Publishers Weekly - October 30, 2017

ON SALE
JANUARY 2018

“Hermione Hoby makes writing seems
effortless. She writes as if Neon in
Daylight is her hundredth novel, not
her first. Her descriptions of both
outside scenes and inner lives are
sharp and perfect. New York is the
city that produces infinite fodder
for writers, but there are only a few
novels that prove we need yet another
New York book. Neon in Daylight is
most definitely one of them.”
―Anton Bogomazov,
Politics & Prose (Washington, D.C.)

Pub Weekly ad for NEON IN DAYLIGHT.indd 1 10/19/17 11: 59 AM

www.alicejamesbooks.org EDITED BY CHRISTOPH KELLER

& JAN HELLER LEVI INTRODUCTION BY RACHEL ELIZA GRIFFITHS September 2017

$24.95 | paperback

978-1-938584-35-0

eBook Available “This book is not just a collection of figurative words; it is a tool for liberation.” —Aja Monet,

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review Alice James Books is an affilate of the University of Maine at Farmington.

several miles and more than a billion years: the girl is magically transported to various points in the region’s vast history as Chin takes readers through the layers of the canyon’s past.

Her Right Foot

Dave Eggers, illus. by Shawn Harris

(Chronicle)

The Statue of Liberty’s torch and crown get plenty of attention. Eggers is more interested in the fact that her right foot is raised: “That’s right! She is going somewhere! She is on the move!” The point, more crucial than ever, is that freedom isn’t static or automatic—it requires effort, action, and forward momentum.

The Little Red Cat Who
Ran Away and Learned
His ABC’s (the Hard Way)

Patrick McDonnell (Little, Brown)

It’s an alphabet book, it’s a guessing game, it’s a wild goose chase! (Minus the goose.) Using the letters of the alphabet as his only text, McDonnell sends the eponymous cat on a misadventure, in which it’s set upon by an alligator (for a), bear (for b), and other creatures in a whirlwind escapade that leads up to— what else?—Zzzzzzzzzzz.

Mama Lion Wins the Race

Jon J Muth (Scholastic Press)

Leave it to the creator of Zen Shorts and its sequels to transform a twisty-turny road race into a contemplation of kindness, good sportsmanship, and what winning truly looks like. Even so, Muth doesn’t skimp on automotive action, and readers will love following his animal characters’ retro racers through the lushly painted landscapes.

The Rooster Who Would Not
Be Quiet!

Carmen Agra Deedy, illus. by Eugene Yelchin (Scholastic Press)

After a mayor’s rules turn a vibrant
town into a silent place of fear and sad-
ness, a rooster refuses to give in, and
others soon join his cause. Available in
English and bilingual Spanish-English
editions, Deedy and Yelchin’s allegory
vividly illustrates the power of using
one’s voice to stand up to oppression.

Soldier Song:
A True Story of the Civil War

Debbie Levy, illus. by Gilbert Ford

(Disney-Hyperion)

Levy and Ford thoughtfully explore the role of music during the U.S. Civil War, including how it was used to inspire, unify, and divide. “Whether Billy Yank or Johnny Reb, the soldiers heard the same bugle calls, fife melodies, and drumbeats,” Levy writes. “After all, just the year before, they had all been part of one, united country.”

What Does Baby Want?

Tupera Tupera (Phaidon)

A baby’s head fills the circular pages of this board book, and the baby is not happy. When its mother realizes what her child is after—it’s time for breastfeeding—the genius of the book’s design is revealed (among other things). Breastfeeding in public remains a touchy subject and children’s books can be skittish around nudity, but neither is an issue for this smart, defiant book.

When’s My Birthday?

Julie Fogliano, illus. by Christian Robinson

(Roaring Brook/Porter)

Birthdays are generally jubilant affairs in the life of a child, and this poetic tribute fits the occasion to a T, powered by a child’s wishes and questions (“will it never be my birthday?/ is it almost happy birthday?/ happy day to me and me?”) and by Robinson’s bold, childlike collages.