Janine.

January 19, 2015
Cocca-Leffler (Theo’s Mood) introduces an unconventional girl named Janine who stays her own course, even though it deviates from those of her classmates. She sings by herself on the bus, talks to her imaginary friend, proudly displays her retention of statistics, and dresses in an eclectic style that includes mismatched socks, patched overalls, and four pigtails. Naturally courteous and openhearted, Janine cheerfully deflects the taunts of her peers and refutes the suggestion that she has to change (“I do not! I like me”). When she isn’t invited to her chief tormentor’s party (“It’s only for cool kids”), Janine shouts out an open invitation to her own party; readers will have seen how Janine’s generosity and kindness have gradually won over her classmates, so it’s no surprise that all of them (save one) take her up on her offer. Cocca-Leffler’s portrayals of her heroine illuminate her thoughtfulness, resilience, and self-assuredness, and while the story’s message is far from subtle, it may encourage children who don’t fit in (and wouldn’t have it any other way). Ages 4–7.

February 1, 2015

K-Gr 2-Bespectacled Janine reads the dictionary for fun, plays with invisible friends, enjoys singing on the bus, and is kind to everyone. One mean student among her diverse group of classmates judges Janine's behavior as bizarre and makes fun of her, but Janine is content being herself and sees no reason to try to blend in. The taunting classmate invites the "cool" kids to her birthday party, leaving Janine off the guest list and telling her, "You are STRANGE! You have to CHANGE!" Instead of feeling hurt or ostracized, Janine decides to host her own party in which no one will be excluded. Though some of the other children have remained silent and appear to side with the mean girl, they soon realize that Janine is the nicer child and excitedly agree to attend her party. The text, which appears hand-lettered, and the various-sized and brightly colored illustrations, are engaging and offer much movement. Gently dealing with a bully while remaining true to herself, Janine is an admirable character who doesn't need to put someone else down in order to feel good about herself. VERDICT A refreshing tale of being true to oneself.-Maryann H. Owen, Children's Literature Specialist, Mt. Pleasant, WI

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2015
A slightly new twist on the kid-getting-bullied story.Janine is certainly her own girl. She sings loudly on the bus, talks to her imaginary friend, and remembers unusual things like the number of steps from here to there and classmates' phone numbers. While everyone else is playing, Janine reads the dictionary or eavesdrops. One day, while she appears to be making a list, she overhears a classmate who is passing out a party invitation. She is quickly told that the party is "only for COOL kids!" (Among the depicted "cool kids" are an Asian-American girl, an African-American girl and a boy whose skin is relatively dark.) The birthday girl mocks Janine's style, insulting everything from her fancy vocabulary to her choice of friends: "Janine, you are STRANGE! You have to CHANGE!" In the background, the "cool kids" become progressively more uncomfortable with the birthday girl's meanness, so when Janine invites all the kids to a party of her own, they are poised to accept eagerly. It's nice to examine how a group can choose kindness and thus take away a bully's power. Charming illustrations highlight Janine's independent style and unfailing optimism. Teachers looking for a positive solution should reach for this one. Children will enjoy knowing that Janine is actually the author's daughter. An optimistic but nevertheless real solution to a common school problem. (Picture book. 5-9)

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March 15, 2015
Preschool-G Janine might act a little differently than other kids, but that doesn't mean she's not having a great time. The carefree young girl sings aloud on the bus, talks to her imaginary friend, and remembers thingslots of things. Her behavior is different enough that other kids start teasing her, and when she overhears plans for a party and asks if she can come, she gets rebuffed: It's only for COOL kids. But Janine thinks she's plenty cool. From her coke-bottle glasses to her slouchy, mismatched socks, Janine is one of a kind, and Cocca-Leffler's stylized illustrations subtly show how her diverse classmates realize that the girl throwing the party isn't the cool oneit's Janine, who's nice to everyone and likes herself just the way she is. Inspired by the author's daughter, this gentle portrayal of difference is powerful, particularly since nothing can dampen spectacular Janine's upbeat attitude. Little ones needing some extra encouragement to feel confident should take a lesson from Janine.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)