by Kate Messner Illustrated by Falynn Kosch 5 stars An interesting and informative read centered around various diseases and plagues throughout human history. This is the first I’ve read in the History Smashers series and absolutely love the format. The book focuses on smashing various myths and misinformation surrounding disease, pandemics, and vaccines. The text…
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4 stars A good place to start to learn about different holidays and how they are celebrated about the world. Each entry provides an overview of the holiday, often including the event’s origin, foods associated with it, and traditions and customs for celebrating. The book covers a variety of holidays and festivals, both cultural and…
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by K. A. Reynolds Illustrated by Chloe Dominique 4 stars A sweet story about facing anxiety, including different ways of staying calm such as yoga, deep breathing, and sharing your fears. Loved the connection between Bea and her human friend. The presentation really captures the relationship between a child and her dog. Delightful and warm…
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Also published under the title I Can Catch a Monster 4 stars A delightful adventure that takes the reader through the Frightful Forest, the Sea of Secrets, and the Peaks of Peril in search of monsters. Bo wants to go on a monster hunt, but her brothers tell her she is too little. She sets…
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A Biography Book for New Readers Illustrated by Ana Sanfelippo 4 stars An excellent biography for young readers. A great place to start for those learning about Kahlo, famous artists, or anyone who enjoys reading about strong women throughout history. The book covers some of the major events in her life, such as her childhood…
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by Randall de Sève, Illustrated by Carson Ellis 4 stars A delightfully sweet story of a neighborhood coming together. This is a nesting-style story in which each element builds on the next in the vein of The Napping House and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly!. Lovely illustrations that capture the homey feel of the…
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3 stars A fun adventure featuring demons, riddles, magic, new friends, and a few lessons. Sara has a hard time finding her place at the family Chanukah party. She’s too old for the little kids, ignored by the teens, and doesn’t get along with her brother and the cousins her age. After an unfortunate mishap,…
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5 stars An absolutely beautiful story, both visually and in its content, that explores loss, memory, and time spent together. Gentle and slow, this lovely book celebrates the connection between grandmother and granddaughter, passing on stories and making new memories. Poetic wordplay and soft, rounded illustrations make for a soothing reading experience. The artwork is…
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by Kristin Pekoll 3 stars A nice overview of intellectual freedom considerations as they pertain to non-book items and happenings in libraries. The book provides examples and considerations regarding bans and critiques of displays and exhibits, artwork, programs and events, bookmarks and reading lists, social media, and databases. It also touches on the importance of…
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Illustrated by Shelly Hehenberger 3 stars A great holiday read. Kayla loves Kwanzaa, but this year a snowstorm stops her brother from coming home for the holiday. The celebration feels different without Khari, but Kayla finds ways to celebrate with her family even when they can’t be together. The book goes through this different days…
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