The Spy in the Museum: How Rose Valland Saved Art from the Nazis by Erin McGuire – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

The Spy in the Museum: How Rose Valland Saved Art from the Nazis by Erin McGuire

Publisher: Beach Lane Books

Publication Date: September 16, 2025

Reviewed from copy provided by publisher

ISBN: 9781534466173

Rose Valland lived in Paris and was the curator at the Jeu de Paume Museum. She loved all kinds of art, but Hitler and the Nazis did not approve of modern art and destroyed it in their war across Europe. When they reached France, they used the Jeu de Paume Museum as a staging area. All the staff of the museum left except for Rose. She stayed, quiet and shy, often unnoticed by the soldiers. But Rose could understand the German they spoke and soon started taking notes about their plans to move precious art via train. Rose became a spy, sharing her knowledge with the French Resistance and allowing many pieces to be saved. When the war ended, many art pieces were missing, and Rose still had her many notes about where that art had been sent, saving even more.

Told in a way that children will understand the preciousness of the art, the violent hate of the Nazis, and the importance of standing up for what is right, even in a quiet way. This book celebrates the reserved heroes who made a huge difference simply by noticing what was happening and being brave enough to share information. The art in the book celebrates art but also celebrates Rose Vallard, quiet and drab, courageous and integral. 

A timely nonfiction picture book of resistance and the importance of art. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Wake Your Friday Brain Cells – November 7 Edition

| Tasha

CHILDREN’S LIT

9 Contemporary, Indigenous Graphic Novels for Kids and Teens – SLJ

9 Sensational Indigenous YA Books to Make You Think – Book Riot

10 Great New Children’s Books Out in November That Explore the Skies – Lit Hub

Is a giant picture book about a bus the new Harry Potter… in Denmark? – Diggit Magazine

It will take more than the new Children’s Booker Prize to arrest the dramatic decline in reading enjoyment – The Conversation

Strega Nona turns 50 — and her art lives in Minneapolis – MPR

LIBRARIES

AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge – 404 Media

Historic libraries bring modern comfort to book lovers and history buffs in New England – SC Now

How one South Florida teen continues her fight against banned books and censorship – WLRN

I joined the oldest and most overlooked library in my town – and it feels like being part of a secret club – The Guardian

YA LIT

10 LGBTQ+ YA Fantasy Novels to Inspire Teens to Live Their Truth – People

E. Lockhart Returns to the Land of ‘We Were Liars’ in a New Book – New York Times

A Guide to the Biggest Young Adult Book Releases Wrapping Up 2025 — And How to Read Each Series – US Weekly

Q&A: Chloe Gong, Author of ‘Coldwire’ – The Nerd Daily

Talking teen literacy with University of Minnesota – UMN

2025 An Post Irish Book Awards Shortlist

| Tasha

The shortlist for the 2025 An Post Irish Book Awards has been announced. The awards celebrate the best of Irish writing across a variety of genres and categories. Below are the shortlisted titles for the juvenile categories:

CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR – JUNIOR

An Fia sa Choill by Sadhbh Devlin, Anastasia Melynkova (not available in US)

Badger Books by Paddy Donnelly

Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat

Ellora McGee Trainee Banshee by Sinéad O’Hart

Letters to a Monster by Patricia Forde, illustrated by Sarah Warburton

Once I Was a Tree by Eoin McLaughlin, illustrated by Guilherme Karsten (coming to US in March 2026)

Penguin TV by Niamh Sharkey, illustrated by Owen Churcher

Run Home, Little Fox by Tom McCaughren & Erika McGann, Illustrated by Shannon Bergin (not available in US)

CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR – SENIOR

Animalopedia by John and Kathi Burke

Conn of the Dead by Dave Rudden and Ali Al Amine (not available in US)

The Doomsday Club by Kevin Moran

Granny National by Rachael Blackmore with Rachel Pierce

Milly McCarthy and the Haunted House HullaBOOloo by Leona Forde, illustrated by Karen Harte

Nina Peanut: Epic World Tour Era by Sarah Bowie

TEEN/YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE YEAR

Any Way You Slice It by Méabh McDonnell

Matched Up by Jenny Ireland

My Name Is Jodie Jones by Emma Shevah

The Rebel and the Rose by Catherine Doyle (releasing in US on December 2)

Solo by Gráinne O’Brien

Shipshock by Caroline O’Donoghue

Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication: July 1, 2025

Reviewed from copy provided by publisher

ISBN: 9781665938129

In 1980, Vision was a teen pop star, singing in front of large crowds. Today, Margot is trying to catch the attention of people online with her music, but her ukulele isn’t cutting it. Margot finds a synthesizer on the side of the road with a sign saying that it’s not haunted. She hauls it home, hoping for her father to teach her to play. But her father deserts Margot and heads to California to become a star once he gets enough online fans. Left behind, Margot starts to learn to play keyboard and that’s when Vision, whose spirit is trapped in the synthesizer, appears. The two girls start to play music together, but is something darker involved with the keyboard and what is the price of chasing external fame?

A marvelous graphic novel for middle-grade readers, this book successfully combines modern online attention culture with throwbacks to the 1980s. The haunted, or not, synthesizer forms a bridge both in music and connection between the two girls, one a ghost and one alive. The message of finding your own happiness rather than seeking external validation is offered in a variety of ways through the story, via Margot’s father, her friends and Vision herself. The art is bright and popping and veers dynamically into horror lighting at times. 

A great graphic novel with a message for our times. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

Night Chef by Mika Song – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

Night Chef by Mika Song

Publisher: Random House Graphic

Publication Date: October 28, 2025

Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley

ISBN: 9780593303153

A raccoon has grown up living in the wall of a human restaurant where she emerges at night and cooks. She must make do with ingredients she finds on the window sill and in people’s lockers. When she tries to make ramen, she needs an egg. But just as she finally gets it in her hands, it hatches. She sets off to find the nest that the tiny baby crow came from. On the journey, they find Mole’s Hole, a restaurant for all sorts of animals that serves a variety of things made from worms. They make new friends, including a posse of other raccoons and a major enemy in an owl. Night Chef must find a way to save her little crow friend and that means figuring out where her own life is taking her. 

This is Song’s first foray out of beginning readers and picture books and it’s a marvelous one. Her art is welcoming to young readers who will find colorful and friendly new characters on the pages. There is plenty of richly written action to carry the story forward and a quest worthy of our little heroine. The writing is deft and clever, funny at times but also full of heart. 

A delicious new recipe for an elementary-aged graphic novel. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

2 Worthy New Wintry Picture Books

| Tasha

The Old Sleigh by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey 

Publisher: Norton Young Readers

Publication Date: November 4, 2025

Reviewed from Netgalley e-galley

ISBN: 9781324054122

Caldecott Honorees return with the third in a series that started with The Old Truck and The Old Boat. This time the story is set in the winter with a holiday nod. A child and father load their sleigh with firewood and distribute it throughout the nearby homes. The sleigh gave warmth and light to those who used the wood. The town started to grow and grow and the sleigh struggled to carry the wood and gradually fell apart. While the father repaired the sleigh, the child used their skills to create something new, helpful and fun with the broken wood. It all still brings neighbors warmth and light. 

This cozy picture book emphasizes the connectivity between neighbors. It has a strong sense of nostalgia as the sleigh is horsedrawn. There is a lovely simplicity and quietness to the book that is ideal for a busy holiday season. The illustrations are strong, playing with color against white backgrounds. 

A lovely addition to the series, just right read near the fire. Appropriate for ages 2-5.

The Snowball Fight by Beth Ferry & Tom Lichtenheld

Publisher: Clarion Books

Publication Date: November 4, 2025

Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley

ISBN: 9780063327078

After a big snow, two neighbors head out for an epic snowball fight. They build their forts and try to hit one another but it’s harder than it looks. Soon they have cold noses, frozen hands and sore arms. A lucky dodge of falling snow offers them a new option: sledding! The two come into the warmth for cookies and cocoa but soon are reminded that they forgot one great snow day tradition. Told in the approachable and funny style that we have come to expect from this duo, this picture book is a blizzard of snowy fun just right for your own snowy storytime. 

Appropriate for ages 3-6.

25 New November Books for Kids and Teens

| Tasha

PICTURE BOOKS

Bunny Ballet by Nora Ericson, illustrated by Elly MacKay

A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond, illustrated by Kate Cosgrove

Forests by Nell Cross Beckerman, illustrated by Kalen Chock

A Knot Is Not a Tangle by Daniel Nayeri, illustrated by Vesper Stamper

Look Up by Azul López, translated by Shook

Making Art by Diana Ejaita

Mama Car by Lucy Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George

Night of the Hedgehog by Tanya Rosie, illustrated by Chuck Groenink

Old Sleigh by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey

Salmon Run by Annie Chen

Snowball Fight by Beth Ferry

CHILDREN’S

Chris Makes a Friend by Alex Gino

Last Ember by Lily Dodd

Treasure of Ocean Parkway by Sarvenaz Tash

Welcome to the Best Bakery by Yue Zhang

Xolo by Donna Higuera

YA LIT

Break Wide the Sea by Sara Holland

Coldwire by Chloe Gong

Fate So Cold by Amanda Foody

Gilded in Vengeance by Lyssa Mia Smith

House Saphir by Marissa Meyer

Reasons We Break by Jesmeen Kaur Deo

Secret Astronomers by Jessica Walker

Time Traveler’s History of Tomorrow by Kendall Kulper

We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart

Wake Your Friday Brain Cells – October 31 Edition

| Tasha

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

7 Nature-Themed Graphic Novels to Inspire Kids to Explore the Great Outdoors – SLJ

77 Picture Book Series That Encourage Readers to Embrace the Journey – SLJ

Children learn to read with books that are just right for them – but that might not be the best approach – The Conversation

The Children’s Booker prize will tell kids that they matter – The Guardian

How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Macabre – New York Times

Phil Johnston discusses his animated adaptation of the classic children’s book ‘The Twits’ – NPR

There is a silver bullet for childhood happiness: a love of reading – The Times

LIBRARIES

More than 100 people show support for Hales Corners library director targeted by out-of-state group over teen content – CBS 58

Passing notes: Public libraries communicating with schools – ASLC Blog

Jazzy the Witch in Broom Doom by Jessixa Bagley – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

Jazzy the Witch in Broom Doom by Jessixa Bagley (9781665922326)

Jazzy comes from a long line of witches who make the brooms that all of them ride. But Jazzy is different. She’s not excited about learning magic spells or about learning to ride a broom. It’s not until Jazzy sees her first bicycle that she finds her passion. Soon she is zipping around secretly on a bicycle that she made with the help of her best friend and Fiona, her pet bat. As Jazzy gets more and more focused on cycling, her friendship starts to fall apart along with her school work. When a broom riding performance is announced, Jazzy must find a way not to embarrass her entire family since she can’t ride a broom yet.

Bagley has created a marvelous witchy world in this graphic novel for elementary-aged readers. The diverse characters, include Jazzy’s family of Black queer women. With the focus on witch traditions vs. human bicycles, readers get to explore what being different from your family and community feels like and how telling the truth is a way to move forward and find acceptance. The art is funny, action-filled and fully depicts the community of witches.

A non-scary witch book that’s worth a ride. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Reviewed from library copy.