Review

Sorell, Traci. Being Home. Michaela Goade, Illus. Kokila, 05/2024. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-9848-1603-0. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING.    Leaving a busy contemporary urban life, a Cherokee family joyfully journeys home. Sweeping atmospheric watercolor illustrations move [continue reading]

Forman, Gayle. Not Nothing. Simon & Schuster/Aladdin, 08/2024. 269 [+10]pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-6659-4327-7. GRADES 5–8. ADDITIONAL.          Not Nothing explores the healing power of connection as Josey, a solitary 107-year-old Holocaust survivor, forges an unexpected [continue reading]

Butterfield, Moira. Look What I Found on the Farm. Jesus Verona, Illus. Candlewick, 4/2024. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $15.99. 978-1-5362-3427-5. GRADES Kindergarten–2. ADDITIONAL.     Three kids (black skinned, white skinned with brown hair, and white with red [continue reading]

Bomgaars, Megan. Born Brave. Quiel Ramos, Illus. Flowerpot, 3/2024. [26]pp. Picture Book. Trade $12.99. 978-1-4867-2786-5. GRADES Kindergarten–1. ADDITIONAL. What does it mean to be brave? This feel-good, self-esteem building title uses an anthropomorphic, zebra-looking child [continue reading]

Rogers, Andrea L. Art Thieves, The. Levine Querido, 10/2024. 400pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-6461-4378-8.GRADES 8–12. ADDITIONAL.          In the near future, Stevie navigates her changing life after high school with her friends, a younger brother she cares for, and a new intern (Adam) at the [continue reading]

Birkett, Georgie. Carry Me! Georgie Birkett, Illus. Candlewick, 6/2024. [24]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5362-3140-3. GRADES Preschool–Kindergarten. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Wilbur wants to be carried everywhere, which was fine when he was young, but not so much now that he’s growing up. Birkett’s digital illustrations depict a town [continue reading]

Behar, Ruth. Across So Many Seas. Penguin/Paulsen, 02/2024. 258pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-0-5933-2340-3. GRADES 5–7. ADDITIONAL.          This four-part novel, told in first-person voices, depicts the stories of related 12-year-old Sephardic Jewish girls. It begins in 1492, when Benvenida and her family are expelled from [continue reading]

Becker, Aaron. Last Zookeeper, The. Aaron Becker, Illus. Candlewick, 03/2024. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-5362-2768-0. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING.       A surprisingly emotional wordless picture book about climate change, storms, and rising oceans. Becker, known for his previous titles Journey (Candlewick, 2013), Quest (Candlewick, 2014), and Return (Candlewick, 2016) shows how a robot named [continue reading]