A Monthly Roundup of Books Read in May 2024
- Mikayla Young
- Jul 15, 2024
- 11 min read
Summaries of books that have been read
All The Ways to Go by Jessie Janowitz
Between late-night library escapades and starting a Go club at their summer camp, Milo and Roxie build an unexpected friendship, learning they have a lot more to learn from each other than just the game of Go. That is, if Milo can face his concerns and tell his mother how he truly feels about chess, he can stop living a lie.
To Mimi's House We Go by Susan Meissner
If you're looking for a Christmas-themed poetry book inspired by the traditional holiday travel hymn "Over the River and Through the Woods," then this narrative may be for you. In this beautiful Christmas story for children aged 4 to 8 and all grandmothers, readers accompany families from diverse cultures and nations on a trip to their grandmother's house. This book provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the numerous modern modes of Christmas travel, as well as the unique ways families celebrate Christmas. The common themes of food, family, and love are sprinkled on a Christmas cookie of rhyming speech reminiscent of carols and folksongs. To Mimi's House We Go by Susan Meissner mixes the joy of Christmas with warm memories of time with Grandma in an adventure journey across country and city, coast to coast, and holiday magic in this sweet children’s picture book.
Pickle Words: Cruncy, Punchy Pickles and Poetry by April Pulley Sayre
Looking for a poetry, illustrated book that celebrates all things pickled then this book might be for you or your pickled food-loving kiddos. Open this book and enjoy a colorful rainbow of pickles. Not only green cucumbers, but also yellow peppers, pink cabbages, and purple plums. Pickles come in a variety of shapes and sizes—as do the words that describe them. Punchy poetry and zesty imagery tell the story of a diverse community brought together by a shared love of pickles. Pickle Words takes readers on a global journey of pickled delicacies, from kosher dills to sweet chutney and pungent kimchi. The back matter offers information on pickling science, an easy recipe for refrigerator pickles, and a graphic lexicon of pickles from around the world.
Saint Louis Armstrong Beach by Brenda Woods
In "Saint Louis Armstrong Beach" by Brenda Woods, the story unfolds with rich detail and heartfelt emotion. The narrative delves into themes of family bonds, resilience, and the power of community. Through intricate character development and vivid settings, the author paints a poignant picture of overcoming adversity and finding strength in unity. The novel beautifully captures the essence of love, hope, and the enduring spirit of individuals facing life's challenges.
Izzy Wong's Nose for News by Marty Chan
Marty Chan's children's fiction novel, Izzy Wong's Nose for News, combines mystery, school life, podcasting, family, and other themes. Izzy Wong is deeply interested in the news around her elementary school, and she finds the ideal subject for her debut podcast when the girl's bathroom on the third floor of her school floods. With mystery surrounding how the flooding happened, who done it, and why along with the effects of it Izzy Wong sets out to research, report, and find out the truth for her podcast, school, and herself. Readers can discover and study alongside Izzy Wong the process of creating a podcast, the ins and outs of journalism, the distinction between news and gossip, truth, and speculation, and how empathy, dedicated work, and determination may pay off in the end.
Let's delve into these captivating reads and explore the worlds within.
The Bookish Stats
Number of books: 5 total
Formats
Print: 1
E-Book: 4
Genres and subgenres:
Fiction: 4
Mystery: 1
Historical Fiction: 1
Nonfiction: 1
Poetry: 1
Age Categories
Children's: 2
Middle Grade: 3
Average rating: 4.5 ⭐
Page total: 1,217
Best/Favorite Read of the Month
All The Ways to Go by Jessie Janowitz
Bookish Reviews and Thoughts
This title will be released on Kindle and in hardcover on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024.
Genre: Children’s/ Middle Grade fiction
Middle Grade Novel
Netgalley Shelf E-book/ARC
Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
Netgalley Shelfs e-book page count: 224
Thank you to Netgalley, publisher, and author for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reading Challenge: Read Around the World
Date Started: May 1, 2024 Date Finished: May 5, 2024
Review:
All the Ways to Go is a charming children's book by Jessie Janowitz that will appeal to both young and adult readers. I enjoyed reading about Milo's bond with his grandmother Ruth, as well as their excursions. The author effectively portrays the concerns and interests of young children, such as wanting to go to summer camp, feeling too tall or short for their age, and how they, along with their interests, change over time. The book uses vivid analogies that both children and adults can relate to, such as the car being as green as a green apple Blow Pop and the cat appearing as large as Clifford the Big Red Dog. These analogies help readers visualize the descriptive writing while also providing them with something to relate to that they might see, do, or have in their own lives. There was plenty of comedy throughout the novel, giving it a lighthearted and amusing tone. The novel also features comedy while highlighting the loveable behaviors of kids, such as flushing a harmonica down the toilet, and the wonders of their brains. The characters, particularly Milo and Roxie, show excellent character development and growth. The writing is descriptive, well-written, and inventive, allowing readers to vividly picture settings, characters, games, and scenes. The plot is well-developed, simple to follow, and engaging, with each chapter leaving readers curious about the next adventure. The book also provides readers with an opportunity to learn about games like Go and other games like Mahjong and Chess through Milo and Roxie. I liked how the author dedicates pages at the end to explain the history, rules, and plays of the game Go while also providing additional resources for readers to play the game themselves.
However, the author's use of the phrase "truth" pulls the reader out of the story. I understand the author's use of this to make a point about Milo telling himself truths, but I felt the flow of the book would be better without this declaration of sorts since I believe the author's writing does an excellent job of conveying Milo's truths without it.
All the Ways to Go is a gripping children's book by Jessie Janowitz that includes intriguing adventures about interests, life changes, friendships, experiences, and games like Go. This book is appropriate for children aged 10 and older, as well as adults who appreciate stories about adventures in libraries, daycares, the strange habits of cats and humans, and games such as chess and Go.
This title will be released on Kindle and in hardcover on Tuesday, September 10th, 2024.
Genre: Children’s picture book fiction
Children's novel
Netgalley Shelfs E-Book/ARC
Publisher: Tommy Nelson
Illustrator: Mette Engell
Netgalley Shelfs e-book page count: 17
Thank you to Netgalley, publisher, and author for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Age Recommended: 4+
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Date Started and Finished: May 14, 2024
Review:
The cover is charming and will attract the interest of young readers. The pictures are adorable, colorful, and complement the accompanying rhyming text. The book's rich colors and diverse images will undoubtedly appeal to children. The rhyming text is simple to read and could even be sung by children, grandparents, or other adult figures. The entire story is well-written, simple to read and comprehend, and provides an opportunity for learning about different cultures, Christmas celebrations, traditions, activities, and modes of transportation. To Mimi's House We Go, written by Susan Meissner and illustrated by Mette Engell, is ideal for anyone seeking a delightful rhyming book with brilliant colored graphics and Christmas learning possibilities.
This book is currently available for pre-order. This title will be released on Kindle and in hardcover on Tuesday, July 16th, 2024.
Genre: Children’s picture book nonfiction/poetry
Children's Nonfiction
Netgalley Shelfs E-book/ARC
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Illustrator: Jialei Sun
Netgalley Shelfs e-book page count: 36
Thank you to Netgalley, publisher, and author for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Age Recommended: 4+
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Started and Finished: May 14, 2024
Review:
The cover is cute, amusing, colorful, and appealing to both adult and child readers. The graphics are vivid, unique, and complement the poetry text. I enjoyed the paper slips throughout the book that describe the pickled foods, such as bumpy, fresh, and juicy, because they are educational and provide a terrific learning experience about the various ways one may describe foods. The short and medium-length rhyming style is easy to read and understand, making it a quick and educational read for both children and adults. I enjoyed how the author and illustrator represented diversity in this book, from the people to the dishes. I liked seeing the illustrations of the kids participating in the pickling process because it demonstrates a method for families of all ages and sizes to spend time together while trying something new or keeping a traditional dish or activity alive in their household. I admired and liked how the author dedicated pages at the conclusion to the many foods that were pickled and referenced in the novel, as well as gave other resources for people to learn more about pickling and pickled foods. Pickle Words: Cruncy, Punchy Pickles, and Poetry, written by April Pulley Sayre and illustrated by Jialei Sun, is a wonderful short poetry book that would be ideal for children and adults who enjoy pickling, pickled foods, gardening, or food in general, or who want to purchase a book that will provide learning opportunities about these topics and possibly more in the future.
Genre: Fiction/Historical Fiction
Middle Grade Novel
Physical Hardcover
Publisher: Puffin Books
Age Recommended: 10+
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Started: May 15, 2024 Date Finished: May 17, 2024
Brenda Woods has written a short, beautiful novel about a youngster named Saint and his dog Shadow before and during Hurricane Katrina. The writing was descriptive and helped readers envision the settings, but it lacked some of the feelings discussed. Many characters are presented, but only Saint and Shadow are fully developed and examined in depth. I admired Saint's love of music, his ambition to attend Julliard, and his devotion to his family. I believe the book provides valuable information on the love one has for their loved ones, how friendships fade, exhibiting kindness and strength despite being terrified, and storm excavation plans. The only negative aspect is that I wish the book had shown more of what happened during and after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. I believe that reading about Saint's life after Hurricane Katrina, such as if he still lives in New Orleans or if he and Monalisa reconnected, would have benefited the overall tale and character development in the novel.
Publisher: Orca Books
Expected publication date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Genres: Children’s Fiction with bits of mystery
Middle Grade Novel
Netgalley Shelfs E-book/ARC
Age Recommended: 9+
Date Started: May 24, 2024 Date Finished: May 28, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for an E-ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review:
The cover is well-crafted and captures the essence of the story. I enjoyed the podcast headers and chapter titles at the beginning of each chapter since they added a unique flair while also making readers feel like they were conducting the podcast with Izzy. The novel is packed with humor that both young and adult readers will enjoy while reading. The allusions made by Izzy and the other characters in the narrative are realistic, easy to understand, and useful in picturing scenarios, locations, and characters. The writing is vivid, amusing, and realistic, making it and the novel overall simple to read, comprehend, visualize, and enjoy. From Izzy to Doyle, all of the characters saw excellent character growth. The plot was established at a wonderful, medium pace, allowing for tension and mystery while remaining easy to read. The storyline development was excellent, and the story will undoubtedly be engaging and educational for readers. The author does an excellent job of tackling and dealing with a variety of problems, including but not limited to bullying, gossip, reporting, school issues, friendship struggles, and understanding the difference between telling a story and making one up. The book is full of wonderful learning opportunities for both young and older readers, such as learning the difference between what is considered the truth and what is gossip, the importance of open and honest communication between people, the right and wrong ways to deal with bullying in school, and finally, finding something that brings you joy, as podcasting and reporting the news do for Izzy and her mother.
One minor drawback for me was that Izzy and some of the other students appeared to be older than their age and in 8th grade rather than 6th grade because of how they acted, the gossip that circulated throughout the school, and the way they spoke at times. However, I think this provides insight into how grown-up or older kids can feel, act, and speak beyond their age, as well as how one should never judge a book or person by their age or appearance. It was a bit tricky at times to tell when Izzy was recording for an interview and when she stopped recording. I think placing a start play button icon when she starts recording and subsequently a stop or pause recording icon when she quits recording would enhance the book and stop any potential confusion on this topic.
Izzy Wong's Nose for News by Marty Chan is a fantastic story that would be ideal for children aged 9 and up, as well as adults interested in reading a book about podcasting, reporting a story, school issues, realistic and humorous characters, as well as a touch of mystery and suspense mixed with fiction.
Engaging Discussion Questions for Every Book Mentioned
Discussion Questions for Jessie Janowitz's All the Ways to Go
1. Was the book a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down” for you?
2. What do you think about the book’s cover?
3. Was there a specific scene that you liked?
a. Which part(s) of the book caught your attention the most?
4. What did you enjoy about this book?
5. What did you dislike about the book?
6. What are some games you like to play?
7. The book depicts the kids Milo and Roxie learning about the game Go. What are some things you have learned about the game Go from the book?
8. Based on the reading, what are some of the types of books one could find in the library?
9. After reading the book, would you want to learn how to play the game Go?
10. After reading the book, describe or draw what your own game or versions of the games Go or Chess would look like.?
Discussion Questions for To Mimi's House We Go, written by Susan Meissner and illustrated by Mette Engell
1. Was the book a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down” for you?
2. What do you think about the book’s cover?
3. Was there a specific scene or illustration that you liked?
a. Which part of the illustration caught your attention the most?
4. What did you enjoy about this book?
5. What did you dislike about the book?
6. What are some of the modes of Christmas travel in the book?
7. The book depicts various Christmas traditions. What are some of your family's Christmas traditions?
8. Based on the reading, what are some of the ways people celebrate Christmas?
9. After reading the book, what are some of the things you learned about the Christmas season?
10. After seeing the illustrations in the book, describe or draw some of your favorite Christmas things, memories, or traditions.
Discussion Questions for Saint Louis Armstrong Beach by Brenda Woods
1. Was the book a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down” for you?
2. What do you think about the book’s cover?
3. Was there a specific scene that you liked?
a. Which part of the book caught your attention the most?
4. What did you enjoy about this book?
5. What did you dislike about the book?
6. What are some of the steps to the pickling process?
7. The book depicts a natural disaster. What are some of the ways natural disaster
impact people's lives?
8. Based on the reading, what are some of the ways people can help each other during a natural disaster or weather event?
Discussion Questions for Izzy Wong's Nose for News by Marty Chan
1. Was the book a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down” for you?
2. What do you think about the book’s cover?
3. Was there a specific scene that you liked?
a. Which part(s) of the book caught your attention the most?
4. What did you enjoy about this book?
5. What did you dislike about the book?
6. What are some of the ways one can report or write a story?
7. The book depicts podcasting. What are some topics you would talk about if you had a podcast like Izzy?
8. Based on the reading, what are some of the ways kids can deal with bullying?
9. After reading the book, what are some of the things you learned about journalism?
10. After reading the book, describe or draw some things for a newspaper or book cover related to podcasting, journalism, or school.
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