Climate change is one of the most controversial topics facing society today. While fossil fuels are affecting the environment, the cause and solution are not always agreed upon. This selection of books explains climate change by going into detail about global warming, fossil fuels, and greenhouse gasses. Additionally, the politics and controversy surrounding this world event are discussed. Readers of all ages will learn something from these books, helping readers to make their own decisions about climate change and how to remedy it. Contributed by: Mary Lanni
This hard-hitting look at climate change tackles the past, present, and future of global warming, examining the effects it’s having across the world, the politics behind denial, and the ways in which we can all work to lessen the harsh effects of our warming world. Perfect for young environmentalists looking to learn about the ways in which we can take action against global warming.
Climate Change is a hot-button topic today and one that requires skill to examine and grasp different viewpoints. This book introduces readers to multiple perspectives on the topic and encourages them to objectively view local, national, and global connections to help them form knowledgeable points of view.
Amazing photography accompanies engaging information about climate change in this title. The combination of high-interest subject matter and light text is intended for students in grades 3 through 7.
Climate Change examines the causes and implications of global warming and discusses such topics as the role of everyday choices and the policy-making practices of governments and industries.
Describes climate change, its effects, and the controversy around it.
Ordinary life looks different when magic is introduced, which adds to the allure of books centered around magic realism and fantasy. Imagining other worlds, fantastic creatures, and daring adventures enhances the depth and intrigue of real life. This collection of books is selected for readers ages 8-12 and focuses on magic in several forms. From time travel to innate magical powers, the interpretation of the word “magic” differs from one story to the next. However, the themes of cooperation, friendship, and love prevail, no matter where (or when) protagonists find themselves.
Contributed by: Mary Lanni
Visiting her grandmother in the Louisiana bayou, ten-year-old Maddy begins to realize that she may be the only sibling to carry on the gift of her family’s magical legacy.
When twelve-year-old Cisley’s mother, who controls real magic, disappears during a magic act, Cisley is left with her cold, distant uncle and a great mystery, which will only be solved if she can summon her own magic.
In Brooklyn, nine-year-old Jax joins Ma, a curmudgeonly witch who lives in his building, on a quest to deliver three baby dragons to a magical world, and along the way discovers his true calling.
Exploring a mysterious cave in the mountains behind their house, John and his sister Sarah are shocked to discover they’ve time-traveled to ancient Egypt! Now they must work together to find a way back home from an ancient civilization of golden desert sand and a towering new pyramid, without parents to save them. The adventures abound—cobras, scorpions, a tomb robber, and more! The two kids have to trust each other, make friends who can help, and survive the challenges thrown at them or be stuck in ancient Egypt forever.
A trio of friends from New York City finds themselves trapped inside a mechanical board game that they must dismantle in order to save themselves and generations of other children in this action-packed debut that’s a steampunk Jumanji with a Middle Eastern flair. When twelve-year-old Farah and her two best friends get sucked into a mechanical board game called The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand—a puzzle game akin to a large Rubik’s cube—they know it’s up to them to defeat the game’s diabolical architect in order to save themselves and those who are trapped inside, including her baby brother Ahmed. But first, they have to figure out how. Under the tutelage of a lizard guide named Henrietta Peel and an aeronaut Vijay, Farah, and her friends battle camel spiders, red scorpions, grease monkeys, and sand cats as they prepare to face off with the maniacal Lord Amari, the man behind the machine. Can they defeat Amari at his own game?
Eleven-year-old Miri Gill feels left out in her family, which has two sets of twins and her, until she travels back in time to 1935 and discovers Molly, her own lost twin, and brings her back to the present day.
In a world where everyone possesses magical abilities, powerless twelve-year-old Abby, an Ordinary, is sent to a special school to learn how to negotiate a magical world with her unmagical “disability”—and to avoid becoming a victim of kidnappers, carnivores, and goblins ready to prey upon the Ords.
Up until her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala considered herself an ordinary sixth-grader in Parsippany, New Jersey, but then her parents disappear, and a drooling rakkhosh demon shows up in her kitchen. Soon she is swept into another dimension, full of magic, winged horses, annoying talking birds, and cute princes—and somehow, Kiranmala needs to sort it all out, find her parents, and basically save the world.
Halan is a powerless princess. She is heir to the Magi Kingdom, a blazing desert land ruled by ancient magic. But unlike every royal before her, Halan has no magical powers of her own. Nalah is a powerful pauper. The glassblower’s daughter, Nalah, lives in the land of New Hadar, where magic is strictly outlawed. But Nalah has a powerful force growing within her, one she can’t always control. When a legendary mirror connects them, Nalah and Halan finally meet and must work together to save their two worlds before everything they know is shattered forever.
The Pickles are new to Midnight Gulch, Tennessee, a town which legend says was once magic, but Felicity is convinced the magic is still there, and, with the help of her new friend Jonah the Beedle, she hopes to bring the magic back.
In an antique-filled mansion, sisters Claire and Sophie find a ladder to the magical land of Arden, where wraiths roam freely, unicorns have disappeared, and the guilds of magic no longer trust each other.
Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.
Celebrated from December 26 to January 1 each year, Kwanzaa is a Pan-African and African-American cultural holiday that was established in 1966. The seven-day holiday was created as a celebration of the African-American family and community by Dr. Maulana Karenga.
Kevin’s Kwanzaa
By: Lisa Bullard
Illustrated by: Constanza Basaluzzo
Kevin is excited for his turn to light the candles on the last night of Kwanzaa, and as he narrates through the week of Kwanzaa, readers learn about the origins, purpose, and rituals of this holiday.
Imani learns about Kwanzaa, the African American harvest festival, from her grandmother and makes friends with Enna, a girl who has never been to a Kwanzaa celebration before.
L’il Rabbit searches for a gift for his grandmother when she is sick during Kwanzaa and surprises her with the best gift of all. Includes “The Nguzo Saba – The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa.”
When they are given the seemingly impossible task of turning thread into gold, the seven Ashanti brothers put aside their differences, learn to get along and embody Kwanzaa’s principles. Includes information on Kwanzaa, West African cloth weaving, and instructions for making a belt.
Hear the words, sing the songs, dance to the beat, and shout “Harambee!” as you jump into this joyful celebration of the sounds of Kwanzaa! Lively verse and colorful illustrations guide you through the seven principles of this festive holiday.
A mysterious and noteworthy place, the Middle East has not always been viewed favorably. However, as the birthplace of modern civilization, the Middle East has shaped modern society. The books in this list are selected for young adult readers and feature authors and characters from and settings within the Middle East. Realistic fiction and fantasy tell stories that connect young adult readers of all backgrounds with this unique part of the world. Contributed by: Mary Lanni
Year Eleven at an exclusive prep school in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, would be challenging enough. Still, it is further complicated for Amal when she decides to wear the hijab, the Muslim headscarf, full-time as a badge of her faith—without losing her identity or sense of style.
His friends know what they want to do with the rest of their lives, but Scott Ferdowsi can hardly commit to a breakfast cereal, let alone a passion. With his parents pushing him to settle on a “practical” career, Scott sneaks off to Washington, DC, seeking guidance from a famous psychologist who claims to know the secret to success. He meets Fiora Buchanan, a ballsy college student whose life ambition is to write crossword puzzles. Now Scott is sneaking into bars, attempting to pick up girls at the National Zoo, and even giving the crossword thing a try. Will he be able to find out who he is—and who he wants to be?
Laia is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars claiming that they will help save her brother from execution.
In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, sixteen-year-old half-Hindu/half-Parsi Zarin Wadia is the class troublemaker and top subject for the school rumor blogs, regularly leaving class to smoke cigarettes in cars with boys. Still, she also desperately wants to grow up and move out of her aunt and uncle’s house, perhaps realizing too late that Porus, another non-Muslim Indian who risks deportation but remains devoted to Zarin, could help her escape.
Fourteen-year-old Liyanne Abboud, her younger brother, and her parents move from St. Louis to a new home between Jerusalem and the Palestinian village where her father was born. There, they face many changes and must deal with the tensions between Jews and Palestinians.
In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, sixteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that she, too, will have adventure and travel one day beyond her isolated moon. But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place. As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty and her time with the princess’s fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear, and one wrong move could lead to her death.
Amani is desperate to leave the dead-end town of Dustwalk, and she’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to help her escape. But after she meets Jin, the mysterious rebel running from the Sultan’s army, she unlocks the powerful truth about the desert nation of Miraji…and herself.
Mariam, a troubled teenage Egyptian American, is sent to live with her grandmother in Cairo. There, she meets Asmaa, a girl who calls Egypt’s people to protest against their president. Now Mariam finds herself in the middle of a revolution and falling in love for the first time.
A year after 9/11, Muslim teenager Shirin has completely withdrawn from social life until she meets Ocean James in her biology class and is tempted to actually let her guard down.
Zafira, who disguises herself as a man to become The Hunter, and Nasir, an assassin for his father, the sultan, are both seeking a lost artifact that could return magic to their cursed world.
Thirteen-year-old Hayaat of Bethlehem faces checkpoints, curfews, and the travel permit system designed to keep people on the West Bank when she attempts to go to her grandmother’s ancestral home in Jerusalem with her best friend.
It is said that the eyes are the window to the soul; but how do eyes work, exactly? This collection of books helps young readers understand eyes in all their complexity. From how sight differs from one animal to another to the inner structure of a human eye, there is a great deal to learn. This book list is designed for readers of all ages, including more elementary explanations through more advanced texts. Contributed by: Mary Lanni
This title describes the invention and development of artificial eyes. It explores the trials and tribulations along with the technological advances seen today. Includes glossary, websites, and bibliography for further reading.
The Eye in 3D presents information on the human eye, discussing its structure, function, and importance, complemented by labeled diagrams that provide an in-depth look beneath the surface.
Young readers are introduced to the nature and structure of the eye and the process through which the eye and the brain work together to create vision.
Duprat’s Eye Spy uses liftable flaps to show how all different kinds of animals see the same scene, from sharp-eyed eagles to purely light-sensing earthworms.
Eyes
By: Pete Jenkins
Illustrated by: Hazel Quintanilla
A boy sees his own eyes and his friends’ eyes and wonders about the ways they are different and what they do.
Curious George and the Man with the Yellow Hat are preparing for the Christmas holidays. George and his friend ride home in a sleigh with a tree. Then, they bake cookies, decorate a gingerbread house, and wrap presents. George is not mischievous in this story; instead, he helps out with holiday preparations. This board book includes five sounds (battery-operated) on a panel alongside the story pages. The bell icon at the bottom of the page corresponds with a spot on the sound panel. Pressing one spot, the readers will hear sleigh bells ringing. Another spot has a bell on a kitchen timer or the crinkling of wrapping paper. The sounds will probably delight young children. In the end, lucky George gets a visit from Santa Claus. Adult guidance may be needed to support the careful handling of the plastic, electronic sound panel, which holds the button-type batteries. New fans of Curious George will probably also enjoy the other adventures involving this little monkey.
(Published: 2019)
They were three noble, wise leaders who, each in their own country, saw a bright star in the heavens and traveled to a far country to find its source. The wise men knew the prophecy of the birth of a king and did not want to miss the opportunity to welcome this great leader and offer him gifts. Through their studies of other countries and other languages, even as they practiced rituals of different faiths, they each felt that something was missing. Before arriving at their Jerusalem destination, the three met on the road and shared their stories. They decided to travel together to Jerusalem to meet this new king. They would soon discover that the star was not leading to Jerusalem but to a much more humble place and that the king they would meet in Jerusalem would just be looking for trouble. It is not an easy task to find a new twist on the real Christmas story. We can always tell about another snowman, or another goes astray, but the story of the newborn baby in the stable is known to the youngest of children. Somehow, author Taylor has left the stable and gone to the wise men in the desert, traveling by camel to find the answer to the star in the heavens. The story is presented in simple, everyday language for children and adults alike, with sentences like if anyone in Jerusalem knew anything at all, they would be here instead of there and none of the wise men’s old maps worked anymore. They would have to find a new way home to tell us the story from the viewpoint of the wisemen. Illustrator Cataldo has given the reader faces filled with an expression of humility, playfulness, and awe, as well as images of a baby in the evening shadows and his mother’s arms. The artwork and the text are extraordinary, and this reviewer would rate this book at a five. It will find a place in preschool and early elementary collections and the shelves of families who have happily received this gift. It has already found a place on my giving list for next year.
(Published: 2018)
I Got the Christmas Spirit
By: Connie Schofield-Morrison
Illustrated by: Frank Morrison
Reviewer: Mary Lanni
The Christmas spirit is everywhere during the holiday season: one must simply be willing to see it. From the jingle jingle of the bells to the swish swish of ice skates, the world changes for one young girl when the holidays arrive. She loves what the Christmas season is all about, from the sights and sounds around her to the feelings she experiences within herself. She finds ways to help others and become more accepting and joyful in the spirit of the season, and she enjoys the delicious foods she eats and soulful songs she sings. This book echoes its companion I Got the Rhythm in many ways, specifically in the riveting, emotional images, and the short, descriptive text. However, it lacks the rhythmic motion of the first book in the series. Despite that, this is a lovely addition to the Christmas canon, especially for very young children. The oil on canvas medium makes the illustrations in this book rich and filled with color, vibrating with intensity. Each face exudes emotion, and the images immerse the reader in the story. The feelings of the holiday season are all accounted for, from joy to love to sharing, explained briefly in the text and more thoroughly through the illustrations. Readers of all ages will find themselves reminiscing over their own holiday experiences as they turn each page of this book. The tastes, sights, smells, and sounds of the holiday season are palpable throughout this beautifully illustrated text. Libraries would do well to include this within their collections of books about the Christmas season.
(Published: 2018)
Mustache Baby is back for a Christmas adventure! Meet Baby Billy and a Baby Javier: two baby friends with an unusual trait in common: early facial hair. Baby Billy was born with a mustache, and his friend Baby Javier was born with a beard. On Christmas Eve, Baby Javier’s beard turns white, and he is immediately transformed into Santa’s number one helper. There is so much to do to prepare for the big night that Baby Javier becomes overwhelmed by responsibility. Baby Billy to the rescue! He puts on his elf hat and makes toys all day to help his friend. When he decides to keep them for himself, Baby Javier becomes angry, and Billy winds up on the naughty list! Will they repair their friendship in time for Santa’s visit? Fans of the “Mustache Baby” series will love this fun and engaging Christmas installment. Recognizable characters and illustrations place these two friends in the Christmas spirit, teaching important lessons about friendship and giving along the way. At a time of year that is a balance of giving and receiving, readers will recognize the tribulations Baby Billy and Baby Javier experience in this story. The text is a blend of some pages with a large number of sentences and others with only a few words. This keeps the pacing of the book constantly shifting and engaging for readers of all ages. Occasional jokes adults can appreciate ensure that the entire family will enjoy this story together. A textured, glittery cover coupled with vibrant, emotive images make this book stand out among others in its genre. Families with young children will love incorporating this book into their Christmas reading traditions.
(Published: 2019)
It’s Christmas, and a cookie and milk have been set out for Santa. But, before he can arrive, his cookie has gone missing. Where could it be? Is it lost among the wrapped presents, accidentally hung on the tree, buried in a snowball, or floating in a cup of hot chocolate? Layer by layer, the mystery unfolds as each page takes the reader closer to finding out just where Santa’s missing cookie might be found. By the book’s end, it becomes clear that perhaps the family dog has something to do with the cookie’s disappearance, and lo and behold, maybe the family cat has taken too much of an interest in Santa’s milk as well. Charming in tone, this board book offers readers a simple holiday story that literally unfolds page by page. As the reader turns each page, he or she comes that much closer to not only solving a mystery but also reaching the core of the book. The author has cleverly presented a book featuring a kaleidoscope-type structure that draws the story further in as they move through it. This is a lovely holiday book that combines engaging illustrations, a fun story, and an engaging physical structure. This is a storybook that will be a fun read at the holidays or beyond.
(Published: 2019)
When Santa Was a Baby
By: Linda Bailey
Illustrated by: Genevieve Godbout
Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green
Even as an infant, Santa seems to do his own thing. Instead of gurgling or cooing at his parents, Santa lets loose with the booming HO, HO, HO! that we all know is his form of laughter. His parents are surprised, but they accept it as part of their special boy. As a toddler learning colors, he demonstrates a strong preference for red. His parents accept this, too. When he wraps up his birthday presents to give to the children in the neighborhood, his parents are amazed by his generosity. Each time child Santa exhibits one of what will become his trademark characteristics–an affinity for reindeer, hooking animals up to pull a mock sleigh, chimneys, and more–his parents are caught off-guard but indulgent of their unusual child. At the same time, readers laugh more with each glimpse of a Santa trait in this cherubic blond tyke. Linda Bailey s childhood Santa is worthy of shelf space alongside other larger-than-life characters, including Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan. A must-read for the holiday season, this fun picture book is well-suited to public and school libraries.
(Published: 2015)
The Worst Christmas Ever
By: Kathleen Long Bostrom
Illustrated by: Guy Porfirio
Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer
Matthew is not happy with his family’s upcoming move to California. His only comfort is the presence of his dog Jasper nearby. California is even worse than Matthew expected. He does not like his new school, he doesn’t know the songs in church, and he finds it unsettling that trees do not change colors and drop leaves in the fall. Anticipating Christmas with no snow and a fake tree is depressing. When his family agrees to pose in the church’s outdoor nativity on Christmas Eve, Matthew is mortified. Then, the worst possible thing he can imagine happens. Jasper chases a squirrel in the park and gets lost. The family searches for hours. Nothing. They put up flyers and call the neighbors. There is no sign of Jasper. The three days before Christmas Eve are misery for Matthew. Then, when the family enters the nativity, a miracle happens. Realistic illustrations depict Matthew’s many strong emotions and the loving support he consistently receives from his father, mother, and younger sister.
(Published: 2019)
Christmas is one of the most magical times of the year for families who celebrate it. Whether gathering together from across great distances or meeting nearby, the spirit of Christmas runs deep. One of the most important sentiments of the holiday is the act of giving to one another. Time, food, attention, and presents are all things that can be exchanged in the spirit of the Christmas holiday. This book list includes religious and secular titles for children ages 4-7 that highlight the act of giving gifts at Christmas and inspire other acts of kindness, as well. Contributed by: Mary Lanni
Babushka
By: Dawn Casey
Illustrated by: Amanda Hall
After Babushka feeds and warms the three wise men, she decides to see baby Jesus on her own. Along the way, she meets children in need and gives them the presents she planned to give to Jesus.
When the Bond family sends a letter to the North Pole asking Santa how they share the spirit of giving on their upcoming trip to New York City, Baby Santa, and his reindeer host them on a day of helping others while seeing the sights.
A family of pigs decides that they will make their gifts for Christmas rather than buy gifts this year. But the littlest pig struggles to come up with an idea.
In this celebration of the joy of giving, one snowy Christmas Eve, a king buys some soft, red cloth to make the perfect Christmas gift for his daughter. Little does he know that the left-over cloth will be used to make presents for many more of the kingdom’s inhabitants, right down to the last teeny bit of cloth, which is made into a scarf just right for a mouse.
As Nick does last-minute Christmas shopping, he sees several Santas and overhears one retelling the legend of Saint Nicholas, which he takes to heart as he examines his own attitudes towards gift-giving.
Disappointed when a gift he wished for all year seems quite puny on Christmas morning, young Roland wishes for bigger and bigger gifts before learning a valuable lesson about being careful what you wish for.
It’s Christmas! There will be carols and candy canes and sparkling presents under the tree! But what about children whose families have no presents to give? Kind-hearted Drew wants to help them—but how? A magical story of how one little boy got a very special giving bag from Santa—and how his Christmas wish came true.
When an ordinary cat learns that a king has been born in his stable, he grows sad because he has no gift to give, as the other animals do.
2020. Well, it has been…. a year. Frankly, what words could possibly sum up this year? I’ll take a quote from A Wrinkle in Time, “I don’t understand it any more than you do, but one thing I’ve learned is that you don’t have to understand things for them to be.” Our world has faced monumental challenges this year, yet when we look out our window, we still see squirrels climbing trees, plants growing, and the wind swaying. Things change, things alter, but yet some things remain the same. There have been moments throughout this year when I shook my head in disbelief, and there were no words capable of genuinely expressing my feelings. So, I watched, I cried, and I read. In reading, I found understanding. In reading, I found direction. Then I looked out my window, and while watching the squirrels climb the trees, the plants grow, and the wind sway, I decided to hold onto the good and move forward towards better.
Our world is changing. We are less afraid to share our feelings, our circumstances, our fears, and our needs. It is quite ironic that while we wear masks, we see people more, not less. In my opinion, this is good- to be seen. We all need help in some way. We all need.
So, in this time of change and refocus in our global world, we have decided to retire the Read & Shine newsletter. Though we retire the old, we shall introduce a new newsletter that more accurately reflects the world of children’s literature, its authors and illustrators, and the space it inhabits now. Children’s literature has been a respite, a learning tool, and a comfort. Children’s literature helps inform young minds in understanding and learning about people that may be different or may be the same as them. In a world where we currently cannot travel far and have other limitations, children’s literature provides children and teens an opportunity to move beyond themselves. It is a way to explore new places, new concepts, new ideas, new abilities, and new passions. In that vein, we want to provide a new well-rounded newsletter that helps librarians, educators, authors, illustrators, parents, and caregivers receive a complete look at the literature available to children and teens today.
Good news – do not worry about missing out on this new newsletter. Your current subscription to Read & Shine will seamlessly transfer into our new newsletter. It will show up in your inbox from editor@childrenslit.com. We are very grateful for our dedicated subscribers and, as this year ends, want to thank you for your continued support. Our adventures together are not coming to an end but instead are beginning anew.
Nathan’s Song
By: Leda Schubert
Illustrated by: Maya Ish-Shalom
Reviewed by: Uma Krishnaswami
Nathan, growing up in a shtetl in Russia, loves to sing. Upon hearing opera for the first time, he is transfixed and longs to learn this kind of music. His community and his family—even his little brother Samuel—come up with the funds to pay for his passage to Italy. What happens next is a marvel of picture book writing: Nathan ends up on the wrong boat and sings for his supper … all the way to New York! Schubert imbues this story from her own family history with a keen writerly instinct. In New York, the buildings “hide the sky.” Italy comes to Nathan in the person of trainer Nicolo. Nathan finds love. The family arrives as well, Samuel in the lead, and an old cap makes its way through time into the reader’s awareness of this important moment of reunion. Nathan sings continuously until, in the end, when music, Russia, and New York come together to round out this lovingly rendered tale. A note in the book’s back matter includes facts about the life of the author’s grandfather, drawing a brief comparison between the experiences of Jews fleeing Russia before World War I and the journeys of immigrants today. She relates the real-life Nathan’s musical successes to her own memories of him. Schubert’s pacing is dexterous, as is her use of Nathan’s singing to power this story, from his initial yearning to the myriad places where he employs his voice to good purpose, and ultimately to the love that gives it all resonance in the end.
The publication date for this title is February 2021. Reviewer Uma Krishnaswami is a children’s writer, picture books through middle grade. She is also faculty in the MFA program in Writing for Children & Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Thanksgiving is a time when families and friends come together to share food and laughter as the days are getting shorter and colder. Beginning as a celebration of the welcome early European settlers received from Native Americans, Thanksgiving maintains the sentiment of sharing one’s bounty with others. Each home has its own unique traditions, but there are many shared behaviors across the United States, as well. No matter how the holiday is celebrated, the essence is the same: giving thanks for all that one has in their life. This book list includes titles for children aged 4-7 and shows how people give thanks at Thanksgiving and throughout the year. Contributed by: Mary Lanni
When Tuyet finds out that her Vietnamese family is having duck rather than turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, she is upset until she finds out that other children in her class did not eat turkey either.
In rhyming text, when the whole family and guests show up for the big dinner at Grandma’s house, it becomes clear that the house is much too small to hold them all.
I am Thankful
By: Suzy Capozzi
Illustrated by: Eren Unten
Throughout a Thanksgiving Day filled with family and fun, a child finds opportunities to be thankful.
Illustrations and simple, rhyming text reveal a family’s preparations for their Thanksgiving feast, with everyone pitching in to help—including Baby, who sleeps quiet as a mouse.
When he is invited to five Thanksgiving dinners, Turkey accepts all of his friends’ invitations but wonders if he has room in his stomach for all that food.
Majestic eagles, wise owls, and cunning vultures are among the many birds of prey found globally. Instead of dining on insects and seeds like other birds, birds of prey instead eat larger animals, including mammals and lizards. In this book list, readers will learn about birds of prey in both fictionalized and factual accounts; many of these books emphasize full-color photographs, as well. Also included are titles about the rescue and rehabilitation of these majestic birds. Contributed by: Mary Lanni
Hawk Rising
By: Maria Gianferrari
Illustrated by: Brian Floca
Early morning and a ruffle of feathers, a shadow glides through the backyard. High above your house, Father Hawk circles, sharp eyes searching for prey. Swoosh! He dives after chipmunks, crows, sparrows, squirrels. Screech! The sun hangs low in the sky as three hungry chicks wait. Will they eat today?
This title presents several birds of prey and their physical features and habitats, including the Northern goshawk, golden eagle, crow, and Great White pelican.
Maggie has just learned to fly when she crashes into the side of a building. She falls to the ground, alone and injured. Who will help her? As told with real photographs, this true story explains how wildlife hospitals rescue and treat injured animals. Their goal is to release the animals back into the wild. Sometimes, this is not possible—but there can still be a happy ending. Maggie’s story is just such a success!
Even powerful birds of prey can get sick or hurt. When that happens, animal helpers at raptor centers come to the rescue! The dedicated staff treats injured, sick, and orphaned animals. They return the birds to their native environment or find forever homes at education and raptor centers for those that cannot survive in the wild. Follow along in this photographic journal as staff and volunteers come together to care for these remarkable birds.
This title examines the efforts of veterinarians and volunteers worldwide as they rescue raptors, showing common injuries, how these birds recover, and how they are released back into the wild.
A basic exploration of the appearance, behavior, and habitat of vultures, the carrion-eating birds of prey. Also included is a story from folklore explaining why vultures are bald.
Families are anything but perfect, but the stories they share are what makes the world beautiful and vibrant. Under the right circumstances, family members confide deep-rooted truths in one another, allowing them to connect more deeply than they could have done before. Often, these connections grow between adult caregivers and their wards, but sometimes they occur between siblings, as well. This book list includes titles for teens ages 13-18 and highlights various family relationships in several unique circumstances. Through these novels, readers can learn more about themselves and the world around them. Contributed by: Mary Lanni
When seventeen-year-old Ginny receives a packet of mysterious envelopes from her favorite aunt, she leaves New Jersey to criss-cross Europe on a sort of scavenger hunt that transforms her life.
In early fourteenth-century China, Oyuna tells her granddaughter of her girlhood in Mongolia and how love for her horse enabled her to win an important race and bring good luck to her family.
When her alcoholic mother abandons her, high school senior Ruby winds up living with Cora, the sister she has not seen for ten years. There, Ruby learns about Cora’s new life, what makes a family, how to allow people to help her when she needs it, and that she too has something to offer others.
Teens Octavia and Tali learn about strength, independence, and courage when they are forced to take a car trip with their grandmother, who tells about growing up Black in 1940s Alabama and serving in Europe during World War II as a member of the Women’s Army Corps.
In 1948, while spending the summer with her aunt in West Virginia to find her family roots, Tilara begins visiting the “colored” old folks’ home called McKendree, makes new friends, and learns to love herself.
Seventeen-year-old Ali is simultaneously swept up in a whirlwind romance and down a rabbit hole of family secrets when another Taiwanese family moves into tiny, predominantly-white, Plainhart, Indiana.
Sixteen-year-old Martha’s life is transformed when her mother leaves her in Laredo, Texas, in 1990 with a grandmother she never knew, who is a revered curandera.
In 1942, fourteen-year-old Jill goes to stay with her grandmother on the coast of Maine, where she is introduced to the often gossipy nature of small-town life and discovers that the war is closer than she thought.
Seventeen-year-old Victoria escapes an abusive father by joining the VanDrexel Family Circus in 1965. Fifty years later, her writings guide her granddaughter, sixteen-year-old Callie, in facing the uncharted waters of public high school.
Fourteen-year-old Clara Luna spends the summer with her grandparents in the tiny, remote village of Yucuyoo, Mexico, learning about her grandmother’s life as a healer, her father’s decision to leave home for the United States, and her own place in the world.
Holly Cather is sent to her aunt’s home in Seattle after the death of her parents, and there she and her twin cousins, Amanda and Nicole, become caught up in an intergenerational feud between rival clans of witches.
When Ryan’s father leaves the family during a midlife crisis, his mother sends him to spend the summer with his aunt in Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, where he learns to fish and gets into trouble.
Did you know that dentistry is not limited to the health of teeth? Dentistry consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and oral cavity conditions. Learn more about dentists and the history of dentistry with these informative titles.
Following the same format as the other books in the You Wouldn t Want to Live Without series, Macdonald presents interesting facts about, in her words, a not so old profession–dentistry. Beginning with a timeline that expands across the inside cover and along the first page, the reader is taken on a historical journey of the field of dentistry, which supposedly began in 3000 BCE with the earliest-known tooth treatment. Each two-page spread explores the history of various dental topics: tooth types, including animal teeth; treatment of toothaches; and who pulled teeth before dentists. Interesting facts about false teeth, the invention of dental equipment, and the toothbrush are explained through fun illustrations.
The Dentist & You
By: Diane Swanson
Visiting the dentist doesn’t have to be scary for young children. This title calms fears by sharing what to expect during a dental examination.
A boy learns that a dentist will be visiting his school. He hears scary rumors about the dentist but discovers there is no reason to be afraid of dentists.
Young readers can learn how Dr. Jong spends her day as a dentist. Includes information such as what happens during a check-up, what happens in a dentist’s lab, and what tools do dentists use. Readers will see how busy a dentist stays during the day.
This informative title surveys the history of dentistry, from ancient civilizations to the knowledge and treatments in modern times.
Airplanes have come a long way since their inception. Now a major global transportation provider and military machine, airplanes play a significant part in our society. Learn about the pioneers of air travel, military airplanes, how airplanes work, and the history of this great invention.
In 1903 the Wright brothers Flyer flew for just 12 seconds. What were other early airplanes like, and who made them? Read about the first all-metal plane, the first jet plane, the first jumbo jet, and more.
The Lightning Bolt Books: How Flight Works series introduces young readers to these buses of the sky. This edition about jets discusses how they fly and their parts, and how pilots land them.
Take to the skies with How to Build Aircraft. Featuring simple step-by-step instructions, handy templates, vibrant photographs, and easily accessible materials, this title shows readers how to build their very own aircraft that can really fly! Projects include a hot-air balloon, roto-copter, a variety of gliders, and many more.
Packed with exciting facts and essential aspects of military aircraft, this title also provides historical context, compelling photos, primary source quotations, and critical thinking activities. Includes a glossary, weblinks, and additional resources.
Ever since Amelia Earhart and her plane disappeared on July 2, 1937, people have wanted to know more about this remarkable woman. Amelia Earhart follows the charismatic aviator from her first sight of an airplane at the age of ten to the last radio transmission she made before vanishing. Illustrated with original artworks, contemporary photographs, quotes, and details, this is an excellent introduction to the famous pilot.
Do you like creating games? Do you think designing websites would be fun? Learn how to do both by learning about programming languages. This list includes books for beginners about several popular programming languages.
Learn programming basics in this kid-friendly, easy-to-follow book. It covers computer languages, writing programs, bugs, and loops using real-world examples and fun illustrations. Online and offline activities also boost learning and skills.
A space-themed guide to building a complete computer game in Python. You’ll learn programming fundamentals like loops, strings, and lists as you build Escape!, an exciting game with a map to explore, items to collect, and tricky logic puzzles to solve. As you work through the book, you’ll build exercises and mini-projects, like making a spacewalk simulator and creating an astronaut’s safety checklist that will put your new Python skills to the test.
Behind the screen of your phone, tablet, computer, or game console lies a secret language that makes it all work. Computer code has become as integral to our daily lives as reading and writing, even if you didn’t know it. Now it’s time to plug in and start creating the same technology you’re consuming. Plus, it’s one of the fastest-growing industries in the world! Covering everything from navigating the maze of computer languages to writing code for games to cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, So, You Want to Be a Coder? debugs the secrets behind a career in the diverse and state-of-the-art industry of working with computer code. In addition to tips and interviews from professionals in the industry, So, You Want to Be a Coder? includes inspiring stories from kids who are writing code now! Plus, activities, a glossary, and resources put you on the path to a fun and rewarding career with computer code.
Introduce readers to JavaScript, a programming language that makes websites interactive. It lets us use search boxes, watch online videos, and more! A digital Page Plus feature allows readers to experiment on their own with fun coding activities.
Awesome Algorithms and Creative Coding explores how computers work and explains how to think logically. The bright and engaging design guides readers through clear explanations of binary code, simple algorithms, and computer language. With real-life examples, students learn about the development of coding using simple decision-making processes. Programming languages that readers can use themselves, including Scratch and LOGO, are reviewed. “Stretch Yourself” features give practical activities to help readers explore and test key principles to help reinforce learning and are not linked to specific software or operating systems. “True Story” features give real-world anecdotes from the world of information technology. “Computer Hero” features look at the groundbreaking scientists that paved the way for digital technology today.
Discover the history of HTML and learn how to get started with text, page design, hyperlinks, and adding images.
Whether it’s unexpected snow, an urgent call, burnt turkey, or you find out you are the main course for dinner (YIKES!), sometimes Thanksgiving isn’t what you expected it to be. In moments like these, books can provide a way for us to realize there is no such thing as a perfect Thanksgiving, and regular Thanksgiving traditions can change when life necessitates it. Whatever your Thanksgiving holds for you this year, remember, it could be worse. You could be the turkey, thinking you are the guest of honor and not understand the impact of that role. Happy Thanksgiving!
Kitty does not like Thanksgiving. Kitty LOVES Thanksgiving. Specifically, Kitty loves turkey and will do anything to get her paws on it. SO, Kitty comes up with a plan but in perfect cantankerous cat fashion, can’t quite pull it off and ends up with the turkey (and all the fixins’) on her head.
When Lance, a very pretentious turkey, arrives on the farm and boasts that he is the only bird invited to a special feast, no hen is impressed, but when Beauty learns that Lance is the main course, she convinces the others to save him.
A classic Thanksgiving tale. Chester Chipmunk can’t seem to find anybody to share his Thanksgiving dinner. After five friends refuse his invitation to share a pecan pie on Thanksgiving, Chester Chipmunk discovers Oswald Opossum, literally hanging out in the cold.
It’s another Thanksgiving at Grandma’s. Gavin expects a long day of boredom and being pestered by distantly related toddlers, but his cousin Rhonda has a different idea: make a break for it – out of the kids’ room to the swing set in the backyard! Gavin isn’t so sure, especially when they encounter vicious guard dogs (in homemade sweaters), a hallway full of overly affectionate aunts, and worse yet, the great wall of butts! Will they manage to avoid the obstacles and find some fun before turkey time? Or will they be captured before they’ve had a taste of freedom?
Cassie, Wing, and Ollie all want to be the Thanksgiving Turkey! They decide to have a contest to see which of them Farmer Joe should pick. Will it be a happy Thanksgiving for all?
In her fourth hilarious adventure, good-hearted Lola can’t help getting into trouble. Her friends are all traveling for the Thanksgiving holidays, so she offers to dog-sit–but fails to mention this to Mom, who is desperately trying to finish a batch of Lola dresses for a new client. Now Lola is juggling her dog-sitting responsibilities with her worries. Will her parents discover the growing knot in her hair and cause her excruciating pain brushing it out? Will her grandmothers discover that she’s lied to them every year about who makes the best pumpkin pie? Will Jack get so involved in his new babysitting and yard-work jobs that, like Mom and Dad, he won’t have time for her anymore? Lola’s worries, like the knot in her hair, grow greater until she finally has to stop hiding them and start untangling them.
The townspeople of Squawk Valley try to trick a turkey into being their Thanksgiving dinner but are frustrated in their efforts when the turkey tricks them instead.
With Thanksgiving Day approaching and no other turkeys left on the farm, Thelonius Turkey worries that he will become the centerpiece for the family’s dinner celebration.
Ethan looks forward to the Thanksgiving Day when he and his friends are finally old enough to play in the annual family football game, but that day arrives full of snow and icy roads.
When her perfectionist classmate and neighbor plans an elaborate Thanksgiving dinner, Katie begins to wonder if the relaxed day she, her father, and her messy little brother usually enjoy means they are not a “real” family.
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, Turkey nervously makes a series of costumes, disguising himself as other farm animals in hopes that he can avoid being served as Thanksgiving dinner.
From summer, to fall, to winter, to spring, the seasons are relatively predictable and bring with them new and exciting activities in which to participate. Animals and humans alike adapt to weather changes as temperatures grow colder or warmer. The books in this list include information about the seasons from various perspectives, including the changes animals make over the course of a year and why seasons happen at all. Activities are also included to help readers understand seasons first-hand. Contributed by: Mary Lanni
Introduces weather and the seasons, describing what is a cloud, why rainbows form, and how animals migrate for the winter. This book also includes four weather-related science projects.
From snowplows to skyscraper nests and rooftop gardens, life in the city changes from season to season. Discover what animals live in the city. Learn how smog forms in summer. Real-life photographs follow the seasons and capture the beauty of a year in the city.
From hibernation to baby animals and falling leaves, life in the forest changes from season to season. Discover why snow is good for trees. Learn how wildfires help the forest grow. Real-life photographs follow the seasons and capture the beauty of a year in the forest.
For Lee, painting with her dad is a special time. Weekend evenings, they stay up late to share stories and paint anything that captures their fancy. It’s a joyous time, full of laughter. But when Lee’s dad dies suddenly of a heart attack, and the family moves across the country for her mom’s new job, the girl leaves her paints behind. Uncomfortable in her new space (and, readers will note, her new life), Lee takes to sleeping in her closet. Initially, she finds the dark space comforting. Then, she finds it intriguing. Like other storybook children who have entered tucked-away spaces, Lee soon finds a passageway to another space, where she meets an assembly of ghostly-yet-lively companions who give her hope she may be able to bring her dad back from the dead. She can’t, of course, but they are happy to keep her company on her quest, a journey through life, love, family, friendship, and heart. Although the subject matter is sometimes serious and quite poignant, there are laughs to be had in this fantastical story. Elements of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Secret Garden combine with a fun ensemble cast akin to The Wizard of Oz or Alice Through the Looking Glass. A good choice for independent readers, this could also be a slightly spooky and thoroughly satisfying selection for a family read-aloud.
On November 9, 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall signaled the end of Communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe. Because the reuniting of Germany was so monumental to world history, in 2001, then-President George W. Bush declared World Freedom Day on November 9 to commemorate the occasion. Berlin is not without its share of historical events, namely the Holocaust and the division created by the Berlin Wall, and many books have been written to examine each circumstance. This book list is compiled for readers ages 13-18 and primarily contains titles of fiction. While most of these stories are fictional, they take place in real historical circumstances and allow readers to place themselves in other moments in time. A selection of non-fiction titles is also included to enhance readers’ understanding of real-life Berlin. Contributed by: Mary Lanni
In 1961, thirteen-year-old Sabine, an adventurer despite being crippled by polio, finds a forgotten bunker which might allow her, her family, and friends to reach freedom by tunneling under the Berlin Wall, or might lead to far greater danger.
Max is a German schoolboy when he first meets Lili, a trapeze artist from a traveling circus that performs every year in Berlin. Lili is a Romani, and her life and customs are very different from those of Max and his family. Their friendship turns into love, but love between a German and a Romani is definitely forbidden. As Max is conscripted into the SS and war tears them apart, can their love survive? Set against the backdrop of the Second World War, A Berlin Love Song is a love story of passion, unexpected friendship, despair, loss, and hope.
In 1961 East Berlin, thirteen-year-old Heidi copes with the stress of a crisis with her best friend, government pressure on her father to leave his West Berlin job, her mother’s pregnancy, and the ever-present threat of the closing of the border with West Berlin.
In the early 1980s, Ada and Stefan are young, would-be lovers living on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall—Ada lives with her mother and grandmother and paints graffiti on the Wall, and Stefan lives with his grandmother in the East and dreams of escaping to the West.
The autumn of 1938 was cold in Berlin, and Marianne Kohn’s world was crumbling. First came the burning of neighborhood shops. Then her father was forced to live in hiding. Marianne was no longer allowed to go to school, to a cafe, or even sit on a park bench. The noose around Germany’s Jews was growing tighter and tighter.
Simon Schwartz was born in 1982 in the GDR (East Germany). One and a half years later, he left the country with his parents, and the family resettled in West Berlin. As political dissidents, his parents experienced harassment by the Stasi and a lack of understanding from members of their own family. This striking graphic novel memoir chronicles the family’s difficult journey to get to the other side of the Berlin Wall.
Jenny is a fifteen-year-old German girl in love with a Jewish boy in 1943 Berlin who, along with her sympathetic mother, decides to try to help the boy by hiding him from the Nazi authorities.
In Berlin in 1989, the Cold War seems to be coming to an end, but thirteen-year-old Liesl still feels trapped behind a wall as she tries to uncover a secret about her American grandfather, aided by a boy whose father is in the United States Air Force.
Siena Bernstein attends school in Munich for three months, where she perfects her German language skills, flirts with her attractive resident advisor, and attempts to find the man who helped her father’s family escape East Berlin in 1962.
On-point historical photographs combined with strong narration bring the story of the Berlin Wall to life. Kids will learn about the partition of Berlin after WWII, the cold war tensions between the US and the USSR that led to the building of the wall, and the anti-communist pressures that led it to fall. The fall of the wall would become a symbol of democracy and freedom. Readers will understand the significance behind this event through text and clips of the event itself via the Capstone 4D augmented reality app.
Immediately after the surrender of Germany in World War II, Otto and his friends learn to stay alive in the wreckage of Berlin, each of the children learning to deal with the psychological wounds the Nazi regime left upon the country.
Leaves are falling, and the days are getting shorter and colder—Halloween is coming soon! The Dino friends are very excited for the Halloween season. They go together to select the perfect pumpkins from the pumpkin patch; some find their pumpkins right away, while others agonize over the myriad options. Then, the dinosaurs brave the haunted house, with its spooky inhabitants and hair-raising scares. As Halloween gets closer, the dinosaurs work together to assemble their perfect costumes in time for the big Halloween bash. Finally, it is the time everyone has been waiting for: trick-or-treating! Striking out together, the Dino friends traverse the neighborhood, collecting treats of all kinds throughout the evening. Emptying their bags of candy into their bellies, they somehow find themselves thinking about the next delicious holiday – Thanksgiving! Fans of the Dino holiday books will enjoy this Halloween addition. Like the others, this book is written in rhyming couplets interspersed with truncated names of the featured dinosaurs. These dinosaur names are typed in differing colors and bold text to help readers distinguish them from the other words. Preschool and young elementary school-aged readers will appreciate the sing-song rhythm of the story, despite the occasional hiccup in pacing. Richly-colored, digitally-created illustrations form the backdrop of each page, mirroring the illustrative style of the other books in this series. Viewing beloved dinosaurs in familiar human experiences makes the story accessible to young readers, especially those who love dinosaurs already. Children will want to read this book frequently, and it will no doubt inspire ideas for Halloween-themed activities as the holiday approaches. This is a fun and friendly addition to Halloween read-aloud collections for young children.
