AN INTERVIEW WITH KIRSTEN W. LARSON AUTHOR OF THE FIRE OF STARS (Chronicle Books; $18.99, Ages 5-8)         ★Starred Reviews - Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Shelf Awareness INTERVIEW: Elisa Boxer: I’m so happy to be here interviewing my Soaring 20s colleague and friend Kirsten W. Larson about her newest picture book, The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars are Made Of. It’s an absolutely stellar book! Kirsten weaves together two stories in one: The creation of a star, and the evolution of astronomer Cecilia Payne, who…

  THE SNOWMAN WALTZ Written by Karen Konnerth Illustrated by Emily Neilson (Sleeping Bear Press; $17.99, Ages 4-8)       Cold and snowy weather may wreak havoc across the U.S., but The Snowman Waltz written by Karen Konnerth and illustrated by Emily Neilson makes good use of such frosty conditions. Set against a beautiful backdrop of a winter woodland glen, this picture book invites young readers to glide across their own floors and follow in the footsteps of the snowmen and penguin characters.     Konnerth has created a friendly battle of the beats in that a jovial snowman community's…

  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…