Things That Go Booklist

 Here's another PBS booklist with books about things that go!

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/picture-books-about-things-that-go

Autumn books

I had another opportunity to make a booklist for PBS Parents. This one is books about autumn!

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/13-childrens-books-for-celebrating-fall

Home of the Brave

My daughter told me that her teacher was reading Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate aloud to the class, so I decided to get it from the library and read it as well. It was also already on my to-read list, and I have really liked several of Katherine Applegate's other books (Wishtree, The One and Only Ivan). This book is about Kek, who comes to America from Africa after living in a refugee camp. He lost his father and brother in the war and desperately hopes that his mother is still alive. As he joins his aunt and cousin in America, he adjusts to his unfamiliar aspects of his new life--snow, school, and even laundry machines.

This was a beautiful read. It was written in verse (which I love, like I always say), and the author created distinct, believable characters and a story that kept me engaged. I'm really glad my daughter is reading this book as well because it offers a glimpse into what it's like to be an immigrant--learning about a completely new culture and having to adjust. It also doesn't shy away from the pain that is in the past of a refugee child. This was a meaningful read that had me tearing up several times.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Unbound

I've had Unbound by Ann E. Burg on my to-read list for awhile and finally got around to reading it now that I have access to a physical library again. Unbound, written in verse, is about Grace, a 9-year-old slave who has to leave her family to work in the Big House. The more time Grace spends around the Master and Missus, the more she recognizes the injustice of slavery and the life she and her family must live. When her family is in danger, she realizes the only option is to run.

This was a a wonderful book. I always love books written in verse, and Ann E. Burg is a great writer. (I also loved her book Serafina's Promise.) I think this is a great book to introduce older children to the reality of slavery, and it is also good for adults to learn about a unique historical aspect of slavery--runaways who found safety in the Great Dismal Swamp.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Friendship books

I got the opportunity to write a booklist for the PBS Parents website! If you are looking for picture books related to friendship, check it out! :)

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/childrens-books-about-friendship

When Stars are Scattered

I randomly saw the front cover of When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed when scrolling through Amazon or my Kindle or something, and it caught my eye--particularly because Victoria Jamieson is the author of Roller Girl, a graphic novel that Emmeline and I both loved. When Stars are Scattered is a graphic novel based on the real experiences of Somali refugee Omar Mohamed. It follows Omar's 15 years living in a refugee camp in Kenya. The book describes Omar's protective relationship with his nonverbal brother, his questions about what happened to his mother, and his opportunity to attend school.

This was an AMAZING book. Emmeline read it first and loved it, and then I read it next and loved it too. It was a powerful story in portraying what it is like to be a refugee, and it was just incredible to follow the experiences Omar had. I loved the "from the author" sections at the end where I learned how this book came to be AND what happened to Omar after the end of the book. This is a very approachable book for children to learn about the refugee experience. The story is amazing, but Victoria Jamieson is also a very talented storyteller and artist. Great read, highly recommended.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Bridge Home

I've had The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman on my to-read list for awhile. It's the story of 11-year-old Viji and her developmentally disabled sister Rukku, who run away from home to escape their abusive father. The girls head to the city and start navigating their new, difficult life as homeless children.

This was a beautifully well-written book and incredibly engaging. The four main character children were all so endearing, and I was just rooting for them the whole story. The book was quite heartbreaking--I was reading it while waiting for an eye appointment and had to stop because I was crying and didn't think that was ideal right before an eye exam. :) The story was gentle and thoughtful, and I also liked reading at the end of the book that the story was based on real experiences of homeless children in India.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)