Tag Archives: Enemies

Elem. – The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Emma McKenna, Full Out

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Messner, Kate. The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Emma McKenna, Full Out. Illustrated by Kat Fajardo. Algonquin Young Readers, 2024. 978-1-523-52571-3. 106 p. $15.99. Grades 2-4.

Welcome to Mrs. Z’s third grade class at a new school, Curiosity Academy. In this new series, each book shares the story of a different student. In the first book, we meet Emma McKenna. Excited to start over at a new school and meet new friends from across her town, Peppermint Falls, she is relieved to put last year’s talent show fiasco behind her. But then Lucy, her former best friend, walks into her class! Can Emma and Lucy become friends again, or at least be civil towards one another? Join Mrs. Z’s class as they navigate choosing a school mascot for their school and learn how to communicate and get along.

THOUGHTS: This new series is perfect for students stepping it up to chapter books on the easier side. Also perfect for those who love a series. It’s looking like there will be 18 books in this series featuring diverse kids from the class.

Realistic Fiction

Elem. – Like Lava In My Veins

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Barnes, Derrick. Like Lava In My Veins. Illustrated by Shawn Martinbrough & Adriano Lucas. Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023. 978-0-525-51874-7. $18.99. unpaged. Grades K-3.

Bobby Beacon is a new student at the Academy for Kids with Awesome Abilities where he is going to learn to control the lava flowing through his veins. It’s about time, too. The other day, he got angry that the school bus driver would not stop to let him on even though he saw Bobby standing there. What happened next involved a tidal wave of molten lava and a startled bus driver. Bobby does not get along with his new classroom teacher who threatens to send him to the Institute for Supervillains. But then Bobby is transferred to a different teacher who teaches him how to control his anger (and his lava) with deep breathing and counting. Bobby starts taking pride in his school and even makes new friends. But during an assembly, Headmaster Chaos from the Institute for Supervillains arrives by busting through the wall. The headmaster has heard about Bobby’s powers, and he has come to kidnap him and bring him to his institute. Bobby has to safely harness his powers to save himself and his classmates from the villains.

THOUGHTS: The old school comic book-like illustrations are bold and eye-catching, enhancing the action-packed storyline. This book has the potential to empower the voices of Black readers and is a must-have for elementary libraries.

Picture Book