Clendenan, Megan. Just In Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Brittany Cicchese, Illus. Charlesbridge, 10/2025. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-480-5. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL. What is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, in Norway, and why is it important? This informational picture book provides a glimpse [continue reading]
Jenny Andrus
Fireworks Review
Burgess, Matthew. Fireworks. Cátia Chien, Illus. Clarion, 05/2025. [44]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-0-0632-1672-3. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING. A dazzling presentation of an idyllic summer day, from the joy of morning’s first light to a night of impressive fireworks. Beautifully paced poetic language comes vividly alive through [continue reading]
Corruption of Hollis Brown Review
Ancrum, K. Corruption of Hollis Brown, The. Harper, 04/2025. 377 [3]pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-0632-8583-5. GRADES 9–12. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Hollis Brown lives in a town that is slowly dying, looks forward to a very limited future, and makes himself small and predictable because life is [continue reading]
Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn’t Review
Albee, Sarah. Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn’t. Chris Hsu, Illus. Charlesbridge, 03/2025. [38]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-432-4. GRADES 2–4. ADDITIONAL. Discover how the number zero (“0”) came to be used, after many centuries of not being needed. Albee traces the history of numbering systems and mathematics [continue reading]
Aliens Do Not Want to Go Home Review
Gustavson, Adam. Aliens Do Not Want to Go Home, The. Adam Gustavson, Illus. Charlesbridge, 06/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-494-2. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL. Alien kids repeatedly say that they are not ready to end their day on Earth, via insistent, familiar refrains like “It’s not even [continue reading]
Oasis Review
Guojing. Oasis. Guojing, Illus. Henry Holt / Laura Godwin, 02/2025. 151[+9]pp. Graphic. Trade $21.99. 978-1-2508-1837-9. Paper $14.99. 978-1-250-81838-6. GRADES 5–8. ADDITIONAL. Estranged from their mother, JieJie and DiDi, two young, isolated siblings wander a bleak desert to meet their daily needs. Full of exhaustion and sorrow, the [continue reading]
Ernie the Earthworm Review
Van Oosbree, Ruthie. Ernie the Earthworm. Tom Heard, Illus. Pull Ahead Readers Fiction: In the Garden. Lerner, 01/2025. 16pp. Reader. PLB $27.99. 979-8765647684. Paper $8.99. 979-8765661895. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL. SERIES REVIEW. Please see Bees Help Gardens Grow by Katherine Chu for series review. Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Composting Pie Review
Van Oosbree, Ruthie. Composting Pie. Lisa Hunt, Illus. Pull Ahead Readers Fiction: In the Garden. Lerner,01/2025. 16pp. Reader. PLB $27.99. 979-8765647677. Paper $8.99. 979-8765661888. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL. SERIES REVIEW. Please see Bees Help Gardens Grow by Katherine Chu for series review. Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library