Girls on the Rise by Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Loveis Wise (Viking Books for Young Readers, 32 pages, ages 5-9). “We are girls on the rise./Today, everyone’s eyes/Are on us as we make waves/Pave the way, and save the day. Today, we finally have a say.” With simple rhymes and lush illustrations, this book celebrates girls of all types, encouraging them to support and empower each other through difficult times. Girls are celebrated for being strong and brave enough to right wrongs in the world. “Because when one girl is on the rise,/It means everyone else is, too.”
Dream a Dress, Dream a Poem: Dressmaker and Poet Myra Viola Wilds by Nancy Johnson James, illustrated by Diana Ejaita (Harry N. Abrams, 32 pages, ages 5-8). This book-length poem encourages readers to dream, citing the dreams of Myra Viola Wilds, a Black woman who grew up in Kentucky before moving to the city to get an education. She became an accomplished dressmaker until the close work damaged her eyes. Myra didn’t give up on her creative dreams, though, turning from sewing to poetry and publishing a book of her poems in 1915. The back matter includes additional biographical information and a photo, and the book begins and ends with two of Myra’s poems.
Both of these poetry books celebrate following dreams and lifting each other up. Amanda Gorman’s work speaks to these themes in general terms, while Nancy Johnson James offers a story of a woman who succeeded despite multiple hardships and was supported by the Black community that helped publish her work.
Both of these books would be excellent for celebrating Black History Month; if you’re looking for more resources, I have recently updated my Black History book list.
The Painter and the President: Gilbert Stuart’s Brush with George Washington by Sarah Albee, illustrated by Stacy Innerst (Calkins Creek, 40 pages, grades 2-5). George Washington was a man of action who preferred sitting astride a horse to posing for a portrait. Gilbert Stuart was a portrait painter with a knack for capturing his subjects while making the process fun for them. But Washington had him stumped. Not only did he show up with his face swollen from his ill-fitting false teeth, but he refused to engage with Stuart in any of the topics the painter tried desperately to introduce. Finally, he noticed Washington gazing happily at a horse out the window and started talking about horse racing. It worked! He invited George to bring family and friends to their next appointment, and that worked too. Today we see the happy (or not) results of Gilbert Stuart’s hard work every time we look at a dollar bill. Includes replicas of all six presidential portraits that Stuart completed, a time line, additional information about Washington’s teeth, how the painting was used to create the engraving for the dollar bill, and a bibliography.
This lighthearted introduction to Gilbert Stuart’s portraits would make a great addition to an art class. GW may not come off as a barrel of laughs, but readers will wince sympathetically when learning of his dental issues (although there’s no mention of the fact that he bought human teeth from enslaved people). Full disclosure, this book was published in 2024, but I thought it warranted a place in the Presidents’ Day post.
Hiding In Plain Sight: Kate Warne and the Race to Save Abraham Lincoln by Beth Anderson, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport (Calkins Creek, 48 pages, grades 2-5). When newly-elected U.S. President Abraham Lincoln traveled from his home in Illinois to Washington, DC in February, 1861, rumors of assassination were swirling. A plot was uncovered in Baltimore, and members of Allan Pinkerton’s detective agency took immediate steps to foil it. Central to their work was Kate Warne, the first female detective in the agency, whose undercover work as a lady from Alabama helped discover the Baltimore plot. Later, she posed as Lincoln’s sister, helping her “sick brother” board a train in Philadelphia that traveled in secret through Baltimore and on to Washington. When the supposed inaugural train arrived, word got out that Lincoln had already arrived, and Kate Warne faded into the cheering crowd, ready to take on her next assignment. Includes a six-page afterword with photos and additional information about Lincoln and Kate Warne, as well as a bibliography and illustrator’s note.
This exciting detective story would make an excellent read-aloud for both Presidents’ Day and Women’s History Month, with the mysterious Kate Warne playing a central role in preventing what could have been a national tragedy. The illustrations resemble period photographs and the whole book has kind of a scrapbook feel (the illustrator describes the scrapbooks that inspired her work in the note at the end). The additional information in the afterword provides some thought-provoking ideas and observations that could lead to some interesting discussions. Considering how little we know about Warne, there are quite a few children’s books about her: How Kate Warne Saved President Lincoln, The Eye That Never Sleeps: How Detective Pinkerton Saved President Lincoln, and the fictional The Detective’s Assistant.
George Washington’s Spectacular Spectacles: The Glasses That Saved America by Selene Castrovilla, illustrated by Jenn Harney (Calkins Creek, 32 pages, grades 2-5). By the end of the American Revolution, George Washington needed glasses, but he refused to let anyone see him wearing them. When he needed to read something, he would go into his office and slam the door. Everyone thought he was grouchy, but in March of 1783, it was his army officers who were the grouchy ones, after not getting paid for all the years of the war. They were threatening to storm Congress and demand their pay. Washington consulted a congressman about the issue, who wrote a reassuring letter that George thought would appease the officers. But when it came time to read it to them, he realized he needed his spectacles. He finally put them on, and his men, realizing what their beloved leader had sacrificed during the years of war, and agreed to wait on their pay. Includes additional information about this incident, an author’s note about her research and creative process in writing this story, and a bibliography.
Truth really is stranger than fiction, I thought as I read this quirky tale which ends unexpectedly with the army officers wiping away tears as they agree to continue to work without pay. All because George Washington put on his glasses, which, according to the back matter, is exactly how it happened. It’s an interesting story that will undoubtedly prompt some discussion, which could be seen as an example of Washington’s inspirational leadership or what happens when you’re willing to be vulnerable in front of your employees, but personally it kind of made me question the wisdom of those army officers.
Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia, illustrated by Brittney Williams (First Second, 208 pages, grades 3-7). Stella is excited to start fifth grade, but her excitement turns to panic as the homework starts to pile up and she falls further and further behind. She and her two best friends often play a favorite video game, but when a new manual comes out, Stella feels alienated when she can’t keep up with her friends’ reading. And to add to her worries, the big fifth grade project isn’t the art project she was hoping for, but one that features students’ writing. When Stella’s teacher calls home, she’s sure she’s in trouble, but it turns out that the adults in her life want to help. Once she’s gotten a dyslexia diagnosis, Stella’s able to work with special education teachers to develop new skills to help with her reading. This also takes away her shame at feeling like she’s not as smart as everyone else, leading to an honest conversation with her friends that helps them resolve their issues. And Stella’s understanding teacher lets her create a graphic novel for the writing project that allows Stella’s artistic talents to shine.
Speechless by Aron Nels Steinke (Graphix, 256 pages, grades 3-7). Mira’s determined that middle school will be a fresh start for her, but on the first day, she finds that, once again, she can’t bring herself to talk at school. Home is a different story, the place where she can be herself and pursue her passion of stop-motion photography. But this haven is taken away when former-friend-turned-mean girl Chloe comes for an extended stay. A phone call from school alerts Mira’s parents to her selective mutism, and she begins to work on her issues with an understanding therapist. A kind and patient new friend, Alex, also helps her by volunteering to be Mira’s partner with a project and defending her from bullies. Mira learns to take things one step at a time, communicating with notes and whispers. She even finds a way to reach out to Chloe (by letter), opening the way for them to resolve their differences. By the end of the story, Mira’s enjoying sixth grade, learning to succeed in her own way. Includes a note from the author (creator of the Mr. Wolf’s Class series) about his own struggles with social anxiety and difficulties talking in public.
These graphic novels offer stories that will both empower kids who may be dealing with learning differences like Stella’s or social anxieties like Mira’s, and create empathy in kids who may have classmates like them. I loved how the girls got help and support both at school and home but ultimately had to find their own ways. Each was able to discover her own talents and see her struggles as something she could overcome while staying true to herself.
Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez (Roaring Brook Press, 160 pages, grades 2-5). Gabby is an enthusiastic member of the Sea Musketeers, a club dedicated to preserving the oceans. At 9 years old, Gabby’s the youngest member, and she sometimes feels insecure at the meetings. When she suggests starting a social media account for the group, she’s surprised that everyone not only reacts positively but puts her in charge. At home, her parents tell her she can only go online when they’re supervising, and Mom helps her get the Sea Musketeers’ account up and running. But Gabby can’t help sneaking a peek a few days later to find out how things are going. While she’s delighted to find 100 followers, she’s also dismayed when she sees a comment saying that the club is stupid. Gabby immediately goes into detective mode, and no one is safe from her suspicions, not even her two best friends. When her parents start to receive irate phone calls, the truth comes out, and Gabby is relieved of her social media position and grounded for a week. She realizes that she needs to make amends with her friends, using one of her other budding talents–cookie baking–to do so, and at the next club meeting, she discovers a more age-appropriate way to contribute.
This is a cute series opener by the author of the Stella Diaz books (Stella, now a middle schooler, is the co-president of the Sea Musketeers.) I’m always happy to see a protagonist who’s still in elementary school, and Gabby has the enthusiasms and makes the mistakes that many a fourth-grader will relate to. The social media storyline got a little preachy, and also, what kid uses the term “social media”? I feel like the club would have decided to start an Instagram or TikTok account, or some fictional equivalent.
Chickenpox by Remy Lai (Henry Holt and Co., 240 pages, grades 3-7). Abby Lai is the oldest of five children, and at 12 years old she resents often being call on to supervise the younger kids. When all five get chickenpox at the same time, she knows she’s in for a rough couple of weeks. Compounding her worries are the difficulties she’s having with her two best friends and another friend who’s a boy and maybe a bit of a crush. As the itchy days go by, Abby has her share of frustrating moments, but she and her siblings also manage to have some fun, such as playing a game called Ghost that their mother has forbidden and starting a comic book lending library. When their youngest brother develops some complications and has to go to the hospital, Abby worries and realizes that she really does love her brothers and sisters. A few phone calls straighten out the friendship problems, and when quarantine finally ends, Abby has fading red spots and some interesting stories to tell to commemorate her time with chickenpox. Includes an author’s note with additional information about chickenpox and her family.
I’m glad Remy Lai has veered away (at least for the moment) from horror and back to a more lighthearted genre. In this semi autobiographical tale, she casts herself as the pesky younger sister who often gets in trouble and picks fights with all of her siblings. Older sister Abby is portrayed realistically and sympathetically, and each member of the large family has a distinctive personality. Fans of Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd will no doubt enjoy this graphic tale of the ups and downs of being part of a large family.
Fresh Start by Gale Galligan (Graphix, 288 pages, grades 3-7). Ollie is used to starting over at a new school, since her diplomat father’s career means moving every year or two. She tells herself she doesn’t care, sometimes finding a reason to get mad at a friend before leaving. But this time around, her parents announce that they’ve decided to stay in Chestnut Falls, Virginia. Ollie’s excited to discover a group of girls as devoted to anime and manga as she is, and before long, she’s made some new friends, one of whom shares her Thai heritage. The two of them wind up in a Thai dance group, courtesy of their mothers, despite Ollie’s aversion to both dance and wearing the feminine clothes and make-up that are part of the performance. That’s not the only place Ollie struggles with her parents, who are constantly butting heads with her younger sister Cat. As Ollie learns more about herself through the year, she finds herself regretting the ties she cut with friends after each move and also starts to feel more empathy for Cat, putting her in the role of family negotiator. By the end of the year, she’s realized the importance of her connections to friends and family members and is starting to appreciate the feeling of putting down roots. Includes an author’s note, photos, bonus comics, and additional information about Thai language and traditions.
The many fans of middle grade novels/memoirs will enjoy this latest entry by the author of some of the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels as well as Freestyle. Gale Galligan addresses the issues of fitting in, family dynamics, and racial, cultural, and gender identities with a story featuring manga-inspired artwork and a spunky protagonist. The back matter about their own childhood makes it even more interesting.
The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud (Graphix, 288 pages, grades 3-7). Makayla and Howard love creating comics: Makayla had endless story ideas, while Howard can draw anything she imagines. Encouraged by their librarian Ms. Fatima, they decide to start a comics club and soon are joined by Art, a maker with all kinds of interests, and Lynda, a talented artist who is shy about sharing her work. Led by Ms. Fatima, they take turns teaching each other about comics, including step-by-step directions for making minicomics and the importance of facial expressions, body language, and combining words and pictures. The newly-named Cartoonists Club is thrilled to be selected for participation in a local comics convention, where they meet one of their favorite artists and soon develop a following of their own. Includes interviews with Raina and Scott, a glossary, a list of comics jobs, the steps involved in making the book, and lists of additional resources and museums for learning more about comics.
I was delighted to receive an advance copy of this book (it comes out in April) and read it in a single sitting. While Raina’s legion of fans may be a little disappointed that it doesn’t have quite the involved storylines of her previous works, they will be excited to get so many interesting and useful tips for making their own comics. While that’s the main emphasis, the four characters still have engaging stories of their own. The two things that struck me the most about this book are: 1. The respect shown to young comic fans and artists that will encourage them to take their work seriously (but not too seriously!), and 2. Raina’s down-to-earth humility and sincere appreciation for other comic artists, even with her enormous success.
Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer by Quartez Harris, illustrated by Gordon C. James (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, grades 2-5). Books were a lifeline to young James Baldwin, growing up in Depression-era Harlem with a mother, stepfather, and eight siblings. Reading and writing helped him escape from his strict preacher stepfather and the racism he encountered all around him, particularly from the police. Words led Jimmy to preach his own sermons about love and acceptance, and they gained him admission to a prestigious high school, where he got to explore literature, film, and theater. The story follows Jimmy to Paris and ends with the publication of Go Tell It on the Mountain. Includes additional information about Baldwin, notes from the author and illustrator, and a list of sources.
And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison’s Life In Stories by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Daniel Mintner (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 48 pages, grades 2-5). The author’s note begins, “This narrative is a love letter to an outspoken sparrow who transformed lives through her storytelling.” Her ode to Toni Morrison weaves biographical information into a celebration of the writer’s life and work. The phrase “And she was loved” appears in many illustrations, as the text describes the love given to her by her parents, her children, and her readers, in a narrative that moves from her childhood in Ohio to her college days at Howard University to her life as an editor, writer, and mother to a celebrated winner of the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes and the Presidential Medal. In addition to the author’s note, the back matter includes an illustrator’s note, a photo of Morrison, a timeline, a list of selected works (including children’s books), and a list of sources.
Both of these biographies celebrate the lives and contributions of Black authors and offer inspiration to young writers. The illustrations in the books are striking, both by Caldecott honorees, with the potential for more awards consideration. These are books that may need a fair amount of introduction, as kids are unlikely to be familiar with either author.
Ruby Bridges: A Talk With My Teacher by Ruby Bridges, illustrated by Trudy Tran (Orchard Books, 48 pages, grades K-3). Ruby tells the story of her second-grade year, returning to the school where she and her teacher Mrs. Henry spent first grade alone in their classroom. Ruby is happy to be getting a ride with a neighbor instead of U.S. Marshals, not facing angry crowds at the front door, and seeing other kids in the school, some of whom look like her. But she’s heartbroken to learn that Mrs. Henry is no longer teaching there. The story then moves forward to 1995, when a book about Ruby has just been published. She’s excited to learn that Mrs. Henry has seen the book, which leads to a reunion. She finds out that Mrs. Henry left to have a baby, and the two of them reminisce about incidents only they remember, like when Ruby stashed her uneaten sandwiches in a supply cabinet until a mouse infestation led Mrs. Henry to discover them. The book ends with the question, “Teachers–who would we be without them?” and the author’s note celebrates teachers and encourages kids to think of special memories with their own teachers. A glossary lists 25 well-known teachers with a sentence or two about each one.
Early elementary students will relate to Ruby’s experiences and enjoy recalling their own teacher memories. Ruby’s tone is warm and relatable for kids without talking down to them. An introduction to her life would make the story more interesting, and I was surprised that the title of her 1995 book (I assume it’s The Story of Ruby Bridges) doesn’t appear anywhere in this book, including in the author information.
Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins–The First Lady of Children’s Music by Traci N. Todd, illustrated by Eleanor Davis (Chronicle Books, 60 pages, grades 1-4). Ella Jenkins grew up in a segregated Chicago neighborhood, surrounded by a loving family and all kinds of music and rhythms. As an adult she moved to San Francisco, where she became a teacher, community organizer, and civil rights activist. Ella particularly loved sharing music with children, using it to introduce them to cultures around the world. The story of her full 100-year life (she died on November 9, 2024) features cameos by a number of celebrities such as Cab Calloway, Billie Holiday, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mister Rogers. Includes three pages of additional information, a timeline, and a bibliography.
I feel for Traci N. Todd trying to contain Ella Jenkins’s long, eventful, and fascinating life in a single picture book. She does an excellent job, using text with plenty of rhythm, reflecting the music that was always an important part of Ella’s life. The back matter paints an even more complete picture of that life, and it could be fun to supplement the book with recordings or YouTube videos of some of Ella’s performances. I wish that Bernadelle Richter, Ella’s partner and manager for more than 60 years, had made it into the story, instead of only getting a mention on the timeline.
Bigfoot’s Big Heart by Sarah Glenn Marsh, illustrated by Ishaa Lobo (Viking Books for Young Readers, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Bigfoot is a shy fellow who doesn’t like loud sounds, especially the noises people make when they see him. He keeps to himself, living in a cozy cave and writing to his mythical pen pals, like Nessie, Mothman, and Chupacabra. Valentine’s Day is coming, and Bigfoot decides to make valentines for all of his friends, telling him exactly why he likes them so much. On his way to the mailbox, though, he’s spotted by a group of Scouts, and the valentines get blown away in a blustery wind. A few of the quieter Scouts talk to Bigfoot instead of shouting or running away, and they come up with a plan. They connect online with Scouts around the globe who go on a worldwide monster search to deliver Bigfoot’s valentines. Nessie decides it’s time for an in-person (in-monster?) gathering, and monsters and humans gather at Bigfoot’s cave on Valentine’s Day. “Suddenly the world feels a little less lonely…thanks to friends who understand.”
Heartfelt by Elaine Vickers, illustrated by Samantha Cotterill (Simon and Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 56 pages, ages 4-8). The narrator likes to make hearts, especially the small ones which they like to give away. Love is felt with all the senses, and the child tells how love can look, feel, taste, smell, and sound. Each loving deed is accompanied by one of the small hearts until all of them are gone. Or are they? As the narrator looks around, it’s clear that love is being shared and spread throughout the community. Includes an author’s note about a favorite Sunday School lesson, in which each student was given a bag of hearts to distribute when they did kind deeds during the week, which they reported on the next week.
I’m thinking of reading both of these books to classes in the next few weeks as Valentine’s Day draws near. Bigfoot is a great way to introduce both the different mythical creatures in the story and where they live around the world. And the activity described at the end of Heartfelt is a fun and easy way for kids to practice kindness and community.
Black Star by Kwame Alexander (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 384 pages, grades 5-8). In this sequel to The Door of No Return, Kofi is now Nana Kofi, grandfather to Charlene, a.k.a. Charley, who dreams of being the first Black female baseball player. She and her best friend Willie Green get tricked into a bet with a local bully, forcing them to quickly organize a baseball team and play a game at the church picnic. When the picnic grounds are being used for other activities, the team sneaks over the bridge to the whites-only field, where an encounter with a group of white kids ends with Willie accidentally hitting one of the boys with a baseball. Back home, Charley can’t figure out what’s going on, but the adults start talking in hushed tones and seem to be preparing for a journey. In the final pages, the family flees in Uncle Albert’s car, except for Daddy who stays behind to defend their home, while Willie Green and his brother Johnnie run from their burning home to join them after the Klan has done something unspeakable to their father. Those in the car are heading north, with Charley wracked by guilt over her actions that have led to this moment. Readers will have to wait for the third book of the trilogy to find out what happens next in the family saga.
This incredibly rich novel has so many elements woven together: Nana Kofi’s stories that fill in some of the details between books 1 and 2, appearances by real-life people like Marcus Garvey and Mary McLeod Bethune, and everyday descriptions of the life of a Black family living on the 1920’s South. I do think most readers will need some guidance with this book, particularly with the historical context, and they will understand and appreciate it much more if they have read book 1.
Unsinkable Cayenne by Jessica Vitalis (Greenwillow Books, 304 pages, grades 4-7). It’s 1985, and 12-year-old Cayenne is excited at the prospect of finally settling down. She and her free-spirited parents have always l lived in a van, but with the addition of twins to the family, they’re feeling the need for a home and some money. Cayenne loves seventh grade, making a few new friends and developing a crush on the new boy Beau, but when there are layoffs at the local sawmill, her dad loses his job, and she learns that Beau’s father was responsible. As food gets leaner and her parents start fighting more, Cayenne fears that her days in a real home may be numbered. By the end of the story, her hunch proves correct, and the family takes to the road again, although Cayenne feels a bit wiser about appreciating herself and her family and about questioning the importance of “fitting in.” An ongoing school project about the Titanic offers additional insights about class, and the author includes additional information at the end, as well as the connections to her own family, and Cayenne’s dad’s PTSD from Vietnam which he self-medicates by smoking weed.
While not exactly an upbeat story, Cayenne is an endearing protagonist who learns some important life lessons, and the focus on class and poverty is one that’s often not explored much in children’s books. I was kind of surprised when Dad was smoking a joint on page 1, but the author’s note gave his marijuana use some good context.
The Squad by Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Joanna Cacao. (Graphix, 288 pages, grades 4-8). Christina continues the memoir she began in The Tryout. Now an eighth grader, she feels like her life is good, with close friends, interesting classes, and a fun group of fellow artists who are working on a group project. But she and her friends Megan and Leanne still watch the cheerleaders longingly, and when they learn that there will be spots available in the ninth grade squad, they decide to try out once again. In the midst of their preparations, Christina gets the devastating news that her parents are divorcing. She’s determined to put on a happy face and continue with her cheering, and she and Megan–but not Leanne–make the squad. Her sadness and anger catch up with her eventually, but heart-to-heart talks with her parents and her friends help her to be more honest about how she’s feeling. “I didn’t need my life to be perfect,” Christina concludes. “I just needed my squad.” Includes a three-page author’s note in which Soontornvat talks more about her eighth grade life and several photographs from her and some of the friends and family members in the book.
I’m a big fan of The Tryout, so I was excited to see this sequel, and it did not disappoint. It does feel a bit heavier than the first book, with its explorations of divorce and the emotions it brings, as well as some scenes in which Christina deals with casual racism from her classmates and the way being biracial can make her feel like she doesn’t belong anywhere. Definitely for fans of Raina Telgemeier’s memoirs who may be ready for something a little meatier, as well as, of course, fans of The Tryout.
Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin by Erin Hunter, adapted and illustrated by Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter (HarperAlley, 272 pages, grades 3-7). Anyone who works in a school or children’s library knows that this series about warring cat clans has a devoted fan base, and no doubt the graphic adaptation will add to that. Book 1 tells the story of a young cat who starts life as a domesticated “kittypet” named Rusty but becomes a promising young warrior called Firestar. I only read the first 40 pages, but it’s well done, capturing the spirit of the chapter books with both the storytelling and the art. Book 2 is due out in April.
A Kids Book A Day 