by Tonya Duncan Ellis Illustrated by Jenin Mohammed 5 stars A beautiful celebration and history of Emancipation Park. Told from the perspective of the park itself, the book follows the park’s founding in 1872, its vital role in the community especially during the time of Jim Crow laws, its years of disrepair, and its eventual…
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by Laura Obuobi Illustrated by Olivia Duchess 4 stars An absolutely stunning picture book biography of Michaela Mabinty DePrince. The story follows DePrince’s life from her time at an orphanage in Sierra Leone, her adoption and moving to the US, her passion for ballet growing up, and her success as a ballerina. It also explores…
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Illustrated by John Rocco 5 stars A sweet story about the magic of libraries and the joy of sharing books. Piper loves her books. She takes them everywhere she goes. But she does not like to share them. As her collection grows, so do the problems with carrying them all around with her. Until one…
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Illustrated by Matt Rockefeller 5 stars Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Told entirely as a palindrome, this lushly-illustrated fantasy tale follows a young boy grieving the loss of his mother. In his anger and grief, he sets out on an adventure to seek the answer to a crucial question, learning an important lesson along the way. A…
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4 stars A conversational book about how to be more inclusive and how our differences can bring us closer. Together Ashton Mota and Rebekah Bruesehoff discuss what inclusion means and different ways to be inclusive. While they emphasize their experiences as trans youth, they also use examples such as moving to a new place, coming…
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by Sarai Gonzalez and Monica Brown Illustrated by Christine Almeda 4 stars A nice, upbeat chapter book about working together, helping others, and what it means to be awesome. When she learns her grandparents will have to move from their home, Sarai Gonzalez uses her skills in baking, dance, and problem-solving to help them. I…
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Illustrated by DeAnn Wiley 5 stars An adorable story highlighting that there is no right or wrong way to celebrate Pride. Marley’s grandparent Zaza is getting ready for the Pride celebration where they will receive an award. Marley wants to be there with them, but the crowds and noise make them nervous. With the support…
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Illustrated by Sally Chen 3 stars Nolan is excited to attend a friend’s birthday party at the roller rink. They pick out the perfect outfit and are ready for the festivities. But when the DJ announces “boys skate” and “girls skate”, Nolan doesn’t feel they belong. Based on a true story, this book is nice…
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Illustrated by Kitt Thomas 5 stars Another powerful story from Abrams. After witnessing a classmate have to give his tray back when he can’t pay for lunch at school, Stacey decides to do something about it with the help of her friends and family. Even though public speaking makes Stacey uncomfortable, she knows using her…
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Translated by Minna Lin 4 stars I really enjoyed the first volume and the second one did not disappoint. Adorable, humorous slice-of-life moments between mysterious monster cats and the humans in their lives. See what’s happening with some of the cats from the first volume, and meet new monster cats including a gnome, a banshee,…
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