Category: Children’s books

Sylvie and Graphic Novel Memoirs

Is it just me or are graphic novel memoirs becoming a bigger hit recently? Not that I’m opposed to the idea, but it seems like there have been several popular graphic novel memoirs in children’s and young adult literature.

Children’s Services – Week 4

This week, we talked about the Newbery award and about previous winners and honor books. I’m pleased to say I actually read the Newbery book from this year before it was even announced – Mercy Suarez Changes Gears. That was so good and I hope others like it too! But for class, I was assigned to read Freedom over Me: Eleven slaves, their lives and dreams brought to life by Ashley Bryan.

Children’s Services – Week 3

This week, we discussed different Caldecott Award winners and Honor books. My book was Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales. But I also wanted to talk about this year’s winner, Hello Lighthouse and other notable illustrated picture books.

Times are a-changin’: Merci Suárez Changes Gears

I read this as part of reading Lucky Broken Girl for my children’s services class. Our teacher says a children’s librarian should be able to recommend 3,000+ starting out, and while I might be able to recommend 3,000 books for kids from birth to high school, I don’t know about 3,000 books for just elementary school kids. Again, part of the problem is that I tend to read older kids books and this time is no exception. But I still read it and I still very much enjoyed it.

Children’s Services Class – Week 2

Continuing in my library master’s degree program, I decided to take the children’s literature and services class. It’s like my YA class, except we’re focusing more on elementary school kids. Our first book assignment is to read an award-winning book that’s not a Caldecott or Newbery award.

The Parker Inheritance

It’s a little bit of The Westing Game and a lesson on the Civil Rights era all in one.

The Stars Beneath Our Feet

I’ve been wanting to read this one but what really prompted me was reading Between the World and Me for my YA class. This one fits a little, especially how society is rigged against young black men and it feels like they’ve only got one choice, especially growing up on the streets.