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Book Reviews, Picture book · March 12, 2021

Picture Book Friday: The Electric Slide and Kai

Summary: The Electric Slide and Kai

The Electric Slide and Kai is Kelly J. Baptist’s new picture book. She’s the author of Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero.

Kai is from a family of dancers, and he seems to be the odd man out. The family has been invited to their Auntie Nina’s wedding, and Kai and his siblings will have roles in the wedding. Kai immediately becomes worried because he has a history of messing up his moves. He even tripped over someone the last time he tried the electric slide.

Although discouraged, Kai is determined to join his family’s traditions and enlists his entire family’s help to improve his dance skills.

The Good

This is a super sweet picture book! I love picture books featuring older kids and warm family dynamics, especially in Black families. The electric slide is a popular wedding dance move, especially at Black weddings, so it was nice to see it woven into the story and even the book title.

The Electric Slide and Kai sample

I also really like the illustrations in this book. Illustrator Darnell Johnson does a fantastic job of bringing Kai and his family to life. As in any story about families and dance, there’s a lot of cute sibling interaction in this book, and Kai has some sweet moments with his grandpa.

The Electric Slide and Kai sample

Overall: The Electric Slide and Kai

The Electric Slide and Kai is a feel-good picture book about dance, family, and belonging. This picture book also shows the power of perseverance and will teach kids not to give up too quickly on things they may not be the best at. It also shows that you don’t always have to be the best at things to enjoy them. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for anything Baptist writes next, but first, I have to read Isaiah Dunn!

Buy This Book

the electric slide and kai

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

More Picture Book Reviews

  • Off to See the Sea by Nikki Grimes
  • Bunheads by Misty Copeland
  • Zoo-Mate Wanted by Korrie Leer

Have you read this book or Baptist’s Isaiah Dunn? What did you think? What are your favorite dance picture books?

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Posted In: Book Reviews, Picture book · Tagged: black authors, boy stories, dance books, siblings, weddings

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✨how ‘bout a little virtual reality?✨

☀️ Addie has reluctantly moved across the country with her dad for his summer job in the virtual reality industry. He's working on research to use VR for therapeutic purposes, such as helping people cultivate empathy. Addie is not into VR, but that starts to change when she meets Matteo another kid on campus, and tries out VR on her own. Eventually, the two find a helpful use for VR that helps other people.

🥽 I loved the illustration style in this one and while I found the VR setting a bit disorienting, I appreciated the unique lens of the story. The graphic novel format works brilliantly for helping readers appreciate the power of VR. I think with text, it would have just been too much “world-building.” This is more engaging and exciting for kids.

🐢 Lo and Behold is a clever middle grade graphic novel about virtual reality, grief, and parental addiction. Readers who enjoy VR will love this one, but as the Author's Note mentions, it will also be a fantastic introduction for those who, like me, aren't familiar with it. A fun summer read with hints of serious themes.

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❤️ I loved this book way more than I thought I would (from the synopsis). Ginny has such a great voice and she isn’t always the most likable character but she’s always real. I loved watching her grow throughout the story.

📍This sweet, unique young middle grade book made my heart grow and ache for Ginny and her family as they navigated a season of change. Features illustrations and a new geography fact in each chapter.

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❤️ This sweet graphic novel for fans of Telgemeier is an ode to middle school, family, and finding your people.

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Do you like to hop on the “buzz train”? I find Do you like to hop on the “buzz train”? I find that buzzy books are often worth the hype. Even the few people who dislike them tend to have STRONG feelings about them 👀 which to me is a sign that the story got to you somehow. Of course, not every book is for every reader — hype or not. I share my tip for finding a hyped book that matches your reading tastes.

Which hyped books did you love? And which ones missed the mark for you?

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This one didn’t end up being as sad as I thought it would be but it was very moving, especially because Krosoczka shares newspaper clippings and pictures of one the families with whom he forged a particularly close relationship even until his college years.

If you’re looking for an engaging graphic memoir for older kids ages 11+ this is a great choice.

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You'll like this if you like:

Multiple perspectives (3 perspectives, 3rd person POV)
Character-driven stories
Time-jumping plots
Devastating endings

If you prefer straightforward, plot-rich, fast-paced stories, you might struggle a bit with this one at the start. But it's worth it!

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☀️ Meet the Bookstagrammer ☀️ Hi, new fol ☀️ Meet the Bookstagrammer ☀️

Hi, new followers! It’s such a pleasure to have a few new faces around. I love finding new readers to follow on the gram. 

My name is Afoma and I run a book blog called Reading Middle Grade. I also run a Facebook Group and newsletter related to my blog. In my day job, I’m a freelance writer and editor, with a degree in medicine.

I’ve lived in three continents (born in Nigeria, med school in Ukraine and the Caribbean). I live in Nigeria now with my husband and many, many books 🤭 I love to cook and travel and run. This year, one of my goals is to become a better runner. I’m currently able to run 2K without stopping. 

Even though we don’t have traditional four seasons in Nigeria, the summer months are my favorite. From childhood, they were the one time when my overachieving, perfectionistic self could RELAX. And do nothing! And even now, I try to take time off in the summer to do nothing.

Some of favorite books this year have been LASAGNA MEANS I LOVE YOU, THE LOST YEAR (I lived in Ukraine for 3 years, so this resonated with me!), and MAAME. 

Thank you so much for following my reading journey! Tell me something about yourself — hobbies, favorite books, anything! ❤️
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