Reviews written by Beth Rodgers, Staff Reviewer

‘A Very Mercy Christmas’ by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen, tells the story of Stella Endicott. All she wants is to spread joy through Christmas carols, but no one wants to sing with her. She’s the only one who seems to have the spontaneous urge to take part...

‘Mendel’s Hanukkah Mess Up’ by Chana and Larry Stiefel, illustrated by Daphna Awadish, tells the story of a boy named Mendel who can’t seem to get anything right when it comes to celebrating his favorite holiday—Hanukkah. He loves the food, the gifts, the candles, and the miracle of the oil...

‘The Zee Files: All That Glitters’ by Tina Wells is a nice, easygoing follow-up to the first book in the series. Zee is still unsure of her standing at her new school, as well as with one of her oldest friends, Jasper, and the boy she likes, Archie. As the...

‘Room and Board’ by Miriam Parker contains a nice mixture of the past and the present. When Gillian moves from New York to California after a scandal rocks her publicity career, she finds herself back on her old stomping grounds. Becoming a dorm mother at her former prep school was...

‘Shoshi’s Shabbat’ by Caryn Yacowitz, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, is a kind tale with a relevant moral. Shoshi is a young ox who works in the fields with her farmer, Simon. Due to Simon being Jewish, he rests on the seventh day, his Sabbath. Every Saturday, he takes the day...

‘Our Day of the Dead Celebration’ by Ana Aranda tells of this interesting holiday and how families celebrate it. With favorite dishes to cook, stories to be told, poems to be written, and family to be visited, there is something for everyone to enjoy. ...

‘Our Little Mushroom’ by Emily Arnold McCully tells the story of Franz Schubert and his friends. It tells about his childhood and how his father didn’t foresee his future in music, even though Franz really wanted that to be his career. The story is a testament to the power of...

‘Super Strange Story Starters,’ created by illustrator Mark Penta and writer T.M. Murphy, brings more than 20 story starters to readers who are interested in engaging with their writing and exploring new avenues and ideas that will stand out. From stories about magic to others that will reveal what is...

‘If the World Were 100 Animals: A Visual Guide to Earth’s Amazing Creatures’ by Miranda Smith, illustrated by Aaron Cushley, takes readers on an interesting, eye-catching journey through the animal kingdom. Readers can look at the book straight on for many pages, but other pages allow the book to be...

‘Kapaemahu’ by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, and Joe Wilson, illustrated by Daniel Sousa, contains beautiful images and an interesting touch of language, since it includes both English and Hawaiian wording. The legend the story tells of is one of four dual male and female spirits which traveled from Tahiti to...

‘All-Star Love’ by Stephanie J. Scott follows senior tennis player Maisie as she tries to shy away from the scandal that has rocked the school—all brought about by her uncle who used to run the academy she attends. When he left town with the school’s tuition money, Maisie’s life became...

‘The Library Bus’ by Bahram Rahman, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard, tells the story of a young girl’s trip with her mother as her library helper while living in Kabul, Afghanistan. Pari is so fascinated by all of the books that take up the entirety of the library bus that she...

‘If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It: How 25 Inspiring Individuals Found Their Dream Jobs’ by Colleen Nelson & Kathie MacIsaac, illustrated by Scot Ritchie, is the perfect book for anyone who wants to be inspired and learn more about a host of different career opportunities. The book...

‘A Synagogue Just Like Home’ by Alice Blumenthal McGinty, illustrated by Laurel Molk, does a nice job showcasing the beauty of a synagogue, not only by providing glimpses into the look and feel of the place itself, but into the way people work together and engage with each other to...

‘Do Baby Elephants Suck Their Trunks?’ by Ben Lerwill, illustrated by Katharine McEwen, is a great book that will engage any curious reader. With stories of amazing ways that animals are just like humans, the book details how babies are everywhere, and they come in all shapes and sizes, as...