Category Archives: Highly Recommend

Let the Monster Out, by Chad Lucas

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Having just moved to a new town, Bones Malone is trying to fit in and make new friends and keep his temper in check. This is not easy for Bones, especially since he’s often misunderstood and judged unfairly. Things in this new town get complicated as Bones and then several other new friends start sharing the nightmares of each other. Also, the adults in town start acting like vacant, alien-zombie librarians (AZL). The kids team up to solve the problem and fix the adults in their life from all succumbing to the weird AZLing. To do this, they take on the big corporation that employs many of the town’s adults, but who are definitely up to something shady. The book is a mystery wrapped up in a “Stranger Things” vibe – spooky and suspenseful. Some of the kids’ nightmares are downright scary!  The book is full of diverse characters, including Kyle who has autism. I liked that his friends get to experience the way Kyle views the world when they end up in his nightmare. It helps them relate to him better in the real world once they understand how intense sounds, lights, and other stimuli can be for him. Bones is black with a Mom and siblings starting over away from his violent dad. His background has left Bones often feeling the need to protect his Mom and siblings, but also gets him into trouble. Friendship, courage, and facing fears all take center stage in this sometimes scary story. I know this is going to be a hit with students!

Strange Nature: The Insect Portraits of Levon Biss by Gregory Mone

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I need to state right here, right now: BUY THIS BOOK!! Insect books for kids are wonderful and can often lead to further exploration. This book can turn anyone into a budding entomologist (and the book explains what that is).

Each two page spread includes a full page photo of an insect with added details and explanations. The second page for each insect includes size, habitat, facts and a sometimes humorous paragraph to bring it more inline with the intellect of a typical 10 year old. The back of the book includes a glossary and a link to the photographer’s website for more incredible insect photos and information.

Photographer Levon Biss went from a backyard foray with his son to an amazing photo exhibit of 37 insects from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. He called this work “Microsculpture”. Each insect was photographed thousands of times using special equipment and those pictures were combined to make these amazing photographic masterpieces. These photos were originally exhibited as ten foot tall art pieces and now, are in a book that is accessible to young entomologists. This book will not be on the shelf very long – it’s that good! Highly Recommended

Living Ghosts & Mischievous Monsters by Dan Sasuweh Jones

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This is a collection of 32 scary stories, collected and shared by Dan Sasuweh Jones, Ponca Nation. Each story is one to six pages in length with illustrations by Weshoyot Alvitre, Tongva. Stories are prefaced by their origin information (tribe, extra details) and are shared with the permission of those entities. Some stories are mildly creepy and others are downright shiver-inducing. They are a mixture of generations-old stories handed down to more contemporary experiences as told by individuals Mr. Jones has interviewed while traveling across the country in his research.

Readers who are fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark will enjoy this book, as will students of Native American culture. This is a great introduction to the horror genre and will not stay on the shelves very long.

The author’s introduction provides his insight as well as detailing his respectful omission of stories that are not to be shared outside particular tribes. Other sources and further reading are helpful for those looking for more information. Highly recommended.

The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson

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This story follows a brother and sister, who become bored one stormy summer day and start to argue. Their grandmother offers advice “Lift your arms, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and believe in a thing.” They come to realize that their imaginations can take them anywhere as they imagine themselves flying over their city, which is full of color. They relive this experience many times over through the fall and winter and they realize that they can use their imaginations in a wonderful way.

Grandmother “had learned to fly from the people who came before. They were aunts and uncles and cousins who were brought here on huge ships,their wrists and ankles cuffed in iron.” She reminds them “But, nobody can ever cuff your beautiful and brilliant mind.” 

They move to a new neighborhood and remember their grandmother’s advice when they feel lonely. They aren’t alone for long as they share with their new friends, who ‘One by one they too learned to fly.”

This is a poetic piece that reminds all of us to close our eyes and use our imaginations. There are so many possibilities and the challenges can be overcome. We have that power to look to a brighter future.

Text is accessible and accompanying illustrations are bold, bright and engaging. The author’s afterward gives credit to Virginia Hamilton’s “The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales” for her inspiration. The Main characters are Black and supporting characters are diverse. This is the second book by the author/illustrator duo of Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael Lopez (“The Day You Begin”) and it is just as richly created. Highly recommended.

Thunder and Cluck. Friends do not eat friends by Jill Esbaum

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Thunder and Cluck are an unlikely pair of friends. Of course, they don’t start out as friends, as told in this easy-to-read graphic novel. Big, toothy dino Thunder comes upon small, birdlike dinosaur Cluck and prepares to eat him. But, Cluck doesn’t do what he is supposed to do – run! A discussion ensues, with Cluck attempting to strike up a friendship and Thunder giving all kinds of excuses about how this can’t happen. Suddenly, another large, toothy dinosaur sidles up to eat Cluck and Thunder protects his “little buddy” (his words). He finally acquiesces to a friendship experiment, muttering something about hanging out with Cluck will be …interesting.

This beginning graphic novel is a perfect starting point for new readers. The book’s introduction explains how to read a graphic novel, describing panels and word versus thought bubbles. Each page has one to three panels on it and the colors are bright and bold. The main characters are cartoon dinosaurs – can it get any better? Buy this one for your youngest readers. They will be hooked! Highly recommended.

No se permiten elefantes by Lisa Mantchev

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A small boy and his tiny pet elephant are turned away from the Pet Club. There’s even a sign that specifically states “Strictly No Elephants” (No se permiten elefantes). They walk away sadly, only to come upon a dejected girl and her pet skunk, who were also turned away (“He doesn’t stink” she says). Together they form an inclusive Pet Club at a tree house and make it official with a sign that says “All Are Welcome”. And, others come with their unusual pets, like a bat, giraffe, armadillo and tiny narwhal.

Text is simple and illustrations are warmly detailed using block print, Photoshop and colored pencils. Observant readers will notice that the boy, girl and their pets are colorful, while everything else in the background is teal and black on one double page spread. They might also notice a few unusual pets peeking out windows as they walk by on their way to start their new club.

This is a message of inclusion and caring friendship. Characters and pets are diverse. The boy and his elephant have a special bond as noted when the boy helps the tentative elephant over cracks – “I always go back and help him over. That’s what friends do: lift each other over the cracks.” “Siempre regreso y lo ayudo. Eso es lo que hacen los amigos: apoyarse en medio de las grientas.”

This is a lovely book with a wonderful message. It may lead to some great discussions about what friendship looks like for children and what it means to be included. Highly recommended.

Zia Erases the World, by Bree Barton

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Zia Angelis loves words and stories, especially her mother’s funny little “lightning bugs”, stories that make her feel better.  Zia also makes up words like “grizzy” (Greek + frizzy), “weirsh” (weird + wish), or “Shadoom” (a room full of shadows).  It’s the Shadoom that causes Zia so much trouble in this story as she tries to solve the problem of it opening up inside of her by using a magical eraser in her Yiahyia’s special dictionary, the C.Scuro Dictionary, to get rid of the words that she thinks are causing the problem. Erase the word with a special eraser and the actual thing in the world also disappears. The book includes many pages that mimic actual dictionary pages – something readers today may be less familiar with. I liked that some of the definitions were real & many seemed to be written just for Zia. While the story seems magical in some ways, it really tackles some serious, important issues like depression, anxiety, dementia, poverty, and finding one’s own power to speak up. And while it is never easy to face the darker sides of life, Zia learns that without the dark, the light is not possible. I think this book will speak to students, many of whom struggle to speak about what scares them inside. The book includes an author’s note at the back with some resources for students struggling with depression and mental health.

The Little Owl & the Big Tree : A Christmas Story by Jonah Winter

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This is the story of Rockefeller, the famous little owl, whose story entranced a nation in November, 2020. Each year, a tree is chosen and cut for placement at the Rockefeller Center in New York City. Sometimes, it is trucked from many miles away. In this case, the tree had an inhabitant, a tiny saw-whet owl. This small creature came down with the tree when it was cut and traveled on a truck to New York City. It wasn’t until the tree was being prepared for placement that the owl was discovered by a kind man, whose wife drove Rockefeller to a wildlife rehabilitation center. The owl was given food, water and shelter until she could be released back into the wild. Television and radio stations, newspapers and online news programs followed the story of this tiny owl and people everywhere cheered when it was reported that she was back in nature where she belonged.

This is a lovely, simply written account of Rockefeller’s story. The accompanying illustrations are soft and cozy, with a lot of purples, greens and blues. An author’s note at the end of the story give details about the event as well. This is a sweet addition to holiday story collections. Teachers could add online news segments that followed Rockefeller’s story as well as information about that the saw-whet owl species. Highly recommended.

The Prisoner of Shiverstone, by Linette Moore

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A graphic novel about a smart, spunky girl intent on discovering the secrets of the hidden-from-the-world Utley Island and a mysterious voice on an old radio she’s fixed. Bright, bold colors and crazy mad-scientist inventions fill this energetic adventure. The main character is an inspirational girl who loves science and solving mysteries, namely how to rescue her grandfather from inside a giant Shiverstone crystal on the island. I love that she finds a place for herself in a location that honors diverse thinkers and inventors while also protecting the mainland from dangerous technologies. This island is a prison that no one living there seems to mind because it allows them to be themselves. A fun graphic adventure with weird sci-fi inventions is sure to please middle grade readers.

Wildseed Witch, by Marti Dumas

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Set in New Orleans, Wildseed Witch is a charming story about Hasani’s journey to a magical charm school, her goals of becoming a well-known and popular YouTuber, and her quest to find herself and fix her family. A little bit of Harry Potter-esque magic set in the deep South, the story blooms with a riot of floral characters all trying to grow up with charm and controlled magic. Hasani learns she needs to find balance and lean on her friends – old and new – as she struggles to fix her parents’ broken marriage. I enjoyed the realistic aspects of the story about friendships and family challenges with the touches of magic woven through the story. While this book says it’s the first in a new series, the ending felt complete. Future books may follow Hasani as she grows older, but this book’s plot felt done. No huge hanging cliffhangers to frustrate a reader wanting completion on the final page. I also liked the bits of unvarnished history of sugar cane plantations that seep into the story as well. Overall, a nice diverse addition to an often white fantasy section of the library.

Disasters by the Numbers: a book of infographics, by Steve Jenkins

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Earthquakes, tornados, pandemics, and more are highlighted and explained in this bold, colorful book. Using infographics to share facts about each type of disaster, a reader will find many questions explained by easy to understand illustrations, charts and graphs. The book includes a glossary of terms and a bibliography to back up facts shared. I liked that the infographics help make concrete the often-abstract numbers and ideas. For example, we often hear about the Richter Scale when earthquakes are discussed. The clear images and explanations for each number on the scale is the first time I think I’ve ever had a clear understanding of how those numbers relate to damage seen on news footage. An easy book to browse & flip through or to dig in and read every page, this will be a popular non-fiction read, I’m sure.

Star Child: A biographical constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler, by Ibi Zoboi

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One of the most unique and beautiful biographies I’ve ever read. Ibi Zoboi tells the story of science fiction author Octavia E. Butler’s life in quotes, poems, short blurbs, photographs, her own writing, and drawings. I particularly like the poems that frame each short section of prose and add depth to the account of her life. The mix of writing styles adds to the retelling, giving the reader a mix of Octavia’s own words with those speculative ones of the author as she imagines what Octavia might have been thinking through some of her early experiences. The book tells the life of Octavia Butler from a childhood facing the Great Depression, World War II, the space race, the red scare, and the Civil Rights movement. Through all of it, Octavia loved reading and writing stories, especially science fiction though she rarely saw characters that looked like her in the pages. She set out to get paid to write the fantastical worlds she saw in her head, collecting many rejections along the way before she eventually became an award-winning and respected author.  I really enjoyed this artistic take on a woman who was such a pioneer in the field of science fiction writing.

The Strangest Thing in the Sea (and Other Curious Creatures of the Deep)

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The illustrations in this book are enchanting. Each set of 4 pages describes a different denizen of the deep, with an overlay page that imagines the creature as something out of a fairy tale. When you lift the flap, you see what the creature actually looks like. 

The author provides some fun facts about each sea creature, as well as the basics (size, prey, habitat, and the sea depth at which they live). 

The suspense builds: each creature in turn says, “… But I’m not the strangest thing in the sea!” 

You might be surprised when you find out what “the strangest thing in the sea” really is! 

Fred’s Big Feelings: The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers by Laura Renauld

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Fred’s Big Feelings is a biography for young readers that focuses on Fred Rogers life long commitment to early childhood social-emotional learning. As a child, Fred Rogers was quiet, sad, and often bullied. In high school, through a confidence bolstering friendship, Fred became a leader and experienced how one person can deeply affect the life of another. After he graduated from college, he became involved in the beginnings of community-supported television. His self-appointed mission was to create child appropriate programing that addresses how to recognize and appropriately express feelings.

Through almost 900 episodes and 33 years of programing, Mr. Rogers conveyed the message to children in his parting message each day:

“You always make each day such a special day. You know how? Just by being you! There’s only one person in the whole world like you, and people can like you exactly as you are.” (page 27)

Includes an author’s note with more information about the Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood programming.

Highly Recommended.

Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman

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Inspired by a true story, Padma Venkatraman tells the tale of Kabir, born in jail to a mother who is imprisoned for a crime she did not commit. Because of her low caste, she is treated unfairly and kept in jail an unfair length of time, even if she had been guilty of the theft of which she was accused. When a new warden leans of his age, Kabir is released to the outside world, because he is too old to stay. Kabir has never met his father and is anxious to finally meet him. Released to his uncle, who is really a fraud, Kabir runs away but never loses his dream to find his father and see to it that his beloved mother is released from prison.

Alone in the world, he meets Rani, another street kid who helps him understand the world outside the prison. She also helps him to never lose sight of his goal to free his mother. This is a story with elements of hope, disappointment, sorrow, friendship, and determination. Set in India, it is rich with culture and family dynamics.

All My Rage; by Sabaa Tahir

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All My Rage follows Misbah’s journey in the United States as she struggles with opening a motel and her husband’s alcoholism. Years later, her son Salahudin and his best friend Noor face the challenges of Misbah’s poor health, the failing motel, and the racism of their town.

The reality of the “American Dream” is portrayed by the lives of Pakistani immigrants in a rural California town.

I loved that All My Rage was so brutally honest and that the author did not sugarcoat anything. She dismantled the flawed ideology that one must simply work hard for the american dream. The novel was a personal and raw look at the lives of immigrants and the struggles they face. The relationships between the characters was also well done. I especially liked Salahudin’s relationship with his father because it was complex and imperfect. I loved the poetic language in Misbah’s chapters and they were always beautiful to read. Also, I cried for the last twenty pages of the book and I really like sad and emotional books.

Realistic Fiction, Multiple POV, Diverse Characters, Religion, Trauma, Friendship, Romance, Social Commentary, Parental relationships.

Reviewed by OHS Student, Mia W.

The Message

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I highly recommend this book. I learned stuff I didn’t know. It takes something we’re all so very familiar with and yet most of us really don’t understand, sending a text to the other side of the planet, and explains it. And when I say it explains how it happens, I mean it starts with the microscopic hairs inside your ears that detect a disturbance in the air that your brain interprets as a ringtone that causes you to look at the incoming text you’re about to reply to. It almost draws parallels between the human parts that talk to each other to send messages from eyes to brain to fingers along your nervous system and the hardware parts on the global communications infrastructure to send the message along wires and fiberoptic cables. The whole thing is so complex and yet all happens in a matter of seconds a bazillion times a day, and we all take it for granted without really thinking about it. This book makes you think about it. Even as it explains things really quite clearly (despite great big vocabulary words), it makes the mind boggle at the same time. The illustrations really do a great job of communicating the process and supporting all those great big vocabulary words (like radiating electromagnetic photons). It’s a marvel!

Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste, illustrated by Tonya Engel

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On March 2, 1955 Claudette Colvin was arrested for not giving up her bus seat to a white person. She was 15 and this occurred almost a year before Rosa Parks famed refusal. Through the lawyer, Fred Gray, Claudette met and befriended Rosa Parks and started to attend meetings with the NAACP. These events led up to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. the book does not focus solely on Claudette but mentions others who were instrumental in the changing of the bus law. Told in a cause and effect style, the author shows how small events can lead to bigger events that lead to changes.

Tonya Engel’s paintings complement the text. There is an author’s note at the end that details how the idea for this book came to be and provides suggestions for further reading with books and websites.

When Winter Robeson Came, by Brenda Woods

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During the summer of 1965, Eden gets to hang out with her cousin from Mississippi in Los Angeles where she lives. Winter is on a secret mission to find his father who went missing many years ago. With Eden’s help, they investigate his old neighborhood in the Watts area of LA for clues. In the midst of this, the folks in the Watts neighborhood and the police clash for 6 horrible days and much of Los Angeles goes into lockdown. This verse novel is a sweet story of cousins investigating their own family history while intense history is playing out around them. It’s especially interesting for today’s young readers living in new times of racial clashes with modern day police around the country. As the mystery of Winter’s father unravels, readers come to see that all is not what was assumed. As it is often the case, there is so much more to the story.

Right Where I Left You by: Julian Winters

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Reviewer: OHS Student, Ffiona
Right Where I Left You is a fantastic book by Julian Winters (Who is a WONDERFUL LGBTQIA+ author.) It shows a great bond between an introverted gay boy, and his outgoing bisexual best friend. It emphasizes the vast difference between expectation versus reality in a friendship. And shows the difficulties of the next finding your path in life, and the people you want to share it with. Right Where I Left You is 5 stars and a 10/10 in my book. 

Right Where I Left You by Julian Winters

Yours in Books

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An absolutely charming delight. Written as a series of letters back and forth between an owl and a book-shop-owning squirrel, we see the form of the letters gradually change from formal business correspondence to casual notes as a succession of book recommendations build more than one friendship and shift our main character from a seriously introverted crotchety curmudgeon to a willingly involved member of his neighborhood community. The illustrations are sweet and inviting and full of personality. Highly recommended.

Pura’s Cuentos

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This is an absolute must have for (I think) all libraries! It’s the story behind the name behind the award given out every year by the ALA. And not only that, but it’s also just a celebration of story. For years I’ve sought out winners of the Pura Belpre award to include in my collection, and I knew they were books that celebrate Latin American heritage and culture, but I didn’t know much about the person for whom the award is named. This is a beautifully illustrated book that shares Pura’s story, and confirms it is right and just that such an award should be given in her honor.

Child of the Flower-song People: Luz Jimenez, Daughter of the Nahua

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Luz Jimenez was born in the late 1800’s in the village of Milpa Alpa, a short distance from Mexico City. She was part of the indigenous Nuahac people and learned the language, stories and customs of her ancestors. She suffered the same fate as many indigenous people of her era – placement in government run schools where she had to speak Spanish and wear unfamiliar clothing. Her father was killed during the Mexican Revolution in 1911 and her mother moved the family to Mexico City. It was here that Luz realized her dream of becoming a teacher. Her teaching role was not as a typical school teacher, but as a teacher of her ancestral culture and language to the world. She became a model for many of Mexico’s leading artists of the time, including Diego Rivera, who saw her classic Nuahac beauty as something to capture on canvas, in a photograph or as a sculpture. She became friends with these artists and others – scholars and anthropologists, who wanted to learn about her culture and language. She took them back to her village and taught them her ancestors’ stories, language and customs. This knowledge is part of the history of Mexico and Luz is often referred to as the “Soul of Mexico”.

This well-written, informative book tells the story of Luz’s life in an accessible way without being too text-heavy. Accompanying illustrations by Duncan Tonatiuh are reminiscent of indigenous Mexican artwork and add a rich tone to the story. An author’s note, artist’s note, glossary, bibliography and timeline of Luz’s life are important added features. I appreciate the photo of Luz modelling for a group of artists on the artist’s note page. The only pieces missing are some examples of the artists’ work with whom Luz worked. It did lead me to research her life and find those examples. So, perhaps readers will do the same.

Lost Things by Carey Sookocheff

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This is a story of things lost and found, although sometimes by someone else. It begins with a girl walking her dog, who is grasping stick in his mouth. He notices a squirrel nearby and breaks free to chase it. The girl loses her dog and her hair ribbon. The dog loses his stick and the squirrel loses his acorn. The hair ribbon is found by a bird, who adds it to his nest. A child watching the bird drops his teddy bear. And, so the story continues, finally coming to an end when the girl finds her dog and the squirrel finds his acorn.

This is a circular story that comes to an end near the beginning. It is gently written and illustrated, with the lost things bearing a similar color. The story shows us that sometimes lost things can be found and treasured by others who might need them. The story moves through the community and the characters are hinted at in the pages preceding their active participation. There is so much to see and notice in a book with few words and spare illustrations. It’s a gentle, lovely story that will encourage much discussion.

A Walk in the Words

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A young artist, who can express himself so eloquently through his drawings is, by his own definition, “the slowest reader in his class”. While other students were turning the pages of their books, he is still on the first sentence. He was intimidated by the words and worried that his classmates will find out that he can’t keep up with them. A page of text seems like wall that he can’t get over.

He decides to take reading one word at a time, breaking down bigger words into smaller pieces and letting the words that he knew lead him through the story. Slowly, he gains confidence and reading is no longer scary. He learns that he doesn’t have to be a fast reader. There were lots of amazing people that were slow readers, like Albert Einstein and Picasso.

He learns that his pictures and words can be a powerful combination. He can draw horses and the words can make them breathe and run. While reading is still a slow process, he understands that they can carry him along on adventures. They are to be enjoyed, not feared.

This story beautifully describes the author’s struggle with dyslexia and his journey through the winding path of learning to read. Illustrations (watercolor, pencil and ink) provide perfect imagery for the author’s story. Aggressive-looking books, twisted word trees and huge walls of text slowly change to accessible stone word paths and an image of the boy tearing down the text wall.

An author’s note details his own struggle with dyslexia, which was a painful experience in a time when those with dyslexia were just called “slow”. This highly recommended book should be shared with students that struggle to read and their classmates, who will gain a better understanding (and empathy) along the way.