From History to Fiction, New Titles Help Us Learn from the Past.
Rise of the House of Culligan
By Adam Goldman
Illustrated by Tami Boyce
Best for: Ages 7-11
A book that touches on the importance of our elderly and the history they can share with our youth, combined with a strong anti-bullying message, sounds like a great idea. Goldman’s first children’s book offers a valiant attempt to bring these two important subjects together. The story is endearing and believable. Tami Boyce engages readers with a deft use of color and charm. The warm illustrations are enough to encourage you to continue turning the pages.
While the message is important, it may be lost on some readers. The text is wordy, making it a difficult read-aloud book for any story time. Caught between a picture book and an early reader chapter book, the text gets dragged down by difficult phrasing such as “he felt awful about succumbing to the malevolent peer pressure,” and meanders through descriptive passages that would best be left to the illustrations to express.
This book, however, offers important messages about bullying and the place our elderly have in society. It also will be an introduction for many to the Stand for the Silent organization. To learn more about the organization and this book, visit RiseOfTheHouseOfCulligan.com.
What’s good: Great anti-bullying message and charming illustrations.
What’s bad: The text is far too long and contains some awkward phrasing.
Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille
By Jen Bryant
Illustrated by Boris Kulikov
Best for: Ages 5-10
Name the greatest inventions in history. The Gutenberg press, the computer and the phone—inventions of communication—likely would all be on the list. Braille should probably be on the list as well. But more fascinating than the Braille alphabet is the story behind it.
Bryant’s second book about Louis Braille follows the same basic telling of his middle grade biography. In this case, the action and relevant plot points are condensed, and Kulikov’s illustrations help us see the transformation and longing in Braille’s life. From the childhood accident in his father’s workshop that caused an infection and blindness, to Braille’s trying times at the Royal School for the Blind, we see cold darkness buffeted by Braille’s bright and enthusiastic hope.
Six Dots is an excellent addition to classroom shelves and a wonderful read-aloud when students need to learn a lesson on determination and overcoming obstacles.
What’s good: The Q & A in the endnotes is perfect for classroom study.
What’s bad: There is no actual Braille on the pages of the book.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
By J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne
Best for: Ages 9-14
By now most Harry Potter fans probably have read this sequel to the seven previous books. This new story begins where the end of Deathly Hallows left off: 19 years later as Albus Severus Potter begins his Hogwarts journey. It quickly progresses from year to year, bringing all of our favorite characters back into play, setting up new characters and building the strained father-son relationship that lies at the heart of this chapter.
It’s a time travel extravaganza with plenty of action, but Rowling’s deft storytelling and knowledge of her characters seems to be lost. While some young readers will have issues digging into the story because of the format (stage play script), the flat and somewhat simplistic versions of our favorite characters will leave others feeling cheated. Don’t get me wrong—Cursed Child is a fun jump back into the wizarding world with a good idea at its core. Unfortunately, it seems Tiffany and Thorne had a bigger hand in writing this story than did Rowling. For me it was glorified fan fiction: fun but lacking.
What’s good: It’s the wizarding world of Harry Potter.
What’s bad: Simplified characters and script format.