Check out our recent featured articles, reviews, projects, and more.
(Con)textualizing Disability: Building Empathy through Children’s Literature (9/11/2016) - Creators: Erica Boulay-Ali, Melissa Johnson, Aleisha Smith and Ali Zimmerman Project Context: As a special education teacher, I am always looking for ways to help students with special needs improve their self-esteem, and to create a safe learning environment for them within the school as a whole. This means helping mainstream students recognize and include students…
2016 Naomi C. Chase Lecture: Peter Brown (3/17/2016) - The 2016 Naomi C. Chase lecture with Peter Brown was a big success! Attendees learned about Peter’s artistic process and what inspired many of his wonderful books. The 2017 Naomi C. Chase lecture will feature author and illustrator Melissa Sweet! Learn more about Peter Brown! 
About Children’s Literature @ UMN (1/1/2016) - Children’s Literature @ UMN is a space dedicated to the exploration of Children’s Literature. where you can explore the following: Courses offered with a focus on children’s literature Our research initiatives in children’s literature Resources for enthusiasts, students, parents and educators A listing of events, workshops, and conferences AND much, much more! This site is…
Beat the Summer Slide: Reading lists, activities, events and more! (5/3/2017) - With the school year coming to a close, you may be hearing a lot about the summer slide. So, just what is it? Well, while it might sound like a fun summer activity, in education circles it refers to the phenomena that occurs when students, especially those from low-income families, lose the academic gains…
BOOK BRIEFS: African American Children’s Literature (2/15/2017) - Have you heard about the courage of Fannie Lou Hamer? How about Harlem songbird Florence Mills? From activists and entertainers to courageous youngsters and track stars, you’ll find stories that inspire. Celebrate Black History Month by exploring these titles (and accompanying resources) from renowned African-American writers, artists, and activists. For more titles, check out Black…
Book Briefs: Fall Picturebooks (8/29/2016) - Check out these excellent fall-themed texts you can use with your little readers! How many seeds in a pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara and G. Brian Karas What’s it about? The students in Mr. Tiffin’s class have to guess how many seeds are inside the pumpkins, but Charlie, the smallest student in class, is frustrated when…
Book Review: 47,000 Beads by Koja Adehoya and Angel Adehoya, illustrated by Holly McGillis (12/11/2020) - Review by Emma Heckel How do you stay true to yourself when you don’t feel like you fit in? In 47,000 Beads, young Peyton discovers the power of family, culture, and community as she uncovers the very special role she has as a Two-Spirit person. 47,000 Beads offers readers a celebratory representation of the Lakota…
Book Review: Always Anjali, by Sheetal Sheth and illustrated by Jessica Blank (12/4/2020) - Review by Sarai Roman-Mendoza What is the meaning of your name? Has anyone pronounced your name incorrectly? How did that made you feel? In Always Anjali, a little girl Anjali struggles in finding the beauty in her name, being in a culture that does not value it. Anjali and her two best friends want matching…
Book Review: Dear Justyce by Nic Stone (2/16/2022) - Review by: Theresa Haider Voted as one of NPR’s Best Books of the Year, and a nominee for YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults 2021, Nic Stone’s Dear Justyce ensnares readers in America’s juvenile justice system and leaves them asking what can be done to change it. Can Quan overcome what so many around him…
Book Review: Dreamers by Yuyi Morales (11/12/2020) - Review by Megan Wright Yuyi Morales’ Dreamers (Soñadores in its Spanish edition) tells the story of a journey from Mexico to the United States that Yuyi made with her son. At first they are intimidated by the “words unlike those of our ancestors” and refuse to speak. They struggle to adjust to their new home.…
Book Review: El Día En Que Descubres Quién Eres by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael López (11/23/2020) - Review by Gustavo Hernández When was the day you began to be you? El Día En Que Descubres Quién Eres (Eng. original The Day You Begin) talks about cultural differences during the time when children are discovering themselves and their identity. It explores children feeling like outsiders among their peers because of their home language,…
Book Review: Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich (10/1/2017) - Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex is a collection of monster tales that cannot be missed! This amazing picture book takes a humorous look at the monsters we have grown to love. The subtitle sets the stage for this collection that includes the titular story “and other stories you’re sure to like because…
Book Review: Front Desk, by Kelly Yang (12/6/2020) - 10 year old Mia Tang immigrates from China to southern California. Her parents become the managers of a small motel, where the family also lives. It is at the Calivista motel that Mia learns many life lessons as she works at the front desk. 
Book Review: Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez, by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Yuyi Morales (12/2/2020) - Review by Katie Montes Depicted in this biography, Harvesting Hope, (also available as Cosechando Esperanza in Spanish) are paralleling journeys of Cesar Chavez, one of the key social justice leaders of the 20th century. Kathleen Krull not only chronicles Chavez’s journey across land, but also his journey of self-transformation as Chavez moves from the shy…
Book Review: Islandborn by Junot Díaz and illustrated by Leo Espinosa (11/23/2020) - Review by Cindy Liliana Gonzalez What if I asked you to draw a picture of your first country? What would you draw? That is what Lola, the protagonist in Islandborn, and her entire class are asked to do as a homework assignment by their teacher Ms. Obi. Lola makes part of a culturally diverse classroom…
Book Review: Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (11/17/2020) - Review by Gen McNaughton It’s rare to find a book for young children that covers sensitive topics like multiculturalism and gender expression, but this book manages to address both at once in a way that is both age appropriate and engaging. Julián is a young Latinx boy who notices some women dressed up as mermaids…
Book Review: Lubna and Pebble, by Wendy Meddour and illustrated by Daniel Egneus (12/4/2020) - Review by: Chelsea Jordan Lubna clutches her prized possession close to her heart. It’s just a small pebble, but it brings her strength and comfort during an uncertain time in the refugee camp. The pebble listens to her, smiles at her, and is her best friend. But when another young boy in the “World of…
Book Review: Rainbow Weaver/Tejedora del Arcoíris Linda Elovitz Marshall and illustrated by Elisa Chavarri (11/12/2020) - Can garbage be turned into something beautiful? Find out
how a young Mayan girl is using ancient traditions from her culture to improve the
environment.
Book Review: Something Happened in Our Town, by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, Ann Hazzard, and Jennifer Zivoin (11/22/2020) - Review by Claudia Pereira Emma asks her mom, “Why did the police shoot that man?” Josh asks his mom, “Can police go to jail?” Is police violence an appropriate topic for a children’s book? Should it be presented as reality or fiction? Something Happened takes up these difficult questions by telling a fictional story framed…
Book Review: The Best At It by Malik Pancholy (2/16/2022) - Review by: Brynne Diggins How do you get a bully to leave you alone? Be so good at something that no one can criticize you – that’s what Rahul Kapoor thinks, at least. In The Best At It by Maulik Pancholy, 12-year-old Rahul wants to find something he can be the best at in order…
Book Review: The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander (12/6/2020) - Review by Alexandra Renslo What are the rules of life? For 12-year old Josh Bell and his twin brother Jordan, it’s basketball and family. But it’s not necessarily such a clear shot to the hoop for the Bell brothers, especially as they encounter the ups and downs of seventh grade in Kwame Alexander’s engaging young…
Book Review: We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom (2/16/2022) - Review by: Taylor Lohman Keywords: Picturebook, Early Reader A beautifully illustrated children’s book portraying the indigenous-led fight against a monstrous, miles-long black snake, this true-story of the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline is both fantasy and reality, told through a lens both indigenous and feminist. This 2020 picturebook is narrated by a young girl…
Book Review: You Brought Me the Ocean, by Alex Sanchez and illustrated by Julie Maroh (12/20/2020) - Review by Sean Cameron Golden In a queer retelling of Aqualads origin story, Lambda Award-Winning author Alex Sanchez and illustrator Julie Maroh, capture first love through the eyes of a superpowered teen who is wrestling with his new powers and a crush on the swim team captain. Stuck in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Jake…
Book Week 2017: An evening with Thanhha Lai (11/1/2017) - by Nick Kleese The trees held onto their leaves for one final week this year, all so that attendees’ journeys to the 2017 Book Week event with Thanhha Lai could be quintessentially autumn. In fact, Lai would go on to acknowledge this picturesque weather in her lecture. “It’s not cold enough,” she joked. The crowd…
Book Week 2019: Donna Jo Napoli (10/1/2019) - 2019 Book Week features Donna Jo Napoli Donna Jo Napoli is the author of award-winning books for children as well as a prominent linguist, whose work ranges from mathematical analysis of folk dance to structures of American Sign Language. Born to Italian American parents, Napoli is best known for her emotionally gripping retellings of premodern…
BOOK WEEK: Meet Author Nnedi Okorafor (9/5/2018) - Award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor delivers the 2018 CEHD Book Week lecture on Thursday, October 25, 2018. Read about the event here. Nnedi Okorafor is an international award-winning author of Africa-based science fiction and fantasy. Born in the United States to two Nigerian immigrant parents, she is known for weaving African culture into evocative settings, memorable characters, and wonder-filled plots.…
BOOK WEEK: Meet Author Thanhha Lai (7/11/2017) - Award-winning author Thanhha Lai delivered the 2017 CEHD Book Week lecture on Tuesday , October 17, 2017. Read about the event here. Thanhha Lai’s debut novel Inside Out & Back Again won the 2011 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature and a Newbery Honor. Her second novel, Listen, Slowly is a New York Times bestseller, Publisher’s…
Book Week: October 19, 2015 featuring Pam Munoz Ryan (9/19/2015) - Are you ready to rediscover your sense of wonder? Curious to experience a world from before enchantment was eclipsed by doubt? Join us for an evening with a master storyteller to let your imagination soar. The author of over forty books for young readers, including Esperanza Rising, Becoming Naomi León, The Dreamer, and most recently…
BOOKLight: Meet Author & Illustrator Melissa Sweet (2/10/2017) - Melissa Sweet has illustrated over a hundred books, many of which have won a number of prestigious awards such as the Caldecott honor, Sibert, Orbis Pictus, and the New York Times award. Melissa just completed her first chapter book biography, Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White. She lives in Maine. “I’ve been making…
Challenged Books: Coraline by Neil Gaiman (8/1/2016) - Neil Gaiman’s Coraline features a clever 11-year-old girl who is struck with a horrifying case of Borden after her family moved to a new house. With her parents too busy to entertain her, Coraline becomes enchanted by the promise of a doting father – mother and father on the other side of a curious, small…
Challenged Books: Eleanor & Park and the READ BRAVE Program (8/15/2016) - In the author’s own words: Eleanor & Park is set in 1986. It’s about to 16 year old to fall in love on a school bus. The story is told from both of their points of view. Eleanor, a chubby redhead, is the new kid at school, and she’s facing some pretty intense bullying. Also,…
Chase Lecture 2020: Grace Lin (2/14/2020) - Putting Books to Work: The 2020 Chase Lecture with Grace Lin How can we make multicultural children’s literature more mainstream? Grace Lin, a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, shows how we can encourage children to read books with culturally diverse characters. Using her experiences as a child, a mother, and an author as…
Courses in Children’s Literature at UMN (5/30/2016) - Whatever your interests are, you’ll find an excellent selection of courses that challenge, excite, and engage. Plunge into the world of children’s literature by discussing complex themes, examining representation, and exploring the diverse world within children’s literature. *** Please note that not all of these courses are offered each semester. COMING SOON: Click on the course titles to…
Deep Plunge Between the Lines: (Random Acts of) Kindness (10/2/2016) - Deep Plunge is a definitive commentary on key aspects of children’s and adolescent literature. Offered freely by Vernon the Reading Primate for the betterment of all reading primates everywhere, it reveals invaluable insights into how books work and why you should read them. Being kind to others is one of those (cross)cultural norms that seem…
Deep Plunge Between the Lines: Embarrassment (7/1/2016) - Deep Plunge is a definitive commentary on key aspects of children’s and adolescent literature. Offered freely by Vernon the Reading Primate for the betterment of all reading primates everywhere, it reveals invaluable insights into how books work and why you should read them. One of the things that come standard as part of adolescence is…
Deep Plunge Between the Lines: Fear (9/28/2017) - The experience of fear is familiar to everyone, but for young people fear has a number of special dimensions that are absent from adult perception. “Don’t be afraid” is a mantra children hear in various circumstances, yet fears are an integral part of every childhood. Ransom Riggs’ Miss Pergrine’s Home for Peculiar Children Jacob Portman,…
Deep Plunge Between the Lines: Fear (9/1/2016) - Deep Plunge is a definitive commentary on key aspects of children’s and adolescent literature. Offered freely by Vernon the Reading Primate for the betterment of all reading primates everywhere, it reveals invaluable insights into how books work and why you should read them. The experience of fear is familiar to everyone, but for young people…
Deep Plunge Between the Lines: Noise (8/1/2016) - Deep Plunge is a definitive commentary on key aspects of children’s and adolescent literature. Offered freely by Vernon the Reading Primate for the betterment of all reading primates everywhere, it reveals invaluable insights into how books work and why you should read them. One of the biggest challenges we face today is to develop multicultural…
Deep Plunge Between the Lines: Taking up a Quest (5/1/2016) - Deep Plunge is a definitive commentary on key aspects of children’s and adolescent literature. Offered freely by Vernon the Reading Primate for the betterment of all reading primates everywhere, it reveals invaluable insights into how books work and why you should read them. Few other concepts seems as prevalent in adolescent and young adult literature…
Deep Plunge: Disrupting Stereotypical Notions in Children’s Literature (1/3/2018) - Disrupting Stereotypical Notions in Children’s Literature by Aaron Stein In children’s literature, characters of color are rarely “given a pass card to traverse the lands of adventure, curiosity, imagination or personal growth,” and they are often stuck in the “legacies of civil rights and slavery” (Myers, C. 2014). When characters of color do break these…
Exploring Banned & Challenged Books: And Tango Makes Three (7/28/2017) - And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole, a picture book that recounts the true story of two male Penguins, Roy and Silo, that hatch and raise a chick as part of their family at New York Central Park Zoo, received more challenges than any other book in the US…
Exploring Girl Power in Multicultural Graphic Novels (1/9/2017) - This project was completed as part of course requirements for EDCI 5404: Multicultural Children’s Literature. Below you’ll find a collection of graphic novels featuring diverse female protagonists. From an abolitionist to a superhero, these characters are not just about girl power; they also represent the audacity of spirit, the courage of souls, and the humanity…
Exploring Women’s History with Children’s Picturebooks (3/9/2016) - Celebrate Women’s History Month with these wonderful picturebooks. From Susan B. Anthony to Wangari Maathai, these stories will aspire young readers. Heart on Fire: Susan B. Anthony Votes for President by Anna Malaspina , illustrated by Steve James (2012). She broke laws. She was arrested. She went on trial. She changed the world. This boldly…
Get Ready to Meet Peter Brown (2/10/2016) - Peter Brown, acclaimed author and illustrator, will be at the University on March 30, 2016 to speak at the Naomi C. Chase Lecture. His talk, entitled “Writing with Pictures,” will explore his process as both an author and illustrator. Don’t miss it! Get to know Peter Brown through his books. Here are a few of…
How Do I Choose What to Write About? Donna Jo Napoli at Book Week 2019 (11/25/2019) - by Nick Kleese When Donna Jo Napoli touched down in Minneapolis, the November sun was just beginning to break the eastern horizon. It would rise into a nearly cloudless day and bring some warmth to the crisp, cool weather that had settled over campus. So, too, did Donna Jo bring joy and and illumination to…
Naomi C. Chase Lecture 2017: Meet Author & Illustrator Melissa Sweet (1/2/2017) - Author and Illustrator Melissa Sweet delivered the 2017 Naomi C. Chase lecture on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Melissa has illustrated many award-winning books, including two Caldecott Honor books: A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams and The Right Word: Peter Mark Roget and His Thesaurus, both by Jen Bryant. She wrote and illustrated…
Naomi C. Chase Lecture 2018: Meet Kevin Henkes (1/14/2018) - This event is free and open to the public. However, seats are limited and reservations are required. RSVP at https://chase2018.eventbrite.com.
Pax, by Sara Pennypacker (12/9/2019) - Do you know what a boy would do when their little fox is in trouble?
Perfect Season for Dreaming / Un tiempo perfecto para soñar, by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (trans. by Luis Humberto) (12/1/2019) - A story of memories and dream-sharing, Sáenz’s picturebook offers a window on intergenerational transmission of cultural heritage that will resonate with a generation of bicultural children in the U.S., such as, Latinx, Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano, and Hispanic children.
Review: 14 Cows for America: A Conversation with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah by Carma Agra Deedy, illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez (3/5/2018) - Reviewed by Daniel Grussing What can a small, proud culture offer the world’s largest cultural power in its time of unprecedented national trauma? Naiyomah’s tale is a poignant illustration of the universal human connection that can arise when a powerful story is shared. Recorded in an interview by Carmen Agra Deedy, Wilson Naiyomah’s true story…
Review: A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Dan Santat (3/27/2019) - A Tale Dark and Grimm is most definitely dark, most definitely grim, and most definitely gory. Stay tuned for the adventure of a lifetime as Adam Gidwitz tells you the REAL story of Hansel and Gretel. 
Review: All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely (2/24/2018) - Review by Camille Primoli Two authors, many sides, one truth. This novel gives life to a narrative that has become all too common in the news. Rashad Butler, a young black man, becomes the victim of police brutality. Quinn Collins, a young white man, witnesses it. The incident sparks a movement, but not before turning…
Review: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (12/16/2019) - Navigating teenage angst is tough. Navigating teenage angst with immigrant parents, a brother in jail, and no friends is even tougher.
Review: Be Who You Are by Todd Parr (3/23/2018) - Reviewed by Katelyn Wright Why fit in when it’s way more fun to stand out? That’s the message that Todd Parr boldly splashes across each page in Be Who You Are, a colorful picturebook for pre-school and early elementary readers. Children of all colors, including blue, black, orange, and purple, dance through this book with…
Review: Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan (2/12/2018) - Review by Eileen Graves Blackbird said, “Color on the outside is not what’s on the inside. You don’t act like me. You don’t eat like me. You don’t get down in the groove and move your feet like me.” Such is the message of this wonderful, picture book, winner of the Laura Ingalls Wilder and…
Review: Beautiful by Stacy McAnulty and illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (2/23/2018) - Review by Katelyn Wright What does it mean that girls are beautiful, graceful, and stylish? In this picture-book, you’ll find a completely new and empowering use of these terms. The graceful girls play soccer, slide through the dirt in softball, and fight for jump balls in wheelchair basketball. And the girls with smart style dig…
Review: Boy Meets Boy by David Levitan (3/26/2018) - Reviewed by Kate Plager There’s a limited number of classic tropes featured in most works of adolescent realistic fiction. Drama about who will be named homecoming queen, parents’ pressure about college decisions, nervous and awkward first dates with a boy you have a crush on, trying to find your place in a high school run…
Review: Carrot and Pea: An Unlikely Friendship by Morag Hood (2/16/2018) - Review by Adam Horejsi Do opposites attract? What do you like most about your best friend? Can they do all the things that you do? Perhaps you and your friend are like Colin and Lee. Colin and Lee are anything but similar on the outside but they have one thing in common – they are…
Review: Chester and Gus by Cammie McGovern (2/17/2018) - Review by Cristina Silva Gleason 10-year- old Gus is autistic and unable to communicate with those around him. He struggles to be understood and heard. Chester is a super smart but failed service dog candidate. Can he provide Gus and his family the answers they’ve been searching for? Chester and Gus is a heart-warming fantasy…
Review: Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac (3/5/2018) - Explore the amazing contribution of the Navajo Indians during WWII. 
Review: Doll Bones by Holly Black (9/23/2017) - Poppy, Zach, and Alice grew up imagining epic pirate battles and mermaids challenging sailors’ crossings under the watchful eye of The Queen. Using their imaginations to create a wonderous scenarios and their neighborhood, The Queen and all they are prohibited from, is the focal point of all their fun. But now Poppy, Zach, and Alice…
Review: Drama by Raina Telgemeier (4/22/2018) - Review by Sonia Franzen Middle school has enough drama already. But that doesn’t stop Callie from loving theater. Though, she faces a problem: she can’t sing. Instead, she becomes a member of the crew and works to create the best middle school set of Moon Over Mississippi. Throughout the novel she finds herself stumbling through…
Review: Drawn Together by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat (11/25/2019) - How do you communicate with someone when you share no common language? And what do you do when that person is family? These are some challenges that many immigrant families face and must overcome.
Review: Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick, illustrated by Sophie Blackall (5/3/2018) - Review by Phoebe Courant Finding Winnie is the curious origin story of the beloved bear, Winnie the Pooh. Lindsay Mattick begins her book with a young boy asking his mother to tell him a story. The woman begins to tell the story of a veterinarian named Harry Colebourn who is sent of to war to…
Review: Flotsam by David Wiesner (4/26/2018) - Review by Anna Chirhart The deep sea is a space alien to mankind…. You’d never guess it to be home of extraterrestrial beings! Flotsam is a fanciful story about a boy who is playing on a beach and finds an old camera washed up on shore. He brings the camera to “One-Hour-Photo”, to get the…
Review: For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story by Rebecca Langston-George and Janna Bock (illustrator) (2/22/2018) - Review by Anne Floyd Can a picturebook explore difficult topics and still be appropriate for its young readers? For the Right to Learn shows that it can be done. The book’s inviting color scheme and youthful illustrations draw the reader into Malala’s story, as when a smiling Malala accepts her Nobel Peace Prize surrounded by…
Review: Frank Einstein and the Antimater Motor by Jon Scieszka (1/1/2018) - Frank Einstein and the Antimater Motor by Jon Scieszka Review by Emily Midkiff Jon Scieszka’s new middle-grade novels series promises to give young readers and unprecedented introduction into brain science, matter and antimatter, magnetism and more. The level of these science concepts goes beyond what most authors would dream of including and a fiction book…
Review: Ganesh and the Little Mouse by Anjali Joshi, illustrated by Christy McCreery (4/4/2018) - Reviewed by Emily Naik Ganesh and the Little Mouse is inspired by a myth of Hindu gods, Ganesh and Karthikeya, racing around the world. Joshi adapts the original myth to include themes of friendship, family, and perseverance for a modern audience. Ganesh was born with the head of an elephant, which sometimes makes him feel…
Review: Grace for President, by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by LeUyen Pham (12/9/2019) - Review by Morgan Withrow Did you know that as of 2018, women accounted for only 8% of national leaders? (Rutgers) Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio is a story of a little girl who is aiming to up that percentage, by taking the first step as president of her elementary school. The book follows Grace…
Review: Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry and illustrated by Vashti Harrison (12/13/2020) - Review by Destyn Land What makes hair good or bad, and who gets to determine which is which? In our society manyyoung Black girls are told that their hair is much prettier or sometimes even told that it’s onlypretty if permed and straightened. The process of straightening and perming can do muchdamage to Black hair…
Review: Hank’s Big Day: The Story of a Bug by Evan Kuhlman. Ill Chuck Groenink (4/25/2018) - Review by Jem Genis Beginning with the dedication “For my sister, a friend of pill bugs,” Hank’s Big Day: The Story of a Bug tells the tale of Hank, a pill bug who lives beneath a big rock. During his day Hank crawls past several fellow insects. He scales a stick, and crosses a treacherous…
Review: Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle (3/19/2018) - Reviewed by Eileen Graves Opening with a dedication “to all the cats in my life,” Eric Carle tells a story about a little boy, who is looking for his lost cat and discovers a world full of different, beautiful cats. It is more about diversity than anything, and it gets the point across very well.…
Review: Hello, Mr. Dodo! by Nicholas John Frith (4/24/2018) - Review by Mikah Martiarena What if Dodo Birds never went extinct? The picturebook Hello, Mr. Dodo! tells a story of an encounter between a girl named Martha and a Dodo Bird. Martha is a young girl who has taken a special interest in all types of birds. When she comes across a bird she doesn’t…
Review: Her Right Foot written by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Shawn Harris (1/29/2018) - Reviewed by Nick Kleese Her Right Foot begins where you’d expect an expository text about the Statue of Liberty to begin—a history of her origins abroad and journey to America. All is straightforward until halfway through the text when the narrator wonders why Lady Liberty’s right foot is raised. “Where is she going?” the narrator wonders. “Is…
Review: Hidden Roots by Joseph Bruchac (3/5/2018) - How well do you know your family? Have you ever dug deep into the roots of your family to find out where you are from? Some of the answers may surprise you as they did surprise 11-year-old Sonny in Hidden Roots. 
Review: Humpty Dumpty Lived Near a Wall by Derek Hughes, illustrated by Nathan Christopher (11/14/2019) - Review by Camryn Sharratt What is there on the other side of a wall? Why do we fear it? In Derek Hughes’ retelling, Humpty Dumpty finds himself trapped in the rigid routines of white-collar work. Unsatisfied and unfulfilled, he builds a ladder to see beyond the wall. Nathan Christopher’s detailed illustrations layer the story, building…
Review: Illegal by Eoin Colfer and illustrated by Andrew Donkin and Giovanni Rigano (12/16/2019) - Can a human be illegal? Authors E. Colfer, A. Donkin, and illustrator G. Rigano begin to unpack this question in the emotionally-gripping graphic novel, Illegal. The book serves as a counter-narrative that does much of the work that multicultural literature strives to do.
Review: J.P. and the Bossy Dinosaur by Ana Crespo, illustrated by Erica Sirotich (4/16/2018) - Review by Hannah Coffey Have you ever been upset because you were told you couldn’t do something? J.P., the young protagonist who loves dinosaurs, is very happy to go to the water park. But, he is sad to learn from the dinosaur-shaped sign that he is too short to ride the big waterslide with his…
Review: Julius Zebra: Rumble with the Romans! by Gary Northfield (2/28/2018) - Review by Marek Oziewicz You wouldn’t want to be a zebra in Emperor Hadrian’s Rome. And you certainly wouldn’t want to enter the Colosseum through the circus entrance. Or even if you used that gate, you wouldn’t want to fight gladiators and wild beasts. Not without opposable thumbs. But that’s exactly what happens when a…
Review: Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai (2/19/2018) - Reviewed by Lu Yang How would it feel if you were suddenly sent to a place that is totally culturally different? For California-born and raised 12-year old Mai, the trip to Vietnam seems like a perfect disaster. Especially that she has been looking forward to spending the summer at the beach. With her best girl…
Review: Merci Suárez Changes Gears, by Meg Medina (12/9/2019) - What do you do when everything is changing, but nobody will explain why? A Cuban-American middle school girl navigates big shifts in this Newberry Award winning novel from Meg Medina.
Review: Monster by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile (3/22/2018) - Reviewed by James Parker How can you change someone’s mind when they’ve already formed an opinion about you? For Steve Harmon in Walter Dean Myers’ Monster, it’s a matter life or death. Accused of robbery and murder, Steve tries to keep his cool while watching his trial play out like a blockbuster film. His journey…
Review: More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera (2/24/2018) - Reviewed by Katie Green Do not read anything else about this book before you read it! More Happy Than Not was a completely delightful surprise that you do not want spoiled. This young adult novel addresses the heavy topics of suicide, teenage sexuality, and death. Aaron Soto is an irresistible protagonist: his voice keeps the…
Review: My Friend, the Starfinder by George Ella Lyon (3/29/2019) - Reviewed by Justice Sahaydak George Ella Lyon’s My Friend, the Starfinder is a simply worded picture book with gorgeous artwork by award-winning Stephen Gammell that could fill both a child and an adult with a sense of wonder. This story is a woman’s recollections of the stories she was told as a child by her…
Review: Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo (8/8/2016) - Nana in the City, written and illustrated by Lauren Castillo is a 2015 Caldecott honor book. It tells the story of a little boy who goes to visit his grandmother in the big city. He is afraid of the noise and crowds and scary things in the city tell his grandmother makes him a special…
Review: Nimona, by Noelle Stevenson (11/25/2019) - Nimona is quirky comic that was originally a web comic that gained a large following and eventually published to good reviews. With a focus on friendship, belonging and dynamic artwork it's a fun read.
Review: No Kimchi for Me, by Aram Kim (12/16/2019) - No Kimchi for Me is a beautifully illustrated picturebook about a young cat, named Yoomi, who absolutely hates kimchi. The book introduces an important symbol of Korean culture to young readers, while also missing the mark on authentic ethnic representation.
Review: Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper (3/19/2018) - Reviewed by Katie Green Imagine never communicating with the people around you. Imagine never being able to tell them you understand them. This is the frustratingly isolated world of eleven-year-old Melody. She is a genius with a photographic memory, but almost no one knows. Melody has cerebral palsy, so she is unable to talk or…
Review: Over the Ocean by Taro Gomi (4/27/2018) - Review by Meghan Flora Many people are curious about what’s in the ocean, but what about what’s over the ocean? In this picturebook, a young Japanese child looks out over the vast body of water and asks the questions many of us don’t think about. “What kind of animals are over the ocean?” and “Is…
Review: Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani (2/27/2018) - Review by Emily Naik Priyanka, an Indian-American high schooler, is filled with wonder. She wonders why her mother left India. She wonders why her mother never talks about her father, and she wonders if she will ever be able to travel to Rajastran. As Priyanka attempts to connect to her heritage, readers are invited alongside…
Review: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi (4/18/2018) - Review by Lalita Prachanty It is the year 1982, where a teenage girl sings to the lyrics of “Kids in America” by Kim Wilde as loud as she wants in the country of Iran. She wears her stylish denim jackets and tight jeans out onto the streets with no fear whatsoever. All of this would…
Review: Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh (Reviewed by Anne Floyd) (3/25/2018) - Reviewed by Anne Floyd If you’re like me, you thought that the legal fight against segregation started at Brown v. Board of Education. Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh sets the record straight. In the Mendez v. Westminister School District case, 7 years before Brown v. Board of Education, Sylvia and her family successfully… Review: Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh (Reviewed by Racha Kassir) (2/21/2018) - Review by Racha Kassir In 1944, a Mexican girl Sylvia Mendez, and her family moved to Westminster, California as her dad had leased a farm after years of fieldwork. Although they were U.S. citizens, the Mendez children weren’t allowed to register in a public school. Mr. Gonzalo Mendez challenged Orange County’s public-school segregation and with…
Review: Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o, illustrated by Vashti Harrison (11/14/2019) - What does it mean to be a young person living in a world where they feel detached from society, simply because they “don’t look like everyone else”
Review: Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf, Ill. Jenny Lovlie (4/28/2018) - Review by Hannah Henricksen What is your favorite thing about Thanksgiving? For most people the answer is either the people or the food, or both. In Thanksgiving in the Woods, a family and their friends celebrate Thanksgiving by gathering in the woods, amongst the trees. Wooden planks are set up for tables and hay bales…
Review: The Arrival by Shaun Tan (2/25/2018) - Review by Kate Plager When you find yourself in a new culture, where you don’t know the language, customs or ways of life, how do you make sense of it all? Many of us have never traveled alone to a new country where a different language is spoken. We find it hard to understand the…
Review: The Best We Could Do, by Thi Bui (12/13/2020) - Review by Emma Statt Get ready to take your heart on your emotional roller coaster. The graphic novel The Best We Could Do has been praised by the Pulitzer Prize- winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen as, “a book to break your heart and heal it.” Indeed, this National bestseller is a beautifully illustrated memoir describing…
Children's Literature at UMN 