There is so much in this informational picture book - from Diane Nash’s story to the incredible mixed media art that accompanies it, to the vocabulary to the back matter. Perfect for Black History Month and every other month of the year. Age says PK-3 but this books should be accessible to kids up through grade 8.
Losing a sibling is really hard, even when they have yet to be born. This book helps kids (and their families) navigate through a sad time by expressing their feelings through words, art, and actions.
This is one of the best picture books I’ve read this year. Based on the author’s experience with her young son, The Together Tree will be perfect as a beginning-of-the-year read aloud about community, inclusion, and ways bystanders can move past watching and into action. After all, kindness is a verb.
Another masterpiece from Doerrfeld. "Everyone is more than what you see. "Beneath appearances are experiences. "Beneath actions are explanations. "Beneath what's different is what's the same." There is so much to unpack, talk about, and share: from the shadows and healing of grief, to empathy for others, to thinking about what's below the surface. Illustrations are poignant & gorgeous - love the endpapers. A must read!
River, 12, has seen monsters their entire life. This power has made them isolate themselves so no one around them gets hurt, and has also made them live in fear. But when their new friend, Avery, is taken by a monster into The Otherwoods, a spirit realm, River chooses to save her, even at the expense of their own life. Aided by Xavier, a spirit unable to pass on from The Otherwoods, River must complete a series of life-threatening tasks to get their friend back. But in order to do that, River will need to bravely move through their fear. Likes: the main character. River is thoughtful, funny, unique, and tries hard to belief in themself even when others don’t. The relationship between River & Xavier - while fraught with tension & danger - had a sweet sibling vibe to it that added dimension and so much more to the story. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat. And I loved the underlying feeling of acceptance that was present throughout the story. Dislike: only one: had a hard time visualizing The Otherwoods’ residents. Middle grade readers looking for a fright will end up with that and so much more. I’d put this one on shelves for ages 9 and up!
The Davenports is nothing like I’ve read before: a historical book set in my hometown with a touch of romance, told from the perspectives of four women on the precipice of beginning their lives. Things I liked:
The multiple points of view that kept the pace crisp and varied
The slow burn of the budding romances with all of their complexities
The sibling relationships
The underlying tension of post-enslavement/new Jim Crow era Black America and what that means for Black people, from the wealthiest to the poorest.
I’m very much looking forward to the next books in this series!
A uniquely written interview-style book about the pushes and pulls of rock and roll. SpoilerLoved the twist toward the end as it had me reading and rereading with a new perspective.