The 2019 Notable Children’s Books in the English language arts

page 259 Children’s Literature Reviews The 2019 Notable Children’s Books in the English Language Arts Cynthia Alaniz, Jane Bean-Folkes, Elizabeth Bemiss, Sue Corbin, Jeanne Fain, S. Rebecca Leigh, and Jennifer Summerlin The 2019 Notable Children’s Books, unique in language and/or style, encourage readers to discover quality texts that linger long after the pages have been read. The Notable Children’s Books in the English Language Arts Committee convened in March 2019 to deliberate on a list of thirty titles for readers in grades K–8. Comprised of seven members, the committee read over 500 titles published in 2018, which included various genres and formats. To be selected for this list, books were required to have an appealing format, be of enduring quality, meet the generally accepted criteria of quality for their genre, and deal explicitly with language, demonstrate uniqueness in use of language, or invite child participation. The stories told in these books show the power of discovering one’s voice. They show characters who learn from the past but are also present in the moment. Others allow readers to experience the delight of play by tinkering with either objects or words. about how challenging it is to write such a long name on paper. She becomes convinced that her long name really does not fit her. Her dad wisely introduces her to intriguing stories behind her special family members through powerful narrative and illustrations framed as photographs. The story closes as Alma is invited by her dad to “make your own story.” This book reminds readers that their name often has a powerful story behind it and that we all “have a story to tell.” (JGF) Picturebooks Alma and How She Got Her Name Written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal Candlewick, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-0-7636-9355-8 Juana Martinez-Neal debuts her first picturebook as an author and illustrator by taking readers into Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela’s whimsical discovery into the important story of all of her names. Alma begins the story complaining Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page 260 Baby Monkey, Private Eye A Big Mooncake for Little Star Written by Brian Selznick and David Serlin Illustrated by Brian Selznick Scholastic, 2018, 192 pp., ISBN 978-1-338-18061-9 Written and illustrated by Grace Lin Little, Brown, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-0-316-40448-8 In this early reader/graphic novel, Caldecott Medal–winner Brian Selznick introduces us to Baby Monkey, a detective with his own office. With a client list that includes an opera singer as well as a clown, Baby Monkey follows a simple procedure to solve each mystery: first searching for clues, then writing notes, followed by eating a snack. The last step, however, where he dons a pair of pants, always gives him trouble. In the final mystery, Baby Monkey needs no clues or notes, as he is the missing person, reuniting with his mother. Selznick’s pencil illustrations are meant to be devoured, with artwork changes in Baby Monkey’s office matching his client’s story (see the bibliography included in the book). Using repetition and wordless pages, Selznick and Serlin weave a collection of entertaining stories sure to compel laughter in readers of all ages. (CA) Under the night sky, Little Star and Mama baked a Big Mooncake, a sweet treat associated with the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, an Asian holiday. As Little Star’s mama left the mammoth treat on the table to cool, she reminded her not to touch the Big Mooncake. But night after night, Little Star tiptoed to the Big Mooncake (“Pat pat pat”) and took just one tiny nibble. One night, Mama went to look for the Big Mooncake and instead of the glowing round cake found a trail of twinkling crumbs. In this Caldecott Honor book, Grace Lin presents radiant illustrations with a velvety black night sky as the backdrop and tells a heartwarming story with a clever depiction of the phases of the moon. (EB) Boy Written by Phil Cummings Illustrated by Shane Devries Kane Miller, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-1-61067-739-4 In Cumming’s poetic fable Boy, we learn that a fearsome dragon has endangered the kingdom, the fate of which rests in the hands of the boy called . . . Boy. One day while out to catch a small green lizard, Boy runs right into the middle of the battle. The dragon, the king, and his knights all yell at Boy to “MOVE!” But Boy doesn’t hear them. When he finally looks up, he sees several stunned faces, including the mighty dragon. Boy tries to communicate in sign language, then Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page 261 writes a message in the sand: “WHY ARE YOU FIGHTING?” After an awkward silence, the battling parties blame one another. At the end of the tale, villagers thank Boy “with dancing hands” depicted in line and color illustrations as a signlanguage “thank you.” (JBF) The Day You Begin Written by Jacqueline Woodson Illustrated by Rafael López Nancy Paulsen/Penguin, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-0-39924653-1 Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book of Shapes Written by Hena Kahn Illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini Chronicle, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-1-4521-5541-8 The beauty of Muslim art and architecture is authentically portrayed in this picturebook based on the childhood memories of Amini and described by Kahn’s moving words. Complementary colors, past and present, science and art, circles and squares remind us that opposites are really part of the same whole, and that Muslims the world over share a faith no matter where they live. The narrator, who is a young girl, affirms her love for her culture throughout the book. A glossary defines the Arabic words that are embedded within the rhyming verse, and an author’s note explains the importance of shapes in a religion that frowns upon the depiction of God or human beings out of respect for those forms. (SC) There is nothing more frightening than starting a new school year, but what if you walk into your new classroom and not a single person looks like you? This story opens with the main character, Angelina, leaning out her bedroom window, lost within the pages of a wonderful book. Angelina has spent the summer caring for her little sister Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page 262 and adrift in a sea of great stories; now she wonders if this was time wasted as she listens to her classmates sharing their summer adventures. It is when Angelina begins to share her own story that she realizes the children in the classroom are more alike than different. This story combined with López’s lively illustrations, created through an artistic mix of collage, texture, and patterning, encourages readers to value their own individuality and remain true to themselves. (JS) their relationship turns as they discover common ground communicating through illustrations. “My grandfather surprised me by revealing a world beyond words,” says the son. Vibrant graphic novel–style illustrations and eye-popping artwork created by the grandfather and son “build a new world” for both of them. (JGF) Drawn Together This bright and colorfully illustrated text about a mother and son tells the story of their journey from life in Mexico to life in the United States. At first, they are “[u]nable to understand and afraid to speak,” until they find themselves in “a place we had never seen before.” It is in the wonders of a library that mother and son learn to speak, to trust, and to read! Readers will be intrigued by the use of rich media and intricate details of the illustrations. The detailed double-paged spreads require viewing for the array of media, such as the drawings and book titles that chronicle their journey “to speak, to write, and to make our voices heard.” They are “the dreamers, soñadores of the world.” (JBF) Written by Minh Lê Illustrated by Dan Santat Hyperion, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-1-48476760-3 Dreamers Written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales Neal Porter, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-0823440559 “Sometimes you don’t need words to find common ground” reads the book jacket, preparing us for the story. The book begins with a mom dropping her son off at her dad’s house. The grandson lacks energy and enthusiasm as he reluctantly greets his smiling grandfather. Their attempt to watch television together seems to be a challenge for them and abruptly comes to an end. Then Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page Imagine Written by Juan Felipe Herrera Illustrated by Lauren Castillo Candlewick, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-0-7636-9052-6 Do you imagine what you could do or could be? Former U.S. Poet Laureate Herrera had a dream, and he encourages us to imagine who we might be or do. In this free-verse story, we journey with Herrera as a young boy as he “waved adios/to my amiguitos” when he and his family move from the California fields to the concrete city. Here we imagine with Herrera as he learns to read, to discover “gooey and/sticky/ink pens” and learns to “[gather]/many words and many more songs.” The book is illustrated by Castillo in ink and foam monoprints. In 2015, Hererra became the first Chicano Poet Laureate of the United States. “Imagine what you could do.” (JBF) ordinary happenings, such as watching a dog sleep, can be cherished. Strong verbs (zooming, rushing) let young readers feel the busyness of everyday life. Of particular note is dePaola’s use of line: objects lean to the right to demonstrate a hurried sense of movement early in the book, then become more vertical and horizontal when everyone sits down, emphasizing a sense of calmness. The gentle line drawings and large areas of white space collectively create a quiet, contemplative mood. (sRL) The Word Collector Written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds Orchard, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-0-54586502-9 Quiet Written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola Simon & Schuster, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-1-481477543 In dePaola’s Quiet, a grandfather imparts his wisdom on the importance of finding joy in the moment. Sitting on a park bench, he invites his grandchildren to appreciate the value of being still. Through stillness, everything slows down so that Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 263 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page 264 Jerome is the word collector who listens for words, then organizes and shares them. His cutout- collection looks familiar: the text type and display is hand-lettered by Reynolds himself. Who can resist collecting two-syllable treats and multisyllable words that sound magical, if not musical? In this story, Jerome discovers something eyeopening when his word collection gets jumbled, and suddenly unlikely pairs of words—such as a sad word next to a dreamy one—become too wonderful to keep to himself. At the top of a hill, Jerome tosses words from his wagon into the air for all to enjoy. The words are as diverse as the characters set against backdrops of color and pattern. The Word Collector inspires thinking about one’s own word collection, making repeat readings of this book an invitation to discover again and again the magic and thrill of language. (sRL) Christina Collins’ debut novel introduces readers to adolescent Elise. Elise brings her notebook with her everywhere to tally the times that she talks to someone; “It’s amazing how few words a person can get by with” (p. 1). Elise moves through her day with zero tallies in her notebook. She uncovers a past traumatic event and grapples with this event by losing control of her voice and the ability to stand up for herself. She overcomes her pain and trauma as she longs to hang on to her only friend, Mel. Elise’s journey with selective mutism is emotional and inspired by the author’s journey with selective mutism as an adolescent. (JGF) The Button War Written by Avi Candlewick, 2018, 240 pp., ISBN 978-0-7636-9053-3 Novels After Zero Written by Christina Collins Sourcebooks, 2018, 256 pp., ISBN 978-1-4926-5532-9 A group of boys in Nazi-occupied Poland begin a fierce competition when one of them finds a military button in the forest. The one who finds the best button will be the Button King, and they will do anything they can to acquire it, including stealing Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page from dead soldiers’ uniforms. When Jurik, the ringleader, gets the boys involved in a spy operation, one of the boys is wounded, and another is tried as a spy and shot after being caught with a button. The viciousness and consequences become all too clear in this novel, and the final scene with Jurik, standing alone atop the wreckage of a pump platform declaring his victory as Button King, depicts a stark illustration of the lingering effects of war. (SC) happened. Eventually, Jett realizes that no one is all good or all bad, and that sometimes those who have suffered the most are the best kind of people. In the end, Jett picks up the pieces of his life, learning that life is a series of ebbs and flows, and that being tumbled in a storm can turn you into a gem like a beautiful piece of sea glass. (SC) Finding Langston Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome Holiday House, 2018, 112 pp., ISBN 978-0-823-43960-7 Ebb and Flow Written by Heather T. Smith Kids Can Press, 2018, 232 pp., ISBN 978-1-77138-838-2 Smith adeptly uses free verse in this novel about Jett, a boy who has been caught up in a crime that he didn’t intend. A sensitive boy, Jett is devastated by what he’s done, and he’s been sent to stay with his eccentric grandmother for the summer. She listens to his story as Jett haltingly reveals what This is not your typical great migration story. We are able to walk in the present-tense narration of young Langston as he journeys from Alabama to Bronzeville, Chicago, where his father finds employment and is able to escape the severe discrimination in the South. We learn that he is not of the city, and his kind, sensitive ways make it difficult for him to fit in. So, Langston seeks refuge in the George Cleveland Hall Branch of the Chicago Public Library through the help of the librarian who Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 265 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page 266 believes Langston to be his namesake, Langston Hughes. Langston is awed by the discovery that his mother also loved Hughes’ writing, bridging the connection to the African American tradition as well as between mother and son. (JBF) the Burke family. Faced with the fate of knowing she might not ever live close to her friends again, Louisiana holds tight to the unexpected love and tenderness offered by the Burke family. (EB) Louisiana’s Way Home Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring Written by Kate DiCamillo Candlewick, 2018, 240 pp., ISBN 978-0-7636-9463-0 Written by Angela Cervantes Scholastic, 2018, 240 pp., ISBN 978-1-338-15931-8 Kate DiCamillo presents Louisiana Elefante, first introduced to readers in Raymie Nightingale (2016), hastily uprooted from her Florida home with her spunky Granny who hopes to unearth a generations-long family curse. One small moment after the next brings Louisiana closer to folks in the small town of Richford, Georgia. After Louisiana reads an upsetting letter left by her Granny who disappeared in the night, she grows closer to Burke Allen, a boy who shares bologna sandwiches with her and listens to stories of her life from back home. Louisiana is also embraced by Burke’s award-winning, cake-baking mama and Paloma Marquez planned to spend the summer at home in Kansas, but those plans change when her mother wins a four-week fellowship in Mexico City. Paloma reluctantly accompanies her mother, but brings a treasured “memory box” containing photographs of her Mexican-born father who died when she was three. Paloma’s temporary home is located near Casa Azul, home of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. She meets Lizzie and Gael (siblings) who tell of their quest to find a mythical peacock ring rumored to have been designed by Frida Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page Kahlo and supposedly locked in Casa Azul. Lizzie and Gael invite her on their quest, and Paloma’s summer of adventure begins. With this suspenseful middle-grade novel, Cervantes tells the story of a girl learning about a father she lost while also learning more about herself. (CA) Merci Suárez Changes Gears Written by Meg Medina Candlewick, 2018, 368 pp., ISBN 978-0-7636-9049-6 Florida, this middle-grade novel (and winner of the 2019 Newbery Medal) portrays the challenges of staying true to both your family and yourself. (CA) Sunny Written by Jason Reynolds Atheneum, 2018, 176 pp., ISBN 978-1-48145-022-5 Sunny, the main character in this third book in the Track series, is a fast-talking, bebopping, award-winning track star who also believes he is a murderer. Regina, Sunny’s mother, dies giving birth to him, leaving Sunny and his father, Daryl, to forge a life together. But Daryl and Sunny are complete opposites, and it seems that the only thing that makes Daryl happy is when Sunny wins a track medal. Although Sunny is good at running, he is tired and ready to move on to dancing. Will Sunny be able to follow his heart, stop track, and begin a journey that honors his true passion, dancing? (JS) The beginning of sixth grade is tough for Merci Suárez. Merci attends an exclusive private school on scholarship, and she often feels out of place among classmates who take luxury vacations and don’t share the same worries. Her father’s paint business is struggling, and Merci must help out. To top it all off, something is wrong with Lolo, her beloved grandfather. (Her parents have hushed conversations about him and Merci is unsure why.) Feeling the pressure to keep her scholarship, Merci must maintain a B average while also fulfilling a community service project requirement. Set in Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 267 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page 268 Winterhouse Nonfiction Written by Ben Guterson Illustrated by Chloe Bristol Henry Holt, 2018, 384 pp., ISBN 978-1-250-12388-6 Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill Elizabeth Somers has been sent to Winterhouse, a hotel with a past, for Christmas. Her parents were killed in a car accident and she has lived with her aunt and uncle ever since. Glad to be away from the dour pair, Elizabeth embarks on a mystery involving a curse that has loomed over Winterhouse for generations. When Elizabeth finds a strange book in the library, she involves Freddy, her new friend and fellow puzzle enthusiast, to help her solve the secrets that are hidden in the anagrams within its pages. Guterson uses word ladders to introduce each chapter’s contents, and Bristol’s gray-tone illustrations lend an air of intrigue. Cut-out pictures on the cover reveal part of the mystery and wordsmithing is brilliantly used to uncover the mystery of the hotel and to break the curse itself. (SC) Written by Heather L. Montgomery Illustrated by Kevin O’Malley Bloomsbury, 2018, 176 pp., ISBN 978-1-68119-900-9 Heather Montgomery, a wildlife specialist, begins with a warning for readers and reveals how she started to think about “the discoveries, ingenuity, and hope that have been inspired by roadkill” (p. 5). O’Malley’s black-and-white illustrations are carefully placed to provide additional information for the reader about certain animal, object, or corresponding tool. According to Montgomery, roadkill frequently can be located in “the least safe place” (p. 99), making it a challenge to explore safely and conveniently. The book ends with the idea that “simple acts save lives” (p. 144) and challenges readers to explore additional books, internet articles, and videos on roadkill. An annotated bibliography is included in the back matter for every chapter. (JGF) Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page What a Wonderful Word: A Collection of Untranslatable Words from Around the World Written by Nicola Edwards Illustrated by Luisa Uribe Kane Miller, 2018, 64 pp., ISBN 978-1-61067-722-6 Have you ever tapped someone lightly on the opposite shoulder from behind to fool them? In Indonesia, this is called mencolek. Have you experienced a draft created by wind blowing between two open windows? In Serbo-Croatian, people dread this promaja. Surely, you’ve put hot food in your mouth and moved it around as you waited for it to cool down. You might hear the Buli term for this, pelinti, in Ghana, where a popular black-eyed-pea stew is served. Author Nicola Edwards reveals examples of untranslatable words provided to readers in this intriguing collection. Each word is prominently presented on a doublepage spread with bright illustrations that depict people from around the world and fascinating facts about each word and the culture from which it is derived. (EB) Barbara Jordan, born in Texas in 1936, entered the world with the gift of elocution. Barbara used her voice at an early age to recite poetry, memorize speeches, and dazzle crowds at oratory contests. As Barbara grew, so did the strength of her voice. Barbara’s big words coupled with the bold, bright images created through a perfect combination of mixed media, cut-paper collage, and multiple overlays creates a unique picturebook biography. Readers of all ages will come to understand how Barbara’s words became hope for citizens who had been silenced through unfair voting requirements, low wages, and lack of benefits and opportunity. So, what do you do with a voice like Barbara Jordan’s? You use it to shine a light in a dark world. (JS) Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten Written by Laura Veirs Illustrated by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh Chronicle, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-1-4521-4857-1 What Do You Do with a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan Written by Chris Barton Illustrated by Ekua Holmes Beach Lane, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-1-4814-6561-8 Rendered in soft strokes of graphite and digital color, this book sweeps readers into a story about one of America’s greatest folk musicians, Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten. Young Cotten played on her brother’s right-handed guitar “upside down and . . . backwards,” for what is a girl to do when she is left-handed? Passage of time is felt through Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 269 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page 270 converging and horizontal lines as Libba moves through the story from childhood to old age. Musical text is depicted through script that travels up and down the page in a wave-like motion, inviting readers to notice and sing along with the visually distinctive words. The author’s note and works cited page provide additional information and reveal Veirs’ extensive research in bringing Cotten’s story to life. (sRL) and later as an adult with his daughter draw the reader in, as do Messner’s spare but vibrant words. Forsythe’s colorful yet grainy scenes, rendered in watercolor, gouache, and pencil, capture an energetic water life through close-up and wideangle views. The Brilliant Deep raises awareness about staghorn and elkhorn, two species of reef-building coral currently listed as critically endangered, and invites conversation about small conservation efforts that one person can make. The back matter includes coral reef vocabulary and further information about the reef. (sRL) Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs: The Story of Ken Nedimyer and the Coral Restoration Foundation Written by Kate Messner Illustrated by Matthew Forsythe Chronicle, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-1-4521-3350-8 This is a picturebook biography of Ken Nedimyer, the visionary and pioneer behind the Coral Restoration Foundation. The contrast of colors set against monochrome scuba divers enables the eye to see, to travel along the ocean floor of “fire red and murky gold,” and to feel the legacy of one man who helped saved the reefs. The captivating illustrations of Ken exploring the ocean as a child Written by Sarah Jane Marsh Illustrated by Ed Fotheringham Hyperion, 2018, 80 pp., ISBN 978-148478144-9 Thomas Paine discovered the power of words in school as a boy growing up in England. Later, as he established himself in his career, Paine was constantly in search of learning opportunities. Marsh chronicles Paine’s story, including his job as a tax collector, his membership in a debate club, and his early writing. When Paine arrives in America, readers see him address slavery in his writings and wrestle with the idea of American independence. Through engaging text, Marsh shows readers how Paine came to write his famous pamphlet Common Sense. With hand-lettering and color illustrations, Fotheringham illuminates the Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page 271 life of a writer whose words affected history. The back matter includes a timeline of Paine’s life as well as source notes for quotations. (CA) I Am Loved Written by Nikki Giovanni Illustrated by Ashley Bryan Atheneum, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-1-5344-0492-2 Poetry Bookjoy, Wordjoy Written by Pat Mora Illustrated by Raúl Colón Lee & Low, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-1-62014-286-8 Poet Pat Mora’s love of language is evident throughout the poems in this fascinating text— from “Books and Me” (“We belong/together,/books and me,/like toast and jelly/o queso y tortillas”) to “Collecting Words” (“All day, I collect words,/ words that move, like wiggle,/glowing words, candle,/drifting words, butterfly,/singing words, ding-dong”). Mora’s poems celebrate family and friends and reveal characters from Mora’s previously published works, like Tomás from Tomás and the Library Lady (2000). Mora’s poems, written in English with Spanish phrases peppered throughout, are beautifully illustrated by Raúl Colón to bring Mora’s collection to life in a style influenced by Mexican muralists. (EB) Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page 272 Nikki Giovanni, poet extraordinaire, features ten poems in this book for children. Collectively, the poems in I Am Loved depict the importance of family, friendships, and honoring self. Each poem, encapsulated by Bryan’s vivid illustrations, will keep even the youngest readers’ attention as they are “kidnapped” into the world of poetry. Particularly engaging is the final poem in the collection, “I Am Loved,” which includes a mirror for children to look into. Readers will cherish this charming book of poetry where language celebrates and mirrors a life surrounded and filled with LOVE. (JS) With My Hands: Poems About Making Things Written by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater Illustrated by Lou Fancher & Steve Johnson Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018, unpaged, ISBN 978-0-544-31340-8 go back/to the person I was . . . I am different/ because/I brought a new something to life with my hands./If you are a maker/then you understand.” STEM or STEAM educators will find the language of invention in this collection both engaging and motivating. (JBF) A Bunch of Punctuation Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins Illustrated by Serge Bloch WordSong, 2018, 32 pp., ISBN 978-1-59078-994-0 If an exclamation mark could speak, would it shout out its virtues? In this picturebook poetry collection curated by Lee Bennett Hopkins, forms of punctuation marks are featured in poems by renowned poets, such as J. Patrick Lewis, Joan Bransfield Graham, and Hopkins himself. Some of the verses lend voice (such as “Semicolon” by Betsy Franco), while others explain their purpose and highlight best features (“A comma/lets you stop,/pause,/enjoy the weather,” p. 6). Included are the comma, apostrophe, period, colon, question mark, and more. Charmingly illustrated by Serge Bloch in pencil and ink that bring the punctuation mark to life, this picturebook is sure to inspire any classroom of writers, young or old. (CA) Maker madness abounds! Are you inclined to make something new with your hands, your head, or your heart? This book speaks to you and your creative side. The mixed-media collage illustrations coupled with light, playful, and inventive word choice ignites the creator in all of us. Using paint, glitter, clay, or soap, creators who love to work with their hands to create something new might say “I am never the same/I can never Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 Children’s Literature Reviews | THE 2019 NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS page References DiCamillo, K. (2016). Raymie Nightingale. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. Mora, P. (2000). Tomás and the library lady. Decorah, IA: Dragonfly. To learn more about the Notable Children’s Books in the English Language arts and the Children’s Literature Assembly, visit https://www.childrensliterature assembly.org/. 2018–2019 Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Committee members: Cynthia Alaniz (CA), Chair, NCTE member since 2012, Coppell Independent School District, Coppell, TX; Jane BeanFolkes (JBF), NCTE member since 2000, South Orange & Maplewood School District, NJ; Elizabeth Bemiss (EB), NCTE member since 2012 University of West Florida, Pensacola Florida; Sue Corbin (SC), NCTE member since 2000, Notre Dame College, South Euclid, OH; Jeanne Gillam Fain (JGF), NCTE member since 1998, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN; S. Rebecca Leigh (sRL), NCTE member since 2010, Oakland University, Rochester, MI; Jennifer Summerlin (JS), NCTE member since 2000, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Language Arts, Volume 97, Number 4, March 2020 273