We hope you enjoy this month's selection of children and young adult books.
Children's Picture Book
We move together by Kelly Fritsch
A bold and colorful exploration of all the ways that people navigate through the spaces around them. Each spread contains one or more disabled person, and the narrative describes how they and their friends help make the world a more accessible place for all sorts of people. Decidedly non-didactic, the story isn't so much about disability as it includes disabled people in a story about the wide range of ways people move. A perfect tool for families, schools, and libraries to facilitate conversations about disability, social justice, and community building. Includes an age-appropriate glossary.
A boy like you by Frank Murphy
"I love this one, a great way to let them know its ok to be you! You can be brave and strong in many different ways."
Encourages every boy to embrace all of the things that make him unique, and to be curious, brave, kind, thoughtful, and more.
"I have always admired this Authors work, “What to do with a problem?”. Beautiful illustrations and fulfilling story for all ages."
Children's Young Fiction
I hate reading : how to read when you'd rather not by Beth Bacon
"Awesome book for anyone who doesn’t enjoy reading, but can read this in no time."
If someone's nagging you to open a book, grab this one! Inside you'll find perfect tips on how to fool people into thinking you're reading. You may even find yourself turning the pages after all.
Children's Fiction
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
"Where a thirteen-year-old girl (born with no arms) has to adjust to a new middle school and a life, living at a dying Western themed Park. Where she makes new friendships and discovers a whole lot of different challenges."
The audio edition of the bestselling middle grade novel about a spunky girl born without arms and a boy with Tourette syndrome navigating the challenges of middle school, disability, and friendship-all while solving a mystery in a western theme park. Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is that she was born without them. And when her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown western theme park in Arizona, Aven moves with them across the country knowing that she'll have to answer the question over and over again. Her new life takes an unexpected turn when she bonds with Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability, and they discover a room at Stagecoach Pass that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined. It's hard to solve a mystery, help a friend, and face your worst fears. But Aven's about to discover she can do it all . . . even without arms.
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's library by Chris Grabenstein
"Love this one, adventure, and puzzle solving."
Twelve-year-old Kyle gets to stay overnight in the new town library, designed by his hero (the famous gamemaker Luigi Lemoncello), with other students but finds that come morning he must work with friends to solve puzzles in order to escape.
Children of the rush by James Russell
It's 1861, and gold fever is sweeping the world. Otherwise sensible adults have gone mad and will do anything to get their hands on the precious metal. But two children have been caught up in the rush. Michael and Atarangi couldn't be more different, but they share one thing: each has a remarkable and magical talent. Circumstances conspire to bring the children together in the remote and inhospitable goldfields, and they're thrust into a world where lawlessness, greed, and cruelty reign. When the children find out that a cut-throat gang stalks the goldfields, preying upon the innocent, they have a choice to make: turn a blind eye, or fight back?
The Highland Falcon thief by M. G. Leonard
Harrison Beck is reluctantly joining his travel-writer Uncle Nat for the last journey of the royal train, The Highland Falcon. But as the train makes its way to Scotland, a priceless brooch goes missing, and things suddenly get a lot more interesting. As suspicions and accusations run high among the passengers, Harrison begins to investigate and uncovers a few surprises along the way. Can he solve the mystery of the jewel thief and catch the culprit before they reach the end of the line?
Children's Non Fiction
New Zealand disasters : our response, resilience and recovery by Maria Gill
"A great look and full of information about disasters in New Zealand from the Earthquakes in Christchurch and Kaikoura to the Covid 19 Pandemic."
Inspiring stories of courage, resilience and determination in the face of disaster New Zealanders have endured phenomenal natural and human disasters throughout the ages. This inspiring book documents some of these key moments in our history and, more importantly, how we responded and grew stronger; what changes/improvements were made as a result. Cyclones, tornadoes, earthquakes, landslides, floods, volcanic eruptions, fires, aeroplane crashes, pandemics and other disasters are just some of the many themes covered in this comprehensive, vibrantly illustrated account. Includes: Outcomes, Safety Tips, and What to Do in an Emergency.
Graphic Novels
White bird : a wonder story by R. J. Palacio
Tells the story of Julian's Grandmère's childhood as she, a Jewish girl, was hidden by a family in a Nazi-occupied French village during World War II and how the boy she once shunned became her savior and best friend.
Young Adult Fiction
Words in deep blue by Cath Crowley
Second-hand bookshops are full of mysteries. This is a love story. It's the story of Howling Books, where readers write letters to strangers, to lovers, to poets. It's the story of Henry Jones and Rachel Sweetie. They were best friends once, before Rachel moved to the sea. Now, she's back, working at the bookstore, grieving for her brother Cal. She's looking for the future in the books people love, and the words that they leave behind. Sometimes you need the poets