Rundell's Why You Should Read Children's Books

WHY YOU SHOULD READ CHILDREN'S BOOKS, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE SO OLD AND WISE by Katherine Rundell was not what I expected. Honestly, I thought there would be many more references to favorite children’s books, perhaps like Believe in the World or The Enchanted Hour or the classic Read-Aloud Handbook. Still, at only 80 pages Rundell (fellow at Oxford and writer) provides a series of essays about the value of reading in general and stresses the history and key role played by children’s books. It’s a bit on the academic side and would have been improved with more childhood anecdotes (think back to your favorite books as a child). I especially like the conclusion drawn by the Wall Street Journal reviewer: “head straight for the nearest library to see for yourself what all the fuss is about.”  

Age-specific state awards list numerous quality titles each year; an older wonderful resource – covering multiple states and ages and compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith – is provided here. Reading Rockets also provided some fun links recently at the start of the new school year: Interviews with Children's authors and illustrators and Read Across America calendar and booklists.

Breathing Under Water by Jacqueline Friedland

BREATHING UNDER WATER by Jacqueline Friedland received a starred review from Booklist and Kirkus called it “a touching novel about unexpected connections and found family.”  It is the first book in a while to really grab my attention, and I can readily see book groups finding so much to discuss. Chapter narration alternates between Berry Selinger and McKenna Jamison, two caring women from different generations with a host of issues to face. Berry is an assistant principal hoping for a promotion and trying to balance her career with supporting her sixteen-year-old son, Leo, who is autistic. McKenna is a scholarship college student who relies on her coach and swim team as her grandmother’s dementia worsens. Readers will be surprised by the workplace sabotage, marital strife, anger management issues, and homelessness which also feature in the plot. Yes, it is a lot for either one to handle and the stories intersect when McKenna begins teaching Leo to swim. He really is the pivotal character and obviously dear to Friedland who says her own mother taught her that “every child deserves to be seen, to be challenged, and most of all, to be respected and understood.” BREATHING UNDER WATER is about perseverance, self-reflection, and acceptance, as Berry says, “I don't see the trials and tribulations only as hardships. I can now see the ways they've led to profound growth, making us stronger, more resilient, and ready for whatever comes next.” 

Weeknight Winners, Family Dinners

WEEKNIGHT WINNERS, FAMILY DINNERS by Jack (a former chef) and Emmy (child development expert) Zhang offers “Kid-Approved, Adult-Loved Recipes” in an interactive, appealing format. Sample recipes include “Spinach Egg Drop Soup,” “Easy Peasy Chicken,” and “Chinese-Style Baked Fish.” The cookbook is divided into sections on Mains, Noodles, Soups & Stews, Salads & Sides, Snacks, and Sweets. Booklist comments, “The Zhang's family-friendly book is designed with recipes that are quick to get on the table… They aim to help readers tap into the curiosity of children and help their families connect.” The Zhangs do seem to put kids front and center, sharing conversation starters and often highlighting steps that younger family members can contribute (e.g., line the pan with foil) as a recipe is prepared. Aside from recipes, they also include very helpful sections on “Language and Curiosity in the Kitchen” and on “Ten Ways to Get Your Kids Excited about Food.” This seems like a wonderful resource for young families (especially those who enjoy Asian ingredients) although the photos in the preview are black and white and nutrition information is not included. More ideas are available on the Zhangs’ YouTube channel, Cooking with Levi.

My Sister is Going to Kill Me

MY SISTER IS GOING TO KILL ME by Nina Simon (Mother-Daughter Murder Night) is a closed room mystery of sorts. Two very different sisters, a rule-follower and State Department employee named Liv and an impulsive elementary school art teacher named Mandy, are setting off on their annual sister trip. This year they are rafting on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. It turns out their fellow adventures are all associated with a wellness company called Babette Botanique. The CEO misses the kickoff of the trip and disagreements amongst the leadership become apparent, especially when threats start appearing. Soon, there is a dead body with Liv, Mandy, and their companions in growing danger, not just from the challenging physical environment, but also from an increasingly daring killer amongst them. Honestly, it took me a little while to get over being annoyed by both sisters, but I soon found myself coming to care for them, much as they begrudgingly began to acknowledge their complementary skills and affection for each other. The mystery is suspenseful and full of details in a fabulous setting.

God's Country by William Kent Krueger

GOD’S COUNTRY by William Kent Krueger is the latest in his series about Cork O’Conner, former sheriff and half-Irish and half-Ojibwe who loves the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota. That’s where he heads with his son, grandson, and other family members only to find that his lifelong friend, Cordell Bishop, was guiding another group in the same area and sees signs that things are not right. Cork’s family decides to get to safety and, despite their protests, he stays behind to rescue his friend. It is the start of a grueling several days, including multiple dead bodies and battles over a gun and food supplies. Throughout, Cork is meditating on two wolves, one of hate and one of love, as he wishes to kill some evil men while trying to protect others from becoming their prey. There is a repetitive element here – perhaps evoking the constant struggle we face between good and evil. And Krueger has included more violence than I remember from his earlier works. GOD’S COUNTRY received a starred review from Booklist (“harrowing and fascinating”).

Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews

Publishers Weekly called the latest novel, ROAD TRIP, by Mary Kay Andrews “perfect for the beach bag” and it is a light read, with a combination of historical fiction, mystery, and romance. Two adult (thirty-something) sisters, practical professor Maeve and carefree struggling actress Therese, are brought together by their mother’s recent death and her squandering of funds on a televangelist. She wanted them to repair their relationship with a trip to Ireland and they travel, hoping to establish provenance for a family painting and thereby secure an inheritance. At first, the sisters are not very likeable characters, but the trip gradually transform them. Plus, Andrews weaves in the story of Kathleen Connor, who emigrated to America in 1926 and of an IRA heist in the mid-1970s with the present-day quest. At the end, the sisters learn to admire and emulate “all the gutsy, ballsy women in our family who’ve picked up the pieces and kept going.”

United States of Oligarchy by Casey Michel

UNITED STATES OF OLIGARCHY by Casey Michel is subtitled “How America's Wealthiest Ally with Dictators, Weaken the U.S., and Destroy Democracy.” Michel (American Kleptocracy and Foreign Agents) is a financial expert and has written extensively about related crimes (e.g., tax evasion, money laundering). Recently described in Foreign Affairs journal as “a blistering account,” his latest text is accessible, but fairly academic in tone and centers on the ways in which national security and democracy are being threatened both by very wealthy Americans and foreign influences from places like Russia, China, and the Middle East. I was surprised at the extent to which he calls out rich and powerful people like Elon Musk and Jared Kushner, for example. Even the Afterward is chilling. Writing about “Just how monstrous American wealth inequality has become in recent decades -- and how it's now surpassed anything the country has ever known,” Michel cites statistics meant to shock: (“First year the 400 richest Americans paid a lower tax rate than the bottom 50% of Americans: 2018”) and outlines recommendations (e.g., more enforcement of existing laws or enacting new taxes on the ultra-wealthy) to halt or curb these practices. He goes on to point out that this as a global phenomenon, “infecting even places like Britain (where the top 1 percent owned 21.3% of the country's total wealth), France (27.2%), and Germany (27.6%). UNITED STATES OF OLIGARCHY received a starred review from Publishers Weekly (“Readers will be outraged by the egregiousness of it all.”). The text is extensively researched with over a thousand footnotes.