Early Book Review: A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid by Sara O'Leary, Qin Leng

A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid, written by Sara O'Leary and illustrated by Qin Leng,  is a picturebook currently scheduled for release on August 3 2001. 

Being the new kid is hard, a child in the school playground tells us. I can think of better things to ask than if I’m a boy or a girl. Another child comes along and says she gets asked why she always has her nose in a book. Someone else gets asked where they come from. One after another, children share the questions they’re tired of being asked again and again — as opposed to what they believe are the most important or interesting things about themselves. As they move around the playground, picking up new friends along the way, there is a feeling of understanding and acceptance among them. And in the end, the new kid comes up with the question they would definitely all like to hear: “Hey kid, want to play?”

A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid is a wonderful book, and a follow up to the equally well done A Family is a Family is a Family. It shows that everyone is different. Yes we all look different, like different things, have different skills, have different experiences. However, and more importantly, we are also all the same. We all want acceptance, friendship, and fun. I think the book handles this simple, but oh so important idea very well and the books makes for an enjoyable and thought provoking read for all readers. I think this is an important read, and one that could be shared in many classroom and other group settings with a positive response and as a great conversation starter for those that might be struggling.

Early Book Review: Check Please!: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu

Check Please!: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu is the first graphic novel in a two volume series for new and young adults, and older readers of course. It is currently scheduled for release on September 18 2018. 

Bitty may be a former junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and very talented pie maker, but being a freshman on the Samwell University hockey team is a whole new challenge. It’s nothing like co-ed club hockey back in Georgia! First of all? There’s checking. And then, there is there is Jack—our very attractive but moody captain. This volume is a collection of the first half of the webcomic series of the same name. It is a coming-of-age story about hockey, bros, and trying to find yourself during what could be the best four years of your life.

Check Please!: #Hockey is a graphic novel that tackles the fears of fitting in, especially when you are different, or do not conform to gender expectations. Bitty is not just gay, he also bakes like a dream, has a video blog, was a figure skater, and faints at the thought of getting checked on the ice rink. I worried that the character was going to be too stereotypical, but I was glad to get the story from his perspective, and was easily lost in his story. I felt like his journey toward being comfortable with himself, and sharing that with his team when he was ready. There were places I wanted more information, or a peek at someone else's mindset. However, the story was well done and captured my attention while leaving me wanting more. I thought the artwork was a great match to the story. I thought it did a good job of covering some of the good and bad of college life without getting too caught up in any one aspect. 

Check Please!: #Hockey is a fun and heart warming story, with a nice variety of characters and challenges that are tackled with light-hearted, hopeful, and realistic. My only complaint is that While left hopeful, I was left with a bit of a cliffhanger, wondering how things will work out. I will be checking out the next volume. 

Early Book Review: The Steves by Morag Hood

The Steves is a picturebook written by Morag Hood. It is currently scheduled for release on September 1 2018. When puffin Steve meets puffin Steve, neither can believe it. Surely one of them must be the first Steve, the best Steve, the Stevest of Steves, but is a name really worth fighting over? 

The Steves is a well drawn picturebook with bright, entertaining illustrations of puffins. Steve and Steve are arguing over who is the best Steve, the first Steve. The bickering starts of fun and entertaining, but I have to admit that it crossed a line for me. It started of with simple argument about who introduced themselves first, who was stronger, and so on. But it dissolved into insults that I would not want to introduce to young readers or have them mimic. At one point one Steve makes fun of the other's feet and he retaliates but saying the first Steve smells like poo. Not something I want to model to young readers, even if the two Steves do apologize to each other and make up by the end. I loved the art and the intent, but the insults rather ruined the book for me. 

Early Book Review: My Best Friend is a Goldfish by Mark Lee, Chris Jevons

My Best Friend is a Goldfish by Mark Lee, with contributions from Chris Jevons, is currently scheduled for release on April 1 2018.  After arguing with his best friend about which game to play, a boy decides its time to find a new best friend. So he tries to becoming friends with his dog, his cat, and his goldfish. He learns to eat on the floor with his dog, take naps with his cat, and watch the world from underwater with his goldfish. But none of these animals measure up to his true best friend, and he has to learn the very important lesson that being different from each other doesn't mean you can't still be the best of friends.

My Best Friend is a Goldfish is a fun story that show how two friends might not always agree, but they can still be best friends and enjoy each other's company. I like that the story is told equally through the illustrations and the text. It is in the illustrations that we see the boy and his friend playing, but not quite as happily as they had hoped. His journey of exploring the things he shares with his pets and how some things they both like, and others not so much. I enjoyed that it is a journey many kids could make, or have made, and not one that someone explained to him. I think this makes the lesson more accessible and acceptable to the young readers. I think the story is one that every one can relate to, and enjoy. It was a wonderful and fun read.