​Nicole Maxwell & Carolyn Angus
In memory of beloved children’s author Beverly Cleary (1916-2021), who was born on April 12, April is Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) Month, an annual celebration inspiring teachers and students in their classrooms and families at home to take 30 minutes a day to read for pleasure. Join in the celebration by reading some of the books reviewed below this month and keep it going throughout the year by enjoying reading together recently published books as well as old favorites.

​Brave Baby Hummingbird. Sy Montgomery. Illus. by Tiffany Bozic. (2024). Paula Wiseman.
“I am one of the lightest birds in the sky.” In naturalist Sy Montgomery’s latest picture book, a hummingbird tells the story of his early life, hatching from a tiny egg in a nest no bigger than a quarter two days after his sister and being fed every twenty minutes by their mother. One day, however, he does not feel the breeze of his mother’s hovering wings that signals her return to them with food. By nighttime, the baby birds are scared, cold, and hungry. The next day, the two are rescued. Montgomery’s informative story of these orphaned baby birds and their development under the care of trained hummingbird rehabilitators until they are ready to be released into the wild is enhanced by Tiffany Bozic’s stunning acrylic artwork featuring the male hummingbird and his sister, as well as other species of hummingbirds. Back matter includes an author’s note, a “Hummingbird Highlights” section on the characteristics and behavior of the amazing hummingbird, and suggestions on how readers can help hummingbirds in their own backyards. (PreK Up)
—CA

​Bunny and Clyde. Megan McDonald. Illus. by Scott Nash. (2024). Candlewick. Tired of being good, best friends Bunny Elizabeth Parker (a rabbit) and Clyde Chestnut Wheelbarrow (a chipmunk) decide to become baddies. Knowing nothing about how to be bad, they head to the library and check out books about characters who are good at being bad, including Interrupting Chicken, The Tale of Two Bad Mice, and Bad Kitty. Their first attempts at doing bad stuff in the neighborhood, such as pulling up all the pretty little yellow flowers (actually dandelions) in Darby the squirrel’s yard and toilet papering all of the rose bushes in Thorton the possum’s garden on a frosty night, end up being good deeds. Thinking bigger and “badder,” Bunny and Clyde make their own Wanted Dead or Alive poster and do the “biggest, baddest” thing they can think of, rob a bank (the librarian Rowena’s piggy bank). The heist doesn’t go as planned but leaves them enjoying a tasty penny candy reward and thinking about what to do the next day. Readers will be eager to discover what the duo will be up to in the sequel. (PreK Up)
—CA

​Don’t Trust Cats (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog #2). Dev Petty. Illus. by Mike Boldt. (2024). Doubleday.
In this hilarious picture book, Chip the Dog from Don’t Trust Bees (2022) is back with more life lessons. His primary lesson this time, of course, is not to trust cats. While Chip specifically references the family cat, Mittens, he also cautions against trusting cats that are “fluffy,” “stripy,” or have “big eyes.” Still, he assures the reader that there are plenty of other things you can trust, like your people, even though they lied that one time about going to the park and you ended up at the vet. The squirrels and birds you always chase that laugh “with you, not at you” are trustworthy, along with the skunk who looks like he wants to be friends. Mike Boldt’s vivid comic illustrations pair well with the text to portray an energetic, entertaining, and trusting (maybe too trusting at times) dog with a big, shiny nose and perfect puppy eyes. (PreK-Gr 2)
—NM

​Finally Heard. Kelly Yang. (2024). Simon & Schuster.
In the sequel to Kelly Yang’s middle grade novel Finally Seen (2023) in which Lina Gao was reunited with her family, who left her behind with her grandmother in Beijing when they immigrated to the United States, is navigating new challenges in fifth grade. She is taller than her classmates, uncomfortable in her own skin, and one of the only two students in the class without a phone. Even her mom has discovered the potential of going viral on social media to grow her bath bomb business. When she finally gets a phone, Lina thinks that being seen and heard online is just what she needs to build her confidence until she finds there is more to the world of social media and group chats than she ever expected. There is so much to see and process it is confusing and overwhelming. At least her two best friends, Carla and Finn, are by Lina’s side to help her manage this new set of challenges. Back matter includes an author’s note and an informative “Essential Research on Social Media and Kids.” (Gr 3 Up)
—NM

​Fox versus Fox (Fox #6). Corey R. Tabor. (2024). Balzer + Bray.
When Fox, the red fox first introduced in Fox the Tiger (2018), meets a white fox also named Fox, he is determined to show that they both can’t be foxes by pointing out his foxy skills of doing tricks, being sneaky, and jumping, all of which the white fox can do as well, although in a different way. However, when the competition accelerates to jumping higher and takes them soaring up into the sky, they both realize that foxes cannot fly. Bravely facing disaster, they cling together as they fall, plunging into a lake and finding out the foxes can swim—and can be friends. Corey R. Tabor’s humorous illustrations and use of short sentences and repetition of words in his latest Fox tale makes this “My First I Can Read!” book prefect for shared reading between an adult and emergent reader. Consider sharing earlier books about this tricky fox while waiting for the next book in the series, Fox Plays Ball, to be released in October. (PreS Up)
—CA

Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf (Gina Kaminski #2). Craig Barr-Green. Illus. by Francis Martin. (2024). Kane Miller.
Meet Gina Kaminski, a creative, spirited, neurodivergent little girl who thinks in threes. She begins by telling readers three reasons why school is “rubbish” on that particular day because her classroom is “too hot,” “smelly,” and “loud,” referencing her chart with emojis she uses to describe her feelings. When she has the opportunity to go to the more “sensory-friendly” reading room where Anya reads Little Red Riding Hood to her, Gina proclaims that Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf made three big mistakes. She decides to visit fairy-tale land so that she can fix the mistakes in the story—and perhaps also her feelings about her day at school. Through sketch-like, animated illustrations, Francis Martin artfully captures Gina’s feisty nature and determination to make things right for the wolf. Watch for Gina’s next adventure, Gina Kaminski Rescues the Giant, out in August. (PreK-Gr 2)
—NM

​Is This a House for Hermit Crab? Megan McDonald. Illus. by Katherine Tillston. (2024). Neal Porter.
When Hermit Crab grows too big for the shell on his back, he crawls out of the water and searches along the sandy beach for a new house that will hide him from predators. “He stepped along the shore. / by the sea, in the sand . . . / scritch-scratch, scritch-scratch . . .” He finds various things including a rock, a tin can, a small plastic pail, and a fishing net, none of which are suitable to be his new house. When a big wave washes Hermit Crab back out to sea, he finally finds the perfect house, the empty shell of a sea snail, just in time to avoid being devoured by a prickly porcupine fish. This new edition of Megan McDonald’s classic picture book (originally published in 1990 with illustrations by S. D. Schindler) is complemented by  Katherine Tillotson’s colorful mixed-media artwork. Back matter includes an author’s note and a new informative “More About Hermit Crabs” section. (PreK Up)
—CA

​Menus for Meerkats and Other Hungry Animals. Ben Hoare. Illus. by Hui Skipp. (2024). Kane Miller.
In this informational companion to Maps for Penguins and Other Traveling Animals (2023), young readers learn about the eating habits of ten hungry animals from around the world: meerkats, scarlet macaws, grizzly bears, great white sharks, koalas, dung beetles, orangutans, Indian cobras, blue whales, and lions. For each animal, Ben Hoare presents a “menu” broken down into main course, sides, and drinks. For example, the scarlet macaw enjoys nuts, fruits, and leaves for its main course while having sap and clay as sides and drinking water from rivers, streams, and pools in the rain forest. An additional “dinner with …” double spread provides facts about the animal’s size, habitat, and where they fit in the food chain. Hui Skipp’s brightly colored and richly detailed illustrations invite readers to look closely at what they reveal. A glossary and an index are included. (PreK Up)
—NM

​My Antarctica: True Adventures in the Land of Mummified Seals, Space Robots, and So Much More. G. Neri. Illus. by Corban Wilkin. (2024) Candlewick.
G. Neri tells the true story of how his childhood dream of being an explorer came true in this memoir of his epic seven-week journey to “the most extreme place on Earth” made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation Artists and Writers Program. Neri’s chatty field guide to Antarctica is a record of his adventures while based at McMurdo Station with scientists and support staff in the form of a scrapbook filled with captioned color photographs (many taken by Neri), cartoon illustrations with dialogue balloons created digitally by Corban Wilkins, maps, diagrams, and numerous interest-catching lists, such as “Things You Won’t Find in Antarctica” versus “Things You Will Find,” and “Critters of Antarctica, Neri kept in a notebook. Back matter includes an author’s note, miscellaneous “facts and stuff” about the continent, a ‘”Big Questions About Antarctica” section, recommended source material (books, films/TV, and websites), acknowledgments, photo credits, and an index. (Gr 3-5)
—CA

​Wake Up, Woodlands. Karen Jameson. Illus. by March Boutavant. (2024). Chronicle.
 “Wake up, Little Whiskers. / No more storming / Woods are warming / Sweep your sleepy dreams away. / Scamper out to meet the day.” Author Karen Jameson and illustrator Mac Boutavant’s follow-up to Woodland Dreams (2020) paints a picture of spring awakening in the forest through a lively rhyming text and double-page spreads of digital artwork with rich detail. They offer vignettes that provide glimpses of baby animals, including bunnies, a honey bee, and a bear cub, being awaken and encouraged to greet the new day as a mother, father, child, and dog hurry on their way through the woodlands in a spring celebration of their own. Together, the text and illustrations create a feeling of hope and anticipation for a joyful start to a new day in spring. (PreK-Gr 2)
—NM

​Nicole Maxwell
 
April is Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) Month, an annual celebration encouraging teachers and students in classrooms and families at home to spend at least 30 minutes each day reading for pleasure throughout the month.  Consider continuing to celebrate D.E.A.R. throughout the year by reading new books, like the ones reviewed in this column, or your old favorites each day.

​Cinderella—with Dogs! Linda Bailey. Illus. by Freya Hartas. (2023). Nancy Paulsen.
When Cinderella is left behind sweeping ashes from the fireplace while everyone else is attending a ball at the palace, she wishes for a fairy godmother to get her to the party.  Instead of a fairy godmother, her fairy dogmother shows up dressed in a pink tutu. Once Cinderella clarifies that the ball she is interested in is a dance and not something to play with, her fairy dogmother uses her wand to dress Cinderella in a gown made from an old dog blanket and gives her a poodle hairstyle. The doggish twists continue as Cinderella goes to the ball (although not in the classic manner of traveling in a carriage) where she enjoys dancing with the prince and frolicking with the hoard of royal dogs in attendance. With playful cartoonlike illustrations, Freya Hartas, portrays a joyful account of the silly events in Linda Bailey’s comical retelling of this traditional fairy tale. (PreK-Gr 2) 

​Don’t Touch That Flower! (Squirrel & Bird #2). Alice Hemming. Illus. by Nicola Slater. (2023). Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.
Squirrel wakes up one morning to the sounds of a bird calling and bees buzzing, and not knowing what is happening, shouts to his friend Bird to inquire about what he has observed. Thus begins their conversation about signs of spring. When Squirrel notices a “small and yellow and perfect” flower growing on the ground between his tree and Bird’s, he claims it as his own and decides to protect it. However, Squirrel’s ideas for protecting the flower, such as holding an umbrella over it to keep it from getting wet, go against what flowers really need to flourish. Bird patiently helps Squirrel understand what flowers need and that, like everything in nature, they are for everyone. Nicola Slater’s vibrant digital illustrations featuring these best friends and their surroundings bring the excitement of discovering early signs of spring to life! The “Our Flowers” endnote includes flower facts that encourage discussion. (PreK-Gr 2) 

​Here We Go Digging for Dinosaur Bones (Board Book Edition). Susan Lendroth. Illus. by Bob Kolar. (2023). Charlesbridge.
Young children can read along—or sing along to the tune of “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush”—as they join four young paleontologists who go digging for dinosaur bones “on a warm and sunny morning” in this lyrical patterned text that shares the steps from setting out for a fossil dig to assembling a museum exhibit of a T. rex. skeleton. Sidebars in smaller print presenting related facts about fossils, paleontologists, and dinosaurs are integrated on the double-page spreads. Additionally, written instructions with accompanying illustrations of hand motions for acting out the story while singing along are included at the back of the book. Bob Kolar’s brightly colored cartoon illustrations featuring both male and female children of different skin tones are perfect for engaging young readers and sharing the message that anyone can study dinosaurs. (PreK-Gr 2) 

​Home Away from Home. Cynthia Lord. (2023). Scholastic.
For as long as she can remember, 11-year-old Mia and her mother have visited her grandmother every summer. This summer, however, Mia’s mom is staying in Ohio to get their house ready to sell while Mia visits her grandmother in Stone Harbor, Maine, alone. Although her mom sees the move as a new start after her divorce, Mia views it as another unwanted change in her life. She is grateful to spend time at her grandmother’s, where she expects everything will be the same. However, she finds that her grandmother has befriended a new boy in town named Cayman, who acts as if he belongs at her house. When Cayman and Mia observe the eaglets in a nest on his property, they see a strange bird attacking the eagles’ nest. Mia is determined to figure out what kind of bird it is before Cayman can. Her posting of a photo she takes of it on a birder website results in its identification, but also has some serious consequences. How Mia deals with the unwelcomed effects on the birds, the town, and her relationships makes this coming-of-age story an engaging middle-grade novel.  (Gr 3 Up) 

​Once Upon a Book. Grace Lin & Kate Messner. Illus. by Grace Lin. (2023). Little, Brown.
Alice longs to go to a place that is not “frozen and gray” so she does not have to stay inside without anything to do. Suddenly, she notices the pages of a book fluttering on the floor nearby. As she starts reading about a girl who went to a place “alive with colors” and warm, birds in the illustration on the page invite Alice into their lush tropical habitat. Once the rain starts in the rainforest, she wishes to be somewhere less “steamy and drippy,” and camels invite her to turn the page and come into their dry desert. Each time Alice wishes to travel to a new setting, a turn of the page transfers her there until she finds herself in outer space and wishing to be someplace that wasn’t so lonely. For the reader, Grace Lin’s vibrant, full-color illustrations match the poetic and expressive language of her and Kate Messner’s prose to create a feeling of being with Alice in the various locations. Lin’s depiction of Alice in a dress with words from a book printed on it before she begins to read the book and the fact that the color of her dress blends into the varying environments visited effectively suggests the idea of getting lost in a book. (PreK-Gr 2) 

​Snoopy Soars to Space (Peanuts Graphic Novels). Charles M. Schulz. (2023). Simon Spotlight.
This collection of eight original stories includes the previously published Peanuts graphic novel The Beagle Has Landed, Charlie Brown! (2014) and short stories of Snoopy and the Peanuts gang’s “out of-this-world” adventures, as well as a new story, “Kickoff to the Moon,” about Snoopy’s feathered friend Woodstock’s trip to the moon. The book also features some of Charles M. Schulz’s classic comic strips. At the end of the book, fans can see behind-the-scenes sketches from the creation of The Beagle Has Landed, Charlie Brown! Readers who love these stories will also enjoy the next book in the Peanuts Graphic Novel series, Adventures with Linus and Friends! (2023). (Gr 3 Up)

 The Spooky Story (Paige Proves It #2). Amy Marie Stadelmann. (2023). Aladdin.
In this second mystery in Amy Marie Stadelmann’s graphic novel chapter book series, Paige investigates the Evergreen Street Music School to determine if it is haunted like her best friend, Penn, claims. As a self-described “fact collector,” Paige begins by creating a list of facts from her friend Karla related to the supposed hauntings. Using this list as a guide in her investigation, she begins to examine the evidence with her friends by her side. Pencil drawings that are digitally colored accompany the words depicting the story of Paige’s investigation, including her diary entries of facts she discovers along the way. Readers will enjoy joining Paige as she sticks to the facts to prove whether Evergreen Street Music School is haunted or not. (Gr 3-5) 

​Stanley’s Secret. John Sullivan. Illus. by Zach Manbeck. (2023). Paula Wiseman.
Stanley is a young, brown-skinned boy who is shy and quiet. Stanley has a secret. He loves tap dancing! He dreams of performing on a big stage one day. He is too afraid to tell anyone so only performs for his pet mice, Squeakers and Nibbles. However, sometimes he helps the school janitor and dances in his tap shoes while he cleans, which is how his talent is discovered by the principal. Principal Reynolds insists that he audition for the upcoming talent show, because “talent should be shared.” After accidentally “auditioning” while cleaning the stage, Stanley begins to move toward overcoming his fear of dancing before an audience. Zach Manbeck’s colored pencil-and-gouache illustrations change in saturated tones from predominantly blue to yellow in which Stanley shines while doing what he loves. (PreK-Gr 2) 

​Sunny and Oswaldo. Nicole Melleby. Illus. by Alexandra Colombo. (2023). Algonquin.
Sunny Swaroo is not fond of cats, and she hates the cat her dad adopts named Oswaldo. She refers to Oswaldo as “old and dirty and cranky,” and does not know why her Dad likes him. He is mean and hisses at her. However, her dad and Oswaldo have a special relationship. They understand and love each other. When Oswaldo, who frequently disappears all day, fails to return one night, Sunny is delighted and sleeps well, while her dad is upset and unable to sleep. Since Sunny wants her dad to be happy again, she decides to help him look for Oswaldo. Is there any chance they will find Oswaldo and that Sunny and Oswaldo can learn to like each other? Alexandra Colombo’s expressive cartoon illustrations complement the story as they clearly communicate the feelings of the characters, both human and feline. Together, the words and illustrations convey a message about the significance of family, friendship, and empathy. (PreK-Gr 2) 

​Whose Egg Is That? (Whose Is That? #3). Darrin Lunde. Illus. by Kelsey Oseid. (2023). Charlesbridge.
This latest book in the Whose Is That? nonfiction picture book series by Darrin Lunde invites readers to guess whose egg is painted in its actual size against a white background on the first of a series of double-spread pages. The pages that follow include the answer and a couple of facts about the egg. Kelsey Oseid’s realistic illustrations on these pages show the animal’s nest as well as the adult and its habitat. The eggs are those of birds (robin, ostrich, penguin, killdeer), a reptile (leatherback sea turtle), a mammal (platypus)—and even a fossilized egg of a dinosaur. Readers interested in learning additional facts about eggs can check out the “Eggcellent Egg Facts” at the end of the book. (PreK-Gr 2) 

​Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends (Ready-to-Read Graphics). Kaz Windness. (2023). Simon Spotlight.
In this Level 1 Ready-to-Read Graphics book, young readers are introduced to the format of a graphic novel by having Worm and Caterpillar explain how to read their story with its panels and speech bubbles in a “How to Read This Book” section. Through simple dialogue between Worm and Caterpillar, readers learn that they are best friends. Worm believes they are best friends because they are the same, but Caterpillar points out that they are not the same for various reasons. Caterpillar also knows change is coming and worries about what will happen to their friendship when he is no longer a caterpillar. Kaz Windness’s expressive cartoon illustrations accompany the easy give-and-take of the dialogue between the animated characters to create an engaging tale of a friendship that endures despite differences and change. (PreK-Gr 2)

​Nicole Maxwell
What began as National Drop Everything and Read Day on April 12th (the birthday of popular children’s book author Beverly Cleary) has become an annual month-long celebration in classrooms in April. Join the 2022 D.E.A.R. celebration by dropping whatever you are doing to read for a period of time each day during April and then keep the celebration going throughout the year. 

​All Star: How Larry Doby Smashed the Color Barrier in Baseball. Audrey Vernick. Illus. by Cannaday Chapman. (2022). Clarion. 
African American Larry Doby (1923-2003) grew up in a time when the color of his skin was a barrier to his playing Major League Baseball despite his remarkable athletic talent. When Jackie Robinson was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers, it seemed change was beginning. Doby, who was playing in the Negro League, became the second Black player in Major League Baseball and the first in the American League when he joined the Cleveland Indians in July 1947 (less than three months after Robinson made his debut in the National League). He faced racism from teammates, opposing teams, and fans alike. Audrey Vernick’s engaging text and Cannady Chapman’s vivid digital illustrations clearly depict Doby’s struggles to overcome racial discrimination in Major League Baseball. This biography would be a timely read-aloud choice for opening a discussion about the fight against discrimination in sports that still continues to this day.
Back matter includes an author’s note with additional facts about Doby’s life and accomplishments and a bibliography. (Gr 3-5)

​Big Dog, Little Dog. Sally Rippin. Illus. by Lucinda Gifford. (2022). Kane Miller. 
Big Dog had everything he needed and loved the life he lived with his human friend. However, all of that changed when Little Dog came into the picture. Once Little Dog moved in, Big Dog just had to find a way to get rid of him. In a series of amusing stunts, including stealing socks that he places on Little Dog’s bed and pulling bread off the dinner table that he drops in front of Little Dog, Big Dog makes his best effort to paint Little Dog as a troublemaker before adjusting to the addition of a new family member. This story of struggling to adapt to changes at home is effectively communicated through Sally Rippin’s simple text and Lucinda Gifford’s colorful illustrations. (PreK-Gr 2)

​Endlessly Ever After: Pick Your Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings! Laurel Snyder. Illus. by Dan Santat. (2022). Chronicle. 
For lovers of fractured fairy tales, this book offers the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood with twists. Just how the tale turns out depends on the reader, who chooses the path of the storyline throughout the book. At the beginning, the reader assumes the role of Rosie, whose mama wants her to take a cake to her ailing grandmother. First, she has to choose which coat to wear. Will it be a “faux” fur coat or red cape? From there, her journey can take any number of paths depending on the choice the reader makes to the reoccurring question, “What next, Rosie?” The use of “endlessly” in the title is clever and fitting. As Laurel Snyder’s rhyming verse details Rosie’s misadventures, Dan Santat’s double-spread illustrations filled with characters and objects from other fairy tales add to the uncertainty, humor, or impending doom that comes from the path that is chosen. (PreK Up)

​Eyes That Speak to the Stars. Joanna Ho. Illus. by Dung Ho. (2022). Harper.  
This companion to Eyes That Kiss in the Corners (2021) carries a similar message of embracing oneself. The book starts with a young Chinese American boy lamenting his friend’s depiction of him in a “My Friends” drawing in which his eyes look like lines rather than round like those of his other friends. As he is reminded of his extraordinary heritage by his Baba (father) and Agong (grandfather), the refrain “eyes that speak to the stars” is repeated. Joanna Ho’s lyrical text is accompanied by Dung Ho’s stunning illustrations that vividly expand on the details shared in words. Readers can see what Agong’s eyes have seen over the years from rice paddies to night markets and how important cultural elements awaken his grandson’s pride in his heritage. (PreK-Gr 2)

​Even Robots Aren’t Perfect! Jan Thomas. (2022). Beach Lane. 
In three silly stories, the friendship of Blue Robot and Red Robot is tested. While painting, attempting to avoid rusting, and undertaking the “perfect plan,” one of the robots inevitably makes a mistake or says something wrong and offends the other. Nevertheless, by the end of each story, they realize that they can still be friends since even they aren’t perfect. This early reader in comic-book format features panels of humorous artwork, rendered digitally in a palette of primary colors, with the conversation between the two robots in speech bubbles. Jan Thomas takes readers on comical adventures and offers a valuable lesson about the ups and downs of friendship and the importance of forgiveness. (PreK Up)

​It’s the End of the World and I’m in My Bathing Suit. Justin A. Reynolds. (2022). Scholastic. 
In this hilarious middle grade novel, 12-year-old African American Eddie Gordon Holloway’s perfect plan to avoid doing his laundry goes terribly wrong when his mom discovers his huge pile of dirty clothes on the day of the town’s biggest event of the summer, Beach Bash. While Eddie is forced to stay home to do his laundry (dressed in his only clean outfit, a bathing suit), the power goes out before he has finished the first load. What follows is a tale of how he and four neighborhood kids cope with a potential apocalypse. With relatable characters (Eddie has ADHD) and an entertaining storyline, this book is sure to interest even the most reluctant reader. Justin Reynolds pulls in readers from the beginning by addressing them from Eddie’s point of view. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers eager for the sequel. (Gr 3- 5)

​Just Help! How to Build a Better World. Sonya Sotomayor. Illus. by Angela Dominguez. (2022). Philomel. 
Just as the title suggests, this book, based on U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s childhood memories, promotes a powerful message of the impact helping others can have. Each morning, Sonia’s mother asks, “How will you help today?” Readers follow Sonia throughout her day as children and adults work to make a difference. Sonia and her classmates carry out various service projects, such as making care packages for American soldiers overseas, having a park cleanup day, donating to those in need, and helping to get out the vote on Election Day. Angela Dominguez’s cheerful illustrations show a diverse group of children and adults participating in activities to help make their community and the world a better place. (PreK-Gr 2)

​Once Upon a Tim. (Once Upon a Tim #1). Stuart Gibbs. Illus. by Stacy Curtis. (2022). Simon & Schuster.
Tim and his best friend, Belinda, are tired of living as peasants and willing to do whatever they can to change their station in life. When Princess Grace from the neighboring kingdom is kidnapped by a horrible monster with a “malodorous stench” known as the Stinx, they see it as their opportunity. They volunteer as knights and embark on the dangerous mission of saving the princess with their kingdom’s Prince Ruprecht and his wizard, Nerlim. Chock full of rich vocabulary comically defined along the way in “IQ booster” asides, this giggle-inducing chapter book takes readers on a precarious quest. Humorous black-and-white drawings interspersed throughout the book help tell the tale of their uncertain encounters. (Gr 3-5)

​Pig and Horse and the Something Scary. Zoey Abbott. (2022). Abrams. 
Pig wakes up feeling worried and visits her friend, Horse, in hopes of forgetting about what is bothering her. After Pig tells Horse that something in her head is scaring her, Horse suggests various activities—bike riding, swimming, and trying on silly hats—to help make what is scaring her go away. When these attempts prove unsuccessful, Horse suggests that they take “whatever-it-is” to tea so Pig can talk about what’s on her mind. It turns out that Pig has quite a bit to talk about. With whimsical illustrations accompanying the text, Zoey Abbott addresses the reality of fears and worries that many young children experience. Friendship and the value of talking about what you are going through with someone are clear themes in this delightful book. (PreK-Gr 2)

​Wombat Underground: A Wildlife Survival Story. Sarah L. Thomson. Illus. by Charles Santoso. (2022). Little, Brown. 
Through Sarah L. Thomson’s poetic language and Charles Santoso’s captivating, realistic illustrations, readers are introduced to several animals that live in the Australian outback: a wombat, a wallaby mother and her joey, an echidna, and a skink. While Wombat digs an underground burrow, each of the other animals is going about its normal activities in the bush until lightning strikes and starts a dangerous wildfire. As they flee for safety, Wombat’s underground home serves as a refuge for them all. In the author’s note, readers learn more about the realities of Australia’s fire season, especially the particularly devastating fires of 2019-2020 that destroyed somewhere between twenty-four and forty million acres of land. (PreK-Gr 2)

​The Year We Learned to Fly. Jacqueline Woodson. Illus. by Rafael López. (2022). Nancy Paulsen. 
Throughout the year, as a brother and sister navigate various feelings such as boredom at being cooped up in their apartment on a rainy day in spring, their grandmother encourages them to use their imaginations to take them someplace else. “Lift your arms, / close your eyes, / take a deep breath, / and believe in a thing.” Readers learn that the grandmother’s wise words come from her own experiences of “learning to fly” from her ancestors, who used their imaginations to withstand the horrors of slavery. Rafael López’s expressive mixed-media artwork done in bold colors helps bring the poetic text to life. In an author’s note, Jacqueline Woodson shares her inspiration, Virginia Hamilton’s The People Could Fly (1985), and asserts that imagining another way can be the first step towards change. (PreK-Gr 2)