Big Boy Joy by Connie Schofield-Morrison – Book Review

| Tasha

Big Boy Joy by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice (9781547611515)

A little boy visits a park and has a great time playing. Told with plenty of action words, he climbs and slides on the equipment. Then crashes into another child. Soon the two are sharing toys and playing with dinosaurs together. There’s another crash when the boy heads to the sandbox and a tire falls off a toy truck. But no worries, he can fix it himself. A snack is next, then some playing on the swings, some water play. It’s time to go home. A look at what a small child can expect when heading to a park told in a merry noisy and action-filled way that is sure to please. The Black characters and creators lean into the joy of a day of play. 

Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Wake Your Friday Brain Cells – June 6 Edition

| Tasha

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Celebrating 20 Years of AND TANGO MAKES THREE – Book Riot

Children’s books are getting shorter — here is the proof – The Times

Ten New Children’s Books That Promise Page-Turning Adventures – Lit Hub

What’s New in Early Readers & Chapter Books, June 2025 – Imagination Soup

LIBRARIES

Libraries are becoming ‘community living rooms’ keeping regional Australians connected – ABC (Australia) News

Rural library funding threats – NPR

Schools, libraries urge House not to repeal E-Rate’s Wi-Fi hotspot rule – StateScoop

Three Libraries With Unique Non-Book Collections – Book Riot

The U.S.-Canada Border Runs Through This Library. That’s Now a Problem. – New York Times

YA LIT

Paramount Pictures to Adapt Rebecca Ross’ Divine Rivals – Reactor

When You Go to Dragon School by Chelsea Campbell – Book Review

| Tasha

When You Go to Dragon School by Chelsea Campbell, illustrated by Charlene Chua (9781250293015)

Human school is packed too full, so some kids are going to have to attend Dragon School. But dragon school is pretty different. You learn to breathe fire, take naps on piles of gold, learn how to polish your scales and sharpen your claws. Best of all you will learn how to fly! Except humans can’t fly. Perhaps the kids shouldn’t go to dragon school then. It may be way too dangerous. With a little clever thinking though, the humans and dragons just might make the best of classmates.

With a sense of humor throughout, this book takes a wry look at starting a new school, being different from your classmates, and how compromises make everything better for everyone. The illustrations are bold and colorful, bringing to life a world filled with dragons and children.

A great start-of-school read aloud. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Feiwel & Friends.

Where the Deer Slip Through by Katey Howes – Book Review

| Tasha

Where the Deer Slip Through by Katey Howes, illustrated by Beth Krommes (9781665918275)

In a yard with a hedge and a stone wall, there is a gap where the deer slip through to bring their young and munch the grass. There is a hollow where the rabbits squeeze to reach the dandelion patch. The wall has a crack where the lizards come through to bask on the stones. There are branches that the doves fly through and a hole in a tree where the bats swoop. And finally, the curtain in the house that is drawn to let someone sleep as the animals curl up too.

Told in rhymes, this picture book has a classic and timeless feel thanks to its structure as a nearly cumulative tale. The illustrations too, have a classic feel that is made modern with its use of scratchboard and watercolor.

A lovely bedtime book that shows what nature can do in a small backyard. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Beach Lane Books.

The Friendship Train by Debbie Levy – Book Review

| Tasha

The Friendship Train: A True Story of Helping and Healing after World War II by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Boris Kulikov (9781547608027)

Children is Europe following World War II were going hungry after war decimated their countries. In the US, one man asked how he could help and soon Drew Pearson was thinking big. He dreamed of a Friendship Train that could cross the nation gathering donations from people across the country to send to Europe. Pearson made the suggestion in a national paper and soon he got lots of letters in return. Children wanted to help. Soon the plan grew bigger and bigger, as everyone worked together to make a difference for people they had never met.

An important story of children’s impact as they worked together to help others and the man who created an idea that grew and grew to meet what children accomplished. Just the empowering nonfiction we need about thinking of others, seeing everyone as human and working to make change. 

Appropriate for ages 5-10.

Reviewed from copy provided by Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

A Jamboree of 16 June Books

| Tasha

Here are some of the June releases that I’m looking forward to:

PICTURE BOOKS

Firefly Song: Lynn Frierson Faust and the Great Smoky Mountain Discovery by Colleen Paeff, illustrated by Ji-Hyuk Kim

The Friendship Train: A True Story of Helping and Healing after World War II by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Boris Kulikov

In the World of Whales by Michelle Cusolito, illustrated by Jessica Lanan

Island Storm by Brian Floca, illustrated by Sydney Smith

When You Go to Dragon School by Chelsea Campbell, illustrated by Charlene Chua

Where Deer Slip Through by Katey Howes, illustrated by Beth Krommes

CHILDREN’S LIT

The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez by Jasminne Paulino

Incorruptibles by Lauren Magaziner

Junius Leak and the Spiraling Vortex of Doom by Allan Wolf

Silverborn by Jessica Townsend

Smoke & Mirrors by Rosalyn Ransaw

YA LIT

Among Ghosts by Rachel Harman

Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel

Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray

Kill Creatures by Rory Power

We Can Never Leave by HE Edgmon

Wake Your Friday Brain Cells – May 30 Edition

| Tasha

CHILDREN’S LIT

11 must-read books celebrating AANHPI stories – Seattle’s Child

Elisha Cooper on the Beauty of Imperfect – New York Times

LIBRARIES

In a Stunning Reversal, The Fifth Circuit Deals a Massive Blow to the Freedom to Read – Words & Money

Rural library funding threats – NPR

This is Government Censorship in its Plainest Form, States EveryLibrary – SLJ

YA LIT

13 Captivating Titles to Sweep Teens Away in the Summer Months – We Are Kid Lit Collective

Here Have Some New YA Romance Coming This Summer, by Riley Jensen – SLJ

Kenneth Oppel returns with an edge-of-your-seat survival thriller – Quill & Quire

I Am the Swarm by Hayley Chewins – Book Review

| Tasha

I Am the Swarm by Hayley Chewins (9780593623862)

Nell knows that her magic is going to appear soon since woman in her family gets their magic at age fifteen. Each woman’s is unique to them. Her mother changes ages constantly, her grandmother can feel every room in the house she is in, her aunt’s hair whispers secrets to her. Perhaps the worst of them is Nell’s sister, Mora, who bleeds music and who uses razor blades to release it from her body. Mora is now in the hospital to get help, and Nell fears what her own magic will do to her. When her magic arrives as insects that reveal the emotions that Nell is unable to feel, Nell doesn’t know what to do. The blue stick insects are her sadness, the ladybugs are her creativity, but worst are the wasps that are her rage. Can Nell manage to lock away her emotions deep inside to keep the wasps from coming again? Or can she find a way to feel these dangers emotions somehow?

This verse novel is simply incredible. Chewins writes a book of raw and edgy verse that demands that we see beyond the magic to the truth of each person’s experience. The verse lays bare Nell’s experience, including the abuse that she refuses to acknowledge and the trauma of her family because and despite the magic they have. The use of insects adds a creepy beauty to the book, enough to make your skin itch but also be in awe of the spectacle.

Furious, beautiful and dangerous, this verse novel insists on being heard. Appropriate for ages 13-16.

Reviewed from library copy.

The Glass Pyramid by Jeanne Walker-Harvey – Book Review

| Tasha

The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei by Jeanne Walker-Harvey, illustrated by Khoa Le (9781665953337)

I. M. Pei, a renowned architect had successfully redesigned part of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. But when the President of France asked him to work on the Louvre, Pei decided to keep the project secret. The Louvre had many issues as a museum with people unable to find the entrance and the long walk to reach the art once they did enter. So Pei set out to create a new way to enter the building. It was unclear what would work, but eventually he designed a glass pyramid. The French people though didn’t love the idea and argued that they should have hired a French architect. Pei stayed the course, doing interviews and calmly explaining his design. Could he win over the French people? 

A look at the design process of a gifted architect allows young readers to see the resilience and persistence that design takes. Even when the design was finalized, there were issues with the construction that arose and then the arguments about the design itself. This nonfiction picture book explores process and results, engaging the reader in Pei’s childhood visits to China and what he learned there. The digital illustrations are a filled with crisp edges and renderings that capture Pei’s calm pride in his work. The book provides more information on the building at the end as well as sources and online resources. 

A strong nonfiction picture book about one of the top architects in the world and one of his most famous projects. Appropriate for ages 6-10.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Atheneum Books for Young Readers.