Suzanne Crowley gives us a very realistic novel about a very unique girl. The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous is about a young girl who has a very different outlook on life. Her condition is never named, but it is Asperger's Syndrome. Merilee is only comfortable if she can keep precisely to her schedule. She has every minute of every day planned out. If anything disrupts her V.O.E. she becomes very agitated. Some new people move to her little town of Jumbo, Texas and have a very profound effect on Merilee's life. The question is will this be more than she can handle, or will Merilee rise above it and realize she can be more than the 'freak' that everyone thinks she is. There are lots of characters whose lives are all interconnected in this novel, but from each of them Merilee is able to learn something to help her become a better person.
Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience? Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...
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