This is a book I have known about for years. Not only have I seen its cover at my job, but it is one of the few older YA books I see in stores like Target. The story centers on Steve Harmon, a sixteen year old filmmaker on trial for being an accomplice in a Harlem drugstore stickup that accidentally turns deadly. Being dehumanized by the justice system before he is even convicted, Harmon decides to tell his story in the form of a script so that he has a voice to show the effects of this trial on himself and his loved ones. As a film-buff, I absolutely loved the screenplay format used to tell his realistic tale. In fact, I loved it so much that I am using it as an anchor text to develop my own lesson plan. Because this plan will ultimately touch upon more of Monster’s themes, I will leave my reaction to this novel at: I loved reading it.

Even though I read 1984 back in high school, I was never assigned this other Orwellian classic. It is a real shame too since this was one of the most thought-provoking books I read for this assignment. The ending especially where the tyrant pig Napoleon resembles us humans kept me grappling with the book’s themes long after it finished. Similar to some other books I read on this list, it could be placed under other categories. Chief among them for Farm would be 'ILS 516 Modern Fantasy' since it deals with anthropomorphic animals and we know Orwell was the author. But, because you need a knowledge of British affairs to get the most out of this book, it has been placed here. All in all, based upon the thoughts it inspires, Farm should have been a companion of 1984. If I was a teacher, I would certainly advocate for teaching the both of them.

Due to a popular film and musical adaptation, Matilda has been on my radar for quite some time. Having now read it, I am honestly surprised that people embrace it as much as they do. Whereas Silverstein’s darker poems were still lighthearted, Dahl’s work definitely leans on the side of being crueler. For example, all the abuse that goes on at the school and elsewhere can get a little overwhelming at times. Although I did not mind this, I am surprised this has not turned off more people to the book.

But, while that did not bother me so much, there was something else that still does. Seemingly out of nowhere, Dahl throws telekinesis into the story. Even more unforgivable than her inexplicably gaining this power is how Matilda inexplicably loses it. I was fine with her extraordinary wit outsmarting the adults, but this turn of events was where the story jumped the shark for me. Luckily, this does not happen until the end, so the vast majority of the novel was entertaining to read.

On a side note (just to clarify), it has been placed in the 'ILS 516 Multicultural & International Books' category since Dahl was British and uses common English idioms throughout.

Yet another controversial book I was interested in reading was Jazz. It tells the true story of Jazz Jennings, a child with gender dysphoria who learns about being transgender and finally gets to embrace on the outside how she feels on the inside. Already, I watch the TLC show of the same name. Maybe had I learned of her through this book I would feel differently, but I just could not connect with her here. As I was reading it, I felt like other stories have told the important message of being yourself much better. In conclusion, if someone is trying to learn about Jazz’s story or just what it like to be transgender in general, they should definitely watch her show over reading this book.

Here is a biography detailing the life and inspirations of one of my favorite movie stars, Charlie Chaplin. Rather than tackle his whole life, it only covers his childhood up to when he becomes The Tramp in the 1910s. Notably, not only does it discuss the origin of his signature walk, but Cry also tackles why he expertly blended pain with happiness in his films. Given that this is a class for earning my MLIS, I would be remiss if I did not also mention that the book recommends visiting the local public library for more information. For a book from 2019 to have that, it made me enjoy reading it even more.

Along with its Isaac Hayes soundtrack, Shaft is one of my favorite movies from the 70s. Being as big of a fan as I am of the film, I only knew of Gordon Parks as a director. You can image my surprise when I came across this book at work and saw how he was a famous American photographer before going into cinema. While reading this book, I was greeted to an inspirational story of how he went from being poor and having people doubt him to using photography to highlight harsh realities. Admittedly, I would have loved it to give more than a passing reference to Shaft since that movie helped usher in the genre of blaxploitation that changed how black people have been portrayed in film ever since. Still, I enjoyed reading this book and felt inspired to search out more of Parks’ photographic works.

Right here is a book that I have heard about all the time, but was never assigned to read when I attended public schools. Even when I took a class on genocides in college, it was never mentioned, much less assigned. Because Frank’s story has transcended into popular culture, I decided to pick up a copy of her diary and rectify not reading it. Since she is stereotyped as just hiding in an attic, I assumed her diary would be boring and not have anything interesting to say; luckily, I was wrong. While parts of it do come across as the musings of an angst filled teenager, other entries come across as wise. Even though I chastised other books in this list ending abruptly, here it is excusable because of her unexpected capture. While I cannot speak for the countless other translations and versions of Anne’s diary, this one helped convey why this impactful story is still being mentioned and taught a near 80 years after it was written.

While exploring ABDO Elementary Digital Bookshelf for work, I came across this pro-wrestling biography. At my job, there are hardly any biographies of wrestlers from the last decade on our shelves. So, seeing one on a wrestler I have followed from his stints in Total Nonstop Action to New Japan Pro-Wrestling to WWE was really cool. Once I got past the novelty of reading about one of my favorite wrestlers, I was ultimately left disappointed that there was not a single notable match of his mentioned. For example, it could have listed how he: bested four other men to win his first TNA Heavyweight Championship at No Surrender 2009, beat Kazuchika Okada at Wrestling Dontaku 2014 to win his first NJPW championship, defeated the former Dean Ambrose to win the WWE title at Backlash 2016, etc. My hope is not only that a more comprehensive biography on “The Phenomenal One/The Champ that Runs the Camp” is released someday, but that readers of this book are encouraged to learn more about one of the best wrestlers in the world.

Unabashedly, I sought out this book after watching a video on YouTube about a cunning honey badger named Stoffle. Being relatively uneducated when it comes to these weasels, I wanted to learn some interesting facts. In that vein, Badgers did not disappoint. For example, I learned how they do not die from the poison in snakebites. What’s more, there are many photographs so that I could see these cunning creatures in their natural habitat. Overall, this is a brief and enjoyable read that helped me appreciate Stoffle and other honey badgers more than I already did.

Being a film buff, I would love to not just be able to recommend books to child patrons, but movies as well. As such, this book looked perfect for familiarizing myself with kid’s movies that I may have never heard of, or not seen in quite some time. One movie that I already checked out from my library because of this book was a French short film called The Red Balloon. Despite giving me other interesting movies, however, the book has a fatal flaw. While some films have brief descriptions (i.e. the aforementioned Balloon), others (i.e. The Princess Bride) are so detailed that they give the endings away. This is horrible not only because it is done inconsistently, but since spoiling the twists of films does not entice people to want to see them. Grievances aside, I mostly enjoyed this book and would love seeing the movies it mentions.

Along with movies and pro-wrestling, one of my favorite forms of entertainment is music. As such, I wanted to have a book about one of my favorite genres be included in this list. One day at work, I found this book recently returned. I was surprised seeing a book on this topic for kids since rap’s recent popularity has not really translated into a greater literary presence (a fact Swizz Beatz also brings up in the beginning of the book). Given this book’s existence, for kids, they can now see how the genre has evolved over the years. Meanwhile, for myself, I was hoping to learn something that would make me even more appreciative of rap.

At the heart of this book are the artists that transformed rap. Admittedly, I knew the majority of them. Although my preference for rap music is in the 90s and later, I still recognized names from the golden age of hip-hop like Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow, etc. I ended up finding out that writer Paul Lawrence Dunbar played a part in giving rap its poetic roots. If I had to change anything, however, it would have been to include a CD with the book. Even if Weatherford did not want to include explicit gangsta rap on it, she could have put Dunbar’s poems being read or some of the more innocuous hip-hop tracks from rap’s beginnings. That suggestion aside, readers can definitely tell care was put into this book and because of that, will surely enjoy reading it too.

Just like with The Crossover, I liked this book so much I did a booktalk on it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_3GnvHGKPQ). If there is one thing I can clarify from that video here, though, it is why I consider it a work of historical fiction. Realistically, Cabret could also be classified as a graphic novel or picture book. Here, I decided to use it for 'ILS 516 Historical Fiction' since Georges Méliès being brought back to life in this novel that takes place in early 20th century France was more of a defining element than its illustrations or text. Just to end by reiterating what I have said elsewhere, I really feel this is a splendid book that people of all ages could get something out of.

Quite honestly, I am shocked that this book has never caused any controversy. Basically, it details perspectives during the Civil Rights Movement in the vain of a Choose Your Own Adventure. Reading these kinds of books, I shamelessly revel in choosing the most dangerous/destructive paths, purposely putting these characters in as much danger as possible. For fictional characters and settings, this is fine; but when you do that in an actual time (with albeit fictional characters), it can trivialize real struggles. Thus, although I give Adamson credit for presenting popular and unpopular views on social issues, she toes the line between informatively and offensively handling a delicate subject.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this is the most depressing book I have read in quite some time. Originally, I heard of it when Young et al. listed it in the back of Chapter 13 (p. 184). I figured that since I like elephants, I would read a lighthearted story about the bond between these creatures and their owners; boy was I wrong. Having never heard of the Japanese government ordering the euthanasia of animals at the Ueno Zoo during World War II, this book really tugged at my heartstrings. Reading about the slow death of the elephants was sad enough, but it became even more heartbreaking when research I did afterwards suggested that there was no danger to the animals to begin with, and the killings were going to be used as propaganda against the Allied forces. All in all, even though this book’s overall message about the depravity of war is powerful, I would recommend reading it only if you are looking to have a good cry.

After Unbound, this was the second of the 2020 Nutmeg nominees I read. Without rehashing everything I said in our Blackboard thread, I felt it was an enjoyable book. Throughout it, I kept thinking how shameful it is that a book on censorship is still topical in 2020. If I could suggest a change, however, it would be that Gratz should have written it in a way that did not make it feel like it was geared more towards librarians than kids. Still, this is a book that I would surely revisit as a practicing professional.

Last but not least of the 2020 Nutmeg nominees I read is Deception. Although I (and some other students) feel it straddles the line of unbelievably, it is realistic enough to end up in this category. As I said in its respective thread on Blackboard, the inclusion of QR codes is its most notable characteristic. In any other book, I would consider calling it nothing more than distracting gimmick. Luckily here, Deception’s story is strong enough where the inclusion of QR codes only makes it that much more enjoyable. Thus, with an enjoyable plot and addition of QR codes, this is a story I liked immensely; quite possibly it is my favorite of all the 2020 Nutmeg nominees.

Telgemeier is an author I have heard about for quite some time now. Working as a page at my local library, I have seen firsthand how popular her books are with children and young adults. As much as I wanted to read the controversial Drama, I decided to check this one out since it is her latest work. Not only is the art really appealing, but the story centering on anxiety is really well done. Even though the plot focuses on Telgemeier herself (something I did not realize until I was halfway through it), it never feels self-indulgent. One of my favorite images comes on page 120 where Telgemeier splits up the page into four interconnected panels that show how this anxiety stays on her mind from the time she gets up to the time she bathes and goes to bed. Although I still want to read Drama, I am glad I read this book because I can now see why her graphic novels continue to be as popular as they are.

Here is one of the granddaddies of the graphic novel that helped propel the format into the mainstream. Not only is this story of Spiegelman’s parents surviving World War II harrowing, but the way it visualizes different races as different animals is really inventive. Beyond the parts from World War II, I was also interested in the comic from Art’s college years depicting him and his mother’s mental decline. Personally, I would only recommend this work to people in high school and above. Although this is an important work depicting the Holocaust, the story can get a little confusing to keep track of since it jumps between the present and past so much. Still, unlike some of the other things I read, I can actually see why this book gets the praise and adoration it does.

To draw another comparison, I was reminded of Antics! when reading this graphic novel. Similar to that book, The Arrival is talked up by Young et al. to the point where when I sat down to read it, I was left disappointed. Admittedly, the story portrays the immigrant experience in a new and inventive way by having creatures represent different aspects of that experience (like being why some people leave their homeland, etc.). However, the art is not pleasing to me at all. Even when there are striking and memorable images (like the paper birds flying in the sky), the drab colors make it depressing to look at. No doubt Tan put a lot of effort into making these pictures, and given that many people love this tale, he accomplished his mission of presenting the immigrant experience in a near-universal way. However, unfortunately for me, it is not a story I feel the need to revisit.

To be honest, reading this story broke my heart. See, the Disney variant of Pooh is something etched in my mind ever since I was a child. My parents had never read these stories to me, so I was excited to finally have an excuse to see the source material for these characters. Do not get me wrong; the characters all act as they do in the Disney version (sans Tigger who is not included).

My problem comes from the fact that none of the stories felt to build to anything, and made me ask ‘Who Cares?’ when reading them. I kept feeling that any of these adventures could have been the last, and the only reason it stops when it does is because the author got bored. Maybe once I get past the shock of the differences, I can try to get through this collection again since the stories are not poorly written or anything like that. For now, though, I have no interest in checking it or the sequels out from my library.

Weird as it may sound, this books reminds me of reading Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. Content differences notwithstanding, they are both stories where I really loved the beginnings, but felt like they lost steam the more they went along. In Jar, the point where it tapers off is when Esther Greenwood leaves New York. Here, it is where Stuart Little leaves his family without saying goodbye. This really bothered me because the whole first half is built upon the relationship with his parents, brother, cat, etc. While I get that Little needs to evolve as a character by leaving home (like a person does), the fact that he just disappears to find Margalo felt unlike him. That being said, if I were to revisit this book, it would likely be only up to the point when he leaves home.

Here is a story I have always heard about, but never got to read or even see one of its film adaptations. I placed it under the banner of 'ILS 516 Modern Fantasy' because just as Young et al. (2020) stipulate, any work of modern fantasy has its author known (p. 148). Since this was around the time I had begun to exhaust the stack of books I checked out before my library closed, I decided to take a chance on the audiobook version for us LION cardholders. I did just that and felt that as good as Scarlett Johansson is at reading this book, it is really disappointing there are no sound effects.

See, my personal measuring stick of an audiobook is Stephen King’s The Mist. My dad used to have it on cassette being told with so-called ‘3D Sound.’ This basically meant that the text had sound effects accompany it. So, if a part of the story took place during a rainstorm, you actually hear the rain in the background of the conversations. This made the book literally come to life in a way that could not be achieved from just reading it.

I was hoping that because this was a fantasy story, there would be sound effects added too. For example, one perfect usage would have been when Alice falls into the pool of her own tears at the beginning; there could have been the sound of her falling into water. Yet, not a single sound effect is used. Ultimately, even though I really liked the story itself, I am disappointed it did not take advantage of the audiobook format more.

Unlike with Mouse, I have actually heard about the Golem creature before. Since I am a big horror movie fan, I immediately think of the 1920 German silent film The Golem: How He Came into the World. That being said, I never really looked into the folklore behind this figure from Jewish literature. In this book, Golem is basically a clay creature brought to life to end the oppressive blood libel myth in Prague. You really feel for Golem in this story because even though his sole purpose is to be a protector for others, he begins to want to enjoy his life as well. In that regard, it definitely came off as a proto-Frankenstein where the humanity of a formerly inanimate creature is explored. So, although this book could stand on its own, I would definitely recommend to teachers that they teach Golem and its myth alongside Frankenstein.

Apparently, this story originated as one of Aesop’s Fables, and calling someone a city or town mouse is a normal thing. The reason I say apparently is that I have never heard of the story nor anyone being described in that way. This aside, the book is really well done. Very much so it reminds me of the I Spy book series. For one, it looks as if miniatures were constructed and photographed for each of the scenes. Second, each picture is jam-packed with details that you could spend considerable time admiring. After finding some of this story’s older adaptations, I would definitely recommend that anyone looking to experience this story reads this edition. Whether or not they are familiar or unfamiliar with the tale, the art will surely draw them in.

First up for the ‘ILS 516 Folklore/Fairy Tales’ category is this story which my feelings toward are admittedly torn. Right off the bat, I loved the art. Everything is vibrant and the sun and owl in particular look really great. Yet, I am confused as to why mosquitoes buzz. I thought the story was going to end by saying how the ruler of the animal kingdom (the lion) punishes the mosquitoes by making them only buzz so that they cannot cause any more death. But, that never happens. Though this is not entirely the fault of the author since it is a story translated and passed down through generations, I am still trying to wrap my head around it. My torn feelings aside, I still enjoyed reading Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears: A West African Tale.

Originally, I heard of this book when reading our textbook and seeing Young et al. (2020) mention it (p. 101). The gimmick of having an ant themed ABC book really appealed to me, so I checked it out from my library. However, once I read it, I was not as impressed by it as Young et al. Chief among the reasons why I felt this way is because of the art. Far and away it was the worst looking book I read in the picture books category. Disgusting artwork aside, I will concede that I learned how Xanthophobia is having a fear of the color yellow. For an English major with a pretty sizable vocabulary, that was an accomplishment in and of itself. In conclusion, although I commend the effort for putting a book together like this by devising ways to connect the alphabet to ants, it did not click for me as I had hoped.

Although I despise the show, SNL (specifically RuPaul) was what inspired me to read Madeline. All in all, I felt this was another book in a similar vein to Street where it kept me thinking afterwards. However, instead of thinking about the implications of fantasy, I pondered over the statements about conformity and sisterhood in this work's boarding school setting. Admittedly though, the art was second only to Antics! as being the least eye-catching. Even though the watercolors did not age particularly well, I am honestly glad I read it, since I liked it more than I expected to.

Different than really any of the other picture books I read, Street kept me thinking long after it was done. Sure I loved Subway and Crayon, but this was a story where it made me take into greater consideration the implications of the plot. More specifically, I found myself asking: what was the point of the boy not saying his fantasy to his father; could it have something to do with keeping his own sense of wonder as long as possible? Was that the lesson the father set out to teach in the first place? Even as I am revisiting my first reactions to the story, I am still trying to grapple with these ideas literally months later. As such, Street is a picture book I could definitely see as being enjoyed/analyzed by an age group beyond that of developing readers.

Of all the picture books I read in this category, Subway is hands down my favorite. As I have said in the past, I love visiting NYC with my dad. Given that, the theme of this book was right up my alley. Admittedly, the plot is nothing groundbreaking; it’s the simple story of a father taking his kids on the subway. For me, a basic plot can be excused if the art is pleasing. In that regard, Subway knocks it out of the park with painted images that are really great and eye-catching. So, for both how it reminds me of going to NYC with my father and it being as aesthetically pleasing as it is, Subway was my favorite picture book to read.

Back in 2018, I was one of my library's representatives at our town’s annual extravaganza. When we gave away free copies of Crayon to the children, I thought it looked like a good book at the time. Yet, I got sidetracked and never read it. Fast forward to now, and I definitely wish I had not waited as long to read it as I had. Most of all, I liked how whimsical it gets with all of the objects Harold draws when he leaves and tries to return back to his room. Because I was able to enjoy how crazy it gets, I am sure that kids reading this book would also be able to revel in the fact that literally anything could happen. Since all Harold has to do is draw an object and it comes to life, I would definitely incorporate this book into a lesson plan for an elementary school class where students can draw an object they would like to see Harold interact with next.