Hi, Kid Lit Friends,
A few weeks ago, I had the chance to judge an annual writing contest for young people at the New York Society Library, the oldest library in New York City. Together with Carol Weston, Dave Johnson, and Edra Ziesk, we read entries from writers ranging from third grade to seniors in high school. It is tough to judge a writing competition, but it is also such a privilege! It’s very wonderful to encourage a new generation of writers, and I’m honored to be a part of it.
Also, make sure to read your first Deep Dive newsletter send on the house (The Power Reader’s Guide to Reading Logs & Trackers). You can subscribe at bookriot.substack.com.
Bookish Goods
Road Trip Journal by Fox Chapel Pub
I am a BIG fan of journaling. It’s a big part of what I talk about with young people when I do author visits. I saw this fun one with lots of prompts that would be a nice thing to bring along or take on a road trip or summer vacation. $8
New Releases
Penny & Pip by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann
In this adorable picture book, a young girl finds a baby brontosaurus at the Natural History Museum. There is no adult dinosaur to take care of him, so naturally Penny must take him home and take care of him herself. Right?
Mother of Sharks by Melissa Cristina Márquez, illustrated by Devin Elle Kurtz
When Melissa Cristina Márquez grew up in Puerto Rico, she loved spending her time by the ocean, checking out the tide pools and studying all the creatures. In this picture book that blends her own story with a fictional character, she shares her passion for her work as a globally recognized shark scientist.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Everyone knows what it’s like to have something stolen, and these four middle grade books explore all the complicated feelings about looking for something precious.
Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee
When Maizy Chen and her mother move to Last Chance, Minnesota to be closer to Maizy’s grandparents, she has a lot of questions about what they’re doing there. But when a beloved family treasure goes missing, Maizy is determined to find it no matter what it takes.
To Catch a Thief by Martha Brockenbrough
For Amelia MacGuffin, life in her little seaside town in unremarkable. That is, until the dragonfly staff, an essential part of the upcoming Dragonfly Day Festival, is stolen. The theft of the dragonfly staff means that the Dragonfly Day Festival might be cancelled, and with that, tourism revenues will plummet. With her parents reliant upon tourists to keep the Pacific General Store open, Amelia must step out of her comfort zone and step into the shoes of a sleuth.
The Takeout by Tracy Badua
Sometimes theft isn’t an item, it’s an idea and a recipe. Mila loves her family’s food truck, The Banana Leaf. But when celebrity chefs arrive and open a restaurant nearby, with the same food and the same recipes, Mila knows she needs to do something before her family’s food truck goes out of business.
The New Kid by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman
I love the Carver Chronicles series, and this one is great for young readers. When a new kid, Khufu, joins Gavin’s third grade class, no one knows what to make of him. He tells far-fetched stories, and then he shows up at school with a bike in the same model and make as Gavin’s — the day after Gavin’s bike goes missing. The class comes to only one conclusion. Khufu has stolen Gavin’s bike and painted it orange to disguise it. What’s Gavin to do?
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.
Happy reading!
Karina