All Are Welcome: Welcome Back!

by Alexandra Penfold Illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman 3 stars A sweet early reader featuring the characters from All Are Welcome. This rhyming book welcomes students back to school and shared lessons on conduct. These include trying new things, practicing kindness, helping others, and working together. Lovely, diverse illustrations. This Step 2 book includes basic vocabulary, short…

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Mudlark: In Search of London’s Past Along the River Thames

by Lara Maiklem 3 stars A fascinating tour along the River Thames complete with stories from history, Maiklem’s personal life, and her adventures searching the foreshore. Follow Maiklem as she takes the reader all the way along the Thames, from the Tidal Head to the Estuary. Along the way, she recounts her discovery of long-lost…

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The Mushroom Fan Club by Elise Gravel

3 stars An adorable introduction to the world of mushrooms. Gravel shares her experiences going mushroom hunting with her family. She is very clear that she is not an expert and that the book is meant to share an interest in mushrooms. The book includes information on the parts of a mushroom, a few best…

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Howl’s Moving Castle: Picture Book

adapted by Naoko Amemiya 3 stars A lengthy picture book that covers the entirety of the film, Howl’s Moving Castle. I don’t normally like picture books that use screengrabs of movies, but the artwork from this movie is so well done, I really didn’t mind. I think you could take any Miyazaki film and easily…

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Be Gay, Do Comics

Featuring Dorian Alexander, Archie Bongiovanni, Sage Coffey, Shelby Criswell, Dylan Edwards, Julia Bernhard, JB Brager, Rosa Colon Guerra, Max Dlabick, Trinidad Escobar, Mady G, Alex Graudins, Binglin Hu, Shing Yin Khor, Kazimir Lee, Melanie Gillman, Levi Hastings, Robyn Jordan, Maia Kobabe, Matt Lubchansky, Mariah-Rose Marie, Jason Michaels, Sfe R. Monster, Breena Nunez, Elisabet Run, Ria…

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Grace Needs Space! by Benjamin A. Wilgus

Illustrated by Rii Abrego 3 stars A sweet, gentle story. Grace lives on a space station with her mother, Evelyn. But she longs for exploration and adventure. So when she plans to accompany her mom, Kendra, on a trip to Titan, she can’t wait. But when Kendra gets caught up with work, Grace take matters…

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How to Write a Poem

by Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido Illustrated by Melissa Sweet 3 stars A wonderful exploration of the creative process by finding inspiration around you, questioning the world, and uncovering the words within you. The artwork is so dynamic and fun. Engaging collages featuring circular and natural imagery that pair wonderfully with the text. A breathtaking…

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Kimchi, Kimchi Every Day by Erica Kim

3 stars A sweet picture book dedicated to the versatility of kimchi. Follow the character through each day of the week as she enjoys a different dish featuring kimchi. Told in simple and catchy rhymes, this is a soothing and fun read. The art style is so cute. Kim used cut paper on hanji to…

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The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck by Matt Phelan

3 stars A tale of secret societies, spies, fantastic inventions, and flight. Adventure, humor, and history combine as the story interworks historical events with fantastical elements. A fun blend of text and illustrations to advance the story. A historical flight taken by a sheep, a rooster, and a duck; a plot to steal the plans…

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