Tag: friendship

Posted in Intermediate, picture books

Rise, Girl, Rise: A Call to Young Women

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Rise, Girl, Rise: Our Sister-Friend Journey. Together for All, by Gloria Steinem & Leymah Gbowee/Illustrated by Kah Yangni, (Feb. 2026, Orchard Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781338888942

Ages 4-8

“We come to this place from worlds apart…”: Two women raised on different sides of the world come together to tell their stories as young women and what brought them together to work on behalf of women all over the world. Steinem muses on her childhood as an antique dealer’s daughter, traveling the country in the trailer that served as her home; as she grew, she saw more and more injustices faced by women and people of color. Gbowee recalls her peaceful childhood in Liberia until war broke out in 1989, when she saw the injustices foisted upon women and children in particular. When Steinem and Gbowee meet and become “sister-friends”, they become “WE”: united, “Sister-speakers. Sister-preachers”, joined in their crusade for equality and human rights. Steinem and Gbowee’s words inspire and rally readers; Yangni’s mixed media and digital illustrations are bold and colorful with texture and life. An excellent choice for collections, and an inspired choice for Women’s History Month displays. Back matter includes authors’ notes. Find activity sheets here.

 

 

Gloria Steinem is a political activist, feminist organizer, and the author of many acclaimed books, including the national bestseller Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem. She is a contributor to the classic children’s book Free to Be You and Me, which became a children’s entertainment project, conceived, created, and executive-produced by actress and author Marlo Thomas, produced in collaboration with the Ms. Foundation for Women, and the Free to Be Foundation, both cofounded by Ms. Steinem, and most recently illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds.

Ms. Steinem is also the cofounder of the National Women’s Political Caucus and the Women’s Media Center. In keeping with her deep commitment to establishing equality throughout the world, Ms. Steinem helped found Equality Now, Donor Direct Action, and Direct Impact Africa. To learn more, visit gloriasteinem.com.

Nobel Peace laureate Leymah Gbowee is a Liberian peace activist, social worker, and women’s rights advocate. She is Founder and President of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, based in Monrovia. As a writer, Ms. Gbowee is the author of the inspirational memoir Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War, and author of the children’s book A Community of Sisters, illustrated by Coleen Baik. Ms. Gbowee is perhaps best known for leading a nonviolent movement that brought together Christian and Muslim women to play a pivotal role in ending Liberia’s devastating, fourteen-year civil war in 2003.

Kah Yangni is the illustrator of Not He or She, I’m Me by A. M. Wild, a 2024 Stonewall Book Award Honor Book and the illustrator of The Making of Butterflies by Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi. Their art has been covered by NBC News, Ebony Magazine, Mic, and them, and their poster work is in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Free Library of Philadelphia. Kah lives and works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Posted in Fiction, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Tween Reads

Welcome to the Galactic Peacekeepers Society!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Ami and the Galactic Peacekeepers: Book One, by Frances Lee, (Feb. 2026, Levine Querido), $15.99, ISBN: 9781646145799

Ages 8-12

Welcome to the Galactic Peacekeepers! This first book in a new sci-fi trilogy for middle grade introduces readers to a trio of Galactic Peacekeepers: Ami, a human girl trying to get back to her mother and dog on Earth, and her friends Sumo, a sensitive alien who resembles a giant bunny, and Rosa, a slightly caustic, sharklike alien. Together with an AI called M.O.M., the Peacekeepers travel throughout the galaxy helping their galactic neighbors: delivering birthday gift s (and teaching lessons about gratitude), escorting the planet Saturn to a shooting star show, helping displaced aliens; that sort of thing. Ami also acts as a go-between for Sumo and Rosa, who need help regulating their emotions and behavior from time to time. At the heart of Ami’s story, though, is a desire to get back home; to do that, she needs to learn which galaxy houses Earth, so she can find a way there. Ami is protective, caring and defending both of her friends and anyone else who needs her help. Lee’s illustration is bright, bold, and eye-catching, with loads of adorable new aliens to discover. Endpapers feature The Galactic News, a newspaper reporting on stories that give readers some extra context on Ami’s universe. A fun first entry; graphic novel fans will enjoy this one.

 

Posted in Adventure, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Tween Reads

BookMail is the best mail!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Who doesn’t love seeing a box with your name on it just waiting for you? Lately, I’ve gotten some really good book mail. I started off the month with a box of goodies from Scholastic (including candy!) in anticipation of their Spring Releases Party, which was pretty awesome. Next up, more Scholastic mail: I requested a kit promoting the new graphic novel, Snowlands, by Morr Meroz with art by Collin Fogel.  Look at this awesome box!

 

The kit includes packs of laptop stickers, posters, a shelf-talker, and packs of trading cards. The paperback release is coming up this week, so I may surprise the kids with a book release party when my branch’s copies arrive. Scholastic has a Snowlands webpage with coloring and activity sheets (plus a trailer and excerpt); maybe I’ll come up with a fun wolf craft for extra giggles. Let’s see!

Snowlands is the story of Feba, an orphaned wolf cub whose white fur is perceived as a bad omen. She’s forced away from her pack, and meets a group of animals while on the run. Together, this found family of wolf, leopard, and wildcat face danger on the Snowlands. A Blood Moon is the first in this new series!

Next up, I received this awesome box with goodies promoting Dan Santat’s next graphic novel, Sashimi (coming out in April). Look at this box!

 

A Fishboy Named Sashimi is about a fishboy creature who pretends to be a real kid. It’s the first in a new series that’s “all about friendship, embracing your inner weirdness, and just having a lot of laughs”. This sounds like a great read, and not just because Dan Santat is on my shortlist of authors from whom I would read a grocery list and pronounce it great. Look for a post on this soon, because the box also came with an advanced reader copy, a water bottle, and Chum Chow Fish Flakes, which I’m intrigued by… it’s gotta be candy, right?

Posted in Uncategorized

The Smallest Bird is perfect for If You Give a Mouse… readers

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Smallest Bird: A Friendship Story, by Joy Belin/Illustrated by Sarah Hwang, (June 2025, Holiday House), $18.99, ISBN: 9780823456994

Ages 3-7

To befriend a small bird, you have to be careful not to scare him. Be gentle and kind. Share your snacks. Bring him to your secret hiding place and show him you’re so happy to be his friend by singing a song, maybe even dance a little dance. If he is ready to go, remember that the smallest bird is meant to fly… but if you’re patient, know that he’ll come back to his friend. This sweet story is reminiscent of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and other cumulative tales. Each step the featured boy makes allows the smallest bird to feel more secure; their friendship progresses through a series of actions, briefly explained with Belin’s direct prose. The digital artwork is cheerful, bright, and unfussy. This was a popular selection for my latest readaloud. Try it with your groups!

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized

The Elevator on 74th Street is cheery

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Elevator on 74th Street, by Laura Gehl/Illustrated by Yas Imamura, (Sept. 2025, Beach Lane Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781665905077

Ages 4-8

Do you ever think your building’s elevator has it out for you? Well, Ellie the Elevator is not one of those elevators. She loves her job, even when the people she works for don’t notice her, and she has a favorite person: Thea, the little girl who was born just as Ellie was installed in her building. She’s watched Ellie grow up and make a best friend, and feels terrible when Thea’s best friend moves away. Nothing she does manages to cheer Thea: not lighting up floors in a “T” shape, playing her favorite song over and over, even keeping her safe from a neighbor who wears a lot of perfume. When a new girl moves into the building, though, Ellie’s mission is set: get these two girls to be friends! Gehl’s storytelling is always playful and fun to read and Imamura’s mixed media illustration present a bevy of individuals in the building, all with personalities you can guess at with a glance. Ellie the Elevator has lights that look like eyes, complete with happy pink lights reflecting and standing in for cheeks. Her floor numbers curve, giving her a smile, when her mission is complete. All in all, a feel-good, playful story that kids will enjoy. A recommended first purchase, especially in areas where readers live in buildings.

 

Posted in Uncategorized

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.

 

Posted in Early Reader, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Intermediate, Middle Grade

Graphic Novels for all ages and stages!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Sorry, all! I spent a few days getting this roundup together – I am back and posting regularly again!

 

Maker Girl and Professor Smarts, by Jasmine Florentine, (Aug. 2025, MIT Kids Press), $12.99, ISBN: 9781536239584

Ages 7-10

Add a dash of Science Comics with a splash of Maker Comics, and you’ve got Maker Girl and Professor Smarts, a fun new series that uses tinkering powers for good. Set in New Bork City, main characters Chuy Reyes and Yael (Yaya) Levy are 12-year-old best friends who *didn’t* get superpowers when a comet hit their area of the planet a few years ago. It’s okay, though, because Chuy’s brains meets Yaya’s tinkering genius when a villain threatens the town by turning ice cream into slime! The bantering between the two buddies is witty and funny; it’s quick-paced and has enough action to keep kids turning pages. Illustration is cartoony with bold outlines and bold, bright colors. Chuy presents as a brown-skinned Latino boy and Yael and her brother, Yoel, are white-skinned and Jewish. There are two maker project for kids to try (with grownup help): a grappling hook and sorbet! Each project is illustrated and laid out for ease of construction. The story ends on a cliffhanger (naturally!), promising a good second entry to the series. Back matter includes a wealth of resources for anyone interested in “making stuff or knowing stuff”. Fun for STEAM, fun for anytime, this is a good series to add to your collections.

Need display ideas or readalikes? In addition to Science and Maker Comics, Quirk Books’ Nick and Tesla series by “Science Bob” Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith is a fun middle grade series that includes STEAM adventure and projects.

 

 

Night Light, by Michael Emberley, (April 2025, Holiday House), $14.99, ISBN: 9780823458165

Ages 4-8

Part of the I Like to Read series of comics, this is a great introductory graphic novel for emerging readers. A parent and child are reading before bed when a blackout strikes. “Too dark!’ the child says, as the flashlight’s batteries die. The parent has an idea: climbing up to the roof with a sack, they pull the stars from the sky to bring to the child’s room, but what will happen to the poor Moon, left in the dark all by themselves? A sparely worded graphic novel with panels and a breathtaking spread, Emberley creates a heartwarming story for emerging readers that’s as perfect for a bedtime read as it is for reading on one’s own. Emberley’s playful characters have appeared in other stories, including I Did It! and Let’s Go! and sport colorful pink-and-green striped pajamas and ear coverings, with colorful red noses. Sharp-eyed readers will notice the book of choice is Emberley’s father’s book, Go Away, Big Green Monster! (another storytime favorite). An excellent addition to beginner-level graphic novels, Night Light has starred reviews from Horn Book and Kirkus.

 

 

Sky & Ty 2: Dinomite!, by Steve Breen, (April 2025, Pixel Ink), $14.99, ISBN: 9781645952176

Ages 6-9

Sky and Ty are back in their second volume of adventures. The cowgirl and T. Rex duo run a delivery service, do a couple of good deeds, learn that money isn’t everything, and Ty discovers a new branch on his family tree. Adorable fun that readers who love Pea, Bee & Jay and Narwhal and Jelly will enjoy. Great for more newly independent readers, the two-color illustrations are bright and boldly outlined and have more text than early graphic novels. Bold fonts make the text easy to read and themes of kindness and friendship will resonate with kids. There are fun facts about cowgirls in the back matter along with some chuckle-worthy riddles. Pulitzer Prize Winner Breen has a winning series with this one.

There’s a free, downloadable Sky & Ty activity kit from Howdy, Partner!, the first book in the series (2024), for you to print out and have ready for readers.

 

 

Casey’s Cases: The Mysterious New Girl, by Kay Healy, (Feb. 2025, Neal Porter Books), $16.99, ISBN: 9780823456505

Ages 7-10

Casey is a quirky kid who sees is mystery in just about anything. No, really: ANYTHING. The 11-year-old is undeterred by Dina, the resident mean girl, and befriends the mysterious new girl, Jan (a case into and of herself). Jan ends up as Casey’s sidekick as Casey embarks on such adventures as the Case of the Missing Hairband, the Case of the Wrapped Presents, the Case of the Lost Fifty Bucks, and many, many more. She bumbles through a crush on classmate AJ and attempts to find (but not really) the family of a missing cat while solving her mini-mysteries with often-silly moments. She’s more Frank Drebin than Nancy Drew and readers will love her for it. Uncomplicated illustrations,  colorful and boldly outlined, make for easy reading for more confident readers.

Author Kay Healy has printable Casey resources for you to share with your readers! 

 

 

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

To Catch a Ghost… or make a friend?

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

To Catch a Ghost, by Rachel Michelle Wilson, (July 2025, Orchard Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781339031958

Ages 3-7

“Bringing nothing to show-and-tell is like wearing shoes without socks. It stinks.” Sam is the new kid, which is hard. Being the new kid AND having show-and-tell coming up is even harder. Written from Sam’s perspective, To Catch a Ghost reads like a manual; Sam lays out the steps and drops some knowledge for prospective ghost-catchers: how to find one, how to observe one, and how to catch one. But when it comes right down to it, does Sam want to capture a potential friend? Luckily, there’s a solution that works for all in this upbeat, playful story about making friends. Acrylic and pastel illustration gives bold linework and soft color, giving a fun, retro feel to the piece. A cheerful story about friendship and unexpected surprises, To Catch a Ghost is a nice addition to storytime and picture book collections.

To Catch a Ghost has a starred review from School Library Journal. Sign up for Rachel Michelle Wilson’s newsletter at her website.

 

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

Friends Forever! So-Hee and Lowy

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

So-Hee and Lowy, by Anna Kang/Illustrated by Christopher Weyant, (Apr. 2025, Two Lions), $18.99, ISBN: 9781542036658

Ages 3-7

So-Hee is a kid who desperately wants a pet she can hug, but she’s allergic to just about everything with fur or feathers. She happens upon a big yellow snake at the pet store’s “giant non-furry pet sale” and she brings Lowy home. Weyant’s adorable illustrations show the two becoming friends: sunbathing, going on rides, playing together. One cold winter day, though, the unthinkable happens: Lowy is nowhere to be found! As So-Hee mobilizes her building in the search, Lowy is ultimately found in the most amusing of places, and So-Hee has widened her social circle. Another great story about friendship from Kang and Weyant, whose You Are (Not) Small series is still one of my go-to recommendations. Kang deftly incorporates narration and dialogue to place readers right in the story, and Weyant’s colorful illustrations are expressive and downright lovable. Their message – that friendship can be found anywhere, as long as you’re open to it – is positive and upbeat. So-Hee appears Asian; neighborhood characters are diverse. An absolute joy to read, this will fit in nicely with picture book collections.