kira-kira

Kadohata, C. (2006). Kira-Kira. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Paperback | $6.29 USD | ISBN-13: 978-0689856402 | 272 pages | Juvenile | Ages 10 & up

This 2005 Newbery Medal Winner book is about a family that moved from Iowa to a Japanese community of 31 people in the Deep South of Georgia. Younger sister Katie narrates the story – prior to the move her biggest struggle was keeping track of her doll named “Bera-Bera.” The family had to move because Katie’s dad was to begin working at a chicken hatchery. Lynn and Katie are best friends. Lynn is Katie’s older sister; they are inseparable. They share everything including dreams of the future. Katie is always trying to keep up with Lynn who is a genius. Upon arrival in Georgia, things are different for the family. Their dad works a lot of hours and their mom has to work as well, overtime if possible. The family is saving to buy their own house, and even the girls help with that secretly. Soon Katie has a little brother to take care of and she begins school herself. Lynn, who is always looking out for her, warns her that some people might not be so nice to her. Katie is growing up and will learn things that she doesn’t know much about, such as racism and discrimination. On a trip to work with her mom she hears the phrase “trying to unionize” and her mother scolds her for asking about it. But then Lynn’s focus changes because Lynn gets sick and Katie has to care for her. Lynn’s health is better some days and worse others. The family gets their new house, but struggles to pay the bills for Lynn’s illness as well as the mortgage. Taking care of Lynn is a difficult task because Lynn does not make it – Katie is on her own to fulfill her dreams and she feels she must live up to the promised expectations of Lynn. The entire family, but especially Katie, must deal with Lynn’s illness and death and the parents must deal with difficult work experiences with little or no worker’s rights. This book has won many awards (listed below) and it is no wonder why – every library should own a copy as children and adults of all ages will enjoy reading this Japanese family’s story of love, togetherness, struggle and survival in rural Georgia. Highly recommended for public libraries and K-12 school libraries.

Awards and Honors for kira-kira:

·      ALA Notable Children's Books

·      Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature

·      Blue Spruce YA Book Award Nominee

·      Booklinks Lasting Connections

·      Booklist Editors' Choice

·      Capitol Choices List (DC)

·      Cooperative Children's Book Council Choices

·      Charlotte Award Reading List (NY)

·      Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award master

·      Garden State Teen Book Award nominee

·      Junior Library Guild selection

·      Kiriyama Prize Notable Book

·      KSRC Middle School Titles, Top Pick

·      Nene Award Master List (HI)

·      NYPL “Books for the Teen Age”

·      Pacific Northwest Young Reader’s Choice Award Master List

·      Thumbs Up! Award Master List (MI)

For libraries with diverse populations, kira-kira is also available in simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Italian, Romanian, Serbian, Spanish, Thai, and Vietnamese. To read more about kira-kira, or to listen to an audio clip of the story, please visit Kadohata’s website.

We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy: Two Nursery Rhymes with Pictures

Sendak, M. (1993). We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy: Two Nursery Rhymes with Pictures. New York: HarpersCollins. 

Hardback | $19.98 USD | ISBN-13: 978-0062050144| 56 pgs | Picture Book | Ages 4-8 yrs

Using two nursery rhymes as backdrop, this picture book discusses through illustrations and actions the difficult issue of homelessness.  It is everywhere in our world and in this story we see how the innocent are impacted. Homelessness is attached with a certain stereotype, and this book defies these. There is no happy ending. The two main characters, who are children, never make it to safety – they are stranded on the streets and live a difficult life. They walk past so many faceless homeless people who are sleeping in cardboard boxes or barely clothed without shoes. We in society do this as well. Jack and Guy decide however, despite their tough exterior and despite having barely anything themselves, to take one more under their wing who is down in the dumps too. Essentially, these children are taking care of each other. And their living conditions represent the ills of society including poverty, crime, pollution, and hunger. In the first part of the story, the children are outside with only the moon watching them. The rats in the story gamble and play for the rights to take the children away. They represent the filth of society – they are not part of the solution and are greedy over their own possession and positions in life. In the second part of the story, the two characters encounter another fellow down in the dumps.  They decide to help him and give him some bread, but this is just temporary because their conditions do not change.

The words on the pages are few and far between. You, the reader, are forced to write the story on your own. The symbolism is there in the illustrations and the cartoon bubbles and even on the newspapers, which clothe and cover the children. At the end of the story readers will be asking: Why are there children on the streets? Who is watching them? Who is responsible for them?  Why do their homes have no walls? These questions will be raised in your mind and perhaps more. Perhaps while reading your heart will break for the characters and you will be pushed towards action. The reminders of these social problems in our world through this picture book are what some children may need to start asking difficult questions about the world around them. The reminders are also what some adults may need to reconsider their own ideas and actions about those who are less fortunate and “down in the dumps.” All readers will interpret this differently and that is the point of Sendak’s work: to get you to interpret and think about the real world as it exists around you.  Ultimately, perhaps the goal is to get the reader to realize that “We are all in the dumps…” when just one of us is in the dumps. I would recommend this book for all readers of all ages – we all must work to become more mindful of our fellow man. The newspaper headlines throughout the book tell it all and the moon’s face of disgust is telling. What are those watching us from above thinking about how we have treated and supported one another? Sendak wants us to consider this and does a great job holding the reader responsible. To browse the inside of this book and take a closer look at the artwork, please visit: http://www.harpercollins.com/browseinside/index.aspx?isbn13=9780062050144.  

Donovan's Big Day

Newman, Leslea. (2011). Donovan’s Big Day. Berkeley: Tricycle Press.  

Hardcover | $15.99 | ISBN-13: 978-1-58246-332-2.  | 32 pages. | Age 4-7 yrs.

This picture book intended for young readers, ages 4-7 years, goes through Donovan’s entire day and all the important things he must do on his parent’s wedding day.  Donovan begins by waking up in the morning and he gets out of bed before being yelled at because he realizes he must be well behaved and must be helpful too. He has to feed the dog and clean up after himself after breakfast. He has to wash up and also get dressed up in some fancy clothes.  These are all usual tasks and he has no problems doing them.  He has to keep special care of a small satin box on the inside of his jacket pocket. He has to behave in his Uncle’s car and sit between his cousins without causing any problems. He is very excited once he arrives at the ceremony and runs inside to see everyone.  He knows he must talk to all the grown ups and greet all the guests.  Finally, he walks down the aisle and quietly listens to the ceremony. He is the ring bearer at the wedding of his two moms.

Newman’s picture book treats this big wedding day like it was any other wedding day. While reading and going over the activities of Donovan’s Big Day, you do not get the feeling that it is any different to have two brides who are getting married. All the activities of the day are exactly the same. There is still a lot for Donovan to do and he knows how important his job is. The book teaches a young boy how to be a ring bearer. It is important for a kid at this young age to not feel different or judged. At this young age, kids do not need a book about how it is okay to have two moms that get married or how it is okay to have two dads in love. They need a book just like the rest of the kids – a book that simply tells a story while showing a family’s love. It was cute that it was Donovan’s job to “kiss the brides” at the end of the story. Donovan had a big role to play and he does exactly what he has to do. It didn’t matter who was getting married – it was only important that Donovan was there and that he has two parents who love him.

This juvenile picture book would be useful in any library or community with a lot of same-sex marriages or unions. This way the children in these families would be able to see how their families are the same as the other families. Ultimately, this book is about family and the love within. Donovan’s Big Day was nominated for the 2012 Rainbow Book List and that list can be accessed here: http://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/archives/953.

Leslea Newman is the award-winning author for Mommy, Mama and Me and Heather has Two Mommies according to the front cover of Donovan’s Big Day. Newman has been earning awards for her writing for quite a long time.  She has won awards for her picture books, novels, as well as for several poems that she has published.  For more info about her publications & awards, please visit http://www.lesleakids.com/publications.html. For more information about Leslea Newman, please visit her official website at http://www.lesleakids.com/aboutleslea.html.