New books from authors Karen Berger, Candace Fleming, and Ellen Oh are among the latest books recommended by Grand Rapids Area Library children’s librarian Tracy Kampa.
On a recent segment of What We’re Reading, Kampa reviewed two picture books and a middle grade collection of stories.
Carin Berger’s beautiful book In the Night Garden treats us to a glimpse of a garden at night, making this a fitting bedtime read. Kampa summarized, “The deep blues and saturated colors perfectly capture the feel of the garden in the moonlight, and like many great bedtime books, we end up in a cozy bedroom, ready to dream of the millions of fireflies that look like stars falling from the sky.”
What happens when there is one single apple hanging on a tree and five hungry animals looking for a snack? Candace Fleming’s book Mine tells the story of Mouse, Hare, Fox, Deer and Bear as they wait for the apple to fall — and the mad dash for it once it does.
Kampa noted how Eric Rohmann’s illustrations sell the book. “I wonder at the power of a great illustrator as at one point, the apple falls and the wind takes it over the heads of the waiting. You can feel the action nearly come to a stop as the fruit soars through the sky over all the animals, with heads upturned.”
Ellen Oh’s new middle grade book You Are Here: Connecting Flights is a collection of 12 stories, each written by a prominent Asian American author including Linda Sue Park, Grace Lin, Erin Entrada Kelly, Traci Chee and Ellen Oh.
“Read and share this book for the really good story or as an anti-racist teaching tool, I can't recommend this book more highly."Children's librarian Tracy Kampa on Ellen Oh's book "You Are Here."
Each story is connected, set in Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, weaving together stories from families all over the world. Within each story, a child is faced with stereotypes or racism.
Kampa said, “Read and share this book for the really good story or as an anti-racist teaching tool, I can't recommend this book more highly.”
Finally, Kampa reminded us that the American Library Association Youth Media Awards is just weeks away on Jan. 22. The awards ceremony is Kampa’s favorite time of year because the coveted Caldecott (illustration) and Newbery (literature) award-winning books will be announced, as well as other media awards.
You can find out more about the awards on the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards website.
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