Four Historical Fiction Novels for Tweens and Teens
FOUR HISTORICAL FICTION NOVELS FOR MIDDLE GRADE AND YOUNG ADULT READERS ∼A Roundup∼ TROWBRIDGE ROAD by Marcella Pixley (Candlewick Press; $17.99, Ages 10 and up) A 2020 National Book Awards Longlist Selection A Shelf Awareness Best Book of 2020 A Reading Group Choices Best Book of 2020 A Mighty Girl Best Book of 2020 ★Starred Review - Kirkus Marcella Pixley’s middle-grade book, Trowbridge Road, opens with Jenny Karlo’s loud, beat-up car disturbing a sleepy Boston suburb. Jenny’s music and personality add to the unrest as she deposits her son, Ziggy, at Nana’s for an indeterminate stay.…
Middle Grade Nonfiction Book – DIJ-Do It Jewish
DIJ-DO IT JEWISH: USE YOUR JEWISH CREATIVITY! Written by Barbara Bietz Illustrated by Daria Grinevich (Intergalactic Afikoman; $24.95, Ages 8-12) DIJ - Do It Jewish, written by Barbara Bietz and illustrated by Daria Grinevich, makes a unique gift to give tweens who are eager to flex their creativity muscles. It even had me thinking about looking for my Nana's rugelach recipe to play around with and update. From filmmaking, songwriting, art, cooking, graphic novels to cartooning, midrash, and Judaica, there's something here to suit everyone's creative tastes. This clever nonfiction book jumps right into the…
Middle-Grade Novel Review – The Elephant in the Room
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM By Holly Goldberg Sloan (Dial Books; 17.99 Ages 10-14) ★Starred Review - School Library Journal In The Elephant in the Room, when middle-schooler, Sila Tekin’s mother is stuck in Turkey trying to get her immigration paperwork in order, the loneliness is almost unbearable for her and her father, Alp. Sila’s newly withdrawn demeanor prompts her school to pair her with autistic classmate Mateo Lopez in a special program that has the kids spending time together at the end of each school day. The point is to help both kids socialize more and, after…
New Passover Picture Books for Kids 2021
NEW PASSOVER PICTURE BOOKS FOR KIDS What I love about Passover is the tradition, the same old same old I know and love. It's comforting as well as delicious. And, since Seder, the meal we enjoy, means "order" in Hebrew, we repeat the same rituals Jewish people have done for centuries to feel a connection to the past. Here are a few new Passover picture books plus a link to a fourth (an interview) to share with your children this year and for years to come. MEET THE MATZAH Written and illustrated by Alan Silberberg (Viking…
Board Book Review – Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby
EVERYONE'S SLEEPY BUT THE BABY Written by Tracy C. Gold Illustrated by Adèle Dafflon (Familius; $8.99, Ages 0-3) e Awwwww! That was my reaction after reading Everyone's Sleepy but the Baby, a new 16-page board book for naptime, bedtime, or anytime really. Author Tracy C. Gold calls her debut a non-fiction book since this story was based on her life as a sleep-deprived mom, and I’m sure this is a true story for many other parents. Even being sleep-deprived, Tracy found time to write this gem. With the help of her editors Laurie Duersch and…
Cover Reveal for Picture Book Chicken Frank, Dinosaur!
Cluck, Cluck, Cluck, ROAR!!! It’s a bird, It’s a dinosaur! See for yourself in ... CHICKEN FRANK, DINOSAUR! Written by S.K. Wenger Illustrated by Jojo Ensslin (Albert Whitman & Co.; $16.99, Ages 4-8) Guest post by Moni Ritchie Hadley Author of The Star Festival @bookthreader e MY REACTION: It's a cover reveal for picture book Chicken Frank, Dinosaur! and it definitely invites intrigue! A chicken steps into the imprint of a gigantic claw. The white bird…
An Interview with I’m a Hare, So There! Author-Illustrator Julie Rowan Zoch
AN INTERVIEW WITH JULIE ROWAN-ZOCH ABOUT HER DEBUT AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR PICTURE BOOK I’M A HARE, SO THERE! (HMH BYR; $17.99, Ages 4-7) JOIN PICTURE BOOK AUTHOR COLLEEN PAEFF FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH JULIE ROWAN-ZOCH e SHORT SUMMARY: When a chipmunk mistakes Hare for a rabbit, Hare puts him in his place. But actually, the chipmunk is a SQUIRREL. Or so he says. INTERVIEW WITH JULIE ROWAN-ZOCH: Colleen Paeff: Hi Julie! Congratulations on the release of your author/illustrator debut, I’m a Hare, So There! The rabbit—I mean, hare—in this story has such a strong voice. (I love…
Kids Picture Book Review – Don’t Call Me Fuzzybutt!
DON'T CALL ME FUZZYBUTT! Written by Robin Newman Illustrated by Susan Batori (Sleeping Bear Press; $16.99, Ages 4-8) If I enjoy saying this book's title, kids will definitely delight in repeating Don't Call Me Fuzzybutt! They'll be eager to read the entire book because, sticks and stones aside, what child hasn't had a run-in with name-calling? And when you've got the talented team of Robin Newman and Susan Batori taking on the topic, it promises to be entertaining while making an important point. Neither Bear nor Woodpecker means to hurl names at one another or hurt each…
CELEBRATE NATIONAL POETRY MONTH WITH THESE GREAT KIDS BOOKS THE B ON…
THE SISTERS OF STRAYGARDEN PLACE Written by Hayley Chewins (Candlewick Press; $16.99, Ages 10-14)…
DIJ-DO IT JEWISH: USE YOUR JEWISH CREATIVITY! Written by Barbara Bietz Illustrated by…
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM By Holly Goldberg Sloan (Dial Books; 17.99 Ages 10-14) …
FIVE CHILDREN'S BOOKS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH ∼A ROUNDUP∼ This year choosing books…
THE GREAT PET HEIST Written by Emily Ecton Art by Dave Mottram (Atheneum BYR; $17.99,…
UNTWISTED: Twinchantment Series #2 Written by Elise Allen (Disney-Hyperion; $16.99, Ages 8-12) …
TRAVEL & MAP BOOKS FOR KIDS - A ROUNDUP- I love everything about travel, the…
