BECAUSE OF YOU, JOHN LEWIS: THE TRUE STORY OF A REMARKABLE FRIENDSHIP (Scholastic) by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illus. by Keith Henry Brown

Ten-year-old Tennesseean Tybre Faw finds a hero in Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights icon nicknamed “Good Trouble,” who worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. As the anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the commemorative march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge approaches, Faw begs his grandmothers to drive him to Selma. There Lewis shakes Faw’s hand and invites the boy to march with him, thus beginning a friendship. Pinkney’s lyrical prose recounts the high points of Lewis’ (and to some extent King’s) life interspersed with details of Faw’s interest in history and the particulars of his meetings with Lewis. She emphasizes Lewis’ mentoring of Faw (and its parallels to King’s mentoring of Lewis), ensuring continuity in the civil rights struggle. Brown’s digitally enhanced watercolor-and-ink illustrations focus on the humans depicted, and several compositions reflect published photos of events. Equally strong are the settings (particularly Selma) and subtle details, such as Faw reading Lewis’ graphic novel, March (2016). Appended with generous back matter, this makes an inspiring addition to the civil rights canon. — Kay Weisman

The book will be published on June 7, 2022.

Pre-order it here

Let’s Be Friends/Seamos amigos (Holiday House) by René Colato Laínez, illustrated by Nomar Perez, has been named to Tejas Star Reading List for 2022-2023!

The Tejas Star Reading List (TSRL) provides a recommended reading list to encourage children ages 5-12 to explore multicultural books and to discover the cognitive and economic benefits of bilingualism and multilingualism. The Tejas Star Reading List is intended for recreational reading, not to support a specific curriculum.

Congratulations Nomar!

See the full list here

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School Library Journal has given a starred review to Pink, Blue, and You!: Questions for Kids About Gender Stereotypes (Random/Anne Schwartz) by Elise Gravel with Mykaell Blais (text) & illus. by Elise Gravel. See the review below.

PreS-Gr 2–In her signature style, Gravel (What Is a Refugee??” and others) and Blais provide an accessible introduction to gender and gender stereotypes. Beginning with smart, open-ended questions, the authors challenge readers to think about gender stereotypes, why they exist, and if they are true or fair. The book progresses to an overview of sex versus gender, complete with helpful visual aids, an exploration of pronouns, and ultimately, a few examples of how gender is treated in different communities. At each step, the authors ask readers what they think and how they feel. This engagement, coupled with the accessible presentation of the material, makes for an excellent resource. The folks depicted throughout vary in appearance, and include many skin tones, ages, and family structures. A few folks wear hijabs, and two others use wheelchairs. Gravel’s illustrative style is wildly appealing, and the comic-style presentation helps to endear the book to readers. A slight weakness is the homogeneity of illustrated body type, though this is not enough to diminish the book’s overall value.

VERDICT Thoughtful, engaging, and visually bright, this is an excellent addition to any library serving preschool and early elementary ages.

Pink, Blue and You! will be published in March 2022. Pre-order it here

The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver (HarperCollins) by Gene Barretta, illustrated by Frank Morrison is one of three selected books for Virginia’s Reading Makes Cents Program. The program is designed to help students understand how money works in the world.

On January 19, there will be a free webinar is to introduce the Reading Makes Cents program to librarians and teachers in the Southwest Region of Virginia served by our Center for Economic Education at UVA Wise.

To learn more about the program go here

Register for the webinar here

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Over, Bear! Under, Where? (Philomel Books) by Julie Hedlund, illustrated by Michael Slack, has been included on Today.com’s list of best toys for 2 year olds for 2021.

See the full list here

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In a starred review of Carla and the Christmas Cornbread (Simon & Schuster by Carla Hall, illustrated by Cherise Harris, Publishers Weekly says:

In warm, vintage-toned acrylic inks and digital art, Harris beautifully renders the nuances of Christmas in a close-knit Black family, from taking off shoes at the door to foam rollers adorning the girls’ hair as they lay down to sleep, in this gift of a book.

Read the full review here

The book will be published November 2. Pre-order it here