I have been following a great handle on Twitter called @diversebooks. This handle has great information about new and upcoming diverse books. Amina's Voice  has been all over Twitter since I saw the author at The North Texas Teen Book Festival. Amina is a Pakistani American Muslim struggling to live with her family's cultural beliefs and trying to fit in at a new middle school. She witnesses many changes as her uncle arrives from Pakistan for a long visit,  her best friend going through some major changes, and her mosque being the target of a terrible hate crime. I think many Christie readers will be able to identify with Amina as she steers through some tricky times in her life. I really enjoyed reading this book and am excited about book talking it with our readers!

I have been wanting to read Matylda Bright and Tender since I have been seeing it everywhere on Twitter. Sussy and Guy are 4th grade best friends and have been best friends for years. One day Sussy and Guy decide on a pet to raise together.  They bike to their local pet store and pick a spotted lizard, Matylda. Lots of fun are in store raising her until there is a terrible accident. Sussy must then navigate through life without her best friend. Some of her decisions take her down a wrong path until at the end she decides she needs to be brave for Guy. Christie readers who love books about grief, bravery and resolve will really learn some life lessons in this story.

Balderdash! John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children's Books had some interesting information about John Newbery that I didn't even know about. John Newbery lived in the early 1700's in England, grew up on a farm, and then decided to work for a printing press. He loved all the ink and the machines and decided to become a publisher. John loved children and figured out they didn't have anything fun to read so he opened a store and sold children's books and toys and it was a hit!! He wrote many books for children that were small enough to fit in your pocket. He felt that reading should be enjoyable to children. He then published magazines for children since adults liked magazines so much..why shouldn't children like magazines? This biography in picture book form will interest readers of all ages. At the back of the book is some interesting facts about John Newbery, how he is considered the father of children's literature, and how the Newbery medal came to be.  I would love to start a Mock Newbery book club with older students showcasing books that might be nominated. This would be a great segway into a book club like that!

A wonderful first day of school read aloud and on this year's Texas 2x2 list is School's First Day of School. When we think about the first few days of school, we always think of the students being worried. We never think about the school being worried. In this story, a school is built and treated with loving kindness by the janitor. When it is time for the first day of school, the school is worried about the children, the noise, and all the messes. While the school is worried, there is a new little girl who is worried, too. As she gets used to the school, the school gets used to all the new busyness that surrounds it. Reminded me of the many first day read alouds we do with students.. I loved the school's point of view ...because we never really think of a school feels!

I have been wanting to read She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World for several weeks now. I have been hearing great things about this book, and when my librarian friend over at Bright Elementary showed me she had just purchased it, I had to go get one , too! So glad I did. In this book, Chelsea Clinton spotlights 13 American women who overcame adversity to be the leader in their field. These women are all ages and accomplished different feats that helped changed America as we know it today. This biographical book written in a picture book style will captivate readers of all ages.  The information is short and to the point with wonderful illustrations and a quote from each woman. I love how "she persisted"  was written into each paragraph describing what that amazing woman accomplished. I am trying to beef up our high interest nonfiction section, and I think Christie readers will love the short stories, the illustrations, and the message!

The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price was definitely a different  book than I thought it would be. Charlie, his sister, and dad are all trying to come to terms with his mother's recent death. Charlie and his sister stay involved in all of their school's activities while his dad is not around much because he is so busy at work.  Also, his best friend, Frank, went missing months ago and no one knows what happened to him. This makes Charlie and his sister miss his mom even more until his sister finds a secret passageway under her bed that leads them to a parallel world where their mother is alive. Or is she? And what happened to Frank? When I first start reading a book, I do not always look at the summary because I want to be surprised, and I was! I had no idea what direction the book would take, and I loved it! I think Christie  readers will like this book as much as I did.  This book is from another debut author from last year, Jennifer Maschari.

In Gertie's Leap to Greatness, 5th grade Gertie tries to be the best 5th grader yet. She has two loyal best friends and meets up with a new seat stealing girl on the first day of school. Gertie and the new girl, Mary Jane, do not hit it off, and Gertie tries really hard and studies all the time to be the best. But, of course , some obstacles stand in her way. She tries hard in trying out for the school play, and wants to invite her non existent mother who lives across town. Gertie definitely reminded me of Ramona Quimby. Gertie has a very loving father , who is out of town a lot on an off shore drilling rig, and a great aunt who takes great care of her..however, Gertie does try to come to terms with living in the same town as her mother who wants nothing to do with her. I think Christie readers will love this book with its several laugh out loud moments,  and readers will try to figure out how this whole story will wrap up.