The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne, written by Jonathan Stroud. Yearling, Penguin Random House. 2021. $12.49 ages 12 and up

 

"The mists parted. There behind the woman, limping
extravagantly: a stocky man in a bowler hat and long 
gray coat, gun held ready at his side. 
"Albert," Scarlett said. "You need to come with me."
There was no response when she grabbed him by the 
sleeve. He was inert, a spent battery, a broken spring. 
He was still staring back toward the woman as Scarlett
wrenched him into action, pulled him with her toward
the arch, sweeping up her bags as she did so."

When I received a copy of The Notorious Scarlett and Browne last year, I spent some time looking for information about the book and its story. It seemed a book I would enjoy reading. But, wait! There was a first book in the promised trilogy, and I hadn't yet read anything about it. So, I got a copy and have just finished it. It has been a terrific incentive for me: I read it every day while pedalling a stationary bike as part of my therapy following knee replacement surgery. The second awaits. I am sure it will be just as compelling! 

First things first. Scarlett McCain is an accomplished bank robber, outrunning the law and keeping to herself as much as possible. When she rescues Albert Browne from a bus crash on the roadside, she has no idea that it will change her life in many ways. As they run from the armed men pursuing them, she realises they are not tracking her. They are after Albert, who has escaped from Stonemoor and Dr. Calloway, an evil woman who uses torture and cruel experiments on children who exhibit unusual powers that she can use for her own diabolical reasons. 

Their flight for freedom and safety for Albert lasts twelve days and is largely spent on a river raft whose pilot is a crochety old man with little charm, but needed and practical knowledge of the journey that will get them to the Free Isles. Joe hires his raft to anyone who can pay the price. He is caregiver for his young mute granddaughter. Just as Albert's unusual mental powers make him an outcast in a dystopian England, Effie is sure to be a target when she is recognized as being unable to speak. They are a motley crew. 

Their journey is wrought with the tension of the endless chase, giant birds, an unexpected meeting with the Tainted (cannibals who inhabit the wilds of this post-apocalyptic world), the social order established by the Faith Houses that have control over towns along the way, and the perils of the river itself. 

The cast of characters is strong, the barbed and often humorous conversations between Scarlett and Albert are engaging, and the constant danger keeps the reader on edge at every turn. The abilities of both Scarlett and Albert, though very different, are integral to the promise of more adventures to come. Readers will very much enjoy the spirited action, the powerful setting, and the relationship established through often laugh-out-loud dialogue.  

If you are looking for adventure and characters to admire, start with this first book and be prepared to move quickly to the next as I have just done. 

https://youtu.be/CmwsZ9q54ck?si=WrnZefKr6C6e7dcB

Partly Cloudy, written and illustrated by Deborah Freedman. Viking, Penguin Random House. 2024. $24.99 ages 6 and up

 

"Look at that one! 
Rapunzel!! Rapunzel!!
Let down your hair!

Those are CIRRUS 
clouds, and they 
are basically a lot of 
microscopic ice crystals.

CIRRUS is the Latin word 
for curl of hair." 

As the sun shines brightly this morning, there is no cloud in the sky. If there were clouds, I would use this quite remarkable and very informative book to help me make an identification! It seems the perfect book to have with you when you are out for a drive, or on a long trip. I would guess the more often you are able to name the type of cloud you are seeing, the more capable you will become at knowing what you are looking at! 

Two tiny rabbits are suitably intrigued by what they see when they look up, while outside playing. The spectacled one has the book needed to help them determine what type of cloud is there. The other is quick to provide a personal observation. The cloud is identified. A small inset note at the bottom of the spread offers further information. 

Similar conversations follow, with dramatic effect provided at every turn until the one in glasses is terrified by a BOOM of thunder, and the other explains:

Well, actually ... CUMULONIMBUS clouds 
are very scary. Because they can bring 
thunder, lightning, wind, hail, and even 
tornadoes, which I learned ... 

from YOU."

In the final spread, the two are enjoying a relaxed swing, while simply determining what the clouds they are seeing look like to them in the moment. The blue-sky watercolor backgrounds allow interested readers a chance to observe a clear look as each type is described, both imaginatively and scientifically. 

An author's note shares that she has always loved to paint clouds, and the learning she did to write a book about them. She follows her note with further back matter that includes how clouds form, the ten main types of clouds, the earth's water cycle, a list of resources for interested kids and a selected bibliography.                                                                                 

Cornbread and Poppy at the Museum, written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell. Little, Brown and Company, Hachette. 2023. $9.99 ages 5 and up

"As everyone had snacks and waited for the big 
announcement, Cornbread took this time to show
Poppy some of his favorite things about the museum.

The Toothbrushes Through Time!

"Um ... that's interesting, Cornbread," said 
Poppy unconvincingly."

Cornbread was also keen to show Poppy The Molds and Fungi! Then, the insect specimens!  Through it all Poppy is less than enthusiastic, and Cornbread is disappointed. He was sure she would love it all, just as he did. In a final attempt to truly impress her, he was about to show her 'the priceless, most delicate, perfumed (it smelled like flowers) porcelain Vase of Bagoo.'

Interrupted by a special announcement as the curtain is opened on The Bagoo Collection, they must focus their attention elsewhere. Amid collective gasps of admiration, Poppy is the only one to express her true opinion ... too fancy, by far. What happens next is a further upset for Cornbread, as Poppy garners the attention of the crowd. Why? You will have to check out this book from the library to find out.                                                                

This is their third book, and is totally in keeping with the tone and design of the first two. There are four chapters, all concerned with the Moonville Museum, Cornbread's favorite haunt. As in previous books, the best friend relationship between the two is paramount. Despite a setback, they find their way to a happy resolution.                                                                                                                                             

The book is full warmth and humor, and Matthew Cordell's expressive and eye-catching pen, ink and watercolor artwork.  Charming, proof positive that you can be fast friends when you don't share the same interests, just right for early readers, and much admired by those kids who love to read series books.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

ninitohtenan We Listen, by Caitlin Dale Nicholson with Leona Morin-Neilson. Groundwood Books, 2024. $23.99 ages 4 and up

 

"nohkom mosahkinam.    Nohkom picks.

nimosahkinenan.   We pick."

This third book in the Nohkom series begins in sunshine at the edge of a lake. The family has arrived and are waiting while Nohkom prepares. They have their own jobs to do before they head out walking with their mother and grandmother, gathering basket in hand. 

When Nohkom stops to listen, everyone stops. After a prayer, Nohkom shows her daughter and young granddaughters where to find the leaves they will need to brew Labrador tea. Together, they pick. Once back at the lake, there is time for rest. As the adults sit, the young ones throw themselves into the cool waters of the lake. 

When the tea is made, it's time for a picnic. Everyone eats, while talking and sharing stories. The girls listen and then do their own talking while they wait in the car to return home. 

Their story is simply told in Cree (including the syllabic form) and English at the bottom of each light-infused and lovely spread. The artwork appeals in every way ... acrylic paintings are textured and give readers a real feeling for the shared outing on a gorgeous summer day. A recipe for Labrador tea and one for an ointment made using Labrador tea leaves are included.   

This book is an exceptional connection to Indigenous culture and love of the land and its many gifts. The first two books in the series are I Wait (2017) and I Help (2018).

Olive, written and illustrated by Jed Alexander. Creston Books, Firefly. 2023. $25.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Who is the real giant in this wordless
story inspired by Jack and the Beanstalk?"

Following up on the first two books in this color series, Red (2018) and Gold (2022), Jed Alexander uses a gorgeous soft green to tell the story of a plucky young girl and her adventures in the sky. 

Her home sits in a field of green, surrounded by flowers and garden beds. A bird with a small green seed in its mouth, flies above the title on said page and dramatically drops it in the flower bed. The next double-page spread shows the growth of that tiny seed into far-reaching roots and a budding plant. Readers can see the immensity of the tree trunk before the page is turned. 

A small girl, dressed in signature green shirt, emerges from the house, looks up; a turn of the book to vertical shows the enormity of the tree. Next images show the child climbing higher and ever-higher, until above her stands a giant in green shorts and t-shirt. Their eyes meet, the child is held carefully by huge hands, and carried from the giant's garden to be placed inside a plate that holds her meal.

As the giant eats, the child sits and watches until encouraged to try a bite. Once her hunger is sated, the two are off on a day of wild adventure. To keep the child from danger, the giant ties her to her with a long strand of  hair. This allows all manner of movement for the two of them. As happens, exhaustion kicks in; the child is tucked under a leaf for the night. Morning sunshine brings a return home for the child, and a warm hello to a tiny mouse found in the flowers there. 

What an incredible perspective change! 

Kids who know the Jack and the Beanstalk story will recognize some similarities and be able to talk about them. They will also be inspired to ponder the concept of giant. Who is the real one in this sensational book? Bravo, Jed Alexander ... you have done it again!                                                                         

They Hold the Line: Wildfires, Wildlands, and the Firefighters Who Brave Them. Written by Dan Paley and illustrated by Molly Mendoza. Chronicle Books, Raincoast. $26.99 ages 8 and up

 

"... It is an elite hotshot handcrew. It
plans and prepares for fire. Crew
members are called hotshots because
they work on the hottest part of a fire. 

They do not slide down poles or ride 
in shiny red trucks. They are hikers
and campers - part lumberjack, part 
mountain goat. They are stewards of 
the land." 

They are in the news already this spring. Wildfires are happening because of the lack of winter snow cover and the drought-like conditions in fall 2023. Firefighters are at work to do their best to protect people, their homes and the vast acres of land that are in the path of the raging fires. 

It seems a very appropriate time to remind readers about the training given and incredible bravery that those who 'hold the line' display as they work for the safety of all threatened by these wildfires. Dan Paley does an impressive job of talking about the many facets of watching for, and fighting fires. A lookout stands in a tall tower, spending the day keeping watch for threatening storms and the wisps of smoke that might signal a fire. 

With each turn of the page, readers learn more about the important work done to discover, fight and control all fires. The teams support each other as they do their best to ensure rapid response and stop the advance of the destruction. It is dangerous and exhausting work. He describes the firefighters themselves, their equipment, their methods, and the support they receive as they get the rest they need to begin their next shift. 

"Wildland firefighters work 16-hour days, 14 days in a row, with 1-hour rest periods for every two hours of work. This is called a roll. In peak season, they might work 18 to 24 hours a day, often straight through the night." 

Molly Mendoza does an incredible job of creating intense scenes that show the action and emotion of firefighting, as well as the special equipment used for the work these brave women and men do. Digitally created details hold attention and pinpoint many distinct features for the breadth of the work undertaken. Most are double-page spreads that are overlaid with text boxes referring to specific additional information, or labeled points of interest. 

Back matter is extensive, describing fire ecology, the history of fire management, and a new approach that teaches how to live with the threat of fire and help develop fire-resilient communities. Further to that, there is a description of the people who choose firefighting as a career, a clear and labeled look at the protective equipment used, lists of 10 standard firefighting orders and 18 watch out situations, and finally, personal fire-related notes from both author and illustrator. 

Extensive and informative, this excellent book is worthy of attention and sharing as another fire season has begun.                                                                            

                                                                                 

The Fastest Drummer: Clap Your Hands for Viola Smith, written by Dean Robbins and illustrated by Susanna Chapman. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2024. $23.99 ages 7 and up

"Thirteen-year-old Viola loved watching 
other bands on stage, especially the drummers. 

After each show, she introduced herself and 
asked for musical advice. 

"How do you make your hands and 
feet work well togethter?""

There were six sisters in the Smith Family Orchestra when Viola was growing up; five already had an instrument to play. Would Viola choose to play the drums? It wasn't easy in the beginning. She made a lot of noise, and had great difficulty keeping the beat as her sisters played. With help from her father and practice, Viola was soon joining in as the family entertained audiences with jazzy sounds in their own hometown ballroom. 

Each girl was given a chance to shine. Viola was always keen to entertain with music that was bold, flashy and fast! By the 1920s eight sisters were part of the group that travelled throughout the Midwest for growing audiences. Viola learned as she went, seeking advice from drummers she admired and persisting with practice to get better and better. When her sisters lost interest, Viola did not. Her love for music never waned. 

It was not a good time for women who wanted to live life as a musician. They were discriminated against in favor of men. So, Viola organized her own women's band: The Coquettes! One sister joined them. In doing so, Viola changed the way drums were played while the Coquettes gained fame and fortune. Viola was a hit, and used her fame to help other women find a life in music. Viola led the way! 

"In 2000, America celebrated Viola 
as a musical legend. 

But she wasn't done yet. 

At the age of 100 [in 2012], she was 
still slamming her snare and socking 
her cymbals." 

Using watercolor, gouache, cut paper and a digital zhuzh, Susanna Chapman created artwork that is as jazzy as the music Viola so loved.  Her spreads are filled with wild movement, endless sound and the expressive emotion that Viola brought to her playing. There is such joy on every page! 

Back matter includes an informative author's note, and lists of musical terms and resources.