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2.59k reviews by:
librarybonanza
Age: Toddler-Kindergarten
Nature: Trees
Everly the evergreen sits among a group of deciduous trees. When everyone starts changing colors around her, Everly starts to feel self-conscious, jealous, and, eventually, defeated. With encouraging words from her friends, she eventually sees the beauty in her difference.
The artwork in this book is full of emotion and popping color, making this celebration of difference a joy to share.
Nature: Trees
Everly the evergreen sits among a group of deciduous trees. When everyone starts changing colors around her, Everly starts to feel self-conscious, jealous, and, eventually, defeated. With encouraging words from her friends, she eventually sees the beauty in her difference.
The artwork in this book is full of emotion and popping color, making this celebration of difference a joy to share.
Age: 5th-middle school
Horror: Spooky scarecrows, haunted book
Tough Issue: Recently deceased mother
Horror: Spooky scarecrows, haunted book
Tough Issue: Recently deceased mother
An insane amount of child-rearing examples which, if anything, make you feel less alone in your parenting journey. If you're looking for an effective way to parent that involves less screaming and guilt (but requires some challenging rewiring of the adult brain) then this is an excellent place to start. Easily one of my most favorite parenting books I've ever read.
Eric Litwin is one of my all-time favorite authors. He creates such catchy songs which I use all the time in storytime and at home. Unfortunately, The Poop Song really missed the pot and I've already forgotten the beat. Regardless, I will always await his next book with excitement.
Age: High School
Tough Issue:, Racism, Classism
I was 100% invested in this hauntings book and then it just upended everything and I was 200% devoted. A fantastic twist for readers that want a little modern depth to their horror stories.
Tough Issue:
Spoiler
OD fentanyl-laced potI was 100% invested in this hauntings book and then it just upended everything and I was 200% devoted. A fantastic twist for readers that want a little modern depth to their horror stories.
Less about survival techniques and overcoming the impossible, more about PTSD and emotional strain from childhood trauma. Just not what I was expecting or my cup of tea. I also took too long to read this one and the characters lost definition, making the twist at the end seem rather lackluster and far-fetched.
Age: 4th-6th grade
Family: Adoption
Identity: Born without arms, Tourette's syndrome
Fast-moving plot with a unique character that will draw readers in. The representation of the Tourette's Syndrome spectrum felt diverse and informative. It was very interesting to read about the different levels and ticks that children/people can have.
Judgmental warning: I was getting some serious adult-writes-child-with-mature-adult-reactions and some slightly icky feelings about a nondisabled person writing a disabled perspective. The author said that her research was challenging since there aren't many resources out there about people with limb loss (somewhat hard to believe) and that two women with limb loss approved the manuscript (but weren't a part of the writing process or research?). It was an interesting read but fell flat for me.
Family: Adoption
Identity: Born without arms, Tourette's syndrome
Fast-moving plot with a unique character that will draw readers in. The representation of the Tourette's Syndrome spectrum felt diverse and informative. It was very interesting to read about the different levels and ticks that children/people can have.
Judgmental warning: I was getting some serious adult-writes-child-with-mature-adult-reactions and some slightly icky feelings about a nondisabled person writing a disabled perspective. The author said that her research was challenging since there aren't many resources out there about people with limb loss (somewhat hard to believe) and that two women with limb loss approved the manuscript (but weren't a part of the writing process or research?). It was an interesting read but fell flat for me.
Age: 5th-middle school
Identity, author: Mexican born, lived in multiple countries but currently in USA, Chicago
Location: Mexico
Life and Death play a traditional Mexican card game called Loteria with extremely high stakes: a girl's life. Weaving itself throughout this fantastical quest are philosophical discussions of fate and free will. While the plot progression was exciting and eventful, the philosophical angle, while unique for a book geared towards a younger audience, did not quite stick with me. Perhaps my mind wasn't as focused as it should have been in order to appreciate it.
Identity, author: Mexican born, lived in multiple countries but currently in USA, Chicago
Location: Mexico
Life and Death play a traditional Mexican card game called Loteria with extremely high stakes: a girl's life. Weaving itself throughout this fantastical quest are philosophical discussions of fate and free will. While the plot progression was exciting and eventful, the philosophical angle, while unique for a book geared towards a younger audience, did not quite stick with me. Perhaps my mind wasn't as focused as it should have been in order to appreciate it.
Age: All Ages
Identity: Black
What a standout pairing: Photographers that utilize visual storytelling (CreativeSoul Photography ) combined with the poetic jubilance of a long-standing picture book author. Add this to the list of empowering picture books for Black girls; but, let it rise up to the top for its captivating photography and poetic repetitions about perseverance, creativity, and self-love.
Identity: Black
What a standout pairing: Photographers that utilize visual storytelling (CreativeSoul Photography ) combined with the poetic jubilance of a long-standing picture book author. Add this to the list of empowering picture books for Black girls; but, let it rise up to the top for its captivating photography and poetic repetitions about perseverance, creativity, and self-love.
Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade
Continuing to establish herself as an essential author for the classroom, Otoshi brings forth another book about bullying and kindness, this time dispelling the myth that bullies are always the villain. From the POV of the bully, and based on a true story, a boy from a troubled home steals another boy's lunch day after day until he, miraculously, gets invited to his birthday party where he comes face-to-face with the bullied kid's mom.
Watercolor illustrations and minimal text make this a great gateway for talking about the plot of the book and the characters within.
Continuing to establish herself as an essential author for the classroom, Otoshi brings forth another book about bullying and kindness, this time dispelling the myth that bullies are always the villain. From the POV of the bully, and based on a true story, a boy from a troubled home steals another boy's lunch day after day until he, miraculously, gets invited to his birthday party where he comes face-to-face with the bullied kid's mom.
Watercolor illustrations and minimal text make this a great gateway for talking about the plot of the book and the characters within.