(Gr. K-3) Babymouse has big dreams of making it to the Olympics and she’s diving right in. She still needs a little help though. Will all her hard work help her reach her Olympic dreams?
At four years old, Cece’s hearing becomes severely impaired after a case of meningitis. From then on, a bulky hearing aid and misconceptions (speaking louder does not make words any clearer!) add new dimensions to the challenges of making friends. But her trusty Phonic Ear may also provide unforeseen advantages as Cece discovers her ability to hear what no one else can
Grades 4 - 8: Catrina and Maya have just moved to a new town, in hopes that the sea air will help Maya, who has cystic fibrosis, breathe. In this town, the Day of Dead and ghost are a big deal. Maya is fascinated by the possibility of ghosts but Catrina wants them as far away from her sister as possible. This graphic novel touches on illness, mortality, family history, and the bonds that sisters share with honest, heartfelt touches that feel very true to life.
Middle schooler Jordan Banks had hoped to attend art school, but mom sends him to a private prep school where he is one of a handful of black kids. No one at Riverdale Academy Day School is openly hostile towards him for his race, but he deals with a series of microaggressions, like being called the name of another black student, or everyone looking at him when the teacher is discussing students on financial aid. Craft mixes humor with heart in this hilarious yet thoughtful graphic novel.
K - Grade 3: Ernesto the sloth is compelled to leave his comfortable home (and sloth friend Peter) to see ALL of the sky. With wild abandon, he sets off on a remarkable journey of discovery over bridges, rivers, and oceans. A very reluctant and timid Peter soon sets off after him to bring him back. Charming, tender and satisfying.
Prince Sebastian likes to wear dresses. He hires a seamstress, Frances, to make them for him in secret, but no one else knows that he likes to go out at night as Lady Crystallia, fashion icon. But how long can they contain their secret before the world finds out and/or Frances leaves to pursue her own dreams?
Winner of two Eisner Awards, The Tea Dragon Society is a fascinating look into the world of tea dragons—tiny dragons that grow tea on their backs! When the tea is harvested and savored, drinkers are able to relive the memories of the dragons themselves. A whimsical tale perfect for fantasy fans.
George Takei, of Star Trek fame, recounts his childhood memories of his family's imprisonment in Japanese internment camps across the United States. Moving between the past and present, it features stark black and white illustrations, and is a heartbreaking, stunning look at familial love, strength and the events that shaped Takei's life as an actor, artist, and activist. The book effortlessly presents the larger societal implications of those in the camp, as well as the aftermath this country still hasn't fully processed. This book joins the likes of Maus and March.
Grades 4 - 7: A unique graphic novel that is beautifully written and illustrated with pencil drawings. You wonder if you are in a dream, surrounded by lanterns, water, fish and stars, as two boys set out on a quest during the Autumn Equinox to find out where the lanterns sent down the river end up. Along the way they run into a series of magical creatures including a bear that is very particular about his scarf. This is a story about the true meaning of friendship.
Pre-K - Grade 2: Someone has wet Reuben's pants! Which is odd, because he's the only one who's worn them all day. As Reuben tries to find the culprit, he learns about embarrassment, compassion, and the fact that accidents can happen to anyone.
Grades 1 - 3: With his usual attention to detail, Raúl the Third has created a marvelous bilingual world of market vendors in a Southwest desert town. Attentive readers can pore over each densely-drawn page to find visual jokes, silly puns, and plenty of new words to learn in Spanish.