“Sankofa: A Culinary Story of Resilience and Belonging,” is an inspired new release from Eric Adjepong, with cool illustrations by Lala Watkins (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House, 2023, ages 4 and up, $19.99). This story is based on the childhood stories of the author, who is from Ghana and grew up in New York City. Recipe for Jollof Rice (so delicious) is included in the back of the book. Adjepong is also known as a celebrity chef. He was a finalist on Bravo’s “Top Chef,” and is the host of “Alex Vs. America” on the Food Network.

“The Power of Yeti,” by Rebecca Van Slyke, with illustrations by G. Brian Karas, is a fun new picture book for all ages. (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin Random House, 2023, $18.99.) Learning to tie your shoes? Not a problem, small-footed human, when you have a Yeti friend to help.

Amy June Bates (“The Big Umbrella”) has a new book on the shelves: “The Welcome Home.” (A Paula Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023, ages 4-8, $18.99.) Introducing the Gargleson-Bittles, who are missing a little something in their home. What could it be? You may be surprised by this one. Dreamy, soft illustrations and an engaging story.

Have a wonderful rest of your week, everyone.

WM

“Saving H’Non: Chang and the Elephant”: Great new graphic novel, based on a true story, about animal conservation. (Trang Nguyen and Jeet Zdung, Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House, 2023, 128 pages, $13.99.)

“Little Bear (You Are the Light)”: Awwwww… sweet new board book for the littles, about a mama and baby, living their best lives… catching fish… sniffing honey… from author Lisa Edwards and illustrator Kat Kalini. (Viking/Penguin Random House, 2023, $7.99.)

“Jose and Feliz Play Futbol” is the newest release in this sweet, bilingual (Spanish and English) chapter book series from Susan Rose, Silvia Lopez and Gloria Felix. (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House, 2023, all ages, $9.99.) Includes a list of Spanish words and phrases.

“Flubby Does Not Like Snow,” is the latest in the Flubby series (words I have never before said), by J.E. Morris. Flubby is a sweet fluffy cat who would rather be inside than out in the cold, but his friend Kami is ready to play. We will have to see how this goes! (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House, 2023, all ages, $9.99.)

“Cory and the Seventh Story,” a tale of diverse neighbors trying — and failing — to get along, is from authors Brian D. McLaren (a speaker and activist) and Gareth Higgins (a storyteller and writer who grew up near Belfast, Northern Ireland. Anita Schmidt, an artist from northern Germany, designed beautiful art for this picture book. (Convergent Books/Random House, 2023, all ages, $13.99.) Peace/love/understanding/please.

St. John’s Wort, Willamette Valley (Photo by Rawley/use with permission only, please)

Good afternoon, dear ones. That’s St. John’s Wort, a very useful plant that grows wildly in my front yard. I barely noticed it this summer. It was hot and dry, and I watered daily, but didn’t get as much water on some of the plants as I would have liked. That pic is from Independence Day, 2022, and it bloomed maybe half as much this year. We will see about next year.

I need some wildcrafters to come by and help harvest it next time it blooms, because I have no idea what to do with the stuff. It helps with all kinds of conditions.

OK, what’s up with y’all this week? It’s raining here. There? Everywhere? As always, praying for peace. Send love out there into the universe, would you, please?

Picture books today, an interesting set:

“Beulah Has a Hunch! Inside the Colorful Mind of Beulah Louise Henry” is a new biography written and illustrated by the incomparable Katie Mazeika. It is scheduled for release Oct. 17, 2023. (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, 2023, all ages, $18.99.) This great nonfiction picture book introduces readers to Beulah Louise Henry (1887-1973). First time I had heard about this cool inventor, who had both hyperphantasia (when you see things in your mind in extreme detail)and synesthesia (where you brain routes things through two or more senses simultaneously, like being able to “taste” words, or linking color with numbers).

This one looks fun. “Zilot & Other Important Rhymes,” written by one of my favorite actors, Bob Odenkirk, with illustrations by his talented and lovely daughter Erin Odenkirk (Little, Brown, 2023, $18.99). Whimsy and cheer for all ages.

“The Seasons Within Me” is a fantastic book about dealing with moods, brought to us by the skilled artist/author Bianca Pozzi. (Rise x Penguin Workshop, 2023, all ages, $18.99.) A little girl feels alone, in the rain and cold, until a dog comes long and changes life for both of them.

“Mouse & Giraffe” is another thoughtful picture book about friendship, and misunderstandings. Kelly DiPucchio wrote this one, with illustrations by Jen Corace that remind me of a longtime favorite, Richard Scarry. (Viking/Penguin Random House, 2023, $18.99.)

I’ll start this next review with a warning, listed in the back of the new science book “Fungi Grow”: “Warning! NEVER eat mushrooms that you’ve found outside unless their identity is verified by a mycologist, an expert in mushrooms. The mushrooms could be poisonous. Many poisonous mushrooms look very similar to edible ones.” (Quote used with permission.) This book — with beautiful art and so many science facts — will be released Oct. 17, 2023 (written by Maria Gianferrari, with illustrations by Diana Sudyka; Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster; 2023; all ages; $18.99).

This has been a great year for kid and young adult books, and this week’s picks are no exception.

“Barely Floating,” by Lilliam Rivera (Penguin Young Readers, 2023, middle grades and up, 229 pages, $18.99) caught me off guard. I don’t know what it is about this particular young adult novel, or the others I’m reviewing this week, but this… unexpectedness… seems to be a common thread with the new fiction on the shelves for young adults. Pretty amazing stuff.

In “Barely Floating,” our angry young heroine, Natalia de la Cruz Rivera y Santiago, wants to compete with the local synchronized swimming team. The L.A. Mermaids are the coolest, but Natalia’s parents, being parents, don’t understand. Her cousin has an even bigger secret. Great story, with well-rounded characters.

“Kin: Rooted in Hope” is a heartbreak, gorgeous, inspiring book from mother and son team Carole Boston Weatherford and Jefferey Boston Weatherford. (Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster, 2023, middle grades and up, 202 pages, $18.99). Combining Carole’s poems and Jefferey’s art, “Kin” is an extraordinary book about family, ancestry, roots, love and hate and always, hope.

“Give Me A Sign” is a love story set at a camp for Deaf teenagers. Sweet and thoughtful debut novel by Anna Sortino. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2023, ages middle grade and up, 303 pages, $18.99.)

Kaija Langley’s “Order of Things” an exquisite novel written in free verse, introduces us to best friends April and Zee. We learn about their mutual love of music, meet their parents and their community, and discover there are some challenges no one should have to face alone. Poignant and real. (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin Random House, 2023, ages middle grade and up, 269 pages, $17.99.)

We have another knock-out of a novel, “The Quiet and the Loud,” from Australian author Helena Fox (Dial Books/Penguin Random House, 2023, ages middle grade and up, 380 pages, $19.99). George loves to paddle in the quiet water, alone and content. Who can blame her? Laz, her best friend, worries about everything because the world, as we know, truly is going to hell. (Love you, Laz. You’re right, and it all sucks.) George’s other BFF is Tess, who is being pretty nonchalant about impending teen motherhood; she has her mums; her gramps; her dad-gone-missing who has suddenly reappeared and… Calliope. Calliope, who does handstands and cartwheels through the water.

Trigger warnings for all of these books, but also? So much love.

Have a great week, friends. Keep reading.

WM

Toddler mommies are under a lot of stress. I remember. It’s been a few years, but oh, I remember. My trick was telling the kids they were having snacks, “not dinner!”, appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, canapes, oh so many fancy words for “not dinner.”

They weren’t keen on dinner, my two — the commitment, the conversation, the all-being-seated-together gah i need to run *around* the table, mama, not sit still at it! Gotta go, Spocky! And off they’d run.

But snacks? Appetizers? A charcuterie board? That, they liked.

Additionally, everyone laughs at ya because hahaha it isn’t like they eat very much! How hard can it be, they’re so tiny and cute. Your job, though, parents, is stressful. Because you have to keep them alive. Mommies of littles? Daddies of littles? I love you, I support you, and I wish I was there to fix you dinner.

“Dinnertime SOS,” fresh off the press, is a delight and will help you, I promise. (Created by Amy Palanjian, Rodale Books/Penguin Random House, 2023, all ages, 100 glorious recipes, 255 pages, $28.) So many good ones, including Skillet Lasagna, Broccoli Melts, and a yummy Family Charcuterie Board. (Now you’re talking.) Tips on being creative with leftovers and all kinds of fun stuff.

Homemade Pesto

Makes: About 1 cup

1 cup lightly packed basil leaves

1 cup lightly packed parsley leaves

1/4-1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds

Fine sea salt

In a blender or food processor combine the basil, parsley, 1/4 cup of the olive oil, Parmesan, and sunflower seeds. Blend until smooth, adding the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil as needed to make a velvety mixture. Season with salt. Transfer to an airtight freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.

NOTES

• Use baby spinach in place of the herbs for a more mellow-flavored pesto.
• Add 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavor.

Recipe courtesy of Amy Palanjian; reprinted here with the author’s permission.

I say this, and I say it sincerely, Bon appetit, babies!

WM

“Amy Wu and the Ribbon Dance,” by Kat Zhang, with illustrations by Charlene Chua (Simon & Schuster, 2023, ages 4 and up, $18.99) is the fourth book in this sweet series about one Miss Amy Wu. She is Chinese American and goes at life with gusto. She’s kinda my hero.

Several books have arrived lately that deal with grief, loss and trauma. “Mouseboat,” written by Larissa Theule, with pictures by Abigail Halpin, is one. (Viking, 2023, all ages, $18.99.) A young girl heads to the comfort of the water to deal with the loss of her mother.

“The wind is your voice. You whisper to me. I can’t understand what you’re saying.”

Thoughtful and beautiful book. I hope it finds its way into the hands of people who need it. It’s so good. Also recommended to help readers whose family or friends are dealing with grief. The illustrations are lovely.

“My Cat Does Ballet” is a lighthearted new picture book that will be released Oct. 17th. Written by Robert Heidbreder, and illustrated by Matt Schu, this book is beyond delightful. (Atheneum, 2023, all ages, $18.99.) Fun that the author name-drops and introduces readers to famous dancers, and the ballet terms are a big help.

Sometimes I take it for granted, that publishers send me all of these cool books in the mail and I get to read them, review them, share them. I keep a few for my library, but I pass most of them along to friends, other teachers, students, neighbors. Books/books/more books. (I do not take payment or bribes, lol, for my book reviews. Not into “product placement.” It’s just a labor of love, and I don’t make any money from it.)

Some days, though, ah, some days I spend just a little extra time counting my blessings… because it’s a sweet life, getting so many review copies in the mail. Y’all know I love books. Especially when it’s a copy of “One Smart Cookie,” the new Norma and Belly book by Mika Song (RH Graphic, 2023, all ages, 99 pages, $12.99). Do you know this series? It’s a comic book series, and this is the fourth book. Yay for graphic novels, they’re a pretty, pretty cool art form. Belly and Norma are squirrels on a quest for snacks. Yes, they’ll do whatever it takes. Wouldn’t you?

Also a fan of Rob Hodgson’s “When Moon Became the Moon” (Rise x Penguin Workshop, 2023, all ages, 64 pages, $18.99). It’s written in a style called “long form picture book.” It’s a picture book, only fancier and with more details. So let’s learn about the moon and the sun, lightness and darkness and how it all works.

Like little kids, and big kids, I enjoy knowing all the facts, and asking loads of questions. This book makes me happy. The art is so cool, and I love how the facts are laid out.

You will also find inspiration with Mazie McGear, the hero, engineer, and all-round excellent helper from “Mazie’s Amazing Machines.” Her fave tool? The crank drill. Woot! This title was written by Sheryl Haft and illustrated by Jeremy Holmes. (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin Random House, 2023, ages 4 and up, $18.99). Mazie’s awesome machines include the “Food-O-Matic,” the “Roly Ramp,” the “Teeter Lever” and others.

Bon appetit, loves. Keep reading.

WM

(Oregon sky, Portland suburbs; photo by Rawley, use with permission only)

Fun books for fall, let’s go!

Hello, Paw Patrol fans, I know you’re out there. You will like these titles from Nickelodeon, friends. “Skye’s Time to Fly” (A Little Golden Book, 2023, $5.99); “Power Up, Pups!” (Step Into Reading, Step 2, 2023, $5.99); “The Junior Patrollers” (Random House, 2023, $5.99); “The Official Storybook” (Random House, 2023, $12.99); and the very cool “Official Activity Book,” with puzzles, posters and stickers (Golden Books, 2023, $7.99).

“Are You Mad at Me?” by Tyler Feder, with art by Cody Feder (sisters and best friends), is a helpful picture book about a twitchy ostrich, Opal. (Rocky Pond Books, 2023, ages 5 and up, $18.99.) You know when you feel like everyone is mad at you, even when maybe (definitely, positively) they’re not? That’s Opal. Her family calls it “the noodles” because Opal, when she worries (and she worries about almost everything) gets a wobbly neck. Vivid, sweet art, and a great story. Listen to one who’s been there — it’s never too early to start talking about good, strong mental health.

“See You On the Other Side,” written by Rachel Montez Minor, with illustrations by Mariyah Rahman (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2023, $18.99). This beautifully illustrated picture book is a loving, thoughtful book about saying goodbye to those we care about, while still feeling their presence.

Besos y abrazos and talk more this week!

WM

(Photo by Nancy Ellen Rawley; use with permission only, please)

A few of these fall crocus have popped up, in the six years we’ve lived here. But last year? Huge, vibrant, gorgeous patches of them everywhere. I think the chicken poop is paying off.

I started making a list the other day, in my journal, of my favorite books from college. I majored in English, so you know we read a little bit. And then a little bit more. Here’s the stash:

Toni Morrison’s “Song of Solomon,” freshman year. This one changed my life. It ripped something open in me and shifted me forever. “Beloved,” “Sula,” “The Bluest Eye…” everything Morrison wrote was great. You can’t say that about many authors. “Jazz” was a favorite, senior year. I read it aloud because the cadence of the book is like a jazz composition. Morrison is that good.

“Woman on the Edge of Time,” by Marge Piercy, is one of a kind. The integrity and passion of her writing is the best. Her poetry is exquisite, too.

Senior year I read an odd little book, “Snow White,” by Donald Barthelme. I never would have given this book a second look, but It Was Required. It was spring break, I had bronchial pneumonia, was up late crazy with a fever. My live-in boyfriend, and my not-live-in boyfriend, along with all of my other friends, ran away on some school trip and I was too ill to go. It was a new low.

Especially when I found out that my live-in boyfriend spent the entire trip hitting on my other boyfriend.

When people say your 20s are the best years of your life, they don’t know what they’re talking about.

It’s a slim book, “Snow White,” so I decided to power through it. It’s about (i recall) the princess herself, the Seven Dwarfs, porno, strange happenings, and yes, a list of things that terrify Snow White. I was like, what the actual hell?!? fell in love with it, and decided to spend the rest of my life writing 1) how I wanted 2) what I wanted 3) when I wanted. And that’s pretty much what I’ve done.

So I guess what I want to say here is, Thanks, Barthelme, ya freak.

“Norma Jean the Termite Queen,” by Sheila Ballantyne, walloped me in the head, too.

“One Hundred Years of Solitude” (dubbed “One Hundred Years of Reading” by my friend Heather) and “Love in the Time of Cholera,” Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

All 19 of the Shakespeare plays I devoured, but especially “The Winter’s Tale,” “Twelfth Night,” “Macbeth” and “All’s Well That Ends Well.” I like the sonnets, too, of course, but not as much as the plays. (Will S. wrote 34 or 38 plays total, depending on who you ask.)

Raymond Carver, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love”

Poetry by Tess Gallagher

“The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker

James Baldwin, “Go Tell It On the Mountain”

“Native Son,” Richard Wright. (My not-live-in boyfriend spent the entire time we were reading the book saying, “No, Bigger, no. Please, no. Bigger, no.” You should have read our essays, extraordinary. Hahahah. Nooooooo just noooo oh this is bad please no, make it be OK.) (It’s still not OK.)

“Sister Carrie,” Theodore Dreiser

All of the Celtic mythology. All of the Greek mythology. My Bible as Literature class. Black studies. Women’s studies. Journalism classes and the readings. And cannot forget Leo Tolstoy and “Anna Karenina.”

“Oh!! How about when…?” my live-in boyfriend’s mother asks me, when she sees me reading the book, and gives away the entire ending. Gah. It was taking me forever to get through it, it’s an insane book. Insanely good, but yeah, kind of out there. I loved it, though, and was getting to the ending.

“I haven’t finished it yet,” I told her. (That’s why I was still reading it.) (Hello.)

“Didn’t you see the PBS version?” Nah, i usually just read the book.

She’s gone now, this lady. I feel bad for every time I thought rotten thoughts about her. Read, and keep reading until you can’t anymore. Then find someone to read to you.

Peace, xo and more later.

WM

(Photo by Rawley; use with permission only, please.)

Once upon a time, the only Young Adult novels that spoke to me, that moved me, were 1) anything by Judy Blume 2) anything by Norma Klein and 3) S.E. Hinton’s classic, “The Outsiders.” It was, and is, a brilliant work. I met Hinton at Powell’s Books in Beaverton a few years ago, and I am not embarrassed to say, yeah, I fan-girled out, just like all the other fankids in line for her autograph.

Times have changed, and there are so many amazing YA books — and graphic novels!! so many graphic novels — on the shelves now. Here is a sampling of recent releases… but just the scary ones.

I’m over summer and ready for autumn, and Halloween. (More titles, not so scary, to follow in next review.) Additionally? I can only read scary, creepy, jump-scare books in the middle of the day. Also? I am not going to be held responsible if you read any of these and they terrify you or your kids so much that you/they have nightmares.

OK, ready?

First up: Kelly Creagh’s “Strange Unearthly Things” (Viking, 2023, ages 12 and up, 355 pages, $19.99). I love the pink/gray/black cover, I completely love it. I know, don’t judge a book and all that, but sometimes the cover and the writing and the topic just all go pow! into a perfect storm. Plus, “Hell is coming for him… but so is she,” is a tagline that gives me the shivers.

And that is this novel.

Our heroine, Jane Reye (the book is a paranormal shout-out to Charlotte Bronte’s classic, “Jane Eyre”) is on a flight. Her own highway to hell. The flight attendant, and the passenger seated next to her, are concerned. The flight attendant approaches:

“Her lilac perfume makes me gasp.

Because Helen.

‘Can I help you with this?’ She hands me one of the sketches among the mix that doesn’t depict a spirit.

‘I’m good,’ is all I can say as I collect from her the surrealist drawing of a girl peeling her skin off like a T-shirt to reveal a skeletal rib cage stuffed to bursting with flowers.”

That’s all you’re getting from me. You like scary-goth novels? Check it out. I would say this one is for bigger kids, but books? They’re personal. I spent most of my childhood having the librarians tell me “no” and my mom saying, “Give them here,” and checking out the “grown-up” books for me. I am no worse for the wear. I liked to read, I still like to read, and I have so many questions. I did then, and I do now. So please trust your kids’ judgment. xoxoxox

“Finch House,” by the talented and amazing Ciera Burch, is a gift of a novel. (Margaret K. McElderry Books, on sale Sept. 5, 2023, ages 8 and up, grades 3-7, 197 pages, $17.99.) Michaela “Micah,” who is eleven, loves living with her Poppop and mom in their comfortable family home. But her mom wants them to start over an hour away. To avoid packing, she leaves the house, and ends up where she’s been warned to never go — the haunted-looking and run down Finch House. She meets a new friend, Theo.

Is he trustworthy? Is the house what it seems to be? And where is Poppop? Great read, gripping story, believable dialogue and characters.

“Ashton Hall” is the new book from Lauren Belfer (“City of Light”). (Ballantine Books, 2022, 410 pages, teens and older, $17.00.) It’s so… vintage. (I mean that as a compliment.) And just creepy and lovely, in that Elizabethan/Goth way. Hannah Larson, our heroine, and her little boy, Nicky, head to Cambridge, England, to care for an ailing relative. Skeletal remains are discovered and then… you’ll have to wait to find out. Fantastic descriptions, and I love the house, which is a character all its own, dating back to the early 1600s.

Next we have two scary titles from author Dan Poblocki, illustrated by Marie Bergeron, ideal from middle grades and up:  “Tales to Keep You Up at Night” (Penguin Workshop, 2022, 262 pages, $8.99) and “More Tales to Keep You Up at Night”  (Penguin Workshop, 2023, 279 pages, $17.99). I love that Poblocki has been dubbed “the middle grade Crypt Keeper.” Perfecto. (I want more art included, though — Bergeron is talented.) If this one is a hit for you, readers, he has a whole slew of other titles, including “Ghost Hunter’s Daughter” and “The Book of Bad Things.”

Speaking of bad things, haha!… our final book this evening is Rob Renzetti’s “The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things” (Penguin Workshop, 2023, 215 pages, $17.99). Zenith Maelstrom (great name) is 11-going-on-12. His first thought when he finds the so-called “horrible bag” on his front porch is, Does he want his sister to know? No. She gives him too much grief. And our story begins.

OK, I have the shivers now, and it just got dark outside. It’s that time of year when it gets darker and darker, earlier and earlier. Maybe I’m not ready for fall? Too late.

Have fun reading, y’all. Talk soon.

WM

(Photo by Rawley/Use with permission only)

I have a big ol’ stack of Young Adult novels to review, but for now, finishing up on the gorgeous selection of picture books I’ve received. All are sure to make the kids (and their parents) smile.

“Bitsy Bat, School Star” has BIG STAR plans. Big, big, batty plans. The inimitable Kaz Windness wrote and illustrated this fun and poignant book, which is perfect for those of us who are not your typical peeps. (Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster, 2023, ages 4 and up, $18.99.)

“This Train is Bound for Glory,” by Alice Faye Duncan, with art by Paul Kellam, is pretty glorious, in the truest sense of the word (WaterBrook, 2023, all ages, $14.99). “‘All aboard!’ calls the merry conductor. His voice is like the wind — loud, warm and strong,” and off we go on a big adventure on the Glory Train.

This story is based on the African American spiritual first recorded in 1922.

“My Mama Says There Aren’t Any Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Creatures, Demons, Monsters, Fiends, Goblins, Or Things” (1973). This Judith Viorst classic, with drawings by Kay Chorao, is a lot of fun (even if you’re a little bit scared of zombies or any of the other creatures mentioned in the title).

“My Dad Is a Tree,” is a hilarious new picture book written and illustrated by Jon Agee (Rocky Pond Books/Penguin Random House, 2023, all ages, $18.99). Madeleine’s dad is cleaning up leaves while Madeleine pretends to be a tree. Why? “Because a tree gets to stay outside all day long!” Will her dad play, too? The yard mess can wait. Cool illustrations that will give readers fun ideas on creating their own art. Maybe with leaves?

Have a superfun, happy, good August, and keep reading. All for now, bon appetit!

WM