide new detail and add more expression to Wild’s story each time it’s read. Illustrations of Sloth make you want to snuggle him while you read this story and feel like a child again. Through her descriptive writing, Wild portrays Sloth’s actions quite clearly. She includes phrases, such as “Sloth had a long, leisurely bath. . .” that roll off the tongue in a way that makes you feel like you’re taking your time, but in the best sort of way. 
 Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Darilyn Randall
 Darilyn Randall is a fourth-year student at the University of Alberta completing her Bachelor of Elementary Education. She is interested in teaching in a Division 1 classroom where she can incorporate children’s literacy into cross-curricular activities.

Island Born by J. Díaz

Díaz, Junot. Island Born. Illustrated by Leo Espinosa, Dial Books for Young Readers, 2018.
 Island Born by Junot Díaz tells the story of a young girl named Lola, who learns about her heritage from her friends and family. Island Born is the first children's book by Dominican-American author and Pulitzer Prize-winner Junot Díaz, with illustrations by Leo Espinosa. Díaz has said that the story was inspired by his own experience of growing up as a Dominican child in America. Díaz effectively captures both the joys and adversities of life in a diverse urban community.
 The book begins with a refreshing bout of diversity, “Every kid in Lola’s school was from somewhere else ... hers was the school of faraway places.” When Lola’s teacher, Miss Obi, asks her students to draw a picture of the place they are from, Lola realizes she does not have any memories of the island where she was born. Miss Obi reassures Lola that there are other ways she can remember. She suggests Lola ask her friends and family to share their memories of the island. In doing so, Lola quickly learns about her family’s past, and the joys and struggles that are familiar to immigrant families.
 The images in this book harmonize with the text in a playful way that fully engages the reader in the story about the island. Colombian-born illustrator Leo Espinosa’s images celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of the immigrant community through the depictions of Lola’s classmates, and neighbourhood friends on her journey through self-discovery. Espinosa colourfully, and vibrantly mirrors the island Lola comes from in a lively manner. The story, however, takes a somber twist when Lola learns about the dark history of her nation. Nonetheless, the serious messages continue to be presented in a cheerful kid friendly manner due to Diaz’s choice to depict a serious political leader as a legitimate monster who terrorized the people on the island.
 Multicultural representation in children’s literature is vital; however, it is something that is lacking in the majority of classrooms. Classrooms are rapidly becoming more diverse, and Island Born reaches to this. Children learn powerful lessons about who is valued or devalued in society through the literature they are exposed to. When children are unable to find reflections of themselves in classroom literature, they internalize that they are not a valued member of society. However, Island Born offers a glimpse, whether it be through a mirror or a window, into the life as an immigrant student. When students are able to see something of themselves represented in classroom literature, they are able to connect back to and value their identity, culture, and experiences.
 Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Kristin Robb
 Kristin is an After-Degree student in the Bachelor of Education program at the University of Alberta. Kristin has a passion for reading, and when she is not preoccupied with her studies you can find her volunteering in elementary school classrooms.

Access to Books Matters: Cultural Ambassadors and the Editorial Task Force

AbstractThe author introduces the Editorial Task Force for Children's Books and discusses its mission, created when the task force was launched in the mid‐1960s in Taiwan, to publish children's books for young readers. The messages embedded in such a mission for access to books are not only individually pertinent but also nationally and globally significant. Munro Leaf and Helen R. Sattley, two cultural ambassadors from the United States, also play significant roles as children's literature specialists to usher in new concepts on reading and writing for the young. A look back at the history of the campaign for childhood reading in one country and in a global context can help teachers and educators (re)consider why access to books matters for students in the present day. Children's access to books, particularly in the digital age, remains an urgent and demanding issue that requires further cross‐cultural dialogue and understanding.

Rebel with a Cause

The rebellious spirit of 1968 was characterised, among other things, by a strong aversion to authority of any form. In Dutch children’s literature, this spirit is personified by the author Miep Diekmann. From the end of the 1950s until the end of the 1980s, Diekmann contested all kinds of social injustice, both in her children’s books and in her critical work. This article discusses how she challenged the status quo in Dutch children’s literature, firstly through her efforts to improve the cultural status of children’s literature, and secondly through writing books with a different view of the world than the one with which children were then familiar. In interviews, reviews, and discussions with politicians, she successfully appealed for more academic and critical attention for books for young readers. With her children’s books she wanted to make her readers think independently about all kinds of social injustice. Whereas in her first books a tension can be observed between her ambition to make children aware of forms of inequality and her intention to let her reading audience judge for themselves, in her later novels, in particular in De dagen van olim, [The Days of Yore] (1971), she presents social injustice in a way that leaves more to the imagination of her readers.

My Mom is Having Surgery (A Kidney Story) by B. E. Cortez

Cortez, Brenda E. My Mom is Having Surgery (A Kidney Story). Donate Life, 2015.
 Based on the true story of author Brenda E. Cortez’s kidney transplant, My Mom is Having Surgery (A Kidney Story) describes the process of donating a kidney and offers encouragement for others to take steps and donate. In targeting her book at young readers, those who are just beginning to read independently, Cortez offers an educational overview of the process in the hopes of normalizing lifesaving procedures such as living organ donation. From reassuring her children, to explaining in detail why donating a kidney is the right choice, to the process of surgery, recovery, and returning home, My Mom is Having Surgery (A Kidney Story) offers a realistic look at the many stages of this procedure.
 Aimed at audiences who are skilled and capable of reading independently, My Mom is Having Surgery is written in paragraph format with a medium sized font. By following the mother's surgery through the eyes of her daughter, the book engages with children and shows them how to be both encouraging and how to cope with the difficulties faced by a parent undergoing this procedure. Each page of the book is accompanied by colour images which represent the activities described in the text. These images are aesthetically pleasing and would help solidify the message of the book for young readers. As a tool designed to change attitudes in an engaging way, this book is a must read for young children. 
 Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Madeline C. Crichton
 Madeline Crichton is a University of Alberta undergraduate student with a lifelong passion for reading. When she is not preoccupied with her studies, Madeline is busy volunteering in a variety of roles in her community.

Checked by Cynthia Kadohata

Reviewed by: Checked by Cynthia Kadohata Deborah Stevenson Kadohata, CynthiaChecked; illus. by Maurizio Zorat. Dlouhy/Atheneum, 2018 416p Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-4814-4661-7 $16.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-1-4814-4663-1 $10.99 R Gr. 4-6 Eleven-year-old Conor has three important things in his world: his dad, his dog, and hockey. Now, though, his dad is looking grim and crying at night, and his dog, Sinbad, is being treated for cancer. Can he still keep his focus on his NHL dreams? Newbery winner Kadohata makes the story of a challenging period in a boy's life into a smooth stream-of-consciousness style narration, keeping the emphasis balanced as Conor moves from thoughts of his dog to assessment of his teammates to worry about his father. The result is therefore less deliberately shaped for dramatic impact than most books for young readers, but it's an accessible and interesting approach that's in many ways more true to a real-life kid experience. Conor's concern about his father's work as a cop and his response to the information that his late mother's parents would like to see him add dimension to the story, but there's plenty of pure hockey action and details about the trajectory toward the pros to interest sports fans. It's refreshing to see both an Asian-American-focused sports story (Conor's mother was Japanese American) and a protagonist who's matter-of-fact about academics not being his thing, so a lot of youngsters, especially those dreaming of victory on the ice, will see themselves in Conor. DS Copyright © 2017 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Best books for curious kids

How does the Moon's influence on Earth's wobble affect the weather? Which animal earns the title of the world's deadliest? Can the Arctic undergo a drought? Even adults may struggle to articulate the answers to these seemingly simple questions. Fear not: This year's finalists for the Science Books and Films (SB&F) Prizes for Excellence in Science Books have you covered. Sponsored by Subaru and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS; the publisher of Science ), this competi­tion celebrates books that promote science literacy among children and young adults and encourages the publication of high-quality science books for young readers. Winners in each category will be announced at the AAAS Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, in February 2018. Until then, read on for reviews of the finalists written by the staff of the Science fam­ily of journals, with help from a few friends.

Opening Up Space for Global Black Girls

In this innovative dialogue, Gabrielle Civil and Zetta Elliott consider how their work inside and outside of the academy “opens up space” for Black girls in the United States and throughout the African diaspora. In her performance art and curation, Civil activates the presence and absence of diasporic Black girls and celebrates their creative potential. In her books for young readers, Elliott disrupts literary conventions by centering Black girl protagonists and using the fantasy genre not for escape but empowerment. Linking the critical and creative, this dialogue showcases reflection and embodied knowledge of Black girls and women.

Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by S. Hood

Hood, Susan. Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016.Ada’s Violin is a picture book recounting the creation of the Recycled Orchestra in Cateura, Paraguay, particularly as it relates to the experiences of one member—Ada. The reader will be struck by Sally Wern Comport’s style of art which uses a form of mixed and recycled media—often resembling a scrapbook—that well reflects the nature of the orchestra as one made of recycled waste products. The motif of torn up musical manuscript paper floating through the pages visually connects the central role of music in the story. The colours are bright and saturated, lending itself to the multi-coloured world the story represents. The story presents strong positive values to children who may be beginning studies in music or are already involved. For example, the music teacher’s assertion that “It doesn’t matter if one is rich or poor, ugly, fat, thin—you cannot learn to play an instrument overnight,” is a powerful message to children who may be struggling as they learn an instrument. The whole of the story also gives the sense that you can make your way in the world and change your life even if you do not live in the best of circumstances.Despite these positive traits, the book does not seem like it would be entirely immersive for a child. While the story is clearly being written for a younger audience, the use of more difficult terms like “sweltering” and “nurturing” without good context clues could make the book difficult for children to read on their own. Additionally, words from the orchestra’s native language, Spanish, while effective for bringing the story into the context of Paraguay, are inconsistently glossed and may cause confusion for young readers. The story itself is not continuously engaging in that the titular character, Ada, is not consistently part of the story. There are times when the narrative of her experiences is broken by a narrative about the orchestra, and the story does not even end with Ada’s insights but rather, a general expression of the orchestra’s achievements. Furthermore, quotation marks are used to indicate direct quotes from Ada which the author gained from interviews with her—a decision that offers compelling material but makes the text feel more like an essay than a children’s story. These factors of language and narrative cause the book to sound like an adult writing about children rather than writing the story for children. Overall, this is an interesting book documenting an unusual subject, and for that reason it would be a good addition to school and public libraries.Recommended with Reservations: 2 stars out of 4Reviewer: Arwen ThysseArwen Thysse is a University of Alberta student in her final year of a Bachelor of Arts in History and English. She is also an avid musician who plays the violin, and enjoys children’s books.

This is My Book! by M. Pett

Pett, Mark. This is My Book! Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2016. This simple children’s picture book written and illustrated by the self proclaimed “authorstrator”, Mark Pett, conveys a strong message about sharing to its 3-7 year old audience. The pristinely white pages are the backdrops to the author’s instructions on how to create a book. Pett skillfully poses himself as the main character, making it known that he is the boss of this great work of art and solely in charge of how to accomplish his goal. Of utmost importance, under his decree, is that the book itself needs to stay nice and clean, implying that whoever is reading it will look with their eyes and not with their hands. Ironically, this endeavor is virtually impossible when dealing with small children. In the durable pages meant for little hands, the desire for control exhibited by Mr. Pett, the main character, is evident. When he introduces a secondary character, Perfectly Polite Panda, who speaks up immediately professing that he prefers to be called Spike, mild irritation results as he sets out the other rules for creating his book. Unbeknownst to Mr. Pett, Polite Panda shows his creativity by drawing characters Pinky, Joe, Norbert and Squiggly on those pristine walls. As expected, Mr. Pett becomes very upset that his rules are not being followed. It is obvious he doesn’t like to share the spotlight and it is in this moment where Spike’s free-flowing actions start to unravel Mr. Pett’s master plan. The illustrations showcase Mr. Pett’s irritation and frustration which eventually lead to an all out temper tantrum with clenched fists and even jumping up and down. Undoubtedly, every child has felt these emotions and could identify with the main character. Both parents and their children could have fun in a read aloud mimicking, both in tone and action, how silly children and sometimes even adults can sound when they don’t get their way. “Why aren’t you listening to me?!” Mr. Pet pleads almost crying in exasperation while the other characters smile happily at the notion of using pop ups in his book. Providing flaps, pull tabs and pop-ups, much to the dismay of Mr. Pett, Spike gives the audience an opportunity to be interactive with the book itself, a feature many children will love. Experiencing a complete melt-down at the actions of Spike, Mr. Pett finally resolves to listen to him as he explains that the book really isn’t just his in the first place; rather, it’s everyone’s to enjoy and create. There is even a space at the back inviting the audience to practice his or her own creative drawing as well. Similar in messaging as Pett’s earlier work The Girl and The Bicycle, much can be learned from the company of others and a story needn’t contain a lot of words to accomplish this feat. Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Shannon EremenkoShannon is a Grade Six teacher in an Edmonton elementary school who loves to incorporate real life stories to make curriculum come alive in her classroom.

Ada Twist Scientist by A. Beaty

Beaty, Andrea. Ada Twist Scientist. Illustrated by David Roberts. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2016.With a whimsical prose and an empowering message, it’s hard to resist Ava Twist Scientist! This is the third book written by Andrea Beaty, and true to the form of Iggy Peck, Architect and Rosie Revere, Engineer, she celebrates the creativity, imagination, curiosity, and perseverance of every day children. Ava Twist has a question for everything as she explores the world around her: “Why are there pointy things stuck to a rose? Why are there hairs up inside of your nose?” Her parents are puzzled and exhausted by their curious child, while at the same time supportive of her scientific endeavours. Although Ada experiences frustration in her experiments, as they don’t quite always go as planned, she perseveres and shows continued determination in finding answers to the many questions that perplex her. There are parallels in this story to Albert Einstein’s childhood, with Ada being delayed in speech, being extremely curious about the world around her, and getting into trouble at school because of it. Einstein was puzzled by a compass, and Ava a grandfather clock. Similarly, both made sense of their world through pictures and constant questioning. Interestingly, in the end pages, Andrea Beaty notes she named Ada Marie Twist after two great women scientists: Marie Curie and Ada Lovelace.Focused colourful illustrations placed on a white background complement this rhyming text giving us a glimpse into Ada’s mind and her never-ending curiosity. One of the most endearing qualities of this book is how the illustrator David Roberts includes the teacher, Iggy Peck, and Rosie Revere, characters of Beaty’s other books, as Ada’s diverse classmates, converging the stories together. This book is notable as it focuses on a young girl’s passion for science, providing a role model and empowering other girls to follow their dreams. It should be noted however, that the story is inspirational for all. And with that I must insist: Ada Twist should not be missed! Recommended: 4 out of 4 StarsReviewer: Rhonda SaderRhonda Sader started enjoying picture books as a young girl and has never looked back. Some of her most treasured time is spent reading books nightly with her own two children.