Rene Has Two Last Names / Rene tiene dos apellidos. Rene Colato Lainez. Fabiola Graullera Ramirez.

Rene Has Two Last Names / Rene Tiene Dos Apellidos by Rene Colato Lainez and illus. by Fabiola Graullera Ramirez

The author turns a childhood experience into a bilingual picture book. English is on the top and Spainsh on the bottom. On the first day of school in the United States a young Rene Colato Lainez becomes Rene Colato. The shorter name feels wrong.

"In El Salvador, I wrote my name on my homework, my books and my birthday party invitations. Rene Colato Lainez was a happy song that made me dance to the rhythms of the cha cha cha. But in the United States, the song lost the guiros, and drums. Why does my name have to be different here?"

Young Rene's classmates tease him about his long name. A class project about a family tree allows Rene to explain the importance and meaning behind both last names. The presentation is great. Rene talks about about all four grandparents and the attributes he shares with each.

"And this is me, " I said, pointing to my picture in the family tree. "I am Rene Colato Lainez. I am as hard working as Abuelo Rene and as creative as Abuela Amelia. I can tell wonderful stories like Abuelo Julio and enjoy music like Abuela Angela. If you call me Rene Colato only, the other half of my family disappears."

I really liked this story. The illustrations are okay . There were a few pictures that made me smile, especially those of the grandparents. There is also a very cute cat. I would've liked the illustrations more if the children's eyes didn't seem to pop out of their heads. The large eyes didn't keep me from enjoying the story. The author does an excellent drawing a picture so children will understand his feeling of loss.

" Rene Colato looked incomplete. It was like hamburger without the meat or a pizza without cheese or a hot dog without a wiener. Yuck!"

After reading or hearing this story young readers will understand the significance and meaning behind two last names for the Latino culture.
Ages 6up

The Monstrumologist Rick Yancey

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

This book was perfectly scary and not for squeamish readers. (it should come with a warning label). This is the journal writings of 12yr old Will Henry, an assitant to Dr. Warthrop a monstrumologist. Dr. Warthrop is a member of a small group of men who study monsters, specifically Anthropophagi. Their only source of food are humans. A new breed has been discovered in a graveyard not far from Dr. Warthop's house. I loved this book, the author allows the reader to see every creepy detail.

"Dr. Warthrop reached into the thing's chest with the forceps. I heard the scraping of the metal against something hard - an exposed rib? As he spoke, the doctor tapped thin strips of flesh from the forceps into the metal tray, dark and stringy, like half cured jerky, a piece of white material clinging to one or two of the strands, and I realized he wasn't peeling off pieces of the monster's flesh: the flesh belonged to the face and neck of the girl. I looked down between my outstrectched arms, to the spot where the doctor worked, and saw he had not been scraping at an exposed rib. He had been cleaning the thing's teeth."

The Monstrumologist is for anyone wondering where have all the horror books gone. Its a must for young readers who are budding horror fans. Ages 14up

Read an excerpt

Claudette Colvin : Twice Toward Justice. Phillip Hoose

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose - This is the story of Claudette Colvin, a teenager who got arrested for standing up for her rights. Nine months before Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat Claudette stood her ground.

This is a wonderfully detailed biography. If this is to be the only biography on a teenager who did her part to bring about change, then the world lucked out. The author was able to interview Claudette Colvin. There are some great photographs of the time dispersed throughout. As well as documents and newspaper articles. Claudette Colvin was also one of four plaintiffs in Browder v Gayle. The federal judges ruled bus segregation unconstitutional. Thanks to that ruling Alabama bus boycott soon come to an end.

It would be hard not to be moved by this story and Claudette Colvin, who's act of strength the world was not ready for. This book as a National Book Award finalist. Ages 10up

Read an excerpt This book would go nicely with

Marching for Freedom: Walk Together Children and Don't You Grow Weary
by Elizabeth Partridge

The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon

I've linked this post to Nonfiction Monday.

Diversity Roll Call: Early Readers

This weeks Roll Call question comes from Ali @ Worducopia Paricaptes were asked to find early readers with children of color as main characters.






Hill of Fire (I Can Read Book 3) by Thomas P. Lewis

Chang's Paper Pony (I Can Read) by Eleanor Coerr

A Bear for Miguel (I Can Read Book 3) by Elaine Marie Alphin

The Outside Dog (I Can Read Book 3) by Charlotte Pomerantz

Stories Huey Tells (Stepping Stone, paper) by Ann Cameron

Donavan's Word Jar (Trophy Chapter Book) by Monalisa Degross

How to Fish for Trouble (Willimena Rules) by Valerie Wilson Wesley

Tippy Lemmey by Patricia C. McKissack

Keena Ford and the Second-Grade Mix-Up by Melissa Thomson

Luke on the Loose by Harry Bliss

Go Fish (Trophy Chapter Books) by Mary Stolz

Nikki and Deja by Karen English

Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel by Nikki Grimes

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look

Ruby Lu, Brave and True (Ready-for-Chapters) by Lenore Look

All Mixed Up! (Amy Hodgepodge, No. 1) by Kim Wayans

Ava Tree and the Wishes Three by Jeanne Betancourt

Brand New School, Brave New Ruby by Derrick Barnes

A Horn for Louis (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) by Eric A. Kimmel

A Happy Day (Katie Woo) by Fran Manushkin

Home Field Advantage #3 (Backyard Sports) by Michael Teitelbaum

Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet by Graham Salisbury


Miami Jackson Sees It Through by Patricia McKissack

The Birthday Storm (Sassy) by Sharon Draper

Capital Mysteries #1: Who Cloned the President? (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) by Ron Roy



Akimbo and the Elephants by Alexander McCall Smith

And Coming Soon
Ling & Ting : Not Exactly The Same by Grace Lin - I wish I could take credit for finding this soon to be early reader but I can't. I found out about it thanks to a Little Brown and Company Spring Preview over at Fuse#8

I was familar with many of these titles. I read and really enjoyed Ava Tree and Wishes Three earlier in the year. My review I did find some new books thanks to this roll call. I also discovered that Capital Mysteries features best friends KC Corcoran and Marshall Li solving mysteries near the Capital.

In case you missed it - a question inspired by this roll call.

Calvin Coconut: The Zippy Fix Graham Salisbury Jacqueline Rogers

Calvin Coconut: The Zippy Fix by Graham Salisbury illus. by Jacqueline Rogers This is the second book in the new early readers series featuring Calvin Coconut. I loved the first one Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet. 9 yr old Calvin lives in Hawaii with his mom and younger sister Darci. After Calvin's dad changed their last name to Coconut (for his act), he left for Las Vegas. The family of three turns into four when Stella moves in. Stella is the teenager daughter of Calvin's mom's best friend. Calvin and Stella don't get along too well. Calvin sneaks a cat into Stella's bedroom, knowing she has allergies. Stella gets sick and misses a big date. Calvin feels guilty, after he finds out Stella picked out the book Hatchet for him at the bookstore. He decides to get Stella a great gift for her birthday. Now all he needs is money.

Calvin is a great character. There are not enough early readers with male characters of color as the main protagonist or a multicultural cast, this series has both. I love that who they are has nothing to do with the story. There are other things that stand out for me, Calvin's mom works at Macy's. Usually parents only have professional occupations, if what they do is mentioned at all. In real life parents work all types of jobs. Calvin mom has been dating the same man for over a year. In real life divorced parents date. It's nice to see reality reflected in fiction.

The author writes a wonderfully complete story. Calvin Coconut is a great new series for early readers. Ages 7up

An excerpt