I hope you all enjoyed your summer! It’s just about time to bid farewell to those lazy days, because my theme this month is all about persistence and determination. These protagonists are ready to achieve some dreams, whether that’s getting dressed all by yourself, keeping a pony in your apartment or becoming a professional athlete. But make sure you balance all that hard work out with some fun! And what could be better than curling up with a good book?
Picture Books
“Owl By Myself” written and illustrated by Pete Oswald
Little Owlet wakes up and is determined to spend the whole day doing “everything…OWL BY MYSELF.” A familiar refrain to parents of toddlers everywhere! He cleans his room, gets dressed and makes breakfast without the help of his parents, and with varying degrees of success. Littles will delight in seeing his messes and mishaps paired with his triumphant narration. When he gets to school, he enjoys being by himself but still working together with friends too. By the book’s end, he’s willing to allow his parents to tuck him in, acknowledging that “owl by myself” can still involve other people. A wonderfully relatable tale of exploring independence.
“There’s a Pony in My Apartment!” written and illustrated by Jennifer Harney
Maxine Louise receives the best possible gift from her Uncle Dave. A real-life pony! Mom says that a pony is an impractical pet for a two-bedroom apartment in the middle of the city, but Maxine Louise is determined to convince her. After all, ponies are smaller than horses, just like apartments are smaller than houses—perfect, right? Maxine Louise confidently declares that apartments are ponies’ natural habitats, and that they famously love leftovers, sleeping in bunk beds and watching the late-night news. With a pony, they won’t need to take the bus or a taxi anymore! The whole story takes place through speech bubbles, and Mom struggles to be heard over Maxine Louise’s constant smooth-talking as her speech fills the page. Just as Mom is about to put her foot down, Maxine Louise pulls out her best argument…and Uncle Dave receives an elaborate thank-you gift as revenge. Full of hilarious wish-fulfillment and kid logic. Who wouldn’t want a pony for a best friend?
Chapter Books
“Shook” written by Julian Randall and illustrated by Nathan Walker
Malik “Shake” Page is determined to exceed his father’s expectations. Pops played basketball for Loyola and now coaches, and Shake dreams of not only making his school’s varsity team as an eighth grader, but heading to the NBA. Then he fractures his ankle during a championship game and watches his life begin to fracture as well. Forced to stop playing during his recovery, Shake isolates himself from his friends and family while dealing with mounting anxiety that turns into panic attacks. Once unshakeable, now Shake doesn’t know how to repair the relationships and sense of self that he has broken. Even if you don’t understand basketball, this novel-in-verse offers a profound portrait of a young athlete trying to balance passion and drive with his mental and physical health. Perfect for fans of “The Crossover.”
“Raise the Bar” written and illustrated by Fernanda H. Frick
Sam Sanchez is obsessed with weightlifting and knows that she can win Olympic gold someday. Unfortunately, her parents don’t share her vision. They reluctantly allow her to train at a local gym, but are constantly encouraging her to pursue other interests. When Sam’s weightlifting idol—the first Latine weightlifter to win gold—announces that she’s taking an apprentice, Sam sneaks behind her parents’ backs to attend tryouts. She’s permitted to attend an elite school for the next year to train with her idol and prepare for the Pan American Games. Confronted by other dedicated athletes who have all had more formal training, Sam has to battle against her own self-doubt. The graphic novel format of this book is able to beautifully show not only the ghostlike form of Sam’s doubts, but also the physical progression of her muscle tone as she trains throughout the year. Just like the previous book, this should be relatable and accessible even to kids who aren’t involved in sports.
