Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel

English YA Black Culture & Identity Gun Violence Loss Family Poetry Jason Reynolds & Danica Novgorodoff summary Long Way Down is a poetic masterpiece. A teenager named Will witnesses his brother get shot in the street, and knows he must follow The Rules and seek revenge. The graphic novel is based on Jason Reynolds’ novel…

Arno and his Horse

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…

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…

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…

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,…

Tea Cakes for Tosh

Written by: Kelly Starling Lyons Illustrated by: E.B. Lewis For ages: 6-10 years Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Family, Dementia, Slavery, Love, Cooking, History, African-American Culture & Traditions.  Summary: This book is about the relationship between a grandmother and her grandson, Tosh. His favorite thing to do is make tea cakes with his grandmother and listen to her stories. Tosh’s grandma…

A Stone for Sascha

Written & Illustrated by: Aaron Becker For ages: 5 and up Language: English Topics Covered: Family, POC-Centric Narratives, Loss, Grief, Historical Fiction, Love, Pets. Summary: This book actually has no words, just pictures.  A family loses their dog, Sascha, just before going on vacation.  While on vacation at the beach, one of the children finds a shiny gold rock.  Suddenly, the…