Our imaginations bloom in inarticulate ways at times—magnifying a simple rustle or bird call, or the sound of rain on window’s glass. St. Pierre’s poetic story offers answers: the rustle is the wind, and the call of birds are just a normal part of the world at night, which has its own purpose in the time. … More Welcome, Dark by Charis St. Pierre, illus. Rachel Wada
In total, readers are introduced to ten different kinds of ants, with their main features and differentiators highlighted. The overall plot of the book follows a common occurrence familiar to many, children included: ants showing up to a picnic. … More There Are No Ants In This Book by Rosemary Mosco, illus. Anna Pirolli
The overall premise was exciting and provided many opportunities for readers to get glimpses of some of the situations real astronauts in training find themselves in. I found Houston’s train of thought and actions to be engaging and easy to follow. … More Houston, Is There a Problem? by Eric Walters
As a former ballerina and a perpetual cat lover, this book had my heart from the beginning. It is funny, informative and the main character and his cat are easy to love and relate to. … More My Cat Does Ballet by Robert Heidbreder, illus. Matt Schu
Qayum’s storytelling is straightforward and direct. She refrains from exploring the inner terrains of her characters’ minds, or using literary devices to convey the gravity of grief and pain. Instead, she states the facts of the events of their lives using a subdued tone, and that in itself is enough to put readers in the characters’ shoes. … More Zia’s Story by Shahnaz Qayumi, illus. Nahid Kazemi
Our extra terrestrial friends are drawn in the same way as their earthly counterparts, but by having Stephen’s guest walk on two legs and have green ears and spots, it is obvious that this is no ordinary dog. … More Dalmartian: A Mars Rover’s Story By Lucy Ruth Cummins
When Alina is selected to join her class’s advanced math group, she is faced with the best and the worst of her new school. Between incessant bullying, the struggle of trying to impress a group of friends from a completely foreign culture, auditions for the school play, and an embarrassing last name, Alina has a whole lot on her plate. … More The Unlovable Alina Butt by Ambreen Butt-Hussain
The emotional core of Tig lies in its exploration of identity and belonging. Tig’s journey towards healing is not linear; it’s a messy, unpredictable path marked by setbacks and small victories. … More Tig by Heather Smith
A British Girl’s Guide to Hurricanes and Heartbreak by Laura Taylor Namey tackles grief, relationships, and family dynamics through the lens of a teenage girl who just lost her mother to dementia and is on a path to losing herself, too. … More A British Girl’s Guide to Hurricanes and Heartbreak by Laura Taylor Namey
Reading about Benji continuing to stand up for himself and his family throughout the book was inspiring. Following along with his journey felt worthwhile: I wanted to know how he was going to tackle the various problems that were thrown at him, and to see him grow and change as the book progressed. … More Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf by Deke Moulton
