It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 4/22/24

       

---

Bella and I are excited to share our latest reads in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading.  Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.        

---

Sunny Parker Is Here to Stay by Margaret Finnegan

It’s the summer before sixth grade and on the first day of vacation, Sunny is already bored.  Sure, she has her chores helping her dad who manages Del Mar, the affordable housing apartment complex where they live, but she can’t deny she is a little jealous of her neighbor Minh who got a scholarship to go to the YMCA day camp.  

Sunny keeps busy enjoying walks with her neighbor, Mrs. Garcia.  On one walk, Sunny discovers that the housing authority has proposed building more affordable housing on the grounds of a former elementary school.  When Sunny excitedly tells her dad, he immediately dismisses it saying it will never happen; the wealthy community will not allow another Del Mar. Sunny is stunned. What’s not to like about Del Mar?

Sunny needs to take action, but her dad wants her to lay low and not draw attention to the Del Mar.  Fortunately, with the support of her best friend, Hailey, a petition is circulated in favor of the proposed apartment complex to take to the hearing.  Sunny is here to stay but can she convince others that another Del Mar is an asset to the community? 

Written from Sunny’s point of view, Finnegan captures both her innocence and passion. While Sunny is aware that she and her dad aren’t rich, she never thought of herself as poor.  At the Del Mar, she feels safe and connected to her community which I love. Sensitive topics of race, socio-economic status, and domestic violence are handled delicately but may require discussion depending on the schema of the reader.  An author’s note explains how the novel is based on the author’s own experiences.  Thanks to Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sharing an ARC.  Sunny Parker Is Here to Stay celebrates its book birthday tomorrow on April 23, 2024. 

---

The Secret Elephant: Inspired by A True Story of Friendship by Ellan Rankin

This nonfiction narrative tells the true tale of Sheila, a baby Asian elephant who lived at the Belfast Zoo.  When World War II broke out, Sheila’s keeper, Denise, could not bear to leave the elephant at the zoo all alone.  As a result, Denise covertly brought Sheila home each night and snuck her back to the zoo every morning until…their secret was discovered.  Distraught, Denise returned Sheila to the zoo but quickly devised a new plan; she would live in the enclosure with Sheila until the war ended.  

From the very first pages, this story tugged my heart.  Unlike the other zoo animals who lived communally, Sheila, being the only elephant, was all by herself.  Sheila and Denise had already developed a close bond which was why Denise had to swiftly act.  Rankin’s tender narrative and expressive artwork show the immense love Denise and Sheila had for one another.  I appreciate that Rankin chose Sheila to be the narrator allowing readers to hear her perspective;  I also love that Rankin includes some humor in both the text and illustrations with Sheila drinking from a toilet, leaving a “present” in the dining room, and serving as a footstool.  Kids will adore learning about Sheila and Denise and be inspired to do some of their own research about them.

Thanks to Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sharing a copy.  The Secret Elephant celebrates its book birthday tomorrow on April 23, 2024. 

---

Bella’s Dog Pick of the Week 

Wanting to spread the dog love, Beagles and Books has a weekly feature of highlighting a literary selection with a canine character.

Jump for Joy by Karen Gray Ruelle Illustrated by Hadley Hooper

A young girl, Joy, desperately wanted a dog.  She wasn’t picky; however, she decided she would know her dog when she saw him.

A dog, Jump, desperately wanted a kid.  He wasn’t picky; however, he decided he would know his kid when he saw her. 

Joy made dogs out of flowers, seashells, sticks, and snow.  Jump made kids out of ferns, sand, mud, and snow.  Unfortunately, the flowers and ferns wilted, the seashells and sand washed away, the sticks and mud blew and scattered, and the snow melted.  

But when both Joy and Jump see tulips and ferns growing, their excitement exudes and a miracle happens.  

Jump for Joy lives up to its title.  Ruelle’s narrative is concise in words but large in sentiment. I love the repetition as readers meet both Joy and Jump.  Readers will be wishing for the happy ending which is only a matter of time.  Hooper’s artwork is mostly black and white with just a touch of yellow until the last two page spreads which burst with color and show the sheer happiness of two souls.  My heart (and yours) will explode with warmth!   Jump for Joy published on January 23, 2024. 

---

Bella and I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books!