Adventures in the City of Stories by Emma Otheguy

Today's read heads into the realm of adventure and time travel. In other words, I'm hoping for some historical goodness as well as excitement and tension. It's the second in the Cousins in the Time of Magic series, and nope, I didn't read the first one. But when has that ever stopped me from diving in? I'm hoping that this works pretty well as a standalone, since I'm getting the impression that each book follows a separate adventure. Another fun aspect to this read is that it is also available in Spanish. That should make my bilingual readers out there smile. 

I really don't know too much more about this one but hope it offers great characters and a grabbing tale. And maybe, a dusting of magic, too.

So, off we go!

ADVENTURE IN THE CITY OF STORIES

Cousins in the Time of Magic #2

by Emma Otheguy

Illustrated by Poly Bernatene

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Middle Grade Historical Fantasy

224 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING JULY 21st!!!

When stolen artifacts magically appear in their aunt’s closet, cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy travel back in time to 1930 New York City to clear her name before history is irreparably altered in this companion to the “spellbinding” (School Library Journal, starred review) Cousins in the Time of Magic.

Cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy never imagined that dusty old puppets and a mysterious book would launch them into a time-traveling adventure. But when they discover their aunt has treasures belonging to Pura Belpré, the trailblazing Latina librarian and storyteller, they’re transported back to 1930s New York City. Their mission? Race against time to return Pura’s puppets and a signed first edition of her book, proving their aunt isn’t a thief.

The past is full of danger, though. A powerful woman will stop at nothing to steal the book, the cousins’ nosy neighbor is snooping around, and the hardship of the Great Depression is all around them. Luckily Jorge, Camila, and Siggy meet Antonia, a fierce Puerto Rican girl fighting injustice against her community.

The cousins will need courage, quick thinking, and a little help from history to protect Pura Belpré’s legacy, clear their aunt’s name, and make it back home. Can they pull it off before time runs out?

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Adventure weaves with historical goodness, Latin immigration, and time travel to create a rich tale.

Camila can't believe that she of all people has been scolded and publicly announced for bringing forbidden books to school, when she simply tried to give the new girl (and her new friend) some of her own favorite books written in Spanish. To make it up to her friend, she borrows another one of her aunt's books in Spanish as well as two hand puppets, but underway to her friend's house, a school bully intercepts her. As luck would have it, the book and puppets have been declared as missing from the New York library...and the bully recognizes them from the news. To keep her aunt from being accused of theft, her and her cousins head back in time through her aunt's magical portal to return the objects to the library, but nothing goes as planned.

Note: This is the second book in the series. I did not read the first one before diving into this tale, but that wasn't a problem since the author adds important background information quickly as necessary.

This is a fast-paced read with tension and excitement the entire way through. It grabs right away and keeps things exciting the whole way through. Even the characters are introduced in interesting ways and have vibrant personalities. Then, there are the historical elements, and these are very well done. The author brings across the 1930 era with little known figures and events, and it's very clear she's done her research. But she never alienates the reader, either, keeping everything very natural and familiar at the same rime. It creates a smooth shift which lets the plot take control without the slightest hiccup. At the end of the book, there is more detailed information about several aspects surrounding the historical time frame. So, there's lots of goodness in these pages on that end, too.

Adventure fans who enjoy historical dives will want to take a look at this read.

And here they are...

Emma Otheguy is the author of several books for young readers, including the picture books A Sled for Gabo and Martina Has Too Many Tías, the bilingual picture book Martí’s Song for Freedom, and the middle grade novels Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene, Cousins in the Time of Magic, Silver Meadows Summer, and, with Adam Gidwitz, The Madre de Aguas of Cuba, part of the Unicorn Rescue Society series. Visit her at EmmaOtheguy.com.

Poly Bernatene was born in 1972 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has been drawing ever since. He graduated from Buenos Aires’s art school, where he developed a great interest in managing different techniques in his work. He has worked in advertisement, animation, and comics. During the last fifteen years, he has established an exciting career as a professional illustrator, having published more than sixty children’s books in eleven countries.

Tracking Bigfoot by Nico Waters

Not every child develops skills at the same rate, and today's read fills the hole for those middle graders, who still need more word practice. It's part of a series of four books aimed at middle grade readers, but these books are much shorter (this one ranks in with only 42 pages). The reading level also sticks to the 2nd grade so readers can build their vocabulary and grammar. At the same time, this series promises to hold the tension and excitement middle graders enjoy with characters their age. I'm curious to see how all of this works out.

So, let's open it up and take a look!

TRACKING BIGFOOT

Cryptid Hunt #2

by Nico Waters

Illustrated by Phil Dragash

Stone Arch Books

Middle Grade Myth  /  Mystery

76 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING AUGUST 1st!!!

Eleven-year-old Sam likes putting puzzles together, eating sweets, and spending time with his abuela. When Sam’s parents ask him to go on a hiking trip in Washington, he wants to stay with Abuela instead. But then he sees a Bigfoot magazine on the bus. The more he learns about the mysterious cryptid, the more fascinated he becomes. He decides to go on the hiking trip after all. He has one goal—to find Bigfoot. Will he track down the big, hairy creature? Or will he find something else? 

With an intriguing story perfect for students in grades 4–6 and text at an achievable 2nd grade level, this book in the Cryptid Hunt series will draw in reluctant and striving readers who need support and practice to improve reading proficiency.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

When a summer hiking trip turns into a search for Bigfoot, unexpected things can happen.

Sam isn't crazy about heading to Washington with his parents for a 5-day hiking trip, but when he learns that they will be near the stomping grounds of Bigfoot, his excitement soars. With all gear packed and a walkie-talkie from his dad just in case there isn't phone service, he heads out onto the trails. Of course, it's all about looking for clues, but every one he finds quickly reveals itself to be something else. His hope wanes, especially when he keeps crossing paths with two kids his age who want him to join their bird watching group. But then, the unexpected appears.

This is a quick-paced read, which invites in with a sympathetic main character as well as tension and mystery. Sam is introduced as a kid, who feels a little left-out since none of his friends ride his school bus and no one else seems to want to sit with him. But other than that, his life is fine, and he especially adores is abuela. In other words, he's an average kid. When he learns about Bigfoot, it's easy to feel his excitement and wonder if he'll really find the mythical creature during the trip. To add tension, he finds possible clues and even runs into to a few dangerous situations. After all, nature is not always tame. There is a hint of imagination built in, but most of the tale stays grounded in reality. It's a fun read, which keeps the reader in the pages until the end.

This book is designed for those middle grade readers, who still need more practice with their basic skills, and is written at a 2nd grade level. The sentences and chapters are kept short, and the font and spacing create room for easy reading. But at the same time, the text does push just a bit with occasional longer sentences and vocabulary building. At the beginning of the read, there is a quick glossary with the definition of a few more difficult terms. At the end, there are several questions for writing exercises, discussions, and reading comprehension. Reluctant readers can enjoy a tense story with characters their age, while building their reading skills at a pace which comfortably nurtures their level.

And here she is...

Nico Waters wrote her first book as a class assignment in elementary school and has loved writing ever since. She lives with her husband in sunny California. And despite her allergies, she hopes to have a cute dog someday.

The Solarball Slip-Up by Bryan Patrick Avery

Have any of you heard about or seen the 1960's cartoon The Jetsons? I've seen a few episodes over the years and always have enjoyed their glimpse into the future. When I read the blurb on today's read, it reminded me a bit of this earlier cartoon. Today's read jets into the future and appears to be the first in a new series for beginning readers. It should center around the members of a family, so I'm expecting lots of sibling and friendship goodness. I am a bit surprised to see it holds only 32 pages...and that's by no means a bad thing, especially for reluctant readers. I'm hoping for some imagination, humor, and family heart.

So, let's open it up and see what it's about!

THE SOLARBALL SLIP-UP

by Bryan Patrick Avery

Illustrated by Vincent Batignole

Picture Window Books

Children's Science Fiction

Beginning Reader

32 pages

ages 5 to 8

COMING AUGUST 1st!!!

When his dad forgets his CubeKey at home, Charlie Cosmos sets out to deliver it to him at work. Along the way, Charlie tests out a new solarball with his friends and loses track of his dad’s device. Will Charlie find the CubeKey in time or will his solarball slip-up land him in hot water? Young readers will find out in this fun and funny sci-fi adventure! With easy-to-read text and art that pops off the page, every early chapter book in The Cosmos Family series takes readers on a joyous journey into the future.

GOODREADS     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Life in the future might hold high-tech gadgets and even some surprises, but family and friendship never change.

Charlie Cosmos' father has forgotten his CubeKey at home but desperately needs it for a big meeting within the next hour. Charlie promises him mother to get it to his father but runs into a friend along the way, who wants him to try out a new solarball. Of course, Charlie doesn't want to let his father down, so he makes sure he plays for only a few minutes. Although Charlie reaches his father's office with a little time to spare, he realizes the CubeKey is no longer in his pocket and must have gotten lost during the short game.

This is a bright and bold book with tons of energy. The illustrations pop on each page and bring this futuristic world to life while letting Charlie, his family, and his friends gain visual personality. This works very well to balance with the text, especially for beginning readers. The text is very fitting for those readers, who are mostly sure of their words but need more practice. The font and spacing are on the larger side for easy reading. There are several, short chapters to help breakdown things and keep it light. Add the short page length, and it's a read even reluctant readers can enjoy.

There's never a boring moment in Charlie's adventure, and readers will have no problem connecting with him, since the problem is a very familiar one that can happen to anyone. His desire to play with his friend is understandable, and the trouble it causes isn't overly surprising yet still grabs. There's enough tension to have readers wondering if he'll get things worked out, and the ending rounds everything off nicely. With such a short page length, the plot flies by very quick, and some readers might find this a bit too fast since the entire world is new. To help buffer this, the author includes a quick description of unfamiliar terms at the beginning of the book. These are brief and leave a lot of room to the imagination.

At the end of the book, there are several questions to open up to discussion and check reading comprehension. Classrooms and homeschoolers will appreciate this aspect as well.

And here he is...

Bryan Patrick Avery discovered his love of reading and writing at an early age when he received his first Bobbsey Twins Mystery. He writes picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and graphic novels. His middle grade story, “The Magic Day Mystery,” was published in 2020 in Super Puzzletastic Mysteries, an anthology from Harpercollins and the Mystery Writers of America. His debut picture book, The Freeman Field Photograph was published in 2020. Bryan lives in northern California with his family.

Dear Math, We're Not Friends by Lina Chopra Haldar

I saw the title, and the answer was clear—I had to read this book. My kids were not math fans...well, except for my youngest son who seemed to thrive on math for many years. Now, he is more into it as a means to achieve his end goal (still in college). The other three kids have never been thrilled by numbers, functions, and calculations and see them as an irritating subject they can't avoid.

That's why today's read seems to be one that might connect well with many, many readers and listeners. I'm hoping for some humor and tons of fun. Maybe, there will be something that helps kids realize that math isn't super awful? We'll just have to open it and find out. So, let's do that now!

 

DEAR MATH, WE'RE NOT FRIENDS

by Lina Chopra Haldar

Illustrated by Teresa Martinez

Beaming Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 5 to 8

COMING AUGUST 11th!!!

For kids who think they hate math, this math picture book uses humor to find the fun in the subject.

Nikhil is an Indian American boy who does not like math! Math gives him a tummy ache, and making mistakes scares him. His teacher encourages him to write letters to math to explore his feelings.

Soon, Nikhil is surprised to learn that not only are drawing, counting, and measuring all a part of math, but math will actually help him when he grows up--whether he pursues his dream of becoming an astronaut or an artist.

Told through his humorous letters to math over a school year, readers observe Nikhil go from feeling uneasy even thinking about math, to embracing how universal and even FUN math is in all its various forms. Dear Math, We're Not Friends makes an excellent gift for math teachers, librarians, and parents who want to help kids find the joy in math and develop a positive relationship with it.

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

This is an ode to math...or rather, to those kids who would rather it didn't exist but might realize how woven it is into life in good ways.

These pages take two things and weave them together: a story and math. Nikhil is a kid, who wishes math would disappear, especially when his teacher gives him the assignment to write a letter to math every few days (or so). Each of his letters is presented, one after the other, and over time, his original dislike turns into something else as he's lead to realize that math isn't necessarily an awful thing.

The entire story is told through Nikhil's letters with one on each two-page spread. These meld into the illustrations to create a relaxed and more personal feel. Thanks to this personal direction, listeners/readers can easily feel as if they are getting to know Nikhil. Many will connect with his dislike for math, and at the same time, feel like he's someone they might be friends with. The illustrations around each letter are packed with energy and motion. Nikhil is an active boy, who obviously enjoys playing and life. While these scenes will come across with familiarity, math is also playfully worked into each scene. For example, his homework sheets show what 1/4 or 1/2 looks like or have leopard spots shedding to the ground, each with a number on them for counting purposes...yep, a leopard loosing its spots. Because these pages also pack tons of humor.

Listeners/readers accompany Nikhil as he learns to see math in a silly and, other times, important light, which can help open the door to allow them to look at math from a different perspective. But this book holds more. It encourages teachers, parents, and caretakers to present math differently, especially to those students who aren't fans of the subject. At the end of the book, there's also a note to these adult readers with tips and hints on how to guide students to see math more positively. This message to adults is just as present as Nikhil's journey. So, this isn't a book aimed just at young readers, but for adults teaching or tutoring math as well. 

My overall thoughts: it holds some good tips for adult teachers and encourages them to think a little out-of-the-box and not let math come across as dry numbers alone. I do see Nikhil's journey as encouraging to some readers, especially thanks to the good dose of silliness. The author does keep it light and lively to guarantee fun. 

Meet the illustrator...

Teresa Martinez is a Mexican illustrator based in Puerto Vallarta. She's the illustrator for dozens of picture books including Duck, Duck, Taco Truck, written by Laura Lavoie, Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma, written by Johanna Ho, and The Last Tamale, written by Orlando Mendiola, among many others. 

Beatrice and the Dirty Diggers by Rosemary Zibart

I'm always on the lookout for an unique historical tale, especially in the kidlit realm. The second I ran across this book, I knew I had to take a look. It has something to do with a girl's camp either during WW II or shortly thereafter (I'm not sure on that end, yet). But what makes this one really intriguing is that it takes an archaeological twist. Maybe a bit of mystery too? Honestly, this could go in several directions.

Let's dig in and see what we discover!

BEATRICE AND THE DIRTY DIGGERS

by Rosemary Zibart

Kinkajou Press

Middle Grade Historical Fiction

153 pages

ages 8 to 12

Beatrice Sims can hardly wait to join the Dirty Diggers at a summer camp for teen girls interested in unearthing the secrets of ancient ruins. Beatrice dreams of finding mysteries from the past while she yearns to make new friends. Instead, the WWII refugee from England is seen as an outsider by the other girls and when a precious artifact goes missing, Beatrice is suspected of being the thief. Yet when a violent storm threatens the camp, Beatrice discovers something even more valuable — the courage to face danger and compassion to help others.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

It's time to dig deep with archaeological and historical goodness...and learn to build friendships as well.

Set during WWII, this tale follows a young girl named Beatrice Sims. She's extremely excited to have the chance to join the Dirty Diggers, a group of young women who have been raising their experience in the realm of archaeology, and can't wait to follow her dream of discovering the past. While she's already accustom to adventures and has spent the last two years settling in the U.S. as a refugee from England, this latest escapade might be the toughest she's ever faced. The Dirty Diggers are already a tight knit group, and her sudden appearance doesn't sit right with all of them, especially since she's missing some skills they've long mastered. Somehow, Beatrice is going to have to find a way to step-up to the challenge and learn how to deal with the situation as it comes.

This is the fourth book in the series, and while I didn't read the other three first, it was no problem to dive right into this tale. Beatrice immediately comes across as a character with personality and a heart of gold. This makes it easy to feel for her as she's slightly bullied by some of the girls in the Dirty Diggers' group. The problems she faces ring true for middle grade to young teen readers as does her desire to fit in. There are some messages on this front, which slide in nicely with the characters and plot.

While Beatrice steers the social end of things, this book also takes a look at the realm of archaeology. Several skills and aspects are mentioned and explained to broaden readers' horizons on this front. All of this weaves smoothly into the tale. The pacing keeps the pages turning as social dynamics swirl with just a touch of tension to make things interesting. The shorter length makes sure that the read never grows boring as well. It's a read that's sure to interest more than just historical fiction fans.