A pond hockey game told to "A Visit from St. Nicholas," a moonlight school in Kentucky and two boys who show up in each other's dreams, plus a new Gordon Korman book—Grand Rapids Area Library children’s librarian, Tracy Kampa, shares this new batch of latest and greatest books with What We’re Reading.
Tracy’s Takes
‘Twas the Night Before Shinny: A Pond Hockey Tale, by Lorna Schultz Nicholson with illustrations by Erica J. Chen
Picture books about hockey are usually joyful tales of winter fun. ‘Twas the Night Before Shinny is a great addition to the genre. Woodland creatures are gathering for a game of shinny, or pond hockey. Why animals? Well, because the children were nestled all snug in their beds, of course. Using the framework of “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” we are treated to a story where “Animal players assembled instead. Under cover of night, there was no need to dread. Donning leftover shin pads, tattered socks, and some guards, they looked like the players from old hockey cards.”
The animals, however, had problems pulling things together. And working as a team was unheard of, especially because Skunk continued to pass gas. Soon, an unexpected someone comes to their rescue: “But then a voice boomed from a cold, snowy blast, and they stared up to see a right star from the past, when who to their wondering eyes should appear?” Nope, I'm not spoiling this one for you.
For those who want to guess who comes to help, my only clue to you is that both the author and illustrator are Canadian. The book ends with an explanation of hockey terms and basic hockey equipment, along with a few sentences about the human hero of this story. Give yourself a treat and check out ‘Twas the Night Before Shinny by Lorna Schultz Nicholson with perfect illustrations by Erica J. Chen.
My Kentucky Moonlight School, by Kim Michele Richardson, illustrated by Chloe M. Giroux
Some of you may recognize Kim Michele Richardson as the author of the wonderful adult novel The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, which centers around pack horse librarians in Appalachia during the Depression. She has now published her second children's picture book centered in the same region, My Kentucky Moonlight School.
As the moon is rising, moonlighters are gathering, some walking miles to get to the schoolhouse. It's a big night. Jewel happily walks between her grandparents, thinking of all they have accomplished and how hard they have worked. Tonight, Mama is going to be part of the spelling bee. And although Papa has never read a whole book, he can, after much hard work at the Moonlight School, read many, many words. A surprise guest arrives, bringing diplomas to all the adults who are now graduates of the Moonlight School. And the adults tell everyone how much this will change their lives, from raises at work to being able to write letters to children who have moved far away.
Back matter includes a fascinating look at the real Moonlight Schools of Kentucky, the first of which opened in 1911 and eventually taught students between the ages of 18 and 98. The movement would spread to many other states, giving working people a chance at literacy, even if the only free time they had was late at night. If you need a reminder about how important literacy is for us all, I highly encourage you to read My Kentucky Moonlight School by Kim Michele Richardson with beautiful illustrations by Chloe M. Giroux.
No Place on Earth, by Andrea Beatriz Arango
Gustavo, his mom, and his sister are on an adventure, but Gustavo would rather stay home. His parents declare they need a break from one another, and although Gustavo begs to stay at home in Puerto Rico, where he has friends and a gamer group, he is packed off to Yellowstone National Park, where his mom has a new job.
While his dad tried to help Gustavo with his anxiety by encouraging him to toughen up, Gustavo still worries about everything, and his nervous stomach is always alerting his brain to dangers. Do you know that bison can run much faster than humans or that boiling hot springs are lethal? Sleep is difficult for Gustavo. While he has always been plagued with nightmares, they seem much more real in Yellowstone than in Puerto Rico.
On Gustavo's first day in his new, much smaller school, he recognizes somebody from his nightmares. And could that boy also recognize Gustavo? In an important element of magical realism in the book, Kordell and Gustavo meet each other in dreams and nightmares that both boys remember.
While Gustavo tries to avoid sleep and nightmares, Kordell embraces sleep as an escape from a hard reality and tries to teach Gustavo how to dreamscape and control his mind during the night. These dreams help Gustavo realize, “For the first time, I wonder if the problem isn't my emotions, but the fact that my family won't let them exist.” When Kordell goes missing, Gustavo knows he may be the only person who can save him.
This book tackles anxiety and depression in young people in a way that makes these topics not only accessible but reminds us of the importance of discussing mental health. It was easy for me to suspend reality, which I usually struggle to do, as I was completely invested in the stories of both Kordell and Gustavo. This is a great book and could prove to be very important for some readers, especially those who struggle to be seen. Please immerse yourself in No Place on Earth by Newbery Honor author Andrea Beatrice Arango.
Sleepless by Gordon Korman
Do you ever wish there were more hours in a day? Or perhaps you could actually use all 24 hours in a day? Seventh grader Mickey Prima is a regular kid, except for one amazing difference. He no longer needs sleep. For several months, he has just been awake around the clock, and he's put his time to good use, building an incredible skeleton to enter into the science fair. It should be good. After all, he has had eight hours a day to work on it.
When the science fair comes, though, Mickey's project comes in second to an incredibly detailed project depicting an entire city block, including electrical wires and sewer systems. How, wonders Mickey, does someone find time to do this project when they need sleep? And he doesn't? Chapter by chapter, we meet one kid who is up all night creating social media channels, another who can spend her nights perfecting her lead in the school play, and one who spends his nights inventing.
It is inevitable, of course, that these kids find each other and reveal their secret. Once they figure out the connection between them, which I'm not gonna reveal, the hunt is on to expose the one whose actions are causing the sleepless nights. This book, Sleepless, is a stupendous addition to our Gordon Korman bookshelf, especially when the characters start to wonder if it's worth it to not need sleep. As one character notes, “It's pretty amazing how good you can get at something when you've got all the time in the world to practice.”
Yes, they achieve great things, but in the end, do these achievements really create a better life? Another character concludes: Sure, I've got time to reinvent the toaster, but why should I want to? Yeah, I'm being productive, but so what? Is that the only thing time is for?
This is probably the most thought-provoking book I've read in months. It left me to wonder if perhaps my time could be spent in better ways. Whether you're checking it out for your favorite middle grade reader or for yourself, don't miss the highly entertaining Sleepless by Gordon Korman.
Happy reading!
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