Author: Karina Glaser

What I love about Prairie Lotus is the setting. It’s 1880, and Hanna, a half-Chinese, half-White girl is living in America’s heartland. Determined to fit into her new town, she has to face discrimination towards Chinese people while also working as a dressmaker in her father’s shop. This beautifully told tale is a must read especially for those looking for more literature set in the prairie during the 1880s.

Sometimes I forget that 9/11 is twenty years past. I still remember that day so clearly. I had just gotten off the subway and was walking across 4th Street on my way to work when I got to the intersection of 5th Avenue and everyone was staring at the fire that had just started in the first World Trade Center Tower. Moments later, I saw the second plane hit the second tower. I was a mile away from Ground Zero. Towers Falling, set fifteen years after the 9/11 attacks in a classroom of students who cannot remember the event, is a book that students who weren’t alive during 9/11 can read to understand the impact of that terrible day.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I heard that R.J. Palacio was writing a book outside of the Wonder world (R.J. Palacio’s books have sold 17 million copies, by the way), and when the galley for Pony came in I dived in immediately. Although much different from Wonder, this one demonstrated the breadth of Palacio’s beautiful writing. Set in the American Midwest, twelve-year-old Silas is awoken in the middle of the night to find three strangers outside his door, looking for his dad. What follows is an epic quest to find his father and bring him home.

This incredible book is set in 1932, and twelve-year-old Cal Black and his father have been riding the rails for years after losing their farm in the Great Depression. When Pop has to go to Washington, D.C., he tells Cal that they are actually Creek Indian, and Pop has just enrolled Cal in a government boarding school for Native Americans in Oklahoma called the Challagi School. At school, the other Creek boys quickly take Cal under their wings. Even in the harsh, miserable conditions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school, he begins to learn about his people’s history and heritage. He learns their language and customs. And most of all, he learns how to find strength in a group of friends who have nothing beyond each other.

After the Depression, Ellie’s family is forced to leave town and move to Echo Mountain. While Ellie’s mom and sister hate their new rugged and wild life, Ellie embraces it and discovers a love of the natural world. When Ellie’s father is seriously injured, though, Ellie is blamed for it and suddenly life becomes much more fragile. As their home falls apart, Ellie sets out to find the one person on the mountain that can help.

This delightfully illustrated picture book follows Zhao Di and her friends as they go out each night with their paper lanterns to celebrate Chinese New Year. Their brightly colored lanterns glow with lit candles inside. They do this every night until the fifteenth day of New Year, then tradition calls them to smash the lanterns!

On May 27, 1937, over four hundred children sailed for Morelia, Mexico, fleeing the violence of the Spanish Civil War. While home in Spain was no longer safe, Mexico was offering asylum to refugees by the thousands. Each child packed a suitcase and boarded the Mexique, expecting to return home in a few months. When the war finally ended, a dictator—the Fascist Francisco Franco—ruled Spain and home was even more dangerous. Many stayed away for many more decades, growing up without family in a foreign country far from home.

When his mother was expecting a baby, his mom knew she would name him Enrique. But their family friend, the great Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, took to calling him Policarpo. The name stuck and today Enrique Délano, also a noted Chilean writer, is still known as Poli. This delightful book recalls the period when he saw the fun-loving, eccentric Nerudas nearly every day. He learned a wide array of things from the man he called Tío Pablo — how to swim, what fate is, how to eat grasshoppers, how to talk to the spider-woman at the fair, and how to stand up to Nazis and bullies. This tender book demonstrates the impact of one man on a young boy’s life.

This gorgeously lyrical book set in China follows Sunflower, an only child whose father is sent to the rural Cadre School. While her father is an established artist from the city, he finds his new life of physical labor and endless meetings exhausting. As an only child, Sunflower has to accompany him to Cadre School but when tragedy strikes Sunflower is taken in by the poorest family in the village, a family with a son named Bronze. Bronze and Sunflower become inseparable, understanding each other as only the closest friends can.

Best friends Trille and Lena are forever inventing adventure that often ends in trouble. Whether it’s coaxing a cow onto a boat or sledding down the steepest and iciest hill with a chicken, there is always a thrill—and sometimes an injury—to be had. Trille loves to share everything with Lena, even Auntie Granny’s waffles. But when Lena has to move away and Auntie Granny leaves the world, it sometimes seems like nothing will ever be right again. This sweet book captures both the transitions and heartbreaks of growing up.

When the first day of school approaches, Frederick Douglass Elementary starts getting worried. What will the children do once they come? Will they like the school? Will they be nice to him? I love this book because it gives another perspective to first-day-of-school anxiety. And even though the first day is a bit bumpy, the school realizes he’s not the only one with the jitters.

When Grandparent’s Day comes around, Zura is hesitant to bring her grandmother to school. Even though Nana is her most favorite person in the whole world, Zura is worried that Nana Akua’s tribal markings on her face – following an old West African tradition – will scare her classmates. But she needn’t be worried, because Nana Akua shows them her quilt of traditional African symbols and is able to make each of Zura’s classmates feel special.

I know I’ve already talked about this book a lot, but I just couldn’t help myself – I had to share it again! It’s rainy season in the Mekong Delta, and a young boy sets out on his boat, battling waves and dark unknowns to get to his final destination: school!

When a young girl comes home from school frustrated by everyone mispronouncing her name, she tells her mom that she doesn’t want to go back to school. On their way home through the city, the girl’s mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names, and the girl is ready to go back to school the next day to share what she’s learned with her classmates and teacher.

I adore Vanessa Brantley-Newton’s vibrant illustration style which is perfectly on display in this sweet and empowering picture book. When the young girl in the book gets ready for the first day of school, she puts together the perfect outfit so she will be noticed when she arrives. And her classmates do notice her, but not in a good way. Her clothes are funny and her name is too long. With the help of her parents, Vanessa gets ready for a new school day, confident in herself and her name.

Wow wow wow. This is the perfect picture book for read alouds. Gorgeous poetry, gorgeous words, gorgeous illustrations. This anthem is a triumphant call to action for everyone to use their abilities to make a difference. “I am just what the world needs,” proclaims the children, their beautiful smiles radiating from the page. “There is love where my change sings.”

At the southern tip of India, three oceans meet. But when Sejal travels there for a trip, the three oceans aren’t the only thing she’s excited about. With her are Sejal, Mommy, and Pati, each with their own style and food preferences and languages. This lovely book captures the love and wisdom that can only be passed down through generations.

I adore this book about Yo-Yo Ma, an incredible cellist who has personally inspired me and my family with his gorgeous music. Born in France to Chinese parents and raised in America, Yo-Yo picked up the cello at an early age (because double bass was too big). After a life of learning and performing around the world, he ended up at the Rio Grande on April 13, 2021, playing music at the US-Mexico border as part of his multi continent “Bach Project” tour.

This is such a fun and silly book, and I especially love Andrea Tsurumi’s illustrative style that reminds me of the illustrators I loved as a child. Mr. Watson starts out with three chickens, but pretty soon they multiply until chickens are everywhere! Mr. Nelson finally puts his foot down – the chickens are a problem! – but what should Mr. Watson do? My favorite page spread is a cross-section of the house – so fun!

You know when you read something and it takes your breath away? This book did that to me. Seen through the eye of two children as they settle down for the night, they say goodbye to everything around them in their grandparent’s house: the bowls of fresh marigolds, the droning planes, the gecko in the curtains. Each page spread is a feast for the eyes!

This beautiful picture book examines a question that the author herself asked when she was a child: Do you love me? Do you love me from the inside out? Do you love me from the outside in? The book continues to ask questions that I believe all young people ask themselves. Does their country love them? Does their country love them even when they stand in, stand up, and stand out?

One of the qualifications to be an American citizen is to be born on American soil, but did you know that a Supreme Court Case decided that? When American-born Wong Kim Ark returns home to San Francisco after a visit to China, he’s stopped and told he cannot enter because he isn’t American. After being imprisoned on a ship for months, Wong Kim Ark takes his case to the Supreme Court and argues any person born in America is an American citizen.

I loved this picture book in verse by Ibi Zoboi that is gorgeously illustrated by Loveis Wise. The book tells the journey of African descendants in America by connecting their history to the seven principles of Kwanzaa. This book is perfect to read aloud so young readers can deepen their understanding of African American history in relation to their own lives and current social justice movements.

This middle grade book in verse tells the story of Reha. At school she is the only Indian American student but at home she is surrounded by family, Indian culture, and customs. Reha feels especially estranged from her mother, who has high expectations for her. But when Amma gets sick, Reha knows she has to do everything she can to make her mom better, even if it means doing everything she can to be the perfect Indian daughter.

This incredible picture book won the Caldecott Medal as well as the Newbery Honor, and it’s no surprise because it’s a fantastic book. A love letter to Black life in the United States, it highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world’s greatest heroes.

Malian is visiting her beloved grandparents on a Wabanaki reservation when suddenly all travel shuts down. Her parents aren’t able to pick her up, so Malian stays where she is. Everyone is worried about the pandemic, but Malian knows how to keep her family and community safe: She protects her grandparents, and they protect her. And when Malsum, one of the dogs living on the rez, shows up at their door, Malian’s family knows that he’ll protect them too. This is a gorgeous novel-in-verse that belongs in the hands of every middle grade reader.

When New York City abruptly shut down in March 2020, the normally bustling streets transformed overnight. Author Brian Floca observed these changes in the city landscape and started painting what he saw. The paintings eventually became this gorgeous picture book honoring all the essential workers who kept the essentials operating so the rest of the city could shelter in place during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the pandemic hits New York City, nobody expects a little virus to change the whole world in such a big way. But when school closes to keep everyone safe, Shayla, Liam, Ai, and Ben struggle to adjust to life in quarantine. As time goes by, they discover they are not alone: their apartment building is full of people who need their help. Working together, they begin to see that there is power in numbers. When they cooperate, they can ease each other’s challenges and help their neighbors through tough times.

Meticulously researched, author Kate Messner conducted interviews with Dr. Fauci himself and recounts his Brooklyn beginnings through medical school and his challenging role working with seven US presidents to tackle some of the biggest public health challenges of the past fifty years, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Extensive back matter rounds out Dr. Fauci’s story with a timeline, recommended reading, a full spread of facts about vaccines and how they work, and Dr. Fauci’s own tips for future scientists.

This sweet and hopeful picture book was inspired by the multitude of rainbows found in the windows of homes around the world following the COVID-19 lockdown. The rainbows are reminders that despite the fact that we are separated by distance and might feel alone, we are all just on one end of a rainbow—connected by all that color and light, there is always something, or someone, waiting for us on the other side.

Yumi Chung has a secret dream: to have a Netflix stand-up special. She wants nothing more than to spend her summer studying her favorite YouTube comedians, but then her mom enrolls her in a tutoring class so she can be eligible for an academic scholarship. Instead of going to class, she stumbles into a comedy class taught by one of her favorite comedians. A case of mistaken identity later, Yumi finds herself ditching tutoring for comedy. But how long can she keep this a secret? And how much damage will it create between her and her family if Yumi follows her dreams?

Olive “clicks” with everyone in the fifth grade even though she doesn’t have a “best friend”. She convinces herself that it’s fine, but then people start pairing up for the school’s variety show and Olive is left out. When funky, green-haired Aunt Molly invites her over for an aunt-niece sleepover, they spend the night watching old TV variety shows. Olive is so inspired by the witty hosts and hostesses who introduce and banter with the acts on their shows and dreams about taking on that role herself on a variety show. Can she convince her friends and family that this is the right fit for her?

Eleven-year-old Billy Plimpton has a dream to be a stand-up comedian. He wants to deliver perfect punch-lines and have his audiences hang on his every hilarious word. He knows he can do it, but one thing holds him back. He has a stammer. How will he find his voice, if his voice won’t let him speak?

I love this biography of Hazel Ying Lee who, as a young girl, was not afraid of anything. The moment she took her first airplane ride, she knew where she belonged. When people scoffed at her dreams of becoming a pilot, Hazel wouldn’t take no for an answer. She joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II, becoming the first Chinese-American woman to fly for the U.S. military.

This beautiful book in verse follows the dreams of a young Black man in 1940 who, when Uncle Sam asks for his service, is determined to serve his country from the cockpit of a plane. From training days in Alabama to combat on the front lines in Europe, this is the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the groundbreaking African-American pilots of World War II. Art by Jeffery Weatherford adds a haunting beauty to this book.

The devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, drew the United States into World War II in 1941. Few are aware that several months later, the Japanese pilot Nobuo Fujita dropped bombs in the woods outside a small town in coastal Oregon. This was the only moment during the war when bombs were dropped on the continental United States. While the bombs didn’t do much damage, Fujita was consumed with guilt for years after the war ended. Then, twenty years later, Fujita returned to Oregon, this time to apologize.

Master of nonfiction, Steve Sheinkin turns his meticulous eye for research to female pilots. Just nine years after American women finally got the right to vote, a group of trailblazers soared to new heights in the 1929 Air Derby, the first women’s air race across the U.S. Follow the incredible lives of legend Amelia Earhart, who has captivated generations; Marvel Crosson, who built a plane before she even learned how to fly; Louise Thaden, who shattered jaw-dropping altitude records; and Elinor Smith, who made headlines when she flew under the Brooklyn Bridge at the age of seventeen. 

This delightful fiction middle grade book follows eleven-year-old Amelia Ashford—Millie to her friends. When she’s given the opportunity of a lifetime, to spend the night in Amelia Earhart’s childhood home with five other girls, Millie jumps at the chance. Once at Amelia’s house in Atchison, Kansas, Millie stumbles upon a display of Amelia’s famous flight goggles. She can’t believe her good luck, since they’re about to be relocated to a fancy museum in Washington, DC. But, her luck changes quickly when the goggles disappear and Millie was the last to see them.

Star the Elephant and his herd are searching for a new home. But when Star is separated from his family, he must journey alone into the great unknown. He’ll come face to face with giant spiders, the vast ocean beyond his island, and strange humans. Can Star find his way back to his family?

Rainbow the Koala is ready to go off and live on his own―or so his mom says. But Rainbow is scared! The kookaburra bird cackles at him and he struggles to find a tree to call his home. As scorching heat takes hold and Rainbow runs out of water, he’ll soon face his most dangerous test: surviving a bush fire.

This book is a gift. Filled with gorgeous art and illustrations, the book tells the story of Judith Scott, who was born with Down Syndrome, was deaf, and never learned to speak. Institutionalized until her sister grew up and brought her to live with her family, she then was enrolled in art classes and discovered her passion and talent for mixed media.

This new picture book tells the story of one of the first Native American women to be elected to Congress as well as the first LGBTQ congressperson to represent Kansas. When she began her campaign, many people doubted that she could win because of how she looked, who she loved, and where she came from. But Sharice persisted, and this is her story.

This great biography begins with Anthony growing up in Brooklyn, delivering prescriptions via blue Schwinn bike to customers from his father’s pharmacy. When he went to college, he studied medicine and then went on to serve under seven presidents, tackling some of the most challenging public health crises. This informative and interesting book is an excellent introduction to the man who became famous during the COVID pandemic.

This chapter book is the perfect story to read leading up to the summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Considered the fastest woman of all time, Florence Griffith Joyner, also known as Flo Jo, set two world records in 1988 that still stand today. But getting there wasn’t easy, and Flo Jo had to overcome many challenges along the way. Her story is sure to inspire young readers to pursue their dreams.

This fantastic book follows the life of Dian Fossey, who in 1963 spent all her savings and took out a loan to to go to Africa. While she had no formal science training, she happened to meet paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey, who helped her pursue her goal of studying animals in the wild. Fossey set up a research camp and threw herself into tracking and observing mountain gorillas. Over the next 18 years, Fossey got closer to gorillas than any human ever had before.