Review

Jenkins, Martin. Beware of the Crocodile. Satoshi Kitamura, Illus. Non-fic. Candlewick, 03/2019. 29pp. $16.99. 978-0-7636-7538-7. OUTSTANDING. GRADES PRE-3. The opening scene of a toothy, open-mouthed crocodile grabs attention and doesn’t let go until the index [continue reading]

Denise, Anika Aldamuy. Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré. Paola Escobar, Illus. Biog. HarperCollins, 01/2019. [36]pp. $17.99. 978-0-06-274868-3. OUTSTANDING. GRADES K-3. This picture book biography of noted librarian Pura Belpré be­gins [continue reading]

Thomas, Angie. On the Come Up. Fiction. Balzer & Bray, 02/2019. 447pp. $18.99. 978-0-06-249856-4. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 8-12. Thomas takes an incisive and nuanced look at perceptions and personas of black teens in this stunning follow-up [continue reading]

Zoboi, Ibi (Ed.), Justina Ireland, Varian John­son, et al. Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America. Fiction. Balzer & Bray, 2019. 393 [+6]pp. $17.99. 978-0-06-269872-8. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 8-12. Editor Ibi Zoboi invited [continue reading]

Yuly, Toni. Whole Wide World and Me, The.  Toni Yuly, Illus. Picture Book. Candlewick, 2019. [32]pp. $15.99. 978 -0-7636-9263-6. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1. A young light-skinned girl with straight black hair reflects on her place [continue reading]

Craft, Jerry. New Kid. Jerry Craft, Illus. Graphic. HarperCollins, 02/2019. 250pp. $21.99. 978-0-06-269120-0, PB $12.99. 978-0-06-269119-4. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 4-8. Jordan begins seventh grade at an elite school, which is very different from his local school [continue reading]

Koch, Falynn. Bake Like a Pro!. Falynn Koch, Illus. Graphic novel. Maker Comics Series. First Second, 02/2019. 128pp. PB $12.99. 978-1-250-15006-6. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 3-7. A new line of instructional comics focused on the maker move­ment, [continue reading]