Lewis & Clark Library Blog

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02/25/2023
Beth Pofahl

Today's blog post is all about bookstores. Yes, we are a library, but you've got to love a good bookstore, or as the Neil Gaiman quote goes, "What I say is, a town isn't a town without a bookstore. It may call itself a town, but unless it's got a bookstore, it knows it's not foolin' a soul." (Same goes for a library, methinks.)

Beth recommends . . .

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The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin is one of my favorite novels which explores the power of books to bring people together and improve their lives.  A.J. Fikry owns a small independent bookstore which he runs from his home on Alice Island, a small fictitious island somewhere off the coast of New England.  Amelia Loman is a sales rep from a book publishing company.  She arrives at his bookstore, winter list in hand, to pitch the newly published titles, but  A.J. is having none of it. Temporarily disillusioned with running his bookstore after the death of his wife, A.J. launches into a diatribe about book genres he does not like--which is hilarious and I immediately knew I'd enjoy this character. Amelia leaves, promising to see him in the spring. In the meantime a rare and valuable manuscript disappears and almost in its place an abandoned baby is found in the bookstore. This book is definitely a reader's delight. A short story recommendation is the precursor to of each of the novels thirteen chapter chapters. (I tell myself at some point I will gather and read each of these short stories.) Besides A.J. and Amelia, the rest of the characters in this book are also tied to writing, reading and books.  Chief Lambiase is a police chief who starts a book club for his work colleagues; Daniel Parish is an author who has published several novels but his philandering lifestyle brings him to ruin; Ismay Parish is a high school English teacher, and the aforementioned baby might just grow up to be an author. This book has a touch of mystery, a book-centered romance, and lots of literary references.  I think it appeals to a wide audience, but especially to those of us who may have been English undergrads. Even the main restaurant in town is Moby Dick themed. Too many literary references? You be the judge.
Find The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry in the library catalog Here
Also available for digital checkout:
Montana Library2Go/Libby eBook and audiobook
Hoopla audiobook
Read more about the author Here

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry was recently adapted into a film and the good news is that the film version is now available on Hoopla.  I strongly encourage you to read the book first and if you love the book, I think you'll enjoy the film as well.

 

Also, if you love bookstores, you'll enjoy the following guide book which explores some really special bookstores around the world.  This book contains great stories and photos. Take a trip by perusing the pages in this book:

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Do You Read Me? edited by Marianne Julia Strauss 
Lose yourself in the pages of this showcase of some of the most beautiful, innovative, and successful bookstores around the world. Bookstores are powerful places with the freedom to deep-dive into their niche, from cooking to cartoons, architecture to anarchy. Do you read me? reconsiders the bookstore as a cornerstone of the community, where subcultures have the physical space to thrive. Bookstores are universally recognized as marketplaces of knowledge, curiosity, inspiration, and entertainment. They also promote communication and tolerance across cultures and have become destinations for both local communities and travelers. Within a changing media environment their role has been shifting, leading their overseers to pursue different ways to engage with their customers and build local--and sometimes even regional--support for their businesses. Do You Read Me? seeks out the most innovative and beautiful bookstores achieving this, sharing their concepts and celebrating book culture in all its glorious forms.   Find this book in the library catalog Here
 
Finally, how about a couple movie recommendations? Recently I watched two films which focus on the bookstore theme, Hello Bookstore and The Bookshop. If you get a chance to watch either one of them, let me know what you think!
 
 
 
Find Hello Bookstore, The Bookshop and a surprise related DVD in the library catalog Here
 
Do you have a favorite book which focuses on a bookstore theme?  Or perhaps you have a favorite bookstore?
Tell us about it in the comments!
 
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02/22/2023
Public Services Staff

 

Read the whole list HERE. There are some books on the list that the library does not own at this time, but here are all the books that you can check out or reserve now. Each book title links to the item in our catalog so you can reserve it easily. There are separate lists for youngest audience, middle grades, older kids, and all audiences.

 

Cover ArtBlue by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond; Daniel Minter (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781984894366
Publication Date: 2022-02-15
Discover a world of creativity and tradition in this fascinating picture book that explores the history and cultural significance of the color blue. From a critically acclaimed author and an award-winning illustrator comes a vivid, gorgeous book for readers of all ages. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR * New York Public Library * Chicago Public Library * Kirkus Reviews For centuries, blue powders and dyes were some of the most sought-after materials in the world. Ancient Afghan painters ground mass quantities of sapphire rocks to use for their paints, while snails were harvested in Eurasia for the tiny amounts of blue that their bodies would release.   And then there was indigo, which was so valuable that American plantations grew it as a cash crop on the backs of African slaves. It wasn't until 1905, when Adolf von Baeyer created a chemical blue dye, that blue could be used for anything and everything--most notably that uniform of workers everywhere, blue jeans. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond's riveting text combined with stunning illustrations from Caldecott Honor Artist Daniel Minter, this vibrant and fascinating picture book follows one color's journey through time and across the world, as it becomes the blue we know today.
 
Cover ArtKiller Underwear Invasion! by Elise Gravel
ISBN: 9781797214917
Publication Date: 2022-09-20
Can peanuts give you super strength? Were unicorns discovered on the moon? Did Martians really invade New Jersey? For anyone who has ever encountered outrageous stories like these and wondered whether they were true, this funny, yet informative book breaks down what fake news is, why people spread it, and how to tell what is true and what isn't. With quirky illustrations and a humorous tone, Elise Gravel brings her kid-accessible wit to the increasingly important subject of media literacy and equips younger readers with the skills needed to interact with global news.
 
Cover ArtThe Real Dada Mother Goose: a Treasury of Complete Nonsense by Jon Scieszka; Julia Rothman (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780763694340
Publication Date: 2022-10-05
The classic nursery rhymes we know and love--upside-down, backward, in gibberish, and fresh out of bounds--as only Jon Scieszka could stage them Mother knows best, but sometimes a little nonsense wins the day. Inspired by Dadaism's rejection of reason and rational thinking, and in cahoots with Blanche Fisher Wright's The Real Mother Goose, this anthology of absurdity unravels the fabric of classic nursery rhymes and stitches them back together (or not quite together) in every clever way possible. One by one, cherished nursery rhymes--from "Humpty Dumpty" to "Hickory Dickory Dock," "Jack Be Nimble" to "Mother Hubbard"--fall prey to sly subversion as master of fracture Jon Scieszka and acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman refashion them into comics strips, errant book reports, anagrams, and manic mash-ups. Playfully reconstructed, the thirty-six old-new rhymes invite further baloney, bringing kids in on the joke and inviting them to revel in reimagining. Featuring robust back matter, this irreverent take on the rhymes of childhood is a great gift for child readers, a rich classroom resource across grade levels, and a love song to a living language.
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02/22/2023
Public Services Staff

 

Read the whole list HERE. There are some books on the list that the library does not own at this time, but here are all the books that you can check out or reserve now. Each book title links to the item in our catalog so you can reserve it easily. There are separate lists for youngest audience, middle grades, and all audiences that will be posted soon.

 

Cover ArtAin't Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds; Jason Griffin (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781534439467
Publication Date: 2022-01-11
A Caldecott Honor winner! Prepare yourself for something unlike anything: A smash-up of art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is to be Black. In America. Right Now. Written by #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jason Reynolds. Jason Reynolds and his best bud, Jason Griffin, had a mind-meld. And they decided to tackle it, in one fell swoop, in about ten sentences, and 300 pages of art, this piece, this contemplation-manifesto-fierce-vulnerable-gorgeous-terrifying-WhatIsWrongWithHumans-hope-filled-hopeful-searing-Eye-Poppingly-Illustrated-tender-heartbreaking-how-The-HECK-did-They-Come-UP-with-This project about oxygen. And all of the symbolism attached to that word, especially NOW. And so for anyone who didn't really know what it means to not be able to breathe, REALLY breathe, for generations, now you know. And those who already do, you'll be nodding yep yep, that is exactly how it is.
 
Cover ArtThe Patron Thief of Bread by Lindsay Eagar
ISBN: 9781536204681
Publication Date: 2022-05-11
A beautifully crafted middle-grade novel spiced with magic--and gargoyles!--from the acclaimed author of Hour of the Bees and Race to the Bottom of the Sea. Fished from the river as an infant and raised by a roving band of street urchins who call themselves the Crowns, eight-year-old Duck keeps her head down and her mouth shut. It's a rollicking life, always thieving, always on the run--until the ragtag Crowns infiltrate an abandoned cathedral in the city of Odierne and decide to set down roots. It's all part of the bold new plan hatched by the Crowns' fearless leader, Gnat: one of their very own will pose as an apprentice to the local baker, relieving Master Griselde of bread and coin to fill the bellies and line the pockets of all the Crowns. But no sooner is Duck apprenticed to the kindly Griselde than Duck's allegiances start to blur. Who is she really--a Crown or an apprentice baker? And who does she want to be? Meanwhile, high above the streets of Odierne, on the roof of the unfinished cathedral, an old and ugly gargoyle grows weary of waiting to fulfill his own destiny--to watch and protect. Told in alternating viewpoints, this exquisite novel evokes a timeless tale of love, self-discovery, and what it means to be rescued.
 
Cover ArtThe Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander
ISBN: 9780316441865
Publication Date: 2022-09-27
An instant #1 New York Times Bestseller! From the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award winning author Kwame Alexander, comes the first book in a searing, breathtaking trilogy that tells the story of a boy, a village, and the epic odyssey of an African family. In his village in Upper Kwanta, 11-year-old Kofi loves his family, playing oware with his grandfather and swimming in the river Offin. He's warned though, to never go to the river at night.  His brother tells him "There are things about the water you do not know. " Like what? Kofi asks. "The beasts." His brother answers.   One fateful night, the unthinkable happens and in a flash, Kofi's world turns upside down. Kofi soon ends up in a fight for his life and what happens next will send him on a harrowing journey across land and sea, and away from everything he loves.   This spellbinding novel by the author of The Crossover and Booked will take you on an unforgettable adventure that will open your eyes and break your heart.   The Door of No Return is an excellent choice for independent reading, sharing in the classroom, homeschooling, and book groups.
 
Cover ArtIn the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockington
ISBN: 9780374314101
Publication Date: 2022-04-26
A Stonewall Honor Book From the author of the critically acclaimed novel For Black Girls Like Me, Mariama J. Lockington, comes a coming-of-age story surrounding the losses that threaten to break us and the friendships that make us whole again. Thirteen-year-old Andi feels stranded after the loss of her mother, the artist who swept color onto Andi's blank canvas. When she is accepted to a music camp, Andi finds herself struggling to play her trumpet like she used to before her whole world changed. Meanwhile, Zora, a returning camper, is exhausted trying to please her parents, who are determined to make her a flute prodigy, even though she secretly has a dancer's heart. At Harmony Music Camp, Zora and Andi are the only two Black girls in a sea of mostly white faces. In kayaks and creaky cabins, the two begin to connect, unraveling their loss, insecurities, and hopes for the future. And as they struggle to figure out who they really are, they may just come to realize who they really need: each other. In the Key of Us is a lyrical ode to music camp, the rush of first love, and the power of one life-changing summer.
 
Cover ArtCaprice by Coe Booth
ISBN: 9780545933346
Publication Date: 2022-05-17
From the groundbreaking author of Tyrell, an astonishing middle-grade novel about a girl overcoming the secrets and abuse of her past. This should be an exciting time for Caprice. She has been offered a place at the school of her dreams, where she's just had a fantastic summer. But this great opportunity coincides with a lot of internal doubt and the disturbing news that her long-estranged grandmother has fallen ill and may be near death. As Caprice tries to figure out her future, she is pulled back toward her past, and the abuse she endured from her uncle when she was little -- an abuse she's never told anyone about. With extreme sensitivity and honesty for middle-grade readers, Coe Booth has written a painful but ultimately healing novel about finding support from your parents and friends, articulating your truth, and choosing your own path.
 
Cover ArtI Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
ISBN: 9781984836038
Publication Date: 2022-02-01
A #1 New York Times and National Bestseller!   A gut-wrenching, startling historical thriller about communist Romania and the citizen spy network that devastated a nation, from the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray. Romania, 1989. Communist regimes are crumbling across Europe. Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu dreams of becoming a writer, but Romanians aren't free to dream; they are bound by rules and force.   Amidst the tyrannical dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu in a country governed by isolation and fear, Cristian is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer. He's left with only two choices: betray everyone and everything he loves--or use his position to creatively undermine the most notoriously evil dictator in Eastern Europe.   Cristian risks everything to unmask the truth behind the regime, give voice to fellow Romanians, and expose to the world what is happening in his country. He eagerly joins the revolution to fight for change when the time arrives. But what is the cost of freedom?   Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys is back with a historical thriller that examines the little-known history of a nation defined by silence, pain, and the unwavering conviction of the human spirit. 
 
Cover ArtStar Child by Ibi Zoboi
ISBN: 9780399187384
Publication Date: 2022-01-25
A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book A Walter Dean Myers Honor Book From the New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, a biography in verse and prose of science fiction visionary Octavia Butler, author of Parable of the Sower and Kindred. Acclaimed novelist Ibi Zoboi illuminates the young life of the visionary storyteller Octavia E. Butler in poems and prose. Born into the Space Race, the Red Scare, and the dawning Civil Rights Movement, Butler experienced an American childhood that shaped her into the groundbreaking science-fiction storyteller whose novels continue to challenge and delight readers fifteen years after her death.
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02/15/2023
Public Services Staff

 

Read the whole list HERE. There are some books on the list that the library does not own at this time, but here are all the books that you can check out or reserve now. Each book title links to the item in our catalog so you can reserve it easily. There are separate lists for youngest audience, older kids, and all audiences that will be posted soon.

 

Cover ArtAviva vs the Dybbuk by Mari Lowe
ISBN: 9781646141258
Publication Date: 2022-02-22
NPR Best of the Year A compelling, tender story about friendship and community, grief and healing, and one indomitable girl who somehow manages to connect them all. A long ago "accident." An isolated girl named Aviva. A community that wants to help, but doesn''t know how. And a ghostly dybbuk, that no one but Aviva can see, causing mayhem and mischief that everyone blames on her. That is the setting for this suspenseful novel of a girl who seems to have lost everything, including her best friend Kayla, and a mother who was once vibrant and popular, but who now can''t always get out of bed in the morning. As tensions escalate in the Jewish community of Beacon with incidents of vandalism and a swastika carved into new concrete poured near the synagogue...so does the tension grow between Aviva and Kayla and the girls at their school, and so do the actions of the dybbuk grow worse. Could real harm be coming Aviva''s way? And is it somehow related to the "accident" that took her father years ago? 
 
Cover ArtThe Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat
ISBN: 9781536204957
Publication Date: 2022-04-12
A Newbery Honor Book A Walter Dean Myers Honor Book  From Christina Soontornvat, the visionary and versatile author of two 2021 Newbery Honor Books, comes a high-seas adventure set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world. In a fantasy adventure every bit as compelling and confident in its world building as her Newbery Honor Book A Wish in the Dark, Christina Soontornvat explores a young woman's struggle to unburden herself of the past and chart her own destiny in a world of secrets. As assistant to Mangkon's most celebrated mapmaker, twelve-year-old Sai plays the part of a well-bred young lady with a glittering future. In reality, her father is a conman--and in a kingdom where the status of one's ancestors dictates their social position, the truth could ruin her. Sai seizes the chance to join an expedition to chart the southern seas, but she isn't the only one aboard with secrets. When Sai learns that the ship might be heading for the fabled Sunderlands--a land of dragons, dangers, and riches beyond imagining--she must weigh the cost of her dreams. Vivid, suspenseful, and thought-provoking, this tale of identity and integrity is as beautiful and intricate as the maps of old.
 
Cover ArtMaizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee
ISBN: 9781984830258
Publication Date: 2022-02-01
NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER * NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST * ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR YOUTH LITERATURE Twelve year-old Maizy discovers her family's Chinese restaurant is full of secrets in this irresistible novel that celebrates food, fortune, and family. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY School Library Journal * Booklist * The Horn Book * New York Public Library Welcome to the Golden Palace! Maizy has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota . . . until now. Her mom's plan is just to stay for a couple weeks, until her grandfather gets better. But plans change, and as Maizy spends more time in Last Chance and at the Golden Palace--the restaurant that's been in her family for generations--she makes some discoveries.For instance: You can tell a LOT about someone by the way they order food.  People can surprise you. Sometimes in good ways, sometimes in disappointing ways. And the Golden Palace has secrets... But the more Maizy discovers, the more questions she has. Like, why are her mom and her grandmother always fighting? Who are the people in the photographs on the office wall? And when she discovers that a beloved family treasure has gone missing--and someone has left a racist note--Maizy decides it's time to find the answers.
 
Cover ArtA Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga
ISBN: 9780063113923
Publication Date: 2022-10-04
New York Times bestseller * Best Book of the Year from The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library The One and Only Ivan meets The Wild Robot in this unique and deeply moving middle grade novel about the journey of a fictional Mars rover, from the Newbery Honor-winning author of Other Words for Home. Meet Resilience, a Mars rover determined to live up to his name. Res was built to explore Mars. He was not built to have human emotions. But as he learns new things from the NASA scientists who assemble him, he begins to develop humanlike feelings. Maybe there's a problem with his programming.... Human emotions or not, launch day comes, and Res blasts off to Mars, accompanied by a friendly drone helicopter named Fly. But Res quickly discovers that Mars is a dangerous place filled with dust storms and giant cliffs. As he navigates Mars's difficult landscape, Res is tested in ways that go beyond space exploration. As millions of people back on Earth follow his progress, will Res have the determination, courage, and resilience to succeed... and survive? 
 
Cover ArtThe Secret Battle of Evan Pao by Wendy Wan-Long Shang
ISBN: 9781338678857
Publication Date: 2022-06-07
Middle school can be a battlefield... From award-winning author Wendy Wan-Long Shang comes a poignant and timely take on prejudice, bullying, and claiming our own histories, perfect for fans of Front Desk. A fresh start. That's all Evan Pao wants as he, along with his mother and sister, flee from California to Haddington, Virginia, hoping to keep his father's notoriety a secret. But Haddington is a southern town steeped in tradition, and moving to a town immersed in the past has its own price. Although Evan quickly makes friends, one boy, Brady Griggs, seems determined to make sure that as a Chinese American, Evan feels that he does not belong. When Evan finds a unique way to make himself part of the school's annual Civil War celebration, the reaction is swift and violent. As all of his choices at home and at school collide, Evan must decide whether he will react with the same cruelty shown to him, or choose a different path. Wendy Wan-Long Shang, the critically acclaimed author of Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association Award for Children's Literature winner The Great Wall of Lucy Wu, weaves a timely and deeply moving portrait of all the secret battles Evan Pao must fight as he struggles to figure out how he fits into this country's past and how he will shape its future.
 
Cover ArtSeen and Unseen by Lauren Tamaki (Illustrator); Elizabeth Partridge
ISBN: 9781452165103
Publication Date: 2022-10-25
This important work of nonfiction features powerful images of the Japanese American incarceration captured by three photographers--Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, Winne and Ansel Adams--along with firsthand accounts of this grave moment in history. Three months after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the incarceration of all Japanese and Japanese Americans living on the West Coast of the United States. Families, teachers, farm workers--all were ordered to leave behind their homes, their businesses, and everything they owned. Japanese and Japanese Americans were forced to live under hostile conditions in incarceration camps, their futures uncertain. Three photographers set out to document life at Manzanar, an incarceration camp in the California desert: Dorothea Lange was a photographer from San Francisco best known for her haunting Depression-era images. Dorothea was hired by the US government to record the conditions of the camps. Deeply critical of the policy, she wanted her photos to shed light on the harsh reality of incarceration. Toyo Miyatake was a Japanese-born, Los Angeles-based photographer who lent his artistic eye to portraying dancers, athletes, and events in the Japanese community. Imprisoned at Manzanar, he devised a way to smuggle in photographic equipment, determined to show what was really going on inside the barbed-wire confines of the camp. Ansel Adams was an acclaimed landscape photographer and environmentalist. Hired by the director of Manzanar, Ansel hoped his carefully curated pictures would demonstrate to the rest of the United States the resilience of those in the camps. In Seen and Unseen, Elizabeth Partridge and Lauren Tamaki weave together these photographers' images, firsthand accounts, and stunning original art to examine the history, heartbreak, and injustice of the Japanese American incarceration.
 
Cover ArtFreewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
ISBN: 9780316056618
Publication Date: 2022-02-01
Winner of the John Newbery Medal Winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Award  Award-winning author Amina Luqman-Dawson pens a lyrical, accessible historical middle-grade novel about two enslaved children's escape from a plantation and the many ways they find freedom. Under the cover of night, twelve-year-old Homer flees Southerland Plantation with his little sister Ada, unwillingly leaving their beloved mother behind. Much as he adores her and fears for her life, Homer knows there's no turning back, not with the overseer on their trail. Through tangled vines, secret doorways, and over a sky bridge, the two find a secret community called Freewater, deep in the swamp. In this society created by formerly enslaved people and some freeborn children, Homer finds new friends, almost forgetting where he came from. But when he learns of a threat that could destroy Freewater, he crafts a plan to find his mother and help his new home. Deeply inspiring and loosely based on the history of maroon communities in the South, this is a striking tale of survival, adventure, friendship, and courage. 
 
Cover ArtSwim Team by Johnnie Christmas (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780063056770
Publication Date: 2022-05-17
"Combines wonderful characters and history to create a story that will make you want to dive right in!" JERRY CRAFT, author of the Newbery Medal-winning New Kid A splashy, contemporary middle grade graphic novel from bestselling comics creator Johnnie Christmas! Bree can't wait for her first day at her new middle school, Enith Brigitha, home to the Mighty Manatees--until she's stuck with the only elective that fits her schedule, the dreaded Swim 101. The thought of swimming makes Bree more than a little queasy, yet she's forced to dive headfirst into one of her greatest fears. Lucky for her, Etta, an elderly occupant of her apartment building and former swim team captain, is willing to help. With Etta's training and a lot of hard work, Bree suddenly finds her swim-crazed community counting on her to turn the school's failing team around. But that's easier said than done, especially when their rival, the prestigious Holyoke Prep, has everything they need to leave the Mighty Manatees in their wake. Can Bree defy the odds and guide her team to a state championship, or have the Manatees swum their last lap--for good? 
 
Cover ArtThose Kids from Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly
ISBN: 9780062970350
Publication Date: 2022-03-08
From Erin Entrada Kelly, the winner of the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, this contemporary school story set in small-town Louisiana is about friendship, family, deception, and being true to yourself and your dreams. There are twelve kids in the seventh grade at Fawn Creek Middle School. They've been together all their lives. And in this small factory town where everyone knows everything about everyone, that's not necessarily a great thing. There are thirteen desks in the seventh-grade classroom. That's because Renni Dean's father got a promotion, and the family moved to Grand Saintlodge, the nearest big town. Renni's desk is empty, but Renni still knows their secrets; is still pulling their strings. When Orchid Mason arrives and slips gracefully into Renni's chair, the other seventh graders don't know what to think. Orchid--who was born in New York City but just moved to Fawn Creek from Paris--seems to float. Her dress skims the floor. She's wearing a flower behind her ear.  Fawn Creek Middle might be small, but it has its tightly knit groups--the self-proclaimed "God Squad," the jocks, the outsiders--just like anyplace else. Who will claim Orchid Mason? Who will save Orchid Mason? Or will Orchid Mason save them? Newbery Medal and Newbery Honor winner Erin Entrada Kelly explores complex themes centered on family, friendships, and staying true to yourself. Those Kids from Fawn Creek will enchant fans of Rebecca Stead, Jerry Spinelli, and Kate DiCamillo.
 
Cover ArtSmaller Sister by Maggie Edkins Willis (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781250767417
Publication Date: 2022-06-14
Maggie Edkins Willis's Smaller Sister is a debut middle grade graphic novel about body image, confidence, and the everlasting bond of sisterhood. Lucy's always looked up to her big sister, Olivia, even though the two are polar opposites. But then, Lucy notices Olivia start to change. She doesn't want to play with Lucy anymore, she's unhappy with the way she looks, and she's refusing to eat her dinner. Finally, Lucy discovers that her sister is not just growing up: Olivia is struggling with an eating disorder. While her family is focused on her sister's recovery, Lucy is left alone to navigate school and friendships. And just like her big sister, she begins to shrink. But with time, work, and a dose of self-love, both sisters begin to heal and let themselves grow. Soon enough, Olivia and Lucy find their way back to each other--because sisters are the one friend you can never ditch.
 
Cover ArtFrizzy by Claribel A. Ortega; Rose Bousamra (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781250259622
Publication Date: 2022-10-18
Winner of the 2023 Pura Belpré Award for Children's Text October 2022 Indie Bestseller New York Times-bestselling author Claribel A. Ortega and star debut artist Rose Bousamra's Frizzy is about Marlene, a young Dominican girl whose greatest enemy is the hair salon! Through her struggles and triumphs, this heartwarming and gorgeous middle-grade graphic novel shows the radical power of accepting yourself as you are, frizzy curls and all. Marlene loves three things: books, her cool Tía Ruby and hanging out with her best friend Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and "growing up." That means straightening her hair every weekend so she could have "presentable", "good hair". But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn't understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tia Ruby--she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair.
 
Cover ArtThe Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
ISBN: 9781643750743
Publication Date: 2022-03-08
A new instant-classic fantasy about the power of generosity and love, and how a community suffers when they disappear, by Kelly Barnhill, winner of the Newbery Medal for The Girl Who Drank the Moon, a New York Times bestseller.   Stone-in-the-Glen, once a lovely town, has fallen on hard times. Fires, floods, and other calamities have caused the people to lose their library, their school, their park, and even their neighborliness. The people put their faith in the Mayor, a dazzling fellow who promises he alone can help. After all, he is a famous dragon slayer. (At least, no one has seen a dragon in his presence.) Only the clever children of the Orphan House and the kindly Ogress at the edge of town can see how dire the town's problems are. Then one day a child goes missing from the Orphan House. At the Mayor's suggestion, all eyes turn to the Ogress. The Orphans know this can't be: the Ogress, along with a flock of excellent crows, secretly delivers gifts to the people of Stone-in-the-Glen. But how can the Orphans tell the story of the Ogress's goodness to people who refuse to listen? And how can they make their deluded neighbors see the real villain in their midst?    
 
Cover ArtThe Universe in You by Jason Chin
ISBN: 9780823450701
Publication Date: 2022-12-13
Jason Chin, winner of the Caldecott Medal for Watercress, dives into the microscopic building blocks of life in this companion to the award-winning Your Place in the Universe. In Your Place in the Universe, Jason Chin zoomed outward, from our planet, solar system, and galaxy to the outer reaches  of the observable universe. Now, Chin reverses course, zooming in past our skin to our cells, molecules, and atoms, all the way down to particles so small we can't yet even measure them.  Like its companion, The Universe in You is a mind-boggling adventure that makes complex science accessible and enjoyable to readers of any age. Impeccably researched, wholly engrossing, and with extensive backmatter for additional learning, The Universe in You is another knockout from the award-winning creator of Redwoods, Grand Canyon, and other distinguished works of nonfiction for young readers.  
 
Cover ArtLove in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall; Yas Imamura (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781536204308
Publication Date: 2022-02-08
Set in an incarceration camp where the United States cruelly detained Japanese Americans during WWII and based on true events, this moving love story finds hope in heartbreak. To fall in love is already a gift. But to fall in love in a place like Minidoka, a place built to make people feel like they weren't human--that was miraculous. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Tama is sent to live in a War Relocation Center in the desert. All Japanese Americans from the West Coast--elderly people, children, babies--now live in prison camps like Minidoka. To be who she is has become a crime, it seems, and Tama doesn't know when or if she will ever leave. Trying not to think of the life she once had, she works in the camp's tiny library, taking solace in pages bursting with color and light, love and fairness. And she isn't the only one. George waits each morning by the door, his arms piled with books checked out the day before. As their friendship grows, Tama wonders: Can anyone possibly read so much? Is she the reason George comes to the library every day? Maggie Tokuda-Hall's beautifully illustrated, elegant love story features a photo of the real Tama and George--the author's grandparents--along with an afterword and other back matter for readers to learn more about a time in our history that continues to resonate.
 
Cover ArtTumble by Celia C. Pérez
ISBN: 9780593325179
Publication Date: 2022-08-16
From the award-winning author of The First Rule of Punk and Strange Birds, a dazzling novel about a young girl who collects the missing pieces of her origin story from the family of legendary luchadores she's never met. A 2023 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book Twelve-year-old Adela "Addie" Ramírez has a big decision to make when her stepfather proposes adoption. Addie loves Alex, the only father figure she's ever known, but with a new half brother due in a few months and a big school theater performance on her mind, everything suddenly feels like it's moving too fast. She has a million questions, and the first is about the young man in the photo she found hidden away in her mother's things. Addie's sleuthing takes her to a New Mexico ranch, and her world expands to include the legendary Bravos: Rosie and Pancho, her paternal grandparents and former professional wrestlers; Eva and Maggie, her older identical twin cousins who love to spar in and out of the ring; Uncle Mateo, whose lucha couture and advice are unmatched; and Manny, her biological father, who's in the midst of a career comeback. As luchadores, the Bravos's legacy is strong. But being part of a family is so much harder--it's about showing up, taking off your mask, and working through challenges together.
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02/14/2023
Public Services Staff

 

Read the whole list HERE. There are some books on the list that the library does not own at this time, but here are all the books that you can check out or reserve now. Each book title links to the item in our catalog so you can reserve it easily. There are separate lists for middle grade, older kids, and all audiences that will be posted soon.

 

Cover ArtBathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty; David Roberts (Illustrator)

ISBN: 9781452142708
Publication Date: 2022-02-08
It's cleaning day, but the family cat will do anything to avoid getting a bath. So instead of mopping the floor or feeding the fish, the family is soon busy rocking the rug, vacuuming the lawn, and sweeping the dishes. Bouncy rhyme carries the story headlong into the growing hilarity, until finally Dad restores some kind of order - but will the cat avoid getting his whiskers wet?
Cover ArtAlso by E. B. Goodale (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780358153948
Publication Date: 2022-02-22
An ode to the way memories allow us to be in many places at once, Also is a powerful exploration of being present as well as looking back. Perfect for Mother's Day, birthdays, or graduation, this modern classic is by Ezra Jack Keats Honor-winner E. B. Goodale. A moving story that follows one family through generations of time spent together and shows readers that memories allow us to connect to the past, the present, and also each other. This gorgeously illustrated book explores the power of memory, teaches children subtle lessons about the passing of time, and celebrates the cherished bonds we share with those we love. Perfect for reading together every day, or for giving on occasions like graduation, Mother's Day, and birthdays.
 
Cover ArtEndlessly Ever After by Laurel Snyder; Dan Santat (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781452144825
Publication Date: 2022-04-19
This funny, original, choose-your-path picture book of fractured fairy tales will charm any young fan of the genre, putting the power of storytelling right in the reader's hands!   Grab your basket and your coat. Put on some walking shoes. Turn the page and begin: Which story will you choose? Award-winning creators Laurel Snyder and Dan Santat transform a crowd of classic tales into an ever-changing, fascinating, laugh-out-loud choose-your-own-adventure picture book, in which you may find a sleeping maiden, waste away in a sticky licorice cage, discover the gold at the end of a wild goose chase, or maybe (just maybe) save yourself--and the day! GIVES YOUNG READERS THE POWER OF CHOICE: Where do you want to take the story next? Choice and autonomy are essential concepts for children to learn at a young age, and this pick-your-own-adventure picture book puts the decision-making power right in their hands, inviting them to pick and choose--and choose again! FUNNY TWISTS ON CLASSIC FAIRY TALES: "The Three Little Pigs," "Hansel and Gretel," "Snow White," "Sleeping Beauty," "Little Red Riding Hood," and more--characters and settings from these classic fairy tales take on hilarious new life in a brand-new story, just right for the youngest fairy tale fans. 
 
Cover ArtEvery Dog in the Neighborhood by Philip C. Stead; Matthew Cordell (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780823444274
Publication Date: 2022-06-21
How many dogs live in the neighborhood? Louis decides to find out--by meeting every single one. Louis really wants a dog, but his Grandma insists, "There are enough dogs in the neighborhood already."  While Louis disagrees, he realizes he needs more information to support his argument: so he sets out to figure out how many dogs live in the neighborhood.  While Grandma sets out on errands of her own, Louis starts knocking on doors.  He meets big dogs and little dogs, dogs with jobs, dogs who eat socks, and dogs who are much missed. (He also meets cats, and birds, and one very big python, but those don't count!)  By the time he gets home Louis is ready to tell Grandma just how many dogs are in the neighborhood. . . .  But Grandma thinks he just might have missed one.  A particularly loveable dog.  A dog who needs a new home.  Maybe there are enough dogs in the neighborhood after all.  Philip Stead and Caldecott Medalist Matt Cordell team up once again for a sweet, offbeat tale about a loving grandparent and grandchild in the tradition of Follow That Frog and Special Delivery. Perfect for dog lovers, of course--but the charming, subtle messages of community and compassion will appeal across the animal kingdom.  
 
Cover ArtFarmhouse by Sophie Blackall
ISBN: 9780316528948
Publication Date: 2022-09-13
Two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall invites readers to peek through windows that shine like real glass on this lavish book's cover, and explore the dollhouse-like world of a beloved farmhouse where twelve children were born and raised. Over a hill, at the end of a road, by a glittering stream that twists and turns stands a farmhouse. Step inside the dollhouse-like interior of Farmhouse and relish in the daily life of the family that lives there, rendered in impeccable, thrilling detail. Based on a real family and an actual farmhouse where Sophie salvaged facts and artifacts for the making of this spectacular work, page after page bursts with luminous detail and joy. Join the award-winning, best-selling Sophie Blackall as she takes readers on an enchanting visit to a farmhouse across time, to a place that echoes with stories.
 
Cover ArtJohn's Turn by Mac Barnett; Kate Berube (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781536203950
Publication Date: 2022-02-24
E. B. White Read-Aloud winner Mac Barnett celebrates individuality in a story told with tenderness and subtlety. It's John's big day at school today--a performance for Sharing Gifts time. His bag is carefully packed and prepared, his classmates are ready, and the curtain is waiting to open. John is nervous, looking out at all the other children staring back at him. But he takes a big breath and begins. Mac Barnett's compassionate text and Kate Berube's understated and expressive art tell the story of a kid who finds the courage to show others his talent for dancing.
 
Cover ArtKnight Owl by Christopher Denise
ISBN: 9780316310628
Publication Date: 2022-03-15
A Caldecott Honor Winner and New York Times Bestseller!  A determined Owl builds strength and confidence in this medieval picture book about the real mettle of a hero: wits, humor, and heart.  Since the day he hatched, Owl dreamed of becoming a real knight. He may not be the biggest or the strongest, but his sharp nocturnal instincts can help protect the castle, especially since many knights have recently gone missing. While holding guard during Knight Night Watch, Owl is faced with the ultimate trial--a frightening intruder. It's a daunting duel by any measure. But what Owl lacks in size, he makes up for in good ideas.   Full of wordplay and optimism, this surprising display of bravery proves that cleverness (and friendship) can rule over brawn.
 
Cover ArtThe Notebook Keeper by Stephen Briseño; Magdalena Mora (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780593307052
Publication Date: 2022-06-28
Based on true events, this inspiring story follows a mama and her daughter who are denied entry at the U.S. border, and must find the refugee in charge of "the notebook," an unofficial ledger of those waiting to cross into the U.S. Before, the sun drenched the yard. Our neighbor's laughter danced in the streets. Now, the streets are quiet. Papa is gone, and we are no longer safe here. We are leaving, too.   In this moving and stunningly-illustrated picture book, Noemi and Mama flee their home in Mexico, and head for the US border. There, they look for "The Notebook Keeper"-- the person in charge of a ledger for those waiting to cross, and they add their names to the book. As the days turn into weeks, and hope dwindles,  the little girl looks for kindness around her-- and inside herself. One day, when the Notebook Keeper's own name is called to cross, Noemi and her Mama are chosen--for the generosity in their hearts-- to take her place.
 
Cover ArtFinding Fire by Logan S. Kline (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781536213027
Publication Date: 2022-09-13
Can a young boy find fire for his family--and bring it safely home? An exciting, nearly wordless picture book adventure as visually compelling as a Pixar short. After a hard rain douses the family fire, a brave young boy sets out to search for more fire to bring home before the cold season sets in. Along the way, he'll face many challenges, from perilous mountains to fearsome predators to raging rivers, and find something wholly unexpected: a friend. In his picture book debut, artist Logan S. Kline crafts a dramatic tale inspired by prehistoric times and told almost entirely through stunningly detailed illustrations. "Finding Fire started with the sketch of a small boy holding a torch and grew from there," he says. "A lot of research went into creating the art for this book, yet the look of the boy changed very little over time as he was inspired by my children, from my younger son's wiry frame to my elder son's wild hair that goes in a million different directions." This gorgeous adventure story just begs to be visited again and again, with each perusal promising new discoveries.
 
Cover ArtHello, Puddle! by Anita Sanchez; Luisa Uribe (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780358381440
Publication Date: 2022-03-22
A nonfiction picture book exploring a deceptively simple but unexpectedly crucial resource for wildlife: puddles! This lyrical, gorgeously illustrated nonfiction picture book is perfect for young science learners and nature lovers. Hello, puddle! Who's here A normal everyday puddle may not seem very special. But for a mother turtle, it might be the perfect place to lay her eggs. For a squirrel, it might be the only spot to cool off and get a drink when the sun is shining down in July. And for any child, it can be a window into the elegant, complex natural world right outside their window. With lush, playful illustrations and fun facts about the animals featured, Hello, Puddle! is a joyful celebration of the remarkable in the ordinary, and the importance of even the most humble places in fostering life.
 
Cover ArtA Land of Books by Duncan Tonatiuh
ISBN: 9781419749421
Publication Date: 2022-11-15
Award-winning author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh sheds light on the significance of Aztec manuscripts and culture A 2023 Pura Belpré Youth Illustration Honor Book Our world, little brother, is an amoxtlalpan, a land of books. In the jungles where the jaguar dwells, the Mayas make books. In the mountains the cloud people, the Mixtecs, make them as well. So do others in the coast and in the forests. And we the Mexica of the mighty Aztec empire, who dwell in the valley of the volcanoes, make them too. A young Aztec girl tells her little brother how their parents create beautiful painted manuscripts, or codices. She explains to him how paper is made from local plants and how the long paper is folded into a book. Her parents and others paint the codices to tell the story of their people's way of life, documenting their history, science, tributes, and sacred rituals. Duncan Tonatiuh's lyrical prose and beloved illustration style, inspired by the pre-Columbian codices, tell the story of how--contrary to the historical narrative that European colonizers bestowed "civilization" and knowledge to the Americas--the Aztec and their neighbors in the Valley of Mexico painted books and records long before Columbus arrived, and continued doing so among their Nahua-speaking descendants for generations after the Spanish Conquest. From an award-winning author-illustrator, A Land of Books pays tribute to Mesoamerican ingenuity and celebrates the universal power of books.
 
Cover ArtA Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis
ISBN: 9780823448920
Publication Date: 2022-06-21
From tiny seed to a huge, fold-out bloom, the transformative life cycle of a sunflower plays out in this bold read-aloud. A Sibert Honor Book! A Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book! To understand how a seed becomes a sunflower, you have to peek beneath the soil and wait patiently as winding roots grow, a stalk inches out of the earth, and new seeds emerge among blooming petals. "A seed falls, And settles into the ground, And the Sun shines, And the rain comes down, And the seed grows..." Leading up to a striking fold-out spread of a full-grown sunflower, the lively, bold illustrations in A Seed Grows offer a close-up view of each step of the growth cycle.  Additional material in the back of the book explains the science of plant life cycles, and goes into more detail on the ways in which flowers and seeds depend on other creatures. 
 
Cover ArtThe Talk by Alicia D. Williams; Briana Mukodiri Uchendu (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781534495296
Publication Date: 2022-10-18
A Coretta Scott King Author Honor winner! As a little boy grows into a bigger boy, ready to take on the world, he first must have that very difficult conversation far too familiar to so many Black and Brown Americans in this gentle and ultimately hopeful picture book. Jay's most favorite things are hanging out with his pals, getting kisses from Grandma, riding in his dad's cool car, and getting measured by his mom with pencil marks on the wall. But as those height marks inch upward, Grandpa warns Jay about being in too big a group with his friends, Grandma worries others won't see him as quite so cute now that he's older, and Dad has to tell Jay how to act if the police ever pull them over. And Jay just wants to be a kid. All Black and Brown kids get The Talk--the talk that could mean the difference between life and death in a racist world. Told in an age-appropriate fashion, with a perfect pause for parents to insert their own discussions with their children to accompany prompting illustrations, The Talk is a gently honest and sensitive starting point for this far-too-necessary conversation, for Black children, Brown children, and for ALL children. Because you can't make change without knowing what needs changing.
 
Cover ArtGigi and Ojiji by Melissa Iwai (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780063208063
Publication Date: 2022-05-03
"Gigi crafts her Japanese American identity in this ­enchanting early reader. The cuteness, inclusivity, and cross-cultural problem-solving represented will have young ­readers coming back again and again. A must-buy." --School Library Journal (starred review) Gigi, a biracial six-year-old girl, learns about her Japanese culture from her grandfather when he comes to visit. Perfect for social emotional learning. Gigi can't wait for her Ojiji--Japanese grandpa--to move in. Gigi plans lots of things to do with him, like playing tag, reading books, and teaching Roscoe, the family dog, new tricks. But her plans don't work out quite the way she'd hoped. And her grandpa doesn't seem to like Roscoe. Will Gigi find a way to connect with her Ojiji? 
 
Cover ArtLizzy and the Cloud by Terry Fan (Illustrator); Eric Fan (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781534483170
Publication Date: 2022-05-03
From the critically acclaimed, award-winning creators of Ocean Meets Sky and The Night Gardener comes a whimsical and sweet tale of a young girl who cares for her pet cloud as it grows. It's a little out of fashion to buy a pet cloud, but Lizzy doesn't mind. She's not looking for a big one or a fancy one, just one that's right for her. And she finds it in Milo. Soon, she's taking Milo out on walks with her family, watering Milo right on schedule, and seeing Milo grow and grow. But what happens when her pet cloud gets too big for Lizzy to handle?
 
Cover ArtMe and the Boss by Michelle Edwards; April Harrison (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780593310670
Publication Date: 2022-10-11
CORETTA SCOTT KING ILLUSTRATOR HONOR AWARD WINNER CHARLOTTE ZOLOTOW AWARD WINNER All the highs and lows of having a bossy, protective, and loving older sibling are depicted in this heartwarming picture book by a critically acclaimed author and award-winning illustrator.  Meet Lee, a little boy who won't give up until he learns how to sew, and Zora, the sister who watches him try--and ultimately succeed! "I know big sisters. Zora, the boss, she's mine," explains Lee as he and Zora head to the library, where Mrs. C is teaching the children how to sew. Though Zora sews a beautiful flower on her cloth square, little Lee makes a mess out of the half-moon he is trying to stitch. That night, when he can't sleep, he gives sewing another try...and succeeds, even mending the hole in his pants pocket! The next morning, he sneaks into Zora's room and sews the ear back on Bess, her stuffed bear. When Zora discovers Bess, she wraps Lee in her special big sister hug--for just a moment--and then is back to being the boss once again. National Jewish Book Award-winning author Michelle Edwards and Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award-winning illustrator April Harrison create a funny, oh-so-true portrait of a brother and sister's relationship in this winning picture book.
 
Cover ArtBerry Song by Michaela Goade
ISBN: 9780316494175
Publication Date: 2022-07-19
A Caldecott Honor Book! An Indie Bestseller! Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade's first self-authored picture book is a gorgeous celebration of the land she knows well and the powerful wisdom of elders. On an island at the edge of a wide, wild sea, a girl and her grandmother gather gifts from the earth. Salmon from the stream, herring eggs from the ocean, and in the forest, a world of berries. Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry. Huckleberry, Snowberry, Strawberry, Crowberry. Through the seasons, they sing to the land as the land sings to them. Brimming with joy and gratitude, in every step of their journey, they forge a deeper kinship with both the earth and the generations that came before, joining in the song that connects us all. Michaela Goade's luminous rendering of water and forest, berries and jams glows with her love of the land and offers an invitation to readers to deepen their own relationship with the earth.
 
Cover ArtThe Tower of Life by Chana Stiefel; Susan Gal (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781338225891
Publication Date: 2022-10-04
There once was a girl named Yaffa. She loved her family, her home, and her beautiful Polish town that brimmed with light and laughter. She also loved helping her Grandma Alte in her photography studio. There, shopkeepers, brides, babies, and bar mitzvah boys posed while Grandma Alte captured their most joyous moments on film. And before the Jewish New Year, they sent their precious photographs to relatives overseas with wishes for good health and happiness. But one dark day, Nazi soldiers invaded the town. Nearly 3,500 Jewish souls -- including family, friends, and neighbors of Yaffa -- were erased. This is the stunning true story of how Yaffa made it her life's mission to recover thousands of her town's photographs from around the world. Using these photos, she built her amazing TOWER OF FACES, a permanent exhibit in the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, to restore the soaring spirit of Eishyshok.
 
Cover ArtSweet Justice by Mara Rockliff; R. Gregory Christie (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781524720643
Publication Date: 2022-01-11
An inspiring picture-book biography about the woman whose cooking helped feed and fund the Montgomery bus boycott of 1956, from an award-winning illustrator. Georgia Gilmore was cooking when she heard the news Mrs. Rosa Parks had been arrested--pulled off a city bus and thrown in jail all because she wouldn't let a white man take her seat. To protest, the radio urged everyone to stay off city buses for one day: December 5, 1955. Throughout the boycott--at Holt Street Baptist Church meetings led by a young minister named Martin Luther King, Jr.--and throughout the struggle for justice, Georgia served up her mouth-watering fried chicken, her spicy collard greens, and her sweet potato pie, eventually selling them to raise money to help the cause. Here is the vibrant true story of a hidden figure of the civil rights movement, told in flavorful language by a picture-book master, and stunningly illustrated by a Caldecott Honor recipient and seven-time Coretta Scott King award-winning artist.
 
Cover ArtPowwow Day by Traci Sorell; Madelyn Goodnight (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781580899482
Publication Date: 2022-02-08
In this uplifting, contemporary Native American story, River is recovering from illness and can't dance at the powwow this year. Will she ever dance again? River wants so badly to dance at powwow day as she does every year. In this uplifting and contemporary picture book perfect for beginning readers, follow River's journey from feeling isolated after an illness to learning the healing power of community. Additional information explains the history and functions of powwows, which are commonplace across the United States and Canada and are open to both Native Americans and non-Native visitors.
 
Cover ArtOut of a Jar by Deborah Marcero (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780593326374
Publication Date: 2022-02-08
This highly anticipated follow-up to the critically acclaimed and bestselling picture book In a Jar stars one little bunny dealing with some very big feelings. Llewellyn does not like to feel afraid or sad, angry, lonely, or embarrassed. And so he comes up with a brilliant plan: he tucks each of his feelings into jars and hides them away where they won't bother him anymore. But when he gets in trouble in class, Llewellyn finds he needs to put away excitement too. And when joy is quickly followed by disappointment, he decides to get rid of joy as well. After a while, Llewellyn walks around not feeling much of anything at all. And what happens when his emotions refuse to be bottled up any longer? In this richly illustrated and universally relatable picture book, Llewellyn soon discovers that life is more colorful when he sets his emotions free. And only then, by facing and embracing each of his feelings, is he finally able to let them go.
 
Cover ArtLuli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang; Hyewon Yum (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780823446148
Publication Date: 2022-05-24
Though they may speak different languages, kids from all over the world come together to enjoy the shared pastime of tea in this delicious book for young readers. When five-year-old Luli joins her new English as a Second Language class, the playroom is quiet. Luli can't speak English, neither can anyone else. That's when she has a brilliant idea to host a tea party and bring them all together. Luli removes her teapot, thermos, and teacups from her bag and calls out "Chá!" in her native Chinese. One by one, her classmates pipe up in recognition: in Russian, Hindi, Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and Spanish, Portuguese, and Swahili. Tea is a tasty language they all know well, and it gives them a chance to share and enjoy each other's company. When all the tea is gone and it's time for dessert, Luli gets to use her favorite English word, cookie! After that, the playroom isn't so quiet. Informed by her own experience as the child of Chinese immigrant parents, Andrea Wang makes the point that when you're looking to communicate with people, you look for a common bond. The word for "tea" is similar in many languages, and tea becomes the unifying metaphor that brings a diverse group of children together. Additional material at the back of the book explores the rich and ancient history of tea drinking across cultures all around the world and contains maps, statistics, and fascinating details that will delight young readers. 
 
Cover ArtThe Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett; Jon Klassen (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781338673845
Publication Date: 2022-10-18
Instant New York Times bestseller! The MOMENTOUS debut of a groundbreaking Fairy Tale series -- a brilliantly crafted, hilarious twist on this beloved classic, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, from renowned, award-winning, and New York Times bestselling duo and picture book pioneers Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen! Once there was a bridge and a terrible and VERY hungry troll lived underneath it. When the three Billy Goats Gruff decide to clip-clop across the bridge to get to the grassy ridge, the troll is already imagining all the way to prepare a delicious goat dinner. But the troll underestimates those seemingly sweet but oh-so-savvy goats! This is the first in a groundbreaking new collection of fractured fairy tales crafted by one of today's most celebrated and acclaimed authors, Mac Barnett, and brought to stunning visual life by award-winning and beloved creator of I Want My Hat Back, Jon Klassen. Told with pitch perfect timing and pacing, hilarious detail, and Barnett's signature narrator voice, this is Billy Goats Gruff as never before. High-stakes page turns will have readers on the edge of their seats and giggling along, as they join each goat and anticipate the arrival of the hungry and terrible troll living under the bridge. With Klassen's brilliantly restrained scenes, arresting characters, and celebrated artistic style, this first of three fairy tales is destined to be a true publishing event! With a multitude of Caldecott Medals, Honors, international awards, and New York Times bestsellers to their names both independently and in collaboration, this is a creative pairing that is electric. So get ready to experience picture book magic... all you have to do is cross the bridge!
 
Cover ArtYoshi and the Ocean by Lindsay Moore (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780063060982
Publication Date: 2022-05-24
Lindsay Moore chronicles the remarkable true story of Yoshi, a loggerhead sea turtle who traveled an astounding 25,000 miles after being released from the aquarium that rehabilitated her. Informational and awe-inspiring, Yoshi and the Ocean is a gorgeous picture book about patience, perseverance, the ocean, and finding your way home. A transformative story about the incredible journeys animals make and the interconnectedness of the natural world. In 1997, a young loggerhead sea turtle was rescued from the ocean after an injury to her shell. The fishermen who rescued her named her Yoshi and took her to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa. She was rehabilitated there and grew stronger--and larger!--every day. She also became one of the most popular exhibits at the aquarium. After twenty years in captivity, Yoshi was released back into the ocean and traveled more than 25,000 miles in 1,003 days to find her way home. A tracking device on her shell transmitted data about her journey to marine biologists and turtle enthusiasts of all ages around the world. Lindsay Moore's gorgeous watercolor paintings enrich her moving, lyrical, and informative text. This picture book touches on topics such as conservation, oceanography, natural selection, the food chain, currents, and geography, making Yoshi and the Ocean an ideal choice for parents, teachers, librarians, and anyone interested in nature and the ocean. Includes a map of Yoshi's journey, information about sea turtles and how you can help them, and additional resources.
 
Cover ArtThe World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson; Leo Espinosa (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780399545498
Publication Date: 2022-05-10
Two children's book superstars--#1 New York Times bestseller Jacqueline Woodson, the author of The Day You Begin, and Leo Espinosa, the illustrator of Islandborn­--join forces to celebrate the joy and freedom of summer in the city, which is gloriously captured in their rhythmic text and lively art. It's getting hot outside, hot enough to turn on the hydrants and run through the water--and that means it's finally summer in the city! Released from school and reveling in their freedom, the kids on one Brooklyn block take advantage of everything summertime has to offer: Freedom from morning till night to go out to meet their friends and make the streets their playground--jumping double Dutch, playing tag and hide-and-seek, building forts, chasing ice cream trucks, and best of all, believing anything is possible. That is, till their moms call them home for dinner. But not to worry--they know there is always tomorrow to do it all over again--because the block belongs to them and they rule their world.
 
Cover ArtYellow Dog Blues by Alice Faye Duncan; Chris Raschka (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780802855534
Publication Date: 2022-09-01
A lyrical road trip through the Mississippi Delta, exploring the landmarks that shaped one of America's most beloved musical traditions. One morning Bo Willie finds the doghouse empty and the gate wide open! Farmer Fred says Yellow Dog hit Highway 61 and started running. Aunt Jessie picks up Bo Willie in her pink Cadillac, and together they look for his missing puppy love. Their search leads them from juke joints to tamale stands to streets ringing with the music of B.B. King and Muddy Waters. Where, where did that Yellow Dog go? Acclaimed creators Alice Faye Duncan and Chris Raschka present a boogie-woogie journey along the Mississippi Blues Trail. With swinging free verse and stunning hand-stitched art, Yellow Dog Blues is a soulful fable about what happens when the blues grabs you and holds on tight.
 
Cover ArtYes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country by Kelly Yang
ISBN: 9780593463055
Publication Date: 2022-05-03
From #1 NYT bestselling author Kelly Yang comes a gorgeously illustrated picture book about Asian American changemakers doing everything they dreamed of and inspiring all of us to reach for new heights! From creating beautiful music like Yo-Yo Ma to flying to outer space like Franklin Chang-Díaz; from standing up to injustice like Fred Korematsu to becoming the first Asian American, Black and female vice president of the United States like Kamala Harris, this book illuminates the power of Asian Americans all over the country, in all sorts of fields.   Each spread is illustrated by a different renowned Asian American or Asian artist. Alongside the poetic main text, Yes We Will includes one-line biographies of the person or historical moment featured on the page, with extended biographies at the end. Readers of different ages and needs can use the book in different ways, from classroom discussions to bedtime readalouds and more.   Yes We Will answers the question, can we accomplish whatever we dream? With love, courage, determination, and lots of imagination, we can--and we will!   
 
Cover ArtEverything in Its Place by Pauline David-Sax; Charnelle Pinkney Barlow (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780593378823
Publication Date: 2022-07-19
An inspiring and poetic story about reading, libraries, and overcoming shyness to find community. I gather the books in my arms, and give them a hug. "Welcome back," I whisper.   Nicky is a shy girl who feels most at home in the safe space of her school library, but the library closes for a week and Nicky is forced to face her social anxiety. When she meets a group of unique, diverse, inspiring women at her mother's diner--members of a women's motorcycle club--Nicky realizes that being different doesn't have to mean being alone, and that there's a place for everyone. Book lovers of all ages will find inspiration in this beautiful love letter to reading--and how words help us find empathy and connections with the world around us.
 
Cover ArtFish and Wave by Sergio Ruzzier (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780063076662
Publication Date: 2022-05-17
Let's read comics! I Can Read Comics is an early reader line that familiarizes children with the world of graphic novel storytelling and encourages visual literacy in emerging readers. When a tiny wave grows bigger and bigger, what's a fish to do Fish and Wave by Sergio Ruzzier is a playful exploration of what it really means to go with the flow. Fish and Wave is a Level One I Can Read Comic, a simple story for shared reading.  
 
 
Cover ArtA Walk Through the Rain Forest by Martin Jenkins; Vicky White (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781536211207
Publication Date: 2022-10-18
The award-winning team behind Can We Save the Tiger? and Ape invites young readers to explore the breathtaking biodiversity of a Malaysian tropical rain forest. Conservation biologist Martin Jenkins and acclaimed fine artist Vicky White expertly guide readers into the complex ecosystem of Malaysia's Taman Negara. Conversational prose and photorealistic black-and-white artwork--punctuated by four jaw-dropping full-color spreads--evoke the whir of cicadas and the low call of a pheasant. Pages fill with ants and elephants, leopards and hornbills, gibbons and bats, as animals spread and fertilize seeds to help maintain a magnificent old-growth forest. Every living thing in the rain forest is interconnected, and a dazzling full-color index guide at the end of the book challenges readers to circle back and marvel at animals they may have missed in the dense foliage. Meticulously researched and visually arresting, this creative tour de force is a young conservationist's dream: the ecotour of a lifetime.
 
Cover ArtToo Early by Nora Ericson; Elly MacKay (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781419742071
Publication Date: 2022-11-08
A gentle, cozy story following a family's bleary-eyed wake-up routine, a little one who's eager to start the day, and the quiet magic of early morningsI wake up very early.Good morning, Sun, on your way at last. You don't wake up nearly as early as I do. Now the wind is waking.Tickle tickle on my cheeks,rustle rustle through the leaves. Birds untuck and start to coo,Whooo whooo, you wake up too early, yes you doooo . . . In sweet, melodic verse written from the perspective of the earliest riser, Too Early follows a family's morning routine, exploring both the groggy haze and the everyday magic inherent in the predawn hours of a loving household.
 
 
 
 
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Have you read Flowers for Algernon written by Daniel Keyes? Originally published in 1959 in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, this work of fiction went on to win both Nebula and Hugo awards. Read on to hear what Millie has to say about this classic work. Also, Max recommends a new pandemic-inspired graphic novel and Camden suggests a favorite book in the popular Discworld series written by Briton Terry Pratchett.

 

Millie recommends . . .

Cover ArtFlowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

“How strange it is that people of honest feelings and sensibility, who would not take advantage of a man born without arms or legs or eyes—how such people think nothing of abusing a man with low intelligence.”

Daniel Keyes’ banned novel is about a mentally disabled adult who underwent an experimental surgery to ‘correct’ his disability. The most successful of the test operations was on Algernon, a white mouse that Charlie Gordon forms a connection with. Gordon gains extraordinary intelligence as time goes on. Though this intellect increases, it is apparent that his emotional and social growth is less than ideal. Charlie struggles with the memories of his past, and what they mean for his current relationships to those around him. As he learns more about who he was, and who he is now, he struggles to find a complete identity. Gordon grapples with institutional politics, the limitations of learning, and what it means to be human.  With his new found abilities, Gordon begins to help the researchers of his own experiment, finding the fatal flaw that will be his, and Algernon’s, demise.  
Find Flowers for Algernon in the library catalog Here
Also available for digital checkout:
Montana Library2Go/Libby eBook and audiobook
Hoopla eBook and audiobook
Read more about the author Here

 
 
 
Camden recommends . . .

Cover ArtGoing Postal by Terry Pratchett

What happens when a con man is forced to take on a major corporation in a magic city just starting to embrace industrialization?  A war of words, trickery, and base cunning elevated to the truly majestic!  While Going Postal is a book firmly set in the Discworld canon, it's a fine jumping on point for anyone who adores watching the little guy take on the giant and possible finding redemption at the end of his story

Find Going Postal in the library catalog Here
Also available for digital checkout:
Montana Library2Go/Libby  audiobook
Hoopla eBook and audiobook
Read more about the author Here

 
 

 

Max recommends . . .

Cover ArtDog Biscuits by Alex Graham

This graphic novel employs storytelling, psychosocial theories, and expressionist surrealism to explore the complex, interrelated lives of several Seattleites who find themselves embroiled in the conflict, uncertainty, and perpetual anxiety of the COVID-19 pandemic. Graham captures humanity in captivating vacillations between the intellectual, the explicit, and the humorous and mundane.
Find Dog Biscuits in the library catalog Here

 
 
We hope you are finding new and interesting titles to read and that you enjoy reading about some of our favorite books. Stop by the library and check out our Staff Picks display on the second floor.  Also, do you have a book recommendation?  Tell us about it and stay tuned for our new "Reader Picks" section -- books recommended by you, our cherished library patrons.
See you at the library!
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