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Recommended for Kids

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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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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