Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon: The Graphic Novel

Adapted and illustrated by Victoria Ying Based on Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger 3 stars I really enjoyed this series as a kid and it was fun to revisit this story in graphic format. The illustrations are great. Ying’s character designs are wonderful and the art really captures their movements and…

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We Who Produce Pearls: An Anthem for Asian America by Joanna Ho

Illustrated by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya 4 stars A powerful, beautiful celebration of resilience and identity told through fierce verse and stunning illustrations. The book draws parallels between different culture’s histories, struggles, and treatment while still recognizing the distinctness and diversity of different groups. Gorgeous illustrations that pair wonderfully with each verse. Beautiful color and a wonderful…

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Aloha Everything by Kaylin Melia George

Illustrated by Mae Waite 5 stars A poetic celebration of hula and Hawaiian culture and history. Follow a young girl’s journey to become a hula dancer, learning about her heritage, culture, folklore, and the natural world of her island home through dance. Absolutely gorgeous. The artwork is breathtaking. Each page is packed with color, emotion,…

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Not Perfect by Maya Myers

Illustrated by Hyewon Yum 4 stars While Dot recognizes she is good at many different things, she strives for perfection. When the class is assigned to make a poster of someone they admire, she wants hers to be perfect. Things don’t go as planned, but sometimes imperfections can spark creativity and a new way of…

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Go to Sleep, Anxiety! by Luna Chi

Illustrated by Gurihiru 4 stars Such a sweet story. Riley’s Emotions are settling into their nighttime routines… all but one. Anxiety is too worked up to sleep. With the help of the other Emotions, she comes up with strategies to help her when her worries get out of control. Includes some nice strategies for calming…

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Being Home by Traci Sorell

Illustrated by Michaela Goade 3 stars A lovely story of family, community, and home. A young Cherokee girl and her family are excited to move out of the city to the Cherokee Nation reservation. There they connect with family, nature, and the rhythm of their ancestral home. It is so refreshing to see a positive…

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Exactly as Planned by Tao Nyeu

3.5 stars A heartwarming two-sided picture book celebrating adapting to the circumstances and spending time with good friends. Read the book one way to follow Fox’s preparations for tea with Moose. Flip it the other way to follow Moose’s journey to Fox’s tree for tea. The stories meet in the middle in a sweet resolution….

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Awe-samosas! by Marzieh Abbas

Illustrated by Bhagya Madanasinghe 5 stars Adorable, heartfelt, and delicious! Noor wants to have a samosa party with her friends, but keeps running into problems along the way. With reminders of her Dadijaan’s advice, she pushes through and puts her own unique spin on a family recipe. Such a sweet story. Great themes of perseverance,…

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Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry (Audiobook)

Narrated by Hope Newhouse 5 stars A tree, a table, and a book. Three little tales have the unexpected power of connecting the past to the present in a whole new way. Absolutely beautiful. Sophie W. is 11 years old. Sophie G. is 88. Despite their age gap, they are best friends. When the elder…

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