Sponsored by Andrews McMeel Publishing.
With action packed into every page, Dustin Brady’s Trapped in a Video Game series does the impossible: it gets 8-to-12-year-olds to put down the controller and pick up a book! Follow the adventures of Jesse Rigsby as he tries to escape video game worlds old and new. To survive, he’ll need more than just his trusty blaster. Will Jesse learn how to work with his friends, or will it be game over? Find out in this five-book illustrated series that pushes all the right buttons for middle-grade readers. Available in print, ebook, or audiobook format.
Hi Kid Lit Friends,
There are so many wonderful books about the environment, and reading these books are a perfect way to usher in warmer weather and outdoor activities. Take a look at the books below and let me know what you think!
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade is inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America to protect our water sources and safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption. The gorgeous illustrations perfectly complement the main invitation: to stand up for environmental justice.
A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel was one of my favorite picture books published in 2019. It is an exploration of perspective, perception, and the passage of time, with an underlying environmental message that is accessible to everyone, no matter what age.
Hike by Pete Oswald is a new picture book released in March that begins in the cool and quiet early light of morning. A father and child wake up to go on a hike. They go into the mountains and witness the magic of the wilderness, overcome challenges, and play a small role in the survival of the forest. By the time they return home, they feel alive — and closer than ever — as they document their hike and take their place in family history.
Song of the Trees by Mildred D. Taylor is a part of the Logan Family Saga series (most notable being Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry). Song of the Trees is a slim volume about Cassie Logan and her family living through the the depression. But despite the money troubles and the daily challenges of protecting their land and her family, one thing hasn’t changed: the whispering trees outside her window. Cassie’s trees, which have stood for centuries, are a great source of comfort to her. But they are also worth a lot of money. With Cassie’s daddy gone to lay tracks for the railroad, it seems like no one can stop Mr. Andersen from forcing Big Ma to sell their valuable trees. How can Cassie sit by and watch them disappear? This book is best for grades five and up.
I picked up a copy of National Parks of the U.S.A. by Kate Siber, illustrated by Chris Turnham, at one of my local independent bookstores last fall. I was drawn to the beautiful drawings and the details on each spread about various national parks and the specific ecosystem. It’s a beautiful book to explore all the beautiful and unique ecosystems of the United States.
What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.
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