Tag: friendship

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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!

 

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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.

Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Intermediate, Realistic Fiction

Catch up with some chapter books!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Chapter books are more fun than ever. Here are a few I’ve been reading:

Bodega Cats: Just Kitten Around, by Hilda Eunice Burgos/Illustrated by Siara Faison, (Jan. 2025, Henry Holt & Company), $16.99, ISBN: 9781250903761

As a lifelong Metro NY resident, I am a big fan of the bodega cat and love that there is a chapter book series dedicated to these noble cats and their profession. Just Kitten Around is the second Bodega Cat series, but readers can jump right in. Yesenia is a kid whose parents run a bodega and expect their kids to excel in school, which gives Yesenia a lot of anxiety. Her therapist recommends a cat, which Yesenia is excited about – but her parents aren’t. When adorable kitten Candy joins the family, she’s a LOT. She’s a kitten, after all! At first, Yesenia is willing to overlook Candy’s misbehavior, but when Candy inadvertently exposes Yesenia’s bad test grade – with a forged parental signature – even Yesenia is exasperated, and Candy runs away. Burgos gives readers differing points of view by having chapters alternate between Yesenia’s and Candy’s experiences. Faison’s black and white illustrations offer crochet instruction – one of Yesenia’s hobbies – and keep  thereader’s interest. Tackling relatable kid concerns like stress and anxiety, Just Kitten Around is a solid addition to the Bodega Cats series and to chapter book/middle grade collections. No need to read the series in order; each book features different characters in the same universe.

 

Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies, by Megan McDonald/Illustrated by Lenny Wen, (Feb. 2025, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536201420

The celebrated Judy Moody author has a new series! Eliza gets home from school and escapes to her secret hideaway, free from Mom nudging her to complete her chores or her sister, who wants to play horsie. She’s magically transported to the Land of the Flower Fairies, where every flower has a fairy attached to it; her dragonfly pin becomes a real-life dragonfly companion, Haiku. Eliza and Haiku explore the magical world but end up in the “Evil Ones” territory: Wolfsbane and Belladonna send a Demon Wind to steal the flowers’ scents and colors, and it’s up to Eliza to save the day. Colorful gouache and colored pencil illustration weave an enticing fantasy world for readers, and McDonald gets immediately into the action, sending readers right into the Land of the Flower Fairies and introducing the antagonists early on. Readers will delight in this magical new series. Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies has a starred review from Booklist.

 

 

Rica Baptista: A Week of Shenanigans, by Janet Costa Bates/Illustrated by Gladys Jose, (Apr. 2024, Candlewick Press), $16.99, ISBN: 9781536227666

Ages 6-9

Rica – short for Frederica – is so excited! Her Grampy’s coming to visit for their Adventure Week: it’s the one week a year he’s off from work, and they always have exciting things planned to do together and with her best friend, Laini. This year, though, Grampy arrives on crutches and a bandaged ankle. He’s sprained his ankle, and Adventure Week is now Stay-venture Week! Rica, Grampy, and Laini come up with some fun ideas for Stay-venture Week, but Rica is worried that Grampy’s not having enough fun. What’s a kid to do? This second book in the Rica Baptista series is a light-hearted story with a glimpse into Cape Verdean culture and a warm intergenerational relationship at the heart of the tale. Grampy is a playful, fun-loving grandparent who’s happy to eat his fill of candy and tell “almost true almost all of the time” tall tales. Rica’s parents are very present and involved. Black and white illustrations run throughout and include excerpts from Rica’s prayer journal, where she hopes for her grandfather to feel better and to do well at the talent show. Rica and her family are brown-skinned; best friend Laini is light-skinned and of Irish descent. The next book in the Rica Baptista series is out in November – pick up the first two now and get them on your chapter book shelves.

 

Unicornia: Learning to Fly, by Ana Punset/Illustrated by Diana Vicedo, (Dec. 2024, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536241006

Ages 6-9

Originally published in Spanish in 2022, this chapter book series has been very popular for my Spanish-language collection; I was happy to read it in English and see what the hype is about. Claudia is a young girl whose family has just moved to Unicornia, “the most magical hidden city in the entire universe”. It’s a haven for unicorns, created when the magical beings were in danger of going extinct; select humans seem to be able to make the move. Claudia is delighted to start school at the Unicornia Academy of Magic, but she has a bit of a rough start: her potions class is confusing (and messy), and riding a unicorn? No way! Luckily, Claudia meets Sara and Pippa, two friendly lifelong residents of Unicornia, who are only too happy to get her caught up. Now, all they have to do is help Claudia develop the confidence to ride a unicorn… by encouraging her to spend time with Chai, her class unicorn, the three friends may have this school year in the bag. A fun, cheerful story about friendship, confidence, and taking on new challenges and narrated by Claudia, Learning to Fly is a good introduction to a fantasy world. Two-color pink and white illustrations add to the cotton-candy cartoon feel of the story. A helpful map guides readers around Unicornia. A charming addition to chapter book collections.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Three picture books to welcome Spring

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Spring is springing! I’ve got my Cricut kicking into high gear and am preparing displays for the children’s room here at the library. What better time to start talking about Spring Storytime? Here are three fun books to start things off.

Let’s Be Bees, by Shawn Harris, (Feb. 2025, Neal Porter Books/Holiday House), $18.99, ISBN: 9780823457090

Ages 3-8

It’s all about imagination and sounds with this storytime between a father and child. Starting with the two reading a story – why, they’re reading the same book we are! – there’s a statement: “Let’s be bees”. The next spread expands on the fun as parent and child turn into bees, the accompanying statement reading “Let’s be fuzzy, buzzy bees and BUZZ!” The two turn into chitty, chatty birds (“CHIRP!”), lofty, leafy trees (“RUSTLE!”), and a host of other nature and animal sounds. It’s great fun made for an interactive storytime with onomatopoeia and alliteration to keep kids’ interest with wordplay. The two even mimic each other for a delightful close to a perfectly fun story. The crayon artwork beautifully matches to the playful theme. Do not miss this one; it’s an essential add to storytime collections.

Let’s Be Bees has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Booklist and is a Shelf Awareness pick.

 

 

Alfred Blooms, by Carrie Kruck & Carrie Mok, (March 2025, Random House Studio), $18.99, ISBN: 9780593647608

Ages 4-8

This amusing story about friendship, flowers, and blueberry treats is just what a Spring storytime needs. Alfred would love to have a beautiful garden like his friend Lulu, whose garden “was full of flowers and fruits trees and friends”. Try as he might, though, nothing grows in Alfred’s garden, leaving him disheartened until he sees some wildflower seeds and decides to give it one more try. As Alfred gets the seeds open, though, he sneezes, and the wind blows the seeds right back in his face. The seeds are EVERYWHERE, and when it starts raining , the flowers sprout: all over Alfred! He’s got flowers in his hair, flowers in his nose, flowers all over his clothes! As much as Alfred wants to hide away, the smell of blueberry muffins reminds him of Lulu’s favorite snack, so he heads to the local bakery and then to Lulu’s, where he discovers that a blooming garden isn’t the most important thing to have, and that sharing a kind moment with a friend is the best way to spend time. The gouache and pencil artwork create soft and gentle illustrations; Alfred, covered in flowers, will amuse readers and Lulu’s kindness will resonate with readers. Endpapers show the before and after of the garden. The cast of characters is diverse. Don’t miss this one for your Spring storytimes.

 

Fairy Walk, by Gaia Cornwall, (April 2025, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536230710

Ages 3-7

Three kids and their puppy friend are in search of fairies! While their moms relax, the explorers head into the woods on a wordplay adventure that gives We’re Going on a Bear Hunt vibes: “River rushes icy cold. / Step, / hop, / hop. / Splish-splash… / into the misty magic”. The group encounters all sorts of flora and fauna, but where are the fairies? Readers who keep an eye on the canine companion may see a fairy or two before the kids do – there’s playful magic to be found if only you look! The story is a light-hearted walk through a magical world that makes for a lively storytime. Fun storytime tip: flannel fans can create some fairies for readers to place on the flannel board. Pencil, watercolor, and collage illustration sets a magical stage for the story; the woods seem to glow with magic in the background on the opening pages, and the sprites bring a whimsical joy with them when they appear. Endpapers give readers a lay of the land, with fairies transparent yet visible for sharp eyes. Fairy Walk is magical and playful and a do-not-miss addition to storytime collections.

Don’t forget to have some fairy coloring sheets on hand for a post-storytime activity!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

I Wish I Had a Dragon with Marshmallows! (Don’t you?)

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I Wish I Had a Dragon with Marshmallows, by Diane Alber, (March 2025, Cartwheel Books), $14.99, ISBN: 9781546109921

Ages 4-8

A boy discovers a really cool lizard in his backyard… it kind of looks like a dragon! Hey, he wishes, it would be so cool to have a dragon with marshmallows: and just like that, there’s a dragon, colored just like the lizard, holding a bag of marshmallows. But the dragon looks so sad, and can’t summon a flame to toast the marshmallows. Maybe only a happy dragon can make flame? Trying to cheer the dragon up, the boy comes up with a series of wacky ideas, from puppet shows to games of tag, until the two new friends fall asleep, exhausted. When the boy wakes, the dragon’s gone, but the cool lizard is back… and there’s a surprise waiting for the boy. A funny and sweet story about friendship and magic, the story blends black and white line illustration with bold, bright color; both Dragon and boy have expressive faces with big, exaggerated eyes. Back matter includes fun step-by-step instructions to make your own sock dragon and some thought-provoking questions for discussion. A fun storytime choice with a built-in extension activity; this will make a fun addition to collections. Download some fun activity sheets to hand out!