Beccia, Carlyn. 10 at 10: The Surprising Childhoods of Ten Remarkable People. Carlyn Beccia, Illus. Biography. Carolrhoda, 04/2022. 56pp. $19.99. 978-1-5415-4500-7. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 3-6.

Ten people from various countries and cultures are profiled in this collective biography, including scientists Albert Einstein and Eugenie Clark, athletes Roberto Clemente and Andre the Giant, actors Audrey Hepburn and Bruce Lee, and others. They represent a wide ethnic background, including Yankton Sioux leader Zitkala-Sa, artist Frida Kahlo from Mexico, and African Americans Louis Armstrong and Raven Wilkinson. The connecting theme is that all of them struggled in their youth, when they were about 10 years of age, which is the same age as the likely audience for the book. Each profile is about three pages in length, complete with a brief timeline, a full-page portrait, and spot art. The full-color, mixed-media illustrations resemble gouache paintings, showing each person doing activities related to their professions. Each profile has enough information for a short report, but it is more likely the book will inspire readers to find out more about each individual.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Lawson, JonArno. Day for Sandcastles. A. Qin Leng, Illus. Picture Book. Candlewick, 05/2022. [44]pp. $17.99. 978-1-5362-0842-9. OUTSTANDING. GRADES PRE-3.

On a summer day, a white family takes the bus to the sea where the three siblings—aged roughly four to nine—make and remake a sandcastle. There are no words, but Leng’s detailed watercolor-and-pen illustrations, broken into multi-sized panels, convey all the minute, charming, and dismaying action as the three children battle wind, waves, toddlers, and time. Rarely have sibling interactions been so perfectly conveyed and such joy, despair, and determination been so convincing. Almost as engaging as the building project are all the myriad interactions and dramas going on among the other diverse beach visitors.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired

Capucilli, Alyssa Satin. Biscuit and Friends Visit the Community Garden. Rose Mary Berlin, Illus. Easy Reader. I Can Read: My First Biscuit Series; bk. 25. HarperCollins, 03/2022. 32pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-291001-1. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1.

Biscuit the puppy accompanies his owner, a young, unnamed white girl, to the community garden where they help others. For example, Biscuit helps pull up carrots and finds a lost teddy bear for a little Black girl. Often the text is set down in four lines per page, using a bold, sizable typeface with a good amount of white space, telling the story in a straightforward, traditional manner. “Just then, Biscuit heard a familiar sound. Bow wow! Bow wow! What could it be?” The pastel watercolor artwork uses white backgrounds and shows many features of a garden that readers can identify, including tools, seeds, vegetable growing boxes, and more. The people shown depict various races and ethnicities, which is a nice feature.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Gianferrari, Maria. Bobcat Prowling. Bagram Ibatoulline, Illus. Non-Fiction.  Roaring Brook, 03/2022. [44]pp. $18.99. 978-1-62672-786-1. OUTSTANDING. GRADES K-3.

A bobcat yearling is driven away from its home by its mother, now ready to start a new family. Various, diverse children catch sight of the young animal as it sets forth to fend for itself and find its own home range. Multiple run-ins with other native animals, already occupying desirable niches, reveal the complex communities that inhabit rural and suburban woodland edges. Beautiful, realistic, watercolor illustrations reveal the resilience of native animals and show how humans and wildlife can exist in proximity. Back matter includes additional facts and suggestions for further reading and viewing.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired

Lynas, Em. Cat and the Rat and the Hat, The.  Matt Hunt, Illus. Picture Book. Nosy Crow,11/2021. [26]pp. $17.99, 978-1-5362-2310-1. OUTSTANDING. GRADES PRE-1.

While on a yellow mat, a plainly illustrated cat and rat constantly switch who is in control of a bright pink hat, until bat (with a cravat) swoops in for the hat. Intricately rhymed, simple words enhance the fast-paced, large-sized illustrations as this great storytime title swiftly portrays many hat ownership changes.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Costner, Arianne. Confessions of a Class Clown. Billy Yong, Illus. Fiction. Random, 03/2022. 271pp. $16.99. 978-0-593-11870-2. ADDITIONAL. GRADES 4-8.

Jack, a likely white seventh grader, loves to make people laugh, especially with funny MyTube videos he makes with his friends. His friendships begin to change when his best friend starts hanging out with someone else, and Jack’s search for a new best friend falters. Then he begins to realize the real impacts that his hijinks have on others, including his relationships at school and at home. A quick middle-grade read which shows that being all laughs does not always make for being a good friend to others.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library 

Maguire, Gregory. Cress Watercress. David Litchfield, Illus. Fiction. Candlewick, 03/2022. 224pp. $19.99. 978-1-5362-1100-9. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 3-6.

After Cress’ father fails to return home, the heartbroken young rabbit and her mother and baby brother relocate from their cozy burrow to the bleak Broken Arms, an old tree subdivided into apartments. Filled with rich sensory details, the narrative follows the clever but willful rabbit on a series of grand adventures that involve quick thinking, new friends, and the ability to adapt. Illustrations in vibrant hues mirror the text; both offer a decidedly bunny-like view of a world where predators loom large. Poignant and funny, the story features a memorable cast of secondary characters—many with interesting backstories and resolutions—including a grouchy landlord owl harboring a secret, a rabbit named Nasty (who is nasty!), and a haughty skunk looking for a lady’s maid. Lovely illustrations and a spacious layout signal a book for younger children, but themes of loss and renewal make this deeply satisfying tale a great choice for older readers, or for a family/classroom read-aloud.

Jenny Andrus, Independent

Ichaso, Chelsea. Dead Girls Can’t Tell Secrets. Fiction. Sourcebooks Fire, 04/2022. 315pp. PB $10.99. 978-1-7282-5597-2. ADDITIONAL. GRADES 8-12.

High school senior Savannah’s slightly younger sister Piper is in a coma after a fall, which no one saw—or did someone? She is guilt-stricken about things she said and did that day, though that evolves as she discovers clues that maybe someone knows more or even caused the fall. Ichaso’s twisting storyline slowly peels back the layers of what happened as Piper’s relationships with her sister, her high school friends, a teacher, and her parents gradually come to light. Much of the tale takes place during a weekend Survival Club backpacking trip, which has some exciting moments and many “Breakfast Club” movie-type interactions between the seemingly all white teens. A quick-paced story that is great for mystery readers who prefer less gore and more teen relationship drama.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library  

Pintonato, Camilla. Detective Mole. Camilla Pintonato, Illus. Picture Book. Translated from the Italian by Debbie Bibo. HarperCollins, 11/2021. [40]pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-305178-2. ADDITIONAL. GRADES K-2. 

When Grandpa Squirrel goes missing, Mole, who has long dreamed of being a detective, offers to find Grandpa. However, as astute readers may quickly realize, Mole is not good at seeing clues. Photoshop digital illustrations clearly depict what Mole is good at (using his nose), what he is not (using his eyes), as well as all the other anthropomorphic animals portrayed with various types of clothing and occupations. Translated from the Italian, this story will have mystery-loving young readers happy to exclaim over what Mole is doing, or at least what he should be doing.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Sass, A. J. Ellen Outside the Lines. Fiction. Little, 03/2022. 323 [+8]pp. $16.99. 978-0-7595-5627-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 4-8.

A school trip to Barcelona, Spain frames this unusual middle-grade novel, and central character Ellen Katz narrates the cultural, social, and personal progression of the trip from the perspective of a 13-year-old who is on the autism spectrum. The author sensitively explores emergent sexuality and its social implications as well as issues of sensory overload, learning to navigate group dynamics, and adjusting to changing friendships. A scavenger hunt makes a great base for the action of the book and keeps things moving briskly while allowing the reader age appropriate and insightful glimpses into the characters’ personalities and challenges. The book also gives a wonderful sense of the city of Barcelona.

Lesley Mandros Bell, Unaffiliate

Lowery, Mike. Everything Awesome about Space and Other Galactic Facts. Mike Lowery, Illus. Non-fiction. Scholastic/ Orchard, 09/2021. 125pp. $16.99. 978-1-338-35974-9. ADDITIONAL. GRADES 2-5.

Space can be fun, but also overwhelmingly busy. Lowery’s fast-paced writing and sketch-like illustrations cover the gambit of space facts about the universe, solar system, space rocks, and human exploration of the cosmos. Colorful, hand-lettered, comic-like illustrations keep the pace moving while keeping the focus on the facts. With dramatic photos and highly detailed, computer-generated images, it is a refreshing change from other books about space. The level of information coverage hits the perfect middle ground spot—a bit more than the early readers, but not pages packed with text.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

McGrath, Barbara Barbieri. Five Hiding Ostriches. Riley Samels, Illus. Picture Book. Charlesbridge, 08/2022. [32]pp. $15.99. 978-1-62354-196-5. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-2.

Using a rhyming text similar to the fingerplay “Five Little Pumpkins,” five ostriches hide from a lion they think is hunting them. It begins “Five little ostriches, huddled in one spot. The first one said, ‘It’s getting rather hot.’” The text uses dialogue balloons when the ostriches are speaking. The full-color digital illustrations depict the African savannah and resemble gouache paintings. This is a great choice for storytime, since the audience can help by calling out the number of ostriches or by doing some of the movements with their hands. The book ends with a description of a hide-and-seek game that may be played outside after the reading. Review based on an ARC.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Miller, Marie-Therese. Five-Minute Friendship Starters: A Sesame Street Guide to Making a Friend. Non-fiction. Lerner, 02/2022. 32pp. PLB $29.32 978-1-7284-3917-4, $9.99 978-1-7284-4847-3.  ADDITIONAL. GRADES K-2. 

Join with these Sesame Street characters to learn the basics of making friends. Each idea is presented via full-page color photos of kids and Sesame Street characters like Bert and Ernie or Rosita. These straightforward ideas on how to start and build friendships could be a useful tool for struggling kids or simply for a discussion about friendship. Sample ideas presented include: tell your name and ask theirs; ask questions about the new friend and tell them about yourself; talk about favorite things, or simply play together. Multiethnic kids are used in many of the photos, increasing the appeal to parents who may be more likely than young readers to pick up or search out this topic.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Axelrod, Jadzia. Galaxy: The Prettiest Star. Jess Taylor, Illustrator. Graphic. DC, 05/2022. 190pp. PB $16.99. 978-1-4012-9853-1. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 9-12.

Packed with action and colorful, compelling art, Galaxy uses the story of a transplanted alien princess growing up as a boy on Earth as an allegory for the transgender experience. Main character Taylor/Taelyr has spent six years living undercover, but when they meet new-girl-in-town Kat Silverberg, the cost of that cover becomes very clear. Sensitively written around themes of sexuality and difference, the exuberant art supports the movement of the story and enhances this graphic novel. The one drawback to the story is that at times it feels the authors are giving us a glimpse into a world they know very well without allowing us quite enough detail to feel the same way.

Lesley Mandros Bell, Unaffiliated

Smith, Emma Bland. Gardener of Alcatraz, The: A True Story.  Jenn Ely, Illus. Biography. Charlesbridge, 04/2022. 40pp. $16.99. 978-1-62354-160-6. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 2-5.

This unusual picture book biography focuses on counterfeiter Elliot Michener, who was an inmate at Alcatraz in the 1940s; it is useful for fifth grade classrooms because it shows how criminals can reform and make something of themselves. The full-color gouache illustrations are somewhat cartoonish and give a good indication of what Alcatraz was like at that time. Back matter includes a timeline, b&w photos of Michener, a color photo of the gardens, more information on the topic, and bibliography. The back matter also discusses prison reform, racism, and other issues. Students studying local history can even use it for reports. Teachers could pair it with Choldenko’s Al Capone Does My Shirts (Putnam, 2004), or use it before a field trip to Alcatraz. This book contains California-specific content.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Barton, Chris. How to Make a Book (About My Dog). Sarah Horne, Illustrator. Picture Book. Millbrook, 10/2021. [42]pp. $19.99. 978-1-5415-8128-9. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES K-3.

Author Chris Barton explains the entire book-making process, from an author’s idea to the finished book that ends up in a reader’s hand. Barton’s humorous narration begins with an initial idea for a title—about his dog—and then expounds on the process by delving into the varied details of research, writing, finding a publisher, editing, designing, illustrating, printing, marketing, and so many other steps that readers don’t know about. Horne’s India ink with dip pen illustrations provide that additional pizzazz that makes readers want to pick up the book (great cover art) and then fully understand the process. The inclusion of four pages of back matter (more about the general process and the timeline of this specific title) makes this an interesting non-fiction or picture book title.

Joshua Rees, Daly City PL

Rozelaar, Angie. Jeff Goes Wild. Angie Rozelaar, Illus. Picture Book HarperCollins /K. Tegen, 01/2022. [32]pp. $17.99. 978-0-06-284056-1. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-K 

Jeffrey Fluffy McSnuggle-Tum roams his apartment as if he is a tiger and can do anything. Readers will enjoy his expansive jungle adventure through vines, trees, puddles, and encounters with a butterfly, snake, and other creatures—at least until a seemingly friendly tiger appears. Then Jeff suddenly declares himself a cat and goes back to his apartment setting. Gouache and collage digital illustrations aptly depict the great jungle adventure, while observant readers will realize where Jeff was the whole time. It is fun to see a young house cat acting like a big, ferocious tiger.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Keller, Tae. Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone. Fiction. Random, 04/2022. 288pp. $17.99. 978-0-593-31052-6. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 5-7.

Jennifer Chan is new to the town Mallory calls Nowhereville, and rumors are already flying. Mal is the first to meet her and quickly recognizes Jennifer is different: she’s not afraid to believe or trust, and that makes her dangerous. Dangerous to the seventh grade pecking order and dangerous to Mal, because it is social suicide to be friends with someone who doesn’t understand the rules about how the world works. But when a confrontation meant to rebalance power and teach Jennifer a lesson goes badly wrong and Jennifer disappears, Mal realizes being different may be the only way to bring her home. Told from Mallory’s Korean American perspective and through the journal entries of Jennifer (who is Chinese American), readers get inside the feelings, background, and events of typically painful middle-school friendships, betrayals, and identity-seeking. Strong supporting adult and tween characters and an author’s note about her experience being bullied and later confronting her frenemies, add to a realistic, gripping, and thought-provoking story.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired

Denise, Christopher. Knight Owl. Christopher Denise, Illus. Picture Book. Ottaviano, 03/2022. [42]pp. $17.99. 978-0-316-31062-8. OUTSTANDING. GRADES PRE-2.

Since the day he hatched, Owl has dreamed of becoming a knight. Richly colored illustrations, lavishly filled with medieval detail, humorously convey the large-eyed, diminutive owl’s deep desire to belong, to be brave, and to be befriended. Knight school doesn’t go exactly as planned until Owl finds his niche—the night watch. But it is when a knight’s most feared adversary shows up that Owl reveals his true knightly skills. Witty, winning, and with some very satisfying twists, Knight Owl is sure to be a very popular read-aloud.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired

Lyons, Kelly Starling. Lab Magic. Nina Mata, Illus. Easy Reader. Ty’s Travels Series; bk. 4. HarperCollins, 01/2022. 32pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-295117-5, PB $4.99. 978-0-06-295116-8. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1.

Mom takes Ty and his older brother Corey to the science museum, but Ty is too young to participate in the lab activities. The family enjoys hunting for fossils, visiting the butterfly sanctuary, and doing other activities. But at home, Ty’s parents set up experiments they can do in the kitchen: making Gak and bubbles. The text is fairly easy to read, and displayed using a large, bold typeface. The full-color artwork on white backgrounds, likely done using deep watercolors and a cartoon style, depict the family as Black, adding more diversity to the beginning reader collection. Readers may be inspired to seek out experiment books with instructions for replicating the activities at home, or may want to visit a local science museum.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Lundquist, Mary. Little Forest Keepers, The. Mary Lundquist, Illus. Picture Book. Balzer & Bray, 12/2021. [32]pp. $17.99. 978-0-06-228782-3. ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1.

This winter wonderland title features Ash and Pudd, a pair of tiny, human-like creatures (smaller than the small woodland birds and squirrels) who spend their time keeping the animals warm by making hats and scarves for them. Their warm winter wear distribution adventure results in a startling discovery of a huge snowman who, they decide, can also use their kind help. Large on demonstrating kindness and friendship, this tale focuses on helping everyone, no matter an old friend or someone new.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Henkes, Kevin. Little Houses. Laura Dronzek, Illus. Picture Book. Greenwillow, 05/2022. [36]pp. $18.99. 978-0-06-296572-1. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES K-3.

A young, tan, black-haired girl takes a walk on the beach while visiting grandparents. As she gathers the empty shells she thinks of as little houses, she explores many specific questions connected to the seashore. Who lived here? What’s under the water? What might wash up? How old is each rock? Soothing, painted illustrations in soft colors are full of simple shapes and child-friendly details. The story doesn’t answer any questions, but provides a model of what questions can be inspired by an outing, and how the awareness of all there is to know and learn can be both a comfort and a solace.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired

Tokuda-Hall, Maggie. Love in the Library. Yas Imamura, Illus. Picture Book. Penguin/Random, 02/2022. [32]pp. $18.99. 978-1-5362-0430-8. OUTSTANDING GRADES 1-4. 

Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s beautiful, spare writing pairs perfectly with Yas Imamura’s gouache-and-watercolor illustrations to tell the story of how the author’s grandparents, Tama and George, met and fell in love while imprisoned at Minidoka, Idaho during WW II. The storytelling is gentle enough to make the Japanese incarceration period accessible to younger readers, yet rich enough, especially with the author’s note, to interest older readers and build on their knowledge. The story opens with Tama walking through heat and dust to go to work at the camp’s library, where she immerses herself in stories, and meets George, who visits the library daily. She eventually shares with him her feelings of despair, frustration, and uncertainty about the future, and he replies that there’s a word for that: “human.” We are reminded that even in circumstances designed to dehumanize, love and hope can bloom. The author’s note provides additional history and places this period not as an isolated, shameful event, but as part of a through line of acts of racial oppression throughout this country’s history. A welcome addition to every library’s picture book collection on the Japanese incarceration period, particularly since many popular titles on this topic are nearly a decade old or more.

Cindy Gullikson, Joaquin Miller School OUSD

Twiss, Jill. Major Makes History: From the Shelter to the White House. Maribel Lechuga, Illus. Picture Book. HarperCollins, 09/2021 [32]pp. $18.99. 978-0-06-311876-8. ADDITIONAL. GRADES K-3.

Major, the Presidential dog, introduces readers to how he was rescued by the Biden family from a dog shelter and then describes what it is like to live at the White House. Based on the true story of Major, this first-dog narration provides an upbeat, engaging title about shelter animals and what a dog’s life in the White House might be like. Lechuga’s digital illustrations provide much life to the enthusiastic story, which unfortunately is out of date as Major had to leave the White House due to aggressive issues in late 2021.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Fang, Vicky. Making Waves. Christine Nishiyama, Illus. Easy Reader. Layla and the Bots Series; bk. 4. Scholastic, 03/2022. [74]pp. PB $5.99. 978-1-338-58300-7. OUTSTANDING. GRADES K-3.

Layla and her bots are rock stars and inventors and put both skills to work to help out an injured dolphin. While touring the Surfside Rescue Center before an upcoming benefit concert, they meet Splash, who needs to be encouraged to eat in order to be eligible for surgery. The team quickly problem solves, tests their invention, and makes important adjustments. The science behind their invention is solid and is explained clearly. The fact that it doesn’t work perfectly right off the bat, is not only likely, it also makes the information that sound waves are distinguished by both volume and frequency more memorable. Cute, colorful cartoon illustrations, a brown-skinned main character, and comprehension questions and instructions on how to design and build your own musical instrument all add to the appeal of this fourth installment in a new reader series.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired

Brown, Meredith Crandall. Milk and Juice: A Recycling Romance. Picture Book. Meredith Crandall Brown, Illus. Balzer & Bray, 12/2021. [32]pp. $18.99. 978-0-06-302185-3. ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1

A plastic jug of milk and plastic bottle of juice fall in love while in a veggie-filled refrigerator. Pencil and gouache illustrations depict the two searching for each other after they leave the fridge and are recycled. In this idealized recycling story with many trips through the recycling system, they each end up as many other plastic things before finally being reunited at the end of the cycle as part of the same plastic item. A different take on searching for your love, reincarnation, and life as a whole. Includes a short two-page, comic-like informational section explaining the plastic recycling process. Unfortunately, there’s no information about how little plastic is actually recycled or the difficulties with doing so, much less how unlikely something is to be recycled more than once.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Riddle, Tohby. Nobody Owns the Moon. Tohby Riddle, Illus. Picture Book. Berbay, 10/2021. [32]pp. $19.99. 978-0-9943841-9-5. LOW ADDITIONAL. GRADES K-2. 

A fox called Clive Prendergast lives successfully in the city— clothed, working, and renting an apartment. After meeting up with an unsuccessful donkey named Humphrey who doesn’t always have a fixed address, they find a ticket to a fancy movie premiere, where they have a grand time at the show and an included dinner. Originally published in Australia in 2008, this quiet title is a bit slow-moving, and it is unclear as to why these two animals live in the city and why this movie premiere means anything to them. Readers are likely to be confused by the storyline and baffled by the ending, where they say, “This is our town!” then hug, and part ways. This reader continues to wonder why.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Lang, Heidi. Out of Range. Fiction. McElderry, 06/2022. 320pp. $17.99. 978-1-6659-0334-9. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 5-8.

Nothing has been the same among three sisters Ollie, Emma, and Abbey, since the move from Northern California to Salt Lake City, Utah. And at first it seems like their parents’ solution, to ship them off to Camp Unplugged, isn’t going to change that. But then, on a hike the girls make one more bad decision, take one more wrong turn, say one more unforgivable thing and suddenly it’s not an issue of sibling bonding, it’s an issue of survival. The structure of the book is complex—divided into three acts, with chapters that shift among the three girls’ perspectives and alternate between before and now. Skillful writing ensures the reader’s attention remains engaged; a chapter will end with 12-year-old Emma in the present realizing she is physically lost, and the following chapter will open with eighth-grade Abbey feeling emotionally lost, adrift in a new school. Each chapter manages to provide emotional and physical drama and plenty of character insights. Themes resonate, but never cross over into the didactic, as the girls battle to survive both human nature and the natural world. This book contains California-specific content. Review based on an ARC.

Dean, Kimberly and James Dean. Pete the Kitty: Wash Your Hands. James Dean, Illus. Easy Reader. My First I Can Read: Pete the Kitty Series; bk. 5. HarperCollins, 01/2022. 32pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-297418-1, PB $4.99. 978-0-06-297417-4. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1.

Pete the Kitty, the younger version of Pete the Cat from Dean’s popular picture book series, is featured in this beginning reader book for the youngest emergent readers. Using a large, bold typeface with abundant white space, the narrative describes how Pete the Kitty learns to properly wash his hands, a skill many preschoolers and kindergarteners need to know. Some of the text rhymes, and the chant “SPLISH! SCRUB! SPLASH! RUB!” is repeated several times. The deeply colored cartoon illustrations help readers by giving clues to the text. Sure to be popular as well as useful, libraries will find this a worthy purchase.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Arnold, Caroline. Planting a Garden in Room 6. Non-fiction. Charlesbridge, 03/2022. [36]pp. $16.99 978-1-62354-240-5. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES K-3.

As school gardens increase in popularity, so too should the number of books about the topic. Arnold’s well-documented kindergarten classroom garden features lots of action-packed photographs and smooth, flowing narration about how a garden works. The engaging photos demonstrate how to prepare the soil, add worms, choose a variety of plants, and how the various plants grow, while the narration provides additional details and explanations. Useful for any school (or home) with gardens, or anyone curious to see what taking care of a garden involves.

Joshua Rees, Daly City PL

Alkaf, Hanna. Queen of the Tiles. Fiction. Simon & Schuster/ Salaam Reads, 04/2022. 304pp. $18.99. 978-1-5344-9455-8. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 6-12.

A brisk mystery for word nerds set in Kuala Lumpur, Queen of the Tiles is narrated by Najwa Bakri, who is walking into her first Scrabble tournament in the year since her best friend Trina’s death. As Najwa texts, talks, and reflects on the current tournament and the one where Trina died, the reader is dropped into a world of studious and quirky competitors and their families. Each chapter reveals both more about the circumstances of Trina’s death and details of the Scrabble games in play, with sportscaster-worthy descriptions. Alkaf is a delicate and descriptive author, sharing everything from study styles to cultural differences about wearing hijab, and she is lyrical in her love of words and word play.

Lesley Mandros Bell, Unaffiliated

Castrovilla, Selene. Seeking Freedom: The Untold Story of Fortress Monroe and the Ending of Slavery in America. E. B. Lewis, Illus. Non-Fiction. Calkins Creek, 01/2022. [44]pp. $18.99. 978-1-63592-582-1. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 1-5.

In forty pages, Castrovilla reshapes our understanding of the cataclysmic fight against slavery in the United States. At the center of the story are George Scott, an enslaved man, and Benjamin Franklin Butler, a Union major general. Butler was the man who broke precedent and refused to return freedom seekers to their putative owners. Scott was the freedom seeker who had intelligence on Confederate whereabouts and was willing to undertake a dangerous mission to gain more. Atmospheric, realistic watercolor illustrations and short, active paragraphs of text frame a gripping story. Primary source quotes ground the text as Butler and Scott fight to win battles and the larger cause of freedom for enslaved people. Back matter includes information on what happened next, including Butler’s lifetime devotion to civil rights. Primary source photographs, bibliography, and information on Barak Obama’s designation of Fort Monroe as a national monument are included.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired

Fipps, Lisa. Starfish. Fiction. Paulsen, 03/2021. 256pp. $17.99. 978-1-9848-1450-0. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 5-8.

There are so many things 11-year-old Ellie loves, but she’ll never forget the single moment where she learned how dangerous it can be to share one’s joy with the world. As a chubby, five-year-old birthday girl she cannon-balled, wearing a whale patterned swimsuit, and since then has been called “Splash” or some synonym for whale. Since that sudden transformation from ordinary kid to “fat girl,” Ellie has absorbed the message that it is her job to bully herself as much, if not more, than everyone else, and has come up with her own set of “fat-girl” rules. But when a new friend, Catalina, and her accepting family, move in next door at the same time Ellie’s mom accelerates a campaign to persuade Ellie to undergo bariatric surgery, Ellie’s fear, anger, and hope push her to make dramatic changes. Told in free verse and full of moments of humor, cruelty, and grace, readers of all sizes will identify with Ellie as she fights to claim her right to take up space. While the cover image shows a pale, brown-haired girl, the race of most characters is not mentioned. Catalina and her family are Mexican American.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired

Brown, Carron. Starting School. Stef Murphy, Illus. Picture Book. Shine a Light: My World Series. Kane Miller, 01/2022. [36]pp. $12.99. 978-1-68464-283-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-2.

Several children representing different ethnicities are shown getting ready for the first day of school: picking out what to wear, getting on the bus, meeting their new teacher (who is a Black man), and more. This unusual interactive book makes a great read-aloud because it has a “shine-a-light” feature. This involves the reader holding up a flashlight to the back of the right side of each spread, which reveals a hidden image, such as a backpack’s contents or what the teacher is writing on the board. One plus is that you do not need a flashlight to use the book since the hidden picture can also be seen by turning the page, which makes this useful for anyone. The book concludes with two pages of brief explanations of various aspects of the story, including more on the teacher, principal, cafeteria, school nurse, etc. for first-time students. The full-color artwork uses a pastel palette and is serviceable but not particularly original or creative.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

John, Jory. Bad Seed Goes to the Library, The Pete Oswald, Illus. Easy Read. I Can Read, Level 1 Series. Harper, 03/2022. 32pp. $16.99, 978-0-06-295456-5. PB $4.99, 978-0-06-295455-8. ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-2.

The Bad Seed visits the library and finds the perfect book to check out and take home. When an overdue notice arrives, the Bad Seed must decide whether to return the book or keep it “forever and ever and ever.” Based on a best-selling picture book series The Food Group, this I Can Read rendition will find a ready audience drawn in by a funny and relatable character who turns out to be not such a bad seed after all. Described as a Beginning Reader (Level 1), the story’s expressive watercolor illustrations provide visual clues, but beginning readers may be challenged by the text that includes multi-syllabic words, as well as interesting but unusual word choices like “classic,” “fellow,” and “sheesh.” Certain to be checked out frequently, consider recommending it as a “read-together” rather than as a book specifically for newly independent readers.

Jenny Andrus, Independent

Bushy, Cylin. White House Cat, The.  Neely Daggett, Illus. Picture Book. Balzer & Bray, 02/2022. [32]pp. $17.99. 978-0-06-313886-5. ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1 

Discover interesting tidbits about the White House through a tour given by a house cat. Digital illustrations depict an orange calico cat leading the readers around the White House, showing various things the cat (and people) do in the many different rooms. Includes additional notes about rooms, objects, and pets referred to or shown. Amusingly simple first-person (cat) narration shows the cat’s typical feline attitude and ownership for everything in the White House.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Waldo, Steph. Tiny Tales: A Feast for Friends. Steph Waldo, Illus. Easy Reader. Harper Alley, 01/2022. 32pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-306786-8. PB $4.99. 978-0-06-306786-8. I Can Read Comics Series, Level 3; bk. 2. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 1-3.

Using paneled artwork and dialogue balloons, this beginning reader will appeal to comic book and graphic novel fans. Snail spots an apple in a tree and attempts to pick the apple as a surprise for his forest friends. He succeeds only when he allows a group of other critters to assist, including a caterpillar, ladybug, worm, and insects. The text is set down in dialogue balloons and features considerable onomatopoeia, such as scoot, plop, snip, and more. The cartoon artwork is dominated by earthtones, including browns and greens. The comic format and appearance will appeal to a wide audience, including struggling readers.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Browne, Mahogany L. Vinyl Moon. Fiction. Crown, 01/2022. 172pp. $18.99. 978-0-593-17643-6. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 9-12 

When Angel is transplanted from Northern California to Brooklyn, New York, she begins by remembering everything she has lost. “I didn’t have the best life in California, sure. But it was mine.” Everything from missing her siblings, adjusting to life with an uncle instead of her mother, and moving to a new high school with intense new peers weighs on her. But as she builds connections and begins to fall in love with a new city, she also reveals the very traumatic events that led to her move. An empowering novel, with a heroine whose voice is poetic and accessible, that looks at building community, embracing Black literature and culture, and healing from violence.

Lesley Mandros Bell, unaffiliated

Derting, Kimberly and Shelli R. Johannes. Vivi Loves Science: Sink or Float Joelle Murray, Illus. Easy Reader. Loves Science Series; bk. 3. Greenwillow/HarperCollins, 02/2022. 40pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-311657-3. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 1-3.

In this spin-off from the Loves Science picture book series that features female protagonists, a Black girl named Vivi wants to be a marine biologist and visits the aquarium on a class field trip. There is considerable information on different ocean creatures, and the story ends with Vivi making a swim bladder using a balloon (instructions for the experiment are at the end of the book). The text is featured in four to six lines per page, a good choice for children who have moved up from beginning reader books but are not quite ready for transitional chapter books. The full-color illustrations resemble Disney animation artwork and depict most of the students and teachers with black hair and different shades of brown skin, although racial identity is not mentioned. Both the focus on science and the ethnic diversity representation are great features to add to the easy reader shelves of all libraries.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Salas, Laura Purdie. We Belong. Picture Book. Carlos Velez Aguilera, Illus. Carolrhoda, 03/2022. [32]pp. PLB $13.49. 978-1-5415-9913-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-3.

A city neighborhood is the setting for this celebration of diversity and belonging, depicted using a rhyming text and colorful illustrations. The text has a pattern similar to that used by Dr. Seuss, and at times feels a little obvious: “Does the world call you Black? Does it say you are white? Whatever its color, your skin is just right.” Although the point is didactic, there will be times teachers and others will seek out this type of book to read aloud in their classrooms. The colored-pencil-and-digital media illustrations are colorful, showing people from various races and ethnicities, of different gender representation, with different types of hair and head coverings, and depicting different abilities including a blind person and people using wheelchairs.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

White, Dianne. Winter Lullaby. Ramona Kaulitzky, Illus. Picture Book. Candlewick, 12/2021 [32]pp. $17.99. 978-1-5362-0919-8. ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-K.

A simple winter hibernation tale shows mother bear leading her cub to their winter den, all while seeing other animals doing things differently as they too are getting ready for winter in their own nests and burrows. Muted digital illustrations keep the bedtime-like story quiet, peaceful, and ready for hibernation. A nice look at how many different animals do similar things as it gets colder and snowier with winter setting in.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Yang, Kelly. Yes, We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country. Non-fiction. Nabi H. Ali, Fahmida Azim, Marco Chin, et al. Illus. Dial, 05/2022. [34]pp. $18.99. 978-0-593-46305-5. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES K-5.

A rhyming text introduces children to several Asian American heroes of the last 150 years, paired with full-color illustrations done by a variety of AAPI illustrators. The text is quite brief and would make a great read-aloud: “We’ll soar to high heights” shows basketball star Jeremy Lin, followed by “And fight for Civil Rights!” with a depiction of Philip Vera Cruz and other farmworkers on strike. The illustrations are done in different styles but work well together, and most of those celebrated are recognizable in the artwork. Readers can find a paragraph on each of the historical figures in the back of the book, helping to define their ethnicities and why they are famous. For example, Vallejo, California’s award-winning singer H.E.R. is Black and Filipino, and is known for her songwriting and musicianship. Others include Fred Korematsu, I. M. Pei, Kamala Harris, Tammy Duckworth, Sunisa Lee, Vera Wang, Jenny Han, Sandra Oh, and Padma Lakshmi. This book contains California-specific content.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool