Pura Belpre Awards

Behar, Ruth. (2017). Lucky broken girl. New York: Puffin Books.

Ruth's family has recently immigrated from Castro's Cuba to Queens, New York. Ruthie is learning English and fighting to get in the "smart class" at her school. In the neighborhood, she is the best at hopscotch and has friends in Ramu from India and Danielle from Belgium. But after a trip to see friends in Staten Island, Ruthie and her family are in a car accident and her injuries place her in a body cast. She is bedridden for almost a year due to the cast. She struggles with being helpless, afraid, and alone. The doctor tells her to pray. So she prays to God to help her. After Ramu returns to India following the tragic death of his little brother, she adds Shiva to her prayers. After meeting Chicho from Mexico, she learns of Freida Kahlo who also spent a large portion of her life in a body cast. She too becomes part of the prayers. As she heals, Ruthie learns that she can conquer fear and perhaps she can be more than the secretary her father would like her to be, even a writer and artist.

This story is semi-autobiographical, which I found quite interesting. Ruth Behar did spend a year in a body cast, but she has adjusted her story to make it more interesting to readers. Part of what I found fascinating was the story of Ruthie's grandparents. I knew of the tie between Cuba and Russia but had never considered that people had immigrated from Russia and Poland to Cuba. I also considered Cuba to be a predominately Catholic country pre-Castro, so this idea that there were Jewish immigrants to Cuba was new to me.

I loved Ruthie's relationship with her teacher Joy and her neighbor Chicho developed. Both characters challenge Ruthie to think beyond the walls of her bedroom. Chicho helps her see that she can walk again without fear and that life is to be celebrated. I found myself wishing for someone like him in my life.


Cartaya, Pablo. (2017). The epic fail of Arturo Zamora. New York: Puffin Books.

Arturo's family runs a local restaurant in Canal Grove, a neighborhood in Miami. His abuela started the business after she and her husband fled Cuba. Now Abuela is retired and his mother is the acclaimed chef, and the entire family works there including Arturo.  The lot next door is available and the family would like to expand the restaurant. A businessman also wants the lot, along with the lot La Cucina de la Isla is on. Arturo and his family have to fight to save the family business. Along with the fight to save the restaurant, Arturo finds himself having feeling for his god sister who is visiting from Spain. Together they try to find a way to stop Pipo from getting their lot. Abuela, who is ill, gives Arturo a box of letters from his grandfather who died many years earlier. Through these letters, he learns that his abuelo loved poetry and felt that love was a great gift and risk. Arturo learns to stand up to Pipo and share how important family and community is with the city council, his neighbors, and his family.

This was quick read. I didn't want to stop because I was dying to know what the epic fail was. Part of me knew that they would save the restaurant (it had to happen), but it was the letters and Arturo's relationship with his grandmother that I really enjoyed. His grandmother was this amazing spirit that loved her family and life. The idea that his grandfather knew he wouldn't see Arturo grow up and wrote these letters was touching. He shared his experience with love and poetry with a 13 year old boy who needed to hear it. "Lo mas importante es el amor y la fe". This family has both!

Long Way Down

Reynolds, Jason. (2017). Long way down. New York: Antheneum.

Will's brother Shawn is shot dead in front of him. Now according to "The Rules", Will must get revenge. He takes his brother's gun from the middle drawer, leaves the apartment, and gets on the elevator to go find the guy who shot Shawn. At each floor, a person from Will's past gets on; each one a victim of gun violence and "The Rules". As they share their stories about how they were killed, Will begins to question if he is sure he knows who killed Shawn and if he can really do it. The last one to enter the elevator is Shawn himself, who only speaks two words as the elevator reaches the lobby. The ending leaves the reader wondering if Will will go through with it or not.

I was once told that poetry is a conservation of words, so each one must be used wisely. Jason Reynolds does just that. His verse is short but powerful as he shares the cycle of gun violence in Will's world. I also enjoyed the use of the anagrams that Will loves. His choices were a strong reflection of what was happening in the story.

This was a quick read and would make a great companion book to The Hate U Give. Both books take a powerful look at violence in and towards the African American community, which is such an important issue right now.

Coretta Scott King Author Honor Winner

Thomas, Angie. (2017). The hate U give. New York: HarperCollins.

After a party is broken up by violence, Starr and her childhood friend Khalil head home. They are pull over by the police and an unarmed Khalil is shot and killed by the officer. Starr is the only witness to the shooting and its her word against the officer. The community is up in arms over the shooting. Her father, a former gang member, knows he has to protect her from all that is going to happen with the trial. Starr can't talk about it with anyone, including her white boyfriend from the private school she attends. When the verdict is returned and the officer is found not guilty, violence erupts in the neighborhood, and Starr is the middle of it all.

I know that is a weak summary, but how do you describe the most powerful book you have ever read? I can't put into words what reading this book was like. I had a friend who teaches education classes at U of H talk about some researcher who compared reading to a mirror to reflect your life or a window to allow you to see into someone else's life. This book smashes the window, reaches in, grabs you, and then slaps you in the face. If you read to escape, this is not the book for you. This book shows everything that is wrong with how young Black men are treated in America. It highlights the issues with police shootings, along with how the witness can be ignored.

When I finished the book, I walked upstairs and handed it to my teenage daughter and told her to read it right away. She passed it to friends when she finished. I've bought 3 other copies but my copies kept getting passed to other teenagers at her high school and I don't care. This book needs to be read and talked about! When the neighboring school district pulled it from the shelf and banned it, I bought a couple more and let the girls in my daughter's dance company who attended that district know that I would share copies with them. I know that a teacher in our district wanted to pilot the book for 12th grade English class and the request was denied. The more people get upset about this book, the more kids I try to get it to! This is what is happening in our country and it needs to be talked about!

The same friend that I mentioned early has a son, who is Black. She lives in fear when he is out at night, not because he's a bad kid and will get in trouble, but because he is a 21 year old Black male in America. No one should live with that! It's time for a change and this book can get it moving!

Crown

Barnes, Derrick, (2017). Crown: An ode to the fresh cut. Chicago: Bolden.

Mr. Barnes writes in verse from the point of view of a young boy getting his hair cut at the barbershop. As his name is called and he heads for the chair, he talks about the importance of that perfect cut and looking good. He feels special and important as his hair is made perfect.

The first thing I thought of when I read this were the boys in my class. I teach at a predominately African American school. Most Mondays someone comes in with a new fade, braids, twists, or cut. It's my job to notice as I stand at the door saying good morning. And that moment when I say "Oh, ________ look at your hair!" I can see the same sense of worth that the author describes. They feel so good about themselves and my noticing made it even better. I love how the poet compares the cut to a crown, for hair is our crowning glory. I can see this book being used at the beginning of the year when we talk about self image along with our growth mindset lessons.

I appreciate the Coretta Scott King Award as the barber shop experience is one that most African American boys understand. For years it was the one place that Black men could gather, talk, and with that haircut, feel good about themselves in a world that often made them feel like nothing. This was an excellent choice for the honor!

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Winners

Alexander, K. (2017). Out of wonder: Poems celebrating poets. Somerville: Candlewick.

This book is a series of poems written by Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley, and Margery Wentworth. Some honor the style of the poet, some reflect their words, and others honor the poet themselves. Poets honored include e.e. cummings, Maya Angelou, Sandra Cisneros, Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, and Rumi.

First I need to focus on the poetry in this book. The Maya Angelou poem resonated with me. In 1995 I was blessed to have dinner with her before a speaking engagement at a local college. I had just finished a class on biographies where we had read "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and several of her poems. That night was magical. Her voice just made you want to listen to her forever. Every one of Kwame's words made me hear her voice in my head. That is just amazing!

The illustrations in this book are gorgeous and are part of the reason I bought it at the Scholastic Warehouse. Each picture reflects the poet and the content of the poems. Robert Frost's snowy page with the stone wall and the woods is just perfect. Emily Dickinson has a page from her biography, and you can hear the jazz music on Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Brooks' pages. The mixed media collages are a wonderful way to illustrate and honor these great poets. As I reflected on the two previous books, these are the type of illustrations that I associate with a Caldecott book. I'm so glad it was honored by the Coretta Scott King committee.



Cline-Ransome, L. (2017). Before she was Harriet. New York: Holiday House.

Before she was Harriet, she was a slave named Araminta who fled to freedom in the north. While she is remembered as Moses who lead her people to the north, she was so much more. She was a nurse and spy in the Civil War. She also fought for the rights of women. This book shows the reader that she was so much more than what we often remember her for.

The illustrations in this book were done with watercolors and are lovely. Watercolor pictures are usually soft and for lack of a better word, watery. But Ransome was able to create shading that gave Harriet wrinkles on one page, and lit her face on another. The use of the color yellow in some way on most of the pages connects the story. It is the light of her lantern, the burning of the plantation, the reflection of the moon on her shirt, and the setting sun. I would not only use this book to teach her story, but I would suggest that the art teacher use it also to show what can be done with this medium.

Caldecott Winners

Cooper, E. (2017). Big cat, little cat. New York: Roaring Brook

The big cat lives in the city with his family. When a little cat comes to live with him, he teaches him everything that he need to know about being a cat. The two become very close. As the big cat grows older, he slows down and then one day, he goes away and doesn't come back. But soon another little cat comes and the now big cat shows him everything that his big cat showed him.

I was fine with this book until the white cat dies. I have serious cat codependency problem; I have three and would have more if it wouldn't result in divorce. So the death of the cat actually made me teary eyed. But I liked how the black cat becomes the big cat and shows the new kitten the ropes, just as he was long ago.

I struggle to see why this is a Caldecott honor book. While I can appreciate the simple illustrations and the use of monochromatic colors, it just doesn't seem like some of the other winners. Am I missing something or is the simplicity the reason it was honored?



Cordell. M. (2017). Wolf in the snow. New York: Feilwel and Friends.

A little girl leaves school as it starts snowing. She tries to make it home. At the same time a wolf pup loses his family in the snow. The girl finds the pup and follows the howls of the wolves to return the pup to his family. The snow gets worse as she tries to make it home. The wolves follow her and when she collapses, they howl so that her dog and family can find her.

I love that this book is wordless. Well, almost wordless as the words howl and bark are the only words used. This forces you to use the pictures for every inference. The little girl's snowsuit reminds me of Maggie on the Simpsons. She's just kind of a triangle with eyes. But the way the illustrator uses her eyes is so important. You can tell everything about her from those eyes.

While the story is told well through the illustrations, I again seem to be missing why this is a Caldecott. Nothing really jumps out at me as exceptional. It's just a sweet story where a kindness is repaid.

Am I expecting too much from a Caldecott? I know its not going to be a Monet, but I want to see the illustrations and think "Wow!" I'm just not getting it from these two.

The Fates Divide

Roth, V.(2018). The fates divide. New York: Katherine Tegan Books.

This New York Times best seller is the sequel to Carve The Mark. On a divided planet the Shotet and Thuvhe have struggled to coexist. Akos was kidnapped from Thuvhe and brought to the Shotet city of Voa to serve the Noaveks, the ruling family. Cyra, is the sister of the Shotet ruler. Everyone on this planet have what is called a current gift that gives them special powers. Cyra gives pain to any who she touches. Akos blocks anyone's current gift. Akos and Cyra are also fated, which means that the oracles have seen their futures. Akos is to die in service to the Noaveks. Cyra is fated to cross the divide that separated their two countries. The two have aligned to rid Shotet of Cyra's brother's tyranny and in the process, have fallen in love.

When this book begins, Cyra and Akos have escaped Shotet and are heading to the Assembly headquarters. When Isae kills Cyra's brother, they head the exile planet of Ogra to plot to kill Cyra's brother and stop the imp ending war with Thuvhe. They are summoned to the oracle of Ogra who informs them that they were switched as babies to help control their fates and futures. As they struggle with this information, they separate and without telling the other, they both return to Shotet. Akos is imprisoned by his biological father, Lazmet. Cyra infiltrates the city with the help of the resistance. Ultimately, Lazmet is killed and Cyra saves the city from a Thuvhe attack.

I read the first book in April and immediately pre-ordered this book. I was very wary of reading another book by Veronica Roth after the whole Allegiance nightmare. As I started the first book and read the line about Akos's fate I thought at least I know he is going to die, rather than being slapped in the face with it in the end. I love this idea of combining science fiction with the power of the current and oracles. The twist that she threw in of the two being switched at birth to protect them was interesting but it just wasn't developed enough. The book would have been almost the same without it. The ending was a bit rough; I found myself wanting more that what she wrote and that left me unsatisfied. It was a good read and I've already promised it to one of my son's friends but it's not one I'll reread.

New York Times Best Sellers - Children's Books

Bundo, M. and Twiss, J. (2018). A day in the life of Marlon Bundo. San Fransisco: Chronicle Books.


Marlon Bundo lives a lonely life in a boring house with his owner Vice President Mike Pence. One day he meets Wesley and his life changes. He can't imagine hopping anywhere without him and the two decide to get married! But the nasty orange stinkbug in charge says they can't because they are both boys. So everyone who disagrees, votes to get rid of the stinkbug and the wedding goes on as planned. Marlon and Wesley live happily ever after.

I loved this book! Not only is it a great allegory for what is going on in our country today, all profits go to the Trevor Project and AIDS United, both groups that I support. For children, it is great story about accepting anyone who is different. For adults, its a reminder that we have the power to change who is "in charge" with our votes and that love is love, no matter what gender! Plus, the idea of Mike Pence's bunny being gay is the best thing ever!

I understand that others may not share my political beliefs or opinions, so I rarely share them. Please disagree respectfully, if you feel you need to.


Rubin, A. (2012). Dragons love tacos. New York: Dial Books.

Dragons love tacos! Any kind of tacos will do EXCEPT those with spicy salsa! Salsa not only gives the dragons tummy issues, but will cause smoke and fire to come out. So the author warns when you throw a party to be absolutely sure that there is no salsa. He even encourages you to bury it. But when a couple of jalapenos sneak into the mild salsa, it burns the house down. Thank heavens the dragons can help build a new one.

This book has been a favorite in my class this year. The kids love the part about the salsa and the fire. As kids living in Texas, they know about the powers of a spicy salsa. I enjoyed how the book is told as a warning, as if we are going to encounter dragons and offer them tacos. There is also some thing appealing about dragons eating such a Texan food. Wonder what they would think of queso?