Migrant by Maxine Trottier

I've never heard of the Mennonites from Mexico. That was an interesting bit of history. This book reminds me a lot of My Name Is Yoon.
The text is quiet and Anna's yearning is palpable. I give the author props for that. But the illustrations aren't my cup of tea.
The author's note at the end was also very interesting and political...
Not sure what to think.

Magic Trixie Vol.1 by Jill Thompson

As a long-time fan of and all things magical from a very young age, I would have flipped my lid had this series been around when I was in elementary school. As it is, I still might need to own them all...soon.
I love the hipster elements of Trixie's family: Dad has long black hair and a goatee, Grandma wears chic chunky black glasses and chunky green jewelry, and older cousin Tansy has hip purple pigtails. It's all very 1950's meets punk rock. Colorful! (I think Jill Thompson might secretly look at the dream world in my head...)
Anyway, Loved it!

Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge

This was a little self-absorbed-teen-angsty, but that is the age of the character and I remember those days too. (I hope I have mostly grown out of them... :/ )
That said, the pictures were very interesting and the author had a wonderful ability to show how she felt through the metaphor of the picture. The other nice thing about the story was how normal it showed her plight to be. It's hard to be the new kid and it's always hard to meet true friends and then keep them. I actually thought her transition into "take charge project planner" seemed too quick and easy. She had doubt and set-backs later, though.
We all worry about what others are "really" thinking of us and when we are young, it's even harder to handle. This book showed that problem clearly and sensitively. 

Don't Slam the Door! by Dori Chaconas

I'm tickled that there is so much knitting in this delightful book! Unfortunately, it's not being portrayed accurately but that's typical. The rhyme is bouncy and catchy and I love that it's the little girl who's trying to avert disaster instead of the mother for once. Despite her efforts, no one listens to her.
Great book for story time! Can't wait to try it!        

Mr. & Mrs. God in the Creation Kitchen by Nancy Wood

A very light-hearted look at creation for children. I especially like that there is a Mr. AND and Mrs. God working in the creation kitchen side by side. The illustrations are pitch perfect for the subject since the splatter watercolor technique makes the reader think of space. I also liked that the "people" created at the end were not the typical Homo Sapien Adam and Eve but Neanderthals! And as a final delight, the end pages look like blue prints for creature creation in a very strange laboratory!

Many Days, One Shabbat by Fran Manushkin

I liked this cozy book. I really like the illustrations, which show a modern Jewish family's daily life.

Looking for the Easy Life by Walter Dean Myers

I've been putting off writing this review because I'm still not exactly sure what to say. I hated this book. There are so many things wrong that I can't believe it was published. This seems to be yet another example of publishing based on name recognition instead of the merit of the manuscript.
First, there's the way the monkeys speak. Myers doesn't go far enough to make it an accent or a colloquial twist, instead it's just bad grammar. It reads very awkwardly.
My second gripe is that the two female monkeys are two dimensional idiots. Their only thoughts are about how cute the male monkeys are and which one can bankroll the best easy life. That is also the sum of their worth. There are also comments made about them that are just inappropriate. "She was Drusilla's best friend, even though she was known to have flirty eyes." Why is this even relevant??
The overall message of the book should be a good one, but I think he starts to mix his metaphors. Instead of "looking for the good life," the monkeys go on a quest to find greener pastures in anything. Since they have a laughably easy life to begin with ("I'm tired of having to stretch all out of shape just to get a banana.") this is an absurd comparison to make. The author missed the mark.
My biggest issue with this book is one particular line. The lion has treed the male monkeys and is standing guard with a bloody tail hanging out of his mouth. "The five monkey friends stayed there, shivering and shaking, until the moon came up and the lion went off to mess with his girlfriend." Excuse me?! If that doesn't mean sex then it alludes to violence, neither is appropriate for a preschool picture book. Dear god, what was the editor thinking?!
Walter Dean Myers might be a force to reckon with in young adult fiction, but he has no clue how to create a book for younger readers and someone in the publishing industry should have explained that Before this disaster was published. I hope it dies quietly before too many children read it. Yuck!

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

This was a clear case of the book not living up to the quality of the cover art.  I love the picture.  The hope and wonder on her face is sweet as pie or waffles.  The story though was meandering with random off-shoots which never ended up going anywhere: She was going to learn hockey...nothing.   The old lady was having false memories...nothing.  Her parents spent a LONG time lost at sea...AND nothing.  I think the author was confused about what the book was supposed to be about so she tried many different ideas out and then only wrapped up a couple of them. 

The Best Christmas Ever by Chih-Yuan Chen

I picked this book up when I saw it on display at my local library branch. The cover art is quiet, lonely and subdued in contrast to the title, so I was intrigued.
This book is deals with realistic and timely issues with grace, hope, and love.
"The year had been tough for Little Bear's father. His business had failed and he couldn't find work. There was just enough money left to feed the family."
Even though the words of the story sound SO SAD and heartbreaking, the reader can see that Little Bear is smiling and holding his daddy's hand. The next page shows that the two of them stopped to make smiling mud "snow-men" on their way home. The little snowman is looking up adoringly at his daddy snow-man. The book is filled with gentle touches to make a magical balance between story and illustrations. Masterful job.

Big, Bigger, Biggest by Nancy Coffelt

What amazing vocabulary words!

The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr

This was hilarious! Excellent as an audiobook.
After completing the third grade for the fourth time, fifteen year old Simon Green is summarily graduated by his teacher.  “Go out in the world and spread your wings, Simon,” she says.  She is sorry to see him go, Simon has always been her kindest and most helpful student.  (After all, he single-handedly cuts all the firewood in the winter.)  Once Simon finds that Missouri turkeys sell for twenty times the local price in the hungry boom town of Denver, he hatches his first business scheme. Even at fifteen, Simon towers over his uncle and cousins, but they tease him about being all brawn and no brains. No one thinks Simon has much chance of success except his teacher. She has such faith that she invests her entire life savings of $250 in a flock of 1,000 birds for Simon to herd by foot all the way to Denver.  Along the way Simon meets up with a host of colorful characters including a runaway slave, Indians, the U.S. Cavalry, lions, tigers, camels, and the father who abandoned him when his mother died 10 years ago.  Will Simple Simon fail miserably in the real world or surprise everyone?

Midnight Magic by Avi

The two main characters argued in aphorisms!!! Wow! Quite unique for a children's chapter book.

Best Books for Boys: A Resource for Educators (Children's and Young Adult Literature Reference) by Matthew D. Zbaracki

I'm amused to discover that I've read a fair amount of the titles he suggests. Apparently I have masculine reading habits!   :)