Favorite Books for Young Readers 2023

CLICK HERE for a Google Doc of the list!

Here’s a handy-dandy list for you to enjoy, compiled by your friendly neighborhood children’s librarian. Not every book is for every reader; my reading tastes are pretty dang wide-ranging. Consult your local librarian (or me!) for a personlized recommendation. In the meanwhile, fire up the library cards, and enjoy!

P.S. – don’t over look the non-fiction section! You might not be aware, but we are in the midst of a Golden Age of kids’ & YA nonfiction. A GOLDEN AGE, PEOPLE. My past childhood self is seething with envy that my kids have such superior informational books to read. Seething!  My favorite book of 2023 is in that section – don’t miss it!

Picture Books

Body Image Done Right: BIG by Vashti Harrison

In Which a Scaredy Squirrel Gets Brave: Evergreen by Matthew Cordell

Bedtime Book Gets GorgeousEvery Dreaming Creature by Brendan Wenzel

Glorious Tribute to Self-Love and Family: Nesting Dolls by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Best Santa Claus Book in YEARS: How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? By Mac Barnett, illus. Jon Klassen

A Wordless Wonder – one of those books where you spend hours looking at all the tiny details: The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker 

Heartfelt Tribute to parental loss and memory: A Walk in the Woods by Nikki Grimes, illus. Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney

Kids Get Hurt and Sick, and here’s one of the best ways to talk about it: The Hospital Book by Lisa Brown

The kind of fantasy-adventure reading tribute I was always looking for as a kid: Once 

Upon a Book by Grace Lin and Kate Messner

Luminous reflection on the grandparent-grandchild bond: My Baba’s Garden by Jordan Scott, illus. Sydney Smith

Most Gorgeous Christmas Book: Lullaby for the King by Nikki Grimes, illus. Michelle Carlos

Fiction

Grief, the AIDS crisis, and being strong enough to survive it: World Made of Glass by Ami Polonsky

A tiny seed goes on a big adventure in a prehistoric ecosystem: Big Tree by Brian Selznick

The craziest, incredible immigration story: Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang

Old-school glamour and an international murder mystery during the golden age of aviation, YES PLEASE: Stateless by Elizabeth Wein

The 2020 pandemic counts as historical fiction now – and also learn about the Ukranian Holodomor – with an amazing hat-trick of a plot: The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh

The 2020 pandemic as high fantasy-adventure: Elf Dog & Owl Head by M. T. Anderson

The funniest book about surviving trauma you’ll ever read: Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

Middle school is tough enough without your history teacher making you (hilariously) perform the Labors of Hercules: The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary Schmidt

Old-School Fantasy/High Adventure (reminds me of Lloyd Alexander!): The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri

Post-Apocalyptic sci-fi done right, with a Latinx twist: Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera 

The rare *mainstream* novel with an LDS (aka Mormon) pioneer protagonist (and it’s SO 

GOOD, pick it up if you loved Hattie Big Sky): Buffalo Flats by Martine Leavitt

Best Feminist Shakespearean Remix: Enter the Body by Joy McCullough

Most insightful novel for kids about the dangers of grudges and escalating violence: Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist

Folklore

In which a rabbit drinks the moon and we can’t blame him because it looks flippin’ delicious: Ancient Night by David Alvarez with David Bowles

Funniest easy reader/picture book of the year, I keep hitting people with it and shouting “JUST READ IT, OKAY?” The Skull: a Tyrolean Folktale by Jon Klassen

Poetry

The power of words and Native resilience: Remember by Joy Harjo, illus. Michaela Goade

The 21st century answer to Shel Silverstein: My Head Has a Bellyache: And More Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups by Chris Harris, illus. Andrea Tsurumi

Non-Fiction

Powerful, unblinking look at explaining slavery to kids: An American Story by Kwame Alexander, illus. Dare Coulter 

The graphic novel that made me cry: Sunshine by Jarett J. Krosoczka

Okay, it’s on this list because this is something I’ve always been dying to know more about: Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods by Grace Lin

In case you’ve ever wondered why the big award for picture books is called the “Caldecott Medal”: Tomfoolery! Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming-of-Age of Children’s Books by Michelle Markel, illus. Barbara McClintock

The Best Book of 2023. If you disagree I’ll force you to listen to “Shipoopi” from “The Music Man”: Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martin

The Harlem Renaissance in all its gorgeousness: There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, illus. Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey

Your Backyard: it’s a jungle out there: Jumper: a Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider by Jessica Lanan

The best road-trip study-abroad coming-of-age story (with a heaping helping of GenX nostalgia): A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

The rare nonfiction title that works as a read-aloud (it’s just that interesting and funny!): The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, A Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day, illus. Bretty Helquist

 The master of cinematic narrative nonfiction gives us a WWII nailbiter: Impossible Escape: a True Story of Survival and Heroism in Nazi Germany by Steve Sheinkin

Above the Trenches by Nathan Hale

2022 Best Books for Young Readers

Click here for a Google Doc of the list!

Tomorrow morning at the crack ‘o dawn is the Youth Media Awards (aka the Newbery and Caldecott awards, plus a pack of other fabulous awards with shiny stickers for book covers) and I am scooting in at the last minute with my list of my personal favorite books for young readers from 2022!

Alas — this list is a little shorter than previous years — my youngest, Katie, is in MIDDLE SCHOOL now, and she isn’t as interested in reading picture books with me anymore. (Sigh.) But I still managed to fall in love with a few gems in my usual book categories.

THE USUAL CAVEATS

This list isn’t comprehensive by any stretch of the imagination (ha — see above statement on the brevity of said list); if there’s a book you love that I didn’t include, it’s either because I didn’t have time to get around to it, or I didn’t like it (gasp!) – do you really want to know in which category your darling lies? 

Conversely: not every title on this list is for you. I guarantee it. I have broader tastes than most; if you’d like a personalized recommendation, feel free to reach out, I love to play matchmaker!

Lastly: books that contain sensitive topics for littles are marked with asterisks (**). You might want to take a close gander before handing them over to the young’un in your life.

PICTURE BOOKS

In Which It Is Proven That Cats Are Inherently Better Than Dogs: Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty, illus. David Roberts

In Which It Is Proven That Dogs Are Inherently Better Than Cats: Hot Dog by Doug Salati

Funniest Read-Aloud: My Parents Won’t Stop Talking! by Tillie Walden and Emma Hunsinger

Most Luscious Food Book (and Family Book): Berry Song by Michaela Goade

As Limitless and Expansive as the Best Childhood Days: Emile and the Field by Kevin Young, illus. Chioma Ebinama

Best Nostalgia for a Lost Time: The World Belonged to Us by Jaqueline Woodson, illus. Leo Espinosa

OH MY GOODNESS THE EPIC CUTENESS: Knight Owl by Christopher Denise

Elegiac, Touching Tribute to the Passage of Time: Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

GRAPHIC NOVELS (Chosen with help from Katie!)

Heartwarming, Wistful Story of Long-Distance Grandparent-Love: The Flamingo by Guojing

Best Immigration Story: Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos

Middle School is HARD and Even More So When You’re A Sports Underdog: Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

Post-Apocalyptic Environmental SciFi?!?!?! AWESOME: Little Monarchs by Jonathan Case

Mad Scientist Mystery Caper-O-Rama: The Prisoner of Shiverstone by Linette Moore

NONFICTION & POETRY

Most Stunning Book of Children’s Poetry to Come Out YEARS: Marshmallow Clouds: Two Poets At Play among Figures of Speech by Ted Kooser and Connie Wanek, illus. Richard Jones

One of My Favorite Nonfiction Authors Blows My Mind: Action! How Movies Began by Meghan McCarthy

Most Beautiful Illustrations of 2022 (and also a fascinating history of the color blue): Blue by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, illus. Daniel Minter

In Which Stellar Nonfiction Writing Elevates a Mundane Subject: Concrete: From the Ground Up by Larissa Theule, illus. Steve Light

A TALKING CHICKEN TEACHES YOU ABOUT UNDERWEAR no you are not dreaming: A History of Underwear With Professor Chicken by Hannah Holt, illus. Korwin Briggs

One of My Favorite Artists FINALLY Gets a Children’s Book and It’s Drop-Dead Gorgeous: Out of the Shadows: How Lotte Reiniger Made the First Animated Fairytale Movie by Fiona Robinson

I Didn’t Think I’d Learn Anything New but HOLY COW Was I Wrong: Pizza! a Slice of History by Greg Pizzoli

Probably the Perfect Polar Bear Book? (and there are a LOT of polar bear books): Polar Bear by Candace Fleming, illus. Eric Rohmann

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION

Best Sendoff From an Legendary Author: Northwind by Gary Paulsen

Best Read-Aloud Old-Fashioned Adventure: Violet & Jobie in the Wild by Lynne Rae Perkins

Fascinating Look into the world of Orthodox Jewish communities (also, Middle School is HARD): Aviva and the Dybbuk by Mari Lowe

Probably the Best Children’s Novel About Bullying, Ever: Jennifer Chan is Not Alone by Tae Keller

Most Necessary Reading of the Current Era: Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King

A Rags-to-Riches Tale that feels like classic Frances Hodgson Burnett . . . if it were set in contemporary Ghana: The Kaya Girl by Mamle Wolo (Pro Tip: listen to the audiobook, it’s AMAZING)

Best Fantasy-Adventure Tale (set in a legendary Turkic Jewish empire? Yes, please): Black Bird, Blue Road by Sofiya Pasternack

Best Kids’ Historical Fiction (this author absolutely NAILS the voices and feel of the Depression) : Three Strike Summer

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Best Novel-in-Verse / Artist’s Sketchbook (also possibly best book about the COVID-19 pandemic?): Ain’t Burned all the Bright by Jason Reynolds

Who Said You Can’t Give The Iliad a Happy Ending (also — Cassandra redemption arc!!): Sparrows in the Wind by Gail Carson Levine

It’s Historical Fiction? It’s Historical Fantasy? It’s the best book about female authority & power I’ve read in a long time (also Best Swoony Romance Subplot): Healer & Witch by Nancy Werlin

**Best YA Historical Fiction (a twisty, tense story of life under one of the worst Communist regimes of the 1980s): I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

2021 Best Books for Young Readers

NEW THIS YEAR — Click here to print a Google Doc of the list!

Feeling cooped up and stressed? Looking for an escape from our dismal omicron-besieged reality for you or the young person in your life? Well, have I got a solution for you!

A few dozen solutions, actually!

Down below is my annual list of my personal favorites among the many, many titles published for young readers in 2021. Picture books, graphic novels, fiction, non-fiction, and even a few young-adult titles thrown in for good measure. Max out that library card and spend winter savoring these titles like the best variety-pack of ramen noodles, ever.

The Usual Caveats: This list isn’t comprehensive by any stretch of the imagination; if there’s a book you love that I didn’t include, it’s either because I didn’t have time to get around to it, or I didn’t like it (gasp!) – do you really want to know in which category your darling lies? 

Conversely: not every title on this list is for you. I guarantee it. I have broader tastes than most; if you’d like a personalized recommendation, feel free to reach out, I love to play matchmaker!

Lastly: books that contain sensitive topics for littles are marked with asterisks (**). You might want to take a close gander before handing them over to the young’un in your life.

Now that all that business is done, let’s get to the fun part. Shine up your bookmarks, launder those book totes, brew that nice cuppa, read and enjoy!

PICTURE BOOKS

Illustrations so dazzling you might need sunglasses – Have You Ever Seen a Flower? by Shawn Harris

#1 Best Pick for preschoolers obsessed with trains – I Can Make a Train Noise by Michael Emberley illus. Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

Best sweet, tear-jerky ending to a trilogy – Julia’s House Goes Home by Ben Hatke (seriously, if you haven’t read the “Julia’s House” books, you’re missing out!)

It’s so nice to know something about Franz Kafka that doesn’t involve giant cockroaches – Kafka and the Doll by Larissa There, illus. Rebecca Green

Best magical nature stories – (Mushrooms! Fairies! Spooky haunted tree stumps!) Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest by Phoebe Wahl

Quirkiest Friendship Story – The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess by Tom Gauld

Gorgeous photography, eye-popping costumes – The Me I Choose to Be by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, illus. Regis and Kahran Bethencourt (If you haven’t picked up the Bethencourt’s stunning adult nonfiction Glory: Magical Visions of Black Beauty, I recommend that one, too)

Most creative use of picture book format – Mell Fell by Corey R. Tabor

Best book for prompting deep conversations with kids – Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña, illus. Christian Robinson

This is one of my favorite little-known illustrators, and it’s been YEARS since she’s made a new picture book! SQUEE! – Moose’s Book Bus by Inge Moore

Best Fable (also best illustration of dramatic irony) – New In Town by Kevin Cornell

Most Gorgeous Bedtime Story – The Night Walk by  Marie Dorléans

Most Hilarious Work-From-Home Story, with a twist I did not see coming – Off- Limits by Helen Yoon

Sweetest Grandparent Story – On the Trapline by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett

Best Book to prompt Creative Play – The Ramble Shamble Children by Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Lauren Castillo

Most Gorgeous Adaptation – The Robin and the Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen, retold by Jason Jameson

The One My Family Kept Passing Around and Laughing Out Loud – The Rock From the Sky by Jon Klassen

The Book that Changed the Way I Look at . . . Everything – Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler, illus. Loren Long

My Personal Favorite Read-Aloud – A Tree for Mr. Fish by Peter Stein

Gorgeously Written and Illustrated Immigration Story – Watercress by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin

A Refugee Tale, told as if in a dream – Wishes by Mượn Thị Văn, illustrated by Victo Ngai

GRAPHIC NOVELS (picked out this year with help from 11 year old Katie)

It’s kind of amazing how much characterization and world-building these authors accomplish in 100 pages, wow (plus gemstone ball gowns!!!) – Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld by Shannon and Dean Hale, illus. Asiah Fulmore

Best Spooky Victorian Hilarity – The Dire Days of Willoweep Manor by Shaenon K. Garrity, illus. Christopher Baldwin

Adventures in Babysitting, But With Cats! – Katie the Catsitter by Colleen AF Venable, illus. Stephanie Yue

Best Historical Fiction/Tall Tale Mashup – The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor

Best Wonder Woman Remix – Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney, illus. Robyn Smith

You Wanna Know How Vaccines Work? Including the COVID-19 Vaccines? – A Shot In the Arm! by Don Brown

FINALLY! An action-adventure book based on the lives of real-life lady pirates! – Tell No Tales: Pirates of the South Seas by Sam Maggs, illus. Kendra Wells

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION

For the Fantasy Fans In Your Life – Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston

Best Historical Fiction (also the one I could not stop talking about for almost all of 2021) – Amber & Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz, illus. Julia Iredale

The One You’ve Probably Already Read – The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo (featuring monks and knights and a vengeful goat!)

A Ramona Quimby for the 21st Century – Harry Versus the First 100 Days of School by Emily Jenkins,  illus. Pete Oswald

Best Coming-of-Age Story – Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt (Also best remix of “Oliver Twist”) (Also: “STICKS DOWN, KOWALSKI”)

Best, Most Poignant Children’s Sci-Fi to come out in YEARS – The Last Cuentista by Donna Barca Higuera (Seriously, y’all. Makes me think of The Giver)

Best Ghost Story (also, so nice to see Black History that ISN’T about enslaved people or the Civil Rights era!) – Ophie’s Ghosts by Justina Ireland

It’s Like Sideways Stories from Wayside School (only somehow it’s also about bullying and mental health. With bonus “Choose Your Own Catastrophe” Adventure!) – Pity Party by Kathleen Lane

Best Novel-in-Verse (also, The One That Made Me Cry) – Red White and Whole by  Rajani LaRocca 

At the Forefront of the Fat Activism Movement – Starfish by Lisa Fipps

Sweetest Novel-in-Verse – The One Thing You’d Save by Linda Sue Park

NONFICTION

**Action, Adventure and the Cold War – Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown by Steve Sheinkin (this book reads like an action thriller, so good!)

**Best History I’m Ashamed I’d Never Heard Of – From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement by Paula Yoo

People who keep comparing mask mandates to Soviet Russia need to read this book and then stop talking for the next decade (also this memoir is hilarious) – The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Eugene Yeltsin

**The guy who wrote Hatchet knows more about surviving trauma than we’d ever guessed – Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood by Gary Paulsen

People who keep comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust need to read this book and then STOP TALKING FOR THE NEXT DECADE – Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued by Peter Sís

You may be cool, but you’ll never be Nina Simone cool – Nina: a Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd, illus. Christian Robinson

Helping kids talk about how sometimes our historical heroes did horrible things –  Runaway: the Daring Escape of Ona Judge by Ray Anthony Shepard, illus. Keith Mallett

Did you know how text messages work? I mean REALLY work? – The Message: The Extraordinary Journey of an Ordinary Text Message by Michael Emberley

Extraordinary Art About an Extraordinary Artist – The People’s Painter: How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice With Art by Cynthia Levinson, illus. Evan Turk

Sweetest Story About a Woman with Down Syndrome who Conquered the Art World – Unbound: the Life and Art of Judith Scott by Joyce Scott with Brie Spangler and Melissa Sweet, illus. Melissa Sweet

**An Astonishing Retelling of One of the Most Difficult Moments of U.S. History – Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. Floyd Cooper

**Impeccable Research, Fascinating Topic – Violet & Daisy: The Story of Vaudeville’s Famous Conjoined Twins by Sarah Miller

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Oh My Heck, a mainstream novel with a Mormon protagonist! (also, it’s gorgeous)– Beyond the Mapped Stars by Rosalyn Eves 

Best Prequel (with a hefty dose of 90s nostalgia) – Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

YA Post-Apocalypse Sci-Fi, told through the filter of our pandemic world – The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold

Learning so much about Native culture, Plus also a great crime thriller! – Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Best LGBTQ+ Romance (also a rather affecting historical fiction) – Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

The book I wish would replace Gone With the Wind in high school curriculum – A Sitting in St. James by Rita Williams-Garcia

2020 Favorite Books for Young Readers

It’s that wonderful time of the year again When I get to look back at my year of reading and  take my favorites — also hurry and cram a whole bunch of  titles that I missed into the months of December and January. This is also the first year that,  Owing to my ongoing hand illness/healing, I get to create this list entirely with voice-to-text software (yay?)  so please forgive any run-on sentences or  disjointed thinking.

2020 Trends: The middle grade fiction game this year was strong!  After the last few years of “meh” writing for this age group, I’m really excited about this year’s contenders. I will be totally happy with any of them winning the Newbery Award tomorrow morning. 

On the other side of things, it looks like young adult fiction has had something of decline? I know that publishing houses are severely cutting back their YA imprints — so perhaps that explains things? Much of the best writing for young adults this year was in the graphic novel format, which is fine by me. I loves me a good graphic novel.  

Meanwhile, the picture book and nonfiction titles continue unabated with fabulous quality work. We’re truly in a Golden Age of nonfiction for kids. 

THE USUAL CAVEATS: This list is long but still nothing close to a comprehensive survey of 2020 publishing. “Where’s ______?” you may ask. “That book was awesome!” Well, I can’t read everything, folks. No matter how hard I try.

Also, not every book on this list is for you. Please do not come at me with complaints about how you didn’t like Book X or Y. (Although I’m more than happy to hear about the stuff you enjoyed, and more than willing to send similar books your way).

Books with a ** contain material that might not be suitable for all ages. Parents, please read it first if you have sensitive kids.

With all that in mind, fire up yer library cards and let ‘em rip! There be some mighty good reads here!

PICTURE BOOKS

Pretty Much All Your Childhood Camping Nostalgia in One Book: The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann

Best Magical Elevator Since Charlie’s Great Glass One: Lift by Minh Lê, illus. Dan Santat

Sweetest Friendship Story: My Best Friend by Julie Fogliano, illus. Jillian Tamaki

Probably the Best (Unintentional) Book About the 2020 Quarantine: Outside In by Deborah Underwood, illus. Cindy Derby

The Great Migration, Told in Powerful Poetry: Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illus. James E. Ransome

Most Shimmering Watercolors, Most Prescient Message: We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illus. Michaela Goade

This is on the list because I just love me a good maple sugaring-off story: Bear Goes Sugaring by Maxwell Eaton III

Whimsy, Dialed to 11: In a Jar by Deborah Marcero

World cultures are best taught with gorgeous illustration: Desert Girl, Monsoon Boy by Tara Dairman, illus. Archana Sreenivasan

Luscious Language, and Best use of Die-Cut Illustration: My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan, illus. Francesca Sanna

Most Necessary: I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes, illus. Gordon C. James

I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying! Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina

Best Book for Finding Tiny Details: If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall

Masterclass in fine-detailed illustration: In the Woods by David Elliott, illus. Rob Dunlavey

This would have been my favorite book if it existed when I was a kid: Margaret’s Unicorn by Briony May Smith

Best Reprint from My Childhood: I’ll Fix Anthony by Judith Viorst, illus. Arnold Lobel

Yummy Food as Community Builder: Our Little Kitchen by Jillian Tamaki

Funniest Picture Book: Unstoppable by Adam Rex, illus. Laura Park

The one with the pictures your kids won’t stop looking at: Sandcastle by Einat Tsarfati

Best book about gentrification and the housing crisis (also Best Dad in a Picture Book): The Blue House by Phoebe Wahl 

Best Book for Preschoolers: A New Green Day by Antoinette Portis 

Best Original Ghost Story: The Haunted Lake by P.J. Lynch

Best Reboot/Fanfic Fix of a Fairy Tale: The Little Mermaid by Jerry Pinkney

I just want to swim and sunbathe in these illustrations: Prairie Days by Patricia MacLachlan, illus. Micha Archer

Best Book for Peacemaking: You Matter by Christian Robinson

Illustrations So Vibrant, You Need Sunglasses to See ‘Em: Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton

Like Dropping into a Mug of Sunshine: Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration by Samara Cole Doyon, illus. Kaylani Juanita

Most Empowering: A Girl Like Me by Angela Johnson, illus. Nina Crews

GRAPHIC NOVELS

The One EVERYONE In My Family Read. Yeah, it’s that good: Dragon Hoops by Gene Yuen Lang

**Bring a Box of Tissues and an Armful of Hope: When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

Best Immigration Story: Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

Witches and Cute Animals and Car Racing and Family Secrets and WOW: Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

The Book Everyone in America Needs to Read, Part 1: Drawing the Vote: An Illustrated Guide to Voting in America by Tommy Jenkins

**Powerful History, Masterfully Told: Blades of Freedom by Nathan Hale

Best Sibling Story: Twins by Varian Johnson, illus. Sharon Wright

**The Voice that Needs to be Heard: Flamer by Mike Curato

It’s Both a Tribute to and Parody of the Fantasy Genre, and it’s Laugh-out-loud funny (also Katie’s favorite book of 2020): Dungeon Critters by Natalie Riess 

Sometimes Fairytales are the best way to talk about Hard Things: The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

Do You Really Need to Know Anything Else Beyond the Title? Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Yuen Lang

Sweetest Fantasy, Beautiful Design: Beetle and the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

**Best Book on a Topic That Shouldn’t Be Taboo: Go With the Flow by Lily Williams, illus. by Karen Schneemann

Most Powerful Memoir: Chance: Escape from the Holocaust by Uri Schulevitz

NONFICTION

The Book Everyone In America Needs to Read, Part 2 (also my personal most-favorite of 2020): The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh by Candace Fleming

Eye-Popping Illustrations of Beautiful Bees: Honeybee by Candace Fleming, illus. Eric Rohmann (yep, same author as the Lindbergh biography)

Most Awwww-Inspiring: Hello, Neighbor! The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers by Matthew Cordell

Most Awe-Inspiring: The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, illus. Oge Mora

Remember When U.S. Civics Could Be Fun? The Next President:The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America’s Presidents by Kate Messner, illus. Adam Rex

Best Autobiography — written by a rock-climbing prodigy: How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shirashi, illus. Yao Xiao 

I Still Can’t Believe How Absorbing This Story Was (even when I knew the ending!): All Thirteen: the Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Soorntornvat

Most Incredible Nature Illustration: How to Find a Bird by Jennifer Ward, illus. Diana Sudyka

Totally Cosmic, Man: Your Place in the Universe by Jason Chin

Truth & Beauty, Unparalleled: Exquisite: the Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade, illus. Cozbi A. Cabrera

Best Animal Illustration: Packs: Strength in Numbers by Hannah Salyer 

Most Intimate Look at the life of a famous person: Night Walk to the Sea: A Story About Rachel Carson, Earth’s Protector by Deborah Wiles, illus. Daniel Miyares

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION

Best example of the worth of therapy for kids: The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

If you grew up loving the “Little House” books, this tribute to/reimagining of them will make you squeeeeeee: Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

Again, Sometimes folklore is the best way to talk about hard things (even if it means a grouchy Korean tiger comes at you): When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

Southern Gothic, but truly tender story: King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callander

Dysfunctional Families, 1980s-style: We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

There’s some credibility-stretching coincidences in the plot, but I liked it anyway (also Best Crossover for Adults, Part 1): Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

Most heart-wrenching immigration story: Efren Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

A part of American history I admit I knew nothing about: Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte

Sexism Happens to Kids, Too: Chirp by Kate Messner

Best Abuse Survivor Story/Jumanji Mashup: A Game of Fox & Squirrels by Jenn Reese

As An Introvert, I Felt Seen: Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker

Best Family Saga: Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It by Andrea Davis Pinkney 

Best Sports Story: Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander

**Probably My Favorite Novel of the Year (fave protagonist, certainly): Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Best Crossover for Adults, Part 2: Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri

Has the Feel of a “Classic” Read-Alous: Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake, illus. Jon Klassen

Best Mystery/Fantasy Mashup: Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

**This one left me gob-smacked impressed by the authorial talent on display: Kent State by Deobrah Wiles

**Is there such a thing as a Teen Celibacy Comedy? Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles

**Family secrets, and the devastation left in their wake: Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

I’ve been waiting 20 years for this author to finish this series, and I’m kind of bereft that it’s finally over: The Return of the Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

80s Brit Punk-meets-High Fantasy: The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix

Compression Time

A puzzle on a puzzle on a puzzle

Brian and I often remark to each other that our perception of time is changing during the quarantine. Intellectually, I know that several months have gone by since the schools closed down, but it still feels as if it just began.

In the meanwhile, the weeks seem to drag, with a serious case of fatigue that sets in on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

It’s likely that each of our days has such sameness, with little novelty, that our brains simply aren’t recording as many long-term memories anymore.

Having my right hand in a brace isn’t helping anything; I’m unable to create any kind of long-lasting work (such as writing) which makes my days even more free-form and floating than otherwise created by the pandemic.

I finally met with an orthopedist this past Wednesday, and it was dissatisfying. A pulled muscle, nothing more, and it would have resolved faster weeks ago if I’d known to use a brace and isolate my hand right at the beginning. (Parallels to the pandemic are not lost on me.) As it currently stands, I’m looking at using a brace for another 6-8 weeks. I’ll be lucky to play piano by the end of summer.

The one good outcome was a prescription for a tube for an anti-inflammatory gel (kinda like “super Ben-Gay”) and it’s done wonders for easing the pain. I have my first visit with a hand therapist this Tuesday.

In the meanwhile, we’re taking Eleanor out to lunch every day (it’s the only way we can get her to eat) and continuing with the Shakespeare 2020 project. There are so many arts organizations streaming live recordings of plays (Shakespeare or otherwise) that it’s actually kind of a treat. I’ve been able to see productions of plays that rarely get performed, like The Two Noble Kinsmen, which was adorable, or  Timon of Athens, which is interesting to discuss and boring to read/watch (Timon is a reverse Scrooge, essentially). Eleanor has watched all of them with me, which is really fun. Yesterday we watched the Globe Theater’s production of The Winter’s Tale, and it was adorable.

I also took time to watch the National Theater’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire, (on my own, since it isn’t exactly kid-friendly) and found it electrifying.

We’ve also continued our musical-watching with Into the Woods, The Phantom of the Opera, Moulin Rouge, and Hairspray. I prefer to watch films of stage productions instead of film adaptations of musicals (with exceptions for musicals that were created as films, like Moulin Rouge.) I have no idea if this is something that Eleanor is excited about, but she shows up for them, and anything I can do to get her out of bed is a-okay with me.

We went on another stairway hike last week, through the Madrona/Leschi neighborhood. The gardens were beautiful and the views of the lake were gorgeous! Here’s what I wrote about it on Instagram:

We embarked on Seattle Stairway hike #2 yesterday, this time with the boys coming along for the adventure. Our itinerary took us through the Madrona and Leschi neighborhoods along the western shore of Lake Washington. Our “secret passage” stairways went through forests and between vine-covered gardens that felt just a teeny bit like something from an Indiana Jones movie. Best of all were the spectacular views of the lake, as well as the general good cheer of William and Jeff, who happily went up and down roughly 670 stairs over 1.7 miles. (Well, with the exception of one stairway that was so steep the boys nicknamed it “The Wall.”)

Almost every picture Brian took had his finger in it

“The Wall”

Brian finger!

I was really sad that it rained hard yesterday and we couldn’t do another one. Hopefully next week the weather will be fine.

In other news, William was tasked with building a Rube Goldberg device for his engineering class. He made a contraption that turns off the overhead light in his room, something that I remember fantasizing about building in my own childhood bedroom. It took him about ten hours of building, testing and tinkering to find success. Now when Brian and I are reading in the evening, we’ll hear a thump-bump-clunk from the direction of William’s bedroom, and know that he’s switched off the lights and gone to sleep.

We also enjoyed a much-needed respite from the tyranny of homeschool on Memorial Day. Despite the damp weather, we went out to Hillwood Park for a game of cross-country bocce, then followed it up with a huge meal of barbecue ribs and baked beans, and a game of Codenames via a Shirtsfam zoom.

Only nineteen more days until this torturous school year is finally over!

From our Friday date on the Burke-Gilman Trail. We saw three juvenile bald eagles sitting in a tree together!

We watched the SpaceX rocket launch and Katie was very excited

 

Coping Strategies

Yup, I’m still typing all of this entirely with my left hand. Still sucks. Only ten more days until my appointment at the hand clinic.

But let’s not focus on that. To tell the truth, other than my hand pain and Eleanor’s ongoing depression/eating thing, my family’s situation is fairly ideal for weathering this storm. We’ve managed to do quite a few fun things since shelter-in-place began.

We’ve been on quite a few hikes and interesting walks. Thanks to my collection of hiking books, it’s easy to find trails that are less visited (research always wins the war).

Meadowdale Beach (during the very first week of lockdown, back in early March). The cold weather worked inour favor; there weren’t any people on the water. (Because they have better self-preservation instincts, I suppose)

Padilla Bay. Eleanor wasn’t feeling well, so I sat with her on a bench and watched birds.

Robe Canyon. I had done this hike years ago, when Katie was three. It was nice to do it with Brian this time. We got rained on (I slipped and fell in the mud twice, ugh) but that simply made our photos all the more colorful.

 

The kids have their ups and downs with homeschooling. Katie at one point spent a morning writing me a letter about how much she hates the Saxon Math program. I decided to count it as “language arts” and move on.

Katie and William did a lot of hands-on chemistry experiments with me, via a website called Mystery Science. We learned how to use old pennies and vinegar to coat steel nails with copper, among other things (this experiment failed, owing to me not using old enough pennies).

One of the more engaging activities for Eleanor was creating entries for the Edible Book Festival in early April. She made two entries, for “Griddle Women” and “The Chiliad,” and won both 1st and 2nd place in the “Most Punderful” category. Woo-hoo, $25 gift card to Third Place Books!

(Alas, I got no recognition for my entries, “Food the Obscured” and “The Count of Monte Crisco”)

Around that same time, I begin filming Primary Singing Time videos for the families in our ward. Friends and family on Facebook enjoy them, too. Katie and the other children sing with me, and it’s a lot of fun.

William finally finished cutting up the foam for his big bean bag chair. He and Jeff have moved into separate rooms, and it’s a great addition to his new space.

We made “Mormon Food” for General Conference, and had to borrow jello from church friends when I realized I had forgotten to put it on the shopping list.

Hot cross buns for Easter. I watched “Amazing Grace,” the Aretha Franklin music documentary, as well as the St. Matthew’s Passion, and made a most excellent carrot cake with pecan frosting. The girls sang “Gethsemane” for the week’s Singing Time video, and Brian hid an Easter basket in the oven and the attic crawlspace.

Eleanor turned fifteen, and I asked friends and family to send video birthday greetings, which I put together into a surprise montage for her. Kristen made her a coronavirus-shaped pinata, which she gleefully smashed with a stick. Flourless chocolate cake afterwards.

Then came SPRING BREAK!

We kicked things off with blanket tents for The Great Washington Camp In (sponsored by the state parks system) and perfected our homemade pizza recipe (overnight rise makes all the dough difference).

Brian and I made a trip down to Olympia for one last visit to The Back Door Bakery, which closed for good on 4/30. Our stimulus check from the government arrived ($83, ha) and we spent all of it on pie and cake and lunch from the Salvadorian place across the street.

Then came our DIY Disney at Home, to commemorate our now-indefinitely postponed trip to Disneyland. Each day was devoted to one of the different “lands” of the park. Here’s how I described them on Instagram:

Today was Fantasyland day, so we watched “Alice in Wonderland” and had a mad tea party. We attempted to bake replicas of the Matterhorn Macaroons you can get from the Jolly Holiday Bakery, but they spread out in the oven and became Polar Ice Cap Macaroons (they were delicious anyway). Later on we watched “Sleeping Beauty” and made mini fairy dolls and paper flower garlands (Katie is modeling the crown Eleanor made). The evening was rounded out with a few garage swordfighting duels. Best part of the day: sending my kids into impressed shock by reciting every single line of “Sleeping Beauty” along with the film.

Spring Break 2020, Day 3: Yee-haw! We saddled up for Frontierland today. After a belly-fillin’ breakfast of baked oatmeal, we spent the morning building our own version of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. There was a lot of nostalgia in this for me; we haven’t played with the wooden train set in years, and I was pleased to see the teenagers get as absorbed into building and running the trains as the little kids. The afternoon was dedicated to tacos and a screening of “Maverick” (how have I never realized that the screenplay was by William Goldman??). Finally, for dinner we had a hot dog and s’mores cookout, for which Katie has been begging for weeks. Plus, it gave me an excuse to make my mom’s baked beans, which are the best even if they take three hours to make.

(I found youtube videos with full versions of the music that is played over the loudspeakers at Disneyland, and we all agree that the Frontierland one is the best. Great country-western classics!)

Spring Break 2020, Day 4: We had a tropical trip to Adventureland today! Everyone was excited to try out the package of authentic Dole Whip soft serve mix that Eleanor got for her birthday. We froze it in our ice cream maker, and whoa: it tasted just like the real thing. Besides the sugar rush, we had a fun morning playing the Island games on Wii Party U, and watched “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” which none of us had seen and proved to be a fun surprise.

Spring Break 2020, Day 5: Beep-boop, we celebrated all things robot-y and science fiction-y with our tribute to Tomorrowland! Brian started us off with a family Lego Masters competition. Challenge #1 involved creating towers with a limited selection of bricks — and they had to support the weight of a baseball. Challenge #2 was about creating a battle scene between two minifigs (can you tell which one William made?). After a break from “Pizza Planet” (aka Little Caesar’s) we settled down to watch “Flight of the Navigator,” which was great, although I now regret missing the chance to show my kids the epic pile of bananas that is “Space Camp.” After all that, the future took a backseat to the past as we celebrated Shakespeare’s birthday with delicious “gingerbard” cookies. Aren’t they adorable?

(Not pictured: Katie’s epic meltdown during the Legomaster competition. Poor girl! She really misses school.)

Spring Break 2020, Day 6: our indefinitely- delayed trip to California also included a visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, so we decided to spend a day doing all things Hogwarts, with each of us taking turns teaching a class. William hid stuffed animals around the house for Care of Magical Creatures, which we then used for a blanket-toss game (this was a huge hit). Eleanor showed us how to make fizzy love juice in Potions, and Katie taught how to turn poisonous plants (asparagus) edible in Herbology. Lastly, I taught Transfiguration and we turned origami paper into Golden Snitches. After a lunch of burgers & butterbeer, we settled in for a screening of the first Harry Potter movie, which we hadn’t watched in years (during which I predictably fell asleep 🙄). Whew, throwing my kids five themed parties in a row has been a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. I hope they remember the good times during a period in which so much seemed so scary.

(FYI, the potions tasted totally gross)

Our last day of spring break was spent on a drive to the Skagit Valley to sort-of see tulip fields and get cookies from Breadfarm. Eleanor actually came along for this, which was a big deal.

Spring was well and truly sprung after the break. The school district started providing a more robust online school program. Katie and William discovered a meadowy daisy patch next to the water towers in our neighborhood.

During the first week of May, the seniors at the high school got their caps and gowns, and some parents organized a loosely organized parade to celebrate them. The grads put on their newly acquired caps and gowns and stood (6 ft. apart) near their local elementary or middle school. Then a caravan of 50+ decorated cars drove past all of them along a designated route. It was such a blast — lots of sign waving and horn honking. Jeff and I blasted the school fight song whenever we passed another group of kids. Jeff was especially happy to have a chance to say goodbye to all his senior friends. Probably one of the most uplifting things I’ve done so far.

We also observed May the Fourth, aka Star Wars Day. After hurrying through our schoolwork, we ordered Chinese take-out for Orange Mandolorian Chicken, Brocco-Leia Beef, Kung Poe Chicken, Won Taun-Tauns, and Fortune Wookies. Then we cozied up for a screening of “The Last Jedi” (because my kids love porgs) and finished the evening with lightsaber duels and blue milk with whipped-strawberry topping.

Is that a tiny fairy door on my cardigan? Yes.

For most of the pandemic, we’ve been holding weekly contests with Brian’s family. Whoever wins gets to choose and judge the next week’s competition. Caitlin challenged us all to make historical-figure costumes out of household objects. Kathryn then instigated a book-spine poetry contest. Peter’s contest was to create fairy doors with a variety of materials and locations (Kristen made a stunning patchwork fabric one; Brian made an origami one; William’s had two doorknobs because fairies.) Anderson was the winner, however, and he started a house-building contest.

Although Eleanor tried her hardest to pander to Anderson’s tastes with a Disney house, the winner was Katie and William’s fairy castle. Which led us to this week’s crazy dance contest.

Mother’s Day weekend came and went. Brian and I spent Saturday doing the Fremont hike in “Seattle Stairway Walks.” Following the trail guide is part hike, part treasure map as we went up and down about a dozen public stairways hidden between houses and leafy alleyways. There were so many beautiful gardens! Fremont is especially fun because there is a lot of public art created by neighborhood residents, from an inspirational poem posted at the bottom of a stairway, to a mirror on a street sign labeled “You’re Brilliant!,” to a little bench next to a telephone pole labeled “Accidental Park.” (A play on the name of Seattle’s Occidental Park.)

Brian then spent the rest of the day on my present: cleaning up our overgrown rose garden and installing a new birdbath. I love it SO SO much!

On Mother’s Day proper, Katie knocked on my bedroom door. “Mom, are you still in your pajamas?” No, I had already showered and dressed. “But Mom,” she wailed, “you have to still be in bed, or it ruins the magic!” Very well, then. If that is what it takes to get breakfast.

I also made the Cherry Shortcake Bars from Midwest Made, because it seems like springtimey “mom-food,” and the kids cooked sushi for dinner.

Annnnnd I think we’re all caught up!

 

Brooke of the Broken Hand

I only gave this post that title because it sounds like the name of a terrible martial arts epic.

But in truth, my right hand is well and truly busted. I did …. something to it while I was learning a Rachmaninoff prelude during January and February. By the time we went to Mexico, the big joint on my middle finger hurt and could not close into a fist.  The injury had happened so gradually, I didn’t even realize it was happening.

I had a strong suspicion as to what caused it — the fast, free-form section of the Rach. I decide to stop playing that one section.

It did not help. I began to wake up at night, my finger aching.

I have to tell my teacher, Jensina, that I should probably stop the Rach altogether. We are both very upset. So much work for nothing.

The quarter ends, the pandemic begins. I’ll take a break from piano between quarters, I think. No practicing, no advanced repertoire at all. Just easy stuff, church music on weekends. I can do this for a week or two.

It does not help. Suddenly all church meetings are cancelled. I order a finger splint off Amazon. It made the joint ache more, pulled into a stiff, unnatural position. I put the splint away.

Rest, rest. Surely this will all end soon. The kids are home from school. I begin a new knitting project to relax; in the middle of a row, my hand suddenly cramps and seizes up. No more knitting, then. Very little piano. A few hymns on Sunday. But even this causes the tendons to ache, that buzzy pain that feels like a touched nerve.

I begin to Google “left hand piano repertoire.” It leads to a lot of boring waltzes.

I talk to Jensina on the phone. She thinks I should rest the hand until at least April 15 — six weeks! She also recommends a Scriabin etude that can be played with left hand only. I begin to learn it, my right hand curled uselessly in my lap, like a bird that flew into a glass window and stunned itself.

All the stores are closed.  During General Conference, I attempt to take notes, writing by hand in a notebook, and a dull ache takes over, shooting pain up to my elbow. I bury my hand in ice. More rest. Rest. Can’t go to the doctor now, I’ll get sick. Brian begins working from home. I order special little ice packs that can Velcro around my fingers.

A week later, we take a drive to a favorite bakery, and when I go to write the check, sharp shooting pains run down my fingers. I flinch and try not to show any discomfort as I quickly sign the check and pass it through the window to a cashier sitting behind a pane of protective Plexiglass. We are all wearing masks.

No more handwriting, then. How will I do my music theory homework?

First Zoom lesson with Jensina. The Scriabin is coming together. What a great opportunity — every pianist wants to be ambidextrous! Have I tried taping my fingers together? I buy reams of medical tape.

Eleanor, depressed from the school closures and cancellations, begins to refuse food, staying in her room during breakfast and lunch.

Some time later, the same sharp pain occurs when I type. When I scratch my leg. When I casually flick my fingers over a touchpad.

My right hand should do nothing, then. No music, no writing, no knitting, no art. No kneading bread or pruning roses. My right hand is quarantined.

Brian offers to be my scribe for music theory but I find this impossible and write it myself anyway. More ice. Brian researches tendonitis and discovers that ibuprofin inhibits collagen repair. No more painkillers. I buy a big bottle of collagen supplements and swallow them down, one horse-choking pill at a time.

Eleanor does not eat for three days straight. I make panicked calls to the pediatrician and set up appointments with a therapist and a nutritionist.

I also, finally, set up a telehealth appointment for me.

“What was the piece that hurt your hand, anyway?” my PCP asks.

“A Rachmaninoff prelude,” I reply. Her eyes widen. At least the one saving grace in all this is that it at least sounds impressive.

She sent me off with a referral for a hand specialist. I make the call right away.

I need to wait three weeks until my appointment.

The left-hand Scriabin is joined by a left-hand Gliere and a left-hand Czerny. I’m playing full-throated music with only my left hand. My family says they wouldn’t be able to tell if they didn’t already know. William hums quietly along while he does his homeschool assignments. But the music doesn’t satisfy me. It feels like a parlor trick. Not art.

I miss my repertoire. Playing inspirational music on Sunday. Church hymns on the organ. Jazz standards after dinner in the evening. Disney and showtunes for my kids to sing along with. Choral pieces with Brian.

A few weeks ago, I accidentally flipped my music bag open, revealing the Hayden and Bach and Chopin that used to be my meat and bread. How big my sounds were, how tender and passionate. I immediately remembered playing these pieces in the college practice rooms, in my teacher’s office, on the baby grand in the performance space. Impossibilities. All of it. It felt like a bag of ghosts had fallen into my arms. And truly, isn’t that what music from 200 years ago is, anyway? Something gone, that doesn’t exist until we think about it, from a time long, long ago. And also from the time of Before. And there’s no point in running your tired, overwashed, taped-up fingers over the things you simply cannot have.

I slowly put the music back and zip the bag firmly closed.

 

 

Granolavirus, Week Two

Almost every night, Eleanor asks me to “tuck her in,” aka sit on her bed and talk with her. It’s something I enjoy. But my heart sinks whenever she repeats the question: “So what do we have planned for tomorrow?”

I don’t know what she’s expecting me to say. I suggest a few fun ideas, but none of them entice her. I’m not a cruise director. Eleanor turns her face to the wall.

We’ve snuggled tight into our little routine, here. In the morning, I expect the kids to meet me around the kitchen table by at least 9:00 a.m. for “scripture power” time. (9:00 a.m. may seem like a late wake-up call to you, but it’s a challenge for the teenagers.)

After scripture power, everyone goes their separate ways for homeschool. I supervise William and Katie on their schoolwork while I practice piano (I’ve found some left-hand etudes by Bach, Saint-Saens, and Scriabin to work on while my right hand heals). Usually the littles manage to finish almost all their schoolwork before lunchtime, which is how most homeschool curricula is supposed to go (only 2-3 hours a day).

Meanwhile, Jeff pesters me for internet access, which I deny him until he’s done all his “analog” tasks, such as read for an hour, practice his piano assignment, work on the math assignment Brian gave him, and go for a walk. He’s … okay at doing all of these, and then spends the afternoon doing “homework,” which is whatever his teachers are emailing him. It’s almost impossible to know how much of this homework he’s actually doing.

And where is Eleanor during the morning hours? Usually back in bed. Most days, I usually haul her out of bed around noon, which is when we drive to the school for lunch. The school district runs a drive-through lunch program for ages 18 and under, and it’s a great excuse for getting out of the house.

Is it progress that Eleanor is at least coming with us to lunch? Last week she refused.

Afternoons are spent finishing up any remaining homeschool: reading our history chapter aloud, doing hands-on science experiments, playing outside, building with LEGO, etc. Eleanor spends her afternoons in her room, working on the math assignments Brian gives her. Jeff often takes advantage of my distracted state to vanish upstairs with a computer.

One would think I’d spend this afternoon block to get some writing done, but it’s hard. Having all the kids around is sucking the energy out of me. Interruptions happen about every 15-20 minutes. It’s difficult to focus on anything knowing that my teenage daughter is dissolving into the bedsheets down the hall.

A few times I’ve gotten up early to write before the kids wake, but when faced with that quiet space to myself, I found that all I wanted to do was nothing. “Pure nothing, in the middle of the day,” like the line from the Rita Dove poem.

Besides, most of my early morning hours are already devoted to my own sanity-saving exercise routine.

I don’t even want to think how things are going to shift when my music theory class resumes in another week.

Yet my brain can’t let go of writing: it is constantly, constantly working on the novel in the background, formulating scenes, plot points, reams of dialogue, descriptive paragraphs, character arcs. After a few days, I feel pent up and congested inside, and panicked that I’ll never get around to finishing the project.

So to state that I’m feeling frustrated with myself is an understatement. Am I really too busy for this? Or am I using my kids as an excuse?

Around 3:30 p.m. we still gather for kuchenzeit. This week in Panic Baking: Caramel Apple Dapple Cake (not as good as my mom’s apple cake), Wednesday Night Brownies (of course), Chocolate Chip Cookie Brittle (similar but vastly improved version of a recipe I already have) and Next Level Krispy Treats (they have double the butter and 4 ounces of white chocolate).

Brian’s been returning home from the hospital at odd early times, which can be frustrating, especially if he has more office work to do at home: I get all excited about having another adult to take a turn with the child labor, only to hear that I’m not getting a break after all.

On Friday, Brian worked entirely from home. I asked him to create his office space on the third floor, where I won’t be able to hear him. It’s disheartening to be constantly reminded that he’s able to accomplish his adult intellectual work when I cannot. I don’t blame him; this is the arrangement and partnership that we knew would work best for our family. And I’m kind of relieved that it’s possible for him to be home instead of going into the hospital, where he’s at risk for getting sick. But still — stay away where I can’t hear you, Other Adult.

Worst of all, because the kids don’t have any early-morning wake-up times, then bedtime tends to slide later and later into the evening. More nights than I’d prefer, the kids aren’t in bed until ten or ten-thirty, all of them needy for their mom, for the kind of stability I can provide them, since their lives are all upside-down. And I love that I can do that for them, and I love how our relationships are all deepening and improving as a result.

BUT — I am going a little crazy without having much alone time these days. I love my big boisterous family, but I’m someone who has always thrived on having “the gift of solitude” to recharge. Last night, a reasonable 8pm start time for the bedtime routine was upended by a Harry Potter board game. None of the children went to sleep until 11p.m. I tried to close myself up in my room with a book, but children kept popping in. It was great to get those extra cuddle times (Jeff came and talked to me! Voluntarily!) but afterwards I felt ragged, and furious.

The teenagers are starting to feel the negative results of their messed-up sleep schedules and sedentary lifestyle. Eleanor and Jeff complain that they are restless in bed and unable to sleep until one or two in the morning. Jeff seems amenable to making the lifestyle changes required to fix this, but Eleanor shuts down whenever I bring up the solution of basic exercise and earlier wake-up times, retreating into her shell of “I’m fine” and a quelling glare.

Last night was a breakthrough — Eleanor said she would like to spend some time walking on the treadmill, but when would she have the time? I pointed out that she might have to spend less time in bed in the morning, only to be burned alive with the Quelling Glare once more.

Ugh, the worst is knowing that I likely would have behaved in the exact same way at her age. What does it say that your mini teenage clone-self is occasionally intolerable?

So anyway isolation’s going fine.

Granolavirus, Week One

“Granolavirus” is apparently what Eleanor and her friends were calling COVID-19 outbreak before everything got turned upside down.

William’s social studies teacher sent out an email encouraging all his students to keep a diary of this odd, uncertain time. The idea went over like a lead balloon with the kids, but reminded me that I really out to come out of hiatus for this one.

THE STATS SO FAR

Days since schools closed: 10 (although it feels much longer)

Episodes of Panic Baking: 3 (all from the Midwest Made: Big Bold Baking from the Heartland). I tell myself that I’m doing this so the kids and I can enjoy “kuchenziet” (aka German teatime, but literally translated as “cake time” which I think we can all agree is superior). I’ve made the “Donut Loaf,” (which also describes my current lifestyle), “Wednesday Night Brownies” (which I am totally making every Wednesday from now on) and “Potato Chip-Chip Shortbread,” (which are made with potato chips and chocolate chips, and were the kids’ favorite so far)

Days Eleanor Spent in Bed Not Talking to Anybody: 3. With bonus Refusing to Eat or Bathe or Go to Bed at a Reasonable Time Action!

Yes, it was kind of scary with Eleanor for a while. She took it very hard when everything in her life got cancelled. School musical, robotics competition, choir concerts, our family’s Disneyland trip — poof. Gone. I’ve been doing my best to not freak out on her and be gentle, but it’s hard. She still occasionally regresses and becomes Surly Silent Girl who insists that she’s “fine.”

[insert beleaguered sigh here]

Homeschool Charts Getting Checked Off: 2. William is the most checklist-oriented person I’ve ever met, and Katie generally follows his lead. Fortunately, I still have our stash of homeschool workbooks left over from when I was tutoring Jeff in math and writing — enough for both Wim and Katie. “History” time is when I read a chapter out loud from The Story of the World, and  twice a week we do a hands-on science experiment. It’s fun, although I fear the honeymoon will be over soon.

Homeschool Charts Getting Kinda Checked Off: 1. Getting Jeff to do anything besides watch YouTube is an uphill battle. He’s doing some math … ish, and reading books … ish.

Homeschool Charts Being Pointedly Ignored: 1 (See Eleanor’s Couch of Despair, above). Eleanor declared that “she wants to learn Latin,” so her “homeschool” is endless Latin language games on Duolingo. Things began to improve when her Geometry textbook arrived in the mail. She now spends a few hours a day taking meticulous notes in a math notebook and solving the problem sets Brian picks out for her. For the first few days, she also refused to read anything (I had to go do some Panic Baking in response) but now I’ve got her hooked on The Wee Free Men. That’ll have to do for the humanities.

Fights Over Internet Access: too many to account for

Nights We’ve Been Woken By Jeff Walking Around the House at 1:00am: 2 (Which, admittedly, sounds like something I’d do at age seventeen, but HONESTLY)

Things I Can’t Do Right Now: Practice piano, knit, or type for more than few minutes. This is because I’ve given myself a repetitive-stress injury with the Rachmaninoff prelude I spent all of last quarter working through. (It’s such a beautiful piece of music! I am heartbroken that I cannot continue mastering it!)

Having all my stress-relief activities taken away at the onset of this crisis is doing nobody any favors. I ordered a finger splint from Amazon.com, and it arrived on Friday night, and it seems to be helping (it allows me to knit a little, too).

And yep — my hand is aching right now, so it looks like I’ve hit my limit. Sigh. Tune in for more granolavirus updates in the future …

 

2019 Favorite Books for Young Readers

Greetings and salutations, fellow readers!

To you, 2019 may feel like super-old yesterday’s news, but for my brain and eyes, it’s still very much happening. Which is my roundabout way of saying that I’ve spent the last three weeks cramming my To Be Read pile with as many of the lauded and buzz-worthy books from 2019, all in pursuit of my definitely comprehensive (ha, that is impossible) and definitely unbiased (also impossible) list of Favorite Reads for Young people.

Tomorrow the Youth Media Awards are announced at 8am EST (which means a 5am wake up call for me, yaaaaaay) and we’ll see if all my cramming has lead to a triumphant fist-pumping round of “I knew it!” or a shameful head-shaking “never heard of that one” or an even worse “uggggh, what was the committee thinking with that one?!?” Only time shall tell!

Again, the standard caveats:

• I can’t put every “good” book on this list because it would be a million miles long(er). Also, not every book here is for you. Like most librarians, I like to read pretty much every genre of literature so it’s all in the mix.
• I don’t read a lot of YA novels, so that category is skimpy (although I do include other YA books in nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels, etc.)
• Books with troubling, dark, or mature content get a double asterisk (**). Parents might want to take a gander first if they have sensitive kids.
• Rev up those library cards and have FUN!

Also: here’s a link to a handy Google Doc of the list for your print-at-home pleasure.

 

PICTURE BOOKS

Featuring the World’s Trippiest Shopping Trip: ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market! by Raúl the Third

Best Father-Daughter Book: My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero, illus. Zeke Peña

Holy Cow, a Celebrity Finally Wrote a Decent Picture Book (and it’s lovely!): The Proudest Blue by Muhammad, Ibtihaj with S.K. Ali, illus. Aly, Hatem

Best Book About Cooking (as opposed to a cookbook, which is, y’know, different):  Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard, illus. Juana Martinez-Neal

Somehow it’s about nature, perspective, history, and ecology all at the SAME TIME:  A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel

Funniest, Sweetest Book About Death in a Long While: The End of Something Wonderful: A Practical Guide to a Backyard Funeral by Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic; illus. George Ermos

So Weird, but Made Me Laugh SO Hard: Mr. Nogginbody Gets a Hammer by David Shannon

I Think We All Feel This Way From Time to Time: The Very Impatient Caterpillar by Ross Burach

FINALLY, a Good Picture Book about Gender Identity: When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff, illus. Kaylani Juanita

I Know this book is basically pandering to Librarians but I Don’t Care: How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander, illus. Melissa Sweet

Best Seasonal Holiday Book: The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper, illus. Carson Ellis

I suppose you could call this a Valentine Book, but it’s really about selfless giving in all times and places: What Is Given From the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack, illus. April Harrison

If You Don’t This is Fundamentally Funny, You Shouldn’t Be Around Kids: Who Wet My Pants? by Bob Shea, illus. Zachariah O’Hora

In Which We Remeber How Beautiful This Country Is: You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks by Evan Turk

Snuggly Wuggly Critters, Oh My! Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris, illus. LeUyen Pham

Best Family History (also Katie’s personal favorite of 2019): Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler

The Title Says Everything: Llama Destroys the World by Jonathan Stutzman, illus. Heather Fox

Best (Living) Pet Story: Truman by Jean Reidy, illus. Lucy Ruth Cummins

Best Bedtime Book: Just Because by Mac Barnett, illus. Isabelle Arsenault

Probably the Funniest Book on Here if it weren’t for that odd Nogginbody Book: The Happy Book by Andy Rash

Best Interactive Book [slaps page]: High Five! by Adam Rubin, illus. Daniel Salmieri

EASY/BEGINNER BOOKS:

In Which the Elephant & Piggie Reads Series Gets Metafictional: Harold & Hog Pretend for Real! by Dan Santat

Cynthia Rylant Proves Once Again That She’s A Master of This Genre: Motor Mouse by Cynthia Rylant, illus. Arthur Howard

Just Cannot Get Enough of This Series: Noodleheads Fortress of Doom by Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss; illus. Tedd Arnold

GRAPHIC NOVELS:

**Best Breakup With the Toxic Relationship Story: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki

Probably The Best Overall Children’s Book of 2019: New Kid by Jerry Craft

Best Historical(ish) Fiction of 2019: Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis

Best Friendship Story: Stargazing by Jen Wang

Being Popular Ain’t as Easy as it Appears: Best Friends by Shannon Hale, illus. LeUyen Pham

How? How Does EVERY Part of this Series Manage to Be SO GOOD? Major Impossible by Nathan Hale

NONFICTION & POETRY

Okay, first off — you should know that kids today are SO lucky that we happen to be living in this stunning Golden Age of nonfiction for young readers. Which means that if I could, this would be the longest category with so many titles your eyeballs would pop out of their sockets and go “a-woo-ga!” OBVIOUSLY, I’m not going to torture you all that way, but in case you want more, go see librarian-blogger Betsy Bird’s list of nonfiction picture books. Pretty much everything that’s there should be here, too.

**Best Memoir-in-Verse (well, best memoir overall, really): Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson

Most Powerful Picture Book/Poetry of 2019: The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander; illus. Kadir Nelson

Cutest Poetry Anthology of 2019 (it’s here pretty much because William loves it): The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog by Paul B. Janeczko (ed.), illustrated Richard Jones

Most Awwwww-inducing Picture Book Biography: The Important Thing about Margaret Wise Brown by Mac Barnett

One of My Favorite Childhood Illustrators Gets a Biography — and her life was FRIGGING AMAZING: It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by Kyo Maclear, illus. Julie Morstad

Greek Myth Cartoons are the bomb: I Am Hermes! Mischief-Making Messenger of the Gods by Mordicai Gerstein

You Probably Didn’t Realize You Needed a Recommendation for a Book About Crocodiles, But Believe Me, You Do: Beware of the Crocodile by Martin Jenkins, illus. Satoshi Kitamura

Stunning-est Nature Photography: Bloom Boom! by April Pulley Sayre

**Holy COW this story is fascinating and SO well written and researched: The Miracle & Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets by Sarah Miller

Most Tummy-Rumbling Food Origin Story: Magic Ramen: the Story of Momofuku Ando by Andrea Wang; illus. Kana Urbanowicz

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION

I just barely started it and haven’t finished but I’m putting it on here anyway because it’s just that good: Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

Best Immigration Story: Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Why Hello there, 21st Century Update of the Mary Poppins Story: Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt

I’ve got a serious soft spot for novels about kids with autism-spectrum disorder: Because of the Rabbit by Cynthia Lord

I’M NOT CRYING, YOU’RE CRYING: Beverly, Right Here by Kate DiCamillo

Basically “The Good Place” crossed with “The Giver”: Eventown by Kate McGovern

A standard middle grade friendship drama story intersects with the Black Lives Matter movement — and somehow it works: A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée

Probably My Personal Favorite Book of 2019: Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian Heidicker

ALSO: I’d like to put in a collective shout-out for the “Rick Riordan Presents” editorial imprint, which is producing Percy Jackson-ish novels about world mythology, written by authors from that culture. They are all selling like hotcakes and getting all the starred reviews BUUUUUUT because of this, I haven’t been able to get my hands on any of them (darn you, long library waitlists!). But if you’ve a notion (and a good sense of delayed gratification) go check out Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia; Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee; Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez; and Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Choksi

YA FICTION

The One Your Teen Has Probably Already Read: On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

My Personal Favorite of 2019: Lovely War by Julie Berry

Most Delicious and Heart-wrenching Novel of the Year: With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Best Conclusion to a Trilogy: The Wicked King and The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

I Know it’s 100% Channeling “Howl’s Moving Castle,” but DANGIT I LOVED IT ANYWAY: Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson