Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature
Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar (Nancy Paulsen Books, February 2024) is an epic historical fiction middle grade novel about Sephardic Jews, jumping from Inquisition Spain in 1492 to Turkey, Cuba, and Miami in more recent years. With narration transitioning among four young girls during these times, the novel highlighted music as a way
Earthquakes by Ellen J. Prager (illustrated by Susan Greenstein; National Geographic Kids, 2017; Jump into Science! series) is an illustrated nonfiction picture book that teaches about earthquakes in a child-friendly way. Cartoon illustrations, maps, and diagrams make the book easy to approach. By asking questions, the book encourages the reader to consider before they continue
Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II by Adam Gidwitz (Dutton Books for Young Readers, February 2024) is a unique World War II book as our young Jewish main character only wants to return to Berlin, not stay in London. The great news is that, with a spy in the
Smoky the Cowhorse by Will James (published 1926) is an animal book telling of one young horse from the day he was born until his old age retirement. Smoky learns in a free, mountainous home for his early years, is broken in as a cow horse by a loving cowboy, spends years rounding up cattle,
The fictionalized nonfiction picture book On Kiki’s Reef by Carol L. Malnor (illustrated by Trina L. Hunner; Dawn Publications, 2014) tells about the life cycle and habitat of a sea turtle named Kiki. Parallel text appears on each page: one provides details about Kiki’s life (in a serif font), and a rhyming couplet summarizes one
Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry (Clarion, 2024) features the friendship between two Sophies: one who is eleven and the other is 88. With a unique and memorable narrator, Lowry’s deceptively short newest offering touches on deep issues such as aging, childhood experience, and the formation of memories. In fact, there was so much in
Two New Years by Richard Ho (illustrated by Lynn Scurfield; Chronicle Books, 2023) features a child in a unique situation: she celebrates two new years each year. I had thought it would be about the Chinese New Year and the traditional January 1 date, but I was wrong. This child celebrates Jewish New Year (Rosh
Although I tend to prefer realistic fiction (historical or contemporary), the animal story The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers (Alfred A. Knopf, May 2023) was an amusing read with a unique narrator and clever situations. Johannes, a free dog in a large park, is just a dog, the author reminds us in the
The nonfiction picture book, Old Enough to Save the Planet by Loll Kirby (illustrated by Adelina Lirius; Harry Abrams, 2021) shows how kids can help our environment. Each two-page spread highlights a real child that made a difference in his or her community by noticing an issue and starting an initiative for change. The top
With a story-frame of the spawning of newborn coral reef, Kate Messner’s The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the Coral Reef (illustrated by Matthew Forsythe; Chronicle, 2018) gives a biography of Ken Nedimyer, who began the Coral Restoration Foundation. He grew up with a deep interest in coral reefs and the picture book begins when he is
Big Ideas in Literature (The School of Life; March 2024) is a book all about one of my favorite subjects: literature. It introduces what makes literature literature, the history of literature and books, and what big topics literature can address, even through amusing situations and language. Throughout the book, the authors highlight literature from history
Throughout the picture book Flick a Switch: How Electricity Gets to Your Home by Barbara Seuling (illustrated by Nancy Tobin; Holiday House, 2003), a girl and her dog comment on what they see and learn about switches and electricity. It includes basic facts at an easy-to-read level, making it a great upper elementary-level research book
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