Category: The Kids Are All Right

Hello readers!

Welcome to your weekly pick of the best new releases in the world of children’s literature. Book release dates are still a bit up in the air at the moment, with a lot of books being pushed back, so that means I get to share with you some more backlist bumps. Hurrah! I’ll include them at the end of the newsletter, and I hope you enjoy (re)discovering some new/old friends.

Antiracist Baby by Ibram X Kendi, illustrations by Ashley Lukashevsky

(I am so ready for this book I cannot tell you). Antiracist Baby provides an easy and accessible route into critical conversations, and does with a lot of care and eloquence. The artwork is bold and bluntly brilliant, and the text is deeply accessible. It’s amazing, I love it.

American Immigration: Our History, Our Stories by Kathleen Krull

The history of American immigration is a history of stories, and this nonfiction text pays tribute to those immigrants by telling their stories. These stories show the progress that has been made, and the progress that is still yet to be made – a potent thing to do in our present day clime. This is a richly detailed volume, full of careful sourcing and detailed timelines, perfect for beginning and supporting conversations in this area.

Bloom by Anne Booth, illustrated by Robyn Wilson-Owen

Anne is one of those authors who writes with such a lot of kindness, so I’m excited to see what she does with Bloom – the story of a beautiful flower and the girl who loves it. She talks to it every morning on the way to school, but when the owner of the flower yells at her, the flower does not open. Frustrated, he asks the girl to talk to it and tell it how much she loves it…

Look Up! by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola

(Backlist bump!). Rocket is going to be the greatest astronaut / space traveller / star-catcher that there’s ever been. And when there’s a meteor shower due, she’s determined to watch it. The only problem is that her elder brother Jamal would rather be gaming than taking her to the park. Will Rocket make it in time?

Featuring some lovely family dynamics, a vivid and hilarious protagonist, plus a nice shout to Mae Jemison, this is adorable. Plus you’ve just got enough time to read it before picking up the sequel – Clean Up! – which is out in July.

Another by Christian Robinson

(Backlist bump!) Where to begin with this rather beautiful wordless classic? A girl sets off on an adventure to a strange new world where she meets her doppelgänger and so much more…

This is such a wonderful, brilliant thing. The artwork is fearless and contemporary, paying tribute to the world of modern art whilst carving a space all of its own.

 

Okay, that’s everything for this week! I will return in seven days with more lovely new picks for you from the world of children’s books. Between then and now, you can stay in touch with me via social media (let’s talk about Eloise and Nanny….), on my website, or over on the biweekly literary fiction podcast Novel Gazing.

Happy reading!

Louise.

Hi Kid Lit Friends,

Happy Sunday! I recently had the chance to watch the Jane movie about Jane Goodall with my kids (it’s fantastic), and it got me thinking about women in science. I thought I would round up some great books about it.

Ocean Speaks: How Marie Tharp Revealed the Ocean’s Biggest Secret by Jess Keating, illustrated by Katie Hickey is a wonderful picture book biography. From a young age, Marie Tharp loved watching the world. In the mid-twentieth century, however, women were not welcome in the sciences. But Marie was tenacious and she got a job in a laboratory at Cambridge University, New York. But then she faced another barrier: women were not allowed on the research ships (they were considered bad luck on boats). So instead, Marie stayed back and dove deep into the data her colleagues recorded. She mapped point after point and slowly revealed a deep rift valley in the ocean floor.

Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas by Jim Ottaviani, illustrated by Maris Wicks is a graphic nonfiction book about three groundbreaking women scientists. It is an accessible, entertaining, and informative look at the field of primatology and at the lives of three of the most remarkable women scientists of the twentieth century.

 

 

Black Women in Science by Kimberly Brown Pellum is a great collection of fifteen women that built a legacy by advancing their STEM fields. The book includes stories by incredible scientists and mathematicians, including Mae Jemison, Annie Easley, Bessie Coleman, Katherine Johnson, Gladys West, Mamie Phipps Clark, and Jane Cooke Wright. These stories celebrate incredible women who had brains and tenacity and did all they could to beat the odds and be the best in their fields.

 

Leaders Like Us: Rebecca Lee Crumpler (August 11, 2020, Discovery Library) by J.P. Miller, illustrated by Markia Jenai, is about the first African-American woman to work as a professional medical doctor. Later, she also provided care for those formerly enslaved through an arrangement with the government. She became the only woman doctor to write a book in the nineteenth century.

 

Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World by Laurie Lawlor, illustrated by Laura Beingessner follows the life of Rachel Carson. Her fascination with the natural world led her to study biology, and pursue a career in science at a time when very few women worked in the field. She went on to be a journalist and pioneering researcher, investigating and exposing the harmful effects of pesticide overuse.

What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.

Until next time!
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!*

Hello readers,

Children’s literature is a political thing. It always has been and so, I can begin this week’s newsletter in no better way than by directing you towards my lovely colleague Karina Yan Glaser’s Twitter thread on 100 Must-Read Children’s Books by African-American creators.  This list of resources on how to educate “yourself and those around you” may also prove of use to some of you. Finally, I’d like to take a moment to pay tribute to those of you who are and always have been doing the work. You have my respect, my admiration, and my thanks.

Here’s my pick of this week’s new releases!

Catalyst by Sarah Beth Durst

What else do you call a tiny kitten but Pipsqueak? The only problem is that Pipsqueak didn’t stay small forever – she grew, and grew, until now she’s bigger than a horse  and oh yeah, she can talk as well…

It’s up to Zoe and her best friend Harrison to keep Pipsqueak safe. Can they turn her back to her normal size? Or will that just put them all in greater danger?

A dynamic and rather sweet fantasy perfect for middle grade readers, this teaches us to accept everybody for who they are – whatever shape or size they may be. There’s some nice lessons about growing up in this, and did I mention that bit about the giant talking kitten?

Curse of the Night Witch: Emblem Island by Alex Aster

When you’re born on Emblem Island, you know your fate. Your lifeline shows the course of your life, and your emblem tells you how to spend it. But when Tor Luna’s leadership emblem changes to a death curse – and there’s only a week to go – he must visit the Night Witch and ask for help.

Pulling from Latin American mythology, and inspired by the stories that Aster’s Colombian grandmother told her at bedtime, this rich and pacy opener sets up an intriguing series.

Ladybird Tales of Super Heroes by Sufiya Ahmed, Yvonne Battle-Felton, Sarwat Chadda and Maisie Chan, illustrations by Aviel Basil, Fotini Tikkou, Jia Liu, Louise Warwick, Poonam Mistry, and Victoria Sandøy

(Backlist bump!)

What’s better than one story about mythic and legendary super heroes? Six stories about mythic and legendary super heroes, that’s what. This well put together collection features stories about Hanuma, Demon Fighter; Shahrazad the Storyteller; Inanna in the Underworld; Anansi the Spider-Man; Loki and the Magical Hammer, and the Legend of Hua Mulan. They’re all gorgeously told and perfect for bedtime with your little heroes.

Bold Women In Black History by Vashti Harrison

(Backlist bump!) I have admired Harrison’s work for a long time and this is fabulous. It tells the stories of some amazing women, ranging from singer Shirley Bassey through to nurse Mary Seacole. The artwork is adorable – beautiful, smart and savvy – while the stories are deeply accessible and full of inspiring achievements. It’s a very beautiful thing.

Alright, that’s everything from me this week! I’ll be back in seven days with more new books, I promise. Between then and now, you can stay in touch with me via social media (I would love to hear about what you’re reading), on my website, or over on the biweekly literary fiction podcast Novel Gazing.

Happy reading!

Louise.

Hi friends,

It has been a really heavy couple of weeks. I have spent a lot of time reading and listening and thinking and donating. One of the things I decided to do was create a list of 100 incredible books by African American creators. As a contributing editor at Book Riot for the last five years, I have been very lucky to read, review, and recommend hundreds of children’s books by black authors and illustrators. The following list includes books that I have in my apartment, that I’ve read with my children, that I’ve bought at bookstores or borrowed from libraries, and that I’ve given as gifts. Diversifying our homes and classrooms and schools and neighborhood libraries is one way to learn and listen and understand and support.

Here is my list, based on my original thread on Twitter that you can find here:

The Twitter thread also includes a short description of why I loved each book. Please note that this list includes a couple of deviations from the original Twitter thread based on reader feedback, and the numbering might not match up because I reordered some of the books for easier browsing.

Board Books

1. Dream Big, Little One Board Book by Vashti Harrison
2. Woke Baby Board Book by Mahoghany L. Browne, illustrated by Theodore Taylor, III
3. Baby Says Board Book by John Steptoe
4. Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Picture Books

5. All Things Bright and Beautiful by Ashley Bryan
6. The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
7. Hey Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins, illustrated by Bryan Collier
8. Hands Up! By Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
9. Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison
10. What Is Given From the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack, illustrated by April Harrison
11. Tallulah The Tooth Fairy CEO by Dr. Tamara Pizzoli, illustrated by Federico Fabiani
12. Everett Anderson’s Goodbye by Lucille Clifton, illustrated by Ann Grifalconi
13. Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James
14. This is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by James Ransome
15. Freedom Over Me by Ashley Bryan
16. Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora
17. Blue Sky, White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
18. You Matter by Christian Robinson
19. The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
20. Bird by Zetta Elliott, illustrated by Shadra Strickland
21. Please, Louise by Toni Morrison and Slade Morrison, and illustrated by Shadra Strickland
22. A Place Where Hurricanes Happen by Renee Watson, illustrated by Shadra Strickland
23. Don’t Touch My Hair! By Sharee Miller
24. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
25. Life Doesn’t Frighten Me by Maya Angelou, illustrated by Jean-Michel Basquiat
26. Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson, illustrated by Elizabeth Catlett
27. Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome
28. Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me by Daniel Beatty, illustrated by Bryan Collier
29. I Love My Hair! By Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
30. Just Like Me by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
31. Uptown by Bryan Collier
32. Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan

Chapter Books

33. Nikki and Deja (series) by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman
34. The Lucky Stone by Lucille Clifton
35. Dragons in a Bag (series) by Zetta Elliott
36. Jada Jones (series) by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
37. Sasha Savvy Loves to Code by Sasha Ariel Alston, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Middle Grade Books (for ages 8 – 12)

38. It All Comes Down to This by Karen English
39. New Kid by Jerry Craft
40. The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon
41. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
42. From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
43. Hoodoo by Ronald Smith
44. Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome
45. Blended by Sharon Draper
46. Clean Getaway by Nic Stone
47. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
48. My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi
49. So Done by Paula Chase
50. Midnight Without a Moon by Linda Williams Jackson
51. The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles
52. One Shadow on the Wall by Leah Henderson
53. For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockington
54. Tight by Torrey Maldonado
55. Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams
56. Some Places More Than Others by Renee Watson
57. King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender
58. Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes
59. Miles Morales Spider Man by Jason Reynolds
60. The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore
61. We Could Be Brothers by Derrick Barnes
62. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
63. The Journey of Little Charlie by Christopher Paul Curtis
64. Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia
65. The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
66. 8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
67. Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender
68. Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper
69. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Middle Grade Book Series

70. Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson
71. The Logan Family Saga (includes Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry) by Mildred D. Taylor
72. Ghost by Jason Reynolds
73. The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
74. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
75. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia

Nonfiction Picture Books

76. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
77. Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe
78. By and By: Charles Tindley, the Father of Gospel Music by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Bryan Collier
79. Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington
80. Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
81. Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
82. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shutterly, illustrated by Laura Freeman
83. The Oldest Student by Oge Mora
84. Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
85. Harlem’s Little Blackbird by Renee Watson, illustrated by Christian Robinson
86. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
87. Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton by Don Tate
88. Before There Was Mozart: The Story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome
89. Someday is Now: Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-Ins by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, illustrated by Jade Johnson

Non-Fiction for Middle Grade Readers

90. Black Women in Science by Kimberly Brown Pellum
91. We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson
92. This Promise of Change by Jo Ann Allen Boyce and Debbie Levy
93. Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African-Americans by Kadir Nelson
94. Infinite Hope: A Black Artist’s Journey from World War II to Peace by Ashley Bryan
95. Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
96. You Can Fly by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Jeffrey Boston Weatherford

Poetry

97. Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice by Mahoghany L. Browne, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
98. One Last Word by Nikki Grimes
99. Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Ekua Holmes
100. I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Bryan Collier

 

I am thinking of all of you during this time. Thank you for being willing to read and learn and listen with me.

Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.

xox,
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!*

Hello readers!

I’ve had an Oscar winner reading to me this week and I’ve been enjoying every minute of it. I’m talking about Taika Waititi’s charity reading of James And The Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. Each episode on YouTube has seen him joined by a host of famous faces (I would like Lupita Nyong’o to narrate everything from now on please) and you can catch up on episode one here.

And now, let’s talk books!

The Way To Rio Luna by Zoraida Córdova

Danny Monteverde knows that his older sister Pili hasn’t run away – she waits for him in Rio Luna, the magical land from their favourite book of fairy tales.

But as the years pass, his faith begins to waiver. It’s only when he finds a strange book in the library with a map to Rio Luna – and to Pili – that Danny realises it’s finally time to find his sister. And, in the process, standing up to the greatest threat that Rio Luna has ever known…

The debut middle grade novel from Córdova, this is full of strong siblings, world-crossing adventures, and a rich spin on fairy tale adventures. Beware fairyland at all costs!

The World Needs More Purple People by Kristen Bell and Benjamin Heart, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman

Get yourself to the Good Place with this celebration of purple people. What is a purple person? It’s somebody who brings people together and speaks up for what’s right – an everyday superhero!

A bright and fun book, with lovely and accessible illustrations, this celebrates “the things that make you you!”

Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea by Meena Harris, illustrated by Ana Ramírez González

One day Kamala and Maya had a big idea: they would turn their empty apartment courtyard into a playground! But big ideas take a lot of work, and sometimes you have to stand firm in the face of disappointment to make a dream turn into a reality…

Meena Harris is the niece of Senator Kamala Harris and the daughter of Maya Harris, and this is based on a true story from their childhoods. It celebrates how children can make a difference and how a community can make things happen when they work together. Gorgeous!

You Matter by Christian Robinson

“Near or Far / Big Or Small / First or Last / You Matter”

An exploration of different perspectives from around the world, whether the bird-watchers or the pigeons they’re feeding, this wonderful picture book celebrates the value to be found in all of us. There’s a lot of power in these classy, full, emotional pages and Robinson’s writing is beautiful throughout.

The Refuge by Sandra le Guen, illustrated by Stéphane Nicolet, and translated by Daniel Hahn.

Jeannette has a new classmate, Iliana. It’s a little difficult for them to communicate because Iliana is learning a new language but hands and drawings do just fine. They tell Iliana’s story of leaving her country, and then they tell the stories of her parents too. And as these stories take shape and bloom, so does the friendship between Jeanette and Iliana…

First published in French and full of wildly magical artwork, this is a tribute to the power of storytelling, friendship, and the importance of empathy. A moving, rich, and intensely imaginative experience.

 

Let’s leave it there for this week! I’ll be back next week with more new books, I promise. Between then and now, you can stay in touch with me via social media (this week I am thinking a lot about the Moomins), on my website, or over on the biweekly literary fiction podcast Novel Gazing.

Happy reading!

Louise.

Hi Kid Lit Friends,

I have been thinking about sustainable energy these days, and generally when I don’t know anything about a topic I turn to children’s books. Here are some great ones if you’re looking to learn more about how the world is running on sustainable energy. This list reflects the dearth of books about sustainable energy by authors of color.

Green Machine: The Slightly Gross Truth about Turning Your Food Scraps into Green Energy by Rebecca Donnelly, illustrated by Christophe Jacques, is an informative and funny book about food scraps. See how food scraps are composted, collected, and processed, transforming trash into biogas and electricity. It’s a green machine! It’s a celebration of sustainability and the important role we humans play in the energy cycle.

Allan Drummund has a great picture book about solar energy: Solar Story: How One Community Harnessed the Wind and Changed Their World. As we see on a class field trip, the plant is not only bringing reliable power to the village and far beyond, but is providing jobs, changing lives, and upending the old ways of doing things–starting within the girl’s own family. Blending detail-filled watercolors, engaging cartoon-style narration, sidebars, and an afterword, the author showcases another community going green in amazing ways.

And finally, a middle grade book: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Wheeler. When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba’s tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season’s crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family’s life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William’s windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land.

 

What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.

Until next time!
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!*

Hello readers!

It’s blazing sunshine here today and as I’m too British to deal with any weather other than grey skies and a gently persistent rain, I’ve had to hide inside. Whilst I come to terms with the concept of “heat”, I’m going to share with you this week’s lovely new releases in the world of children’s books. Enjoy!

The Ship We Built by Lexie Bean

Rowan has too many secrets for a diary to hold. He knows who he is and what he likes, but it’s not safe for others to know. And while one parent ignores him, the other hurts him in ways that he’s not ready to talk about.

But there’s one way for Rowan to share his secrets; he ties letters to balloons and releases them, in the hope that they’ll find somebody who understands. And when he befriends a classmate who knows what it’s like to be lonely and scared, he realises that the support he’s looking for might be closer than he thought.

Touching on some big, complex and challenging issues – and doing so with a lot of care and sensitivity – this is an eloquent slice of magic by a remarkable author. (And that cover is beautiful!).

Captain America My Mighty Marvel First Book

This is a fun board book that celebrates the iconic Steve Rogers. The art is similarly iconic, featuring the work of Jack “King” Kirby, and provides a lovely retro introduction to Cap. It’s perfect for sharing with your tiny comics fans, and there’s also a Spiderman book in the same series.

Dewdrop by Katie O’Neill

The pond is preparing for its yearly sports fair and Dewdrop the axolotl is ready to share his skills. But his friends are putting a lot of pressure on themselves to be the best – and it’s down to Dewdrop to remind them that they’re great just as they are.

This had me at adorable axolotl. It had me again with O’Neill’s glorious artwork. And it had me again again (that’s not even English but forgive me!) with its gentle lessons about conservation and kindness. It’s just so lovely.

When The Storm Comes by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo

Storms aren’t fun. We have to bring in our outside toys and stay inside, watching the clouds roll in and the skies turn dark. But bad weather passes and the sun comes back out again.

Teaching us to look for those sunny skies, this is a charming exploration of those ‘bad weather’ days. There’s also a nice emphasis on the strength of being a community and looking out for neighbors – a charming piece of work.

Good Little Wolf by Nadia Shireen

This week’s backlist bump is a great thing. Rolf is a good little wolf who enjoys baking cakes and being kind to his friends. But wolves aren’t like that – they’re meant to be big and bad! Can a good little wolf be a real wolf?

Featuring a brilliant ending, wry and lovely artwork, this is a very fabulous picture book and well worth picking up for your tiny wolves.

I’ll be back next week with more new books! Between then and now, you can stay in touch with me via social media (I am very present for discussions about Pippi Longstocking), on my website, or over on the biweekly literary fiction podcast Novel Gazing.

Happy reading!

Louise.

Hi Kid Lit Friends,

I live in New York City, which means lockdown requires us to stay in our tiny apartment for weeks on end. It looks as if our summer trip to Maine will be cancelled, and as a result I am mourning the loss of our annual trip to the woods. Thankfully, there are books to remind me of the trees. There have been many beautiful books about the woods, including a gorgeous picture book called Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler.

Home in the Woods is the story of what happens when six-year-old Marvel, her seven siblings, and their mom must start all over again after their father has died. Deep in the woods of Wisconsin they find a tar-paper shack. It doesn’t seem like much of a home, but they soon start seeing what it could be. During their first year it’s a struggle to maintain the shack and make sure they have enough to eat. But each season also brings its own delights and blessings–and the children always find a way to have fun. Most importantly, the family finds immense joy in being together, surrounded by nature. And slowly, their little shack starts feeling like a true home–warm, bright, and filled up with love.

The Keeper of Wild Words by Brooke Smith, illustrated by Madeline Kloepper is about words, the woods, and the world. When Mimi finds out her favorite words—simple words, like apricot, blackberry, buttercup—are disappearing from the English language, she elects her granddaughter Brook as their Keeper. And did you know? The only way to save words is to know them.This lovely story is all about saving the most important pieces of our language—by saving the very things they stand for.

Redwoods by Jason Chin begins with a subway trip that is transformed when a young boy happens upon a book about redwood forests. As he reads the information unfolds, and with each new bit of knowledge, he travels–all the way to California to climb into the Redwood canopy. As with al of Chin’s nonfiction picture books, this one is crammed with interesting and accurate information about these great natural wonders.

 

Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, tell the true story of Wangari Muta Maathai, known as “Mama Miti,” who in 1977 founded the Green Belt Movement, an African grassroots organization that has empowered many people to mobilize and combat deforestation, soil erosion, and environmental degradation. Today more than 30 million trees have been planted throughout Mama Miti’s native Kenya, and in 2004 she became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Wangari Muta Maathai has changed Kenya tree by tree—and with each page turned, children will realize their own ability to positively impact the future.

Echo Mountain is Newbery Honor winner Lauren Wolk’s new middle grade book, set during the Great Depression. When Ellie’s family is forced to leave their home in town and start over in the untamed forests of nearby Echo Mountain, Ellie finds that she loves the freedom of the natural world. But there is little joy, even for Ellie, as her family struggles with the aftermath of an accident that has left her father in a coma. An accident unfairly blamed on Ellie. Determined to help her father, Ellie will make her way to the top of the mountain in search of the healing secrets of a woman known only as “the hag.” This lyrical, passionate book is about the secrets we hold and the love that gives us courage.

What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.

Until next time!
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!*

Hello readers!

It’s that time of the week where we share some lovely new children’s books (and a few backlist bumps) for your lovely shelves! We are repainting at the moment so all of my books have had to come off my shelves. They’re piled up on the side and I am very tempted to make myself a book fort. I mean, what else can you do under the circumstances?

Whilst I figure out the floorplan for my fort, here’s my pick of this weeks new releases. There are some gorgeous titles heading your way!

Every Missing Piece by Melanie Conklin

Maddy sees danger everywhere she looks – and when she comes across a boy setting booby traps in the wood, she thinks the worst. This has to be Billy Holcomb – a boy who went missing six months ago. But who’s going to believe her?

A mysterious middle-grade adventure with some sensitive treatment of anxiety and grief, Maddy must learn to navigate her fears as she figures out that the world isn’t always what it seems.

How Women Won The Vote by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, illustrated by Ziyue Chen

In 1913, a Women Suffrage parade took place in Washington DC. It was the first such event in the state, and the first organised march on Washington for political purposes. This book takes you into the heart of that story by focusing on the organisers – Alice Paul and Lucy Burns – and their incredible story.

A well-researched, powerful and beautifully illustrated tribute to women’s rights, this is a lovely look at an important period in history.

Summer at Meadow Wood by Amy Rebecca Tan

Vic Brown doesn’t want to be at summer camp. She can’t forget about the secret that made her mom want her and her brother out of the house – and she definitely can’t stop thinking about how her life is about to change. But maybe, just maybe, spending the summer at Meadow Wood might help…

As a Brit, summer camp stories have always fascinated me and this is a gorgeous read. It’s gentle, layered and full of depth – perfect for preteens and teens alike.

The Wheel of Surya by Jamila Gavin

India, 1947. Marvinder and Jaspal have been separated from their mother, and now face a daily fight for survival. They must travel halfway around the world to find a father they barely know, and somehow stay together in the process…

(This is a sneaky backlist bump for one of my favourite authors – she’s SO worth getting to know if you don’t! And if you do already know her, then we can just fangirl together over her greatness 😊 )

Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari

Mira’s grandmother is dying but she wants to ‘die well’. And as Mira is forced to come to terms with what this means for her relationship with her grandmother, she begins to uncover a whole world of secrets held about her – not in the least, those of Jide – a troubled and mysterious boy who’s hiding something…

(This is another backlist bump for one of my favourite authors and one of my favourite books –  Brahmachari writes with love and grace about family, and this is an utterly gorgeous books)

Alright, let’s leave it there for this week! I’ll be back in seven days to share some more new releases. Between then and now, you can stay in touch with me via social media (share with me your beautiful book forts), on my website, or over on the biweekly literary fiction podcast Novel Gazing. 

Happy reading!

Louise.

Hi Kid Lit Friends,

I have been getting a lot of questions about great chapter book series for emerging readers, and I have A LOT of suggestions. I love chapter book series, so here are some of my absolute favorites. Check these out, plus a bonus list if you’re interested!

Power Forward by Hena Khan is about fourth grader Zayd Saleem, a boy with some serious hoop dreams but with serious barriers blocking his way. For starters, Zayd’s only on the D-team. (D stands for developmental, but to Zayd it’s always felt like a bad grade or something.) Not to mention, he’s a bit on the scrawny side, even for the fourth grade team. But his best friend Adam is on the Gold Team, and it’s Zayd’s dream for the two of them to play together. And to top it all off, his parents are not fans of basketball – they would much rather him play the violin than hit the courts.

New York Times bestselling author Sarah Mlynowski hits a home run with the Whatever After series about Abby and Jonah, two siblings living a perfectly normal life in a new town until they discover a mirror in the basement. When they knock on its surface three times, they’re whizzed away to fairy-tale land. The great thing about this series is that there are many books, so fans will have plenty of opportunities to revisit these tangled fairy tales.

 

My Furry Foster Family is a new series by Debbie Michiko Florence about eight-year-old Kaita Takano and her animal-fostering family. They get into all sorts of mis-adventures with their fosters, which include restless dwarf hamsters, a black lab who loves eating garbage, the shyest kitten in the world, and a bearded dragon with lots of attitude.

 

Another new series that is sure to capture the attention of young readers is Diary of an Ice Princess by Christina Soontornvat. This magical series follows Princess Lina. Her magic is still under wraps, she hangs out with BFF Claudia every day, and soon their class is taking a field trip to see penguins at the city aquarium! Up in the sky, Lina’s Granddad has decided to invite her mischievous cousin Jack Frost to give Lina extra tutorials in Winterheart magic. But when Jack tags along with Lina to school, his tricks wreak havoc on the big field trip. Can Lina keep her cool and save the day?

Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon is HILARIOUS. I just love this series, which is wonderfully illustrated. If you are looking for quirky main characters, a kid with a magnificent imagination, a harrowing villain, go no further! This series is sure to delight young readers and make them laugh out loud.

 

 

What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.

Until next time!
Karina

What quarantine looks like! My 10 year old is trying to do distance learning while Nala sits on her paper. Now they know how I feel when I work from home!

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