Review

Vukovic, Diane. Water, Fire, Food. Scholastic/Children’s Press, 03/2023. 48pp. Nonfiction. PLB $31.00. 978-1-338-85362-9. Paper $7.99. 978-1-338-85363-6. GRADES 3–5. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Good design, photos, diagrams, and instructions make this slim volume a useful and accessible introduction [continue reading]

Truhelkova, Lucie Hasova. Grandad’s Pink Trousers. Andrea Tachezy, Illus. Albatros, 10/2022. [56]pp. Picture Book. Trade $16.95. 978-80-00-06592-2. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.            A cantankerous old man is known for making his wife sad because he never [continue reading]

Oshiro, Mark. Into the Light. Macmillan/Tor Teen, 03/2023. 448pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-2508-1225-4. GRADES 7–12. OUTSTANDING.          Manny, a queer Latinx former foster kid/adoptee, is traveling the highways of the southwest living by his wits and [continue reading]

Oh, Ellen [editor]. You Are Here: Connecting Flights. Addl. Creators Linda Sue Park, Erin Entrada Kelly, Grace Lin, Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Minh Lê, Ellen Oh, Randy Ribay, Christina Soontornvat, and [continue reading]

Franck, Ed. Moon is a Ball, The: Stories of Panda & Squirrel. Thé Tjong-Khing, Illus. Translated from the Dutch by David Colmer. Gecko, 04/2023. 77pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-7765-7493-3. GRADES Kindergarten–4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.  Nine short [continue reading]

Pla, Sally J. Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn, The. Quill Tree, 07/2023. 336pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-326879-1.  GRADES 6–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.      Rising eighth-grader Maudie loves spending summers with her dad, Pedro, in Northern California. At home, her belittling mom, angry stepfather, and rigid behavioral [continue reading]

Clanton, Ben. Ploof. Ben Clanton, Illus. Addl. Creator Andy Chou Musser. Tundra, 09/2023. 56pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-77488-192-7. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Preschool. ADDITIONAL.        Ploof is a friendly cloud full of feelings who needs the reader’s help. Big-eyed and puffy, Ploof mostly floats on a blue watercolor background. Questions [continue reading]

Bruchac, Joseph. Of All Tribes: American Indians and Alcatraz. Abrams, 09/2023. 256pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-4197-5719-8. GRADES 7–12. ADDITIONAL.     The well-researched, involved, and diverse history of Alcatraz and American Indians is comprehensively presented. Bruchac summarizes centuries of problematic history, from the precolonial period though centuries [continue reading]