ASTROLOGICA: An Encyclopedia of Myths and Legends From the Planets, Stars and Skies

ASTROLOGICA: An Encyclopedia of Myths and Legends From the Planets, Stars and Skies
SUKI FERGUSON (illus. Camelia Pham)
Wide Eyed Editions (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$30.00 all editions, available now

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: Astrologica is a visually stunning illustrated guide to the stories behind zodiac signs and systems from around the world.

Big, bold, and beautiful, this is the enthralling celestial follow-up to Mythologica: Amazon's No. 1 Children's Non-Fiction Book of the Year 2019.

How did the moon influence mighty emperors in Ancient China? Why are star signs so popular around the world? How did constellations help early seafarers sail safely across the vast Pacific? Blending science and storytelling, Astrologica introduces you to the marvels of our cosmos like you’ve never seen them before.

This gorgeously illustrated book is designed to introduce young stargazers to the celestial. Across the magical chapters, you'll learn about the antics of ancient gods, indigenous traditions, and scientific breakthroughs. You’ll delve into zodiac lore as you journey around the globe, from Mali to Hawai’i, Norway, and Australia. You’ll also travel through time, visiting early civilisations and empires to learn about the dawn of storytelling itself—and that's just the start.

Astrologica includes:

• The history of astronomy and astrology, including ancient rites and customs

• The global star-lore behind famous constellations

• The lore behind the Tropical and Chinese zodiac systems, plus their dates, traits, and quirks

• Stories of the gods and goddesses associated with the planets

• How stars have served as maps, clocks, and calendars for millennia

Featuring over 100 pages of unforgettable artwork, fascinating facts, and powerful stories, this book is the perfect gift for curious young minds aged 8+.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: I don't believe in astrology. I do feel very sure some things aren't explainable by science...yet...because we don't know how to frame the questions. In the meantime, we have other existing systems to give the unusual coincidence a context our simple brains can comprehend.

Giving this beautiful book to its intended audience, kids eight years old and up, seems...fraught...to me. I'm not the least bit comfortable educating children into belief in any kind of supernatural stuff; I would not do this to any child in my authority.

I am not everyone. I offer this beautiful, costly book for you to consider, more especially for you or for another adult; but that is not my call. The art is gorgeous, as expected, and the stories well retold.

From here it's all you and your desire for your juvenile giftee.

See what I mean? Beautiful, just to have around!

GOLEMCRAFTERS, fascinating middle-grade fantasy about identity and acceptance

GOLEMCRAFTERS
EMI WATANABE COHEN
Levine Querido (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$11.99 ebook, available now

Rating: 4.5 of five

The Publisher Says: Emi Watanabe Cohen’s sophomore novel travels from the most awkward surface tensions to the beautiful depths of Jewish culture and lore for a tale of magical and emotional discovery.

On the same day Faye's brother comes home with a black eye, a package arrives from a relative they have never met. It's a slab of clay: some weird kind of bar mitzvah present?

The strange gift turns out to be an invitation to learn a craft that has been in their family for centuries. And it's not pottery.

Faye and Shiloh are driven to New York City by their grandfather for a spring break filled with magical instruction. But at night, they find themselves transported to a strange parallel world, where groups of innocent people are facing appalling hatred and violence. Are Faye and Shiloh destined to defend them?

How is that possible for a brainy, unpopular eleven-year-old and her vulnerable older brother?

It will take all the strength they can draw from their Jewish and Japanese heritage to not only crack the mystery of this alternate world but to find the power in them to confront the troubles of their present.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Fascinating remix of the well-known, always interesting, legend of the Golem. Imagine being Othered twice over: Japanese and Jewish so too Jewish for the Asian crowd, too not-Jewish for the Jews. The bullying, the name-calling, all terrible enough in middle school, get that much worse!

Shiloh comes home after being roughed up by bullies at school...at no time in the narrative do we see kids more than glancingly interact with their parents, which I recall tracks well with middle school behavior...to find his last bar mitzvah present waiting for him. It's from his father's father, whom he's never met, so of course he's intensely curious about it. It's decided, after it gets opened to reveal it's a big lump of clay, that the kids will go spend the summer coming up with their Zeyde, there to learn the family secret trade of golemcrafting...a trade I'd *literally*never*considered might exist, even in a fantasy world.

In this summer of learning about Zeyde, about their ethnic history, about magic and its workings, there's a fair old bit of Jewish historical trauma. Here's what I say to parents who think their children can't, or shouldn't, be exposed to traumatic historical facts: If they've ever watched the news at all, they already know the worst of what people can do to each other in god's name. Teach them, or let them learn about if you can't do it yourself, the history of how hate for the Other has warped and perverted societies. They'll know what to look out for if they've seen it before they can fall into it.

The author's unique heritage, like Shiloh and Faye's, is part of the reason she should bet trusted to tell your middle-grader about this blended identity, its struggles, and its rich rewards. Even if your child is not either of these ethnicities, this novel is a delightful fantasy work about a stern old mage teaching bumptious apprentices the whys, hows, and don'ts of magic. I've never met a middle-grader (look at the name, forevermore!) who didn't feel that awkward neither fish nor fowl unbelonging. This novel will give the reader of most all ages the strong sense of being seen in their social awkwardness.

As there is a lot of violence dealt with, discussed, but not shown directly, so as to make the middle-grade designation fit comfortably. There is also a very...pat...ending. I'm not sure I'd expect a fourteen-year-old not to complain about the kid-book vibe this presents, so be aware before gifting it up.

A solid performance from a writer gifted in making the tough parts feel manageable.

BIOGRAPHY OF A FLY, lovely gift item for someone who loves Art & Nature both, either...

BIOGRAPHY OF A FLY
JAAP ROBBEN (tr. David Doherty) Art by Paul Faassen
World Editions
$16.99 hardcover, available now

Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: For readers of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse comes a beautifully illustrated philosophical book on the value of friendship and life, told from the perspective of a fly, and a gift book for all ages.

What if you were thrown into existence in the middle of your life, with numbered days left ahead of you? Would you see the world in the same way?

In his inimitable style, Jaap Robben answers these questions through the unexpectedly witty lens of a fly, from the moment it enters the world as a larva right up to its deathbed. Watch this humble fly throw himself into life and his unlikely friendships with gusto, however short that life may be. Irresistibly charming, funny, and sprinkled with entomological details, this is a moving tale for any stage of life, about how we are all ultimately alone, and yet also together.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Beautiful, weird little meditation on Nature, and the nature of Life. A fly’s life, from larva to deathbed, told in direct and (as far as I could tell without doing more research than seemed warranted) accurate manner.

That life being short, it’s good to follow it chronologically and to deal with the Stuff of Life (warning to the squeamish...lots of honest talk about shit) in a way that will inform the reader of, say, eight and up about more than just the biology involved in living.

I don’t find bodily functions as unpleasant to discuss as many seem to. The fact is, we all shit or we are dead. Eating, sleeping, shitting, sweating...take the stigma out of bodily functions for kids, I beg of you. It does no good at all to teach a child to feel disgust for their body.

A book like this is a very easy way to start that goal off. Enjoyable on many levels, for many ages...most art fans will like the minimalist color palette and the gloriously weird framing of the images, and thoughtful readers will enjoy the philosophizing.

What kind of squeamish speciesist could resist this face?

GUSTAV AND HENRI: Space Time Cake!, middle-grade fun and silliness from Australia

GUSTAV AND HENRI: Space Time Cake!
ANDY MATTHEWS (art by Peader Thomas)
Red Comet Press
$14.99 hardcover, available now

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: Opposites attract in this humorous illustrated graphic novel series about two best friends.

Meet Gustav and Henri. This is their book.
It's a bit about friendship and a lot about snacks.

They love doing normal things together, like:

finding a lost shuttlecock – IN SPACE!
returning an overdue library book – 100 YEARS AGO!
or making cakes – IN THE BATH!
You know, completely normal things.

Join them for 100% of your recommended daily intake of adventures, escapades, and capers – all in one book!

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: I know, I know...what is happening here?! This oldster suddenly does comic book reviews? And yes, I grant you it is weird to see me reading, let alone reviewing, this middle-grade genre of material still less this format for delivery...but there are grandchildren in this world. They need books. We need to know what is in the books before we give them to the kids.

So here we are.

The Dramatis Personae. Where we will be going.

What it will look like.

Sweetly silly, this is just on the bubble of comic book and graphic novel. It is definitely middle-grade in its story and style. I think it would amuse and entertain a seven or eight year old with some challenge in the reading of it, but nine and up might be less enraptured unless they have a silly sense of humor. There are puns and fun galore. You might need to explain some Aussie stuff to US or Canadian kids. I myownself think that is a feature not a bug. Good for kids to relate to those whose culture is different but language is not!

I was very pleased to see this activity sheet, though for my money I say copy it and make it clear the kids are supposed to use the copy not the book.

Cute, fun, funny, and very good messaging about friendship as well as coping constructivelu with conflict. Anyone with appropriately aged giftees, here is a different and good #Booksgiving gift.

CHASING BATS AND TRACKING RATS Urban Ecology, Community Science, and How We Share Our Cities, great message for the 8-and-up crowd

CHASING BATS AND TRACKING RATS Urban Ecology, Community Science, and How We Share Our Cities
CYLITA GUY (illus. Cornelia Li)
Annick Press
$19.95 hardcover, available now

Rating: 5* of fiv

The Publisher Says: Gripping narrative non-fiction with STEM and social justice themes that proves cities can be surprisingly wild places—and why understanding urban nature matters.

What can city bees tell us about climate change? How are we changing coyote behavior? And what the heck is a science bike? Featuring the work of a diverse group of eleven scientists—herself included!—Dr. Cylita Guy shows how studying urban wildlife can help us make cities around the world healthier for all of their inhabitants.

In the process, Guy reveals how social injustices like racism can affect not only how scientists study city wildlife, but also where urban critters are likelier to thrive. Sidebars include intriguing animal facts and the often-wacky tools used by urban ecologists, from a ratmobile to a bug vacuum. Cornelia Li’s engaging illustrations bring the scientists’ fieldwork adventures to life, while urban ecology challenges encourage readers to look for signs of wildlife in their own neighborhoods.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Another book whose worldview and frame of reference I share, so I strongly recommend to you. This is #Booksgiving. We need young people...grandkid age for most of us, from 8 on up...to reframe their relationship with the urban world they live in. The best way to do that is to say, "you know how rats are talked bad and mean about? Here are some facts that you need to know about rats:"

...and lo! There's a fact file in front of the hateful messaging that has led to vital ecological members being abused and eliminated, with all the problems that always brings. (Remember what happened when we slaughtered the wolves in Yellowstone? Let's learn from our mistakes and pass it on to the kids whose world this is.)

Dr. Guy doesn't stint on the role of social oppression and stigmatization in the urban environmental crisis. We should all be scared about the bees being in ill health. Urban areas have, and need, bees as well as the countryside. The ways to help bees navigate the urban landscape, and what to look for in a healthy urban ecology, could stand explaining:

A good book filled with the right kind of ideas about the world, its problems, and the best solutions we can think up to those problems. (In my opinion, of course.)

Great #Booksgiving gift for the still-single-digit aged budding scientist, or garden lover, or really anyone at all in that age range.

LEGENDS OF NORSE MYTHOLOGY, best-loved tales and characters for juvenile readers

LEGENDS OF NORSE MYTHOLOGY
TOM BIRKETT (illus. Isabella Mazzanti)
Wide Eyed Editions
$24.99 hardcover, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Legends of Norse Mythology is a fully illustrated anthology of Norse gods, giants, monsters, and heroes retold anew.

Featuring beautiful and otherworldly portraits of mythological characters from Isabella Mazzanti and enchanting text from Old English scholar and Norse mythology expert Dr Thomas Birkett, this collection of timeless tales is the perfect gift for lovers of Viking myths as well as readers looking for an introduction to this epic world of mystical power, battles, quests and intrigue.

With this book, readers can take an adventure through time to a realm of ice and fire, magic and mischief. They’ll meet a cast of characters from Norse folklore and be swept up in their epic deeds and fates.

Inside, there are more than 30 profiles of Norse figures—from gods and goddesses, to giants, elves, monsters and other mythical beings. Each profile introduces the figure, including their defining attributes and a new retelling of their story, along with sidelights of extra facts and details. Figures include familiar gods like Thor to lesser-known legends such as giant sisters Gjálp and Greip.

A captivating visual portrayal of each figure helps crystallize these beings in readers’ imaginations. Isabella Mazzanti’s evocative artwork perfectly express the fantastic traits and powers of the mythical figures within.

Interspersed with the profiles are summaries of four famous Norse tales and events:

The story of Ymir and the Nine Worlds

How Thor’s Hammer Was Made

The Mead of Poetry

The Tale of Ragnarök

A visual feast and a journey to another world this book is perfect for the whole family to explore and enjoy. From the trickster god Loki and his mischievous ways to the powerful Norns—the three women who weaved the destinies of all living beings—discover why these incredible stories are still a part of our culture today.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Written by a scholar for non-scholarly readers, this is a terrific overview of the pantheon and mythos of the Norse peoples. I know I was a mythology hound starting at about six years old, and would've loved this book had it been around in the 1960s! I won't recommend that you hand it to anyone under eight, or a very mature seven-year-old, but rather read it to/with them. Norse mythology contains ideas and events that, even made age-appropriate, are permaybehaps just a bit too much for the very young. By fourth grade, they should be hardy enough to process this level of conflict without it causing issues. The illustrations are gorgeous to my eye:

Lovely object, packed with well-told myths from a culture Westerners owe a lot to, and just right for Yule gifting to your elementary-school aged giftee.