Lion Dancers by Cai Tse

I'm always on the look-out for sport themed books, especially for the middle grade audience. There never seem to be enough of these. Today's read takes an original twist in this direction...I didn't realize that a lion dancer is really a sport, but that's what it's being sold as. And maybe, it is one. I'm not a Lion Dancer guru. Actually, that's one reason I was glad to get my hands on this. I'm hoping that, while the story spins around friendship and arguments, there will also be a little information dropped in along the way to teach what Lion Dancing is all about. Add that it's a graphic novel, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes.

So, let's learn something new! (Unless, you already know something about this area.)

(Note: This one is going on my possible favorite graphic novels list for 2025)

I almost forgot that it's Monday! That means there is tons of middle grade goodness over at the MMGM (Marvelous Middle Grade Monday) over HERE. Knowers and lovers of literature for this age group recommend all sorts of tales to dive into. So, if you're into middle grade literature, you're going to want to head over there and take a peek.

LION DANCERS

by Cai Tse

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade Sports   /  Graphic Novel

299 pages

ages 8 to 12

Former best friends become bitter rivals when one returns to lion dancing after a long absence in this vibrant and heartfelt middle grade graphic novel perfect for fans of Haikyu!! and Fence.

Young Wei dreamed of being a legendary lion dancer just like his dad. With his best friend Hung performing as the tail and Wei controlling the head, he knew they could become the next generation of lion dance champions. But after his dad’s sudden passing, Wei abruptly quits lion dancing—and his friendship with Hung.

Years later, Wei is stuck…in life, in school, and on the bench at games. That is, until he crashes a junior lion dance practice and feels his long-sleeping passion wake up within him once more. The team is happy to have another member to carry on the tradition, especially as one as preternaturally talented as Wei. There’s just one person who doesn’t want him the self-proclaimed star, Hung.

As Wei and Hung fight to be considered the top lion dancer, both will have to learn how to face their mistakes head-on and remember what it really means to be part of a team.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON    /    B&N

MY TIDBITS

Competition, finding friends, and dealing with past problems becomes interesting and grabbing in a read, which introduces the joy of (and facts surrounding) Lion Dancing.

Wei has been trying to find more friends at school and even joined the basketball team, but this leads to more problems than he had before. He always ends up alone on the bench and increasingly becomes the butt of the other players' jokes. When he notices a guy wearing a shirt from a lion dancing team on the street, he takes the risk of asking the stranger about it. After all, Wei's own father was a champion lion dancer, and Wei himself had been training for the sport when he was younger...before his father's death. Deciding to give, at least, another peek at the sport, he visits the team and wonders if he should get involved. But not only is he not sure he's ready to revisit something he did with his father years before, but his ex-partner and once best friend isn't thrilled to see him again. 

When I picked this up, it was more due to the lion dancing aspect than the friendship drama. This book ended up surprising in both categories. The author is a lion dancer, and her love for the sport comes across in every scene. The exciting aspects and fun of learning to do the moves comes across clearly, while the frustration, hard work, and exhaustion also keeps it more than grounded. It's a well-rounded look into the sport and is no problem to relate to, especially for those readers who have participated in physical activities and competitions themselves. Of course, readers learn about lion dancing and what it involves during the story, but the author adds facts and explanations behind the moves and such at the beginning of each chapter. These movements occur in the tale as well (very smoothly worked into the plot), which gives the readers 'aha' moments.

While all this goodness around the unique sport already make this an intriguing read, the human and social aspect works well, too. Wei tries to force himself to be something he isn't, which leaves him more lonely than before. Even when he enters the lion dancing realm, it isn't without difficulties. His ex-best friend's attitude is selfish, but as Wei's past and the ex-friend's family life comes to light, it becomes understandable...even when it's still, obviously, not okay. To make sure the story doesn't become too emotional, the problems between the two characters are kept more as a side-story as the Wei needs to rediscover the sport and relearn what it takes to succeed. Messages surrounding determination, working with others, and even dealing with past trauma are hit upon.

The graphics really bring each moment to life, which not only melds with the text to drive the tale forward with tension, emotion, and excitement, but also opens up the sport of lion dancing on a visual level...which is very important for this type of activity. 

It's an engaging read...even more than I thought it might be...and hard to put down. I wonder if there will be a second book because it'd be fun to see where Wei goes from here.

 

And here she is...

Cai Tse is a lion and dragon dancer with the Chinese Youth League of Australia (CYL). She represents her team and country in international lion dance competitions as the lion tail, taking home two first place wins since beginning her lion dance career in 2016. When she’s not training, she’s making comics and running with her dog. Cai is the author of the graphic novel Lion Dancers. Visit Cai online at TheSeventhLion.com or on Instagram @ArtofCai.

Engineering: How the Six Simple Machines Support the World by Carla Mooney

I'm always on the look out for nonfiction, especially topics which aren't often seen in the kidlit world. Today's read hits upon such a theme. Now, I never wanted to be an engineer. I did start with a major in biochemistry, and although that changed during college to something completely different, I still adore science. My husband is an engineer, My youngest son is currently studying engineering as a dual major, and my oldest son has been in the Army working in the field of Black Hawk mechanics for several years. (Although not engineering, that's definitely a machine).

So, lots of interest in machines and such in this household.  

That also means I'm really curious to see what the six simple machines are. I haven't shown this to my husband, yet, because if I asked him for fun what they were, he'd probably roll his eyes at a 'stupid' question and rattle them off. So, I won't ask.

Let's just dive in and see what this one is about before I say anything else, okay?

ENGINEERING

How the Six Simple Machines Support the World

by Carla Mooney

Illustrated by Lex Cornell

Nomad Press

Tween Nonfiction

128 pages

ages 12 to 15

COMING...

OCTOBER 15th!!!

A fully illustrated book about simple machines for the next generation of engineers!

How do we build skyscrapers? How did ancient people construct pyramids? Why are gears an essential part of motors?

In Engineering: How the Six Simple Machines Support the World, young engineers learn how mechanical, structural, civil, and other types of engineering are based on the six simple machines that humans have been using for thousands of years. The screw, pulley, wedge, wheel and axle, inclined plane, and lever are used to build roads, skyscrapers, bridges, engines, and even other tools. They are the building blocks on which more complicated machines are based. Without these six simple machines, the world would look far different and be much more work to navigate!

Dive deep into the history of simple machines, from ancient times to present day, and learn the physics behind how they increase efficiency and productivity through mechanical advantage. Hands-on STEM activities encourage use of the engineering design process as kids brainstorm and build practical prototypes and explore how we might employ simple machines in the future.

Additional materials include a glossary, a list of media for further learning, a selected bibliography, and index. All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.

All titles are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.

GOODREADS  

MY TIDBITS  

Starting with a two-page timeline, which highlights the major inventions throughout human history, this book takes a deep dive into six, very simple mechanisms and how they changed the world.

While inclined planes, screws, pulleys, wedges, levers, and wheels with axles may seem like overly simplified topics for the age group, this book proves how necessary the understanding of each one is for anyone, who enjoys engineering, creation, or simply making jobs easier to accomplish. Starting with the Egyptian pyramids, each mechanism is fully explained through historical and modern applications, and brought to life. The importance of each one in past and modern times becomes obvious, but this book goes beyond just the basic explanation and history. It also takes quick looks at everything surrounding the physics, mathematics, thought processes and more surrounding each one to give a fairly rounded (for the age group) look into the engineering and meaning behind each one.

While the main part of each page centers around the general information being presented, all sorts of extra explanations and facts are showcased in the sidebars. This includes everything from force/work equations to vocabulary terms to QR codes leading to videos and more. It's a treasure box of quick and short information for anyone, who really wants to learn more about the general topics. Much of the information does hit upon things readers might have touched upon during their science classes, will see in high school physics courses, and even gives a little beyond for anyone interested in continuing in the engineering field. 

The information offered is fitting to the age group. True science gurus will have already surpassed some of this (if they are on the upper end of the age group), but it's well-placed and even pushes most readers as it takes a very basic look at mechanical advantage calculations, considers how each device functions with graphics and more, leads readers through scientifical thought processes, looks at problem-solution situations, and works through a little history, too. To keep it from becoming too dry (because this isn't exactly a light read), each main chapter begins with a slightly humorous cartoon, and the writing style flows in a natural, down-to-earth way. 

This is a nice addition to science classrooms, homeschoolers, or simply those, who want to know more about the world around them, especially when it comes to basic engineering.

Buzz! Boom! Bang! The Book of Sounds by Benjamin Gottwald

It's Saturday, and that's an ideal day for some fun. Today's read should be perfect for exactly that.

 

BUZZ! BOOM! BANG!

The Book of Sounds

by Benjamin Gottwald

NorthSouth Books

Picture Book

168 pages

ages 4 and up

COMING... 

SEPTEMBER 30th!!!

A brand-new kind of interactive picture book invites you to make the sounds you see—and inspires endless fun.

This wordless picture book is meant to be read aLOUD!

Can you bang and boom,
caw and crash,
buzz and blub,
pitter-patter and pffffft?

Will you whoosh, yawn, moo or roar? It’s easy!

1. Open the book.
2. Make the sound that you see.
3. Giggle, turn the page, repeat.

With bold colors, zany illustrations, and no words at all, Buzz! Boom! Bang! inspires a whole new kind of reading experience.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

No words but tons of creativity and fun make this a read to enjoy from beginning to end before flipping back to the beginning to start again.

Outside from the simple directions on how to use the book on the very first pages, there aren't any words in this read. But this is, by no means, a quiet book. Every page invites listeners/readers to create their own noises to fit each scene. Bright and bold illustrations hold clear actions, happenings, and more to show what sound should be made. For example, there's a sheep in a green pasture with its mouth wide open. What sound does that make? Well, that's where the listeners/readers come in.

While the first illustrations portray scenes, where most readers will make about the same noises, as the book progresses, so do the possibilities. For example, one image portrays a paper airplane in flight. Some of the two-page spreads even hold clever connections between the portrayed image on either side. For example, a pig jumping on a trampoline and the pig falling off and landing on the ground. While there are over 160 pages in this book, it goes by quickly and will hold the attention of even reluctant listeners as they make one noise after the other and compare theirs to those from the listeners around them.

Not only is this a fun read thanks to the huge variety of noises and sounds listeners will make...and of course, it gets everyone involved...but it's also illustrates how people can see something a little differently. Listeners will not only giggle and laugh the entire way through but compare noises and consider the differences without even realizing the importance of this task. 

It's a lovely addition to classroom settings, group exercises, or even just for a little fun.

Trance by KL Denman

 It's the cover on today's read which caught my attention...and it's another short young adult read. First off, that cover is eye-catching and immediately makes me wonder what this book is about. There's just depth to it, and that's nice to see, too. As to the length, I am all for long, good novels. I love them. But sometimes, short and sweet is enjoyable as well. Plus, this is another in Ocra's collection of reads meant for young adult readers, who aren't quite as fluid readers as others. I have enjoyed the reads in this collection so far and assume that this one won't be any different.

That said, let's dive in and take a peek.

TRANCE

by KL Denman

Orca Surroundings

YA Magical Realism

128 pages

COMING...

AUGUST 19th!!!

Kira is best friends with Brigid, a girl who has the strange ability to take someone's hand and visit the past lives of their ancestors.

When an accident kills Laney while Brigid was giving her a “reading,” Brigid becomes trapped in the past. Doctors think Brigid is in a coma but Kira knows she must find a way to save her. She discovers that the only way to pull Brigid out of the trance is to connect her to one of Laney’s blood relatives. The only problem? Laney was adopted. With the help of Laney’s family friend, Kira must track down the truth about Laney’s birth family before it’s too late.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

GOODREADS     /      PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Emotions run high as a girl's life hangs on the line and no one seems willing to help a best friend save her.

Laney's best friend, Brigid, has the ability to let her soul travel to the past and talk to the ancestors of people she's touching. She's long since embraced this ability, and Laney does her best to protect her while she uses these sessions to help others. During one such moment, disaster strikes, and the person Brigid is touching dies, leaving Brigid's soul stuck in the past and her body in a coma. The only way to save her is the touch of a blood relative of the person she was helping, but the person was seeking assistance because they wanted to discover, who their parents truly were due to an adoption. Add that Brigid's mother is a religious fanatic, who can't know of her daughter's powers or she'll consider her a demon, and the clock is ticking. Especially since Brigid's mother is dead set on euthanasia. 

The book begins in a very grabbing way. Not only does the author make the abilities of Brigid, the friendship between the girls, and the danger of the situation clear immediately, the tension and desperation hit already a few pages in. That Laney can't fail in her attempt to save her friend's life is obvious and makes it so easy to root for. Plus, there's all sorts of drama and directions going on in the background, which she needs to discover and weave through. Brigid's mother barely appears in the novel, but the horrid ripples the woman causes feed palpable desperation. Teens will have no problem relating to this lack of control and power they have over parents, and the problem stubbornness can cause. 

This is more of an emotional read than suspense, and the paranormal aspect, while interesting, happens as an undertone, since it has to do with her friend and not her. There's also a little romance direction, which works fine but wasn't necessary to the story...outside of the fact that romance is always heart-warming. Everything rounds off nicely and the story gives some food for thought in important and difficult themes, such as religious fanaticism, parent-child relations, and euthanasia. The plot does keep things rolling, and there are plenty of surprises. Everything works out a bit too simple to solve the issue, but not enough to ruin the story.

It's an interesting read, which addresses several important issues and adds enough tension to keep things interesting the entire way through.

And here she is...

K.L. Denman is an author of middle-grade, YA and adult fiction. Many of her titles have been nominated for literary awards, including Me, Myself and Ike, which was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award. She began her writing career as a contributor to her school newspaper but didn’t take it up seriously until many years later when she found her true passion in writing fiction. She is the author of Orca Currents titles Mirror Image and Agent Angus. She lives in Delta, British Columbia.

A Cup of Happy: Capybara Bubble Tea by Helen H. Wu

Today's read is something I've been excited to dive into for awhile, now. The bright colors and very cute creatures on the cover had me smiling the second I saw this book. And bubble tea? Well, that just happens to be a year-long favorite of my youngest daughter. There's no way I was going to let this one pass me by without a peek.

So, let's see what goodness it holds!

A CUP OF HAPPY

CAPYBARA BUBBLE TEA

by Helen H. Wu

CapyFun

Children's Animal Fiction

16 pages

ages 3 to 8

COMING...

AUGUST 5th!!!

A whimsical adventure of creativity and teamwork as capybara friends explore bubble tea and celebrate life’s simple joys.
Join Capy, Cali, and Cavin, three curious and adorable capybara friends from the peaceful planet Capyzenia, on a whimsical Earth adventure! In this heartwarming tale filled with cute, kawaii art, the trio sets out to create their own bubble tea, learning through fun hands-on experiments and teamwork. With the help of new Earthling friends—a turtle, a bunny, and a duck—the capybaras discover the value of creativity, embracing differences, and cherishing life’s simple joys. Through trial and error in cooking, they not only master the art of bubble tea but also explore the importance of friendship and sharing a “cup of happy.”
Written and illustrated by Helen H. Wu, A CUP OF HAPPY: CAPYBARA BUBBLE TEA is perfect for capybara fans and readers who love stories about exploration, making new friends, and celebrating uniqueness.
Featuring engaging educational back matter, readers will discover:
✔️ 
✔️ Fascinating facts about capybaras, the world's largest and most easygoing rodents.
✔️ 
✔️ The rich history of tea, milk tea, and bubble tea, tracing its cultural roots across the world.
✔️ 
✔️ A fun, kid-friendly homemade fruit bubble tea recipe, perfect for young boba lovers to try at home!
This adorable book inspires young minds to embrace creativity, try new things, and savor the little moments that bring us all together.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Good feelings and cuteness shift into overdrive in an adorable read, which teaches a little about capybaras and bubble tea, too.

This book slides into good vibes pure and lets that shine on every page. The capybaras are adorable and very friendly, and this comes across constantly. To add an interesting twist, they start out in space. Yep, these capybaras come from another planet...which sounds a little odd, maybe, but it works thanks to the bright colors and sense of fantasy it brings in. Together, the capybara trio wants to create a yummy drink. Here, the little scientist in me has to smile, since the tale shows that experimentation doesn't always lead to immediate results, but it takes time and mistakes before the goal is reached. (So, a valuable message).

Each page pops with bright colors and echoes fun to keep the smiles going. The text is kept short...usually about four lines or so...and works nicely as a read aloud or for more sure readers to tackle on their own. Either way, the shortness of the read also makes it a good choice for more reluctant readers. While I did wonder if this shorter length would mean less of a tale, it really doesn't.

Of course, the plot is relatively simple and straight forward, but there's quite a bit of goodness included. First, as mentioned above, there are the messages surrounding trial and error as well as sharing. Then, the author adds in little tidbits about capybaras. This is further deepened in the last pages with some capybara facts. Also, readers learn about bubble tea. At the end of the book, there is more information surrounding tea and a recipe to create a simple bubble tea at home.

It's a super cute, short, has a couple wholesome messages, and delivers facts along the way. Add the positive vibes, and it's a lovely read.