‘Twas the Night Before Pride by Joanna McClintick

Illustrated by Juana Medina 4 stars An adorable rhyming story providing a kid-friendly introduction to the history of Pride and its continued relevance today. Loved the themes of family, acceptance, standing up to injustice, and being yourself. Adorable pictures. The rhymes are a little clunky in areas, but overall this was such a sweet read….

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Sea of Constellations by Melissa Cristina Márquez

Illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza 3 stars A The Rainbow Fish-style adventure with stronger themes and a most satisfying ending, in my opinion. When the ocean goes dark one day, Maren and Remy seek the guidance of Huixtocihuatl, the Aztec goddess of salt and salt water. Along the way, they meet various creatures that are troubled…

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Next Level: A Hymn in Gratitude for Neurodiversity by Samara Cole Doyon

Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita 4 stars Another fantastic book from Doyon and Juanita. An absolutely gorgeous story that celebrates the value of different ways of thinking, neurodiversity, and challenging the status quo. This lyrical story follows a mother and child as they communicate and interact with each other throughout the day, spending time together and…

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Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration by Samara Cole Doyon

Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita 5 stars Absolutely gorgeous. A beautiful celebration of heritage, family, nature, and the self. Told through accessible, poetic language, Doyon paints beautiful images of memories and little moments of celebration and joy, from watching a river to tasting a caramel apple, jumping in leaf piles to the marvel of a family…

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I Love My Body Because by Shelly Anand and Nomi Ellenson

Illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina 5 stars A wonderfully sweet and empowering book, celebrating bodies and what they can do. The illustrations are beautiful. Loved the soft lines and diversity of characters. The artwork contains people with different skin tones, sizes, hair textures, and heights. There are characters that wear glasses, use wheelchairs, wear hijab,…

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This Is My Bag: A Story of the Unhoused

by Roxanne Chester Illustrated by Abraham Matias 4 stars A wonderful resource for beginning conversations with children about unhoused populations and the importance of treating individuals with kindness and empathy. There are few examples of unhoused individuals in children’s books. When they do show up, they are often presented in stereotypical ways. Chester’s book is…

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Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour

Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita 4 stars This is all around a touching and wholesome story. While Mommy leaves on a work trip, the main character stays home with Mama. They go about their daily routines, but things are a little different without Mommy. Works well for discussing missing someone and waiting for them to come…

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A Dreidel in Time: A New Spin on an Old Tale

by Marcia Berneger Illustrated by Beatriz Castro 3 stars A fun, quick read about the origins of Hanukkah complete with adventure and time travel. Reminiscent of the Magic Treehouse books. All Devorah and Benjamin want to do is open their Hanukkah presents. But they’re in for a surprise when their family gives them an old…

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