Araya, Rocío. Head in the Clouds. tr. from Spanish by Sarah Moses. illus. by Rocío Araya. 38p. Archipelago/Elsewhere Eds. Sept. 2024. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781953861900.
Gr 2-5–Sofia is an inquisitive young girl whose teacher says has her head in the clouds. The very serious teacher is weary of Sofia’s constant questions including, “Can you measure a cloud?” Sofia has imaginary birds that color her world, and she offers one of these birds to her teacher, hoping it might encourage her to take things less seriously. The text of the story is in handwritten style, with some cursive and some print, which may be difficult for young children to read independently. The artwork contains collages of graph paper, worksheets, newsprint, graphite, and paint. While some of the artwork is creative and pleasant, such as the teacher’s world exploding into color, much of the artwork may be odd to a U.S. audience, with indecipherable writing and very abstract pictures. Perhaps some of the unclear illustrations weren’t translated fully. While the author/illustrator may be hoping to reach children who see the world differently, many young readers may be left confused. Adults wishing to reach children with the story may approach it one-on-one to open fruitful conversations. VERDICT Children who often have their heads in the clouds may enjoy poring over the illustrative collages and the sparse text, but many may not fully follow.–Michele Shaw

Emei, Yao. Tilted Sky. tr. from Chinese by Kelly Zhang. 176p. Levine Querido. May 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781646143832.
Gr 3-7–This English translation of a Chinese novel relates the story of 12-year-old Bai Jian as he and his father struggle with housing and food insecurity. Bai Jian’s father secures him a spot in an expensive boarding school so that he has a place to sleep and reliable meals. Bai Jian’s father is resentful, unreliable, angry, and abusive. His mother is mostly absent. Supporting characters include classmates, school faculty, and the romantic partners of Bai Jian’s father. While there is a compelling exploration of homelessness, much is ultimately unsuccessful. Significant time jumps, muddy plotting, and an adult tone make it difficult to get past the first chapters. Those who do continue will find on-page domestic violence and intense language far outside typical for middle grade books in the United States. The overall effect is a book written for adults from a child’s point of view, rather than one written with young readers in mind. This, paired with unclear messaging and a heavy burden on the main character in the final pages, means that this novel will struggle to find a good home in the vast majority of collections. VERDICT Not recommended.–Taylor Worley

Gravel, François. Creepy Classroom. tr. from French by David Warriner. 96p. Orca. Oct. 2024. pap. $12.95. ISBN 9781459839809.
Gr 4 Up–If there ever was a time for Matt not to fall asleep, it would be in French class. Poor Matt’s punishment is to help librarian Victor Leclerc in the basement library, a former dark and dingy chapel. Matt is welcomed as a “fine specimen” and tasked with boxing outdated library books. It is only after he loses track of time browsing through the tomes that Matt discovers zombie students as prisoners of the librarian, and he’s next in line! Gravel’s short horror novel is ideal for timid intermediate grade levels craving light scares and humor. Striving readers or English language learners will gravitate towards this 800 Lexile level work, translated from French. The plot concludes rather abruptly, perhaps in anticipation of a sequel. Educators could use this title to create figurative language lessons on metaphor or hyperbole. VERDICT A gentle horror perfect for reading aloud, and for fans of Charles Gilman’s “Tales from Lovecraft Middle School” series. –Laura Dooley-Taylor

Hof, Marjolijn. The Curse of Madame Petrova. tr. from Dutch by Bill Nagelkerke. illus. by Annette Fienieg. 272p. Levine Querido. Oct. 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781646144532.
Gr 5 Up–Tarot reader Madame Petrova’s prediction frightens a family so terribly that they choose to exile twins Silke and Janis, separating them at birth to avoid realization of the prophecy. After the deaths of the sibling’s parents, greedy cousins take the kids in and hope to profit on their misfortune. Silke and Janis escape, embarking on a whirlwind quest to unravel the curse that brings them right to the enigmatic Madame Petrova herself. Hof establishes an empowering cross-generational tale that embeds wise life lessons subtly with mystery and intrigue. Old-fashioned vocabulary infuses Hof’s work, and illustrator Fienieg eerily opens each chapter with etched tarot images. While English teachers could use Hof’s text in lessons on figurative language, this title, originally written in Dutch, does not have a glossary to aid the translations. VERDICT An eccentric fantasy set in the pastoral Middle Ages; fans of Lemony Snicket’s “Series of Unfortunate Events” will be drawn to this tale of wise and resourceful siblings trying to escape their fate.–Laura Dooley-Taylor

Mello, Roger. Griso: The One and Only. tr. from Portuguese by Daniel Hahn. illus. by Roger Mello. 32p. Archipelago/Elsewhere Eds. Oct. 2024. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781962770088.
PreS-Gr 3–Griso, the last of the Unicorns, gallops across the plains in search of another unicorn. On each vibrantly illustrated page, he travels the world encountering creatures, from chameleons, to buffaloes, to sea-unicorns. As Griso meets the various creatures, he shape-shifts to resemble their likenesses; alas, he can find no one just like him! Batchelder Honor author and illustrator Mello has exquisitely presented works of art throughout history to depict Griso’s travels in search of companionship. Spanning the seventh to 18th centuries, with artwork including Tang dynasty murals, medieval tapestries, African paintings, and Egyptian pyramids, Griso transforms to appear in each artistic style. Following the story is a listing of every illustration’s origin, time period, and a note about the legends of unicorns throughout literature. Translated from Portuguese, the text accompanying the artwork perfectly coalesces the beautiful story. VERDICT This is an artistic masterpiece introducing readers to centuries of artistic movements, while reinforcing the strengths and merits of being one’s authentic self.–Michele Shaw

Mohammadi, Hadi. Amu Nowruz and His Violets. tr. from Persian by Sara Khalili. illus. by Nooshin Safakhoo. 34p. Archipelago/Elsewhere Eds. Oct. 2024. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781953861924.
Gr 2-5–Nowruz, Persian New Year, has been celebrated for 3,000 years, and marks the first day of spring. In Persian folklore, Amu Nowruz (Uncle New Year) heralds in spring, while Naneh Sarma (Mother Forest) represents winter. With her wintersweet gown and snow white hair, Naneh Sarma lives in a snow castle atop the highest mountain, and is happy spreading snow, frost, and ice throughout the land. With no one to share her love of winter, she decides to seek out Amu Nowruz in the land of spring. He, in turn, is busy planting the seeds and flowers of spring, and while she waits tirelessly for him, she falls asleep. Upon finding her sleeping, he plants violets into her outstretched hands. The contrasting illustrations between the seasons is stunning. The chilly winter scenes resonate with bare trees, huge snow-capped mountains, and Naneh Sarma herself sporting a snow-capped cloud on her head. Amu Nowruz, living in the land of spring where color abounds, flowers bloom, and birds sing, has a giant hat upon his head bursting with flowers. Safakhoo’s distinctive artwork is made up of precise inked lines, intricate flowers and leaves, and contrasting colors which highlight the opposing seasons perfectly. Translated from Persian, the text is gentle, flowing, and poetic. VERDICT This special folktale blooms to life upon the pages, and contains a sweet story of loneliness, friendship, and love.–Michele Shaw

Wolff, Christina. The Picture Visitors: A Case for the Van Gogh Agency. tr. from German by Claire Storey. 150p. Arctis. Apr. 2024. Tr $16. ISBN 9781646900299.
Gr 3-6–Londoner Vincent Fox, 13, calls himself a “picture visitor”—he can enter paintings, travail the world inside, and pass between portals that connect the artist’s works. An avid fan of van Gogh, Vincent loves visiting Starry Night through the sketch in his grandpa Arthur’s home, and helps the National Gallery director Nora in exchange for private picture-visiting time in the museum. When he is tasked with finding a stolen painting, Vincent makes a shocking discovery: a rambunctious fellow picture visitor named Holly who contrasts him in every way. The two children locate the missing artwork, but find themselves embroiled in a new mystery involving art theft, alchemy, and shocking betrayal. This enjoyable novel, translated from German, is peppered with art history facts and tidbits that will have artistic tweens eagerly researching as they read. The jovial odd-couple dynamics of Vincent and Holly, and Vincent’s grandpas (grandfather Arthur and his longtime roommate and business partner Henry) ensure cheeky humor complements the action. The pacing lags in the middle and somewhat rushes to a pat conclusion, but patient readers won’t mind. An author’s note and “About the Paintings” section provide a list of the artwork referenced with context, so tweens can find visual references. The ending establishes the Van Gogh Agency, implying more adventures for this fun crew. VERDICT A charming, inventive mystery with an art history component and a touch of magic.–Ashleigh Williams