Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: More New Releases

April 10, 2019 Alyson Beecher

Last week, I did a recent release post with about 22 new titles. However, that one didn’t get me through April releases. I am adding another 14 titles this week. I am really thrilled to see so much nonfiction coming out for young readers. Enjoy!

Links to past round-ups: January | February | April Part 1

Hello, I’m Here! by Helen Frost, Photographs by Rick Lieder (Candlewick Press, March 20, 2019 )

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Versify, April 2, 2019 )

Hello Summer! by Shelley Rotner (Holiday House, April 9, 2019)

Nine Months: Before a Baby Is Born by Miranda Paul, Illustrated by Jason Chin (Neal Porter Books, April 23, 2019))

Predator and Prey: A Conversation in Verse by Susannah Buhrman-Deever, Bert Kitchen (Candlewick Studio, April 9, 2019)

Ninita's Big World: The True Story of a Deaf Pygmy Marmoset by Sarah Glenn Marsh, Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman (Clarion, April 29, 2019)

Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising, A Revolution by Rob Sanders, Illustrated by Jamey Christoph

Comics: Easy as ABC!: The Essential Guide to Comics for Kids by Ivan Brunetti, Françoise Mouly (Toon Books, April 2, 2019)

Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid-Body Electric Guitar and Rocked the World by Kim Tomsic, Brett Helquist (Chronicle Books, April 9, 2019)

A Brief History of Life on Earth by Clemence Dupont (Pristinal

Birth of the Cool: How Jazz Great Miles Davis Found His Sound by Kathleen Cornell Berman, Illustrated by Keith Henry Brown (Page Street Kids, April 16, 2019)

Raccoon Rescue by Kama Einhorn (HMH Books for Young Readers, April 9, 2019)

Anteater Adventures by Kama Einhorn (HMH Books for Young Readers, April 9, 2019)

Greta the Great Horned Owl: A True Story of Rescue and Rehabilitation by Christie Gove-Berg (April 9, 2019)

Don’t forget to link up your nonfiction reviews…

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 4/8/19

April 8, 2019 Alyson Beecher

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kid lit focus. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kid lit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Over the past several months, I have found it difficult to focus on reading and felt like maybe I was in a reading rut. However, I believe that there are times when I am just overwhelmed and don’t know which book to start or I begin to juggle multiple books. Yet, I am really not savoring what I am reading. Lately, I decided to focus on audiobooks and getting to titles that I have already purchased and listening to about one a week along with a stack of picture books and cookbooks.

Here is what jumped out of the stack…

The 5 O’Clock Band by Troy Andrews, Illustrated by Bryan Collier (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2018)

Up the Mountain Path by Marianne Dubuc (Princeton Architectural Press, 2018)

Chicken Talk by Patricia MacLachlan, Illustrated by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Katherine Tegen Books, January 15, 2019)

One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller by Kate Read (Peachtree Publishers, Fall 2019)

Because of the Rabbit by Cynthia Lord (Scholastic, March 26, 2019)

Audiobooks:
I started the audiobook of Circe by Madeline Miller but put it on hold since I didn’t feel like I could focus enough to keep all of the characters straight in my mind. I will come back to it when I have a longer drive and can focus more for the initial part of the book.

I decided to switch over to The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2018) and loved the book, and loved the narrator of the audiobook. If you haven’t read this one, add it to your list of audiobooks. I really have enjoyed seeing how Johnson has been growing as a writer since The Great Green Heist.

Next up: Internment by Samira Ahmed (Little, Brown Audiobooks, 2019)

Adult Titles:
I discovered that the Los Angeles Public Library has a fantastic collection of cookbooks and I have been placing holds on all of the books i have been hearing about or wanting to read. Some books have been available more quickly and others have longer holds but I am in no rush. I just enjoy when they show up. Here are the two from this past week.

The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman (Knopf, 2012) - I love Deb Perelman’s blog and thought I would take a look at her cookbooks to see if I need to own them or not. I liked this one but I want to see her newer book before deciding which one I want to buy.

Bottom of the Pot: Persian Recipes and Stories by Naz Deravian (Flatiron Books, 2018) - I moved school districts in August and my new District has a very large Middle Eastern population. Our office potlucks have been a new experience for me with dozens of dishes that are new to me. I heard Deravian on The Splendid Table and thought it would be fun to read her book. Now I want to make Tahdig (the rice dish on the cover of the book).

In case you missed these posts from last week…

Vacation for Dexter by Lindsay Ward - Review & Giveaway

Nonficition Picture Book Challenge: Recent Releases

So, what are you reading?

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Recent & Upcoming Releases

April 3, 2019 Alyson Beecher

I love posting about new books and getting them on the radar of other readers. Though I don’t catch all of the titles, I try to share as many as possible. This month I have twenty-two titles that look fabulous. The ones I have read are amazing. I have starred those and the rest I am tracking down.

Link to January’s new release post, click here. I didn’t do an official new release post in February, but I did share a round-up post, click here.

Here is a list of just some of the new nonfiction releases that came out in March or just this week. I have only been able to read a few of the titles below but hoping to get my hands on more of them over the next few weeks.

** The Bluest of Blues: Anna Atkins and the First Book of Photographs by Fiona Robinson (Abrams Books for Young Readers, February 12, 2019)

A Green Place to Be: The Creation of Central Park by Ashley Benham Yazdani (Candlewick Press, March 12, 2019)

Two Men and a Car: Franklin Roosevelt, Al Capone, and a Cadillac V-8 by Michael Garland (Tillbury House Publishers, March 12, 2019)

Doctor Esperanto and the Language of Hope by Mara Rockliff, Illustrations by Zosia Dzierżawska (Candlewick Press, March 12, 2019)

** The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons by Natascha Biebow, Illustrated by Steve Salerno (HMH Books for Young Readers, March 19, 2019)

Butterflies in Room 6: See How They Grow by Caroline Arnold (Charlesbridge Publishing, March 12, 2019)

Dreaming in Code: Ada Byron Lovelace, Computer Pioneer by Emily Arnold McCully (Candlewick Press, March 12, 2019)

Soar High, Dragonfly by Sheri M. Bestor (Sleeping Bear Press, April 15, 2019)

The Boy Who Grew a Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng by Sophia Gholz, Illustrations by Kayla Harren (Sleeping Bear Press, April 15, 2019)

Home Sweet Neighborhood: Transforming Cities One Block at a Time by Michelle Mulder (Orca Books, March 19, 2019)

Seeds Move! by Robin Page (Beach Lane Books, March 19, 2019)

Dancing Through Fields of Color: The Story of Helen Frankenthaler by Elizabeth Brown, Aimaee Sicuro (Abrams Books for Young Readers, March 19, 2019)

Can You Crack the Code?: A Fascinating History of Ciphers and Cryptography by Ella Schwartz (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, March 26, 2019)

Smile: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry) by Gary Golio, Illustrations by Ed Young (Candlewick Press, March 26, 2019)

Just Like Rube Goldberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines by Sarah Aronson, Illustrations by Robert Neubecker (Beach Lane Books, March 12, 2019)

Weird Animals by Mary Kay Carson (Sterling Children’s Books, January 1, 2019)

** Like a Lizard by April Pulley Sayre, Illustrations by Stephanie Laberis (Boyds Mills Press, March 12, 2019)

The Tornado Scientist: Seeing Inside Severe Storms by Mary Kay Carson, Photographs by Tom Uhlman (HMH Books for Young Readers, March 19, 2019)

** Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons by Laura Purdie Salas, Illustrated by Mercè López (Millbrook Press, April 2, 2019)

** Seashells: More Than a House by Melissa Stewart, Illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen (Charlesbridge Publishing, April 2, 2019)

Don't Let Them Disappear by Chelsea Clinton, Gianna Marino (Philomel Books, April 2, 2019)

Hey, Water! by Antoinette Portis (Neal Porter Books, March 26, 2019)

Don’t forget to link up your nonfiction reviews…

Vacation for Dexter by Lindsay Ward - a Review and Giveaway

April 2, 2019 Alyson Beecher

Vacation for Dexter!
by Lindsay Ward
Two Lions (April 16, 2019)
Fiction * Dinosaurs *
Audience: 4 to 7 years
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:
Dexter T. Rexter is on a plane—for the very first time.

Dexter can’t wait to go on vacation with his best friend, Jack. Supercool orange sunglasses? Check. Nifty travel hat? Check. Plane tickets? Uh, what? Dexter may be the toughest, coolest dinosaur around, but everyone knows T. rexes don’t fly! If anyone could do it, he could. It’s just that he’s suddenly feeling a little hot. And maybe a little nervous. But just as he starts to melt down, he notices Jack looks upset. Dexter realizes he has to be brave enough for both of them. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll start to have a bit of fun in the air.

Both nervous and funny, Dexter tells the readers what he’s feeling and even asks their advice as he comes to understand that being brave with a friend makes everything a little better. And hey, those cookies during the flight don’t hurt, either!

Quick thoughts on the book:
Everyone who has flown on a plane has a crying baby or toddler story. You don’t need to be a parent to have one of these stories either. However, if you are a parent, those experiences can try your patience.

In the latest Dexter book by Lindsay Ward, our favorite dinosaur and his buddy Jack are going on a vacation to Florida. After an initial burst of excitement about traveling and going on vacation, reality sets in and Dexter realizes that he will need to travel by plane. As with previous books, Ward perfectly captures the emotions and thoughts of toddlers and preschoolers through Dexter’s voice. It reminded me of a story that a friend shared about her then 3 year old who screamed on the plane to her grandparents’ home and once there told her parents that she would rather live with her grandparents than fly back to California. Good news, she eventually got over her fear of flying but where was Dexter and this book when she needed it?!

Another aspect of Dexter that I love is how Ward plays with perspective. For so much of the book, Dexter seems huge. This makes sense. He is after all a dinosaur. And then you get a change of perspective and realize how small Dexter really is. And it is in his smaller size that Dexter provides just the right size of comfort to his best buddy, Jack.

If you haven’t read any of the previous Dexter books, you can enter the giveaway below for a chance to win all three Dexter books. If you can’t wait, look for this book and the other Dexter titles at your local indie bookstore or community library.

About the author: Lindsay Ward is the creator of the Dexter T. Rexter series. Although she isn’t afraid of flying, she always looks forward to cookies during her flights. She is also the author and illustrator of Brobarians, Henry Finds His Word, and When Blue Met Egg. Her book Please Bring Balloons was also made into a play.

Most days you can find Lindsay with her family, writing and sketching at her home in Peninsula, Ohio. Learn more about her online at www.LindsayMWard.com or on Twitter: @lindsaymward.

Giveaway!
One lucky winner will receive a set of all three Dexter T. Rexter books--Don’t Forget Dexter! , It’s Show and Tell, Dexter!, and Vacation for Dexter! courtesy of Two Lions (U.S. addresses).

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It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 4/1/19

April 1, 2019 Alyson Beecher

Some weeks are just super busy and I find myself hunkering down with a stack of picture books as a way of refueling. This week’s stack has some new releases and some older titles from 2018.

Here is what jumped out of the stack…

Superheroes are Everywhere by Kamala Harris, Illustrated by Mechal Renee Roe (Philomel Books, January 2019) - I have been curious about this one since Harris is a senator from my state and also running for president. The book focuses on those family members and friends that were “superheroes” in her life.

Bold & Brave: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote by Kirsten Gillibrand, Illustrated by Maira Kalman (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2018) - Gillibrand, another presidential candidate, released this book late in 2018. It is a nice collection of tributes to women who were instrumental in the fight for women’s right to vote.

My Papî Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero, Illustrated by Zeke Peña (Kokila Books, May 14, 2019) - I saw this briefly a couple of weeks ago and finally got to spend some time with the book. Mark your calendars - this book comes out in May.

Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison (Kokila Books, May 14, 2019) - A celebration of a dad and his daughter and finding just the right hair style. This one comes out in May as well.

Because by Mo Willems, Illustrated by Amber Ren (Hyperion Books for Young Readers, March 5, 2019) - This is a different kind of book from some of Willems other books. It is beautiful in both message and illustrations.

The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons by Natascha Biebow, Illustrated by Steven Salerno (HMH Books for Young Readers, March 19, 2019) - I have never thought about who invented crayons and this was informational and fun.

Narwhal’s Otter Friend (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #4) by Ben Clayton (Tundra Books, February 5, 2019) - Yay for Narwhal and Jelly and their new friend Otter. I love this series.

See Pip Flap (The Adventures of Otto) by David Milgrim (Simon Spotlight, 2018) - There are so many different early readers and some get it right and others struggle to find their mark. The Adventures of Otto series gets it right.

Fox the Tiger by Corey R. Tabor (Balzer & Bray, 2018) - I so understand why this one won a Geisel Award. it is fantastic. I just love this early reader.

Tiger vs. Nightmare by Emily Tetri (First Second, 2018) - Love the twist on the typical monster under the bed stories.

Currently reading with my ears…

Circe by Madeline Miller (Little, Brown Books, 2018) - In December, I asked friends what was their favorite adult book from 2018 and this one came highly recommended. I just started the audiobook. The narrator, Perdita Weeks has an amazing voice. I think I could listen to her read a phone book. However, there are a lot of characters in this story based on Greek Mythology.

In case you missed it…