Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade
Emotions: Pride, worry, lonely, nervous, regret, frustration, hurt

With first-person narration, children are encouraged to share their big emotions (see above) with adults and bigger kids as a way to feel better. One scenario even discusses consent and secrets that don't feel right, making a child "feel weird or wrong inside" and seeking out a grown-up that they trust.

A book about big emotions for the early grade school audience that offers repetition, clear illustrations, reassurance, and excels in its brevity. A book that should be returned to again and again, with ample room for a dialogue exchange between the listener and reader.

Age: Infant-Toddler
Food: Mealtime

Extremely relatable experience for babies that explore their textured food. A sweet way to celebrate something that gives babies & toddlers joy, yet a bit of a headache for grown-ups on clean-up duty (this experience not pictured lol).

Two sentences per spread paired with white backgrounds and "messy" patterns give this excellent storytime and circle time appeal.

Age: 2nd-4th grade
Identity: Dyslexia

Talbott's autobiography will provide reassuring words as a mirror to reluctant readers and children with reading disabilities.

Age: High School+
Mental Health: Trauma
Tough Issues:

Spoiler

Forced separation of children and mother, death of father, death of child character, mentions of rape

I mean...hot damn. This book is unafraid to unleash every terrifying, horrendous, yet real scenario that an undocumented immigrant can face against a tyrannical government and its brainwashed citizens. Warning: this book will be triggering to teens (and adults) that have either experienced the US immigration system first hand or know family members that have. It is raw and really hard to read about these scenarios happening to two children on the run. As a white, documented reader--that's the point: to be a warning and to shed light on current realities.

The writing was fast-paced, sometimes losing the development of side characters, but Vali is incredibly written and details a teen girl's journey through trauma that is too heavy a burden for anyone to shoulder.

An essential read for people that are not personally involved in US immigration; For those that are, tread lightly. Best read in a group setting or with a friend to help unpack the horrors written throughout.

Age: Older Preschool-2nd grade
Concept Skill: Colors
Emotions: Anger, Dissatisfaction
Identity/Location: Indian

When Gauri doesn't choose her favorite color--gulal--to create for Holi, she sulks around the house, unable to share in the joy of creating gulal from natural things. That is until Grandpa tells the kids one of the legends of Holi that allows Gauri to release the anger from her heart and be more like the hero of the story.

Soundar has an impeccable way of writing children's picture books about Indian culture that is both accessible to non-Indian children (providing quick explanations of long-standing traditions) while remaining true to Indian children that don't need pages of explanation for their lived experiences. Triumphant, universally relatable, and joyous.

Age: High School+
History: Ancient Greece, mythology

Elevated writing, philosophical queries, and intimidating length may put this book out of reach for most free-reading kids but it certainly presents a unique storyline about a slave's challenging childhood and his intersection with a free-spirited ghost and the famous thinker Socrates.

History: early 19th century
Identity, author: Deaf

DNF based on personal disinterest in the writing style of the book. Definitely for fans of old-timey, classic style writing like the Dear America series, Little House on the Prairie, or Julie of the Wolves. From reading other reviews, the second half is much more exciting so I would also recommend this to fast readers.

Age: K-3rd grade
Activism: Community-based initiatives

Sonia always starts her day with a question from her mother: How will you help today? And so begins a snowball effect of seven children doing good in their community, from recycling plastic bags to save marine life, to cleaning up a park, to canvassing for an elected official. The interwoven blanket of Sonia's community creates a home that is "safer, cleaner, wiser, healthier, and kinder."

Age: 4th-8th grade
Activism: Racism, justice system
Identity, protagonist: Biracial black and white
Sport: Fencing

Dante is targeted at his all-white prep school for his dark skin, especially in contrast to his brother's light skin. When he is wrongfully accused of throwing a pencil, he is arrested at school. His mother is determined to find justice through the law while Dante wants justice through revenge and a chance to beat his racist bully at his own sport: fencing.

While Rhodes' writing style isn't exactly my cup of tea (lots of fragments and punctuation, and stream of consciousness), it is certainly unique and distinct for reader's that are seeking a different approach to literature.

Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Emotion: Excited, Overwhelmed, concern
Familiar Experience: First day of school

Large illustrations, simple text, and soft crayon-like illustrations make for a great read-aloud during the first week of school. While the text may seem overly vague, the emotions and experiences are universal.