Susan’s Comments (group member since Aug 23, 2024)

Susan’s comments from the 5183 Fall 2024 Information Resources and Services for Children group.

Latham, I. (2014). Lifestyles of the sleek and sinuous. In Dear wandering wildebeest. Millbrook Press.

Utilizing onomatopoeia, this short poem conveys a sense of the snake sounds on the Kenyan savanna.

Being a poem about animals, particularly the perennial favorite, snakes, “Lifestyles of the sleek and sinuous” will appeal to young children with its visual and auditory elements. Children can be introduced to meaning and rhythm with this poem as well as to different sound patterns, such as onomatopoeia (sizzzzzzzzzzles, hisses). The poem mixes rhythms to match the activity of the snake, such as using one word per line and long As in “races, chases” to describe the mamba, then slowing things down by utilizing a concrete device to stretch out the word “hangs” over 5 lines to evoke a predatory boomslang’s droop.

Yee, L. (2022). Maizy Chen’s last chance. Random House.


Maizy and her mom relocate from LA to Last Chance, Minnesota where Maizy becomes close with her grandparents and learns about the history of her family.

‌As Maizy navigates a temporary relocation from Los Angeles to a small town in Minnesota she faces some realities of today’s world. Her grandfather’s stories teach her about historical injustices suffered by her Chinese immigrant ancestors, but she also learns firsthand that racism and prejudice still exist, even in people who would seem to be upstanding citizens. The book masterfully treads a fine line between exploring difficult themes within social and emotional realism and being a somewhat gentle read. I don’t think children are harmed by realistic portrayals of difficult subjects in fiction, but I think it is appropriate to postpone particularly gritty realism until children are developmentally ready for it.

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga (already added by Catherine)

Warga, J. (2022). A Rover’s Story. HarperCollins.

‌Told from both the perspective of the Mars rover Resilience (based on the real rovers Perseverance and Curiosity) and through the letters to Res by the daughter of one of its scientists, A Rover’s Story explores themes of humanity, friendship, and endings throughout the course of Res’s calibration and mission.

A Rover's Story is set (mostly) in the Jet Propulsion Lab in California, outer space, and on Mars, during contemporary times, as it is based on the launch of the Mars rovers in 2011 and 2020. The science fiction angle of the book concerns the emergence of human-like emotions and understandings in the fictional rover, Resilience, narrating its story. Therefore, the setting is important as it creates the context for Res’s existence. The community of robots-Res, Journey, Fly and Guardian-reflects contemporary society in their discovery of the importance of teamwork, emotional intelligence, and especially, friendship while developing their identities and sense of purpose.

Thomas, A. (2023). The Manifestor Prophecy. Balzer & Bray.


Remarkable Nichole (Nic) Blake undertakes an epic journey to save her father from wrongful imprisonment. Magic, self-discovery and adventure ensue as she navigates friendship, family relationships and understanding the unremarkable world she lives in and the Remarkable world from which she came.

Although Nic lives in a world full of magical beings and out of this world happenings, this fantastical context is just the backdrop for her very relatable struggles regarding her family, friends, and purpose. Although conflicted due to learning that her father had been untruthful about her mother’s absence in her life, Nic sets out on a journey to clear his name when he is arrested for kidnapping her. Along the way, Nic encounters both internal and external obstacles that test her courage and abilities, and by surmounting them she undergoes growth that underscores her humanity, and readers will recognize the truth in her experience.

Purnell, S. (2022). Agent Most Wanted. Penguin.


This young readers' adaptation of A Woman of No Importance introduces readers to American spy, Virginia Hall, who despite having a prosthetic leg, was considered dangerous and effective in the Allies’ efforts against the Gestapo in World War II.

K- Although I had not heard of Virginia Hall, I did know that women played critical roles in the Allies’ success in World War II.
W-I was interested to learn about this specific woman and how she gained the reputation as one of the most formidable spies of the war.
L-I learned that Virginia Hall was an intelligent, scrappy, fearless and tenacious woman who made a huge contribution to the war effort. Despite her hard work and sacrifice, she faced disrespect and discrimination upon her return to the CIA, not receiving the accolades she deserved until years past her death.
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Forman, G. (2021). Frankie & Bug. Simon and Schuster.
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10-year old Bug learns about bigotry and acceptance in 1980s Venice Beach, California.

Through Bug’s experiences with her new best friend, Frankie, a trans boy, and her mother’s gay best friend, the reader is gently guided along a series of discoveries about injustice and prejudice in the midst of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. Bug’s worldview widens as she uncovers painful truths about her family and the community she lives in. The colorful cast diverse characters populating the book, each imbued with humanity and dignity, lead Bug to question the origins of the bigotry she observes. Bug’s open heart and natural wisdom will engage young readers without preaching to them, encouraging them to embrace diversity in their own lives.

Hodges, M., (1984). Saint George and the dragon : a golden legend (T.S. Hyman, Illus.). Little, Brown And Company



‌A descriptive retelling detailing how the Red Cross Knight fearlessly faced a brutal dragon, triumphing in the end and earning the name Saint George of Merry England.

Hodges' version of Saint George and the Dragon falls between #2 and #3 in Hearne’s source note countdown. Like those falling under #3, it has a reference to its origin, Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, under the summary with the CIP information. However, it could be argued that it approaches designation as a #2. Although the cover does not provide the source, as would be preferable, the title page includes the origin as part of the title, with a font style and size comparable to that of the title and name of the reteller.

Cepeda, J. (2021). I Hop. Holiday House.


‌ A simple story for the earliest of readers detailing a boy’s bouncy pogo stick journey through his neighborhood.

I Hop is a beginning reader book appropriate for the emerging reader. It could easily be a child’s very first book to read independently. Featuring only a total of twelve discrete words, I Hop manages to tell a complete story through words and illustrations that will give the emerging reader a sense of accomplishment upon finishing. The words printed in a large, easy-to-read font against a white background, the short sentences (max 3 words), the repetition of many words and the appealing illustrations with clues to help with harder words like “cheese” make the book accessible to early readers.

Zelinsky, P. O. (2002). Rapunzel. Puffin Books.

Winner of the Caldecott Medal in 1998, Rapunzel retells the well-known folktale with elaborate oil illustrations in the style of Italian Renaissance art.

Rapunzel’s readers, as long as they are old enough to absorb the text of the story, will appreciate the emotions portrayed in the vividly painted pictures. The pictures are intricately crafted, drawing on traditional French and Italian styles, with the rich color and fine detail of a lavish Italian countryside creating a backdrop for the range of human emotions that are expressed in the tale. In one doublespread, the witch does not look stereotypically evil, but is enraptured by the baby she whisks away while the nascent father’s expression conveys his doubt and worry about the deal he made to save his wife. The art weaves together emotions and setting to create a stirring and memorable experience.

1. Wolk, L. (2021). Echo Mountain. Dutton.


2. Carnegie Medal, 2021, Short List, Children's Book
Cybils Awards, 2020, Nominee, Middle Grade Fiction
Jefferson Cup Award, 2021, Honor, Younger Readers


3. Adult responsibilities weigh heavily on 12 year old Ellie as she struggling with the financial and emotional health of her family in Depression-era rural Maine.

4. Echo Mountain deserved the accolades it received as it convincingly captures a Maine family’s survival struggles during the Depression via the experiences of a young girl coming to terms with her values, strength and ties to her family and community. I would recommend the book to a child who is interested in historical fiction and who does not shy away from serious subject matter and tension within a family. Young readers will be prompted to examine their own motivation, will and abilities as they identify with Ellie’s inner turmoil, humanity and growth as she faces weighty choices in how to help those around her.

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