Blog Tour: Short & Sweet (Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast #4) by Josh Funk

Short & Sweet
by Josh Funk, Illustrated by Brendan Kearney
Sterling Children’s Books (September 1, 2020)
Fiction * Action & Adventure * Food
Audience: Ages 4 to 8
Indiebound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:
Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast are back with a twist: they’ve been transformed into small children. Now it’s a race against the clock to turn our favorite duo into grown-ups again!

Lady Pancake is aching; Sir French Toast’s looking pale. Could they be going . . . STALE? Maybe a visit to Professor Biscotti’s lab for her despoiling procedure will help. But instead of beautifying them, Biscotti accidentally transforms the two treats into toddlers! Frightened of the now gargantuan (to them) Baron von Waffle, the mini breakfast foods scamper off on an adventure in the fridge, visiting everywhere from the Bran Canyon to Limes Square. Will Baron von Waffle and Professor Biscotti figure out a way to turn them back into a grown Lady and Sir? Or will they stay short & sweet forever?

In this fourth LADY PANCAKE & SIR FRENCH TOAST adventure, Pancake and Toast fear they are going stale and visit Professor Biscotti, whose faulty gadget transforms them into toddlers, sending them on an adventure in the refrigerator.

Check out the official book trailer for Short & Sweet:

Quick thoughts on the book:
Our friends, Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, are back for the newest adventure. This time, in an attempt to “freshen up” they get a bit of a makeover that turns them back to their mini-child versions. In their mini size, the pair runs from the scary and large Baron Von Waffle. How will Professor Biscotti find a way to return them to their normal Size?

Whereas the book plays with words, imagery, and rhythm, the emotions and friendship are also crucial to the story.

Brendan Kearney’s illustrations are playful and a perfect match for Josh Funk’s imagination and storytelling. It’s a perfect partnership that continues to grow as the series grows.

Finally, I am jealous of Josh Funk’s imagination. I wonder if he goes out to a restaurant and begins planning out a scene for his book from the items on the menu? Does his family dread when he begins to clean out the refrigerator or freezer because it may inspire a new book? Or does he just sit with a pad of paper and jot down ideas for his books? I like to think it comes from daily interactions with food.

Though I might not have Josh’s imagination, his books inspire thoughts of creating a pancake or french toast board for when we can have social gatherings again.

Click on photo to go to article.

What would be your favorite food options from Short & Sweet? Click on the image above to go to an article on pancake boards that may inspire your imagination.

Don’t miss the other titles about Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast:

About the author: Josh Funk is the author of Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, followed by its sequels The Case of the Stinky Stench and Mission Defrostable, as well as Albie Newton, How to Code a Sandcastle, Lost in the Library, and more. He lives in Concord, MA. Visit him online at joshfunkbooks.com or on Twitter at @joshfunkbooks.

About the illustrator: Brendan Kearney is also the illustrator of the first Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast; its sequels The Case of the Stinky Stench and Mission Defrostable; and Bertie Wings It. He lives in St. Albans, UK.

To check out all of the stops on the blog tour:

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Above the Rim How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball

Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball
by Jen Bryan, Illustrated by Frank Morrison
Abrams Books for Young Readers (October 6, 2020)
Nonfiction * Autobiography * Basketball
Audience: Ages 7 to 11
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads: The story of Elgin Baylor, basketball icon and civil rights advocate, from an all-star team

Hall-of-famer Elgin Baylor was one of basketball’s all-time-greatest players—an innovative athlete, team player, and quiet force for change. One of the first professional African-American players, he inspired others on and off the court. But when traveling for away games, many hotels and restaurants turned Elgin away because he was black. One night, Elgin had enough and staged a one-man protest that captured the attention of the press, the public, and the NBA.

Above the Rim is a poetic, exquisitely illustrated telling of the life of an underrecognized athlete and a celebration of standing up for what is right.

Quick thoughts about the book:
Okay, I have a confession to make. I have only watched one full length professional basketball game and it was a WNBA game and I can’t tell you who the L.A. Sparks played that day. When I would take my nephew to his basketball games at the “Y”, I would compare it to a bunch of puppy dogs falling all over each other as they chased a ball. I still don’t understand why people watch basketball. A bunch of people run down the court bouncing and passing a ball and they score. Then back up the court to do the same thing.

For all of my lack of interest in basketball, I was drawn to the cover of Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Frank Morrison. It just calls to you to pick it up and read it.

Since I already confessed my lack of knowledge of basketball, I know you won’t be surprised that I knew nothing about Elgin Baylor. However, by the end of the book, my admiration for Baylor, his sport and his civil rights advocacy grew exponentially.

In a recent Facebook post, I mentioned that I know picture books can take years to come out, but sometimes the timing seems planned. Just a few days before I read Above the Rim, the NBA and WNBA led a protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake by refusing to play. Several NBA teams have offered up their venues as safe socially distance places for voting in November. The NBA is also partnering with Yale researchers to create an effective, rapid test for COVID-19.

I am not surprised that Elgin Baylor protested how he was treated compared to his white teammates. Bryant does a masterful job of placing Baylor into the timeline of the 1950’s and 1960’s Civil Rights Movement with images and references of Rosa Parks, the Little Rock 9, and the Woolworth lunch counter sit-in. Bryant’s poetic writing brings refrains that act as a chorus to a song. All of this is paired with Morrison’s dynamic paintings.

The end pages include an author’s note, recommendations for further reading, a timeline of important events. This is one picture book biography that you won’t want to miss.

Elgin Baylor - Most Underrated Player in NBA History

Check out Jen Bryant’s webpage about Above the Rim, here. For more information about illustrator, Frank Morrison, click here.

Above the Rim is available for preorder here.

Don’t forget to link up your nonfiction reviews…

Blog Tour: Thanks to Frances Perkins Fighter for Workers' Rights

Thanks to Frances Perkins: Fighter to Workers’ Rights
by Deborah Hopkinson, Illustrated by Kristy Caldwell
Peachtree Publishers (August 1, 2020)
Nonfiction * Biography * Social Activism
Audience: Grades 2nd to 5th
Teacher’s Guide

Description from GoodReads: How many years will it be until you turn sixty-two? What year will that be? Once you've read Thanks to Frances Perkins, you'll know why these are important questions--and why you may want to thank Frances Perkins.

After Frances Perkins witnessed the Triangle Waist Factory fire in 1911, she was forever changed. While some activists pressed factory owners for change, Frances decided to work to bring about new laws that would force employers to treat people better and make workplaces safer. When she became Secretary of Labor in Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration--the first woman cabinet member--Frances had the opportunity to make real her bold vision of a country where no one was left out. As a result of the Social Security program that she created, we have built a society where we help one another.

Deborah Hopkinson's energetic text and Kristy Caldwell's appealing illustrations introduce readers to a fascinating woman who has changed many American lives. Back matter features more information about Frances Perkins, Social Security, and resources for economic education.

Official Book Trailer:

Thoughts about the book:

Seldom do I find a review of a book write itself while I am reading the book; however, as I read THANKS TO FRANCES PERKINS: FIGHTER FOR WORKERS’ RIGHTS by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by Kristy Caldwell, I kept finding phrases of my review popping into my head. Along with thoughts about my review. I realized that I was also a bit annoyed that in so many history classes in school Perkins is never mentioned. As I learned about the Great Depression and FDR and the New Deal, never was Perkins acknowledged or credited for her work in making it actually happen.

As I read THANKS TO FRANCES PERKINS, I felt she would be horrified by the current administration’s attempts to undo her work on Social Security and also on the rights of workers. I imagined her spirit rising up and filling women like Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-California). I can easily see these two women from very different times but with the same passion challenging inequities and oppressors being good friends.

I also wondered about what it would be like to be able to cross paths with Perkins and her contemporaries like Jane Addams, Ruth Schneiderman, Clara Lemlich and others. And though I imagine she had many conversations with President Roosevelt, I would have been interested in being a fly on the wall of her conversations with Eleanor Roosevelt.

Though I am envious of all of the amazing things Perkins did, I suspect that she also faced some serious misogyny. I wonder how she handled mansplaining and how many probably didn’t believe a woman should be on the president’s cabinet.

One idea I plan on stealing from Perkins is her habit of scribbling down ideas on small pieces of paper for how to make things better. Yet, I think I will put them in a clear jar so I don’t lose sight of them and make sure I hear their call.

Consider pairing this book with these other titles:

The Only Woman in the Photo: Frances Perkins and Her New Deal for America by Kathleen Krull, Illustrated by Alexandra Bye (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020)

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet (Balzer & Bray, 2013)

Dangerous Jane: The Life and Times of Jane Addams, Crusader for Peace by Suzanne Slade, Illustrated by Alice Ratterree (Peachtree Publishers, 2017)

Other Blog Tour stops:
August 10: The Tiny Activist
August 11: Raise Them Righteous
August 12: Kidlit Frenzy (you’re here)
August 13: Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
August 14: Nerdy Book Club

About the author: Deborah Hopkinson grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts, where the Lowell mill girls led some of the nation’s first organized efforts to improve the lives of ordinary working people. She is the award-winning author of nonfiction and historical fiction for young readers, including Carter Reads the Newspaper, Sweet Land of Liberty, and Keep On! The Story of Matthew Henson, Co-discoverer of the North Pole. She lives in Oregon. www.deborahhopkinson.com

About the illustrator: Kristy Caldwell has illustrated several books for kids, including Flowers for Sarajevo and Away with Words: The Daring Story of Isabella Bird. She lives in New York with her partner, theater director Kelly O’Donnell, and often passes by the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory site. Kristy has a lot of years until she receives her first Social Security check but when she does, she will definitely thank Frances. www.kristycaldwell.com

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Taking a Hiatus

Ten years ago, I started my blog, and over the years I have taken very few breaks. Blogging about books, and literacy has been a great sense of joy. However, the past few months have been particularly trying. First, with school and program closures and a transition to distance learning provided new challenges. And then three weeks ago, after weeks of planning, my department re-opened a very small version of our district' childcare program. Definitely not an easy thing to do during a pandemic. It has taken a lot of my energy, creativity, and problem-solving abilities to figure out how to create an environment that keeps children and adults safe on a daily basis. I am thankful for the fabulous team that I am part of as we navigate these new challenges, and plan to welcome more children in mid-August.

Sadly, this has left little time and energy for my blog, and as a result, I have decided to take a short break. I have a couple of posts planned for August but I won’t be posting regularly until September. Please keep celebrating nonfiction books for children and I look forward to returning to this wonderful community as soon as I can.

Stay safe, wear a mask, and see you in September. - Alyson

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Additional June & July New Releases

Last month, I realized I was missing some June and July releases. Here are some additional recent or new releases that you don’t want to miss.

If you missed the previous posts, you will find them here: 2020 Preview | January/February Post | March Post | April Post | May Post | June Post

Changing the Equation: 50+ US Black Women in STEM by Tonya Bolden (Abrams Books for Young Readers, March 2020)

Poisoned Water: How the Citizens of Flint, Michigan, Fought for Their Lives and Warned the Nation by Candy J. Cooper, Marc Aronson (Bloomsbury, May 19, 2020)

Ick!: Delightfully Disgusting Animal Dinners, Dwellings, and Defenses by Melissa Stewart (National Geographic Kids, June 23, 2020)

History Smashers: The Mayflower by Kate Messner, Illustrated by Dylan Meconis (Random House Books for Young Readers, July 7, 2020)

History Smashers: Women’s Right to Vote by Kate Messner, Illustrated by Dylan Meconis (Random House Books for Young Readers, July 7, 2020)

And during this time of #stayhomestaysafe, consider supporting your local indie bookstores .

Don’t forget to link up your nonfiction reviews…