Book Review: Space Boy And His Dog

Space Boy and His Dog
by Dian Curtis Regan; Illustrated by Robert Neubecker
Boyds Mills Press (April 7, 2015)
Audience: Ages 4 to 7
Fiction * Imagination * Siblings
Indiebound | WorldCat

About the book: 
Niko may live on boring old Earth with his family, but he’s always finding a new adventure. Using the spaceship that he built from a box in his backyard and a little imagination, he flies off into space with his robot, Radar, and his dog, Tag. The only one NOT invited is his sister Posh who keeps trying to insert herself into Niko’s story. In this first mission, Niko and crew (and maybe also pesky Posh) fly to the moon in search of a lost cat. Illustrated in comic–book style and featuring easy–to–read text packed with humor, Space Boy and His Dog is Niko’s first adventure, with two more books planned in the series.

My thoughts on the book:
When I am putting together a blog post, I tend to look at different resources like the publisher's website, GoodReads, and Edelweiss. It makes collecting the information for the post just a bit easier. Normally, I don't read the reviews by sites like Kirkus or School Library Journal or Publisher's Weekly until after writing my review. Somehow, accidentally maybe, I read the Publisher's Weekly review for Space Boy and His Dog. Here it is : 

“Niko has an impressive space fantasy going, aided by a tricked-out cardboard-box rocket ship, his dog, his trusty robot toy, and Neubecker’s vivid, comically earnest cartooning. But his sister, Posh, keeps trying to hijack the narration, despite Niko’s admonition that “She is not in this story.”… Regan (Barnyard Slam) takes readers inside the head of a very imaginative child, honoring Niko’s desire to control his story while affectionately spoofing it. It’s a funny and fresh spin on sibling conflict…” - Publisher's Weekly

After reading that review, which really captured my thoughts, I knew I would need another approach. So let me share some interior images and tell you what i enjoyed about Space Boy and His Dog. 

First, the illustrations and color choices make this book stand out. The illustrations are bright, and Neubecker's color pallet really works for this space-themed book.   

Readers know early on that the story is about a little boy named Niko and this child has a very active imagination. (see image above) However, I love when an element gets thrown in and it is used successfully in the story. The element were the narrator is trying to negate something that is obviously part of the story. As a result, it becomes my favorite part of the story and the the following image captures the underlying theme -siblings. This story is of course NOT about Niko's sister Posh and she is NOT in this story. Even young readers catch onto the humor introduced from this point.

Another element in this book that I enjoyed was the graphic novel style panels that work to guide the reader and set off dialogue. 

And we have Posh...oh right..she is not in this story. 

Of course, even Space Captains need to take into consideration the feelings of their crew if they are going to get everyone safely home. More Posh. More humor.

Space Boy and His Dog is a fun read that younger children will definitely appreciate. The sense of adventure, the free-flowing imagination, the sibling rivalry, and the humor will capture readers and make this one to come back to for further readings. 

Look for a copy of SPACE BOY AND HIS DOG at your local independent bookstore or public library. 

About the creators: 
Dian Curtis Regan is the author of the bestselling PRINCESS NEVERMORE and many books for young readers, ranging from picture books to young adult novels. Her books have received many honors, including Best Books for Young Adults and Children’s Choice Awards citations.

Robert Neubecker is the award-winning author-illustrator of WOW! CITY!; WOW! AMERICA!; and WOW! SCHOOL!, and the illustrator of THE PROBLEM WITH NOT BEING SCARED OF MONSTERS and its upcoming sequel THE PROBLEM WITH NOT BEING SCARED OF KIDS. He lives in Park City, Utah.

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: Watch Out for Flying Kids

Watch Out for Flying Kids: How Two Circuses, Two Countries, and
Nine Kids Confront Conflict and Build Community
by Cynthia Levinson
Peachtree Publishers (August 1, 2015)
Nonfiction * Circus * Performing Arts
Audience: Ages 10 to 14
Indiebound | WorldCat
Author Website | Resources for Teachers

About the book: 
Kids accomplish remarkable feats of strength and beauty, as well as work to bring about change in their worlds in this engaging exploration of the world of social circus. 

The author of We’ve Got a Job explores the world of youth social circus—a movement that brings kids from different worlds together to perform remarkable acts on a professional level. Levinson follows the participants of two specific circuses that also work together periodically: Circus Harmony, in St. Louis, whose participants are inner-city and suburban kids, and Circus Galilee in Israel, whose participants and Jews and Arabs. As the kids’ relationships evolve over time, the members learn how to overcome assumptions, animosity, and obstacles both physical and personal.

Check out the videos posted by author, Cynthia Levison on YouTube, here and one below:

My thoughts on the book:
Different. Different cultures. Different languages. Different religions. Different skin tones. Cynthia Levinson introduces readers to two very special circuses and the children/teens and staff that embarked on a journey to build connections by identifying their similarities in order to learn from one another. Levinson's newest book, WATCH OUT FOR FLYING KIDS! HOW TWO CIRCUSES, TWO COUNTRIES, AND NINE KIDS CONFRONT CONFLICT AND BUILD COMMUNITY, is extremely relevant for today's social and cultural challenges. 

When I received an advanced copy of WATCH OUT FOR FLYING KIDS! from Peachtree Publishers, I was immediately drawn in by the title, subtitle, and cover. First, who isn't interested in the circus? Circuses have a long, colorful, rich history, which fascinates anyone who has ever seen a performance.  Second, as an educator, words like "confront conflict" and "build community" are constantly on my mind. When I opened the book, it did not take me long to become totally engrossed in the story of the two circuses, and their performers. Despite the natural ups and downs that come with working with individuals, things like hard work, communication, collaboration, bridging the cultural gap were very real things for both Circus Harmony (St. Louis) and the Galilee Circus in Israel. 

Using 120 hours of interview transcripts, and extensive research, Levinson documents what transpired when these two circuses crossed path. I was thrilled not to only read about the successes but to also learn of the many challenges.  As I continued to read this book, I wanted to share this with the teachers of students in 5th to 9th grade that I know. The themes and lessons learned through this cross-cultural experience have direct application to classroom learning. This almost prompted me to ask the teachers I know that if they read no other children's nonfiction this year that they read and share this one with their students. 

Look for WATCH OUT FOR FLYING KIDS! at your local indie bookstore or community library. Better yet, pick up a copy or two to share with a teacher or teen that you know. 

About the author: 
Cynthia Levinson holds degrees from Wellesley College and Harvard University and also attended the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. A former teacher and educational policy consultant and researcher, she is the author of the award-winning and critically-acclaimed We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March. She has also published articles in Appleseeds, Calliope, Cobblestone, Dig, Faces, and Odyssey.  She can be found at her website | twitter

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews:

WISH Giveaway and Interview with Author/Illustrator Matthew Cordell

WISH
By Matthew Cordell
Disney-Hyperion (3/03/2015)
Audience: Ages 3 – 5
Indiebound | WorldCat

About the book: 
As an elephant couple embark on a life together, thoughts of children are far away–at first. But as the desire for a child grows, so do unexpected challenges. And it's only after thwarted plans and bitter disappointment that their deepest wish miraculously comes true.

Check out the official book trailer:

Quick thoughts on the book:
I have been a fan of Matthew Cordell's work for quite awhile. I love his style and the books that he chooses to create or work on. I had an opportunity to see WISH as a folded and gathered (an advanced copy of the book). It was charming and you could feel the depth of emotion felt by the elephant couple in the story. 

Here are some glimpses of the inside interior of the book:

The planning, and hoping, and waiting and passage of time. 

The text and the illustrations compliment and reach out and touch the heart of those who read this book. 

WISH is a personal story (see the interview below) and one that couples in your own life may relate to on various levels and have different meanings for each reader. WISH is an inspirational book. I was super impressed in how it inspired Margie Myers-Culver, a Michigan Librarian, to donate 200 copies of WiSH to her community hospital to giveaway to families of newborn babies in memory of her mother. Here is a link to the letters she exchanged with Matthew, click here.  Matthew followed up with a blog post of his own, here. And here is a link to a final post with a special video created by Margie to capture the process. 

Now if all of this hasn't convinced you to find a copy of WISH and read and share it, I am not sure what else will. :-) So what are you waiting for? You can pick up a copy of WISH at your local indie bookstore or public library. 

Interview with Matthew Cordell:

If you could describe your book in 2 sentences, how would you describe it to someone? 

Wish tells the story of the incredible, emotional journey that is welcoming a child into the world. The inexplicably amazing moment of first meeting a child, but also the very highs and lows that can turn up along the way.

WISH has an element of friendship, belonging, or the hope for something very special, what did you draw on to get the emotional element just right in the story?

This book is very a personal one for me. My wife and I struggled for years before becoming pregnant with our first child. And again with our second. It was a difficult and, at times, very heartbreaking road. It can be a very grim and isolated place to be. As time went on, we realized that so many couples everywhere are dealing with the same struggles that we were. I wanted to share our story in a picture book so that parents who had endured similar challenges could share with their children just how meaningful and important it was that these children--these families--could become a reality.

Any new projects that you are working on that you can share with us? 

I'm currently working on illustrating a picture book by authors Audrey Vernick and Liz Garton Scanlon titled BOB NOT BOB with Disney-Hyperion. Also writing and illustrating my first wordless picture book with Feiwel and Friends.

Summer and vacations go hand-in-hand. If you could go on vacation with your favorite book character (either in your own book or from someone else's book) who would you vacation with and what would you do? 

Hmm... since the elephants in WISH are based on my wife and myself... There's no one else I'd rather go on vacation with than my wife. And we couldn't leave without our kiddos. I'd love it if we all got to go to Australia. (We could even be elephants!)

About the author: 
att Cordell personally knows what it's like to wish. In fact, this book is the heartfelt windfall of him waiting for his wish come true a second time.  Other books Matt has written and illustrated include hello! hello!, Another Brother, and Trouble Gum. He lives in Chicago with his wife, a young daughter, and an even younger son. Visit matthewcordell.com to learn more.

Thank you to Disney Hyperion for offering a giveaway of this very special book. To enter the giveaway, please complete the rafflecopter below. Winners must be 13 years or older and have an US mailing address.

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 7/13/15

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys.  Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now...you just might discover your next “must-read” book!

Normally, I love this "meme" and participate in it very consistently. In the past, I have missed a week or two here and there. However, the first six months of this year life has been less than normal for me. As a way of getting things back on track, I am trying to get back to my normal reading and blogging routine, which means getting back to this meme. 

To do that, I am doing a mega-catch up post with my favorite books from the past 3 months (April 1 to July 13th).  Please note: I have included release dates for books coming out in August, September, & October. 

Picture Books:

Anna Banana and the Chocolate Explosion by Dominique Roques; Illustrated by Alexis Dormal (First Second, June 2015) - If you have not read Sleep Tight, Anna Banana, I would add that to you list as well. Both feature an adorable tyke and lots of mischief.  

Everyone Loves Bacon by Kelly DiPucchio; Illustrated by Eric Wight (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, September 1, 2015) - Whether you like bacon or not, this will be one book that you will want to read when it comes out. It also has a great ending. 

I Used to Be Afraid by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Roaring Brook Press, September 29, 2015) - I am a big fan of Seeger's work and this one is a bit different but just as enjoyable. Also, it has a fabulous ending. 

Lenny & Lucy by Philip C. Stead; Illustrated by Erin E. Stead (Roaring Brook Press, October 6, 2015) - The team of Stead and Stead are back with another charming book of friendship and imagination. 

Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett; Illustrated by Christian Robinson (Chronicle Books, August 25, 2015) - There are a lot of friendship books out there but this may just be one of my favorites. It is hard to be a friend when you are a ghost, but there is just the right friend out there.  

Miss Hazeltine's Home for Shy and Fearful Cats by Alicia Potter; Illustrated by Birgitta Sif (Knopf Books for Young Readers, May 2015) - Sure cat lovers will adore this book, but it really is about finding courage and facing your fears. 

My Pen by Christopher Myers (Disney-Hyperion, March 10, 2015) - A beautifully illustrated book about imagination. 

One Day, The End: Short, Very Short, Shorter-than-Ever Stories by Rebecca Kai Dotlich; Illustrated by Fred Koehler (Boyds Mills Press, October 6, 2015) - This is probably one of my favorite books of 2015 and you will be hearing more about this one from me.

The Skunk by Mac Barnett; Illustrated by Patrick McDonnell (Roaring Brook Press, April 2015) - Quirky and wonderful - just what you can expect from Barnett & McDonnell. 

Where's Walrus? And Penguin? by Stephen Savage (Scholastic, September 29, 2015) - A Wonderful follow-up to Where's Walrus? 

Early Readers/Early Chapter Books:

Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon (Tales from Deckawoo Drive #2) by Kate DiCamillo; Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen (Candlewick Press, August 25, 2015) - The 2nd book in the Deckawoo Drive series. I think it maybe even better than the first one and I enjoyed that one too.

I Will Take a Nap! by Mo Willems (Disney-Hyperion, June 2, 2015) - I had a blast reading this with Cynthia Alaniz at ALA.  Another fun Elephant & Piggie book to share with young readers. 

Little Shaq by Shaquille O'Neal; Illustrated by Theodore Taylor III (Bloomsbury Children's, October 6, 2015) - This is the first book in a new early chapter book series by Shaquille O'Neal. It will easily find fans. 

Piper Green and the Fairy Tree by Ellen Potter; Illustrated by Qin Leng (Knopf Books for Young Readers, August 4, 2015) - Ellen Potter is back with a new early chapter book set in Maine and a one room school house. I look forward to further books in the series. 

The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale; Illustrated by LeUyen Pham (Candlewick, October 13, 2015) - The Princess in Black is back and it is hard to celebrate your birthday, entertain friends, and fight monsters. Fans of the first book will certainly enjoy this follow-up. 

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones; Illustrated by Katie Kath (Knopf Books for Young Readers, May 2015) - This one is really more of a transition books for readers moving from early chapter books to MG novels. And of course anything with chickens has to be funny and this one certainly is fun to read.

Waiting by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books, September 1, 2015) - Henkes is back with a charming story of life on a windowsill for a group of toys. 

Graphic Novels:

Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoola; Illustrated by Emily Carroll (Candlewick Press, August 4, 2015) - For fans of Baba Yaga tales, McCoola provides a just right creepy retelling of the classic story. Carroll (Through the Woods ) illustrative style matches perfectly. 

Bad Babysitter (Babymouse #19) by Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm (Random House, April 14, 2015) - As with everything Babymouse faces ups and downs when taking on her first babysitting duties. 

Extraordinary Warren Saves the Day (Book 2) by Sarah Dillard (Aladdin 2014) - An early graphic novel that features a chicken. As I said earlier, chicken stories are always funny and this one will entertain young readers. 

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm (Scholastic Graphix, August 25, 2015) - As the 9 yro in my life said , "I liked that it had funny parts, and serious parts, and parts where she is younger. I really liked it." Different from Jenni & Matt Holm's previous graphic novels but sure to be a hit with readers. 

Middle Grade Novels:

George by Alex Gino (Scholastic, August 25, 2015) - George is a fourth grade boy who identifies as a girl and aspires to play Charlotte (Charlotte's Web) in a school play. The emotional challenge of keeping such a big secret and the struggle in determining how to reveal it to family and friends is handled with sensitivity and hope. 

The Great Good Summer by Liz Garton Scanlon (Beach Lane Books, May 2015) - Scanolon's first novel is filled with honest emotions, big questions, friendship, and a road trip of discovery.

The Inker's Shadow by Allen Say (Scholastic, September 29, 2015) Say's follow-up to Drawing From Memory takes readers further on the journey that Say faced in becoming an artist/illustrator. 

The Marvels by Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press, September 15, 2015) - Though this may follow in the footsteps of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck, The Marvels is unique in it's own way. This one moved me on a very deep emotional level and if you cry easily, I recommend a box of tissues. 

Ruby On the Outside by Nora Raleigh Baskin (Simon & Schuster, June 16, 2015) - This will be a quiet book and may need help finding the right readers. However, there are children out there holding tightly onto secrets and afraid to make a friend or trust someone because of their secrets. 

Nonfiction (for more nonfiction check out the #nfpb2015 challenge on Wednesdays):

The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch by Chris Barton; Illustrated by Don Tate (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, April 1, 2015) - I had little to no background knowledge of John Roy Lynch. Barton provides young readers with enough to draw them in and leave them wanting to learn more. Tate's illustrations make readers feel the importance of Lynch and his life. 

The Blue Whale by Jenni Desmond (Enchanted Lion Books, May 2015) - A beautiful book about a beautiful creature. Desmond uses text and illustrations to help children understand importance information about Blue Whales.

Enormous Smallness: A Story of E.E. Cummings by Matthew Burgess; Illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo (Enchanted Lion Books, April 7, 2015) - A wonderful picture book introduction to the life of E.E. Cummings. 

Jump Back, Paul: The Life and Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar by Sally Derby; Illustrated by Sean Qualls (Candlewick Press, September 22, 2015) Poetry and prose mix together to tell about the life of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. 

Photos Framed: A Fresh Look at the World's Most Memorable Photographs by Ruth Thompson, Various (Candlewick, 2014) - This is one of those books that invites discussion and thought.  Through the use of photographs, background information, questions and zooming in and out, readers are left to create their own conclusions.

Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation by Peggy Thomas; Illustrations by Stacy Innerst (Calkins Creek, September 8, 2015) - It would be interesting to pull together the various picture book biographies on Thomas Jefferson in order to look at the various aspects of this leader's life. Thomas provides readers with further insight to Jefferson's agricultural interests, as well as, his work in France.

Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews; Illustrated by Bryan Collier (Abrams, April 2015) - An entertaining autobiographical picture book about the early life of Trombone Shorty and the path that led him to becoming an internationally known jazz musician.

So, what are you reading? 

YA Friday Book Review: Palace of Lies

Palace of Lies
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (April 7, 2015)
Audience: Young Adult
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

"Desmia discovers the reality of royalty is far from a fairy tale in this third adventure set in the Cinderella-esque world of Just Ella and Palace of Mirrors, from New York Times bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix.

Desmia and her twelve sister-princesses are ruling Suala together at last, a united front. The kingdom seems to have finally gotten its happily ever after, but Desmia, trained by a lifetime of palace intrigue, is not so sure. She desperately wants to believe all is well, but she can’t help seeing danger around every corner.

And then the unthinkable happens, and Desmia’s worst fears are confirmed. Now, without the support of the sister-princesses she’s grown to rely on or the trappings of royalty that have always convinced people to listen to her, Desmia must find the courage to seek out the truth on her own terms—and to determine the course of two kingdoms."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:

Warning: There may be spoilers for Palace of Mirrors. You have been duly warned.

As a fan of Margaret Peterson Haddix, I was overjoyed to discover that she would be publishing a third book in the Palace Chronicles. While the first book, Just Ella, is a smart and realistic take on the Cinderella story, the second book also turns a common fantasy trope on its head. Focusing on another country within the same universe, Palace of Mirrors follows Cecelia, who has been taught her entire life to believe that she's the secretly hidden heir to the throne...until she arrives at the palace only to realize that twelve other girls have the exact same story. Better yet, Desmia, the princess who supposedly was a stand-in to protect the real princess from harm, believes that she's the real princess. Filled with political intrigue, Palace of Mirrors ends happily with the thirteen princesses sharing rule in a monarchy/oligarchy arrangement. I knew that the story didn't end there, though. I always thought that Desmia had it the worst - used as a pawn by her royal advisor her entire life and then suddenly discovering twelve other girls have an equal claim to the throne wouldn't exactly be easy - and so her story seemed the most interesting to me, so naturally I was thrilled when I heard the third installment would focus on her story. 

Palace of Lies picks up a month after the end of Palace of Mirrors. While the princesses have settled into the political arrangement, Desmia finds it hard to deal with such a large group of girls, especially as she's the only one who's had to face scheming courtiers and backstabbing advisors before. Her cynicism and suspicion prove to be a barrier to relating to her sisters, as she feels that she's the only one who can see what's actually going on. Desmia's relational problems within the group setting are intensely relatable, as she has to explain that she's the only one who really knows how to handle delicate political situations while deftly avoiding group politics - no easy feat. But when a calculated attack separates Desmia from her sisters and from the palace, she finds herself venturing forth into the world to save herself, her sisters, and her country in a soul-searching and heartfelt journey to to find her allies in a neighboring kingdom. Throughout the novel, Desmia discovers the world outside of palace, as well as a long-lost relative, and finds a sense of courage and determination. Her character development is brilliantly accomplished, taking into consideration Desmia's unique skills and flaws that resulted from her isolated childhood (such as her agoraphobia or her propensity to pick locks). The cast of characters is vast and varied, bringing back many of the characters from the previous two books, as well as adding some fantastic new characters. Desmia's story and her voice as a character shine in Palace of Lies.

Palace of Lies is great for fans of fairy-tales and those who enjoy Haddix's excellent writing. 

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.