Illustrated by Kadir Nelson 3.5 stars An engaging read with sweet themes of confidence and not being afraid to be different. Sassy dreams of dancing on stage, but she’s taller than all the other girls in her ballet class and none of the boys can lift her. She feels different because of her height, long…
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by Joanna McClintick Illustrated by Keisha Morris 4 stars A lovely story of food, reminiscing, and bringing people together. A child wonders how their chosen family’s Friendsgiving tradition got started, asking different members of the family. They all think they had a part in starting the tradition, but by the end they recognize that the…
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Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist 3.5 stars “Life is for us, and is shining. We have a right to sing.” An colorfully illustrated edition of Brooks’ poem, “A Little Girl’s Poem”, to celebrate her 100th birthday. A lovely poem wishing the best for all the children in the world. Promotes themes of acceptance, joy, love,…
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by Suzanne Slade Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera 4 stars A wonderful children’s biography of Gwendolyn Brooks and her lifelong love of poetry. The story spans from Brooks’ childhood to winning the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1950. The book focuses on Brooks’ love of writing and her publishing career, as well as touching on…
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by Christina Rice, Tee Franklin, Megan Brown, and Stephanie Williams Illustrated by Abby Bulmer, Yancey Labat, Natalie Haines, and Asia Simone 3 stars A fun collection of new stories featuring characters from Gen 4 and Gen 5. Nice variety in the stories including a story from Princess Cadance’s past, best friends going on an adventure…
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Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney 4 stars A beautifully written story, the first book of the Logan Family Saga showcases the bravery, creative problem solving, and resolve of the Logans. Cassie loves the forest on her family’s property. No matter what her brother says, she knows she hears the trees singing. But then the siblings witness…
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Illustrated by Bre Indigo 4 stars A fun modern retelling of Little Women. I am always drawn to Jo as a character and this one was no exception. Join the Marches, a blended family living in New York, as they take on life’s battles. The sisters deal with missing their father during his deployment, their…
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Illustrated by Laura Freeman 5 stars A wonderful book blending history, fairy tales, and biblical stories. Much like Cinderella, CeeCee is mistreated and disrespected. As an enslaved girl in the household, she is ordered around, isn’t allowed to learn, and is locked away in the attic whenever she is caught looking at books. The only…
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Illustrated by Olivia Duchess 5 stars A sweet new story, perfect for revisiting Tiana, Naveen, and all their friends in New Orleans. Tiana’s in-laws are joining them for the Mardi Gras celebration. Wanting everything to be just right, Tiana sets out to obtain a special ingredient to make the perfect dessert, a king-and-queen cake. Things…
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by Shauntay Grant Illustrated by Letícia Moreno 5 stars A delightfully cozy story of a young girl’s visit to Nana’s house filled with good food, good music, and good conversation. Nicely written with straight-forward text. I love how the proverbs are worked into the story as the girl shares what she has learned at Nana’s…
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