Obuobi, Laura. Black Gold. London Ladd, Illus. Harper, 10/2022. [36]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool – 3. $18.99. 978-0-06-301576-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Using the rich earth, the universe creates the first Black child in this original creation myth. This celebration of Black children uses a poetic text such as, “She adorned you with eyes like black star sapphires.” The deeply colored illustrations resemble gouache paintings, using rich blues and other colors, and have a quality that almost glows. This celebration of the Black child will surely be popular and help families communicate their pride and love for their children.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Alexander, Kwame. Booked. Dawud, Anyabwile, Illus. The Crossover (Graphic Novel) Series; bk. 2. Clarion, 08/2022. 315pp. Graphic. GRADES 6 – 9. $24.99. 978-0-35-816181-3 PB. $12.99. 978-0-35-816182-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Enjoy a glimpse of Nick Hall’s life as readers experience his obsession with soccer, difficulties with parental separation and home life, neutral outlook on school work and reading, and a possible romantic interest, in this graphic novel adaptation of Kwame Alexander’s 2016 novel of the same title. Anyabwile’s use of two-color illustrations (black and spearmint green) showcases the action—on the field, in school, and anywhere else. Mixing up the font sizes and styles helps the free verse text to weave around illustrations, providing a boost to the already interesting story, which races along. This illustrated, action-filled format increases accessibility for struggling readers, and provides a different look at the characters and story. Nick and family appear to be Black, his best friend is mixed Chinese and African, and many of the other kids appear to be non-white. Although Nick is finishing up eighth grade and looking forward to high school, this title should work well in any middle grade collection.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Berry, Julie. Burglars and Bluestockings. Wishes and Wellingtons Series; bk. 3. Sourcebooks, 03/2023. 368pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 7 $16.99. 978-1-7282-3152-5. ADDITIONAL

Maeve Merritt’s misadventures with magical objects take her and chums, Alice and Tommy, to Oxford, where the campus is torn apart by the contentious election to allow women to receive degrees. The injustice deepens when an undergraduate friend, and cricket hero, is wrongly accused of academic misconduct and may lose her scholarship. As always, central to the series is the constant threat of the theft of the trio’s acerbic genie, Mermeros. Multiple plotlines slightly encumber the satisfying conclusion to this most British adventure trilogy. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Theule, Larissa. Concrete: From the Ground Up. Steve Light, Illus. Candlewick, 09/2022. [48]pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES 1 – 5. $18.99. 978-1-5362-1250-1. OUTSTANDING.

In this celebration of the building material concrete, readers will discover what it is, how it is made, and how it revolutionized building throughout history. The narrative is lively, describing notable construction projects including many in Ancient Rome, such as aquaducts and the Colosseum; Machu Pichu in Peru; and Germany’s Berlin Wall. The format is quite inviting, with a paragraph of text per page, set onto softly colored, cartoon-like, watercolor-and-ink illustrations, with dialogue balloons adding more information. The book ends with a bibliography of items used in the research, most for adults. A fine example of narrative nonfiction for young readers.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Ferry, Beth. Crab & Snail: The Tidal Pool of Cool. Jared Chapman, Illus. Crab & Snail Series; bk. 2. Harper Alley, 09/2022. 64pp. Graphic. GRADES 1 – 2. $12.99. 978-0-06-296216-4. ADDITIONAL.

Seashore pals Crab and Snail meet up with a gull, barnacles, and a starfish while exploring the beach, but they feel too uncool to talk to the starfish. They use costumes and sunglasses to try and look cool, but finally attract the starfish and other friends once they make a trampoline out of seaweed. Although the story doesn’t make total sense, the format will grab readers. The full-color cartoon artwork is set in panels with dialogue balloons that will attract a wide age range. The text also includes a few facts on seashore life and plenty of jokes, making this a solid entry in the series.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

McNeil, Gretchen. Dig Two Graves. Hyperion, 04/2022. 342pp. Fiction. GRADES 9 – 12. $17.99. 978-1-368-07284-7. ADDITIONAL.

Seventeen-year-old Neve was betrayed by her best (and only) friend last school year, leaving her isolated and alone. She reluctantly goes to a two-week GLAM summer camp where she meets a girl who suggests a complicated tit-for-tat murder pact in order to take care of the “problem” that each of them has. Neve’s former best friend then turns up dead, and mysterious texts and phone calls reveal that the murder pact is for real and Neve is now unexpectedly supposed to follow through on her end. McNeil builds in many unexpected plot twists, creating an ever more complicated situation with an unexpected ending. A great story for mystery seekers who prefer less blood and more action from the main character.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

FGTeeV. FGTeeV: The Switcheroo Rescue! Michael Diaz Rivas, Illus. FGTeev Series; bk. 3. Harper Alley, 04/2022. [204]pp. Graphic. GRADES 4 – 8. $19.99. 978-0-06-309300-3. ADDITIONAL.

Third in the series based on the real Skylander family, the FGTeeV family loves video games and are stars on YouTube. In a plot similar to Mary Rodgers’ Freaky Friday (Harper, 1972) that was also a popular film in 2003, the father Duddz and neighbor boy Cecil switch places while playing a video game. The story’s wacky humor matches well with the full-color, energetic, cartoon-paneled artwork, filled with dialogue balloons and sound effect words. Unfortunately, the mom is portrayed as a nagging buzzkill. The four FGTeeV kids, three boys and one girl, are all into video games but just play supporting roles here since neighbor Cecil gets most of the action. It is most likely that fans of the YouTube series or previous books are the target audience.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Ortega, Claribel A. Frizzy. Rose Bousamra, Illus. First Second, 10/2022. 215pp. Graphic. GRADES 3 – 8. $21.99. 978-1-250-25962-2. OUTSTANDING.

Domincan American Marlene hates her Sunday salon day with her mom. At the salon her natural coils are brushed and heated until they’re straight or tamed into “good” curls that are soft and long. Marlene begins to struggle with her mother’s obsession with her hair, and with the help of her Tia Ruby, she begins to appreciate her beauty as she embraces wearing her hair naturally. Marlene and her family are portrayed with brown skin and coiled brown hair. Bousamra’s art does an excellent job of showing the visual differences between hair textures among the characters. The debate about what hair is “good hair” is rooted in anti-Blackness, and is gently explained for a younger audience by Marlene’s Tia Ruby who, compared to Mama, is much more comfortable in her Blackness—she has a nose piercing and wears her coils tied back in a loose ponytail. Without being overly preachy, this heartwarming story teaches readers to love the skin they’re in.

Solia Martinez-Jacobs—Bret Harte Middle School, Oakland 

Alkaf, Hanna. Hamra and the Jungle of Memories. Harper, 03/2023. 400pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 8. $19.99. 978-0-06-320795-0. OUTSTANDING.

On the morning of her thirteenth birthday, Hamra doesn’t feel chosen—at least not in a good way. She’s stuck caring for her demanding grandparents, while her front-liner parents help other Malaysians through the pandemic. But when she angrily enters the jungle to fetch herbs and flouts all the rules, the story choses her. Soon she and her best friend Ilya are doing a weretiger’s bidding, unravelling riddles, entering legends, and battling the supernatural. Alkaf has written an exciting fantasy adventure, incorporating Malaysian folktales with multi-dimensional and memorable characters in a world with richly described details. And, at the heart of the story, is a profound exploration of the tension between growth and loss shared by adolescents and the elderly. While the book is long, there is nothing extraneous or didactic. The Malaysian setting and details about Hamra’s Muslim faith add immeasurable interest. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Grimm, Gavin and Kyle Lukoff. If You’re a Kid Like Gavin: A True Story of a Young Trans Activist. J Yang, Illus. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegan. 07/2022. 40pp. Picture Book. GRADES Kindergarten – 5. OUTSTANDING. $18.99. 978-0-0630-5756-2.

In this picture book for young readers Gavin Grimm (a white transgender boy) tells how he became a young activist when his high school refused to let him use the boys bathroom. The book opens by asking “What are some choices that kids get to make?” Gavin gives us some examples, but emphasizes that he did not choose who he is, only whether or not he tells people who he is. After being outed as transgender by a teacher at his school, Gavin is subjected to bullying and gossip and is told to stop using the boys bathroom at the school. Instead, Gavin chose to speak up and fight for himself and for other trans kids. This compelling modern civil rights story will inspire young readers of all genders. The storytelling is simple without being condescending and is well-paced for reading aloud. The artwork is cartoon-style portraits that capture serious feelings in simple expressions. The colors are bright with a palette that leans heavily on the trans pride flag colors of light blue, pink, and white. This is an outstanding book that should be included in all children’s libraries because of its unflinching support of transgender kids.

Rachael Reiley — Oakland Unified School District, Hillcrest Elementary K-8

Johnson, Dinah. Indigo Dreaming. Anna Cunha, Illus. Harper, 10/2022. [36]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Kindergarten – 2. $18.99. 978-0-06-308020-1. ADDITIONAL.

A young Black girl who lives on the South Carolina coast wonders if there is “another girl like me, who spends every day beside the sea.” She imagines another girl who also likes peanuts, braids sweetgrass for baskets, and searches for shells. The occasionally rhyming text focuses on her imagination and celebration of the Black diaspora, and the author’s note at the end describes how certain communities have African roots in common. Brazilian artist Cunha creates softly focused illustrations that resemble pastel chalk artwork, showing the young girl and her family living at the beach.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Stocker, Shannon. Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion. Devon Holzwarth, Illus. Dial. 04/2022. 40pp. Biography. GRADES 1 – 4. $18.99. 978-0-593-10969-4. OUTSTANDING.

Evelyn Glennie grew up in Scotland surrounded by music, playing the piano and clarinet from a young age and dreaming of becoming a professional musician. When she started losing her hearing from a degenerative disorder, her doctor declared “she’s never going to be able to play music.” Evelyn soon realized that she could feel
the vibrations, rhythm, and emotions of the percussionists in the orchestra—and that she wanted to
play those instruments. In sharing Evelyn’s story, Stocker encourages readers to consider whether music
can “still swirl and whirl” even though “your ears can’t hear the strum, or hum, or thrum of a melody.”
Readers discover that there are more ways to listen than just using your ears, and will cheer for Evelyn
when she is accepted as a student at London’s Royal Academy of Music. Holzwarth’s watercolor,
gouache, and colored-pencil illustrations portray the swirling energy and emotions of the music and the
story. The layout, design, and word placement effectively convey the rhythm of the engaging text.
Evelyn “received the prestigious Queen’s Commendation for both music and academic excellence” at
the Royal Academy of Music, and went on to reach great heights as a musician, including two Grammy
Awards. In the author’s note, Stocker explains her own disability, and how Glennie’s work and
achievements inspire her when she faces obstacles. A captivating, important story of a deaf girl
smashing barriers and insisting that we listen using all our senses.

Mary Ann Scheuer—Independent

Fajardo, Kat. Miss Quinces: A Graphic Novel. Kat Fajardo, Illus./Mariana Azzi, Colorist. Scholastic/Graphix. 05/2022. 234 [+18]pp. Graphic. GRADES 4-8. OUTSTANDING. $24.99. 978-1-338-53558-7. PB $8.89. 978-1-338-53559-4.

Second-generation Honduran American Suyapa (Sue) hopes to spend her summer with her best friends at camp, but a trip to visit family in rural Honduras derails her plans. When Sue discovers her family has planned a surprise quinceañera—a traditional ceremony celebrated in Latinx culture when a girl turns fifteen—she’s upset. Sue never wanted a quince, but she makes a deal with her mother: if she does all she’s asked to for the quince, she can go to camp with her friends. Kat Fajardo won a Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor award for her bright and colorful illustrations that perfectly embody the vibrancy of Latinx culture. Sue is portrayed as a tomboy, and the image of her in a frilly pink princess dress is especially effective. The emphasis on the importance of family and tradition is present throughout the story, and Suyapa’s interactions with her chaotic, but loving, family are shown realistically in all their funny, heartwarming, and sometimes gross, glory. Color is also used to normalize bilingualism in the text: Sue’s family speaks to her in Spanish, represented by blue font, while she responds in English (black font). Released simultaneously in Spanish, Srta. Quinces also uses the font color to depict what language is being spoken, with English shown in blue font and Spanish in the default black. Sue and her family are portrayed as having various shades of brown skin, with dark hair in a variety of textures. Back matter includes information on the quinceañera tradition and ceremony, as well as photos of the author at her quince.

Solia Martinez-Jacobs — Bret Harte Middle School, Oakland

Grant, Shauntay. My Fade is Fresh. Kitt Thomas, Illus. Penguin Workshop. 11/2022. 32pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool – 2. $17.99. 978-0-593-38708-5. OUTSTANDING.

Earning four starred reviews, this team creates a fresh and fun story about a kid heading into the barbershop for a new look. The twist here is that the child is a young Black girl and despite all the styling suggestions that she gets along the way: “A perm, a press, a trim, a chop?” Maybe a fro, cornrows, apuff, or twists? She sticks to her decision to get “the freshest fade up on the block.” The rhymes are cute but what really stands out is the stunning and colorful artwork showing a variety of Black women, girls, boys, and men getting and giving different hair styles and suggestions. The artwork is explosively colorful and will delight young readers of all races and genders.

Rachael Reiley—Oakland Unified School District, Hillcrest Elementary K-8.

Faulkner, Matt. My Nest of Silence. Matt Faulkner, Illus. Atheneum, 10/2022. 373pp. Fiction. GRADES 5-8. $18.99. 978-1-5344-7762-9. OUTSTANDING.

In alternating chapters from two perspectives, Mari and Mak tell the story of when their family was sent to the Manzanar Japanese Internment Camp during World War II. The narrative prose chapters are told in first person from the point of view of twelve-year-old Mari, who decides to stop speaking until her older brother Mak returns from serving in Europe in the Army’s 442nd all-Japanese American unit. Mak’s chapters are presented as graphic novel comic pages, using pencil sketches, dialogue balloons, and Mak’s letters home to his sister. Both sections are compelling, with Mari’s brief prose chapters, and Mak’s dynamic cartoon artwork and text, describing the racial injustice both are made to endure. This unique dual format makes for an engaging novel that clearly describes both experiences. The author’s note at the end explains this is based on the experiences of his great aunt. This book has California-specific content.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Eagar, Lindsay. Patron Thief of Bread. Candlewick, 05/2022. 448pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 9. $19.99. 978-1-5362-0468-1. OUTSTANDING.

Eight-year-old Duck lives with a raggedy band of pickpockets and petty thieves, all children, who call themselves the Crowns. While barely scraping by in the ruins of an unfinished cathedral, Gnat, the group’s leader, devises a clever scheme. With Duck hired on as the baker’s apprentice, she can steal both bread and money to keep the Crowns fed and clothed. In a setting suggesting a good-sized town in the Middle Ages, the author has created a magical tale of love and loyalty told in turn by an unnamed narrator and a very opinionated gargoyle. Richly described with distinctive characters and settings, this imaginative tale pulls readers into a very believable “once upon a time.”

Nora Hale—Retired

Beck, Miya. Pearl Hunter, The. Balzer + Bray, 02/2023. 320pp. Fiction. GRADES 6-9. $17.99. 978-0-06-323819-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Kai and Kishi are identical twins and pearl divers in a time and culture where both are despised. Kishi’s sweet nature, compliant demeanor, and tendency to flirt with the mayor’s son may allow her to be an exception. Certainly, those qualities add to Kai’s annoyance during a competitive dive that turns tragic. Kai’s guilt and desire to restore her sister take her deep into the world of Japanese legend. Readers will be delighted by Kai’s bold, impulsive, and clever actions as she negotiates bandits, warlords, dragon kings, and fox spirits. While the story is full of adventure and magic, a central portion—when Kai is trapped at the warlord’s palace—slows the pace. A big twist and surprise ending will leave readers hoping for more. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy — Retired 

Roberts, Barbara Carroll. Rose Named Peace, A : How Francis Meilland Created a Flower of Hope for a World at War. Bagram Ibatoulline, Illus. Candlewick, 05/2022. [46]pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES 2 – 5. $18.99. 978-1-5362-0843-6. ADDITIONAL.

This picture book biography explains to readers how one French man spent his life trying to grow the most beautiful rose. Experience his years of cross-pollinating roses, waiting to see what happens–including the numerous obstacles and countless failures–until one day a rose grows like none other. But this was 1939 and war was beginning, so he hurriedly sent cuttings to rose growers around Europe and in the U.S., hoping to spread his new rose. Robert’s writing shows what a miracle it is to have this now worldwide rose variety, named “Peace,” while Ibatoulline’s detailed watercolor illustrations depict each stage of Meilland’s life, his efforts, and the beautiful results.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Lippincott, Rachael and Alyson Derrick. She Gets the Girl. Simon & Schuster, 04/2022. 384pp. Fiction. GRADES 9 – 12. $18.99. 978-1-5344-9379-7. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Alternating narrators Molly and Alex are two openly gay girls who meet when they start college together. Alex is trying to have a long-distance relationship with her girlfriend, but she’s such a flirt that she seems unable to make a full commitment. Molly is desperate to date her high school crush but her social anxiety and relationship with her mom are getting in the way. Alex comes up with a plan to help Molly date her crush, which she hopes will also impress her girlfriend, but of course they end up falling for each other in the process. Alex is white and low income, struggling to support her alcoholic mother; Molly is Korean and in the last third of the book becomes aware of her mother’s discomfort with her own race and how that’s affecting her own identity. Though a bit predictable, this is still a fun and entertaining romance, where being gay is never the focus, it’s all about who gets the girl.

Sarah Kaminker—San Francisco Public Library

De Regil, Tania. Something About Grandma. Tania De Regil, Illus. Candlewick, 08/2022. [40]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Kindergarten – 3. $18.99. 978-1-5362-0194-9. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Julia visits her grandma, who lives in Mexico, and experiences her grandma’s intuition and love before her parents pick her up, with her new baby brother in tow. The text is straightforward, describing this unique summer vacation where Julia gets to know her grandma. The watercolor-and-pencil illustrations indicate that the family is Latinx, and grandma’s home and garden have a modern feel. Although the story is not particularly eventful, it is one many children will relate to.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Yacowitz, Caryn. Shoshi’s Shabbat. Kevin Hawkes, Illus. Candlewick. 10/2022. [42]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Kindergarten – 3. HIGH ADDITIONAL. $18.99. 978-1-5362-1654-7.

Shoshi is an ox who begins the book as part of a Jewish family, but is sold to a nonJewish family and through her actions teaches them about the value of Shabbat, the weekly day of rest. The text is simple, with snippets of dialogue that keep the story engaging and an author’s note that explains the story’s origins. The book is set approximately two thousand years ago in Jerusalem, and the illustrations show characters with medium brown skin to reflect the setting. The acrylic paint illustrations highlight Shoshi as the main character, with funny facial expressions that emphasize the descriptive text. The text and illustrations create a cohesive narrative that celebrates Shabbat and the need for all creatures to rest.

Lillian Whithaus — Temple Isaiah Library

Fajardo, Kat. Srta. Quinces. Kat Fajardo, Illus./Mariana Azzi, Colorist. Spanish Translation edited by
Maria Dominguez and Abel Berriz. Scholastic en Español. 05/2022. 234 [+18]pp. Graphic. GRADES 3-8. OUTSTANDING. PB $12.99. 978-1-338-53565-5.

Please see Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo for the review of the English Language version.

Solia Martinez-Jacobs — Bret Harte Middle School, Oakland

Schrempp, Skyler. Three Strike Summer. McElderry, 08/2022. 308pp. Fiction. GRADES 4 – 7. $17.99. 978-1-5344-9914-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Gloria Mae and her family move from the devastated dust bowl of Oklahoma to California, and get work as migrant fruit pickers. The title refers to Gloria’s love of baseball as well as her father’s leadership in a strike against the orchard for unfair labor practices, such as high prices at the company store and mandatory rental of shacks for the laborers. The plot lines about the historical issues of the Depression and Gloria’s participation in the local children’s baseball team are both interesting, although the narrative is repetitive at times. All of the characters appear to be white, even though there were people of color at these labor camps at the time. Reminiscent of the Newbery Honor classic Blue Willow by Doris Gates (Viking, 1940) but not as memorable or inclusive of various ethnicities. Review based on an ARC. This book has California-specific content.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Clarke, Jane. Tiptoe Tiger. Britta Teckentrup, Illus. Candlewick/Nosy Crow, 11/2022. [24]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool – 2. $17.99. 978-1-5362-2750-5.  HIGH ADDITIONAL.

In this interactive picture book, a tiger cub wants to play before bedtime, but is urged several times to “Tiptoe, tiger,” so as not to frighten the animals she is inviting to play. Readers are encouraged to “flutter their arms,” or stretch, count the owls, or whisper the repeated title, making this a great choice for storytime. The deeply saturated colors of the graphic-style illustrations will be visible to a large crowd, and almost glow in the dark, dominated by bright orange, black, red, and green. Fans of Eric Carle’s From Head to Toe (Harper, 1997) will appreciate this.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Szamosi, Sofia. Unretouchable. Sofia Szamosi, Illus. Graphic Universe, 09/2022. 152pp. Graphic. GRADES 9 – 12. PLB $29.32. 978-1-7284-0166-9. ADDITIONAL.

Olive spends the summer between high school and college as an intern at a fashion magazine, learning to retouch photos to make the models seem perfect—skinnier and prettier. This job, and the impact of social media, present an ethical dilemma for Olive. Is she perpetuating the unhealthy obsession with looks and weight, which the fashion industry is a big part of? Olive’s story is interesting but she is privileged; her mom gets her the internship and she lives in a nice apartment in Manhattan. There are few characters of color and no mention of the bias against models who are not light-skinned people of color. The b&w cartoon artwork uses bold black graphics with white and helpfully illustrate the plot, with dialogue balloons. Teens interested in fashion will enjoy this and maybe learn something.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Perkins, Lynne Rae. Violet & Jobie in the Wild. Lynne Rae Perkins, Illus. Greenwillow, 09/2022. 240pp. Fiction. GRADES 3 – 6. $16.99. 978-0-06-249969-1. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

When mouse siblings Violet and Jobie are trapped after playing “the cheese game” (recognizable as a spring-loaded trap), they are taken from their comfortable human home and dropped off in a local state park. Confused and lost, the two young mice must learn how to survive, find shelter, and figure out which other animals to trust. The charming story is sprinkled with frequent b&w illustrations. Short chapters with plenty of adventures keep the plot moving briskly. This would make a particularly good family readaloud, encouraging readers to consider the world from a different perspective.

Mary Ann Scheuer—Independent

Underwood, Deborah. Walter Had a Best Friend. Sergio Ruzzier, Illus. Beach Lane, 10/2022. 40pp. Picture Book. GRADES. Preschool – 2. $18.99. 978-1-5344-7700-1. OUTSTANDING.

Walter, a rodent, finds himself on the outside after his best friend Xavier, a duck, makes a new friend. Minimal text and expressive illustrations capture the trajectory of their relationship, from being best friends “until . . . quietly . . . slowly . . . they weren’t.” Walter’s body language provides visual clues, including his fading smile and uncurled tail. Anyone who has ever lost a friend will recognize Walter’s “big hole in his heart” feeling. There is no happy reconciliation or message about new friends making room for old ones. Instead, Walter experiences anger and hurt but finds a way to move forward, especially after he meets a badger named Ollie. Quirky animal characters and a delightfully odd setting add a light touch to this well-paced, emotionally resonant story.

Jenny Andrus—Independent

Lunde, Darrin. Whose Egg Is That? Kelsey Oseid, Illus. Whose Is That? Series; bk. 3. Charlesbridge, 01/2023. [32]pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES Preschool – 3. $17.99. 978-1-62354-329-7. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

In the latest in Lunde’s series of informational picture books (Whose Footprint Is That?, 2019), the reader is repeatedly asked “Whose Egg Is That?” followed by the answer and a little more information about the animal. For example, an egg is shown “resting on two feet,” and the answer is an Emperor Penguin, adding that the father protects the egg by keeping it on top of his feet. Dinosaur, turtle, platypus, and a few other animals are depicted along with several birds. The full-color gouache artwork clearly shows what the egg looks like, as well as the animal and its habitat. The book ends with two pages of simple facts on eggs, and works very well as an interactive readaloud.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Banks, Kate. Winter Bird, The. Suzie Mason, Illus. Candlewick, 10/2022. [32]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Kindergarten – 1. $18.99. 978-1-5362-1568-7. ADDITIONAL.

What is winter, and snow, to a bird who normally flies south? Due to a healing wing, a nightingale experiences its first cold winter, with snow and a blizzard. Luckily the other animals help the small bird out, offering advice, food, and shelter. Banks’ soft, gentle tale demonstrates how co-operation and helpfulness can help one survive an unknown and difficult situation. Mason’s muted digital illustrations portray the wonder of changing seasons as well as the simple acts of kindness that enable the nightingale to survive.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Rubin, Susan Goldman. Women Who Built Hollywood, The: 12 Trailblazers in Front of and Behind the Camera. Calkins Creek, 05/2023. 207pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES 6 – 12. $18.99. 978-1-66268-010-6. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

In this collective biography, women who influenced the growth of the Hollywood film business are profiled, including actors Mary Pickford, Lillian Gish, Louise Beavers, and Anna May Wong, as well as director Dorothy Arzner, screenwriter Frances Marion, and filmmaker Marion Wong. Each person receives an engaging chapter illustrated with b&w photos, and the introduction and conclusion explain the focus of the book. Each biographical essay clearly explains why the person is significant, and gives a nice summary of their life and achievements. This works as a solid introduction to the growth of the California film industry in the 1920s and early ‘30s, and includes several people of color, although there is one error. It says that after Hattie McDaniel, “The next Black actress to win an Academy Award …” was Halle Berry in 2002, when it was actually Whoopi Goldberg in 1991. Rubin has written many popular biographies and social histories, and this is a nice addition to her work. Back matter includes a bibliography of material used in research, a list of places to see these innovators’ works, an index, and extensive source notes. This book has California-specific content.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool