Tag: Roaring Brook Press

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 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 picture books, Preschool Reads

Kids will love The Most Boring Book Ever

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Most Boring Book Ever, by Brandon Sanderson/Illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi, (Sept. 2024, Roaring Brook Press), $19.99, ISBN: 9781250843661

Ages 4-8

“A boy sat in a chair”: so begins the boring story of a boy, a chair, and thoughts of laundry and math homework. Or is it? Sanderson pairs with Amulet creator Kibuishi to wink at readers as they take them through an incredible steampunk journey with sky pirates and dragons, soaring through clouds and crashing through clotheslines. Sanderson’s story never veers from the straightforward “boring” storytelling, allowing Kibuishi’s illustrations to run wild. It’s exciting, fun, and will have readers giggling through this not-boring-at-all adventure. The boy, light-skinned and red-haired, dressed in a blue shirt, suspenders, and brown pants, never leaves his chair (mostly) as he careens through the sky dodging airships and explosions. A red, scaly dragon emerges from the clouds and creates further excitement as the boy falls through the sky, quickly doing math to calculate his landing. The Most Boring Book Ever will for sure be a repeat readaloud. Download free activity sheets to share!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Abuelo, the Sea, and Me is a tender story of grandfather and grandaughter

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Abuelo, the Sea, and Me, by Ismée Williams/Illustrated by Tatiana Gardel, (May 2024, Roaring Brook Press), $19.99, ISBN: 9781250848772

Ages 4-8

The changing seasons frame this story of a grandfather and his granddaughter. In the summer, the two roll up their pants and wade in the water, discovering shells and pebbles; she listens to his stories about marlins and dolphins. In the fall, they watch the waves, and Abuelo tells his granddaughter that he won medals as a swimmer. In the fall, they watch the waves churn as the wind and ice whip against the water; Abuelo tells her about his father taking him to the beach during hurricanes. In the spring, Abuela packs the two a picnic, and grandfather and granddaughter joyfully shed their shoes and run for the water. The beach allows Abuelo to tell his granddaughter about his life in Cuba; she feels his sadness as he recalls his memories: the swimming medals he left behind; the guayaba ice cream, the island sun. Digital illustrations provide rich color: the purple sky, with clouds shaped like marlins and dolphins and the close-up spread of Abuelo’s and granddaughter’s faces, his eyes reflecting the Cuban sun and sand, hers reflecting her grandfather, are two outstanding moments. Williams’s vivid descriptions let readers feel the sun on their faces, the ice hit their cheeks, and let them wiggle their toes in the sand. An outstanding immigrant story and of intergenerational relationships.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Jumper treats readers to a spider’s world

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Jumper : A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider, by Jessica Lanan, (Apr. 2023, Roaring Brook Press), $19.99, ISBN: 9781250810366

Ages 4-8

Have a look at a day in the life of a backyard jumping spider in this informative and playful story that is sure to capture readers’ hearts. Jumper is a spider in a community garden frequented by people and animals in the neighborhood. Driven by a thought-provoking narrative that asks questions – “What if you were very small?” “What if you could sense tiny vibrations through your elbows and knees?” “What if you could jump five times your body length?” – and responds with all the ways Jumper moves, feels, or jumps, giving readers the chance to think about how they experience their world and how Jumper experiences her world. Ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations  use shifting perspectives to move from close-ups of Jumper as she hides from a wasp or avoids a chickadee, to aerial views that capture large spreads, including a fold-out in the middle of the book. Back matter includes noteson spider physiology and behavior, a glossary, and notes on finding and identifying spiders. Superbly illustrated and written to inform and delight an audience, Jumper is an essential for collections. Pair this with Bethany Barton’s I’m Trying to Love Spiders (2019) for a fun, spidery STEM storytime.

Jumper has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and School Library Journal.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Meet Skeletina!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Skeletina is an adorable skeleton girl who lives in the in-between world. Her stories are inspired by Mexican culture, and what time of year is better to introduce Skeletina than Hispanic Heritage Month – and with Halloween and Día de los Muertos on the horizon? Come meet Skeletina and her friends!

Skeletina and the In-Between World / Skeletina y el Entremundo, by Susie Jaramillo, (Sept. 2022, Roaring Brook Press), $18.99, ISBN: (Eng.) 9781945635465 (Spa.) 9781250851055

Ages 3-6

Skeletina’s first book is an introduction to the spunky young girl and her world. She lives in the in-between, “the one place where the dead and living come together”; the living can vist there in their dreams, and the dead can wrap up any unfinished business. Skeletina visits with some of her friends, accompanied by her skeleton dog, Pancho, and seems to be in charge of keeping the in-between happy for everyone: she catches bugs that turn fears into nightmares, soothes the noisy prankster Rattles, and plays music to calm the nervous Sombra. Graphite and color pencil artwork beautifully creates an otherworldly feel. Skeletina and her friends are inspired by calavera artwork and Mexican folk art touches brighten and enliven the spreads. Endpapers show all of Skeletina’s friends, whom we can expect to meet in future books, all inspired by Mexican culture, made child-friendly. La Llorona, pictured here as a weeping ghost, “always makes things worse”, while Rattles (Matraca, or Rattles, in Spanish), “shakes everything” and looks like a collection of clattering surfaces. Easily readable and enjoyable for all ages, this is a series to keep on your shelves and in your storytime collections.

Skeletina and the In-Between World / Skeletina y el Entremundo is available in both English and Spanish.

 

 

 

Skeletina and the Greedy Tooth Fairy / Skeletina y el Hada Marada, by Susie Jaramillo, (Sept. 2023, Roaring Brook Press), $18.99, ISBN: (Eng.) 9781250872012 (Spa.) 9781250872005

Ages 3-6

Skeletina helps a young girl get her teeth back from Hada Marada, the Tooth Fairy’s greedy sister, in this second Skeletina story. As Skeletina spends time with her dog, Pancho, on a rainy day in the in-between, she discovers a crying girl, distressed because her teeth are falling out! Skeletina immediately knows who’s behind things, and sets off, with Olivia – the crying girl – to fetch those missing teeth. But Olivia learns that Hada Malvada grows stronger with every lie a child tells, so she has to own up to her fibs in order to restore her pearly whites. Graphite and pencil artwork is vibrant, providing a dreamlike landscape with giant horseflies, colorful fairies, and giant chocolate statues. Jaramillo beautifully makes black and white live separately with full color illustration. Cultural details are present in the background spreads, laying a rich Mexican tapestry to the story. Skeletina gently delivers a message about honesty and being true to onesself within a playful story about a mischevious fairy. Endpapers feature Skeletina, Pancho, and Señor Tic Toc peeking out of openings in the in-between house. Available in both English and Spanish, this is a delightful story for readalouds. Find more books and animations on the Encantos app.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

…and a reluctant wombat shall lead them: Wombat, the Reluctant Hero

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Wombat, the Reluctant Hero, by Christian Trimmer/Illustrated by Rachel Gyan, (March 2023, Roaring Brook Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781250788573

Ages 3-6

Inspired by the real-life events wrought by the devastating Australian wildfires in 2019 and 2020, Wombat the Reluctant Hero is all about being a good – if sweetly curmudgeonly – friend. Wombat likes her home and her appearance organized and just so, but she can’t say that about her neighbors, who look all out of sorts. Wombat notices that their watering hole is running a little low, so she pulls on her gardening gear and digs down until she hits water, reluctantly accepting their thanks. When Koala shows up at her door in a panic one night, she discovers that the forest is on fire, and quickly moves to gather her neighbors into her fireproof burrow, giving them food and water as they ride out the fire. When they emerge from the burrow, they work together to rebuild their home. Gyan’s digital artwork is colorful and reflects her moods through facial expression and clothing; going from dusky rose coveralls at the beginning to warm tangerine coveralls to show her enthusiasm and hope. Trimmer’s storytelling gives readers some insight into Australia’s problems in 2019 and 2020, and notes from the author and illustrator provide deeper context.

A good way of explaining world events to younger children while also delivering messages of community and empathy. An excellent choice for collections.

Posted in Graphic Novels, Intermediate

Bad Kitty is SUPERCAT!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Bad Kitty: Supercat, by Nick Bruel, (Dec. 2022, Roaring Brook Press), $13.99, ISBN: 9781250749987

Ages 7-10

It’s always a good day when there’s a new Bad Kitty book! Supercat is the latest Bad Kitty graphic novel, where Bad Kitty is forced to endure a playdate in an attempt to be sociable. Strange Kitty brings along some superhero-loving, comic book-reading friends, and the group don their costumes to become Supercat and Fantasticat, and find themselves fighting the evil Doctor Lagomorph with the universe hanging in the balance! With sidekicks and laugh-out-loud pop culture references throughout, this may be my favorite Bad Kitty yet. Kids and grownups alike will recognize the familiar call to put the devices down and go play with friends. Hilarious and relatable moments include Bad Kitty’s playdate choices and the spot-on comic book story reenactments, as envisioned by the friends; every kid will remember a playdate gone sideways when the playdate gets rough and feelings are hurt; Bad Kitty and friends teach readers that things will happen, but it’s always important to apologize. Another adorable entry in a series that makes a seamless transition from chapter book to graphic novel.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

The Pineapple Princess is a benevolent ruler… kinda.

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Pineapple Princess, by Sabina Hahn, (May 2022, Roaring Brook Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781250798367

Ages 4-8

“I am deeply, deeply misunderstood.” Who hasn’t felt like this? The little girl in this story just knows she’s a princess, but no one wants to believe her. So what does she do? She carves her own crown out of a pineapple and pronounces herself The Pineapple Princess! She’s got some devoted subjects, too: a swarm of flies surrounds her, drawn to her sticky, sweet pineapple-y self. At first, she’s delighted to have the attention, but she quickly tires of having bugs follow her around; turning to more tyrannical measures, she decides that she doesn’t want to be a princess anymore… she’s evolved into a warrior queen. Witty, with a touch of chaotic hilarity, Pineapple Princess touches everyone’s – kids and adults alike – inner benevolent dictator. Sabina Hahn’s illustrations give an impish wink to the reader as the princess sets about carving her rule, certain that her deniers will rue the day they didn’t listen to her. And, in the most playful, childlike way, we see her tire of her Pineapple Princess persona, and change gears to something more fun. It’s a perfect storytime book, and embraces the joy of childhood imagination and endless summer days.

See Sabina Hahn’s storytime video here, and download a free storytime kit here. Visit Sabina Hahn’s website and her Instagram page for more of her illustration work.

Pineapple Princess has a starred review from Booklist and is a Kids Indie Next pick.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Awake… when creepy crawlies aren’t SO creepy

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Awake, by Mags DeRoma, (Oct. 2021, Roaring Brook Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781250753199

Ages 4-8

A little girl gets ready for bed at night. She and her pup are so very sleepy… until she spies a SPIDER in her room! GAH! Stricken with fear, she goes on the offensive, her imagination going wild with thoughts of giant, spider-removing devices and huge spiders coming for retribution. When she finally traps the spider under a glass, she realizes that the spider? It’s rather itsy-bitsy after all. And it looks pretty terrified. Putting herself in the spider’s shoes, she realizes that the spider isn’t here to rain havoc down on her and her dog; it probably just wants to get back home, or make a home in a warm, comfortable spot. Author Mags DeRoma says that Awake is about coming face-to-face with ‘otherness'”; an idea more of our children (and adults, quite frankly) should sit down and take a minute to think about. When something – or someone – appears that isn’t within our usual realm of understanding or experience, we often react with fear and aggression. If we take a moment to put ourselves in someone else’s position, to see the world through another’s eyes, we may – like the little girl in Awake – rethink our initial, knee-jerk reactions. Awake is also about facing one’s fears and growing from the experience. The cut paper artwork gives depth and texture to the story, with fun details and character expressions, and gorgeous cityscapes, including a gatefold that brings home the true size of the little spider compared to the sprawling city outside the girl’s window. Endpapers bring the reader in, with heartwarming messages like “open eyes, open mind, open heart, to be awake”, and instructions on relocating a “surprise guest”.

This is Mags DeRoma’s debut picture book, and I’m excited to see where else she will bring us in the future. Visit her webpage for more artwork and a look at other books she’s illustrated. Add Awake to your social-emotional learning collections, and consider displaying with Jacob Grant’s Bear’s Scare and Bear Out There, and Bethany Barton’s I’m Trying to Love Spiders.