All the Blues in the Sky Renee Watson

"I didn't know

best friends could die"

"You will miss her every day of your life.

Sometimes, the memories will bring tears and sometimes a smile.

The memories won't always overwhelm you,

they will bring comfort too."

You HAVE to let this novel, which is partly told in free verse, unfold slowly. Yes, on the day of Sage's 13th birthday her best friend has died but the when and where and how why are found in the journey you take as a reader.

Sage is grappling with her grief and the adult don't seem to have any answers:

If I live long enough to be an adult

and if I have children when I am an adult

I will tell them.

And I will tell them that sometimes

you go to sleep crying

and wake up crying

and that life after losing someone you love

feels like one big ocean of sorrow

and you might feel like you are

drowning,

but always there is something 

to hold on to 

to keep you afloat.

Sage meets four other students in her school grief group. Ebony's dad died suddenly from a heart attack; Zay's grandmother died in her sleep after a long illness; Ana's twin sister died from leukemia; and DD's brother was murdered by the police. Sage feels that she can relate to Ebony and DD because in both cases the death came suddenly, and these deaths were totally unfair. Sage is sure the death of HER friend is all her fault but how can a car accident be her fault?

There are two rules in the grief group - everyone shares openly and everyone listens with compassion.

DD's brother was murdered:

Now she is a sister familiar with words she's never had to say

so often, know so well; police brutality, death, rage, injustice, press conference

obituary, funeral, casket, hearse, graveyard, protect, indictment, trial, jury, verdict, guilty, sentence,

involuntary manslaughter, memorial, closure?, closure?,

grief, grief.

Sage has her own set of words such as vehicular manslaughter, hit and run, and criminally negligent homicide.

Blue is the empty chair at the desk in the classroom where my best friend used to sit.

Blue is the ache in my heart when I pick up the phone to call her and remember she's gone.

Blue is Aunt Ini's warm hugs.

Blue is a hot mug of cocoa on a cold stormy day.

Blue is all the calm, all the heartbreak,

all the hope

all the tears, all the laughter. ...

For all the blues in the sky,

there are as many blues in the heart.

Just a warning you will be sobbing by the final pages of this book.

Bookseller blurb: Sage's thirteenth birthday was supposed to be about movies and treats, staying up late with her best friend and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. Without the person she had to hold her secrets and dream with, Sage is lost. In a counseling group with other girls who have lost someone close to them, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn't predictable. There is sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, pain, love. And even as Sage grieves, new, good things enter her life -- and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all. In accessible, engaging verse and prose, this is an important story of a girl's journey to heal, grow, and forgive herself. To read it is to see how many shades there are in grief, and to know that someone understands.

This is a verse novel from 2025 for sensitive mature readers aged 12+ but sadly here in Australia you will need to wait for the paperback edition - the hardcover will be well beyond the budget of most school libraries. 

A heartfelt portrait of the complexities of grief and the indomitable human spirit. Kirkus Star review

The counselling group in All the Blues in the Sky reminded me of this book:

Just Like Jackie

Other books by Renee Watson:

Got to Get to Bear's! by Brian Lies

The snow is falling but the note from Bear is urgent - 'Please come at once' - so Izzy sets out towards Bear's house. Luckily her friends are able to step in and help her - firstly Scritch, a squirrel, takes Izzy across the tree tops from branch to branch, then Bingle a goose offers Izzy and Scritch a ride in the sky but with the blizzard they cannot see and crash into a snow-covered roof. Luckily Snaffle the raccoon is able to help with the final part of the their journey and eventually they all reach Bear's house. Spoiler alert - Bear has a terrific surprise for Izzy - Happy Birthday!

Bookseller blurb: Bear never asks for anything. So, when she sends a note to Izzy urgently requesting her presence, Izzy can’t refuse! But a blizzard begins and slows Izzy's progress.  As the snow accumulates, so do her friends, helping her on her way to Bear’s place. 

Notice the word bear's in the title - the forest animals on the front cover and heading to the home of their friend Bear. You need to read this book with your preschool group or young reading companion to find out why.

I love the character names and their little knitted clothes especially Bingle's ear-flap cap with the camel decorations. Notice the letter on the first page was deliver par avian! and do take time to look closely at the half title page and the title page because these two scenes form the start of the story. 

I think we need a name for stories like this one where the main character is heading somewhere, he or she meets friends along the way, the friends all have a secret, and the destination is a surprise birthday celebration. There is always a sense of urgency about journey and the protagonist has no idea that a wonderful surprise is waiting for him or her at the end created by their very special friends. Take a look at this post. You could create a fun mini unit for a preschool or Kindergarten class on the topic of Surprise Birthday Parties. 

A beautifully illustrated and gratifying story of woodland-creature comradeship and determination. Kirkus

Got to Get to Bear's was published in 2018. You might find it in a library and I think new copies are available but the price here in Australia will put this book well beyond the reach of your library budget sadly.

I previously talked about More which is illustrated by Brian Lies. 

You can see other books by Brian Lies here.

Happy Birthday

Yes, it is my Birthday so let's celebrate with some Happy Birthday picture books!

Happy Birthday, Moon

Blue Kangaroo!

David McKee

Tacky the Penguin

Melrose and Croc: A hero's Birthday

Sometimes Cake

Where does Thursday go?

Billy's Bucket

Bread and Jam for Frances

There's a Hippopotamus on our roof eating cake

A library book for Bear

Carmela full of wishes

The Birthday Invitation

Junonia by Kevin Henkes

I first talked about Junonia here on this blog in 2011. I suggest you begin with my previous post. On a recent visit to Gleebooks in Sydney I spied this book on their shelves. I really cannot list my top ten or even most favourite book but Junonia is a book I do think about from time to time and it is certainly a firm favourite so I decided (since I had left my beloved copy behind in my former school library) that I should buy a copy for myself. You probably already know I am a huge fan of Kevin Henkes. 

This morning I sat down and re-read the whole book again - I think this might be the third time I have read Junonia. Then I re-read my blog post and I was surprised by my own writing - well done to me!

Here are a few text quotes:

"Alice concentrated entirely on the pelican. The bird was so odd and silly looking, a mysterious, mesmerising wonder. ... She'd seen pelicans before, every year that she had been here, but when you see something only once a year it's always new, as if you're seeing it for the first time."

"Alice had a pale, watchful face. She had straight brown hair and brown eyes and a brown spot the size and shape of an apple seed near the corner of her mouth. The spot was a mole, but Alice hated the word mole and referred to as a speck. She hated the speck ... "

"When Alice's father unlocked the door to the pink cottage and Alice stepped inside, she brightened up instantly. Sunlight streamed through the windows. The walls of the main room and each smaller room were panelled with honey-coloured wood, once highly polished ... Alice felt as if she were entering an enchanted house from a fairy tale ... All  of the cottages were named for seashells. Alice's cottage was name Scallop. ... 'Hello, Scallop,' said Alice, twirling around. 'It's so good to see you again."

Junonia was first published in 2011. As I said, I purchased my copy a couple of weeks ago. Have you ever noticed book shop price stickers often have a date? My copy of Junonia was added to the shop inventory in December, 2020. I only paid $15 which was terrific. If this book is difficult to find in a shop perhaps it will be in your school or local library or perhaps you can borrow an ebook version. I do highly recommend Junonia for sensitive readers aged 9+. 

Kevin Henkes has created a character in Alice who deftly balances the line between girlhood and early adolescence. Her voice is authentic, and her worries, fears, and disappointments are spot-on. James Patterson

Henkes understands childhood disappointment in a way that really resonated with me, and I think Alice's perspective matches that of many real children whose lives are also changing as they move closer to adolescence. Read at Home Mom

An only child surrounded by affection, routine and attention, Alice has the space to realise that life can be an adventure experienced independently, even while held closely by those one loves. Kirkus Star review

Australian readers might need a map to understand where Alice lives (Wisconsin) and where they holiday each year in February (Florida).

Image Source: Wisconsin Auto transport

Here are some of the shells mentioned in this book including the wonderful but elusive junonia.

Image source: Southwest Florida Shells

I would follow Junonia with these:

Turtle in Paradise

Shouting at the Rain

The Grand Genius Summer of Henry Hoobler

Check out other Kevin Henkes books on this blog by typing his name in my search bar.

Billy Miller makes a Wish by Kevin Henkes

"When Sal had told him that Mr Tooley had died, Billy thought that it was his fault because of the wish he'd made. The world - including himself - had seemed to shift and unravel, to dissolve into a million pieces. And, now, just like that, everything had come back into place, into focus. Billy felt steady again. Solid. He felt like a normal eight-year-old boy."

I am getting ahead of myself with this quote but I just wanted to share these sentences which hopefully allow you to read and hear the delightful way Kevin Henkes expresses his ideas.

Here are the opening sentences of Billy Miller makes a Wish: "When Billy Miller blew out the eight candles on his birthday cake, he made a wish. He wished something exciting would happen."

Something does happen but perhaps this is not the kind of excitement Billy anticipated. An ambulance and police car arrive in Billy's street. His elderly neighbour Mr Tooley has sadly died. Billy is wracked with guilt. Did his innocent wish cause this terrible event? 

It is the summer holidays and when school returns Billy will move from the comfort and security of second grade up to grade three which Billy is sure will be filled with huge kids and frightening teachers. For now, though, Billy and his sister are at home with their mother and father enjoying every day activities. Billy is kind to his little sister Sal but she can be a handful. One of the best presents Billy is given for his birthday is a huge set of fifty deluxe markers. Sal is desperate to use them but Billy knows she won't be careful and all of his fears are realised when Sal uses the markers to copy the butterfly tattoos she has seen the legs of their mail carrier. This is a small thing perhaps but at the same time it is a very realistic family disaster. This story is filled with tiny incidents like this - tiny family dramas, all seen though the sweetly innocent voice of Billy. 

One aspect of the writing in this book that really appealed to me is the way Kevin Henkes references our senses:

"He got a T-shirt with a bat printed on it ... the shirt smelled new. Billy repeatedly pulled the shirt up, buried his face in it, and inhaled deeply."

"Billy smelled his soccer ball the way he'd smelled his shirt. It, too, smell new. And it looked new - the white parts were so white. And it felt new - smooth and shiny and polished."

"When he finally breathed normally, he realised that Mr Tooley's house smelled like the old fashioned hardware store with creaky floors that Papa liked to shop at. It was a good smell."

"The basement was the coolest place in the house. Billy could feel the temperature change as he walked down the stairs. He went up and down a few times just to feel the sensation. It was like magic."

"The warm night air felt like a blanket of softness. All around the trees were dark, like a border hemming the sky. It seemed to Billy that the day had been a long one - it felt like a year. And it seemed as if Papa had been gone forever."

The other delight that comes from reading this book is the way Mama reacts to every 'disaster'. Her good sense and patience just made me sigh with happiness. After the butterfly marker pen incident Mama says:

"Well, ... we'll do a little scrubbing. Maybe a lot. Don't worry." 'Will it hurt?' asked Sal. 'No,' said Mama. 'Will there be a happy ending?' asked Sal. Mama smiled. 'Yes."

"He felt the weight of Mama's hands on his shoulders and he somehow knew that everything would be okay."

I also enjoyed the tiny moments of tension in the story - anticipating Sal getting her hands on Mama's old letters for example. Sal is very keen to deliver mail in their street and Mama is a little distracted.

The events of this book take place over just a few days when Papa is away at his art camp. I like to think that Papa is really Kevin Henkes himself!  

Henkes’s phenomenal ability to tap directly into the hopes, fears, and annoyances of an eight-year-old boy with beautiful clarity make this not only relatable for young readers, but for adults as well ... the laugh-out-loud antics of his little sister Sal make this a darling addition to early middle grade collections for most libraries. School Library Journal

Full of heart and depth. Kirkus Star review

I feel as though I have had this book on my to read list for years and years so when I embarked on a long (12 hour) train journey last week this was the first book I opened on my iPad. I loved every reading moment. 

The way Billy Miller makes a Wish focuses on small everyday events made me think of this quote from Max by Bob Graham. 

"Let's call him a small hero doing quiet deeds. The world needs more of those."

Billy Miller makes a Wish can stand alone but I highly recommend you look for the first instalment.

The Year of Billy Miller

Halfway to Harmony by Barbara O'Connor

This book is a bodacious adventure.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stumps.

Walter Tipple lives near the Chattahoochee River in Harmony, Georgia. A new girl called Posey and her mum, Evalina, move into an old house nearby. 

"After he got over his shock, he took a good hard look at Posey and felt his spirits lift a little. Right there in the middle of Posey's left cheek was a large, heart-shaped birthmark. Deep dark brown against her pale, freckled skin. The instant Walter saw that birthmark, he began to think that maybe he and Posey were destined to be kindred spirits, bound together by the misfortune of being an easy target. Walter had a lifetime of experience of being an easy target. He was a quite, timid, pigeon-toed boy with a lazy eye that never seemed to want to look where the other eye was looking."

Things are also extra tough for Walter because his beloved older brother has been killed in a war. His mother has stopped smiling and her cooking now comes out of a box. His father has driven away for work and won't return for weeks. And Walter is just sad - that deep deep sadness from the heavy heart he is carrying. 

Posey, on the other hand, is a force of nature, a girl with "true grit and fortitude".  Walter and Posey are sure to have an amazing summer when they find a man who appears to be dead. This man is Jubilation T. Fairweather otherwise known as Banjo. He has built himself a hot-air balloon because the town is running a competition. It's a key grab. Hot-air balloons race to a very tall pole. On top of the pole are the keys to a a new pick-up truck. Banjo needs to win that truck but now his balloon has crashed. 

I love to share character descriptions here on my blog. Teachers might find these useful as writing exemplars:

The man had "a very bushy moustache that turned up at the ends like a smile. His face was covered with scratches. Over one eye was an angry red lump the size of an egg. His hair was kind of wild looking, full of leaves and hanging down clear to his shoulders. His plaid shirt and denim overalls were ripped and streaked with mud."

Another strength of this book comes with the way Barbara O'Connor uses words to give her characters- Walter, Posey, Banjo and even the three legged dog called Porkchop - strong voices. You can almost hear them speaking:

"Oh, good grief and grits,' Banjo mumbled"

"Color me highly skeptical of those calculations." - Banjo

"You have lifted me from the depths of despair right up to the very pinnacle of everlasting joy ... you have showered me with blessings the likes of which I most definitely do not deserve." - Banjo

"You're out of  your ever-loving mind if you think Walter and me are gonna traipse through those woods for half an hour to find your balloon,' she said. ... 'Have fun at your pity party."  This is Posey speaking.

And as an Australian reading this American book I love the names of the plants: "they had to trudge through prickly holly bushes and weave around chokeberry trees and scraggly dogwoods ... They rounded a bend and there stuck in a cluster of pickerelweed and cattails, was Banjo's hot-air balloon." If you find this book and read it to a group of students you may need to research the Cottonmouth snake - boy oh boy that sure does sound like a scary creature.

I also loved the way Barbara O'Connor lets Walter cry - boys should be allowed to cry any time they need to. I do hope young boys who read this book or who hear this book, take that message to heart. It is a beautiful moment when Walter sits in Tank's truck. His mother has cleared Tank's room. Walter sits in Tanks precious truck that he has been caring for every day. He does not open the letter, the last letter, that Tank sent him. He thinks about his beloved Tank and the way he was so strong. Walter "pretended he was big and strong like Tank and not small and puny like he really was. He pretended the kids at school wanted to be his friend instead of making fun of him, like they really did. ... Then he stopped pretending and had himself a good cry."

I discovered this book when Colby Sharp talked about having read it to his fifth grade class. I was supposed to be travelling by train and bus to visit a friend in South Western NSW so I purchased an ebook of Halfway to Harmony then Covid happened, I didn't travel and this book has been waiting for me. Over the last weekend, some friends and I were able to take a mini break not too far from home - there are still travel restrictions. Books are heavy to pack so I picked up my ipad and dipped into Halfway to Harmony. It is, as Colby says, "such a good book".  I read it very quickly and I enjoyed every minute with Walter and Posey and their eccentric new friend Banjo. 

Heartfelt and accessible. Kirkus

Barbara’s books are perfect for any age, but are especially valuable to emerging middle grade readers who need a book that gets to the excitement quickly, holds your attention, and are shorter in length. The characters are also strong and show great growth in the stories. Mrs Book Dragon

Take a look at other books by Barbara O'Connor - I highly recommend all of them.

How to Steal a Dog - try to find the movie. It is terrific.

Wish

The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis (read this review because Barbara made a comment!)

Wonderland

The Bad Trousers by Ros Asquith illustrated by Mairi Hedderwick

The bad trousers is a book from the Little Gems series published by Barrington Stoke and YES it is a gem. Robbie knows exactly what he wants for his birthday this year - a shiny red tractor with a real steering wheel. Early in the story we read that Robbie's granny loves to knit. Oh no! Does this mean Robbie won't receive that special tractor. Has granny knitted him something "special"?

Perhaps this text quote will add to your (and Robbie's) anxiety:

"Robbie's granny was called Granny Knit because she liked to knit. She knitted egg cosies and hot water bottle covers and bed socks and blankets and pictures and even curtains."

Notice how Ros Asquith builds this list from regular knitting to the truly absurd. Robbie has begged and begged his mum and dad for the tractor:

"It had a real steering wheel, and when you turned it the tractor wheels turned too. ... at his last birthday, his mum had said it was too big and cost too much - so instead he got a jigsaw puzzle with a picture of a tractor."

What will happen? Will Robbie receive the right present? And what about the new kittens that have just been born?

The Little Gems series are perfect for newly independent readers. I love the emotional arc of this story and the voice of Robbie. Fingers crossed for a happy ending. Here are some other books from the Littel Gem series. I loved The Bakery of Happiness; The Smile; and The first third wish. 

I think this series should be added to every school library collection. These books are just perfect for children in Grades One and Two with their appealing stories, colourful illustrations and warm stories. As a bonus they are all very inexpensive and there are plenty of titles (40) to choose from. On the Barrington Stoke web site these books are shown in packs but you can buy individual titles. The bonus puzzles and jokes under their covers and small size add to their appeal. Very highly recommended.

Melrose and Croc: A Hero's Birthday by Emma Chichester Clark

 

Have you met Melrose (the yellow dog) and his friend Croc (a small green crocodile)?  A Hero's Birthday is the sixth story in this charming series. The first book is set at Christmas. Take a look at Emma Chichester Clark's web pages.

Melrose has plans for a wonderful birthday to his friend Croc. He has prepared all the presents but he wants to include one more perfect surprise - a fresh fish for breakfast. Melrose sets off in a small row boat. He has not noticed "how black the sea was, or how dark the sky had become."

Back at home Croc waits for Melrose. When his good friend does not arrive, Croc sets off to look for him. By now the storm is raging.  Down at the harbour Croc meets Pierre, the boat owner. Out in the stormy sea he sees a tiny boat with a yellow dog inside it. The lifeboat sets off to rescue Melrose but just as they arrive a huge wave sweeps Melrose into the sea. Croc does not hesitate - he dives into the wild waves to save his friend. Croc is a hero!

"A real hero ... And a true friend."

Melrose and Croc Friends for Life

Melrose and Croc Christmas

Melrose and Croc Heros

Melrose and Croc Find a Smile

Melrose and Croc Go to Town

Melrose and Croc Beside the Sea

Andy Shane series by Jennifer Richard Jacobson illustrated by Abby Carter

Easy Fiction Treasures

The Barn Sale is the fifth book in the Andy Shane series.  In this story Andy Shane and Granny Webb are celebrating their unbirthday. Andy thinks up the perfect present. Granny Webb loves her binoculars but she has no case for them. The problem is Andy has no money so he gathers things from around his neighborhood and holds a barn sale. Everything is going really well and the money is rolling in until Andy discovers his friend Dolores has sold the binoculars. They were hanging on a hook in the barn and Dolores thought they were for sale.

Will Andy ever retrieve the precious binoculars and if he does will he still have enough money to buy a present for Granny Webb?

In just 58 pages of large print text sprinkled with lively illustrations Jennifer Richard Jacobson gives readers a very satisfying and realistic story with a perfect and yet surprising happy ending.

There are six books in the Andy Shane series beginning with Andy Shane and the very bossy Dolores Starbuckle (2005).

I am happy to discover all of these are still available. It is great to have easy chapter books for newly independent readers with very satisfying stories.  Here is a text sample which gives you an idea about the print size and spacing of the books in this series:

I have talked about several other middle grade books by Jennifer Richard Jacobson on this blog - Paper Things and The Dollar Kids.