In early 1900’s Japan, Misuzu Kaneko became a beloved children’s poet. Her life ended prematurely, her poetry was soon forgotten. After the Japanese tsunami in 2011, her poetry was rediscovered, and this beautiful book tells Misuzu Kaneko’s life story, which ends tragically and which the book describes sensitively. The book includes many of her poems…
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Bugged: How Insects Changed History by Sarah Albee
There are ten quintillion insects in the world and they have contributed to how this world has been shaped. For instance, did you know that the red color in some foods, drinks, and clothing is from crushed insects? Or that some bugs suck blood out of your body, eat dead people, or can make you…
My House is Alive!: The Weird and Wonderful Sounds Your House Makes by Scot Ritchie
Have you ever heard a mysterious creaking or clanging sound in your home? This informative picture book matter-of-factly explains why houses make weird noises (especially when you are trying to fall asleep). I wish I would have read this book when I was a kid! Book reviewed by Amy M., Youth Services Assistant…
Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery and Other Haunted Places of the Midwest by Matt Chandler
Imagine taking a walk in the woods and coming upon an old cemetery. It’s by a pond that is covered in algae and it looks as if no one has been there in a very long time. It’s quiet, but kind of creepy, and you think that maybe you are not alone. That is exactly…
Kid Pickers: How to Turn Junk into Treasure by Mike Wolfe
Have you ever heard the saying, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure?” It basically means that the things you don’t want or like could be wanted by someone else. This book is all about that. Mike Wolfe is from the show, American Pickers, which airs on the History Channel. In this show, Mike goes…
The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower or John Howland’s Good Fortune by P.J. Lynch
This longer non-fiction picture book immerses the reader in the early life of John Howland, an indentured servant who, in the year 1620, sailed across the ocean on the Mayflower with his master to become one of the first settlers in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The incredibly rich illustrations and first-person narrative detailing the unbelievable challenges he…
Out of the Woods: A True Story of an Unforgettable Event by Rebecca Bond
Out of the Woods, by Rebecca Bond, is an amazing story. It is a true tale written about an event that took place during the childhood of the author’s grandfather. Living in the deep woods of Ontario, Canada, five-year-old Antonio grew up in his family’s hotel. It was surrounded by thick forest of trees. It…
The 50 States: Explore the U.S.A. with 50 Fact-Filled Maps! by Gabrielle Balkan
This over-sized gem is so much more than an atlas. Each of the 50 states is featured and the beautifully illustrated pages include key facts about the states and moments to remember from each state’s history. Inspiring people from all the states are included, some well-known, others that may be new to young readers. Did…
Enormous Smallness: A Story of E.E. Cummings by Matthew Burgess
This sweet picture book biography tells the story of poet E.E. Cummings. Edward Estlin Cummings grew up in Cambridge, MA and had an idyllic childhood, perfect for inspiring creativity and poetry. Edward saw beauty in his surroundings and with support from his teachers and family, he created poems at a young age and continued creating…
Robbers: True Stories of the World’s Most Notorious Thieves by Andreas Schroeder
This is a great book to read if you are looking for something that you can put down sometimes and then come back to it later, and that is because each chapter is about a different person and there are some great comic style pictures throughout the book. While this is a nonfiction book, it…
