Pluto!: Not a Planet? Not a Problem! (Our Universe #7)

by Stacy McAnulty Illustrated by Stevie Lewis 5 stars Told with humor and engaging artwork, this adorable nonfiction picture book lets Pluto tell his story. He talks about his place in the solar system, his planetary family, his features, and the history of his discovery and reclassification. Such a fun book. The illustrations are so…

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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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History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People

by Kate Messner and José Barreiro Illustrated by Falynn Koch 5 stars Another fantastic entry in the History Smashers series. Told with humor and wit, this book helps to lay out the exploration of Christopher Columbus, describe aspects of Taino culture, and shows why Columbus became such a popular figure in the first place. Along…

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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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Gertie: The Darling Duck of WWII

by Shari Swanson Illustrated by Renée Graef 5 stars An absolutely delightful book that recounts the story of Gertie and her ducklings. Whether you’ve never stepped foot in Milwaukee, are familiar with the story, or have just walked past the bronze duck statues on the Wisconsin Avenue bridge, this book offers interesting details and a…

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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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An American Story by Kwame Alexander

Art by Dare Coulter 5 stars Masterful. This book is hard-hitting, beautiful, powerful, hopeful, unabashed, and well-told. It acknowledges that the histories and realities of the past can be hard to face and difficult to discuss. But encourages us all to keep fighting for a better future. A story of hope and hardship, of remembering…

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