Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

“Mel Fell” is one of the most entertaining picture book books I have shared with my grandchildren. When Mel, a young kingfisher’s mother is away, she decided it was time to learn to fly. Even though she is scared that does not stop the gutsy bird. As she jumps off her tree branch, she tells her siblings, “See you soon!”. As Mel is plunging down to the ground all the residents in the tree try to help her from crashing. Just as you think things are going to end in a terrible mishap, there is a surprise that will thrill the reader.

This is a feel-good book that teaches new experiences don’t need to be scary. When Mel challenges herself and has confidence that she can fly, the can-do attitude makes it happen. Not only is the message in the story uplifting but the presentation is clever and engaging. My 5-year-old granddaughter gave this book 5 stars. Mel Fell is a Caldecott Honor Award winner for 2022.

Fun Activity: Go outside and try to find a bird’s nest, then think about if you were a bird how you would feel the first time you left the nest. Go to the Barnes and Noble website and find the worksheets for Mel Fell. https://dispatch.barnesandnoble.com/content/dam/ccr/h/bn-storytime/2021/3-20-Mel-Fell.pdf

Published In: 2021
Publisher: Blazer & Bray
Age Level: 2-6
AR Level: 1.4
Pages: 40
Stars: 5
Awards: Caldecott Honor Book, and ALA Notable Book of the Year

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

Mike and his steam shovel work together to dig canals for ships, cut through mountains for trains, make highways for cars and dig deep holes for skyscrapers. But with the new inventions of gasoline, electric and diesel shovels Mike’s steam shovel is becoming obsolete. Mike then hears about a town in the country that needs a new town hall. So, Mike and his steam shovel head to Popperville. Here they find one last job and a permanent home.

This is a great book to introduce the importance of moving from steam machines to gasoline which is a cleaner form of energy. This was a very pivotal time in our nation’s development. In addition, the book delivers a message that if you take care of things, they will take care of you. The book is a classic and a great addition to any home library.

Fun Activity: With your child make a list of all the things that you could build with a steam shovel. Or on the internet get a picture of an old steam shovel and a modern backhoe. With your child pick out the differences between the two machines.

Published In: 1939
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Age Level: 2-6 years
AR Level: 4.4
Pages: 48
Stars: 5

Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

“Bridge of Souls” is the third book in a series for middle schoolers called the “Cassidy Blake Series”. Cass is a 12-year-old girl and the only child to the “Inspectors”. They are “ghost-hunting paranormal investigators” who produce an American television show. The family travels to cities that are known for famous ghost hauntings. Her parents conduct interviews and visit supposedly haunted historical buildings.

Cass has had a near death experience that left her with supernational powers. She can travel to the “Veil” where she sends lost ghosts on to the next life. The third book takes place in New Orleans where she comes face to face with the messenger of Death who is trying to claim her for his own. Will she be able to stop him?

I read this book without reading the first two in the series. At first, I had trouble following the storyline but once I got to the third chapter the story came together for me. I really enjoyed the way Schwab combines the history of the city with great story telling. I will definitely read the other two books in the series.

Published In: 2021
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Age Level: 8-12 years
AR Level: 5.0
Pages: 300
Series: “Cassidy Blake Series”
Stars: 5

Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

“Ophie’s Ghosts” is precisely the type of book I would have loved as a middle-schooler. It is a historical novel that has suspense, ghosts, a haunted mansion, and murder. It is beautifully written and keeps the reader engaged page after page.

The novel takes place in 1922 and living in the deep south was a hard and dangerous place for an African American family. Opie’s father is brutally attacked and beaten to death. After his death Ophie realizes she can see ghosts. Succeeding her father funeral Ophie and her mother move to Pittsburg to live with relatives. In the north Ophie and her mother find jobs working for a wealthy Pittsburg family in an old manor house filled with ghosts. Ophie struggles with her gift but eventually figures out how to help the sprits move on to the next level. Ophie befriends one of the spirts that has had one of the most atrocious crimes committed against her and this puts Ophie’s own life in danger.

The author does a wonderful job of putting the reader into 1920’s Pittsburg. The injustices of the times were real against the blacks and the books teaches some of the history of racism. Ophie never gives up and is always trying to do the right thing even when the advice she receives is contrary. This is a must read for any middle-schooler who appreciates this genre of novels.

Published In: 2021
Publisher: Blazer + Bray
Age Level: 9 -11 Years
AR Level: 6.3
Pages: 325
Stars: 5
Awards: 2021 Scott O’Dell Award

Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

"Sing Down the Moon” is a historical novel that highlights the atrocities enacted upon the Native Americans during the 1800’ s. Bright Morning a Navajo girl and her friend are captured by Spaniards while taking care of their sheep. They are taken to a Mexican town where they are sold to work as kitchen help. The resourceful and determined girl find a way to escape. With the help of her future husband, Bright Morning finds her way back to the tribe.

Soon after Bright Morning returns to the tribe another tragic event occurs, US soldiers destroy all the tribe’s crops and livestock. The US government is purposefully starving the Navajos in order to remove them from their land. Once the tribe surrenders, they start what is called the 300-mile “Long Walk” to Ft. Sumner. Bright Morning retells this event with a very real and harrowing narrative.

O’Dell’s writing style makes it easy to visualize the land the Navajos lived on but also understand their traditions and way of life. As you read each chapter you hope the Bright Morning finds a way to keep going. When I read a novel that has such life altering experiences for its characters, I wonder would I have been up the trials that she faced. This is a great introduction for young reader to learn about the Native American history and culture. Critics of the book claim that some of the historical facts are inaccurate but the book is Historical Fiction with the emphasizes on fiction. “Sing Down on the Moon” is a book I am putting on the list of must reads for my Grandchildren.

Fun Activity: American Indians have Pow Wows in major cities across the US. These are gatherings of First Nations tribes that showcase their music, crafts, culture and heritage. Try to find one in your area to attend.

Published In: 1970
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Age Level: 10+
AR Level: 4.9
Pages: 124
Stars: 5
Award: 1971 Newbery Honor Book

Billy the Borrowing Blue-Footed Booby by Shelia Bair - 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

Billy is a blue-footed booby who lives on the Galapagos Islands. He loves to have a nap after lunch, but it’s always raining that time of the day. So, Billy wants to buy an umbrella so he can nap without distraction. The Selling Seal will sell an umbrella to Billy for 10 sardines, but Billy doesn’t have this amount. The Seal and Billy come to an agreement that Billy can have the umbrella for 20 sardines, and he doesn’t have to pay him until the end of the month. Now Billy finds all kinds of other things he wants, and the Seal is willing to sell for more and more sardines to be paid in the future each time another item is purchased. By the end of the book Billy owes 320 sardines to Seal and has no way to pay him. Just like in real life, when you don’t pay your debts, items are repossessed.

Some would say the Selling Seal should be called a Loan Shark and not a Seal. Either way the message is clear, buy what you need not what you want. This is a hard concept for a child to grasp but the book does an excellent job of delivering it. The second lesson is to be careful about promising sardines or payment in the future as the amount can easily get out of hand. The book is a great introduction to financial responsibility. Shelia Blair has written 5 other books in the Money Tales series that addresses money and I look forward to sharing them with my grandkids.

Fun Activity: Pull out some money from your pocket or purse and practice making change. Go to your local bank and set up a saving account for your child.

Published In: 2021
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Series: Money Tales
Age Level: 4-8 years
AR Level: N/A
Pages: 32
Stars: 5

Watercress by Andrea Wang 🟌🟌🟌

With all the awards this book has received I really wanted to love it but… it was just OK. The target audience is for middle schoolers, not elementary school kids and definitely not preschoolers. The book’s message was clear, as parents and immigrants our lives were so much harder than yours. The author is lecturing the main character throughout the book and as a reader I started to feel sorry for her.

I read this book to my 9-year-old Grandson and while the book did hold his attention, there were a lot of follow up questions that I had to address. Not once in the book did any of the family smile. The book is dark and sometimes confusing. The death of the mother ‘s brother is never fully explained and the thought that a person could die from hunger was overwhelming for a 9-year-old.  The message in the book could have been delivered with a more hopeful future. Watercress is a book for the 5^th and 6^th graders, the content is too grave and sad for younger children. I give it 3 stars.     

Fun Activity: Find Watercress either at the grocery store or growing outside, then make watercress sandwiches.                

Published In: 2021                          

Publisher: Neal Porter Books
Age Level: 6-10
AR Level: 3.7
Pages: 32
Stars: 3
Awards:
Caldecott Medal Winner -2022
Newbery Honor Book -2022