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Recommended for Kids

Roll With It

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Roll With It by Jamie Sumner
Format: Book, Audiobook
Who it’s for: Kids

Ellie has big dreams—she doesn’t just want to be a good baker for a twelve-year-old, she wants to be a great baker, period. Sure, she’s got her challenges—like the aide who has to follow her around the whole school day—but with good news from her doctor, things are looking up.

Then Ellie and her mom have to move so they can help take care of her grandpa, whose dementia is getting worse. Now she’s the new kid at a tiny school, and the only one who uses a wheelchair. Ellie thinks she just might reach her breaking point—until the oddball neighbor kids become, unexpectedly, her friends. Find it in the catalog.

The Cool Bean

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Book: The Cool Bean by John Jory
Format: Book
Who’s It For: Children of All Ages

Who hasn’t wanted to be a cool bean? To be like the “in” crowd? To have that certain “je ne sais quoi”?

In this picture book, our main character, a nameless bean, tries to be a cool bean. He tries to wear the right shades, to adopt their swagger and hairstyles. Yet, none are a fit for him. Although he used to hang out with the cool beans, now he feels like a has-bean. He snorts, he stumbles, he feels awkward and unpopular.

Yet one day, some cool beans show him some unexpected kindness. And our bean begins to wonder, “Does true ‘coolness’ actually come from the outward trimmings like sunglasses?”  Perhaps those things don’t amount to a hill of beans.

Our everyday bean tries being kind to others.  He does nice things in his own way.  He likes it.  He explores hanging out with the cool beans and being alone and content with himself.  And he discovers his very own definition of being a cool bean.

This was a gentle and humorous look at accepting oneself and exploring one’s place in the world.  And if you loved other books illustrated by Pete Oswald like The Good Egg and The Bad Seed, then this one is a must-see!

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Being Frog

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Book Cover of "Being Frog" by April Pulley SayreBeing Frog by April Pulley Sayre
Publication/Release Date:
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Kids

Frogs are fascinating, and Being Frog by April Pulley Sayre is a beautiful look at these amphibians for young naturalists. Stunning photos and simple rhyming text show a tiny frog egg growing into a tadpole, then a tiny froglet able to leave the water. Readers then follow one day in the life of a green frog in a North American woodland pond: we see the frog swimming, climbing, hunting, missing its prey, and trying again. The author Sayre uses simple language to show that frogs are living creatures with their own needs, habitats, and behaviors- not playthings, but wild animals. An author’s note gives more information about how she observed and photographed the frogs over many months to create this lovely book, which is perfect for the youngest nature-lovers.

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Pink is for Boys

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Pink is for Boys by Robb Pearlman
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Kids

This delightful picture book has one simple but important message: “all the colors are for everyone.” It opens with the title “pink is for boys” but is quickly followed by “and for girls” and the accompanying illustrations tenderly depict all genders of children enjoying pink bow ties and party dressed. Each color of the rainbow is then presented in turn and coupled with bright illustrations showing that yes indeed, anyone can enjoy any color that their heart desires, making it a perfect read for anyone who wants to challenge gender stereotypes.

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Anya and the Dragon

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Cover of the book "Anya and the Dragon"Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Publication Date: September, 2019

Format: Book

Who it’s for: Kids

Set in a fantasy world based on 10th-century Russia, this is the story of Anya, the only Jewish girl in a small village. Things are already hard for her family- other villagers discriminate against them for their faith, and her father was drafted into the Tsar’s army. Now the family is about to be evicted from their home if they can’t pay the tax, and they don’t have the money. But the Tsar is offering a reward for anyone who can find a dangerous river dragon that’s said to live nearby, and Anya is determined to do whatever it takes to get the prize and save her family. She teams up with a boy named Ivan (who has seven older brothers also named Ivan), and they set out to hunt for the monster. There are others on the same quest, including a cold-hearted Viking named Sigurd who wants to kill the dragon before it can be captured. Anya and Ivan discover that the lands around their village are full of hidden magical creatures, and that nothing is what it seems- not even the dragon. They’ll have to make choices about right and wrong, duty and loyalty, and fight to save what they hold dear.

Find this book in the catalog.

 

Dragon Post

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Dragon Post by Emma Yarlett
Format: Book
Who Its For: Children

One day Alex finds a dragon. He’s always wanted one (and who hasn’t, really?) but being an intelligent and thoughtful boy, he quickly realizes he’s a bit over his head in this dragon-rearing adventure. So he reaches out for help with his dragon questions by writing letters to various dragon “experts” and soon receives letters back. Your readers will love opening the mail that Alex receives which are included in the book, and reading the wonderful, quirky replies. Alex follows their helpful instructions as his little friend quickly grows. His kindly experts and friends help Alex to make the best decisions along the way for himself and his dragon. A grand celebration of letter writing, friendship and of course, dragons!

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