Hi Kid Lit Friends,
Last weekend my husband and I got into the car and drove up to western Massachusetts. As city people who love the outdoors, we oohed and ahhed over the gorgeous gardens and trees and the wildlife! We saw not one, but two bears! We also saw plenty of rabbits and a gaggle of geese crossing the road. It was a very lovely weekend!
Bookish Goods
Book Annotation Kit by LemonHoneyCraftsStar
My fourteen-year-old daughter has been annotating her books lately. This summer she is committed to reading Shakespeare and Austen, and this is the perfect kit for her reading adventures. Filled with sticky notes, highlighters, washi tape, and page tabs, this is a nice package to keep with your current read. $22.
New Releases
The Boy Who Met A Whale by Nizrana Farook
This story begins on the beach of Sri Lanka where Razi looks out at the sea where newly hatched turtles are running into the sea. Then, a plain boat comes into sight and nears shore. Razi is startled to discover a young boy in the boat, and even more surprised to discover that there are people after the boy. Can Razi help him escape to safety?
Dear Student by Elly Swartz
Autumn begins middle school with a feeling of dread. Her best (and only) friend has moved, and Autumn struggles with social anxiety. But she soon befriends Logan and Cooper, and things are looking up. But when she is selected to be the secret voice of the advice column, she finds herself right in the middle of a dispute between Logan and Cooper! Can Autumn give others – and herself – the right advice?
Riot Recommendations
Do you love indie bookstores? Of course you do! This summer, I hope you have the opportunity to visit a new bookstore in a town you’re passing through. It’s one of my very favorite things to do.
The I Wonder Bookstore by Shinsuke Yoshitake
This is delightfully silly take on a very unusual bookstore where the owner only sells books about… books! Read about how to grow books on trees, a town where the clouds rain books, and the once in every five year phenomenon where all the animals can read. I am a huge fan of Yoshitake’s artwork which is filled with humor and heart.
The Book Itch by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
This is a story about a bookstore that began in Harlem in the 1930s. Started by Lewis Michaux Sr., he named it the National Memorial African Bookstore. It became a gathering place for people in the neighborhood as well as people from around the world. It was a special place to share ideas and culture.
Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, illustrated by Yan Imamura
Okay, this is not a bookstore book, but it’s so beautiful that I had to include it in this collection. Set during World War II at a War Relocation Center in the Desert, Tama works in the prison camp’s tiny library. There she meets George who waits by the entrance every morning with an armful of books. Tama has no idea how he can read so much! Or is he coming for another reason? I just love this book!
Good Night Little Bookstore by Amy Cherrix, illustrated by E.B. Goodale (September 13, 2022)
Bookstore lovers will surely welcome this sweet bedtime book into their collection. Walk through the end-of-day rituals of a beloved local bookstore – saying goodbye to the customers and saying goodnight to the bookstore cat and the boxes of new arrivals. The illustrations are so sweet and inviting.
What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.
Until next time,
Karina
*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*