Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes

Written by Eva Chen

Illustrated by Derek Desierto

Feiwel and Friends

978-1-250-29726-6

32 pp.

Ages 4-6

November 2018

Marilyn Monroe always said "Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world." In Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes, Juno is given the opportunity to step into the shoes of those conquering women and experience the worlds of those who achieved much in the arts, sciences and society.

From Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes by Eva Chen, illus. by Derek Desierto

Preparing for school, Juno cannot find her favourite shoes. Delving into her closet to look for her seemingly boring white sneakers that are "her favorite running-hopping-skipping-muddy-puddly-jumping shoes", Juno and her pup are transported by a milky way into a ginormous closet of hundreds of shoes–"... a cornucopia of shoes! A feast of fashion!"–under glass cloches à la Saks Fifth Avenue.

From Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes by Eva Chen, illus. by Derek Desierto

She becomes Cleopatra when she tries on the Egyptian sandals; Frida Kahlo in the colourful lace-up boots; Cinderella in the glass slippers; Serena Williams in her tennis sneakers; an astronaut in Sally Ride's boots; a ballerina in Misty Copeland's slippers; and more. There are athletes, scientists, and celebrities of TV, art and music. Juno tries them all, putting herself in their shoes and their lives. When she finally discovers her own shoes, she finds a way to put a little magic in them, courtesy of her experiences with those of some great women.

From Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes by Eva Chen, illus. by Derek Desierto

American Eva Chen brings her fashionista background to inspire children to take a journey through the footwear worn by famous people, past and present, but for me it's Vancouver illustrator Derek Desierto who brings the sparkle to the story with his artwork. Derek Desierto, who is the designer of Derek Cardigan eyewear, brings a mixture of contemporary with retro design to his illustrations, delivering the fun with the footwear (and the clothing and settings) and colour bold enough to bowl over little Juno. The distinction of the women's shoes, summarized in an appendix titled "Juno's Guide to Groundbreaking Women (and their Shoes)," is like a visit to a shoe museum, introducing young readers to important women in history and inspiring them to be great in their own shoes.

A Boy Named Queen

Written by Sara Cassidy

Groundwood Books

978-1-55498-905-8

80 pp.

Ages 8-11

August 2016

Reviewed from advance reading copy

Writing a great early reader or middle grade novel is very, very dificult.  The writer has to ensure that there is enough substance–in the story and characters and writing–to support the interest and reading demands of just a sliver of the youthful reading population.  How do you give the reader all that and at an appropriate reading level and in a limited number of pages?  I’m especially flummoxed how author Sara Cassidy, who has written both early readers and hi-lo fiction for teens, could pack so much flavour and sensory lushness into A Boy Named Queen’s mere 80 pages.  While the story is built on  the simple platform of a new friendship, Sara Cassidy has a created a rich landscape of people, places and experiences that heightens the story beyond that humble premise.

The story begins with the last day of summer protocols for Evelyn and her parents as they prepare both girl and house for the beginning of the new school year.  Little does Evelyn realize that her annual shoe-buying trip, normally for the dreaded loafers, would be “the last day of my old life” (p. 18) and herald a new life with sneakers–even if they’re too tight–and a new friend.  Grade 5 with Mr. Zhang becomes ever so much more interesting when the confident and distinctive Queen, a long-haired, brogue-wearing boy, joins them.  He’s like no one she’s ever met.  Even his dog, Patti Smith, who follows Queen to school that first day, is unique, though promptly retrieved by Queen’s pick-up driving rocker of a dad.

The burgeoning friendship between Evelyn and Queen begins with Evelyn trying to be nice to the boy who is obviously used to be ridiculed for his name and sense of style but who is self-possessed enough to withstand it.   He shares with her his strategy of creating an imaginary force field that both protects him from the cruel things that some may say or think as well as points all good things directly to his heart.  

I love Queen for his sensitivity and courage.  

“My name is handy.  I watch how people act when they hear it for the first time.  It shows me what  kind of people they are.” (p. 64)

But I love Evelyn even more for the colour she perceives in life, from her new runners,  that

“bend with her feet.  The soles are like licorice instead of breadboards.” (p 15)

to Queen’s freckles,

“His freckles outnumber even Evelyn’s.  But they’re strong spices–cinnamon, paprika–compared to Evelyn’s weak tea stains.” (p. 20)

and even Brussel sprouts,

“Evelyn doesn’t like Brussel sprouts.  They taste like her fingers taste after she’s held her house key for a while. “ (p. 50)

She is a young girl with eyes and heart wide open to goodness and joy, and Sara Cassidy ensures that Evelyn is receptive to a heartening friendship with A Boy Named Queen. 

A Good Trade

by Alma Fullerton

Illustrated by Karen Patkau

Pajama Press

978-0-9869495-9-3

32 pp.

Ages 5+

Release October 1, 2012

Alma Fullerton, one of my favourite writers of novels in verse (e.g., Libertad, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2008; Burn, Dancing Cat Books, 2010), has applied her formidable craftsmanship to create a text light in word count but powerful in message. The story of A Good Trade features a young Ugandan boy Kato whose daily routine has him waking at dawn to collect the day's water at the local well.  Carrying two jerry cans, Kato skips, races and treks to the borehole where he joins other children in filling the cans.  On his return journey, he glimpses into an aid worker's truck and the routine of Kato's day takes on a new spirit and task.

Kato's story could be a sombre one, considering that for his whole life Uganda has been in the midst of a civil war in which children were abducted and terrorized to fight for the rebel forces. But, while not ignoring the presence of armed soldiers, A Good Trade accepts the unrest and horror as only one aspect of Uganda.  There are also the gardens, hills, trails, fields with cattle, and villages with neighbours and children.  And those who offer help.  Alma Fullerton emphasizes the hope that accompanies that aid and the touching gratitude of a young boy, while smoothing the wrinkles of Kato's life to remain a textured canvas of many threads: some thicker, some brighter, some coarser, others frail.

And Karen Patkau's illustrations are the embodiment of that texture, in mosaics of bold colours and angular shapes, recreating Kato's Uganda as a rich landscape.  While Karen Patkau has illustrated many books (e.g., One Watermelon Seed, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2008; Creatures Great and Small, Tundra, 2006) and has had her artwork recognized with awards, nominations and honourable mentions, I believe that the pairing of Alma Fullerton's text with Karen Patkau's art style in A Good Trade is inspired.  It's almost as if Karen Patkau's art was destined to evoke the landscape and story of Uganda.  Her sultry skies alone capably recreate the shimmering heat of an African day. 

Whatever forces, human or supernatural, that brought together these two artists, one of words and the other of graphics, knew exactly what they were doing.  There's gratitude all around here: from Kato, from picture book lovers, from compassionate readers.

*     *     *     *     *

By bringing together Alma Fullerton and Karen Patkau, Pajama Press, which was only established in April 2011, continues to impress me with the quality of the titles it publishes. I'm starting to feel like a groupie, promoting great book after great book like True Blue by Deborah Ellis; Last Airlift: A Vietnamese Orphan's Rescue from War by Marsha Skrypuch; and Don't Laugh at Giraffe by Rebecca Bender.  The only one I've missed reading is No Shelter Here: Making the World a Kinder Place for Dogs by Rob Laidlaw and that's only because I'm too much of a wuss about animal non-fiction.  Continue to look for reviews of Pajama Press' books here at CanLit for LittleCanadians and at your bookstore.