ALA 2025 YOUTH MEDIA AWARDS ANNOUNCED Erin Entrada Kelly’s The First State of Being (Greenwillow/HarperCollins) was named the 2025 Newbery Medal winner, announced on January 27th by the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC), [continue reading]
January 2025
Author Jules Feiffer Dies
Author Jules Feiffer Dies: Author and illustrator Jules Feiffer died at age 95 at home in New York on January 21, 2025. His many children’s books included Bark, George (Harper, 1999) and A Barrel of [continue reading]
Impossible Creatures Read-Alikes
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell Alessandri, Alexandra. The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejia. Applegate, Katherine. Willodean. Doshi, Payal. Rea and the Blood of the Nectar. Fawcett, Heather. The Islands of Elsewhere. Gaiman, Neil. The [continue reading]
Sami’s Special Gift Review
Yuksel, M. O. Sami’s Special Gift: An Eid al-Adha Story. Hüseyin Sönmezay, Illus. Charlesbridge, 04/2024. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-6235-4296-2. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Every year, Sami celebrates Eid al-Adha with his Dede (the [continue reading]
Rostam’s Picture-Day Pusteen Review
Tahmaseb, Ryan Bani. Rostam’s Picture-Day Pusteen. Fateme Mokhles, Illus. Charlesbridge, 07/2024. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-6235-4381-5. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL. First grader Rostam and his Maman have lived in the US for three months [continue reading]
She Sells Seashells: Mary Anning, an Unlikely Paleontologist Review
Stemple, Heidi E. Y. She Sells Seashells: Mary Anning, an Unlikely Paleontologist. Emily Paik, Illus. Charlesbridge, 07/2024. [40]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-6235-4328-0. GRADES 2–5. ADDITIONAL. This nonfiction picture book biography looks at the early life [continue reading]
Clack, Clack! SMACK! A Cherokee Stickball Story Review
Sorell, Traci. Clack, Clack! SMACK! A Cherokee Stickball Story. Joseph Erb, Illus. Charlesbridge, 08/2024. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-6235-4193-4. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL. In this picture book about sports and teamwork, the Eagles (boys) [continue reading]
Kareem Between Review
Safadi, Shifa Saltagi. Kareem Between. Penguin Random House/G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 09/2024. 324pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5936-9926-3. GRADES 3–7. OUTSTANDING. Kareem is a Syrian American seventh grader who loves American football more than anything, but [continue reading]