Argyle Fox, A Review

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Book Description

Argyle Fox, with his signature style, wants to play outside on a springtime day, but the wind is wreaking havoc with his fun and games. As soon as he builds a card tower, climbs into a giant spider web, or takes up his pirate sword, here comes the wind: Woosh!

Mama Fox tells grumpy Argyle that if he thinks long enough, he will come up with something to do. Following his mother’s suggestion and inspired by her knitting, he works all the pieces of his day together and creates the perfect solution.

The story of Argyle teaches that failure is often a path to success and celebrates perseverance, creative thinking, and an old-fashioned springtime activity.

Review

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

What an absolutely delightful book! Argyle Fox longs to play outside and has so many great ideas: building a card tower, scary spider and web, pirate and soccer. The wind disrupts each of his activities and his frustration becomes evident. Like most young children, he eventually gives in to pouting and sitting. His mother encourages him to think through the problem and come up with an activity that he can do in the wind. Eventually, Argyle comes up with the perfect solution!

This book has beautiful illustrations done in gouache paint that are only part of why I love this book. There are so many details to draw in the reader and young children will see details in each page. 

A big focus in education right now is fostering a growth mindset; problem solving is a big part of that movement and in this book, we see Argyle Fox face discouragement but then working through a problem until he finds a solution. This book will be wonderful with young readers to plant the seeds of overcoming problems and with older readers who can make even more text-to-self connections and open dialogue on problem-solving. 

I gave this book: ★★★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    

★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

Want to Know More?

You can visit Marie Letourneau's website to find more information about Argyle Fox and other books she has written and/or illustrated.

Lila and the Crow, A Review

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Book Description

Lila has just moved to a new town and can't wait to make friends at school. But on the first day, a boy points at her and shouts: “A crow! A crow! The new girl's hair is black like a crow!” The others whisper and laugh, and Lila's heart grows as heavy as a stone.

The next day, Lila covers her hair. But this time, the boy points at her dark skin. When she covers her face, he mocks her dark eyes. Now every day at school, Lila hides under her turtleneck, dark glasses, and hat. And every day when she goes home, she sees a crow who seems to want to tell her something. Lila ignores the bird and even throws rocks at it, but it won't go away.

Meanwhile, the great autumn festival is approaching. While the other kids prepare their costumes, Lila is sadder and lonelier than ever. At her lowest point of despair, a magical encounter with the crow opens Lila's eyes to the beauty of being different, and gives her the courage to proudly embrace her true self.

Review

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

I requested this book as I am always looking for books to use during our China/Asia theme, especially those that are based on culture or folklore. While this may be based on a folk story, it is not apparent.
The illustrations are lovely and the book addresses unkindness that students can show a newcomer along with the "mob mentality" that we can fall into. This book is a springboard to discussing with students how words can hurt and that bullying has power when we follow along instead of thinking for ourselves and standing up. As an educator, this book would certainly allow for discussion of text-to-self and text-to-world connections.

I gave this book: ★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    

★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

Want to Know More?

This book won the 2017 Skipping Stones Honor Award.

If you want a chapter book that explores how students can hurt a classmate, I encourage you to check out The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes.

A Squiggly Story, A Review

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Book Description

Who says there’s only one way to write a story?

A young boy wants to write a story, but he only knows his letters, not words. His sister says, “Why don’t you start there, with a letter?” So the boy tries. He chooses an easy letter to begin with. The letter I. And to his delight, with just the power of his vivid imagination, and no written words, an amazing story begins to unfold. Right before his eyes. 

This playful tale about creativity will inspire budding authors everywhere to envision new ways to write stories of their own. With or without words!

Review

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

One of the great joys of an educator is when young children begin to realize that letters make words and words make stories that can be read. When children learn to write, they are taking the first steps to being empowered to express their ideas. It is this beginning that Andrew Larsen captures in A Squiggly Story. I appreciate that the boy doesn't know how to write all his letters and that his words are conveyed through pictures since this is exactly how children begin writing. His sister encourages him along with his teacher and friends. I could see this book being a valuable resource in a preschool classroom as a way to reinforce the concept of letters creating words and that anyone can write. 

I gave this book: ★★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    

★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

A Horse Named Steve, A Review

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Book Description

“Steve is a fine horse. But he thinks he could be finer. He wants to be EXCEPTIONAL.” 

When Steve finds a gold horn in the forest and attaches it to his head, ta-da! Exceptional! His friends are so impressed, they, too, attach objects to their own heads, in an effort to be as exceptional as Steve. So when Steve suddenly realizes his horn has gone missing, he’s devastated! He won’t be exceptional without his horn! Or will he?

A laugh-out-loud tale of an endearingly self-absorbed horse who learns that there’s more than one way to blow your own horn.

Review

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

I really wanted to love this book. The illustrations are nice; I especially like how some of the story is shown in boxes spread across the page and that there are hoofprints as a visual clue for the reading order. Unfortunately, while Steve is cute, he's not a character that I fell in love with. As for the writing, Collier included lots of great vocabulary, but it was done in a way that made me think of the Fancy Nancy series. 

Our culture wants everyone to feel special - exceptional even. It's almost part of our human nature. This book completely missed the mark on sending the message that it's not our looks, possessions, friends or talents that make us special. 

I gave this book: ★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    

★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

I Hate Everyone But You, A Review

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Book Description

Dear Best Friend,
I can already tell that I will hate everyone but you.
Sincerely,
Ava Helmer
(that brunette who won’t leave you alone)

We're still in the same room, you weirdo.
Stop crying.
G

So begins a series of texts and emails sent between two best friends, Ava and Gen, as they head off to their first semesters of college on opposite sides of the country. From first loves to weird roommates, heartbreak, self-discovery, coming out and mental health, the two best friends will document every moment to each other. But as each changes and grows into her new life, will their friendship be able to survive the distance?

I Hate Everyone But You, the debut novel by two emerging major talents in YA, Allison Raskin and Gaby Dunn, is a story about new beginnings, love and heartbreak, and ultimately about the power of friendship.

Review

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

I've gone around and around on what rating to give this book; on the one hand, I enjoyed it and think the authors did an incredible job telling the story of Ava and Gen using emails and text messages. I enjoy the epistolary format and the title was certainly intriguing. On the other hand, the book has elements that I find questionable. There is language which I find bothersome but doesn't turn me off.

As a mother, I enjoy reading what 'kids these days' are reading. I think it's important to know what they are reading and it is my belief that literature opens the doors to conversation. This book explores topics that are relevant to young people today and that is where it's value lies. While I don't agree with the choices that the characters make, I think it portrays the culture and morals that our young people are facing. Sometimes it is just easier to talk about issues when it's someone else than yourself. The setting is college and drinking is a part of college life. For instance, it's easy as a parent to tell your kids not to drink; it's not as easy to talk to them about how they might encounter those situations and how they think they would handle them. But you can have a discussion about Ava and the choices she was faced with. 

Personally, I could only recommend this book with caution based on the content and how it is written and handled. I would not let my teenager read this book; I would let my child headed off to college read this in the months before leaving for college. 

Ava and Gen's story is told through a very worldly, anything goes, viewpoint. I know that works for many people. Based on the content* and story details, I would rate this book a 2 or 3. Based on the writing and the authors ability to tell a story in such a difficult format, I'd rate this book a 5. Acknowledging that the content of this book does address issues that young people encounter today, I'm rating it a 4. 

I gave this book: ★★★★

*Content included in this book: drinking, drug use, sex, homosexuality/bisexuality, mental health, cutting, personal relationships with professors