Books

Lots of great books this week! Read the book reviews below, and learn more about my favorite reads:

• Discover all the books I read this week in the It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? post.
• Read more book review posts.
• Follow my reading and reviews on Goodreads.

Astrid and Apollo by V.T. Bidania (first chapter)
Gr. 2-3. A fun new first chapter series featuring a Hmong family living in Minnesota. Astrid and Apollo go on everyday adventures that weave in elements of their culture (especially many yummy foods!). A glossary of Hmong words are included in the front, and backmatter contains facts about the Hmong people, popular Hmong foods featured in that particular book, a glossary of more challenging English words found in the story, and questions and activity ideas to continue learning.

Astrid and Apollo and the Fishing Flop: Twins Astrid and Apollo are camping for the first time! Apollo is thrilled to catch the biggest fish in the lake, but while Astrid keeps catching fish after fish, Apollo just manages to attract weeds and a shoe. When a storm rolls in, it looks like their fishing might be done for the day. Will Apollo ever be able to catch his dream fish?

Astrid and Apollo and the Starry Campout: Twins Astrid and Apollo are going on their first camping trip. Apollo is excited, but Astrid is nervous–about the dark, mosquitos, wild animals, and the horrors of a bathroom without a toilet that flushes. Once they arrive, things aren’t as bad as Astrid imagined–until they all turn off the lights and hear something crawling outside their tent.

The Best of Iggy by Annie Barrows (first chapter)
Gr. 2-3. Iggy isn’t a bad kid–he has just done some bad things (which he is mostly, sometimes sorry for). Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances to consider when bad decisions are made…and sometimes poor decisions are just poor decisions. Get ready for three Iggy filled adventures:

• one where we say we wish we hadn’t done a thing, but actually just wish we hadn’t gotten in trouble for the thing,
• one where we wish we hadn’t done quite as much of the thing as we did, and
• one where we really, completely wish we hadn’t done the thing we did.

This was surprisingly delightful! I meant to just read a few chapters but instead quickly read the whole book in one sitting. The story moves quickly and the humor in both the story and the narrator’s commentary made this so much fun. Hand to kids who love The Terrible Two (or kids who aren’t quite ready yet for The Terrible Two). Will be picking up the sequel soon.

Corpse Talk: Groundbreaking Women by Adam & Lisa Murphy (graphic novel)
Gr. 4-6. Join your host (and author) Adam Murphy in a talk show starring the corpses of astonishing women throughout history. Each star receives a two-page spread following the style of a typical talk show (including the standard puns and bad jokes) before another spread or two detailing an element of their time or life, such as the layout of the building Anne Frank lived in, an overview of Mongolian wrestling moves, or an explanation of the golden ratio. Features 17 women from an Egyptian pharaoh to empresses, queens, pirates, con artists, and more.

This was fun! I enjoyed the unique approach to a collection of short biographies (and putting this in graphic novel format makes it all the more interesting). While some women were well known, others were not, making this a more engaging read. I’m excited to explore other books in the same series.

Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol: Beware the Werewolf by Andres Miedoso (first chapter)
Gr. 2-3. Desmond and Andres are back with a furry adventure! There is something strange about the local dogcatcher–dogs seem to love being caught! Is he just a dog person? Does he have them under some kind of spell? Or is something spookier going on? This is Kersville after all, and supernatural things happen every day.

Another fun Desmond Cole adventure filled with lots of adorable (and some not so adorable) pups. This series is a perfect amount of text for kids just starting to move from beginning readers into longer chapter books, with quick stories filled with just the right amount of spook to keep young readers engaged (but not scared).

Ellie Ultra: Super Spooked by Gina Bellisario (first chapter)
Gr. 2-3. Ellie is excited to go to a sleepover at her friend Hannah’s house. She is ready for all of the regular sleepover antics, but she has her own super secret–Ellie is afraid of the dark. Ellie’s parents give her a special bracelet to keep the darkness away, but the bracelet is no help when the evil super villain Fairy Frightmare stops by. She sprinkles the sleepover attendees in bad-dream dust, and suddenly the girls are trapped in their nightmares. The only way to escape? Conquer their biggest fears. Can Ellie help her friends and conquer her fear of the dark, all in one night?

Ellie is a cute, spunky young superhero. I prefer Mia Mayhem’s everyday adventures to this series, but, reading level wise, this is a good step up from the Mia Mayhem books. Lots of kid appeal, and I appreciate any diverse young superheroes.

Kitty and Dragon by Meika Hashimoto (reader)
Gr. 1-2. Kitty just wants everyone to be quiet! So she goes exploring, looking for a new, quiet home that isn’t so noisy. She eventually finds the home of the silent dragon (who everyone is terrified of)–but the dragon just wants a friend. Soon the two become roommates and best friends, having everyday friendship adventures like helping one another when they are sick and balancing out their clean and messy tendencies.

This is ADORABLE! I really wish I had read this just a few days earlier, as it definitely would have made it onto my 2020 Favorite Beginning Readers list (I will need to go back and add it). Bright, colorful, kid-appealing illustrations, simple text and vocabulary perfect for a beginning reader, and sweet stories about two friends who don’t talk much, but still have a wonderful relationship. Will be recommending!

Kondo & Kezumi Visit Giant Island by David Goodner (first chapter)
Gr. 1-3. Kondo and Kezumi are best friends who live on a lovely island together. They spend their days collecting fruit and exploring until one day something washes up onshore–a map! This map shows many other islands and a message: WE ARE NOT ALONE. After some convincing, Kondo joins Kezumi on an adventure in their makeshift boat to see what lies beyond their shores.

This is a pretty adorable story about friendship, adventure, and trying new things. Bright, colorful illustrations will help make this appeal to young readers just moving beyond beginning readers.

In the background of most images–on Kondo and Kezumi’s island and other ilsands–there are a lot of what appear to be abandoned human objects (a bathtub, a guitar, and what looks like an alien spaceship). Are these easter eggs to keep kids engaged? Or is there going to be some long term message that this is some post-apocalypse earth (maybe after an alien invasion)? I’m not quite sure how some of those themes would work in a series for this age, so I am going to assume these are easter eggs.

Regardless, this was still a surprisingly pleasant read, and I am looking forward to more books.

The Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar
Gr. 4-7. Betita’s father doesn’t pick her up from her after school program one day. The principal is sure that he just got caught up, but Betita has a bad feeling that proves to be true–her father was arrested by Immigrations Customs Enforcement (ICE) and deported back to Mexico. Betita is left behind, with her pregnant mom, in Los Angeles. They aren’t happy, but they think things will turn out okay–until, on a trip to visit their father at a beach on the US/Mexico border, their driver accidentally misses the exit. Suddenly, her family is on the Mexican side of the border, desperately trying to re-enter the US. Their asylum paperwork isn’t considered enough for re-entry by border patrol, and Betita and her mom are sent to a detention camp. While Betita desperately tries to keep hope through her drawings, poetry, and stories, the inhumane treatment and abuse towards herself, her mom, and her new friends makes hope nearly impossible. Will Betita and her mother survive? And if they do, will they ever see her father again?

A heartbreaking novel in verse that captures the horrific conditions many families face in ICE detention camps. Beautiful writing by author Salazar keeps the reader immersed in Betita’s voice, feeling her emotions rise and sink with each new horror. While there is a bit of hope at the end, this is a hard, though necessary, read.

Pavi Sharma’s Guide to Going Home by Bridget Farr
Gr. 4-5. Pavi Sharma has spent most of her life moving between foster families, and she puts her knowledge to good use, running a “business” where she teaches new foster kids her tricks while also digging up some research on their new foster families. Pavi is doing well with her current foster family, and she gets along well with her foster brother Hamilton–but then she learns about Meridee.

Meridee is just five-years-old and new to the foster system, but she got placed at Pavi’s first, horrible, foster home. Pavi still has nightmares about that place, and she can’t bare to have anyone else get sent there too. No one believes Pavi’s stories–the house has been reviewed multiple times and is deemed safe. With help from Hamilton and a few new friends, Pavi is determined to do whatever she has to do to keep Meridee safe.

I really appreciate that this features a foster kid–something that is definitely missing in middle grade fiction, and something I need to read more of. However, this is not an own voices novel (in Pavi’s Indian American identity or of being a foster kid, from what I can tell from the author’s regular references to her extended family on her website). This shows. Pavi’s culture may not be a big part of of her life with how long she has been in the foster system, but elements of the foster system seem forced. Would Pavi really be able to run her business? (Probably not.) Would none of the adults in this active and otherwise responsive facility remotely treat Pavi’s complaints seriously? (Maybe.) Are the colors of these kids’ skins used as manipulation techniques throughout the book? (It feels like it.) Foster kids are almost exclusively diverse–Pavi is Indian, Santos is Latinx, and Meridee is black. Meridee feels more like a plot device than a character. The foster parents are white. I want to like this because Pavi is a great character and the book will have a lot of kid appeal, but I can’t really recommend.

Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote by Andrea Beaty (first chapter)
Gr. 2-3. Sofia Valdez’s second grade class gets to choose a class pet! They will hold an election, and Sofia gets to serve as Election Commissioner. She needs to make sure that she doesn’t show any bias towards either of the final two candidates–Bird and Turtle–especially since her two best friends are campaigning against each other! Sofia makes sure the election is fair in every way, but when she counts the final votes, one vote is missing! Who could have stolen the vote? How will her class break the tie?

Another cute addition to The Questioneers chapter book series. This particular title was a fun look at elections and the importance of voting, though the teacher’s confusion was strange. After a while, I had to assume that she was faking her confusion to create a learning experience for her students, but that isn’t the way the story sells it? (She genuinely seems to think that if the class voted for a giant squid as a pet, they would get one? And she doesn’t think to set parameters on the type of pet until after the first round of voting has taken place?) Overall, however, this is a cute, fun read, especially before an elementary school class votes on their own class pet or student council representative.

What Breathes Through Its Butt? by Emily Grossman (nonfiction)
Gr. 3-5. Learn the answers to all kinds of fascinating questions such as “What part of your body can’t feel any pain?”, “About how much does the internet weigh?”, “How much methane gas does one cow burp and fart in a day?”, and, of course, “Which of these animals can breathe through its butt?”. Each question presents four multiple choice answers, making it fun to guess before reading the entertaining explanations. Fun black-and-white doodles keep the reader engaged throughout.

This was so much fun! While I was initially disappointed this book wasn’t all about animal butts, the unique format and entertaining explanations kept me engaged. I learned a lot, and I would happily pick up more books in this format. Questions cover topics that are easy to include in a book talk, including a few questions that you could immediately test with a group of kids.

When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors (memoir)
Gr. 10+. Patrisse Khan-Cullors’ memoir (young adult edition). Khan-Cullors is one of the cofounders of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. She shares her story–from her childhood experiences being raised by her mother and as a Jehovah’s Witness to watching her father and brother be arrested over and over and how her brother was even further tortured in prison due to the police and guard’s “treatment” of his mental illness. She lays out her experiences protesting, leading movements, and how she started the Black Lives Matter movement. Powerful, inspirational, hard to listen to, but necessary. I’m still processing this one, and I’m sure I will be for a long time.

Lots of great books this week! Read the book reviews below, and learn more about my favorite reads:

• Discover all the books I read this week in the It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? post.
• Read more book review posts.
• Follow my reading and reviews on Goodreads.

American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar
Gr. 4-6. Lekha is one of few diverse kids in her small Detroit suburb, and one of even fewer Indian kids. And she was born with a birthmark right in the middle of her forehead–a birthmark that makes it look like she is wearing a permanent bindi, leading to regular bullying from her classmates. Lekha’s parents want her to embrace her Desi culture at home, but at school Lekha is determined to do everything she can to blend in.

Lekha has always had her best friend and neighbor Noah by her side, but things change when Avantika moves in across the street. Her new neighbor is also from India, but she just moved here. Avantika doesn’t put up with bullying like Lekha though–Avantika stands up to their classmates. Lekha can’t believe Avantika’s courage, but Lekha isn’t so sure about acting more like Avantika. After all, Lekha just made it onto the competitive swim team, and she just wants her teammates to like her. If that means ignoring their racist remarks and doing small things her parents wouldn’t want her to, that is okay, right? At least she’ll finally fit in.

But school isn’t the only place where Lekha is faced with questions about her culture. A state election for a new senator is taking over the news. The politician is running a campaign on the idea of “us” vs. “them” — and the “them” are people that look a lot like Lekha and Avantika. Soon neighbors grow increasingly hostile with a lot of people repeating the campaign slogan: “Don’t Like It? Leave.” Lekha just wants to keep things as they are, but her friend Noah is determined that someone needs to speak up.

This book was wonderful! I’ve read a lot of modern-day, realistic fiction school stories dealing with racism and microaggressions this year, and American as Paneer Pie definitely stands out. Lekha’s character is refreshingly honest. Her emotions around her identity and peer pressure are very real and reflective of her age and experiences. She isn’t perfect, but she tries to be a good person as she discovers her voice. It also presents national politics through a local lens particular to the story, showing how these issues play out in a neighborhood and suburban community. I really hope to see more of Lekha in the future.

Bips and Roses (Zoey & Sassafras) by Asia Citro (first chapter book)
Gr. 2-3. Zoey and Sassafras are back! After a series of magical grasshoppers decimates all of the rose bushes, the forest creatures are panicking. The hippogriff babies are expected to hatch any day now, and the magical roses help their wings grow. Talking frog Pip recruits Zoey and her cat Sassafras to help. The only way to restore the eaten rosebushes is to help tiny bugs–bips–reproduce. Quickly. Can Zoey and Sassafras use the scientific method to save the day?

Another wonderful addition to the Zoey & Sassafras series. I particularly liked the detailed experiment charts and write-ups in this book–they felt a little more nuanced than previous novels. Looking forward to more!

Farah Rocks Summer Break by Susan Muaddi Darraj
Gr. 3-5. Farah Hajjar (aka Farah Rocks) just graduated fifth grade. She will be starting at the exclusive Magnet Academy Middle School in the fall, but, first, she learns about Camp Crystals, an exciting summer camp just for Magnet Academy students. All of her friends seem to be going, and Farah wants to go as well–until she learns that the camp costs $1000. Even with the $400 scholarship from the PTA, Farah’s family can’t afford to send her to the camp.

Farah is disappointed, but then she gets an idea: she can earn the money herself! Farah starts out selling items at a garage sale and working odd jobs, but soon she discovers a better plan, starting her own tutoring business. But even as Farah gets more and more appointments, things start to go wrong: someone is tearing down her flyers, a rival tutoring business starts to take away potential clients, and the family car is barely chugging along. Can Farah earn enough money to attend Camp Crystals with all her friends?

I enjoyed the first Farah Rocks book, but I think I might like this one a little more. Farah does everything right, doing her best to earn enough money to send herself to camp, but I think Farah’s words towards the end really hit home for me: “To tell you the truth, I think if a camp is going to charge a thousand dollars for a week, then they don’t really want kids like me there anyway.” Farah continues, talking about how she has the skills, grades, and passion for this camp–but “This is not a camp for kids who deserve it. This is a camp for kids who have money.” As that kid who couldn’t attend a lot of opportunities like Camp Crystals for that very reason, these words really hit home.

Frankenstein Doesn’t Wear Earmuffs by John Leron (picture book)
Gr. PreS-K. A young child is ready for Trick or Treat with the PERFECT Frankenstein Halloween costume. He is ready to stomp out the door and haunt the night when his caregivers keep stopping him. Hold it! Put on these galoshes. It’s wet! And add a scarf. Some mittens! A parka. Before he knows it, his Frankenstein costume can hardly be seen beneath all of the extra layers. Frankenstein can’t take it anymore! Off with all of the extras. But when he ventures outside he discovers that it might be a little colder and a little wetter and a little darker than he first thought…

Such a cute Halloween story that is quite appropriate here in the midwest, where it could very easily be snowing, raining, storming, and freezing on trick or treat night, leading to many costumes getting covered in warmer accessories. Adorable endpapers preview what happens before and after the story, including the hard work our young character put into his costume.

I Will Dance by Nancy Bo Flood (picture book)
Gr. PreS-2. Eva longs to dance. But Eva is in a wheelchair because she has cerebral palsy. While she stares longingly at other kids and professional dancers on the stage, she can’t imagine she will ever be able to join them. But one day, she finally can, when she learns about the Young Dance Company, a dance studio for young people of all abilities (and a real organization).

A beautiful story adding some much needed cerebral palsy representation to children’s literature (plus the visual representation of many kids of different abilities).

Nico Bravo and the Hound of Hades by Mike Cavalaro (graphic novel)
Gr. 3-5. Nico Bravo, sphinx Lula, and unicorn Buck have the answers to your magical problems at Vulcan’s Celestial Supply Shop. They are used to serving gods, heroes, and magical creatures every day–but Nico’s world changes when a wannabe hero comes striding in the door. Eowulf, descendant of Beowulf, is determined to slay her own monsters. She buys the most powerful sword they have and leaves on a mission to slay Cerebrus, the three-headed hound of Hades. But Cerebrus is the only thing stopping hordes of evil dead creatures from leaving the Underworld. Eowulf can’t be persuaded to not go through with her plan, so Nico sets off after her, determined to stop the impending apocalypse.

This was fun! Lots of humor and mystery, tossed in with many mythology references. A fun series for fans of Percy Jackson (or any Rick Riordan titles–all of your mythical worlds are a bit jumbled here). Looking forward to the sequel.

Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us by Lauren Castillo
Gr. 1-3. Hedgehog lives with his best friend, Mutty, on a tiny island. Everything is swell, until a storm comes and blows poor Mutty away. Hedgehog is distraught, but determined to do what she can to find her friend. After adventuring across the river, Hedgehog meets some new friends on her quest: tunnel-loving Mole trying to keep leaks out of her home, sharp-eyed and word-loving owl, grumpy beaver determined to build the best house the river has seen, treasure-hunting hen guarding her runaway chicks, and, eventually, a girl who just moved into the old house: Annika Mae.

So many Winnie the Pooh and Peter Rabbit vibes here. It’s a gentle, lyrical story of friendship and courage that creates a magical wood filled with new friends ready for small, but grand, adventures. Will be recommending.

Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai
Gr. 4-6. Jingwen’s family moves to Australia, but his new home feels a lot more like Mars. Jingwen doesn’t speak English, meaning he doesn’t understand anything at school or on the bus or much of what his neighbor says either. Even more frustratingly, his brother Yanghao and his mom seem to be picking up the new language much faster than Jingwen.

Jingwen has more to think about than how no one understands him. He also misses his dad. While his dad died a few years before they moved, it was his dad’s dream to open a bakery in Australia. Pie in the Sky Bakery would serve delicious cakes–cakes that Jingwen and his dad used to make together. Jingwen is convinced that if he and Yanghao make the same cakes together, then everything will be okay again…but they will have to keep their cake making a secret from their mom.

This was so much fun! Lots of sibling humor with a story that felt refreshingly emotionally appropriate. So many of the immigration stories I’ve read lately focus on a main character that feels very mature for their age. While those books are great and represent a certain type of kid, Jingwen felt a little more like many of the 11-year-olds that I meet at library programs (lots of humor, emotions, and so much use of the word “booger” or similar terms). Listening to this book was another great experience–really listening to how Jingwen hears English–with all of the bits he doesn’t understand garbled–puts you in his shoes in a way the print book can’t. You really feel his frustration, and you hear his struggle. Will be recommending, and I’m looking forward to picking up Fly on the Wall.

The Rewindable Clock (Locker 37) by Aaron Starmer
Gr. 3-4. Keisha prides herself on being the perfect student, but, after a butterfly, triple rainbow, and a nosy younger brother create some mild chaos, Keisha realizes that she forgot to do her science homework the night before. There is only one solution–visit the magical Locker 37 at Hopewell Elementary School. Locker 37 only works for fourth graders, and it only produces one magical item a day–but that item is guaranteed to solve your problems (though, maybe not in the way you imagined).

When Keisha visits the locker, it gives her a clock. Not just any clock–a clock that lets Keisha travel back in time over and over again on the day she received it. This gives Keisha just enough time to finish her homework, but little things keep getting in the way: Carson’s stained shirt, Bryce’s gummy bear questions, and Riley’s need for fish sticks. Nothing goes according to plan…

Humorous anecdotes from the all knowing narrator combine with regular school shenanigans and quite a bit of magic. Fun and silly, this series will be well loved at elementary school book talks. Give to fans of Wayside School and Babymouse.

Turning Point by Paula Chase
Gr. 5-7. Monique is thrilled to be accepted to an exclusive summer ballet intensive. But when she gets there, she discovers that she is one of only two black girls. Many of the other girls have been dancing at programs like this one for years, and Mo isn’t feeling as prepared as she did before she left home. Life at the camp is an adjustment–from the things the other girls talk about and the food in the cafeteria to passing remarks that feel…racist.

Rasheeda is stuck at home all summer while her best friend, Mo, is away at her ballet program. Sheeda is lonely. She wasn’t good enough to get into the ballet intensive program, and she isn’t thrilled about being stuck at home all summer with her church-going aunt watching her every move. When Sheeda starts texting with Mo’s older brother, Lennie, she knows she will have to keep it a secret to preserve her limited summer freedom and her friendship with Mo. But secrets are never good–and can lead to bad situations.

So good! I loved getting to know Mo and Sheeda, who we only got to see in the background in So Done. (I have to read Dough Boys still, so I’m not sure how much they are in that book.) Author Paula Chase does a phenomenal job making her characters feel raw and real. Mo and Sheeda aren’t perfect, and their emotions and choices seem brutally honest because of that. Touches on racism (in and out of ballet), sexual harassment, consent, relationships, friendship, and more.

Lots of great books this week! Read the book reviews below, and learn more about my favorite reads:

• Discover all the books I read this week in the It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? post.
• Read more book review posts.
• Follow my reading and reviews on Goodreads.

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha (picture book)
Gr. 2-4. While many were fleeing war torn Aleppo, Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel stayed behind, working as an emergency responder. In addition to saving human lives, he soon realized that the cats of the city also needed help. Abandoned when their families fled or were killed, the pets were desperate and hungry. Alijaeel used the little resources available to create a sanctuary for lost animals and a spot of joy in the city.

A moving, beautiful, true story showing the strength and kindness of people around the world.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (teen)
Gr. 8+. Camino Rios loves the summers she spends with her father when he visits the Dominican Republic. They both spend hours at the beach, enjoying the water and talking about Camino’s dreams to go to college in the United States and become a doctor.

Yahaira Rios doesn’t see her father as often as she would like. They used to be close, particularly when practicing for Yahaira’s highly competitive chess tournaments. But a few months ago, Yahaira discovered a marriage certificate in her dad’s papers–a marriage certificate between her father and a woman who isn’t Yahaira’s mother.

Their worlds collide when their father’s plane crashes on its way to the Dominican Republic. While mourning their father and comforting their loved ones, Camino and Yahaira learn about each other–their father’s other daughter. Emotions soar as the girls re-examine their world through the lens of the very complicated man that they both loved.

Elizabeth Acevedo is brilliant. The emotions depicted in her verse carry an amazing story–from both girls’ mourning to their fears for the future and their confusion, hurt, and hope when they discover one another. The connections to a very real plane crash make this all the more meaningful. A must read!

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar (teen)
Gr. 8+. Nishat’s parents tell her that Muslim girls simply aren’t lesbians–so liking girls isn’t an option. Nishat is angry about hiding who she is, but she also doesn’t want to lose her family. Nishat is struggling to figure out how to make her parents come to terms with her sexuality, but things become much more complicated when Flavia moves back into town. Flavia and Nishat knew each other when they were young, but now that they are older, something more than friendship sparks between them.

Flavia is cousins (and friends) with Nishat’s sworn enemy though, and the two girls struggle to have a conversation. Nishat is trying to come up with a way to make things work when Flavia decides to create a henna business for a school competition. Flavia is appropriating Nishat’s culture for profit, and Flavia doesn’t see the problem. Soon, a budding romance turns into a business war filled with sabotage and anger.

I loved the representation in this book, including Nishat’s struggles with her identity and her family. The nuances of Nishat’s relationship with her sister and her friends, as well as her feelings for Flavia, carry the book. I did struggle with the discussion (or lack thereof) of cultural appropriation. Nishat is rightfully upset about Flavia making a business around something that is attached to a culture she doesn’t belong to, but Nishat never fully explains her feelings. This issue is wrapped up with a little bow when Flavia apologizes–but the apology also doesn’t make it feel like Flavia completely understands (she makes no effort to actually correct the problem).

How to They/Them: A Visual Guide to Nonbinary Pronouns and the World of Gender Fluidity by Stuart Getty (nonfiction)
Gr. 6+. Learn about the differences between sex assigned at birth, gender identity, and sexual orientation in a fun, humorous guide.

This book was delightful! The book is designed in a way that is appealing to look at and makes you want to keep reading. The text is humorous and disarming–not here to preach but here to teach and engage (though preaching is sometimes needed when talking about pronouns). While the guide feels simple, its content is deep and centered in the idea that everyone deserves the freedom to be themselves.

I’m Not a Girl by Maddox Lyons (picture book)
Gr. PreS-2. Nobody understands that Hannah is not a girl. His parents get frustrated when Hannah doesn’t wear cute, frilly outfits. His friend tells him he is a tomboy. But with courage, Hannah talks to his parents and gets them to understand who he really is.

Based on the author’s own story, this own voices picture book is a simple, but great choice to begin a conversation about gender identity with a child. Add this to your library shelves!

King and the Dragonflies by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha (picture book)
Gr. 5-8. Teenage boys don’t suddenly die of heart attacks–but that is exactly what happened to King’s older brother. King is convinced that Khalid is now a dragonfly, and King regularly visits the nearby swamp to feel closer to his brother. But while he desperately misses his brother, King is also a little confused and a little mad–a few months before he died, Khalid told King he shouldn’t hang around with another local boy, Sandy Sanders. Because Sandy was gay, and “You don’t want anyone to think you’re gay too, do you?”.

King listened to his brother and stopped talking to his best friend. Now, Sandy is missing, and King discovers not just Sandy’s hiding place, but the reason Sandy ran away in the first place. King isn’t sure what to do anymore–about the secrets he holds, what he is learning about his own identity, or his growing feelings for his best friend.

Heartbreaking, poignant, and sweet. I spent the whole book wanting to give King (and Sandy) big hugs. Author Callender does an amazing job creating this small town world, digging into King’s fears and emotions, and the added complexity of being both black and queer (particularly in a small town in the south). Lovely, quiet, and impactful.

The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho (picture book)
Gr. 1-3. Dayeon longs to be a haenyeo “mermaid” just like her grandmother. Generations of Korean women–mostly in their 50s-80s–dive off the cost of Jeju Island, with no breathing equipment, as deep as twenty meters, looking for various sea creatures they catch and cook or sell. Dayeon is nervous about diving so deep and being able to hold her breath as long as she needs to.

A physically beautiful book that uses brilliant color to show the world above and below the ocean (including the changing time of day). The illustrations are paired with a unique story based on the real women who dive twenty days a month, hunting for octopuses, sea cucumbers, abalone, seaweed, snails, sea urchins, and more.

Our Little Kitchen by Jillian Tamaki (picture book)
Gr. K-2. Neighbors come together to feed their community, preparing a plethora of dishes using ingredients they have on hand or were donated. You can hear the hustle and bustle of the kitchen, and even with little text, you get a feel for these characters in the nuances of the illustrations. Tamaki’s illustrations reflect real people living and giving back. Unique endpapers are always a delight, and these feature visual recipes for vegetable soup and apple crumble.

Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito (picture book)
Gr. 1-2. Georgia Gilmore had already been boycotting the Montgomery buses when Rosa Parks was arrested. Now that the movement was much larger, Georgia wanted to do her part. She organized a group of secret bakers–women who made delicious foods that Georgia sold to local businesses and families to raise money for the cars and gas needed to sustain the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

A wonderful picture book biography that partners well with a book about Rosa Parks or completes an elementary storytime about the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Gilmore is a fantastic, lesser known activist with a fantastic story (paired with beautiful illustrations).

Seven Golden Rings: A Tale of Music and Math by Rajani LaRocca (picture book)
Gr. K-1. In ancient India, Bhagat travels to the city hoping to change his family’s fortune by being selected as a singer for the rajah. He takes his family’s fortune with him–one rupee and a chain of seven golden rings. But the innkeeper wants a ring for each night Bhagat stays there, and every broken link costs one rupee. How can Bhagat break the chain, pay for his room, and never give away more than he has to?

A fun story mixing the feel of a fairy tale with math. A great choice for an elementary classroom or a storytime where kids stop reading when Bhagat is faced with his math problem and try to figure out a solution themselves.