Nilsson, Ulf. Case with a Bang, A. Gitte Spee, Illus.
Translated from the Swedish by Julia Marshall. Detective Gordon Series. Gecko, 03/2023. 113pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-7765-7487-2. GRADES 2 – 4. ADDITIONAL.

The entire woodland police force (retired Detective Gordon (a toad), an eager young squirrel (Helmer), and Chief Detective Buffy (a mouse) work to protect the local animal citizens. They work to determine what caused a loud crash during the night and who did what. The mystery turns into not just a whodunit, but a how to help everyone get along, including scary-looking strangers. Spee’s sporadic colored˗pencil˗and˗ink illustrations assist the reader with glimpses into the setting and animal actions at key parts of the story. A light mystery with a few tense scenes that mix with humor to produce a simple early chapter book.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Greenwald, Lisa. Absolutely, Positively Natty. HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen, 05/2023. 272pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-06-306272-6. GRADES 6 – 7.   HIGH ADDITIONAL.       

There is a lot wrong with Natty’s life: her depressed mom has moved out and her unemployed dad barely gets off the couch. Natty’s had to move in with her grandparents in her dad’s economically depressed hometown and start middle school again without her best friend. But Natty is convinced that a positive attitude and some effort on her part can turn it all around. Her relentlessly energetic efforts to inject good vibes into a school on the verge of a teacher walkout and filled with snarky, troubled, and toxic teens is cringeworthy, hilarious, and heartwarming. The mix of interior monologue, text messages, and dialog feels just right. Like a middle school Ted Lasso, readers will find themselves rooting for Natty while worrying about a kid smoothing over the awful and taking on the impossible. Most characters present as white; Natty’s family is Jewish. Review based on an Advance Reader Copy.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Bayarri, Jordi. Ada Lovelace and the Start of Computers. Jordi Bayarri, Illus. Translated from the Spanish by Sofia Huitron Martinez. Graphic Science Biographies Series. Lerner / Graphic Universe, 02/2023. 40pp. Graphic. PLB $30.68. 978-1-7284-4291-4. Paper $10.99. 978-1-7284-7826-5. GRADES 3 – 5. ADDITIONAL.   

SERIES REVIEW:  These graphic novel biographies provide a quick introduction to nine scientists, though this reviewer only examined four of the nine. Each scientist’s life and his or her historical importance in their field is explained to readers via personal interactions and conversations, from what started them on their path on up to their final years. Although brief, much is covered as the years move along; sometimes the time leaps are discernable, other times it takes a few panes before realizing that the years have advanced. Time periods, places, other people, as well as their discoveries and experiences are easy to understand via Bayarri’s illustrations and dialogue, all of which shows readers what life was like and challenges they faced. Useful for middle elementary readers learning about scientists or about how scientific discoveries happened.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Jarvis. Bear and Bird: The Picnic and Other Stories. Jarvis, Illus. Candlewick, 05/2023. 62pp. Reader. Trade $15.99. 978-1-5362-2832-8. GRADES Kindergarten – 2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.       

Bird and Bear are best friends, but like all friends they make mistakes, unintentionally hurt each other’s feelings, and suffer bad moods. In four humorous short stories their commitment to each other carries them through the rough spots. Digitally rendered rounded illustrations mix painterly watercolor washes with strong outlines and pops of color. Some tricky spelling and a few compound words make this more suitable for advanced beginners.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Selznick, Brian. Big Tree.
Brian Selznick, Illus.
Scholastic Press, 04/2023. 528pp. Fiction.
Trade $32.99. 978-1-338-18063-3.
GRADES 3 – 8. OUTSTANDING.

Caldecott winner Selznick returns with another illustrated novel to tell a story that can be experienced a
couple of ways. Without reading the back matter first, the reader is taken on an epic and often
humorous adventure of two orphaned brother and sister sycamore seedlings who have lost their
mother due to a forest fire and must find their own home to lay down roots. Readers see the world from
the the seedlings’ limited perspectives. The Afterword, which describes the cutting-edge science behind
each personified character and the Cretaceous-era setting, turns the story into a parable or allegory
about how all life forms are interdependent with each other for survival. The nearly 300 pages of pencil-
on-watercolor˗paper illustrations provide b&w soft-focus visuals that range in perspective from single-
celled organisms to outer space, and intersperse with the text to continue the storyline. The story is full of heart and love, and ends with hope as the Old One (Earth) explains how she will go on, but all living beings have roles to play in protecting life on earth.

Cindy Gullikson—Joaquin Miller School, Oakland Unified School District

Ayoade, Richard. Book That No One Wanted to Read, The. Tor Freeman, Illus. Walker / Candlewick, 03/2023. 108pp.  Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5362-2216-6. GRADES 3 – 5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.      

What makes a book a book, and why do people read what books contain? This and many other fascinating tidbits about what’s inside a book are explored as this book explains the importance of books being read, since this one has never been opened before. Readers will be fascinated by this story that is “written” by a book, which is telling the story to the reader who picked it off of a hidden, dusty, lonely library shelf.  Through the combined use of changing fonts (types, sizes, and orientations) and many slightly colored, farcical illustrations, this story propels itself into the reader’s mind—possibly via telepathy? Humorous and easy to read, this story is sure to delight those who can suspend disbelief  as they experience this book.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Gibson, David. Changing World: Cold Data for a Warming Planet. Gibson, David, Illus. Cicada, 04/2023. [106]pp. Non-Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-80066-028-1.  GRADES 6 – 12. ADDITIONAL.         

Global warming and climate change are the focus of this book filled with infographics on the topic. The text is brief, so readers will need to bring some background information to the experience to understand the colorful graphs and charts that make up the book. Each spread describes a specific subject, such as plastic in the ocean, using a few sentences and boldly colored graphs and symbols. Originally published in the UK in 2022, the U.S. version retained British spellings and metric system measurements. Report writers can use this as supplementary material. To make this more useful, later editions should include an index and page numbers for those doing research.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

McCullough, Joy. Enter the Body.
Dutton, 03/2023. 336pp. Fiction.
Trade $18.99. 978-0-593-40675-5.
GRADES 9 – 12. OUTSTANDING.

Enter the Body opens in the trap room of a theater, the bodies of Shakespeare’s murdered, beaten, and
strangled heroines falling around the reader, who immediately feels a claustrophobic sense of doom and
déjà vu. A brief, authorial narrative transitions into short, powerful blank verse poems as Juliet, Ophelia, 9
and Cordelia, among others, begin to share and connect their stories and violent ends, and to comfort
and confront one another. Though some of the connecting text can be didactic at times, the overall
impression of the book is a chorus of anger and awakening that compels the reader to examine their
own experience of Shakespeare, as well as their own views of women and violence. The voices and verse
forms are complex and distinctive, the individual heroines compelling, and the theatrical directions are
unique in making the reader feel the additional rhythm of theatrical performance overlaying the
personal narratives and re-imaginings of Shakespeare’s well-known dramas.

Lesley Mandros Bell—Unaffiliated

Cordell, Matthew. Evergreen. Matthew Cordell, Illus. Feiwel & Friends, 02/2023. 48pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-2503-1717-9. GRADES Preschool – 2. OUTSTANDING.

When Mama tells Evergreen to bring an acorn filled with healing soup to sick Granny Oak, the fearful young squirrel is quite reluctant. With a nod to Little Red Riding Hood, the gentle story follows Evergreen as she dons her red shawl and travels warily through Buckthorn Forest, meeting a variety of animals and having adventures along the way. Expressive sketches with soft earth tones provide the perfect complement to language that rolls right off the tongue: “Evergreen’s teeth rattled! Her fur blew back. She nearly toppled over.” Divided into six sections, the humorous tale is longer than a typical picture book, but non-stop action and delightful plot twists will keep children entranced. Recommended for small groups and one-on-one storytimes, and especially for children who are anxious or fearful. Like Evergreen, they may discover they are far braver than they suppose.

Jenny Andrus, Independent

Eager, Lindsay. Family Fortuna, The. Candlewick, 03/2023. 389pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-7636-9235-3. GRADES 10 – 12. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

With vivid and sensual description, Eager introduces the reader to the fabulous and insular world of the Family Fortuna circus in the late 1800s, a show that includes three siblings with wildly different and strange abilities. While chapters are narrated by different characters, the main perspective of the story is that of Avita Fortuna, whose beaked and feathered face delight her ringmaster father Arturo with its power to fascinate and horrify audiences, but who is trying to define herself outside the lurid posters her father loves. Avita’s sister, brother, and mother are all similarly trying to set themselves against Arturo’s restrictive plans for their lives. Eager is remarkably open in the depiction of adolescent sexuality, and images of seduction and desire add an element of depth to an interesting yet inconsistent story.

Lesley Mandros Bell — Unaffiliated

Bayarri, Jordi. Galileo Galilei and the Movement of the Planets. Jordi Bayarri, Illus. Translated from the Spanish by Patricia Ibars and John Wright. Graphic Science Biographies Series. Lerner / Graphic Universe, 02/2023. 40pp. Graphic. PLB $30.68. 978-1-7284-4289-1. Paper $10.99. 978-1-7284-7824-1. GRADES 3 – 5. ADDITIONAL.  

Please see Ada Lovelace and the Start of Computers by Jorid Bayarri for the series review.                                                            

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Todd, Traci N. Holding Her Own : The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes. Shannon Wright, Illus. Orchard, 01/2023. 48pp. Biography. Trade $21.99. 978-1-338-30590-6. GRADES 2 – 5. OUTSTANDING.

Meet stylish Jackie Ormes, journalist, philanthropist, and creative force, who in 1937 became the first Black woman to publish a nationally syndicated comic strip. Jackie’s work appeared for almost two decades in Black-owned newspapers, with her most notable comic creations,Torchy Brown and Patty-Jo, giving voice to injustice and discrimination in slyly humorous panels. Exemplifying “Jackie joy,” the story’s mixed-media artwork includes collage, comic panels, speech bubbles, and pop art. The lively illustrations and an informative narrative provide a unique window into the life of a notable mid-20th century Black American female artist. Helpful back matter includes author and artist notes, examples of Jackie’s comics, and a selected bibliography.

Jenny Andrus—Independent

Foster, Craig, and Ross Frylinck. Journey Under the Sea, A. HarperCollins / Clarion, 10/2022. 56pp. Non-Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-358-67786-4. GRADES Kindergarten – 3. ADDITIONAL.

This non-fiction photo book takes the reader into the sea at the tip of South Africa. Text and dual-page photos show the fish, animals, and sea creatures that are living there. The large photos of octopi, sea slugs, sharks, and other sea life will delight many young readers, but the text describing what’s being seen is less inspiring. The additional information with smaller versions of each of the photos in the back matter is more interesting than the main text. Also included is a note from the authors about the Sea Change project that they co-founded.

Rachael Reiley — Hillcrest K-8 Oakland Unified School District

Nicholas, Jamar. Leon the Extraordinary
Bonia Rosado, Illus.
Leon Series.
Scholastic / Graphix, 10/2022. 267pp. Graphic.
Paper $12.99. 978-1-338-74415-6.
GRADES 3 – 6. ADDITIONAL.

Although Leon dreams of having special powers like some of the kids and adults he knows who
shape shift or fly, his attempts tend to flop. This Black fifth grader has quite the imagination and a life
very different from our own lives, which Nicholas’s fast-paced plot and boldly˗colored action scenes
demonstrate. After he ends up stopping a plot to take over the school and the town by turning all the
kids with cell phones into zombies, Leon learns to believe in himself and is ready for more super
adventures. A different kind of superhero story, with somewhat regular kids showing how anyone can
make a difference.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Markarian, Margie. Lions. Go Wild! Series. National Geographic / Nat Geo Kids. 03/2023. 48pp. Non-Fiction. Trade $9.99. 978-1-4263-7354-1. GRADES Kindergarten – 3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

This National Geographic entry-level photo book shows bright photos of African and Asian lions with simple descriptions of their habitat, anatomy, life cycle, and other facts. Each page contains one or two simple descriptive sentences making the books perfect for early and reluctant readers. Back matter
includes ways to help lion conservation, a matching game, tips and activities for parents and caregivers, and a glossary of terms.

Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest K-8 Oakland Unified School District

Bates, Janet Costa. Llamas, Iguanas, and My Very Best Friend. Gladys Jose, Illus. Rica Baptista Series. Candlewick, 10/2022. 117pp. Fiction. Trade $16.99. 978-1-5362-1630-1. GRADES 3 – 5. ADDITIONAL.   

Rica (full name Fredrica) wants a pet, so she and her best friend Laini brainstorm many ways to raise the needed money and to show her parents that she is responsible enough to care for a pet. While the ideas are not great, and often flop, they help show her determination and focus. In the process she becomes closer with Liani and also manages to convince her parents. Jose’s  sprinkling of b&w illustrations help the reader envision the story and show that Rica is Black and Laini white (they are ethnically indeterminate otherwise). Rica demonstrates determination and the importance of listening.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Bayarri, Jordi. Louis Pasteur and the Power of Observation. Jordi Bayarri, Illus. Translated from the Spanish by Sofia Huitron Martinez. Graphic Science Biographies Series. Lerner / Graphic Universe, 02/2023. 40pp. Graphic. PLB $30.68. 978-1-7284-4290-7. Paper $10.99. 978-1-7284-7825-8. GRADES 3 – 5. ADDITIONAL.  

Please see Ada Lovelace and the Start of Computers by Jorid Bayarri for the series review.               

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Bayarri, Jordi. Mary Anning and the Great Fossil Discoveries. Jordi Bayarri, Illus. Translated from the Spanish by Sofia Huitron Martinez. Graphic Science Biographies Series. Lerner / Graphic Universe, 02/2023. 40pp. Graphic. PLB $30.68. 978-1-7284-4292-1. Paper $10.99. 978-1-7284-7827-2. GRADES 3 – 6. ADDITIONAL.   

Please see Ada Lovelace and the Start of Computers by Jorid Bayarri for the series review.                                                             

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Blige, Mary J.  Mary Can! Ashleigh Corrin, Illus. Harper, 03/2023. [40]pp.  Picture Book.Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-321639-6. GRADES Kindergarten – 3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.    

Mary is often told “NO!” by her singing teacher, but she is supported by her mother and grandmother to reach for her dreams, and is able to change her teacher’s mind about her ability. All of the major characters are Black, and the message about self-assurance will make this useful in social and emotional learning situations for primary graders. The brightly colored digital artwork resembles gouache and adds energy and charm. The text often features a word or two in a bright color and in a larger font than the rest of the sentences. The author is a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and actress who channeled some of her childhood experiences into this relatable story.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Nuñez, Talia Aikens. Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War. Lerner / Zest, 05/2023. 136pp. Non-Fiction. PLB $37.32. 978-1-7284-4962-3. Paper $17.99. 978-1-7284-7914-9. GRADES 6 – 12. HIGH ADDITIONAL.  

The Borinqueneers were the U.S. Army’s first (and last) segregated Latino regiment. Formed in 1898 they defended the homeland, patrolled the Panama Canal, fought in WWII, and became legendary during the Korean War. The text focuses on the Korean conflict, bringing to life that forgotten war and the 65th’s critical role in it. Central to the story is how the regiment moved from one of the most distinguished to being part of the war’s largest mass court martial. Efforts to reverse that dishonor, culminating in 2014, bring the story into the present. The text is dotted with sidebars that provide military and cultural context. Quotes, archival photos, maps, and charts break up the text. While transitions are sometimes abrupt, and the prose occasionally dry, the remarkable stories of the soldiers shine through. The author’s deep research provides context for the battles, acts of valor, and racist treatment by some in command. Suitable for reports, back matter includes a time line, a glossary, source notes, a selected biography, further reading, and an index. Review based on an Advance Reader Copy.

Melissa McAvoy,  Retired

Sanchez, Anita. Monkey Trial, The: John Scopes and the Battle Over Teaching Evolution. Clarion, 03/2023. 184pp.  Non-Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-358-45769-5. GRADES 7 – 12. HIGH ADDITIONAL.    

In this dramatic account of the 1925 trial of teacher John Scopes, who was convicted of teaching evolution in a high school science class, the author uses many primary sources to tell the story. Participants, including Scopes, the attorneys involved, and journalists of the day, are quoted which gives the narrative a compelling drive. The author makes a subtle point that banning the teaching of controversial subjects is as timely as it ever was, and the writing moves at a quick pace. There are dark b&w photos every few pages which add interest, and there are sidebars that give context to the circus-like atmosphere of the trial. Back matter includes an index, timeline, source notes, a glossary, and a bibliography.  

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Woon, Yvonne. My Flawless Life. HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen, 02/2023. 352pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-300869-4. GRADES 9 – 12. ADDITIONAL.
Hana Yang Lerner is a high school student and a fixer, someone who solves problems for her wealthy classmates. When Hana takes on a new, mysterious client, she doesn’t know exactly what she’ll be fixing. Written in first person, there is a noir detective feel to the prose that makes Hana seem very put-together, even though that is far from the truth. While the prose is strong, the plot sometimes feels unbelievable and the characters too adult. The text does deal with many timely issues, including a college admissions scandal and politics, which will appeal to readers. Racism also plays a role in the story, mostly through microaggressions that Hana, who is mixed race (Chinese and white), deals with. The book also features Hana’s ex-best friend, Luce, who is Cuban American, and love interest James, who is Chinese American. An overall enjoyable read, but not a standout in the high school mystery genre.

Lillian Whithaus — Berkeley Public Library / Temple Isaiah Library

Shukairy, Ream. Next New Syrian Girl, The. Little, Brown, 03/2023. 409pp.  Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-316-43263-4. GRADES 8 – 12. OUTSTANDING.          

High school senior Khadija Shaami thinks the challenges of balancing her passion for boxing and a “regular” high school with her Syrian mother’s exacting familial and social expectations is hard enough. But when refugee Leene Taher moves into her house, she realizes that life has room for even more complications. While two girls of a similar age who share Syrian roots might expect to share some common ground, the differences in their life experience—privilege and stability in the U.S. for one, and the deep horrors of violence and refugee life for the other—create a gap that seems impossible to bridge. But a shared love for their common culture and a determination to solve a mystery bring them together as collaborators and, ultimately, friends.      

Lesley Mandros Bell—Unaffiliated

Applegate, Katherine. One and Only Ruby, The. Patricia Castelao,  Illus. Harper, 05/2023. 217pp.  Fiction.Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-308008-9. GRADES 4 – 7. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

Ruby is hesitant about her upcoming Tusk Day celebration because she knows tusks can motivate humans to kill elephants. In the most meaningful section of this novel, told in brief paragraphs and short chapters, Ruby describes her childhood in Africa, the loss of her mother, and her rescue. Not as compelling as the first two books in the series which began with The One and Only Ivan (2012), this is still well written with a nice message about conservation and will certainly please fans. Spot b&w artwork every few pages makes this accessible to readers moving into full-length novels.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Hopkinson, Deborah. Race Against Death: The Greatest POW Rescue of World War II. Scholastic / Scholastic Focus, 04/2023. 289pp.  Non-Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-338-74616-7. GRADES 6 – 12. OUTSTANDING.         

This dramatically told WWII history focuses on the era’s largest rescue of prisoners of war, who were held at Cabanatuan prison camp in the Philippines. The narrative non-fiction book begins with the collaborative relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines at the start of the war, the attacks by the Japanese, seeking refuge on Corregador, the Bataan Death March, and the torture and brutality suffered by both the U.S. and Filipino prisoners. The author introduces key participants, and often quotes them using material from their memoirs and other accounts, to bring this history to life. The voices of nurses, Filipinos, and many Latino soldiers from New Mexico as well as the majority white soldiers are included. The writing is top notch, making this a page-turner, and it is filled with b&w photos and maps. Significant back matter makes this a first choice for report writers because it includes source notes, a timeline, an index, and a list of resources.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Tison, Ari. Saints of the Household. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 03/2023. 320pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-374-38949-9. GRADES 9 – 12. OUTSTANDING.

This soulful novel exposes how two Indigenous brothers growing up in a small rural community cope with family trauma and domestic abuse. It chronicles the restorative justice sessions both brothers must undergo after brutally beating a fellow student/star athlete in the woods. Told through vividly drawn alternating voices, in plain text and poignant bits of poetry, the story reveals deep wounds and unexpected feelings harbored by both. Brotherhood, violence, mental health, and recovery all play crucial roles in the action. Through nuanced and multi-layered portrayals of the characters’ individual personalities, complex and shifting relationships, and emotional connection to native roots, the author skillfully scaffolds the siblings’ dogged determination to move forward in life after crisis.

Jennifer Agarwal—San Jose State University MLIS Student

Sheron, Jessi. Sea in You, The. Jessi Sheron, Illus. Iron Circus Comics, 03/2023. 224pp. Graphic. Paper $15.00. 978-1-63899-111-3. GRADES 7 – 12. ADDITIONAL.

The Sea in You is a Sapphic, slightly gothic retelling of The Little Mermaid. The artwork by Jessi Sheron is rich and vibrantly colorful, and the story moves along at a good clip with some fun twists. But ultimately, this little mermaid is just older, more vicious, and more queer. Most of the characters appear to be 14, white except the mermaid, Skylla, who is blue in the water and brown-skinned when she takes human
form. Review based on an Advance Reader Copy.

Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest K-8 Oakland Unified School District

Butterfield, Moira. Secret Life of Oceans, The. Vivian Mineker, Illus. Stars of Nature Series; bk. 4. Happy Yak, 05/2023. 48pp.  Non-Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-7112-7872-1. GRADES 2 – 5. ADDITIONAL.     

At first, this looks like a hodge-podge of information about the oceans, with a few folktales, descriptions of various ocean wildlife, a map showing the oceans, and more. Actually, there is a good amount of information on oceans, presented in a way to appeal to younger children, and illustrated with brightly colored cartoonish artwork that may have been done using gouache. The book is narrated by Tim the green turtle, who takes the reader through the book, describing his birth on a beach, and other facts told in a story-like text. Often there is a clue on each spread as to items to search for in the illustration. Young researchers may not find enough information on a single topic to use for homework but it makes a nice browsing item. Since many students in California live near the ocean, this will be popular for recreational reading. Review based on an Advance Reader Copy.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Bybee, Veeda. Shining a Light: Celebrating 40 Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Who Changed the World. Victo Ngai, Illustrator. HarperCollins / Versify, 03/2023. 112pp. Biography. Trade $17.99. 978-0-358-53935-3. GRADES 4 – 8. OUTSTANDING.

Shining a Light is a collection of 40 biographies of AAPI figures from the 19th century to the current day. The book is presented in chronological order by birth date beginning with education reformer Yung Wing (born 1828) and finishing with Olympic gymnast Sunisa “Suni” Lee (born 2003). The figures span politics, arts and music, activism, and sports. They are Chinese, Japanese, Hmong, Indian, Korean, Cambodian, Lao, Taiwanese, Filipino, Thai, and Hawaiian. California (and the Bay Area) is well represented with profiles of Kristi Yamaguchi, Kamala Harris, Bruce Lee, Cecilia Chiang and others. Each short biography in this collection is accompanied by a full-page illustration of the subject. The book also includes an introductory author’s note explaining the importance of this collection in recognizing communities that have been historically overlooked in our history. A Historical Glossary, Acknowledgements, and an extensive Bibliography are also provided. This book has California-specific content.

Rachael Reiley — Hillcrest K-8 Oakland Unified School District

Hanaor, Ziggy. Snail Trail. Christos Kourtoglou, Illus.Cicada, 05/2023. [32]pp.  Picture Book.Trade $16.99. 978-1-80066-031-1. GRADES Preschool – 1. ADDITIONAL.      

Marjorie the snail needs alone time, but a snail’s trail makes it easy to be found.  Finally, after going all over the place, Marjorie figures out how to balance alone time needs with doing things with friends and family. Muted watercolor illustrations keep the story focused on Marjorie’s search rather than the places, plants, and snails she encounters.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Hest, Amy. Sometimes It’s Nice to Be Alone. Philip C. Stead, Illustrator. Holiday House / Neal Porter, 02/2023. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-8234-4947-7. GRADES Kindergarten – 3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Sometimes, it’s nice to be alone, but sometimes it’s nice to have a friend join you. The repetitive phrasing of “Sometimes it’s nice to be alone” paired with “Well, sometimes it’s nice when a friend…” propels the simple story of a girl and her stuffed animals having everyday adventures. In the first illustration of each activity, there is a stuffed animal version of the animal revealed in the second illustration. Children will enjoy discovering this detail and being able to “guess” the next animal. The monoprint illustrations are full of color and texture that bring life to each scene. The girl is depicted with tan skin, big glasses, and black hair. Children and adults alike will enjoy the simple, repetitive text paired with the beautiful and clever illustrations.

Lillian Whithaus — Berkeley Public Library / Temple Isaiah Library

Faber, Polly. Special Delivery : A Book’s Journey Around the World. Klas Fahlen, Illustrator. Candlewick / Nosy Crow, 04/2023. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5362-2985-1. GRADES Preschool – 2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

How complicated is the supply chain? What are all the steps in the process? And how do items get to you from where they are manufactured? This informational picture book shows off many of the steps a book takes from being printed before it ends up in a reader’s hand. Watch the named people and vehicles utilized as this book goes from factory to truck to ship to train to store to mail to its final destination. The process is shown twice: once with a few steps per spread, and once summarizing the trail of people in one spread. Fahlin’s digital illustrations show just enough details to help keep the story flowing and engaging. Includes three pages with additional transportation facts. A fun way to learn about transporting goods and the many people involved.

Joshua Rees — Daly City Public Library

Mandin, Christy. Storytellers Rule, The. Christy Mandin, Illus. HarperCollins, 03/2023. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-0-06-304735-8. GRADES Kindergarten – 2. ADDITIONAL.

Birdie’s school supplies band together to help her with writing, as all her creative ideas seem to be gone.
But the storytellers rule says that the pens, pencils, and other tools cannot directly tell Birdie what to write (or even be seen), so they devise ways to help her come up with new ideas and resume her creative writing. Mandin’s digital illustrations showcase the writings tools’ emotions, facial expressions, and efforts to help Birdie. A different take on how to be creative, and ways to look for ideas.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Kloots, Amanda. Tell Me Your Dreams. Alex Willmore,  Illus. Harper, 04/2023. [32]pp.  Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-322511-4. GRADES Preschool – 1. HIGH ADDITIONAL.         

A mother helps her young son get ready for bed by encouraging him to describe his dreams, which include his father driving a trash truck that turns into an airplane. The father is only present in the dreams. This upbeat story is brief and energetic, and the text contains onomatopoeia that adds interest. The brightly-colored, mixed-media cartoonish artwork was digitally created and depicts a white mother, son, and father. Written by TV personality Amanda Kloots (from the daytime talk show “The Talk”), the story doesn’t mention that her husband died of COVID when their son was an infant, but TV viewers might know the backstory. This is a positive, loving bedtime story that works well, even if the reader is unaware of the author’s celebrity.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Thomas, Angie. Manifestor Prophecy, The. Fiadzigbey, Setor, Illus. Nic Blake and the Remarkables Series; bk.1. HarperCollins / Balzer & Bray, 04/2023. 368pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99 978-0-06-322513-8. GRADES 3 – 7. OUTSTANDING.

Unlike a certain boy wizard of kid fiction or a well-known demigod from New York who suddenly discover that they are different than the muggles or mortals living around them, Nic Blake has always known that she is a Manifestor—a type of remarkable living in a world of unremarkables. Like her dad, a dark-skinned, dread-locked man who makes the neighborhood moms swoon, Nic has the gift—but she hasn’t been trained how to use it. She thinks this will change on her twelfth birthday, but her father backs out of his promise to train her. When Nic’s dad is falsely imprisoned by LORE, the Remarkable government, Nic has to use her wits, powers and, most of all, her closest friends to prove his innocence. What follows is a great adventure that mixes fantasy and magic with folktales and African American history. Angie Thomas’s ear for dialogue is stellar and her magical world is filled with delights and surprises. Best of all, it is a smartly written and sweet adventure story centering on a young, brave, smart Black girl (and her pet hell-hound)..

Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest K-8 / Oakland Unified School District

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 straightforward plots, but Atinuke expands the genre. She shows us engaging and complex three-dimensional African characters living in a vibrant community, who grow and change as they respond to real world pressures. Set in the megacity of Lagos, at the start of the Covid epidemic, three dramatic short stories reveal how Tola and her family negotiate a lockdown that threatens to undo all the economic and academic progress they have made. Each story is full of warmth, humor, and hardship, and illustrated by appealing black, white, and grey drawings. The final story will have readers cheering when Tola solves a math-based mystery.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Higgins, Ryan T. We Don’t Lose Our Class Goldfish. Ryan T. Higgins, Illus. Penelope Rex Series; bk. 3. Disney / Hyperion, 03/2023. 48pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-368-07698-2. GRADES Preschool – Kindergarten. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Penelope Rex, the young dinosaur who started school eating her classmates, returns for her third adventure and this time it involves Walter the class goldfish. Penelope is faced with overcoming her fear of Walter (he doesn’t blink and he bites) when it’s her turn to take him home. There are plenty of details in Higgins’ bright and vibrant cartoon-style illustrations, including the diverse representation of Penelope’s human classmates. A close observer will note that one classmate wears a hijab while sitting next to another with a yarmulke. The children have multiple skin tones, facial features, and hair styles. Like the other Penelope Rex books this one will be a great addition to any school library where it can be used as a fun and silly way to address anxiety and fear with young readers.

Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest K-8 Oakland Unified School District

Lai, Thanhhà. When Clouds Touch Us. Inside Out & Back Again Series; bk. 2. HarperCollins, 05/2023. 256pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-06-304700-6. GRADES 5 – 7. ADDITIONAL.

In a poetic sequel to Inside Out & Back Again (HarperCollins, 2011) that picks up as sixth grade Vietnamese American Ha must leave her best friend, Pam, in Alabama and move to Texas where her mother and brothers work long hours and she is, once again, the only Asian child in her class. Ha’s verse impressions of strange customs, confusing pronunciation, isolation, and adolescent anguish will resonate with both immigrants and U.S.-born middle schoolers. While the short stanza form is the same as the earlier book, the syntax is more convoluted, and the personal references across decades are harder to decode. Fans of Ha will persevere, but young readers new to the series may struggle. Other characters are mostly white and Hispanic.   

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Henkes, Kevin. World and Everything in It, The. Kevin Henkes, Illus. Greenwillow, 03/2023. [32]pp.  Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-324564-8. GRADES Preschool – 1. HIGH ADDITIONAL.         

The concept of size is described in a clever way in this story that contains repetition: “There are big things and little things in the world.” The text goes on to name things that a preschooler is likely to see, such as animals, flowers, the sea and sun, and more, so the reader can grasp the idea of big and small. The lovely, full-color illustrations were created with brown ink and watercolors, depicting things and people in a naturalistic way. This is more of a description than a story, and emergent readers will find it easy to guess some of the vocabulary due to clues in the artwork. This will both stimulate a child’s thoughts as well as have a calming effect on how to understand the world.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool