Literature For Parents: A Review of Book Bonding: Building Connections Through Family Reading

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Book Bonding: Building Connections Through Family Reading
Megan Dowd Lambert
Illustrated by Mia Saine
Imagine!
Adult Audience/Professional Reading
April 18, 2023

In this collection of 21 essays, Megan Dowd Lambert divides her essays into four categories that touch upon her own experiences and perspective of being a parent of seven children, four of whom are adopted. Her evolving focus around the categories of parenting, adoption, race, and healing reveal an evolution of thinking and encourage parents and educators to try connecting with their children through a variety of literature.

Lambert discusses her nerve-wracking search for children’s books that have characters that mirror her “multiracial, foster-adoptive, queer, blended family” (pg. 9). Her search proved difficult as she found topics surrounding LGBTQA+, mental health, and disabilities have only been recently, and slowly, integrated into children’s books. With the limited number of books she was able to find on those topics, Lambert made sure to introduce them to her kids to show representation and a reflection of who they are and who they can be. Revealing her faults as a parent, and the mistakes that she’s made with her kids, provides an example of an imperfect parent, but one trying to do better for her kids. Lambert brings lightheartedness in the face of hard issues she’s had to face through humor and tear-jerking stories. This book would be useful for parents looking to find a way to connect to their child and would be great recommendation from librarians or other educational professionals. Children’s and other educational literature are mentioned with limited context, but Lambert later expands on the moral of each story to illustrate personal lessons learned about parenting and the importance of spending quality time with kids. Created digitally and primarily using darker colors, the limited illustrations represent a variety of skin colors and realistic actions happening in each scene, matching Lambert and her messages about parenting her children through a variety of literature. Connecting adults through heartfelt stories about parenting and healing, Book Bonding: Building Connections Through Family Reading inspires readers to bond with children through books, as they will teach kids the value of connection and maybe learn something themselves along the way.

 

Butler Bookshelf

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In her love letter to the Philippines and to grandmothers everywhere, Lynnor Bontigao brings us an endearing picture book about intergenerational relationships with soft illustrations in her book, Sari Sari Summers. Nora, a young girl, loves spending summers with Lola, her grandmother, at her sari-sari store, but when a heat wave strikes and customers no longer want to come in, Nora must find a way to attract new customers to help her grandmother.

For more amazing picture books coming out in April, check out the list below!

Nuestro Techo es Azul
Written by Sara E. Echenique & illustrated by Ashley Vargas
Published by Charlesbridge
Available April 11th!

Tyson, El Pequenito/Too-Small Tyson (Storytelling Math)
Written by JaNay Brown-Wood & illustrated by Anastasia Magloire Williams
Published by Charlesbridge
Available April 11th!

I Want to Be Big!
Written by Tiffany Golden & Sawyer Cloud
Published by Page Street Kids
Available April 11th!

Cloud Babies
Written by Eoin Colfer & illustrated by Chris Judge
Published by Candlewick Press
Available April 11th!

The Fastest Tortoise in Town
Written by Howard Calvert & illustrated by Karen Obuhanych
Published by Candlewick Press
Available April 11th!

Sari Sari Summers
Written & illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao
Published by Candlewick Press
Available April 11th!

Breaking Free: A Review of I Kick and I Fly

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I Kick and I Fly
Ruchira Gupta
Scholastic
April 18, 2023
Age 12+

Fourteen-year-old Heera’s life in Girls Bazaar is one of poverty, degradation, and eventual prostitution. But Heera knows she’s meant for something more than the struggles of the Nat caste she was born to. Fights at school and home lead her to safety, and kung fu, at a local hostel for at risk girls. Through king fu practice and competition, she builds skill and confidence that start a domino effect of changes in her life, her family, and her community.

Inspired by her experiences with an anti-trafficking NGO in India, Ruchira Gupta’s novel, the hostel, character ideas, and martial arts influence all spring from the community she serves. Gupta tells their inspiring story from Heera’s no nonsense point of view, making the brutal setting and secondary characters even more heartbreaking. Stark descriptions of Girls Bazaar, from the filth, to the substance abuse, to the organized crime, paint a harsh picture of Heera’s world. Her struggles with hunger, school, and family expectations to contribute focus her motivation and reveal her guilt about trying to break free. Innately independent, but committed to her family, Heera builds a confidence and self-worth through kung fu that push her through fear and doubt, and to succeed for all their benefit. Moments of triumph, like kung fu wins and rescuing a friend, help to balance darker themes of human trafficking, abuse, and deprivation, and keep the plot from veering too dismal.

What may feel like small steps—and kicks, and blocks, and punches—move Heera and her family toward independence in an empowering story of perseverance and self-worth.

The Joy of Remembering: A Review of The Memory Jar 

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The Memory Jar 
Debra Daugherty
Illustrated by Victoria Marble 
Young Dragons Press 
April 11, 2023 
Ages 4 to 8 
 

As Amelia grapples with her grandmother’s dementia, she starts a project to help save the memories that are slowly slipping away. Amelia writes her grandmother’s stories—memories of her husband, stories of her children, and adventures shared with Amelia. The project helps her grandmother to laugh, smile, and ultimately remember the granddaughter that loves her. Overjoyed with this, Amelia writes a fresh memory for the jar, so that when her Grammy forgets who she is, or about her past, she can look at this memory, and all the other memories in the jar, and remember.  

The tone of the story is hopeful and empathetic, though it deals with a serious and often heartbreaking topic. Events from the author’s life inspired The Memory Jar, and she writes from a place of knowing what it’s like to have a close family member diagnosed with dementia. This story inspires by using the power of a child’s imagination to help a family member who has no control over losing their memories. Amelia is an innovative protagonist who draws you in, prompting you to root for her as she deals with her grandmother’s diagnosis as she devises a plan to design a jar system where she writes and stores her favorite memories with her grandma and about her grandma’s life. Through Amelia’s story, young readers can learn about processing when someone they love is dealing with dementia. 

Butler Bookshelf

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For young readers familiar with The Giver and The List, comes a thoughtful exploration of self-image in The Town With No Mirrors by Christina Collins. Zailey lives in a modern-day utopia community where mirrors, photos, and even words like beautiful and ugly are forbidden, but Zailey harbors a guilty curiosity of what its like to see yourself. She knows her notebook filled with secret portraits of her classmates and neighbors could get her in trouble, but struggles with the idea of why its bad and the truth about the outside world. 

Check it out along with our other children’s fiction titles featured below!

A Breath of Mischief
Written by MarcyKate Connolly
Published by Sourcebooks Young Reader
Available April 4th!

The Girl From Earth’s End
Written by Tara Dairman 
Published by Candlewick Press
Available Now!

Simon Sort of Says
Written by Erin Bow
Published by Disney Hyperion
Available Now!

The Missing Jewel (The Hayley Mysteries #2)
Written by Hayley Leblanc
Published by Sourcebooks Young Reader
Available Now!

The Shimmer (Kingdom Keeper: Inheritance)
Written by Ridley Pearson
Published by Alfred A Knopf
Available March 21st!

The Town With No Mirrors
Written by Christina Collins
Published by Sourcebooks Young Reader
Available Now!

Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2023

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What a wild—but educational—trip I had to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Bologna, Italy! This past week I traveled with other students in the Dominican University SOIS graduate program to discover a worldwide view of children’s literature and explore Italian culture.

 

Walking through the giant conference center, I was immediately bombarded with multiple white walls that, as I walked, filled with illustrators putting up pieces of their work, business cards, and small drawings. Viewing all the diverse art and culture first thing in the morning made me understand that I was going to get the experience of a lifetime in the two days we had to explore. Thank goodness for the gelato stand that provided a delicious break between programs, and which I might have visited more than once each day.

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This year, Bologna Children’s Book Fair honored the critically acclaimed Korean artist and illustrator, Suzy Lee. Known specifically for her work on wordless, or silent, picture books, Lee is the winner of the 2022 H.C. Andersen Award for her work on Mirror, Wave, and Shadow, known as ‘The Border Trilogy.’ These books are creatively refreshing as Lee uses the book gutter, the center of the open book where the pages are bound together, to act as a barrier between fantasy and reality in each story. It was eye-opening to see how authors and illustrators from around the world are using outside-the-box techniques to depict their stories, which are very different from those in America.

 

Unfortunately, many of the books present at the fair will never be released in the States, as there need to be publishers open to the book and translators, editors, and booksellers to complete the transition. Discovering the business and political side of publishing during this fair was something I was quite interested in, and was a focus of many programs I attended.  Getting to see these diverse books push the boundaries of what we—Americans—think of as children’s books, was astounding, and I’m very lucky that I got to see them. 20230307_094212

 

Not only did I get to discover the fair, but I also got to explore Italy! Visiting Ravenna with my classmates, Verona and Florence with friends, and touring Bologna outside the fair took up most of my trip. I took great advantage of my stay in Italy to see everything, and getting to be a librarian by day and a tourist by night was the best of both worlds. Waking up with the sun in Italy to walk over to a children’s book fair will be one of the best moments that I have as a DU graduate student, and I highly encourage other MLIS graduate students to take the opportunity to travel with one of the study abroad courses.

 

20230310_064632 20230310_095009Arrivederci Italia! (Goodbye Italy!)

 

Butler Bookshelf

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Celebrating Women’s History Month with some of these amazing titles written by women! Zeba Shahnaz creates an explosive fantasy debut with her book Midnight Strikes, where a provincial girl must work with an infuriatingly handsome prince to escape a nightmarish curse that forces them to relive the same night over and over. A twisty young adult story that combines angsty romance and political intrigue, perfect for readers who like Cinderella and A Groundhogs Day. 

Check it out along with our other titles written by women below!

Birds Everywhere
Written by Camilla de la Bedoyere & Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
Published by Big Picture Press
Available Now!

Dear Medusa
Written by Olivia A. Cole
Published by Labyrinth Road
Available Now!

Eb & Flow
Written by Kelly J. Baptist
Published by Crown Books For Young Readers
Available Now!

How Old is a Whale?: Animal Life Spans from the Mayfly to the Immortal Jellyfish
Written by Lily Murray & Illustrated by Jesse Hodgson
Published by Big Picture Press
Available Now!

Meesh the Bad Demon
Written by Michelle Lam
Published by Alfred A Knopf
Available March 21st!

Midnight Strikes
Written by Zeba Shahnaz
Published by Delacorte Press
Available Now!

Meet Pablo Cartaya: 11th Annual Butler Lecture Speaker

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Have you registered for the March 23rd Butler Lecture yet? What are you waiting for? Find out more.

Now that you’re in, it’s time to get to know this year’s speaker.

Pablo Cartaya is an internationally acclaimed author, screenwriter, speaker, and educator. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, NBC, and on Oprah’s Booklist. He has received multiple starred reviews from Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, School Library Journal, and Audiofile Magazine for his novels and audiobook narrations. Pablo has worked with Disney, Apple+, and Sesame Street on projects adapted from television series and features. His novels have been published by Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Disney Publishing Worldwide.

In 2021, Pablo served as a judge for the National Book Award in Young People’s Literature, selecting a longlist, shortlist, and winner for the nation’s most prestigious literary award. Over the past decade, Pablo has facilitated approximately over one hundred and fifty writing workshops and lectures. Most have taken place at colleges, universities, libraries, and a variety of community organizations, and K-12 schools throughout the U.S., and in countries across the globe including Sweden, Canada, Jamaica, and Mexico.

Additionally, Pablo served as director of literary arts programming and community engagement at the prestigious four-star, four-diamond boutique hotel, The Betsy-South Beach. During his tenure he led the first literary festival celebrating and highlighting Latinx authors and creators; created the first hybrid literary and visual arts program for Art Basel Miami at The Betsy; helped secure seed funding and performance spaces for the first TransArt Festival in Miami, FL; created the first Writers for Young Readers authors program in Miami, FL; and received a grant for The Betsy Writer’s Room, a dedicated space in the luxury hotel to host writers and creators gratis for up to four days of residency. During his tenure, he oversaw the development of over twenty creative arts initiatives and over four hundred residencies for writers and creatives.

Most recent novels include: The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora, Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish, Each Tiny Spark, the climate dystopia The Last Beekeeper, and the collection of essays Hope Wins: A Collection of Inspiring Stories for Young Readers. Pablo’s writing has been a featured in VOICES, a National Council of Teachers of English periodical, the literary magazine, Miami Rail; the Spanish language editorial, Suburbano Ediciones; as a translator for the poetry chapbook, Cinco Poemas/Five Poems based on the work of the poet Hyam Plutzik; and several award-winning podcasts. Notable Awards and Honors include: 2020 Schneider Family Book Award Honor, 2019 ALSC Notable Book, 2018 American Library Association’s Pura Belpré Honor, 2018 Audie Award Finalist, and 2018 E.B. White Read Aloud Book Award Finalist as well as being on over forty state book award lists. Since 2016, he has served as Lead Faculty for the Writing for Children and Young Adult track at Sierra Nevada University’s MFA (now part of the University of Nevada-Reno) Creative Writing program. 

Where to find Pablo:

His website is full of book info, photos, tools for teachers and librarians, and some fantastic FAQ info.

Publisher sites are full of funny and informative interviews. Check out a few favorites:

Authors Unbound–Pablo Cartaya

Scholastic–Pablo Cartaya

And, of course, his books are available all over the place. Might I recommend some favorite independent book sellers?

The Book Cellar in Chicago (many thanks to them for hosting the lecture night book sale!), The Book Table in Oak Park, Books and Books in the Miami area (Pablo’s favorite), or Sundog Books in Seaside, FL (my favorite vacation book spot).

Full Lecture Details:

11th Annual Butler Lecture featuring Pablo Cartaya
March 23, 2023
6:00 p.m.
Free with registration required
Martin Recital Hall– Dominican University Fine Arts Building, 7900 W. Division St. River Forest, IL 60305
Online (link will be sent to online registrations the day of the event)
A book signing and reception will follow the lecture.

Jane Austen Meet Cutes Shakespeare: A Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute Review

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Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute
Sayantani Dasgupta
Scholastic Press
March 7, 2023
Age: 12+

Eila Das, a Bengali American teen who prefers Shakespeare to Jane Austen, is known by her family and peers as the “sensible one.” Though she has a passion for acting, she pushes that away when her father dies to focus on what she thinks will be a more profitable career. Eila compares her love of acting and Shakespeare to how her father loved Shakespearean theater but indicates how he chose a career as an engineer to help support his family. Eila wants to become a lawyer and likes it that way, so she can help support her sister and her mother now that her father is gone. Her plans to pursue law are derailed when she agrees to attend a theater camp with her sister, Mallika, who submitted applications for both of them without Eila’s permission.

Much to Eila’s annoyance, the theater camp is no longer focused on Shakespeare but is instead hosting a casting competition for Rosewood, Mallika’s favorite regency era romance TV show. Eila reluctantly attends the new camp with her sister and ends up with the opportunity to be cast on Rosewood, but only as a minor character, due to that being the only option at the time for people of color.

The supporting cast of characters in this story complement Eila well, with one essential supporting character being Mallika, who is the opposite of the “sensible one.” She is a beautiful, free-spirited, emotional being who is obsessed with theater, drama, and romance. Mallika would be the obvious choice to be cast as the main love interest on a popular TV show because of her superstar looks and her lively personality, but she does not outshine the usually shy and rigid Eila. Instead, Mallika is a support system for Eila as they both process losing their father and as Eila learns to embrace her love of theater again as her priorities shift.

Eila blossoms out of her normal reserved nature as she begins to think more with her heart than her head and she even makes the casting team rethink who they want to see as one of the lead love interests on the TV show. Swept into a meet cute of her own, Eila begins to fall for Rahul Lee, a Bangladeshi Chinese Singaporean British boy who loves both Shakespeare and Jane Austen. With a budding new romance and a streak of rebelling against expectations on her mind, Eila becomes the new “it” girl when she lands the role of the love interest on Rosewood.

This face-paced, multicultural, young adult romance is a refreshing take on regency era love stories like Sense and Sensibility and comes with the dramatic tension of the well-loved book series and TV show Bridgerton. Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute is a must-read for theater kids and the hopeless romantics who love an empowering story about a young woman of color who defies expectations, paired with the sweetest meet cute and an exciting conclusion that leaves you wanting more stories that challenge genre stereotypes for characters of color.

Butler Bookshelf

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This multigenerational celebration of grandmas, moms, and granddaughters provides a heartwarming story about the importance of family and will reassure all children preparing for a visit from a faraway relative. In Lola’s Nana-Bibi Comes to Visit, Lola gets a surprise visit from her grandmother, Nana-Bibi, and spends the week doing special family activities with her.

Check it out along with other titles this month featured below!

A Beautiful House for Birds
Written & Illustrated by Grace Lin
Published by Charlesbridge
Available March 14th!

Book Bonding: Building Connections Through Family Reading
Written by Megan Dowd Lambert & Illustrated by Mia Saine
Published by Imagine!
Available April 18th!

Captain Skidmark Dances with Destiny
Written by Jennifer A, Irwin
Published by Charlesbridge
Available April 4th!

The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejia
Written by Alexandra Alessandri
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Available Today!

Lia & Luis: Puzzled!
Written by Ana Crespo & Illustrated by Giovana Medeiros, 
Published by Charlesbridge
Available March 7th!

Lola’s Nana-Bibi Comes to Visit
Written by Anna McQuinn & Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
Published by Charlesbridge
Available April 11th!