May Nakamura

Yayoi's mother wants her to be a traditional lady but she dreams of making fantastic art -- and then she makes that dream come true!

This was a very interesting and informative read about this artist's life and work. While it is in an early reader format, it is one of those early readers with short chapters that really serve to bridge between those more basic books into longer chapter books. It contains a great deal of information covering all the details of Kusama's early life and upbringing to her years as an artist.

This book also does not shy away from difficult topics, including male artists taking more than inspiration from her work without crediting her, Kusama not being invited to top artistic gatherings, and her struggles with mental illness. The latter is addressed somewhat vaguely; as an adult, I knew exactly what was meant when the text said Kusama and her doctors decided it was best for her to live in a hospital permanently (especially after earlier pages made reference to her hallucinations), but younger readers might not quite understand. Still, I think that is is important to see this representation in children's literature.

Colorful illustrations help to tell Kusama's tale. Backmatter includes mini biographies of other famous female artists (although the selection seems a bit random), more information and prompts about art styles, tidbits about Japan and its culture, and some questions to test readers' knowledge.

This book seems like a great addition for any public library, art classroom, or personal libraries of families that enjoy the artistic world or learning about different kinds of people.… (more)

Fans of CoComelon will recognize this one right away, but even those who don't know the show will have no trouble getting involved, since it follows a very popular children's song.

Shaped like a bus, this board book caught my eye right away. It's a little more robust and will take some abuse from younger listeners. The song, The Wheels on the Bus, is one that many kids already know and this book allows them to sing each verse, while watching what happens with JJ on the bus. Of course, he has some adventures on the side, too, and this adds another level to the entire tale.

The illustrations are bright and cheerful. JJ's excitement is palpable on every page and makes it hard not to smile. The speech bubbles are in their own, colored boxes, while the verse for the son is written more into the illustrations with a musical style.

It's a fun book and a nice way to get kids involved as the read and sing. I received an ARC and enjoyed the book quite a bit.… (more)

This book tells the true story of a friendly cat who was made the honorary mayor of a small town in Alaska.

Stubbs, a cat who lives in a store, is jokingly called the mayor in a town with a population of fewer than 900 people. However, because that town is often a stopping place for tourists on their way to Denali, Stubbs is visited by many people from all over the world. When Stubbs grew older, his people also brought home two kittens, Aurora and Denali, and he had to adjust to life with the newcomers.

This book is a great one for beginner readers who are ready to tackle something a wee bit longer and more difficult than the earliest of early readers. It shows how nonfiction can be as engrossing as fiction by highlighting a fun but true story. The place-specific names are given a quick pronunciation guide in the text, which is helpful for all readers, to be honest.

The book ends with some additional facts about Alaska and about cats. Illustrations throughout are saturated with colors and show a diverse group of people. Cat lovers will recognize common cat poses in the portrayal of Stubbs and the kittens.… (more)