Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! Today, I am nursing a back injury due to coughing from my month-long bout with bronchitis. If it’s not one thing this year, it’s another. The long recovery has enabled me to catch up on lots of my children’s book reading, however, so that’s good!
Speaking of cozying up with books, Autumn is here, which means it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy — whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes. I’m one of the TBR bibliologists, so if you sign up for a letter, I might be the one recommending you books!
Bookish Goods
Día De Los Muertos Bookmarks by ChevereTribe
These Día de los Muertos bookmarks are lovely! You can buy one or a set, and the seller has many other Día de los Muertos items for sale. $4+
New Releases
Violet and the Jurassic Land Exhibit by Jen Malia, illustrated by Peter Francis
Each book in The Infinity Rainbow Club chapter book series follows a different neurodivergent child who is a member of this club. In this second book, Violet, who has OCD, is volunteering at a natural history museum. She particularly loves working on the augmented reality exhibit, but she keeps worrying something will go wrong. This series is really fun, and it’s so important to have books like this that center neurodivergent experiences for chapter book readers.
Traveling Shoes by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by Keith Mallett
This is a fascinating picture book biography written in a series of poems about Olympian Willye White, who competed in track and long jump. She was born in 1939 in Mississippi, moved to Tennessee to train, and experienced poverty and racism. The poems in this are simultaneously joyful and powerful and follow her life from childhood to becoming a member of multiple halls of fame. The illustrations are also beautiful.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Día de Los Muertos is coming soon, November 1-2, so I thought I would recommend some new children’s books about it!
An Ofrenda for Perro by Judith Valdés B., illustrated by Carlos Vélez Aguilera
There are two new Día de Los Muertos picture books out this year centering the death of a beloved dog. Perro and Benito have grown up together, but then one day, Perro is sick, and Benito’s father takes him to the vet. Perro does not return with Papá. Papá and Mamá encourage Benito to help them create an ofrenda for Perro. At first, Benito resists, too sad to contribute. When Abuela sends him a dog alebrije, however, he adds it to the altar. This is such a sweet picture book with many Día de Los Muertos traditions.
Remembering by Xelena González, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia
The second picture book about a dog’s death is gorgeously illustrated and meditative. A young girl gathers her deceased pet dog’s favorite things. As she does so, she remembers all their good times together and honors the life they had together. Her family helps gather pictures to add to their ofrenda. Back matter includes the author and illustrator’s personal connections to dogs in their lives, as well as a description of how to build an ofrenda.
Skeletown: Sí. ¡No! by Rhode Montijo
This simple and hilarious picture book depicts two skeletons from Skeletown and their fun antics. There are only two words in the entire book: “Sí” and “No.” The bold black, white, and fluorescent orange illustrations depict scenes that are Sí and No, like buying a balloon (Sí) or being catapulted into the air by dozens of balloons (No). It’s a funny picture book for young readers.
Día de Muertos: A Papel Picado Lift-the-Flap Book by Dori Elys, illustrated by Alicia Más
Follow a young girl as she introduces Día de Muertos traditions in this adorable, interactive board book with flaps to lift. From ofrendas filled with candles, alebrijes, and skulls to delicious pan de muerto, the girl and her family prepare for a perfect Día de Muertos celebration. This is a great book to introduce toddlers to the holiday,
My daughter had group class pictures this week, and when she got home, she immediately wanted to set up her stuffed animals for their class picture, using my desk. That’s okay; I wasn’t working anymore. We then read some school picture day children’s books —including these books I recommended in a previous newsletter and one that came thanks to a follower’s recommendation (Picture Day Perfection).
If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, and blog irregularly at Baby Librarians. You can also read my Book Riot posts. If you’d like to drop me a line, my email is kingsbury.margaret@gmail.com.
All the best,
Margaret Kingsbury