Thirteen-year-old M.C. Higgins, a black teen living in a remote part of Ohio, was at odds with his parents who adapted to the hardships of rural life and had no tolerance for strange neighbors who did the same, but differently. Of course M.C. was friends with a teen from the other family. What I found most impressive, was both teen’s ability to connect telepathically and M.C.’s parents’ acceptance and respect for his visionary ability. What an unusual story!

KidLit411.com is a marvelous online resource. Whenever I get to it, I appreciate the updates on authors and illustrators. While there recently, I read about Jennifer Berne’s latest picture book, How the Sea Came to Be (2023). It had beautiful illustrations by Amanda Hall. On Wings of Words: The Extraordinary Life of Emily Dickinson (2022) gave a marvelous look at the reclusive poet, and was beautifully illustrated by Becca Stadtlander.

Berne’s Look Up with Me, Neil DeGrasse Tyson: A Life Among the Stars (2019) was wonderful and wonderfully illustrated by Lorraine Nam. Calvin Can’t Fly: The Story of a Bookworm Birdie (2011) had a clever take on learning. It was reassuring, and delightfully illustrated by Keith Bendis. Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau (2008) gave a fresh look at how the popular oceanographer came to see the need to save the world’s oceans.

I had to slow down when the  heat, humidity and wildfire haze were high. Seeing Rochester NY, New York City and Philadelphia on AQI for alarming particles from Canadian wildfires was sobering, but all the flooding lately, is tough too.

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