Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Art, Social Media, And More!

Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and my daughter and I created valentines for everyone in her class over the weekend for a Valentine’s party. I’m pretty sure we exchanged Valentines when I was in elementary school, but I oddly have no memory of it. Since we worked on art so much this weekend, I thought I would review four middle grade novels that center art.

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Bookish Goods

Ida B. Wells Quote Sweatshirt by TheCultureRef

Ida B. Wells Quote Sweatshirt by TheCultureRef

This Ida B. Wells sweatshirt has a powerful quote: “Turn The Light Of Truth Upon Them.” It comes in multiple colors and can be ordered as a long-sleeved shirt instead. $35+

New Releases

Cover of Where Is Poppy? BY Caroline Kusin Pritchard, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte

Where Is Poppy? by Caroline Kusin Pritchard, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte

This lovely picture book explores grief as a young child misses her grandfather during her family’s Passover celebrations. Her family says Poppy is still there, but how can that be? She can’t find him anywhere. As she searches, she remembers special times between the two until she finally realizes what everyone means —Poppy will always be with her as long as she continues to remember him. This is a beautiful new Passover children’s book.

Cover of Averil Offline by Amy Noelle Parks

Averil Offline by Amy Noelle Parks

This fun middle grade novel tackles a very relevant feeling for a lot of middle schoolers: frustration with overbearing parents monitoring their phone usage. Averil’s parents take it to extremes. They have made her download the Ruby Slippers app, which tracks where she goes and how she uses her phone. If she doesn’t text back fast enough, or even if she takes a little longer than normal on her walk home from school, an alarm goes off. Averil is supposed to go to coding camp that summer, but then a kid with similar problems asks her to team up with him in finding the founder of Ruby Slippers, but the founder doesn’t make it easy to get to him.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

There have been lots of middle grade novels centering young artists lately. Here are four I loved: two graphic novels and two prose novels. I’ve also recently reviewed Alterations, Drawing Deena, and Tagging Freedom with this theme as well.

Cover of Art Club by Rashad Doucet

Art Club by Rashad Doucet

This is a cute middle grade graphic novel about a kid, Dale Donavan, who starts an art club at his very anti-art middle school. The vice principal detests art and creativity and pushes kids to figure out what practical jobs they’ll have as adults. I personally wanted to be a spy as a kid, so I’m glad I didn’t attend this school. Dale wants to prove to his vice principal and the school that artists can be successful and that the school should have an art club. So, he starts an art club with four other kids in the school. In their free time, the kids also bond over a video game they play. Each of the four characters has a nuanced background and story. I really love the character interactions.

Cover of Doodles from the Boogie Down by Stephanie Rodriguez

Doodles from the Boogie Down by Stephanie Rodriguez

This semi-autobiographical middle grade graphic novel also stars a tween who wants to become an artist but is told it’s an impractical career choice, this time by her mother. Steph, a Dominican 8th-grader living in the Bronx, wants to apply to an arts high school in Manhattan, but her mother wants her to continue going to Catholic school. Steph decides the only way to get what she wants is to lie, but it’s hard to keep up with all her lies.

Cover of Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom by Sangu Mandanna

Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom by Sangu Mandanna

Now for an action-packed fantasy novel. Kiki has anxiety, and to calm her nerves, she draws. She loves drawing characters from Indian myths and legends, but when she draws the legend of Mysore, she accidentally opens a portal into another world, and the demon king Mahishasura hops into her bedroom. Kiki has to return Mahishasura to his own world before he wreaks havoc in hers, but that means venturing into the portal.

Cover of Lost Kites and Other Treasures by Cathy Carr

Lost Kites and Other Treasures by Cathy Carr

In this lovely novel, 12-year-old Franny Petroski creates art with found objects. Her mother left when she was young, and she lives happily with her Nana. When Nana breaks her leg taking out the trash, the pair have to move to a new one-story rental, and then her uncle comes to live with them to help out. Her uncle doesn’t get along well with Nana due to difficulties with Franny’s mother when they were kids, which Franny is now learning about. It’s a quiet but touching novel about mental illness and family secrets.

100 days of kindergarten shirt, the kids are all right

In addition to Valentine’s Day crafts, my daughter also recently celebrated her 100th day of kindergarten. She drew a shirt with one hundred cats on it for the day. The front says, “I’ve had a meowrific 100 days of kindergarten.” All her idea!

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, 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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

The Year Of The Dragon, Ice Skating, And More!

Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! Yesterday was the start of Lunar New Year celebrations, and while I’ve already recommended Lunar New Year children’s books in a previous newsletter, since this year is the Year of the Dragon, I thought I would review dragon books! I am a dragon girl and will read almost anything with a dragon in it.

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Bookish Goods

Books Are Magic Dragon Sticker by UmasWonderland

Books Are Magic Dragon Sticker by UmasWonderland

This adorable sticker is a perfect Lunar New Year gift for dragon-loving kids (or adults). $5+

New Releases

Cover of Not Yet: The Story of an Unstoppable Skater by Hadley Davis and Zahra Lari, illustrated by Sara Alfageeh

Not Yet: The Story of an Unstoppable Skater by Hadley Davis and Zahra Lari, illustrated by Sara Alfageeh

This is an inspiring picture book biography about the first figure skater to compete nationally in a hijab —Zahra Lari. As a child, Zahra would pretend to skate on her home’s hardwood floor in socks. Family and friends would tell her she couldn’t be a figure skater, but her father believed she should be able to follow her interests and signed her up for skating lessons. After many falls, she succeeds in competing and wears her hijab as she skates. Zahra co-writes this with the co-creator of Disney’s Ice Princesses, the movie Zahra says inspired her to become a figure skater. So cool! Ice Castles was the figure skating movie I was obsessed with as a kid.

Cover of The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber

The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber

This is a super fun middle grade mystery about secret societies, elite private schools, and sailing. It’s told from two perspectives. Weatherby earns a scholarship at an elite private school because of her sailing skills. Her father left before she was born, and her single mother raised her with the help of a neighbor who taught her how to sail. Jack is the youngest son of one of the richest families in America and feels constant pressure from his father to be the perfect Hunt. When he loses a sailing match to Weatherby, he’s angry and anxious. He, of course, attends the private school where Weatherby will now be attending. Both are tapped to join a secret society, but all is not what it seems.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

As I already mentioned, I love dragon books no matter what age group they’re written for. Here are four recentish or forthcoming ones I really enjoyed.

Cover of The Truth About Dragons by Julie Leung

The Truth About Dragons by Julie Leung, illustrated by Hanna Cha

This stunning picture book just won the Asian Pacific American Award for Literature and a Caldecott Honor at the recent ALA awards, and for good reason. It’s a beautifully illustrated and heartwarming picture book about a biracial child learning dragon folklore from grandmothers from two different cultures — Eastern and Western. He imagines himself exploring two different forests, encountering his grandmothers in these forests, and witnessing a dragon. It’s a really special book.

Cover of 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli

100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Lian Cho

While the previous dragon picture book was a warm and delightful exploration of heritage, this one is completely hilarious and ludicrous. It won me over on the title alone, but I’m happy to say the contents lived up to the title. It’s a counting book about a large dragon family, all named Broccoli, slowly getting willowed down as they travel, go on adventures, and encounter wizards until finally, there’s only one dragon named Broccoli. Or is there more? The illustrations are so perfectly whimsical and expressive.

Cover of Drag and Rex 1: Forever Friends by Susan Lubner, illustrated by Blythe Russo

Drag and Rex 1: Forever Friends by Susan Lubner, illustrated by Blythe Russo

This delightful chapter book is on the lower end of chapter book reading levels. It describes the daily lives of two best friends — a dragon named Drag and a T-rex named Rex. These two friends have very different personalities. Drag is a daydreaming, disorganized, adventurous dragon full of new ideas. Rex is a polite, slightly grumpy, organized dinosaur who is always ready and willing to help friends. This chapter book is divided into three stories with three chapters each. It’s really great for kids just beginning to read chapter books.

Cover of Paper Dragons by Siobhan McDermott

Paper Dragons by Siobhan McDermott

This fun middle grade fantasy releases on March 5th. The world-building is really intricate and fascinating. The main character, 12-year-old Yeung, is training to become an immortal in a secret underwater world after being raised by an elderly healer woman and being shunned by her village because her hair doesn’t glow around dragon scales. All the students have to pass challenges to stay in the program. Meanwhile, the entire kingdom is being attacked by zombie-like creatures, and she has some kind of special powers to pull rails out of the sky. And a cute duck companion.

Stuffed animal cat in a bush, the kids are all right

If you love the American Girl series, you might recognize this dress. A friend had extra American Girl dolls she was giving away and gave my daughter Felicity wearing this dress. I always wanted an American Girl doll as a kid and told my daughter about them, and we checked out a Felicity book at the library. The next day, one of her cat stuffed animals was wearing the dress, and she hasn’t played with the doll since that first day. Ah well! She loves her cats.

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, 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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Anxiety, Libraries, And More!

Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! Did you know tomorrow is World Read Aloud Day? My daughter’s school librarian is hosting a special read-aloud pajama party tomorrow night for bedtime. So cool! I loved my school library and librarian when I was a kid (you rocked Mrs. Wallace!), and I’m so glad my daughter has an awesome school library and librarian, too, especially considering the sharp decline in school librarians.

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Bookish Goods

Library Bumper Sticker by OpalAndJune Shop

Library Bumper Sticker by OpalAndJune Shop

Speaking of libraries, check out this super cute bumper sticker! If I had a car, this would be on it, ha! $12

New Releases

Cover of Dancing in the Storm by Amie Darnell Specht, illustrated by Shannon Hitchcock

Dancing in the Storm by Amie Darnell Specht and Shannon Hitchcock

In this middle grade novel, 12-year-old Kate is diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder that coauthor Amie Darnell Specht also has—Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP). Kate loves gymnastics and is quite good at it. However, any sports are discouraged for people with FOP. She has to stop gymnastics, and several of her gymnastics friends refuse to understand or empathize. Meanwhile, adding to these changes, Kate loses her dog and adopts a new one.

I am always here for more disability rep from disabled authors, and this one is such a great glimpse into this rare disorder and also how disability can disrupt a child’s life but also create a new space that isn’t better or worse than the old one, just different. I also like all the nods to disabled community members.

Cover of Dear Muslim Child by Rahma Rodaah, illustrated by Aya Ghanameh

Dear Muslim Child by Rahma Rodaah, illustrated by Aya Ghanameh

This picture book is a lyrical celebration of Muslim children and the Islamic faith by the writer of Dear Black Child. Warm, joyful illustrations show children hanging lanterns for Nur, praying on prayer mats, and more. It’s an affirming, heartwarming picture book.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

I have anxiety and love reading children’s books depicting kids with anxiety. An estimated 12% of kids were reported as having experienced anxiety or depression in 2020, and I would not be surprised if that number were higher. Books like these are essential.

Cover of Drawing Deena by Hena Khan

Drawing Deena by Hena Khan

This is a lovely contemporary middle grade novel about a young Pakistani American girl who is trying to find her personal art style and help her mom with her Pakistani clothing home shop. Deena struggles with anxiety, though she doesn’t know to call it that yet. Meanwhile, she’s also experiencing friend drama because of social media. I loved Deena’s warm, supportive Pakistani family and community, and the depiction of anxiety is so realistic. This is likely to be one of my favorite middle grade novels of the year. This releases today!

Cover of The Many Masks of Zhou Cheng

The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng

I really loved this novel, and I worry it’s not getting the number of readers it deserves! Andy, who is Chinese American, is the kind of kid who tends to follow along with whatever his overbearing best friend Cindy says. That worked fine in elementary school, but this year, they’re starting middle school, and everything feels different. Cindy forces him to join the Movement Club, a dance club, which doesn’t sit right with Andy. He also befriends Jameel, a Chaldean American, whom Cindy does not like for valid reasons. Meanwhile, Andy’s grandparents are visiting from China so his grandfather can seek needed medical care. Andy is also a talented artist who has anxiety and trichotillomania (hair-pulling). There’s also a character with an eating disorder. This is such a contemplative, nuanced novel.

Cover of My Thoughts Have Wings by Maggie Smith, illustrated by Leanne Hatch

My Thoughts Have Wings by Maggie Smith, illustrated by Leanne Hatch

I always thought my anxiety began during pregnancy, but then I read picture books like this, and I wonder. Maggie Smith is well known for her adult poetry collections and nonfiction, and this is her picture book debut. It’s a beautiful glimpse into a child’s life at night as she experiences intrusive thoughts while trying to sleep. Her mother comes in and snuggles with her in bed, reassuring her and guiding her to think about happy moments from the past, which helps calm the young girl’s mind. The illustrations are warm and tender. It’s a really beautiful and relatable book. This releases next Tuesday.

Cover of Are You Mad at Me? by Tyler Feder, illustrated by Cody Feder

Are You Mad at Me? by Tyler Feder, illustrated by Cody Feder

This is another very relatable picture book, as told by an ostrich with anxiety. Opal’s family is having a family party, and she’s in charge of picking up the dessert from the local bakery. But on the way, Opal constantly feels like everyone she encounters must be mad at her. This causes Opal to get a bad case of The Noodles, what her family endearingly calls Opal’s anxiety because of the way it makes her long neck wobble. By the end, Opal learns that not everyone’s feelings are directly related to her, and she enjoys the family party.

Copy That, Copy Cat phone pictures, the kids are all right

As the daughter of a Bookstagrammer, my kid knows exactly what to do with a camera—take book pictures. When I found her with my phone the other day and opened the photo library, I saw she had taken literally hundreds of pictures and videos of Copy That, Copy Cat by Katrina Tangen. It’s hard to argue about screen time when she’s taking pictures of books.

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, 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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Black History Month, Librarians, And More!

Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! February is the start of Black History Month, so I’m reviewing six recent and forthcoming Black history children’s books today. I’m really happy that a lot more have been published lately and that I’m seeing more stories of Black success, Black joy, and biographies about lesser-known Black figures. I’d love to see more middle grade nonfiction about Black history.

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Bookish Goods

Black Girl Reading Tote Bag by thetrinigee

Black Girl Reading Tote Bag by thetrinigee

I just love this tote! Whimsical, bookish, and practical, a perfect combination. $30+

New Releases

Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by April Harrison

Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by April Harrison

This gorgeously illustrated picture book biography celebrates the life of Augusta Baker, the first Black coordinator of children’s services at the New York Public Library. It opens with a young Baker listening to the lilting stories of her grandmother about Br’er Rabbit, King Arthur, and more. They ignited Baker’s passion for storytelling, which she carried into college and moved her to become a children’s librarian. Wanting books representative of the kids who came to her library, she created the James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection that depicted the lives of Black folk. She inspired and helped promote many Black writers. Back matter includes a timeline, citations, and an author’s note about the importance of librarians.

Cover of Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers by Zora Neale Hurston, adapted by Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson

Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers by Zora Neale Hurston, adapted by Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson

This is the first middle grade adaptation of a Zora Neale Hurston classic. It tells the real story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last survivors of the Atlantic slave trade. At 86, Lewis shared his story with Hurston, who then wrote down and published his account of his life. This includes really moving illustrations and additional historical context.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Here are some more children’s books I love about Black history that have been released in the last few months or are forthcoming.

Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome

Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome

This is such a fantastic picture book biography of politician and Civil Rights activist John Lewis. Lewis grew up in a loving and large family in Alabama. When he went to a nearby town with his father, he saw how the town was divided by race. When he heard Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak on the radio, he decided he wanted to become an activist. He left his home and came to Nashville for college, and joined the Nashville chapter of the NAACP. The picture book depicts how he and his fellow members of the NAACP practiced nonviolent protest, marched with the Freedom Fighters, and ends with the march he led in Selma, Alabama. It’s impossible not to tear up at the end.

Cover of Miles of Style by Lisa D. Brathwaite, illustrated by Lynn Gaines

Miles of Style by Lisa D. Brathwaite, illustrated by Lynn Gaines

This picture book biography releases Tuesday and tells the story of Eunice W. Johnson, the co-founder of EBONY magazine and the founder of the EBONY fashion show. Johnson grew up in Selma, Alabama, and loved to sew clothes for her dolls and her friends’ dolls. She studied social work in college, where she met and fell in love with John H. Johnson. After they married, the two conceived of the idea of an all-Black magazine celebrating Black achievements. EBONY was born, and Eunice’s eye for design and style helped the magazine’s growth. In 1958, she founded and directed the EBONY fair as part of a hospital fundraiser that went on to become a worldwide tour showcasing Black fashion with Black models. I read this with my kindergartner, and she so enjoyed it! It’s a great conversation starter about Civil Rights, fashion, and Black success.

Cover of Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King by Coretta Scott King, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King by Coretta Scott King, illustrated by Ekua Holmes (PB)

This is a gorgeously illustrated picture book adaptation of Coretta Scott King’s memoir for adults. It opens with her childhood, also in Alabama, and her experiences in high school and college. She describes the racism she experienced and how she became vocal about discrimination in the university system. She was working at the New England Conservatory when she met and began dating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The picture book biography continues with their marriage, birth of children, acts of protest during the Civil Rights Movement, and her speaking after Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. Back matter includes the six principles of nonviolence and a Civil Rights timeline.

Cover of We Could Fly by Rhiannon Giddens, illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu

We Could Fly by Rhiannon Giddens, illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu

This is a different kind of Black history picture book, which recently won a Coretta Scott King Award. Originally a folksong written by Rhiannon Giddens for her album Freedom Highway (which is wonderful), this picture book illustrates the song. Giddens was inspired by Virginia Hamilton’s retelling of the folktale “The People Could Fly,” which she cherished as a child. The illustrations show a mother and daughter speaking about Granny Liza and how she could fly. It’s a lyrical and luminously illustrated picture book, great to read along with Hamilton’s classic folktale and to read while listening to the song.

Marian hiking and looking at the view, the kids are all right

This weekend, I forced my family to go on a very cold and muddy hike at a park we had never been to. While initially everyone complained, we ended up really enjoying ourselves and loved the view. We’re definitely going to return when it’s a little less muddy and a little warmer!

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, 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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Valentine’s Day, Dyslexia, And More!

It’s the last January newsletter! Has this month seemed to last forever to anyone else? I guess the bizarre weather and multiple school closures have made January a bit weird.

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Bookish Goods

a photo of a pink t-shirt with images of a heart reading a book across it

Book Lover Valentine Shirt by OnyeijeDigitalCo

This would be an adorable tee to wear for Valentine’s Day. It’s available in kid and adult sizes. $9+

New Releases

Cover of Molly's Great Discovery by Krista Weltner

Molly’s Great Discovery by Krista Weltner

This delightful picture book is the first in a series about Molly, her invisible friend Lexi, and her experiences with dyslexia. This first book tells the story of Molly’s dyslexia diagnosis. Molly has a lot of trouble on spelling tests, and Lexi encourages her to ask for help from the teacher. At first, Molly resists, but when she does ask for help, she’s glad. She takes tests with a different teacher, and she and her parents meet with her to discuss the test results and come up with a plan to help with Molly’s dyslexia. Back matter includes an author’s note about being diagnosed with dyslexia when she was seven, a discussion of identity-first terminology, and how adults can help dyslexic kids in their lives.

Cover of Alterations by Ray Xu

Alterations by Ray Xu

This is a funny, original, and heartfelt middle grade graphic novel about a Chinese Canadian middle schooler, Kevin Lee, in the mid-90s. Kevin lives above his mother’s alterations shop with his mother, older sister, and grandmother, who has recently moved in. Now, Kevin shares a bedroom with his older sister, who is not happy about it. As one of only a few Asian kids at school, he’s often ostracized, but he does have a few good friends. His social status plummets when he brings a century egg to school for lunch. The one thing he’s looking forward to is a trip to Thrill Planet, but his frequent trips to the principal’s office put that in jeopardy. Kevin also loves art and comic books, and interspersed within the main story are scenes from his favorite comic book.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Valentine’s Day is coming soon, and while it’s not my favorite holiday, I do enjoy reading children’s books about love. Here are four to read for Valentine’s Day!

Hearts Are Everywhere by Wednesday Kirwan

Hearts are Everywhere by Wednesday Kirwan

In this adorable interactive board book, young readers can turn a wheel to hide a heart and then lift flaps to reveal where the heart is hidden. Each page shows different animals celebrating Valentine’s Day scenes. This would be a great read for toddlers, and I love the art.

Cover of Eleven Words for Love by Randa Abdel-Fattah, illustrated by Maxine Beneba Clarke

Eleven Words for Love by Randa Abdel-Fattah, illustrated by Maxine Beneba Clarke (PB)

This stunning picture book celebrates twelve Arabic expressions for different types of love. There’s the love of remembering one’s homeland, the love of welcoming new life into the world, the love of friendship, and more. The lovely, textured illustrations give the impression of a canvas and depict cherished moments in a Palestinian immigrant family’s life. The words for love are written in the Arabic script.

Cover of Flubby Does Not Like Valentine’s Day by Jennifer E. Morris

Flubby Does Not Like Valentine’s Day by Jennifer E. Morris

My daughter is a huge fan of the Flubby reader series. In this most recent addition to the series, the child main character wonders what to gift Flubby the cat for Valentine’s Day. Flubby doesn’t like any of the typical Valentine’s Day presents. This series uses repetition and humor to engage beginning readers.

Cover of Teeny Houdini: The Super-Secret Valentine by Katrina Moore, illustrated by Zoe Si

Teeny Houdini: The Super-Secret Valentine by Katrina Moore, illustrated by Zoe Si

This is the second book in the hilarious Teeny Houdini chapter book series, though they can be read in any order. Bessie Lee wants to be a magician, so when her teacher asks her to make an extra special Valentine for the class’s new student, she decides to make it into a magic trick. But how can she make the perfect magic Valentine?

a photo of picture books spread out across a bed

My home office shares space with my bedroom, so during the day, my bed is often covered in books I’m reviewing…plus my planner, tissues, and laundry that needs to be put away.

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, 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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Lunar New Year, Big Families, And More!

Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! I’m so happy for Vashti Harrison, the winner of the Caldecott Award for Big, and the first Black woman to win the award! I’m surprised there were a couple of honor Caldecotts I hadn’t read yet. And I haven’t read the Newbery winner either—The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers. I don’t know about you, but my library holds list is about to explode! There are a ton of winning and honor books in other categories I’m eager to read, too, or that I’ve already read and loved! You can check out the winners here.

Thousands of kidlit authors and professionals have signed the KidLit4Ceasefire letter to President Biden urging a ceasefire in Gaza. Today is the last day to sign it.

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Bookish Goods

Lunar New Year Magnetic Bookmark by ApsaraLabels

Lunar New Year Magnetic Bookmark by ApsaraLabels

This magnetic bookmark is adorable and would be a perfect gift for Lunar New Year. $7

New Releases

Cover of Too Much by Laurel Goodluck, illustrated by Bridget George

Too Much by Laurel Goodluck, illustrated by Bridget George

Russell loves his big Native American family, but when he gets a part in a play, he feels overwhelmed by all their family get-togethers and frustrated at being unable to practice his part in the play as often as he would like. When it comes time for his performance, however, his big Native family is exactly who he wants to see in the crowd watching and supporting him. This is a joyful and relatable celebration of a Native American family.

Cover of Amil and the After by Veera Hiranandani

Amil and the After by Veera Hiranandani

This is a lovely companion novel to The Night Diary, which follows Amil’s twin sister Nisha in 1947 during the Partition. Now, the family has settled in Bombay, at least for now. Amil misses his old home in Pakistan and struggles in school because of his dyslexia. He makes a friend with their shared interest in drawing, but his new friend is in much worse circumstances than Amil and his family. Interspersed throughout the novel are Amil’s drawings in black and white.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

The Lunar New Year starts February 10th, so I wanted to round up some Lunar New Year children’s books.

Cover of The Lucky Red Envelope by Vikki Zhang

The Lucky Red Envelope by Vikki Zhang

This beautiful interactive board book has over 140 flaps and follows Yue and her family as they celebrate the Lunar New Year in China. Richly detailed illustrations show the family attending a Lunar New Year parade, having a feast with the family, exchanging red envelopes, and so much more. Each page has many small flaps for kids to explore. There are also more details about the Lunar New Year throughout, like flaps that reveal which years are which Zodiac animal, the legend of the Nian monster, and more.

Cover of Lunar New Year by Natasha Yim, illustrated by Jingting Wang

Lunar New Year by Natasha Yim, illustrated by Jingting Wang

This picture book also follows a Chinese family as they prepare for and celebrate the Lunar New Year. It opens with two sisters cleaning a statue of the Kitchen God, with the older sister explaining who the Kitchen God is. The family picks flowers, writes poems on red paper, flies kites in the shape of the Zodiac animals, and more. What I really enjoy about the Celebrations & Festivals series is the extensive back matter. In this picture book, the back matter includes instructions on how to make red envelopes, a dumpling recipe, riddles, a quiz, how the Lunar New Year is celebrated in other countries, and much more.

Cover of Wish Soup by Junghwa Park

Wish Soup by Junghwa Park

The Korean Lunar New Year is called Seollal, and this delightful picture book follows Sohee as she prepares for Seollal. She’s so excited to eat as many bowls of tteokguk as she can so she can be a big girl. Each bowl of soup is supposed to make you one year older. However, every time she tries to eat her soup, she’s interrupted with pleas for help. She sets the table, helps her younger sibling get dressed, and lets everyone know breakfast is ready. When she returns to eat her soup, she finds that her younger sister has stolen everyone’s tteokguk. Now, there’s no way for Sohee to become a big girl, or so she thinks.

Alex's Good Fortune by Benson Shum

Alex’s Good Fortune by Benson Shum

This is a funny and sweet reader about the Chinese New Year. Alex is so excited to show her best friend Ethan her family’s Lunar New Year traditions. The two fold dumplings with Nai Nai, attend a pattern festival, share a family feast, and more. Back matter includes more information about the Chinese New Year and a dumpling recipe. Shum’s illustrations are just always so joyful and child-friendly.

Birthday for cats, the kids are all right

We had a lot of indoor time the past week. Because Nashville is ill-prepared for snow, my daughter had a week off of school. We tried to get outside every day, but the freezing temperatures prevented a lot of outdoor playtime. Her favorite indoor games inevitably involve pretend playing with her cat stuffed animals. We had three birthday parties for different cats, many trips to the vet, several baths, hotel visits with the cats, and much more. She even invented a cat restaurant called Meowrant. I don’t recommend their tea.

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, 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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Fairytales, Imaginary Friends, And More!

Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! Yesterday, the ALA Youth Awards winners were announced, including the Caldecott and Newbery winners. I’m writing this before the awards, so I can’t provide any commentary on the winners, but I’m really excited to see who won!

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Today, I review two fantastic new releases and four fairytale retellings I love.

Bookish Goods

The StoryBook Tree by TheMoonsMusings

The StoryBook Tree by TheMoonsMusings

This print is gorgeous! I need this tree in my backyard and this art on my wall. $60

New Releases

Cover of Imagine You and Me by Benson Shum

Imagine You and Me by Benson Shum (PB)

This adorable picture book is about two very good friends, a little girl named Parker and a big white bear named Randall. Both are a little quiet and shy, but when Randall sees a group of bears playing, Parker encourages him to join in their play. However, the more Randall plays with his new friends, the less he sees Parker until he can no longer see her at all. This picture book will speak to kids who’ve had friends move away, friends who moved on to new friends, or imaginary friends.

Cover of Maybe It’s a Sign by E.L. Shen

Maybe It’s a Sign by E.L. Shen

This is a moving and sweet middle grade about friendship and grief. Seventh-grader Freya June Sun’s father died less than a year ago from a heart attack. When he was alive, he’d shared with her traditional Chinese superstitions, and he also encouraged her to play the viola. Since his death, Freya hasn’t been as interested in the viola, but when she sees two red birds on the way to a solo, she takes it as a sign from her father to continue playing despite her lack of enjoyment. But then she is partnered with Gus Choi for a cooking project in Home Ec, and she finds she loves cooking. She loves how calming it is, and she enjoys hanging out with Gus, which is surprising because she always thought he was kind of silly.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

I adore fairytale retellings and cannot get enough of them. Here are four I love!

Cover of Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by Crystal Kung

Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by Crystal Kung

This picture book is a delightful retelling of “Rapunzel,” set in historical China. Princess Ra Pu Zel loves cooking, though her family would rather she be working on her needlework and entertaining princes. To get away from their constant nagging, she and her dog move to the top of a very tall tower, where she can cook to her heart’s delight. However, once she’s gone, her parents miss her. They call on heroes to tempt her down, but the only thing that’s going to tempt Ra Pu Zel from her tower is something that smells delicious.

Cover of The Princess and the (Greedy) Pea by Leigh Hodgkinson

The Princess and the (Greedy) Pea by Leigh Hodgkinson

This is also a culinary fairytale retelling, this time of “The Princess and the Pea.” The writing follows the same story pattern as “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” and features a very hungry pea. As the pea eats everything it finds, it becomes bigger and bigger and bigger until it’s a really enormous pea. Then it takes a nap on the princess’s bed. This is a really funny retelling.

Cover of Stories of the Islands by Clar Angkasa

Stories of the Islands by Clar Angkasa

This is a lovely collection of three Indonesian fairytale retellings in graphic novel format for middle grade readers. I adore all three tales, which the author retells in a traditional way but with a feminist focus. The author bases the tales on stories from her childhood, retelling “Keong Mas,” “Bawang Merah Bawang Putih,” and “Timun Mas.” I could’ve read more! I’m not sure I know of any other books retelling Indonesian fairytales. If you know of any, let me know!

Cover of Alliana, Girl of Dragons by Julie Abe

Alliana, Girl of Dragons by Julie Abe

This magical Japanese retelling of “Cinderella” is set in the same universe as the Eva Evergreen series, but it can be read as a standalone. Alliana has grown up happily in her father’s inn on the edge of a magic preserve, but when her father dies, and then her grandmother, too, everything comes crashing down. Her stepmother demands she serve her and her two stepsisters, claiming Alliana owes them a debt. She despairs of ever being able to follow her dreams when a young dragon and witch befriend her.

Snow and creek, the kids are all right

The snow is pretty magical. Despite the cold, I took books outside to take pictures of for my Instagram account, ha! This week is supposed to get back up into the 50s, so the snow won’t last much longer.

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, 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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Songs, They/Them Pronouns, And More!

Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! Nashville received 7.6 inches of snow this week, which is one of the biggest snowfalls in my lifetime. I realize that many areas around the world receive a lot more snow, but that’s a big deal here, and everything has pretty much shut down because we don’t have the infrastructure to handle snow. It’s very beautiful, though!

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Today, I review four children’s books with main characters that use they/them pronouns, plus two great picture book releases.

Bookish Goods

They/Them Book Pin by misomomo

They/Them Book Pin by misomomo

This cute pin lets people know your pronouns and that you enjoy reading. $12

New Releases

Cover of Pepper & Me by Beatrice Alemagna

Pepper & Me by Beatrice Alemagna

In this imaginative picture book, a young child falls and gets a big boo-boo on her knee. Her father tells her she’ll get a big scab. At first, she’s disgusted by the scab, but as the days go on, she comes to befriend the scab, talking to it and even naming it Pepper. This is the kind of picture book that seems straight out of a kid’s imagination.

Cover of One Sweet Song by Jyoti Rajan Gopal, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez

One Sweet Song by Jyoti Rajan Gopal, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez

In this rhythmic, rhyming picture book, a block erupts into song as a little girl listens. First one note trills from a flute as a neighbor plays on a balcony, then another note twirls from a violin. More and more neighbors join in playing music on pots, pans, a cello, a ghatam, and more. The vibrant illustrations depict diverse children and adults.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

While still pretty rare, I’m seeing more and more children’s books published with main characters that use they/them pronouns, a very cool development and one I would love to see more of. These four recent children’s books are great examples.

Cover of Katerina Cruickshanks by Daniel Gray-Barnett

Katerina Cruickshanks by Daniel Gray-Barnett

This quirky, rhyming picture book is a blast. Katerina Cruickshanks is a bit of a troublemaker. They’re always making messes, inventing nonsense, and creating chaos where they go. When the neighborhood kids have had enough of Katerina’s antics, they tell Katerina to go home. But when they do, the kids find they miss Katerina’s antics and beg them to come back. This is a good read-aloud to replace a Dr. Seuss book.

The Kid with Big, Big Ideas by Britney Winn Lee, illustrated by Jacob Souva

The Kid with Big, Big Ideas by Britney Winn Lee, illustrated by Jacob Souva

This is the third book in the The Big, Big Series of picture books. Every book features a new child and is written in rhyming verse. This one is about a kid with big ideas who adults often dismiss. When they have a big idea that could help the community, their grandmother listens and helps them implement their idea. I love children’s books that encourage kids to participate in their communities and enact change for the better.

Batcat by Meggie Ramm (TR)

Batcat by Meggie Ramm

This early reader graphic novel is a blast, and I’ve read it many, many times to my six-year-old. Batcat happily lives alone in their treehouse, watching shows and playing video games, but then a ghost turns up and starts haunting their treehouse. The ghost even has the audacity to eat all their snacks! Batcat visits a witch to find out how to rid their treehouse of the ghost. After learning the ingredients for a potion, they set out on a quest to find the ingredients, and in doing so they question whether they’re bat or cat enough. By the end of the quest, their perspective on the ghost has shifted. Book two in this series releases in April, and I can’t wait to read it.

Cover of Just Shy of Ordinary by A.J. Sass

Just Shy of Ordinary by A.J. Sass

I love this middle grade novel about a nonbinary, genderfluid homeschooler, Shai, starting public school for the first time. Shai immediately makes two great friends, but they’re unsure about sharing their pronouns just yet. For a big project for English class, Shai decides to explore their Jewish heritage. While their grandparents are active in the Jewish community, their mother is not for unknown reasons, and they haven’t been raised Jewish. They hope to discover more about their heritage, but this seems to set their mother on edge. Meanwhile, they’re keeping a secret from everyone. When their mother lost her job and the two moved in with Indigenous friends, Shai began picking at their arms. They wear arm sleeves designed by their best friend to cover the marks, but they haven’t even told him the truth.

Snowy day, backyard

Obligatory snowy day picture! We bought a sled right before the snow came, and my spouse is pulling our daughter along in the snow in our backyard. We practiced with the sled in the grass before this, so even though we only get about a week’s worth of snow a year, I think we’ll end up using the sled more often than that!

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, 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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Wrestling, Chronic Illness, And More!

Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! I’m writing this last Wednesday, and as of right now, there’s a snow forecast for today. Fingers crossed, this comes true! It’s also supposed to get to -1 Fahrenheit, which I’m not looking forward to at all, but I’ll take it for a day of snow.

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Today, I review four wrestling-themed children’s books for all ages and two great new releases.

Bookish Goods

Dollhouse Bookshelves by VeselkaKidsStore

Dollhouse Bookshelves by VeselkaKidsStore

These dollhouse front-facing bookshelves are very pretty. We actually converted one of my daughter’s dollhouses into a bookshelf because she somehow ended up with three, yet doesn’t really enjoy playing with them. These look nicer though! $135

New Releases

Cover of Forever and Always by Brittany J. Thurman, illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice

Forever and Always by Brittany J. Thurman, illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice

In this sweet and lyrical picture book, a young girl worries about her Black father not arriving home safely from work. Momma provides a caring and safe home for her, but will Daddy be safe? Hearing the news of other Black men who have not come home and who were not safe makes her worry, but when Daddy comes home and embraces her, she feels better. This picture book addresses the very real and heartbreaking worry many children have for their Black family members.

Cover of Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu

Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu

I have a chronic illness — postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome — that began at almost the exact same age as the narrator of this middle grade novel, which made reading this especially poignant for me. Violet Hart has just moved into a new old house. Her new bedroom is in the attic, but the yellow floral wallpaper immediately gives her the creeps. When she’s alone, it seems like someone is watching her from the walls. And unfortunately, she’s spending a lot of time in her bedroom after a virus just won’t seem to go away. This light horror is based on “The Yellow Wallpaper,” but readers unfamiliar with Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s classic short story will still enjoy it. Violet’s disability is based on Ursu’s experience with chronic fatigue syndrome, though her symptoms will ring true for many with chronic illnesses.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Wrestling! If anything speaks to the power of fiction to share unique experiences and bring about empathy, it’s that there are actually books I like involving wrestling. Absolutely no offense intended for wrestling fans, but it’s just not my thing. Yet, I adore these four books! What’s next, golf???

Cover of Lucia the Luchadora by Cynthia Leonor Garza, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez

Lucía the Luchadora by Cynthia Leonor Garza, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez

Lucía loves dressing up as a superhero on the playground and leaping and flying off the monkey bars, but the boys tell her girls can’t be superheroes. At home, she tells Abu what happened at the playground, and her grandmother shows her pictures of when she was a luchadora, and gives her her old costume. Now when Lucía goes to the playground, she dresses in her Abu’s costume and shows she can be a luchadora and a superhero. I also recommend the second book in this series, Lucía the Luchadora and the Million Masks.

Cover of Pizza and Taco: Wrestling Mania! by Stephen Shaskan

Pizza and Taco: Wrestling Mania! by Stephen Shaskan

Pizza and Taco is a hilarious early reader graphic novel series. Wrestling Mania! is the seventh and most recent book in the series. At school, Pizza and Taco have to sign up for a sport, but they don’t really feel inspired by any of the options. But then they notice wrestling is an option. That would be fun! Do the two really have what it takes to excel at wrestling, however? My six-year-old loved this.

Tumble by Celia C. Perez cover

Tumble by Celia C. Pérez

This is a lovely contemporary middle grade about a young girl, Addie, who decides to connect with her biological father — whom she knows nothing about — when her stepfather proposes adopting her. It turns out her biological father and family are famous luchadors, and she wants to learn how to be one, too. Meanwhile, Addie is starring in her school’s annual production of The Nutcracker, and it’s the first time a Brown girl has been chosen as Maria, the lead role.

Cover of Takedown by Shovan

Takedown by Laura Shovan

This middle grade novel follows two sixth-grade wrestlers. Both of Mykala (Mickey) Delgado’s older brothers are wrestlers, and she wants to be one, too. But when she tries to join the same team they were members of, she’s told girls can’t compete. So, instead, she joins another nearby wrestling team, where the coach welcomes her. She’s paired with Lev Sofer because they’re in similar weight categories. He loves poetry and frequently writes poems to process his emotions. He also sometimes struggles with wrestling meetups and competitions occurring during Shabbat and other religious obligations he has.

a photo of about a dozen stuffed animals lined up on three steps like a class picture

Some of my daughter’s stuffed animals had their class pictures taken on the patio recently. Hopefully, I’ll have some snowy pictures for next week’s newsletter! I’m not so sure we’ll be taking out all her loveys in the snow, though.

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, 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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Cozy Graphic Novels, Dragons, And More!

Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! Are your kids participating in any reading challenges this year? Kelly Jensen told me about this cool Smokey Bear Reading Challenge that we’re definitely going to participate in. It asks kids to read about wildfires and the environment and make a pledge to help protect forests against wildfires. If you’re looking for some book ideas, Karina rounded up four last year.

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Today I review some of my favorite cozy middle grade graphic novels as well as two great new picture book releases.

Bookish Goods

Book Dragon Stickers by BlueMoonStickers

Book Dragon Stickers by BlueMoonStickers

If you have kids who love dragons, you should check out these cute reading dragon stickers! $5+

New Releases

Cover of Do You Know Them? by Shana Keller, illustrated by Laura Freeman

Do You Know Them? by Shana Keller, illustrated by Laura Freeman

This is a really special historical fiction picture book about a young African American girl, Lettie, who is searching for her lost brothers. She reads the newspaper ads written by other African Americans after the Civil War who are searching for their loved ones, and she saves money to write her own ad. Keller includes real ads that were written by African Americans post-Civil War in search of their loved ones who had been separated due to enslavement and war. It’s essential reading to accompany conversations about post-Civil War history and the personal ramifications of the enslavement of African Americans.

Cover of People Are My Favorite Places by Ani Castillo

People Are My Favorite Places by Ani Castillo

This sweet picture book is a poem about how a young girl realizes during the COVID-19 pandemic that people are her favorite places. Though she misses them, she’s thankful she has ways to connect with them still. COVID-19 is never explicitly mentioned, so children experiencing a move away from loved ones or experiencing a prolonged illness will also appreciate this picture book.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

In winter, I love to read cozy graphic novels. They’re a great way to resist winter depression. Here are four middle grade cozy graphic novels to read.

Measuring Up cover

Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte, illustrated by Ann Xu

This is the graphic novel that inspired this list! I checked it out from the library after Eileen Gonzalez recommended it in Book Riot’s comic book newsletter, The Stack. I adored it! I could not stop smiling while I read. It’s about 12-year-old Cici, who has just moved from Taiwan to Seattle. She so misses her A-má (grandmother) and their time spent cooking together. She wants A-má to visit for her 70th birthday, but she can’t afford the plane ticket. To earn the money, Cici enters a kid’s cooking contest. LaMotte and Xu have another collaboration coming out in April of this year, Unhappy Camper. I can’t wait to read it!

Cover of Enlighten Me by Minh Lê, illustrated by Chan Chau

Enlighten Me by Minh Lê, illustrated by Chan Chau

This is a sweet and slim yet powerful graphic novel about a boy, Bình, who is being bullied at school because of his Vietnamese heritage. He fights back but then gets into trouble with the school. Immediately after, his parents take him and his sister on a silent Buddhist retreat that is supposed to help with meditation. Bình’s swirling thoughts and worries initially prevent him from meditating, but a nun’s stories about Siddhartha and Buddha’s past lives inspire him. I actually recommended this to my therapist recently, ha!

the tea dragon society cover

The Tea Dragon Society by K. O’Neill

This is the first book I think of whenever anyone says the word “cozy.” It’s an absolutely adorable and quiet fantasy series about Greta, a blacksmith’s apprentice, learning more about tea dragons as she befriends the shy Minette. Kay O’Neill is a great read in general for cozy middle grade graphic novels.

the cover of Garlic and the Vampire, showing a garlic-headed youth walks through a scary woodland

Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen

I haven’t read the Garlic graphic novels yet (there are two), but they are number one on my TBR. When the hesitant Garlic hears about a vampire who has moved into the forest surrounding her vegetable village, she knows she needs to protect her veg friends. But can she find the courage? The illustrations look so cute and charming!

I’ve had two pieces published in School Library Journal recently that I wanted to share. In a piece about the Schneider Family Book Award celebrating its 20th anniversary, I interviewed Dr. Schneider and many winning authors. It’s one of the few awards for disability representation, and it was an honor to write the piece.

I also wrote about the essential role sensitivity readers play in children’s publishing. I sometimes work as a sensitivity reader, and I’m happy I had a chance to explore what sensitivity readers do. I see a lot of misconceptions in the media!

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, 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