Graphic Novel Discussion: Marshmallow & Jordan by Alina Chau
Monday, July 22, 2024 at 5:30 pm
For: 3rd to 6th Graders
Location: Galaxy Hall 

To celebrate Disability Pride Month, we will be discussing the graphic novel, Marshmallow & Jordan by Alina Chau, and playing Book BINGO. Refreshments will be served at this celebration! We will be giving out copies of the graphic novel to the first 8 registrants. Please include your name, phone number and email when you register for this program. Pick up your free graphic novel to keep, and read beforehand to be prepared for the conversation and game! You can register here!

About the Graphic Novel, Marshmallow & Jordan:

Jordan's days as star player for her school's basketball team ended when an accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. Now, she's still the team captain, but her competition days seem to be behind her…until an encounter with a mysterious elephant, who she names Marshmallow, helps Jordan discover a brand new sport.

Will water polo be the way for Jordan to continue her athletic dreams–or will it just come between Jordan and her best friends on the basketball team? And with the big tournament right around the corner, what secret is Marshmallow hiding?

Other Great Reads to Celebrate Disability Pride Month!

El Deafo by Cece Bell
For Grades 3-6
Library Catalog

“A humorous and touching graphic memoir about finding friendship and growing up deaf. When Cece is 4 years old, she becomes ‘severely to profoundly’ deaf after contracting meningitis. Though she is fitted with a hearing aid and learns to read lips, it's a challenging adjustment for her. After her family moves to a new town, Cece begins first grade at a school that doesn't have separate classes for the deaf. Her nifty new hearing aid, the Phonic Ear, allows her to hear her teacher clearly, even when her teacher is in another part of the school. Cece's new ability makes her feel like a superhero just call her ‘El Deafo’ but the Phonic Ear is still hard to hide and uncomfortable to wear. Cece thinks, ‘Superheroes might be awesome, but they are also different. And being different feels a lot like being alone.’ Bell (Rabbit Robot: The Sleepover, 2012) shares her childhood experiences of being hearing impaired with warmth and sensitivity, exploiting the graphic format to amplify such details as misheard speech. Her whimsical color illustrations (all the human characters have rabbit ears and faces), clear explanations and Cece's often funny adventures help make the memoir accessible and entertaining. Readers will empathize with Cece as she tries to find friends who aren't bossy or inconsiderate, and they'll rejoice with her when she finally does. Worthy of a superhero.” –Kirkus Reviews

Swan Lake: Quest for the Kingdoms by Rey Terciero
For Grades 3-6
Library Catalog

“One of the most popular ballets of all time gets an epic graphic novel retelling. The kingdoms of Bloom and Rotbart have been on the brink of war for ages thanks to a curse cast upon Princess Odette, which causes her to transform into a swan every morning and back into a girl at nightfall. She lives an overprotected life in her castle until she flies off in a fit of rage one day to weep alone on the lake. Here she's discovered by Princess Dillie (Odile), the swashbuckling, mohawked heiress to the Rotbart throne. The two become fast friends, Odette explaining the nature of her curse and Dillie sharing how she lost her leg, which is now outfitted with a prosthetic. The friends are nearly driven apart by the allegation that Dillie's father cursed Odette. Believing that that isn't true, Dillie and Odette set off on a quest to reverse the curse and clear King Rotbart's name. There are deadly challenges, new friends (Prince Fred, of the Montrose Kingdom, and his bear pal Benno), and plenty of swordplay and ballet along the way. The true highlight of the story is the beautiful, supportive bond among the children. Odette and Dillie, who appear to be white, are honest, kind heroes, while Fred, who has a darker complexion, is brave and clever. The bold, expressive artwork is lively and enchanting, and the ending leaves space for a sequel and some possible queer romance. VERDICT Readers who love high-stakes quests will fly through this one.” –School Library Journal

My Aunt is a Monster by Reimena Yee
For Grades 3-6
Library Catalog

“All her life, Safia Haziz has dreamed of adventure. Reared on awe-inspiring tales by her bookseller parents, she’s lost and lonely when they die. She’s taken in by a distant aunt—born Walteranne Hakim, later she became Lady Whimsy, the World’s Greatest Adventurer. Having given up her globe-trotting lifestyle after being turned into a blue-furred, three-eyed, wolflike monster by a strange curse, Aunt Whimsy has hidden away from the world with her tough-as-nails housekeeper, Miss Cathryn, for company. When her aunt’s archnemesis, Professor Doctor Cecilia Choi, nicknamed Pineapple Tart, resurfaces in the news after a yearslong expedition, will Safia help Aunt Whimsy reclaim her former glory? The answer in this lighthearted romp is a foregone conclusion, as Safia and her aunt travel on a luxury ocean liner, negotiate a magical jungle, and befriend a surly secret agent. These, among other excursions, are depicted in an energetic style reminiscent of a ’90s cartoon. Full-page spreads of the sensations, sounds, smells, and tastes Safia experiences on her journeys are particular highlights. Yee’s character design is delightful, full of diversity in body type, skin tone, and gender expression. The story is kindhearted and full of fun. Eleven-year-old Safia is blind; her disability is never treated as an obstacle, instead incorporated into her zest for life in realistic ways, such as through the technology and devices she uses. Safia is brown-skinned and has relatives in India and Egypt. Adorable and diverting.” –Kirkus Reviews