A BRIEF HISTORY OF UNDERPANTS Written by Christine Van Zandt Illustrated by Harry Briggs (becker&meyer!kids; Paperback $9.99, Ages 4-8)         Let's talk tushes, well what goes on them to be precise. Before I do though, and for the record, debut picture book author Christine Van Zandt is a long-time reviewer for this blog. But even if she weren't, I'd still have to gush about A Brief History of Underpants because I think what she's uncovered about underwear is fascinating. More important than what I think is what kids will, and I don't know how they'll be…

FIND OUT IN THIS GUEST POST WHY DEBUT AUTHOR MONI RITCHIE HADLEY CHOSE TO WRITE ABOUT THE STAR FESTIVAL  e e ★Starred Review - School Library Journal THE STAR FESTIVAL, also known as the Tanabata Matsuri, takes place in Japan on the seventh day of the seventh month. It is celebrated on July 7th in regions following the gregorian calendar and August 7th of the lunar calendar. I researched many beautiful landscapes and images, knowing that one would eventually become the backdrop of my story. Which were my top choices, and how did I choose? Hanami Matsuri, the Cherry Blossom…

  TOO MANY BUBBLES: A STORY ABOUT MINDFULNESS By Christine Peck and Mags DeRoma Illustrated by Mags DeRoma (Sourcebook Kids; $12.99; Ages 3-7)         When Izzy the mouse’s brain fills up with more and more bubbles of unwanted thoughts he escapes to a special spot to quiet his mind in Christine Peck and Mags DeRoma’s interactive picture book Too Many Bubbles: A Story About Mindfulness, the first in the Books of Great Character series, with illustrations by Mags DeRoma. My focus was omnipresent when I began writing this review, and even though I have taught mindfulness, reading…

  THE COT IN THE LIVING ROOM Written by Hilda Eunice Burgos Illustrated by Gaby D’Alessandro  (Kokila; $17.99, Ages 4-8)       A Junior Library Guild Selection  ★Starred Review - BookPage  What's it like to walk in someone else’s shoes? Author Hilda Eunice Burgos and illustrator Gaby D’Alessandro show us how in The Cot in the Living Room.  A young girl longs to spend the night on the cot in her living room. “Mami says it’s for guests” only, but to the girl the cot symbolizes freedom and possibilities: having the whole living room to herself, enjoying the lights…

DINOSAURS BEFORE DARK GRAPHIC NOVEL Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series Written by Jenny Laird Illustrated by Kelly and Nichole Matthews (Random House BYR; $16.99, Ages 6-9)       “I wish I could go there...”   Any reader of Osborne’s beloved Magic Treehouse chapter book series knows that uttering those magical words while holding a book in the Magic Tree House will instantly transport the child back into the time and place of the book and an action-packed adventure. e e This first title in the graphic novel adaptations of the chapter book series, Dinosaurs Before Dark, introduces eight-and-a-half-year-old…

  BELLA'S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Written by Ana Siqueira Illustrated by Geraldine Rodriguez (Beaming Books; $17.99, Ages 4-7)         It only takes a quick glance at the title to know that we’re in for a treat! In Bella's Recipe for Success, the debut picture book by Ana Siqueira, we can assume that Bella, the Latina main character, will be engaging in disastrous recipes, resulting in a delicious and successful outcome. e e The story begins with Bella and her Abuela in the kitchen. As her siblings brag about piano playing and cartwheeling, Bella wonders about herself. She…

WALKING FOR WATER: How One Boy Stood Up for Gender Equality Written by Susan Hughes Illustrated by Nicole Miles (Kids Can Press; $17.99, Ages 6-8)       There are over a dozen terrific books in the Citizen Kid series and the latest, Walking for Water by award-winning author Susan Hughes, is no exception. This story, inspired by "the recent experience of a thoughtful and fair-minded 13-year-old Malawian boy" takes readers to the landlocked country in southeastern Africa to meet eight-year-old twins Victor and his sister, Linesi. Readers know right from the start that the pair are close. On this…

      THE POLIO PIONEER: DR. JONAS SALK AND THE POLIO VACCINE Written by Linda Elovitz Marshall Illustrated by Lisa Anchin (Knopf BYR; $17.99; AGES 4-8)       A topic on everyone's tongues these days is vaccinations. When she wrote this book, Linda E Marshall likely had no idea how relevant her book would be today and how once again, an innovative vaccine is saving lives around the world.    The book opens with four-year-old Jonas Salk sitting on top of his father’s shoulders during the victory parade celebrating the end of World War I. But Jonas doesn’t…