If you’re looking for a quick monthly roundup, check out the best 5 books I read in April! Tap any photo to read the entire review As someone who regularly tells people to push past uncomfortable feelings and have important conversations with young people, having a developmentally appropriate definition to assist with teaching new vocabulary…
Category: Self Expression
Blog Tour: Smile With African Style feat. Q&A with Mylo Freeman!
English 3-6 years African Clothing Friendship Coming tomorrow… Today I’m taking part in a blog tour on behalf of the Macy series, and specifically spotlighting the story Smile With African Style published by Cassava Republic Press, which is based in Nigeria. Smile With African Style is a sweet story that introduces young readers to different…
The Art of Protest: Creating, Discovering, and Activating Art for Your Revolution
English 10 & Up Activism Social Movements Historical Figures Protest Art History De Nichols, Diana Dagadita, Molly Mendoza, Olivia Twist, & Diego Becas summary Ok, this book is the COOLEST. Art of Protest mixes together knowledge and empowerment as well as the mixed media illustrations delight the readers’ senses. A bit of history, a lot…
Love, Violet
English 4 years & up Growing Up Crushes Valentine’s Day LGBTQIA+ Charlotte Sullivan Wild & Charlene Chua summary Can you remember having a crush on someone? What about if you’re queer, do you remember navigating those moments? For me, I remember looking at boys and being like “Oh, I’m supposed to like one? Uhh…that one!”…
Unraveling Bias: How Prejudice Has Shaped Children for Generations and Why It’s Time to Break the Cycle
English YA & Up Implicit Bias Culture Society Oppression Christia Spears Brown, PhD & Foreward by Soraya Chemaly summary As soon as I saw the announcement for this book, I furiously sent an email begging for an ARC. Christia Spears Brown has written one of my favorite books about gender stereotypes, Parenting Beyond Pink and…
When I See Red
English 4+ Anger Social-Emotional Learning Mental Health Emotional Well-Being Britta Teckentrup summary I kid you not, as soon as I finished reading this book I immediately sent a picture of it to a bookish group chat with the sentence “holy shit this book is so good”. Perfection in a book. Our unnamed, ungendered main character…
Buen Provecho & Jaguars and Butterflies
English (Spanish version of J&B also available, as well as Indigenous Mexican languages!) Any Mexican Culture Mexican American Cooking Latinx Families summary You folks may remember the event I did with Ericka Sanchez this past summer, (click here to watch the recording!) and she has another new cookbook out already! Buen Provecho is packed full…
The Spectacular Suit
English 4+ Identity Gender Stereotypes Non-Conformity Self-Confidence Self-Esteem Kat Patrick & Hayley Wells summary Frankie is overseeing her party preparations and everything is going perfectly. There are beautiful decorations, a slightly suspect but delicious pie made by her brother, and even a borrowed tent! But Frankie is worried about one thing…what to wear. Her mom…
Read This to Get Smarter: About Race, Class, Gender, Disability & More
English YA (12/13+) Education Anti-Oppression Blair Imani summary Y’all, think back to the person that you would go to for answers when you were a teen. Maybe they were an older sibling, maybe a friend’s older sibling. A cousin, a cool neighbor or babysitter. That one person who you could trust to not bullshit you…
Mi Casa is My Home
English & Spanish 4+ Latinx Family Bilingual Books Big Families Confidence Self-Esteem Laurenne Sala & Zara González Hoang summary Mi Casa is My Home is a beautiful celebration of family and spending time with them! Readers are treated to a house tour from LucÃa, our narrator who lives with her big family in their casa….