Stories of determination and grit

Noodles on a Bicycle

Kyo Maclear
(Random House Studio, 40 pages)

This delightful picture book captures a slice of unique Japanese history centering on the soba noodle deliverymen who shouldered towering stacks of ceramic bowls and wooden boxes and then delivered the orders by bicycle. Children will enjoy poring over Gracey Zhang’s colorful ink and gouache illustrations depicting the deliverymen weaving through traffic while avoiding potholes and pedestrians. Maclear writes in the author’s note that the deliverymen could carry as many as 50 bowls of noodles and soup and would often compete with each other to see who could carry the most. Readers who remain skeptical that such acrobatic food delivery was really possible will be amazed by the two black-and-white photos of deliverymen expertly balancing a tower of food orders while ­bicycling one-handed in Tokyo. Ages 4-8

Ode to Grapefruit

Kari Lavelle
(Knopf, 48 pages)

James Earl Jones may have been known for his deep, resonant voice that brought to life The Lion King’s Mufasa and Star Wars’ Darth Vader, but less known was his struggle with stuttering. As a child, Jones was so embarrassed by his speech that he didn’t speak for years at school until a teacher helped Jones overcome his fear and find his voice through poetry. Kari Lavelle’s ­lyrical writing pairs with Bryan Collier’s watercolor and collage illustrations to highlight the role the poem “Ode to Grapefruit” played in Jones’ life. Sadly, the words of the poem are not included in the book because they were lost over time. The story can serve to encourage children who struggle with similar challenges and offer families a springboard to discuss how God can use our human limitations for His glory. Ages 4-8

Evidence!

Deborah Hopkinson
(Knopf, 40 pages)

In the mid-1800s, doctors thought bad, smelly air caused outbreaks of ­cholera that ravaged ­communities. But Dr. John Snow wasn’t convinced: He spent years tracking the disease and gathering evidence by making observations, talking to victims’ families, and ­mapping the outbreaks. Nik Henderson’s graphite, charcoal, and digital illustrations use muted colors to convey the dread and urgency that surrounded Snow’s search for answers. The doctor’s careful detective work culminates with his breakthrough discovery that contaminated drinking water was the true source of the awful infection. Armed with his trove of evidence, Snow succeeds in convincing community leaders to remove the water pump handle from the neighborhood water source, thereby ending an outbreak and saving lives. Ages 5-8

The Hotel Balzaar

In her second stand-alone book in the Norendy Tale series, Kate DiCamillo weaves a story within a story about keeping hope alive, even amid despair. The plot centers on Marta, who lives with her mother at the Hotel Balzaar where they anxiously wait for word from Marta’s father after he disappeared in the war. During the day, Marta’s mother cleans the hotel, so Marta is left to entertain herself. Her days are repetitive and dull until a mysterious countess, along with a parrot named Blitzkoff, checks into the hotel and promises to tell Marta seven stories. At first Marta doesn’t understand the seemingly random stories, but then she discovers they are interconnected and hold the key to reuniting her fractured family. A delightful book featuring Júlia Sardà’s line art ­illustrations. Ages 7-10