(2) K-3 Illustrated by James E. Ransome. This poetic picture book tells the inspiring tale of a young enslaved man, "a compilation of many of the real-life stories of the people who resisted, fought, demanded, and seized every opportunity at their disposal to gain the freedoms that literacy provided." Nicknamed Teach, he has secretly learned to read, write, and do arithmetic, bravely sharing his skills despite the great risks involved. The narrative follows Teach through the week, escalating to one of his most powerful acts of rebellion: a Sunday sermon in a concealed cabin, where he draws poignant parallels between the plight of the biblical Israelites and the hardships endured by his fellow captives, empowering them through his words. Cline-Ransome's engrossing first-person storytelling style, which features rich dialect reflecting the historical setting, brings out the character of Teach and the significant impact of his actions. Ransome's watercolor illustrations perfectly complement the narrative, offering detailed portrayals that vividly convey the challenges and dreams of Teach and his community. The skillful use of light and shadow heightens the emotional intensity of each meticulously rendered scene. An author's note underscores the importance of literacy and education as tools for freedom and resistance as well as the risks they entailed during slavery; further reading is also appended.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2024

(2) 4-6 Translated by Shelley Tanaka. Mélie lives alone with her mother, Sofia, until one day they receive a phone call informing them that Sami (Mélie's father) will be released from prison. This is the first Mélie has ever heard about her father (she assumed she didn't have one). While it's never revealed where the family is from, it's clear Sami was a political prisoner; he was imprisoned for not keeping quiet. Mélie's excitement about her father is crushed once she realizes he doesn't speak her language and is a frail, odd man who seems uninterested in her. It also becomes evident that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder: he has frequent nightmares and refuses to leave the apartment. "He's come out of prison, but the prison has not come out of him." When Mélie takes in a stray kitten, it has a soothing effect on her father's jangled nerves and acts as a bridge between them. Mélie tries to teach him her language, while using the kitten to "tame" her papa into being a more engaged parent. This compact novel excels in its portrayal of a young girl's complicated feelings toward her father, as best portrayed in a series of moving vignettes that expertly shows, rather than tells, the reader what trauma does to a family system.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell. Sumi's mother switches effortlessly between Malayalam, a regional language from Kerala, India, and English. She speaks Malayalam to Sumi's grandmother, a mix of English and Malayalam to Sumi, and English to others outside the family. Sumi reflects on how her mother's two languages are "woven together like a fine cloth." She knows her mother worked hard to develop proficiency in English, but when she moved to America, unfamiliar words and phrases made her "two tongues" feel like they "were twisted into pretzels." As Sumi travels between America and India, she too works hard to learn two languages and connect with those around her. In awe of this apparent "superpower," she hopes to learn many more languages in order to "speak with people who live in every part of the world." Menon's respectful story highlights the power of multilingualism and examines the link between accents and identity. Bell's tactile mixed-media illustrations incorporate an inventive representation of textiles, fonts, and images reflecting each locale, from a scene of boating in Kerala to a snowy day in America. A diverse cast of characters with a variety of skin tones underscores the focus on multilingualism and multiculturalism. A thought-provoking look at the connecting power of language.

Reviewer: Sadaf Siddique | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(2) K-3 Having recently emigrated from Hong Kong to America, young Jun starts school with a few English words and phrases (e.g.hello, thank you, I don't know, toilet) written on her palm. Nevertheless, she faces misunderstandings and struggles to comprehend a new language and culture. At the bus stop, unable to understand a question about her name, she responds with, "Th...ank you." Filling out a "Let's Get to Know You" worksheet in class, she answers each question, "I don't know." Despite her loneliness, Jun finds solace in her lunchbox, which is filled with her favorite Chinese foods, including bao, dumplings, and bok choy. After a difficult first four days for Jun, classmate Rose makes a friendly overture at lunch on Friday, which leads to sharing food with a small group of kids. Jun invites her new friends to her home, symbolizing the beginning of new connections. With its spare text (most of which is speech-bubble dialogue), the story is primarily conveyed through Mo's sensitively drawn, sometimes paneled illustrations, which vividly depict Jun's emotional state. Warm colors represent her cherished memories of home and the eventual feeling of belonging; cool tones mirror her initial fear and anxiety. This debut picture book captures an immigrant experience, highlighting the impact of small gestures of kindness and celebrating the unifying power of food across cultures and languages. A glossary of written and conversational Cantonese phrases in the story and a labeled illustration of Jun's lunchbox contents are helpfully appended.

Reviewer: Weileen Wang | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2024

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Anna Forlati. In this thought-provoking book (published in partnership with UNESCO), Santos presents an engaging version of the guessing game "What Am I?" Readers can infer from the book's title that the answer is the thing that makes us human, and the first-person text drops hints as to its identity ("I can show you love. But also hurt you") on every double-page spread, letting readers know that it is both old and new; that it is everywhere; that we can see, hear, and feel it; and that it defines a culture. What is this ubiquitous thing? It is language. This book's call for active engagement aptly celebrates the many ways of looking at a concept. Forlati's digital illustrations represent both literal and figurative interpretations of the text and beg to be re-examined by the reader. For example, the speaker -- language -- states: "When you were a baby, you hardly knew me. Over time you have gotten to know me better and better. But when you are old, you may start to forget me." The accompanying illustration depicts five stages of a child's growth -- during which time the child is knitting a sweater that grows larger, revealing a distinct pattern, one that fades as the sweater unravels and the child ages. Back matter discussing the growth, and loss, of languages and a note from UNESCO explaining the goals of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032) complete this fine book.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(2) K-3 Aurora learned English when she came to the United States, but Nena, her cute brown and white spaniel, only understands commands given in Spanish. "She doesn't know WAIT, but she knows ESPERA." At the dog park, when someone throws a ball and yells "'FETCH'...Nena joins in only when Aurora yells ‘¡BÚSCALA!'" While Aurora helps Nena navigate the English-speaking world outside, she communicates with Nena in Spanish at home. The illustrations show household objects tagged with yellow sticky notes displaying both English and Spanish words. This book gently explores the idea of second-language acquisition, children who translate for others, and code switching, suggesting patience with those who learn at different speeds. "Aurora is not concerned that Nena doesn't know English yet, because she will always be there to help." Colorful, happy digitally rendered illustrations show the closeness between girl and dog, and Nena's friendly, affectionate nature. Concurrently published in Spanish as Mi perro solo habla español.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Hoda Hadadi. In 1930, Maryam "Milloo" Faruqi (the author's grandmother) lived in India and was in fifth grade when her parents told her she didn't need to go to school anymore. At that time, "this is what was expected" of girls. Milloo changed her parents' minds, completing high school and college. Reading was the gateway to physical and emotional harmony. "When she read, her thoughts danced, her mind breathed, and her heart hummed." After marriage, she was unhappy being a housewife, so she opened a school in her home, which led to several more schools in the region. Her legacy was providing education to thousands of girls and nurturing a love of reading and learning. Vivid verbs keep the text snappy, as, for example, Milloo "spun," "cha-chaed," "tiptoed," "snaked," and "danced" her way to school on a circuitous pathway. Paper collage illustrations in bright colors steal the show with lots of detail in textiles, which are embellished with stitching and gold-leaf accents. A glossary and author's note contextualize terms, provide additional historical background, and describe Milloo's other accomplishments, such as founding the Happy Home Schools in Pakistan. This visually impressive, heartwarming tale pays homage to a trailblazing advocate for literacy and education for girls in a predominantly Muslim context.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(2) K-3 Medina (Juana & Lucas[cfc1], rev. 11/16) gives new readers an inviting, cheerful take on the developmental milestone of learning to ride a bike. Elena, an elephant, straps on her helmet and, with the encouragement of her small bird friend, attempts to ride a ­two-wheeler. "KA-BANG!" ends one ride. "KA-PLUNK!" ends another. The illustrations use thick lines and bold solid colors to focus readers' attention on Elena, the bird, and the bike. The text is minimal, to the point, and appropriate for a new reader, but it's also musical, playful, and fun to read aloud. Elena "readies" and "steadies," and she "wobbles" and "bobbles." Repetition of words and sound blends serves the needs of children who are building confidence sounding words out, without bogging the story down. The illustrations and sometimes even text placement support decoding. On one page Elena "goes up and down and all around," and we see the corresponding images and text slope up and down the page. After a few tries and some tears, Elena gets the hang of the bike, an apt metaphor for the challenge of learning to read. There are plenty of books about learning to ride a bike, but this one's approachability for its intended audience, bright imagery, and good humor place it near the front of the peloton. Concurrently published in Spanish as Elena monta en bici, as well as in a bilingual (English/Spanish) edition.