VIOLETS ARE BLUE by Barbara Dee – a story about coping with a parent’s addiction

Why you want to read this book…

Barbara Dee always creates realistic and emotionally satisfying stories so I was super excited to read this latest novel. What an absorbing dive into a character with lots of personality and challenges! I love how Wren explored a different side of her personality when she moved to a new town to start over – including changing her name. It’s super interesting to follow her story as she struggles with friendships, her relationship with her parents and even how to act with a boy that likes her when she just wants to be friends. 

This book was definitely never boring! Wren has to deal with some really difficult things, like the weird way her mom is acting. One of the really cool things about this story is Wren’s unique interest in special effects makeup, which leads her to doing the makeup for the witch in a school production of Wicked. A great contemporary MG novel that’s definitely worth reading, especially if you like reading about family and friendship issues.

 

Here’s the summary from the publisher…  

 Twelve-year-old Wren loves makeup—special effect makeup, to be exact. When she is experimenting with new looks, Wren can create a different version of herself. A girl who isn’t in a sort-of-best friendship with someone who seems like she hates her. A girl whose parents aren’t divorced and doesn’t have to learn to like her new stepmom.

So, when Wren and her mom move to a new town for a fresh start, she is cautiously optimistic. And things seem to fall into place when Wren meets potential friends and gets selected as the makeup artist for her school’s upcoming production of Wicked.

Only, Wren’s mom isn’t doing so well. She’s taking a lot of naps, starts snapping at Wren for no reason, and always seems to be sick. And what’s worse, Wren keeps getting hints that things aren’t going well at her new job at the hospital, where her mom is a nurse. And after an opening night disaster leads to a heartbreaking discovery, Wren realizes that her mother has a serious problem—a problem that can’t be wiped away or covered up.

After all the progress she’s made, can Wren start over again with her devastating new normal? And will she ever be able to heal the broken trust with her mom?

Violets Are Blue by Barbara Dee is published by Simon & Schuster and comes out on September 21, 2021. I read a review copy provided by the publisher.

Teaching resources:   A recent interview with Barbara Dee about some of her books, including Maybe He Just Likes Me from Fairfax County Schools

MY HEART FILLS WITH HAPPINESS by Monique Gray Smith and Julie Flett

 This is one of my favourites! It's a great story to introduce at the beginning of the school year when talking about families, or a lovely bedtime read with a preschooler at home.

Summary from the publisher: 

The sun on your face. The smell of warm bannock baking in the oven. Holding the hand of someone you love. What fills your heart with happiness? This beautiful board book, with illustrations from celebrated artist Julie Flett, serves as a reminder for little ones and adults alike to reflect on and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy.

International speaker and award-winning author Monique Gray Smith wrote My Heart Fills with Happiness to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families, and to encourage young children to reflect on what makes them happy. 

My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith and Julie Flett was first published by Orca Book Publishers in 2016.

 

 Opening:    

 My heart fills with happiness when…

 I see the face of

someone I love

 

Why read this book?

This board book encourages both parents and children to think about the simple joys of life that bring happiness. It highlights nature and family through poetic language and the warm-toned illustrations. I especially loved how this story ends with a question to provoke more thought.

 

My Thoughts as a Writer:

The lyrical language in this book carries us gently through the pages. I love the way specific details in the text and illustrations show us First Nations culture, but at the same time are universal experiences that every child can feel alone or with their own family.

 

My Thoughts as an Educator:

I purchased this book for my personal teaching collection. It fits in so well with our discussions about feelings in kindergarten. I love the openness of the question: What fills your heart with happiness? It can be interpreted in many different ways – people, foods, activities, experiences, and so on. The illustrations offer lots of opportunity to talk about families and different cultures. It’s a book I like to keep on my classroom shelf so children can return to it on their own to feel comfort and love. I also really like that some versions include Cree as well as English words on the same page. 

 Ages: 3-6

 Grades: preschool – 2

 Themes: happiness, family, First Nations culture

 Activities:

Think and Draw: What fills your heart with happiness? Draw a picture to show a time when your heart felt happy.

Writing & Emotional Learning: Provide a small booklet labeled: “What Brings Me Happiness” with several pages. Keep in an accessible place and encourage children to return to add new ideas as they discover more things that fill their hearts with happiness.

Improvise: Play several different types of music for children. Encourage them to move in “joyful” ways. Which music sounds “happy”?

Visual Art: Encourage children to paint picture of a time they felt happy with a family member.

Social-Emotional Learning: In thinking about what fills our own hearts with happiness, it’s also wonderful to think about how to fill someone else’s heart. Provide a heart template and encourage children to create a “happy heart” to give to someone else. Surprise another class with some messages of happiness!

 

Additional Resources:

Wolf Joe is an animated series that focuses on a First Nations boy and Anishinaabe teachings.

49^th Kids has a great list of books to help with learning about residential schools 

Here the author reads her story: 

 

Paper Heart by Cat Patrick - a story about coping after a devastating change

Why you want to read this book…

I was so interested to find out that this story takes up after the events of Cat Patrick’s other book, Tornado Brain (see my review of Tornado Brain here). One of the cool things about this story is that it’s told from the other sister’s perspective! This story has a sad start, since the main character Tess is dealing with the loss of her best friend, Colette. She decides to go to the family cabin with her aunt and uncle, separating herself from her twin Frankie. Tess meets some new friends and slowly begins to heal.

 An aspect of this book that I loved was that Tess goes to an art day camp, and tries experimenting with different art techniques. There’s also a boy, Izzy, who becomes important in her life. I thought it was really realistic the way her mom and aunt didn’t realize how much she needed help at first, but did end up getting her counseling. This is a really absorbing read. If you enjoyed Tornado Brain, you’ll love this one too, but you can definitely read it on its own.

 

 

 

 

Here’s the summary from the publisher…

Tess has always understood her role in her family. She is supposed to be the "okay" one. The one no one has to worry about. But all Tess does is worry, constantly picking at her fingers every time a new worry arises. Still grieving her best friend's death, she is consumed by the fear that everything was her fault and her sadness that Colette is never coming back. Worse still, it seems like everyone else has found a way to move on, even her twin sister Frankie. When her mom decides a change of location might do her good, Tess finds herself on an airplane bound for her aunt's house in small town Wyoming and a summer vacation attending art camp.

Tess thinks she might never be able to move on from losing Colette but her quirky but determined cousin Kennedy and new friend Izzy are determined to help. When Tess becomes convinced that Colette's ghost might be haunting her, Kennedy and Izzy find new ways for Tess to make peace with the past and finally let go of the grief that has been haunting her heart.

Paper Heart by Cat Patrick was published by Penguin Random House in 2021. I read an e-version from my local public library.

Teaching resources: Here's an article from Seattle Refined interviewing Cat Patrick about her inspiration for Frankie's character and writing characters we might not see as often in children's stories.

If you’re looking for another thought-provoking, maybe funny, or maybe both, middle grade book to read, check out the list for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday on Greg Pattridge's blog.

OUTSIDE IN by Deborah Underwood & Cindy Derby - a look at nature from indoors + activities for teachers

 

Why read this book?

I love spending time in nature, and it was so interesting to think about how we stay connected to nature even when we are inside. The illustrations are stunning! If you love the art of the picture book, this is one you definitely need to explore. 

Summary from the publisher:

Perfect for fans of Joyce Sidman and Julie Fogliano, Outside In reminds emerging readers of the ways nature creates and touches our lives in homes, apartments, and cars, and is the perfect homeschooling tool to reflect on the world’s connectedness.

Outside is waiting, the most patient playmate of all. The most generous friend. The most miraculous inventor. This thought-provoking picture book poetically underscores our powerful and enduring connection with nature, not so easily obscured by lives spent indoors.

Rhythmic, powerful language shows us how our world is made and the many ways Outside comes in to help and heal us, and reminds us that we are all part of a much greater universe. Emotive illustrations evoke the beauty, simplicity, and wonder that await us all . . . outside.

OUTSIDE IN, written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Cindy Derby, was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2020.

 

My Thoughts as a Writer:

The language in the story is lovely and poetic, with many connections to the five senses. This is not exactly a traditional type of story, but more a poem about how we are connected to nature in many different ways, even though we are inside. A good book to study to think about how to bring the five senses in to your writing.

My Thoughts as an Educator:

This is such a beautiful book both in terms of the language and the illustrations! I was so thrilled to share this with my kindergarten students. This is a book to re-visit more than once. For example, read this book before going outside for a nature walk, and then read it again after returning inside to talk about what students noticed during their walk. You could also read this indoors, and then have students search for the "nature" they experience around them indoors.

I really love how this book can inspire a greater connection with nature! It's a great choice for talking about the five senses or to pair with mindfulness activities. The illustrations have a dreamy or imaginative quality which may evoke different emotions for class discussions. Definitely a book for a classroom or library collection.

Ages: all

Grades: K – 5

Themes: nature, mindfulness, five senses

Activities:

Explore & List: What examples can you find of the outside in your indoor environment? Make a class list! How many did you find? Did you use all of your senses?

Mindfulness: After reading this story, sit in a quiet place outside. Close your eyes and concentrate on what you notice. What do you smell? What do you feel? What do you hear?

Art: Choose a favourite illustration from the book. How does it make you feel? Explore Cindy Derby's website to explore some of her other illustrations. What do you notice about her style of art making?

Create & Imagine: To create some of her illustrations, Cindy Derby painted with thread. Try using yarn or thread dipped in paint to create your own painting! What does your creation make you think of?

Older students may appreciate watching some or all of this 30 min video showing how she used this technique and the decisions she made while creating a piece of artwork. 

Learn more: In this wonderful video interview from BABF Youth, the author and illustrator talk about the process of creating the book and read it aloud together, and Cindy Derby demonstrates an art activity. I especially liked how they talked about "imperfectness" in art and writing as beautiful. 

YOU GO FIRST by Erin Entrada Kelly - a story about online friendship and connections

 This is a quieter book that includes one of my favourite games. Published before the pandemic began, it now seems timely to think about the online connections we make and how they impact our lives.  

Why you want to read this book…

Another great story with characters that very real, from Erin Entrada Kelly. In this story, Ben and Charlotte live miles apart in two different cities and connect through an online Scrabble game. That concept hooked me on the book before I even opened it, since I'm a big Scrabble fan and I play online games all the time. I love the idea that having another person to connect with in some way, can help you feel less alone. 

For me, there was an underlying thread that different kinds of friendships fill different needs in your life, or help support you in different ways. Although the two kids became online friends, they had a different friendship than each of the main characters developed with their in-person friends and family. This is quieter story that leaves the reader with some questions to think about, and an ending that isn't neatly wrapped up (rather like real life).

I really love this quote from the story: "The greatest mystery of people isn't learning what they are, but learning what they aren't."

Here’s the summary from Amazon:

Twelve-year-old Charlotte Lockard and eleven-year-old Ben Boxer are separated by more than a thousand miles. On the surface, their lives seem vastly different—Charlotte lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while Ben is in the small town of Lanester, Louisiana.

Charlotte wants to be a geologist and keeps a rock collection in her room. Ben is obsessed with Harry Potter, presidential history, and recycling. But the two have more in common than they think. They’re both highly gifted. They’re both experiencing family turmoil. And they both sit alone at lunch.

During the course of one week, Charlotte and Ben—friends connected only by an online Scrabble game—will intersect in unexpected ways as they struggle to navigate the turmoil of middle school. The New York Times-bestselling novel You Go First reminds us that no matter how hard it is to keep our heads above troubled water, we never struggle alone.

You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly was published by Greenwillow Books in 2018. I read an e-book from my local public library.

 

If you’re looking for another thought-provoking, or maybe funny, middle grade book to read, check out Marvelous Middle Grade Monday on Greg Pattridge's blog.

TORNADO BRAIN by Cat Patrick

I'm very behind on my reviews, but I've been enjoying some wonderful middle grade books as well as picture books. Now that I'm on my spring break, I'm hoping to catch up a little because I do have a great list of books that need to be shared!

Why you want to read this book…

All the characters in this story felt so real! Their dialogue, actions and situations were all realistic and individual -- no exaggerated stereotypes here. Since the main character, Frankie, noticed things that others did not, she was able to put together clues to help solve the mystery of what happened to one of her friends.  But the main reason why I enjoyed this story so much was the heartbreak and the difficult emotional journey of navigating friendships.

The author carefully included unique details to show what Frankie experienced, which helped me to stay very absorbed in the story. As a writer, I was interested to study how she used flashbacks to develop the story. I also liked the tornado facts sprinkled into the story!

I think I'll remember this story long after reading it. It made me think about how an event or situation can seem different depending on your perspective. I definitely learned something from diving a little deeper into a way of thinking that is different from my own.

 

 Here’s the summary from the publisher:

Things never seem to go as easily for thirteen-year-old Frankie as they do for her sister, Tess. Unlike Tess, Frankie is neurodivergent. In her case, that means she can’t stand to be touched, loud noises bother her, she’s easily distracted, she hates changes in her routine, and she has to go see a therapist while other kids get to hang out at the beach. It also means Frankie has trouble making friends. She did have one–Colette–but they’re not friends anymore. It’s complicated.

Then, just weeks before the end of seventh grade, Colette unexpectedly shows up at Frankie’s door. The next morning, Colette vanishes. Now, after losing Colette yet again, Frankie’s convinced that her former best friend left clues behind that only she can decipher, so she persuades her reluctant sister to help her unravel the mystery of Colette’s disappearance before it’s too late.

Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick was published by G. P. Putnam's Sons in 2020. I read an e-book from my local public library.

 

If you’re looking for another thought-provoking, or maybe funny, middle grade book to read, check out Marvelous Middle Grade Monday on Greg Pattridge's blog.

LAURA INGALLS IS RUINING MY LIFE by Shelley Tougas

I can’t believe I missed this one when it came out! It was a really absorbing read. 

Why you want to read this book…

 The writer did a wonderful job of making Charlotte and the other characters feel real. I liked the way Charlotte thought about the connection between her own life and the historical articles she was reading. 

Even though I am a fan of the “Little House” books and really enjoyed them, I am aware of how problematic they are, and it was great to see some of the bias and facts being carefully woven into the story. I also liked the way Charlotte’s teacher challenged and encouraged her.

 

 Here’s the summary from the publisher:

 A life on the prairie is not all its cracked up to be for one girl whose mom takes her love of the Little House series just a bit too far.

 Charlotte’s mom has just moved the family across the country to live in Walnut Grove, “childhood home of pioneer author Laura Ingalls Wilder.” Mom’s idea is that the spirit of Laura Ingalls will help her write a bestselling book. But Charlotte knows better: Walnut Grove is just another town where Mom can avoid responsibility. And this place is worse than everywhere else the family has lived—it’s freezing in the winter, it’s small with nothing to do, and the people talk about Laura Ingalls all the time. Charlotte’s convinced her family will not be able to make a life on the prairie—until the spirit of Laura Ingalls starts getting to her, too.

Laura Ingalls Is Ruining My Life by Shelley Tougas was published by Roaring Brook Press in 2017. I read an e-version from my local public library.

 

If you’re looking for another fun middle grade book to read, check out Marvelous Middle Grade Monday on Greg Pattridge's blog.