Griczika, Michelle. Briggs vs. the Squirrels. Tails and Tales. Lerner, 01/2025. 64pp. Fiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8765648520. Paper $12.99. 979-8765649640. GRADES 2–3. ADDITIONAL. SERIES REVIEW: Featuring anthropomorphic animals, these short chapter books include a few b&w [continue reading]
Joy Shioshita
Restless Fossil Review
Hershey, Brian. Restless Fossil. Nikki Sumipo, Illus. Camp Whispering Woods. Lerner, 1/2025. 64pp. Fiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8765648407. Paper $12.99. 979-8765649763. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL. SERIES REVIEW: Please see Haunted Deliveries by Amanda Coffin for series review. [continue reading]
Book of Riddles Review
Hershey, Brian. Book of Riddles, The. Vanessa Gutiérrez, Illus. Camp Whispering Woods. Lerner, 1/2025. 64pp. Fiction. PLB $31.99. 979-8765648414. Paper $12.99. 979-8765649770. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL. SERIES REVIEW: Please see Haunted Deliveries by Amanda Coffin for [continue reading]
Everything We Never Had Review
Ribay, Randy. Everything We Never Had. Kokila, 08/2024. 264[+8]pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5934-6141-9. GRADES 9–12. OUTSTANDING. In a character-driven family story, Bay Area author Ribay portrays four generations of Filipino American men during formative moments [continue reading]
Olivetti Review
Millington, Allie. Olivetti. Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends, 03/2024. 246[+3]pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-250-32693-5. GRADES 4–7. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Olivetti Brindle, a vintage typewriter, will go to any length to keep his beloved family together, even if that [continue reading]
Popcorn Review
Harrell, Rob. Popcorn. Penguin Random House/Dial, 09/2024. 269pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5936-9792-4. GRADES 4–7. OUTSTANDING. The pressure is on—and steadily growing—for seventh grader Andrew Yaeger, who struggles to manage his anxiety and OCD throughout a [continue reading]
Vice Principal Problem Review
Magoon, Kekla. Blue Stars: Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem. Molly Murakami, Illus. Addl. Creator Cynthia Leitich Smith. The Blue Stars. Candlewick, 03/2024. 176pp. Graphic. Trade $22.99. 978-1-5362-0499-5. Paper $12.99. 978-1-5362-2866-3. GRADES 3–6. OUTSTANDING. In [continue reading]
Circuit Review
Jiménez, Francisco. Circuit, The: Graphic Novel. Celia Jacobs, Illus. Adapted by Andrew J. Rostan. Clarion/Harper Collins, 03/2024. 227 [+6]pp. Graphic. Trade $24.99. 978-0-3583-4821-4. Paper $15.99. 978-0-3583-4822-1. GRADES 3–7. OUTSTANDING. Adapted from Francisco Jiménez’s 1998 award-winning [continue reading]