Cordell, Matthew. 102 [alt title: One Hundred Two]. Matthew Cordell, Illus. Little, Brown, 04/2026. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-3165-8095-3. GRADES Kindergarten–4. OUTSTANDING. This mysterious picture book, illustrated entirely in crosshatching using “multicolored, multiscented ballpoint [continue reading]
STEM Kids Make a Robot Review
Berry, Carlotta A. STEM Kids Make a Robot, The. Samuel Valentino, Illus. NSTA Kids, 05/2026. 150pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 979-8-89977-009-8. GRADES 3–5. ADDITIONAL. A diverse group of fourth grade students have been assigned a group [continue reading]
Odder Read-Alikes
READ-ALIKES Odder: The Novel by Katherine Applegate Applegate, Katherine. Wombat Waiting. Brown, Peter. The Wild Robot. Cleary, Beverly. Socks. Creech, Sharon. Saving Winslow. Dimopoulous, Elaine. The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow. Donovan, Gail. Sparrow Spreads [continue reading]
ACL Meeting Friday, July 10, 2026
ACL Meeting Friday, July 10, 2026: Just a quick reminder for our Bay Area members! Please join us for our ACL Meeting on Friday, July 10, 2026, from 9:30am-Noon, over Zoom. The Zoom link will [continue reading]
Seeds Storytime
Seeds In the summer of 2026, several libraries are using the theme “Plant a Seed, Read” for the summer reading program. It is a great theme for a storytime anytime of the year! You could [continue reading]
Barbed Wire Between Us Review
Wenjen, Mia. Barbed Wire Between Us. Violeta Encarnación, Illus. Red Comet, 03/2026. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-6365-5192-0. GRADES 1–4. ADDITIONAL. Using the form of an illustrated reverso poem, Wenjen and Encarnación demonstrate parallels between [continue reading]
The Sweater Review
Theule, Larissa. Sweater, The: A Story of Community. Teagan White, Illus. Viking, 2/2026. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5935-2894-5. GRADES Preschool–2. OUTSTANDING. Raccoon Holly has just started a fall morning hike when she encounters a [continue reading]
Chismosas Only Book Club Review
Kemp, Laekan Zea. Chismosas Only Book Club, The. Heidi Moreno, Illus. Putnam, 05/2026. 336pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5938-5976-6. GRADES 5–9. HIGH ADDITIONAL. In her mother’s bookstore Milagro’s, Cat creates the Chismosas Only Book Club with [continue reading]