Joy Shioshita

Lerwill, Ben. Stone Age Beasts. Grahame Baker-Smith, Illus. Candlewick, 11/2023. 48pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-5362-3134-2. GRADES 3–5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.       Satisfyingly fierce and intimidating animal portraits stare down from prehistoric times, providing facts and also inspiring [continue reading]

Harrison, Vashti. Big. Vashti Harrison, Illus. Little Brown, 05/2023. [60]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-0-316-35322-9. GRADES Preschool-2. OUTSTANDING.   As a young girl grows, becoming a “big girl” changes from a positive message into a hurtful [continue reading]

Brown, Lisa. Hospital Book, The. Lisa Brown, Illus. Neal Porter, 03/2023. 40pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-8234-4665-0. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Hospitals can be scary and stressful for young children. As she did with The [continue reading]

Saleh, Haya. Wild Poppies. Levine Querido, 06/2023. 176pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-64614-201-9. GRADES 7–12. ADDITIONAL.      Omar and Sufyan’s lives are forever changed as war destroys their Syrian town, tearing apart their family and nation. After [continue reading]

Rex, Adam. Story of Gumluck the Wizard, The. Adam Rex, Illus. Chronicle, 08/2023. 133pp. Fiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-7972-1323-1. GRADES 3–4. OUTSTANDING.       A naïve but earnestly helpful little wizard named Gumluck is introduced in this first [continue reading]

Brown, Keah. Secret Summer Promise, The. Levine Querido, 06/2023. 304pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-64614-173-9. GRADES 9–12. HIGH ADDITIONAL.    Andrea and her high school friends have planned out The Best Summer Ever. Of course, friend issues [continue reading]

Avila, Lorraine. Making of Yolanda La Bruja, The. Levine Querido, 04/2023. 384pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-64614-243-9. GRADES 9–12. ADDITIONAL.        Yolanda, a Black girl with Dominican Republic heritage, feels at home at her high school in [continue reading]

Brockenbrough, Martha. Frank and the Masked Cat. Jon Lau, Illus. Levine Querido, 4/2023. 50pp. Fiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-64614-242-2. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.        Frank, a house cat, swoons over a “masked cat” he spied outside while waiting [continue reading]