Elem. – The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn

Harris, Shawn. The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn. Alfred A. Knopf. 2024. 978-0-593-57188-0. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-2.

Once upon a time, when horses were mythical rarities, unicorns were quite common … but not one as small as the titular teeny-weeny unicorn! He lives with his family in a large (for him, extra-large) castle, where his brother and sister use him in place of a missing piece in their chess game and laugh at the tiny little splash made by his cannonballs into the moat. So, crying teeny-weeny tears, he runs away and gets lost in the vast lawn. There, he’s confronted by an eeny-teeny-weeny gnome whose sports car he just accidentally hoof-stomped. The gnome requests an outrageous $250,000 to cover the damage, so they return to the palace together to ask the teeny-weeny unicorn’s parents for the money. Luckily, his parents have access to a treasure trove of cash that they have no use for. His siblings deliver the gnome home with his new fortune while the teeny-weeny unicorn plays chess and does cannonballs to his heart’s content. A winningly whimsical storyline and evocative chalk pastel artwork will draw readers in!

THOUGHTS: Author and illustrator Shawn Harris delivers an important message about size and perspective – we are all just right! – wrapped up in a fantastical storyline.

Picture Book

Elem. – Aliya’s Secret: A Story of Ramadan

Zaman, Farida. Aliya’s Secret: A Story of Ramadan. Owl Kids, 2023. 978-1-771-47564-8 Unpaged. $18.95. Grades K-3.

Aliya knows Ramadan is approaching and she wants to fast like her parents do. Her ammi tells her she is too young to fast because she still needs food to grow. But Aliya decides to secretly fast to be a part of the holiday; “I can fast! I know I can!” After eating as much as she can before sunrise at Sahoor with her parents, Aliya prays with her parents and feels that her scarf from Nani “hugs her secret even closer.” Aliya goes to school and skips lunch–and later a birthday cupcake with sprinkles–all by saying “I don’t feel like it” which later leaves her “hungry and miserable.” That night while baking baklava with her ammi, Aliya can’t resist and takes a bite, then cries, “Oh nooo! I ate–and I wasn’t supposed to!” Her ammi doesn’t scold, but gets Aliya some food and explains that acts of kindness are another important part of Ramadan. In the following weeks, Aliya and her family prepare food to package for people in need. Later, Aliya invites two friends to Iftar dinner (the meal at sundown to break the daily fast) and realizes that it’s nearly the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid al-Fitr, the celebration of breaking the fast. An Author’s note explains the Muslim traditions as well as Zaman’s wish, as a little girl like Aliya, to fast like her parents. A glossary defines several words used in the book.

THOUGHTS: This is a positively drawn and told tale helping young people to understand the idea of fasting for Ramadan.

Picture Book

Elem. – The Dreams We Made

Bentley, Lisa. The Dreams We Made. Simon & Schuster, 2023. 978-1-665-91765-0. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PK-3.

At the center of The Dreams we Made is a little girl with a big imagination. Each night, her father helps her bring her ideas to life using found items. Each day, she holds tight to her daddy, wishing he didn’t need to go back to work. When he encourages her to keep dreaming while he is away, she does. Her dreams grow, and the little girl and her father begin their biggest project yet. One the eve of completing the project, Mommy delivers the sad news that her father has died and cannot complete their project. Together, the girl and her Mom find a way to continue dreaming and, over time, they put the pieces back together and begin feeling closer to Daddy once more.

THOUGHTS: The Dreams We Made is a beautifully illustrated and balanced picture book that combines imagination, love, and loss to create a story that successfully balances all three–accomplishing the unique feat of a story incorporating loss with the potential of broad appeal to picture book readers. The girl’s projects focus on her dreams of space exploration, and Lisa Bentley’s illustrations are dominated by this space theme, inviting children into an engaging world of creativity and imagination. Bentley’s depiction of the mother sharing the loss of the father with her child is gentle and loving, and the child’s expression of this loss (denial, loss of interest in her creations, and destructive anger) will feel real to both child and adult readers. Bentley does not rush her characters through grief, but rather gives her characters time to heal, first in imagination, then through their actions. This beautiful, wise book is highly recommended for all readers in the general library and also for guidance collections.

Picture Book 

MG/YA – Muzoon: A Syrian Refugee Speaks Out

Almellehan, Muzoon. Muzoon: A Syrian Refugee Speaks Out. Alfred A Knopf, 2023. 978-1-984-85198-7. 340 p. $18.99. Grades 6-12.

Muzoon was a 14 year-old girl living a happy life in her country of Syria when the war in Syria forced her family to move to a refugee camp in Jordan. Muzoon had been focused on her education and going on to high school with hopes of college when the war changed her path. Yet this did not stop her from staying focused on her goal, for she found a way to advocate for education – primarily education for girls. She worked with UNICEF and also Malala Yousafzai to work towards the advocacy for girls. The story follows Muzoon up to the present day where she now resides in Newcastle, England and is continuing her work with education, refugees, and the rights of girls.

THOUGHTS: A powerful read about the value and importance of family, education, and strength. 

Biography

Elem. – Spreckle’s Snack Surprise

Salisbury, Sandra. Spreckle’s Snack Surprise. Illustrated by Sandra Salsbury. Peachtree Books, 2023. 978-1-682-63482-0. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-2.

Spreckle’s lives on a farm with her fluffy mama, brothers, sisters, and a cozy bed which sounds nice, but it isn’t. The snacks are not good; the choices are slugs or corn. One day Spreckle’s decides to go find the perfect snack and she finds it… a popsicle! However, eating the popsicle turns out to be not so easy, so she has to keep trying. Eventually she decides that  she doesn’t need snacks which is awful because snacks are amazing. All Spreckles needs are her brothers, sisters, fluffy mama, and cozy bed, until she sneezes fire onto the corn and turns it into the most perfect snack ever.

THOUGHTS: This is such a sweet picture book! The reader will love looking at the detail found within the simplistic illustrations. Must have for any elementary school library collection.

Picture Book

MG – Salsa Magic

Marrero, Letisha. Salsa Magic. Levine Querido, 2023. 978-1-646-14260-6. $18.99. 273 p. Grades 4-8.

Thirteen year old Maya has been having vivid dreams about a goddess in white calling to her from the ocean. The dreams seem so real, but she is not sure what it means nor does she have time to think about it. Between school, soccer, and helping out at her family’s cafe, there is little time left for pondering strange dreams. Maya’s focus is on her soccer season and her developing feelings for her teammate Kayla… until a mysterious guest arrives at the restaurant. It is her Titi (Aunt) Yaya! Maya has never met Yaya because of her long-standing feud with Maya’s abuela, her sister. But the most shocking part is that Titi Yaya looks exactly like the woman from her dreams! Even though Titi Yaya ends up staying in the apartment above the restaurant, her grandmother forbids Maya from talking to her. Maya feels a strong connection to Titi Yaya and breaks her abuela’s rules. Titi Yaya teaches her about ancient santeria magic. She tells Maya that she has been chosen by the Yoruban goddess of water and that she must follow this calling. Maya knows if she is to answer this calling alongside Titi Yaya, she must convince her abuela to drop the feud. 

THOUGHTS: Marrero’s coming of age story tells a heartwarming tale of a multigenerational family made richer by interwoven depictions of Caribbean, Puerto Rican, and Mexican mythology and cultural traditions. This would be a solid purchase for middle grade libraries.

Realistic Fiction

Elem./MG – Silverwing

Oppel, Kenneth. Silverwing. Simon & Schuster, 2023. 978-1-665-93848-8. $23.99. Unpaged. Grades 3-7.

Shade is the smallest bat in his silverwing colony, and while his size may be small, his curiosity looms large. He wants to know why he is not allowed to see the sun. Of course, he knows about the law established by the owls millions of years ago: bats may only rule the skies at night while birds rule during the day. One day, he stays out at sunrise, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sun. An owl catches him and later comes to his colony to tell the silverwing leader that retribution must be made since Shade broke the rules. The leader refuses, and the owls burn down their roost. The colony has no choice but to migrate south to their Hibernaculum a bit earlier than expected. Shade sticks close to his mother during the beginning of the journey, but he gets blown off course by a strong storm. He finds himself lost and alone until he meets Marina, a brightwing bat who vows to help him get back to his colony. Together, they journey to Hibernaculum but not before many dangerous encounters with cannibalistic jungle bats, sewer rats, and vengeful birds. 

THOUGHTS: The graphic adaptation of Oppel’s novel by the same name is sure to be a hit with readers who love animal stories filled with adventure. The illustrations are detailed and colorful and the story, while action-packed, also weaves in details about bat life, including diet and echolocation. 

Graphic Novel

Elem. – Always Sisters: A Story of Loss and Love

Mir, Saira.  Always Sisters: A Story of Loss and Love. Illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani. Simon & Schuster, 2023. 978-1-665-90156-7. Unpaged.  $18.99.  Grades 1-3.

Raya and Samir are young siblings who are eagerly awaiting the birth of their new sister. Her name will be Nura, which means “beautiful light” in Arabic. The brother and sister discuss all the wonderful plans they have for her. They will play dress-up, eat ice cream, take her on piggyback rides and watch cartoons together. One day their parents go for a checkup with the doctor and are very sad when they return. Mama and Baba gently break the news of the pregnancy loss to the children, telling them that Nura will not be coming home. Understandably, older sister Raya is sad and confused.  Her parents console their daughter and suggest that she share the love she feels for Nura with others. So Raya draws pictures and participates in a group counseling with other children who have experienced loss. Together the family plants a tree in the baby’s memory.  The tree reminds them that Nura will always have a place in their hearts. The softly colored chalk pastel and watercolor illustrations by Maydani create a comforting and reassuring tone. In the author’s note, Mir explains that her reason for writing this book was her own family’s experience with pregnancy loss. She hopes that this story will provide support for children who are also suffering with such a loss.

THOUGHTS: This poignant story is an important contribution to bibliotherapeutic literature for those who are grieving. The text handles the topic in a sensitive and approachable way for young children. Share this one with counselors, teachers, or parents. 

Picture Book

Elem./MG – Project F.

DuPrau, Jeanne. Project F. Random House, 2023. 978-0-593-64380-8. $17.99. 213 p. Grades 3-7.

Keith is thirteen and living in a world where fossil fuels are no longer used for power and electricity. After all, fossil fuels destroyed the Earth, and now, hundreds of years later, Keith and his friends and family enjoy the simple pleasures of life without the destructive conveniences fossil fuels afforded their ancestors long ago. Keith learns that his aunt and uncle have passed away and his cousin, Lulu, is coming to live with his family. His parents cannot get away from work, so Keith takes the train to meet her and plans on accompanying her back to his home. On the train, he meets a man named Malcolm who gets off at a station before the stop where Lulu is waiting for him. Later, Keith realizes he has accidentally switched bags with Malcolm. Inside Malcolm’s bag, he finds written pages about something called Project F. Once he picks up Lulu, he decides to take a quick detour at Malcolm’s stop to return his bag… and possibly find out what Project F is all about. Once there, he and Lulu find out that Project F might allow people to fly! Keith is certain this will change the world. Imagine if people could fly from place to place! Seeing Keith’s enthusiasm for the invention, Malcolm decides to do a special demonstration of Project F in Keith’s hometown. Once Keith and Lulu get home, they keep Project F a secret so as not to ruin the special demonstration. But then, Keith learns what Project F uses as fuel for flying, and suddenly he is not sure if the progress of this invention is worth the destruction it may bring.

THOUGHTS: This cautionary tale about climate change and the cost of modern conveniences is timely. Students who are fans of DuPrau’s City of Ember will enjoy this book. It is a must-buy for librarians serving upper elementary and middle grade patrons.

Science Fiction

YA – Chloe and the Kaishao Boys

Coyiuto, Mae. Chloe and the Kaishao Boys. Putnam, 2023. 978-0-593-46163-1. 341 p. $18.99. Grades 9-12.

Chloe Liang’s ultimate dream is to study animation. When she gets waitlisted from the California college of her choice, she resigns herself to stay in Manila; study business; eventually, take over Zip and Lock, her father’s lucrative business; and continue enduring her quirky family’s mandatory Sunday brunches. Then as the school year ends, she receives her USC acceptance and her dream is back in gear: go to college abroad where her Filipino-American mother resides. Her extended family, however, has not gotten the message that Chloe is serious about this pursuit. Her father, who constantly congratulates Chloe through hashtags but has difficulty actually talking to her, continues to refer to animation as her “hobby.” Her well-meaning but intrusive Auntie Queenie insists on planning an extravagant debut when Chloe turns eighteen in August. Part of the ceremony (think Quincenera, Filipino style) involves the selection of 18 of Chloe’s closest male friends to surround her. When Chloe comes up with only her uncles, Auntie Queenie takes things into her own hands. She sets up “kaishao,” occasions where Chloe can “meet up” with eligible boys. Though her best friend, Cia, is sympathetic, she volunteers her older brother, Jappy and her own secret boyfriend, Raf. The preparation for the debut takes center stage, with Chloe suffering some guilt for abandoning her single dad. Chloe feels some sparks with some of her kaishao boys and learns to appreciate the traditions as well as the concessions her Chinese-Filipino family. Though this book has the makings of a Netflix movie all over it, debut author Coyiuto presents a nuanced, colorful cast of Chinese-Filipino characters, whose dialogue–interspersed with Hokkien and Tagalog– is witty, snappy, and funny. Includes glossary of Hokkien and Tagalog vocabulary.

THOUGHTS: Truly funny books with an interesting plot don’t come along often. This is one. Coyiuto has a good ear for picking out the humor in a chaotic family situation and makes sure Chloe never takes herself too seriously. The animation theme is thin, but some students may be drawn to Chloe’s passion. Two situations that aren’t addressed in the book: Chloe’s mother emigrated to America as a child and met and married her father when he studied in the U.S., but never adjusted to life in Manila and left her daughter with her father while she returned to America, and Chloe’s perfect cousin Peter who comes to brunch with his perfect girlfriend, Pauline, shares with Chloe that he is gay. These situations highlight some taboos of this Chinese-Filipino family: homosexuality and divorce. Nevertheless, share this book with any student who needs a laugh, but particularly with Asian-Americans. 

Realistic Fiction