In this sweet story, Ninita a rare pygmy marmoset was born not able to hear. Due to her disability, she was abandoned by her parents when she was just 3 weeks old. A rescue found her, brought her inside and became her new family. Now people kept her safe, groomed her fur, and fed her just like a family should. When she reached adulthood, Ninita was moved to a habitat and introduced to another pygmy marmoset, Mr. Big. Ninita may not be able to understand Mr. Big’s sounds, but she understand friendship – closeness, shared experiences, and affection.

Use when discussing disabilities, pygmy marmosets, or when studying animal sanctuaries and rescues.

Spanning almost 120 years, Together We March details how marginalized populations organized protest marches to bring attention to their struggle. The book celebrates this long history – reminding us that protests are not a new phenomenon. The majority of the examples are from the United States, but protest marches in India, Bulgaria, South Africa, Kenya as well as worldwide protests are included. While some physical opposition is outlined, the focus of the narratives is on peaceful, non-violent movements.

Each two page illustrated spread provides background information about the situation and the people involved, a description of the event, and an analysis of the impact of the protest.

In Together We March the multiple examples of organized protest remind students that their peaceful actions in defense of issues that matter to them can make an impact on the world. Pair it with Equity’s Call or Rise Up!: The Art of Protest for a unit on grassroots movements that lead to change.

Interesting and ambitious investigation of different aspects of the night. The book is divided into four sections; human sleep, nocturnal animals, plants at night, and the night sky. Each section contains solid detailed information supported by illustrations and graphics. While all topics involve the night, there is little connection between the different topics. It makes more sense to view each chapter in isolation as each addresses a unique concept (human health, animal senses, plants, and astronomical features visible at night).

Curious young scientists will enjoy the diverse investigations found In the Dark.

With vivid colorful illustrations and rhythmic rhyming text, McGinty and Harris explore the majesty of the sea. The rich descriptive language helps form a picture of the ocean for young learners.

The sea knows stars in shallow pools
Below, it knows alluring jewels
The sea knows worlds of red and gold
The sea knows bright / The sea knows bold.

Use to start a study of the sea or to practice descriptive language. The appendix contains an explanation of each phrase and offers a starting point for further investigation.

Whether good or bad, “things” go away. A bird, sleep, lice, a bad thought The big and small aspects of our everyday life do not stay the same.  Yet one thing will always remain. The hug that concludes the book shows the “thing” that will never pass, move on, or change is love. This is a comforting book that will bring a smile to your heart.

Beatrice Alemagna cleverly uses a see-through page with a black drawing to illustrate change as the image moves, fades, or is transformed with the flip of the page. A close look at the illustrations can guide a closer look at what changes in our lives.

As Christian Robinson portrays a circular path of interconnection, he reminds us that we all matter. Starting and ending with little stuff too small to see, Robinson’s text and illustrations remind us that our place in the world, how we are perceived by others, or our successes or failures cannot change the fact that at the most basic level, each part of our world matters. Even compared the magnitude of space and the breadth of time we matter. The powerful words interspersed with the refrain “you matter’ circles back to the small stuff.

A must have for all libraries and an excellent tool to support Social Emotional Learning lessons.

Lubaya is a quiet child who appears to sit on the sideline whether it’s at school, with friends or home with family.  Yet, while not engaged as you would expect from a child, she takes the world around her and merges it with her imagination.  This imagination finds an outlet on the back of old protest posters. Upsetting news on the TV has her family reclaiming the protest posters for another march.  In this way, Lubaya’s truth and dreams in artistic form become part of the message of the protest. The beauty of this message is Lubaya’s quiet roar.

In a time when protests are regularly on the news, Lubaya’s Quiet Roar reminds us that the loudest voices don’t necessarily have the most to say. We all have the potential to listen, look, dream and illustrate a different, better world.

Carlitos lives with his mother and his abuela in a town across the harbor from Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. His cozy, happy, and comfortable life is colored by the lack of a father. His family looks different than those he sees around him. This lack has him crossing the bay to look for his father in Old San Juan – by himself.

The story leads Carlitos to interact with many interesting people in many interesting and beautiful places throughout the city. Carlitos spirits eventually plummets when he loses his only picture of his father. With the help of a park ranger, he realizes sad things are like dark clouds and that the sun always returns. With a lighter heart, he returns home.

Across the Bay is a sweet story with lovely illustrations. While I enjoyed the story and appreciate the portrayal of Puerto Rico, I found the fact that a young child leaves home to explore a large city alone rather disconcerting.

Many in the United States take the right to vote for granted. The struggle for equality in voting rights, however, has been a struggle for all the many year of our nation’s history. Equality’s Call is a wonderful introduction the story of voting rights in America.

The book begins with the establishment of our system of government and the inclusion of consent and representation in our foundational national documents. But this same inclusion excluded most of the new nation’s population due to gender, race, or wealth. The story steps through history, explaining some of the milestones in expanding voting rights.

The refrain, equality’s call is repeated with each milestone, “A right isn’t a right / Till it’s granted to all.” The book closes with a reminder that the journey isn’t over and voter suppression is another form of disenfranchisement. Each vote we make is possible because of the struggles of others in the past and it is our responsibility to ensure the right to vote to all.

Ren lived on the edge of a National Forest in Puerto Rico. “His days were filled with green and dirt and rocks and mud.” His days were also filled with rich imaginative play and his nightly dreams filled with endless possibilities. When Ren and his mother move to the city, Ren can no longer feel the magic or the wild. Even surrounded by people, Ren is lonely.

Ren’s upstairs neighbor Ava loves the city and shares with Ren all the things that bring her joy. But it is a bit overwhelming for Ren and he cannot feel the magic. When they next meet up, Ren explains what he misses about his wild. This helps Ava understand and she takes him to the basement and the roof to share with him a new different kind of wild.

A New Kind of Wild is a perfect read for youngsters experiencing a move to a new environment or loneliness due to change.

With persistence and dedication to her field, Emmy Noether was a pioneer in mathematics during a time in history when gender norms excluded women from such studies.

The book delves into a number of very intense topics including stereotypical woman’s behavior, discrimination, the Nazi rise in Europe and and anti-semitism. It also tries to explain extremely complex mathematical concepts in a way that elementary school students can understand. The scope of the book is so broad that none of significant ideas are addressed too deeply. The big takeaway is that Emmy Noether was a remarkable, yet unrecognized woman who overcame a lot of challenges. Her amazing mind and unique thinking in the area of mathematics forever impacted how our greatest minds think about cutting edge science and math concepts.

STEM biography collections that tend to be heterogeneous and this title about Emmy Noether will provide enrichment and diversity.

You can be lonely, even when other people nearby if they don’t have time for you. With mom busy teaching and sister wanting privacy, a young girl decides to just leave to see if anyone will even miss her. While she waits in a nearby lilac bush, she decides to build her own house using cardboard and sticks. First her cat then her sister join her in her new house and finally mom arrives with her student. Room is made for each of them.

Having room in your life is more than just about space – it’s also about time and attention. This story illustrates that you can make space for yourself and those that are important to you and in doing so, take positive action to nurture your interconnection with others.

A sweet story that embodies both imaginative play and the love between siblings. Building castles, wrestling alligators, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro are just a few of the many wonderful adventures a little girl plans for when her brother comes home. The sprinkler is a waterfall, a stream is the unexplored rainforest, and packing boxes create a castle. The story reminds us that simple things when paired with imagination and a companion are the recipe for great adventures. The joy and affection of the sibling’s reunion makes the grand plans of the little sister seem possible.

Litchenheld’s sweet soft illustrations show a the little sister waiting and her imagined adventures. The repeated refrain, “When my brother gets home…” is accompanied by a crayon illustration of a school bus as it traverses the town.

Being willing to stand up for what you believe in and raise your voice for change can be demonstrated in many ways. Art can be one of the ways you can share your message with the world. Rise Up! the Art of Protest is a powerful book on how we shape and communicate our messages calling for change.

Written in collaboration with Amnesty International, Rise Up! is an excellent book for readers interested in social justice, the history of protest art, graphic art, or art history. It is written in concise, factual language without any sentimentality – letting the art itself convey the most powerful message. The book is organized in chapters around the themes of women’s rights, race, peace, youth, LGBTQ, and environmentalism. Each chapter begins with a brief description and history of the protest theme followed by gallery of protest art examples. The majority of the examples originate in the United States, but samples of protest art from all around the world are also included.

The art reproductions are excellent quality and printed with bright colors. Each example includes a caption with artist(s), date, region, and a brief description.

Includes a forward by Mari Copeny, a youth activist known for her work during the Flint water crisis. Also includes a brief description of Amnesty International at the end of the book.

Illustrated by Ana Sender

“Mom, why do we cry?” ask Mario. With poetic language and imagery, Mario’s Mom describes the many feelings behind tears. With each example, the book validates the feelings and accepts the release of tears as a natural extension of those strong feelings. When the feelings are too hard to explain, the author employs simile, metaphor, and Ana Sender’s illustrations to portray the deepness of those feelings and the potential healing power of tears.

Why do we cry? The book ends with Mom’s tears of happiness. “More than anything, sweetheart, we cry because we feel like crying.” Includes both social emotional and scientific information on tears as well as extension activities for self reflection and discussion.

Translated from the Spanish original.

A wonderful narrative non-fiction told through multiple haiku stanzas. The great-horned owl pair starts by repurposing a squirrels nest. The book follows the the pair as they prepare their nest, lay and protect their eggs, nurture their owlets until the fledglings fly off to a home of their own. The world is fraught with danger. Only 2 of the 3 eggs survive to hatch and one fledgling barely escapes a fox.

The rhythm of the haiku stanzas help map the steady progression of the owls’ life cycle. Each struggle or danger is surmounted, though not always without loss.

Slipping to the ground
Eeping, flapping, fluttering
Nest far, far away

Red fox is watching
Red fox is sneaking-slinking
Red fox is crouching

Gianferrari’s haiku is approachable for young children; rich with language, but conveying concept and feelings in a way young readers can grasp. Voss’s breathtaking illustrations instill both the movement and the stillness of an owl’s night.

Whoo-Ku Haiku is a good choice for lessons on the haiku as a poetic form, word choice, and the study of owls.

Illustrated by Mike Lowery

Knot Cannot is a humorous story of homophone wordplay that will make the reader chuckle. Can Knot do what Snake can? He cannot – slither, hiss, swallow, shed, climb, or swim. There is not a lot Knot CAN do. But he can save snake from the a bird by twisting him into a knot so he’s too big to swallow. Knot’s envy gives way to an understanding of his own self worth. Valuing what he can do helps Knot recognize the reciprocal nature of friendship.

Cartoon-like illustrations support the story’s silliness. A hilarious read aloud that celebrates the playfulness of language and the importance of inflection to convey meaning.

The book, In a Jar is a sweet metaphor for protecting and sharing special memories. Llewellyn is a bit of a loner, collecting items in jars so he can peer inside and remember the wonderful things he had seen and done. One evening he meets Evelyn and shares one of his jars with her. This led to seasons of collecting together. When Evelyn moves away, she and Llewellyn share jars back and forth, maintaining their friendship by sharing their present.

The story will encourage children to collect, protect, save, share and reexamine what makes the everyday things around them special. Recommended.

A young girl worried about her fishman father on those nights each month with no moon. Finding the crying girl, the sun took one of his golden rays and shattered it into a million glowing pieces for her to place in the sky to light her father’s way. She worked tirelessly to carefully place each star, slowly creating the constellations. A curious monkey snatched her bag of stars, still full after months of work and in the tug-a-war the stars were strewn across the sky creating the Milky Way.

How the Stars Came To Be is a solid new folktale. The book’s illustrations, however, are what really make the book shine. The author’s Indian roots can be seen in the almost henna-like illustrations. Recommended.

Starting with a description of one of Ronaldo’s most famous goals, this biography is sure to be a hit with young soccer players. The book highlights Ronaldo’s career progress from his professional debut in 2002 at age 17 to his move in 2018 to his current team, Juventus. Ronaldo’s commercial sponsorships are mentioned briefly, but some of his charitable contributions are described in more detail. Very little is said about his personal life. This book is definitely targeted at the soccer lover.

Born into slavery, John and Millicent listened to their parents’ stories of their people flying to freedom. Even after their parents, Samuel and Maggie were sold away, those seeds of freedom survived in their minds and hearts. When the overseer injures a majestic bird as if flies over the plantation, John and Millicent risk their safety at night to retrieve and tend it. The bird slowly recovers, but refuses to leave. Secret word reaches their ears that in a week, John would be sold to a faraway farm. Following the flight of the bird, John and Millicent run through the storm to freedom.

Freedom Bird is Jerdine Nolen’s second book in a multigenerational narrative of an African American family. Big Jabe and Thunder Rose, the first and third books respectively have the storytelling characteristics of a Tall Tale. In Freedom Bird, Jerdine Nolen’s powerful storytelling voice can be heard in the story’s language and cadence without the hyperbole found in Big Jabe and Thunder Rose.

An important story told in a powerful voice that belongs in every library.

This story tells of the life of Mohammad Alaa Aljareel. Alaa stayed in Aleppo as the destruction of war in Syria forced many to flee. A caring man who worked as an ambulance driver, Alaa was struck with condition of the many cats left behind by fleeing families. By providing them food and water, Alaa soon was caring for more cats than he could manage. Through local and international support, Alaa established a home for abandoned cats where they are safe and loved. In the last few years, Alaa has also extended his shelter to include other animals and created playgrounds and an orphanage for the children of Aleppo.

An touching story of the power of love and the impact one good person can have on the world even amidst devastating circumstances. Alaa’s life is an inspiration.

The book begins with a letter from Mohmmad Alaa Aljareel in both English and Arabic.

David is starting his first day at a new school and he’s worried about making friends. When recess arrives, David heads out with a pocket full of rubber bands. He searches the children engaged in a variety of recess activities; tag, hide-and-seek, reading, video games, and hopscotch for someone who would play elastic skip with him. Finally he approaches a girl who responds to his question and asks how to play. So begins David’s first friendship at his new school. The next day, David runs to recess with his friends to chant and jump elastic skip.

A first day of school book that tells the story of fitting in, overcoming shyness, taking chances, and finding friends. By sharing something special to himself, David forges new friendships.

With lyrical text the reader follows a interconnected path from the base of the mountain into the cabin of a Cherokee family where in the kitchen sits a grandma weaving. As the family gathers round, the singing and the weaving unite them and create a bridge to a young woman flying an airplane in a distant conflict. Her prayers for peace in turn link her with her family back in the cabin. The circular story and illustrated threads both add to the feeling of unity and connection.

The author’s note recognizes the role of Native American women in the United States Armed Forces. She highlights the accomplishments of Ola Mildred “Millie”Rexroat, a Oglala Lakota pilot who served as a Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) in World War II and beyond.

Leila and her family arrive her Naani’s (grandmother) house for an extended family dinner. When Leila looks in Naani’s mirror she thinks, “I’m not sure if I like being me.” Over the course of the evening, Leila finds things about herself to like. She shares her aunt’s smile, recognizes the beauty of her Pakistani artistic heritage, and successfully helps with cooking the curry. Finally when it is time to leave, her Naani helps her try on a saffron scarf. Reflected in the mirror, Leila now sees a beautiful girl looking back at herself.

A sweet story about recognizing the beauty found in connections to family and tradition as well as the beauty from within.

The colorful illustrations have a folk-art feel. Endpapers include a glossary of ethnic terms with definitions and pronunciation, but does not include language of origin.