PICK OF THE LITERATURE
— by Dr. Donna Phillips
H
appy New Year! Can you
believe it is time again to
“ring out the old and ring in
the new”? This is also the time of year
when I look back at all the wonderful
new books that were published in the
last year that I may have missed in my
reviews — because there’s never enough
space to cover them all! Here is an eclec-
tic mix of topics, authors, and artists
whose work stands out in its style and
treatments, with books for different ages
and interests… some of the ones that al-
most got away.
If your youngest is in the “why” and
“how” phase, How It Works (Scholas-
tic, New York, 2018, $17.99) written by
Valorie Fisher is sure to be a hit! Here
clear and detailed photographs add an-
swers to the questions about rubber
balls, light bulbs, soap, toilets, boats,
and more! This book answers questions
that they might not even have! Simple
illustrations explain in detail how things
work and interesting details on what
they do. A legend introduces the reader
40 WNY Family January 2019
to graphics used in the explanations and
begins to get the reader thinking about
how to “read” different kinds of repre-
sentations and charts. For the curious
mind, budding scientist, or just those
who just want to know… this book is a
great way to end or start the New Year!
For those that can’t get enough of
trying to find Waldo, Mice in the City
Around the World (Thames & Hudson,
New York, 2018, $19.95) by Ami Shin
might be a good substitute. Mice are ev-
erywhere in this hide-and-seek book that
takes us on tour around the world to fa-
mous cities and locales. Explore places
like Beijing, London, France, Rio de
Janeiro, Delhi, and 13 more well-known
places around the world, guided by your
passport and hints sprinkled throughout
the pages. The tiny details and adorable
mice make the tour all the more fun.
Youngsters and oldsters will have fun
traveling on their own or with family and
friends — all leading to some interesting
conversations and great learning. It might
even inspire a trip to one of these cities
someday, and you will already have an
idea of what to look for!
Patricia Polacco continues to touch
our hearts and minds with her 2018 book
Holes in the Sky (G.P Putnam’s Sons,
New York, 2018, $18.99). As a child, she
was devastated at the loss of her beloved
grandmother who shared the magic and
mystery of life with her through her sto-
ries, life lessons, and presence. Shortly
before she passed away, she shared one
last story about the purpose of stars. They
are “the way to the other side”… and she
reassured her and her brother “I will be
watching over both of you through those
holes each and every night.” Shortly after
that, her babushka passed away, leaving
her to look for the signs she had promised
to show them to prove she was still with
them. This is the touching story of love,
connection, hope, and faith as only Patri-
cia Polacco can give us. In this quest she
meets a new best friend and the magical
Miss Eula, who not only helps her see the
signs and heal her heart, but also heals a
whole neighborhood. This book is a must
for anyone who has lost a family member
this year and for all of us who cherish a
special person in our life, be it by birth or
by chance.
Older children and adults will be fas-
cinated by The Silk Roads (Bloomsbury
Books, New York, 2019, $24.99), written
by Peter Frankopan and richly illustrated
by Neil Packer. Described as “An Illus-
trated New History of the World,” it is
divided into chapters that explore the part
the “silk Road” played in history, phi-
losophy, commerce, inventions, commu-
nication, in war, and in peace. With chap-
ters like The Roads of the Ancient World,