Jenny Andrus

Wang, Ann Suk. House Before Falling Into the Sea, The. Hanna Cha, Illus. Dial Books, 03/2024. 40pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-593-53015-3. GRADES 2–4. OUTSTANDING.      Kyung struggles to accept her parents’ decision to welcome desperate refugees fleeing North Korea into their coastal home, a location known as [continue reading]

Rogers, Andrea L. Art Thieves, The. Levine Querido, 10/2024. 400pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-6461-4378-8. GRADES 8–12. ADDITIONAL.          In the near future, Stevie navigates her changing life after high school with her friends, a younger brother she cares for, and a new intern (Adam) at [continue reading]

Birkett, Georgie. Carry Me! Georgie Birkett, Illus. Candlewick, 6/2024. [24]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5362-3140-3. GRADES Preschool–Kindergarten. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Wilbur wants to be carried everywhere, which was fine when he was young, but not so much now that he’s growing up. Birkett’s digital illustrations depict a town [continue reading]

Behar, Ruth. Across So Many Seas. Penguin/Paulsen, 02/2024. 258pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-0-5933-2340-3. GRADES 5–7. ADDITIONAL.          This four-part novel, told in first-person voices, depicts the stories of related twelve-year-old Sephardic Jewish girls. It begins in 1492, when Benvenida and her family are expelled from [continue reading]

Becker, Aaron. Last Zookeeper, The. Aaron Becker, Illus. Candlewick, 03/2024. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-5362-2768-0. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING.       A surprisingly emotional wordless picture book about climate change, storms, and rising oceans. Becker, known for his previous titles—Journey (Candlewick, 2013), Quest (Candlewick, 2014), and Return (Candlewick, 2016)—shows how a robot named Noa [continue reading]

Park, Patricia. What’s Eating Jackie Oh? Crown, 4/2024. 327pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-593-56341-0. GRADES 8–12. ADDITIONAL.          Jackie Oh wants to be a professional chef, while her Korean American parents want her to be a lawyer like them. Park’s engaging and fast-paced coming-of-age story showcases the [continue reading]

Schwartz, Heather E. Rihanna: Multi-Industry Mogul. Gateway Biographies. Lerner, 01/2024. 48pp. Biography. PLB $33.32. 979-8765610442. Paper $11.99. 979-8765623824. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.     SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Jason Reynolds: Groundbreaking Storyteller by Ty Chapman for series review. Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library