V2 IJWC Spring 2023 Issue 104 International Journal of the Whole Child 2023, VOL. 8, NO. 1 Page Turners: Books for Children Maria Genesta, Katrina Bartow Jacobsb, Carla K. Meyerc, Michelle J. Sobolakd, Patricia Crawforde aLa Roche University, bUniversity of Pittsburgh, cDuquesne University, dUniversity of Pittsburgh, eUniversity of Pittsburgh A Blue Kind of Day Written by Rachel Tomlinson Illustrated by Tori-Jay Mordey Kokila, 2022 ISBN 9780593324011 Tomlinson, a registered psychologist, provides readers with a timely story about how a family comes together to help their son deal with a day when he is feeling very blue. The story follows the main character, Coen, who wakes up feeling very down. Coen describes all the ways that his body is impacted by his emotions, as he pulls away from his family who are trying to cheer him up. Soon his family realizes that simply being there for him is the best way to show support. Their closeness and love finally help him to feel better. This text supports readers in learning about emotions, understanding sensory cues, accepting inevitable times when we all feel down and provides supportive guidance. The text would serve classrooms and families well as we all learn to better support mental health. Ages 4-8. Most Perfect You Written by Jazmyn Simon Illustrated by Tamisha Anthony Random House, 2022 ISBN 9780593426944 Growing up can be challenging as children work to build their self-esteem and identity. This enchanting story takes the reader on the journey of a loving mother helping her daughter realize that each aspect of her inside and out is both unique and perfect. The love shared between mother and daughter overflows the pages, as the mother enthralls her daughter with a tale of how she chose all of her daughter’s unique characteristics before she was born. The beautiful, whimsical illustrations complement the text with both soft pastel and bold colors to make the words come alive. Ages 3-10. 105 The World’s Best Class Plant Written by Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick Illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao Putnam, 2023 ISBN 9780525516354 The kids in Room 109 have had it. While other classes have exciting class pets, Room 109 only has a class plant; a boring, green, potted plant that hardly ever grows. What a letdown! Things begin to change when their teacher suggests they name the plant. The newly christened “Jerry” becomes a class plant like no other. Class members begin to give Jerry the tender loving care needed to grow into a thriving spider plant. In turn, Jerry shines and begins to produce baby spiderette plants for all the children to enjoy. This droll, engaging picture book imparts the gentle, yet joyful, lesson that a little care, attention, and appreciation can make a world of difference in life’s circumstances. An afterword includes tips for caring for plants. While the winsome end pages offer a “before and after” take on the lives of both the plant and children of Room 109. Ages 4-8. Yoshi: Sea Turtle Genius Written by Lynn Cox Illustrated by Richard Jones Anne Schwartz Books, 2023 ISBN 9780593425688 “Inside the egg was genius.” This well-researched and beautifully designed picture book celebrates the amazing ability of loggerhead turtles to travel vast distances in order to return to the place in which they were born. Readers will follow Yoshi’s life as a sea turtle, from egg to hatchling through adulthood, as she travels across time and over more than 23,000 miles of sea, in order to lay her own eggs on the beach where she first hatched. The storyline strikes the chord of being at once heartwarming, engaging, and filled with fascinating information about sea life. Yoshi’s journey has been well-documented by scientists and followed by children and adults from around the world. Now, the story is told with passion by Lynn Cox, herself a long distance swimmer, and brought to life with Richard Jones’ mesmerizing illustrations. Ages 4-8. The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country Written by Amanda Gorman Viking Press, 2021 ISBN 9780593465271 First shared on the national stage during the inauguration of U.S. president Joseph Biden, Amanda’s Gorman’s heartfelt and lyrical poem marked a significant moment in national discourse. This slim book with a foreword by Oprah Winfrey offers the entire text in simple, elegant style. Pages are left intentionally minimal, with nothing to distract from Gorman’s powerful words and seemingly effortless play with language. Readers will appreciate the importance of this text for both its historical significance and its recognition of the power of spoken word poetry as an artform. Young readers will appreciate learning from her words, thinking about her thoughtful - and ever hopeful - perspective on the history and future of the United States of America. Ages 8-18. 106 Mrs. Peanuckle’s Earth Alphabet Written by Mrs. Peanuckle Illustrated by Jessie Ford Rodale Kids, 2023 ISBN 9780593486641 Mrs. Peanuckle is back with another charming alphabet book sure to get the youngest readers interested in thinking about letters, sounds, and the earth we all share. With vivid illustrations, this board book offers children a chance to practice learning letters and sounds while also learning about the world around us. Each page blends basic scientific and geological information with the corresponding letter. The book manages to help children understand the basics of environment and climate and the importance of caring for the earth without being frightening or focusing on issues that we currently face with climate change. Instead, this book is a gentle and loving reminder of how magical the earth and life are - and how important it is for us as humans not to take it for granted. Because of the thoughtful information, this book would be an excellent one for preschool or kindergarten students as they blend early literacy skills with growing awareness of the planet and its needs. Ages 2-5. A Spark in the Dark Written and Illustrated by Pam Fong Greenwillow Books, 2022 ISBN 9780063136533 “There is light and there is dark.” And so begins this gentle picture book about the times when we all may find ourselves searching for the light in the darkness. Fong uses imagery of a fish in the deep ocean, navigating the space between the warm sun-filled waves above and the cold, dark, and deep ocean below to explore feelings around this theme. This is a beautiful, straightforward text that lends itself to a powerful read-aloud about the feelings we may have when we are in a dark and unknown place. The text encourages the reader to keep searching for the spark, even if you take a wrong turn and are angry or scared. This is an excellent book for launching discussions with young readers about emotions and perseverance in difficult moments. Ages 4-8. School Trip: A Graphic Novel (The New Kid Book 3) Written and illustrated by Jerry Craft Quill Tree Books, 2023 In this hilarious new graphic novel Jerry Craft, brings the readers along with Jordan, Drew, Liam, Maury, and their friends from Riverdale Academy Day School, on their school trip to Paris. Not only are the friends challenged with the navigating of a new city and culture, but the trip will challenge the characters to navigate the challenges of true friendship. As with the other books in the New Kid series, Jerry Craft masterfully balances humor with the relevant and important topics. The story offers a safe entry point for middle schoolers and beyond to engage in crucial discussions about race and multiculturism, which is of great value in today’s charged political context. Ages 8+. 107 Sharks: A Mighty Bite-y History Written by Miriam Forster Illustrated by Gordy Wright Abrams Books, 2022 ISBN 9781419747731 The magnificent shark is well-deserving of this epic oversized picture book detailing how various species of this sea creature have changed over millions of years. Each two-page spread in this informational text highlights an era in which a specific shark lived, with the author focusing on the fossil record and the illustrator bringing these facts to life in colorful and intricate images. Children will enjoy the “toolbox” feature pages which emphasize the tools that sharks use to adapt and thrive in their environments. For example, some sharks have skin which is actually sharp because it is covered in jagged dental dentricles, which are “skin teeth!” This engaging book is filled with the latest science and would be an excellent resource for shark lovers in the intermediate grades. Ages 8-12. Squished Written by Megan Wagner Lloyd Illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter Graphix, 2023 ISBN: 9781338568936 The author/illustrator team that brought readers the best-selling graphic novel, Allergic, takes readers on a secondary literary journey in their new graphic novel, Squished. Megan Wagner Lloyd (author) and Michelle Mee Nutter (illustrator) introduce readers to eleven-year-old Avery Lee who is the second oldest child (and oldest girl) in a family with seven children. As a young adolescent, Avery finds her family chaotic and irritating. All she wants is her own room; however, her life is turned upside down when she learns her parents may uproot the family from Avery’s beloved hometown to move across the country. This delightful and artistically appealing graphic novel will appeal to upper elementary and middle school readers. The graphic novel provides readers from large families someone with whom they can relate and offers readers from small families insights of what it is like to grow up in a large family. Ages 8-13.