The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Tan, Shaun. The Arrival. Scholastic, Incorporated, 2007. 128 pages. Tr. $19.99. ISBN 978-0-439-89529-3.

Annotation: In a wordless graphic novel, a man leaves his wife and child to embark on a journey to a foreign country. The lonely experience of the immigrant is portrayed as a new and, hopefully, better life is created.

Summary: In this wordless graphic novel, a man leaves his wife and child and the familiarity of his homeland and embarks on a journey to find a better life in a foreign country. He boards a steamship filled with other refugees and arrives in a weird yet wonderful country. The country has different architecture, alphabet and symbols, technologies, foods, culture, and animals. The novelty of the city and the distance from home creates much sadness and anxiety. Slowly he assimilates as he gains friends, employment, and confidence. The end is happy when he reunites with his family in the new country.

Evaluation: In this sepia-toned graphic novel, the immigrant experience is sensitively portrayed. The pencil illustrations capture the anxiety, confusion, loneliness, and wonder as an immigrant slowly assimilates into a new and strange culture. The complexity of feelings and issues for immigrants is expertly depicted with the detailed artwork. Readers will empathize with the difficulty of starting something new. Recommended for ages 12 to 17.

Genre / Subject: Fiction, Graphic Novel, Stories Without Words, Immigration, Identity, Loneliness, Persistence,Aspirations

Awards: 2008 ALA Notable Books for Children, 2008 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Winner, 2008 ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2008 ALA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2008 ALA Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2008 American Booksellers Award – Children’s Literature Honor Book

A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers by Nancy Willard

Willard, Nancy. A Visit to William Blake’s Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers. Illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, 1982. 48 pages. pap. $7.00. ISBN 978-0-15-293823-9.

Annotation: A collection of poems describing the unusual guests visiting an imaginary inn run by the poet William Blake.

Summary: A menagerie of guests visits the imaginary inn run by the well-beloved poet William Blake. Nancy Willard, inspired by Blake’s work, created a cast of characters that would feel right at home in the inn. Among the whimsical guests is the Man in the Marmalade Hat, the King of Cats, two sunflowers, a wise Cow, and a Tiger. They all have an excellent time participating in and telling of their adventures.

Evaluation: The fanciful verse and the London-inspired illustrations complement each other. The artwork is drawn with detail in shades of yellow, gray, and brown. It is a short but pleasant read. Recommended for ages 6 to 12.

Genre / Subject: Juvenile Non-Fiction, Poetry, William Blake, Imagination

Awards: 1981 Golden Kite Honors Award - Fiction, 1982 Newbery Medal Award Winner, 1982 Boston Globe-Horn Award Winner, 1982 Caldecott Honor Award

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. Illustrated by Dave McKean. HarperCollins Publishers, 2008. 312 pages. Tr. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-0605-3092-1.

Annotation: A young boy marked for murder by an assassin is saved and raised by a variety of ghostly characters in a graveyard.

Summary: A toddler’s family is murdered by the man Jack and the boy is spared due to the kindness of ghostly residents of a nearby graveyard. Spiritual denizens name the boy Nobody Owens (Bod, for short), and raise him to be a teenager. Bod has the freedom of the graveyard and is given special powers of Fading and Haunting. When the man Jack and his wicked organization find Bod and come back to finish him off, the graveyard residents rally together to save Bod.

Evaluation: This is a wonderfully complex story that combines horror, mystery, and suspense with a bit of wit and adventure. There are occasional pages of gray and black artwork that add a bit of a surreal atmosphere to the clever prose. The character of Nobody Owen and the graveyard family that raises him will delight readers despite the slightly macabre theme of the book. The darkness of the man Jack and his ancient league of assassins enhance the captivating tale. This book is all-around great storytelling. Recommended for ages 8 to 16.

Genre / Subject: Juvenile Fiction, Horror, Ghosts, Supernatural, Family, Graveyards,

Awards: 2009 Newbery Medal Winner, 2009 ALA Notable Children’s Book, 2009 Boston Globe-Horn Honor Book Award, 2008 Los Angeles Times Book Prize- Young Adult Literature, 2009 ALA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults, 2009 ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2009 American Booksellers Indies Choice Book Award - Best Young Adult Book

The Friendship by Mildred D.Taylor

Taylor, Mildred D. The Friendship. Penguin Group, Inc., 1987. 56 pages. Tr. $16.99. ISBN
978-0-8037-0417-6.

Annotation: In 1933 in the state of Mississippi, some black children witness a violent confrontation between an elderly black man, Mr. Tom Bee and a white storeowner. Mr. Tom Bee learns the hard way that kindness and friendship do not always have power over racism in the South.

Summary: The year is 1933 and the setting is rural Mississippi. Cassie Logan and her brothers go to the store for some medicine. While there they see a confrontation between Mr. Tom Bee, an elderly black man and a white store owner, John Wallace. The friendship between the men is put to the test against a background of racism and civil rights. Mr. Bee addresses the store owner, John, by his first name, which is forbidden to do by blacks. Mr. Bee had saved John’s life on a number of occasions and had even cared for him like a son in his own home. John had given Tom Bee previous permission to call him by his first name. But under pressure and taunting from other white men in his store, John reneges on his promise and shoots Tom in the leg as punishment for such unacceptable behavior.

Evaluation: This book is based on an actual event. Mildred Taylor wrote this story based on family stories that were handed down to her from her father. The simply written but powerful story of paints a clear picture of the tragedy of prejudice and racism in the United States in the 21st century. Children will marvel at the courage it takes to stand up for what you believe despite the social norms of the time. Recommended for ages 7 to 14.

Genre / Subject: Juvenile Fiction, Historical, Racism, African Americans, Violence, Friendship

Awards: 1988 Coretta Scott King Award Winner, 1988 Boston Globe-Horn Award Winner- Fiction

Higher! Higher! by Leslie Patricelli

Patricelli, Leslie. Higher! Higher! Candlewick Press, 2009. 32 pages. Tr. $15.99. ISBN 978-0-76-363241-0.

Annotation: A little girl soars higher and higher into a world of fun as her father pushes her in a playground swing.

Summary: A little girl and her father are enjoying a day at the park on the swings. With each push, the girl tells her dad that she wants to go even higher. The girl swings past a giraffe, a high-rise building, a mountain climber, and an airplane. At her apex, she meets an alien child in outer space whom she high-fives. She safely descends back to her father and wishes to be pushed again.

Evaluation: The brightly colored acrylic paintings add cheerfulness and whimsy to the day at the playground. The repetitive and very simple text (only six words are used) will appeal to the youngest listeners. This is a good book to spur the imagination. Recommended for ages 2 to 5.

Genre / Subject: Juvenile Fiction, Imagination, Recreation, Family

Awards: 2010 ALA Notable Books for Children, 2009 Boston Globe-Horn Award- Honor Picture Book

I Stink! by Kate McMullan

McMullan, Kate. I Stink! Illustrated by Jim McMullan. HarperCollins Publishers, 2006. 40 pages. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-06-443836-0.

Annotation: A garbage truck with personality galore and a really big appetite for refuse from A to Z collects trash at night while people are sleeping.

Summary: A garbage truck who loves his job collects trash at night in a big city. While most people are asleep, he ravenously devours people’s discard from A (apple cores) to Z (ziti with zucchini). His rounds are described complete with noises, smells, and operating instructions. He mentions that without a garbage truck’s essential services, people would be living on a pile of trash. In the early morning, he unloads his last haul onto a barge and heads back to the garage for some well–deserved rest.

Evaluation: This boldly illustrated book using exaggeration and dark colors to achieve its desired effect. The brazen garbage truck narrates the story with commanding, lively text. Sound effects and humor add to the brash tone. The story of a day in the life of sanitation truck is great for truck lovers. Recommended for ages 3 to 9.

Genre / Subject: Juvenile Fiction, Alphabet, Trucks, Trash, Refuse Disposal

Awards: 2003 Charlotte Zolotow Award - Highly Commended Titles, 2003 ALA Notable Books for Children, 2002 Boston Globe-Horn Award- Honor Picture Book