Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

The Mood Swing taps into highs and lows

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Mood Swing, by B.R. Duray/Illustrated by Momes, (June 2024, Moon Tree Studios, LLC), $19.99, ISBN: 979-8989710317

Ages 4-8

A boy named Peter suffers the loss of his father and discovers a magical swing in this touching story about grief. The swing, tethered to a Moon Tree, allows Peter to go on adventures that reflect his emotions: a happy Peter ventures into outer space, his parents by his side; a year after losing his father, the swing plunges Peter into quicksand, mirroring the drowning feelings of grief and loss. His mother helps Peter learn to find balance and enjoy riding the swing, just as he must learn to navigate the ups and downs of life after loss. The rhyming storytelling falls into a soothing cadence and the colorful illustrations bring readers on fantastic and emotional journeys. A good addition to social-emotional collections and collections that help soothe children experiencing loss.

As an somewhat related aside, I’ve just gotten off my own mood swing. I had to take a brief hiatus as I got used to Nana Life (SO awesome!) and looking for a new home for our family (not entirely awesome). Long story short, my granddaughter is amazing, my family is healthy and happy, and we’ve finally signed the lease on a new place to live. The blog marches on!

 

Posted in Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Teen, Tween Reads

Soul Machine provides a metaphysical deep dive for tweens and teens

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Soul Machine, by Jordana Globerman, (June 2025, Annick Press), $17.9.9, ISBN: 9781773219592

Ages 12+

A young woman named Chloe lives with her older sister, Lacey, in a house in the country. Lacey makes breth on her spinning wheel – the raw material needed to craft souls – and frustrates Chloe at her refusal to fully teach her how to make it. Outside of their countryside life, the wealthy MCorp is mass-producing soul production using synthetic materials; Lacey and Chloe are one of the few independent, organic breth producers left. When the supply of breth runs out, Chloe journeys into the city to find a new source – and possibly, to figure out some ways to modernize, ala MCorp. What she finds instead are long-kept family secrets that put her and Lacey in Maya’s – the head of MCorp – crosshairs. Globerman gives readers a lot to think on here: themes of mass-production and ethics; consumption at any cost versus mindful creation; megacorporations versus independent makers, and how the soul fits into all of this. Maya is an almost comical villain, egomaniacal to the point of hilarity and determined to keep her comfortable lifestyle. Lacey nearly kills herself to keep her family’s breth business alive. Chloe, the younger sister, is at times brash and impudent, but begins to understand the big issues once she leaves home. A contemplative book created in two-color sequences, each color scheme relating to different chapters. Back matter includes discussion “questions with no wrong answers”.  A good book club choice.

Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade, Tween Reads

Middle Grade Moms are Fantastic!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

It’s Mother’s Day tomorrow, so let’s shine the spotlight on some of our middle grade moms. These books are all for the middle graders, but the moms featured are pretty amazing.

Darkness and Demon Song, by M.R. Fournet, (June 2025, Square Fish), $9.99, ISBN: 9781250876065

Ages 9-12

Marius Grey is a tween monster hunter: think of him as one of Supernatural’s Winchester boys with a book rather than enchanted weapons. He’s fought a rougarou and he’s brought his mother back from actual Hell, but she didn’t come back entirely right. This second book in the Marius Grey series picks up from where Brick Dust and Bones (2023) left off, but the fun was only beginning. Set in New Orleans, Marius and his best friend, the flesh-eating mermaid, join forces with his magical community and a new friend who’s got some powers of her own to figure out what came back with his mother and how to get rid of it. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, don’t worry – Fournet takes care of a lot of the exposition within the narrative, but you’ll want to read it for sure when you’re done. The story is powered by Marius’s love for his mother and his desire to save her yet again. Additional characters have textured backstories and make this an all-around good read for middle graders who enjoy the spookier side of life. Darkness and Demon Song was originally published in hardcover in 2024; the trade paperback is publishing in June.

 

Vanya and the Wild Hunt, by Sangu Mandanna, (March 2025, Roaring Brook Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781250899835

Ages 8-12

Vanya is a British-Indian eleven-year old who doesn’t feel like she fits in. The English town where she lives in mostly white, and her ADHD keeps her distracted. And apparently, the books are talking to her – but she keeps that quiet from her parents; she doesn’t want them to have any more reason to worry about her. Except for the day when an honest-to-goodness bogeyman attacks her family, and she discovers that her parents have a LOT of secrets, starting with her mother, who brandishes a flaming dagger out of a table lamp at the bogeyman. Her mother is an archwitch: a protector of “fantastical creatures of mythical beasts”. Her father – who heard the books all along! – is an archivist who met her mother when they were children at Auramere, a magical library and school. Now that Vanya has the truth, she’s invited to go to Auramere, too; she’ll learn that all the mythical, magical monsters and creatures are real. Unicorns? They’re actually chubby Shetland pony-type horses, but they do have magical horns. That cute little mongoose that winks at her? That’s Victory, her mother’s famillilar. Magic is real, and now it’s Vanya’s turn to learn about it before The Wild Hunt – an enigmatic, powerful group – destroys her home, her family, and her life. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches author Mandanna brings her love of fantasy to middle graders with a story that fantasy fans will love. Black and white illustrations throughout keep things interesting. Readers who love fantasy like the Kiranmala series by Sayantani Dasgupta, Roshani Chokshi’s Pandava series (better known as the Aru Shah series), Dhionielle Clayton’s Conjureverse series (aka The Marvellers), and the series under the Rick Riordan presents umbrella, will enjoy a new adventure rooted in myth and legend.

Posted in Fiction, Graphic Novels, Intermediate, Middle Grade

New DC graphic novels for middle graders!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I love a good graphic novel, and I really enjoy DC’s middle grade graphic novels. They make for such a fun handsell to my library kids, who know a lot of the characters from the movie and TV universes, but want more without being overwhelmed by years of continuity. And most importantly: they’re fun, because they star our favorite superheroes as kids! Here are two of the newest books to hit shelves.

DC’s Misfits of Magic, by Matthew Dow Smith, (May 2025, DC Comics), $12.99, ISBN: 9781799501268

Ages 8-12

Rikki and Ross are orphaned kids sent to a summer camp for magical kids while the monks watching over them get a little break. They’ve put other summer camps out of business, so they don’t have the highest hopes, but this camp is different: first of all, Zatanna Zatara is one of the camp counselors, and some of the campers? Boston Brand, or as he’s better known, Deadkid; Danny Cassidy, the Blue Devil, and June Moon, who shares herself with a powerful sorceress called The Enchantress. Right about now, folks familiar with DC Comics may be smiling right about now; for those who aren’t, trust me: these are popular characters. Smith nails the essence of each character while making them accessible to younger readers. The summer camp setting is hilarious, with all of the friendship-bracelet-making and magical cloak-dyeing that one can expect to find at a magical summer setting. A fun mystery brings the group together and bonds the new friends with jokes, teamwork, and a social media post or two thrown in. In all, a fun summer read that kids will get a kick out of, whether or not they’re familiar with these characters. Put it on your shelves!

 

Superman’s Good Guy Gang, by Rob Justus, (July 2025, DC Comics), $12.99, ISBN: 9781799504061

Ages 5-7

This one runs a little younger – perfect for emerging readers! – and middle graders will get a kick out of this one, too. Eight-year-old Clark Kent is a super kid, but he’s also super lonely and super bored (even though six-year-old Lex Luthor tries super hard to get him to hang out with him) until he meets up with two other super-powered kids: Green Lantern and Hawkgirl! As they try to figure out who’s going around freezing puppies, a giant robot attacks, but it’s shooting… milkshakes? A fun and hilarious adventure filled with kid-friendly banter, Superman’s Good Guy Gang has a nice deep-cut surprise at the end of the story and frenetic energy that bored kids can truly understand and appreciate. If you have readers who enjoy graphic novels by Art Baltazar and Franco, they will love Rob Justus. Another good addition to your graphic novels collections. I can’t wait to see more!

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Bubbeleh, you have to read Sweet Babe! by Robin Rosenthal!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Sweet Babe! A Jewish Grandma Kvells, by Robin Rosenthal, (Feb. 2025, Tundra Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9781774884324

Ages 2-5

This adorable book packs the excited punch of an over-the-moon Bubbe (that’s grandma, in Yiddish) into every page. Bubbe is so happy to be with her grandchild! The story gives a view into grandma time, as Bubbe plays with and exclaims over the wonder that is her adorable grandchild: she nibbles on fingers and toes, delights over cheeks, and marvels at the obvious brilliance that baby displays. Boldly outlined and colorful, with huge, easy to read fonts to communicate Bubbe’s euphoria on each page, this is a book that you’ll want to read again and again to any and every baby you see. Sweet Babe! is so relatable and so enjoyable that you’ll want to read it just to feel good. Need help navigating the Yiddish terms? There’s a glossary at the end. An absolute must-add to picture book and storytime collections.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Ballet Brown: Because ballet is for everyone

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Ballet Brown, by Bellen Woodard/Illustrated by Fanny Liem, (May 2025, Scholastic), $18.99, ISBN: 9781546134077

Ages 4-7

Crayon Activist Bellen Woodard loves ballet and how dance is “a conversation with the world”. As she gets older, she’s uncomfortable with the pink shoes, leotards, and pink or white tights – referred to as Ballet Pink – that she has to wear, or the bun she has to “pin and tuck and pull” her afro into. They don’t reflect her, and as she reads more about ballet, she learns that “Ballet Pink” was chosen to be an extension of the ballerina: the body and clothes, all one. But as new people discovered ballet, the rules were slow to change. Bellen and her mom decide that it’s time to make some changes of their own, even if the studio that Bellen enjoys is one of the things that need to change. A moving story of discovering what gives one power and creating healthy spaces, kids will love this first-person story about a girl who loves ballet so much that she made a place for herself where she – and other kids – felt safe and could embrace joy. Liem’s illustrations show a love of dance and are diverse, pairing nicely with Woodard’s narration. Woodard draws readers in with a real-talk look at the need for representation in ballet and the pushback to expect. Back matter includes photos of the author and author notes on Ballet Brown, Ballet Pink, and pointe shoes. An excellent addition to picture book collections, every kid who loves ballet books deserves to read this one. Download free activity and coloring sheets here!

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Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Maybe Just Ask Me! encourages kids to be brave and speak up!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Maybe Just Ask Me!, by Katie Mazeika, (April 2025, Beach Lane Books), $16.99, ISBN: 9781665949897

Ages 4-8

Mazie is excited about starting at her new school and making new friends. She wears her prettiest eye patch and favorite scarf, and she’s ready to answer any questions her classmates may have… but the silence is deafening, and Mazie feels self-conscious. When a breeze blows her scarf off of her head, the whispering starts: did she lose her hair because she worked for the circus and had it burned off by the fire breather? Does she have an eye patch because she was a pirate? Mazie goes through the day hearing her classmates whisper and wonder about Mazie, but no one will talk to her and ask her directly. By the time she’s in gym class, Mazie’s had enough. Blowing her teacher’s whistle to gets her class’s attention, she lays it out for everyone: “… if you really want the story of what happened to me… Maybe just ask me!” Based on the author’s own childhood cancer experience, Maybe Just Ask Me! is about bravery and an invitation to a conversation. So often, people find it easier to murmur behind people’s backs, wondering about someone’s appearance, because it’s either considered rude or too awkward to ask outright, but Mazie shows us that folks want to be seen; they want to share their stories and their experiences to connect with others. By the end of Mazie’s day, she’s got a bunch of brand-new friends because she was brave enough to invite questions. Digital illustrations are colorful and imaginative, bringing pirates, circuses, aliens, and jungle creatures to life as the other kids imagine how Mazie lost an eye and her hair. Mazeika beautifully captures Mazie’s expressions and internal dialogue as she goes through the school day. Back matter includes an author note and a list of ways to be a supportive person. A good choice for social-emotional collections.

Check out this curriculum guide for Maybe Just Ask Me!, and visit TeachingBooks.net for an author interview, a word search, and book cover jigsaw.

 

“A reminder that kids with disabilities are the authorities of their own stories.” —Kirkus
Katie Mazeika is an author and illustrator with a BFA from the Columbus College of Art and Design. When she isn’t in the studio, she likes to spend time at the theater, in her garden, or getting lost in a good book. She is the creator of picture book biographies including Annette Feels Free and Beulah Has a Hunch!. She lives in Ohio with her family and two dogs. To learn more, and download a free curriculum guide, visit her website at katiemazeika.com.
Posted in Fiction, Middle Grade, Middle School, Realistic Fiction, Tween Reads

Touched by… a werewolf? Werewolf Hamlet by Kerry Madden-Lunsford

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Werewolf Hamlet, by Kerry Madden-Lunsford, (Feb. 2025, Charlesbridge Moves), $18.99, ISBN: 9781623544331

Ages 10-14

Okay, for anyone who sees the titles and thinks this is a fun send-up of Shakespeare set in middle school, I promise you that while you may be kind of right, you need to get ready for some tissues. Angus is our 10-year-old narrator, and he is going through some stuff. His parents are defaulting on their mortgage and behind on the bills; his little sister is worried that the Four Closers are coming to kick them out of their home. He’s struggling with school, and he’s worried about his 17-year-old brother, Liam, who’s acting like a werewolf: he’s staying out late, coming home stinky, and sometimes his eyes are bloodshot. Plus, he’s moody, snappish, and a little bit hairy. Angus also has a “legacy project” he has to do before he graduates, so he thinks up a new version of Hamlet: “Werewolf Hamlet” will be both a great legacy project and his chance to reach Liam. This is a touching story of addiction and family with relatable characters. Angus is immediately a likable character who loves classic Hollywood movies and imagines conversations between himself and luminaries like Charlie Chaplin and Lon Chaney Jr.; his late-night conversations with Liam show a kid struggling to stay connected to his brother, whom he clearly adores. Angus is a quirky character who sees things differently; he and his brother trade Shakespearean insults that will have readers chuckling. His classmates are entertaining and solidly support Angus’s narrative. Angus’s family is realistic, with flaws and strengths that readers will recognize. Cutaways from Angus’s narrative include snippets of Werewolf Hamlet, imaginary discussions with movie stars, and “Conversations with Liam in the Night” that shed light on the brothers’ relationship. A solid book that middle school and middle grade collections should keep front and center in fiction collections.

Werewolf Hamlet has a starred review from Booklist and was a featured Shelf Awareness pick. Find a Shakespearean insult generator, poster, reader’s group guide and more on Charlesbridge’s website.

Posted in Middle Grade, Non-fiction, Tween Reads, Uncategorized

More books for your Earth Day displays!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Earth Day is coming to a close, but we can celebrate our Pale Blue Dot all year ’round. Let Earth Day be the kickoff to a Spring full of environmental awareness for your libraries and communities!

The Secret Life of a Sea Turtle, by Maddalena Bearzi/Illustrated by Alex Boersma, (May 2025, Roaring Brook Press), $19.99, ISBN: 9781250901675

Ages 6-10

There’s bits and pieces of knowledge most of us have about sea turtles: they lay eggs on the beach, the hatchlings hatch, and there’s the “race for life” to get to the ocean before the predators get the hatchlings. What happens after a turtle hatchling makes it to the water? Bearzi, a marine biologist and conservationist, details the life of a sea turtle for readers. Beginning with the hatching, Bearzi continues the story to show readers that making it to water isn’t the end of a sea turtle’s struggle; there are predators in the water and there are humans, whose fishing nets don’t always allow for a turtle to escape. Bearzi also discusses migration patterns and brings the turtle’s life full circle by having the main sea turtle return to the same beach where she hatched, this time to lay her own eggs. Boersma’s realistic illustrations are breathtaking, evoking emotion and awe with each spread. Back matter includes a section on spotting the different types of sea turtles, ways to protect sea turtles, information about sea turtle researchers, and a bibliography. A must-buy for your nonfiction collections. The Secret Life of a Sea Turtle has a starred review from Kirkus.

 

Together, a Forest: Drawing Connections Between Nature’s Diversity and Our Own, by Roz MacLean, (March 2025, Henry Holt & Co), $18.99 ISBN: 9781250864512

Ages 4-8

A class trip to a forest is a study in interconnectivity. Each of the class interacts with their environment in their own ways, illustrating how we each relate to our surroundings. Sasha, a student with a white cane who codes as being blind, listens to the differences in bird sounds as they change position; the surrounding trees and plants creating “sound shadows”. Angel, a student who gets “caught up in the moment” and “often misplaces things”, is much like a squirrel, who buries more seeds than he will need to get through winter, just in case he forgets where he saved everything. Student Joy appears to suffer from anxiety, is worried about her class assignment, but the soothing network of her classmates – her ecosystem – sustains her just as the orchid sustains its environs. A moving meditation on how we all come together to create a diverse and vibrant world and how we are connected to our planet. A good addition to picture book collections. Mixed media illustration includes a diverse and inclusive group. Use this book to encourage discussion. Together, a Forest has a starred review from Kirkus. Download a free activity kit from MacKids School and Library.

 

How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up, by Ruth Spiro/Illustrated by Teresa Martínez, (March 2025, Charlesbridge), $17.99, ISBN: 9781623546205

Ages 4-8

You know, sometimes it’s just up to kids to get things done, especially when grown-ups don’t want to listen. That’s where this “How to Explain” series comes in handy, and climate change is a particularly important one for kids to be aware of AND about how to talk to grown-ups. Written with the assumption that kids are in charge, Spiro – whose Baby Loves Science series we love! – offers comic book panels, simple and factual explanation (so grownups can understand!) and Pro Tips to fall back on when stubborn adults insist that climate change isn’t a real thing. Martínez’s illustration offers helpful diagrams for visual explanation and comic book dialogue to keep everyone engaged. It’s a tough job, being a kid, especially when you have to explain everything to those spacey grownups: stock your collection with this series to help a kid out. Download an educator kit, a Kid Expert certificate, and badge from Charlesbridge’s website.

 

History Smashers: Earth Day and the Environment, by Kate Messner/Illustrated by Justin Greenwood, (March 2025, Random House Books for Young Readers), $9.99, ISBN:  9780593705308

Ages 8-12

This series does gangbusters in my library, which is no big surprise, because it’s penned by Kate Messner. Here, Messner gets to the truth behind the Earth Day history and myths. Messner gets into the first Earth Day in April 1970, but gets to the roots of the holiday with discussions on Indigenous populations who developed sustainable farming practices, environmental activists going back to the 18th and 19th centuries, and the science behind global warming. Messner’s straightforward discourse has the ability to empower a new generation to take up the cause: plant a tree, throw out some trash, recycle the bottles! Greenwood’s black and white illustrations go from the realistic-factual to comic book panels depending on the ideas he communicates. A home run for graphic novel fans and more visual readers that will find a great home in nonfiction collections.

 

Posted in Fiction, Fiction, Intermediate, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

Green Jolene: Read it for Earth Day!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Green Jolene and the Neighborhood Swap, by Wendy Mass/Illustrated by Billy Yong, (Feb. 2025, Disney Planet Possible Books), $12.99, ISBN: 9781368107563

Ages 7-10

Jolene Greenfield is an environmentally conscious rising third grader on summer break and missing her best friend, Amie, who just moved away. As the new neighbors unload their boxes outside Amie’s old home, she takes a minute to consider how much stuff she has: it’s A LOT. How much of it does she still want or need? Not that much. But the thought of her stuff sitting in a landfill makes her stomach drop, so she and her parents come up with the idea to have a swap meet. As she and her family set about getting the neighborhood on board, Jolene discovers that putting a neighborhood event together takes a lot of work and a lot of tweaking, but in the end, it’s all worth it – and she may even make a new friend in the process. Back matter includes tips for kids on recycling and additional resources. Yong’s cartoon black and white illustrations are fun and keep readers invested in the story. An overall fun and green-savvy book for intermediate readers.

Disney’s Planet Possible books are part of Disney’s sustainability initiative; book content is focused on environmental issues, and the printing of the books themselves take sustainability and conservation into mind. There are free educator guides and activity sheets on the Disney website: get rid of your scrap paper by printing on the other side!