Children’s Book Corner Blog
What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair?
by Norene Paulson, illustrated by Camila Carrossine; Albert Whitman, 2021.
When her school plans a Silly Hair Day, Bea, a strong and confident girl with alopecia (an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss) navigates her feelings and manages to increase awareness of the ways in which actions and activities can unintentionally present barriers to inclusion. This gentle, affirming story is a recommended read-aloud that offers an excellent opening for discussion and can help set the stage for a welcoming classroom environment.
Over the Shop
Story concept by JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Qin Leng; Candlewick Press, 2021.
Those who experience this wordless picture book will cheer for the little girl who exhibits determination, optimism, and joy as her rundown home and gradually her neighborhood transform into a thriving community as a result of kindness, care, connection, and acceptance.
Milo’s Moonlight Mission
by Kathleen Blasi, illustrated by Petronela Dostalova; Yeehoo Press, 2021.
Young listeners will connect with Milo as he embarks on an adventure with meteors. How he manages to engage his “second-in-command” (Mom) is sure to strike a chord with children who have had to wait while a parent finished a task before getting to the real (fun) mission at hand.
Upstander
by James Preller; Feiwel and Friends, 2021.
Upstander by James Preller is a moving story that authentically captures the nuances of contemporary family relationships and how they can be both tested and strengthened by individual members’ actions and thoughts, as well as their wills, weaknesses, and wishes. The story of how Mary struggles, copes, and ultimately grows from her experiences facing her brother Jonny’s substance use and her own school-related conflicts is at once heart wrenching and heartening.
Bartali’s Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy’s Secret Hero
by Megan Hoyt, illustrated by Iacopo Bruno; Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins, 2021.
Ideal for older elementary-grade students, Bartali’s Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy’s Secret Hero introduces readers to an Italian cycling champion and unsung hero who secretly helped hundreds of Jews and others escape persecution during World War II. Witness Bartali’s acts of heroism that reached far beyond his celebrity to include selflessness, humility, courage, and deep compassion.
Someone Builds the Dream
by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Loren Long; Dial Books for Young Readers, 2021.
In this stunningly illustrated, expertly crafted tribute to workers who take dreams and build realities, young readers come to appreciate how “it takes much more than one” to get the job done, from bridges to books.
Lincoln Clears a Path: Abraham Lincoln’s Agricultural Legacy
by Peggy Thomas, illustrated by Stacy Innerst; Calkins Creek / Boyds Mills Kane, 2021.
In this biography young readers learn how, in addition to his greatest achievements advancing the hope for a better future for all Americans, Lincoln worked to ensure better farming, transportation, and education for all citizens of the United States.
The Mystery of the Barking Branches and the Sunken Ship
by Judy Bradbury, illustrated by Gabriella Vagnoli; City of Light Publishing, 2021.
In the first book in the Cayuga Island Kids chapter book series, readers meet five resourceful friends who live on a residential island. Though the story is fictional, The Mystery of the Barking Branches and the Sunken Ship is loosely based on one of the most intriguing unsolved mysteries of the Great Lakes: the sinking of the never-recovered sailing vessel, the Griffon, in the 1600s. Readers encounter history, science, mystery, research skills, social-emotional themes, humor, friendship, and a really cute dog.
Red, White, and Whole
by Rajani LaRocca; Quill Tree, 2021.
Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca, a novel-in-verse the author calls “the novel of my heart,” is a story sure to touch the hearts of readers. Set in the 1980s, it centers on thirteen year-old Reha, who is endeavoring to manage her two worlds: a warm and loving home, but one that is not fully assimilated to life in America; and school, where possibilities—exciting, inviting, and perplexing—beckon. The story of how Reha comes to realize, cope, and ultimately grow from a devastating personal loss is at once heart wrenching and hopeful.
I Will Dance
by Nancy Bo Flood, illustrated by Julianna Swaney; Atheneum, 2020.
In the uplifting I Will Dance, readers meet ten year-old Eva who hasn’t the strength to move, but holds fast to a wish and a will to dance. How that dream becomes reality through her determination supported by the caring actions of others, makes for a truly inspirational “teachable moment.”