Stiefel, Chana. Tower of Life, The: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs. Susan Gal, Illus. Scholastic, 10/2022. 40pp. Biography. GRADES 2-5. $18.99. 978-1-3382-2589-1. OUTSTANDING. Yaffa Eliach (1935-2016) grew up “a spirited girl [continue reading]
February 2023
Hot Dog Review
Salati, Doug. Hot Dog. Doug Salati, Illus. Knopf, 05/2022. [40]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool-3. $17.99. 978-0-593-30843-1. OUTSTANDING. A small, red, short-legged dog is suffering in the city’s summer heat, compelling the older white lady owner [continue reading]
Alphabet Rockers Win Grammy
Alphabet Rockers Win Grammy: The Alphabet Rockers won the 2023 Grammy Award for “The Movement,” in the category of Best Children’s Music Album. Many Bay Area schools and libraries have hosted them for events. Congratulations! [continue reading]
Outstanding! February 2023
Outstanding Books of the Month – February 2023 Each month we post an annotated bibliography of books that were rated ‘Outstanding’ at our previous meeting and nominated for our year-end Distinguished List. You can see [continue reading]
Babel or the Necessity of Violence Review
Kuang, R.F. Babel or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution. Harper Voyager, 08/2022. 560pp. Fiction. $27.99. 978-0-06-302142-6. GRADES 8 – Adult. OUTSTANDING. In an 1829 where Britain’s empire spreads using [continue reading]
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow Review
Kahtouh, Zoulfa. As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow. Fiction. Little, Brown, 09/2022. 416pp. $18.99. 978-0-316-35137-9. GRADES 9 – 12. OUTSTANDING. Her native city of Homs is crumbling under bombings during the Syrian revolution, and [continue reading]
Everything in Its Place Review
David-Sax, Pauline. Everything in Its Place: A Story of Books and Belonging. Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, Illus. Doubleday/PRH, 07/2022. 40pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool – 4. $17.99. 978-0-593-37882-3. OUTSTANDING. In this picture book, Nicky, a shy girl with red glasses and [continue reading]
Lou Review
Carzoo, Breanna. Lou. Breanna Carzoo, Illus. Harper, 07/2022. [32]pp. Picture Book. Grades Pre-K. $17.99. 978-0-06-305405-9. High Additional. Lou, a red fire hydrant, has only ever been used as a dog toilet, until the day Lou realizes that he is [continue reading]