DEEP, DEEP DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench Written by Lydia Lukidis Illustrated by Juan Calle (Capstone; $18.99; Ages 7-11)       From the Publisher: “Deep, deep down, at the very bottom of the ocean, lies a secret world. Through lyrical narration, this spare-text STEM picture book takes readers on a journey to a place very few humans have ever been—the Mariana Trench. The imagined voyage debunks scary myths about this mysterious place with surprising and beautiful truths about life at Earth's deepest point. Deep, Deep Down shows a vibrant world far below, and teaches…

NEW KIDS & UNDERDOGS Written by Margaret Finnegan (Atheneum BYR; $17.99, Ages 8-12)       In Margaret Finnegan’s third middle-grade novel, New Kids & Underdogs, she once again convincingly captures the voice of the 10-year-old protagonist, in this case, fifth grader, Robyn Kellen. Robyn, whose parents are divorced, has moved around a lot because of her mother’s university teaching positions. Now in San Luis Obispo which, according to Robyn’s mom, is going to be the last move, Robyn must yet again learn to navigate a new town, new school, and hopefully new friendships. To do so, she relies upon…

      YEAR OF THE CAT Written by Richard Ho Illustrated by Jocelyn Li Langrand (Greenwillow Books; $18.99, Ages 4-8)         The story of the Chinese zodiac is beloved in my household. In Year of the Cat, Richard Ho digs deeper to follow up on how Cat feels about not receiving a calendar year—she was pushed into a river by Rat! This story is as good as the original and then some.     Jocelyn Li Langrand’s fun illustrations begin even before the title page. I especially like the behind-the-scenes scoop on the animals such as…

  SNOW HORSES:  A FIRST NIGHT STORY Written by Patricia MacLachlan Illustrated by Micha Archer (Margaret K. McElderry Books; $18.99, Ages 4-8)         ★Starred Reviews - Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly Visit an enchanting snow-covered country town in Snow Horses: A First Night Story written by late Newberry Medal-winning author, Patricia MacLachlan and illustrated by Caldecott Honor-winning artist, Micha Archer but be sure to have a hot drink at hand while cozy under a blanket.     As you turn the pages you'll be treated to MacLachlan's lyrical prose that set an anticipatory tone for the once-a-year celebration…

BEST NEW CHRISTMAS BOOKS FOR KIDS 2022 ~A ROUNDUP~           CHRISTMAS WITH AUNTIE Written by Helen Foster James Illustrated by Petra Brown (Sleeping Bear Press; $17.99, Ages 0-4) My Aunt Shirley wasn't my real aunt but she treated me as if I were her niece and I loved her the same as all my other aunts. Since Aunties can be blood relations or close family friends, Christmas With Auntie should find a large readership. When Auntie picks up little bunny for the day, preparations for Christmas get underway. "Bunny-kins bunny, we'll make and then bake/gingerbread goodies,…

  BEST NEW HANUKKAH BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS ~A ROUNDUP~     I'm happy to say this year I've received more review copies of new Hanukkah books for children than any previous year! Not only do these books approach the holiday from fresh new angles, but they've made the holiday more accessible for non-Jewish readers who want to learn about this joyful Jewish celebration. Enjoy the super selection and be sure to share these books with family and friends.     HANUKKAH NIGHTS Written and illustrated by Amalia Hoffman (Kar-Ben Publishing; $8.99, Ages 1-5) I had a huge grin…