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Recommended for Kids

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.

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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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New Kid

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New Kid by Jerry Craft
Format: Graphic Novel
Who it’s for:  Kids, Teens, Adults

Jordan Banks is starting his 7th grade year in a new school.  A new PRIVATE school with lots of privilege and not a lot of diversity.  He really wishes to go to art school, but his parents think this new private school will be good for him.  It’s never easy for a new kid in any school, but this one isn’t in his neighborhood and none of his friends go there.  The first person he meets doesn’t even talk to him.  He quickly notices that he is one of the few black kids.  And yet, he makes friends and soon finds his way navigating the new school.  Now he’s worried he is going to lose his friends in his neighborhood.

Jerry Craft shows us what it is like to be the new kid.  And, he teaches us about micro-aggressions against marginalized groups.  We see the white teacher that can never get the black kids’ names right   And, we see the black kid getting the blame for what the bad white kid did.  Craft teaches us about racism and bias.  Jordan finds out that even he is biased when he has to sit with the weird girl and finds out more about her.

While there wasn’t a big story line other than what it is like to be a new kid in middle school, I think this is an important read for kids today.  You see Jordan’s perspective as a black kid, as a minority.  It’s funny and relatable and I think kids will like it.  I hope that Jerry Craft makes this a series so that we can learn more about Jordan and his friends.

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Your Happiest You: the care & keeping of your mind and spirit

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Your Happiest You: the care & keeping of your mind and spirit by Judy Woodburn
Format: book
Who it’s for: Kids & Teens

Being happy is something we want for our kids but how can we help them get there?  This book is full of great insight and practical ideas about achieving happiness and is written in an inviting style that makes it very accessible to elementary and middle school age kids.

We teach our kids to take care of their bodies by eating right, exercising, and brushing their teeth so it makes sense to help them learn to take care of their mind and spirit at the same time.  With this book, kids can try out simple exercises to find internal calm, have better relationships with friends and family, enjoy the world around them, and think about how their attitude affects their feelings.

This book is published by American Girl Publishing so it is more geared toward girls but the concepts and advice apply to boys just as well.  Another wonderful book in this Care & Keeping of You series is Liking Herself which talks about developing good self-esteem.

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Emily and the Mighty Om

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Emily and the Mighty Om by Sarah Lolley
Format: Book
Who’s it for: Children

Poor Albert has gotten himself all twisted up like a pretzel!  While practicing yoga, he attempted an especially tricky asana and found that he couldn’t untwist from it.  He thought it would be easy, but slowly found himself becoming more and more nervous until… his limbs just stayed stuck.  Laying there on the lawn, all twisted up from head to toe all he could manage to say was “O!… O!…OHH!”  It seemed as if Albert is trying to say something, something that might make his body become unstuck, but what could it be?  Some passerby’s tried to guess what he’s asking for, thinking it might help.

“A phone?” a lifeguard asks.

“A gnome?” a police officer tries.

“A poem?” a helpful librarian inquires.

Young Emily thinks she knows what Albert is trying to say.  Albert once described a magic word that everything on the planet understood- people, animals, trees… even the rocks.  Could the thing that will help him relax be as simple as the word “Om”?

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