Mom Read It

Dancing Hands: Friendship and Filipino Sign Language

Posted on June 14, 2023June 13, 2023 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Dancing Hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language, by Joanne Que & Charina Marquez/Illustrated by Fran Alvarez, Translated by Karen Llagas, (July 2023, Chronicle Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9781797213323

Ages 3-5

Sam is a young girl who is captivated by her neighbors, whose hands “move as if to music”, using sign language to speak to each other. Mai, one of the new neighbors, befriends Sam and teaches her “hands to dance” as they become best friends. Learning Filipino Sign Language helps the two friends communicate, and the story grows into a tale of friendship, shared interests and dreams. Que and Marquez’s spare narrative, told from Sam’s point of view, is perfect for younger, newly confident readers; Alvarez’s pencil and graphite complement the story with color and simple line work; shifting perspectives show the progression of the girls’ friendship as we move from a distance to close up, looking down to see the girls grow closer; readers feel like they’re a third person in this friendship huddle. Endpapers illustrate Sam and Mai demonstrating different words in Filipino Sign Language. Back matter includes more information on Filipino Sign Language, and sign languages used all over the world.

The University of the Philippines has four videos available on YouTube teaching basics in Filipino Sign Language; it could add a fun and educational element to a storytime. The ladies at Jbrary have some American Sign Language (ASL) videos on their YouTube page, including this video on singing Hello and Goodbye using ASL.

Nothing’s Wrong: An adorable story of friendship and pie

Posted on June 13, 2023June 13, 2023 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Nothing’s Wrong: A Hare, a Bear, and Some Pie to Share, by Jory John/Illustrated by Erin Kraan, (May 2023, Farrar Straus & Giroux

Ages 4-8

The dynamic duo from Nothing’s Wrong (2021) are back, and this time, Jeff the Bear has to boost his pal Anders when things go terribly wrong. Anders is preparing for a picnic, and he wants to make Jeff a pie: his favorite! But he sets the pie to cool on the window and goes for a walk… and a huge storm breaks out, ruining the pie. What’s Anders going to do? Play it cool, naturally… until he doesn’t. Poor Jeff is confused by Anders’s gruff attitude and refusal to speak, but keeps on being the steady friend he is, with wise words to readers on being a good friend, like “That’s what good friends do… check in with each other”, and “Maybe I should just give him a little space… but I’ll also stay close by, in case he wants to talk”. When Anders can no loner hide the fact that something has gone wrong, Jeff sweetly suggests they make a pie together, and share it with all of their friends. There are laugh-out loud moments as Anders and Jeff each break the fourth wall to share exasperated or confused looks with the reader, and the moment all is revealed is wordless and absolutely hilarious. A kind story about being a good friend, and how it goes both ways, Nothing’s Wrong is essential storytime reading. Download a free Storytime Kit to share.

picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Books that Celebrate Play

Posted on June 11, 2023June 10, 2023 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Let’s Go Puddling!, by Emma Perry/Illustrated by Claire Alexander, (Apr. 2023, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536228496

Ages 2-6

Who says “rain, rain, go away?” Not these three families! A group of toddlers and their families delight in a rainy day playdate in this delightful story written in verse. Three families living in the same apartment complex get their littles dressed for fun and meet in the playground, where the children stimp, stamp, stomp through the puddles while other adults rush by, heads down, missing all the fun. Alexander’s digital illustrations bring the softness and fluidity of a rainy day to life; Perry’s spare verse evokes all the joy of play. Great sound effects – “Shake, shake, shake”; “Squish! Squash! Squelch!” – make this a great choice for a readaloud. As much fun to read as it is to listen to.

Joy Ride, by Sherri Duskey Rinker/Illustrated by Ana Ramírez González, (Apr. 2023, Candlewick Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781536207743

Ages 4-8

Joy is a little girl who needs something to keep her busy over summer vacation, so her mom sends her to her grandfather’s, where she finds a bike. Joy and Granddad work together on the bike: he fixes, she “fancies it up”, and when she takes that first ride, she’s enchanted: “Today I’m not just Joy: I’m JOY!!!” Sadly, other kids tease her, causing Joy to push the bike down a hill, but she soon realizes that the other kids all look alike. There’s nothing special about them. She fetches her bike, bringing it back to Granddad so she can ride again. A sweet story of individuality and taking a stand against bullies, Joy Ride is a wonderful multigenerational story, a tinkering story, a story about embracing what makes you happy. Digital illustrations are bright, colorful, bold; Rinker’s narration, told from Joy’s point of view, has moments that all kids can relate to, from the boredom of having nothing to do all summer, to the connection between child and grandparent, to the delight of riding a bike, streamers “whippity-whip-whippity-whip-whip”-ing in the breeze. A great choice for a readaloud.

Color and Me, by Michaela Dias-Hayes, (March 2023, Kane Miller), $13.99, ISBN: 9781684645282

Ages 2-5

A brown-skinned little girl fingerpaints, discovering what she can make by mixing colors together. When she makes brown, she is delighted: “Brown is MY color. This is ME.” Illustrations are playful and bright, with paint-spattered endpapers to add to the sense of play. The girl’s joy extends to her hair, shown in different styles including her natural style, braids, twists, and puffs. The playful rhyming verse makes this a pleasure to read aloud, and the combination of artistic play and positive self-image makes this an excellent choice for storytime collections and readalouds. Color and Me was originally published in Britain in 2022.

Consider a storytime art project where kids make a handprint rainbow, inspired by a spread in the story. If that’s too messy for some, help kids trace and cut out their handprints on construction paper to create wreaths and rainbows. Consider reading with Kathryn Otoshi’s Beautiful Hands.

Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Young Adult/New Adult

Patricia Ward’s The Cherished – excellent YA horror

Posted on June 10, 2023June 10, 2023 by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Cherished, by Patricia Ward, (Apr. 2023, HarperTeen), $19.99, ISBN: 9780063235113

Ages 13+

Jo is a teen living with her very pregnant mother and her stepfather. She doesn’t see eye-to-eye with them or their social circles, so when a letter arrives, informing her that her grandmother has died and bequeathed her home and land to her, she sees a way to freedom: even if she has to wait until she’s of legal age for it. Her mother insists she must sell the home – despite Jo’s grandmother’s very firm assertions that she must never sell – and heads to the home, with Jo, to clean it up and prep for sale. Once there, she meets the tenants of her grandmother’s land: a gruff male househand and a childlike teenage girl. As Jo’s mother becomes sicker and sicker, Jo spends more time wandering the home and learns more about her father and the delusions that plagued him for his entire life… and she learns some truths that may be too incredible to believe, but are very real and very much a threat. Ward’s pacing is excellent, building the suspense to allow readers time to grasp the book tighter as they progress, waiting for answers. An excellent gothic horror novel for teens that enjoy dark fantasy.

Librarianing, programs

StoryWalks!

Posted on June 10, 2023June 10, 2023 by Rosemary Kiladitis

I have been more quiet than ever these days, but I have reasons; the biggest one being, I HAVE A STORYWALK!!

Prepping frames in my library workroom.

The short story: What’s a StoryWalk? Glad you asked! A StoryWalk is a great way to get families reading together while also getting some physical outdoor activity. Most use picture books, displayed spread by spread, along a route or path, with activity and discussion prompts as you walk. If you’d like more information about StoryWalks, visit https://letsmovelibraries.org/storywalk/; Book Riot also has a good article here https://bookriot.com/making-a-storywalk/.

In 2020, two of my library besties and I were missing our library communities and were thinking of ways we could reconnect with them outside of a computer screen. We’d been through a StoryWalk training webinar and thought about it being the perfect way to bring the library experience back, albeit out in the open, using public spaces like parks and school yards. Unfortunately, there was the funding issue, so we tabled the idea until we got back into our branches, and collaborated on a grant. And we won! So, coming soon, in my Queens community of Corona; my friend Sarah’s community of Arverne, and my friend Ashley’s community in Bayside, we’ll be launching our StoryWalks. (We were supposed to launch yesterday, but Canada had other plans, sooo…)

My first StoryWalk will be Yamile Saied Méndez and Jaime Kim’s book, ¿De Donde Eres? (Where Are You From?) I went with a Spanish-language book for my first StoryWalk to honor my library community. The story of a girl being asked where she’s really from is relatable, and I love the answer her grandfather gives her when she asks him where she is from. Jaime Kim’s illustration work is warm and creates breathtaking images of history, lands, and culture.

I don’t want to give too much away until my book launch, but here’s a sneak preview:

More on the StoryWalk as we get ready to launch! If you’ve ever done a StoryWalk, I’d love tips and feedback.

Middle Grade, Non-fiction, Tween Reads, Uncategorized

Just Between Us journals open up conversations between daughters, fathers, and mothers

Posted on June 4, 2023June 3, 2023 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Just Between Us: Father & Daughter – The original bestselling no-stress, no-rules journal, by Jonathan Jacobs & Sofie Jacobs, with Meredith Jacobs/Illustrated by Nate Padavick ,(Apr. 2023, Chronicle Books), $16.95, ISBN: 9781797216119

Ages 10+

Father-daughter team Jonathan Jacobs and Sofie Jacobs come together to tell some stories and provide thought-provoking prompts for dads and daughters to communicate. Suggested guidelines help set comfortable boundaries while encouraging open sharing, with pages set side to side for dads and daughters. There are fun prompts that call to mind those “how much do you know about me?” memes we’ve all done through e-mail and social media, and Free Spaces allow for journaling feelings, memories, or stream-of-consciousness writing. Fun illustrations encourage the writers to envision what they’d like to see about themselves on the front page of a newspaper or their social media pages. With Father’s Day coming up, this would be a great way to connect. Not suggested for a circulating collection, but a great suggestion to have in your pocket.

Just Between Us: Mother & Daughter – The original bestselling no-stress, no-rules journal, by Meredith Jacobs & Sofie Jacobs/Illustrated by Molly Baker, (Apr. 2023, Chronicle Books), $16.95, ISBN: 9781797222219

Ages 10+

Mother and daughter first collaborated on the Just Between Us journal over ten years ago; this revised edition allows for updated prompts and greater writing and creative space. Spaces like “a drawing of my dream outfit” let moms and daughters show their playful side, and “Things I would love for us to do together” breaks down the walls and allows for a wish list that mom and daughter can create together: and then act on it. I miss the playful illustrations that were in previous editions, but I appreciate the copious writing space to allow both writers to put their hopes, dreams, feelings, and ideas on paper. An excellent suggestion for summer journaling.

picture books, Preschool Reads

Isabel and the Invisible World: Great for STEM Storytime!

Posted on June 2, 2023June 2, 2023 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Isabel and the Invisible World, by Alan Lightman/Illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki, (Apr. 2023, MIT Kids Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781536223330

Ages 4-6

Isabel only wants one thing for her sixth birthday: something that will let her see “invisible things” that are invisible. Her scientist mother knows the perfect gift for Isabel: a prism, so Isabel can see the colors that make up light. This readable introduction to the science of light is a joy to read; Isabel is a curious young girl with a love of science, and the story conveys that sense of excitement and wonder to readers. The narrative builds the excitement leading up to Isabel’s birthday; Isabel’s mother explains how the prism works in an accessible, interesting way. Digital illustrations are warm and utilize the direction of light throughout the story; triangles show up throughout the spreads, and the rainbow spectrum shows up throughout the book. Isabel and her brother, Julian, are biracial: Mom is blonde and light-skinned; Dad is brown-skinned; Isabel is brown-haired, Julian is blonde; both are light brown-skinned. Back matter includes an explanation of light energy. A fun, readable choice for a STEM storytime or any time!

Hand out prism coloring pages for a post-storytime extension activity. There’s a good one from Science Workshop on TeachersPayTeachers. Try this prism experiment from Rosie Research either during a STEM program or hand out instructions for families to try at home: it’s easy!

picture books, Preschool Reads

Look to the animals: How Can We Be Kind?

Posted on May 24, 2023May 24, 2023 by Rosemary Kiladitis

How Can We Be Kind?, by Janet Halfmann/Illustrated by Darla Okada, (July 2022, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9780711268791

Ages 3-5

In my Great TBR Read-Down, I found a perfect addition to my Summer Reading collection: if you’re in a library system that’s part of the Collaborative Library Summer Reading Program, we’re doing All Together Now, featuring books on kindness. How Can We Be Kind? looks to the animal kingdom for ways we can be kind to one another: “We can make everyone feel welcome, like capybaras do. And we can share with one another, like jackdaws do”. Spread after spread shows different animals caring for one another, from capybaras relaxing and providing ducklings and monkeys with a sunny place to sit, to zebras defending one another from a group of hyenas. Soft, cartoony digital illustrations and bold fonts make this a soothing, easy readaloud, and a diverse group of humans bookend the story with thought-provoking question: “How can we be kind?” and “How will you be kind?” Back matter provides more information on the featured animals from the story. If you haven’t had the chance to add this story to your SEL, kindness, and storytime collections, consider adding a copy.

Realistic Fiction, Teen, Young Adult/New Adult

While You Were Dreaming – Alisha Rai does YA!

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Rosemary Kiladitis

While You Were Dreaming, by Alisha Rai, (March 2023, Quill Tree Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9780063083967

Ages 13+

Best-selling romance author Alisha Rai released her debut YA novel, While You Were Dreaming, and it is so good! Sonia is a teen living with her undocumented sister, Kareena, after her mother is deported. Sonia lives in constant fear of her family’s circumstances being discovered, and she tries to make herself as invisible as possible. One day, when her crush, James, accidentally falls and is in danger of drowning, Sonia – in cosplay superhero costume – jumps in to rescue him, becoming a viral sensation. At the same time, Sonia ends up connecting with James’s family, who don’t realize that she’s the person who rescued their son. So is James crush-worthy, or are the sparks flying between Sonia and James’s older brother worth exploring? Readers who love Ms. Marvel and Sendhya Menon’s rom-coms will devour this delightful read. Sonia is a smart, relatable main character surrounded by an interesting, developed cast. Rai touches on the stresses of living undocumented in America by exploring Sonia and Kareena’s sometimes contentious relationship and through Sonia’s desire to remain invisible for her sister’s sake; the pain of living apart from her mother comes through loud and clear. Hand this one to your rom-com fans for sure; they will thank you for it.