Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.59k reviews by:
librarybonanza
Age: 6th grade-high school
Activism: Wrongful convictions, police abuse, systemic racism
Tough Issues: Father on death row, historically reference lynching
A book that tackles modern day racism--especially modern-day slavery through the prison system--with an engaging mystery and some serious nail-biting moments makes this an excellent read for the intended audience (and adults as well). And the audience includes middle school (!!!), making this stand out among other YA books that grapple with American racism.
I will absolutely recommend this to tweens and teens, however the predominant presence of a "good cop"--one who's father was murdered by the police--feels like it's feeding the readers who still want to feel good about the police. Idk.
Activism: Wrongful convictions, police abuse, systemic racism
Tough Issues: Father on death row, historically reference lynching
A book that tackles modern day racism--especially modern-day slavery through the prison system--with an engaging mystery and some serious nail-biting moments makes this an excellent read for the intended audience (and adults as well). And the audience includes middle school (!!!), making this stand out among other YA books that grapple with American racism.
I will absolutely recommend this to tweens and teens, however the predominant presence of a "good cop"--one who's father was murdered by the police--feels like it's feeding the readers who still want to feel good about the police. Idk.
Age: Kindergarten-3rd grade
Honest, heart wrenching, and uplifting, a boy talks about life with a stutter from the feel of the words stuck on his lips to the embarrassment of being called on in class. But when his dad takes him somewhere quiet and full of the natural world, the boy connects with the sound and movement of the river.
With such few words, Scott presents tangible ways to describe what a stutter feels like: a pine tree’s roots tangling inside my mouth, a crow stuck in the back of my throat, a bubbling, churning, crashing river. The muted and blended watercolor artwork adds even more emotion to the story.
Addresses both the audience of someone looking into the life of a stutterer and a child that is living this life. An essential read for both audiences.
Honest, heart wrenching, and uplifting, a boy talks about life with a stutter from the feel of the words stuck on his lips to the embarrassment of being called on in class. But when his dad takes him somewhere quiet and full of the natural world, the boy connects with the sound and movement of the river.
With such few words, Scott presents tangible ways to describe what a stutter feels like: a pine tree’s roots tangling inside my mouth, a crow stuck in the back of my throat, a bubbling, churning, crashing river. The muted and blended watercolor artwork adds even more emotion to the story.
Addresses both the audience of someone looking into the life of a stutterer and a child that is living this life. An essential read for both audiences.
Age: Preschool-1st grade
Two strangers appear during a bad winter storm and are met with closed doors and ill-tempers. When their tea is rejected in exchange for shelter, the two polar bear brothers must fend for themselves. Soon, snow starts to fall and the fox family is driven out of their home, into the generous arms of the polar bears.
A well rounded book that excels at so much with so little. A happy scene is set with tight-knit families bundling in for a dangerous storm. But their happiness turns to grouchiness when strangers come to ask for a little generosity in exchange for something that they don't immediately need. A role reversal for the characters encourages readers to think about paying kindness forward.
Two strangers appear during a bad winter storm and are met with closed doors and ill-tempers. When their tea is rejected in exchange for shelter, the two polar bear brothers must fend for themselves. Soon, snow starts to fall and the fox family is driven out of their home, into the generous arms of the polar bears.
A well rounded book that excels at so much with so little. A happy scene is set with tight-knit families bundling in for a dangerous storm. But their happiness turns to grouchiness when strangers come to ask for a little generosity in exchange for something that they don't immediately need. A role reversal for the characters encourages readers to think about paying kindness forward.
Age: High School+
Holly Black brings forth another intricate world, this time of fairies, sprites, and other forest-based fantasy creatures. Jude is a fascinating protagonist as she tries to come to terms with her blood-stained past and accepting her aggressively determined personality that sets her apart from her twin sister.
An excellent series for fans of Game of Thrones due to its darker themes.
Holly Black brings forth another intricate world, this time of fairies, sprites, and other forest-based fantasy creatures. Jude is a fascinating protagonist as she tries to come to terms with her blood-stained past and accepting her aggressively determined personality that sets her apart from her twin sister.
An excellent series for fans of Game of Thrones due to its darker themes.
Spoiler
My main hookup was that Jude feels sexually connected to the class bully which is such garbage but also true to her personality, maybe? idk
The first 100 pages of the book felt like reading a Chuck Palahniuk character so it was a bit of a drag for me. And then the plot! Started really moving! And all the pieces started coming together. Read this one all the way through for an extremely satisfying conclusion that doesn't end on a bait-and-switch for the next book in the series.
Age: Preschool-1st grade
Emotion: Shy
Identity, author: Borinqueno/Puerto Rican American
Tough Issue: Poverty
Gabo sees neighborhood children playing outside in the snow but is too shy to go play with them and he doesn't have the proper gear to play in the cold, wet snow. Bundling him up with layers and tying bags on his feet, Gabo's mama sends him outside. Gifted with a cafeteria tray as a sled and welcomed by a friendly girl, Gabo finds delight in the cold winter's day.
While the reader is presented with a low-income family--an important mirror and window for all children--the driving force of this story is Gabo's shyness around kids his age, a relatable feeling for many children, and his ultimate triumph when a bubbly girl shows him how to slide down a hill on the tray.
Emotion: Shy
Identity, author: Borinqueno/Puerto Rican American
Tough Issue: Poverty
Gabo sees neighborhood children playing outside in the snow but is too shy to go play with them and he doesn't have the proper gear to play in the cold, wet snow. Bundling him up with layers and tying bags on his feet, Gabo's mama sends him outside. Gifted with a cafeteria tray as a sled and welcomed by a friendly girl, Gabo finds delight in the cold winter's day.
While the reader is presented with a low-income family--an important mirror and window for all children--the driving force of this story is Gabo's shyness around kids his age, a relatable feeling for many children, and his ultimate triumph when a bubbly girl shows him how to slide down a hill on the tray.
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
The town of Cubby Hill is celebrating their annual Great Giving Day festival where every family finds some way to give back and celebrate their community. Super Cooper is on a mission to deliver his grandma's honey to an assortment of friends. But while helping his friends with their problems, as Super Cooper is bound to do, the jars of honey keep getting destroyed or toppled over. Cooper is nervous about telling his grandma but finds that his friends have gone and told her all about his kind deeds.
A perfect lapsit read for children to pour over the detailed images while discussing Cooper's thoughtfulness, kindness, and nervousness for when things don't go as planned.
The town of Cubby Hill is celebrating their annual Great Giving Day festival where every family finds some way to give back and celebrate their community. Super Cooper is on a mission to deliver his grandma's honey to an assortment of friends. But while helping his friends with their problems, as Super Cooper is bound to do, the jars of honey keep getting destroyed or toppled over. Cooper is nervous about telling his grandma but finds that his friends have gone and told her all about his kind deeds.
A perfect lapsit read for children to pour over the detailed images while discussing Cooper's thoughtfulness, kindness, and nervousness for when things don't go as planned.
Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade
Activism: Environmentalism
In a back-and-forth show of support and determination, Room 5 and the Earth are pen pals for the whole year. The class updates the Earth on their latest improvements, and the Earth sends thoughts of support, praise, and encouragement. Even when summer approaches and the kids graduated into their next grade level, Dealey seamlessly transforms the class into an Environmental Club.
Uplifting, inspiring, and achievable actions for children to make a difference and foster future change-makers.
Activism: Environmentalism
In a back-and-forth show of support and determination, Room 5 and the Earth are pen pals for the whole year. The class updates the Earth on their latest improvements, and the Earth sends thoughts of support, praise, and encouragement. Even when summer approaches and the kids graduated into their next grade level, Dealey seamlessly transforms the class into an Environmental Club.
Uplifting, inspiring, and achievable actions for children to make a difference and foster future change-makers.
Age: Toddler-Preschool
Concept: Days of the week
Identity, illustrator: Haitian
Location: Haiti
Things That Go: Bus
Monday through Friday, Claude walks his father to the Tap-Tap bus, interacting with all sorts of interesting folk but he is unable to join them on their fun adventures. However, at the end of the week, Claude, his father, and Manman hop on the bus to a special location.
The vibrant illustrations are enough to knock this book out of the park but the exciting, satisfying storyline will make this an instant hit with many preschool listeners.
Concept: Days of the week
Identity, illustrator: Haitian
Location: Haiti
Things That Go: Bus
Monday through Friday, Claude walks his father to the Tap-Tap bus, interacting with all sorts of interesting folk but he is unable to join them on their fun adventures. However, at the end of the week, Claude, his father, and Manman hop on the bus to a special location.
The vibrant illustrations are enough to knock this book out of the park but the exciting, satisfying storyline will make this an instant hit with many preschool listeners.
Age: Toddler-preschool
Four children go on an outdoor adventure tracking down the Easter Bunny's eggs until they find a cave of bunnies and a secular meaning of Easter: appreciating new life in the springtime.
Yeah, sure, it's an Easter book. But the illustrations are bold and inviting to listeners, the rhyming text is short and bouncy, and a secular explanation for Easter is a delightful addition to the shelves.
Four children go on an outdoor adventure tracking down the Easter Bunny's eggs until they find a cave of bunnies and a secular meaning of Easter: appreciating new life in the springtime.
Yeah, sure, it's an Easter book. But the illustrations are bold and inviting to listeners, the rhyming text is short and bouncy, and a secular explanation for Easter is a delightful addition to the shelves.