Category: The Kids Are All Right

This picture book tells the amazing true story of refugee Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini. As a child in Damascus, Mardini loves to swim and dreams of participating in the Olympics. But when war strikes Syria, she and her family are forced to flee. The boat’s motor gives out, and she helps pull it to safety with her swimming skills. She begins swimming again while living in a refugee camp in Germany, and she’s asked to join the 2016 Olympics as a member of the first ever refugee team.

This is another inspiring picture book biography, this time about Lakota gold medalist Billy Mills. Mills begins running after his mother dies. When Jim Thorpe wins an Olympic gold medal, Mills wonders if he could be in the Olympics, too. When his father dies, he puts aside his dreams to work and help take care of his siblings. In high school, he begins running again, but a health problem—which turns out to be diabetes—plagues him. Nonetheless, he receives a college scholarship, but racism threatens to derail his dreams once more. He joins the Marines, and after failing to qualify for the Olympics in 1960, he makes it to the 1964 Olympics, where he wins a gold medal. Extensive back matter includes photographs, information about the nonprofit Mills founded, a timeline, and much more. This picture book releases on July 2.

This is a fantastic collective biography of summer Olympians for middle grade readers. It’s divided into four parts: “Racing Ahead,” “Making History,” “Swimming into Summer,” and “Speaking Out.” It includes 16 short biographies of Olympians like Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, Wilma Rudolph, and more. The illustrations are vibrant and expressive.

This nonfiction for middle grade readers provides lots of photographs from previous Summer Olympics as well as fun facts. It focuses on modern Olympic games, and it features sections divided by discipline, from basketball to gymnastics to the Paralympics. It includes details about top performances, new additions to the Olympics, record-breakers, and more. It’s a fun one for kids to flip through.

This book goes over bananas popular with kiddos, it’s a surefire hit during story times. True to its title, there are no pictures, but large font, nonsense words, and interactive text all combine to make this book the equivalent of child catnip.

Every night, before bed, Ebere’s mother reminds her to dream. Ebere’s imagination is vast, and with each subsequent sleep, she fills out the details of her nighttime dreams. Erivo’s text is simple and calm, with gentle repetition, and the illustrations are playful and endearing.

Did you know that Emma Thompson wrote multiple Peter Rabbit books? This one was the first, written in conjunction with Peter’s 110th anniversary, and Thompson perfectly captures the mischievous spirit of the originals. Fun fact: I worked at Selfridges’ book department when this was published, and we hosted Thompson for a meet and greet—she wore adorably whimsical mismatched veggie earrings.

This is a sweet Indigenous picture book about environmentalism and welcoming Grandfather Sun. Bo’s family has taught him to give thanks to Mother Earth and Grandfather Sun. As the summer solstice approaches, Bo notices people throwing trash at a local park. On the solstice, he has an idea. He gathers other children in the park, and they all clean up litter. In the evening, they have a picnic.

This is an evocative, lyrical celebration of all things summer. The young narrator loves the fresh fruit, pool days, and family cookouts that summer brings. It’s her favorite season of the year, and she wishes summer would stay. The vibrant illustrations depict gorgeous summery scenes full of Black joy.

This lovely picture book is based on the author’s childhood. Every summer, Mama takes the narrator and her sister to the library. They can only check out books about Black people. They get as many books as the library allows and take them home, devouring them as a family, then having book review contests. Memorable, collage illustrations accompany the text. An author’s and illustrator’s notes follow.

This is a heartwarming middle grade novel-in-verse about the summer before middle school. Phee spends much of her day in a quiet alley, watching as the city passes by from the safety of a treehouse, journaling. The alley comes alive in her journal. When a new girl moves in nearby, Phee wonders if she should try to join the world. But the new girl’s snark makes it difficult to do so.

This is a neat board book with flaps to lift that reveal some of the wonders you’ll find in a tide pool. A starfish mends, a hermit crab finds a new shell, an anemone hides from a seagull, and more. What makes this unique is that there are flaps within flaps. Toddlers will really enjoy playing with this one.

This is a lovely picture book based on the author’s experiences. Young Yaya dreams of being a mermaid before her mother awakens her early on the first day of spring. She and her mom take the A train and pick up her aunties along the way, all of whom dote on their little mermaid. The five go to the beach and present offerings to Mama Ocean in a ritual to celebrate and honor the changing seasons.

This simple picture book with gorgeous, warm illustrations reminds me of my own trips to the beach. Children awaken in a beach cabin and peek out the windows at the ocean. A young girl hides seashells under her pillow, adults chat in the kitchen and put together a puzzle, and sand gets everywhere. At the end of the day, the children fall asleep with the moon shining through their window. It’s a super sweet read.

This is a fascinating, large interactive nonfiction picture book in which kids can look through a three-colored lens at each intricate illustration and discover different types of ocean life. The red lens reveals fish, the green lens reveals aspects of the habitat, and the blue lens shows other ocean critters. The book examines ten ocean environments. This is part of a series that looks at different habitats, and they’re all so cool.

Talking about money, reading about money, and even listening to an audiobook about money are unlikely to be top of your to-do list with teenagers. But let’s face it: many adults wish they had some guidance about financial literacy when they were younger. Ignore the cover image: this audiobook is probably too advanced for most younger readers, but it is compelling and supportive enough to hold the interest of teenagers (and some middle grade readers). It’s a fun audiobook that looks at a range of contemporary issues, from credit to scams, and the psychology behind marketing in a consumer-centric society.

This powerful memoir is written with such warmth and tenderness that I was worried the audiobook would be too much for young listeners. I was wrong — it is equally beautiful in audio format: still able to break my heart but also put it back together, stronger and more hopeful than before. It is a long audiobook, coming in a little over 10 hours, and worth breaking up into smaller bites to allow time for young listeners to process all that is shared. Sabic-El-Rayess shares her story of five cousins in the three years leading up to the Bosnian Genocide. In some ways, it will sound like any other tween experience, but it is most influential in how it portrays normal everyday people caught in all of the lead-up to war. It is also worth reading about Sabic-El-Rayess’s experience during the war, in her book The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War, and Survival.

During World War II, a very very small group of people were invited to attend Station X at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire (UK). Today, we now know it was filled with cryptographers, debutantes, and academic professors. Less is known about the teenage girls who moved around the premises, helping out wherever they were needed. Fleming’s research unfolds over four-and-a-half hours, showcasing the various skills and the roles they played in the most secretive wartime efforts. Fleming and Quirk make it easy to picture the kind of people who could help in Bletchley Park, including the mix of soft skills and the ability to keep a secret.

This is a cute and relatable middle grade graphic novel about a string music camp. Tate Seong has recently taken up viola after hearing the young prodigy Eli Violet backstage. Eli struggles with anxiety and was unable to perform that day, but their music struck a chord with Tate, and Tate’s supportive parents surprise them with the summer camp. Eli is attending the camp as well. Eli and Tate become friends, and Eli tutors Tate in viola. Meanwhile, Tate, who also has anxiety, comes out as nonbinary — like Eli — to their fellow viola players.

This is the only non-graphic novel on this list. Phoenny Fang is super excited about returning to the Summertime Chinese Culture, Wellness, and Enrichment Experience camp — called Squee by the campers— with her best friend. Their mothers run the camp, and the two will both be senior campers this year. But it turns out the senior campers are being separated into new cabins and teams this year to welcome and help an influx of new members, all of whom are adoptees. They have very different feelings about learning Chinese culture than Phoenny, which causes some frustration.

This is a very fun paranormal middle grade graphic novel, great for fans of Camp Sylvania. Maya has had a rough school year and is looking forward to the summer, that is, until her father announces that his girlfriend, Charlotte, is moving in with them. While Maya likes Charlotte well enough, she’s not ready for her to invade her home. However, Charlotte surprises her by arranging a culinary camp she can attend. Maya loves cooking and is super excited about the camp. But when Maya gets on the wrong bus, she ends up at a summer camp for vampires instead!

This standalone graphic novel happens in the same world as Roll with It. Ty is struggling with anxiety and depression as he and his friends, twins Max and Heather, arrive at summer camp. Ty has just gotten the cast for his broken arm taken off, which kept him from swim meets with the twins. He worries that they’ve grown more distant, and he also worries about his weight. Ty distances himself from everyone at camp, which hurts Max and Heather’s feelings. Max turns that hurt into anger, and he’s also harboring a secret crush on Ty.

A young girl narrates her family’s Juneteenth activities in this joyful depiction of the holiday. She wakes up to the smoky smell of her father’s slow-cooked brisket. The family gathers for the neighborhood parade, then for lunch and games. The girl’s granddaddy reminds her that Juneteenth is about remembering “lives long before our memories,” and the two talk about Juneteenth’s history. Back matter includes a description of the significance of red. The father in this wonderful picture book uses a prosthetic leg.

This is a gorgeously illustrated picture book about the history of Juneteenth and of Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas, a park that was built as a dedication to honor the day. The park is the narrator, and it recalls its 150-year history as well as the history of Juneteenth in sparse yet poetic words. It’s a beautiful and moving picture book.

This colorful and joyful picture book depicts a child attending a Juneteenth parade with his family in Galveston, Texas, where Juneteenth began. The family packs up the car and makes their way to the parade, and when they arrive, the boy is shocked to see so many faces that look like his own and his family’s. Garrett uses lyrics from “Lift Every Voice and Sing” throughout the lyrical text.

This picture book for older readers takes a unique approach to explaining Juneteenth’s history — through recipes! Alliah and her grandparents discuss Juneteenth’s history as they prepare 18 dishes, with recipes included, from Freedom Fizz, a raspberry-based drink, to Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwiches. Recipes are divided into five categories: Drinks, Appetizers, Mains, Sides, and Desserts. Each section also includes a game or activity.

This energetic picture book opens with a dad teaching a young girl to ride her bike. Initially she loves her bike, but when she crashes going down a hill, she decides she hates it. Comfort from dad and a rest gives her a new perspective. The lilting prose and soft illustrations depict the joys and frustrations of learning how to ride a bike.

This picture book also tackles those initial moments of frustration and joy when learning how to ride a bike. It’s a simply written but perfectly executed book depicting a father teaching his daughter to ride a bike in their neighborhood. The dad in this one also provides comfort and encouragement when the child falls. My daughter loves finding all the animals in the illustrations.

This is a fascinating nonfiction picture book about the history of bicycles. Velocipedes struggle in muddy 19th century streets and brakeless inventions make hills a disaster. Bike innovations move from toys for the wealthy to essentials for the working class. Nelson’s simple, poetic lines somehow pack so much information into them, and Bruno’s detailed illustrations are nostalgic and gorgeous. This one releases in July.

Bibsy Cross is another new chapter book series that my daughter and I have fallen in love with. Scanlon writes the series in verse, and it’s very accessible, especially with Ho’s super cute illustrations. In this one, 8-year-old Bibsy’s library is hosting a bike-a-thon fundraiser, and she’s determined to win the fundraiser by getting the most donations. She teams up with her best friend Natia to practice, but as her competitive drive takes over, she starts to forget the reason for the fundraiser. The first two books in the series release June 11th. The other book releasing is Bibsy Cross and the Bad Apple.

This lyrical picture book releases June 11, and it’s going to be one of my favorite books of the year. It’s a lovely story about a young girl going horseback riding with her father through a city one early morning. The child wakes up early, kisses her abuela goodbye, then takes off for the stables with her daddy. They saddle their horses and ride through the city, Daddy telling her stories about cowboys and the old days. The illustrations are gorgeous. It’s a wonderful celebration of Black joy, fatherhood, community, and horseback riding.

This is another lovely picture book celebrating Black joy and fatherhood. Lune loves to hear her father’s stories of “lakay” — back home in Haiti. He tells her childhood stories about falling from mango trees, Hurricane Flora, childhood illnesses, and more. But now Lune’s father doesn’t get home from work until late at night, and she doesn’t hear as many stories anymore. One night, she decides to stay up late to listen to one of his stories, and when he arrives home, he tells her stories of his dreams and of Haiti’s beauty. Back matter includes a glossary and an author’s note about her personal connections to the story.

This is a lyrical, super sweet celebration of all kinds of dads that gently pushes against stereotypes of dads and toxic masculinity. Some dads enjoy knitting — “My daddy knits, my daddy sews, / He makes us both fantastic clothes” — some cook, and others love camping and gardening. The dads in this picture book reassure children when they make mistakes or cry, telling them it’s okay to show their feelings. They snuggle with their children, teach them how to meditate, and take them fishing. The illustrations are as gentle and warm as the story. It’s a beautiful Father’s Day read.

There aren’t a whole lot of picture books centering step-parent experiences, which makes this one all the more special. It’s a rhyming picture book from the stepdad’s perspective about his special bond with his stepdaughter. He describes meeting her for the first time, learning how to play together, and the joyful relationship they formed together. The author and illustrator also paired up on Always Your Stepmom.

In the last five years or so there have been quite a few children’s books about pronouns published, but this is one of my favorites. It’s a straightforward explanation of what pronouns are and how happy they can make you feel when you find the right ones. It includes many pronouns, not just he/she/they, which is one reason it stands out from other pronoun picture books. I also adore the illustrations.

I recently recommended this picture book to a publicist, and her kid LOVED it, so now I must share it with more people! A fox family with two dads makes pancakes every Saturday for breakfast. However, this Saturday Dada Henry doesn’t want to get out of bed. He’s feeling a bit sad today. So Papa Milo, the fox twins, and their pet cockatiel create increasingly more absurd concoctions in an attempt to cheer Dada Henry up. But sometimes people are just sad, and that’s okay! This is a fantastic combination of humor and SEL.

Rob Sanders and Harry Woodgate have created so many wonderful LGBTQ+ children’s books separately, so I was delighted when I was sent this picture book of their first collaboration. It’s a beautiful biographic collection of queer heroes. Each page spread contains a poem about the person, a mini-biography, and a vibrant illustration. It includes profiles of seventeen LGBTQ+ folks across history, like Marsha P. Johnson, Bayard Rustin, Pete Buttigieg, Pauline Park, and many more. It’s a lovely collection.

Melleby’s latest middle grade novel stars a girl who’s always known she was gay. But her parents want her to stay with her grandmother in New Jersey for the summer and, worried about what Grandma will think, wants Winnie to pretend not to be a lesbian. Uhm. Eek. More than anything, Winnie wants to go to the NYC Pride festival, but she won’t be able to if she’s stuck with Grandma pretending to be straight. Meanwhile, Winnie’s mom is pregnant and due soon, but she’s had several miscarriages. It seems like everyone just wants Winnie to be happy, but Winnie is getting frustrated at having to constantly pretend to be someone she isn’t. This is a wonderful novel, as are Melleby’s other middle grades. If you haven’t yet, you should check them all out!