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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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.

 

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Two adorable board books for babies and toddlers!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

These books come Granddaughter approved! My littlest little, who I’ll refer to as Snuggles, gets very excited when she sees these books come out of my bag. Share them with your littles for lapsit fun!

My Animal Sounds (Baby Basics), by Xavier Deneux, (Aug. 2025, Twirl Books), $14.99, ISBN: 9791036382086

Ages Birth-3

A high-contrast book with splashes of primary color, little fingers can this book features animal sounds on every page: littles can hear a cat meow; a bird’s chitter; the glub-glub of a fish; a frog’s croak; a rabbit’s nibble, an elephant’s trumpet (Snuggles’s favorite!); a sheep’s baaaa; a dog’s bark, a pig’s grunt, and a cow’s moo (her second favorite).  The illustrations are chunky and bold, with each animal’s name on the top of the page. A colorful disc calls the reader’s attention to it, where they can easily press and hear the animal sound. Pages are chunky and thick and will hold up to  multiple reads; there’s even an on/off switch so you can save your battery. A definite fun addition to your board book collections. My Animal Sounds is a companion book to Deneux’s other Baby Basics books, My Books (2024) and Animals at Home (2025).

 

Hoot Hoot, by Georgette, (Aug. 2025, Twirl Books), $14.99, ISBN: 9791027613632

Ages Birth-3

Another adorable animal sounds book, Hoot Hoot is a bold, eye-catching book that pops out against bright black backgrounds. Die cuts encourage readers to guess at the different animals making sounds by featuring pairs of eyes that reveal identities on the next page. An owl “hoot hoots”; a cat and kitten purr; bats flap, flap their wings, mice scurry, and a playful child tries to fool the reader with his own sound. With bold, bright colors that come alive against the black backgrounds and sturdy die-cut cardboard that will hold up to multiple reads, this is an engaging book that encourages exploration and learning. A must-add! (And a favorite of Snuggles, whose eyes grow like saucers when she sees the cover.)

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Survive This Safari – puzzles and adventure for Back to School mode!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Survive This Safari, by Natalie D. Richards, (Apr. 2025, Delacorte Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9780593644164

Ages 8-12

Get ready to shift your brain into Back to School mode with this fun adventure set in an Ohio safari park challenge! Lucy is a 12-year-old who loves animals and wants desperately to be a Wildlife Ambassador at the park. She has the chance to compete in a Wildlands Safari Escape Challenge, where only one person will be the newest Ambassador. Lucy and a team of hopefuls have to solve a series of animal fact-based puzzles in order to unlock animal habitats all over the park in a race with the current Wildlands Ambassadors in order to win, but things go haywire when the team runs into communication problems, malfunctioning electronics, and open animal habitats. Lucy and her group come to the realization that things have been sabotaged and the animals – particularly a baby elephant – are in danger! Lucy will learn to manage her panic attacks and the team will learn to work together in order to save the animals and themselves. Filled with puzzles and adventure, readers will get a kick out of this book; entertaining footnotes add some animal facts and provide further character development throughout. Lucy’s character is immediately likable and her efforts to manage anxiety will resonate with many readers, as will fellow competitor Harrison, who is open about his ADHD (which leads to some amusing conversations). Themes of teamwork and friendship with some medium-stakes situations will appeal to readers. This would make a good book club choice.

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Happy Book Birthday to Miya Wears Orange

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Miya Wears Orange, by Wanda John-Kehewin/Illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina, (Aug. 2025, Highwater Press), $18.95, ISBN: 9781774921258

Ages 6-8

A young Indigenous girl learns about residential schools in her class, making her fear that she will be sent to one. When Miya arrives at home from school, she reluctantly tells her mother about her concerns; her mother assuages her fears, telling her that the schools have closed and she will never have to attend one. When Miya questions why her teacher read a book about them, Mom notes that “We all need to understand the truth of what happened, so we can make sure it never happens again”.  Mom tells Miya about wearing an orange shirt as a way of remembering the struggles of Indigenous children, and Miya proudly wears when she returns to school. John-Kehewin shows the intergenerational trauma wreaked by the schools and how it reaches the current generation. Medina’s illustrations have cultural details and her characters are inclusive and expressive. An author’s note mentions her inspiration for Miya’s story. A powerful and moving story about residential schools as seen through the modern-day eyes of an Indigenous girl, Miya Wears Orange belongs in library collections everywhere.

Learn about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation here.

Posted in picture books

A childhood memory brought to the page: Herring to Huckleberries

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

ɬagət̓ hiyt t̓oxʷʊm / Herring to Huckleberries, by ošil betty wilson/Illustrated by Prashant Miranda, (April 2025, Highwater Press), $21.95, ISBN: 9781774921180

Ages 6-8

Inspired by author ošil’s childhood as a member of the ɬaʔəmɩn (Tla’amin) Nation, Herring to Huckleberries is a bilingual picture book, written in the the ɬaʔəmɩn language and in English. Ošil’s favorite time of the year is spent with her grandparents on the southwest coast of British Columbia, harvesting foods from the sea and land. They fish, pick berries, dig for clams, and curl up together to fall asleep under the stars. ošil’s descriptions are vivid, so filled with an infectious joy, wonder and respect for the land. It’s a warm memory of time spent with family beautifully illustrated by Miranda, who uses deep natural colors to create the coastal setting. The characters are expressive and affectionate, portraying a loving family. A glossary and pronunciation guide, a map, author’s note, and list of traditional foods round out the back matter. Recommended for collections.

For more information about the ɬaʔəmɩn (Tla’amin) Nation, visit the Tla’amin Nation’s webpage and British Columbia’s Assembly of First Nations’ webpage.

 

 

Posted in picture books, Uncategorized

Enjoy the seasons from an Indigenous perspective: Dad, is it Time to Gather Mint?

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Dad, is it Time to Gather Mint?: Celebrating the Seasons, by Tyna Legault Taylor/Illustrated by Michelle Dao, (May 2025, Highwater Press), $18.95, ISBN: 9781774921227

Ages 5-8

Dad, is it Time to Gather Mint? celebrates the relationship between humans and the land as a First Nations child and his family move through the seasons. Told in three languages: English, Swampy Cree (n-dialect), and Anishinaabemowin, the story is narrated by Joshua, a young boy who revels in his relationship to the land; his favorite time of year being mint-gathering season. Josh and his dad spend time together in nature through Fall, Winter, and Spring; he drinks in the colors and feels of the surroundings of each time of year. In the Fall, he sees the leaves change color and animals prepare for the winter; in the Winter, the cottony snow brings the cold. In Spring, he sees the animals return and the land come back from a winter’s sleep, and in Summer, he feels the longer, warmer days and rejoices in the green around him. Each season he asks Dad if it’s time to gather the mint, and each time, his father describes what other work must be done: hunting moose and partridge in the Fall; ice fishing in the Winter; hunting geese and fishing for rainbow trout in the Spring. Finally, the Summer arrives, and with it, the time to gather mint! It’s a moving story of family and stewardship to our world. Vocabulary in Swampy Cree and Anishinaabemowin are color-coded in brown and green throughout, with English translations in the margins. Back matter includes a glossary and pronunciation guide along with a recipe for Mint from the Land Iced Tea, just like Joshua’s mother makes. A moving and important addition to season books for collections.

For more information and resources on the Swampy Cree, visit the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Center and the Swampy Cree Tribal Council. For information on the Ojibwe, who speak Anishinabemowin, visit the Minnesota Historical Society the Gladue Rights Research Database of Legal Aid Saskatchewan. Always check in with Debbie Reese’s American Indians in Children’s Literature website for recommendations on Indigenous creators and works.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Messi brings his magic to picture book biographies!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Messi’s Magic: How Lionel Messi Became the G.O.A.T., by Caroline L. Perry/Illustrated by Luciano Lozano, (Sept. 2025, Scholastic Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781546147534

Ages 4-8

Soccer Lionel Messi is a household name (and then some here in my library’s community), and he didn’t have an easy journey to success. This picture book biography starts with Messi’s beginnings as a small, shy boy who loved soccer and was cheered on by his grandmother, his biggest fan. Showing an aptitude for the game, he endured expensive medical treatments to stimulate growth so that he could continue playing; when he was accepted by La Masia soccer academy, he experienced loneliness and depression. Was it all worth it? Today, he’s won the most professional awards of any player, is known the world over, and has a happy, soccer-obsessed family of his own, just as he grew up with. Perry tells Messi’s story with a humanistic point of view, concentrating on Messi’s family relationships and feelings of isolation on the road to success. Lozano’s illustrations move from close-up facial expressions to further away spreads that highlight action, particularly on the soccer field. Back matter includes a Messi timeline and additional facts. If you have sports fans in your community, this is a good choice for biography collections. Download free activity sheets to share! I know our library will be picking this one up.

 

Posted in Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Tween Reads

Middle Grade Must-Read: Smoke & Mirrors by Rosalyn Ransaw

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Smoke & Mirrors, by Rosalyn Ransaw, (June 2025, Amulet Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9781419770135

Ages 8-12

Andy Carter is having a lousy summer. He’s spending the summer with his aunt because his father’s parole hearing was postponed. He’s the only Black kid in a small Midwestern town, and he ended up taking the fall for a dumb prank that set at neighbor’s barn on fire. To repay the damage, Andy must help Mr. Gilbert – the barn’s gruff owner – renovate his crumbling home, a mansion with a mysterious history. As Andy and Mr. Gilbert work on the house together, Andy learns that the house was once owned by a magician called the Red Knave. In 1954, the Knave was a suspect in a murder that shook the town, but he disappeared before he could be questioned, leaving generations of townsfolk to believe he was guilty. It doesn’t make sense to Andy, who starts his own investigation into the mystery. It’s a mystery that necessitates him teaming up with someone he doesn’t trust: one of the kids who was there the night he took the fall for the burning barn. There are incredible twists that readers won’t see coming in this incredibly readable mystery that also takes a look at the culture of contemporary racism in the American Midwest. Characters are beautifully brought to life; Andy, in particular, has depth and backstory that immediately endears him to readers. Do not miss this one.

Smoke & Mirrors is a debut novel from Ransaw and received starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist.