Emily Hughes
[isbn]
An ode to the wild child whose spirit will not be tamed or constrained. I love this wild-haired girl who resists all efforts to change her. This book is lushly illustrated and triumphantly wild.
Recommended by Christine R.
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Rachel Brian
[isbn]
There aren't enough exclamation points to express how much I love this book or how happy I am to see it on the shelf. Not only does it clearly explain consent through the perfect mix of silliness and seriousness, it also discusses topics like boundaries, healthy and unhealthy relationships, how to find help when you need it, and more. Using comic book-style illustrations, this book presents these fundamentally important topics in a... (read more)
Recommended by Christine R.
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Deborah Marcero
[isbn]
Friends Llewellyn and Evelyn collect things in jars that normally can't be bottled, like a cherry-colored sunset, a moment of spring lightning, and fireflies on a summer night. Opening the jars allows them to revisit these memories together... until Evelyn's family moves away. What will these two friends do now? An utterly enchanting story about the power of friendship and what unites us even when we are far apart. With illustrations that are... (read more)
Recommended by Christine R.
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Elizabeth Wein
[isbn]
When British spy "Verity" is captured by the Germans in occupied France, to save herself she begins to write her confession. This is a WWII story; a spy story; a story about friendship, sacrifice, and being a woman in a man's world. It has twists you won't see coming and emotional gut punches that will practically knock you over. Fantastic and riveting!
Recommended by Christine R.
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Felicity Brooks
[isbn]
This inviting guide reassures kids there's no right or wrong way to be a family. It normalizes that families change and that people can feel so many different feelings about their families. The diverse range of people and family structures depicted means kids will be able to see pieces of their own families represented throughout. What a fantastic resource!
Recommended by Christine R.
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Aimee Reid, Matt Phelan
[isbn]
The origin story of one of my favorite people, which taught me these fundamental lessons:
I'm special just the way I am; all my feelings are OK and it's good to express them; and, when tough stuff happens, look for the helpers. This book is welcoming, delightful, and meaningful just like Mr. Rogers himself.
Recommended by Christine R.
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Elizabeth Acevedo
[isbn]
Between parenting her daughter, being a high school senior, and helping her abuela, Emoni is already stretched too thin. But then a new cooking class at school has her dreaming of more. This book is like a bite of delicious food you're tasting for the first time — unexpected, delightful, and leaves you wanting more. Emoni is a bilingual, Afro-Latinx, teen single mom. Teens who don't often see themselves represented in books will see pieces of... (read more)
Recommended by Christine R.
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guojing
[isbn]
Come in from the rain, curl up by the fire, and prepare to be enchanted. A lonely, adorably scruffy dog meets a kind, sweetly patient human in this beyond gorgeous wordless story. I want to wrap this book up in a warm, weepy hug, and I know this book will hug me right back.
Recommended by Christine R.
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Dawn Babb Prochovnic, Jacob Souva
[isbn]
Howdy, potty user! Good golly, this here book is the darn tootin' funniest potty book in all the land. You'll bust a gut laughin' and you'll learn somethin' too. I reckon adults and kids and cowpokes will love this book!
Recommended by Christine R.
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Charlotte Agell, Ana Ramirez
[isbn]
Elba has a block that she must drag around with her all the time. It's no fun, but she has to do it. Norris is followed everywhere by butterflies. He doesn't quite understand Elba's block, but he wants to help. This story is one of the most helpful depictions of dealing with loss and supporting a friend that I've seen. Grief doesn't go away, as this book shows, but it changes with time and patient friends can help ease the journey. Elba has lost... (read more)
Recommended by Christine R.
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Tehlor Kay Mejia
[isbn]
Kept away from the lower classes on the other side of the wall, the elite girls of Medio are trained to either bear children or run households as one of two wives granted to each powerful man. Daniela Vargas is impeccably trained to be the perfect wife, but she also holds a secret that if revealed would mean her death. If possible, my review for this book would be all flame emojis because this book is FIRE! I fell in love with the characters... (read more)
Recommended by Christine R.
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Andy Rash
[isbn]
Andy and Clam start out together in the sunshine-filled Happy Book. Then Andy eats all the friendship cake, and they quickly move to pages of the Sad Book, then Angry, and then Scared. Along the way, they realize that what's important is not necessarily getting back to the Happy Book but simply supporting their friends in whatever feelings they have. All their feelings are okay in the Feelings Book! The cartoon-like illustrations, dialogue, and... (read more)
Recommended by Christine R.
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Rukhsanna Guidroz, Dinara Mirtalipova
[isbn]
Like all of us, Leila has moments when she isn't quite sure she likes herself. On a night at her grandma's, Leila finds pieces of herself all around — in her family's smiles, in the Pakistani decorations on the walls, in the curry she makes with her grandma, and in a saffron-colored scarf. All the pieces make up Leila, and she realizes that she likes what she sees! Exquisite details and brilliant colors immerse the reader in Leila's warm,... (read more)
Recommended by Christine R.
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Joseph Coelho
[isbn]
A girl shares a year full of memories about her grandpa, season by season. She desperately doesn't want to say goodbye, but when her grandpa is gone, she finds her own way to both honor him and comfort herself. Bursting with expressive colorful illustrations, a beautiful story about loss and healing.
Recommended by Christine R.
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Margaret M. Holmes and Cary Pillo
[isbn]
Sherman Smith saw something that upset him so much that he decides to just not think about it. At all. Forever. He goes on with his life, but the reader begins to see that this plan is not working for Sherman as he deals with stomachaches, nightmares, getting in trouble at school, and other problems. Eventually Sherman begins to talk with Ms. Maple, who gently helps him to process his feelings, and he slowly starts feeling better. When I was... (read more)
Recommended by Christine R.
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Marianne Dubuc
[isbn]
In this sweet, beautifully illustrated story, Mrs. Badger gently teaches new friend Lulu about helping others, observing the world around you, and trying things that scare you. Knowledge is all the better when you share it — just ask Mrs. Badger!
Recommended by Christine R.
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Cindy Derby
[isbn]
Amariyah offers us a detailed manual complete with appendixes on how to be your neighborhood ant walker. This book's concept, text, and illustrations complement each other perfectly, making for an endearingly bizarre and macabre story that will delight children and adults. Part Edward Gorey character and part that bug-obsessed kid from the neighborhood that you knew or were yourself, Amariyah is my favorite new picture book heroine.
Recommended by Christine R.
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Justin A Reynolds
[isbn]
Jack meets the perfect girl for him, but then she dies... and thus begins his Groundhog Day-esque quest to change the past and save her life. I wish I could travel back in time and have the delight of reading this story again for the first time. A love letter to friendship, figuring out what's important, and fighting for the people you care about, this book is sure to stand the test of time. And I don't have to be a time traveler to know... (read more)
Recommended by Christine R.
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Stephanie Graegin
[isbn]
A little girl brings her toy fox to school where it is then stolen by a real fox. Thus begins her woodland adventure. This wordless story is pure magic!
Recommended by Christine R.
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Cori Doerrfeld
[isbn]
The sweetness of this story makes me a little teary. Rabbit knows that sometimes what a person needs when they're upset is not a solution but just your presence and a listening ear. A fantastic way to start a conversation with kids about their needs and also a great reminder to adults that we don't always have to fix things.
Recommended by Christine R.
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Adib Khorram
[isbn]
Darius never feels quite right — he's half Persian, a Star Trek fan (not a jock), and clinically depressed. Then he travels to Iran for a family visit and meets Sohrab, whose friendship makes Darius feel right — even great — for the first time. I appreciated how Darius's depression doesn't dominate his life but is there constantly in the background, winding its way into his thoughts and relationships. This story of empathy and belonging... (read more)
Recommended by Christine R.
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Eleanor Morrison, Faye Orlove
[isbn]
Having worked with young children around issues of safe touch and boundaries, I'm so happy to see a book about consent aimed at that audience. Just because you're little doesn't mean you have to give that hug or kiss when you don't want to! We need to tell kids early and often that their bodies belong to them. I'll be buying this for all my friends' kids!
Recommended by Christine R.
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Nic Stone
[isbn]
I finished this book in one sitting — absorbing, heartbreaking, and very, very necessary. A worthy companion to The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Dear Martin illuminates the brutal and unrelenting consequences of racism through the voice of Justyce, a black teen attending a mostly white prep school. A voice and story that need to be heard and amplified!
Recommended by Christine R.
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Erika L Sanchez
[isbn]
After I finished this book, I immediately wanted to start handing it to people. The writing makes the character's feelings so palpable that it brought tears to my eyes. Deals beautifully with tough issues like immigration, grief, mental health, suicide, and sexual assault. Please pick this one up — it's really so, so good!
Recommended by Christine R.
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Laurie Halse Anderson
[isbn]
Books are powerful. When Speak was published 20 years ago, there were very few stories like it. Holding this book, I think of copies getting passed from person to person, lending solace and understanding. As the #MeToo movement has shown, stories like this that make survivors' voices heard are still extremely relevant and important.
Recommended by Christine R.
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Caleb Roehrig
[isbn]
When I saw this book described as Ocean's 8 meets RuPaul's Drag Race, I was in immediately! The world sees Margo Manning as a blonde heiress constantly in paparazzi photos, but by night she leads a team of four drag queens pulling off high-stakes robberies. Death Prefers Blondes has everything I want in a heist: nonstop action, intricately planned missions, fun fight scenes, and witty banter. It was the characters,... (read more)
Recommended by Christine R.
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Julie Fogliano, Lane Smith
[isbn]
I want to frame the pages of this book, so I can look at them everyday. Dreamy and beautiful — it captures the eerie and captivating nature of abandoned things. Open up this book!
Recommended by Christine R.
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Tillie Walden
[isbn]
Every morning, Tillie Walden would hit the ice before the sun came up. Figure skating was her safe place and her identity, until things began to shift and skating began to feel like a cage. Spinning is an evocative, exquisitely drawn LGBTQ coming-of-age memoir. I particular love the way Walden uses color sparingly in order to communicate emotion. You don't need to be a fan of figure skating to be moved by this beautiful book.
Recommended by Christine R.
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Eva Eland
[isbn]
It warms my heart to think of all the kids who will be helped and comforted by this lovely book. Instead of shying away from a tough feelings, it portrays sadness directly and honestly, offering simple yet powerful tools to try when you're feeling sad. Essential for every child's library!
Recommended by Christine R.
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Sandhya Menon
[isbn]
I am officially obsessed with Sandhya Menon! Featuring Indian American main characters, Menon writes contemporary YA romances that make me want to stand up and cheer. Her fundamental respect for her teen characters clearly shows in her sensitive depictions of their struggles and triumphs. There's Something About Sweetie is a companion novel to the New York Times bestselling When Dimple Met Rishi, but also completely... (read more)
Recommended by Christine R.
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Ibi Zoboi
[isbn]
I love a modern retelling of classic Jane Austen plots, so I was thrilled to hear about Ibi Zoboi's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice set in a gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood with protagonists of color. It's sharp, crackling with wit like Austen herself, and immensely relevant. Zoboi is a powerhouse!
Recommended by Christine R.
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