You Should Meet: Yayoi Kusama by May Nakamura

Illustrated by Alexandra Badiu 3 stars An early reader introduction to the life and work of Yayoi Kusama. The book goes through Kusama’s childhood in Matsumoto, her experience with hallucinations, living in the United States, interactions with other well-known artists, and her impact as an artist, including her various types of work and exhibitions. I…

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Maya’s Song by Renée Watson

Illustrated by Bryan Collier 5 stars A beautiful biography in verse recounting various moments in the life of Maya Angelou. From her childhood to her reading “On the Pulse of Morning” at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton, the book shares glimpses throughout Angelou’s life. It includes moments from her childhood, her work as a…

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Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner

4 stars Following a traumatic school shooting, Bea takes up horseback riding to help her cope. We see glimpses of Bea’s life before and after the shooting, learning about her experience with cerebral palsy, her adopted mom Max, and her attempts to get her Little, Josie, to come out of her shell. A heartbreaking story….

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ParaNorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-hop-calypse by Stephanie Cooke

Illustrated by Mari Costa 3 stars This book really delivers on the magic, the chaos, and the bunnies. Join a young witch, Abby, as she prepares to spend fall break with her friends Silas, a pumpkinhead; Hannah, a ghost-like entity from another dimension; and Gita, a wolf-girl. She’s looking forward to having fun and practicing…

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A Death in Door County (Monster Hunter #1)

by Annelise Ryan 3 stars A cozy mystery with a cryptid twist. Cryptozoologist and bookstore-owner, Morgan Carter, is hired to help the police with an open investigation. The bodies of animals and humans have been washing up on the shores of Lake Michigan with mysterious injuries and Morgan is tasked with determining if their deaths…

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Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now!

by Claudette Colvin and Phillip Hoose Illustrated by Bea Jackson 5 stars A fantastic book that tells the story of how Claudette Colvin took a stand against discriminatory rules. Told in first person, the book follows Colvin’s frustration at not having the same rights as others because of the color of her skin. One day,…

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