books4yourkids

Passionate School Librarian, Former Longtime Bookseller, Kid's Book Blogger and Mom bringing you the best in Children's Books

[books4yourkids]

Excited to get lost in NUTCRACKED by @suze_writer with gorgeous cover art by @chocosweete! Georgie’s dreams come true when she is cast in the part of Clara in The Nutcracker, but things get complicated when the antique nutcracker prop from the ballet transports her to Drosselmeyer’s workshop. Challenges at home (a jealous, former BFF and an ailing grandfather) and in the magical, winter world of The Nutcracker make for an exciting read! #nutcracked @harperchildrens #nutcracker #nutcrackerballet #kidsbookstagram #kidsbookreview #books4yourkids #middlegradefiction #middlegradebooks #ballet #christmasstory #clara

[books4yourkids]

NATHAN HALE’S HAZARDOUS TALES by @mrnathanhale. If you have kids or work with them, you MUST share the s graphics novel series with them! Hale takes important moments from American history, framing them with the characters of Revolutionary spy Nathan Hale, the British provost and the hangman who executed him - but that never happens in this series. Hale regales the Brits with the amazing events that will occur in the history of this soon to be born country. This framework allows Hale to carefully, thoughtfully share our country’s history with young readers, shielding then at times from the more horrific acts committed by humans. As I said, American history and war are my least favorite non-fiction topics, but this series has engaged - and educated - me with each new book. My favorites? DONNER DINNER PARTY and the newest, book 7, RAID OF NO RETURN. @abramskids #nathanhaleshazardoustales #americanhistory #graphicnovel #graphicnovels #graphicnovelseries #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #onedeadspy #donnerdinnerparty #bigbadironclad #treatiestrenchesmudandblood #alamoallstars #undergroundabductor #civilwar #revolutionarywar #donnerparty #alamo #wwii #harriettubman #ironclad #books4yourkids

[books4yourkids]

RAID OF NO RETURN by Nathan Hale is the seventh book in his phenomenal series of graphic novels featuring important moments in American history, which happens to be one of my least favorite things to read about, along with war. However, Hale makes both of these things highly engaging and powerfully moving. RAID OF NO RETURN tells the World War II story of the Doolittle Raid, the men who flew it and the events that precipitated it. I have always wondered why the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and Hale answers that question right out of the gate. He goes on to tell the crazy story of the preparations for the raid on Japan (the goal of which was to do more psychological damage than physical to the country) and fate of the pilots who flew it. I read this book in one sitting - in public - trying to cry quietly. An amazing book, an amazing tribute. @abramskids @mrnathanhale #raidofnoreturn #doolittleraid #doolittleraiders #wwii #pearlharbor #graphicnovel #graphicnovelseries #kidsbookstagram #books4yourkids #series #americanhistory #b52bomber

[books4yourkids]

Sneak peek! Christmas books - from picture to chapter to craft - I’ll be reading and reviewing @ books4yourkids.com over the next few weeks. It’s a fantastic year for Christmas books for kids! #christmastime #christmasbooks #christmasbookstagram #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #picturebooks #picturebooksofinstagram #kidsbookreview #middlegradebooks @tavaresbooks @booksbyjarvis @katherinetegenbooks @candlewickpress @hmhkids @cynthiahand #theafterlifeofhollychase @bhelquist @harperchildrens

[books4yourkids]

Some years, the crop of Christmas books worth reviewing is slim to none. This year, I have a gorgeous stack of books that I can’t wait to read, starting with the cleverly titled, THE 12 DARES OF CHRISTA by Marissa Burt. Only child Christa loves Christmas and is planning to get all of her family’s traditions done before they head to Europe for the holidays. Then her parents break the news: they are divorcing and just she and her mom will be taking their trip. But, Christa’s dad finds a way to be with her, sending a special gift to every hotel she stays in as she travel through three countries, each with a dare for her to try! I feel like this book was meant for me - a middle grade version of Stephanie Perkins’s ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS. I can’t wait to share it with my students. Look for my full review @ books4yourkids.com! #marissaburt #12daresofchrista @katherinetegenbooks @harperchildrens #books4yourkids #christmasbookstagram #christmasreads #kidschristmasbooks #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #middlegradefiction

[books4yourkids]

I've had this advance copy of ALL'S FAIRE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL (pub date 9/5/17) by the amazing Victoria Jamieson, author of the Newbery Honor winning ROLLER GIRL, since June 28 and I've been saving it so I could savor it. Today seems like the perfect day to treat myself! Apologies for he clumsy interior shots. #allsfaireinmiddleschool #victoriajamieson #rennfaire #rennaisance #rennaisancefestival #newberyhonor @penguinkids #graphicnovel #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #booksandcoffee #books4yourkids #happybirthdaytome #middleschool

[books4yourkids]

Yes, just seeing these girls on the cover of a catalog is SO FREAKING EXCITING! Especially since I saw Jillian Tamaki & Brooke Adams talk about it in person!! Coming OCTOBER 10 - UNICORN POWER! The first in a new series of middle-grade novels based on the best-selling, super-awesome Lumberjanes graphics novels. Are you ready for Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady Types?? Can't wait to get this on the shelves of my library! Even Smudge is expressing a passive-aggressive interest. @abramskids @marikotamaki #lumberjanes #unicornpower #hardcoreladytypes #camp #comimgsoon #graphicnovel #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #books4yourkids #series #october10th #catsandbooks #catsofinstagram

[books4yourkids]

"By 2020, there will be 1.4 million open jobs in computing. These jobs are some of the country's highest-paying and fastest-growing career paths. BUT GIRLS ARE ON TRACK TO FILL JUST 4% OF THEM. Just 4%? If this were a pie chart, that wouldn't even qualify as a slice! To me, this is unacceptable. Girls are missing out on the jobs of the future, all because they are not learning to code." @reshmasaujani from GIRLS WHO CODE: LEARN TO CODE AND CHANGE THE WORLD due out this month from @penguinrandomhouse. Thank you for this nudge (PUSH) to learn to code so I can teach my students to code as well as the value and importance of learning to code. Learning to code is not part of our district sanctioned curriculum, but it's going to be part of my library! Thank you Reshma and thanks for founding @girlswhocode! And thanks for my new mantra for this school year: YOU CAN'T BE WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE! Look for reviews of both these books here & on my blog on 8/18! #girlswhocode #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #books4yourkids #code #coding #codinglife #teachcode #codeschool #friendshipcode #codingforkids #kidscode #cs @vikingbooks @staciadeutsch_writes #schoollibrary #fliptheswitch #onfire

[books4yourkids]

Published in 2011 with stunning cover art by @jilliantamaki, the paperback (and sequel) for AKATA WITCH by @nnediokorafor feature equally stunning cover art by @gregthings. Can't believe it took me this long to read this incredible book! 12 year old Sunny Nwazue was born in NY but has lived in Nigeria since she was 9. Her features are West African but she's an albino. She's a Leopard Person, meaning she has magical abilities, but her family are Lambs - non-magical people. She's a free agent, alone in a world of magic and must educate herself quickly. I love that Okorafor's magical world places value on learning and knowledge above all else, magical money raining from the sky when a spell is performed properly. Sunny builds friendships, learns magic and what her magical gifts are, ultimately discovering that her gift is the ability to move between worlds. Sunny and friends Orlu, Chichi & Sasha realize their talents & strengths, in spite of ignorance & egos, are strongest when used together. And together they have to stop Black Hat Otoko, a magical criminal planning to summon a powerful, evil force. The final battle is only slightly more intensely memorable than the grand gathering of Leopard People where Sunny witness a magical wrestling match & shows up a bunch of boys in a soccer match. @penguinrandomhouse #akatawitch #akatawarrior #nnediokorafor #kidsbookstagram #kidsbooks #kidsbookreview #bookstagram #books4yourkids #sunny #anyanwu

[books4yourkids]

SPIRIT HUNTERS by Ellen Oh, founder of @weneeddiversebooks, is a chilling, thrilling ghost story for middle grade readers. 12-year-old Harper knows that there is something wrong with the house her family has moved into. And with her little brother, who begins acting strange after making an "imaginary" friend. But, having been through a traumatic accident and memory loss, Harper has a hard time trusting her instincts. Making friends with Dayo helps her to find some balance until they uncover the strange history of Harper's house. As Harper begins to remember things, she yearns more and more for a chance to see her Korean Grandma Lee. Harper gets SO beat up in this book! She "falls" down the stairs, "trips" over a metal toy firetruck and gets pummeled by the ghost who takes over the body of Michael. And she keeps getting up, bolstered by the return of an old, beloved friend and empowered by looking inside herself for a gift she once thought was a curse. The climax of SPIRIT HUNTERS, what Harper learns about herself and her heritage, and who comes to her aid are thrilling (and touching) and set her up for more growth, learning and ghost fighting, which I can't wait to read about. @elloecho #summerstory #summerreading #spirithunters #mudang #middlegrade #ghost #ghoststory #harper #kidsbooks #kidsbookreview #kidsbookstagram #books4yourkids #bookstagram #middlegradebooks #dayo #shaman

[books4yourkids]

I have purchased 4 different "coding for kids" books over the last year, hoping to inspire my son, myself and my students to do more than @hourofcode. And I haven't cracked a single one... Now I'm going to give CODING FOR PARENTS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO CONFIDENTLY HELP WITH HOMEWORK by Frazer Wilson. It's a cute little book and not intimidating at all! My son is going into 7th grade and has yet to be taught to code at school. We don't teach it (yet...) at the K-5 school where I am the librarian. PLEASE comment if you have kids (and their ages) who are learning to code at school. And I'll let you know what (if) I learn from this book! @sterlingbooks #codingforkids #codingforparents #code #codeschool #learntocode #thefuture #books4yourkids #booksandcoffee #kidsbookstagram #parenting #homework

[books4yourkids]

I love a good ghost story and am SO excited to dig into SPIRIT HUNTERS, the new series by Ellen Oh, founder of @weneeddiversebooks! Harper Raine, who is half Korean, thinks her family's new house might be haunted, especially when her little brother makes a "new friend." All the reviews I've read so far use the words "chilling" and "creepy," which really don't happen too often in kid's books. I'm also super excited to learn more about Korean ghosts & Korean Shamanism! Spooky cover art by Matt Rockefeller. #spirithunters @harperchildrens @mcrockefeller #mudang #middlegrade #series #ghost #ghoststory #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #books4yourkids #weneeddiversebooks #korea #koreankids

[books4yourkids]

I'm a huge fan of cryptids, especially Bigfoot, so LEMONS by Melissa Savage was the perfect summer read for me. It's 1975 and Lemonade Liberty Witt is moving to Willow Creek, the Northern California town where footage of Bigfoot was shot in 1967. After the death of her mother, her last living relative is a grandfather she has never met. Charlie runs a Bigfoot souvenir store and lets his young neighbor Tobin run the Bigfoot Detective Agency (which has an answering machine!) out of his garage. As Lem and Tobin research Bigfoot sightings, Savage unfolds backstories of all the characters the reveal loss, anger, sadness and tenderness. Savage delivers meaningful closure AND an exciting climax that keeps the legend alive... @melissadsavage @penguinkids @crownpublishing #lemons #bigfoot #bigfootsighting #sasquatch #sasquatchfestival #willowcreek #1975 #lemonade #tobin #kidsbooks #kidsbookreview #kidsbookstagram #cryptid #middlegrade #middlegrade #books4yourkids #summer #summerreading #summerstory

[books4yourkids]

SO excited to get this review copy of SPINNING in the mail yesterday after hearing Tillie Walden speak at the COMIC CONFERENCE FOR EDUCATORS AND LIBRARIANS: PUBLISHER PANELS on Non-fiction and Memoir in Graphic Novels. Her previous works have received high praise and so has this memoir of her childhood spent ice skating. Look for my review - and to find it on the shelves - on September 12, 2017! @tilliewalden @01firstsecond #spinning #graphicmemoir #graphicnovel #graphicnovels #iceskater #iceskate #iceskating #lgbtq #memoir #memoirs #ya

[books4yourkids]

NEXT BEST JUNIOR CHEF is the new trilogy written by Charise Mericle Harper & illustrated by Aurélie Blard-Quintard. Episode 1: Lights, Camera, Cook! Kicks off the behind-the-scenes look at a kid’s cooking competition show, with the grand prize of a personalized food truck! As a compulsive viewer of these shows, I almost felt like Harper wrote this book just for me. She has created a world in which a kid's cooking competition is suspenseful and exciting, but also inclusive, educational, supportive and joyful. I especially love in this book is the way that the character contestants in LIGHTS! CAMERA! COOK! educate the readers! Breaks in the text feature first person narrative from the characters talking about how they learned certain skills (YouTube tutorials!) as & cooking terms & recipe ideas. Harper also includes instructional backmatter showing "Essential Knife Techniques for the Young Chef." Two boys and two girls make up the cheftestants, representing a good mix of ages & talents. There is the wise-child contestant who also knows how to play the game along with an enthusiastic 9 year-old & the daughter of a chef who owns a French bistro, who says she speaks, "French, English & food." Then there is Rae who lives in a trailer park & learned to cook after watching cooking shows with her grandmother and being inspired by her multi-cultural neighbors. There are so many other little details that delighted me as I read this book (the Gadget Wall! Camera Cards! The Jell-o dunk tank!) I could go on and on. Please read my full review on my blog, books4yourkids.com. And, while one contestant is eliminated at the end of each book, Harper also captures the kindness of children. If you don't watch reality cooking competitions, it is markedly noticeable how much kinder, empathetic & supportive the child chefs are as as opposed to the adults. Harper imbues this warm, caring spirit into her book, making it feel all the more authentic and worth recommending! @chariseharper @hmhkids @aurelieblardquintard #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #cookingcompetition #kidscooking #lightscameracook #series #middlegrade #books4yourkids #bookstagram #booksforcooks #summerreading

[books4yourkids]

Textiles from the Folley Cove Designers, a collective founded by Virginia Lee Burton. The top two and bottom left are designs by Jinnee. The middle right is a design from 1943 by Aino Clarke called ATOMIC AGE. #virginialeeburton #folleycove #folleycovedesigners #atomicage #textiles #textiledesign #collectives #art #illustration #design #museum #capeanne #capeannemuseum #books4yourkids #designstagram #artstagram

[books4yourkids]

Virginia Lee Burton's picture books! @hmhkids #thelittlehouse #littlehouse #choochoo #mikemulligan #maryanne #maybelle #maybellethecablecar #lifestory #katy #katythesnowplow #snowplow #calicothewonderhorse #calico #thesagaofstewystinker #picturebooks #classicbooks #classic #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #picturebookillustration #books4yourkids