The Lotterys More or Less

The Lotterys More or Less

By Emma Donoghue

In many ways the Lotterys are the ideal family.  There are two moms, two dads and seven kids.  Some kids were born as Lotterys, some were adopted. The Lottery children are all home-schooled and learn by doing.  The Lotterys are lucky -- they won the lottery, and now the parents can stay home full-time with their kids.

In this second installment of The Lotterys series, it’s Christmastime, and 9-year-old Sumac is making sure that the family follows every Christmas tradition that they have established over the years.  She wants to attend the Nutcracker, go to the Polar Pear Plunge, decorate the tree, etc.  

But things are a little different this year.  For one thing, PapaDum and Sic, Sumac’s oldest brother, have gone to India and won’t be back until December 23^rd.  For another thing, the Lotterys have a “couchsurfer” this year.  Luis is from Brazil and is staying with the Lotterys throughout December.

Still, they should be able to do all the things that Sumac loves to do.  Until something incredible happens – there’s an ice storm in Toronto!  Everything is covered with ice!  The city stops functioning and the power goes out.  And it’s really, really, cold.  Not only that, but no flights can land at the Toronto airport, so PapaDum and Sic can’t come home for Christmas.  Even Luis, who was supposed to continue his travels, gets stuck at the Lottery house for Christmas.

Sumac is miserable.  At the most special family time of the year, nothing is quite right.  Can she and the Lotterys adjust their traditions and rescue Christmas?

Megabat

Megabat

By Anna Humphrey
Illustrated by Kass Reich

Daniel is feeling sad after moving to a new house in a new town and he misses his friends in Toronto.  When he hears weird noises in his attic bedroom, he is a bit freaked out.  Then he realizes that the noises are coming from a bat – Megabat –  and Daniel doesn’t really know what to do.  Megabat, it seems, is lost and also misses his friends from the land of Papaya Premium.  In fact, Megabat weeps so much that he creates a large puddle on the bedroom floor – Daniel’s parents even think the roof is leaking!

The crying settles down once Daniel and Megabat get to know each other.  Daniel deduces that Megabat is actually from Borneo and devises a plan to get him back there.  Little does he know that he and Megabat will actually become good friends.

Daniel begins carrying Megabat in his pocket.  He gives him his fill of fruits and juices, and they sit around watching Star Wars together.  Megabat even begins brandishing a juice box straw like a lightsaber.

Megabat says adorable things like, “It is being an honor to meeting yours.” (p.69) He gets very excited over “smoosh fruits”, a.k.a. jelly rolls. (p. 68) He also seems to be falling in love with a pigeon called Birdgirl.  Nevertheless, Daniel knows he needs to do his best to get Megabat home.  With the help of his new neighbour and friend, Talia, Daniel hopes he can complete his mission.

Megabat is perfect for young readers who still need a few pictures in their chapter books.  Highly recommended!

 

Stargazing

Stargazing

By Jen Wang

Christine comes from a strict Chinese-American family.  She plays the violin, goes to church and belongs to a Chinese language study group.  When Moon and her mother move in next door, Christine begins to open up and see the world in new ways.  

Moon loves K-pop, dancing and having lots of fun!  She convinces Christine to do crazy things like paint her toenails.  She also has “fantasies” about her “real family” in outer space.  

But Moon also comes with a lot of baggage.  She and her mother don’t have a lot of money and they have often struggled.  It’s even rumoured that Moon likes to beat people up, but that doesn’t seem to be true… at first.  Moon initially gets along with everyone, but it soon becomes clear that she won’t tolerate injustice or disloyalty.

Just as Christine is trying to figure out how she really feels about her new friend, Moon has a crisis that goes far beyond schoolyard friendships.  Christine is challenged to stand up and be the supportive friend that Moon really needs.  Can she do it?

Heartwarming and readable, this graphic novel will appeal to any kid who has ever faced difficult choices in friendship.  Stargazing is also funny and inspiring.

Highly recommended!