Elem./MG – You and the Universe

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Hawking, Stephen. You and the Universe. Illustrated by Xin Li. Random House, 2024. 978-0-593-43211-2. Unpaged. $19.99. Grades K-2.

You and The Universe is based on the message Stephen Hawking wrote that was sent out for Earth Day 2020. The message is describing the questions that Stephen Hawking has tried to answer throughout his life, as well as questions that he wants the younger generations to help answer. The message in the book is one of hope and how we need to work together to “make that future a place we want to visit.” At the end of the book, there are answers to the science questions that are posed throughout the book. There also is a note about Stephen Hawking and the Earth Day message.

THOUGHTS: This would be a great book to pair with Earth Day activities or to pair with listening to Stephen Hawking’s actual Earth Day message that was sent out in 2020. This book is a picture book but would be appropriate for middle school science students as well, especially if they are learning about Stephen Hawking or the different science topics that are covered in the book.

Picture Book

Elem. – A Bear, A Fish and a Fishy Wish

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Bernstrom, Daniel. A Bear, A Fish and a Fishy Wish. Illustrated by Brandon James Scott. Hippo Park, 2024. 978-1-662-64069-8. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-2.

Our story starts with a bear and a fish… one is hungry, and the other wants to go home. The bear begins to try to catch the fish, and it almost works until there are more than 1 fish. The bear drops the fish and ends up on the side of the river soggy with no fish, while the fish is stuck out of water. Will the bear help the fish to get home? Or will the bear finally get his wish?

THOUGHTS: This is such a funny little story that kids are going to love listening to and reading!! There is a companion book called A Bear, a Bee and a Honey Tree that has the same bear with a very similar plot line that might be a nice addition to this book. Highly recommended for elementary libraries.

Picture Book

Elem. – While You’re Asleep

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Kastner, Emmy. While You’re Asleep. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2024. 978-1-665-93133-5. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-2. 

As it turns into night, all the animals are starting to fall asleep. The reader sees the bunnies sleeping, but the puppies and the raccoon walking around… which seems odd. The raccoons are having chicken dinner (or “chicken breakfast” as the narrator says), but every other animal is asleep. Or are they? While there are some animals that are sleeping, there definitely are nocturnal animals that aren’t sleeping and the narrator has to deal with how to handle those animals. As the story progresses, the narrator is convinced that the animals that are awake are going to sleep soon; they are just waiting. As the narrator becomes tired and yawns, the nocturnal animals are having a great time, having dances, cookouts and doing all the things while the world sleeps. The narrator is in shock over what happens while the world sleeps, but as they say, “Well, how do you know that’s not true? You’re asleep!”

THOUGHTS: This was an extremely fun picture book that will make a great read aloud! Highly recommended for any elementary collection.

Picture Book

Elem. – A Flicker of Hope

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Harmony, Cynthia. A Flicker of Hope: A Story of Migration. Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth. Viking, 2024. 978-0-593-52576-0. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-2.  

Lucia’s father is going north to work on farms to feed his family, and she does not want him to go. Her father tells her to keep an eye out for the monarch butterflies, and when it gets colder and they come back he will as well. The reader watches Lucia’s fathers journey and the journey the monarch butterflies take as they migrate north. One day the weather has turned a little colder and Lucia’s father returns, along with the monarch butterflies. There is a glossary at the end of the book, along with an author’s note that the reader should read. There is an additional section about how you can help people who take the same journey that Lucia’s father takes in the story.

THOUGHTS: This is beautifully illustrated and the way the author weaves in the story of the monarch butterfly with the story of our two characters is done seamlessly. The reader will want to linger over the beautifully illustrated pages within the book, taking care to notice the monarch butterflies that are found on every page. This book would make a great read aloud to go along with the study of migration in animals.

Picture Book

MG/YA – The Gender Binary is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities around the World

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Wind, Lee. The Gender Binary is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities around the World. Zest Books, 2024. 978-1-728-41454-6. 309 p. $19.99. Grades 7-9.

In the second book of the Queer History Project, The Gender Binary is a Big Lie, author Lee Wind examines gender roles and identities using a variety of historical evidence and primary sources – poetry, ancient burial sites, firsthand accounts, and news stories. This exploration reveals that gender identity and physical bodies are as varied as the human experience. Wind challenges conventional notions of a strict gender binary and delves into diverse expressions of gender, both historic and contemporary, that highlight the infinite variety and beauty of human identity. He argues that the notion of individuals fitting into two gender categories is largely a construct maintained by those who benefit from it.

THOUGHTS: An important, eye-opening dive into the history of gender constructs. As a straight, cis woman, Wind upended many of my preconceived notions about gender roles and identities in a straightforward, informative way. Because there is a lot of research and science, parts of the book were a bit sluggish, but for the most part, the information is presented in an easy-to-read, engaging format, with notations that help explain the more complex ideas.  Not only does he explore gender diversity, but he portrays human uniqueness as a joy to be celebrated.

305.3 Gender

MG – Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers: The Story of the Last Black Cargo

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Hurston, Zora Neale. Adapted by Ibram X. Kendi. Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers: The Story of the Last Black Cargo. Amistad Books for Young Readers, 2024. 978-0-063-09833-6. 208 p. $18.99. Grades 3-7.

Writing for young readers, Ibram X. Kendi adapts Zora Neale Hurston’s internationally acclaimed best-selling novel Barracoon, the story of one of the last survivors of the Atlantic slave trade. At eighty-six, Cudjo Lewis shares his narrative of capture and enslavement fifty years after the trade was banned in the United States.  The renowned anthropologist, historian, and writer Zora Neale Hurston documented his firsthand experiences. Lewis recalls his life growing up in his homeland of Takkoi, Africa, and the horrors of being abducted and enslaved on one of the last recorded human trading ships, the Clotilda. Gaining freedom at the end of the Civil War, Lewis continued to endure tragedies yet still found the strength to live on. Accompanied by striking illustrations by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson, Barracoon is an invaluable contribution to our shared history and culture.

THOUGHTS: Ibram X. Kendi’s adaptation conveys the horrors and heartbreak of Cudjo Lewis’ survival story, yet makes it approachable for a younger audience. His story offers a perspective many readers may be unfamiliar with – exploring life before slavery, the horrors of being kidnapped, and the struggles of freedom. Barracoon is an essential addition to any school library.

306.362 Slave Trade

Elem. – Sourgrass

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Lim, Hope. Sourgrass. Illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani. Beach Lane Books, 2024. 978-1-665-93186-1. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-3. 

Sourgrass tells the story of two best friends named Sofia and May. They are next door neighbors, and they have wonderful adventures together in the field of sourgrass they find. They promise to be best friends forever, until one day May moves away. Sofia sends letters to her, but she doesn’t hear back and she worries that May forgot about her. When spring comes Sofia is sitting in her backyard when she notices a sourgrass flower poking through the fence from May’s old house. She remembers what May told her about sourgrass and how “it shows up every spring, keeping its promise.” Sofia goes into the yard, wishing May were there to see everything and wonders if she will remember her. She goes back into her yard excited about all the things she gets to tell May and the last illustration shows May at the gate coming to surprise Sofia. 

THOUGHTS: This is such a sweet story with beautiful illustrations that enhance the story and give a dream-like quality to the book. Also each girl starts the story with a stuffed animal; Sofia has a mouse and May has a goose, and when they get to the sourgrass field their stuffed animals come to life. Such a sweet and unique addition to the story, and it will cause the reader to go back and track their stuffed animals antics through the book. Highly recommended for elementary school collections.

Picture Book

Elem. – Built to Last

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Le, Minh. Built to Last. Illustrated by Dan Santat. Alfred A. Knopf, 2024. 978-0-593-56917-7. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-2. 

Built to Last follows two friends who meet and become friends by accident, literally.  Together they begin building things even if those things don’t stay up for very long. They go through their lives, building bigger things together and they end up wanting to build something that will last forever. They do make something huge and impressive, but it breaks and they are both frustrated and annoyed with each other. They wonder if maybe they should just give up and start over, but one of the boys remembers the other times that things they built broke. And he decides to turn around and help his friend, who decides the same thing at the same time.

THOUGHTS: This is a wonderfully illustrated picture book done in Dan Santat’s style which is, of course, amazing as always! The message found in this picture book is really special and would make an amazing addition to any elementary school collection.

Picture Book

YA – Tales of the Celestial Kingdom

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Tan, Sue Lynn. Tales of the Celestial Kingdom. Illustrated by Kelly Chong. Harper Voyager, 2024. 978-0-008-64041-5. 153 p. $24.99. Grades 9-12.

Tales of the Celestial Kingdom has 9 different stories from the Immortal Realm that take place before, during, and after the The Celestial Kingdom duology. The stories are told from different characters’ perspectives from the duology. There is an author’s note in the beginning that breaks down each story and when each one takes place so the reader can place them in the story. If you have not read the whole duology there will be spoilers, so this should be read after you have read both books in the series. There also are beautiful illustrations throughout the book as well that go along with the different stories.

THOUGHTS: This was a wonderful addition to the Immortal Realm world and readers who want more from that world will love this book. The stories are short, so the reader won’t feel intimidated and makes the whole book more approachable.

Fantasy

Elem. – Pig in Jeans

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Li, Brenda. Pig in Jeans. Orchard Books, 2024. 978-1-339-05369-1. 32 p. $14.99. Grades PreK-2.

Brian is a pig in jeans. Why jeans? It’s because jeans are absolutely perfect! He wears them all the time, for everything. He even wears them in the bathtub if his mom doesn’t stop him! His best friend Nathan wants to know why Brian is always in jeans. Brian explains jeans have pockets and proceeds to show him all the things he can keep in his pockets. He pulls out a frog, paintbrushes, even an ice cream cone! By the end of the book, Nathan has a great appreciation for jeans and even benefits from the random things that Brian keeps in his pockets.

THOUGHTS: This book is laugh out loud funny and will have the reader wanting to read it over and over again!! The illustrations are also funny and add so much to the story.

Picture Book