CALL 1-877- 2 79 - 8388 | C ONTA CT INFO@REYCRAFTBOOK S.C OM Reviews & AwardsWWW.REYCRAFTBOOK S .C O M2 2019–2020 DEBUT LIST Selected titles MAIL ORDERS TO: REYCRAFT BOOKS 6295 Commerce Center Drive Suite B Groveport, OH 43125 CALL Toll-Free 1-877-279-8388 Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET FAX Toll-Free: Reycraft Books 1-877-280-0375 E-MAIL Contact us at neworders@ reycraftbooks.com or sales@reycraftbooks.com with any questions or to find your rep. How to OrderCALL 1-877- 2 79 - 8388 | C ONTA CT INFO@REYCRAFTBOOK S.C OM 3 PICTURE BOOKS IT’S OKAY (BOARD BOOK) ABRACADABRA! A LOVELY JOURNEY ANT IN A BOOK A POUCH FOR POCKET BLACK CAT, YELLOW BUNNY DEAR ABUELO DRAGON’S HOMETOWN HAPPY LITTLE SUN SWEET LABA CONGEE CROW BROTHERS / FOX AND MONKEY THE ELEPHANT THAT ATE THE NIGHT THE LEGEND OF THE COQUÍ THE LOST KITTEN TWO WOOL GLOVES LET’S SWAP FOR A DAY LITTLE BUNNY’S BALLOON MY BIG FAMILY SIX SHORT SONS THE THREE MONKS A BICYCLE IN BEIJING ABUELITA’S SECRET A TOUR OF HONG KONG I AM HUA MULAN JUJUBE AND WILLOW LITTLE KOKO BEAR AND HIS SOCKS THE MAGIC OF OOH LA LA THE ORANGE HORSE THE RADISH IS BACK THE LITTLE BOX LITTLE FROG’S BIG MOUTH BAHAR, THE LUCKY AMBUSH WOODPECKER GIRL EARLY TRANSITIONAL CHAPTER BOOKS CALL ME MAX (MAX AND FRIENDS SERIES BOOK 1) MAX AND THE TALENT SHOW (MAX AND FRIENDS SERIES BOOK 2) MAX ON THE FARM (MAX AND FRIENDS SERIES BOOK 3) THE POWWOW THIEF (THE POWWOW MYSTERY SERIES BOOK 1) THE POWWOW DOG (THE POWWOW MYSTERY SERIES BOOK 2) NONFICTION PICTURE BOOKS SPOTTED TAIL RICE MIDDLE GRADE THE VISIONARY VOYAGE (MAGIC MIRROR SERIES BOOK 1) THE TRAVELER’S TALE (MAGIC MIRROR SERIES BOOK 2) THE TOMB OF TIME (MAGIC MIRROR SERIES BOOK 3) THE WALL OF WILLOWS (MAGIC MIRROR SERIES BOOK 4) GRAPHIC NOVEL TALES OF THE MIGHTY CODE TALKERSWWW.REYCRAFTBOOK S .C O M4 The Elephant That Ate the Night by Bing Bai • illustrated by Qingyue Li REVIEW: Baby animals learn to overcome their nighttime fears. Whenever night falls in the Black Mushroom Forest, all the baby animals cry out and cower in fear. One day, an elephant arrives at the forest, Awu “[isn’t] a typical elephant” or, indeed, a typical forest creature. Unlike the other animals, Awu looks forward to nighttime, when he can “open his mouth big and wide and swallow the dark nights.” Seeking a way to allay the children’s fears, Bear Cub’s mother enlists Awu’s help. One by one, Awu visits the children of the forest and eats away the dark. Sun shining, “they danced and cheered”—but quickly realize the trouble when it is always “bright as day.” With yawns and exhaustion comes an appreciation for balance and an understanding of the promise of a new day. Bold typographic design sets dialogue and onomatopoeic words apart on the page from the main narrative. Occasionally, the text design mimics the text—a sentence curls in on itself just like “Baby Porcupine [who] would cling to his mother’s side and shrink into a little ball.” Recurring swirls and curves visually draw reader’s eyes, and details such as constellation like diagrams peppered throughout Li’s artwork add to the whimsy of Bai’s bedtime story. A quirky addition to the afraid-of-the-dark shelf. —Kirkus Reviews “A quirky addition to the afraid-of-the-dark shelf.” —Kirkus ReviewsCALL 1-877- 2 79 - 8388 | C ONTA CT INFO@REYCRAFTBOOK S.C OM 5 THE POWWOW DOG by Joseph Bruchac • illustrated by Dale Deforest REVIEW: An unusual picture book/chapter book/graphic novel hybrid offers readers a mystery set at a powwow in upstate New York. Grama and Grampa are taking twins Marie and Jamie to the powwow, where they are greeted by other attendees from different cultural backgrounds who have come to enjoy the gathering. Grama and Grampa set up a table to sell Grama’s beaded bracelets. Marie and Jamie watch the dance competition with some local kids, who tell them about a creepy old house near the grounds. When a dog steals a burger from one of the nearby food stands and then vanishes in the direction of that old house, the kids decide to solve the mystery of the disappearing dog. In the old house they find the dog—and a fallen elder lying on the floor in need of help. Thus the twins’ curiosity and the dog’s attentiveness save the day. Abenaki author Bruchac collaborates with illustrator Deforest, who uses his experiences growing up in Navajo country to create bold and colorful comic-book–style illustrations of this contemporary Native American family and a diverse, happy gathering of powwow attendees. The flaw in this otherwise-wonderful tale is its ambiguity, as Bruchac doesn’t identify any of the Indigenous nations represented in the story, as is customary at a powwow. Though shaped like a picture book and running only to 32 pages, the story is broken into short chapters and aims for independent readers. Happily, there are more powwow adventures to come. —Kirkus Reviews “Abenaki author Bruchac collaborates with illustrator Deforest, who uses his experiences growing up in Navajo country to create bold and colorful comic- book–style illustrations of this contemporary Native American family and a diverse, happy gathering of powwow attendees.” —Kirkus ReviewsWWW.REYCRAFTBOOK S .C O M6 The Powwow Thief by Joseph Bruchac • illustrated by Dale Deforest REVIEW: This early chapter book with a picture book trim size, the first installment of the Powwow Mystery Series, features twins Jamie and Marie Longbow, who are traveling to powwows this summer with their grandparents to sell Grama’s wares. Jamie excels at tree climbing, while Marie loves to read and memorize facts about birds. When Grama’s best necklace is stolen at the Little Eagle powwow grounds, the first powwow they visit, it’s up to the twins and their respective talents to help solve the case. Bruchac (Brothers of the Buffalo), an enrolled member of the Nulhegan Bank of the Abenaki nation, offers a well-paced introduction of the characters and elements of the powwow over the four chapters. While the foreshadowing may be a bit transparent (“ ‘It’s okay,’ Grampa said as he danced past them. ‘Sleepy Mickey is watching the booth.’ ”), the identity of the thief and the resolution still prove satisfying. Deforest, who was raised on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico, contributes boldly outlined and brightly colored digital illustrations in an accessible comic-book style that will likely entice reluctant readers. —Publishers Weekly REVIEW: Marie Longbow and her twin brother, Jamie, accompany their grandparents to a powwow to sell jewelry and regalia. After the family returns from participating in the Friendship dance, they find that Grama’s best piece of jewelry is missing. Using both brains and brawn, the twins track down a surprising thief. The cartoonish drawings have a pop art feel with bright colors, and comic panels are incorporated into the single- and double-page illustrations. A variety of regalia is depicted on the dancers and drummers. Speech bubbles are used for some of the text to emphasize parts of the conversations. Native American terms are sprinkled into the narrative along with descriptions of powwow activities. The book is divided into short chapters, creating a sort of picture book/graphic novel hybrid, which should appeal to emerging and/or reluctant readers. This beginning mystery with a Native American focus is a good general purchase, and creates a useful transition from picture books to chapter books or graphic novels for younger readers. —School Library Journal, reviewed by Tamara Saarinen “ This beginning mystery with a Native American focus is a good general purchase, and creates a useful transition from picture books to chapter books or graphic novels for younger readers.” —School Library Journal, reviewed by Tamara SaarinenCALL 1-877- 2 79 - 8388 | C ONTA CT INFO@REYCRAFTBOOK S.C OM 7 My Big Family by Yanitzia Canetti • illustrated by Micha Archer REVIEW: Young Alex lives with his mother and father. Although it is just three of them, he knows he has a very big family back in Cuba— and they quickly demonstrate just how many people his little house can hold. At the book’s beginning, Alex and his family get some wonderful news. Abuela is leaving Cuba and coming to live with them! After all, as Papa says, “Where three can fit, four can fit.” Alex is excited to be sharing his room with Abuela and spending time together. Soon, aunts, uncles, and cousins come as well, and their house is fit to bursting, until Alex feels that “no one else can fit in this house!” Slowly, Alex’s extended family members move out as they become settled in the United States, but there is still one last surprise for him at the end. Archer’s beautiful collage illustrations with bright colors and patterns capture the ebullience of this loving extended Cuban family. Its boisterous din is made visible with jagged diagonals everywhere, the double-page spread when Alex learns everybody will be leaving standing as dramatic counterpoint. While this brown-skinned family is Cuban, this is a story that will resonate with many children of immigrants and will give a glimpse into the positive side of bringing in a large extended family for those who aren’t. Familiar colors and foods give this joyous book a distinctively Cuban feel. —Kirkus Reviews “Familiar colors and foods give this joyous book a distinctively Cuban feel. ” —Kirkus ReviewsWWW.REYCRAFTBOOK S .C O M8 Abuelita’s Secret by Alma Flor Ada • illustrated by Jacobo Muñiz REVIEW: In this slightly different take on the first-day-of-school story, Gabriel is nervous about his first day at a new school while his dad is away. Everyone in the household eagerly offers input, but he doesn’t think he has anything of interest to share. Mom assures him that everyone in class will be talking about themselves. Rosa advises him to talk about the family and their pets. Abuelita suggests talking about their recent visit to the beach, and Alfonso says he should tell about their recent trip to Cuba. Gabriel is not happy with any of these ideas. At school, he respectfully listens to his classmates talk about themselves. When his teacher calls on him, he remembers his grandma’s advice, “When your teacher asks you to talk, open your backpack.” As Gabriel reaches for his backpack, pictures, maps, and family-related items spill out. His classmates rush to examine the objects and bombard Gabriel with questions. As the day ends, Gabriel is happy that Abuelita’s secret helped him get through the first day of school and even more excited about another secret that awaits him as he opens the front door—his dad. A beautifully crafted, multilayered story about starting school that is buoyed by cheery and warmhearted illustrations. —School Library Journal, reviewed by Martha Rico, Yselta ISD, TX “ A beautifully crafted, multilayered story about starting school that is buoyed by cheery and warmhearted illustrations.” —School Library Journal, reviewed by Martha Rico, Yselta ISD, TXCALL 1-877- 2 79 - 8388 | C ONTA CT INFO@REYCRAFTBOOK S.C OM 9 Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers written and illustrated by Lee Francis III, Lee Francis IV, Roy Boney Jr., Arigon Starr, Jonathan Nelson, Renee Nejo REVIEW: When people think of code talkers they likely think of the Navajo in World War II. And that’s for good reason. The U.S. Marine Corps recruited more than 400 Navajo to be code talkers in 1941 and 1942 during the war—the original group numbered about 30. Their skill would be used in the Korean and Vietnam Wars as well. But the Navajo weren’t the only ones and they weren’t the first. There were code talkers from at least 16 tribes who served in the Marines, Army, and Navy. In addition to the Navajo, the list includes Seminole, Assiniboine, Cherokee, Choctaw, Comanche, Hope, Lakota, and Meskwaki. The Cherokee were the first code talkers in World War I and they paved the way for those who came after, like the Choctaw (WWI) and Navajo (WWII). Their stories are a central focus of the recently published book Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers. The publication, by Reycraft Books, came out last year and is designed for younger readers and students. U.S. military codes on troop movement and the like were being breached by the Germans in WWI and by the Japanese in WWII, causing casualties and chaos. Code talkers developed an unbreakable code language used to send information on tactics, movements, and orders over the radio and telephone that was indecipherable to the enemy. It was considered a key factor in many American military victories, including at Iwo Jima and Saipan. The book is presented in a sleek, comic book-style that appeals to the younger set, although adults would enjoy it as well. Two of the main characters are Annumpa Luma, of the Choctaw code talkers, and PFC Joe, who is Navajo. The first part of the book also tells about the Cherokee code talkers’ contribution to ending WWI. —The Seminole Review, Reviewed by Damon Scott “…takes the reader along with different Native American characters who are going through varied scenarios during the wars.” —The Seminole Review, Reviewed by Damon ScottNext >