Poetry Comics offers budding poets a lot of ideas to think about in an appealing visual format. The post Poetry Comics by Grant Snider appeared first on Redeemed Reader ..read more

Otto tells an extended story with pictures and palindromes, while The Ice Cream Machine spins six stories off one title prompt. The post Fun with Words and Stories: Otto: A Palindrama and The Ice Cream Machine appeared first on Redeemed Reader ..read more

This is second of our roundup series of possible Newbery contenders for 2024. See the first roundup here. Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martin. Dial, 2023, 320 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-15 Pedro Martin (pronounced Mar-TEEN, of course) is #7 of nine children.. The oldest five were born in Mexico, making them full Mexi, while the younger four, including Pedro, are American made and half Mexi. Pedro gets picked on by his siblings for being rather round, but “I am a richly layered cake of a human being once you get to know me.” He can also draw, a ..read more

Two weeks from now (January 22), the American Library Association will announce their Youth Media Award winners, including the Newbery and Caldecott. We’ve kept an eye on books that might be possible contenders, though it’s not uncommon when a title pops up on the winner’s list that totally escaped our radar. Here are three that keep appearing on “best of” lists and may well be under consideration. Jawbreaker by Christina Wyman. Square Fish, 2023, 320 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-14 Max Plink’s life is greatly complicated by a condition right out in ..read more

Kate DiCamillo’s very first book won a Newbery honor, and she has won two Newbery medals on top of that. Is The Puppets of Spelhorst worthy of another award? She has such a gift of telling stories that move the heart, and The Puppets of Spelhorst is the beginning of a new series that has the feel of many old world traditional tales. For more of our discussions, visit the Newbery Buzz Page. What does The Puppets of Spelhorst remind you of? Janie: It was reminiscent of Andersen, I thought, though not so melancholy. There were moments of danger and moments of regret, but also touches of humor. E ..read more

In Family Style, cartoonist Thien Pham recalls his escape from Vietnam and growing up in America through a series of meals. Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam by Thien Pham. First Second, 2023, 234 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 10-15 Thien, who escaped the Communist takeover of South Vietnam with other “boat people,” recalls his youth through a series of meals. His earliest memories consisted of water and darkness as the frail boat he and his family were on was boarded by pirates. Before that happened, his mother told him to “close your e ..read more

A First Time For Everything has already won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Could it also win the Newbery? We’re kicking off our long-running Newbery Buzz Discussion series this year with a book that’s already won the National Book Award: A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat. To read the rest in our series or previous years’ discussions, check out the Newbery Buzz Page. A First Time for Everything: Does it Have a Chance? Betsy: Janie, let’s start off our Newbery Buzz discussions by looking at A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat. A First Time for Everything is ..read more

Saving H’Non beautifully employs a graphic-novel format to tell the true story of an animal rescue and faithful human stewardship. *Saving H’Non: Chang and the Elephant by Trang Nguyễn and Jeet Zdũng. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2023, 126 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Chang loves volunteering at the wildlife rescue center near Yok Don National Park in Vietnam. She passes along what she’s learning to groups of schoolkids, and the animal that fascinates them the most is probably the elephant. Who doesn’t love elephants? But Chang knows too well the ..read more

The graphic-novel version of Watership Down combines the dramatic force of the original story with winning art. *Watership Down: The Graphic Novel by Richard Adams, adapted by James Sturm and illustrated by Joe Sutphin. Ten Speed Graphic, 2023, 384 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-up The Great Quest Hazel is a low-ranking member of the Sandleford warren, and his brother Fiver has even less status. Still, it’s not a bad life, even if the Owsla (patrol rabbits) can be overbearing at times and the Chief Rabbit tends not to listen. All that changes the day ..read more

Calvin and Hobbes meets the Nickelodeon channel to retell Beowulf in a colorful, creative, graphic novel. Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith & Boulet. First Second, 2023, 208 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grade, Ages 10-12 Recommended For: Ages 10 and up If you’ve read, Beowulf, you know it begins with an injunction: “Hwæt” Open the pages of Bea Wolf and a small, cloaked figured stands, one hand stopping you, dramatically. Above it explodes the words, “Hey, Wait!”  In the way of ancient tale, Bea Wolf begins with recounting heroes. Then it gives a back story. How does one recapture Viking v ..read more