Time to Make Art by Jeff Mack

4 stars An engaging tour through the ages, celebrating art from around the world. Follow a young artist as she questions what makes art, how to create it, and how long it takes. Her questions are answered by famous artists throughout history, from Frida Kahlo to the sculptors of the Temple of the Feathered Serpent,…

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What Is a Solar Eclipse? by Dana Meachen Rau

Illustrated by Gregory Copeland 3 stars A nice overview of what causes a solar eclipse as well as the basic movements of the earth and moon. Straightforward information with simplified explanations. I especially enjoyed the sections on how eclipses have been interpreted in different parts of the world throughout history and different ways of tracking…

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Only: The Bird Who Liked Being Alone

by Airlie Anderson 5 stars Another great picture book from Anderson with lovely messages about accepting differences and celebrating all. The artwork is lovely. Whimsical and fun. Wonderful emphasis on personal preferences and the difference between being alone and being lonely. It was also nice to see representation of how preferences can change depending on…

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Decentering Whiteness in Libraries: A Framework for Inclusive Collection Management Practices

by Andrea Jamison 5 stars Well-written and easy to understand. A fantastic resource for anyone involved in collection development and policy writing in libraries. The book centers around Jamison’s collection development policy inclusivity tool, J-MOD, which tracks the use and frequency of various words related to diversity and inclusivity. There are detailed instructions for using…

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Eyes That Weave the World’s Wonders by Joanna Ho with Liz Kleinrock

Illustrated by Dung Ho 5 stars Another lush, heartwarming, gorgeous read from Joanna Ho and Dung Ho. Through poetic text, the narrator describes how her eyes are different from her adoptive family’s and how their loves connects them. It explores the narrator’s relationship with her adoptive father and mother, and her curiosity about her birth…

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The Curse of Eelgrass Bog by Mary Averling

5 stars A little bit creepy, very mysterious, and so intriguing. I loved this one! Kess is doing her best to keep her family’s Unnatural History Museum going while her parents are away on a job and her older brother is holed up in the library doing “research”. That leaves her spending most of her…

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The Mommies on the Bus by Hannah Eliot

Illustrated by Airin O’Callaghan 3 stars A sweet little book to celebrate moms, set to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus”. The illustrations and text wonderfully capture some of the ways moms show they care, from providing snacks and reading nonverbal cues to zipping up coats and holding the door. Gorgeous illustrations. Loved…

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Sydney’s Big Speech by Malcolm Newsome

Illustrated by Jade Orlando 5 stars Sydney wants to grow up to be a great leader, but public speaking makes her nervous and she can’t get the words out. To help her gain the confidence to give a speech to her class, her father teaches her about famous Black women in history including Kamala Harris,…

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Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb

Illustrated by Erin Kraan 3 stars A The Pout-Pout Fish-style story featuring a grumpy bison. Buffalo Fluffalo wants to be alone. The other animals offer him gifts and ask him to spend time with them, but all they get back is a gruff rebuke. A cute book with nice messages of being kind to others, accepting…

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I Am Not the Easter Bunny! by T. L. McBeth

4 stars A hilarious picture book, perfect for Easter time. The narrator is sure they’ve found the Easter Bunny, but the bunny is adamant that they’re just a normal rabbit. Follow along, look for clues, and decide for yourself. Such a fun read. Cute illustrations. I’m always a sucker for fourth wall breaks. A silly…

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