Amina is fleeing Syria in a boat with a lot of other people. The boat capsizes, and the people fall into the Mediterranean Sea. As Amina sinks in the water, she remembers her family and the ancient hero Zenobia, Queen of ancient Syria. Zenobia gives her courage not to panic in the water. Book reviewed…
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Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
“Avoid large places at night—keep to small.” This is the warning that 11 year old Olivia “Ollie” Adler gets from a distraught woman trying desperately to throw a book in the river. Ollie, a lover of books, steals it from the woman, and finds the story within is one she can’t put down. It is…
The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
The first rule of punk is to be yourself. How will Malú do that in a new city and school while living with her Mom? They have nothing in common. Malú likes punk music, skateboarding, and making zines, a type of collage magazine. Malú’s mom seems to only like things connected to her Mexican heritage.…
Joy by Corrinne Averiss
Little girl Fern senses that her grandma, Nanna, is not like she used to be. There’s no longer a sparkle in her eye, nor the warm smile on her face. Nanna needs more joy, and little Fern is determined to find it for her. Little Fern takes all of her best tools, and off she…
Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet by April Pulley Sayre
The author of Raindrops Roll and Best in Snow has come out with another celebration of nature and its wonders. This book is full of stunning photographs and rich descriptive words. The back matter gives information on how to turn your “thank you” into actions—skipping straws, for example. Sayre also gives location and species detail…
Knockout by K.A. Holt
Levi is tired of being told what he can’t do, of having his mother and brother always hovering and worrying about him. He was born prematurely, and still has some health issues, but that doesn’t mean that he wants to be treated like a baby. His dad encourages him to try a new sport, and…
Lena’s Shoes Are Nervous: A First-Day-of-School Dilemma by Keith Calabrese
Lena’s Shoes are Nervous, by Keith Calabrese, is a witty story about a young gal on her first day of kindergarten. Although she is anticipating a fun day, her little school shoes don’t want to go. What can she do? Well, she decides to consult her dad, and between the two of them, and some serious…
Thank you, Omu! by Oge More
This book begins with Omu (AH-moo) in her top floor apartment cooking a thick red stew in a big fat pot for her nice evening meal. Just before she sits down to eat it, there’s a knock at the door. It’s a little boy asking about the delicious smell. What do you think Omu does?…
My Year in the Middle by Lila Quintero Weaver
Lu is the daughter of Argentinian immigrants, living in Alabama. She's in sixth grade, in a recently integrated school and feeling like an outsider of her own because she's Latina. For the most part, white students and black students sit on opposite sides of the room, are only friends with people who look like them.…
Look at Me: How to Attract Attention in the Animal World by Steve Jenkins
Everyone loves learning about camouflage in the animal world, and nonfiction books are a great way to learn about it. However, animals don't only use camouflage. Sometimes it is just as important to stand out! Changing colors, leaping, dancing, odors, inflating like a balloon, or even screaming are quite useful to signal a warning or…
