Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees

by Franck Prévot Illustrated by Aurélia Fronty Translated by Dominique Clément 5 stars Originally published in French, this wonderful picture book biography celebrates the life of Wangari Maathai and her impact on the world. The book follows Maathai’s childhood in Kenya, her atypical education, founding the Green Belt Movement, and her activism to promote environmentalism,…

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All the Books by Hayley Rocco

Illustrated by John Rocco 5 stars A sweet story about the magic of libraries and the joy of sharing books. Piper loves her books. She takes them everywhere she goes. But she does not like to share them. As her collection grows, so do the problems with carrying them all around with her. Until one…

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Drawn Onward by Daniel Nayeri

Illustrated by Matt Rockefeller 5 stars Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Told entirely as a palindrome, this lushly-illustrated fantasy tale follows a young boy grieving the loss of his mother. In his anger and grief, he sets out on an adventure to seek the answer to a crucial question, learning an important lesson along the way. A…

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Marley’s Pride by Joëlle Retener

Illustrated by DeAnn Wiley 5 stars An adorable story highlighting that there is no right or wrong way to celebrate Pride. Marley’s grandparent Zaza is getting ready for the Pride celebration where they will receive an award. Marley wants to be there with them, but the crowds and noise make them nervous. With the support…

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Cat + Gamer Volume 3 by Wataru Nadatani

Translated by Zack Davisson 5 stars Another fantastic volume featuring Musubi and his human Riko… now with a new addition to the family! Meet Soboro, the newest furry member in the household. Follow along as she gets the lay of the land, interacts with her new human, and takes her role of annoying little sister…

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Challah for Shabbat Tonight by Sara Holly Ackerman

Illustrated by Alona Millgram 5 stars In this delightful rhyming and rhythmic story, join the narrator and her grandmother as they bake challah for the Shabbat. Well-written and engaging. Told through catchy rhymes, the book goes through each step of making challah, from mixing together the ingredients and waiting for the dough to rise to…

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Stacey Speaks Up by Stacey Abrams

Illustrated by Kitt Thomas 5 stars Another powerful story from Abrams. After witnessing a classmate have to give his tray back when he can’t pay for lunch at school, Stacey decides to do something about it with the help of her friends and family. Even though public speaking makes Stacey uncomfortable, she knows using her…

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Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

5 stars Ever read a book and get frustrated by the silly choices the main character makes? Ever wish the character had just killed off the antagonist instead of drawing out the problem? This novel scratches that itch and it was so satisfying. A fascinating exploration of the twisted road one’s life can take based…

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