The City on the Other Side by Mairghread Scott and Robin Robinson

Available from First Second Books on April 24, 2018!

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. 

There isn't much  that makes me happier than seeing strong female lead characters in a kid's graphic novel. Set after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Isabel is raised to become a proper little lady by her emotionally detached mother. Isabel would like to stay in the city surrounded by familiar sights instead of heading off to the country to stay with her artist father.  She would also like a little adventure, a little independence, and to get her hands dirty once in a while.  Her first night spent alone at her father's house doesn't end up a lesson in loneliness and patience, but instead lands Isabel on a journey that tests her bravery.  

Isabel meets her first faerie, a Seelie messenger on a mission to deliver an important and magical necklace.  After becoming gravely injured, Isabel is tasked with continuing the mission with the help of Button, a sort of mushroom-looking faerie.  Together, they travel through both sides of the veil to outrun the Unseelie guards and to find the mysterious Miyori who is believed to be able to change the course of the war.  Along the way, Isabel and Button befriend a human thief named Benji who is living on the faerie side of the veil.  Throughout all the twists and turns, dangers and fears, Isabel and her two friends work together to finish out their mission.  

A fun adventure story with relatable characters and beautiful artwork, City on the Other Side, is a great read for younger children.  The story moves on quickly enough to keep kids interested and Button's humorous character keeps the story from becoming too dark.  

The City on the Other Side

By Mairghread Scott

Buy on Amazon

Alien by David Michael Slater

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this title.

The Mattigan family is off on another adventure! This time to debunk the existence of J-Rod, an escaped alien from Area 51.  While Marcus Mattigan is off to Area 51 to meet Colonel Michael Blanchard to prove the disappearance of the base’s missing alien is false, the children head off on their adventure to rescue J-Rod themselves.  With big sister Maddie acting as group leader, the twins Max and Theo go on an adventure that includes a Las Vegas casino, an alien convention, and a fifth-wheel camper. 

There is just enough sibling squabbling to keep the dialogue real and just enough suspended belief to allow the story to work.  Kids running loose in a Vegas casino? A child hiding out in the camper while Dad drives to the secret military base? It’s just kooky enough to keep kids interested.  The interactions between the siblings were just right-not too sweet and not too snarky.  This was a fun read for kids who are just starting out with chapter books and doesn’t contain any offensive language or violence. 

This book is available on March 12, 2018 from Incorgnito Publishing Press. 

The Magic Garden by Lemniscates

Available in the US on March 6. 

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Magic Garden is a beautifully illustrated story about what we can find in nature if we only take time to look.   Informative and with language that is both simple and descriptive, children are introduced to the plants and animals that live outside. 

This book could be taken apart page by page and framed.  The colors are beautiful and the drawings are deceptively simple.  Just gorgeous!

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

Summer is just beginning and Arturo Zamora is about to start his first job at his family’s restaurant, La Cocina de la Isla.  Thinking he’ll be able to start in the kitchen where his mother is head chef, Arturo is disappointed to learn he’ll be spending his summer wet and soapy while washing dishes.  His summer takes an interesting turn when a family friend and his daughter Carmen move into the apartment complex where Arturo and his entire extended family live.   

This idea of an entire family living in one apartment building is both intriguing and terrifying.  The Zamoras are a very tight-knit and supportive family.  The grandparents immigrated from Havana, Cuba and worked hard to start their first business, the restaurant that is now owned by their daughter Cari.  Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and Arturo himself work at the restaurant and everyone is invested in the success.  Every Sunday the restaurant is closed so the family can have dinner together.  The fact that Cari can cook all day long, six days a week, and then put on a big family dinner on Sunday is amazing.  That’s a superpower.  Dealing with family 24/7 is another one.  

The themes of family and hard work are reinforced over and over again.  When a developer named Wilfrido Pipo tries to convince the community and city council that a high dollar development is better for the community than the restaurant expanding, Arturo and Carmen work together to stop him.  Between undercover missions, festival protests, an unexpected death, and city council meetings, the kids realize that working together with the family and never giving up is the only way to win.  

Highly recommend for those 10 & up.

Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend

Library copy of Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend

Morrigan Crow is a cursed child.  Born on Eventide, she is destined to die on her eleventh birthday.  Her father and stepmother have been preparing for her death from the very moment of her birth.  Making eye contact with another person can lead to broken bones and heartache.  Polite comments about the weather can lead to hail damage.  Morrigan is cursed and her family can't wait to be rid of her. 

It is only after attending Bid Day, a day where elite schools come to bid scholarships on select children, that Morrigan meets Jupiter North.  Morrigan never expected to receive a Bid.  Who would bid on a cursed child?  But Jupiter North of the Wundrous Society is interested in Morrigan.  With the help of a surprising ally, Morrigan and Jupiter leave her home and prepare for the Trials.

Once away from Crow Manor, Morrigan learns of an amazing, magical world.  Magical umbrellas, ever changing bedrooms, and talking cats become Morrigans new normal.  And preparing for her entrance Trials to the Wundrous Society turns out to be even harder than living with a curse.  

This book was a wonderfully fun read full of magical twists and  turns.  Loved Harry Potter? Definitely give this one a try.

This is book one in a new series by Jessica Townsend. 

HiLo 1 & 2 by Judd Winick

Guest Post by The Kid

This book series is a good series for young readers and some adults too.  It's a bout a kid that came from outer space.  A boy named D.J. discovers HiLo in a crater.  The two kids become best friends and fight Razorwark, an alien who ruins galaxies and destroys worlds.  

There is a cat named Polly who is from a distant galaxy and part of the Furback Clan.  She is the goofy person of this story.  She talks like Sherlock Holmes and Thor.

There is also a robotic assistant named Beamer who was Rant until HiLo fixed him and made him friendly.  Rants are evil robots that Razorwark sent to Earth.  

Gina is D.J.'s best friend and lives in D.J.'s neighborhood.  She is the problem solver of the group and keeps the boys from doing stupid stuff.    

These books are very funny and weird.  Weird in a good way.  

If I had known that starting a book blog would get The Kid to talk to me about books, I would have started this years ago!  I didn't anticipate how much fun he would have discussing the book and being in charge of the pictures.  M

A little bit about Chick Picks

It's not chick lit.  I just like farm puns.  I also happen to be a Children's Librarian.  This amazing dream job gives me access to all of the very best children's literature.  In the past three years, I have had the joy of discovering some really great children's books and I will be sharing some of my finds here.