I Just Finished Reading…Top Picks for September 2018
Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience & Fortitude
By Josh Funk and illustrated by Stevie Lewis
Ages 4 – 8
New York Public Library's iconic marble lions, Patience and Fortitude, are there to greet the public every morning. That is until Fortitude wakes up one dawn to find Patience missing. His concern for his friend leads him to leave his post as well and takes the reader through a tour of the library as he searches for Patience. When we find Patience it's easy to see how one can easily get lost (in the books) in the library. The simple rhyming structure and clear illustrations introduces the reader to a public institution while reinforcing the power of stories and friendship.
By Mark Sperring and illustrated by Rose Blake
Ages 4 – 8
An ode to diversity and art, We're All Works of Art contains simple text that packs a punch: "Our feet might be so heavy they root us to the floor, but we have a certain presence that no one can ignore." But there are also concepts that are easier to share with younger readers: "Our bodies might all differ, in shape, and form, and frame…but think how dull the world would be, if we were all the same." This advanced picture book provides a great opportunity to spark conversations about diversity with young readers while introducing them to spectacular styles of art.
By Shauntay Grant and illustrated by Eva Campbell
Ages 5 – 8
This picture book describes Africville, a historic black community in Nova Scotia and a significant symbol of Black Canadian identity, from a young girl's perspective. The brightly coloured artwork focuses on childhood, family, and community while the text is spare but powerful: "Take me to…where memories turn to dreams, and dreams turn to hope, and hope never ends." Readers are presented with a brief history of Africville at the end which can serve as a starting point for discussions about a history that should not be forgotten.
Tom's Midnight Garden: A Graphic Adaptation of the Philippa Pearce Classic
By Edith and an adaptation of Philippa Pearce's work
Ages 8 to 12
Tom is sent to stay with his aunt and uncle for the summer as his brother recovers from measles. He spends his days bored and alone since he's under quarantine. As he lays awake one night he hears the grandfather clock in the hall strike thirteen! He wakes up to investigate this oddity and finds that the backdoor now opens to a large, sunny garden – a garden that doesn't exist in the day. It is in this midnight garden that he finds a young girl to befriend, Hatty; but even though he visits her nightly she soon begins to grow older than Tom. As the summer draws to an end Tom realizes he isn't ready to leave his friend. This graphic novel adaptation is visually stunning and faithful to the original text.
Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish
Ages 10 +
Marcus is six feet tall, weighs 180 pounds, and sports a mustache. Marcus is also fourteen years old, runs a bullying protection business at school, and helps take care of his brother, Charlie, who has Down Syndrome. When a bully calls Charlie names Marcus fights him and ends up being suspended from school. Sensing an opportunity for a change in scenery, their mom decides on a trip to (pre-Hurricane Maria) Puerto Rico to reconnect with family. Marcus, on the other hand, sees this as an opportunity to try and track down his father. Marcus' journey takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of the island as he strives to learn more about his family and himself – and he even learns some Spanish along the way.
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