Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! This past weekend, we went to an axolotl-themed birthday party. I just love it when kids get so into very specific things like this.
Today, I review four chapter book series by Black authors, plus two awesome new releases.
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Bookish Goods
Black Educators Matter Sticker by HerSheMeCreations
This is such a cool sticker. The shop has other stickers with Black women on them, too, if you want to check out more. $5
New Releases
Journey to the Stars by Laurie Wallmark and Raakhee Mirchandani, illustrated by Maitreyi Ghosh
This picture book biography describes Kalpana Chawla’s life and how she became the first Indian American astronaut. It opens with Chawla watching a plane fly from the roof of her home in India as a child. Her family supported her dream of flying, but when she attended the Punjab Engineering College, the faculty discouraged her. She persevered, earning an aeronautical engineering degree and then transferring to the University of Texas to further her education. She married, earned a PhD, and applied to NASA twice before being accepted into the program. She finally made it into space in 1997. This is an engaging bio perfect for kids who dream of space or for Women’s History Month.
The Happy Shop by Brittany Long Olsen
This is a heartwarming graphic novel about 11-year-old Darcy, who has recently moved to a new country. She misses her old home and her friends and feels lonely. One day, she stumbles upon a shop that sells happy feelings in jars. When she accidentally breaks a jar, the owners make her work for them. The longer she works for the couple, the more she wants the shop to succeed, but it looks like the shop will have to close. This is a really cute and sweet fantasy graphic novel about emotions and moving.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
I frequently get asked questions about chapter books, both asking what they are and for recommendations. Chapter books are for kids who are ready for longer children’s books but aren’t quite ready for middle grade. I see 7-10 listed most often for age groupings, though this will vary from kid to kid, and some chapter books are geared toward the younger end of transitional readers, while others are for the older side. I started reading chapter books to my 6-year-old when she was 4, so don’t let age recommendations deter you! A lot depends on attention span, which varies greatly.
Since it’s Black History Month, I thought I would round up four awesome chapter book series by Black authors. Even though these are series, each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone.
Frankie and Friends: Breaking News by Christine Platt, illustrated by Alea Marley
Frankie’s mama is a journalist and often needs to leave the family when a big story breaks. When Mama leaves to cover the latest news, Frankie decides to set up her own broadcast news station. But what will she report? The sound of crying gives her exactly the story she needs. This is such a great introduction to news, wrapped up in an engaging story. The second book in this series, Frankie and Friends: The Big Protest, releases in May. The series has lots of illustrations, which makes it great for younger transitional readers.
Love Puppies: Best Friends Fur-ever by JaNay Brown-Wood (TR)
There are currently five books in the Love Puppies series. They’re about four magical puppies who help human children in need. In this first book, the puppies help third-grader Meiko find a friend when Meiko starts a new school. These books are a bit denser than the other series on the list, with fewer illustrations, so they are best for slightly older transitional readers, though my daughter loves them! Magic + puppies will be a winning combination for a lot of kids.
Miles Lewis: King of the Ice by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Wayne Spencer (TR)
This is another series my daughter really enjoys. There are currently four books in this series, which combine STEM and friendship themes. In this first book, Miles Lewis makes a bet with his friend that he can ice skate without falling on a school field trip to the ice skating rink. Miles regrets making the bet and wishes he could take it back, but his competitive friend isn’t making it easy. Meanwhile, he’s worried about his grandmother, who lives with him and his parents, moving away. This intergenerational series is really engaging, with a good amount of illustrations and text spaced apart well for young readers.
Bo at the Buzz: Bo and the Basketball Game by Elliott Smith, illustrated by Subi Bosa (TR)
The Bo at the Buzz series is excellent for the youngest transitional readers, with sparse text and lots of illustrations. There are currently six books in the series, and they’re available in English and Spanish. In this one, Bo wants to make the basketball team, but his friends play better than him at practice. Bo and his Pop-Pop (grandfather) live above Pop-Pop’s barbershop, and whenever Bo has a problem, he goes to the barbershop for advice. This series can be great for having important conversations with kids, too.
Last Sunday, we went on a hike in hoodies, and the next day it snowed! The weather has been truly erratic this year, which makes me more than a little worried about a future of climate change. We did have a lot of fun at the park, however. After receiving a new puppy stuffed animal, she wanted to take the pup on a walk.
If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, and blog irregularly at Baby Librarians. You can also read my Book Riot posts. If you’d like to drop me a line, my email is kingsbury.margaret@gmail.com.
All the best,
Margaret Kingsbury