Category Archives: Delacorte Press

It’s Almost Here: Summer Books and Resources

by

Are you enjoying spring’s softer weather and blooming flowers or are you, like me, already deep in summer planning mode? Are you thinking about summer activities, events, maybe a weekend at ALA Annual Conference, possibly some time at the beach? Well, thankfully kid lit creators and book industry folks are way ahead of us with some outstanding summer-themed reads and tools to use in your library, summer-school classroom, and at home. Hopefully, the titles and tools on this list give you a bit of time back to dream about a shady porch, and comfy chair, and a fun summer-read of your own. Or is that just me?

Summer Reads Recommendations:

Picture Books

Cooler Than Lemonade
By Harshita Jerath
llustrated by Chloe Burgett
Sourcebooks

When summer heat inspires Eva to open a lemonade stand, she’s prepared for everything but a nearby competitor. Innovation abounds as their rivalry heats up—new flavors, live music, and free samples to bring in the crowds. Jerath weaves problem-solving skills and creativity through this snappy and sizzling story of vibrant young entrepreneurs.

Sari Sari Summer
By Lynnor Bontigao
Candlewick

Nora spends summers with her Lola in the Philippines, and this summer she is finally old enough to help in the sari-sari convenience store. When a heat wave slows business, Nora’s plan to whip up mango ice candy draws a crowd and saves the day. Gentle language and pacing combines with soft focus digital illustrations bring the fascinating store and sweet intergenerational relationship to life.

Wild Blue
By Dashka Slater
Illustrated by Laura Hughes Candlewick

Kayla is in for a wild ride when she trades her training-wheeled Pink Pony in for Wild Blue, a brand new big kid bike. But summers are meant for bike rides, and with a lot of practice and Dad’s reassurance, she tames her new mount and rides off into the summer afternoon. Imagination and persistence are key in this sweet tale of overcoming a fear in order to do something new. Charming acrylic ink illustrations capture Kayla’s emotions, the glorious light of summer and the triumph of accomplishment.

Middle Grade

The Firefly Summer
By Morgan Marson
Simon & Schuster  

Ryanna is a mystery book lover and when she finds out there is a mystery in her very own life, a cryptic invitation for a summer with grandparents she’s never heard of, she can’t resist finding out more. At Camp Van Camp she discovers unknown cousins, details about the mother that died when she was a toddler, treasure map, and her happy place. Matson blends adventure, uncertainty, and self-discovery in this sweet family drama.

Pack Your Bags, Maggie Diaz
By Nina Moreno
Illustrated by Courtney Lovett
Scholastic

Maggie Diaz is ready for the trip of a lifetime, or at least seventh grade. As her trip gets closer, everyone in her life is distracted by something more important—grades, first loves, family drama. Moreno blends humor and emotion as Maggie finds her place in school, social, and family dynamics. Fun artwork throughout the text brings the diverse and multigenerational cast to vivid life.

Young Adult

Picture Perfect Boyfriend
By Becky Dean
Delacorte Press

Determined to fit into her proper family of optometrists, Kenzie has dropped her photography dreams for science classes and made up a responsible and respectable boyfriend. When her completely fictional boyfriend suddenly shows up on her family vacation to Hawaii, Kenzie isn’t sure how it all happened, but knows the lie is about to blow up in her face. Time with fake-Jacob reveals just how unsatisfied Kenzie is with her new life-path and how being truly herself is the only way to happiness. Part swoony romance and part heartfelt exploration of balancing family expectations and being true to yourself.

Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute
By Sayantani Dasgupta
Scholastic

Eila has changed her pre-law plans to accompany her sister to Regency Camp and a potential role in a period drama. Camp drama and uncertainty about her life plans, combined with an unexpected summer romance, lead to conflict for the usually sensible Eila. Dasgupta combines her love for Bengali folktales, Shakespeare, and Jane Austen in this romantic, multicultural retelling combination of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Sense and Sensibility.

Tools for Teachers and Librarians:

iRead (from the Illinois Library Association)—Perhaps you’re still looking for a Summer Reading program or need some ideas to help implement yours. The iRead Program website is full of resources to support you and your readers. You can even get a head start on planning summer 2024 programming and, if you dig into the blog, get a sneak peek at the 2025 theme!

Kindly Ever After Adventures—Join Storyologist Page Turner (aka Jill Ross Nadler) for a summer reading program package full of stories, crafts, and videos for in person and/or online events.

Tools for Home-Adults:

ALSC Summer Reading Lists–The Association for Library Service to Children has posted their new reading lists, divided by age, and associated tools, games, and resources. Created by ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting Committee, the lists are a fantastic tool for both librarians and home adults.

Scholastic Summer Reading—Home Base—From May 9 through August 19, kids can visit the summer zone in Scholastic Home Base, a completely free digital destination which offers stories, characters, games, and a community of readers. Home Base is moderated for safety 24/7.

And, of course, I highly recommend caregivers get kids involved in their local library’s summer reading program. Youth librarians around the country have been hard at work for months, dreaming up creative ways to connect kids with stories this summer. All you have to do is READ! Check library websites for availability to those outside the particular town.

Brookfield Public Library: All Together Now! Kickoff 6/1/23 6:30pm

Oak Park Public Library: Find Your Voice. Runs 6/1-8/15. Open to everyone.

Tools for Everyone:

Reading is Fundamental: Literacy Central — With tools for educators, caregivers, and volunteers, RIF’s site hosts a wealth of resources, tips, activities, and assistance in one free-to-use account.

*Link in the title to each tool.

What’s your favorite summer reading resource?

An Everglades-inspired Fantasy Adventure: A Review of Into the Glades

by

Into the Glades
Laura Sebastian
Delacorte Press
October 25th, 2022
Ages 8 to 12

The Glades—a peaceful but magical swamp-like area filled with magical creatures—has been the home to best friends, Cecilia and Larkin, since they were young. But with the unexpected death of Cecilia’s father, Oziris, the leader of the village, the Glades has turned maliciously towards the townspeople like never before. Wrapped in anger and grief but determined to resurrect Oziris and break the curse on the Glades, Cecilia and Larkin, along with their two younger brothers, embark upon a journey through the Glades to find a powerful witch. But the potential price of such dark magic may be too much for the children to handle, along with the grief and fury threatening to consume them.

As the girls and their brothers’ journey through the Glades, Sebastian weaves in how each handles their grief, from simmering anger to calm acceptance. Tested throughout their journey, Cecilia and Larkin are challenged by their emotions, magical ability, and fear of losing each other. In the end, they have to accept each other for their bonds of friendship to endure. Sebastian uses the journey though the Glade as a metaphor for moving through the stages of grief. Details of Oziris’s death introduce a darker tone, but Sebastian balances it with subtle humor and lightheartedness from the brothers. She firmly places them as emotional support for Cecilia and Larkin while away from the rest of their grieving family members. The characters and location of the story are inspired by the author’s childhood, making it a personal story that still allows readers to immerse themselves in her experience. Into the Glades is a fantasy adventure encouraging social-emotional learning by bringing to life real issues surrounding loss and grief along with accepting change and enjoying each moment, providing a silver lining to even the darkest events.

Butler Bookshelf

by

This week’s Butler Bookshelf features recently released and coming soon titles! In Stella Keeps the Sun Up written by Clothilde Ewing and illustrated by Lynn Gaines, Stella schemes to keep the sun up so she never has a bedtime! She learns the benefits of sleeping and why going to bed is great. Check it out along with the other titles below!

Catalina Incognito
Written by Jennifer Torres and Illustrated by Gladys Jose
Published by Aladdin
Available now!

Darryl’s Dream
Written by Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Shawnee, Johnny Warfield, and Adam Padilla. Illustrated by Tristan Tait
Published by King of Rock Publishing
Available now!

Emile and the Field
Written by Kevin Young and Illustrated by Choima Ebinama
Published by Make Me a World
Available April 15th!

Finn and the Subatomic Slip-and-Slide
Written by Micheal Buckley
Published by Delacorte Press
Available now!

Lady Icarus: Balloonomania and the Brief, Bold Life of Sophie Blanchard
Written by Deborah Noyes
Published by Random House Studio
Available now!

Stella Keeps the Sun Up
Written by Clothhilde Ewing and Illustrated by Lynn Gaines
Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Availible now!

A Sea of Memories: A Review of When Life Gives You Mangos

by

cover190381-medium.pngWhen Life Gives You Mangos
Written by Kereen Getten
Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Ages 10-14
Available September 15, 2020

Clara lives in a small village on a tourist-destination Caribbean island, but to Clara, it’s not a destination—it’s just home. This summer, she is twelve, and she’s struggling. Her former best friend Gaynah does not want to play in their secret dugout anymore; she is more interested in Calvin and being grown up. Also, Gaynah teases her about last summer. Even though Clara tries, she cannot remember what happened. All she knows is that her parents will not let her surf anymore, and she can never go into the water alone. Sometimes she has nightmares that she does not understand. Her parents explain the imagery, but they tell her not to worry. Clara finds that she angers and frustrates easily, but she does not understand why. Now, a mysterious new girl named Rudy is living on the island and wants to be friends with Clara. But Rudy does not know the rules of the island, and what spots are off-limits. Clara does not want to lose another friend, so she follows along, even though she could get in trouble. Kereen Getten’s When Life Gives You Mangos begins slowly, unfolding the story of Clara’s memory loss. The calm pace and beautiful landscape exacerbate the scary and obscure reason behind the amnesia. The book takes time to reveal what happened, and the grief behind the loss is significant. Newcomer Rudy serves as a stand-in for the reader at times, as she is learning how the village of Sycamore operates. Religion is an important factor in how Clara’s memory loss is dealt with by the community; ultimately Getten reveals that pastors and bishops, no matter how well-intentioned they are, are ultimately human and can make mistakes. The reveal behind Clara’s amnesia involves grief, but also reconciliation as her family makes room for members that have been long shunned in the village. This read emphasizes the power of love and community.

Butler Bookshelf

by

We’re eager to read Nelly Buchet’s picture book Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family, with charming illustrations by Andrea Zuill. It’s about what happens when families come together–all the messiness and the joys. For more great reads, check out this week’s Butler Bookshelf below!

The Water Bears
Written by Kim Baker
Published by Wendy Lamb Books
Available now!

Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family
Written by Nelly Buchet and illustrated by Andrea Zuill
Published by Schwartz & Wade
Available now!

A Girl in Three Parts
Written by Suzanne Daniel
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Dirt Cheap
Written and illustrated by Mark Hoffman
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Available now!

The Lucky Ones
Written by Liz Lawson
Published by Delacorte Press
Available now!

Bedtime Bonnet
Written by Nancy Redd and illustrated by Nneka Myers
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

by

IMG_1736

Top on our TBR list? A story about a girl, her grandmother, and an alternate reality–steeped in magic. Diana Abu-Jaber’s Silverworld has us longing to cast spells and learn from our elders. For more great reads, check out the list below!

Silverworld
Written by Diana Abu-Jaber
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Awesome Dog 5000 vs. Major Bossypants (Book 2)
Written by Justin Dean
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Golden Arm
Written by Carl Deuker
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Available on April 7, 2020

On The Horizon
Written by Lois Lowry and illustrated by Kenard Pak
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Available on April 7, 2020

Bloom (The Overthrow Book 1)
Written by Kenneth Oppel
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Available now!

The Twin
Written by Natasha Preston
Published by Delacorte
Available now!

Brave (American Dog)
Written by Jennifer Li Shotz
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Available on April 7, 2020

Taking the Reins (An Ellen & Ned Book)
Written by Jane Smiley
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Stargirl (Movie Tie in Edition)
Written by Jerry Spinelli
Published by Ember
Available now!

Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee
Written by Jeff Zentner
Published by Ember
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

by

IMG_1744

This week on the Butler Bookshelf, we’ve delving into breakups. Friend breakups. In When Your Were Everything, Ashley Woodfolk explores what happens when a teenage friendship implodes, going from nourishing to destructive. For lighter fare, there are also some great new reads like My Life As A Potato and The Third Mushroom, check out the list below for more!

Amelia Fang and the Rainbow Rangers
Written by Laura Ellen Anderson
Published by Delacorte Books For Young Readers
Available March 31, 2020

My Life As A Potato
Written by Arianne Costner
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

What Matters Most
Written by Emma Dodd
Published by Templar
Available now!

The Third Mushroom
Written by Jennifer L. Holm
Published by Yearling
Available now!

Superhero Mom
Written By Timothy Knapman and illustrated by Joe Berger
Published by Nosy Crow
Available now!

The Fabled Life of Aesop: The extraordinary journey and collected tales of the world’s greatest storyteller
Written by Ian Lendler and illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Available now!

When You Were Everything
Written by Ashley Woodfolk
Published by Delacorte Press
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

by

IMG_3223Here are some books that we got in this week that we’re really excited about:

Paper World: Planet Earth illustrated by Bomoboland, published by Big Picture Press

Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi, published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refuges Who Dream of Crossing the Border by Juan Pablo Villalobos, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

King of the Mole People by Paul Gilligan, published by Henry Holt and Co.

If Animals Celebrated Christmas by Ann Whitford Paul, illustrated  by David Walker, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Color Me In by Natasha Diaz, published by Delacorte Press

Best Friends by Shannon Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, published by First Second

Life is Short and Then You Die: Mystery Writers of America Present First Encounters with Murder edited by Kelley Armstrong, published by Macmillan

Stargazing written and illustrated by Jen Wang, published by First Second

Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border by Mitali Perkins, illustrated by Sara Palacios, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Arriverderci Crocodile or See You Later Alligator begun by Fred Marcellino and completed by Eric Puybaret, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Remarkables by Lisa Mantchev, illustrated by David Litchfield, published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summer STEM Reads

by

In honor of National Summer Learning Day here’s a roundup of some new STEM based fiction and picture books guaranteed to spark interest in a deeper dive into their subjects.

stemcrash

Crash! Boom!

Crash Boom: A Math Tale – Robie H Harris, illustrated by Chris Chatterton (Candlewick, 2018)

Elephant wants to stack his blocks as tall as, well, an elephant. He’ll count, stack, evaluate, and build his way to success. With introductory concepts in math, problem-solving, construction, and good old-fashioned perseverance this a great tale for future engineers.

 

stemjamie

The Jamie Drake Equation

The Jamie Drake Equation – Christopher Edge
(Delacorte Press, June 2018)
Jamie Drake knows that each of his family members are like stars, keeping each other in orbit. He’s worked out the equation, and especially with his dad 400 kilometers away on the International Space Station, Jamie needs to make sure everyone and everything is in the right place to keep the Drake family intact. Christopher Edge brings math and science to life in this middle grade novel, giving them heart without sacrificing the integrity of the very real formulas and equations that make space travel possible. A bonus “The Science of The Jamie Drake Equation” chapter goes into more detail about the real-life science in the story, making this an easy tie-in to a solar system or space travel unit.

stempotions

Potions & Parameters

Secret Coders: Potions & Parameters – Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes
(First Second, March 2018)
Hopper, Eni, and Josh are back in the 5th installment of the Secret Coders series, which picks up where Robots & Repeats left off: continuing their battle against the evil Dr. One-Zero as he  tries to control their town with his “Green Pop” potion. Luckily, they have Professor Bee and their coding skills to help them. Gene Luen Yang (National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature) and Mike Holmes continue to entertain with their fun characters and comic-style illustrations. Readers interested in basic coding and logic puzzles will want to start this series at the beginning, since both the plot and the concepts build off previous books!

stemnebula

The Nebula Secret

Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret – Trudi Trueit (National Geographic, 2018)

Cruz Coronado and his classmates will travel the world using science, exploration and conservation practices while training to be the next generation of National Geographic Explorers. All the while trying to evade a secret society that may be the cause of his mother’s mysterious death. The series (launching in September) will be supported by a digital extension (available now on the National Geographic Kids site) with games, videos, and “truth behind” content revealing the science behind the story.

stemmortification

The Mortification of Fovea Munson

The Mortification of Fovea Munson – Mary Winn Heider (Disney-Hyperion, 2018)

Fovea Munson is NOT interested in dead bodies! But spending the summer working in her parents’ cadaver lab is not helping convince her classmates she is NOT gross. While this sweet and funny story isn’t based in fact (have you ever met a partially-frozen, singing head?), there is just enough medical science to get the curious doing their own research into dissection and maybe even medical school.