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Cozy Up with a Mystery this Winter!

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As the weather outside gets colder, everyone is sure to feel the urge to snuggle up next to a fireplace with a good mystery novel. This month’s S-Collection blog will help young readers find the perfect cozy winter mysteries to enjoy, and observant kids will especially love picking up a magnifying glass and trying to solve the puzzles alongside the characters. The picture book selection features lighthearted books with detectives that reign from expert to inept, and the illustrations often hide clues that point towards the culprits. The juvenile fiction books have mysteries that are a tad more difficult to solve, often featuring fantastical elements and rich, whimsical settings. Finally, the juvenile historical fiction selection will take readers back in time to atmospheric and bleak mysteries set in Elizabethan England, 19th-century Stockholm, or 20th-century America. Regardless of reading level or interest, the S-Collection has what you need to cozy up with a mystery this winter!

Picture Books

Davis, Jacky
Illustrated by: David Soman
Agent Lion. 2020. Picture Book.
When Ms. Flamingo’s beloved cat goes missing, gumshoe detective Agent Lion is on the case! Agent Lion, unfortunately, is more than a bit incompetent and easily gets distracted by donuts, popcorn, and pigeons as he tries his best figure out where Fluffy could have gone. His theories may be wild and his questions may be off-topic, but Agent Lion ultimately discovers that the object of the investigation might be hiding right under his nose. Kids will love watching this lovable lion bumble his way to the bottom of this missing cat mystery.
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Lazar, Tara
Illustrated by: Ross MacDonald
The Upper Case: Trouble in Capital City. 2019. Picture Book.
This sequel to 7 Ate 9 tells the story of the aptly named Private I, a large, pink, anthropomorphous letter I, who must tackle his toughest case yet: The mystery of the missing capital letters. This wordplay-filled romp follows Private I as he figures out what–or who–caused these letters to disappear overnight. His adventures take him all throughout Capital City, from his favorite restaurant Café Uno to the seedier part of town known as Cursive Loop. Check out this book for yourself to figure out where the letters have gone and what particular punctuation mark might be to blame.
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Pintonato, Camilla
Illustrated by: Debbie Bibo
Detective Mole. 2021. Picture Book.
This headstrong investigator may wear a trench coat and a deerstalker cap, but don’t be fooled, he isn’t Sherlock Holmes…he’s Detective Mole! Detective Mole, real name Oscar, is on the case when a local squirrel’s grandfather goes missing, but readers will soon find that unraveling a mystery is more challenging than Oscar claims. While Oscar may be skilled with his nose, he’s less skilled with details and avoiding distractions, and readers will notice Oscar misses more than a few clues as he sets out on his search. Find out if Oscar has what it takes to be a detective in this humorous read, translated from the original Italian.
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Juvenile Fiction

Guterson, Ben
Winterhouse. 2018. Juvenile Fiction.
11-year-old Elizabeth has been living with her cold and uncaring aunt and uncle ever since her parents’ death, but a promise of a free cruise prompts her caretakers to drop Elizabeth off at the whimsical Winterhouse hotel for the winter season. While there, Elizabeth makes friends with the puzzle-loving Freddy, and the duo eventually begins investigating a strange book that may or may not hold clues into the hotel’s mysterious past – and even Elizabeth’s own. This eerie story takes place over the winter holidays, making it a perfect snowed-in read. Readers who are intrigued by Elizabeth’s adventures will be glad to hear that the book has two sequels, The Secrets of Winterhouse and The Winterhouse Mysteries, also available in SSHEL’s S-Collection.
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Magoon, Kekla
Chester Keene Cracks the Code. 2022. Juvenile Fiction.
Sixth grader Chester has never met his father, but when a mysterious envelope filled with puzzle pieces is left at his doorstep, Chester takes it as a sign that his dad is reaching out to him in code. If Chester’s dad is a spy, then it follows that Chester should train to become one, too! Surprisingly, the missing pieces of the puzzle are in the hands of Chester’s classmate Skye, and the two kids soon put their code-cracking and scavenger-hunting skills to the test in this complex but feel-good story full of friendship, family, and riddles.
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Young, Karen Romano
Illustrated by: Jessixa Bagley
A Girl, A Raccoon, and the Midnight Moon. 2019. Juvenile Fiction.
Pearl, the daughter of a New York librarian, can’t imagine a world without the library, but her favorite place faces an existential threat from real estate developers who want to turn it into an apartment building. To make matters worse, the head of the statue that stands in the library’s courtyard goes missing. Luckily, Pearl is determined to catch the vandal and save the library for the good of the community. Readers will learn about complex themes such as gentrification, homelessness, and underfunded social services, but the story is lightened up with Pearl’s plucky, can-do attitude…and the magical raccoons that live in the library’s basement.
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Historical Fiction

Dowell, Frances O’Roark
Dovey Coe. 2000. Juvenile Historical Fiction.
The year is 1928, and 12-year-old Dovey Coe, born and raised in the mountains of North Carolina, lives a peaceful life with her siblings and father in the small town of Indian Creek. A series of disastrous events results in Dovey being wrongfully accused of murder. Dovey’s lawyer is no help, and without anywhere else to turn, she sets out to prove her own innocence. Secrets, lies, and motives are revealed in this dark mystery set in the American South, which won the 2001 Edgar Award for Best Children’s Mystery.
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Hopkinson, Deborah
The Plot to Kill a Queen: A Royal Spy Story in Three Acts. 2023. Juvenile Historical Fiction.
13-year-old Emilia Bassano is an aspiring writer who spends her days composing one-act plays and sneaking into theater performances. When one of Emilia’s escapades goes awry, she stumbles her way into a job gathering intelligence for the spymaster of Queen Elizabeth herself. As the title suggests, Emilia soon discovers a plot to kill the Queen and is dispatched to stop it. Readers will appreciate the author’s extensive knowledge of the Elizabethan era and the numerous cameos of historical figures, including Emilia herself, who is actually a young version of the English poet more commonly known as Emilia Lanier.
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Rundberg, Johan
The Night Raven. 2023. Juvenile Historical Fiction.
In this atmospheric mystery, gruff and aged detective Valdemar Hoff is investigating a strange murder in 1880 Stockholm. His search leads him to the Public Children’s Home, where a baby was recently surrendered under mysterious circumstances. At the orphanage, Hoff encounters the bright and scrappy Mika, a 12-year-old girl who has long been honing her observation skills to survive. Hoff decides to enlist Mika’s help in his investigation, which appears to be connected to the notorious Night Raven murders. There’s just one problem: The Night Raven was supposedly executed the year prior. This bleak mystery is brightened by the touching relationship between Hoff and Mika, and the snowy setting of 19th-century Sweden makes this a perfect winter read. Translated from the original Swedish.
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America Decides: Elections, Voting, and Democracy

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Every four years, Americans get to cast their ballots and decide who should be the next president of the United States. Election Day this year falls on November 5th, and as children watch the adults in their life travel to their local polling stations or mail in their ballots with their pick for president, they are sure to have lots of questions about elections, voting, and democracy. This month’s S-Collection blog features books that explore democracy and voting rights in America through both fiction and nonfiction texts. The picture book section features books that illuminate the history of voting rights and its continued importance, while the juvenile chapter book section explores elections, voting, and civil justice through the eyes of fictional kids just trying to make it through the school day. Finally, the juvenile nonfiction section expands upon the history of democracy and voting rights in America, with a focus on how far we have come and how much father we still must go. Whether your reader wants to read pictures books, chapter books, or longer-form nonfiction books to explore the history of Americans’ trips to the polls, you can find it all in the SSHEL S-Collection!

Picture Books

Duster, Michelle
Illustrated by: Laura Freeman
Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth: Educator, Feminist, and Anti-Lynching Civil Rights Leader. 2022. Picture Book.
No discussion of voting rights history is complete without exploring how racial discrimination marred the women’s suffrage movement and was confronted by trailblazers such as the inspiring Ida B. Wells. This narrative biography of Wells, written by her great-granddaughter, reveals how African American women played an important role in the womens movement from the very beginning. Young readers will be amazed by the story of this civil rights leader, feminist, and co-founder of the NAACP who stood up for social justice and helped shaped American democracy.
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MacLeod, Elizabeth
Illustrated by: Emily Chu
Get Out and Vote: How You Can Shape the Future. 2023. Picture Book.
In this nonfiction picture book, author Elizabeth MacLeod explores the (sometimes strange) history of democracy and voting all around the world and particularly in America. Through accessible language and colorful illustrations, readers will be introduced to a variety of complex topics in the world of voting rights, including accessible ballots, the voting process, and voter suppression. The message about how your vote can help change the future shines throughout this informative and engaging read.
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Shulman, Mark
Illustrated by: Serge Bloch
I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference. 2020. Picture Book.
In this book about the importance of making your voice heard through voting, author Mark Shulman describes all the factors that go into casting a ballot, from researching candidates to watching debates to talking with others in your community. Simple descriptions of the government branches and voting mechanics add further depth to this informational book. Shulman also encourages grown-ups to bring the kids in their lives with them when they go to cast their ballot in November to introduce them to the power of doing your civic duty.
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Juvenile Fiction

Beaty, Andrea
Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote. 2022. Juvenile Fiction.
Sofia Valdez and her classmates have a difficult choice to make: Should their class pet be a turtle or a bird? There is no better student to organize this important election than Sofia herself, who was first introduced in the picture book Sofia Valdez, Future Prez. When the tie-breaking ballot in the election goes missing, however, Sofia’s skills are put to the test. This chapter book expands on Sofia’s story as she and her classmates learn about voting, journalism, and campaigning in this fourth installment of the Questioneers series.
Available online

Sales, Leila
Illustrated by: Kim Balacuit
The Campaign. 2020. Juvenile Fiction.
Seventh-grader Maddie Polanksy is looking forward to staying out of the spotlight throughout her middle school career. After all, while she doesn’t have many friends, she has her art class with Mr. Xian to look forward to each day, and that’s all she really needs! However, when Maddie realizes that unopposed mayoral candidate Lucinda Burghart is planning to cut funding for arts education when she wins office, Maddie decides it’s time to advocate for what she believes is right. After convincing her babysitter Janet to run for mayor as Lucinda’s only opposition, Maddie learns about democracy, campaigning, and activism in this lighthearted yet suspenseful juvenile chapter book.
Available online

Weaver, Lila Quintero
My Year in the Middle. 2018. Juvenile Fiction.
This book transports readers back to 1970s Alabama, where sixth grader Lu Olivera is struggling to find her place in the budding civil rights and desegregation movements. Lu, a first-generation immigrant whose parents are from Argentina, finds herself “in the middle” as some students in her class stick to the status quo and while others bravely campaign for change. The backdrop of George Wallace’s 1970 reelection campaign, as well as how civil rights supporters have always had a powerful role in the history of voting and democracy in America, adds context and historical insights to this touching story of a young activist finding her voice.
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Juvenile Nonfiction

Levinson, Cynthia, and Levinson, Sanford
Fault Lines in the Constitution, the Graphic Novel: The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws that Affect Us Today. 2020. Juvenile Nonfiction.
The U.S. Constitution was certainly an impactful historical text, but was it a perfect one? In Fault Lines in the Constitution, authors Cynthia and Sanford Levinson bring light to the various issues embedded in this document through both a historical and present-day lens. Through informative text and illustrated infographics, readers will begin to learn what flaws exist in the Constitution and how there is potential to change it for the better – after all, the Constitution’s own authors designed it to be ever-evolving. The book is made even more engaging by its graphic novel format. Tune in to figure out what letter grade Cynthia and Sanford ultimately give this important historical document…it could be lower than you might think.
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Miller, Marilyn and Scordato, Ellen
Illustrated by: Mary Kate McDevitt
Words that Built a Nation: Voices of Democracy that have Shaped America’s History. 2018. Juvenile Nonfiction.
This collection, updated from the original 1999 version, compiles the voices of dozens of civil rights advocates, U.S. government officials, and other powerful figures who played a large part in shaping America’s history. Essays and speeches from notable people such as Barack Obama, Shirley Chisholm, Red Cloud, Frederick Douglass, César Chávez, and more are placed alongside important American documents such as Supreme Court decisions. Each first-hand entry is accompanied by illustrations and commentary that add context and nuance to these foundational documents that have changed American politics forever.
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Rubin, Susan Goldman
Give Us The Vote!: Over 200 Years of Fighting for the Ballot. 2020. Juvenile Nonfiction.
While many may assume that the struggle for voting rights and universal suffrage are in America’s past, author Susan Goldman Rubin’s book shows that this is far from the truth. In fact, the fight for the right to vote continues to this day. Modern-day voter suppression in realms such as gerrymandering, as well as the often-untold history of suffrage movements in the African American and Native American communities, are explored in depth in this illuminating book that is sure to interest anyone who wants to learn more about democracy and elections this November.
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Extra-Terrestrials: Our Extra-Fun October Booklist

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With both International Observe the Moon Night (October 1st) and World Space Week (October 4th-10th) in October, there isn’t a better month to look up and wonder…is there anyone else out there? This month’s S-Collection blog features books about aliens, UFOs, and other intergalactic mysteries that are sure to delight and intrigue any young reader. The aliens in the picture books and middle grade fiction books presented here tend to be friendly, lovable, and eager to learn about life on Earth, even if they make a few mistakes along the way. However, if your reader is more interested in getting the facts straight, they might find what they’re looking for in the juvenile nonfiction selection. These books take a deep dive into space exploration and what proof–if any–scientists have found for alien life. Whether you’re looking for laughs or for answers, the S-Collection has what you need to investigate aliens this October!

Picture Books

Beckmeyer, Drew
The First Week of School. 2024. Picture Book.
The first week of school is tough enough without an unexpected alien visitor! In this elaborate and colorful picture book, we follow multiple students, all with their own obstacles to overcome, as they navigate the wild world of elementary school under the watchful eye of the class’s bearded dragon, Pat. However, one of them isn’t a student–they’re “Nobody,” a blue, well-dressed alien with one large green eye as their only facial feature. Nobody and the students, as well as their teacher and class pet, learn, grow, and deal with their worries during their eventful first week at school. Readers will be shocked at the surprise ending, which won’t be spoiled here–check it out for yourself!
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Biedrzycki, David
Invasion of the Unicorns. 2021. Picture Book.
Some aliens are spooky, slimy, and all-out scary, and some just happen to look exactly like a plush stuffed unicorn. This is the case with Bubble07, who has been sent to Earth to prepare for the upcoming unicorn invasion! However, life on Earth is a bit sweeter than Bubble07 thought it would be. During the days they spend spying on their adoptive family, Bubble07 gets to experience many exciting things, from delicious desserts to changing seasons to birthday celebrations. In the end, this sneaky unicorn has a different idea for what their species should do on Earth…and it involves a little less invading, and a little more partying!
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Sauer, Tammi
Illustrated by: Goro Fujita
Your Alien. 2015. Picture Book.
In this heartwarming story, told in the unique 2nd-person, a young boy happens to become the guardian of a tiny green alien that has been stranded on Earth. Although the two have fun together as they play, learn, and amaze the boy’s classmates, it doesn’t prevent the alien from getting homesick and lonely when the sun sets. It turns out that this alien, just like the boy, is a child, and they greatly miss their family up in space. Luckily, the young boy has an idea to get the family’s attention. The beautiful art style perfectly complements this tale about friendship and returning home.
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Middle Grade

Brennan, Megan
Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess. 2024. Middle Grade.
In this lively and colorful graphic novel, Kira, a 7th-grade student at the Neo-Earth Junior High, learns it’s important to be careful what you wish for. After her arch-nemesis becomes a premier Magical Girl in their fantasy high school, Kira decides it’s time to find a way to become a Magical Girl herself. One wish on a shooting star later, and the universe sends her what she asked for…in the form of a cat-like self-proclaimed space princess named Catacorn. Unfortunately, Catacorn has her own plans for her time at Neo-Earth Junior High, and Kira soon finds herself locked in a battle against evil of galactic proportions.
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Hale, Nathan
Apocalypse Taco. 2019. Middle Grade.
When middle-school twins Axl and Ivan accompany their high school friend Sid to pick up food from Taco Bear one late evening, no one expects it to turn into the adventure of a lifetime. Before they know it, the tacos turn into tiny monsters, and the town they know and love becomes nothing more than an ooey gooey replica. It turns out that they have been transported to an alien dimension intent on copying not only the world but its inhabitants. As spooky as this is, the book manages to remain lighthearted and funny as the kids fight through the apocalypse to find their way back home.
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Van Eekhout, Greg
Weird Kid. 2021. Middle Grade.
Jake may look like any other boy at his middle school, but he has a rather surprising secret: he’s not quite human. Much like the comic book heroes that he loves so much, Jake is an alien stranded on Earth, doing his best to fit in, make friends, and, of course, control his shapeshifting. When Jake meets Agnes, who loves comic books just as much as him, he gains a friend…and a partner to help him investigate the mysteries in his town. Jake and Agnes soon find themselves wrapped up in an intergalactic adventure that will connect Jake not only to his roots as an alien but to his found family on Earth.
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Juvenile Nonfiction

Fleming, Candace
Crash from Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell. 2022. Juvenile Nonfiction.
Renowned children’s author Candace Fleming sheds light on the topic of extraterrestrial life in this engaging collection, which opens by exploring the infamous UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico. After explaining the truth surrounding this incident, Fleming moves on to dozens of more recent UFO and alien sightings, some which were proven to be false and others that are still left unsolved. The book has a scrapbook-like design, including tons of photographs, first-hand sources such as newspapers, and fantastical illustrations, making this an exciting and informative read.
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Gifford, Clive.
Illustrated by: Scoular Anderson.
How to Meet Aliens. 2001. Juvenile Nonfiction.
In this installment of Clive Gifford’s “How To” series, curious readers will learn everything they need to know to prepare for their first encounter with an alien. Gifford’s simple steps, accompanied by colorful and engaging pictures, let young scientists know the history of alien sightings and where best to search for extraterrestrial life. Clive is sure to point out that a lot of stories about aliens and UFOs are far from the truth. Separating fiction from fact is a big part of this engaging guide, and the tone perfectly fluctuates from informative to silly throughout.
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Morancy, Joalda
Illustrated by: Amy Grimes
Aliens: Join the Scientists Searching Space for Extraterrestrial Life. 2022. Juvenile Nonfiction.
This fascinating book tackles all the tough questions that kids may have about life on other planets, viewing each hypothesis and theory, no matter how strange, with a critical and scientific lens. There are, after all, real scientists taking the possibility of extraterrestrial life very seriously, carefully scouring each corner of the universe for any signs of life beyond Earth. Kids will be amazed by these scientists’ stories and the evidence they have gathered so far. The vibrant artwork showcases the beauty of space and will draw any reader in who has big questions about our even bigger universe.
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Something Is in The Air: Fantasy and Magic Books Just in Time for Fall

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As we approach the autumn solstice, why not cozy up with a book that transports you to another world? For this month’s S-Collection blog we are placing the spotlight on books within the genres of fantasy and magic. In the fantasy genre, authors utilize magic and other supernatural elements to build a world that is different from our own. In children’s and youth literature, these elements can be seen through talking animals, magic use, paranormal activity, and other potentially mythical creatures. This collection of fantastical picture books, middle grade books, and young adult books engulfs the reader in an aura of magic, mystery, and adventure just in time for fall.

Picture Books

Li, Qiaoqiao
Dad, Don’t Miss It! 2022. Picture Book.
Inspired by Chinese folk culture, this playful tale follows a distracted parent as they come to appreciate a child’s imagination. A child and his dad are taking the day off in the countryside, but the dad is consistently distracted by his computer screen. The child keeps trying to grab his dad’s attention, until finally the dad can see all the magic around them. Now, parent and child can join the imaginative parade full of magical creatures together. This heartwarming story encourages readers to reconnect with their imagination and have fun.
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Murray, Lily
Illustrated by: Katie Hickey
Once Upon a Magic Book. 2018. Picture Book.
In an old toy shop, Sophie and Jack discover a glowing key inside a book. When they turn the key, the friends are transported inside the book. Once inside, a fantastical adventure begins. Sophie and Jack move through beautiful fairy tale forests and encounter pirates — but watch out for the wicked witch! Once Upon a Magic Book uses an I Spy format that allows readers to find objects that help the friends return home.
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Wahl, Phoebe
Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest. 2021. Picture Book.
Little Witch Hazel lives in the forest helping creatures of all sizes. She is a hard worker, kind friend, and avid explorer. In this book, readers can follow Hazel’s adventures through four seasons as she helps creatures and solves forest mysteries. Little Witch Hazel helps everyone she can, but who helps Hazel when she needs help? This story is a lovely celebration of nature and friendship.
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Middle Grade

Chivers Khoo, Rachel
Illustrated by: Rachel Sanson
The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice. 2024. Middle Grade.
Local wishkeeper, Rupus Beewinkle, is in trouble. He is in desperate need of an apprentice, but the council keep rejecting his proposal. Rupus sees the perfect opportunity to finally have an apprentice when ten-year-old Felix makes a special wish. After wishing in the town’s fountain, Felix did not expect to be offered a job. He just wanted his older sister to like him again. But when the town’s wishes are threatened by the mysterious wishsnatcher, it is up to Felix to save and restore the dreams of his fellow townsfolk.
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Johnson, Ginger
The Other Side of Luck. 2021. Middle Grade.
Princess Una longs for a different life outside the palace. Una has experienced extreme loneliness ever since the passing of her mother. For her twelfth birthday, Una’s father opens a contest to the public: Whoever could find the rare Silva Flower and present it to Una would receive a handsome reward.
Julien’s Baba has been arrested by debt collectors. Now, Julien’s only chance to save his father is to win the palace contest. Unbeknownst to him, Princess Una is also embarking on the adventure to find the elusive Silva Flower. What will happen when their paths become intertwined with one another?
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Meloy, Colin
Illustrated by: Carson Ellis
Wildwood. 2011. Middle Grade.
Wildwood, the first book in the Wildwood Chronicles, transports readers to a different world hidden in the woods of Portland, Oregon. Eleven-year-old Prue and her classmate Curtis uncover a secret world inside the Impassible Wilderness when Prue’s baby brother, Mac, is kidnapped. Prue and Curtis’s original rescue mission turns into something much greater as they continue to learn more about those who reside in Wildwood. With everything they learn and with everyone they meet, Prue and Curtis quickly find themselves at the center of a revolution. The Wildwood Chronicles are bursting at the seams with interesting characters, vivid world building, and timeless illustrations.
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Young Adult

Dabos, Christelle
A Winter’s Promise. 2018. Young Adult.
A Winter’s Promise is the first book in the La Passe-Miroir series. Long ago, the world was ruptured into multiple floating celestial islands known as the Arks. Each ark has developed distinct ways, with their own relationships to concepts such as time. Ophelia lives on Anima, an ark where objects have souls. Ophelia actively hides her ability to read and communicate with souls of objects and her power to travel through mirrors. Everything changes when Ophelia is betrothed to a significant member of the Dragon clan. Now, Ophelia finds herself swept up in adventure, mystery, and politics as she leaves behind everything she once knew.
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Klune, TJ
The House in the Cerulean Sea. 2021. Young Adult.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is the first book in the Cerulean Chronicles and takes the reader on a cozy, fantastical journey. Generally, Linus Baker leads a quiet life. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, he manages the well-being of magical children. One day, Linus is tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world. The children reside in the Marsyas Island Orphanage and are cared for by Arthur Parnassus. As unexpected relationships are formed, Linus must choose between a home or the world. This is a powerful story about love and discovering family in the most unlikely of places.
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Walls, Jasmine
Illustrated by: Teo DuVall
Brooms. 2023. Teen Graphic Novel.
In 1930s Mississippi, magic is permitted only in certain circumstances, and by certain people. Unsanctioned broom racing is banned, but for those who are looking it is there to be found. Luella is trying to protect her cousins, Mattie and Emma, from the government. If the government found out about their magic, Mattie and Emma would be sent away to boarding school where they could potentially have their magic sealed away from use. So, to help them harness their magic and earn money to help the family, Luella asks Billie Mae, Loretta, and Cheng-Kwan if her cousins could join their broom racing team. Meet the Night Storms racing team: Captain Billie Mae, Second-in-Command Loretta, Cheng-Kwan, Mattie, Emma, and Luella. Brooms is a fast-paced graphic novel that navigates friendship, family, and rebellion.
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National Sisters’ Day!

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National Sisters’ Day occurs on August 4th, 2024, so this month we are celebrating the relationship between sisters. In this month’s S-Collection blog, we are highlighting books featuring stories that explore the different facets of sisterhood. Sometimes having a sister feels like having an automatic best friend and supporter. Other times, sisters can clash, change, or have secrets come between them. Sisterhood is complicated. This collection of picture books, middle grade books, and young adult novels invites readers to delve into the complexities of sisterhood and accompany sisters as they share in adventures ranging from the everyday to the extraordinary.

Picture Books

Goth, Shane
Illustrated by: Yong Ling Kang
The Midnight Club. 2021. Picture Book.
Sisters Milly and Becca are both members of the Midnight Club. Tonight is Milly’s first adventure! The sisters sit in Dad’s big chair, try on Mom’s coat, eat jellybeans, and overcome their fear of a scary shadow. There is so much fun to be had in the middle of the night! As their adventure ends, the sisters put away any evidence of their shenanigans. Remember, the most important rule of the midnight club is that the club must remain a secret.
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Hager, Jenna Bush & Barbara Bush
Illustrated by: Romona Kaulitzki
Sisters First. 2019. Picture Book.
A little girl’s wish is granted when her new sister comes into the world. While her baby sister cannot do much, the sisters become inseparable. As they grow together, the sisters are constantly laughing, dancing, and playing. With their wild imaginations, the sisters learn that they are better together than they ever were apart.
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Kokias, Kerri
Illustrated by: Teagan White
Snow Sisters! 2018. Picture Book.
It’s a snow day! Each sister approaches the day in their own way, with one playing in the snow and the other enjoying the indoors. As their day progresses, their roles reverse. Each sister gets to spend their days exploring the joys of a snow day both outside and inside.
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Miura, Tomo
Little Sisters. 2024. Picture Book.
What would it be like to have a little sister? An only child imagines what her life would be like if she had a little sister or many little sisters. They could play hide-and-seek, build towers, share a treat, and jump on the sofa. As each scenario plays out, more little sisters appear — until all the sisters disappear, and the only child is once again alone. This book is full of joy and mischief as our main character questions what life would be like with more siblings around.
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Middle Grade

Fawcett, Heather
The Islands of Elsewhere. 2023. Middle Grade.
The Snolly sisters are staying with their grandfather for the summer. Their grandfather’s property is home to the three mysterious Fairy Islands: Fairy, Little Fairy, and Ghost. The locals of Misty Cove claim that the islands are full of magic. Unbothered by the potential magic, ten-year-old Bee Snolly is more focused on helping her ill grandfather. As the Snolly sisters’ journey into the Fairy Islands, they may discover a secret that can help them all.
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Johnson, Varian
Illustrated by: Shannon Wright
Twins. 2020. Middle Grade Graphic Novel.
Sisters are forever, right? Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best friends. They do everything together from school projects to after-school clubs. Things begin to change as the girls move into sixth grade. Suddenly, Francine starts going by Fran and starts participating in things that would set her apart from Maureen. It seems like the sisters are growing apart and there is nothing that Maureen can do to stop it. Will their transition into middle school change their relationship forever?
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Kim, Graci
The Last Fallen Star. 2021. Middle Grade.
Riley Oh’s family is a part of a powerful lineage of Korean healing witches called the Gom clan. Her sister, Hattie, is finally going to be initiated into the clan. Riley is so excited to follow in her sister’s footsteps and participate in the clan. Unfortunately, Riley is adopted. She does not possess the heritage magic. Riley’s lack of magic makes her feel alienated from her family. Hattie, wanting to share her magic with her sister, comes up with a plan. This plan involves an old family spell book, breaking ancient laws, and puts the sisters’ lives at risk. When things go wrong, it is up to Riley to save her sister and find out what it means to be a witch.
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Zahler, Diane
Goblin Market. 2022. Middle Grade.
Lizzie and Minka are complete opposites. Lizzie is shy and sensitive, while Minka is outgoing and cheerful. One day, Minka meets a boy, Emil, at the market and is immediately charmed. Minka falls ill after eating a strange fruit given to her by Emil and is taken into the home of the goblins, the dark forest. It is up to Lizzie to find Emil and save her sister before it is too late. Inspired by Polish folklore, this fantasy-horror book captivates readers with its detailed world building and timeless tale of saving a loved one from hidden dangers.
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Young Adult

McCullough, Joy; Sharpe, Tess; Spotswood, Jessica; Richmond, Caroline Tung
Great or Nothing. 2022. Young Adult.
Set in the spring of 1942, this Little Women retelling is told from each March sister’s point of view as they experience loss, love, and self-discovery. The story takes place after the death of the youngest March sister, Beth. This loss creates intense tension between the remaining family members and pushes the March sisters away from one another. With each point of view written by a different author, this retelling sheds a different light to an already classic story about the trials and tribulations of sisterhood.
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Tian, Xixi
This Place is Still Beautiful. 2022. Young Adult.
Annalie and Margaret agree on only one thing, that they have nothing in common. Margaret is ambitious, driven, and has a passion for social justice. She could not wait to escape her small town. Annalie is sweet, popular, and loves that town that she grew up in. Until, one day Annalie comes home to find a racial slur painted on her family’s house. Margaret comes home, outraged by the incident. She expects her family to take a stand on the issue but finds that they would rather forget about the event entirely. Tensions rise between the sisters and untold secrets threaten to tear them apart. A complicated story about family and sisterhood that will captivate readers until the very end.
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All Things Sports

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For this July blog post we are highlighting sports of all kinds! Young adult sport books for this month feature teens and young adults overcoming tremendous hurdles and obstacles to achieve their dreams, find their identity, and succeed. In these fiction novels, the stories illuminate the many struggles that teens can undergo and the realities of being an athlete. Through evocative themes and stories full of pure heart and passion, these books will be sure to enthrall you! Whether you enjoy novels of competition, underdogs, perseverance, or sports in general it will appeal to all teen readers interested in venturing into sports youth literature.


Bishop, Jenn
Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up. 2023. Middle Grade.
New to Cincinnati, where her father is now coach of the university basketball team, eighth-grader Aurora (called Rory) finds herself isolated by the heated team rivalries–especially when it turns out her new friend Abby’s father has a mysterious feud with Rory’s father that threatens her new friendship.
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Farid, Diana
Wave. 2022. Young Adult.
A coming-of-age novel in verse set in 1980s Southern California, about a Persian American girl. Thirteen-year-old Ava loves to surf and to sing. Singing and reading Rumi poems settles her mild OCD, and catching waves with her best friend, Phoenix, lets her fit in — her olive skin looks tan, not foreign. But then Ava has to spend the summer before ninth grade volunteering at the hospital, to follow in her single mother’s footsteps to become a doctor. And when Phoenix’s past lymphoma surges back, not even surfing, singing, or poetry can keep them afloat, threatening Ava’s hold on the one place and the one person that makes her feel like she belongs. With ocean-like rhythm and lyricism, Wave is about a girl who rides the waves, tumbles, and finds her way back to the shore.
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Fujimura, Sara
Every Reason We Shouldn’t. 2020. Young Adult.
Sixteen-year-old figure skater Olivia Kennedy’s Olympic dreams have ended. She’s bitter but enjoying life as a regular teenager instead of trying to live up to expectations of being the daughter of Olympians Michael Kennedy and Midori Nakashima — until Jonah Choi starts training at her family’s struggling rink. Jonah’s driven, talented, going to the Olympics in speed skating, completely annoying — and totally gorgeous. Between teasing Jonah, helping her best friend try out for roller derby, figuring out life as a normal teen and keeping the family business running, Olivia’s got her hands full. But will rivalry bring her closer to Jonah, or drive them apart?
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Goodman, Jessica
They’ll Never Catch Us. 2021. Young Adult
Sisters Stella and Ellie Steckler are both determined to win a scholarship and escape their stifling small town, but their plans are upset when a new girl joins the cross-country team and then disappears. Cross-country running is Stella Steckler’s life, and she won’t let anything get in the way of being the best. Her sister Ellie is a talented runner too, but she has friends, goes to parties, and has a life off the course. Their lives are upended when Mila Keene comes to town. At first they view her as a threat. But Ellie’s been looking for a friend, and in a moment of weakness shares her darkest secret with Mila. Stella also connects with Mila but finds her a distraction. When Mila goes out on a training run and doesn’t return, all eyes are on the Steckler sisters.
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Graves, Byron
Rez Ball. 2023. Young Adult.

These days, Tre Brun is happiest when he is playing basketball on the Red Lake Reservation high school team–even though he can’t help but be constantly gut-punched with memories of his big brother, Jaxon, who died in an accident. When Jaxon’s former teammates on the varsity team offer to take Tre under their wing, he sees this as his shot to represent his Ojibwe rez all the way to their first state championship. This is the first step toward his dream of playing in the NBA, no matter how much the odds are stacked against him. But stepping into his brother’s shoes as a star player means that Tre can’t mess up. Not on the court, not at school, and not with his new friend, gamer Khiana, who he is definitely not falling in love with. After decades of rez teams almost making it, Tre needs to take his team to state. Because if he can live up to Jaxon’s dreams, their story isn’t over yet.
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Kress, Emma
Dangerous Play. 2021. Young Adult.
Zoe Alamandar has one goal: win the State Field Hockey Championships and earn a scholarship that will get her the hell out of central New York. She and her co-captain Ava Cervantes have assembled a fierce team of dedicated girls who will work hard and play by the rules. But after Zoe is sexually assaulted at a party, she finds a new goal: make sure no girl feels unsafe again. Zoe and her teammates decide to stop playing by the rules and take justice into their own hands. Soon, their suburban town has a team of superheroes meting out punishments, but one night of vigilantism may cost Zoe her team, the championship, her scholarship, and her future.
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Marie, Racquel
You Don’t Have a Shot. 2023. Young Adult.
Valentina “Vale” Castillo-Green’s life revolves around soccer. When she incites a fight during the playoffs with her long-time rival, Leticia Ortiz, everything she has been working toward seems to disappear. Vale escapes to soccer camp for a summer of relaxation and redemption, only to find out that she and the endlessly aggravating Leticia will be co-captaining a team that could play in front of college scouts. Unless they can get their rookie team’s act together, this second chance — and any hope of playing college soccer — will slip through their fingers. What starts off as a shaky alliance of necessity begins to blossom into something more.
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Mendez, Yamile Saied
Furia. 2020. Young Adult.
Seventeen-year-old Camila Hassan, a rising soccer star in Rosario, Argentina, dreams of playing professionally, in defiance of her father’s wishes and at the risk of her budding romance with Diego. In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan leads a double life. At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in the shadow of her soccer-star brother, and under the abusive rule of her short-tempered father. On the field, she is La Furia, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see just how far those talents can take her. But the path ahead isn’t easy. Her parents would never allow a girl to play fútbol, and she needs their permission to go any farther. And the boy she once loved is back in town. Since he left, Diego has become an international fútbol celebrity, but things have changed for Camila, too: she has her own passions and ambitions, and Furia cannot be denied. As her life becomes more complicated, Camila is forced to face her secrets and make her way in a world unprepared for the dreams of a girl like her. Furia is an achingly real and powerfully told story about family, identity, first love, and, of course, fútbol. It will resonate with anyone who has been told she can’t have it all — especially those who have gone out to get it anyway.
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Takaoka, Shannon
Everything I Thought I Knew. 2020. Young Adult.
Seventeen-year-old Chloe had a plan: work hard, get good grades, and attend a top-tier college. But after she collapses during cross-country practice and is told that she needs a new heart, all her careful preparations are laid to waste. Eight months after her transplant, everything is different. Stuck in summer school with the underachievers, all she wants to do now is grab her surfboard and hit the waves — which is strange, because she wasn’t interested in surfing before her transplant. (It doesn’t hurt that her instructor, Kai, is seriously good-looking.) And that’s not all that’s strange. There’s also the vivid recurring nightmare about crashing a motorcycle in a tunnel and memories of people and places she doesn’t recognize. Is there something wrong with her head now, too, or is there another explanation for what she’s experiencing? As she searches for answers, and as her attraction to Kai intensifies, what she learns will lead her to question everything she thought she knew about life, death, love, identity, and the true nature of reality.
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Tomp, Sarah
The Easy Part of Impossible. 2020. Young Adult.
After an injury forces Ria off the diving team, she forms an unexpected friendship with Cotton, a neuro-divergent boy who helps her to see that Coach Benny’s training methods were actually abuse. Then Benny returns, offering Ria a second chance with a life-changing diving opportunity. How do you separate the impossible from possible when the one thing you love is so tangled up in the thing you fear most?
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EVS



Summer Solstice

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The month of June brings about the summer solstice. The summer solstice occurs on June 20th, 2024, and is known as the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. For this month’s S-Collection blog we are highlighting books that feature the summer solstice, nature’s rhythms, and the beauty of our earth. This collection of picture books and young adult novels feature anthologies of poems, arts, and crafts for the summer, and instructional picture books on the summer solstice. Summer is a wonderful time to read picture books on the beauty of our surroundings and these books with breathtaking illustrations will make you appreciate summer and the summer season.


Filippucci, Laura
The Universe is a Tree. 2018. Picture Book.
Trees are teachers, healers, protectors, creators. They keep secrets. They bring peace. This rich anthology of stories, proverbs, and poems about trees from around the world reveals that a tree’s roots not only go down deep into the earth, but its branches also reach up and out into the universe, connecting us all, across time and space. May we peer through the forests of our imaginations to see the beauty and experience the awe that still arches over our world.
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Cook, Fiona
The Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature’s Rhythm. 2023. Young Adult.
You are magic… and so is the world around you, transforming with each new season! The Wheel of the Year is a way to learn about nature’s rhythms – for noticing and celebrating the seasons as they come and go. The spokes of the Wheel mark important turning points: the Winter and Summer Solstices, the Spring and Fall Equinoxes, and the festivals of seeding, growing, and harvesting that arrive in between. Through themed activities, crafts, and rituals, discover old and new ways of honoring the seasons – and create your own!
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Hakala, Marjorie
Mermaid Dance. 2009. Picture Book.
As the sun sets on the ocean, the sky turns pink, then purple, the spring becomes the summer, and a celebration begins. Mermaids arrive, ready to greet the new season by playing, feasting, and dancing in the high tide. Mark Jones’ pastel illustrations capture an enchanting and mysterious world sure to delight the imagination of all readers.
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Henkes, Kevin
Summer Song. 2020. Picture Book.
Bees buzz, birds sing, and children roll in the grass and feel the heat of the summer sun. With striking verbal imagery, repetition, and alliteration, Kevin Henkes introduces basic concepts of language and the summer season. Laura Dronzek’s glowing paintings beautifully illustrate the wonders of summer.
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Ignotofsky, Rachel
What’s Inside a Flower?: And other Questions about Science and Nature. 2021. Picture Book.
Budding backyard scientists can start exploring their world with this stunning introduction to these flowery show-stoppers — from seeds to roots to blooms. Learning how flowers grow gives kids beautiful building blocks of science and inquiry. In the launch of a new nonfiction picture book series, Rachel Ignotofsky’s distinctive art style and engaging, informative text clearly answers any questions a child (or adult) could have about flowers.

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Jackson, Ellen B
The Summer Solstice. 2001. Picture Book.
Accompanied by a summer tale designed to be read aloud, recipes, and craft activities, this beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates the universal appeal of the sun and the abundance of light and warmth it provides.
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Klepeis, Alicia
Secrets of the Forest: 15 Bedtime Stories Inspired by Nature. 2023. Picture Book.
Every forest contains a thousand secrets… In this charming anthology of stories by Alicia Klepeis, readers will be guided into forests to meet the amazing animals that live there. In one story a squirrel hunts for an elusive acorn it buried earlier in the year, while another looks at an Alaskan wood frog as it freezes itself alive to survive a harsh winter. Children will be thrilled by the tale of a reindeer that gets separated from its herd in the snowy woods of Scandinavia, and marvel at a chameleon changing color in the forests of Madagascar. Other stories feature elephants, wild cats, pangolins, badgers, foxes, monarch butterflies, otters, walking fish, a tree that can live for thousands of years, and even forest-dwelling penguins! All these creatures and their habitats are brought to life with impressive skill by illustrator Kristen Adam. Each story in Secrets of the Forest is based on the real biology and behavior of these amazing wild animals, and at the end of each tale readers will find out more about the science that inspired the story.
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Pfeffer, Wendy
The Longest Day: Celebrating the Summer Solstice. 2010. Picture Book.
In this fourth and final book in a series about seasons, Wendy Pfeffer turns her attention to summer, when butterflies emerge from silky cocoons and daylight hours stretch longer and longer. With lyrical prose and vibrant illustrations, The Longest Day takes us on a journey through the history and science behind the summer solstice, with a focus on summer celebrations from various cultures around the world. Teachers and students alike will treasure the varied and accessible knowledge, and activities in the back let everyone in on the festivities.
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Pourquie, Bernadette and Gambini, Cecile
Strange Trees and the Stories Behind Them. 2016. Picture Book.
Have you ever heard of the Strangler Tree? The Bubblegum Tree? The Upside-Down Tree? How about trees with horns, bottles, sausages, crowns, and ones that walk or even explode? Crazy, maybe, but true. Find out more about these, and many others, in this colorfully illustrated collection of the most bizarre—but real—trees from around the world, once again reminding us that the art of nature is far stranger than fiction. The perfect book for inquisitive naturalists with imaginations, Strange Trees also includes a map of the world showing where the trees grew.
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Singer, Marilyn
Footprints on the Earth: Poems about the Earth. 2002. Picture Book.
This provocative anthology of poems ranges from such lofty subjects as an astronaut’s view of Earth to the burrows of worms and little creatures within the earth, “where I try to tread softly: a quiet giant leaving only footprints on the roof.” Marilyn Singer’s lilting free verse offers visual images that give us fresh new insights and respect for the mighty power of volcanoes, fens, islands, deserts, dunes, and natural disasters. Singer’s easily accessible poems also include some of the lighter moments of childhood, such as sliding on ice and playing in mud. Meilo So’s distinctive India ink drawings on rice paper provide an especially handsome showcase for these buoyant nature poems.
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EVS

National Latino Books Month

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This May we are celebrating Latino Book Month where we are highlighting incredible and inspiring Latino/a picture books. This month’s blog is a fantastic way to familiarize yourself with Latino authors and Latino stories depicting themes of bilingualism, food, activism, cultural heritage, and folklore. Through a combination of biographical, auto-biographical, fictional, and non-fictional picture books we want to share the stories of Latino authors and the profound impact on children’s literature.


Aguilera, Claudio
9 Kilometers. 2023. Picture Book.
9 Kilometers is set in the beautiful landscape of southern Chile. It tells the story of a young boy who travels 9 kilometers (over five and a half miles) through the mountains and rainforests of Chile to get to school. The young boy on his long walk encounters butterflies, lizards, and passes the time counting his steps all 15,000 of them. This compelling story by Claudio Aguilera exhibits the perseverance of this young child and the realities many children face in their journeys to get an education.
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Engle, Margarita
Water Day. 2023. Picture Book.
In this insightful picture book Margarita Engle spotlights a young girl’s community in Cuba where the entire community rejoices in the arrival of the water man who visits the town weekly to distribute water to her village. Water Day is an exemplary tale on the global water crisis affecting communities such as this small village that no longer has access to water. In order to access a water supply, the village must get help from the water man whose visits to the village are a celebration for the presence of water.
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Fernandez Nitsche, Melisa
Cantora: Mercedes Sosa, the Voice of Latin America. Picture Book. 2023.
This biographical picture book tells the story of Mercedes Sosa a prominent Argentinian singer whose folk music about justice and human rights resonated with Latin America. Sosa’s passion in her music gave voice to the voiceless and became a symbol of resistance for not only her native country of Argentina but also of Latin America. Unfortunately, her music grabbed the attention of Argentinian government officials that led to her exile in the 1970’s by the Argentinian dictatorship. This picture book is an inspiring tale of the life of Mercedes Sosa. The author does a tremendous job through illustrious colorways and evocative language to display a figure in history that became a beacon for freedom and justice.
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Genhart, Michael
Spanish is the Language of my Family. 2023. Picture Book.
Michael Genhart in Spanish is the Language of my Family reveals his own cultural experience through stories told by his mother on the experience generations of Latinos went through by being punished for speaking Spanish at school. This story centers around a young boy who is preparing for his school’s Spanish spelling bee and asks his grandmother how to pronounce certain Spanish words that he is having trouble trying to spell. As his grandmother helps him study, she begins to express how differently her life was during school when she was a little girl where she was only ever allowed to speak English at school. Hearing his grandmother’s story motivates and inspires the young boy to make his family proud. Genhart’s picture book highlights an inter-generational story on cultural pride, the heritage we share with our family, and the ties that bind each generation. This story highlights how new generations of Latinos and Spanish speakers are finding inventive ways to rejuvenate the language.
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Kemp, Laekan Zea
A Crown for Corina. 2023. Picture Book.
It is Corina’s birthday, and she has the special privilege of picking out beautiful flowers from her abuela’s garden to make the biggest flower crown. Corina’s abuela helps her pick out flowers that each have a special meaning and symbolize members of her family who she holds dear. From sunflowers to morning glories, and coneflowers Corina’s flowers represent a story of love and tradition. This beautiful story demonstrates the symbolism behind Mexican flower crowns and Corina’s self-discovery as she takes part in her family’s tradition.
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Liu-Trujillo, Robert
Jugo Fresco. 2023. Picture Book.
Follow Art and his father as they journey around the neighborhood in the search for fresh ingredients to help make a juice that can heal his father from a cold. Art and his father learn by the end of the book that the secret and most important ingredient to any fresh juice is “community” alongside carrots, cayenne, and collards. Robert Liu-Trujillo brings a warmth and vitality to Jugo Fresco and emphasizes the importance of community through the celebration of mixed families.

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Menendez, Juliet
Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers. 2021. Biography.
In this collection of short biographies discover 40 influential Latin women from all over Latin America and the United States. Juliet Menendez reveals the paths these influential women took to get to where they are today. Through vibrant hand-painted illustrations Menendez celebrates these famous women and the triumphs they have achieved in their lives. The book features a variety of women across all disciplines from artists and scientists, to activists. You can expect any reader to feel encouraged to follow their dreams.
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Norman, Lissette
Plátanos go with Everything. 2023. Picture Book.
Platanos go with Everything by award-winning poet Lissette Norman is a lighthearted dedication to plátanos the star of Dominican cuisine. In this story Yesenia’s favorite food is plátanos. Plátanos can be sweet and sugary, or they can be savory and salty. Plátanos are a part of every dish in her Dominican household and through heartwarming language and warm colors you will find out why plátanos go with absolutely everything, especially with love!
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Otheguy, Emma
Martina Has Too Many Tías. 2003. Picture Book.
This charming and animated picture book reimagines the classic and beloved Caribbean folktale of “La Cucaracha Martina.” In this reimagining a quiet girl by the name of Martina is overwhelmed by her boisterous and loud family. Martina does not enjoy parties because parties are usually full of her tías wearing bold clothing and bellowing laughs; it can be too much for a quiet person like Martina. When Martina wanders into a pot of hot guava she is whisked away to a magical island where she can finally be in solitude and enjoy her peace. However, is she really at home? Follow Martina as she discovers what it truly means to feel at home and how introverted kids can still belong, even in a family full of extroverts.
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Trejo, Jesus
Papa’s Magical Water-Jug Clock. 2023. Picture Book.
Papa’s Magical Water-Jug Clock focuses on little Jesus who is extremely excited to spend the day with his papa’s family business in landscaping. Little Jesus loves to ride in his Papa’s cool truck and see all the tools he gets to use during his workday. His Papa even lets him oversee the magical water jug which also acts as a clock! Papa tells little Jesus that once the water-jug is empty that signals the workday is over. With being entrusted with the magical water-jug Jesus wants to make sure that he executes his job to perfection. However, Jesus cannot help but give water away to all the thirsty animals he encounters such as the dog in the sweater, elderly cats, and a flock of peacocks. Before he knows it, he has given away all the water and the workday is not over, so Jesus begins to panic that he may be fired! Jesus begins to wonder if the magical water-jug is even all that magical. This mischievous tale of Jesus Trejo’s life lesson as a kid will be sure to warm your heart and have you giggling.
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Robotics and AI Galore

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In this month’s April blog post we are highlighting robotics and artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence has become an increasingly hot topic within the digital landscape. This month the young adult fiction novels will consist of robots, cyborgs, humanoids as protagonists, and artificial intelligence as a major figure or theme in the plot. The selection of young adult novels is a great starting point for sci-fi fans interested in finding novels with all thing’s robots and AI.


Bow, Erin
The Scorpion Rules. 2015. Young Adult.
The Scorpion Rules follows Greta, a duchess and crown princess who is held hostage in the name of peace. Greta’s world follows the rules where if you want to lead you must give up one of your children as a hostage. If you are to go to war your hostage dies. Greta hopes to make it to her eighteenth birthday when she can finally be free. In the meantime, she lives in the Precepture school with all the other sons and daughters of the world’s leaders. In the Precepture school she is taught to obey the machines that control their lives. However, things take a turn when a new hostage arrives named Elian who refuses to play by the rules and defies everything that has been taught to Greta. Elian is able to open Greta’s eyes to the brutality that they live under and as both Greta and Elian’s nations come closer to all-out war Greta must find a way to break the rules of the game in order to survive because if not, it will end up killing the both of them.
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Curtis, Simon
Boy Robot. 2016. Young Adult.
Isaak’s life is turned upside down in a single night when his adoptive parents are killed, a mysterious girl saves him from a group of soldiers, and he learns of his own dark origins. Isaak learns he is a robot, a government made synthetic human produced for the sole purpose of becoming a weapon and who is now being hunted and is marked for termination. Isaak, with another band of robots, finds a haven in the underground which is home to a secret network of robots and humans coexisting and working together to ensure a future with both species. However, to be protected by the underground Isaak must make it there first, which proves to be deadly when there is a lethal military force tasked with finding him at any cost. Isaak must face whether to relinquish his humanity to survive or hold on to his humanity and face death.
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Kaufman, Amie and Kristoff, Jay
Illuminae. 2015. Young Adult.
The Illuminae Files is a striking series which begins with Kady breaking up with her boyfriend Ezra, believing that would be the hardest moment of her life although it is quickly diminished when her planet is invaded by lunch time. In the year 2575 two rival mega corporations are at war over a planet and with enemy fire raining down on Kady’s planet she, along with her now ex-boyfriend, is forced to evacuate with a hostile warship on their tail. Just when things go from bad to worse a plague strikes and mutates with terrifying results on the fleet and the fleet’s AI may be their enemy. With secrets all around Kady hacks into the web of data to find out the truth and the only person that would be able to help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she would never speak to again. With the narrative including hacked documents, emails, maps, files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more, The Illuminae Files is sure to be an enthralling read.
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Kincaid, S.J.
The Diabolic. 2016. Young Adult.
Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter named Sidonia. Nemesis and Sidonia have grown-up alongside each other, and Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia if necessary. Nemesis is also tasked with taking as many lives as possible necessary to keep Sidonia safe. When the emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the galactic court where she is to serve as a hostage. The only way to protect Sidonia is for Nemesis to become her. This leads Nemesis to travel to the galactic court disguised as Sidonia, a humanoid killing machine masquerading in a place full of corrupt politicians and deceitful senators’ children. With threats on every side Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything. As the rebellion looms closer and the empire begins to weaken Nemesis finds within herself a humanity purer than the humans she has faced and realizes her humanity may be the thing that saves her life and the empire.
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Kristoff, Jay
Life L1k3. 2018. Young Adult.
In the first book in the Lifelike series, we follow Eve who finds the ruins of an android boy named Ezekiel in the scrap pile she calls her home. When this happens, her entire world comes crashing down. Follow Eve with her robotic sidekick and her best friend in tow as she and Ezekiel trek across deserts of irradiated glass, battle cyborg assassins, scour abandoned megacities to save the ones she loves, and to unravel the dark secrets of her past.
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Meyer, Marrisa
Cinder. 2012. Young Adult.
Cinder is a Cinderella retelling that focuses on Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg who lives in New Beijing where humans and androids coexist. Cinder is a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, she is reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. Cinder’s life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai when she finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle and forbidden romance. As a deadly plague ravages the population, Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty, and betrayal. She must uncover the secrets about her past to protect her world’s future.
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Oliver, Ben
The Loop. 2020. Young Adult.
Luka Kane is celebrating his sixteenth birthday, and he has been inside The Loop for over two years. The Loop is a futuristic death row for teens under eighteen experiencing one long repetitive purgatory. Every inmate inside The Loop is serving a death sentence with the option to push back their execution date by six months if they participate in “delays,” scientific and medical experiments for the benefit of the elite on the outside. When rumors begin to swirl of an impending war on the outside it begins to spread to all inmates and their torturous routines become disrupted. The government issued rain begins to stop, strange things begin to happen with the guards, until all the inmates are left alone inside the prison. Luka must now try to survive and break out of The Loop to save his family and figure out who is responsible for the chaos that has been unleashed upon the world.
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Rothenberg, Jess
The Kingdom. 2019. Young Adult.
The Kingdom is an immersive fantasy theme park where guests can soar on virtual dragons, bioengineered species roam free, and castles loom over the park like giants. Ana is one of seven fantasists. Fantasists are beautiful princesses engineered to make the guests’ dreams come true. When Ana meets a park employee named Owen, Ana begins to experience emotions beyond her programming including first-time love. However, this fairy tale soon becomes a nightmare when Ana is accused of murdering Owen, igniting a trial of the ages. Through courtroom testimony and interviews, Ana’s memories of Owen emerge as a narrative of love, lies, and deceit. At the center we learn what it truly means to be human.
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Shusterman, Neal
Scythe. 2016. Young Adult.
The Arc of a Scythe series explores a world with no hunger, no disease, no war, and no misery. Humanity has become so advanced that is has conquered all things, even death. Scythes are now the only ones who can end a life and their duty is to end lives to keep the size of the population under control. Citra and Rowan are chosen to be apprentices to a scythe, a role that neither of them wants to have. These two teens must master the “art” of taking a life or risk failing and losing their own.
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Skrutskie, Emily
Hullmetal Girls. 2018. Young Adult.
When Aisha Un-Haad’s brother catches the plague, Aisha would do anything to save him and that means volunteering to become a Scela, a mechanically enhanced soldier sworn to protect and serve the governing body of the fleet, a collective of starships they call home to fund her brother’s treatment. If Aisha can survive the agonizing modifications and earn an elite place among the Scela ranks she may be able to save her brother. Meanwhile Key Tanaka awakens in a Scela body with little to no memories of her life before. All Key knows is she is from the privileged end of the fleet and has no recollection as to why she decided to relinquish a life of comfort and luxury to become a burly cyborg soldier. If Key can make it through her training, she may be able to recover some of her memories. In a unit of new recruits all vying for top placement, Key and Aisha’s paths collide and the two must learn to work together. A rebellion is brewing among the fleet with those yearning for independence from the fleet against a government that is struggling to maintain unity. With violence brewing at every turn, Aisha and Key find themselves questioning their loyalties and putting aside their differences to keep humanity from tearing itself apart.
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Wells, Dan
Partials. 2012. Young Adult.
After a war with the Partials, humanity is all but extinguished. Partials are engineered organic beings identical to humans who have destroyed the population. When all that is left of humanity is tens of thousands of humans, with only a fraction who are immune to a deadly virus, the survivors in North America have been able to keep each other safe and isolated on Long Island. Sixteen-year-old Kira is determined to find a solution and save what is left of her race. She discovers that the key to their survival rests in her attempts to answer questions about the origins of the war against Partials and humans that no one ever thought to ask.
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Youth Art Month

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For this month’s blog, we are promoting youth creativity and the inner artist inside us all! The month of March marks the recognition and promotion of Youth Art, an annual event administered by the Council for Art Education. In this March blog we highlight creativity, imagination, and expression in art through fiction books. The month of March encourages the widespread adoption of visual arts. Read along with us as we display graphic novels, picture books, middle grade, and young adult fiction books where we will celebrate the arts!


Baer, Marianna
Wolfwood. 2023. Young Adult.
Wolfwood follows Indigo and her mother, the once famous artist Zoe Serra. Indigo’s mother suffered a mental breakdown and ever since then they have been barely scraping by in life. When a gallery offers Zoe a revival show for her blockbuster series Wolfwood, Indigo knows it is their chance to be financially stable again. However, Zoe refuses to continue painting Wolfwood, which leads to Indigo secretly taking up the paintbrush herself. Indigo then finds out the real reason why her mother never wanted to paint Wolfwood again and it was because painting Wolfwood submerges the artist into the dangerous fantasy. As the lines between reality and fantasy blur for Indigo it becomes a struggle to continue the balancing act.
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Brennan-Nelson, Denise and Brennan, Rosemarie
Illustrator: Moore, Cyd
Willow. 2008. Picture Book.
Miss Hawthorne is Willow’s art teacher and Miss Hawthorne emphasizes tidiness, structure, and reinforces coloring inside the lines. However, when Miss Hawthorne is met by an imaginative and creative child such as Willow that colors outside the lines and draws from her imagination Miss Hawthorne does not know what to do with Willow! It is not until Christmastime when Willow gifts Miss Hawthorne her beloved art book that transformation begins to occur within Miss Hawthorne. A once rigid woman begins to doodle and then to paint and then suddenly, her home is filled with art. When the students come back to the classroom after winter break, they come to find Miss Hawthorne usually prim and proper to have paint smeared jeans and smock who then invites them to help paint their classroom into a work of art. With soft toned watercolors and nature imagery the artwork culminates to a painting of a Willow tree as a tribute to Willow and Miss Hawthorne along with the rest of the students learn the intense power of imagination.
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Epstein, Gabriela
Claudia and the New Girl. 2021. Graphic Novel.
Claudia from the Babysitters Club has always been the most creative and artistic person in her class. That is until Ashley Wyeth enters the picture. Claudia thinks Ashley Wyeth is the most amazing artist she has ever known. When Ashley mentions how she thinks Claudia is a fantastic artist too and is wasting her talent by being at the Babysitters Club meetings, Claudia begins to miss BSC meetings instead of hanging out with Ashley. It then becomes clear to Claudia she will have to choose between Ashley or the Babysitters Club.
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Esperanza, C. G. (Charles George)
Illustrator: Tegen, Katherine
Boogie Boogie, Y’all. 2021. Picture Book.
Boogie Boogie, Y’all is a distinguished picture book that has received numerous accolades including ALSC Notable Children’s Book of the Year, Odyssey Award winner, Pura Belpré Honor Award winner, New York City Book Award winner, and Audie Award finalist. Boogie Boogie, Y’all is an ode to graffiti art. Three children in the Bronx stop to admire the dazzling and wondrous art around their community only to realize the art that surrounds their community is often ignored and unappreciated. The three children then find it is up to them to display to the world how beautiful art is and inspire a newfound appreciation for the urban art around us and the special opportunity of living in diverse cityscapes and communities.
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Kannan, Malavika
All the Yellow Suns. 2023. Young Adult.
Maya Krishnan is the main protagonist who is fiercely protective of her friends, immigrant community, and single mother although living in the conservative Florida suburbs does not make it easy and she tries her best to never cause rifts. Her classmate Juneau Zale, a white wealthy playboy, however, is the opposite who evades consequences. Juneau invites Maya to join the Pugilists, a secret society of artists, vandals, and mischief makers whose main drive is to fight for justice at their school. Joining the Pugilists inspires Maya to confront her own challenges in life.
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Linka, Catherine
What I Want You to See. 2020. Young Adult.
Winning a scholarship to a prestigious art school in California seems to be a fairy tale dream for Sabine Reye. After losing both her mother and her home Sabine is hoping for a fresh start and a place that will make her feel at home again, where she belongs. However, she did not anticipate how cutthroat art school could be, and it seems like the renowned faculty member Colin Krell does not agree with her talents and believes if she does not improve, she will be kicked out of her merit scholarship. What I Want You to See is an engrossing narrative that will leave you on the edge of your seat when reading a journey of deception, moral ambiguity, and attraction.
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Slade-Robinson, Nikki
Anywhere Artist. 2018. Picture Book.
“I don’t need paint or paper. I can make art anywhere. My imagination is all I need.” In this delightful picture book Slade-Robinson illustrates a young artist whose creativity propels her and emphasizes the message that anyone can be an artist with the help of their imagination. This picture book will inspire all young artists to use their imagination and creativity to bolster their artistic creations. Anywhere Artist is a useful tool in helping springboard lessons of found object art projects and how to use your imagination to create art anywhere and with anything!
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Smith, Nikkolas
The Artivist. 2023. Picture Book.
When a young boy discovers the inequalities in the world, he feels the urge to do more. He decides to combine his skills of artistry and passion for activism to be renamed as an artivist. Once he completes a mural that goes viral, he finds his purpose in one painting at a time to shed light on the injustices in the world. Nikkolas Smith presents young readers with an enthralling tale to urge young readers to acknowledge the injustices in their world and provide art and creativity as healing for the broken world we live in.
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Soontornvat, Christina
Illustrator: Davenier, Christine
Simon at the Art Museum. 2020. Picture Book.
Simon at the Art Museum is a delightful picture book that follows Simon and his first time visiting an art museum. He realizes just how much art he must look at and decides to take a break by sitting on a bench. When Simon sits on the bench and begins to observe others, he realizes the several types of people that come to visit a museum and how each person has a different reaction to viewing the art. Some people smile, some people are in groups, some people shake their heads, and others shed a tear. Simon at the Art Museum focuses on new experiences and learning about seeing things from an unfamiliar perspective.
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Yamasaki, Katie and Lendler, Ian
Everything Naomi Loved. 2020. Picture Book.
Naomi’s home is on 11th street. It is characterized by the honking cars, pizza by slice, the hair by Carmen, the corner bodega, and where her best friend Ada lives. However, the 11th street Naomi loves and recognizes begins to change, the shops begin to close, buildings are torn down, Naomi’s neighbors are being pushed out and must move. Naomi’s once beloved 11th street becomes unrecognizable which leads her to pick up a paintbrush inspired by her neighbor Mister Ray’s words that “when something we love goes away, we paint it on the wall so it’s always with us.” Naomi then creates an 11th street mural detailing all the intricacies and facets of the precious things that make 11th street special. Everything Naomi Loved is an inspiring tale of a celebration of community and friendship with threads of social justice that will remind us of all about how special home can be to each of us.
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