"Sydney Smith knows that children are the ultimate observers," writes Jillian Tamaki, TheNew York Times Book Review’s By the Book illustrator, current judge and past winner of The New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award, recently awarded to Smith's vividly restrained Small in the City, among others. The book is Smith's first he's both written and illustrated, and fourth to receive the honor. And its powers of observation are a sight to behold, dimly reminiscent of another Best Illustrated Book from 1999, children's poet Douglas Florian's majestic Winter Eyes. And while it may be too early to warm up to winter, it's time to start looking for holiday gifts.
Pick up an artfully signed copy of Small in the City, while supplies last, and look for our 2019 Gift Guide, with great gifts for readers of all ages, coming soon. Till then, find more opportunities to give and receive (our SCBWI Middle Grade Mayhem and Picture Book Bacchanal events are can't miss for signed books — see details below) in this month's great bounty of books and events!
And in the spirit of giving, we hope you'll support the 2019 Jane Averill Community Reading Day on November 22. The goal of this event is to further strengthen community support for local public schools by purchasing a book or 20 books! Learn how you can make a difference. After all, every book helps!
57th Street Books' Young Readers Advisory Board is comprised of bright, bold, and adventurous young readers on Chicago's South Side, proudly presenting recommendations and reviews of new books each month in Middle Grade and YA literature.
Halloween has come and gone, but this month's featured YRAB recs start off with a scare! Writes Ayan (age 9), "The Ghost in Apartment 2R is about a family who thinks they live in a normal house, but Danny doesn't think so. He gets chills over night, doors are randomly opening, and he sees a familiar face in the window.... Could Danny's house be haunted? The Ghost in Apartment 2R has a lot of suspense and mystery, and is kind of scary, but I'd definitely call it one of my favorites!"
A just as remarkable story awaits in Anthem by two-time National Book Award finalist Deborah Wiles. "Taking place in 1969, Anthem covers the story of a girl named Molly whose brother Barry ran away after having a fight with their father over the war in Vietnam," writes Sara (age 14). "Now, she feels empty, hopeless, and her brother’s been drafted into the war. Molly and her cousin Norman are told to travel in an old school bus, find Barry, and bring him home. Throughout their journey they end up seeing a lot more of America that they'd ever imagined. From protests and parades to roaring races and rock n' roll, the cousins make their way to Barry, unsure of what they'll find when they get there."
And "anyone who loves strong girls," says Charlotte (age 9) should read Sarah R Baughman's debut novel, The Light in the Lake, "an amazing and exciting book that shows how Addie feels when she goes through a lot of pressure, especially after her twin brother, Amos, drowns in Maple Lake. It shows how much she cares for him and the lake when she agrees to go to a biological station near the lake where her brother died and take the position of a young scientist instead of staying with her family at the farm. Her family feels like she’s choosing the lake over them because, since her brother died, everyone is afraid of the lake." In The Light of the Lake, Addie finds herself caught between the science she has always prized and the magic that brings her closer to her brother, and the choice she makes will change everything. 8 and up and interested in becoming a member of the Young Readers Advisory Board? Write to kidsbooks@semcoop.com for more details.
Actress, math whiz, and New York Times-bestselling author Danica McKellar uses her proven math success to give toddlers a head start on learning their shapes in this squeaky-clean bathtime read-aloud!
Unfold pages, lift flaps, gaze into mirrors, and interact with art like never before. This book encourages children to spend time with a curated selection of fine art from the Whitney collection. Each artwork is showcased with a novelty mechanism and caption, for curious hands and wondering eyes.
Baby Badger sleeps all day in his snuggly burrow. When he wakes, he explores every nook of his home and wants to know "what's next?" Cozy illustrations and a child-friendly text depict a curious little creature dazzled by the world's natural wonders—and a doting father who is there to guide him back if "what's next" turns out to take him a bit too far.
Double Bass Blues (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers)
Andrea J. Loney
Nic is an aspiring musician whose life spans two different worlds—his suburban school where he wows his friends in orchestra, and the busy city streets of his home where he's jostled by the crowd. This is a sweet, melodious picture book about how dedication, music, and family can overcome any obstacle.
Salsa Lullaby (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers)
Jen Arena
When nighttime falls, it's time for baby to go to sleep. In this household, that means it's also time for mama, papa, and baby to baila/dance, canta/sing, salta/jump, and more all the way to bedtime!
What happens if you suddenly have to leave your home and put everything you love into one suitcase? How do you begin to fit everything in? As the boy in the book tries to squeeze his whale into a suitcase, it becomes clear that the whale symbolizes something much larger.
From C for chai to Y for yoga, this fresh, rhyming alphabet book takes young readers on a spirited journey to discover the people, places, lifestyles, and language of India. Lush illustrations from debut illustrator Hazel Ito bring to life the beauty, wonder, and diversity of a vast and vibrant country.
Read Alone (8 and up)Shine! (Random House Books for Young Readers)
J.J Grabenstein & Chris Grabenstein
Shine on! might be the catchphrase of twelve-year-old Piper's hero—astronaut, astronomer, and television host Nellie Dumont Frisse—but Piper knows the truth: some people are born to shine, and she's just not one of them. Shine! is a story about about figuring out who you are and who you want to be.
Being born during a hurricane is unlucky, and 12-year-old Caroline has had her share of bad luck lately. But when a new student named Kalinda arrives, Caroline's luck begins to turn around. Now, Caroline must find the strength to confront her feelings for Kalinda, brave the spirit stalking her through the islands, and face the reason her mother abandoned her. Together, Caroline and Kalinda must set out in a hurricane to find Caroline's missing mother—before Caroline loses her forever.
The Mysterious Benedict Society is a modern classic, named a Time magazine "Best Young Adult Book of All Time." Some time has passed since the inimitable quartet of Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance have had a mission together. But with the arrival of a new Society member—and a new threat—they must reunite to face dilemmas more dangerous than ever before, including the villainous Mr. Curtain and a telepathic enemy tracking their every move, not to mention a dramatically preteen Constance.
On a winter's day in a British town, twelve-year old Alex receives a package in the mail: an old tin robot from his grandfather, but Alex suspects this small toy is more than special. It might be deadly. Right as things get out of hand, Alex's grandfather arrives, pulling him away from an attack—and his otherwise humdrum world of friends, bullies, and homework—and into the macabre magic of an ancient family feud.
In an engrossing historical novel, the Newbery Medal-winning author of Bridge to Terabithia follows a young Cuban teenager as she volunteers for Fidel Castro's national literacy campaign and travels into the impoverished countryside to teach others how to read. Shining light on a little-known moment in history, Katherine Paterson traces a young teen's coming-of-age journey from a sheltered life to a singular mission: teaching fellow Cubans of all ages to read and write.
Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Now, as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from King Cardan's betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. But war is brewing, and, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity...
Allie Abraham has it all going for her—she's a straight-A student, with good friends and a close-knit family, and she's dating popular, sweet Wells Henderson. One problem: Wells's father is Jack Henderson, America's most famous conservative shock jock, and Allie hasn't told Wells that her family is Muslim. It's not like Allie's religion is a secret. It's just that her parents don't practice, and raised her to keep it to herself. But as Allie witnesses Islamophobia in her small town and across the nation, she decides to embrace her faith—study, practice it, and even face misunderstanding for it.
Events for Young Readers at 57th Street BooksMembers of 57th Street Books' Young Readers Advisory Board pose post-interview with internationally acclaimed Brazilian artist and Hans Christian Andersen Award-winner Roger Mello (top center) on Sunday, October 20. Purchase an autographed copy of Charcoal Boys (Elsewhere Editions), a poetic and sensitive portrait of child labor in Brazil's charcoal mines, while supplies last, and find your place at the following upcoming events for young readers!
Mama Fresh Thanksgiving Story HourSaturday, November 9 10:30am at 57th Street Books Join us for a special Mama Fresh Thanksgiving Storyhour celebrating the first people to live in America! RSVP here.
Middle Grade Mayhem!Saturday, November 9 6pm at 57th Street BooksJoin SCBWI-Illinois' Hyde Park/South Side Chicago Network for an evening of all things middle-grade! We'll feature a panel discussion about writing for middle-grade readers with six Chicago authors who have new middle-grade novels: Kate Hannigan, Carolyn Crimi, Keir Graff, Liesl Shurtliff, Shirin Shamsi, and Lisa Jenn Bigelow. Come for discussion about how to approach series, whether plotting or "pantsing" works, getting words onto a page, promoting books, connecting with agents, and connecting with editors and kids and classrooms, along with so much more! Save the date!
Storytime with Claudia Guadalupe MartínezSaturday, November 16 10:30am at 57th Street BooksClaudia Guadalupe Martínez hosts a very special storytime, where she'll read from her book, Not a Bean, a poetic story in which she shares the life cycle of the Mexican jumping bean, which is actually a caterpillar burrowed inside a seedpod. Perfect for preschoolers and prereaders, this creative picture book explores the Mexican jumping bean's daily life and eventual transformation and escape from the pod. Learn more and RSVP here!
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators hosts a Picture Book Bacchanal Friday, December 6 6pm at 57th Street BooksYou asked for more picture book programming, and we're answering! SCBWI-Illinois' Hyde Park/South Side of Chicago Network invites you to a Picture Book Bacchanal! Join Chicago-area picture book authors and illustrators for a discussion about craft, cracking the publishing forcefield, finding an agent, and all the ins-and-outs of writing and illustrating fiction and nonfiction picture books! Save the date!
Tomi Adeyemi presents Children of Virtue and VengeanceTuesday, December 10 6pm at the Gary Comer Youth Center | 7200 South Ingleside Ave.New York Times-bestselling author Tomi Adeyemi returns with the sequel to her hit debut, Children of Blood and Bone. In the second book in the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, Children of Virtue and Vengeance, Zélie and Amari have finally succeeded in bringing magic back to the land of Orïsha. But the ritual was more powerful than they could’ve imagined, reigniting the powers of not only the maji, but of nobles with magic ancestry, too. With civil war looming on the horizon, Zélie finds herself at a breaking point: she must discover a way to bring the kingdom together or watch as Orïsha tears itself apart. Read on and buy tickets here.
