Best Reads of July - August 2025

I did read a lot of grown-up mysteries and thrillers this summer, but they all ended up being, in the words of Jamie Tartt, "poo peh." However, I loved a ton of nonfiction for kids. Click on the titles below to read publisher summaries. If you'd like to see all of 74 of my books, you can follow me on Goodreads.

Picture Books

We Are the Wibbly! by Sarah Tagholm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

SO ADORABLE.

I will try to line up as a readaloud for when K is doing frogs as part of their animal unit.

 

 

Island Storm by Brian Floca
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gorgeous illustrations.

Could tie in nicely to a weather-related lesson.





This Book Is Dangerous! by Ben Clanton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So the reader is kind of torturing Jelly, but I think the kids will love it. And it's a great example of a book where you need the illustrations to support the text, or else it doesn't make sense.

 

 

Fireworks by Matthew Burgess
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

BEAUTIFULLY written with exquisite onomatopoeia.

The History of We by Nikkolas Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lyrical text and stunning artwork.

 

 

Lefty: A Story That Is Not All Right by Mo Willems
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This reminds me that I need some lefty scissors ...

Will probably do as a readaloud during our schools' "Courage" unit of the Choose Love program. Sneaky way to get in some DEI.

 

Nonfiction

  

I'm a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods by Anne Lambelet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I learned so many things, especially about Caribbean reef squids, cuttlefish, and blanket octopuses! It helped that the font was big enough for me to read easily.

Doing this as a readaloud will be a bit tough, but I definitely want to share it with students ... and find more quality nonfiction graphic novels. Hoping that Lambelet has another one in the works.



A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa by Caroline McAlister
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Comprehensive, lyrically written. I had never heard of Ruth Asawa, but now I am fascinated.

I will plan to pair the RICBA nominee from George Takei with this, and then see if I can loop in the art teacher for a related activity.

 

 

Sleuth & Solve: History: 20+ Mind-Twisting Mysteries by Victor Escandell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ooh, I have been looking for riddles and escape room ideas, and this was great!

 


Toes, Teeth, and Tentacles: A Curious Counting Book by Steve Jenkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fish with legs are my favorite! Get over here, tripod fish and red-lipped batfish!

OMG the sea pig just blew my mind.

So of course this is a good book, because Jenkins (RIP) and Page.

 


Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn't by Sarah Albee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I can hear my kids now: "Ms. Moore, this is library, not math class!"
To which I always respond: "Library is about EVERYTHING!"

What a great jumping off point for historical research, geography, timelines, and languages.

 


Japanese American Internment Camps by Laura Hamilton Waxman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

George Takei's "My Lost Freedom" is on the 2026 RI Children's Book Award list, and I am considering expanding the readaloud into a research unit. Maybe. A colleague thinks it might be too much for 5th grade. But it happened. And internments and killings are happening now. I can't believe this is real life.

 

Revolutionary Mary: The True Story of One Woman, the Declaration of Independence, and America's Fight for Freedom by Karen Blumenthal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So timely.

Oh, no. The endnotes say she owned a slave. Gross. So much for freedom.



We Carry the Sun by Tae Keller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Like false prophets
of profit,
oil companies prey
on human weakness
and pay politicians
to keep digging.
They bury truth deep
and bury us deeper."



What Fish Are Saying: Strange Sounds in the Ocean by Kirsten Pendreigh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wish Pendreigh were American, so I could use for Mock Sibert this year for the kids who were obsessed with the "bloop" last year. Extra star for decent rhyme/meter, especially in a nonfiction book.

 

Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins―The First Lady of Children's Music by Traci N. Todd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beautifully written.

Best Reads of May - June 2025

My favorites from the RICBA list and the quest for Mock Caldecotts. Click on the titles to read plot summaries. If you'd like to see all 50 of the books I read, you can follow me on Goodreads.

Picture Books

Little Freddie Two Pants: by Drew Daywalt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pure silliness. "No pants is not enough pants!"

 

Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend by Bob Shea
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ridiculous silliness with a heart. Will definitely be using for Mock Caldecott.

 

Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"This is a whale shark.
It's the largest fish in the world.
It's the size of a bus.
That's not okay."

Another reviewer mentioned that this reads like a political attack ad, and that is brilliant ... will be using with 5th grade alongside Elise Gravel's "Killer Underwear Invasion."

 

The Hole by Lindsay Bonilla
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. Excellent portrayal of grief that is understandable for kids and offers a bit of comfort.

 

Mistaco: A Tale of Tragedy y Tortillas by Eliza Kinkz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love the style, love the message, love the mistakes, laughed out loud at the tragedy that befell her at school.

 

Hope in a Jar by Deborah Marcero
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One of those books that leaves you feeling calm with a smile on your face.

 

Let's Be Bees by Shawn Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The fact that Harris did the illustrations in crayon alone is enough to score a place on my Mock Caldecott list. And all of the animal noises will make it a great addition to the preschool pantheon.


Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Skews young for my students, but there are so many little kids this would make a great gift for.

 

When Alexander Graced the Table by Alexander Smalls
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dad is kind of a butt. At least he liked the pie.

Chapter Books / Graphic Novels

 

Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this! Fully plan to read it out loud to my students next year and have them create their own personal socks.

 

The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class: Emma McKenna, Full Out by Kate Messner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Exactly the kind of books we need more of! Short, illustrated, relatable. Perfect for 3rd grade. I will be buying the entire series.

 

Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic: A Graphic Novel by Sangu Mandanna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Extra star because I could read the lettering and the panels made sense. Kind of predictable story, but for kids who don't have decades of reading books behind them, they will be surprised. And I liked the point that without the earth magic, the rest of the students wouldn't have what they needed. Why did Grim have to be SUCH an a-hole, though?

Nonfiction

The Life-Changing Magic of Chess: A Beginner's Guide with Grandmaster Maurice Ashley by Maurice Ashley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Life lessons sprinkled in among chess moves. Like "Losing is Learning." (To quote a former student, "Now you're a loser, just like me!")

 

Stranded!: A Mostly True Story from Iceland by Ævar Þór Benediktsson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I feel like Mitch Hedberg when he was concerned for the Dufresnes ... did the boatman die? Get kidnapped? Or should he be arrested for endangerment? I need closure! Fun story - near-death aside - with super fun illustrations. After reading for RICBA, I will have the kids do research on Iceland, volcanoes, and Norse mythology.

For Grownups   

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I laughed. I cried. I had thoughts.

 

The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp by Leonie Swann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Similar to Netflix' "The Residence," I was willing to accept any number of suspects as the killer(s) and was right there with Agnes as she considered and eliminated each one. While it was a bit long, I also appreciated being in the minds of elderly characters ... and felt a little better about my perimenopause brain fog. And a little apprehensive of what's to come. But maybe my friends and I will create a Sunset Manor pact!

RICBA 2026 Titles

These are my opinions; after previewing the list, as predicted, the kids can't wait to read Wagnificent and They Call Me No Sam!

Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this! Fully plan to read it out loud to my students next year and have them create their own personal socks.





Search for a Giant Squid: Pick Your Path by Amy Seto Forrester
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, I never found the damn squid, but what a great combo of science and choose-your-own! My students will love it.

 

Stranded!: A Mostly True Story from Iceland by Ævar Þór Benediktsson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I feel like Mitch Hedberg when he was concerned for the Dufresnes ... did the boatman die? Get kidnapped? Or should he be arrested for endangerment? I need closure! Fun story - near-death aside - with super fun illustrations. After reading for RICBA, I will have the kids do research on Iceland, volcanoes, and Norse mythology.

 

The Life-Changing Magic of Chess: A Beginner's Guide with Grandmaster Maurice Ashley by Maurice Ashley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Life lessons sprinkled in among chess moves. Like "Losing is Learning." (To quote a former student, "Now you're a loser, just like me!")

 

The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class: Emma McKenna, Full Out by Kate Messner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Exactly the kind of books we need more of! Short, illustrated, relatable. Perfect for 3rd grade. I will be buying the entire series.

 

 

Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic: A Graphic Novel by Sangu Mandanna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Extra star because I could read the lettering and the panels made sense. Kind of predictable story, but for kids who don't have decades of reading books behind them, they will be surprised. And I liked the point that without the earth magic, the rest of the students wouldn't have what they needed. Why did Grim have to be SUCH an a-hole, though?

 

Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Honestly, made me wonder how many of my students have unaddressed reading issues and that's why they love graphic novels so much. Very much appreciated the font style and size for my middle-aged eyes.

 

Invisible Isabel by Sally J. Pla
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm still so annoyed that anxiety wasn't a diagnosed thing back when I had stomachaches all the time and threw up a lot. But now I have meds! Yay!

A short, gentle book that I may start as a readaloud to encourage kids to pick up as a RICBA nominee.


The Happy Shop by Brittany Long Olsen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I do like when the point is made that all feelings are valid.

 

Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos by Nathalie Alonso
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enthusiastic text and vibrant illustrations, but if you aren't familiar with the game, a lot will go right over your head. Which I fear will be the case with many of my students. However, many of them speak Spanish as their home language, so that part will resonate.

 
My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story by George Takei
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An important piece of history ... but I feel like this book didn't adequately express the horror of the situation. Granted, these weren't death camps, but I thought it painted too rosy a picture of life behind barbed wire. Today's readers need to know just how nastily the government can treat people. Don't sugarcoat because they are 8. You were only 4.

 

Wings of an Eagle: The Gold Medal Dreams of Billy Mills by Billy Mills
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My big takeaway was how far we've come with diabetes monitoring and treatment. Although ... are people on reservations able to take advantage of these improvements? Literally half of them don't even have access to "reliable water sources, clean drinking water, or basic sanitation." But we found tens of millions for a parade yesterday. #gross

 

Haiku, Ew!: Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature by Lynn Brunelle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am all about having books about gross stuff in the library, but this one was a bit TOO gross for me. I literally felt ill reading about a couple of the animals. Like baby koalas eating their mom's poop. So I will NOT be doing it as a RICBA readaloud.

Not sure the haiku added much to the book, or that it will be appreciated by the students. But I'm sure they will love knowing that lobsters pee out of their eyes. And I can't believe I never learned that caterpillars dissolve into goop inside their cocoon. Blech.

 

Wagnificent: The Adventures of Thunder and Sage by Bethanie Deeney Murguia
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm not a huge fan of dogs, and the wolf was creepy, but I think I will need more than the two copies I've already ordered to keep up with the demand after previewing the RICBA list.




Picture Purrfect by Hilda Eunice Burgos
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Reminded me of Art Club but not as good. How does the cat know so many words?






Off the Map by Meika Hashimoto
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have to state right off that I'm not a huge fan of nature survival stories ... because you could have just stayed home! I guess this was fine, but not for me. One disastrous situation after another. I was kind of hoping someone would die to make it more interesting.



They Call Me No Sam!: A Graphic Novel by Drew Daywalt
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Sam kind of sucks, and the magic sand oven was disgusting. But I bet my students would love it.

 

Wrath of the Rain God by Karla Arenas Valenti
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I could not suspend my disbelief with the whiny gods.

 

The Racc Pack by Stephanie Cooke
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A Bite Above the Rest by Christine Virnig
My rating: 1 of 5 stars