Stories are magical, for both the young and old. Here you can find book reviews for specific age groups, topics, or learning experiences. There are also booklists and lesson ideas for educators, librarians, and families.
Friendbots: Blink and Block Make a Wish by Vicky Fang is a lovely graphic novel or comic for children who are learning to read on their own. At first the two robots are strangers and engage in conversation about what they are doing. From there the story takes funny twists with an inspiring ending. I especially like how the robots model how to talk with one another and make friends. The bonus comes at the end of the book where readers can learn a STEM term, for example, a sensor. That is an important part of the story so later on they can compare sensors that they encounter with the ones that Blink and Block use.
Fang's author website has more activities and videos that go with her robot books. So many of my students, including my daughter, enjoy learning about and creating their own robots! I'm looking forward to sharing these with them.
A big thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins, for sharing this book with our Book Excursion group of educators who review books.
Ancestor Approved, a middle grades anthology of short stories and poems edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith is a book that presents a wide range of Native people's experiences attending a big pow wow in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Each story takes on a unique point of view, even a rez dog! What stands out is the variety of what it means to be Indian for each individual person. Traditions are universally respected, but each character's background results in a plethora of feelings to be explored: from apprehension about dancing, meeting family for the first time, to not feeling Native enough because of being so far from a rez and being adopted by White parents, jealousy even, from not being good at beadwork, and of course, the pride of being part of a large community.
As a parent, educator, and librarian, I think this book would be perfect for a community common read. The writers in the anthology are incredibly detailed in their storytelling and are all authentic in their depiction of characters. Every reader can find so much to discuss in each story and poem. The best parts are the extensions that result from the references made in each story. If a reader is interested in the mythology, they can do more readings upon that topic. Or if someone is more into the music and dance side, they attend a pow wow and see firsthand what it is like. The cuisine is also deliciously described. Readers can try fry bread, Navajo tacos, and other tasty treats from the book. I also like how there is a critical view of stereotypes of how Native people are portrayed in the media and books. Readers can find more examples of this and learn about ways to curb those images. Finally, I especially appreciated the way some of the authors included how schools often make Native students feel as the other, tease and bully them. Each of these instances is an opportunity to discuss with students if they have ever faced those moments and how to help one another because words and actions have life-long effects that can harm people.
At the end of the anthology there is a glossary for correct pronunciation of words used and each author shares a bit about why they chose the topic they did. This is the perfect chance for readers to read other works by the authors included in the anthology.
PET an award-winning, sci-fi, young adult book by Nigerian writer, Akwaeke Emezi is a 200-page story that makes the reader think deeply about today's villains who lurk in the shadows and those operating in plain sight.
Jam is a selective mute, trans girl who lives in the utopian society of Lucille with her artist mother and father. When her mom paints a ferocious mash-up of creatures and it comes to life, Jam doesn't believe her eyes. The creature, PET, tells her it's there to hunt a monster but Jam thought all of the monsters were eliminated in her town. The creature won't budge with its intention to fulfill its purpose. Only then does Jam agree to help in order to get to the truth.
The story grabbed my attention from the first chapter. It would be a good read aloud for students to listen to and discuss what they think is going to happen in the book. I loved how Jam relied on the library and the librarian to get her access to the past through its collection to truly learn what happened before she was born and the angels took over. It stresses the importance of studying history and looking for signs of it possibly repeating again. Jam thinks,
"So, yes, people forget. But forgetting is dangerous. Forgetting is how the monsters come back."
Another part of this story that stands out is the way Jam's identity and relationships with her family and best friend are depicted. Her transition to changing her gender is explained in the first chapter and but it's not the plot of the book at all. Her family and best friend treat her with respect and value her identity, as does the rest of the community. She is a strong, curious, brave person who faces a moral dilemma and the creature, PET, may or may not help her through it. The whole time I was second-guessing who would be the monster and how it would unfold. The ending completely satisfied my deep appreciation for the journey Emezi took me on and I look forward to reading more stories by them.
Here is an interview Emezi did with author, Christopher Myers, on their novel PET:
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