Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat 3 stars A fun, engaging story of how different vehicles communicate told through rhythm, rhyme, and repetition. Ibraheem and his cat, Mitu, join Baba on his delivery trip through Pakistan. Along the way, they must navigate the busy streets, communicate with other vehicles, and make sure everyone stays safe while they…
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3.5 stars Wei has always loved lion dancing. But after his father’s death, Wei quits his team and gives up on his dream. Years later, Wei gets a second chance at lion dancing. Will he be able to push through all of the obstacles to do what he loves? A nice story about what it…
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Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell 5 stars A beautiful story of grief, loss, and remembering. The narrator and her grandfather have a special box of treasures that is all their own. Together, they add to the collection. But when her grandfather passes away, the narrator doesn’t want to open the box anymore; it will just…
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by Nagabe Translated by Adrienne Beck 4 stars Another intriguing volume. As danger and violence closes in around them, Shiva and Teacher must decide where to place their trust and determine what lengths they will go to in order to secure their survival. The intensity definitely increases in this volume with the pursuing soldiers, the…
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Illustrated by Xindi Yan 5 stars An absolutely stunning exploration of the lasting presence of a loved one. A little girl remembers her grandfather and keeps his memory alive by enjoying the things they once did together. While she is saddened by his absence, she finds joy in living out the lessons she learned from…
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by Nagabe Translated by Adrienne Beck 4 stars Abandoning their previous home, Shiva and Teacher have escaped the soliders for now. They travel far to find a new home in an attempt to escape the past. But it always has a way of catching up to them. Another fascinating read. The mysteries continue to build….
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by Tonya Duncan Ellis Illustrated by Jenin Mohammed 5 stars A beautiful celebration and history of Emancipation Park. Told from the perspective of the park itself, the book follows the park’s founding in 1872, its vital role in the community especially during the time of Jim Crow laws, its years of disrepair, and its eventual…
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by Laura Obuobi Illustrated by Olivia Duchess 4 stars An absolutely stunning picture book biography of Michaela Mabinty DePrince. The story follows DePrince’s life from her time at an orphanage in Sierra Leone, her adoption and moving to the US, her passion for ballet growing up, and her success as a ballerina. It also explores…
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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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Illustrated by Laura Freeman 5 stars A fantastic picture book biography of the life and work of Justice Ketanji Jackson. The book follows important events throughout Justice Jackson’s life from childhood, through her education, taking on various jobs, marriage, motherhood, and finally her becoming the the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. Well-written…
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