english 4-8 years english Jane Godwin & Felicita Sala summary When my Aussie friend Lucy (on Instagram @LoveFourLearning ) suggested I make Lamingtons, I knew the perfect book to make them for! Arno is a young boy who can’t remember where he left his little wooden horse. At first, the reader doesn’t know why Arno…
Tag: grief
a dark and hollow star
The ease with which Shuttleworth infuses the existing mythology and lore with nonbinary characters and frank discussions of the trauma inherent in growing up with a marginalized identity is striking.
A Stopwatch from Grampa
Written by: Loretta Garbutt Illustrated by: Carmen Mok For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Family, Loss, Grief, Death, Intergenerational Relationships, Grandparents, Social-Emotional Learning. Summary: A Stopwatch from Grampa begins right as our main character’s grandfather has passed away, leaving them his stopwatch. Grampa used to time all sorts of things when the pair spent time together, like how…
At the Mountain’s Base
Written by: Traci Sorell Illustrated by: Weshoyot Alvitre For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Indigenous Voices, Military, Women Pilots, Family, Grief, Culture & Traditions, Historical Fiction, Global Community, Own Voices. Summary: This is one of the most beautiful and emotional books that I’ve read in a long time. The story is told in simple, lyrical poetry and encompasses the emotions that…
An Ordinary Day [released March 10]
Written by: Elana K. Arnold Illustrated by: Elizabet Vukovic For ages: 4 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: Family, Social-Emotional Learning, Grief, Loss of Pet, Cochlear Implant Visibility, Home Birth, Childbirth, Love. Summary: Wow. Wow wow wow. This book is absolutely breathtaking and caught me by surprise upon reading. I was looking forward to reading this book, since author…
Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business
Written by: Lyla Lee Illustrated by: Dung Ho For ages: 6-9 years Language: English & some Korean Topics Covered: Parent Loss, Korean-American Experience, New Experiences, Moving, Growing Up, Family, Social-Emotional Learning, Friendship, Single-Parent Families. Summary: This is an adorable early chapter book that we are so excited to bring you on Korean-American Day! Min-jung Kim, who also goes by Mindy,…
Barely Missing Everything
Written by: Matt Mendez Cover Art by: Dana Ledl For ages: Young Adults Language: English Topics Covered: Growing Up, Latinx Identities, Racism, Sports, Alcohol & Marijuana Use, Family, Incarceration, Filmmaking, Friendship, Police Brutality, Pregnancy. Summary: This book was one of those stories that everything I anticipated to happen did not happen, I was constantly surprised at the deft storytelling of Mendez’s…
Patina
Written by: Jason Reynolds Cover Art by: Vanessa Brantley-Newton For ages: YA Middle Grades Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Family, Grief, Death, Social-Emotional Growth, Sports, Women in Sports, Growing Up, Coping, Friendship, Black Culture & Identity. Summary: Patina is just trying to do her best at a new school and on a new elite track team that she is now a part…
The Immortal Jellyfish
Written & Illustrated by: Sang Miao For ages: 5-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Family, Grief, Loss, Love, Social-Emotional Growth & Development, Death. Summary: This is a beautiful book in both storyline and artwork. Our main character is a small boy who is told about a jellyfish that can revert back to the polyp stage and grow up again,…
King and the Dragonflies
Written by: Kacen Callender Cover Art by: Tonya Engel For ages: YA Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Family, LGBTQ, Death, Relationships, Friendship. Summary: We got this book from a friend who received a pre-release copy from the ALA Conference! We are so excited to have been able to both read and review the book before the release date, because it…