#IMWAYR January 31, 2022

Welcome readers! It's #IMWAYR time again, when bloggers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the kidlit rendition. These are fabulous places to start your search for what to read next. 

Here we are with another week of reading to celebrate!

The Canada Reads shortlist contenders and their champions was announced last week. I had already read four of them and finished the fifth last week. Now I'm just hoping to reread one of them that I read quite a while ago. 

Titles with a 🍁 indicate this is a Canadian or Indigenous Canadian Author and or Illustrator.

Clicking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page of the book.

PICTURE BOOKS

Alice & Gert: An Ant and Grasshopper Story by Helaine Becker Aug 15, 2020  🍁

The original version of this tale portrays the grasshopper as lazy and worthless while the ant is esteemed as hardworking. That grasshopper met a sad end.
I prefer this version much more.
In this one, Ant works hard gathering seeds for winter while Grasshopper works hard to keep Ant entertained while she works. When the cold weather comes, Ant invites Grasshopper to stay with her. In return, Grasshopper keeps her entertained throughout the cold months.
Dena Seiferling's gorgeous illustrations paired with Helaine Becker's retelling show us that not only do we need more art in our lives, we need to value the work of artists who bring pleasure and meaning to us.

4 stars

Change Sings: a Children's Anthem by Amanda Gorman & Loren Long (Illustrator) September 21, 2021

This is a beautiful book about how we can come together and change the world. Loren Long's illustrations are absolutely glorious. I adored the message of this picture book.
Be prepared to practise reading this to yourself a few times before reading it out loud to a group. As much as I loved this, the format didn't really work for me.

4 stars

Beautifully Me by Nabela Noor & Nabi H. Ali (Illustrator) September 14, 2021

On her first day of school, Zubi hears all kinds of incidental remarks that cause her to doubt her own beauty.
These are the kinds of comments, probably inculcated over a longer period of time, that lead to internalized fat shaming and self hatred.
I love that Zubi’s reaction to all this, and her family’s response, help all of them, and all of us, think about beauty in a healthier ways.

5 stars

The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler (Illustrator) February 01, 2005

After reading this sequel to The Gruffalo, I went to reread the original. I love how this one revisits it in a new way. The Gruffalo's child heads off in search of the big bad mouse. Along the way she runs into the same animals who wanted to eat the original mouse. Readers will appreciate these interactions best if The Gruffalo is fresh in their mind. The poetry in this is brilliant.

POETRY

5 stars

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Renée Watson & Nikkolas Smith (Illustrator) November 16, 2021

Just wow! This collection of illustrated poems provides a look into the history of black people before they were ripped from their homes, families, and friends in Africa and after they were enslaved in the Americas. It is absolutely essential reading for people of all ages.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

These days I'm mostly reading graphic novels for the Cybils awards. I will do a post to share my thoughts on all of them after we pick a winner. From the ones I've finished so far, that's promising to be a daunting task. 

Here's what I read last week. If I previously reviewed the book, I've provided a link to it.

My Last Summer with Cass by Mark Crilley  (Cybil title)

NOVELS

5 stars

What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad & Dion Graham (Narrator) July 20, 2021 🍁
Amir, a nine year old boy is the only survivor of a shipwreck. The boat was full of other refugees from Syria, Palestine, Ethiopia, Egypt and Lebanon. He escapes from the soldiers cleaning up the beach and is rescued and hidden by Vanna, a teenage girl who lives on the island. The story is told in two parts in alternating chapters. Before tells how Amir ended up on the boat and what happened on it. The after section describes their journey to get Amir to safety.
The book is brilliant. It's emotionally terrifying. A review I read used the work harrowing. I think that's a perfect word for it. In spite of all that, I felt hope. 

And then that ending, the Now arrived. 

I'm still struggling with what it all means. I think it's saying a lot about western culture and the difference between who we want to be, who we think we are, and who we really are.

CURRENTLY

Spílexm: A Weaving of Recovery, Resilience, and Resurgence by Nicola I. Campbell
Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch by Rivka Galchen
Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney & Robyn Smith (Illustrator) (Cybil title)

UP NEXT 

History Smashers, Plagues and Pandemics by Kate Messner
Solimar by Pam Muñoz Ryan

READING GOALS

#MustReadFiction 2/24 

#MustReadNonFiction 1/18 one in progress

Canadian Authors 7/100 one in progress

Canada Reads shortlist 5/5

Indigenous Authors 2/25 one in progress

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 33/250

#IMWAYR November 29, 2021

Hello everyone. It's #IMWAYR time again, when readers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to in the past week. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the kidlit rendition. Whatever you are looking forward to in your next great read, these are fabulous places to start your search.

There is some positive news regarding the recent flooding and road closures in my part of the world. Routes for essential traffic have opened up so the mail and other necessities are being delivered. The grocery store shelves are stocked and life seems pretty normal. We are a bit worried about whether our sons and their families will be able to make it for Christmas because of road conditions, but have already determined to celebrate later if it doesn't work out. 

We've had a wonderful week here. Well, except that we have piles of cupboards taking over the main floor of the house ready to install as soon as the valence is finished. Everything takes a lot more time than you anticipate. I'm making progress on my baby quilt, so hopefully it won't be true for it.

Titles with a 🍁 indicate this is a Canadian or Indigenous Canadian Author and or Illustrator.

Clicking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page of the book.

PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars

Princesses Versus Dinosaurs by Linda Bailey & Joy Ang (Illustrations) September 15, 2020 🍁

This picture book/graphic novel hybrid is hilarious! Princesses and dinosaurs argue over whose book this is. Each group brings in their big guns - a T Rex for the dinosaurs and a dragon for the princesses. It doesn't turn out like the original two groups planned.
I appreciate the diversity in the princesses. I love that by the end of the book the princesses and the dinosaurs have learned to appreciate one another and have fun together.
The colourful artwork was created digitally.

5 stars

The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt by Riel Nason & Byron Eggenschwiler (Illustrator) September 1, 2020  🍁

This is a sweet story about being different, and coming to accept yourself just are who you are. I love that because the little ghost is a quilt instead of a sheet, it gets treated and admired just like regular quilts are. Riel Nason is a Canadian quilter and author. Check out some samples of her work here. You can see examples of Byron Eggenschwiler's other artwork here. 

4 stars

Hey Little Rockabye: A Lullaby for Pet Adoption by Buffy Sainte-Marie & Ben Hodson (Illustrator) May 12, 2020  🍁

After finishing this book I really wished I wasn't allergic to creatures with fur. It made me miss my childhood cat terribly.
I read this first and then went in search of Buffy singing this song. It was even better when I reread the book with her voice and the rhythm of the music in my head.
Ben Hodson's digitally rendered artwork is loaded with charm. It shows the story of a young girl and her diverse family adopting a dog from a shelter.
The back matter includes song lyrics and music, photographs of Buffy Sainte-Marie with some of her animals and a note from the author.
Listen to the song here. https://youtu.be/bLMUjeuhKkU

4 stars

Knot Cannot by Tiffany Stone & Mike Lowery (Illustrations) April 7, 2020   🍁

This book is a lot of fun!
The blurb says it is "a pun-packed look at friendship, jealousy, and being yourself." That's pretty much it. Knot envies Snake who can do a lot that Knot cannot. But when danger lurks, it's Knot who saves the day. If this isn't enough to encourage you to purchase a copy, The language is mostly simple enough to add to your reader shelf. I love the different kinds of knots at the end of the book.

NON FICTION PICTURE BOOKS

5 stars

Gizmos, Gadgets, and Guitars: The Story of Leo Fender by Michael Mahin & Steven Salerno (Illustrations) September 7, 2021

This is absolutely wonderful!
If you know anything about guitars and music from the past 6 or 7 decades, you will have heard of a fender guitar. This is the story of how Leo Fender went from tinkering away at broken radios to making world famous musical instruments.
Steven Salerno's art is the perfect accompaniment. The original illustrations were created crayon, ink, gouache, and pastel on paper. They were scanned, imported into Photoshop, and finished. I love how a history of technology and musical genres is revealed through these images.
The back matter contains an author's note with additional information about Leo Fender, a bibliography, and glossary.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

4 stars

Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson September 2, 2014

My four year old granddaughter is crazy about unicorns. This series was always popular in my school library, so I thought I would read this to see if it might work for her. I now see why it was always checked out. Alas, although this story about a girl who becomes best friends with a unicorn is witty, heartwarming, and precious, it's still too old for her. I'm open to alternative suggestions if you have any. 

5 stars

Living with Viola by Rosena Fung  🍁

I'm in the process of writing a full book review for this graphic novel. It's an intense look at how personal anxiety is exacerbated by external situations. It's heartbreakingly brilliant.

NOVELS

5 stars

Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch & Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

When I get into a series, it's because of the characters. Sure the writing is good, but it's that writing that creates individuals that my brain and heart comes to think of as real. A new book is like a visit with an old friend. That's how I feel about Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series. Peter is a bit young to be an old friend, so I think of him as a kid I've watched grow up. He's a police office who is also a wizard in training. In this adventure he ends up in the countryside tracking down two kidnapped girls. Unicorns and the Fay are involved in the abduction.

I've read these with my eyes and ears. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is Peter Grant to me! If you are a fan of mysteries, fantasy and like clever wit in your reading life, I highly recommend this series!

Now that I've finished rereading it, I swear it's better the second time round. 

The Furthest Station by Ben Aaronovitch & Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Mystery, encounters with ghosts, talking foxes, river gods and goddesses, and magic are what I have come to anticipate and love from this series. In this novella. an increase in victorian ghost sightings causes Peter Grant; Jaget Kumar, his counterpart at the British Transport Police; Abbigail, Peter's young cousin; and Nightingale to patrol the underground. They track down and interview the spectres hoping to find out what is causing this increase in hauntings. It turns out to have it's origins in modern reality.

I first read this with my eyes, but without Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's narration, Peter Grant's character didn't come through. This time I was delighted to listen to it.  

NONFICTION

5 stars

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

This book blew me away. George M. Johnson's memoir put me in mind of Thomson Highway's Permanent Astonishment, a memoir I recently finished. While they are decades apart in age, both of these queer men are from diverse backgrounds. Johnson is black while Thomson is Indigenous. Both of them radiate love and joy. Both are important reads for other boys like them who aren't blue, and for the rest of us who want to be allies. 

CURRENTLY

The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch

Goldilocks: Wanted Dead or Alive by Chris Colfer & Jon Proctor (Illustrator)

UP NEXT 

Hunting by Stars (A Marrow Thieves Novel) by Cherie Dimaline

The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found by Karina Yan Glaser

More picture books from my #MustReadList

UPCOMING BLOG POSTS

Living With Viola by Rosena Fung

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2021 29/25 

#MustReadNFIn2021 12/12 

#MustReadPBIn2021 70/100 

Big Book Summer Challenge 9 

Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 36/25

Books by Canadian Authors: 113/100

Canada Reads 2021 5/5 

Discworld Series 41/41

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 405/333 

ROAR-chestra!: A Wild Story of Musical Words Robert Heidbreder & Duýan Petričić (Illustrations)

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It will be released May 4, 2021 by Kids Can Press.

Robert Heidbreder  & Dusan Petricic are masters of their craft. Never has learning musical terminology been full of so much joy. 

It begins with bow tied animals of all sorts waiting while the human conductor arrives in front of them. 

Then the conductor waves the baton to command allegro!

And the creatures begin to move accordingly, "quickly, swiftly, race, run fly!" 

Each time the conductor switches to a different tempo, the animals follow suit, and a new line of poetry captions it all. The piece moves along through adagio, glissando, staccato, dolce, fortissimo and pianissimo. Readers can almost imagine the music that accompanies each part. 

I like that the conductor could be either gender. I appreciate the humour that Petričić integrates into the animal characters. I love the energy in Heidbreder's poetry. It's impossible to imagine a world where these words and images are not always together. 

There are many ways to make this book interactive. I can imagine reading this to a group of children and have them guess what the term might mean based on the Conductor's baton movements. If the space is big enough children can move along with the animals. There is also the fun of figuring out which animal fits into each case. 

The only quibble I have with this book is that it doesn't have music samples in it. 

Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package By Kate DiCamillo & Chris Van Dusen (illustrator)

Oh Eugenia! My heart aches for you. Is there anything worse than having no joy in your life?

When Eugenia Lincoln receives an accordion from an anonymous benefactor, she is not impressed. At first she tries to return it to the manufacturer, but they do not take returns. When she puts an advert in the paper to sell it, a Monsieur Gaston LaTreaux arrives at her doorstep. Rather than purchasing the instrument, he has arrived to give Eugenia lessons.

The problem of course is that Eugenia is a no nonsense, seriously in control kind of person. Playing the accordion, especially given the feelings it triggers in her, is just too scary to deal with. After an evening of frivolity by everyone but her, Eugenia decides to get rid of the blasted accordion once and for all. Thankfully, she runs into Stella Endicot who shows her that playing the accordion is not such a terrible thing. 

By the end of the book the secret of who ordered the accordion is revealed, but I shall leave it for you to read and find out for yourself.

I read this book at least three times. I loved it. Chris Van Dusen's illustrations add joy and humour into the tale. Yet there was something niggling me, something disturbing that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Eventually I realized that I was finding bit of myself in Eugenia. It wasn't comfortable. I too am a bossy, responsible elder sibling. My two younger brothers and two younger sisters probably agree that is a good thing that we do not live together. Somewhere in storage I even have an accordian that someone gave me. I kept it hoping that my musical sons would play it. I have now come to realize its purpose. Unfortunately, I doubt a Monsieur Gaston LaTreaux will come along and magically teach me to play. I will just have to make sure that I keep on singing.

I suspect there is a bit of Eugenia in all of us.

Those of you who know of Kate DiCamilla's work understand that she writes important books for children. What you might not know is that under the guise of writing for children, she writes important books for adults. Her Deckawoo Drive stories show how our interactions with children ensures our own metamorphosis. Thank you Kate for showing us we are never to old to change and be the best we can be.

For more information about the series you can read about Baby Lincoln here, Francine Poulet here, and Leroy Ninkers here. 

#IMWAYR July 3, 2017

#IMWAYR time again, when readers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to in the past week. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the kidlit rendition. Whatever you are looking forward to in your next great read, these are fabulous places to start your search.

My family came over for my birthday celebration last week. It was the best party ever!

Aside from reading and baby minding, I've been working in the garden a fair amount. I started quilting a baby quilt, and while I'm not particularly happy with how this is turning out, I'll live with it since it is the first time I've tried this on my machine. I'm also trying to get my house cleaned and under control. (As if that will ever happen!) 

BLOG POSTS LAST WEEK

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia

PICTURE BOOKS

5 stars

Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper

This beautiful book, with simple black and white illustrations, deals with the cycle of life. It is an important and necessary addition to library collections about grief and death. An older cat shows a young cat around the house and the two of them bond. I especially appreciate the page that shows the whole family having a hard time when the older cat goes away and doesn't come back. That's just how it is.

NONFICTION

4 stars

Esquivel! Space-Age Sound Artist by Susan Wood & Duncan Tonatiuh (Illustrations)

I picked up and read this book because Duncan Tonatiuh is the illustrator. Then I became fascinated by the subject matter, Juan Garcia Esquivel, a brilliant, self taught, pianist, and orchestra leader. When I first started reading I was reminded of the work by Celso Machado, a local jazz musician, who creates music from whatever is at hand. I appreciated the notes from the author and illustrator at the end. After finishing the book I went to Spotify and started listening to the music. Just WOW!

NOVELS

4 stars

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia

Williams-Garcia creates characters that it is impossible not to fall head over heels in love with. While I really, really miss the Gaither Sisters, Clayton Byrd is a pretty good substitute. When his grandfather, the blues guitarist, Cool Papa Byrd, dies, Clayton grieves deeply. His mother's complicated feelings about her father make this time even harder for him. After an argument between them she takes away his blues harp. In response, Clayton runs away.

ADULT NOVELS

4 stars

Glass Beads by Dawn Dumont

This story tracks four indigenous teens after they leave their reserves to live in cities away from home. This brilliant lead, "They told her that she was no one's baby which would have made her sad except that they had told her that a few times and tears don't come after a while," introduces us to Julie. Her friend Nellie works hard at school and ends up going to university and becoming a lawyer. Another friend from their reserve, Everett, grew up with his uncle's family. Taz, from a northern reserve is passionate about Indigenous politics.

A dark sadness pervades the narrative. It doesn't have the humour of Dumont's Nobody Cries at Bingo, but it does have the all encompassing love. It took me a bit to get into it, just because I had expected something more like her first book, but once I spent time with these complex characters, I was compelled to continue and find out what was going to happen to them as they come to grips with their past, deal with the racism of their present, and carve a future for themselves.

3.5 stars

The Color of Our Sky by Amita Trasi

This story of friendship wasn't the easiest book to read. Set in India, it's the story of two woman. Tara, who returns from America to search for her friend, Mukta, who was kidnapped from their home in Mumbai eleven years before. The story alternates between the two women's voices. Mukta ended up in a brothel, and many of those scenes were heartbreaking to read. I felt like I was bearing witness.

Mukta's story is based on a young girl whose mother worked for her family and was married off at 13. You can read more about this book here. 

CURRENTLY

I'm still working on Bill Bryson's At Home: A Short History of Private Life. At 497 pages, it will be a while. When I'm working I've been listening to it, and when I'm not, I'm reading it with my eyes. I've got too many books on the go! I have two netgalley titles, Zinnia and the Bees by by Danielle Davis and Miles Morales by Jason Reynolds that I'm part way through. I keep forgetting about them. I've also started This Would Make a Good Story Someday by by Dana Alison Levy.

UP NEXT

I've picked up Posted by John David Anderson, and Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi from the library, so I'm planning on getting to those. I also have three audiobooks checked out. My next adult read will be The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch. I paused almost all of my library holds so I can try and get on top of all the books I already have checked out and have at home.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MUSTREADIN2017 13/36 - 1 in progress

#MUSTREADNFIN2017 5/12 - 1 in progress

50 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 14/50

Chocolate Lily (CL) 51/51

Goodreads Reading Challenge 209/333