Traoré, Efua. Children of the Quicksands. Fiction. Chicken House, 07/2022. 286 [+14]pp. $18.99. 978-1-338-78192-2. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 5-7. Thirteen-year-old Simi’s mom must travel to London from Lagos, Nigeria, for her new job, so Simi gets [continue reading]
Sharks Review
Forster, Miriam. Sharks: A Mighty Bite-y History. Gordy Wright, Illus. Non-fiction. Abrams, 05/2022. [84]pp. $24.99. 978-1-4197-4773-1. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 2-6. Sharks are some of the oldest animals on Earth and have survived extinction, predators, and changing [continue reading]
Little Monarchs Review
Case, Jonathan. Little Monarchs. Jonathan Case, Illus. Graphic Novel. Holiday House/ Ferguson, 04/2022. 256pp. $22.99. 978-0-8234-4260-7. PB $14.99. 978-0-8234-5139-5. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 4-7. It’s Summer 2110, and ten-year-old Evie, who is biracial, is keeping an illustrated naturalist’s [continue reading]
Shot Clock Review
Butler, Caron and Justin A. Reynolds. Shot Clock. Fiction. HarperCollins/K. Tegen, 09/2022. 304pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-306959-6. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 7-9. Tone is a thirteen-year-old African American growing up in the Milwaukee projects, where family, friends, and basketball are [continue reading]
The Curse on Spectacle Key Review
Acevedo, Chantal. Curse on Spectacle Key, The. Fiction. Balzer & Bray, 09/2022. 256pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-313481-2. ADDITIONAL. GRADES 4-6. Fifth grader Frank Fernandez longs to stay in one place and find a best friend. When his [continue reading]
Grants Available for California Early Learning
Hello California Libraries! Just a reminder that the Black Gold Cooperative Library System invites California Libraries to apply for funding to strengthen their roles as Early Learning community hubs and improve or expand Early Learning [continue reading]
The Hotel for Bugs Review
Senior, Suzy. Hotel for Bugs, The. Leire Martin, Illus. Picture Book. Tiger Tales, 04/2022. [32]pp. $17.99. 978-1-68010-270-3. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1. Excited bug fanfare greets the opening of a lavish new hotel for bugs, which is [continue reading]
Button Pusher Review
Page, Tyler. Button Pusher. Tyler Page, Illus. Graphic. First Second, 04/2022. 244 [+6]pp. $21.99. 978-1-250-75834-7. PB $14.99. 978-1-250-75833-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 6-9. Page presents a vivid graphic memoir of growing up with ADHD, where he [continue reading]