Atinuke. Too Small Tola Gets Tough. Onyinye Iwu, Illus. Too Small Tola Series. Candlewick, 03/2023. 96pp. Reader. Trade $15.99. 978-1-5362-2946-2. GRADES 1 – 3. OUTSTANDING. Beginner chapter books are usually distinguished by simple characters and [continue reading]
Melissa McAvoy
Labors of Hercules Beal, The Review
Schmidt, Gary D. Labors of Hercules Beal, The. Clarion, 05/2023. 352pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 7. $19.99 978-0-358-65963-1. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Seventh grader Hercules has a lot that sets him apart. He lives next to the [continue reading]
How Birds Sleep Review
Obuchowski, David. How Birds Sleep. Sarah Pedry, Illus. Minedition, 03/2023. [40]pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES Preschool – 3. $18.99 978-1-6626-5097-0. OUTSTANDING. Readers journey around the world discovering the different ways and places birds sleep. Richly colored gouache [continue reading]
Mighty Bite, The Review
Hale, Nathan. Mighty Bite, The. Nathan Hale, Illus. Amulet, 04/2023. [284]pp. Graphic. GRADES 3 – 7. $14.99. 978-1-4197-6553-7. OUTSTANDING. A quirky trilobite and his companion Amber (a walking whale) set out on a quest for [continue reading]
Night in the City Review
Downing, Julie. Night in the City. Julie Downing, Illus. Neal Porter, 03/2023. 40pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool-3. $18.99. 978-0-8234-5206-4. OUTSTANDING. A brown-skinned child’s schedule (asleep at night and awake during the day) is juxtaposed with [continue reading]
Elf Dog and Owl Head Review
Anderson, M. T. Elf Dog and Owl Head. Junyi Wu, Illus. Candlewick, 04/2023. 240pp. Fiction. GRADES 3 – 6. $18.99. 978-1-5362-2281-4. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Clay’s summer, stuck at home with bickering siblings and stressed parents during [continue reading]
First Time for Everything Review
Santat, Dan. First Time for Everything, A. Dan Santat, Illus. First Second, 02/2023. 320pp. Graphic. GRADES 5 – 8. $22.99. 978-1-626-72415-0. Paper $14.99. 978-1-250-85104-8. OUTSTANDING. The summer before high school, Dan’s parents send him on [continue reading]
Grounded Review
Saeed, Aisha, Huda Al-Marashi, Jamilah Thompkins Bigelow, and S.K. Ali. Grounded: A Novel. Amulet, 05/2023. 272pp. Fiction. GRADES 4 – 7. $18.99. 978-1-4197-6175-1. ADDITIONAL. Four kids who couldn’t be more different are thrown together when [continue reading]