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 of my books, you can follow me on Goodreads.
Picture Books
Little Freddie Two Pants: by Drew DaywaltMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Pure silliness. "No pants is not enough pants!"
Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend by Bob SheaMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ridiculous silliness with a heart. Will definitely be using for Mock Caldecott.
Don't Trust Fish by Neil SharpsonMy 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 BonillaMy 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 KinkzMy 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 MarceroMy 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 HarrisMy 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 AwanMy 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 SmallsMy 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 MillerMy 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 MessnerMy 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 MandannaMy 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 AshleyMy 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 BenediktssonMy 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 BackmanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I laughed. I cried. I had thoughts.
The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp by Leonie SwannMy 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!
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