Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature
Antarctica: A Continent of Wonder by Mario Cuesta Hernando and Raquel Martin (Prestel Publishing, English 2021; originally published in Spanish, 2020 Mosquito Books) is a gorgeous large format upper elementary nonfiction picture book about the frozen continent and the animals to be found there. With a first person narration about a trip to the continent,
The picture book Tree Whispers: A Forest of Poems by Mandy Ross and illustrated by Juliana Oakley (Child’s Play May 2023) collects brief poems about trees which encourage children to get outside to enjoy nature. Most of the poems are conversational, and some don’t read like poems to me at all. The deceptively simple child-like
I laughed. I cried. I thought. I laughed again. And I sighed when it was over. Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow (Disney Hyperion, January 2023) is an important story about a boy overcoming trauma in his life. By moving to the fictional Grin and Bear It, Nebraska, he is hoping his secret will
The middle grade novel A Season Most Unfair by J. Anderson Coats (Atheneum, Jun 2023) shares the common issue of a preteen girl not ready to “grow up” in the unique setting of a small town in Medieval England. Scholastica (Tick) wants to continue being her father’s candle-making partner, but to her horror, he has
As as you would imagine, Gathered: A Novel of Ruth by LeeAnn Setzer (Cedar Fort, 2003) is a fictionalized retelling of the story of Ruth from the Bible, from when she first marries Naomi’s son until her betrothal and marriage to Boaz. Reading this well-researched historical fiction gave me a fresh new perspective on Ruth’s
Aven Green, the 13-year-old narrator of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusty Bowling (Union Square Kids, 2017), is a truly lovable character. To her surprise, her father takes a job to run an amusement park in Arizona, uprooting her from her school and friends in Kansas City, where she has lived
I’m always on the hunt for fantastic read-aloud science books for science lessons. Rise to the Sky: How the World’s Tallest Trees Grow Up by Rebecca E. Hirsch and illustrated by Mia Posada (Millbrook, April 2023) is not just an children’s informational book about trees. It is also a nice read aloud and a gorgeously
How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd (Atheneum Books, June 2023) is a survival story as well as a moving example of child abandonment and homelessness, but it also stands strong as a story of friendship and finding oneself. Twelve-year-old Raymond has never felt close to anyone, with his parents frequently moving at will
The Sound of Kindness by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater and illustrated by Teresa Martinez (Magination Press, June 2023) is a glimpse at the good and kind parts of the communities around us. In the beginning, a child asks what kindness sounds like. Her father answers that we can “hear” kindness as we listen. The rest of
What Maisie Knew by Henry James (1897) tells the story of a young girl torn between two divorced parents. Maisie learns the “games” the parents play and feels the difficulties of not having a steady life throughout her childhood, and eventually she uses her smarts to get just what she wants from life. So what
Code Red by Joy McCullough (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, June 2023) tackles and important issue: period poverty and menstrual inequality. I never had considered these issues in the USA! Menstruators (people who menstruate, which includes trans men, since they are biologically female) around the world do not have materials for managing periods, and so
The Gray by Chris Barron (Feiwel & Friends, June 2023) tells the story of a young teenager with anxiety that experiences panic attacks. During his forced device-free vacation in the country with his aunt, Sasha finds his own confidence. His trip into the country becomes one of self-discovery as he makes new friends and faces
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