The sun comes up on a dark world. One flower is waiting to absorb the sunlight, opening as the sun rises. A bee visits the flower, carrying the light of the sun from the flower to its hive. A bear eats the glowing honey from the hive and is in turn feasted on by mosquitos that are then eaten by a bird and the cycle of sharing solar energy goes on. Eventually wolves poop on the ground and the plants absorb the energy. A cow eats the grass, a human milks the cow and night falls as a cat enjoys the milk.
Poetic lines invite young readers to explore the way energy moves through a food cycle and how we are all interconnected with one another. The illustrations are particularly compelling with the glow of energy moving across the various creatures and the page.
A beautiful shining read. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
The Children’s Book Committee of Bank Street College of Education has announced their collection of the best children’s books published in 2024. The collection includes over 600 titles that represent literary quality and potential emotional impact of the books. The entire list is available for free download here.
This sequel to Beetle and the Hollowbones captures the same spirit as the first. In this new story, Beetle and Kat are looking forward to attending the Chimera Carnival together, an event that happens every ten years. The event draws dragons from across the world to the space. But when Kat and Beetle discover an injured dragon who is crying for their egg to be rescued, they are drawn into a dark mystery that hides behind the celebration. Meanwhile, Beetle’s magic starts to manifest physically in new ways and Kat has to deal with her parents and their expectations for her and her magic. As the threat grows, Kat and Beetle have to figure out who to trust and how to battle a force that could wipe out everyone they love.
Layne does such an amazing job of creating a graphic novel that is both an adventure through a magical realm and also an exploration of the two main characters and their love. This second book explores the world more fully, including Beetle’s goblin magic and a new underground realm. It also has the characters coming out to loved ones and developing their connection to be even closer. The art is filled with purples, oranges and greens, bringing the world, the carnival and the characters to life with color and action.
A dynamic and loving second book in a great graphic novel series. Appropriate for ages 12+.
The winners of the 2025 Locus Awards have been announced. They are the best in science fiction and fantasy and each category has ten finalists that were announced in May. Here is the winner and finalists for the Best Young Adult Novel:
Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat (9780593616673)
At first the book is a basic primer on mammals, reptiles and birds. But when it turns to the subject of fish, it all becomes much more personal! A wide variety of fish are shown, but also called rebels and outlaws! You can’t see what they are up to underwater, plus they break all natural laws. What is happening in their “schools” anyway? So many questions and so much concerning behavior. By the end of this book, you may be questioning your pet fish too.
Completely silly, full of misinformation mixed with facts, this book is a glorious giggle to add to any story time. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
The 2025 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Winners have been announced. The awards celebrate excellence in children’s and YA literature. Winners and honor books are selected in each category. You can learn more about the awards here. The winners and honor books are below.
George and Lenny are best friends and spend all of their time together. Then Lenny starts to think about what it might be like to be alone. George thinks it will be lonely and sad, but Lenny starts to think that it might be fun to be alone. Lenny finds a perfect place to be alone, since it only fits one. George offers to come along, but Lenny is sure he can be alone. Lenny does have fun alone. He plays music, reads a book, builds with blocks and much more. But soon he realizes that he misses George. Don’t worry, George too has found a perfect place to be alone, right near by.
Agee is a master of picture books and finding just the right pacing and tone. He uses humor that will have children giggling without laughing at the characters and their feelings and worries. George is a great foil for Lenny as the two navigate allowing some space in their friendship to be on their own, while still managing to be there for one another.
Funny and full of heart. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Penguin Random House.
The Carnegies are the longest running children’s book awards in the UK. The medals are judged by children’s librarians. The Shadow Awards allow children and youth throughout the UK to vote on their favorite books. Here are the winners:
CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR ILLUSTRATION
Clever Crow illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill, written by Chris Butterworth (available in US)
Waking Brain Cells 