On the Shelf by Tara Michener: Sierra Blue by Suzanne Morgan Williams and Kindness Is by Kaitlin Johnstone

Two reviews today!

Sierra Blue is enthralling, captivating and very well written. Suzanne Morgan Williams penned an incredible novel for the young adult reader this fall. 

When you think of magic what do you think about? I can tell you that thanks to this book I think of a strong and courageous character that does her best as she navigates being different from everyone around her. 

Tara holding Sierra Blue

My On the Shelf series embraces mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors, and the main character, Magic, gives us all of these avenues wrapped in one heroine. Magic simply does not fit in...for many reasons...oddly colored hair, being from a different town but also...she sees things that other people cannot see. Her gift is both a blessing and a curse for her because in order for her to use her talent she has to expose it, and this draws attention that does not always land in her favor. Her struggles include many of the typical things that young people face...being bullied, wanting to be kissed and coping with uncertainty about friendships. She also has the added dilemma of keeping her special abilities under wraps in order to protect herself from ridicule and judgement. This is not an easy balance and her love for animals and a special horse invites her to wrestle with what is best...being silent or being secure enough to speak up for the most vulnerable amongst us. 

The lessons in this book are endless, and I enjoyed reading it with my family and talking about what we would do in different scenarios. I invite you to read it and I am curious to know after you read it what you think. I am sure that Suzanne Morgan Williams is curious as well...so please be sure to review on Amazon and Goodreads.  

I met Kaitlin Johnstone through Instagram about a year ago and I have been enamored by her ability to connect readers to authors. She makes sure that she gives focus to those of us who showcase windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors. Kaitlin owns a small business dedicated to putting books into the hands of children and she has accomplished this through a business that has soft and beautiful t-shirts and apparel. Her merchandise has slogans, affirmations, and calls to action that remind us to be kind but to be vigilant. This fall Kaitlin became an author herself. 

I was very happy to be amongst the first to read...

  Kindness Is... 

This adorable picture book reminds and educates readers on the beauty of being kind. The pages are filled with opportunities for readers to witness a young girl who is finding her own way and understanding what it means to be inclusive and welcoming. I love that the book allows us to see the dynamic of parent and child in regards to the topic of kindness. Kaitlin has continued her legacy of lifting up amazing authors and now it is our time to lift her up as she enters this world of writing and gives us 1000 more reasons to be kind. This is a great book for the young reader and should be in every class, library, and counseling office. 

On the Shelf is a regular feature by Tara Michener, highlighting books and authors that allow readers to both learn about cultures and people different than them but also to embrace the importance of representation and for each reader to have the opportunity to see themselves showcased in books as well.

Tara Michener is the author of seven children's books that focus on self-esteem, diversity, and anti-bullying. She is a TEDx speaker, therapist, and owns her own private practice in Novi, MI. Tara has been recognized in publications such as Prevention Magazine, Essence Magazine, FREEP and more! She is the former Committee Chair of E&I at SCBWI-MI. Her favorite days usually include spending time with her hubistrator, Jason, her son Cannon, and her favorite snack Twizzlers and Diet Coke. You can follow her on Twitter @Taramichener. 

On the Shelf by Tara Michener: Super Cities: Detroit! by Daralynn Walker

If you have ever had questions, wonderings, or any curiosity about Detroit...Daralynn Walker has granted you your wish. In her book, Super Cities: Detroit! she unearths so many details about the city that garner the reader's attention and cures their curiosity. My 9-year-old son actually grabbed the book before I could read it for review because it was that interesting. 

The concept of mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors is how I decide if a book is good for the On The Shelf segment. This book provides all of these. A mirror (especially for those who live in Michigan), there is something truly special for a child to learn specifics about their favorite pizza, car parades, and culture. It is also a window, because even if a detail is familiar in this book, you may easily learn an unknown fact about Detroit that you never knew even if you grew up in the area. This book is a fantastic sliding glass door, allowing all who read it to enter the magic of Detroit as a Super City. 

This book is positive, educational, and fun. I think that it is perfect for all libraries, especially school media centers, and I plan on getting my media specialist her own copy as a treat. Daralynn has truly given us a gem in this book and I hope that you see it this way too. 

Tara Michener is the author of six children's books that focus on self-esteem, diversity and anti-bullying. She is a TEDx speaker, therapist and owns her own private practice in Novi, MI. Tara has been recognized in publications such as Prevention Magazine, Essence Magazine, FREEP and more! She is the Committee Chair of E&I at SCBWI-MI. Her favorite days usually include spending time with her hubistrator, Jason, her son Cannon and her favorite snack Twizzlers and Diet Coke. You can follow her on Twitter @Taramichener. 

On the Shelf by Tara Michener: Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes

What makes a good kid a good kid? 

In Property of the Rebel Librarian, June Harper is considered a good kid by many parents, educators, and most adults because of her propensity for obedience and having a clean record, never getting into any type of trouble. This all changes when her parents discover that she has a book in her possession that they consider too scary. When her parents find out the book came from her middle school the plot thickens and fast forwards into many layers that many people can relate to today. 

This book brings up the aforementioned question of what makes a good kid good? Does it mean that they are quiet? Does it mean that they are compliant? Does it mean that they don't speak up even when they want to be heard and create dialogue? 

June was faced with so many opinions, and all of this impacted her ability to participate in her favorite hobby...reading books. 

A love of literacy can teach us to think critically, to discern our own convictions, and to question. In this phenomenal book by Dr. Allison Varnes, we see the presenting problem begin with the "scary" book, but it does not end there. What can I tell you, Reader, without spoiling the plot? I can tell you that this is a must read. It describes the powerlessness that many young people feel when they cannot voice their concerns and choose their own books due to factors that may be arbitrary. 

This book creates the opportunity for discussion on who should decide what a child reads. I think it is timely, especially during Banned Book Week.      

Tara Michener is the author of six children's books that focus on self-esteem, diversity and anti-bullying. She is a TEDx speaker, therapist and owns her own private practice in Novi, MI. Tara has been recognized in publications such as Prevention Magazine, Essence Magazine, FREEP and more! She is the Committee Chair of E&I at SCBWI-MI. Her favorite days usually include spending time with her hubistrator, Jason, her son Cannon and her favorite snack Twizzlers and Diet Coke. You can follow her on Twitter @Taramichener. 

On the Shelf by Tara Michener: Little Cat Feels Left Out by Dori Durbin

Have you ever had a friend...find another friend...and then you wonder if you are still your friend's friend? Dori Durbin recognizes that many children encounter this scenario. Friendship can be viewed as one of the most special bonds that humans get to experience but the heart break of uncertainty when a child feels like that friendship is in jeopardy is a lot for a kid to bear. In Little Cat Feels Left Out this topic gives young people a mirror to see their own insecurities about losing a friend, measuring up, and figuring out how to resolve frustrations related to the dynamics of being friends. 

So many of us know what it is like to be the last one chosen to be on a team or to not be chosen at all, and this book gives a nice lesson on coping but also identifying with concepts like jealousy, insecurity, and more. I talked to Dori and she is dedicated to making sure that her books provide a way for kids to get reassured but also soothed by seeing examples that they may go through on a daily basis. Let's face it...kids are told to go and make friends but they are not always told how to make friends. They also are not always told how to keep a friend if something goes wrong. Dori Durbin writes books that help young people to understand social skills and the struggles that can come with playground squabbles and misunderstandings. I enjoyed reading this book with my son and talking through how friendships can shift when a friend finds another friend. I would suggest this as a classroom read, a bedtime story, and it has found a nice home on my own shelf. This is a very timely text for back to school and teacher gifts.  

Dori Durbin and Tara Michener
holding each other's books

Tara Michener is the author of six children's books that focus on self-esteem, diversity and anti-bullying. She is a TEDx speaker, therapist and owns her own private practice in Novi, MI. Tara has been recognized in publications such as Prevention Magazine, Essence Magazine, FREEP and more! She is the Committee Chair of E&I at SCBWI-MI. Her favorite days usually include spending time with her hubistrator, Jason, her son Cannon and her favorite snack Twizzlers and Diet Coke. You can follow her on Twitter @Taramichener. 

On the Shelf by Tara Michener: With You Wherever You Go by Martine Foreman

With You Wherever You Go by Martine Foreman
illustrated by QBN Studios (One Nine Press)

When I was a kid I used to pretend that I had my own school. I took this very seriously...I had my own chalkboard and everything, and my stuffed animals were my dedicated students. I did not want school to be a place that was filled with drudgery and pain...I wanted kids to be able to feel free. I made up a concept called feelings class. This was a place where kids could express themselves and know that they would be heard and valued. 

With You Wherever You Go is a book written by Martine Foreman that recognizes the emotions that children feel, and she strives to help them connect to faith as an answer to some of the harder questions.

When we look at "On the Shelf" it is so vital to see that every child should be able to see a book that resonates and helps, and in this book the need for comfort and safety is addressed as well as the reminder that they are not alone. This book addresses the tough times that many of us face and it also reassures and gives guidance that is centered in a higher power. It is important to note that the themes are clearly aligned with religion as a source of coping and compassion. The book features characters of a variety of skin tones and races and includes colorful imagery. I am pretty sure that a younger Tara would have been eager to read this to herself and her stuffed animals for feelings class.    

Tara Michener is the author of six children's books that focus on self-esteem, diversity and anti-bullying. She is a TEDx speaker, therapist and owns her own private practice in Novi, MI. Tara has been recognized in publications such as Prevention Magazine, Essence Magazine, FREEP and more! She is the Committee Chair of E&I at SCBWI-MI. Her favorite days usually include spending time with her hubistrator, Jason, her son Cannon and her favorite snack Twizzlers and Diet Coke. You can follow her on Twitter @Taramichener. 

On the Shelf by Tara Michener: Say It Out Loud by Allison Varnes

Speak up. Use your words. Express yourself. 

These suggestions might sound easier than they are. This is especially true if you are a middle school student who has been bullied because the bullies believe that you told on them. This might be even harder if you try your best not to use your words very often because you stutter. 

Allison Varnes does a delightful job of taking us on a journey of a young girl, giving readers an inside look at what it is like when speech does not come easy. 

When we talk about the concept of windows and mirrors, we don’t always talk about talk. Talking is sometimes a privilege that is assumed. This book gives a really good glimpse of the pressure that a student can face when they are caught off guard and expected to speak or the shame that can threaten when there is a need for a teacher to assist. 

Say It Out Loud (Random House, 2021) covers the value in speaking up for others as well as understanding that we don’t all speak the same, but our words make the biggest difference. I implore you to not only get it for a person who loves middle grade lit but also for an educator who works with children. 

Tara Michener is the author of six children's books that focus on self-esteem, diversity and anti-bullying. She is a TEDx speaker, therapist and owns her own private practice in Novi, MI. Tara has been recognized in publications such as Prevention Magazine, Essence Magazine, FREEP and more! She is the Committee Chair of E&I at SCBWI-MI. Her favorite days usually include spending time with her hubistrator, Jason, her son Cannon and her favorite snack Twizzlers and Diet Coke. You can follow her on Twitter @Taramichener. 

The Dream Had Intention

By Tara Michener

Around our globe, the world is looking at our incredible leader... Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I have been thinking very intentionally about Dr. King's work, his life, and his legacy as of late. I have been following his daughter, Bernice King, who leads the King Center and does amazing work on Twitter. Her efforts to uphold and preserve who her dad was and his vision is inspiring. One of the reoccurring themes that Bernice reminds often of in her tweets is that those who invoke King's name should do it respectfully. She is clear that he would not be pleased with watered-down perspectives of his message, his heart towards change and equity, and the fact that he was killed because of his work. When we talk to young people and use children's books to paint a picture of who Dr. King was, it is important not to take away from the fact that his legacy is still in need of protection but also the fact that we all can make a change in small or larger ways towards the footprint that was left for us by Dr. King. As creators, we can ask ourselves if we help with equity and inclusion in our own ways. Do we take opportunities to stand up for others? Do we look at how our work can leave a legacy for our readers? Do we think about how our words and images have an impact on readers who may not look like us and try to see things from their lens? We all have work to do and an incredible dreamer and leader set the stage for us to grow...let's do it together. This day is not just for a day off, a sale, or a vacation. It is for us to remember that a caring man died for freedom and that freedom has not yet been realized for all just yet. We have work to do. 

A New Year can be known for bringing forth new goals and challenges. As the E&I Chair, I am inspired to highlight books and authors that are allowing readers to both learn about cultures and people different than them but also to embrace the importance of representation and for each reader to have the opportunity to see themselves showcased in books as well. As leaders in kid lit we get to have a lasting impact on kids' impressions of themselves and others. I want to begin a new corner where we highlight and embrace what is on my bookshelf. I am calling this feature “On the Shelf.” If you want your book highlighted please let us know! Please be sure to look out for reviews and also for ideas that can allow you and your network to embrace and encourage the beauty of children’s books. The writers and illustrators creating bridges to empathy, understanding and equity are worthy of being acknowledged but they do not always get the author visits, the reviews or the positive feedback…I plan on using my 2022 to help to make that a goal.

 

Read Something Great!

Tara Michener is the author of six children's books that focus on self-esteem, diversity and anti-bullying. She is a TEDx speaker, therapist and owns her own private practice in Novi, MI. Tara has been recognized in publications such as Prevention Magazine, Essence Magazine, FREEP and more! She is the Committee Chair of E&I at SCBWI-MI. Her favorite days usually include spending time with her hubistrator, Jason, her son Cannon and her favorite snack Twizzlers and Diet Coke. You can follow her on Twitter @Taramichener.