Book review: A Bowl Full of Peace: A True Story, by Caren Stelson, illustrations by Akira Kusaka

Stelson, Caren. A Bowl Full of Peace: A True Story. Illustrations by Akira Kusaka. Carolrhoda Books, 2020. Unpaged. $17.99. ISBN 9781541521483. Ages 5-8. P7Q8

This true story about the effects of the World War II Nagasaki atomic bomb blast on a Japanese family focuses on a family heirloom passed down through generations to their Grandmother, beautiful green bowl. The bowl, passed from mother to daughter, graces the table at the family’s evening meals, which begin with the traditional blessing “Itadakimasu” or “we humbly receive this food”.  As the war progresses, soldiers pass through Nagasaki and food becomes scarce.  Then, on August 9, 1945, after the air raid siren signals the all clear, just as daughter Sachiko comes out to play with her friends, an enemy bomber drops a bomb that blackens the world and destroys the city.  Her brother is killed in the blast.  In the days that follow, her remaining brothers become very sick, as do Sachiko and her sister, and their Mother and Father. They are offered ice chips to soothe their throats, but nothing can stop the pain. No one yet knows that the radiation from the bomb causes the sickness.  Two years after the bombing, Sachiko’s family returns to Nagasaki. When Father digs down through the rubble, he finds Grandmother’s bowl, unharmed.  It is a physical link between the family’s present reality and the family’s many generations past.  At each anniversary of the bombing, Sachiko’s Mother fills Grandmother’s bowl with ice to remind everyone of all who suffered and died from the atomic bomb.  Sachiko continues this ritual through the years as one by one the members of her family die.  Fifty years after the war’s end, Sachiko shares her story with groups of children to say, “What happened to me must never happen to you.”

Verdict: In the author’s note, Caren Stelson writes of how she learned Sachiko Yasui’s story through many hours of interviews over the course of 5 visits between 2010 and 2015. Framing the simple text around the blessing “Itadakimasu” forms a bittersweet contrast between the peaceful family gatherings before the war and the pain and suffering after the bombing.  Simple digital illustrations contrast the simplicity and beauty of the family’s connection with the growing darkness of the war and the horror of the survival after the bomb.  Simple motifs of soaring white birds bridge the times before and after the bombing and illustrations of colorful paper cranes, both singly and in strings, carry the hope that atomic bombs will never be used again.  This is an important story told simply and well, through both text and illustrations.  Highly recommended for kindergarten through elementary level library collections.  This is the book that I would recommend grandparents to give to their grandchildren.  Like the lessons about the Holocaust, it is important to pass along the story of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to new generations.  We must not forget.

March 2020 review by Jane Cothron.

Book review: Without Refuge, by Jane Mitchell

Mitchell, Jane. Without Refuge. Carolrhoda Books, 2019. 282 pgs. Includes glossary. $16.99. ISBN: 978-1-5415-0050-1. Gr. 6+. P7 Q8

Ghalib and his family live in Syria, his life was once very much like boys in America. He loved playing video games and he loved soccer. His life changes once the civil war started. Now he dreams of the day it will all end. Life for his family is becoming more dangerous every day. When a bomb goes off near him and his cousin, who looses a leg, the family knows it is time to leave. It is done in the early morning so they can avoid the soldiers who patrol looking for those they could recruit. Ghalib and his older sister, Bushra, are just the right age. Airstrikes separate Ghalib from his family as they try to leave. He comes into contact with those who do not have families to help protect them.  Together again, his family flees into the desert, in an overcrowded truck, but when the truck breaks down, the family has to walk the rest of the way. The end of the story for me was so frustrating as Ghalib and his sister are rescued by a helicopter, leaving the reader hanging as to what happens next.

Verdict: This would be a great book to read aloud in a class. Discussion on war, immigration, social issues and current events are some of the topics that could be covered.

September 2019 review by Carol Bernardi.

Book review: Undercover Ostrich, by Joe Kulka

Kulka, Joe. Undercover Ostrich. Carolrhoda Books, 2019. $17.99. ISBN 9781512497878. Unpaged. Ages 4-9. P8Q8

This is a funny book. I loved the contrast between the text and the illustrations. The author uses statements about how sneaky the ostrich is and how expertly it can blend in to its surroundings. This is contrasted with fun, silly illustrations of this big, awkward bird not blending in at all. My favorite spread has the ostrich in disguise on a bus, wearing a fedora and mustache. The watercolor and pencil illustrations made the book for me- they are very expressive and will make kids laugh out loud.

VERDICT: This book is a good choice for elementary school and public libraries. I’m guessing it will be popular with kids and parents who are looking for a funny story to share.

April 2019 review by Carol Schramm.

Book review: The Universe Ate My Homework, by David Zeltser, illustrated by Ayesha L. Rubio

Zeltser, David. The Universe Ate My Homework. Illustrated by Ayesha L. Rubio. Carolrhoda Books, 2018. $17.99. ISBN 9781512417982. Unpaged. Ages 6-8. P9Q9

Looking for any excuse to avoid doing homework, Abby sneaks into her father’s study looking for ideas. Dad, a physicist, has instructions for How To Make A Baby Universe on his desk. Aha! Abby has found her excuse. And thus begins a fun out-of-this-world adventure. Taking the very complicated topic of black holes, and turning it into an easy to understand story is what makes this book so great. Colorful pictures help explain the process. The final page is a note from the author, explaining that while the book is entirely made up, the science behind it is not.

VERDICT: Starting with the title, young readers will take interest in the story, and will be amazed when Abby’s homework becomes a black hole! A must for the classroom and the library.

May 2019 review by Denyse Marsh.

Book review: Be A Maker, by Katey Howes, illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic

Howes, Katey. Be A Maker. Illustrator Elizabet Vukovic. Carolrhoda Books, 2019. $17.99. ISBN 9781512498028. Unpaged. Ages 4-9. P7Q8

Creativity imagined! Be a Maker engages the reader’s imagination, creativity, and service attitude.  The young reader is immersed in ideas for building, exploring, thinking, drawing, playing, planning, and sharing. It is filled with vibrant and whimsical illustrations adding a delightful touch to this rhythmic journey.

Verdict: This book has a special message for young children and helps them see the power of giving back. This will be a great addition to any K-2 classroom or library read aloud lesson on creativity, community building, friendship, rhyming, voice, and pure imagination.

April 2019 review by Marcy Doyle.

Book review: Honk! Splat! Vroom!, by Barry Gott

Gott, Barry. Honk! Splat! Vroom! Carolrhoda Books, 2018.  ISBN 978-1-5124-4140-6. $17.99. 32 pages.  Ages 3-6.  P6 Q6

A fun, digitally illustrated, children’s book with the story told almost entirely by the illustrations and sounds.  Five mice are racing their cars on a muddy, water obstacle filled course, so lots of honking, crashing, vrooming, and splatting.  The mice clearly are taking this race very seriously because when mishaps happen there are tears, anger, and frustration.  Distinct facial expressions more than make up for the lack of dialog.   When a hungry cat disrupts the race it becomes clear to the mice they need to work together if they all want to cross the finish line.

Overall the graphics didn’t appeal to me because of the severity of some of the expressions.  Clearly this is needed to get the author’s point across, so maybe my complaint is about the author’s point.  There are moments of euphoria at the expense of another mouse or mice.  Pretty sure this isn’t teaching good sportsmanship to a very young audience.

Verdict:  A good book for toddlers and early elementary schoolers working on recognizing and differentiating facial expressions with emotions.  Not a good example of good sportsmanship.  With mediation, this book could be added to a school library.

May 2018 review by Terri Lippert.

Book review: Can I Touch Your Hair?: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship, by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrated by Sean Qualls and Selina Alko

Latham, Irene, and Charles Waters. Can I Touch Your Hair?: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship. Illustrated by Sean Qualls and Selina Alko. Carolrhoda Books, 2018. 39 pgs. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-5124-0442-5. Ages 8 -12. P7 Q8

This collection of poems encapsulates the interactions that happen between a pair of middle schoolers – a white girl and a black boy. The freestyle poems capture a variety of moments from each child’s point of view, from attending church, to dealing with other students on the bus, to incidents on the news, and dinner with the family. The poems capture the complex feelings of the children, from wanting to fit in, to different ways our parents try to protect us, and forgiving our friends for their misunderstandings as we learn to navigate the issue of race.

This collection reads more as a series of single-page journal entries than as poetry, but the dichotomies that are introduced are important. The POV approach to discussing different experiences around similar topics works well to highlight how different people have different understandings around similar topics. The illustrations are simple and the text is the central focus on each page.

VERDICT: A strong choice for discussions about race in a way that allows for personal interpretation.

May 2018 review by Sudi Stodola.

Book review: My Best Friend is a Goldfish, by Mark Lee, illustrated by Chris Jevons

Lee, Mark. My Best Friend is a Goldfish. Illustrated by Chris Jevons. Carolrhoda Books, 2018. $17.99. ISBN 9781512426014. Unpaged. Ages 4-8. P8 Q8

Do friends need to be play together all the time, enjoy the same things, and always get along? A boy is an astronaut and his friend is a pirate. When he realizes that he does not always get along with his best friend, he looks for a new friend elsewhere. He tries to be best friends with his dog, cat, hamster, and goldfish while doing everything they do. It is comical to see how the boy tries to eat from a dog dish and be the same as his animal friends. He discovers that friends do not need to be exactly alike to be best friends. Just as cookies and milk are different, friends can be different also. The illustrations match the text and add to the boy’s adventure, drawing the reader into his imaginative world.

Verdict: This lighthearted, colorful, slightly comical story would be a good addition to any children’s library. Children often want their friends to only play with them and to play the same things they want to play.  In a humorous way, readers will learn the importance of accepting others even if they are not exactly like them.

March 2018 review by Tami Harris.

Book review: Niko Draws a Feeling, by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Simone Shin

Raczka, Bob. Illustrated by Simone Shin. Niko Draws a Feeling. Carolrhoda Books, 2017. $17.99. ISBN 9781467798433. Unp. Ages 3-7. P7 Q8  

How do you draw the sound of the ice cream truck’s bell? How do you capture the feeling of loneliness in two dimensions? Niko, the title character in Niko Draws a Feeling, expresses himself and his experiences by drawing them. His drawings aren’t representational or typical. As a result, his art is often misunderstood by his peers, his teachers, and even his parents. Will he ever meet someone who appreciates his particular abstraction? Niko’s feeling of being misunderstood is common and relatable. Even young readers who cannot sympathize with his interest in art, will recognize his frustration at being questioned about something that, to him, is beyond obvious. Energetic crayon coils are scribbled over the book’s mixed media illustrations. These colorful tornados represent Niko’s emotions in the same style of his drawings.

Verdict: This sensitive book is an appropriate addition to the public library and classroom. It’s hard to be a kid. Niko Draws a Feeling discusses the necessity of having peers who understand and value our individuality.

May 2017 review by Lillian Curanzy.