Elem./MG – History of Games (Series NF)

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Abdo, Kenny. History of Games. Fly! An Imprint of Abdo Zoom. 2025. $23.95 each or $143.70 for series of 6. Grades 2-8.

Arcade Games. 978-1-098-28736-8.
Console Games. 978-1-098-28737-5.
Handheld Games. 978-1-098-28738-2.
Lawn Games. 978-1-098-28739-9.
Online Games. 978-1-098-28740-5.
Tabletop Games. 978-1-098-28741-2.

This series discusses the history of a variety of games. Each item discusses the history, origin, and influence of different types of games throughout history. The reviewer received and reviewed the title Lawn Games by Kenny Abdo. Lawn Games discusses simply that: the rich history and origin of many of society’s favorite games to play out on the lawn! From the ancient Egyptians playing games where they threw polished stones at a target; to the Romans playing the first recorded game of bocce ball; to the end of World War II introducing the Frisbee, Hula Hoop, and other games, the idea of lawn games is seen throughout the time of mankind. These games bring people together, explore the competitiveness of individuals and societies, and are plainly and simply, fun!

THOUGHTS: A simple series that discusses the history of a variety of games that are still popular in today’s culture. Many young readers will recognize familiar games and will have the ability to learn a bit about their history, as well as learning some new types of games.

794 – 796 Indoor/Outdoor Games

Elem. – What Makes a Bird?

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Pomper, Megan. What Makes a Bird? Illustrated by Mariah Hoekstra. Owlkids Books, 2025. 978-1-771-47613-3. $18.95. Grades PreK-2.

What makes a bird a bird? Is it the feathers or wings? The beaks, ability to lay eggs, or make a nest? As the child narrator walks through nature, the narrator ponders these questions and thoughts, as there is realization that not every bird can fly and that not only can birds fly, but many other animals can as well. The child decides that what makes a bird a bird is what one thinks of when one closes their eyes and forms an image in their mind. Simply stated, a bird is what makes a bird a bird.

THOUGHTS: A beautifully illustrated book that shows many species of birds and other animals. As the child wanders and wonders, the images of birds fill the pages and the minds of the reader.

Picture Book
155.2 Individual Psychology

Elem. – The Interpreter

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Abtahi, Olivia. The Interpreter. Kokila Press: An imprint of Penguin Random House. 2025. 978-0-593-62044-1. $18.99. Grades K-3.

Most kids have one job, but Cecilia has two jobs. Her first job is being a regular kid, and her second job is so special and important that no one talks about it: being an interpreter for her parents. Cecilia goes everywhere and does everything with and for her parents, from traveling to the DMV, the doctor’s office, and even at the hairdresser’s. But for Cecilia, her jobs are starting to get overwhelming, and she can’t seem to do both jobs all the time. After a parent/teacher conference, Cecilia has a team meeting where a new plan is created – a plan where being a kid is her number one job.

THOUGHTS: An important picture book that discusses the difficulties, yet importance of being in a bilingual family. This book explains how life can look for a child in this home setting and how it can be positive, yet overwhelming at the same time. The book did a fantastic job of showing care, empathy, and transitions to focus on what is most important for Cecilia.

Picture Book

Elem. – But Where Do Sea Turtles Live?

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Ellis, Elina. But Where Do Sea Turtles Live? Kids Can Press. 978-1-525-30676-1. 36 p. $19.99. Grades K-3. 

Alex and her friends, members of the Curious Explorers Club, want to learn everything they can about sea turtles. They’re curious about where exactly sea turtles live, so, armed with Alex’s journal, they set off on an exploration. The Curious Explorers Club investigates several different locations, including rock pools, kelp forests, estuaries, coral reefs, sea caves, aquariums, beaches, and the ocean floor. Along the way, Alex shares facts from her journal about sea turtles’ bodies, diet, adaptations, and predators. Readers get a sneak-peek at the journal pages which include bite-size tidbits such as the fact that sea turtles live up to 100 years, can go for months without eating, and can swim up to 37 miles in one day. Alex and her friends ultimately learn that the whole wide ocean is a sea turtle’s home, since they’re always on the move. Backmatter includes tips about how to start your own Curious Explorers Club as well as a Resources page featuring organizations that protect sea turtles as well as sources for additional learning. This title is the third in the “Alex’s Field Guides” series which also includes Have You Seen an Elephant? and Is This a Tiger?

THOUGHTS: Like the other titles in this series, the book’s structure smoothly alternates between fictional story and nonfiction animal facts. Facts are broken down into easily-digestible chunks thanks to Alex’s beautifully illustrated journal entries, so the information is not overwhelming. Share this title with animal lovers as well as with teachers who are studying animal habitats.

597.92 Turtles

Elem. – The Jellyfish Bus

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Lee, Suhyeon. The Jellyfish Bus. Translated by Ha Young Kim. Owlkids Books, 2025. 978-1-771-47691-1. $18.00. 48 p. Grades PK-3.

This picture book follows a jellyfish named Slowpoke who leaves his job transporting other fish due to the demands of being “too slow” for many travelers. Slowpoke takes a dive into the deep sea where he meets multiple new sea creatures that are interested in a variety of things that he was not even aware of like the Ocean Sea Bazaar. Soon, Slowpoke learns that he enjoys taking travelers through the deep sea and finds a new career path.

THOUGHTS: I enjoyed this book. It is told in a semi-graphic novel style which is interesting compared to other picture books. The theme/message was also great and very relatable.

Picture Book

YA – The Summer I Remembered Everything

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Morse, Catherine Con. The Summer I Remembered Everything. Crown, 2025. 978-1-593-71142-2. 290 p. $19.99. Grades 7-10.

When sixteen-year old Emily Chen-Sanchez’s parents ground her for the C+ she got in psychology class, she knows she has to find a way to spend the summer away from her doom-speaker dad, critical mom, and perfect older sister, Tessa. She takes a job being a weekend companion to an eccentric old lady who lives in a beautiful Spanish-style mansion in their sleepy, Southern town. An outlier in her family of overachievers, Emily finds acceptance, nonjudgement, and fun with Mrs. Granucci (Mrs. G) as the older woman introduces her to Eggs Benedict, a wax George Harrison figure, and a lovely pair of blue leather shoes. Emily has a flirtation with Mrs. G’s handsome, preppy nephew, Ezra, who keeps an eye out on his beloved aunt and swears Emily to secrecy about the old woman’s increasing forgetfulness. During the week, Emily keeps busy with swimming practice and sporadic conversations with her best friend and secret crush Matt–who now is dating another girl–and face timing pal Heather who is working in London for the summer. Refuge at Mrs. G’s become more precious once Emily’s mother is diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Her feelings of being second best increase as she sees Tessa dealing with her mother’s illness efficiently, and she realizes Matt has moved on and her chance to be with him has past. At Mrs. G’s, Emily feel valued and important; the old woman appreciates Emily’s art and straightforwardness. As the summer weeks progress, however, Mrs. G’s behavior becomes erratic. She accuses Emily of stealing her engagement ring; she runs a red light and gets in a car accident. Emily is faced with the dilemma of betraying her senior friend or risking Mrs. G’s safety. With the help of her dad, Emily makes the choice to inform Mrs. G’s son about his mother’s failing mental state. Emily discovers she has resources of courage that will help her have honest discussions with her parents and even the ability to admit she loves Matt. The Summer I Remembered Everything deals with a young mixed race (Asian American and Latinx) girl’s growing pains familiar to many teen readers. Author Catherine Con Morse constructs a comfortable setting, free of violence, crime, sex, and foul language, making this a cozy read, despite Emily’s angst. Readers who like the Jenny Han series will like this book.

THOUGHTS: This cozy book will find fans who relate to Emily’s struggle to find her place in her family, her attempts to meet challenges, and her realization that she loves her bff, Matt. Some of the author’s choices in plot seem not so believable to me. In point, Emily’s charge, Mrs. Grannuci says she was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York; but the reader is told time and again that the older woman is the consummate Southern lady with a deeply Southern accent (Watt Moose for White Moose). My family moved from New York to Philadelphia when I was in high school, and even my younger sister–who was six months old at the time–retains some vestiges of a New York accent just from growing up in a household where r’s were dropped and a’s were drawn out. I couldn’t get past this detail; it would have been so easy to have let the reader assume Mrs. G was born and raised in South Carolina.

Realistic Fiction

YA – Mystery Royale

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Cavalancia, Kaitlyn. Mystery Royale. Hyperion. 2025. 978-1-368-09908-0. $19.00. 388 p. Grades 9-12.

Life is lonely for Mullory Prudence after her mother burns down their home and disappears, leaving her to take care of her ailing grandmother. Her parting words are enigmatic, “Run if the strange finds you.” One day, when a mysterious envelope addressed to her appears inside her gas station burrito, Mullory knows “the strange” has arrived. With the possibility of winning a fortune that would help her buy a new home and find her mother, Mullory is convinced to participate in Mystery Royale, a whodunit game to solve the murder of Xavier Stoudtmire. Along with six other participants and their macabre families, Mullory goes to Xavier’s luxurious estate on Long Island, enchanted with magic to gather the clues, solve the mystery, and win Xavier’s inheritance.

THOUGHTS: This was a juicy mystery that I couldn’t put down and didn’t want to end. Multiple perspective storytelling gives the reader insight into each character’s personal struggles and into the clues. There’s a dark Addams Family aesthetic, and the family dynamics inspire moments of the highest tension and danger, and also some of the most tenderness. The magic is enchanting. It is both silly and terrifying and the magical rules and structures are mostly consistent. Experienced readers may foresee a few twists in the mystery, but there are enough surprises that fans of the genre will be satisfied. A romance element is essential to the plot, but feels as though it is in the background, due to the reluctance of the participants and the urgency of the mystery.

Fantasy
Mystery

Elem. – Tenacious Won’t Give Up

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Vaughan, Pam. Tenacious Won’t Give Up. Illustrated by Leanne Hatch. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2025. 978-0-593-64521-5. 40 p. $18.99. Grades PreK-2.

Tenacious can do anything especially when she puts her mind to it, everything that is except for riding her bike. She is used to trying her hardest to accomplish her goals, but this method doesn’t seem to work when it comes to bike riding, and she keeps crashing. She is worried that she’ll never be ready for the wheel parade later that day. Her sister Sage, a talented wheelchair basketball player, suggests that instead of trying her hardest, Tenacious instead visualizes herself riding her bike with the other kids and not crashing.

THOUGHTS: This is such a great story about perseverance. I really loved how inclusive the story is, especially in the portrayal of Sage as a mentor figure telling her to “try your smartest” instead of your hardest. A great addition to SEL collections.

Picture Book

YA – All the Noise at Once

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Davis, DeAndra. All the Noise at Once. Atheneum, 2025. 978-1-665-95265-1. $19.99,  373 p. Grades 9-12.

Aiden Wright is a black, autistic high school junior who wants to be on the football team just like his star quarterback brother, Brandon, and play with him before he leaves for college. Despite an overstimulation meltdown during tryouts, Aiden makes the team when a spot unexpectedly opens up.  His acceptance onto the team is mixed due to some of the challenges he faces, and when one of his teammates picks a fight after their first game the police are called. When Brandon rushes to Aiden’s aid he is arrested and falsely accused of assaulting a police officer. As Brandon’s trial gets closer, Aiden and his new friend, Isabella, must try to figure out what really happened that night and find a way to prove Brandon’s innocence. Told in first person narration from Aiden’s point of view, the story skillfully describes what life can be like for a person with autism and also masterfully explores issues related to racism, social justice, and police brutality.

THOUGHTS: It was surprising to learn that this is DeAndra Davis’s debut book because it is so well done – she has written a fantastic story that is extremely powerful as she addresses difficult topics related to racism and police brutality as well as what it means to be Black and autistic. The relationship between Brandon and Aiden is extremely well developed, and the love they have for each other is sincere and a wonderful example of brotherhood. This is a must read for many reasons.

Realistic Fiction

Brothers, Brandon and Aiden Wright, share the same passion for football. Star quarterback and team captain of his Florida high school football team, Brandon enters his senior year striving to be the perfect son and the perfect protector of  his younger brother, who is on the autism spectrum. Brandon is keen to have Aiden play football with him, but touch and noise send Aiden into a tailspin during summer tryouts. Despite this incident, the coaches accept Aiden on the team after one running back is injured and another moves away. After the team’s first winning game, a fight breaks out at their post-game celebration when one of the white team members pushes Aidan. Someone calls the police, the Black boys wind up in handcuffs, and Brandon is arrested for assaulting a police officer. As the weeks pass since the incident, Brandon’s future grows bleaker even though his well-organized mother’s law firm has taken the case. In the ensuing chapters, Aiden and his new friend from his Life Skills class, Isabella, try to prove Brandon’s innocence. Through Aiden’s narrative, the reader is privy to how he perceives his world, his reactions to navigating school sans Brandon, and his growing understanding of the ramifications of being a Black autistic male in today’s society. As the trial date looms, Aiden and Isabella stumble upon a key piece of evidence, a video of the police brutality, but the girl who possesses it cares more for her own skin than for Brandon’s welfare. In fluid, compelling prose, author DeAndra Davis shows readers how racism can penetrate even the most comfortable, careful Black families. Joining the canon of such titles as The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Invisible Son by Kim Johnson, and All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, All the Noise at Once offers a unique perspective on how it feels to be a young, Black male who is  autistic. The author’s ability to craft that voice so authentically while simultaneously providing a suspenseful plot makes this book a necessary read and an essential purchase.

THOUGHTS: Though the protagonists are of high school age, this novel will be an essential read for middle school students who are on the autistic spectrum. The play-by-play football scenarios will interest the sports-minded, while the heartfelt logic of the rational Aiden provides recognition to some and revelation to others.

Realistic Fiction  

Elem. – Goats Afloat

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Evans, Lezlie. Goats Afloat. Illustrated by Julia Pattion. Two Lions, 2025. 978-1662520259. $18.99. Unpaged. Grades Pre-K-2. 

It’s Granny Goat’s birthday, and five of her gran-goats decide to surprise her with a homemade birthday cake. There’s just one problem: a nasty troll guards the bridge to Granny’s house. So, the gran-goats decide to go by boat. They all climb into the canoe and set sail. The young goats encounter many obstacles along the way and even lose the cake! They watch as it sinks into the water–glug, glug, glug. Feeling disheartened and down, they finally arrive at Granny’s house. She warms them up and cheers them up, emphasizing that they are the true gift when an unexpected visitor arrives: the local troll. He brings the salvaged and soggy birthday cake and tells the gran-goats to take the bridge next time. 

THOUGHTS: This is a cute picture book reminding all that so often things don’t go as we planned. This story focuses on the importance of teamwork, flexibility, and resilience. An adorable read for students in the lower grades. 

Picture Book