Review

Willems, Mo. Because. Amber Ren, Illus. Picture Book. Hyperion, 03/2019. [40]pp. $17.99. 978-1-368-01901-9. OUTSTANDING. GRADES PRE-3. A causal chain of contributors demonstrates the skill, collabo­ration, and community support required to stage a modern or­chestral concert [continue reading]

Haydu, Corey Ann. Eventown. Fiction. K. Tegen/HarperCollins, 02/2019. 328pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-268980-1. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 3-7. Something sad has happened in Elodee’s family, but no one wants to talk about it. The good news is they are [continue reading]

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]