Tokyo Dreaming and Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean

I’ve said it before, but I do judge a book by it’s cover and if the cover doesn’t grab me, I usually won’t bother picking it up. I am also weird about what is on the cover. I don’t pick up many (fiction) books that have a picture of a person (To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before being an exception) or anything that looks like Claymation (I don’t know, it’s just a thing). So, much to my surprise, when I saw Toyko Ever After on the shelf at Barnes and Noble, I actually picked it up. Maybe because it mentioned a prince (following suit with The Lunar Chronicles-my 2nd favorite series) or maybe it was because it was about a normal girl, who is about to embark on a not so normal life but something piqued my interest. Unfortunately Tokyo Ever After was book 2 and book 1 was not to be found. Luckily my library had copies of Tokyo Dreaming so I placed it on hold. Izumi and her mom live a comfortable life, just the two of them and Izumi doesn’t know anything about her father. Being Japanese American isn’t always easy for her but she is proud of her heritage. When she finds a clue about who her father is, she is determined to find out more about him. What a surprise it is for her when those clues lead her to a brand new life in Japan, where she isn’t Japanese enough but also too American.

Advertisement

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – Makers, Mysteries and Magic

Audiobooks have really become my best friend. I can listen while I am at work, pausing when I need to, rewinding if needed, and listening again and again when I find something I really enjoy. This item, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindwald – Makers, Mysteries and Magic is only available on audiobook and is narrated by the fantastic Dan Fogler. His character, Jacob Kowalski, was my favorite of this series. I’m not sure that anyone else could narrate this as well as Dan. I’ve listened to it quite a few times since borrowing it from my library and I always hear something that I missed. This is an audiobook that I will go back to time and time again….after all, who can’t use some mystery and magic in their life.

Girl on the Line by Faith Gardner

I picked this up off of the teen shelf just by reading the back. I had gone through a very long period of time when I just read Teen Dystopian Novels and this is not that. Journey felt that hopelessness that so many people feel at some point in their life and thought the only way out was suicide. Except she survived and now she has to live with the fact that she wanted to end her life. Her parents don’t know how to talk to her, her therapist has given her a diagnosis that may or may not be correct and Journey is just trying to figure things out. Journey starts to volunteer at a hotline and meets people who may be broken like her but are still living fulfilling lives and she begins to think that things can change for her.

Girl on the Line is an emotional ride and talks about a subject that too many want to sweep away.

Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom

Have you ever had an obsessive thought? One that worries you so much, you can’t have fun with your friends? One that worries you so much that you are afraid something will happen to your mom and it will be all your fault? Kiki Kallira has such thoughts. Her only relief from those thoughts are the many many sketchbooks she has filled with drawings that help her escape. But what happens when that escape actually takes her to another dimension, leaving her mom all alone in their home. What happens when that escape takes Kiki to a world she thought only existed in her imagination and on the pages of her sketchbooks? Kiki doesn’t know how to use a sword let alone protect herself or others. How can she ever return home to her mom while also saving the lives of others when her thoughts prevent her from being able to do anything except be afraid???

A picture book by Kelly Yang, “Yes We Will”

Just when I thought I was getting caught up on everything Kelly Yang had written, I stumbled upon a picture book that comes at a time when everyone needs to learn more about the contributions of the Asian community in America.

I found it beautifully written and illustrated, I learned a lot and this would be an important addition to any library.

Lift by Minh Le illustrations by Dan Santat

I feel like I have a Dan Santat radar when I’m looking through/around/searching picture books. His illustrations always amaze me and I feel like I could understand his books if there were no words. However reading Minh le books is such a joy.
The buttons on the elevator go out of order and what’s a kid to do??? Keep trying! What you might find is a magical place that you can’t wait to return to.
Do it, find this book, pick it up and read it.

A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramee

Oregon Battle of the Books selection committee didn’t disappoint with this one. Again, another story that is so relevant to the times.
Shayla, along with her besties Julia and Isabella, make up the United Nations….friends for years, all from a different background. But true to kid fashion, it didn’t matter to them. As they start middle school however, things start to change.
Moore Ramee does a great job talking about BLM. Shootings, protests, standing up for what you believe in. A great book to read together as a family or as a read aloud in class.

It Feels Good to Be Yourself

I was happy to see this type of book come across my check in desk at the library. The illustrations are fantastic. The message is important and educational. There are resources for parents. I just didn’t love the flow of the text. It would be difficult to be a read aloud for me, just because of the flow. There are many ways to talk about gender and this book is a step towards a more inclusive, diverse selection of picture books. People are people, no matter how they identify and they deserve respect and opportunity like everyone else.

Areli is a Dreamer

Areli is a little girl who lives in Mexico with her abuela and her brother. Her mother and father live in New York, trying to make a better life for the family. Areli talks to her parents every Sunday and after those calls, she wonders why she isn’t in America with her parents. It is especially confusing because her brother is able to go to America as he pleases because he was born there.
As time passes, and Alex is moved to New York, Arelia starts school and then the day arrives for Areli to leave Mexico.
America is so loud and different than the mountains Areli lived in. She learns English, makes friends and becomes a “Dreamer”.
Based on the life of the author, Arelia Morales, it is a beautiful, heart tugging story of being an immigrant in the United States. Through the creation of DACA, Areli is eventually approved and is now a Dreamer. The DACA program is always at risk, especially in this current administration, but these children deserve to be treated as equals and deserve to have a life here in America.
An important and beautiful read that should be in every classroom.

This book is due to be released June 8th, 2021

Fast Enough

Have you ever been told that you aren’t enough? Fast enough, strong enough, pretty enough, tall enough. Bessie Stringfield was told almost all of that. She wished to ride a bike, like the boys, but didn’t know if she could. She began to ride everywhere as fast as she could. One day, as the boys were getting ready to race off, Bessie got ready as well and rode so fast she flew past them all.

Bessie Stringfield was a real person. She was the first African American woman to ride cross country solo on a motorbike. She would toss a penny on a map to see where she would ride to next. It wasn’t always easy however. These were the days when blacks weren’t allowed in all places so if she couldn’t find a hotel that she was allowed to stay in, she would sleep on her motorcycle overnight.

Great illustrations, easy text with some biographical information at the back.