As part of our virtual programming, I run a monthly school age storytime, designed for ages 6-8. This program highlights a different diverse individual from the Little People Big Dreams book series. In December, I featured Harriet Tubman in my Little People Big Dreams Storytime.
Each program features 1-2 books on the famous individual (one book being their matching title from the Little People, Big Dreams book series). I also highlight music from a diverse artist and include a link to an at-home packet to continue the fun and learning.
Explore More Little People, Big Dreams Storytime Outlines:
First Book: Harriet Tubman by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara (Little People Big Dreams)
Music Break: Shake It by Brother Yusef (with shakers)
Second Book: Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Closing Rhyme: See You Later, Alligator
See you later, alligator In a while, crocodile Give a hug, ladybug Blow a kiss, jellyfish See you soon, big baboon Out the door, dinosaur Take care, polar bear Wave goodbye, butterfly!
Cubs in the Tubby Candace Fleming (nonficiton) Gr. K-2. Explore the life of Helen Martini. She longed to be a mother, and her dreams came true in a way she didn’t expect–when her husband, a keeper at the Bronx Zoo, returned home with a tiny lion cub who had been abandoned by its mother. Helen immediately bonded with the cub, raised it, and sadly watched it return to the zoo–but soon more animals came home needing her care. She became tired of losing animals to the zoo, so she insisted her husband take her to work, and she secretly installed an animal nursery at the zoo–eventually leading to her being offered a job.
I appreciate the back matter that explains why Helen was allowed to raise baby animals at home at the time, and why that would not happen now (and also the emphasis on Helen helping women break into the male-dominated zoo workplace).
Every Little Letterby Deborah Underwood (picture book) Gr. PreS-1. All of the letters live in their own cities, walled off from the cities of all of the other letters. One day, a young “h” gets curious. She finds a hole in one of the city walls, and on the other side, she discovers a small “i”. Together they form something new (hi!). But soon all the grown-ups find out and try to keep them apart until, gradually, the little letters show the grown ups how to reach out to one another.
Wow! This is a winner for sure that I wish I had read earlier this year. This can be treated on a surface level as a conversation about letters and wordplay, but there is also so much more depth about kindness and compassion.
Every Night Is Pizza Nightby J. Kenji Lopez-Alt (picture book) Gr. K-1. Pipo knows one thing for sure: pizza is the BEST FOOD EVER! Pipo can’t imagine eating anything else. But after getting annoyed by her parents’ complaints, she decides she can try other foods. For science. To prove that pizza is, ultimately, the best. But some of these other foods, like bibimbap, tagine, red beans and rice, dumplings, and more, might prove to be better than Pipo could have imagined. Can there be more than one BEST food?
This was delightful! Lots of wonderful foods, so much diversity, and bright, colorful illustrations that try to capture the essence of the delicious treats highlighted on the pages.
The Fighting Infantryman: The Story of Albert D.J. Cashier, Transgender Civil War Soldierby Rob Sanders (biography) Gr. 2-4. The fascinating story of transgender Civil War solder Albert D.J. Cashier. Cashier spent most of his life identifying, living, and working as a man, until an illness made local doctors (and eventually the national news) aware that Cashier had been been born a woman.
This was an entirely new story for me, and a part of history I am excited to learn more about. It doesn’t shy away from the difficulties faced by a transgender individual during Civil War times, and it would be a great story to share with elementary school students.
Nita’s Dayby Kathy MacMillan (board book) Gr. Baby-Toddler. Follow along with Nina’s daily activities, learning sign language along the way using pull tabs.
This book is so inventive! I will admit that I was a bit confused at first–it took me a few seconds to realize that the sides of the pages pulled apart to show a hidden tab with an ASL sign (and then another few seconds to realize that there was a sign on both sides of each pullout!). Great colorful illustrations, a great way to include sign language (or not–it is easy enough to not use the tabs), and a blended family too. Will be recommending!
A Place at the Tableby Saadia Faruqi & Laura Shovan Gr. 4-5. Sara isn’t used to her public middle school. She is one of the only Pakistani American kids at the school, and it is nothing like the private, religious elementary school she used to attend. Sara doesn’t really have friends here, her teachers can’t be bothered to pronounce her name right, and now her mom will be at school all the time now, leading a new South Asian cooking club. Sara just wants her parents to support her art, her mom to pass (or just show interest in!) her U.S. citizenship test, and she wouldn’t mind a new friend of two.
Elizabeth has convinced her best friend, Maddie, to attend the new South Asian cooking club with her. Elizabeth is so excited to learn to cook, especially since her mom is struggling with depression after Elizabeth’s grandmother died. Elizabeth really needs her mom to care about, well, anything, but especially about Elizabeth’s commitments at synagogue, her mom’s U.S. citizenship test, and cooking a homemade meal once in a while. It would also be great if her dad was ever around to help.
Sara and Elizabeth aren’t friends, exactly, but when Elizabeth needs a new cooking partner, Sara steps in to make sure her mom’s class is a success. They gradually realize they have more in common then they might have first thought, starting with their need to convince their moms to take the U.S. citizenship test seriously. Soon, they are planning their dish for the end of year cross-cultural cooking competition–and maybe even becoming real friends.
This was so much fun! Having two authors really helped with the voicing and authenticity. The diversity and cultural touches are excellent, and the books also carries strong themes of friendship (and food!) that will resonate with all young readers. I especially appreciate that Maddie had a small bit of character development (even if it did feel a little sudden). Also, how is Saadia Faruqi writing all of these awesome books? I just finished A Thousand Questions (which is new!), and it feels like there are a handful of new Yasmin titles each year.
A Thousand Questionsby Saadia Faruqi Gr. 4-5. Mimi is not excited about her summer vacation with her mom in Karachi, Pakistan. Other than stilted phone calls around the holidays, Mimi has never met her grandparents or any of her mom’s extended family. She would much rather be visiting her dad, who left when she was really young. She plans to write to him in her journal, writing down all of the questions she never got to ask him in person.
Sakina works in the household of Mimi’s grandparents, and she isn’t that excited about the new guests coming to visit. Mimi seems all too American–with her t-shirts with silly sayings, her poor manners, and her inability to understand basic Pakistani culture, from prayer times to why Sakina, a girl Mimi’s age, is working in a kitchen all day instead of going to school. Sakina would love to go to school, but most kids her age from her background don’t, and, before she would even be considered, she would need to improve her English test score. Even if she gets accepted, she can’t imagine that her family can afford to lose her income.
The girls strike a deal–Mimi will help Sakina with her English, as long as Sakina hangs out with Mimi, giving Mimi someone to talk to. They quickly become close friends, discovering that they have more in common than either initially thought, and, maybe, they also have ways to help one another achieve their dreams.
This was so much fun! I loved the friendship between Mimi and Sakina. I learned a lot about Pakistan right alongside Mimi, falling in love with Karachi along with her. (I had a reaction embarrassingly similar to Mimi’s at the mention of the local KFC.) Sakina is such a strong, resilient character filled with more snark than Mimi (not that you would expect it at first, particularly with Sakina’s harsh judgement of Mimi’s t-shirts and how Mimi sticks out her tongue out at grown-ups). I’m not entirely thrilled with how the situation with Mimi’s parents played out–there was a lot of blame placed on Mimi’s mom that wasn’t resolved, and Mimi essentially let her dad off for having abandoned them (with what feels like a mistaken hope that their relationship will continue). I hope some of that might get wrapped up in a sequel…perhaps where Sakina visits Mimi in Houston.
When Charley Met Emmaby Amy Webb (picture book) Gr. PreS-K. Charley sometimes feels different from his classmates because he would rather be quiet instead of loud and ready to play. His mother reminds him that being different is okay, but when he gets to the park, and notices Emma–in a wheelchair and missing her hands–Charley forgets to be kind and loudly asks his mom why Emma looks weird. His mom explains that Emma is just a little different too–and that is okay. Charley and Emma talk about what makes them both special, but how they are also the same, eventually becoming friends.
A sweet story about kindness and recognizing and accepting differences. It is good to see picture book representation of a child with limb differences (as well as some background illustrations of a girl helping her blind caregiver and a child with a walker).
Rambling Thoughts: This week was mission-oriented: read all the picture books! (And return all the picture books because I had 250 library books in my house and only 60ish directly related to a program.) I gave up on waiting for my library to get copies of some highly recommended 2020 titles, so I’ve started interlibrary loaning books too. I didn’t get to much beyond picture books, but the few longer titles I had time to read were excellent.
Make sure to stop by on Tuesdays for short reviews of some of these titles!
Reading by the Numbers:
62 Books Read This Week
30 Books with Diverse Main Character (48%)
16 Books by Diverse Authors (26%)
11 Books by Own Voices Authors (18%) (to the best of my knowledge)
More toddler fun! This week’s book retelling was a bit of a struggle for me…I didn’t think about how many rhymes are in One Red Sock. I figured it out eventually, but this was the first storytime video in a while where I took a frustrating number of takes. Though, another benefit of virtual (for me) is that I probably wouldn’t have been willing to try this particular story in person due to the heavy memorization–but now that I’ve done it a few (more than a few) times, it will be easier to use again in the future.
Early Literacy Tip: Point out connections between books and your child’s “real” life. For example, after you see the picture of a carrot or an umbrella in today’s book, talk about seeing them in our story when you see the items later in real life.
Book Recommendation:Is That Wise, Pig? by Jan Thomas
It’s book list season! I’ve read a lot this year, and I am excited to highlight my favorite releases of 2020. I’m thrilled to share my 2020 Favorite Graphic Novels.
I love graphic novels! I wasn’t a graphic novel reader until library school, but I have dived into this genre–graphic novels consume most of my reading (only beat by maybe picture books). The mix of text and illustrations creates such a unique experience that is different from reading a chapter book. At my library, we shelve graphic novels together in their own area. These circulate extremely well–I review this section for condition and circulation each year, and at most I find a handful of titles that have only checked out three times. Many books check out ten times or more (even during a pandemic year!). Some of our most popular series include Dog Man, Baby-Sitters Club, Amulet, and anything written by Raina Telgemeier.
These lists are personal. The graphic novels that stand out for me may not be your favorites–and that is okay! We each have our own reading preferences. Also, I very well may have missed some great titles that were released over the last year–so make sure to check out all of the great lists all over the internet, and please share your favorites in the comments!
Almost American Girl by Robin Ha Gr. 7+. Robin never expects her family’s vacation to Huntsville, Alabama to turn into a permanent move–all of her friends, her belongings, and her life are back in Seoul, Korea. Robin doesn’t understand English, but suddenly she is dropped off at a new American school where she struggles to keep up. Home isn’t any better–her stepfamily doesn’t seem to like her, and Robin does not want to talk to her mother after she forced them to move. This memoir explores the very real struggles of trying to adjust to life in a new country.
Anti/Hero by Kate Karyus Quinn & Demitria Lunetta and illustrated by Maca Gil Gr. 3-5. Piper and Sloane don’t travel in the same friend groups at school. Piper is filled with energy and loves sports; Sloan much prefers getting nearly perfect grades in her classes. Their lives at home are very different too, with Piper living with her loving Abuela, while Sloan is determined to come up with the extra money to help her struggling single mom pay the bills. But they both have their own secrets, and when they end up on the opposite sides of a heist gone wrong, a fancy piece of tech causes them to switch bodies. Can they work together to figure out how to get their lives back?
Aster and the Accidental Magic by Thom Pico Gr. 3-5. Aster expects moving to the middle of nowhere to be super boring. Her parents are busy with some work project and her house is just surrounded by hills and more hills. When Aster starts to wander those hills, she discovers birds and trees and sheep and…magic? When Aster runs into a mysterious old woman herding dogs, Aster starts to realize things are a little strange. But when Aster discovers a trickster spirit in the forest who gives Aster three wishes…well, things are about to get really interesting and a whole lot more fun.
Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne Gr. 4-6. Beetle just wants to sneak out of her homeschooling to hang out with her best friend, the quiet Blob Ghost. Blob Ghost hangs out at the local mall, which he is forced to haunt due to….something neither of them can figure out or discover. When Beetle’s old best friend, Kat, returns to town for some witch training with Beetle’s aunt, Beetle wants to spend even less time at home with the perfect Kat. Things grow even worse when Blob Ghost’s mall might be torn down. If they can’t figure out what tethers Blob Ghost to the mall, when the mall is destroyed, Blob Ghost will be too. Forever.
Cat’s Cafe by Matt Tarpley Gr. 5+. Meet the adorable patrons of Cat’s coffee shop. Each has their own troubles–from anxiety to coffee addiction–but no matter what the situation, Cat is always ready to lend a supportive ear. Absolutely adorable and filled with love, friendship, and acceptance.
City of Secrets by Victoria Ying Gr. 4-5. Ever Barnes protects the Switchboard Operating Facility, an amazing building that connects the people in his city, but also holds its own secrets. Hannah, the daughter of the switchboard building’s owner, finds Ever intriguing, and with the help of an employee, Lisa, she manages to track him down and convince him he needs a friend. Soon, the two realize their lives are more tangled than they could have imagined, with Ever being chased by menacing assassins, Hannah’s dad keeping his own secrets, and their co-conspirator Lisa being much more than they thought. In fact the whole city has its secrets—and it’s up to the kids to figure them out, fast.
Class Act by Jerry Craft Gr. 5-8. New Kid was my dream Newbery winner, and the sequel does not disappoint. Readers get more detailed glimpses into the lives of Jordan, Liam, and especially Drew, with even a touch more character development from Andy. Drew takes center stage here, with a different perspective on his classmates than Jordan. So many real issues are discussed in ways that never feel preachy, with Craft’s appealing artwork balancing humor and reality (race, bullying, class differences, microaggressions, friendship, and more).
Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of YOU by Rachel Brian Gr. 3-6. Learn all about consent, body autonomy, how to set boundaries, and ways to respect others in this amazing, colorful guide. Think about your own behavior and how you need to practice consent every day. Perfect beginning guide for kids and families.
Corpse Talk: Groundbreaking Women by Adam & Lisa Murphy Gr. 4-7. 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.
Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder Gr. 8+. Follow Tyler’s journey with her mom–from her mom’s first oncology appointment through her cancer treatment and to life after her mom’s death. Filled with so, so much emotion, but I particularly appreciate that the voice here is young. So heartbreaking, but also filled with moments of humor and joy that will resonate.
The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith Gr. 4-7. A political coup that leaves their beloved grandfather murdered causes twins Hawke and Grayson to run for their lives. They hide among the new trainees in the Communion of Blue, taking on new identities as Hanna and Grayce. While they try to piece together what atrocities led to their home burning to the ground, the twins also learn more about themselves. Hawke longs to return to his old life, but Grayce realizes she wants to stay in this world that lets her be herself.
Diana: Princess of the Amazons by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale and illustrated by Victoria Ying Gr. 3-4. Diana loves her life on Themyscira, but lately she has been feeling more and more alone. She really wants another kid to play with, but that is impossible–or is it? When Diana makes her own wish on some clay, and it turns into a living girl her age, she is delighted. But also confused. Her new friend is great, but they aren’t the nicest, and sometimes they encourage Diana to do things Diana is pretty sure are wrong. What has Diana created?
Displacement by Kiku Hughes Gr. 7+. When on a family vacation to San Francisco, Kiku suddenly finds herself dramatically body-swapped with a young woman at a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II. Kiku slips in and out of the modern day and the past, not sure what is happening. Eventually, she realizes that her time in the past is connected with her late grandmother, Ernestina, who was forced to live at the very camp Kiku keeps time-traveling to.
Dog Man Grime and Punishment by Dav Pilkey Gr. 2-4. Yes, I know you are aware of Dog Man, but I am a huge fan of this series, and this particular book left me teary eyed. Dog Man has all kinds of villains to defeat in this book, and he needs the help of all of his friends. Petey has moved through quite a redemption arc, and this book gets quite serious with a deep conversation about forgiveness and loss between Petey and Lil Petey over the actions of Petey’s father and the death of Petey’s mother. Please don’t write these books off as something slapstick or just a Captain Underpants spinoff–there is so much heart here, in this world of living spray and cloned kittens.
Dungeon Critters by Natalie Riess & Sara Goetter Gr. 3-5. Meet the Dungeon Critters: Juniper – The healer. Nervous in large crowds. Loves botany. Terrible at lying. Looks eerily similar to the reclusive Duchess Helena von Fancypaws. Rose – Arson loving cat. Doubles as a defense attorney when needed. May have a tiny crush on Juniper. Prince Chirp – Heiress to the throne of the [redacted] Kingdom. Impulsive. Hates to apologize. Tends to not think before acting. Avoids responsibility. Goro – Gentle giant. Generally quiet, but when he speaks, his words are profound. These four, with the occasional assistance of other creatures who are quickly forgotten (even by the four main characters), are determined to discover the nefarious plot of the (maybe?) evil Baron Foxworthy.
Flamer by Mike Curato Gr. 8+. Aiden is just trying to survive another summer camp with his Boy Scout Troup. It’s the summer between middle school and high school, which is a particularly big jump for Aiden, because he decided to leave his Catholic middle school to attend public high school (his first time attending a public school). Aiden got picked on a lot at his old school and by his fellow Boy Scouts here at summer camp. They call him gay–among other terms–because his voice and behaviors often seem feminine. But Aiden is confident he isn’t gay because gay boys like other boys. Plus, gay boys get made fun of. Gay boys can’t serve mass in Catholic church. Aiden can’t be gay because being gay is unsafe.
Go with the Flow by Lily Williams & Karen Schneemann Gr. 5+. Friends Abby, Brit, Christine, and Sasha are tired of their school’s administration. Money can always be found for the football team, but pads and tampons can never be found in the bathrooms. After Sasha gets her period at school and is short on supplies, Abby, Brit, and Christine adopt her into their friend group, and pull Sasha into a world of friendship and activism to make sure everyone who menstruates is treated fairly.
InvestiGators by John Patrick Green Gr. 2-4. Mango and Brash are both alligators and detective agents of the organization SUIT. Prepared for anything with their Very Exciting Spy Technology, these two investigators travel by toilet and sewer to solve crimes all over their city. They are on their first mission as a team to find out what happened to the missing Chef Mustachio. But after an explosion at the Science Factory, they are now trying to solve two mysteries at once. Plenty of laughs and so, so many puns will keep you at the edge of your seat.
Lightfall: The Girl & the Galdurian by Tim Probert Gr. 4-5. Bea is happy with her magical life as the adopted granddaughter of the renowned Pig Wizard. One day, when walking in the woods, Bea meets Cad the Galdurian—a thought to be extinct species. Cad thinks that the Pig Wizard can help him find his people, but when the two of them return to Bea’s home, the wizard is nowhere to be found, leaving behind just the all important Endless Flame and a mysterious note. Soon, Bea and Cad are off on an adventure across the kingdom to track down the wizard. The further they travel, they more they realize that something is very wrong—Bea’s guardian may be in trouble and much of the world is slowly being clouded in eternal darkness
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff Gr. 7+. Will’s older brother was shot and killed outside of their apartment building. Will is determined to follow the rules passed down to him by his brother: (1) no crying, (2) no snitching, and (3) get revenge. Will has his older brother’s gun and, early the next morning, starts down their building’s elevator to get revenge on the person he is sure is his brother’s killer. But this elevator trip is like no other, with each floor revealing a new ghost from Will’s past, all with something to say.
Max Meow: Cat Crusader by John Gallagher Gr. 2-4. Max was just a regular cat in Kittyopolis until he accidentally bites a radioactive space meatball. Suddenly Max has super powers—flying, strength, and more–and becomes the Cat Crusader. But Max’s new superpowers make him cocky, and he quickly leaves his best friend behind in his quest to save the world.
Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte and illustrated by Ann Xu Gr. 4-6. Cici just moved from Taiwan to Seattle with her family. She isn’t so sure about their move, especially since she will be missing her grandmother’s 70th birthday. Since she can’t go to A-ma, Cici decides to win the $1000 grand prize in a cooking competition to pay for A-ma’s plane ticket to come visit Cici in the United States. Cici loved to cook in Taiwan–she cooked with her A-ma a lot. So this should be easy–right? The problem is, Cici only knows how to cook Taiwanese food, and that isn’t going to work for every round of the competition. Can Cici find a winning recipe? And just maybe, can she make a new friend along the way?
Mellybean and the Giant Monster by Mike White Gr. 2-4. Lovable pup Mellybean loves to play games, even if her three cat housemates prefer to nap while their humans are away. While preparing to bury a shoe in the backyard, Melly discovers that her hole is a bit deeper than she could have imagined. She slips through into a magical world filled with kings, knights, and even a humongous rabbit named Narra. Narra isn’t so fond of humans, as they spend their time hunting her for the gold that flakes out of her eyes. But Melly is sure not all the humans in this magical world are bad–maybe they just haven’t yet discovered the power of a Good Sit.
My Video Game Ate My Homework by Dustin Hansen Gr. 3-4. Dewey is prepared to ace his science project by making the world’s coolest volcano, but everything goes wrong when his friend’s new video game system swallows his project. Literally. They turned on the games virtual reality software, and the game sucked his homework into a portal. And the only way to get it back? Dewey and his friends must enter the game, get new identities—and powers—and win.
Primer by Jennifer Muro & Thomas Krajewski and illustrated by Gretel Lusky Gr. 8+. Ashley has a dark past, as the child of a supervillain who used to help her dad with his crimes. In her latest foster home, she discovers her guardians have a secret–special body paint that give the wearer superpowers. Of course Ashley has to try them out, but when the news catches her performing her superhero act, a lot of people are suddenly very interested in Ashley.
Real Pigeons Fight Crime by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood Gr. 2-3. Have you ever looked at a pigeon? Watched it do pigeon things? Pigeons might act kind of strange, but that’s because they are busy fighting crime and saving the world. This team of pigeons will use their disguise skills, superstrength, and more to solve extremely important mysteries such as where have all the bread crumbs gone? Who is kindnapping the city’s bats? And why is there chaos at the local food truck fair?
Science Comics: Crows: Bird Geniuses by Kyla Vanderklugt Gr. 8+. There are many wonderful non-fiction graphic novel series, and Science Comics is an excellent place to start. Each volume introduces a different topic: dinosaurs, the solar system, bats, cats, robots, and more, with at least four or five new books published each year. Crows is a particularly fun addition to the series, where your main character—a crow—teaches a local pet dog all about what makes crows special as the two team up to track down some especially delicious treats. Learn about how crows are able to make their own tools, lead complex social lives, never forget a human face, and more.
Seance Tea Party by Reimena Yee Gr. 4-6. Lora feels left out as all of her friends seem to be growing up without her. Lora doesn’t want to grow up, and she is thrilled to discover a new (though also old) friend living in her house. Ghost girl Alexa is around Lora’s age, haunting Lora’s house, and just looking for a friend. The two become inseparable even as Lora begins to grow up on her own, and Alexa grows more and more curious about the past that she can’t remember.
The Sewer Rat Stink by Tom Angleberger & Elisabetta Dami Gr. 2-4. You might think you know all about Geronimo Stilton, but I promise you have never seen him like this. In this all new interpretation of this familiar face, Geronimo is determined to solve another mystery. A horrible, stinky smell is taking over New Mouse City. No mouse can live like this-in fact everyone is moving out fast. Geronimo and Hercule head into the sewers beneath their home to investigate where this stench is coming from and who exactly is buying up all of the houses and businesses that have been deserted as people move out of town.
Sherlock Bones and the Natural History Mystery by Renee Treml Gr. 2-4. The royal blue diamond—the world’s largest gemstone—is missing from the State Natural History Museum! It’s up to museum resident Sherlock Bones to take the case. Sherlock Bones is, well, bones. He’s a tawny frogmouth skeleton on display at the museum, assisted by his trusty sidekick, a stuffed blue Indian ringneck parrot named Watts. The game is afoot as these two must figure out who is stealing important items from the museum and how the thieves are getting away with it. Is their new assistant, Grace—a very real racoon with a craving for chocolate—an innocent bystander or guilty of the crime? If they can’t find the missing gem, the museum may be forced to close—meaning Bones and Watts will be packed away into storage.
Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz Gr. 4-6. Jamilia is getting ready for a lonely and boring summer living in a new neighborhood, until she meets longtime resident Shirley. Shirley’s a little strange and extremely perceptive, but Jamilia takes her up on her offer to get Jamilia out of science camp this summer. Soon, Jamilia is drawn into Shirley’s side job—as the neighborhood kid detective. A friendship and crime-solving partnership is born, starting with the case of the pet gecko that went missing from the local swimming pool.
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh Gr. 4-7. When Snapdragon goes searching for her dog, they meets the local Jacks doesn’t seem to be a real witch, but she sure is different—she collects roadkill, cleans their skeletons, and sells them online. Snap finds this creepy but also a little fascinating, and when Snap finds a group of abandoned baby opossums, they immediately go to Jacks for help. But the more Snap gets to know Jacks, the more Snap realizes that Jacks may have some real magic after all.
Twins by Varian Johnson & Shannon Wright Gr. 4-6. Twins and best friends Maureen and Francine have always done the exact same things—until they start middle school, when Fran is determined to set herself apart form her sister. Before she knows it, Maureen’s hurt feelings spiral into anger—and suddenly the girls are running against each other for Class President. Friendship lines have been drawn—but can either twin really win if it means hurting the other?
The Weirn Books: Be Wary of the Silent Woods by Svetlana Chmakova Gr. 4-6. Allis goes to a special school for children who are weirn–kids who have a supernatural astral attached to them or other special abilities. Her friends notice a light at the creepy old schoolhouse where a bunch of children disappeared a few decades before–and suddenly, kids start disappearing again. Allis and her friends are determined to figure out what happened, and rescue everyone trapped inside that haunted house.
Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabase Gr. 4-5. Effie has lost her mom, her old home, and everyone she knows. She is dumped on the doorstep of two mysterious aunts she’s never met. The women are odd—working as herbalists and acupuncturists, creating all kinds of mysterious concoctions in the basement. Effie is just becoming comfortable with her new home and making a few new friends at school, when things take a particularly odd turn. Effie’s pop idol, musician Tily Shoo, arrives needing help. Effie learns that her aunts are well-known witches, and their magic might be the only thing that can save Tily. But as they all struggle to solve this mystery, they discover that Effie might have inherited some magic of her own.
The Worry(Less) Book: Feel Strong, Find Calm and Tame Your Anxiety! by Rachel Brian Gr. 3-6. Everyone feels worried or anxious sometimes–but this book is here to help! Use this guide to practice identifying your anxiety and understanding how you can make sure it doesn’t control you, so you can always find your calm again.
Another themed Saturday storytime special, filled with the most fantastique Fancy Nancy Storytime fun! This outline has a lot of extra content because I came up with so many activities that made me super excited. Not everything made it into my storytime since I had a limited amount of time.
I had so much fun getting FANCY for this storytime, particularly after getting to know Nancy Clancy and her universe. I was more familiar with Baby Shark and Elephant & Piggie before those storytime specials, but for some of these storytimes, I’ve got to really explore these characters for the first time. Nancy is such a sweet kid who just wants to make everything better with lots of accessories, lace, and glitter.
I made a preview video you can watch here:
To help continue the Fancy Nancy fun at home, I curated a PDF packet that we shared with event participants. Download it here.
Watch the full storytime here (starts about 5 minutes in):
The general storytime layout–in order of what I presented–is below, with videos where applicable. All the extra videos I didn’t use for the program are at the bottom.
Fancy Nancy Storytime Outline
Backdrop Setup: Fancy Nancy pennant banners, book covers, and images. I’m happy to share these printable files if anyone is interested–just let me know in those comments or send us an email.
Intro Song: Add a Little Fancy by Fancy Nancy
Fancy Nancy Dance Soiree Checklist: Whenever possible, I like to give my special storytimes a storyline to help with transitions and to make the experience more entertaining for everyone.
In our Fancy Nancy storytime, we were hoping to complete our Fancy Nancy Dance Soiree Checklist (soiree is a fancy word for party). If we completed all of our tasks by the end of storytime, we might just get a magical phone call from the one and only Fancy Nancy inviting us to an after-storytime dance party!
Download your own Fancy Nancy Soiree Checklist here:
Get to Know Our Hostess (Book): Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor
(And Her Secret Indentity) (Music): Dazzle Girl by Fancy Nancy (with scarves)
Astrid and Apolloby 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 Iggyby 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 Womenby 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 Werewolfby 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 Spookedby 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 Dragonby 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 Islandby 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 Cranesby 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 Homeby 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 Voteby 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 Terroristby 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.
Rambling Thoughts: I really need to figure out some way to better prioritize my reading. Lately, the combination of a lot of books coming to my library in very large batches (meaning I get 100+ holds available at once), me trying to read more widely while not letting go of my favorites, and me writing Goodreads reviews (even short ones) for everything I read has been taking a lot of time. This isn’t sustainable long term, and I’m trying to figure out how to better balance my reading and reviewing and the massive piles of books I often have checked out at one time. Twenty-five new picture books a week was feasible–100 new picture books a week isn’t. No answers yet.
Make sure to stop by on Tuesdays for short reviews of some of these titles!
Reading by the Numbers:
33 Books Read This Week
17 Books with Diverse Main Character (52%)
12 Books by Diverse Authors (36%)
12 Books by Own Voices Authors (36%) (to the best of my knowledge)
It’s book list season! I’ve read a lot this year, and I am excited to highlight my favorite releases of 2020. I’m thrilled to share my 2020 Favorite First Chapter Books.
For me and my library, first chapter books are designed for kids moving on from beginning readers but not quite ready for middle grade chapter books. These books are often part of a series with familiar characters and situations, lots of humor, and repetition from book to book. Some contain illustrations that reflect the story being told, while others are all text. Most of the time, these books are around 80-100 pages. These include popular series such as Magic Tree House, Geronimo Stilton, Mercy Watson, My Weird School, Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol, and more.
These lists are personal. The first chapter books that stand out for me may not be your favorites–and that is okay! We each have our own reading preferences. Also, I very well may have missed some great titles that were released over the last year–so make sure to check out all of the great lists all over the internet, and please share your favorites in the comments!
13th Street: Battle of the Bad-Breath Bats by David Bowles and illustrated by Shane Clester Cousins Malia, Ivan, and Dante make a wrong turn on their way to a local water park, and they end up on the spooky, never-ending 13th Street. How will they make it home? A fun new series filled with mystery and giving just enough of a scare for lower elementary students.
Ana & Andrew: The Perfect Pet by Christine Platt and illustrated by Junissa Bianda Ana and Andrew get to pick out their very own pet! But first, they need to do the research to find the best pet for them and then pick out the best name! The Ana & Andrew books are fantastic, everyday adventures of a pair of African American siblings living near Washington, D.C. While the specific activities in each book are things familiar to many kids growing up, author Christine Platt does a wonderful job of highlighting elements of the African American experience.
The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane by Nikki Shannon Smith and illustrated by Mari Lobo Azaleah can’t wait to make a diorama of her favorite animal habitat after a class field trip to the National Zoo. But when she gets home, her little sister insists Azaleah needs to help her find her missing stuffed animal. When the mystery drags on, Azaleah isn’t sure she will have time for her project. The Azaleah series features colorful illustrations, inquisitive Azaleah, and a wonderful family. Check out this title and the sequels.
Astrid and Apollo by V.T. Bidania and illustrated by Dara Lashia Lee Meet Astrid and Apollo, members of a Hmong family living in Minnesota. They love to have fun, and have various everyday adventures across the first four books in their series. Check these out for delicious food recommendations, an encouraging and nurturing family, and some maybe-new-to-you Hmong vocabulary.
The Best of Iggy by Annie Barrows and illustrated by Sam Ricks 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. This was surprisingly delightful! I meant to just read a few chapters but instead quickly read the whole book in one sitting. Lots of laughs in this one!
Dave the Unicorn: Welcome to Unicorn School by Pip Bird and illustrated by David O’Connell Mira is SO EXCITED to start Unicorn School, but instead of being paired with a regal unicorn, her new unicorn BFF is smelly, doughnut-loving, constantly-farting Dave. Don’t think too hard about the logistics of the magical unicorn school–instead focus on the humor and school drama that will appeal to kids starting to transition from first chapter books to longer titles.
Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol: Escape from the Roller Ghoster by Andres Miedoso and illustrated by Victor Rivas Desmond and Andres are invited to the cool new amusement park–but all isn’t as it seems. The park is haunted, and its up to the Ghost Patrol to figure out how to make the rides fun for everyone. If you haven’t read Desmond Cole yet, go pick up the first book immediately! These are fun, just spooky-enough reads for grades K-2.
Diary of a Pug: Paws for a Cause by Kyla May The local animal shelter can’t afford new toys, so Bub and his owner Bella raise money with a pet wash. But Bub is absolutely NOT a fan of water. This cute series is visually similar to Owl Diaries, but Bub brings his own spunk to his stories (particularly his rivalry with the local squirrel).
Diary of an Ice Princess: Slush Puppy Love by Christina Soontornvat Lina wants to get the perfect present for her best friend’s birthday. Claudia really wants a dog, and Lina can use her magic to bring a hypoallergenic dog to life! But the snow puppy turns out to be a bit more trouble than the girls imagined. I can not stop praising this series–there are so few magical series featuring diverse characters, and these are filled with snow, magic, and friendship.
Isadora Moon Has a Sleepover by Harriet Muncaster At her first sleepover, Isadora makes a cake with her best friend for their school baking competition. Isadora uses her magic to make the cake extra special, but Isadora starts to doubt if it is really fair to submit their magical cake at their human school. Another great Isadora Moon book that explorers an ethical question in an age-appropriate way. (Plus lots of vampire-fairy fun.)
Itty Bitty Princess Kitty: The Newest Princess by Melody Mews and illustrated by Ellen Stubbings Itty Bitty Kitty is about to become the new princess of Lollyland! Everything seems wonderful, until Itty Bitty learns about all the things that might change now that she is a princess. Maybe Itty isn’t the right person for this job. So much cuteness in one series, and a lovely message about kindness and friendship in each book too.
Magnificent Makers: How to Test a Friendship by Theanne Griffith and illustrated by Reggie Brown Best friends Violet and Pablo discover a riddles that pulls them and new classmate Deepak into the Maker Maze. They need to work together to solve science puzzles, so they have a chance to return again. A great mixture of STEM, diversity, and friendship in this new series. I appreciate that they add a new friend to their group with each book.
Mia Mayhem and the Super Family Field Day by Kara West and illustrated by Leeza Hernandez Mia Mayhem finally gets to see her superhero parents in action when her Program for In Training Superheroes (the PITS) hosts a family field day. Mia knows everything is for fun, but she really would like to win that trophy. I adore the Mia Mayhem series so much–not only do they feature a diverse (super) lead, but her superhero friends are a vibrant cast too.
Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business by Lyla Lee and illustrated by Dung Ho Mindy Kim wants to fit in at her new school. Her seaweed snacks win over her classmates, and soon Mindy and new friend Sally start selling the snacks to raise money for a new pet. Mindy Kim may be my favorite new first chapter series of the year! Mindy is adorable, and the books follow her everyday adventures while sprinkling in her Korean heritage.
My Furry Foster Family: Kingston the Great Dane by Debbi Michiko Florence and illustrated by Melanie Demmer The Takano house has a new (GIANT) foster pet: Great Dane Kingston! Kingston looks a bit more like a cow than a dog, and he definitely doesn’t realize how big he is. Will the Takano family be able to find the perfect home for such a large dog? Kaita and her family’s foster pet adventures are so much fun! Make sure to check out the full series to meet all kinds of amazing animals.
Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us by Lauren Castillo 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 including setting off on an adventure filled with new friends. This is a gentle, lyrical story of friendship and courage in a magical wood filled with new friends ready for small, but grand, adventures.
Sadiq and the Perfect Play by Siman Nuurali and illustrated by Anjan Sarkar Sadiq can’t wait to put on a play with his friends–but Sadiq isn’t the best at sharing responsibility. After Sadiq makes a few too many decisions on his own, everyone is annoyed and no one wants to perform anymore. Another wonderful Sadiq adventure, filled with a great conversation on friendship and being a leader.
Sasha and Puck and the Brew for Brainwash by Daniel Nayeri and illustrated by Estrella Lourenco Sasha does her best to make sure their town believes her father’s “magical” potions really work. But when one of his potions leads to them losing their shop, Sasha knows that she must pull out all of the stops to save the day. Check out this wonderful series blending science, magic, and fantasy–and quite a few laughs.
Sparkleton: The Magic Day by Calliope Glass Unicorn Sparketon can’t wait for his magical powers–he is convinced he will get wish-granting powers like the rest of his family. His big sister agrees to use her powers to give Sparkleton wish-granting powers for just a day–but all of Sparkleton’s wishes turn out all wrong! Lots of humor, colorful illustrations, and so much unicorn magic!
I know there are always books that I miss each year, and some of the 2020 first chapter books I’m excited to explore soon are below!
It’s book list season! I’ve read a lot this year, and I am excited to highlight my favorite releases of 2020. I’m thrilled to share my 2020 Favorite Beginning Readers.
For me and my library, beginning readers are those books designed to teach kids how to read. These books typically have short sentences focused on vocabulary building and repetition, with illustrations that reflect the story being told. Typically, these books fall between guided reading levels A-L, and they include popular series such as Elephant & Piggie and Fly Guy as well as the various leveled reader texts from different publishers.
These lists are personal. The beginning readers that stand out for me may not be your favorites–and that is okay! We each have our own reading preferences. Also, I very well may have missed some great titles that were released over the last year–so make sure to check out all of the great lists all over the internet, and please share your favorites in the comments!
Astrid and Apollo by V.T. Bidania and illustrated by Dara Lashia Lee Meet Astrid and Apollo, members of a Hmong family living in Minnesota. They love to have fun, and have various everyday adventures across the first four books in their series. Check these out for delicious food recommendations, an encouraging and nurturing family, and some maybe-new-to-you Hmong vocabulary.
Baloney and Friends by Greg Pizzoli Baloney and friends get into all kinds of shenanigans in three hilarious short stories. Perfect for fans of Elephant & Piggie.
Beach Day! by Candice Ransom and illustrated by Erika Meza A family spends the day at the beach playing in the water, building sandcastles, and riding rides at the nearby park. Great for kids just learning to read.
Cheer Up by Heather Ayris Burnell and illustrated by Hazel Quintanilla Unicorn and Yeti’s adventures continue as the two friends work to cheer each other up in three short stories. I love the bright, colorful illustrations and appealing characters in this series, along with the focus on kindness and friendship.
Emma Every Day by C.L. Reid and illustrated by Elena Aiello Emma is one of my new favorite beginning reader characters. Emma is Deaf and uses a cochlear implant and sign language while going on everyday adventures. Written by a deafblind author. Make sure to explore the whole series.
I Want to Sleep Under the Stars by Mo Willems Zoom Squirrel dreams of sleeping under the stars. Like the good friends they are, the rest of the squirrels are determined to help! But is their enthusiasm a little too much? This book won me over to the Unlimited Squirrels fun, even if these don’t share the same magic as Elephant and Piggie.
See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle and illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka While this probably isn’t the best choice for very new readers (who may get confused by the disassociation between the pictures and text), this meta reader will be well loved by more experienced readers who can enjoy the humor. Dog’s illustrations don’t match up with the words the narrator is saying…leading to a very indignant dog.
Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom! by Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrated by Nina Mata Ty’s Travels is tied with Emma Every Day for my absolute favorite brand new beginning reader series of the year! A much needed set of own voices readers, these books follow Ty’s adventures with various types of transportation. Learn about Ty’s excitement to get his own scooter…followed by his disappointment when riding it is a bit harder than he imagined.
What About Worms!? by Ryan T. Higgins I am this tiger. Please, watch out for worms. They are everywhere. They are slimy. They ruin everything. Avoid when possible. So much delightful humor sure to be winners with fans of Elephant & Piggie.
Who Needs a Checkup? by Norm Feuti The newest title in the Hello, Hedgehog! series follows Harry’s first visit to the doctor. I love the colorful, familiar characters in the new Acorn books, and the Hedgehog series does not disappoint with its exploration of familiar experiences that may seem a little scary to young readers.
Yasmin The Soccer Star by Saadia Faruqi Even though this series has been released for a few years, no beginning readers list is complete without a Yasmin title. In this story, Yasmin’s class is excited to play soccer–well everyone is excited except Yasmin. Soccer looks a little dangerous, and Yasmin isn’t sure how she feels about trying a new sport.
