Sponsored by Neal Porter Books / Holiday House.
Life can be hard for the only brown girl in a classroom of white students. When the teacher talks about slavery, she can feel her classmates staring at her. When they talk about civil rights, she is the one that kids whisper about on the playground. In those moments, she wants to slip away; and she wonders, is that all you see when you look at me? What really matters is what she sees when she looks at herself. She is a reflection of the courage, strength, intelligence and creativity that’s been passed down from generation to generation through her ancestors.
Hey readers! I’m back with another batch of new kids books.
Eyes That Speak to the Stars by Joanna Ho and Dung Ho
This is the companion to the bestselling Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, this one focusing on an Asian boy who realizes his eyes look different from those of his friends. When he talks to his dad, he learns that his eyes resemble those of the other men in his family, and he recognizes the strength and vision they all share.
Tia Fortuna’s New Home by Ruth Behar and Devon Holzwarth
In this beautiful, lyrical picture book Estrella helps her Tia Fortuna move from her Miami apartment to an assisted living facility. As they pack up her apartment, Tia Fortuna explains the significance of all of her most important things, all from her Jewish Cuban background.
Sofia Acosta Makes A Scene by Emma Otheguy
Sofia’s talented family loves ballet, and even though Sofia’s own dancing skills can’t compete with her parents’, there’s more than dance that bonds them together. When her family hosts dancer friends from Cuba, Sofia learns they plan on defecting to the United States. But when she confides in one of her friends, Sofia realizes that their suburban community isn’t interested in “outsiders”, leading her to wonder how her own immigrant family is viewed.
The Keeper by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
When James and his younger sister Ava move from Texas to Oregon, James knows it’s not going to be any fun. But it’s even less fun than he expected when he starts getting notes from someone called “The Keeper”, who’s watching them and is likely behind the neighborhood’s long line of missing kids. But James has a history of practical jokes, so no one believes him, but he and Ava will need to find the Keeper before they become the next victims.
Make sure to get your own Read Harder Book Journal from Book Riot to track your reading for the year!
Until next week!
Chelsea
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