Tag Archives: Belonging

Elem./MG – Lunar Boy

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Winbowo, Jes, and Cin Winbowo. Lunar Boy. HarperAlley, 2024. 978-0-063-05759-3. $15.99. 240 p. Grades 4-8.

Indu is a boy living on the moon. When an astronaut finds and adopts him, they move from the moon to “New Earth” where he is now a part of a blended family. But he feels left out because kids at school think he is odd, and he is trying to fit in both at school and at home which is a lot especially when his mom, the only person he knows and is comfortable with, is so busy at her new job that Indu hasn’t really seen her much. A pen pal assignment from class, helps him feel less lonely when he connects with someone that sees him for who he really is. But he still feels so alone that he calls to the Moon to take him back, and when the time comes for the Moon to take him, he must decide if he wants to stay or go…..

THOUGHTS: I personally do not read a TON of science fiction, but this one was interesting and was a great read! It will be very appealing for upper elementary and middle level readers.

Graphic Novel
Science Fiction

Elem. – Home in a Lunchbox

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Mo, Cherry. Home in a Lunchbox. Penguin Workshop, 2024. 978-0-593-66134-5. 34 p. $18.99. Grades PK-3.

Jun and her family recently emigrated from Hong Kong to America. She starts school knowing a few English words and phrases, but she finds it difficult to communicate with her peers and teachers. The book timeline spans about a week or so. The illustrations are mainly muted and gray, representing her fear and homesickness, until Jun opens her lunchbox and her surrounding area becomes bright and colorful. Her lunchbox contains her favorite Chinese foods which remind her of the comfort and love of home. Over the week, one of her classmates tries to connect with her, and by the end of the story a few more students share their lunches with Jun and she shares hers with them. This is a wonderful story illustrating the want to belong somewhere as well as the powerful of kindness.

THOUGHTS: This beautifully illustrated story is one of my students’ favorites. They love exploring the pictures and really felt for Jun. This reminded me of Danbi Leads the School Parade and will work well paired with it. Home in a Lunchbox is a worthy addition to all school libraries. 

Picture Book

Elem./MG – Rosa by Starlight

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McKay, Hilary. Rosa by Starlight. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2024. 978-1-665-95810-3. 148 p. $16.99. Grades 4-6.

Rosa Mundi’s world is turned upside down after the death of her parents in a car accident. Even though her long-lost aunt and uncle are taking care of her, her life at age eleven is still a shadow of what it was. Rosa’s cold and uncaring relatives are only interested in their artificial grass company. The one bright spot in her life is her friendship with a black cat named Balthazar, who magically enters Rosa’s bedroom through a closed window and introduces himself. Rosa, who believes in the power of magic, is excited when the cat helps her find a bracelet of Venetian beads in the roots of an apple tree. Her guardians announce that they are planning a trip to Venice to sell plastic grass there and reluctantly take Rosa with them. While her relatives stay in a posh hotel, they take Rosa to a small family hotel and restaurant where the owners only speak Italian. The young girl soon meets a Venetian ginger cat, who reminds her of Balthazar. Alone in the hotel, Rosa learns some Italian from Signora and Signor Mancini, the innkeepers, and she begins to help them around the hotel. She is surprised when her aunt and uncle give her twenty euros and is suspicious that they are plotting something. Later when they meet on the Rialto Bridge, the aunt and uncle try to push her into the water below. When Rosa yells stop, everyone is frozen in place and she runs away only to get lost. With the help of some cats, a thief, and a flying lion, Rosa returns to the Mancini’s hotel, where she learns a secret about the bracelet that changes her life forever. 

THOUGHTS: Children will be drawn to this story of cats and magic, which are often favorite subjects. They will also enjoy the charming pencil drawings by Rockefeller. This short chapter book is a worthwhile purchase for middle grades, particularly where the author’s books are popular. A Junior Library Guild selection.

Fantasy

Elem. – The First Week of School

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Beckmeyer, Drew. The First Week of School. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2024. 978-1-665-94042-9. $18.99. 48 p. Grades K-3.

An inventor, an artist, a group describing themselves as the Sports Kings, Pat the bearded dragon, and a teacher begin The First Week of School. Nobody sits at an empty desk saved for a student who will arrive later in the week. As the chaotic first week begins, the artist is feeling self-doubt, the inventor is frustrated, the Sports Kings argue more than they actually play, the teacher drinks a great deal of coffee, and Nobody arrives from outer space. No one notices Nobody (except of course for Pat), but Nobody notices everything. By the end of the week Nobody and Pat are the best of friends, the Sports Kings have stopped arguing, and Nobody has displayed the artist’s drawings all over the room. Missing his extraterrestrial family, Nobody heads back home, leaving new parts for the inventor’s time machine – which when activated brings us back to the beginning of The First Week of School.

THOUGHTS: This is a delightfully quirky peek into an elementary classroom buzzing with excitement over the start of a new year. A great deal of humor that will be appreciated by students and adults alike.

Picture Book

Elem. – Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic

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Meganck, Margaux. Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic. Alfred A. Knopf, 2024. 978-0-593-30197-5. $19.99. 40 p. Grades PK-2.

Speck follows a group of microorganisms as they migrate through the ocean to find where they belong. Along the way, some specks find their place, while others continue on the adventure. One speck gets lost and feels so very small in the big, dark ocean. However, that speck decides to be brave and continue on to find where it’s meant to be, a place where it can thrive.

THOUGHTS: The story starts out with humans playing in the ocean and comes full circle at the end tying the speck’s journey to our own. The author’s message is that we all want to find a place to belong and grow just like the microorganisms floating in our ocean. The illustrations are vibrant and with minimal text on each page, recommended for ages 3-6.

Picture Book      

Elem. – The Brothers Zzli

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Cousseau, Alex. The Brothers Zzli. Illustrated by Anne-Lise Boutin. 1st American ed., Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-802-85609-8. $17.99. Unpaged. Grades K-3.

The brothers Zzli, three bears who have been driven from their home, are looking for somewhere to live. A little girl who lives alone in the forest generously decides to take them in. The brothers Zzli prove to be wonderful houseguests. They are cheerful, complimentary, and gracious. They help around the house and tell hilarious stories. When they organize a party for the neighborhood, however, no one shows up except the girl and her bat-friend. When the girl and her bat-friend go to see the neighbors, they are told that the bears are dangerous, unwanted, and will overrun the forest if this carries on. The neighbors complain to the police, and shortly after a police officer shows up at the girl’s door, her house is destroyed by a suspicious fire. Ultimately, the brothers Zzli and their generous hostess must decide whether to rebuild or set off in search of a more welcoming community.

THOUGHTS: A profound allegory with an invaluable message about acceptance and inclusion, this is a unique take on the subject of immigration and prejudice.

Picture Book       

Elem. – Home is Where the Birds Sing

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Rylant, Cynthia. Home is Where the Birds Sing. Beach Lane Books. 2022. 978-1-534-44957-2. $18.99. Grades K-2.

Home means many things to many different people. Home is where the birds are singing, or where you take a nap. Home can be the place where you are called “Sweetie” or “dear” or where there are stories to listen to and stories to tell. The sweet part of home is when you are gone, home is the place you return to and finally feel… at home.

THOUGHTS: A sweet book about the deep feeling of being home. In the diverse world we live in, home can be a lot of different things for different people. Home, no matter what it may look like or sound like, is the place where you simply feel at home.

Picture Book            Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD

Elem. – Wutaryoo

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Magruder, Nilah. Wutaryoo. Versify, 2022.978-0-358-17238-3. $17.99. Grades K-3.

Wutaryoo is a creature that is unlike any other. Being small with a fluffy tail, long ears, and tiny horns, Wutaryoo has always been asked what she is. Wutaryoo does not know what she is, though, or where she came from. She loves listening and learning about all of her friends’ stories, but she wishes she has her own story of where she came from and who her ancestors are. Wutaryoo decides to set off on her own adventure to find out who she is and what her story tells the world.

THOUGHTS: A thoughtful story that highlights the importance of figuring out who you are and what your story is, even if it is different from all of the rest.

Picture Book                    Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD

Elem. – Wildflower

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Brown, Melanie. Wildflower. Greystone Kids, 2022. 978-1-77164-906-3. Unpaged. $17.95. PreK-2.

When Daisy blooms in the garden, she is immediately insulted by the other flowers for being a weed. She is told that she isn’t as beautiful as Rose or as tasty as Sage. Her flowers can’t make tea like Chamomile’s. Just as she begins to droop completely in shame, she meets other plants who have amazing qualities, even though they also are called weeds. For instance, Blackberry Vine makes delicious berries, and Sweet Pea smells amazing. Daisy soon realizes there is a place for everyone in the garden, no matter what they are called. Gorgeous, simplified illustrations highlight Daisy’s emotions throughout the story and provide readers with convincing representations of actual plants.

THOUGHTS: This is an adorable story with a subtle message about inclusion, self-respect, and accepting others for who they are. I also love that it incorporates educational information, including back matter about plants and weeds. Give this to fans of The Rainbow Fish (1992) or to gardening enthusiasts.

Picture Book          Julie Ritter, PSLA Member

MG – The Midnight Children

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Gemeinhart, Dan. The Midnight Children. Henry Holt & Co., 2022. 978-1-250-19672-9. $16.99. 352 p. Grades 4-8.

Ravini Foster never has had a friend. Growing up in Slaughtersville is difficult. The town is a miserable place filled with miserable people, many of whom make their living at the slaughter house in the center of town. Ravi, an only child, is lonely. He delights in the woods, and birds, and the adult characters in his small town, but his greatest wish is to have a friend. Picked on by the town bullies, unathletic, unable to connect with his exhausted father, Ravi yearns for something to change. Then one night, unable to sleep for loneliness, Ravi sees something he isn’t supposed to see. A family of seven children move into the abandoned house across the street in the dead of night. There are no adults with them. Ravi’s curiosity gets the better of him, and with persistence, patience, and small, but exceedingly kind gestures, Ravi is able to earn the trust of Virginia and her siblings. Discovering the mysterious secret behind Virginia’s family life puts Ravi in a curious position. He is thrilled to finally belong somewhere but now must help his new friends remain a family. Ravi never has been prone to taking risks or accepting leadership, but friendship and belonging help him to see a different side of himself. The Midnight Children is darkly funny in the vein of Lemony Snicket but with an emotional and serious message about the nature of friendship and the meaning of family.

THOUGHTS: A stunning middle grade novel that is an absolute delight to read aloud.

Realistic Fiction          Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD