Sitting Bull by S.D. Nelson Book Review

Sitting Bull:Lakota Warrior and Defender of his People by S.D. Nelson
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Release Date: November 3, 2015

From the viewpoint of Sitting Bull's spirit, he tells of his experiences with the white man and how his tribe was treated by the US Government. Starting with his childhood and leading up to him being named war chief, he details what life was like for his people before and after the wasichus arrive, finally culminating in the battles of Killdeer Mountain and Little Bighorn.

Telling the history of Native Americans to children, without glossing over the dark details of that narrative is tricky. Many non-fiction books seem to handle this simply by focusing on what the tribe was like. What they ate, drank, lived in, etc. Not that this isn't important within an anthropological sense, but it also glosses over the ugly truth. This book did a good job of finding the balance between cultural information and dark facts, making it appropriate for an elementary school reader while still addressing pressing issues.

Nelson has once again written a fabulous Native American story that mixes the rich cultural heritage of the Lakota peoples and the dark history that surrounds them.

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray Book Review

Lair of Dreams (The Diviners #2) by Libba Bray
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: August 25, 2015

The cat is out of the bag. The world knows all about Evie O'Neill and the other diviners like her. In 1920s New York City diviners are considered the cat's meow, making Evie an instant celebrity. Evie isn't exactly being the best of friends with anyone though. Haunted by her experiences with a serial-killer ghost, Evie is self-medicating with alcohol and celebrity.

Meanwhile, something supernatural is happening within people's dreams. The sleeping sickness is sweeping through Chinatown and beyond, the people falling into dreams and being consumed from the inside out. Within they are experiencing the best fantasy they have ever had, but if they should resist, it quickly turns into their worst nightmare. Dreamwalker Henry DuBois and Ling Chan find themselves in the dream world often, but have no idea that they are getting dangerously close to the source of the sleeping sickness. As Henry searches for his lost love and Ling becomes friends with another dreamwalker, their friends are trying to protect them from themselves. But they too are struggling with diviner powers. Theta is having trouble controlling her ability to set things on fire. Memphis, who is also in love with Theta, can heal again. Sam accidentally reveals his powers to manipulate people. Jericho is a walking, breathing miracle thanks to a secret elixir.

I love these books. Terribly creepy with complex characters that left me wanting more while giving me enough closure to feel complete. Evie is wholly unlikable in a way that was believable. Basically, this girl has some PTSD issues and is just a little too selfish to not self-destruct. The sweetest storyline was in Henry DuBois who is searching for his lover, George, within dreams since he has been unsuccessful in the awake world. It is heartbreaking the levels that Henry will go to to find the one he loves, no matter the cost. I could go on and on about each character and the things they are each struggling with, but should leave it with a simple note that every reader will probably have their favorites and unlike the first book, there is no clear main character this time.

Also, the amount of diversity and attention to each diverse character's story should be noted. Henry is a gay man in 1920-something and issue that was dealt with by his father exactly how you would imagine. Theta is a runaway wife who is in falling in love with a black man. There is a point in the story where they are walking together planning a date and when some people walk by, Memphis falls back behind her, knowing how people might react. Ling is a half-Chinese half-Irish girl whose legs have been weakened by Polio. She wears braces and uses crutches and has to deal with the growing anti-Chinese sentiment in the city. The complexity of it made the characters feel so well-rounded and real, rather than the caricatures they could easily have become.

A fantastic ghost story where you will never think of the song "Beautiful Dreamer" in the same way again.

My Story My Dance by Lesa Cline-Ransome Book Review

My Story My Dance: Robert Battle's Journey to Alvin Ailey by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Illustrations by James E. Ransome
Foreward by Robert Battle
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paul Wiseman Books
Release Date: October 27, 2015

When Robert Battle was a boy he wore painful leg braces. He never imagined that one day he would go to Julliard or become a director of a dance company, the very same one that motivated him to dance in the first place. This is the story of that journey from leg braces to martial arts to dancing. It is about passion and dreams. For Robert Battle dance was a way to tell stories and in this book it is just another way to share this rich tradition with a new generation.

When it comes to picture book biographies there is always a careful balance that must be made between the amount of textual information and illustrations. For me, there was far too much text for a picture book. Although I thought the information and story of Robert Battle's journey was fascinating there were times where I felt like there was too much information and at others, I felt like I was missing a piece of the puzzle. For example: It was a bit confusing who was raising Robert and why he was being passed around from family member to family member. Worse than missing this information was that this would have been a good moment to let the reader know how Robert felt about this, but what was strangely lacking throughout most of the story were feelings. Instead the story just felt glossy. Full of dreams and the fulfillment of them and not much else.

But let us not forget that Robert Battle has created some beautiful dances and although this book doesn't work for me as a picture book biography, it doesn't take away from the amazing accomplishments that he has achieved in the world of dance.

Robo-Sauce by Adam Rubin Book Review

Robo-Sauce by Adam Rubin
Illustrations by Daniel Salmieri
Publisher: Dial Books
Release Date: October 20, 2015

4 cups of Tumbleberries. 1 sprig of Sparkenfarfle. A few other random things added in and Flash Bang Boom, you have a recipe for Robo-Sauce.

This book is fantastically fun. One kid plays robots until he turns everyone into robots, with a fun...and quite literal twist at the end.

What we really need to talk about with this book is the production quality. For those who need reminding, book production is what I do for a living and after reading this book I took it to work the next day to show my boss and all our designers, because it was that cool. Let's tick off the things that make this book different...and expensive. First is the fact that this book is printed with five colors, the fifth being a bright orange neon spot color that really stands out in the world of traditional CMYK. The second is one of the most fabulous flaps I have ever seen. About 2/3 of the way through the book, a page pulls out and turns into an alternative jacket. (see the video below for an example). This pullout has metallic spot color and turns the story into another book...in a way. Now, let's be honest, this book is not going to hold up very well to multiple reads at the hands of grabby little ones. On a design level it is awesome, but on a practical level, not so much. Don't get me wrong, kids are going to love this one, it's just a book that parents should probably keep on a high shelf to be read with supervision and librarians will probably pass on.

Lailah's Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi Book Review

Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi
Publisher: Tilbury House Publishers
Release Date: May 1, 2015

Lailah is finally old enough to fast during the month of Ramadan like her family and friends, but finding a way to explain that to her teacher and classmates in Atlanta is difficult. She wants to tell them because she is proud, but since they are all non-Muslim, will they understand? Mr. Scrabble, the librarian, has some good advice for her though and is able to help her tell her friends about her beliefs.

I wish I had run into this book last July during Ramadan, but alas I did not, so I must review it now in hopes that people will find it in time for the next year. The author, like Lailah, had the same experience as her young character. Moving is difficult enough, but when you start adding in language, culture, and religion, things can get hard. What I love about this book is that rather than be a didactic story to teach children about Ramadan, it serves two functions. The first is to teach, but this book can also be used for children who are having a difficult time in a new place as someone of a minority faith. There are quite a few children who may be able to relate to this story and some who may never feel comfortable sharing theirs, but this is a wonderful little book that definitely deserves attention for all students, Muslim and not.

Miracle on 133rd Street by Sonia Manzano Book Review

Miracle on 133rd Street by Sonia Manzano
Illustrations by Marjorie Priceman
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 22, 2015

It's Christmas Eve and Mami wants to make a Christmas roast just like she remembers from Puerto Rico. The feast may never come when the roast won't fit in their small apartments oven. Jose and Papa decide to take their roast to the local pizzeria to see if they will cook the roast for them. As they walk down the stairs of their apartment one can see that the residents of this building have clearly not in the Christmas spirit. Yet when they return a few hours later with a cooked roast, the smell of such a feast lifts the spirits of everyone they pass. Soon, Mami's house is full of cheer just like back home in Puerto Rico.

Ah the first Christmas book review of the season and what a one to start on. Although this is set during Christmas it could very well have been set at any time. At its core this is the story of friendship, community, and how all of those things can be brought together with food. It is also a story of longing and homesickness. Mami doesn't just want a good Christmas, she wants to provide her family with the kind of Christmas she remembers from her childhood. This is a sentiment that I can relate to as I am the kind of person who clings to holiday traditions, even the ones that may seem silly to some people.

A great deal of emphasis is placed on the multi-cultural nature within this community, which was both believable and refreshing. The illustrations are bright and lively and I swear as I read it, I too could smell that cooked roast.

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel Book Review

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel 
Illustrations by Jon Klassen
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: October 6, 2015

The baby was born sickly. Steve's parents worry and fret as they drive the baby back and forth from one doctor's appointment to the next, never sure if the news will be good or bad. Steve has always been a worrier though, so what's one more thing to worry about? That is until he is stung by a strange wasp and begins to have eerie dreams. The Queen says that she is going to replace the baby with a new one, one that isn't sickly. At first this seems like a good idea, but as he gets more and more details, Steve begins to realize that things are not right. That new baby isn't going to be his brother. He doesn't know what it will be, but it won't be Teddy. And then he learns what the wasps intend to do with his real brother.

Much like David Almond's Skellig, The Nest weaves a creepy tale that feels just a tad too close to home. The initial situation, one of a sickly baby and an anxious child who is just a little too young to be told everything that is going on is firmly believable and understandable. Which is why when the wasps are first introduced, like Steve, the reader wants to believe that it is just a dream. Who has ever heard of wasps making a baby in their nest? In the beginning, when this element was introduced, I truly hoped that it would all turn out to be real and not some kind of dream or hallucination and the book delivered. This is no dream. There is a Queen wasp who is creating a new baby in a nest attached to Steve's house. She is going to replace the sickly baby with it and all she needs is for Steve to say yes and open a window. That's all.

Steve is also a great character in that he clearly has some OCD issues, has difficulty making friends, and is very anxious. Although this could mean that Steve is on the autism spectrum, I like that Oppel didn't label it. Besides there are plenty of kids out there who have these issues and aren't labeled with any particular disability. It just speaks to a larger audience that way and doesn't turn it into a "disability" book. (Disclaimer: Nothing wrong with these types of books, but I do like the idea that disabilities can be in a book without the book being about disabilities)

There were a couple of times when I may have said, "Holy shit" out loud, but mostly because I don't do creepy very well (don't ask my why I am reading the second Diviners book). I did have one issue with the Knife Man and not feeling like his presence was explained fully enough, but it wasn't enough to ruin the book. Perfect for kids who love a bit of horror and are middle grade readers of David Almond, Mary Hahn Downing, and Neil Gaiman.

Lizard From the Park by Mark Pett Book Review

Lizard From the Park by Mark Pett
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 8, 2015

While walking through the park, Leonard finds an egg. Inside is...a lizard! Leonard soon has a problem, though, and it's bigger than you can imagine. Will Leonard be able to keep his lizard under wraps, or is it becoming too much trouble to handle?

Let's just say it. Leonard hasn't found a lizard...Leonard found a dinosaur. Which is awesome. It does take a few pages for the reader to realize that this lizard is not what it seems, but this only adds to the comic factor. For those who are in love with books set in New York City, this one is right up your alley, hitting up most of the NYC highlights like the NY Public Library, subway, The American Museum of Natural History, and even a stop for a cronut. The illustrations are adorable as all of Mark Pett's work is, playing on the same color palette as The Girl and the Bicycle and The Boy and the Airplane  sans the brown background. And Leonard is just way too cute. Perfect for dreamers, travelers, and kids who have visited or live in NYC, Lizard From the Park is a simple story with big character.

Stand Off by Andrew Smith Book Review

Stand Off (Winger #2) by Andrew Smith 
Illustrations by Sam Bosma
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 8, 2015

It is Ryan Dean's senior year at Pine Mountain and things are looking like shit, which Ryan Dean would never say out loud because he doesn't curse. Haunted by his past, Ryan Dean sees disaster everywhere. First is the disaster known as Sam Abernathy, Ryan Dean's twelve-year-old freshman roommate with a severe claustrophobia and a pension for microwave popcorn. Then there is his girlfriend Annie seems to be drifting further away from him. And what about the coach who wants to make him team captain of the rugby team, but it will mean filling the place that his best friend Joey used to have and Ryan Dean doesn't think he is up for that. Add in crippling night-time anxiety attacks and N.A.T.E. (the Next Accidental Terrible Experience) ready to strike at any time, and Ryan Dean is sure he is going insane.

In this second installment we return with Ryan Dean, the lovable oaf from Winger who curses only in his head and somehow has a smoking hot girlfriend. Unlike the last book though, Ryan Dean has become a bit of a dick. After what happened to Joey, Ryan Dean is dealing with a lot and everything at Pine Mountain reminds him of his former best friend. Perhaps this is the reason he decides that he is going to hate his new roommate. Not that his roommate makes it hard for him, insisting on sleeping with the window open and being so damned nice all the time. The kid looks like a cherub so of course he should be loathed. It was hard watching Ryan Dean self-destruct in a way that only really hurt people can do. He pushes everyone away and is still so sure that he is a loser that he begins to make it a self-fulfilling prophecy. The thing is, Ryan Dean really is a cool kid even when he is being a complete douche, he just doesn't have Joey around the remind him of that.

I also love that these books deal with issues surrounding being gay. The first book dealt with it in a different way than this one, but both encompass experiences that felt authentic even if they were a bit tidy. There are some great rugby moments, a few tear-jerking incidents, one grief-stricken brother, too many unspoken curse words, and my favorite--Ryan Dean driving a car for the first time. You do need to read the first book to understand this one, but I promise, you will love Ryan Dean so much that you will be more than willing to read two books about him.

How the Sun Got to Coco's House by Bob Graham Book Review

How the Sun Got to Coco's House by Bob Graham
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release Date: September 22, 2015

As Coco sleeps, the sun creeps over a hill and skids across the water, touching a fisherman's cap. It heads out over frozen forests, making shadows in a child's footprints. It wakes furry creatures, comes across cities and countryside, until it finally barges into Coco's room and follows her throughout her day.

Cleverly told, this is a story that explores various cultures around the world all through the lens of the sun as our world spins around it. I like that this wasn't like the last several books I have read that are similar in that it doesn't use time and time zones, giving the book more freedom than most concept books. Graham explores the world using beautiful language and imagery, giving readers a peak into some of the many lives that it touches. Moreover, I would say that this book is actually a great introduction into scientific concepts regarding the rotation of the earth, the sun, seasons, and time zones.

Elephant in the Dark by Mina Javaherbin Book Review

Elephant in the Dark by Mina Javaherbin
Illustrations by Eugene Yelchin
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: August 25, 2015

Based on Rumi's classic poem, Elephant in the Dark is a retelling of the Three Blind Men and the Elephant. When the villagers hear of a mysterious creature that has come all the way from India, each sneaks into the dark barn to find out what it could be. Each returns reporting a different animal. A snake, a tree trunk, a fan. Who is right?

Don't you hate when the cover a book ruins the book itself. Of course, I am familiar with this classic tale, but the point is that most young children (for whom this book is geared) are not. They are let in on the secret from the beginning as there is an elephant on the cover. Now, to be entirely fair, the poem itself lets the reader know that it is an elephant from the beginning so the didactic nature of the piece is inherent, but it would have been fun, since this was a picture book, to use an element of surprise.

The story itself is timeless though, a message that I think a lot of people need to be reminded of. That sometimes we cannot see the bigger picture or only have a piece of the truth and so we base our opinions on minimal information. The illustrations are based on a classical Persian art, while giving itself a modern influence. In the end, I have seen better adaptations, but this one is nicely illustrated which is its saving grace.

Oskar and the Eight Blessings by Richard Simon & Tanya Simon Book Review

Oskar and the Eight Blessings by Richard Simon & Tanya Simon
Illustrations by Mark Siegel
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Release Date: September 8, 2015

It begins with the Night of Broken Glass, an incident that forces Oskar's family to send him far away to New York City, to keep him safe. As young Oskar walks through the streets, searching for the home of his Aunt he encounters eight different blessings from eight different people that make his arrival special.

A beautiful picture book that weaves together many historical elements into a cohesive story that can be used for so many purposes. It is, at its heart, about looking for kindness in our fellow man, but more than that it is also about longing, home, refugees, religion, and family. The illustrations perfectly capture the cold and loneliness of this big new city, while also displaying the moments of warmth. I especially loved the moment when Oskar encounters Eleanor Roosevelt, who was in NYC during that time, even though the encounter with Oskar is purely fictional. And the moment when Oskar is reunited with his Aunt--captivating.

Monster Trouble! by Lane Fredrickson Book Review

Monster Trouble! by Lane Fredrickson
Illustrations by Michael Robertson
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books
Release Date: September 1, 2015

Nothing scares Winifred Schnitzel, but the neighborhood monsters are causing her some problems, mostly because they won't let her sleep. Exhausted, Winifred has tried everything to get her growling companions to move on, but they will have none of it. The traps don't work. She can't scare them. Then Winifred stumbles upon a secret--Monsters don't like kisses.

How adorable is Winifred? The illustrations in this book are fantastic. Winifred is so vibrant and determined. The monsters just the right amount of scary, and just the right amount goofy, especially when it comes down to kisses. I love that instead of trying to teach about how not to be afraid (since Winifred is not), this story is about how to get rid of monsters once and for all. They are seen as nuisances rather than anything needing to be worried about. Seeing as monsters are a typical worry for young children, I think this book would fit in nicely with bedtime story cannon and is perfect for the child who needs a way to banish monsters, whether they are afraid or not.

Love is the Drug by Alaya Dawn Johnson Book Review

Love is the Drug by Alaya Dawn Johnson
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Release Date: September 30, 2014

Emily Bird was raised to not ask questions. She is supposed to be the perfect child. Smart, obedient, and headed for an Ivy-league school. Then one night at a party, Bird meets a man named Roosevelt, a homeland security agent who may be linked to her parents and their secretive jobs. Eight days later she is waking up in a hospital with no memory of that night or the ones in-between. While she was unconscious, she also finds that a deadly flu virus has swept the nation. Roosevelt clearly believes that Bird remembers or knows something she shouldn't, but what is it? The only person Bird can trust is Coffee, a genius outsider who deals drugs to their classmates and is a firm believer in conspiracy theories. Coffee tried to help her that night. As Bird and Coffee dig deeper into what happened, Bird stumbles across one of the biggest government scandals in US history.

I like dystopian. Whether it is set while the pending apocalypse is taking place or far into the future, I am always entertained by the worlds that authors create. What made this story chilling yet entirely boring was that this world is our own. Nothing is different and I dare say, after the Ebola outbreak last year, a little too realistic.

There is a lot of emphasis placed on drugs in this story, with Bird eventually trying some hallucinogens in hopes of regaining her lost memories. What wasn't clear to me was why each chapter began with a drug chemical composition because in the end, none of it mattered. This story wasn't about drugs or at least it shouldn't have been. It was about cover-ups and mistakes. It was about what lengths some people will do to keep a secret and what others will do to find one.

Sadly, the pacing of this story felt very off. Things happened agonizingly slow. Almost a month passes between that one fateful night and Bird attempting to get her memories back and we get to be with her through all of those tortuous weeks. Also, lucky us, we get to watch as she slowly falls in love with Coffee and comes into her new identity that is no longer under her mother's thumb. To be clear this book was not badly written, it had complex characters and culture and paid great attention to detail. Bird's parents oscillate between sympathetic and cruel. Bird herself struggles with her identity not only as a woman, but also a woman of color, and her her place in her family and her family's expectations.

A thumb's up for the setting being somewhere besides New York City or California and two thumbs up for the fact that this is ultimately a light science fiction with a young black woman as it's main protagonist. Not to mention that most of the main characters in this book are people of color. I wish that this was a normal occurrence, but sadly it is not and so I will continue to hold books like this up high, even if I didn't like it, as a great example of what diversity can look like in any genre.

Hilo by Judd Winick Book Review

Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth (Book 1) by Judd Winick
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 1, 2015

D.J. and his friend Gina are totally normal kids. That is, until a boy falls from the sky. Hilo doesn't know where he came from or why, but he does know that whatever is going on, it probably isn't good.

Starting in the middle of the action, I absolutely loved that this story began with the two main characters running for their lives and screaming for about seven pages. Laugh-out-loud funny, Hilo draws on all the humorous elements that both children and adults love reminding me of the old comic strips like Calvin's (from Calvin & Hobbes) Spaceman Spiff, but with more diversity. There were so many wonderful moments throughout the book that I almost wanted to read it aloud, although then it would lose some of its visual charm.

The characters are great. D.J. is rather lonely, not very adventurous, and completely relateable kid, which is what makes Hilo such a great foil for him. Gena, D.J.'s once and now once again neighbor has changed a lot in the years, but as with any true friendship, it withstands the test of time and some growing up. Perhaps it is because I have read so many books lately where the friendships are drifting apart, that I actually found the rekindling of a friendship to be rather refreshing. Spoiler: Hilo, although looking like a blond-haired boy, is in fact a robot from another dimension. And he didn't come alone. Once his memory returns, Hilo goes from being a gooftastic little boy to a scared artificial intelligence with a big mission to accomplish.

Perfect for graphic novel fans who like Cleopatra in Space or Zita the Spacegirl and lots of humor.

Jake Makes a World by Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts Book Review

Jake Makes a World: Jacob Lawrence, A Young Artist in Harlem by Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts
Illustrations by Christopher Myers
Publisher: MoMA
Release Date: June 30, 2015

Jacob Lawrence found his artistic inspiration in the people and streets of Harlem. Intricate patterns, bright colors, sounds, smells, and people all played integral roles as he developed into a renowned artist.

Whenever I read these artist biographies, I am instantly reminded how woeful my art history education is. Although I am sometimes vaguely familiar with these artists because I do actually love visiting art museums, but I rarely know their stories.

Perhaps it is this gap of understanding that loves these types of books so much. There is a lot of Lawrence's actual artwork included in the book, but Myers was also able to capture Lawrence's style while making the illustrations his own. There is a great flow in the text although I wanted a bit more in the end. This is a typical feeling I have when reading children's book biographies though as it is nearly impossible to distill an entire person's life into a 32-page picture book.

Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews Book Review

Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews 
Illustrations by Bryan Collier
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Release Date: April 14, 2015

Hailing from the Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews got his nickname by weilding a trombone twice as long as he was high. A child prodigy, he was leading his own jazz band at the age of six and got to play on stage with Bo Diddly around the same age. Now, Trombone Shorty is a Grammy-nominated artist.

This is the story of music and love and determination. It's about being true to yourself, of doing whatever you have to do to do the thing you love to do. Finding an old trombone on the street, Trombone Shorty was playing when he was just out of diapers. He carried this huge trombone around with him and despite its size, he could really play. I absolutely loved everything about this book. The illustrations are incredible, so vibrant and full of energy, just like the setting of New Orleans. There is so much heart and passion in the story too, the words singing on each page, full of their own kind of jazz. And how adorable is this picture of little Trombone Shorty playing on stage with Bo Diddly? Precious.

Trombone Shorty, thirteen-years-old:

Lillian's Right to Vote by Jonah Winter Book Review

Lillian's Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by Jonah Winter
Illustrations by Shane W. Evans
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade
Release Date: July 14, 2015

An elderly African American woman, en route to vote, remembers her family’s tumultuous voting history in this picture book publishing in time for the fiftieth anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As Lillian, a one-hundred-year-old African American woman, makes a “long haul up a steep hill” to her polling place, she sees more than trees and sky—she sees her family’s history. She sees the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment and her great-grandfather voting for the first time. She sees her parents trying to register to vote. And she sees herself marching in a protest from Selma to Montgomery. This is about one woman's fierce determination to make it up the hill and make her voice heard.

I wish I could have posted this review on the actual 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, but alas I am a few weeks late. What an extraordinary book. Beautiful in its illustrations and words, Lillian is the embodiment of a movement that spanned a century and more. She remembers her mother, the struggle, women earning the right to vote, the tests, the ridicule, and the pain that were the benchmarks of her life. Moments intertwining in memory as she makes her slow march up a hill. 

It is books like this that remind me of why it is so important to vote, because the right to do so wasn't always a thing. It wasn't for those who had been enslaved. It wasn't for women. It wasn't for so many people. The privilege is important, even when it feels like your vote doesn't count. Although I cannot possibly understand the struggle that many African-Americans went through to earn this right, I am so pleased that we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary that marks it. 

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy Book Review

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy and Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah
Illustrations by Thomas Gonzalez
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers
Release Date: August 31, 2009

14 Cows for America In June of 2002, a ceremony begins in a village in western Kenya. Hundreds of Maasai surround an American diplomat to bestow a gift on the American people. The gift is as unsought and unexpected as it is extraordinary. A mere nine months have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw. Tears flow freely as these legendary warriors offer their gift to a grieving people half a world a Full description.

It is that day again. The day when many of us think back on that terrible terrible day fourteen years ago. Perhaps it is fitting that I should discover this book, 14 Cows for America exactly fourteen years later. My heart still aches, but this book actually brought a bittersweet smile to my face. These people, the Maasai, most of which have never even seen a skyscraper, opened their hearts in solidarity with us here in America. Cows, for most of us, mean burgers and milk and their worth is mostly known by those who work with them. Yet, these cows are priceless, a memory for those who have been lost. 

There are so many wonderful books about 9/11 that carefully explore the day in a way that young children will be able to comprehend. This one is my favorite. 

Other 9/11 picture books: The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, Fireboat, September Roses, The Little Chapel That Stood, On That Day, America is Under Attack, 

Nick and Tesla's Special Effects Spectacular by Bob Pfluegfelder Book Review

Nick and Tesla's Special Effects Spectacular: A Mystery with Animatronics, Alien Makeup, Camera Gear, and Other Movie Magic You Can Make Yourself (Nick and Tesla #5) by Bob Pfluegfelder
Illustrations by Steve Hockensmith
Publisher: Quirk Books
Release Date: May 5, 2015

Nick and Tesla are a brother sister duo who have a knack for science, electronics, and solving mysteries. When a Hollywood production rolls into town helmed by their friend DeMarco's aunt, the kids are giving a behind-the-stage pass to visit. However, someone appears to be sabotaging the film and it is up to Nick, Tesla, DeMarco, and movie-obsessed Silas to find out who.

Starting a series on book five has some serious pitfalls. For example, by this point in the story the characters have been established, which means that although there was a tad bit of backstory, there were times when I was confused as to who was who. Add to that some references to previous books, missing parents, and an absentee Uncle, and I felt like I was definitely starting at a deficit. Seriously, what is going on with the parents? And side note, I absolutely hate these kid's names. It's like naming your twins Marco and Polo or Edgar and Allen. ugh.

This story had a lot of great examples of how movies are actually made. There is a ton of lingo, information about special effects, steadicams, makeup, and even how movie contracts work. Within the book are five different projects that readers can work on that are directly correlated to the stories plot. There is also a lot of emphasis tied to science and technology and a great deal of care in making this book relateable to both girls and boys.

I did think the mystery was a bit weak, but it was a fun adventure so there was that. As a geek, I was a bit annoyed with the portrayal of the comic book store geeks who were protesting the movie shoot as they were the usual cast of stereotypes. Of course, our plucky heroes weren't like those geeks at all, even though they have their own obsessions going on. Like Silas, their filmmaking obsessed friend who seems to know everything about special effects and B-grade movies.

All in all, a fun little adventure for those who love filmmaking or project building, or both.