I Am Enough

This book is a book that everyone needs in their life at times. A wonderful collection of life affirmations. Some great discussions could come from this book on positive self talk, acceptance of self and others, inclusion and diversity. An adoring read for everyone at any age!  Excited to add this book to our library collection!

Some great reads!

I just finished these two great reads. Prairie Lotus is Linda Sue Park's newest novel that depicts a girl who is half Asian living with her father in 1880 Dakota. Hanna is determined to fit in by getting an education in an all white school in town, becoming a dressmaker in her father's shop, and making at least one friend. In A Good Kind of Trouble , Shayla navigates middle school and learns how to stand up for herself and what is right even when others try to bring her down. These are two great reads for 4th and 5th graders!

Important reads for classrooms and libraries!

Both books above are important for classroom and school libraries. Each author does an amazing job showing readers the bullying and prejudices that African Americans face. Everyday! Things that you really don't think about- stares, seemingly innocent comments, glares, and body language all factor in. Our school library will have both of these books in the fall. These books are on the shorter side which I liked as well. What Lane is only 144 pages!

The Aaron Reynolds Stay at Home Show on Youtube!

The Aaron Reynold’s Stay at Home Show on Youtube

Watch author Aaron Reynolds on his Youtube channel.
New episodes arrive several times a week.
There are read alouds, prizes, and all kinds of fun!
He is scheduled to be at Librarypalooza next year, 2021! 
You can search The Aaron Reynold’s Stay at Home show on Youtube.
Here is the link to his Youtube page:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJXbii5VBWmxETyaVs2Bqaw

Get A Grip Vivy Cohen! by Sarah Kapit

Vivy Cohen is an autistic middle schooler who lives for baseball! As she tries out for pitcher for an all boys baseball team, she starts writing her baseball hero. After several letters, he writes her back, and the story is told in letters between her and her baseball hero. Readers will get an idea of what it is like to be autistic and being a team player, having overprotective parents, how Vivy handles being bullied by the team's star, and advice that VJ (her hero) gives her ( which Vivy doesn't always listen to). A different spin on a baseball story with an autistic female as the main character and how her Jewish heritage plays a little bit in the plot!

So excited that was I was able to read Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

Echo Mountain is Lauren Wolk's third masterpiece. Her first two books, Wolf Hollow  and Beyond the Bright Sea, are some of my favorites in the library. Wolf Hollow, her debut novel, won the Newbery Honor in 2017. She wrote those first two books pretty close together so I have had to wait 3 years for Echo Mountain.  It's been a long wait. Ellie lives with her family on the mountain during the Great Depression. Her parents lose good jobs in town so they have to move to the mountain to live, building their own log cabin. Life is hard, but they scrap by until her dad is injured and goes into a coma. Ellie, her sister and brother, help the family makes ends meet. Ellie will do anything for her dad to help him heal... maybe even seeing the mountain witch who everyone stays away from to see if she can help...I loved this story almost as much as Wolk's first two books .This would be a great read aloud/book club study around the Great Depression.

Give Me Back My Bones

This clever picture book on the new Texas 2x2 list will want people of all ages learning about their different bones! One night,  a skull sitting on the bottom of the ocean floor decides he wants all of his bones back! As he scours the ocean, he finds his bones here and there. The author uses sing song rhyme blended with poetry in describing each of the bones and then telling what they are on each page. The last page is a poster with the skeleton all together and all of his bones labeled! A really engaging learning adventure for all. 

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

I have been a big fan of Rebecca Stead since I read her Newbery winning book When You Reach Me. When You Reach Me is one of the most amazingly, crafted books I have ever read. If you haven't read it, you must!! Stead does not disappoint in her latest novel that was released last week. I read this on Netgalley. Only child Bea is navigating her parents divorce just fine. Her parents split amicably, which means they are still friends and everything is great. Even when her dad decides to marry, Jesse, another man. The book's main plot is the wedding planning and Bea meeting Jesse's daughter , Sonia, for the first time.  This book is so well written, but it might not be for everyone. I really liked how her parents were friends after divorcing, even though the reason why they divorced had to be painful. Jesse's brother, who was in in favor of the marriage, attends the wedding, and not without incident. This book is for 5th grades and up. 

Fergal and the Bad Temper

This new Texas 2x2 book has Fergal the dragon getting upset about everything! He cant handle being told what to do, losing video games, and being asked to be the goalkeeper on the soccer team. He resorts to using his fiery breath to show is displeasure. Until his friends really don't want to hang out with him anymore. His mom shows him how she calms down by counting to 10. His friends then show him how they calm down as well! Some great ideas in this book on ways to help keep our feelings in check!!

My next reads....

These are my next reads! I have heard good things about them so I will write about them when I am done! I would write about more picture books but so many are on the waitlist through Frisco ISD and the Frisco Public Library. These are available as ebooks at the Frisco Public Library and Frisco residents can get a digital library card !  I will return these right away after reading!

Mananaland by Pam Munoz Ryan

Very powerful storyline  about 11 year old Max who wants to learn more about his family secrets, do the right thing, and helping others. Max is grappling with his father's decision of  not letting  him join his friends for the summer soccer team clinics, his father and grandfather not answering his questions about why his mother left. Max then sets on an unforgetable adventure learning more about himself and his family in the process. Loved this book!! It is available through the Frisco Public Library as an ebook and can be downloaded through the Libby app or the Overdrive app.