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Recommended for Kids

Niko Draws a Feeling

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Niko Draws a Feeling by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Simone Shin
Who it’s for: Kids
Format: eBook

Niko carries his paper and colored pencils everywhere he goes, in case he is inspired to make a picture. He loves to draw, but Niko doesn’t draw the things he sees. Instead, he draws the way they make him feel. His parents, teacher, and friends don’t seem to understand his pictures. When Niko draws the way the sun feels warm on his face, they can’t understand why they don’t see the sun.

Niko draws a picture of himself and how he feels, but he doesn’t share it with anyone. Until one day, a new family with a girl Niko’s age moves in next door. Has Niko finally found someone who understands?

Niko Draws a Feeling shows children that art can be representative. It doesn’t always reflect actual things we can see. Sometimes it reflects how the artist feels. And as viewers of art, we all experience it differently as well. The illustrations in the book encourage children to think about what they see when they look at Niko’s pictures.

This title is part of OverDrive’s Always Available collection. The eBook is available with no wait on OverDrive/Libby for everyone with a library card!

Bonaparte Plays Ball

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Bonaparte Plays Ball by Margery Cuyler, illustrations by Will Terry
Format: Book
Who Its For: Kids

 

Aliens! Monsters! Skeletons! And …baseball??! Yes, you get all this and more in Bonaparte Plays Ball. It’s the Weird series and vying for the championship are the Little Monsters and the Mighty Aliens. Bonaparte, a determined little skeleton with an unfortunate habit of quite literally falling apart, is anxiously watching the game begin. The Aliens score a 3 run homer and pile on the insults, and he sees his teammates wilt under the onslaught. The Monsters are tagged out, struck out, and worn out; now it’s 5-0 Aliens! Can Coach Roach’s pep talk turn this team around? Can Bonaparte deliver for his team without going to pieces?

Margery Cuyler has hit a home run with this book, and fans of all things monster, alien or baseball are sure to agree. I think you’ll enjoy Will Terry’s creative illustrations too (looking at you aliens!).

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The Wolf Will Not Come

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The Wolf Will Not Come  by Myriam Ouyessad, illustrated by Ronan Badel
Who its For: Kids
Format: Book

It’s the end of the birthday celebration for Rabbit and time for bed. But Rabbit needs the answer to one burning question before sleep-“Are you sure the wolf will not come?” “Very sure”, Mom reassures little Rabbit. “The wolves are far away in the mountain woods”. But one anxious question leads to another. “There is a woods nearby, how can you be sure there is not a wolf hiding there?” asks Rabbit. “That woods is small. A wolf couldn’t hide there.” “But what if it knows how to stay out of sight?”. Question after question, as Rabbit imagines (with pictures to match on the opposite page) how a clever and crafty wolf could make it all the way to their apartment. Finally, “Goodnight, my Rabbit” says Mom and the room goes dark. Until… [Knock, Knock, Knock!] Who’s that? Is it the WOLF??? What do you think? This book filled with gentle French charm and mild suspense will keep your little ones guessing till the surprise ending.

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The Moon Within

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The Moon Within by Aida Salazar
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Kids

Celi Rivera has many questions. What should she do about these new feelings she has for her classmate Iván? How should she best support her closest friend as they experiment with their gender expression? And will her mother really insist on throwing her a traditional moon ceremony when Celi’s first period arrives? This lyrical novel in verse does a fantastic job of portraying that lifechanging and magical, yet incredibly awkward, prepubescent time in one’s life when it feels like there are more questions than answers. Like its forebear, Judy Blume’s Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret, this book would be an indisputably beneficial and relatable read for any person who has ever had questions about growing up.
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Fraggle Rock: Journey to the Everspring

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Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Journey to the Everspring by Kate Leth and Jake Myler
Format: eBook
Who it’s for: Kids, Teens, Adults, Everyone

Dance your cares away! Worry’s for another day! Let the music play! Down at Fraggle Rock!

If you’re a fan of the Fraggles, you will love this graphic novel adventure. When a drought unexpectedly hits Fraggle Rock, our favorite Fraggle friends–practical Gobo, anxious Wembley, boisterous Red, mellow Mokey, and cautious Boober–must travel in search of the fabled Everspring, the source of Fraggle Rock’s water supply. Their journey takes many twists and turns, as they avoid spooky creatures, discover the Crystal Caves, and meet a new and unusual colony of Doozers!

The story has themes of friendship, finding one’s purpose, and environmental stewardship, and if you’re thinking “The thing I love most about Fraggle Rock are the great musical numbers,” well, this book has those too!

This Journey to the Everspring is fun for the whole family, and it’s available electronically via Hoopla, along with other Fraggle comics! It’s a great time to virtually hang out with the carefree Fraggles, so look them up in our catalog today.

Spider in a Glider

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Spider in a Glider by Lesley Sims and David Semple
Format: Book
Who It’s For: Kids

Spider in a Glider is another in the wonderful series of Usborne Phonics Readers. With a great rhyming structure and a terrific story this one will keep your kiddos totally entertained! Spider, a highly accomplished string-spinner is not satisfied. More than anything she wants to fly. But even with her beautifully spun wings, it is just not working. Her friend Beetle has the same passion for flight and he invites Spider to join him in his spiffy homemade glider. They climb aboard and strap in. Dragonfly tows the glider up high in the air! They’re flying!! The two friends loop and glide and enjoy the amazing view, until a sudden thunderstorm pops up. Your littles will love reading about Spider and Beetle’s narrow escape and ongoing friendship. Grownups will also like the helpful phonics information in the back of the book and everyone will enjoy the clear colorful illustrations full of movement and joy.   If you liked Spider in a Glider, try Crow in the Snow, or Bee Makes Tea!

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