(Kris, Julie, me and Dan, with our awesome grandfather, Eugene. Photo by my Dad, I’m guessing.)

Hello, dears, how are you?

Summer just started, so that means one thing: It’s time for back to school, and the book reviews that go along with the school supplies. Time to take a shower, scrub off the sand and dirt, find some real shoes, and head back to the classroom. You can do it, I have faith in you.

First up, kindergarten!

In “The Queen of Kindergarten,” we meet a smart, awesome little girl named MJ, who is ready, ready, ready for school. Author Derrick Barnes and illustrator Vanessa Brantley Newton have brought us a treat with this new title. In their companion book, “The King of Kindergarten,” we are introduced to a handsome and intelligent little boy who is royalty, and ready for school and his future. These beautiful picture books will help prepare the littles for school, reading, friends, math, recess and festivities and will be great additions for the classroom, too. (Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House, 2022, $17.99.)

“A child must learn early to believe that he is somebody worthwhile and that he can do many praiseworthy things. The child must have the love of family and the protection they give in order to LIVE and FLOURISH.” — Benjamin Mays (from intro to “The King of Kindergarten”)

“Children must have at least one person who believes in them. It could be a counselor, a teacher, a preacher, a friend. It could be you. You never know when a little love, a little support, will plant a small seed of hope.” — Marian Wright Edelman (from intro to “The Queen of Kindergarten”)

“Abdul’s Story,” written by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and illustrated by Tiffany Rose, is a great book for students first grade and up. (Salaam Reads, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022, ages 4-8, $17.99.) Learning about (and teaching) writing can be tough, and I’m not the best one to advise on this, because my take on it (as a lifelong writer who just does it, la la la, see how easy writing is?) is this: You just start scribbling. How is that hard?

Writing is hard for normal people, or it can be, anyway. For weirdos like me, it’s just in our blood, see? Yeah. I can’t not write, y’know? I cannot go without writing, because it’s like breathing to me. Also I’m a little hypergraphic. Obviously. And no, I do not think it’s a disorder. 

Anyway. 

Some of us are writers, some are visual artists; some are cartoonists, some are musicians. Some are gardeners, some are chefs, some are gifted at quilting… on and on and on. There is a lot of lovely art in the world, and a lot of terrifying art, that yes, still has merit. It doesn’t all need to be landscapes.

OK, sometimes landscapes can be scary as heck, too. But I digress. Again. Art is art is art, is what I’m saying. I do think it’s good to “cross-train,” as it were, but I can’t stand the shaming that goes along with teaching art and writing. (Writing is art, y’all, but don’t ask me to draw you a picture, because it will contain stick figures.)

“Abdul’s Story” is a blessing. It’s down to earth, it’s straightforward, it’s inspiring. It teaches you how to work to get there, and gives good tips on how to lighten up on yourself to make it happen. Honestly, I would use this book to teach students of any age some writing tips.  Abdul, our hero, loves to make up stories, but finds it challenging to get them down on paper. When he meets Mr. Muhammad, though, things change for the better. Writing can be anxiety-provoking, especially for young writers who are just learning how to put the words to paper. Bravo for Thompkins-Bigelow and and Rose for bringing Abdul’s story to life.

Moving right up the grades, “Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun,” by Hena Khan (Salaam Reads, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021, ages 7-10, $17.99) is the first in a new series for readers who are just learning to read novels. Super fun (lives up to the title) book about a girl, her family, what it’s like to get to know new neighbors and how to go about setting a world record. 

Bon appetit, babies, and have a fantastic school year.

WM