Tough Issue: Death of a family member (little brother)

For the depth of the issue, and the shortness a picture book, Maier has written a touching story of loss and moving on from the perspective of an older sister.

Age: Middle - High School

"Ellie Gold is an orthodox Jewish teenager living in Toronto in the late eighties. Ellie has no doubts about her strict religious upbringing until she falls in love with another girl at her grandmother's cottage. Aware that homosexuality clashes with Jewish observance, Ellie feels forced to either alter her sexuality or leave her community. Meanwhile, Ellie's mother, Chana, becomes convinced she has a messianic role to play, and her sister, Neshama, chafes against the restrictions of her faith. Ellie is afraid there is no way to be both gay and Jewish, but her mother and sister offer alternative concepts of God that help Ellie find a place for herself as a queer Jew" (Goodreads feature review).

A truly unique perspective where the protagonist does not abandon her religion, the same religion that has kept her whole throughout her life. Instead, Ellie reinterprets it by keeping the beauty and discarding the unnecessary hatred.

Age: K - 2nd grade

A twist to the age-old tale of might and galantry, Henry is the bravest knights to ever live. On his sixth birthday, he ventures out to find a formidable enemy. Henry soon finds out that the great beasts of lore don't quite meet his expectations.

Age: preschool - kindergarten

Although Sasquatch doesn't look much like Sasquatch, and you're left wondering why everything blows up when Sasquatch finally gets squished, there are some redeeming qualities. The characters are fun to look at and the growing irateness of Sasquatch is fun to watch. Such an odd book, it's cute.

Kind of a weird hodge-podge of dance moves with an oddly told story. The farm animals work on a "gloomy, grouchy farm" with no time for enjoyment until rooster's un-introduced child (who then disappears into the story) puts on the radio and dance fever spreads across the farm. The farm animals soon dance themselves to exhaustion. They're so exhausted that they get angry at Rooster for starting the whole dance party, complaining that no work is getting done. Rooster calls for a "Cock-a-doodle Clean Up!" (ugh, not that phrase again) and reserve dancing for the nights.

Age: Kindergarten - 3rd grade

Would you believe that this book holds 1,116,780 jelly beans? Crazy, I know, but they're in there. A fun way to learn proportions and large numbers.

"Katie is back as she deals with feeling "flabbersmashed" by her best friend, who suddenly wants to be friends with another kid. We've all been flabbersmashed by a friend--left out of an activity or secret, left to feel sorry for ourselves, or move on. Will Katie ever stop feeling left out?" (Goodreads feature review)