Author: Rosemary Kiladitis

I'm a mom, a children's librarian, bibliophile, and obsessive knitter. I'm a pop culture junkie and a proud nerd, and favorite reads usually fall into Sci-Fi/Fantasy. I review comics and graphic novels at WhatchaReading (http://whatchareading.com). I'm also the co-founder of On Wednesdays We Wear Capes (http://www.onwednesdays.net/), where I discuss pop culture and geek fandom from a female point of view.
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Tales from the TBR: Alpacas Make Terrible Librarians!!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Alpacas Make Terrible Librarians!!, by Kristi Mahoney/Illustrated by Chantelle Thorne & Burgen Thorne, (Oct. 2024, Gnome Road Publishing), $18.99, ISBN: 9781957655284

Ages 4-8

What happens when you walk into the library and see the new librarian, who happens to be an alpaca? This laugh-out-loud book has the answers. First things first: Alpacas make terrible librarians! Readers will learn fun facts about alpacas and laugh at why they are not cut out for librarianship. For example, did you know that alpacas will hide all of the books about other animals and only let you read books about alpacas? My friends, that is denying access and that is a straight-up violation of one of the five laws of library science, so that should be your first clue. If you need more, though, alpacas make clucking and humming noises all the time: terrible for people who need to concentrate on their book! Also, when they get mad, they make an awful screech, and they spit. Do you need to go to the bathroom? Don’t ask the alpaca. Trust me on this one. Playful, colorful illustration work with bold, colorful fonts make this a great class visit readaloud.

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Tales from the TBR: How Not to Kill Your Plant

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

How Not to Kill Your Plant, by Magda Gargulakova & Lenka Chytilova/Illustrated by Hannah Abbo, (Dec. 2023, Albatros Media), $15.95, ISBN: 9788000069968

Ages 6-10

Kids love gardening programs. Remember in science, when you (or your kids) grew a sprout from a bean? Gardening is magic, and houseplants are pretty. How Not to Kill Your Plant is a kid-friendly, illustrated guide to caring for houseplants. Organized into areas like “The Basics of Care”, “Encyclopedia of Houseplants”, and “Cultivation Practice,” the book has everything kids need to get started on a new hobby and set them up for a lifetime of loving and caring for plants. The “Encyclopedia of Houseplants” section features detailed drawings on 16 popular houseplants that are great for beginners. Yes, I said beginners, because I’m using this book to take care of my plants, too. Kids’ books are the best way to learn things and develop a solid base understanding! There are troubleshooting suggestions and step-by-step instructions on plant care, including taking cuttings, propagating, and repotting. Helpful icons on the plant pages let readers know the basics at a glance: how much to water, how much sunlight, is it okay to have around pets? At only 56 pages, it’s not overwhelming for new plant hobbyists. I loved this book and think you will, too.

 

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Happy 5th Anniversary, Street Noise Books!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Street Noise Books is celebrating five years of take-no-prisoners dissident graphic novel publishing! Five years of queer, BIPOC, and neurodiverse authors publishing their own stories for adults and teens: disabled authors; trans authors; indigenous authors, authors grappling with climate change and social justice; authors struggling for mental health. Street Noise has been recognized this year alone with FOUR Eisner Awards – a heck of a birthday celebration!

 

I’m a Wild Seed, by Sharon Lee De La Cruz, (Apr. 2021, Street Noise Books), $12.99, ISBN: 9781951491055

Ages 16+

One of the first Street Noise books I picked up was I’m a Wild Seed: My Graphic Memoir on Queerness and Decolonizing the World by Sharon Lee De La Cruz. This full-color graphic memoir details the author’s deep-dive to learn about and unravel the effects of patriarchy and institutionalized racism on her identity, sexuality, and what freedom looks like for her.  In De La Cruz’s own words, she “never ‘came into my queerness’ – I decolonized the shit out of my gender and sexuality”. Teens and young adults will embrace De La Cruz’s unflinching and often humorous storytelling. Graphic novel Sharon talks directly to the reader, making the book more of a conversation. Resources in the back matter steer readers interested in learning more to videos, organizations, and books.

If you haven’t yet treated yourself to I’m a Wild Seed, please do – and check out more of the great graphic novels from Street Noise!

 

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The Slightly Spooky Tale of Fox and Mole is a charming tale of manners

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Slightly Spooky Tale of Fox and Mole, by Cecilia Heikkil, Translated by Polly Lawson, (Aug. 2025, Floris Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781782509530

Ages 4-8

This cozy animal tale is charming and perfect for spooky season storytelling that never gets too spooky. Fox and Mole are friends who gather to enjoy some snacks and a spooky story, The Legend of the Scuffling Monster. Fox is a generous host, baking and preparing food and drink his friend, but Mole is not a thoughtful guest. He interrupts and makes a mess; he even eats all of the cookies while Fox is reading! On the next night, Fox hits his limit when Mole doesn’t even remember Fox’s birthday – and complains about the lack of cookies! Life becomes art as Fox, in his anger, transforms into a monster that seems very similar to the antagonist of the earlier story! It’s up to Mole to figure out how to calm Fox down by telling – and finishing – the whole story. The story is sweetly amusing while offering a cautionary tale to readers about being a gracious guest. Fox’s transformation will resonate with readers as they see Fox sit with his frustration until he finally hits his limit. The illustrations are lovely with a touch of the eerie; the deep oranges and greens give a nice Fall feeling, and the bright blacks and bent postures add wonderfully to the macabre vibe. A delightful story for Spooky Season, The Slightly Spooky Tale of Fox and Mole was a Foreword Reviews and Shelf Awareness pick. The tale was originally published in Swedish in 2024.

 

 

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Free Piano (Not Haunted) gives some guidance from beyond

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Free Piano (Not Haunted), by Whitney Gardner, (July 2025, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers), $23.99, ISBN: 9781665938136

Ages 10+

Margot is a kid living in a town called Cascade Cove. Her father’s too busy chasing Internet success to pay much attention to her, and her mother works long hours to keep the household running. Margot finds a synthesizer put out for the trash bearing a sign: FREE PIANO (NOT HAUNTED). Who can resist? Not Margot, who hopes she can connect with her dad over music. Except, guess what? The piano is haunted by the spirit of a woman named Vision, a pop star from 1979 who bonds with Margot over their mutual passion for music; Vision also has lessons to share with Margot about success and wanting things for the wrong reasons. The two come together in the most hilarious of situations as Vision attempts to figure out modern-day technology and colloquialisms; when Margot tells Vision she wants “followers”, for instance, Vision fears that Margot is starting a cult. Margot’s friends Sebastian and Seven, the “Sons of Smash”, throw things off a tower for followers and add more humor to the story. A solid story about complicated parental relationships and a cautionary tale about wanting things for the wrong reasons. Free Piano (Not Haunted) was an Indie Next pick and is a good pick for graphic novel collections.

 

 

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Piece Out for International Games Month!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Piece Out, by Alex Willan, (May 2025, Astra Young Readers), $18.99, ISBN: 9781662620935

Ages 4-8

International Games Month is coming in November! The American Library Association’s Games & Gaming Roundtable has some downloadable resources if you’d like to learn more. This year, I’m hoping to hold a Game Storytime for my library kids, and Piece Out looks like a great storytime choice for younger gamers (and gamers-to-be).

It’s a common occurrence: a game piece gets lost. In Willan’s Piece Out, it’s the key to adventure. A family enjoys their game night when the red piece discovers they’ve been left on the floor! Determined to get back to its box, Red escapes a hungry robot (a vacuum cleaner); discovers long-lost friends (other lost game pieces under the couch), and spends some time in the dreaded junk drawer! Always focused on returning to the Kaflooble box, Red narrates his journey with a grim determination that will make readers laugh as they see the world through Red’s eyes. Willan’s details are a feast for game fans who will love the map of the living room endpapers and the under-the-couch denizens who appear resigned to their life outside the box. The ending will leave readers laughing out loud and ready for the next adventure. Read this to your Toy Story fans.

 

 

 

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The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs – for the introvert!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs, by Mamiko Shiotani/Translated by Polly Lawson, (Aug. 2025, Floris Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9781782509264

Ages 3-6

A ghost enjoys the solitude of his attic until a little girl makes her way upstairs and disturbs his peace. What is a solitary ghost to do? Determined to get his attic back, he starts a ruckus, but the girl isn’t scared off: in fact, she seems kind of fascinated. When the ghost decides to visit her room and attempts to scare her on her own turf, she disarms the specter with an offer of friendship. The ghost accepts the offer and learns that “it is good to leave his attic once in a while”, saving his nights for his alone and time and spending his days getting to know his new friend. The primary use of gray and muted colors gives the story a dreamlike quality, and the ghost moves between translucence and a soft white, giving him an almost ethereal quality; his body language is humorous as he tries to hide from his inquisitive new neighbor, changing size, shape, and opacity to inhabit paper bags, shrink to hide behind a stack of books, or become see-through to cause a ruckus.  The girl’s colorful outfits make her stand out against the murkiness of the attic, bringing life and color to the little ghost’s world. A sweet story about friendship in unlikely places, this is a fun storytime selection. The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs was originally published in Japan in 2020.

 

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Mayhem at the Museum! Better ask for help.

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Mayhem at the Museum, by Hannah Brückner, Translated by Laura Watkinson, (Sept. 2025, NorthSouth Books), $19.95, ISBN: 9780735845855

Ages 4-8

Yuri is a kid enjoying a trip to the museum when mayhem strikes in the form of a parakeet that likes to fly around. Yuri is afraid of birds, and proceeds to knock down a giant brachiosaurus skeleton when he tries to get away! This is a definite catastrophe: “the kind of catastrophe that ALWAYS happens when ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE is looking” and sends Yuri into a panic attack. Luckily, he remembers to breathe in and out and that he can always ask for help – and he does! Everyone is happy to pitch in and the end result is nothing short of eye-catching. Brückner’s story about overcoming anxiety and asking for – and accepting – help is spot on and will resonate with readers. Her description of the feelings that hit when experiencing a personal catastrophe are spot on; Yuri’s body language communicates the emotions behind the words. The muted colors provide a calming effect in the middle of the storm of emotions and chaos. With a little imagination and some help, Mayhem shows that you can overcome just about anything. Download a free coloring page at NorthSouth’s website.

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Puzzle fans will enjoy Me & the Magic Cube

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Me & the Magic Cube, by Daniel Fehr/Illustrated by GOLDEN COSMOS, Translated by Marshall Yarbrough, (Sept. 2025, NorthSouth Books), $19.95, ISBN: 9780735845732

Ages 6-10

Puzzle fans will thoroughly enjoy this look at the “magic cube” – some may call it a Rubik’s Cube. Part story, part STEM lesson, the book begins when a child finds a colorful cube in a box of her dad’s old stuff. As they ponder it, they turn the pieces and discover it’s all jumbled. Can Dad fix it? Nope! The child brings the cube to school, where their friends puzzle over how to fix it. Surprise! Taking the stickers off or taking it apart throws off the configuration of the cube. Did you know that the cube can be twisted into over 43 quintillion positions, or – as our narrator puts into perspective – “43 quintillion is more than all the stars we’re able to see in the universe”. The child and their friends go down a rabbit hole to learn about the cube and how to solve it. Vibrant colors and detailed illustrations have a retro feel and allow for an interesting story loaded with mathematical facts and statistics about the Rubik’s cube and those who have solved it. Back matter includes a tutorial on solving the cube. This book will work well in pop culture collections and STEM/STEAM collections. Visit the Rubik’s Cube webpage for more solution help and information about the Cube!

 

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Picture books about siblings

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Siblings come in all shapes, sizes, and species! Here are couple of picture books that celebrate our sibs.

 

Hazel the Handful, by Jamie Michalak/Illustrated by Matt Myers, (Apr. 2025, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536231199

Ages 4-8

Hazel is a small dog with a big personality! She lives a very satisfying life surrounded by her toys and her family, especially Bea, the family’s daughter. But if you look at the illustrations early on, you’ll notice that someone else is joining the family: a baby! Seemingly overnight, Hazel’s world is turned upside down. The stinky baby makes loud noises and gets all of the attention, especially Bea’s. What’s a pup to do? Trying to get back into the spotlight, Hazel causes a bit of chaos and is branded “a handful”. Hiding in a blanket away from everyone, she hears her family looking for her and realizes that she’s still very much part of the family and that just maybe she can find space in her heart – and her toy box – to let the baby in. Narrated by Hazel, this sweet look at new babies and the disruption they can bring to the family pet is humorous and relatable. Hazel is a great stand-in for a child experiencing the mixed emotions surrounding a new baby in the family and communicates in a manner that kids will appreciate. On a family walk, someone who normally gushes over Hazel now says, “Oh, what a cutie patootie baby!” to which Hazel responds, “What? Is it not clear? I am the patootie”; she wonders if Bea still loves her; she feels left out of the family photo. The family is bi-racial; Bea and her brother are light brown-skinned, while Bea’s mother and Nana appear white. A charming readaloud and selection for animal fans and families with a new baby in the home.

 

 

First There Was Me, Then There Was You, by Yvonne Sewankambo/Illustrated by Aurore McLeod, (Feb. 2025, Candlewick Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781536239003

Ages 3-7

A brother is excited to welcome his baby sister into the world in this heartfelt ode to siblings everywhere. Told from the brother’s point of view, he goes through the ups and downs (but mostly ups) of having a younger sibling, from the first time she curls her fingers around his to “showing her the ropes”. They play together, disagree sometimes, and explore, always together, because “I love you (trust me, I do!), there is no me without you”. Both siblings are brown-skinned. The digital illustrations use warm colors to communicate shared affection and love; McLeod uses warm yellows and oranges and creates soft lighting to soften backgrounds and keep the light source focused on brother and sister, who feature together in every spread. In two spreads touching on disagreements, the sister is by herself on the left side, joined by her brother on the right side to show their ability to overcome the tough times. A moving celebration of siblings, this is an excellent storytime choice and addition to picture book collections.