by Cynthia Levinson Illustrated by Mirelle Ortega 4 stars A powerful fictionalized account that tells the story of Plyler v. Doe, which mandated free public school education for all US residents regardless of immigration status. This nonfiction picture book follows Alfredo Lopez who loves school where he can learn and see his friends. But one…
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Illustrated by Jorge Lacera 4 stars A short and sweet comics-style picture book. Absolutely adorable. Four friends are convinced there is a monster living in the forest near their shared apartment building, Wild Oaks. They just can’t decide which monster (and their favored snack). When their beloved apartment building is scheduled for demolition, they turn…
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by Irinbi Illustrated by Grrr Translated by Kakao Entertainment 5 stars It feels like I’ve waited an eternity for my library to get a copy of this book. Now that it finally has, this volume did not disappoint! Ailette is getting the hang of her new transmigrated life. When she gets an opportunity to meet the…
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Illustrated by Danielle Arrington 3.5 stars A sweet story about treating your hair with love and kindness. With the help of her older sister, a young girl learns how to care for her hair and treat it like a friend. The story goes through various steps of hair care, pointing out when the be gentle…
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By Deidre Havrelock Illustrated by Aphelandra 4 stars A beautiful picture book that tells the story of Carol Powder, her music, and her activism. The book goes through Powder’s childhood singing with her family, her great-grandfather making her a drum of her own and teaching her its songs, creating her own drumming group, Chubby Cree,…
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Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat 3 stars A fun, engaging story of how different vehicles communicate told through rhythm, rhyme, and repetition. Ibraheem and his cat, Mitu, join Baba on his delivery trip through Pakistan. Along the way, they must navigate the busy streets, communicate with other vehicles, and make sure everyone stays safe while they…
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Edited by Amber McBride, Taylor Byas, and Erica Martin 4 stars A fantastic collection of poetry from a variety of poets from past and present. I loved the showcase of different styles, formats, and topics. It was wonderful to read poems from familiar modern favorites like Ibi Zoboi and Kwame Alexander; famous poets throughout history…
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4 stars An adorable story about two siblings learning different aspects of lion dancing, from the costume itself to the accompanying instruments. Sweet, simple, and filled with great information. Adorable illustrations. Such a sweet read. Also includes a note in the back explaining the origins of lion dancing. A wonderful way to learn about lion…
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3.5 stars Wei has always loved lion dancing. But after his father’s death, Wei quits his team and gives up on his dream. Years later, Wei gets a second chance at lion dancing. Will he be able to push through all of the obstacles to do what he loves? A nice story about what it…
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Illustrated by Hala Tahboub 5 stars An absolutely beautiful story about being there for those you care about when they’re grieving. As different people in his life experience loss, the narrator wants to help them, but they all seem to need different things. The narrator learns there is no one-size-fits-all approach and that just being…
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