These Olive Trees by Aya Ghanameh

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Aya Ghanameh tells the story of her grandmother’s youth in Palestine. Oraib has a deep connection to the olives she collects with her mother, and, together, they use the olives in many ways to aid and improve their lives in the refugee camp. When the war comes to their camp, Oraib is forced to quickly gather her things to leave the only home she has known. As she leaves, Oraib uses an olive to give a message of hope for a better tomorrow. Ghanameh does a nice job presenting a complicated and heartbreaking story in a child-appropriate manner. The illustrations of Oraib and her family are charming, while the illustrations of the occupying forces as large ghostly hands are powerful and haunting. The author’s note in the back gives additional information about her grandmother’s story and the Israeli occupation of Palestine. 

All You Have to Do by Autumn Allen

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Set in Boston, All You Have to Do presents two parallel stories of 16-year-old Black students navigating predominantly white schools. In 1968, in the immediate aftermath of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, Kevin joins a student led protest at his university and faces harsh ramifications for his choices. In 1995, Gibran faces similar challenges as he navigates microaggressions and the controversy and consequences of his choice to honor the Million Man March. Both teens must confront the complexities of race, privilege, and belonging as they struggle to find their voices and fight for justice. This powerful, dual-timeline novel explores themes of racial identity, social justice, and the enduring impact of history. It will move readers and resonate deeply with contemporary issues of race and equality.

Chasing Pacquiao by Rod Pulido

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Set in 1990s Los Angeles, Chasing Pacquiao follows 15-year-old Bobby, a Filipino-American queer teen, who faces relentless bullying in high school. After Bobby is viscously attacked by a trio of bullies and badly injured, he takes up boxing in the hopes of fighting back. As Bobby immerses himself in the world of boxing, he discovers that true strength comes from more than just physical power—it comes from persistence, self-acceptance, and community. But when Bobby’s hero, world champion fighter Manny Pacquiao makes his views opposition to homosexuality public, Bobby is deeply shaken. This compelling coming-of-age story touches on themes of homophobia, fallen heroes, and more with nuance and sensitivity. Readers will connect with Bobby’s authenticity and root for him too!

Kingdom of Without by Andrea Tang

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Set in a dystopian New Beijing, where society is divided into class based rings, Kingdom of Without follows 17-year-old Zhong Ning’er, a Sixth-Ring thief. After her addict father empties her bank account, Zhong starts working with Red Yaksha, a Robin Hoodesque masked hero, and his crew of rebels to earn some much needed money. Zhong’s first assignment? To free a rebel leader trapped inside a secret lab. In the face of dangerous and daunting assignments as well as widespread political corruption, Zhong, a reluctant rebel, finds unexpected friendships, purpose, and perhaps most importantly, hope. With its gripping plot and strong, complex protagonist, Kingdom of Without is a perfect choice for fans of dystopian tales who love a mix of technology, intrigue, and ethical dilemmas!

Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen by Geri Halliwell-Horner

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After her mum dies leaving her an orphan, Rosie Frost, a spirited, ginger-haired 13-year-old, is sent to a school with ties to the Tudors located on the mysterious Bloodstone Island. As Rosie begins to discover secrets and connections to her family’s past, her most prized possession (a red case of her mum’s) is taken by the headmaster and Rosie suddenly finds herself uncovering a disturbing plot that threatens Bloodstone Island’s incredible endangered animals. In the hopes of reclaiming her beloved red case and exposing this sinister plot, Rosie enters the infamous Falcon Queen Games and competes in three dangerous and daunting physical and mental challenges. This fast-paced adventure is filled with mystery, historical and royal intrigue, and a touch of magic. Rosie is a deeply relatable and empowering protagonist whom readers will eagerly root for!

Opinions and Opossums by Ann Braden

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In this thoughtful and heartfelt novel, a young girl grapples with big questions about life, religion, and her own beliefs. The story follows Agnes, an inquisitive 12-year-old, who grapples with the image of God as an old white man. As she wrestles with big questions, Agnes forms a friendship with her anthropologist neighbor, who helps confirm her curiosity and helps expand her thinking and she identifies with opossums’ survival strategy of “playing dead” in her confirmation class. With nuance and a pitch perfect mix of humor and heart, Opinions and Opossums encourages young minds to think critically and embrace the courage it takes to ask questions and seek their own truths. A short, powerful, resonant read!

Oodles of Doodles

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It’s a fairly silly story in the spirit of Hop on Pop or Green Eggs and Ham, where it’s playing with words that rhyme: it’s got oodles of noodle dooles, doodled by a poodle, and it’s got two cartoony dudes negotiating for those doodles before saying, “tootle-Lou.” It works pretty well for what it is, though there are some uses of some words/word structures that may need to be explained to some small readers.

Interrupting Cow and the Horse of a Different Color

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I’m sorry to say it, but I was disappointed. I couldn’t really tell what the purpose of this book was. It can’t count as a joke book, because the story really only contains two jokes, and they’re not especially good jokes. The main character even says his friends don’t like his jokes, and the zebra he’s telling them to straight-out tells him that jokes that have to be explained aren’t funny. It tells us the zebra showed up because he got left by a traveling circus, and it says they should find the circus so the ringmaster can teach them more jokes, but then they don’t actually go look. The book just ends with them rolling around in a field laughing with each other. And there were some pretty challenging words for an “easy reader.”

Hands on Science: Geology by Lola M. Schaefer

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“Hands-On Science: Geology” by Lola M. Schaefer is an excellent resource for young scientists eager to explore the fascinating world of rocks and minerals. This book offers a perfect blend of informative text and engaging activities that make learning about geology fun and interactive. Schaefer’s clear explanations and vivid illustrations help bring complex concepts to life in a way that is accessible for elementary students. This is a great book for its ability to spark curiosity and enthusiasm for geology. It’s a fantastic addition to any classroom or library, providing an interactive information that encourages young learners to explore and discover the wonders of geology.

My House, My Family by C. Hope Flinchbaugh

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“My House, My Family” by C. Hope Flinchbaugh is a delightful exploration of family life and home. The book celebrates diversity by showcasing different types of families and their unique traditions. Flinchbaugh’s engaging text, paired with warm illustrations, makes this an inviting read for young children. I recommend “My House, My Family” for its heartwarming depiction of family and the way it encourages children to appreciate their own homes and family dynamics. It’s a wonderful addition to any library collection.

Little Shrew by Akiko Miyakoshi

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“Little Shrew” by Akiko Miyakoshi is a beautifully illustrated and heartwarming tale that will charm young readers. The story follows a small but determined shrew on a big adventure, teaching valuable lessons about courage, perseverance, and self-discovery. Miyakoshi’s delicate illustrations perfectly capture the charm and emotion of the narrative, drawing readers into Little Shrew’s world. I highly recommend “Little Shrew” for its engaging story and stunning artwork. This book is an excellent choice for storytime, fostering a love for reading and appreciation for the delicate beauty found in nature and determination.

Super Gross Night Creatures by Maria Le

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Learn about some of the creepiest nocturnal creatures in this sixth book in the nonfiction Level 2 Ready-to-Read series. This book explores fascinating and slightly icky creatures of the night, perfect for young readers who love a mix of gross and cool facts. The engaging text and vivid illustrations make learning about these nocturnal animals fun and accessible. I recommend “Super Gross Night Creatures” for its ability to introduce young readers to nonfiction text while building their reading skills and sparking curiosity.

Interrupting Cow and the Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing by Jane Yolen

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This is author Jane Yolen’s fifth book in the hilarious Interrupting Cow series. This book is a level 2 in the Ready-To-Read series which includes longer sentences, simple chapters, and high interest vocabulary words. This charming story follows the interrupting cow as she helps a new friend find her flock. It’s a cute story of friendship and self-acceptance. Yolen’s engaging writing, filled with clever wordplay and light-hearted humor, makes it a perfect choice for young readers transitioning to independent reading. The illustrations complement the text beautifully, bringing the whimsical characters and their antics to life. I am a fan of the Ready-To Read series and I recommend this book for its entertaining story and its ability to encourage a love of reading in early readers.

The Giants Go Camping by Jane Yolen

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“The Giants Go Camping” by Jane Yolen, with illustrations by Tomie DePaola, is a delightful and humorous story perfect for beginning readers. The book follows five friendly giants from Fe-Fi-Fo- Farm as they embark on a camping adventure as they encounter amusing mishaps along the way. 

Yolen’s engaging narrative is filled with playful language and fun situations that will keep readers giggling and eager to see what happens next. Tomie DePaola’s illustrations are a perfect match, bringing the giants and their antics to life with expressive details.

“The Giants Go Camping” would be a great addition to any library especially for beginning readers. It’s a wonderful book that encourages imagination and the joy of friendship.

The Boy Who Said Wow

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What a sweet book celebrating the power of music to move us! Based on a true story, it tells of a young boy who is non-verbal, rarely speaking, accompanying his grandfather on an outing to the symphony. When the music ends, in that moment of silence, Ronin bursts out with his first, “Wow!” Obviously impacted by the music he’s just heard, his Wow is a celebration, which further impacts the rest of the audience in its genuine, uninhibited joy. Ronin returns to being quiet, but the final page of the book shows him going to sleep night, and ponders what he may still be listening to in his dreams.

Not My Cat

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It’s all about the power of a cat to worm its way into our lives whether we like it or not. The narrator professes to not like cats, and when one starts coming around every day, she says she doesn’t like it, even though she gives it food, and she names it Not My Cat so that every knows it’s not her cat. She says she doesn’t know where the cat lives, or what it does at night, even though she wonders about it sometimes. But when Not My Cat doesn’t show up for several days in a row, she’s worried, and all her normal routines feel empty. When she does return, our narrator doesn’t know where she’s been, but she know she looks hungry and curious, and she looks like she’s hers. The logical, responsible pet owner in me wishes there was some sort of little afterward to comment that now she’s claimed the cat it will mean taking her to the vet and keeping track of where she is because there are so many dangers for cats left to stray, but the mushy side of me just feels warm and fuzzy, which is what the kids will feel.

Love Makes a Garden Grow

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Some kids have a hard time with change, but it’s something we all have to face in life. As this author shares her own experiences of change, she weaves through a thread that keeps things connected. The story opens with her sharing her memories of time spent with her grandfather in his big garden, but then a time comes when he needs to move into a smaller apartment, and though he no longer has space for a big garden, he doesn’t leave all his plants behind. When the time comes that she must move far away from her grandfather, she shares that her new home feels lonely, until her grandfather sends her a gift in the form of a favorite plant from her childhood. Eventually, when she is grown, we see her returning to visit her grandfather’s little apartment with her own daughter in tow, and even though his potted plant garden is smaller than the big one from her own childhood, she is still able to share some of the same kind of experiences, so it still feels like home. It’s a comforting, reassuring kind of story as kids (or grown-ups) face changes, reminding us it’s still possible to maintain the ties that are important.

Rain

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In the Pacific Northwest we can too easily fall into the habit of associating rain with words like cold and gloomy and dreary. But this book celebrates rain. The colors are bright and cheerful. It dedicates several pages to the anticipation of the rain, when so many creatures (including kids) hurry home when they sense it coming, but instead of a sense of dread, it offers a sense of the cozy. It mentions the dogs who don’t hurry home but wait to feel the drops just for the fun of it, and the ducks who are happiest of all enjoying a glorious day in the rain. It reminds us that rain is good for everybody, filling bird baths and creeks and helping things grow.

This Is the Planet Where I Live

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I’m excited to write this review because it feels like a long time since I’ve been able to give a “Highly Recommended.” I’m excited about the prospect of sharing this one with my students. I think it would work great as a shared reading or readers’ theater, perhaps in April, near Earth Day. It’s a cumulative poem, modeled after The House that Jack Built, but describing the inter-connectedness of all who share this planet. The illustrations are vibrant mixed-media collage that celebrate our world. It really is a beautiful book!

Once Upon a Fairy Tale House: the true story of four sisters and the magic they built

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It’s a charming book that tells of four sisters who grew up in southern California in the early 1900s, and each followed their own interests, right into careers that were uncommon pursuits for women of that era. As adults they brought their individual strengths and skills together to build cottages that captured the magic they remembered from the fairy tales they read as children. The end note in the back is just as well-written as the book itself, adding depth and detail to round out the story. I just wish kids actually read those parts.

The Library Fish

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I was prepared to be hard on this one, thinking to myself, “Do we really need another book encouraging kids to learn to read? There are so many good ones out there already.” But who can resist a library fish who gets wrapped up in the joy of the library, watching books come and go, watching patrons search for just the right book, listening in during story our and getting caught up in the wonder and excitement and humor in books? When a book is shared during story time about a dog who learned to read, Library Fish is determined she can too. As soon as she’s alone in the library, “With plenty of hard work, determination, and, of course, imagination…” she creates a water bubble for herself around her head (think old-time diver’s helmet) that lets her venture beyond her bowl and explore the library, starting with the alphabet, building up to words, practicing night after night, until she’s ready to share all she’s learned with her book-mobile friend. It’s full of delight and determination and celebration. The illustrations are full of personality and express the joy found in persistence. I now want a library fish.

While You’re Asleep

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It’s meant to be read aloud at bedtime. The narrator is trying to wax poetic about all the animals who are also going to sleep, but keeps getting interrupted by various nocturnal animals getting up to antics spoiling the go-to-sleep message. By the end of the book all the night-time animals are having a party. It ends with a question, asking how the listener can know it’s not all true, since they’re asleep? The illustrations give a lot of personality to the animals, and invited kids to open their imaginations to what goes on when they’re asleep. Who’s to know?

Willis Watson Is a Wannabe

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It’s a book written with a definite purpose in mind, and it’s a purpose we need: to encourage more children of color to consider futures in the professions where we need more people of color (in this case specifically, doctors). It tells of a kid who loves his grandpa who is always telling him he can be anybody he wants to be, and encourages him to think beyond his neighborhood. But he also gets the sense from his peers that it’s not cool to be a wannabe. But when a medical emergency hits and his beloved grandpa is in the hospital, he’s grateful to the doctor who cares for him, and who grew up in his own neighborhood, re-energizing his dreams of being the kind of hero he sees around him.

Today

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It’s a philosophical sort of book, intended to teach mindfulness to kids. It’s not necessarily the kind of story kids are going to pick up to read again and again as a favorite, but it could be useful as a teaching tool. The subplot that runs through the illustrations, showing a child on an excursion to visit grandparents at a summer lake cabin and enjoy the company of extended family while swimming in the lake and watching fireflies is not necessarily something every child will be able to relate to, but the sentiments expressed through the words will certainly by familiar to all — the way time goes so fast sometimes and drags at others, the joys of good food and laughter, the misery of having a joyful moment suddenly disrupted by a bee sting. Kids will probably ignore the extra information in the back offering tips one what to do when anxious or appreciating the here and now, but adults might use them intentionally with a child they know needs it.

Noodle Conquers Comfy Mountain

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The illustrations are really fun, with a cute little dog with great big eyes who sucks you in immediately. The story is one that will be familiar to anyone who has a short-legged dog, but from the dog’s perspective: he really wants to climb “Comfy Mountain” (i.e. the back of the couch), but he just can’t manage it. When finally realizing all he needs to do is ask his human for help, the rewards prove better than his imagination. It ends with a gentle reminder that though it’s great to do things by ourselves, sometimes doing them together is even better. Some kids need a reminder that it’s okay to ask for help when you need it.