Author: Karina Glaser

Hi Kid Lit friends!

I wanted to share with you a really cool thing that the New York Times does with children’s illustrators on Facebook. Every couple of weeks, they have live videos featuring illustrators and authors with live drawing demonstrations. It’s generally a thirty-minute conversation, demo, and sometimes studio tour with the children’s book creator and Maria Russo, the New York Times children’s book editor. I love watching the creative process, and viewers are invited to type in questions for the creators to answer on the show.

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Sponsored by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic.

Sometimes making (or creating) a friend is a lot easier than keeping one!

Sixth grade was SO much easier for Danny. Now that she’s in seventh grade, she’s in a new middle school, her friends are in different classes and new cliques, and she is totally lost. What Danny really needs is a new best friend! So when she inherits a magic sketchbook in which anything she sketches in it comes to life, she draws Madison, the perfect best friend ever. But even when you create a best friend, there’s no guarantee they’ll always be your best friend.

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Here are some of my favorite videos:

Michael Ian Black and Debbie Ridpath Ohi talk about their picture books, I’m Sad and I’m Bored. I particularly enjoyed hearing Debbie talk about how she came up with her illustration of the potato. Also, Michael Ian reveals the two other titles of his upcoming book collaborations with Debbie. Here is the link to the video, or you can click the image below.

Everyone feels sad sometimes—even flamingos. Sigh. When Flamingo announces he’s feeling down, the little girl and Potato try to cheer him up, but nothing seems to work. Not even dirt! (Which usually works for Potato.) Flamingo learns that he will not always feel this way. And his friends learn that sometimes being a friend means you don’t have to cheer someone up. You just have to stick by your pal no matter how they feel. Even if they’re a potato.

Just when a little girl thinks she couldn’t possibly be more bored, she stumbles upon a potato who turns the tables on her by declaring that children are boring. But this girl isn’t going to let a vegetable tell her what’s what, so she sets out to show the unimpressed potato all the amazing things kids can do. Too bad the potato is anything but interested….

Yuyi Morales talks about her upcoming picture book, Dreamers (Neal Porter Books, 9/4). Yuyi talks about how she did not begin drawing until she was an adult, and she demonstrates the ways she uses multimedia in her illustrations. Here is the link to the video, or you can click the image below.

In 1994, Yuyi Morales left her home in Xalapa, Mexico and came to the US with her infant son. She left behind nearly everything she owned, but she didn’t come empty-handed. She brought her strength, her work, her passion, her hopes and dreams…and her stories. Caldecott Honor artist and five-time Pura Belpré winner Yuyi Morales’s gorgeous new picture book Dreamers is about making a home in a new place. Yuyi and her son Kelly’s passage was not easy, and Yuyi spoke no English whatsoever at the time. But together, they found an unexpected, unbelievable place: the public library. There, book by book, they untangled the language of this strange new land, and learned to make their home within it.

Victoria Jamieson talks about All’s Faire in Middle School, a middle grade graphic novel set at at Renaissance Faire.  I loved hearing about how Victoria found her drawing style in art school and how she transitioned from writing and illustrating picture books to graphic novels. Check out the video to hear about all the different types of strange jobs Victoria had. Here is the link to the video, or you can click the image below.

Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has grown up with two parents working at the Renaissance Faire, and she’s eager to begin her own training as a squire. First, though, she’ll need to prove her bravery. Luckily Impy has just the quest in mind—she’ll go to public school after a life of being homeschooled! But it’s not easy to act like a noble knight-in-training in middle school. Impy falls in with a group of girls who seem really nice (until they don’t) and starts to be embarrassed of her thrift shop apparel, her family’s unusual lifestyle, and their small, messy apartment. Impy has always thought of herself as a heroic knight, but when she does something really mean in order to fit in, she begins to wonder whether she might be more of a dragon after all.

Brian Pinkney talks about illustrating two picture books, In Your Hands written by Carole Boston Weatherford, and Martin Rising: A Requiem for a King written by Andrea Davis Pinkney. I loved hearing how he was inspired to illustrate In Your Hands. Here is the link to the video, or you can click the image below.

A black mother expresses the many hopes and dreams she has for her child in this powerful picture book masterpiece that’s perfect for gift-giving.

When you are a newborn,
I hold your hand and study your face.
I cradle you as you drift to sleep.
But I know that I will not always
hold your hand;
not the older you get.
Then, I will hold you in my heart
And hope that God holds you in his hands.

In a rich embroidery of visions, musical cadence, and deep emotion, Andrea and Brian Pinkney convey the final months of Martin Luther King’s life — and of his assassination — through metaphor, spirituality, and multilayers of meaning. Andrea’s stunning poetic requiem, illustrated with Brian’s lyrical and colorful artwork, brings a fresh perspective to Martin Luther King, the Gandhi-like, peace-loving activist whose dream of equality — and whose courage to make it happen — changed the course of American history. And even in his death, he continues to transform and inspire all of us who share his dream.

Brian Selznick talks about Baby Monkey, Private Eye, a new young reader. I particularly loved hearing about how Brian made a rubber Baby Monkey as well as a model of the detective agency room so he could move the elements inside the agency around. He also gives a tour of his studio, which is also fascinating. Here is the link to the video, or you can click the image below.

He is a baby.
He is a monkey.
He has a job.
He is Baby Monkey, Private Eye!
Lost jewels?
Missing pizza?
Stolen spaceship?
Baby Monkey can help…
if he can put on his pants!

Baby Monkey’s adventures come to life in an exciting blend of picture book, beginning reader, and graphic novel. Hooray for Baby Monkey!

 

There are so many videos up on the New York Times Book Facebook page, including talks with illustrators like Vashti Harrison, Corinna Luyken, Tim Miller, Bryan Collier, and many, many more! Check them out and let me know what you think.

The next live session is on Monday, August 27 at 3:30 pm EST. David Ezra Stein will be talking about his new book, Interrupting Chicken. Tune in and ask him a question!

 

Lucky Luna by Diana López (Scholastic, 8/28) is a middle grade book about mischievous Luna who gets in trouble when she locks her know-it-all cousin in the bathroom at her cousin’s quinceanera. This is a sweet, funny book about family and friendship.

I adored Good Night, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony (Scholastic, 9/28), a super sweet bedtime story about a panda and his friends. The sparse text and adorable illustrations really made this a winner of a picture book for me.

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier (Amulet Books, 9/25) is about eleven-year-old Nan Sparrow, the best climber in all of London. She was taught by her father how to clean chimneys until he mysteriously disappeared and she had to find work with a notorious chimney sweep. This is a beautifully written middle grade novel with both mystery and magic.

 

New Giveaway Alert!

Hey, we have a new giveaway for August! Get 16 awesome books featured on the Recommended podcast. Enter here by August 31!

 

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next time!
Karina

Perfect nap spot!

*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*

Hey Kid Lit friends,

Woohoo, Tuesdays! The best day of the week! Check out all of these new books hitting shelves today! As usual, the book descriptions are from Goodreads, but I’ll add a  if I particularly loved a title.

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We’re giving away 16 of the books featured on Recommended! Click here, or on the image below to enter:

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Board Book New Releases

 Little Boat by Taro Gomi

When you’re small and on the go, there’s a lot to watch out for: big boats, waves, rain clouds, and more! But Little Boat can handle whatever comes his way, braving the elements and the unexpected with his initiative, confidence, and positive attitude. This colorful follow-up to Little Truck by beloved author-illustrator Taro Gomi will entertain toddlers sailing toward big adventures!

 

Picture Book New Releases

Melia and Jo by Billy Aronson and Jennifer Oxley

Melia is scientific and loves to create things in her backyard laboratory, but something is missing. Her inventions just aren’t quite right. Enter Jo, her new friend with an artistic spirit. When you add the arts to sciences, something magical happens!

 The Crocodile and the Dentist by Taro Gomi

Oh, it’s time to go to the dentist! Crocodile has a toothache, but he’s afraid of the dentist. The dentist wants to help, but he’s afraid of Crocodile. Never fear! Bestselling author-illustrator Taro Gomi cleverly and humorously presents both sides of the story, as the crocodile and the dentist learn to be brave and face their fears—of what might happen in that dentist’s chair and of each other!

 

Middle Grade New Releases

 Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya

After a fight at school leaves Marcus facing suspension, Marcus’s mom decides it’s time for a change of environment. She takes Marcus and his younger brother to Puerto Rico to spend a week with relatives they don’t remember or have never met. But Marcus can’t focus knowing that his father–who walked out of their lives ten years ago–is somewhere on the island. So begins Marcus’s incredible journey, a series of misadventures that take him all over Puerto Rico in search of his elusive namesake. Marcus doesn’t know if he’ll ever find his father, but what he ultimately discovers changes his life. And he even learns a bit of Spanish along the way.

From Sunset Till Sunrise: Devin Dexter 2 by Jonathan Rosen

Devin Dexter and his cousin Tommy just saved the city of Gravesend from the menace of magical, malicious Cuddle Bunnies brought to life by the warlock, Herb. But there’s no rest for the wicked, as a new mysterious neighbor moves in across the street. At night. With a coffin. Tommy immediately jumps to conclusions as he thinks this can only mean one thing: Vampires.

The Treasure of Mad Doc Magee by Elinor Teele

The small, run-down town of Eden is the only place Jenny Burns has ever called home. And that’s why, when her father loses his job and tells Jenny that they may have to move on from Eden, she knows she can’t let that happen. The fever of New Zealand’s gold rush still runs in the veins of Eden, and everyone knows the legend of Doc Magee: how he found the largest gold nugget anyone had ever seen and hid it somewhere in the hills before he disappeared. Jenny and her best friend, Pandora, know that if they can find the gold, it’ll solve all their problems. But the way is fraught with mysteries, riddles, and danger—and those are just the threats they know about.

Cavall in Camelot 1: A Dog in King Arthur’s Court by Audrey Mackaman

When Cavall and his older brother, Glessic, leave the comfort of their simple barn to join the lavish court of Camelot, Cavall wants nothing more than to prove he’s a good dog to the great knights and dogs of the castle—especially to King Arthur. But Gless says only the best dogs are worthy of greatness, and Cavall has never been as strong, brave, or fast as his brother. Meanwhile, malevolent forces lurk in Camelot, and Cavall must figure out how to protect his person. To make matters worse, Arthur’s mysterious nightmares are threatening to shake his grip on reality and undermine his authority as king.

The Phantom Tower by Keir Graff

Colm and Mal are twins so identical their own mom can’t tell them apart, but they’re different in just about every other way. Mal’s a pragmatist while Colm’s a dreamer, and they bicker and battle constantly. Neither brother is excited to be moving to Chicago for a fresh start with their mom just after their dad’s death. But nothing cures homesickness like intrigue–and their new home, Brunhild Tower, has plenty of it: mysterious elderly neighbors who warn against wandering the building at midday, strange sounds in the walls, and an elevator missing a button for the thirteenth floor.  One day, that button appears–and when the doors open on the missing floor, the boys are greeted by the strangest puzzle yet: a twin building that is stuck in time and bustling with activity.

Gods and Heroes: Mythology Around the World by Korwin Briggs

Before there was Batman, Wonder Woman, or Black Panther…there was Indra, Hindu king of gods, who battled a fearsome snake to save the world from drought. Athena, the powerful Greek goddess of wisdom who could decide the fate of battles before they even began. Okuninushi, the Japanese hero who defeated eighty brothers to become king and then traded it all for a chance at immortality.

Nonfiction New Releases

 Whales: An Illustrated Celebration by Kelsey Oseid

Some of the world’s most fascinating and beloved animals, cetaceans have captivated the human imagination for centuries. Whales: An Illustrated Celebrationexplores the most interesting and illuminating facts about these marine mammals, from the enormous blue whale (which has a heart the size of a car!) to the Amazon river dolphin (which is pink!). Gorgeously illustrated with full-color art on every page, this giftable guide delves into cetaceans’ mysterious evolution (from land to water mammals), their place in mythology, and their ecology, habitats, and behaviors (such as singing, fluking, beaching, bubble feeding, and more).

The Secrets of Tutankhamum: Egypt’s Boy King and His Incredible Tomb by Isabel Greenberg

Tutankhamun was born in a time of change. His father, Atakhenaten, instituted broad political and religious reform to Egypt, and his laws were controversial. By the time Tut turned nine, his whole family had died and he was named the youngest king Egypt had ever had. His rule was short and tumultuous, and around age nineteen, Tut died. More than three thousand years later, Howard Carter, a British archaeologist with a penchant for ancient history and a special skill for excavation in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, made a discovery that shocked the world: King Tut’s tomb, long ago assumed destroyed, not only survived but was fully intact. The treasures within gave a stunning and undisturbed perspective on ancient Egyptian culture and uncovered secrets that fascinated the world.

Just Like Us! Plants by Bridget Heos, illustrated by David Clark

While they might seem as different from humans as possible, we actually have a lot in common with our photosynthesizing friends. From drinking water to disguising themselves to communicating with one another, plants are a lot like us—though with fascinating twists all their own.

 

Backlist Book Recommendations

Picture Book Recommendation: Everett Anderson’s Goodbye by Lucille Clifton, illustrated by Ann Grifalconi

Everett Anderson’s Goodbye is a touching portrait of a little boy who is trying to come to grips with his father’s death. Lucille Clifton captures Everett’s conflicting emotions as he confronts this painful reality. We see him struggle through many stages, from denial and anger to depression and, finally, acceptance. In this spare and moving poem, the last in this acclaimed series, Lucille Clifton brings Everett Anderson’s life full circle.

Note from Karina: This is a beautiful book to share with young readers who are struggling with grief. I love the entire Everett Anderson series – I would suggest checking all of them out! 

Middle Grade Recommendation: The Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

For twelve-year-old Emily, the best thing about moving to San Francisco is that it’s the home city of her literary idol: Garrison Griswold, book publisher and creator of the online sensation Book Scavenger (a game where books are hidden in cities all over the country and clues to find them are revealed through puzzles). Upon her arrival, however, Emily learns that Griswold has been attacked and is now in a coma, and no one knows anything about the epic new game he had been poised to launch. Then Emily and her new friend James discover an odd book, which they come to believe is from Griswold himself, and might contain the only copy of his mysterious new game.

Note from Karina: This fabulously smart book series is for puzzle loving readers who enjoy mystery and intrigue. These books are addictive!

Nonfiction Book Recommendation: A Dog in the Cave: The Wolves Who Made Us Human by Kay Frydenborg

Fossils show we’ve shared our work and homes with dogs for tens of thousands of years. Now there’s growing evidence that we influenced dogs’ evolution—and they, in turn, changed ours. Even more than our closest relatives, the apes, dogs are the species with whom we communicate best. Combining history, paleontology, biology, and cutting-edge medical science, Kay Frydenborg paints a picture of how two different species became deeply entwined—and how we coevolved into the species we are today.

Note from Karina: Oh my goodness, when I first read this book last summer it absolutely blew my mind. The evolution of dogs from wolves is so fascinating, and this book is filled with so many interesting facts. Definitely check this out!

 

Giveaway!

This month’s giveaway opportunity is 16 awesome books featured on the Recommended podcast! Enter here by August 31.

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next week!
Karina

Wishing you all a reading spot as perfect as this one.

*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*

Hi Kid Lit friends!

My kids don’t go back to school until the first week of September, but the school excitement buzz is already building in our household. There are lots of great new books about school covering various topics (starting a new school, dealing with school friendships, school shenanigans), so check these out and let me know what you think! All descriptions come from Goodreads.

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Sponsored by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic.

There’s a new breed of justice in town, and he’s ready to sniff out criminals — as soon as he stops chasing his own tail!

From the creator of Captain Underpants, it’s Dog Man, the #1 New York Times bestselling, crime-biting canine who is part dog, part man, and ALL HERO!

George and Harold have created a new hero who digs into deception, claws after crooks, and rolls over robbers. This heroic hound has a real nose for justice, but can he resist the call of the wild to answer the call of duty?

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Picture Books

Mae’s First Day of School by Kate Berube

As Mae’s first day of school approaches she decides she IS. NOT. GOING. School is scary! What if the other kids don’t like her? Or what if she’s the only one who doesn’t know how to write? Or what if she misses her mom? Mae’s anxiety only builds as she walks to school. But then she meets Rosie and Ms. Pearl. Will making new friends show her that they can conquer their fears together?

On the First Day of First Grade by Tish Rabe, illustrated by Sarah Jennings

From choosing books to read to building things with clay to performing in a play, there are many exciting firsts to look forward to. Saying good-bye to mom and dad can be hard, but when the school bus pulls up, it’s time for some first-grade fun!

Cece Loves Science by Kimberly Derting, illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Cece, a budding and inquisitive scientist, and her equally curious best friend, Isaac, conduct experiments to see whether Cece’s dog, Einstein, will eat his vegetables.

 

Fairy’s First Day of School by Bridget Heos, illustrated by Sara Not

In this humorous and reassuring picture book from the author of Mustache Baby, a sweet fairy has a fun-filled first day at school. Her experience is remarkably similar to the first day of preschool for human children. From circle time (sitting crisscross berry sauce) to center time (art, spells, tooth), all the activities one might encounter at school are explored, with sweet fairy-like touches.

Hello School! by Priscilla Burris

A diverse class of excited youngsters are about to start school and experience all its wonders! Small moments like discovering one’s own cubby space and big moments like a first nature walk are all brought to life with inviting artwork. This is a great book to help familiarize children with all the activities they can expect at school, from circle time to snack time to goodbye time, all the while sharing the experiences with lots of great new friends.

Adrian Simcox Does Not Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell, illustrated by Corinna Luyken

Adrian Simcox tells anyone who will listen that he has a horse–the best and most beautiful horse anywhere. But Chloe does NOT believe him. Adrian Simcox lives in a tiny house. Where would he keep a horse? He has holes in his shoes. How would he pay for a horse? The more Adrian talks about his horse, the angrier Chloe gets. But when she calls him out at school and even complains about him to her mom, Chloe doesn’t get the vindication she craves. She gets something far more important.

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

It’s the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can’t wait to meet her classmates. But it’s hard to make human friends when they’re so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all. . . .

 

Chapter Books

Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Colin Jack

Sassy and Waldo are good dogs. They spend the day keeping their house safe. Has a squirrel ever gotten inside? No! But every day their boy, Stewart, comes home from this terrible place called school smelling like anxiety and looseleaf paper. Sassy and Waldo decide to save Stewart. But they don’t let dogs into school. So Sassy and Waldo decide to get creative. They put on an old trench coat, and now everyone at Bea Arthur Elementary thinks they are a new student named Salty from Liver, Ohio. Well, everyone except Stewart. Sassy and Waldo love school! Everything smells like meat and dirty socks. And they discover a whole other way to help out Stewart!

Ruby and the Booker Boys: Brand New School, Brand New Ruby by Derrick Barnes

Eight-year-old Ruby Booker is the baby sis of Marcellus (11), Roosevelt (10), and Tyner (9), the most popular boys on Chill Brook Ave. When Ruby isn’t hanging with her friend, Theresa Petticoat, she’s finding out what kind of mischief her brothers are getting into. She’s sweet and sassy and every bit as tough as her older siblings. She sings like nobody’s business; she has a pet iguana named Lady Love; her favorite color is grape-jelly purple; and when she grows up, she’s going to be the most famous woman animal doctor on the planet. She’s the fabulous, oh-so-spectacular Ruby Marigold Booker!

 

Middle Grade Books

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

It all starts when six kids have to meet for a weekly chat–by themselves, with no adults to listen in. There, in the room they soon dub the ARTT Room (short for “A Room to Talk”), they discover it’s safe to talk about what’s bothering them–everything from Esteban’s father’s deportation and Haley’s father’s incarceration to Amari’s fears of racial profiling and Ashton’s adjustment to his changing family fortunes. When the six are together, they can express the feelings and fears they have to hide from the rest of the world. And together, they can grow braver and more ready for the rest of their lives.

Echo’s Sister by Paul Mosier

Twelve-year-old El has planned on making her first week at a new school fantastic. She won’t go by her given name, Laughter. She’ll sit in the back of the classroom where she can make new friends. She won’t even have time to think about all the fun her old friends are having without her. Everything will be great. But when her dad picks her up after school and tells her that her younger sister, Echo, has a life-threatening illness, her world is suddenly turned upside down. And with her parents now pressed for time and money, El feels lost and powerless. Then she befriends Octavius, the only other kid in school who gets what she’s going through. As El begins to adjust to her new life, she soon finds that maybe a little hope and a lot of love can overcome any obstacle.

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez

There are no shortcuts to surviving your first day at a new school—you can’t fix it with duct tape like you would your Chuck Taylors. On Day One, twelve-year-old Malú (María Luisa, if you want to annoy her) inadvertently upsets Posada Middle School’s queen bee, violates the school’s dress code with her punk rock look, and disappoints her college-professor mom in the process. Her dad, who now lives a thousand miles away, says things will get better as long as she remembers the first rule of punk: be yourself. The real Malú loves rock music, skateboarding, zines, and Soyrizo (hold the cilantro, please). And when she assembles a group of like-minded misfits at school and starts a band, Malú finally begins to feel at home. She’ll do anything to preserve this, which includes standing up to an anti-punk school administration to fight for her right to express herself!

Lions and Liars by Kate Beasley, illustrated by Dan Santat

Frederick Frederickson has a food-chain theory about life. There are lions, like the school bully. Gazelles, like the bullied kids. There are meerkats, and the fleas that live on the butts of meerkats. Frederick’s a flea. Fifth grade is off to a terrible start when Frederick is sent to a disciplinary camp for troublesome boys. His fellow troop mates―Nosebleed, Specs, The Professor, and little-yet-lethal Ant Bite―are terrifying. But in between trust-building exercises and midnight escape attempts, a tenuous friendship grows between them. Which is lucky, because a Category 5 hurricane is coming and everyone will have to work together―lions and fleas alike―to survive!

Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls: Power Play by Beth McMullen

Everyone at The Smith School is obsessed with Monster Mayhem, the latest reality video game craze. But when Drexel Caine, the mastermind behind the game is suddenly kidnapped, it becomes clear that the kidnappers are playing for more than just special badges. After Drexel’s son—who is Abby’s friend, Toby—receives a cryptic message, Abby and her friends discover the kidnapping is part of a bigger scheme that could take down The Center for good.

Rad Girls Can: Stories of Bold, Brave, and Brilliant Young Women by Kate Schatz, illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl

In Rad Girls Can, you’ll learn about a diverse group of young women who are living rad lives, whether excelling in male-dominated sports like boxing, rock climbing, or skateboarding; speaking out against injustice and discrimination; expressing themselves through dance, writing, and music; or advocating for girls around the world. Each profile is paired with the dynamic paper-cut art that made the authors’ first two books New York Times best sellers. Featuring both contemporary and historical figures, Rad Girls Can offers hope, inspiration, and motivation to readers of all ages and genders.

Courage by Barbara Binns

Ever since T’Shawn’s dad died, his mother has been struggling to keep the family afloat. So when he’s offered a spot on a prestigious diving team at the local private swim club, he knows that joining would only add another bill to the pile. But T studies hard and never gets into trouble, so he thinks his mom might be willing to bear the cost… until he finds out that his older brother, Lamont, is getting released early from prison. Luckily, T’Shawn is given a scholarship, and he can put all his frustration into diving practices. But when criminal activity increases in the neighborhood and people begin to suspect Lamont, T’Shawn begins to worry that maybe his brother hasn’t left his criminal past behind after all.

 

Graphic Novels

Real Friends by Shannon Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Shannon and Adrienne have been best friends ever since they were little. But one day, Adrienne starts hanging out with Jen, the most popular girl in class and the leader of a circle of friends called The Group. Everyone in The Group wants to be Jen’s #1, and some girls would do anything to stay on top . . . even if it means bullying others. Now every day is like a roller coaster for Shannon. Will she and Adrienne stay friends? Can she stand up for herself? And is she in The Group―or out?

All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson

Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has grown up with two parents working at the Renaissance Faire, and she’s eager to begin her own training as a squire. First, though, she’ll need to prove her bravery. Luckily Impy has just the quest in mind—she’ll go to public school after a life of being homeschooled! But it’s not easy to act like a noble knight-in-training in middle school. Impy falls in with a group of girls who seem really nice (until they don’t) and starts to be embarrassed of her thrift shop apparel, her family’s unusual lifestyle, and their small, messy apartment. Impy has always thought of herself as a heroic knight, but when she does something really mean in order to fit in, she begins to wonder whether she might be more of a dragon after all.

Babymouse Tales from the Locker: Miss Communication

Ping! Ping! The sound of texting is in the air. Everyone at middle school has a cell phone. Babymouse just has to get one, too. But having a phone is a lot of work! Building up a following on SoFamous, learning text lingo, keeping up with all the important koala videos . . . Babymouse is ready to tear her whiskers out. Why does it suddenly feel like she has no friends? Somehow, Babymouse needs to figure out how to stop worrying and love her smartphone . . . if Locker doesn’t eat it first.

 

So Done by Paula Chase is a wonderful book about friendships and growing up. Jamila Phillips and Tai Johnson have been inseparable since they were toddlers, having grown up across the street from each other in Pirates Cove, a low-income housing project. As summer comes to an end, Tai can’t wait for Mila to return from spending a month with her aunt in the suburbs, but when she returns, Mila is different. I would recommend this book for upper middle grade and YA readers.

I really loved Grandmother’s Visit by Betty Quan, illustrated by Carmen Mok. It is the story of Grace and her relationship with her grandmother. The subject matter of Grace’s grandmother’s declining health is treated in a beautiful, sensitive way for young readers.

You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P! is Alex Gino’s second middle grade novel following the success of his first book, George. I enjoyed reading about Jilly and her realizations that there are many things she doesn’t know–and by seeking to do better she is also working to discover how to support her family and her friends.

 

Around the web…

Check out this activity kit from the National Ambassador for Children’s Literature, Jacqueline Woodson!

13 Awesome Children’s Libraries Around the U.S. That Make You Want to Be a Kid Again, via Book Riot

50 Must-Read Fairytale Retellings for Middle Grade and Picture Book Readers, via Book Riot

Check out the new list of books for Little Free Library’s Action Book Club!

 

New Giveaway Alert!

Hey, we have a new giveaway for August! Get 16 awesome books featured on the Recommended podcast. Enter here by August 31!

 

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next time!
Karina

Found in my book stacks!

*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*

Hey Kid Lit friends,

Woohoo, new book Tuesday! Check out all the new books hitting shelves today! As usual, the book descriptions are from Goodreads, but I’ll add a  if I particularly loved a title.

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We’re giving away 16 of the books featured on Recommended! Click here, or on the image below to enter:

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Board Book New Releases

Super Pooper and Whizz Kid: Potty Power! by Patrick Wensink, illustrated by Nate Wragg

Introducing two new potty pals kids and parents will adore, Super Pooper and Whizz Kid: Potty Power! is a humorous potty-training book with a hip sensibility and a playful take on a toddler’s most important rite of passage.

 

Picture Book New Releases

 Adrian Simcox Does Not Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell, illustrated by Corinna Luyken

Adrian Simcox tells anyone who will listen that he has a horse–the best and most beautiful horse anywhere. But Chloe does NOT believe him. Adrian Simcox lives in a tiny house. Where would he keep a horse? He has holes in his shoes. How would he pay for a horse? The more Adrian talks about his horse, the angrier Chloe gets. But when she calls him out at school and even complains about him to her mom, Chloe doesn’t get the vindication she craves. She gets something far more important.

 The Rough Patch by Brian Lies

Evan and his dog do everything together, from eating ice cream to caring for their award-winning garden, which grows big and beautiful. One day the unthinkable happens: Evan’s dog dies. Heartbroken, Evan destroys the garden and everything in it. The ground becomes overgrown with prickles and thorns, and Evan embraces the chaos. But beauty grows in the darkest of places, and when a twisting vine turns into an immense pumpkin, Evan is drawn out of his misery and back to the county fair, where friendships—old and new—await.

Stop, Go, Yes, No! by Mike Twohy

A cat stops. The dog goes. Dog says yes! Cat… no.

In the vein of Tom and Jerry, Road Runner, Bugs Bunny, and other classic cartoons, Stop, Go, Yes, No! features an adorably enthusiastic dog and a less-enthusiastic cat on a chase full of silly and exciting turns, with a heartwarming twist.

Loretta’s Gift by Pat Zietlow Miller and Alea Marley

Loretta and her parents are so excited that Aunt Esme and Uncle Jax are having a baby! When Gabe arrives, Loretta thinks he is the best baby on the block! Everyone showers him with gifts, but Loretta doesn’t know what to give. Can she think of the perfect gift for her baby cousin?

Henry and the Yeti by Russell Ayto

Henry loves yetis. Yes, yetis.

The problem is nobody knows if yetis actually exist. Henry, however, is sure they do, and he sets off on an expedition to find one. He has packed everything he needs, including a camera to take photos for evidence. But can he find a yeti? And will anyone believe him when he returns home?

Take a Hike, Miles and Spike by Travis Foster and Ethan Long

Take care, GRIZZLY BEAR! Stay loose, MOOSE! Buh-bye, BUTTERFLY! Join Miles and Spike as they take a hike…and a few provisions, as well, much to the vexation of their fellow forest creatures. Travis Foster and Ethan Long offer a hilarious picture book full of silly rhymes, outdoor adventures, and learning how to get along with others.

Rice From Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Korea by Tina Cho, illustrated by Keum Jin Song

Yoori lives in South Korea and doesn’t know what North Korea is like, but her father (Appa) does. Appa grew up in North Korea, where he did not have enough food to eat. Starving, he fled to South Korea in search of a better life. Yoori doesn’t know how she can help as she’s only a little “grain of rice” herself, but Appa tells her that they can secretly help the starving people by sending special balloons that carry rice over the border. Volunteers gather in groups, fill the balloons with air, and tie the Styrofoam containers filled with rice to the tails of the balloons. With a little push, the balloons soar up and over the border, carrying rice in the darkness of the night over to North Korea.

Gorillas Go Bananas by Patrick Wensink, illustrated by Nate Wragg

It’s suppertime in the jungle, but Baby Gorilla refuses to eat anything Mama and Papa make for him—not banana chips with green guacamole or a piping-hot plate of plantain ravioli. He says no to a dish of bananas flambé and turns up his nose at banana soufflé!

The Sloth Who Slowed Us Down by Margaret Wild

When the speediest family in the world finds a sweet, slow sloth on their doorstep, they take him in. But, little do they know, their new pet has quite a bit to teach them. For Amy’s family, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. Mom rushes through her work. Dad rushes through his chores. Even little Amy rushes through dinner. But Sloth does things slowly. He likes to take long, leisurely baths with lots and lots of bubbles. He plays drawn-out, imaginative games. He eats his food slowly, enjoying one small bite at a time. After a few weeks of caring for their new pet, Amy’s family finds that they actually do have enough time to tell one another stories or go for long walks together after dinner—so long as they stop

Eat Pete by Mike Rex

Pete couldn’t be more thrilled when a monster shows up in his bedroom. Now Pete has someone to play with! And the hungry monster couldn’t be more thrilled to be there, either. Now he can . . . EAT PETE! But Pete has other ideas. And they are all good fun and quite distracting–things like playing cars and pirates. Well, we all know the course of playing together nicely never did run smoothly. So how much longer will the monster have to wait before he can . . . EAT PETE?

 

Middle Grade New Releases

 Worth a Thousand Words by Brigit Young

Ever since a car accident left Tillie Green with lasting painful injuries, she’s hidden behind her camera. She watches her family and classmates through the lens, tracking down misplaced items and spotting the small details that tell a much bigger story than people usually see. But she isn’t prepared for class clown Jake Hausmann’s request: to find his father. In a matter of days, Tillie goes from silent observer to one half of a detective duo, searching for clues to the mystery of Jake’s dad’s disappearance. When the truth isn’t what Jake wants it to be, and the photographs start exposing people’s secrets, Tillie has to decide what―and who―is truly important to her.

Rules of the Ruff by Heidi Lang

Twelve-year-old Jessie is in for a long summer at her aunt and uncle’s house. Her cousin Ann has a snotty new best friend, which leaves Jessie all alone. But Jessie is industrious, and—not content with being ignored all summer—she convinces Wes, a grouchy neighborhood dog walker, to take her on as his apprentice. Sure, dog walking turns out to be harder than she expected, but she has Wes’s dog-walking code, the Rules of the Ruff, to guide her, and soon she’s wrangling her very own pack. But when a charismatic rival dog walker moves to town, she quickly snatches up most of Wes’s business—and Jessie decides she isn’t going to take this defeat with her tail between her legs.

 So Done by Paula Chase

Jamila Phillips and Tai Johnson have been inseparable since they were toddlers, having grown up across the street from each other in Pirates Cove, a low-income housing project. As summer comes to an end, Tai can’t wait for Mila to return from spending a month with her aunt in the suburbs. But both girls are grappling with secrets, and when Mila returns she’s more focused on her upcoming dance auditions than hanging out with Tai.

*Note: This book is best for upper middle grade readers.*

Finding Esme by Suzanne Crowley

After her grandfather died from a heart attack while driving his tractor on Solace Hill, twelve-year-old Esme’s been inextricably drawn to that spot, although her grandmother warns her to stay away. But when she follows her little brother, Bo, and her dog, Old Jack, up the hill while chasing fireflies, she makes an incredible discovery—dinosaur bones peeking out from underneath the abandoned tractor. The bones must be a message from her grandfather, a connection from beyond the grave. But when word gets out that the farm is hiding something valuable, reporters, researchers, and neighbors arrive in droves. Esme struggles to understand who has her best interests at heart, especially as the memory of her grandfather begins to slip away.

 The Lightning Thief, Illustrated Edition by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. And that’s the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he’s angered a few of them. Zeus’s master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus’s stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

 

Backlist Book Recommendations

Picture Book Recommendation: A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis

Edna the penguin only knows the three colors that surround her: white ice, black night, and blue sea. She is convinced there is something more out there. So she sets out on a quest—a quest for color. When she finally finds what she’s been looking for, it’s everything she hoped for and more. But that doesn’t mean she will ever stop looking.

Note from Karina: I think this picture book is so sweet! The penguin protagonist in this book has an artist’s soul, which of course makes me so happy.

Middle Grade Recommendation: The Land by Mildred D. Taylor

The son of a prosperous landowner and a former slave, Paul-Edward Logan is unlike any other boy he knows. His white father has acknowledged him and raised him openly-something unusual in post-Civil War Georgia. But as he grows into a man he learns that life for someone like him is not easy. Black people distrust him because he looks white. White people discriminate against him when they learn of his black heritage. Even within his own family he faces betrayal and degradation. So at the age of fourteen, he sets out toward the only dream he has ever had: to find land every bit as good as his father’s, and make it his own. Once again inspired by her own history, Ms. Taylor brings truth and power to the newest addition to the award-winning Logan family stories.

Note from Karina: This prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is so compelling that once I began it, I could not stop. Taylor sure knows how to spin a story.

 

Giveaway!

This month’s giveaway opportunity is 16 awesome books featured on the Recommended podcast! Enter here by August 31.

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next week!
Karina

Ginger Pye thinks she fits just fine in Nala’s cat bed, thank you very much.

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Hi Kid Lit friends,

It’s August, and here in New York City it is so humid that it feels as if you have to swim through the air. So pleasant! Anyways, weather like this makes me yearn for the sea, so I thought I would compile some of my favorite books set by the ocean. All descriptions are from Goodreads.

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Sponsored by Megabat by Anna Humphrey, illustrated by Kass Reich

Daniel Misumi thinks his new house might be haunted. But when he goes to investigate he doesn’t find any ghosts, only a talking bat! Daniel and Megabat become friends, bonding over jelly rolls and Darth Vader. Emerging readers will fall in love with Megabat’s sunny outlook on life and giggle at his inventive use of language. Perfect for fans of Dory Fantasmagory and Narwhal & Jelly, this mega-cute chapter book series is destined to find a mega-audience. For ages 7-10.

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Picture Books

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles by Michelle Cuevas, illustrated by Erin Stead

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, who lives alone atop a hill, has a job of the utmost importance. It is his task to open any bottles found at sea and make sure that the messages are delivered. He loves his job, though he has always wished that, someday, one of the letters would be addressed to him. One day he opens a party invitation—but there’s no name attached. As he devotes himself to the mystery of the intended recipient, he ends up finding something even more special: the possibility of new friends.

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall

Watch the days and seasons pass as the wind blows, the fog rolls in, and icebergs drift by. Outside, there is water all around. Inside, the daily life of a lighthouse keeper and his family unfolds as the keeper boils water for tea, lights the lamp’s wick, and writes every detail in his logbook.

 

Ashley Bryan’s Puppets: Making Something from Everything by Ashley Bryan

Little Cranberry Island. It’s a small island, with fewer than a hundred inhabitants, but it’s got more than its share of treasures—including the magnificent Ashley Bryan himself, a world-renowned storyteller and author of such classics as All Night, All Day and Beautiful Blackbird. Daily, for decades, Ashley has walked up and down the beach, stopping to pick up sea glass, weathered bones, a tangle of fishing net, an empty bottle, a doorknob. Treasure. And then, with glue and thread and paint and a sprinkling of African folklore, Ashley breathes new life into these materials. Others might consider it beach junk, but Ashley sees worlds of possibilities.

Town Is By the Sea by Joanne Schwartz, illustrated by Sydney Smith

A young boy wakes up to the sound of the sea, visits his grandfather’s grave after lunch and comes home to a simple family dinner, but all the while his mind strays to his father digging for coal deep down under the sea. Stunning illustrations by Sydney Smith, the award-winning illustrator of Sidewalk Flowers, show the striking contrast between a sparkling seaside day and the darkness underground where the miners dig.

Salty Dog by Gloria Rand, illustrated by Ted Rand

A charming story of a plucky Salty Dog, a story inspired by a real dog who frequently traveled alone on a ferry across Puget Sound to visit his master at work in a boatyard.

 

Middle Grade Books

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

Twelve-year-old Crow has lived her entire life on a tiny, isolated piece of the starkly beautiful Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts. Abandoned and set adrift in a small boat when she was just hours old, Crow’s only companions are Osh, the man who rescued and raised her, and Miss Maggie, their fierce and affectionate neighbor across the sandbar. Crow has always been curious about the world around her, but it isn’t until the night a mysterious fire appears across the water that the unspoken question of her own history forms in her heart. Soon, an unstoppable chain of events is triggered, leading Crow down a path of discovery and danger.

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

On the island, everything is perfect. The sun rises in a sky filled with dancing shapes; the wind, water, and trees shelter and protect those who live there; when the nine children go to sleep in their cabins, it is with full stomachs and joy in their hearts. And only one thing ever changes: on that day, each year, when a boat appears from the mist upon the ocean carrying one young child to join them—and taking the eldest one away, never to be seen again. Today’s Changing is no different. The boat arrives, taking away Jinny’s best friend, Deen, replacing him with a new little girl named Ess, and leaving Jinny as the new Elder. Jinny knows her responsibility now—to teach Ess everything she needs to know about the island, to keep things as they’ve always been. But will she be ready for the inevitable day when the boat will come back—and take her away forever from the only home she’s known?

I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosín

Celeste Marconi is a dreamer. She lives peacefully among friends and neighbors and family in the idyllic town of Valparaiso, Chile—until one day when warships are spotted in the harbor and schoolmates start disappearing from class without a word. Celeste doesn’t quite know what is happening, but one thing is clear: no one is safe, not anymore. The country has been taken over by a government that declares artists, protestors, and anyone who helps the needy to be considered “subversive” and dangerous to Chile’s future. So Celeste’s parents—her educated, generous, kind parents—must go into hiding before they, too, “disappear.” Before they do, however, they send Celeste to America to protect her. As Celeste adapts to her new life in Maine, she never stops dreaming of Chile. But even after democracy is restored to her home country, questions remain: Will her parents reemerge from hiding? Will she ever be truly safe again?

Rise of the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste

Corinne LaMer defeated the wicked jumbie Severine months ago, but things haven’t exactly gone back to normal in her Caribbean island home. Everyone knows Corinne is half-jumbie, and many of her neighbors treat her with mistrust. When local children begin to go missing, snatched from the beach and vanishing into wells, suspicious eyes turn to Corinne. To rescue the missing children and clear her own name, Corinne goes deep into the ocean to find Mama D’Leau, the dangerous jumbie who rules the sea. But Mama D’Leau’s help comes with a price. Corinne and her friends Dru, Bouki, and Malik must travel with mermaids across the ocean to fetch a powerful object for Mama D’Leau. The only thing more perilous than Corinne’s adventures across the sea is the jumbie that waits for her back home.

Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea by Lynne Rae Perkins

Alix and her sister, Jools, have never seen the ocean. When their parents pack them up for a week at the shore, Alix is nervous about leaving home, but excited, too. At the beach, the girls make friends, go exploring, and have adventures both big and small. They pick periwinkles, spot crabs, and discover that the beach is full of endless possibilities. As the week comes to an end, Alix is surprised to find she doesn’t want to leave!

 

Jacqueline Woodson’s newest middle grade book is Harbor Me (Nancy Paulsen Books, 8/28). It is a beautiful story about six kids who meet for a weekly talk at school with no adults around. The room is dubbed the ARTT (A Room To Talk), and as time goes by the kids share deeper thoughts and experiences which bonds them together in unimaginable ways.

Imagine by Juan Felipe Herrera, illustrated by Lauren Castillo (Candlewick, 10/2) is a gorgeous picture book autobiography. When he was very young, Juan Felipe Herrera picked chamomile flowers in windy fields and let tadpoles swim across his hands in a creek and fetched water in a bucket in the next town over. As an adult, he became the poet laureate of the United States. Stunning illustrations by Lauren Castillo accompany this inspiring story.

The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson is a book I have been hearing about for a long time, and I am glad I had the chance to finally pick it up. It is about Matthew Corbin, who suffers from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. He stays mostly in his room and the office and keeps a watchful eye on the street below. When he is the last one to see a toddler next door, he comes the center of an investigation.

 

Around the web…

Why You Should Read Children’s Stories by Sarah Mackenzie, via Publisher’s Weekly

Losing My Son to Reading by Viet Thanh Nguyen, via The New York Times

Board Books With A Plot, via Book Riot

Four Questions for Mary Pope Osborne, via Publisher’s Weekly

 

New Giveaway Alert!

Hey, we have a new giveaway for August! Get 16 awesome books featured on the Recommended podcast. Enter here by August 31!

 

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next time!
Karina

Izzy showing off some books we have read and loved recently!

*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*

Hey Kid Lit friends,

The first Tuesday of each month is generally the most popular for new releases, and today I have a whole lot of goodies to share with you. As usual, the book descriptions are from Goodreads, but I’ll add a  if I particularly loved a title. (P.S. I loved A LOT of books this week!)

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We’re giving away 16 of the books featured on Recommended! Click here, or on the image below to enter:

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Picture Book New Releases

 Lucy and the String by Vanessa Roeder

When Lucy spots a string, she can’t help but give it a yank, and before she knows it, she meets Hank! But this bear isn’t quite sure what to make of Lucy, especially because the string is attached to his pants, and they’re unraveling fast! Now Lucy must dream up the perfect solution to Hank’s missing pants, and hopefully win this dubious bear’s heart along the way.

 Good Dog by Cori Doerrfeld

When a puppy in need of a friend follows a kind girl into town, he lands himself into all sorts of trouble. He gets lost. He’s nearly run over. And he gets chased out of a bakery for being a “bad dog.” But when the pup and the girl reunite in the park and she leaves behind her favorite doll, the puppy has a chance to prove just what a good dog he really is!

 Pinny in Fall by Joanne Schwartz, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant

On a crisp fall day, Pinny decides to go for a walk. She packs a sweater, her rain hat, a book, a snack and her treasure pouch. Set for adventure, Pinny’s day includes a windy game of tag with her friends, an exciting call for help from the lighthouse keeper and a surprising encounter with the falling autumn leaves.

 Mustafa by Marie-Louise Gay

Mustafa and his family traveled a long way to reach their new home. Some nights Mustafa dreams about the country he used to live in, and he wakes up not knowing where he is. Then his mother takes him out to the balcony to see the moon ― the same moon as in their old country. In the park, Mustafa sees ants and caterpillars and bees ― they are the same, too. He encounters a “girl-with-a-cat,” who says something in a language that he can’t understand. He watches an old lady feeding birds and other children playing, but he is always looking in from the outside and he feels that he is invisible. But one day, the girl-with-the-cat beckons to him, and Mustafa begins to become part of his new world.

I’m Glad That You’re Happy by Nahid Kazemi

When a florist puts two plants in the same rosy-colored pot, he tells the bigger, stronger plant to look after the smaller, weaker one. An artist buys the plants and takes them home, where they become part of the family, celebrating happy occasions and feeling sorrowful during hard times. But as time passes and the plants grow, the pot becomes too small, and the two must be separated. While this makes the larger plant sad, it still rejoices in the way the smaller one flourishes on its own, and looks forward to the day when they will be planted in the artist’s garden to grow into trees together.

 Deep Underwater by Irene Luxbacher

Sophia bravely dives down to discover the secrets under the sea. She encounters beautiful fish and floating forests. Farther down, the dark water is full of tentacles and treasures. Deep underwater, she is never alone. Do you dare dive down after her? The ocean is full of endless possibilities in this dreamy, imagistic story from acclaimed author / illustrator Irene Luxbacher. Her otherworldly paintings show colorful fish, rippling seawater and the secrets to be found at the bottom of the ocean. Sophia’s journey will linger with readers long after the return to shore.

 Luna and the Moon Rabbit by Camille Whitcher

Inspired by Asian folklore (Moon Rabbit) and the films of Studio Ghibli, this magical tale follows a young girl who befriends the “moon rabbit” and accompanies him on a nighttime adventure through otherworldly landscapes.

 Buddy and Earl Meet the Neighbors by Maureen Fergus, pictures by Carey Sookocheff

When Wonder Buddy and Super Earl learn that the Evil Doctor Stinker is planning to shut down the only hamburger factory in town, they know they have to find the supervillain’s secret lair ― fast! Hopping into the Earl-mobile, they race into the yard next door where they come face-to-face with the new neighbors. At first, Mister the bulldog is alarmed by Wonder Buddy’s laser-beam eyes (even though Buddy does not know how to turn them on), and Snowball the cat thinks that Earl is the funniest-looking mouse she’s ever seen.

 How to Knit a Monster by Annemarie van Haeringen

Greta the goat is a wonderfully accomplished knitter. She can even knit little goats and turn them loose to play around her feet. But when she gets distracted from her knitting, threatening creatures spring from her needles, each more menacing than the last. It takes quick thinking, courage, and brilliant knitting for Greta to find her way out of a perilous situation.

Elizabeth Warren: Nevertheless, She Persisted by Susan Wood, illustrated by Sarah Green

This book shares the incredible story of the first female senator of Massachusetts. Elizabeth came from a struggling middle-class family in Oklahoma City. After a heart attack put Elizabeth’s father out of work, she helped out by babysitting, waitressing, and sewing, all while shining as a star member of her school’s debate team. Debate taught Elizabeth how to fight with her words, a skill that eventually won her a state championship and a college scholarship. As a lawyer and law professor, Elizabeth learned why it was so difficult for working-class families like her own to advance economically, and today she continues to fight (with her words) for the poor and middle-class in her role as a senator. Claris: The Chicest Mouse in Paris by Megan Fless

Claris: The Chicest Mouse in Paris by Megan Hess follows an adorable mouse who dreams of moving to Paris to follow her fashion dreams. One day, she bravely takes the leap – only to find a mean little girl with a horrible-looking cat standing in the way of her perfect Parisian apartment! Can Claris use all her wit, warmth and – of course – style to make her dreams come true?

The Bunny Band by Bill Richardson and Roxanna Bikadoroff

Lavinia the badger loves vegetables and tends her garden with care, but one morning she discovers that her lettuce has been nibbled and her potatoes and beans have disappeared! She decides to set a snare for the culprit, who turns out to be a frightened bunny. When Lavinia threatens to turn him into stew, the bunny pleads for his life, promising a rich reward if she lets him go.

Up and Away! How Two Brothers Invented the Hot-Air Balloon by Jason Henry

Back in 1782, in Ardèche, France, lived Joseph Montgolfier, a dreamer and an inventor who liked to learn about how everything worked. When one day a gust of wind blew his papers into the fireplace, he noticed that something lifted the pieces into the air—and he realized that heat could make things rise.  With the help of his brother, Étienne, he began to experiment . . . and created a new kind of flying machine: a hot-air balloon! This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of how the balloon came to be, King Louis XVI’s visit to see it fly, and the three animals—a rooster, a duck, and a sheep—who became its very first passengers.

If You’re Going to a March by Martha Freeman, illustrated by Violet Kim

As more and more children attend the growing number of marches across the country, this cheerful guide serves as a great reference tool and conversation starter for youthful participants. Inspired by author Martha Freeman’s own experiences, this picture book addresses many of the questions kids might have: What should I wear? How will I get there? Where will I be able to go to the bathroom? Is it okay to dance? (Yes, it is!). All the while the text stays focused on the fact that the right to assemble is a Constitutional part of our life as Americans . . . whatever our political point of view.

No Frogs in School by A. LaFaye, illustrated Eglantine Ceulemans

Hoppy pets, hairy pets, scaly pets: Bartholomew Botts loves them all. And he doesn’t want to go to school without one. Unfortunately, when Bartholomew brings his brand-new frog to class, his teacher, Mr. Patanoose, declares: No frogs in school! How will Bartholomew keep his animal friends close at hand . . . and follow Mr. Patanoose’s rules, too? Illustrated with energetic and humorous artwork, this back-to-school story will be a favorite with every animal-loving kid!

 Allie All Along by Sarah Lynn Reul

Poor Allie! She’s in a rage, throwing a tantrum, and having a fit! Her emotions have built and built and now they just burst. Is there a sweet little girl hiding somewhere under all the angry layers? And can her big brother find a way to make things all right again?

How to Feed Your Parents by Ryan Miller, illustrated by Hatem Aly

Matilda Macaroni loves to try new foods, whether it’s her grandma’s jambalaya or sushi at a sleepover. But, in this fun, twisted picture book, it’s finicky mom and dad—not the child—who eat only pizza with pepperoni (delivered), burgers from a bag, or noodles from a box. Eager to experience new flavors, Matilda secretly sets out to learn how to cook, satisfy her hunger for something more . . . and expand her parents’ palates, too. There’s also a Macaroni family recipe for quiche that young cooks can try!

 

Chapter Books

 Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Hatem Aly

Meet Yasmin! Yasmin is a spirited second-grader who’s always on the lookout for those “aha” moments to help her solve life’s little problems. Taking inspiration from her surroundings and her big imagination, she boldly faces any situation, assuming her imagination doesn’t get too big, of course! A creative thinker and curious explorer, Yasmin and her multi-generational Pakistani American family will delight and inspire readers.

Middle Grade New Releases

 Eleanor Roosevelt: Fighter for Justice by Ilene Cooper

Eleanor Roosevelt, Fighter for Justice shows young readers how the former First Lady evolved from a poor little rich girl to a protector and advocate for those without a voice. Though now seen as a cultural icon, she was a woman deeply insecure about her looks and her role in the world. But by recognizing her fears and constantly striving to overcome her prejudices, she used her proximity to presidents and her own power to aid in the fight for Civil Rights and other important causes. This biography gives readers a fresh perspective on her extraordinary life. It includes a timeline, biography, index, and many historic photographs.

 Echo’s Sister by Paul Mosier

Twelve-year-old El has planned on making her first week at a new school fantastic. She won’t go by her given name, Laughter. She’ll sit in the back of the classroom where she can make new friends. She won’t even have time to think about all the fun her old friends are having without her. Everything will be great. But when her dad picks her up after school and tells her that her younger sister, Echo, has a life-threatening illness, her world is suddenly turned upside down. And with her parents now pressed for time and money, El feels lost and powerless.

 The Gift of Dark Hollow by Kieran Larwood

Hiding with fellow refugees, Podkin, Paz, and Pook are temporarily safe in Dark Hollow Warren. But their enemies—the evil Gorm—still search for them. The rabbits’ only hope may be to locate twelve magical Gifts and use them to defeat the Gorm. The fate of all rabbitkind is at stake, and danger lurks at every turn. It will take all the siblings’ courage and ingenuity to find the Gifts, battle the Gorm, and stay alive. Action and intrigue infuse the second installment of a series that shows that anyone—even little rabbits—can do great things.

Graphic Novel New Release

 Estranged by Ethan M. Aldridge

Edmund and the Childe were swapped at birth. Now Edmund lives in secret as a changeling in the World Above, his fae powers hidden from his unsuspecting parents and his older sister, Alexis. The Childe lives among the fae in the World Below, where being a human makes him a curiosity at the royal palace. But when the cruel sorceress Hawthorne seizes the throne, the Childe and Edmund must unite on a dangerous quest to save both worlds—even if they’re not sure which world they belong to.

DC SuperHero Girls: Out of the Bottle by Shea Fontana, art by Marcelo DiChiara, Agnes Garbowska, and Mirka Andolfo

For an assignment in Ms. June Moone’s art class, the girls are working on their very own comic books. The character-created comic pages give us a glimpse into each girl’s personality. But Harley isn’t satisfied with her comics creation and thinks a little of Ms. Moone’s special paint will really help her drawings come to life! The problem? Harley’s drawings literally come to life!

Backlist Book Recommendations

Picture Book Recommendation: The Adventures of Beekle, An Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

This magical story begins on an island far away where an imaginary friend is born. He patiently waits his turn to be chosen by a real child, but when he is overlooked time and again, he sets off on an incredible journey to the bustling city, where he finally meets his perfect match and–at long last–is given his special name: Beekle.

Note from Karina: This book was the winner of the 2015 Caldecott, and I just love it so much! Beekle is such an enduring, lovable character.

Middle Grade Recommendation: The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly

Soledad has always been able to escape into the stories she creates. Just like her mother always could. And Soledad has needed that escape more than ever in the five years since her mother and sister died, and her father moved Sol and her youngest sister from the Philippines to Louisiana. After her father leaves, all Sol and Ming have is their evil stepmother, Vea. Sol has protected Ming all this time, but then Ming begins to believe that Auntie Jove—their mythical, world-traveling aunt—is really going to come rescue them. Can Sol protect Ming from this impossible hope?

Note from Karina: This is one of my favorite Erin Entrada Kelly books. It portrays the lives of Soledad and Mind in very realistic, yet hopeful, ways.

Giveaway!

This month’s giveaway opportunity is 16 awesome books featured on the Recommended podcast! Enter here by August 31.

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next week!
Karina

We are fostering a couple of cat sisters (cue my husband’s sigh) through a wonderful cat rescue in New York City, Anjellicle Cats. I think the cats enjoy hiding and playing between the stacks of books in our apartment.

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Hi Kid Lit friends,

I have been thinking about memory lately. What we remember, why we remember, and how our memory might sometimes conflict with what others remember. Memory is a terrific theme in literature, and I thought I would share some of the books that came to mind when I thought about memory.

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Sponsored by Automated Books, publisher of Divining Another Dream and creator of Google Play App Multiplicity.

Nine-year-old Laiza Wendel can’t remember anything because her memory consists only of events in her future. But for her, the future suddenly begins to look… short. She believes it means she will die soon, but she can’t see how. Her teacher and friends want to help her overcome her new and unusual fear of getting hurt, but Laiza knows that they can’t help unless she shares the secret about how she sees. Will she be able to determine what’s wrong before her world falls apart?

Now available in paperback for $12.00.

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For picture books, Sachiko Means Happiness by Kimiko Sakai, illustrated by Tommy Arai, is a story about Sachiko and her grandmother and their changing relationship as the grandmother loses her memory. It is an honest portrayal of Alzheimer’s and how it affects everyone in the family. This passage was particularly touching to me: “I looked into her eyes, trying to find the Grandmother I once knew. I saw instead a small, lost child, frightened and alone. She did not recognize anyone, not even me, and she was scared.”

The Dress and the Girl by Camille Andros, illustrated by Julie Morstad, is a stunning new picture book that comes out on August 7th. When a girl and her ordinary dress have to leave their Greek island home and immigrate to America, the trunk carrying the dress is misplaced and the trunk goes on it’s own journey through countries and continents while the girl grows up, gets married, and has her own daughter. The theme of memory – the memory of childhood, threads throughout this book in a gorgeous way.

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, is a lovely and honest book about unkindness in a school setting. A new girl enters Chloe’s class, and for some reason Chloe just doesn’t like her even as Maya tries to be her friend. Chloe always says no whenever Maya asks if she can play with her, and then one day Maya doesn’t come to school. That day, a teacher’s lesson on kindness, and how each little thing we do ripples out into the world, makes Chloe realize that she wants to make the world a better place. But she never has a chance to apologize to Maya, because Maya never returns to school. In the final illustration we learn that sometimes we don’t have the opportunities to correct our behavior, and that lingers in our memories for a long time.

In Knock, Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty, illustrated by Bryan Collier, a young boy wakes up to find his father gone. He writes his dad a letter, then waits for his dad to return to get it. But the knock never comes, and the young boy grows up trying to remember all of those moments with his father. A letter from his father mysteriously shows up, and the wisdom in that letter guides his life and his father’s memory. “Knock knock for me, for as long as you become your best, the best of me still lives in you.”

For middle grade books, Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead was one of the first books I thought about when thinking about memory. In this book, a young girl Livy tries to remember her grandmother’s home when she makes a visit there. While things are familiar, she can’t remember much about her last trip many years ago. But when she finds Bob, a strange creature wearing a chicken costume, the memories flood in and she remembers that she had promised to help him find his way back to his family. Bob, on the other hand, had been waiting patiently for years for Livy to return, living off the memory that she promised she would come back for him.

Restart by Gordon Korman is about middle schooler Chase who wakes up to find himself in a hospital. Apparently he fell off the roof of his house, and now he can’t remember anything. When he returns to school, the guys who seem like creeps treat him like a hero, and the kids he actually wants to be friends with appear scared of him. He begins to piece together his past as he tries to figure out who he wants to be.

Drawing from Memory by Allen Say is a graphic memoir of Say’s childhood and his evolution as an artist. Shunned by his father, who didn’t understand his son’s artistic leanings, Allen was embraced by Noro Shinpei, Japan’s leading cartoonist and the man he came to love as his “spiritual father.” As WWII raged, Allen was further inspired to consider questions of his own heritage and the motivations of those around him.

The Truth As Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor is a book all about memory: what Mason remembers about that fateful day when his best friend, Benny Kilmartin, turned up dead in the Buttle family’s orchard. Everyone knows Mason can barely read or write, but he is honest as the day is long and can’t understand why Lieutenant Baird won’t believe the story Mason has told about that day.

One of my favorite books is Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, and it is all about memory: Woodson’s memory growing up in America’s north and south. What sings in this book is Woodson’s memories of yearning to be a writer – those memories are so deep and beautiful and set the path for the world embracing her as one of the most beloved children’s book writers of all time.

Another book about memory loss is Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard. For as long as Robinson Hart can remember, it’s just been her and Grandpa. He taught her about cars, baseball, and everything else worth knowing. But Grandpa’s memory has been getting bad—so bad that he sometimes can’t even remember Robbie’s name. If she told anyone how forgetful Grandpa’s been getting lately, they’d take her away from him. He’s the only family she has—and it’s up to her to keep them together, no matter what.

In Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes, twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that’s been unleashed on his family and community in the wake of what they see as an unjust and brutal killing. Soon Jerome meets another ghost: Emmett Till, a boy from a very different time but similar circumstances. As Emmett helps Jerome process what has happened and tells him about his own memories, they both go on a journey towards recognizing how historical racism may have led to the events that ended Jerome’s life.

I was so excited to get a sneak peek at Kristy’s Big Day, the graphic novel by Gale Galligan and based on the novel by Ann. M. Martin. This releases on August 28th by Scholastic. I grew up on The Baby-Sitter’s Club books, and I just adore the graphic novel adaptations.

Whales, An Illustrated Celebration by Kelsey Oseid (Ten Speed Press, 8/21) is a gorgeously illustrated and filled with interesting and educational facts about whales, dolphins, and porpoises. I’m a sucker for nonfiction ocean books, and this one is a definitely winner.

I also began Grenade by Alan Gratz (10/9, Scholastic), which is set in 1945 and told in two voices. Hideki lives with his family on the island of Okinawa, near Japan. When WWII crashes onto his shores, Hideki is drafted into the Blood and Iron Student Corps to fight for the Japanese army. Ray, a young American Marine, has just landed on Okinawa. This is Ray’s first-ever battle, and he doesn’t know what to expect — or if he’ll make it out alive. Like his NYT bestseller Refugee, this book will make you think deeply about history and the importance of the choices we make.

 

Around the web…

Guess what the first printing is for Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey? Three million copies.

Amy Poehler Options The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser, via Book Riot (Can you tell I’m excited about this?)

28 of the Absolute Spookiest Books for Kids and Teens, via Book Riot

Are You an Ivy or a Bean? Kids Pick in New Video, via Chronicle Books

 

New Giveaway Alert!

Hey, we have a new giveaway for August! Get 16 awesome books featured on the Recommended podcast! Enter here by August 31! (Did you know I was on the second season of Recommended? Here me talk about my recommended, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor, here.)

 

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next time!
Karina

Izzy says hi!

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Hey Kid Lit friends,

Hello from the Philly airport, where I am stranded after my flight got cancelled. Fun times! At least I can soothe my soul by telling you about the new books coming out today. The book descriptions are from Goodreads, but I’ll add a  if I particularly loved a title.

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July 31st is the last day to enter! We’re giving away $500 of the year’s best YA! Click here, or on the image below to enter:

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Picture Book New Release

 Bigger Than You by Hyewon Kyung

A group of young dinosaurs builds a seesaw and takes turns playing on it until the bossy, big, and TERRIBLE Tyrannosaurus interrupts their game in a fit of temper. All ends well, though, when Mom steps in and encourages a peaceful and a productive end to the conflict.

Middle Grade New Releases

 Spirit Hunters: The Island of Monsters by Ellen Oh

Harper Raine faces new challenges ahead when her parents take the whole family to a remote tropical island for vacation. As Harper starts to have visions of the resort’s history of disappearances and discovers more about the island’s dark and fabled past, she must use her newly acquired spirit hunting talents to save everyone on the island from murderous spirits on the attack.

The Land of Yesterday by K.A. Reynolds

After Cecelia Dahl’s little brother, Celadon, dies tragically, his soul goes where all souls go: the Land of Yesterday—and Cecelia is left behind in a fractured world without him. Her beloved house’s spirit is crumbling beyond repair, her father is imprisoned by sorrow, and worst of all, her grief-stricken mother abandons the land of the living to follow Celadon into Yesterday. It’s up to Cecelia to put her family back together, even if that means venturing into the dark and forbidden Land of Yesterday on her own. But as Cecilia braves a hot-air balloon commanded by two gnomes, a sea of daisies, and the Planet of Nightmares, it’s clear that even if she finds her family, she might not be able to save them.

Courage by Barbara Binns

Ever since T’Shawn’s dad died, his mother has been struggling to keep the family afloat. So when he’s offered a spot on a prestigious diving team at the local private swim club, he knows that joining would only add another bill to the pile. But T studies hard and never gets into trouble, so he thinks his mom might be willing to bear the cost… until he finds out that his older brother, Lamont, is getting released early from prison. Luckily, T’Shawn is given a scholarship, and he can put all his frustration into diving practices. But when criminal activity increases in the neighborhood and people begin to suspect Lamont, T’Shawn begins to worry that maybe his brother hasn’t left his criminal past behind after all. And he struggles to hold on to the hope that they can put the broken pieces of their damaged relationship back together.

 

Backlist Book Recommendations

Picture Book Recommendation: Bee-Bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Ho Baek Lee

Bee-bim bop (“mix-mix rice”) is a traditional Korean dish. In bouncy rhyming text, a hungry child tells of helping her mother make bee-bim bop: shopping, preparing ingredients, setting the table, and sitting down to enjoy a favorite meal. The enthusiasm of the narrartor is conveyed in the whimsical illustrations, which bring details from the artist’s childhood in Korea to his depiction of a modern Korean-American family. The book includes Linda Sue’s own bee-bim bop recipe!

Note from Karina: My kids and I adore this book! The rhythm and language are perfect, and I love that there is a recipe in the back. 

Middle Grade Recommendation: Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

Eleven-year-old Melody is not like most people. She can’t walk. She can’t talk. She can’t write. All because she has cerebral palsy. But she also has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She’s the smartest kid in her whole school, but NO ONE knows it. Most people—her teachers, her doctors, her classmates—dismiss her as mentally challenged because she can’t tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by her disability. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow.

Note from Karina: Sharon M. Draper does a fantastic job with this story, depicting the protagonist with authenticity and strength. A wonderful, wonderful book.

 

Around the web…

The Most Anticipated Children’s and YA Books of Fall 2018, via Publisher’s Weekly

Libraries Are Better Stewards of Taxpayer Dollars Than Corporations, via Publisher’s Weekly

Can You Pass the Hardest Harry Potter Quiz?, via Book Riot

50 Must-Read Mystery Books for Kids, via Book Riot

 

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next week!
Karina

Ginger Pye in Acadia National Park in Maine, where my family and I traveled for vacation this month! It’s so beautiful up there.

*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*

Hey Kid Lit friends,

Sometimes you just need books about unicorns, so I thought I would give you that gift today. Somehow, life is a little bit better knowing that kids love and believe in these magical creatures.

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Sponsored by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic.

Dawn Schafer is the newest member of The Baby-sitters Club. While she’s still adjusting to life in Stoneybrook after moving from sunny California, she’s eager to accept her first big job. But taking care of the three Barrett kids would be too much for any baby-sitter. The house is always a mess, the kids are out of control, and Mrs. Barrett never does any of the things she promises. On top of all that, Dawn wants to fit in with the other members of the BSC, but she can’t figure out how to get along with Kristy. Was joining The Baby-sitters Club a mistake?

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Picture Books

You Don’t Want a Unicorn by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Liz Climo

When a little boy throws a coin in a well asking for a pet unicorn, he has no idea what kind of trouble he’s in for. Unbeknownst to him, unicorns make the absolutely worst pets: they shed, they poke holes in your ceiling, and they make a big mess.

Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey

Thelma dreams of being a glamorous unicorn. Then in a rare pink and glitter-filled moment of fate, Thelma’s wish comes true. She rises to instant international stardom, but at an unexpected cost. After a while, Thelma realizes that she was happier as her ordinary, sparkle-free self. So she ditches her horn, scrubs off her sparkles, and returns home, where her best friend is waiting for her with a hug.

A Unicorn Named Sparkle by Amy Young

When Lucy sees an ad in the newspaper for a unicorn, she sends in her twenty-five cents and waits four to six long weeks for her very own unicorn to arrive. She imagines the flowers that she’ll braid into his beautiful pink mane, and she even picks the perfect name for him: Sparkle. But when Sparkle arrives, his ears are too long, his horn is too short, he smells funny–and oh, he has fleas. Lucy isn’t pleased, but in the end she warms up to Sparkle and realizes that even though he wasn’t exactly the unicorn she wanted, he might be just the one she needs.

Uni the Unicorn by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Brigette Barrager

Uni is just like all the other unicorns . . . except for one thing: she believes that little girls are REAL. This magical story by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (author of I Wish You More) illuminates Uni’s not-so-fantastical dream and celebrates the sparkle of believing. Uni the unicorn is told there’s no such thing as little girls! But no matter what the grown-up unicorns say, Uni believes that little girls are REAL. Somewhere there must be a smart, strong, wonderful, magical little girl waiting to be best friends. In fact, far away (but not too far away), a real little girl believes there is a unicorn waiting for her, too. This magical story of friendship reminds believers and nonbelievers alike that sometimes wishes really can come true.

 

Middle Grade Books

The Unicorn Rescue Society by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Hatem Aly

Elliot Eisner isn’t exactly thrilled with the first day at his new school. His class is going on a field trip to a creepy forest called the Pine Barrens. The trip is being led by Professor Fauna, the weirdest teacher Elliot has ever met. And the only kid who will talk to Elliot, Uchenna Devereaux, isn’t afraid of danger. She likes danger. Elliot and Uchenna are about to become part of a secret group of adventurers, The Unicorn Rescue Society, whose goal is to protect and defend the world’s mythical creatures. Together with Professor Fauna, Elliot and Uchenna must help rescue a Jersey Devil from a duo of conniving, greedy billionaires, the Schmoke Brothers.

The Unicorn Quest by Kamilla Benko

Claire Martinson still worries about her older sister Sophie, who battled a mysterious illness last year. But things are back to normal as they move into Windermere Manor . . . until the sisters climb a strange ladder in a fireplace and enter the magical land of Arden. There, they find a world in turmoil. The four guilds of magic no longer trust each other, the beloved unicorns have disappeared, and terrible wraiths roam freely. Scared, the girls return home. But when Sophie vanishes in the night, it will take all of Claire’s courage to climb back up the ladder, find her sister, and uncover the unicorns’ greatest secret.

The Unicorn in the Barn by Jacqueline Ogburn, illustrated by Rebecca Green

For years people have claimed to see a mysterious white deer in the woods around Chinaberry Creek. It always gets away. One evening, Eric Harper thinks he spots it. But a deer doesn’t have a coat that shimmers like a pearl. And a deer certainly isn’t born with an ivory horn curling from its forehead. When Eric discovers the unicorn is hurt and being taken care of by the vet next door and her daughter, Allegra, his life is transformed.

Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson

A boy and his dog . . . a girl and her . . . unicorn? It all started when a girl named Phoebe skipped a rock across a pond and accidentally hit a unicorn in the face. Improbably, this led to Phoebe being granted one wish, and she used it to make the unicorn, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils, her obligational best friend. But can a vain mythical beast and a nine-year-old daydreamer really forge a connection? Indeed they can, and that’s how Phoebe and Her Unicorn unfolds.

This week I’m reading Let Me Finish by Minh Le, illustrated by Isabel Roxas, which is a great book for any bibliophile who wants to read in peace without interruption. Bluecrowne is a prequel to the Edgar Award winning Greenglass House by Kate Milford, and the world is as rich and vibrant as Milford’s previous books. I’m Sad by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi, is a wonderful picture book about feelings, and how it’s okay to be sad and that friends don’t always have to cheer you up; they just have to stay by your side.

Don’t forget to enter our current giveaway: $500 of the year’s best YA fiction and nonfiction so far. Only two days left to enter!

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next week!
Karina

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Hey Kid Lit friends,

Interestingly, there are a few new picture books featuring cats coming out today. Also, books with Halloween themes and scary stories. Check out these new releases, all fresh on the bookshelves today. The book descriptions are from Goodreads, but I’ll add a  if I particularly loved a title.

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We’re giving away $500 of the year’s best YA! Click here, or on the image below to enter:

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Picture Book New Releases

 Cat Wishes by Calista Brill, illustrated by Kenard Pak

There’s no such thing as a wish.

Or is there?

In this playful fairy tale, ever-skeptical Cat learns that wishes can come true—and not always in the ways we expect. After all, true magic lies in our connections with others, not just in the wishes we make.

 The Orca Scientists by Kim Perez Valice, with photographs by Andy Comins and the Center for Whale Research

Orcas have a reputation for being bloodthirsty, but that myth is being debunked as scientists learn more about these “killer” animals. Readers follow scientists in the Pacific Northwest who study the nuanced communication patterns, family structure, and socialization of orca whales, from marine biologists to specialists in the study of sound. With stunning photography and attention to field-based detail, The Orca Scientists paints a vivid picture of the individuals who have made it their life’s work to better understand orcas, as well as the whales they are helping to avoid extinction.

 Big Box, Little Box by Caryl Hart, illustrated by Edward Underwood

Big box, little box
Shoe box, hat box . . .
Perfect for a cat box!

Join one cool cat and lots of fun boxes in this charming take on curiosity and friendship.

Bear’s Spooky Book of Hidden Things by Gergely Dudas

On Halloween night, Bear is hoping for all treats and no tricks. And he’d like lots of his very favorite treat: honeycomb! Bear is off on an adventure—through a pumpkin patch and a haunted house and a corn maze—to search for this sweet. Can YOU help Bear sort through all the tricks to uncover where his treat is hidden?

Lots of Cats by E. Dee Taylor

Margaret the witch is about to find out that taking care of a bunch of lively cats sounds like lots of fun…but it could turn out to be lots of trouble! In her debut as author-illustrator, E. Dee Taylor brings this magical book to life with humor, lots to spot in the art, and a great read-aloud rhythm.

Creature vs. Teacher: A Book of Rhyme by T. Nat Fuller, illustrated by Alex Eben Meyer

Playing on the popularity of benign monsters and mad scientists, Creature vs. Teacher is a gently irreverent book of rhymes with a deft narrative and a theme that is perfect for Halloween.

 

Middle Grade New Releases

 Next Best Junior Chef: The Winner Is… by Charise Mericle Harper

Two talented junior chefs have sliced and diced their way into the finale of Next Best Junior Chef. This week’s theme: innovation. Which junior chef will rise to the top and earn the title of Next Best Junior Chef? And whose goose is cooked? Two contestants compete on- and off-camera, but only one will win the whole enchilada. This is a finale you won’t want to miss!

Babymouse Tales from the Locker: Miss Communication by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

Ping! Ping! The sound of texting is in the air. Everyone at middle school has a cell phone. Babymouse just has to get one, too. But having a phone is a lot of work! Building up a following on SoFamous, learning text lingo, keeping up with all the important koala videos . . . Babymouse is ready to tear her whiskers out. Why does it suddenly feel like she has no friends? Somehow, Babymouse needs to figure out how to stop worrying and love her smartphone . . . if Locker doesn’t eat it first.

Denis Ever After by Tony Abbott

Denis Egan is dead.

He’s okay with that. It’s been five years since he died, and the place where souls go is actually pretty nice. Sure, there are some things about his life and how it ended he can’t quite recall, but that’s how it’s supposed to be. Remembering could prevent Denis from moving on to whatever’s next. However, something is standing in his way. His twin brother Matt can’t let go of him, and as long as the living are holding on to his memory, Denis can’t rest in peace.

R.L. Stein Presents Scream and Scream Again! Spooky Stories from Mystery Writers of America

Read it if you dare! With twenty never-before-published scary stories from some of the most popular authors today—including Chris Grabenstein, Wendy Corsi Staub, Heather Graham, Peter Lerangis, R.L. Stine, Bruce Hale, Emmy Laybourne, Steve Hockensmith, Lisa Morton, Ray Daniel, Beth Fantaskey, Phil Mathews, Carter Wilson, Doug Levin, Jeff Soloway, Joseph S. Walker, Alison McMahan, Daniel Palmer, Tonya Hurley, and Stephen Ross—it’s sure to leave readers screaming for more.

The Turning by Emily Whitman

Aran has never truly fit in with his selkie clan. He was born in his human form, without a pelt to transform him into a sleek, strong seal. Each day he waits, left behind while his selkie family explores the deep ocean. What if his pelt never comes? Does the Moon even see him? Is he putting his clan at risk? When his mother undertakes a journey to the far north to seek help, Aran is left in the care of a reclusive human woman on remote Spindle Island. Life on land is full of more wonders—and more dangers—than Aran could have ever imagined. Soon Aran will be forced to decide: will he fight for his place on land, or return to his home in the sea?

Nightbooks by J.A. White

Alex’s original hair-raising tales are the only thing keeping the witch Natacha happy, but soon he’ll run out of pages to read from and be trapped forever. He’s loved scary stories his whole life, and he knows most don’t have a happily ever after. Now that Alex is trapped in a true terrifying tale, he’s desperate for a different ending—and a way out of this twisted place.

City of Islands by Kali Wallace

In a foggy archipelago called the City of Islands, twelve-year-old Mara has always been fascinated by the magic that drifts on the air as songs. But as a servant for the powerful Lady of the Tides, Mara must earn her keep by searching for magical treasures deep in the murky ocean. Then Mara finds the skeletons of strange hybrid creatures that haven’t existed in the city for centuries—all humming with a powerful spell-song. Convinced her discovery will earn her the opportunity to study magic, Mara shares them with the Lady. But instead of a reward, the Lady gives Mara a new challenge: to sneak into the island fortress, the Winter Blade.

 

Backlist Book Recommendations

Picture Book Recommendation: The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth

Young Nikolai is searching for the answers to his three questions:
When is the best time to do things?
Who is the most important one?
What is the right thing to do?
But it is his own response to a stranger’s cry for help that leads him directly to the answers he is looking for.
This profound and inspiring book is about compassion and being engaged in each moment.
With his stunning watercolors — and text that resounds with universal truths, Jon J Muth has transformed a story by Leo Tolstoy into a timeless fable for readers of every age!

Note from Karina: I heard my daughter and her teacher read this out loud to each other the other day, and I loved revisiting this old favorite. It’s a beautiful story about what it means to be alive and to do good in the world.

Middle Grade Recommendation: Drawing from Memory by Allen Say

Drawing from Memory is Allen Say’s own story of his path to becoming the renowned artist he is today. Shunned by his father, who didn’t understand his son’s artistic leanings, Allen was embraced by Noro Shinpei, Japan’s leading cartoonist and the man he came to love as his “spiritual father.” As WWII raged, Allen was further inspired to consider questions of his own heritage and the motivations of those around him. He worked hard in rigorous drawing classes, studied, trained–and ultimately came to understand who he really is.

Note from Karina: This is packaged like a picture book, but it is geared more for middle grade readers and up. Part graphic novel and part picture book, this memoir is gorgeous and tells so much about the life of the gifted artist and children’s book maker Allen Say.

 

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next week!
Karina

*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*