Winner

Chooch Helped
by Andrea L. Rogers; illus. by Rebecca Lee Kunz
Preschool, Primary    Levine/Levine Querido    48 pp.
10/24    9781646144549    $18.99

Narrator Sissy’s little brother Chooch is two and wants to help. When Elisi (grandmother) paints a mural, Chooch helps. When Etsi (mother) sews pucker-toe moccasins, he helps. When Etlogi (aunt) plants a garden, he helps. When he tries to help Sissy make a pinch pot, things do not go so well. Sissy yells, and Chooch cries. Sissy’s parents remind her that “Chooch learns by watching. You’re one of his most important teachers.” This picture book by creators who are both citizens of the Cherokee Nation highlights the joys and challenges that many older siblings face as the baby of the family grows up and begins to mimic them. Kunz’s striking mixed-media art complements this loving family story. In an author’s note, Rogers refers to major events in Cherokee history that inspired the activities Sissy and her family engage in throughout the book. Kunz’s artist’s note discusses the Cherokee motifs and iconography used in the illustrations. End notes also include a glossary of the Cherokee vocabulary incorporated into the text and directions on how to make a pinch pot. NICHOLL DENICE MONTGOMERY

From the November/December 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.

Honor Books

Noodles on a Bicycle
by Kyo Maclear; illus. by Gracey Zhang
Preschool, Primary    Random House Studio/Random    40 pp.
8/24    9780593706084    $18.99
Library ed.  9780593706091    $21.99
e-book ed.  9780593706107    $10.99

The creators of The Big Bath House (rev. 11/21) take readers back to Japan, this time for a wild bicycle ride through mid-twentieth-century Tokyo. A group of children, one of whom serves as the book’s narrator, eagerly watches as a delivery man sets off on his bicycle in the morning, balancing on his shoulder an impossibly tall tower of stacked soup bowls and noodle boxes. With vivid descriptions of the sights and sounds of the city, the text sets readers right down in the middle of the scenes, while the writing makes for an animated read-aloud: the delivery men are “artists. Architects. Tough talkers. Speedy spinners. But mostly, they are acrobats.” Illustrations done in ink and gouache capture the circus-like thrill of the cyclist navigating his precarious tower through busy streets to reach his destinations: a university, a factory, and a big office building. The art conveys equally well the quiet, cozy scene that evening when the man makes his final delivery—to his own home, where his wife and baby and the children seen earlier happily welcome Papa and their noodle dinner. Two historical photos of Japanese demae (delivery men) bookend the story; the first one alerting readers—and the second reminding them—that the amazing balancing acts illustrated here aren’t the least bit exaggerated. An illustration of an exhausted but smiling Papa soaking in the family’s deep tub may send readers dipping back into this talented duo’s earlier book. JENNIFER M. BRABANDER

From the September/October 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.

Home in a Lunchbox
by Cherry Mo; illus. by the author
Primary    Penguin Workshop    40 pp.
6/24    9780593661345    $18.99
e-book ed.  9780593753439    $10.99

Having recently emigrated from Hong Kong to America, young Jun starts school with a few English words and phrases (e.g., hello, thank you, I don’t know, toilet) written on her palm. Nevertheless, she faces misunderstandings and struggles to comprehend a new language and culture. At the bus stop, unable to understand a question about her name, she responds with, “Th…ank you.” Filling out a “Let’s Get to Know You” worksheet in class, she answers each question, “I don’t know.” Despite her loneliness, Jun finds solace in her lunchbox, which is filled with her favorite Chinese foods, including bao, dumplings, and bok choy. After a difficult first four days for Jun, classmate Rose makes a friendly overture at lunch on Friday, which leads to sharing food with a small group of kids. Jun invites her new friends to her home, symbolizing the beginning of new connections. With its spare text (most of which is speech-bubble dialogue), the story is primarily conveyed through Mo’s sensitively drawn, sometimes paneled illustrations, which vividly depict Jun’s emotional state. Warm colors represent her cherished memories of home and the eventual feeling of belonging; cool tones mirror her initial fear and anxiety. This debut picture book captures an immigrant experience, highlighting the impact of small gestures of kindness and celebrating the unifying power of food across cultures and languages. A glossary of written and conversational Cantonese phrases in the story and a labeled illustration of Jun’s lunchbox contents are helpfully appended. WEILEEN WANG

From the July/August 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.

My Daddy Is a Cowboy
by Stephanie Seales; illus. by C. G. Esperanza
Primary    Abrams    48 pp.
6/24    9781419760815    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781647006280    $17.09

A Panamanian American girl and her daddy get up before dawn to ride horses through their town in this atmospheric picture book that celebrates a close bond between a father and daughter as well as contemporary Black cowboys. After Abuelita hands the girl a bag of apple slices for the horses, the duo takes off on Daddy’s motorcycle. They leave amidst “a new kind of quiet” while the stores are “dark and empty,” and upon arrival at the ranch, the girl’s joy as she greets her pony radiates off the page. She is excited to ride through the streets; usually, her rides are confined to the ranch. While riding, she feels “high as the clouds” and “strong as a horse’s back.” Esperanza’s vibrant, detailed oil-paint illustrations feature boldly colored backgrounds that infuse even the pre-sunrise scenes with energy. The sky goes from “midnight black” to “deep ocean blue” and “swirly sherbet colors” as the pair enjoys “just us” time together. The girl’s face is particularly expressive and full of light. Seales showcases the respect the two have for horses and their love for each other. The family’s Central American roots are highlighted in Abuelita’s Panamanian-flag coffee cup, in her traditional dress, and in the girl’s use of Spanish and ­English. Back home, the child triumphantly declares, “My Daddy is a cowboy…and so am I.” MARVA ANNE HINTON

From the January/February 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.

Up, Up, Ever Up!: Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains
by Anita Yasuda; illus. by Yuko Shimizu
Primary    Clarion/HarperCollins    48 pp.
9/24    9780063242418    $19.99

In this inspiring picture-book biography, readers meet renowned Japanese mountain climber, educator, and environmentalist Junko Tabei (1939–2016), the first woman to successfully summit Mount Everest. Tabei’s love for hiking started as a child when she climbed Mount Chausu. As an adult, Tabei moved to Tokyo to attend university, married a fellow hiker, started a family, and founded a women’s-only mountaineering club. Pushing back against sexist expectations and limitations, Tabei’s club fundraised for years and made their own equipment for their 1975 Mount Everest trek. Yasuda’s evocative prose makes readers feel as if they are outdoors with Tabei, from the serene early hikes to the dangerous, avalanche-fraught Himalayan climb. Shimizu’s brilliant India ink and digitally colored art further immerses readers in the natural world, pairing breathtaking mountain views with folktale-like images that emphasize community, such as Tabei and other women soaring through the sky or Tabei radiating love while planting an apple tree to support Nepali villagers. This volume is a master class in perseverance, respecting the environment, and supporting others. Back matter includes an informative author’s note, a timeline, a glossary, and a bibliography. MICHELLE LEE

From the November/December 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.

For more, click on the tag ALA LibLearnX 2025.