March 2022 – Beagles & Books

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.

Our Recent Reads:

A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser

After the sudden loss of her father, 11 year old June, her 6 year old sister, and her mother can no longer afford to live in their Chinatown apartment and move to Huey House, a homeless shelter. Depression has consumed June’s mom so June has had to take on the role of parent. Her viola is the only thing that connects June to her dad , but director Ms. MacMillan does not allow instruments at the shelter. Marcus, the head of security, assures June that he will keep her viola safe. To make amends for a prank not intended for June and her sister, Tyrell, a Huey House resident for three years, finds a way to not only reunite June with her viola, but also show her a secluded place to practice. Gradually, June and Tyrell bond over their mutual love of music. Just when June is starting to feel safe, Tyrell overhears Ms. MacMillan talking about a new housing program that aims to relocate families out of shelters. This program’s goal is to make it appear that the homeless numbers are decreasing, but the new housing is undesirable or unsafe. June and Tyrell feel compelled to do something but will anyone pay attention to kids?

While Yan Glaser chose to tell June’s and Tyrell’s story in third person with alternating chapters, readers still get to know each character on a deep personal level conscious of their fears and hopes. I especially appreciate how in the author’s note preceding the novel, Yan Glaser shares the inspiration for Duet for Home having worked as full time in New York City homeless shelters. Yan Glaser gives voice to children whose families are experiencing a hardship as well as social worker Ms. Gonzalez who always had their best interests at heart. What I love most about the story is that Huey House is more than just shelter for families. As June shares, “It has become a place where my family can become whole again.” Both poignant and uplifting, Duet for Home is a story that will tug at your heart but also fill it with hope.

Thanks to the author and Clarion Books for sharing an ARC with my #bookexcursion group. Pre-order now so you can have A Duet for Home on your hands when it publishes next week on April 5, 2022.

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Bobcat Prowling by Maria Gianferrari Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

A companion to Gianferrari’s Coyote Moon and Hawk Rising, Bobcat Prowling is a narrative non-fiction picture book which tells the story of a young bobcat searching for a home range of his own. At the beginning of the story, the mood is serene. Snow covers the ground. A boy waits for his bus as a mother bobcat and her son Yearling wake up on a nearby hill. Not long after, Yearling begins his journey to find a new home. Gianferrari’s melodic text and Ibatoulline’s gorgeous illustrations capture the intensity of Yearling’s lengthy travel.

Each time, Yearling thinks he has found his new home (and next meal), he is thwarted by a resident animal such as a lynx, another bobcat or a wolf who has already laid claim to that territory. Gianferrari’s words and Ibatoulline’s artwork are like a symphony with low tones and high notes. When Yearling discovers a potential new home and dinner, the text and illustrations are soft and calm. Once a resident animal spies Yearling’s presence, the words and artwork are energetic showing the conflict between the two animals. To read my full review, get details on entering giveaway, click here.

Emet’s Box by Jeni Chen

Ever since he was young, painting was Emet’s passion. When his parents encouraged him to focus on his studies, he compiled and then gradually stopped painting packing his art supplies in a box. Emet’s world dramatically and literally changed from colorful to gray! Would Emet ever see color again? Luckily, he spies a multicolored kite and follows it which reignites his love for art.

With concise text and expressive illustrations, Chen’s debut picture book shares the powerful message of how doing what you love fuels you. I especially love that last page spread when Chen shows children engaging in their favorite activities whether it be making music, dancing or playing a sport. Emet’s Box will be a great classroom read aloud where kids could share their passion and how it make them feel. Thanks to Michele McAvoy of Little Press/Blue Bronco Books for sharing an ARC with my #bookexcursion group. Emet’s Box celebrates its book birthday this Friday on April 1, 2022.

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.

Bobo and Pup-Pup series by Vikram Madan Illustrated by Nicola Slater

This early graphic novel series feature two friends, Bobo, a monkey and Pup-Pup, a dog. In the first book, We Love Bubbles, Pup-Pup blows bubbles while Bobo can’t stop popping them resulting in a frustrated Pup-Pup. A now determined Pup-Pup gets Super Bubble Mix to make unpoppable bubbles. Bobo can’t resist popping but when he does, he gets stuck inside. Will his Pup Pup save him? In Let’s Make Cake, the friends see a cake made by mice and decide to make one of their own. When Pup-Pup reads the necessary ingredients, Bobo improvises substituting butter for lemons and salt for sugar and it’s no surprise that their cake is not very tasty. In both books, the theme of friendship is evident, despite their mishaps, the duo have fun spending time together.

Each book has six short chapters with all text appearing in speech bubbles. As a reading specialist, I love how Madan carefully choose words with short vowels, silent e, and high frequency words to support developing readers. Slater’s bright and energetic illustrations fill the pages and will captivate kids. So excited I found this series to share with my students! And stay tuned for Bobo and Pup-Pup’s next adventure, The Funny Book, which releases in October 2022.

Bella and I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books!

“People love dogs. You can never go wrong adding a dog to the story.”
Jim Butcher
#IMWAYR is dedicated to dear Etta, my original book beagle. Blessed that Etta is part of my story.

Blog Tour, Giveaway, Nonfiction, Picture Books

Blog Tour & Giveaway for Bobcat Prowling by Maria Gianferrari

March 25, 2022 lauramossa

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Bella and I are honored to be part of the blog tour for Bobcat Prowling written by Maria Gianferrari and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. This impressive and informative picture book celebrated its book birthday this week on March 22, 2022. Thanks to author Maria Gianferrari and Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan Children’s Books for sharing an electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review:

A companion to Coyote Moon and Hawk Rising, Bobcat Prowling is a narrative non-fiction picture book which tells the story of a young bobcat searching for a home range of his own.

At the beginning of the story, the mood is serene. Snow covers the ground. A boy waits for his bus as a mother bobcat and her son Yearling wake up on a nearby hill. Not long after, Yearling begins his journey to find a new home. Gianferrari’s melodic text and Ibatoulline’s gorgeous illustrations capture the intensity of Yearling’s lengthy travel.

This page spread is my favorite. Yearling has persevered in his travels and will soon find his true home. The sheer joy in his face warms my heart.

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I learned so much from about bobcats from reading Bobcat Rising and there’s more facts in the backmatter. Gianferrari continues learning with All About Bobcats, How to Hunt Like a Bobcat, What’s On the Menu, Further Reading, and Websites and Videos.

With lyrical text, stunning artwork, and fascinating facts, I highly recommend Bobcat Prowling to add to libraries small and large-home, classroom, school, and public!

About the Author:

Maria-blackandwhite

Maria Gianferrari is a community scientist, self-taught naturalist, and bird nerd who holds an M.A. in Creative Writing and a Ph.D. in English. She is the author of narrative nonfiction picture books which celebrate urban ecosystems, the natural world and our wild neighbors. She also writes engaging expository nonfiction. And as a lover of dogs, Maria’s fiction picture books star dogs as main characters and explore the human-canine bond. She writes from her light-filled, book-lined study in Massachusetts with rescue dog, Maple at her side.

Enter Beagles & Books’ Giveaway!

Follow me @lauramossa on Twitter and retweet my Bobcat Prowling giveaway tweet.
Check out the bloggers below to read more reviews and enter giveaways!

#Bookexcursion, Early Readers, It's Monday! What Are You Reading?, Middle Grade Literature, Novels in Verse, Picture Books

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 3/21/22

March 20, 2022March 21, 2022 lauramossa

Our Recent Reads:

Wave by Diana Firad

Set in 1980s California, 13 year old Ava can’t wait to spend her summer surfing, singing, and being with her best friends Phoenix and Naz. Her surgeon mother decides she should volunteer at her hospital which makes Ava resentful especially when she accidentally falls and fractures a bone in her leg. Being in a cast on the beach isn’t fun but things get worse when Phoenix’s cancer returns. Phoenix has survived lymphoma before but can he conquer this wave again? Worried about Phoenix and her identity, given her father’s absence and her struggle between being both Persian and American, Ava seeks solace in song and Rumi poetry.

Written in verse from the perspective of Ava, Wave is both heartbreaking and hopeful. Farid’s poetry is beautifully written exploring Ava’s inner conflicts. One of her highlights of volunteering was developing a relationship with a patient in Room 509 who shares her love of Rumi. Discovering he was an orphan, Ava asks if he felt alone or weird. His responded “Sometimes. But eventually, I decided, I didn’t want to carry around other people’s feelings about my life.” I love this conversation because these words help Ava come to terms with who she is later vocalizing “I belong from I came and I belong to where I am.” Wave is a powerful story about family, friendship, fitting in, and facing fears. Thanks to Cameron Kids and Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sharing an ARC with my #bookexcursion group. Wave celebrates its book birthday next week on March 29, 2022.

A History of Underwear with Professor Chicken by Hannah Holt Illustrated by Korwin Briggs

Professor Chicken gives readers a “brief” look at the history of underwear beginning in 3300 BCE. I learned that underwear is called a pair because early coverings came in pieces. Long ago, underwear wasn’t bought at the store; animals had to be caught, dried, pounded, and smoked before wearing. In 1400 BCE, Egyptians used linen and since it could take 4 to 5 months to make a pair, underwear was a sign of wealth. And since elastic wasn’t invented yet, keeping underwear secure took careful tying and tucking. Professor Chicken shares facts about the first diapers, how underwear varied based on region, age, class, and gender, and how ladies’ undergarments got bigger during the English Renaissance. At the end of the book is a page spread full of Underpants Monthly covers which shows the evolution of underwear from the late 1870s to the 2000s. Luckily, Professor Chicken acknowledges that today, people can chose the undies that work best for them.

Kids (and adults) will laugh and learn about underwear with Professor Chicken! Holt’s text is full of playful puns and fascinating facts. Briggs’ animated and expressive illustrations will both entertain and educate. Highly recommend A History of Underwear with Professor Chicken to add to a school, classroom or home library! Thanks to the author for sharing with my #bookexcursion group. A History of Underwear with Professor Chicken recently published in February 2022.

That Egg is Mine! by Liz Goulet Dubois

Duck and Cluck argue about who owns an egg. The illustrations show the egg is blue with white spots. Duck has a blue and white spotted bill and Cluck is blue with white spots so readers can infer that the egg could rightfully belong to either bird. When the egg hatches, the mystery is solved.

Graphic novels are so popular with readers of all ages so I am always excited when I discover a series that is written for younger children. With most text in speech bubbles and clean illustrations using a limited color palette, Dubois has written a story that will support early readers, make them laugh out loud, and anxiously wait for the next adventure of Duck and Cluck.

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.

Togo and Balto: The Dogs Who Saved a Town by Jodi Parachini Illustrated by Keiron Ward and Jason Dewhirst

Part of the Animalographies series, this narrative nonfiction picture book tells the story of Siberian huskies, Togo and Balto, who were trained as sled dogs. Kids may know sled dogs compete in the Iditarod but they (along with adults like me) will learn the crucial role that huskies played in the Serum Race bringing lifesaving serum to the children who were stricken with diphtheria in the 1920s in Nome, Alaska.

I love that Parachini chose to tell the story from Togo’s point of view with a combination of text and journal entries. I also appreciate that she chose Togo as narrator because I have read books featuring Balto, but never knew Togo was a famous sled dog. Looking forward to sharing Togo and Balto with teachers and students at my school. Thanks to Albert Whitman for sharing with my #bookexcursion group. Togo and Balto releases in April 2022.

Bella and I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books!