Review: Glow by Ruth Forman

 Yesterday was release day for today's review. This board book is a companion read to Curls, which I reviewed back in February. (You can see that post here) 

GLOW

by Ruth Forman

Illustrated by Geneva Bowers

Little Simon

Board Book

ages 2 to 4

Jeffrey Salane at Little Simon has bought world rights to two board books, Curls and Glow, by author and poet Ruth Forman (l.), illustrated by Geneva Bowers. Curls celebrates hair and Glow celebrates skin tone. Publication is planned for spring 2021 and summer 2021, respectively; Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Rostan represented the writer, and Kate Kendrick at Astound represented the illustrator.

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BOOK BLINK

                                     * wording borders on poetry

                                     * brings across atmosphere and feelings nicely

                                     * great as a bedtime read

                                     

MY TIDBITS

Sticking to few words and allowing the atmosphere to take over, this is a lovely read, especially before bedtime.

I did have the chance to review the companion book, Curls, and truly enjoyed and appreciated the way the author set the tone in those pages and celebrated something as wonderful as curls. This book again uses imagery as well as descriptive words to bring across a feeling of pride, joy and satisfaction. And it does it well. Each word is carefully chosen and is delivered as a poem. The scenes come to life through the illustrations, while the words set the tone.

I enjoyed how the book started with the excitement of a day and slowly headed toward a bath before sliding into the bed for a good night's rest. It awakens positive and self-confident feelings, while setting the perfect tone as a bedtime read.

While I do enjoy this one, it wasn't quite as well done as the other board book. I believe the author wanted to awaken joy and pride in a similar way as Curls, but if that is the case, it wasn't as clear nor did it encompass the same variety. This one comes across with a wonderful sense of satisfaction and good feelings... and that's wonderful, too.

Review: That Thing About Bollywood by Supriya Kelkar

 

THAT THING ABOUT BOLLYWOOD

by Supriya Kelkar

Simon & Schuster 

Middle Grade Magical Realism

352 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING...

MAY 18th!!!

Bollywood takes over in this contemporary, magical middle grade novel about an Indian American girl whose world turns upside down when she involuntarily starts bursting into glamorous song-and-dance routines during everyday life.

You know how in Bollywood when people are in love, they sing and dance from the mountaintops? Eleven-year-old Sonali wonders if they do the same when they’re breaking up. The truth is, Sonali’s parents don’t get along, and it looks like they might be separating.

Sonali’s little brother, Ronak, is not taking the news well, constantly crying. Sonali would never do that. It’s embarrassing to let out so many feelings, to show the world how not okay you are. But then something strange happens, something magical, maybe. When Sonali gets upset during a field trip, she can’t bury her feelings like usual—instead, she suddenly bursts into a Bollywood song-and-dance routine about why she’s upset!

The next morning, much to her dismay, Sonali’s reality has shifted. Things seem brighter, almost too bright. Her parents have had Bollywood makeovers. Her friends are also breaking out into song and dance. And somehow, everyone is acting as if this is totally normal.

Sonali knows something has gone wrong, and she suspects it has something to do with her own mismanaged emotions. Can she figure it out before it’s too late?

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BOOK BLINK

                                         * addresses problems such as parental divorce and friendship troubles

                                         * India and culture

                                         * magical elements mixed with reality

                                         

MY TIDBITS

                                         

I have a soft spot for Bollywood and was thrilled to get my hands on this ARC, hoping that it would hold all the magic and fun of the productions. This book not only does that but so much more.

There's one big rule in Sonali's family—never give outsiders a reason to gossip and embarrass the family. In other words, keep your mouth shut about personal issues. This works fine, normally, but with her parents' increasing fights and sudden pause from each other, Sonali's walls are needing extra fortification. Add that her best friend seems to have found a new friend she likes more...plus, her falling grades...and well, it's a bit much. But she can take it. Unfortunately, as she learns to hold it all back, strange things start happening...things no one else notices. But could her world really be turning into a musical, Bollywood reality?

There are several tough themes in this book, ones very fitting for the age group. While facing parents' separation and divorce is a common issue, this one also addresses the problem of changing friend groups and learning to stand up for what you really think. Sonali has a lot on her plate, but the problems are ones many readers will identify with.

I love Sonali's glow. I'm just going to call it that because her personality...even when she's bottling things up...is really a shining one. She's a positive person, who cares very much about those around her. She loves fun and joy and happiness, and is silly in her own way. Those around her are also very supportive people, but even when there is a lot of positivity, it doesn't mean it always radiates through everything or makes life perfect. But it's this glistening inner part of Sonali, which allows the magical elements to hold the perfect fairy tale atmosphere and Bollywood to come across as if it naturally should be there. The mix of magic and reality is simple well done. Plus, the addition of some of India's culture was nice. 

There is a lot going on in these pages thanks to the various issues, and that did mean a little less depth for some of the side characters. There were a couple, I would have loved to get to know a little better. The ending also hit a little off. At first, I thought it might be too quick, but this really isn't the case. It rounds of nicely and wraps things up well. But the main message of the book warped slightly. While Sonali learns her lesson and has a chance to correct her mistakes, one of her parents happens to have the exact same trouble that she does. While this mistake is admitted at the end, it's treated as if its too late and while admitted, the parents doesn't even think of trying to find a way to make amends. It reflects the reality of such situations and, of course, has it's own important meaning, but it cheapened the overall lesson for me.

But this was an awesome read, and I have no doubt any middle graders who know anything about Bollywood will enjoy it. 

And here she is...

Born and raised in the Midwest, Supriya Kelkar learned Hindi as a child by watching three Hindi movies a week. She is a screenwriter who has worked on the writing teams for several Hindi films and one Hollywood feature. Supriya’s books include Ahimsa, The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh, American as Paneer Pie, and That Thing About Bollywood, among others. Visit her online at SupriyaKelkar.com.

Happy Book Birthday, The Firebird Song by Arnée Flores !

I just got word from the author that release day is now June 8th...but can we ever celebrate an upcoming book too much?

Happy Monday, Kidlit lovers! I got my hands on an ARC, and it just happens to be its release day today. See that cover? Well, this one is as exciting as that cover suggests. I, for some reason, was expecting a bit more lost island feel with elements concerning diversity...but this isn't that at all. Nope, this one is fantasy pure with evil queens and hidden lands and determined princesses and true heroes and magic and...

Well, just take a look for yourself.

 

THE FIREBIRD SONG

by Arnée Flores

Bloomsbury Children's Books

Middle Grade Fantasy

304 pages

ages 8 to 12

The Kingdom of Lyrica was once warm and thriving, kept safe by the Firebird, whose feather and song was a blessing of peace and prosperity. But the Firebird disappeared, and Lyrica is now terrorized by the evil Spectress who wields her powers from within a volcano. All that remains is a mysterious message scrawled on the castle wall in the Queen's own hand: Wind. Woman. Thief.

Young Prewitt has only known time without the Firebird, a life of constant cold, as his village is afraid to tempt the volcano monsters with even the feeblest fire. But he has heard whispers that the kingdom's princess survived the attack . . . and he is certain that if he can find her, together they can save Lyrica.

Princess Calliope has no memories beyond living on her barge on the underground lake. But as she nears her twelfth birthday, she is certain there is more to life than the walls of a cave. When Prewitt finds her, he realizes that she is the missing princess: the only hope for Lyrica. Determined to decipher the meaning of her mother's strange message and find the Firebird, Calliope and Prewitt set off on a quest that puts them in more danger than either of them ever anticipated.

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BOOK BLINK

                                           * solid middle grade read

                                           * lost princess with spunk

                                           * learning to step beyond fear

                                           * fantasy

                                           * some high-tension moments

MY TIDBITS

The cover caught my eye on this one, and after reading the blurb, I couldn't wait to dive into the adventure. And it is a well-done, exciting read.

Prewitt is the Bargeboy and should inherit the position after an apprenticeship with his father, but nothing's been the same in the kingdom, since the evil Spectress took everything over and the Firebird disappeared. All girls his age were long hunted down and taken away, and those in the village, who have not been put to death by the Spectress's followers, live in constant fear. So, when his grandmother tells him that it's his destiny to find the supposedly long-dead princess and help her bring back the Firebird, he's not sure what to think. But when his grandmother is killed and his parents refuse to do anything about it, he's ready to fulfill her last wish and take it all on...even if it means he'll end up dead in the process.

Fantasy fans should really enjoy this one. There's magic, dark moments, action, demons, monsters, fight scenes, secrets, an evil queen, a princess, other worlds, and so much more. Adventure flows from every page, while a hero and a heroine go against all odds to achieve what the adults were unwilling face themselves. The barge boy and princess make an unexpected pair but yet, form the everlasting bond of friendship, which is needed to make it through. So, yes, there's tons of fantasy goodness in these pages.

More importantly, the story flows well. The characters have enough depth to draw in and both carry distinct personalities.. They are spunky, make mistakes, and despite moments of doubt, do what they need to do. The entire time they stay true to their age and come across naturally. The plot moves along quickly, never offering a dull moment, and there are details to bring the world to life. It was easy to venture the town's streets with Prewitt or go across the water on the barge and even discover the new lands. The only thing missing was a tad bit more backstory. At times, it did feel as if information from the past had been missed. Plus, the Spectress's evil side was mentioned and shown in the town through the bad circumstances, and yet, the extent of this didn't really come through all the time. The monsters did and many scenes kept me on the edge of my seat. But I really didn't know what to think of the Spectress for much of the read as she was only mentioned in their conversations until the later chapters.

Still, this is an engaging fantasy, which middle graders are sure to enjoy. And I can recommend it.

Happy Book Birthday, Some Creatures Have All the Luck by Ana Gerhard!!!

 Ready for some music? Today's read introduces young readers to the famous composer, Antoni Vivaldi and his work, Four Seasons. Of, at least, the winter section, since I only hit one of the four books in the series. 

I was one of those kids, who spent a lot of time around classical music thanks to years and years and years of piano lessons (around 12). And while I enjoyed playing, I'll admit that when the music teacher at school pulled out something like Vivaldi's Four Seasons and made us sit there and listen, I really had a hard time enjoying it for more than a few seconds. And those around me were worse. So, when I stumbled over this book, I was curious how it'd be done. While I fully support exposing kids to classics, it's a tough job to successfully do.

This book hits the task from several different directions at once. The book comes with several free downloads (so not everything has to be purchased separately). But go ahead and take a look at it yourself.

SOME CREATURES HAVE ALL THE LUCK

Antonio Vivaldi

by Ana Gerhard

The Secret Mountain

Picture Book / Music

36 pages

ages 4 to 8

Little does Minim know that this task is fraught with danger, since there happens to be a tomcat in the building who is always on the lookout for the next meal. Luckily, it’s also home to the great composer Antonio Vivaldi, whose music will prove to be irresistible! Included are introductory notes on the composer along with recordings of the narrated story and the composition “Concerto for Winter” from “The Four Seasons.” A unique code for the digital download of the recordings is also included.

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BOOK BLINK

                                           * part of 4 book series about Vivaldi's Four Seasons

                                           * cute story about a mouse's adventures

                                           * music and narration 

                                           * fun to follow illustrations

                                           * teaches a bit about Vivaldi

MY TIDBITS

Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons is introduced to young readers through an adventure, illustrations, a lovely narration, the music, and a very cute mouse...in a way which brings the music to life.

This book covers the Winter part of Vivaldi's Four Seasons and is one book in a four book series. I didn't read the other three books, but that's not really necessary since this book is its own adventure. Well, that's ignoring the fact that all four books are necessary to round off the glimpse at this composer's work. 

While this book does take a quick glance at Vivaldi, it is really a quick glance. The mouse gets center stage in these pages as he deals with a very determined Tom cat. It's a quick paced tale...much like the music...and does an amazing job at giving Vivaldi's piece a life young listeners will enjoy. 

The book can be used in many ways. Firstly, it is a story like a normal picture book, and one that will hold readers interest all on its own. There is a quick look at Vivaldi along with some details, but it's not in depth. Then, there's the narration/audio book version, which can be downloaded. The narrator does a lovely job at reading the story while music plays in the background. But there's also the possibility of playing the music while the book is read (either out loud or gazed at). 

This musical version (music in the background while book be read aloud or gazed at) impressed me the most. The music matches the tale perfectly and builds an amazing base for the imagination. It's easy to get lost in both and see the events happening as the music plays. It's an inviting way for young readers to learn to see...what they'd most likely deem, otherwise, as boring...the piece in a whole new light.

While there could have been a pinch more about Vivaldi, I'm suspecting the four books round off that end better when placed together. But from the view of bringing children closer to a type of music they'd, otherwise, turn away from, this book is very well done and a treat.

Review: Temple Alley Summer by Sachiko Kashiwaba

Today's book comes from a well-known, Japanese children's book author. If you've watched Spirited Away and enjoyed it, you'll have a pretty good handle on the atmosphere of this one. (But then, it's basically the same author...or at least, the movie is based on one of her books...so, no surprises there). While there is a girl pictured on the front of today's cover, the main character is actually a boy named Kazu. The girl holds a huge importance in this plot, though. Riding on the wings of fantasy, spirits and the Japanese culture, I was more than excited to pick this one up and take a peek.

Ready to see what I thought and learn more about it? Of course, you are! 

 

TEMPLE ALLEY SUMMER

by Sachiko Kashiwaba

Illustrated by Mino Satake

Translated by Avery Udagawa

Restless Books

Middle Grade Fantasy

ages 8 to 12

COMING...

JULY 6th!!!

From renowned Japanese children's author Sachiko Kashiwaba, Temple Alley Summer is a fantastical and mysterious adventure filled with the living dead, magical pearls, and a suspiciously nosy black cat named Kiriko featuring beautiful illustrations from Miho Satake.

Kazu knows something odd is going on when he sees a young girl in a white dress sneak out of his house in the middle of the night--was he dreaming? Did he see a ghost? Things get even stranger when he shows up to school the next day to see the very same figure sitting in his classroom. No one else thinks it's weird, and, even though Kazu doesn't remember ever seeing her before, they all seem convinced that the ghost-girl Akari has been their friend for years!

When Kazu's summer project to learn about Kimyo Temple draws the meddling attention of his mysterious neighbor Ms. Minakami and his secretive new classmate Akari, Kazu soon learns that not everything is as it seems in his hometown. Kazu discovers that Kyoto Temple is linked to a long forgotten legend about bringing the dead to life, which could explain Akari's sudden appearance--is she a zombie or a ghost? Kazu and Akari join forces to find and protect the source of the temple's power. An unfinished story in a magazine from Akari's youth might just hold the key to keeping Akari in the world of the living, and it's up to them to find the story's ending and solve the mystery as the adults around them conspire to stop them from finding the truth.

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MY TIDBITS

Fantasy, spirits and adventure mix into a lovely tale as a boy tries to discover the history behind his street and finds so much more.

Kazu can't believe his eyes when he sees a girl in white leave their house one night. She's got to be a ghost, but suddenly, she appears as a fellow student in his classroom, and everyone claims she's been part of the class and school for years. She's even living in a house right near his own, and the other neighbors swear this is nothing new. But Kazu knows it's not true. He couldn't forget her and only her from his entire life. Plus, she appears to be living with an invisible mother. At least, he can't see the person. When his class runs across an old map, where it shows that his street once carried the name 'Temple Alley', his search for the truth begins. And what he uncovers not only is a well-hidden secret, but the beginning of an amazing adventure.

I was really looking forward to reading this, since I love these types of tales. At first, I had a difficult time settling into this book, though. It is translated from the original Japanese story, and the different form of story telling is obvious in the writing style. There's a lot of telling, and it takes a couple chapters to sink into Kazu and the setting. The story unfolds relatively quickly, and the author lets it come across directly. It's a different flair than the tempo and flow of plots written in the western world, but then, this is one reason I enjoy reading works from other cultures. And it definitely draws in as the story goes along.

Kazu is a gentle boy with a huge heart. His concern for others is inspiring as is his determination. He mixes nicely in with the other characters and is hard not to cheer for as the story continues. His own family is there but doesn't play as important a role as others. There is an old woman, who especially wins over with her secretive ways. Plus, the other characters who join in as the adventure continues, add just the right amount of mystery and friendship.

This is a lovely read with tons of imagination...the type which invites to dream. Illustrations dabble in every now and then for a nice touch. The book holds a similar flair to that of Spirited Away, but then, considering this author's work, The Marvelous Village Veiled in Mist, was the main influence behind that movie, it isn't surprising. Fans will definitely want to take a peek at this adventure, too, because it is a lovely read.