These are the new releases that came out in May 2023 that I reviewed. Many of them updated lists for countries we have read books from already. If you know of any other can’t miss titles please let me know!
Sora’s Seashells: A Name is a Gift to be Treasured – May 9
Out just in time for a seashell summer in the Northern Hemisphere, Sora’s Seashells has entranced my quiet, contemplative 6-year-old daughter.
Sora’s grandmother visits her every summer, during which time they enjoy searching for shells on a nearby beach. Sora wants to take hers home, but Halmoni (grandmother in Korean) always leaves the prettiest one for someone else to find.
In the fall Sora begins kindergarten where the other kids make fun of her name that is so different from theirs. After a sad phone call about Halmoni comes, Sora discovers the beauty of her name, which means seashell in Korean, and is able to work through her grief by sharing her love of seashells, and newfound pride in her name, with her class.
Sora’s Seashells is a sweet, quiet intergenerational story that will cause all the feels. The special relationship Sora shares with her grandmother, the loneliness Sora feels when she is teased by her classmates, and the devastation you imagine when she gets the call about Halmoni, are all offset by the hope and triumphant joy Sora shows at the end as she remembers her grandmother and comes into herself.
My daughter frequently asks for Sora’s Seashells to be read before bed, and always has a question to ask while reading. She’s been thinking deeply about this story. We’ve been talking about the importance of names, relationships with grandparents, death, shells at the beach, and families who are far apart.
Author Ku Rhee also wrote The Turtle Ship, which I featured for North Korea.
In the classroom Sora’s Seashells could be used to explore:
- importance of names
- understanding differences
- grief
- relationships with grandparents
- loss of a grandparent
- memories
- teasing
- international families
Title: Sora’s Seashells
Author: Helena Ku Rhee
Illustrators: South Korean artists Stella Lim & Ji-Hyuk Kim
Publisher: Candlewick Press [2023]
Thank you Candlewick Press and Blue Slip Media for sending us this review copy. All opinions are my own.
To My Panik/To My Daughter – May 2
To My Panik: To My Daughter is a touching dialog between mother and daughter highlighting all the things the mother loves best about her little girl. The mother connects each attribute to the Arctic landscape or Inuit traditional life. “I love your ears. They hear the cries of others like a mother bear listening for her cubs. It shows you care.” Soft illustrations bring the narrative to life.
Title: To My Panik: To My Daughter
Author: Inuit writer and educator Nadia Sammurtok
Illustrator: Turkish artist Pelin Turgut
Publisher: Inhabit Media [2023]
Two Green Birds – May 2
Set in the author’s native Brazil, Two Green Birds is the story of Francisco and his grandmother who spend time together snacking, drinking coffee, and caring for the two beautiful green parakeets recently given to the grandmother.
Over the course of this early chapter book, Francisco and his grandmother try to coax the birds to eat by cooking for them, buying them seed, making sure they have a comfortable cage, and providing clean water for them to drink. It takes time, and an explosion of color and noise in the form of a flock of wild parakeets, for the two to realize what will make the birds truly happy is to be free.
Two Green Birds is a quiet book that highlights the tender intergenerational relationship between Francisco and his grandmother. They enjoy spending time together gardening, eating homemade treats, and fretting over what they can do to entice the parakeets to eat. My daughters both enjoy doing similar things with their grandmother, so definitely relate to this pair.
Valério’s spot and full-spread illustrations, many in rich green tones, bring the story to life, providing just enough detail so young readers can visualize the characters and lush setting while they read.
Perfect in the classroom for talking about:
- discussions about empathy for animals
- animal rights
- freedom
- family relationships
- types of birds
- bird care
- go outside and birdwatch
Title: Two Green Birds
Author/Illustrator: Brazilian-born Geraldo Valério
Publisher: Groundwood Books [2023]
This book was sent to me by the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
Perfect Presents – May 2
Some people are so hard to shop for! They seem to have everything. Enter…Perfect Presents!, which is available for gift giving in the US now.
Perfect Presents! is the story of a little lizard who is sure he has found the perfect gifts for his picky friend. After the friend gobbles down present after present, he picks up the lizard, leaving the reader to wonder if the lizard has met his end. The twist will leave readers of all ages satisfied.
My 4 year old, who has a dark sense of humor, already adores this book. Some of it might have to do with the size, which makes it perfect for gift giving. She also likes that she can tell the story on her own. There is very little text, as the comic-strip style illustrations expertly convey most of the meaning.
If you give or receive this book as a gift, I’d love to hear what you think!
Title: Perfect Presents!
Author/Illustrator: German illustrator Anke Kuhl
Translator: from German by Melody Shaw
Publisher: Gecko Press [2023]
Thank you to Publisher Spotlight and Gecko Press for sending us this gifted copy. It really is the perfect present! All opinions are my own.
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Kids Read the World 