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YA – Young Adult

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“When I began to read, I began to exist”
Walter Dean Myers

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Reinberger Review: “Dreamers”
Reinberger Review of “Furia”
Reinberger Review: “Becoming Naomi León”
Reinberger Review: “Little Roja Riding Hood”
Reinberger Review Of “Slay”

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The Reinberger Children's Library Center at Kent State supports scholarly research and provides professional training to students and practitioners.

In honor of Arnold Adoff, today we're featuring hi

In honor of Arnold Adoff, today we're featuring his book "Hard to Be Six," published in 1991. In this skillful work of poetry, Adoff captures the perspective of a six-year-old girl from a biracial family who can't wait to grow up.

"The work I have done all these years has been for my own children as well as for the children and teenagers I have taught in New York. More than that, the work I do attempts to present the real America to young people, because politically I could not create any other way. If one element of society is excluded or made secondary, then the whole of America falls like a house of cards. Then there is no hope for the future in the country. All that goes beyond race; that goes to gender as well, as in 'Flamboyan' or some of the other books I have done with 'little girl' voices. The work also goes to generations, as in a book like 'Hard to Be Six' (1991). That's really what it is all about. It is personal and it is political.” - Arnold Adoff

From "Speaking of Poets: Interviews with Poets Who Write for Children and Young Adults" by Jeffrey Copeland (1993).

#arnoldadoff #virginiahamilton
#childrenspoetry #diversebooks #authorquotes

In honor of the late Arnold Adoff, a compassionate

In honor of the late Arnold Adoff, a compassionate poet who was fiercely determined to open children’s minds and facilitate a new way of critical thinking and acceptance before they reached adulthood. Arnold made it his life’s work to collect and later develop authentic stories that reflected underrepresented human experiences. Through his writing, that is deeply rooted in family, he advocated for the fair treatment of all by creating rhythmic stories that ask a child to reflect and open their hearts and minds to a non-mainstream way of thinking.

On behalf of the Reinberger Children's Library Center, the Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth and its Advisory Board and the Adoff Poetry Award Committee, we will miss him dearly, but we are grateful for the legacy he leaves behind.

In honor of this, we will feature some of our favorite children’s books by Arnold Adoff accompanied by some of our favorite quotes by him.

Please look for these posts and join us by sharing some of our favorite Adoff books with one or more or your favorite children.

Today we begin with celebrating Arnold’s first anthology, I Am the Darker Brother, Published by Macmillan in 1968.

“I want my anthologies of Black American writing to make Black kids strong in their knowledge of themselves and their great literary heritage—give them facts and people and power. I also want these Black books of mine to give knowledge to White kids around the country, so that mutual respect and understanding will come from mutual learning. We can go beyond the murders and the muddles of the present.” ~Arnold Adoff (quote taken from Something About the Author)

Next up in our celebration, "Dreamers" by Yuyi Mor

Next up in our celebration, "Dreamers" by Yuyi Morales, Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Award recipient in 2019.
#PuraBelpréAward #25yearsofbelpré #25añosdelbelpré

From the review, written by Kayla Hlad:

"This 2019 medal winner of the Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Award is a masterpiece of art, poetry, and narrative. Spanish and English are married seamlessly throughout to weave this familiar, yet personal, story of immigration. The author’s repetition, symbolism, and poetic language throughout adds to the delightfully evocative magic surrealism of the illustrations. Smokestacks in the city speak, flowers bloom in the library, and a butterfly motif dances with a constant presence. Together these elements create a dynamic, multi-layered piece that families will want to explore for years to come. An instant family treasure on any bookshelf, a must for every library collection, and a read-aloud I wouldn’t skip when designing family storytimes."

Read more from the review on the center's blog.
https://reinbergerchildrensbookreviews.org/review-dreamers-yuyi-morales/

Julia Stone, MLIS student at KSU, continues the Re

Julia Stone, MLIS student at KSU, continues the Reinberger's celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Pura Belpré Award. 🥳

Read her review of the 2021 YA Author Award winner, "Furia," on the blog.

From the review:
"Méndez illustrates how the cycle of empowerment can be continued not only through interpersonal relationships, but also through the stories we share with one another. Although Camila struggles with domestic abuse and sexism, she keeps trying to follow her dreams. Ultimately, Méndez empowers her readers to persevere and feed 'la Furia' inside themselves and others."

➡️https://reinbergerchildrensbookreviews.org/reinberger-review-of-furia/

#PuraBelpréAward #25yearsofbelpré #25AñosDelBelpré

Today we're going back to 2006 to revisit the Pura

Today we're going back to 2006 to revisit the Pura Belpré Award winning title for Children's Author "Becoming Naomi León" by Pam Muñoz Ryan. An excellent middle grade chapter book!

From the review, written by Kayla Hlad, M.L.I.S. student:

"When their mother suddenly turns up after years without contact, quiet and perceptive Naomi and her ever-optimistic brother (Owen) have their lives turned upside down. They have been lovingly raised by their great-grandmother and have built routines of comfort and relationships of trust. Although their mother reassures the two children that she has gotten the help she needed to turn her life around, Naomi, her grandmother, and the reader have increasing doubts as the story progresses....

Ryan portrays the complications, characteristics, and love of family beautifully. The use of figurative language, the all-too-realistic plot turns, and a well-crafted first-person narrative from an admirable and dynamic twelve-year-old character all aid this difficult task. Further, the depiction of familial struggles manage to be sensitive to younger audiences while still being true to the real experiences that many young readers share with the León family."

For more, visit our blog.
https://reinbergerchildrensbookreviews.org/becoming-naomi-leon-review/

#PuraBelpréAward #25yearsofbelpré #25añosdelbelpré

We have another review of a Pura Belpré Award Rec

We have another review of a Pura Belpré Award Recipient for you!

"Little Roja Riding Hood" written by Susan Elya and illustrated by Susan Guevara received a 2015 Honor Title for Youth Illustrator. 🐺

From the review, written by Kayla Hlad, M.L.I.S. student:

"Elya and Guevara’s Little Roja Riding Hood gives the traditional narrative new life with modern references and Spanish vocabulary....

Elya’s rhyming text is extremely well crafted, creative, and full of fun-filled surprises, making this a great read-aloud....

The detail in the illustrations, from the presence of the three blind mice to the accompanying birds’ constant warnings, truly adds to the narrative and invites readers--children and adults--to actively engage with the picturebook again and again."

Read more on the blog.
https://reinbergerchildrensbookreviews.org/review-little-roja-riding-hood/

#PuraBelpréAward #25YearsOfBelpré #25AñosDelBelpré

Slay by Brittney Morris Themes: gaming, social is

Slay by Brittney Morris

Themes: gaming, social issues, black culture, and (TW) racism

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

17-year-old Kiera has a secret – she is the developer of a highly-popular online role-playing card game, SLAY. When a teen in Kansas City is murdered over a SLAY dispute, and the story reaches the mainstream media, the game is called exclusionary, racist, and violent. Not to mention there is a troll trying to sue Kiera. Kiera just wants to save the one place she truly feels like her, can she?

This unapologetically Black teen is such a fantastic main character. Even if gaming is not something you love, the characters, story, and Kiera will make you cheer for her. If you are looking for a book that celebrates and embraces Blackness, this is the book to pick up. If you are looking for a book that highlights social issues, this is the book for you. Cheer on Kiera and her fight to save SLAY while also trying to solve the mystery of who the anonymous troll is.

Continuing the Reinberger's celebration of the 25t

Continuing the Reinberger's celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Pura Belpré Award, Julia Stone, MLIS student at Kent State, reviews "Efrén Divided." 📚😍
#PuraBelpréAward #25yearsofbelpré #25añosdelbelpré

From her review:

"Efrén Divided received the Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award in 2021. Ernesto Cisneros writes with incredible heart and authenticity in his debut middle-grade novel. Spanish is interwoven into the story effortlessly; if the reader cannot determine the meanings from context, there is a glossary of Spanish words in the back of the book.

The story revolves around 12-year-old Efrén Nava as he navigates school and family life after his mother is deported. I couldn’t put the book down because I cared so much about what happened to Efrén and his family. Although the story is fictional, it feels very real. By following Efrén’s journey, readers will hopefully open their eyes and hearts to the struggles many children with undocumented parents face. The story is deeply moving and tragic, but also hopeful. Through the lens of Efrén’s experiences, Cisneros exhibits the sacrifices that immigrant parents make for their children and the strength a community can provide during times of turmoil."

Read more of Julia's thoughts on this exceptional title on the center's blog.

https://reinbergerchildrensbookreviews.org/reinberger-review-of-efren-divided/

iSchool alumni spotting! 🤩 Alumni working at t

iSchool alumni spotting! 🤩

Alumni working at the Cuyahoga County Public Library, Maria Trivisonno (Children’s Branch Services Supervisor) and Beate van der Schalie (Children’s Branch Services Assistant), wrote the cover article for the latest issue of Children & Libraries (Spring 2021).

Check out their ideas for engaging families with library gardens in their article, "The Blossoming of the Library Garden" starting on page 13. 🌱

https://journals.ala.org/index.php/cal/issue/viewIssue/793/559

We're continuing our celebration of the Pura Belpr

We're continuing our celebration of the Pura Belpré Award's 25th anniversary by looking back at some of our favorite winners.

Today, the biographical picturebook "Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño played the piano for President Lincoln," written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael López.

From the review, written by Kayla Hlad, M.L.I.S. student:

"This biographical picturebook is a celebration of Teresa Carreño’s early triumphant musical journey and reads as an ode to the magical power of music itself....

Engle brings energy and lyric to Teresa’s biography with heavy use of poetic language, strong adjectives, and detailed descriptions of settings that engage multiple senses. This 2020 winner of the Pura Belpré Youth Illustrator Award excels in illustration as well. Lopez’s use of theatrical colors and the dichotomy between watercolor’s boundless shapes and acrylic’s crisp lines to create opposing moods is highly effective. Without hearing a note, readers vividly experience the emotion, beauty, and power behind Carreño’s music on every page."

Read more about this 2020 Pura Belpré award recipient and recommendations for classroom and storytime use on the center's blog.

#PuraBelpréAward #25YearsOfBelpré #25AñosDelBelpré

https://reinbergerchildrensbookreviews.org/review-dancing-hands/ ‎

Good Girl, Bad Blood (A Good Girl’s Guide to Mur

Good Girl, Bad Blood (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder #2) by Holly Jackson

Themes: whodunit, investigation, and secrets

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

Pip and Ravi release a true-crime podcast about the murders they helped solve last year, and Pip swears she is not a detective anymore! But then, on the sixth anniversary of Andie Bell & Sal Singh's deaths, Jamie goes missing, and the only person able to help may be Pip.

If you read the first book in this series, this is an absolute must! Holly Jackson has found a comfortable groove by giving you enough clues to solve the case along with Pip while still stringing you on to surprise you. This book was a fun ride with all the twists and turns. Give this book a go and see if you can figure out the ending before it’s told to you!

This year we're celebrating the 25th anniversary o

This year we're celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Pura Belpré Award! 🥳

Named in honor of the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library, the Pura Belpré Award award recognizes outstanding publications for youth by Latines authors and illustrators.

As a part of our celebration, we're looking back at a few of our favorite past award and honor recipients.

First up: Alma Flor Ada's Under the Royal Palms (1998).

Reviewed by Julia Stone (she/her), MLIS Student at Kent State University.

From the review: "In the introduction, Alma says she aspires for readers to view her stories as an invitation to discover the stories in their own lives and what these stories mean to them. I believe this book has the potential to inspire children, teens, and adults to share their own stories and memories through the art of writing."

Read more of Julia's review on the center's blog. And stay posted for more reviews of Pura Belpré award recipients as we lead up to the official 25th celebración during the annual ALA conference in June.

https://reinbergerchildrensbookreviews.org/reinberger-review-under-the-royal-palms/

#PuraBelpréAward #25YearsOfBelpré #25AñosDelBelpré

Happy birthday to American children’s author Chr

Happy birthday to American children’s author Christopher Paul Curtis. He is well known for his books “Bud, Not Buddy,” “The Journey of Little Charlie,” “Elijah of Buxton,” and many more. Curtis has received the Coretta Scott King Author Award, the Newbery Medal winner, and the Scott O’Dell Award. In 2000, Curtis became the first African-American man to win the Newbery Medal for his book “Bud, Not Buddy.”

Check out his website to learn more: https://nobodybutcurtis.com/

Today we remember the birthday of well-known Ameri

Today we remember the birthday of well-known American children’s author and illustrator, Richard Scarry. Scarry wrote over 300 books throughout his career that have been translated into thirty languages and sold more than 150 million copies. His son Huck carries on his legacy and has written and illustrated numerous books with his father’s characters. To celebrate his father’s 100th birthday, Huck Scarry traveled around the world and met with readers of all ages while he gave presentations on his father and read from his beloved works.

Learn more about Scarry and check out all of his books on his website: https://www.richardscarry.com/

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson Theme

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

Themes: (TW) abuse, alternating timelines, and friendship

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

Claudia’s best (and only) friend, Monday, is missing, and no one else notices (or seems to care). Claudia digs into Monday’s disappearance to discover how a teenage girl can vanish without anyone noticing.

This book’s ability to confuse you is what makes it such a gripping story. Tiffany D. Jackson has mastered throwing you into a mystery without giving you many hints about what parts are reality and what is made up. You will think you are reading a book strictly about Claudia looking for Monday until suddenly you are near the end of the novel and you discover what you have been reading is different than you thought. This book handles some tough subjects. TW: sexual assault and abuse

One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite & Maritza Mo

One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite

Themes: sisterhood, activism, grief, friendship, regrets, coming out, and Black History

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

When Happi and Genny’s sister, Kezi (a YouTuber and prominent social activist), dies after attending a social justice rally, they head out on a road trip to connect with the sister they lost thanks to the Negro Motorist Green Book guiding them. However, Kezi’s story has more twists than meets the eye, and they change everything.

I picked this book up on a whim one day, and I am so glad I did! This book is one of my favorite books so far this year. The relationship between the three sisters is interesting to read and see how they connect and are different from each other, but their trip is full of historical moments. Then there’s the twist. I wish I could say more than that, but you must read this book and figure out Kezi’s story – it will blow you away.

Celebrate Earth Day with these seven books that in

Celebrate Earth Day with these seven books that inspire a love for the environment and warn readers against the dangers of pollution.

All That Trash: The Story of the 1987 Garbage Barge and Our Problem with Stuff
Written and illustrated by Meghan McCarthy
Learn about the 1987 garbage barge and a failed plan that inspired a nation to start recycling. When Lowell Harrelson decided to turn trash into methane gas, he rented a barge to collect waste from New York, and bring it to North Carolina. Except, no state would let him dock the barge!

Hoot
Written by Carl Hiaasen
This Newbery Honor winner follows the story of friends trying to save a colony of endangered owls that live in a site marked for construction.

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia
Written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Isatou Ceesay found a way to recycle plastic bags that were killing her community into a product that could help it grow.

Over and Under the Pond
Written by Kate Messner and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
Readers will discover a secret underwater world in this entertaining and educational book about the beauty of ecosystems.

A Symphony of Whales
Written by Steve Schuch and illustrated by Peter Sylvada
Told through the eyes of a young girl, this beautifully illustrated picture-book is based on the true story of the rescue of beluga whales by the people of the Chuchki peninsular.

We Are Water Protectors
Written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade
Winner of the 2021 Caldecott Medal, this beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of a black snake that threatens to destroy the Earth and the young water protector who stands beside her people to stop it.

World Without Fish
Written by Mark Kurlansky and illustrated by Frank Stockton
Readers will learn about what is happening in the world’s oceans and how they can help stop fish from disappearing.

For information on how to take care of your backyard visitors, please check out the humane society at https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/feeding-your-backyard-birds

Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher Themes: g

Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher

Themes: grief, loss of a loved one, coming-of-age, and romance

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

The Orman Chronicles by reclusive author N. E. Endsley brings best friends Amelia and Jenna together when all Amelia knew was people leaving her. However, a one-off chance meeting with the author and Jenna causes a rift between the two without a chance to reconcile because Jenna dies soon after. When an edition of the book shows up, Amelia knows it came from Jenna, and she’s determined to figure out how.

Such a tragic book turned out to be so heart-warming and lovely. How you wonder? The adventure Amelia finds how this special edition of the Orman Chronicles was sent to her will leave you smiling and crying. Amelia experiences love, loss, and healing in a matter of a summer. The characters are well-developed, there is a fairytale vibe, and room for second chances. This book has it all if you’re looking for something to grab your heart and pull you in.

The Half-Orphan’s Handbook by Joan F. Smith The

The Half-Orphan’s Handbook by Joan F. Smith

Themes: (TW) suicide, grief, loss of a parent, coming-of-age, first love, and heartbreak

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

Lila lost her father to suicide three months ago, and now her mother is sending her to grief camp – somewhere Lila doesn’t want to be and doesn’t think she needs to go. Can new friends and a potential love interest help her get back to “normal” after losing her dad?

This book BROKE me in so many good ways. This was incredibly emotional, well-written, and created a space for a group of people who tend to feel very isolated (survivors of suicide). The bright spots of this book are Joan F. Smith knows when to use humor and hope to lighten such a heavy topic. This book will truly mesmerize you if you let the emotions of the characters shine.

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour Themes: Grief, menta

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour

Themes: Grief, mental health, guilt, and new beginnings

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

Mila, a recent high school graduate and no longer in foster care, decides to take a job teaching other foster children on a remote Northern California farm. But the farm holds hauntings of all the trauma from the farm’s residents, and Mila must confront her own.

If you have ever wanted to read a book about ghosts but wanted things to feel a little more realistic – this is the book for you. Award-winning author Nina LaCour knows how to draw readers in and help them get in touch with their emotions. This book is no different. You will feel the trauma of Mila and the other residents on the farm, but you will wonder about the ghosts the way they do, too. Haunting, beautiful, and an empathetic take on guilt and recovery.

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Enjoy this #EarthDay storytime from @MuseumofCityNY, including readings of "All That Trash" by @meghanauthor and "City Green" by @dyannedisalvo: https://youtube.com/watch?v=muNFjjtBF5A #EarthDay2020 #EarthDay50

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