THE WINTER BIRD Written by Kate Banks Illustrated by Suzie Mason (Candlewick Press; $18.99, Ages 3-7)         Written by Kate Banks and illustrated by Suzie Mason, The Winter Bird is a comforting and heartwarming story of friendship and perseverance, helping readers discover the quiet strength of patience and hope.  During the time of year “when the sun [goes] to bed early,” brown bear and hedgehog prepare for their annual winter routines. Nestled in a thicket and nursing a broken wing, the nightingale watches the geese, starlings, and swallows fly away. “‘What will happen to me?’” the…

  BUSY FEET Written by Marcia Berneger Illustrated by Susanna Chapman (Starry Forest Books; $14.99, Ages 0-3)       Do you know a child with busy feet?  The kind of feet that never miss the chance to dance, run or jump? Then take a look at Marcia Berneger and Susanna Chapman's new picture book Busy Feet.     Berneger's created a lively, interactive read-aloud that invites participation from even the littlest of readers. Feet wake up,  time to play. Happy feet  out all day! From the moment they wake until bedtime arrives, these bustling, busy feet can be found…

  THAT FLAG Written by Tameka Fryer Brown Illustrated by Nikkolas Smith (Harper Collins BYR; $18.99; Ages 6-10)       ★Starred Review - School Library Journal From the Publisher: “An affecting picture book … that challenges the meaning behind the still-waving Confederate flag through the friendship of two young girls who live across the street from each other.”   REVIEW: When two young girls meet at school and realize how much they have in common, they become best friends—but only at school. Bianca’s family flies a Confederate flag. And when Keira learns more about the history of “that flag”…

    BEST NEW VALENTINE'S DAY BOOKS FOR KIDS 2023 ~ A Roundup~         I LOVE YOU, COCKATOO! Written and illustrated by Sarah Aspinall (Viking BYR; $18.99, Ages 2-5) Author-illustrator Sarah Aspinall captures the tender moment of a pink feathered Cockatoo sitting on his pink feathered Mama’s lap as she lovingly brushes out her child's feathers in her recently released picture book I Love You, Cockatoo! Cockatoo’s big eyes widen when Mama randomly does what mothers often do blurting out the words, I love you, Cockatoo to her precious son. It seems odd to Cockatoo that she…

      AN INTERVIEW WITH SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD HONOREE SARAH DARER LITTMAN       SCHOLASTIC DESCRIPTION: Declan Taylor is furious at the world. After winning state as a freshman starting pitcher, he accidentally messes up his throwing arm. Despite painful surgery and brutal physical therapy, he might never pitch again. And instead of spending the summer with his friends, Declan is forced to get a job to help his family out. On top of that, it seems like his best friend, Jake Lehrer, is flirting with Declan's crush and always ditching him to hang out with the…

THE MOON FROM DEHRADUN: A Story of Partition Written by Shirin Shamsi Illustrated by Tarun Lak (Atheneum BYR; $18.99; Ages 4-8)       ★Starred Review - School Library Journal   Inspired by the true-life events of the author’s mother, The Moon from Dehradun written by Shirin Shamsi and illustrated by Tarun Lak is a powerful and poignant story of the 1947 Partition of India.     Azra can hear the anger on the street just outside her home. “‘[People] are afraid,’” her Ammi says, “‘because our home has been divided ….’” Azra and her family have been living in…

  PEARL OF THE SEA by Anthony Silverston + Raffaella Delle Donne Illustrated by Willem Samuel (Catalyst Press; Paperback $19.99, eBook $9.95, Ages 11-14)   GoodReadsWithRonna is thrilled to be back for our 10th year supporting Multicultural Children's Book Day! We hope you'll visit the Linky below to access all the other great books reviewed.     Pearl of the Sea, a new older middle-grade graphic novel by Anthony Silverston, Raffaella Delle Donne, and Willem Samuel is simply hard to put down. In other words, be prepared to dive deep and fast into this rewarding journey featuring some fantastical elements…

    THE RIVER THAT WOLVES MOVED: A True Tale from Yellowstone Written by Mary Kay Carson Illustrated by David Hohn (Sleeping Bear Press; $17.99,  Ages 5-9)       The title of Mary Kay Carson’s new picture book drew me in: The River That Wolves Moved: A True Tale from Yellowstone. What?! How? I wanted to find out. Using the structure of “The House That Jack Built,” we learn why wolves are a crucial part of the ecosystem. Without them, elk overpopulate, overgraze, and, ultimately, cause muddied rivers to forge different paths. Pages incorporate new lines while repeating what’s…