As 2016 comes to a close, Port Moody Public Library’s youth services librarians are busy compiling their lists of the best books of the year. Here are some of the highlights from a fantastic year in children’s publishing.
What are you running from? Castle “Ghost” Crenshaw has been running ever since his alcoholic father almost shot his mother when she was attempting to escape their apartment with her son. His father in jail and his mother working long hours at the hospital cafeteria, Ghost is alone with his anger. In trouble at school, the only thing he feels he is good at is running away. When he sees the tryouts for an elite running team, he decides to show them a thing or two about speed. To his surprise, the coach, a former Olympian, puts him on the team and teaches him that instead of always running away, he can run towards something. Ghost by Jason Reynolds is a sensitive, important story for kids in Grades 4 and up.
I Am Not a Number by Dr. Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer is based on the true story of co-author Dupuis’ grandmother’s experience at a residential school. Irene is only eight years old when she is taken away from her beloved family to a school full of strangers. She is separated from her brothers, her long hair is roughly cut, she is fed awful food, punished for speaking her language and, most humiliating of all, her own name is taken away and replaced with a number. Despite these degradations, Irene holds on to her memories of home and who she is. When she returns to her parents for summer vacation, her father decides to hide his children away. But what will happen when the government agent comes in the fall? This powerful true story is an excellent introduction to the history of residential schools for Grades 1 and up.
When the Sea Turned to Silver is the latest from Newbery award-winner Grace Lin. Pinmei and her grandmother live together in a village high in the mountains. Pinmei is as quiet as a mouse but her grandmother, the storyteller, is as bold as a summer day. She knows all the stories and knows the best time to share them. Their peace is shattered when the emperor comes to take the men away to build his wall and kidnaps her grandmother. Pinmei and her friend must use all their courage and wit to find the emperor’s coveted Luminous Stone That Lights the Night to trade for her grandmother’s life. This Chinese folklore-inspired tale shows the power of story. Highly recommended for Grades 2 and up.
How do animals see? What if they don’t have eyes? What if they see with their ears? In the clever picture book They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel, a cat goes on a walk and is “seen” by a variety of animals, including an earthworm, a bat, a skunk, a goldfish and a bumblebee. The illustrations ingeniously display how each of the animals interprets the world around them using different senses. The mouse sees the cat as a vicious, malevolent creature. The skunk sees colourful smells in world of black and white. The earthworm feels the vibrations of cat walking on the ground above and infers the shape of a cat. This is a fantastic picture book for all ages certain to spark the imagination of young scientists.
Find these and other great reads of 2016 at your local library.
A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published on Wednesdays. Corene Maret Brown works at Port Moody Public Library.
