Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee

Image: Penguin Random House

Teen Tuesday features Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee. Ms. Lee is author of The Downstairs Girl, which I LOVED and featured in a Teen Tuesday post last year. Here, she uses the fact that there were eight Chinese passengers aboard the Titanic as inspiration for this layered, deeply moving narrative.

Seventeen-year-old Valora Luck has a first class ticket on board the maiden voyage of the Titanic, only she cannot board without her employer, as Valora works as a lady's maid. The problem? Her employer died after purchasing the ticket. Val wants to use her ticket to board, reconnect with her twin brother, Jamie and find a way to audition for Ringling Brothers' circus. 

Val and Jamie's Chinese father taught them juggling and acrobatics, skills the twins used when money was tight and their dad was drinking too much. Val has a couple of other problems as well. She doesn't have a passport and even if she had one, the racist Chinese Exclusion Act would make it all but impossible for Val and Jamie to enter in the U.S. Still, Val is determined to board. She spies an opportunity to put her acrobatic skills to good use and stows away. One eagle-eyed passenger witnesses this.

April Hart is intrigued. She's an American designer of haute couture clothing and doesn't fit society's expectations for women of the time. She has a plan and wants Val's help. Can Val trust April? How will Val find Jamie in Third Class? Will Jamie agree with Val's pie-in-the-sky plans? And, what will happen to Jamie's good friends if he does decide to join Val?

Ms. Lee's tale unfolds from Val's POV and it's engaging from the start. Val is plucky and blunt. She's a survivor and totally devoted to her brother. The setting is vivid and suspense is high as Val shuttles between the cabins in First and Third class. She dons disguises and switches accents as she searches for a way to make her plan work. Characters are richly developed and some are endearing, which makes the author's warning at the beginning of the book, eight Chinese passengers boarded, six survived, all the more ominous.

 I read this one with my ears and loved how the narrator effortlessly switched accents and languages! For me, listening to a book read by a narrator fluent in both languages heightens my appreciation. I tend to skim over foreign words and phrases, but listening draws my attention. There were times when plot conveniences threatened to take me out of the story, but Val's voice brought me right back in.

Fans of Ms. Lee's earlier books as well as fans of historical fiction will love Luck of the Titanic. Warning: there will be tears. 

Middle Grade Monday: A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner

Image: Macmillan Publishers

A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner. 288 p. Farrar Straus Giroux (BYR)/ Macmillan Publishers, February, 2020. 9780374312732. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Sixth grader Silas Wade lives for baseball. He's devoted to his Little League team and hustles in both practice and games. He loves to crack jokes and make his teammates laugh. He's also a devoted student of the sport-the psychology, the strategy and the history. When researching Glenn Burke for an oral report, Silas learns more than the fact that Burke was the inventor of the high five. He learns that Burke was gay. This is earth-moving for Silas, who is coming to realize his own identity. He's thrilled to be sharing his enthusiasm for Burke and his invention, but also terrified that his teammates and classmates will connect the dots. 

He comes out to his best friend, Zoey, and swears her to secrecy. This puts a bit of a strain on their friendship, but then he betrays her, rightfully earning her wrath. His lie explodes in his face and, as the pressure builds, his baseball suffers. 

Phil Bildner nailed it with this engaging novel. In High Five for Glenn Burke, we have a narrator who is endearing as well as irritating. His energy just crackles off the page and that can be a bit exhausting. We all know kids like this.

We also have superb baseball - history, as well as the mechanics of practice and games. We have a stressed out family that is doing their best. We have a best friendship that has hit the skids. Most of all, we have an author who skillfully combined these ingredients to realistically portray an adolescent's coming out in all its messy glory. Highly recommended!

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Once and Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy

Image: Hachette Book Group

Once and Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy. Once and Future series #1. Unabridged downloadable e-audiobook, ~10 hours, 55 minutes. Read by Lauren Fortang. LBYR/ Hachette Audio, March, 2019. 9781549178863. (Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Teen Tuesday features Once and Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy. Regular readers of this blog might know that I'm a fan of King Arthur retellings. The legend gets a gender-bending, sci-fi twist here and it's utterly delightful! Ari Helix is on the run from the Mercer Corporation, which literally controls the galaxy. Planet Earth has been abandoned, Ari's planet has been destroyed and her parents murdered. She has been raised by two adoptive mothers and adored Kay, her adoptive older brother. 

The two are eluding capture when they crash-land on Earth. Ari finds a sword embedded in a stone, yanks it out and discovers that she is the forty-second incarnation of King Arthur. This awakens Merlin, Arthur's mentor and wizard. He has been aging backward and is now a teen-age boy.

The pace is whiplash fast, the humor is high and surprises abound. I had no idea what to expect going into this. I hadn't read a review. I just knew it was a King Arthur retelling. This book sizzles and that cliffhanger ending left me needing the next installment ASAP! The good thing about coming to a series later is not having to wait for the sequel. Sword in the Stars is in my Libby queue. I cannot wait.

Once and Future is not quite middle school fare. Mature teens who are into King Arthur, science fiction and/ or lgbtq literature where the sexuality of characters is not the issue will go gaga over this adventure. Once and Future was my final book of 2020. What a way to end a reading year. Highly recommended!

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

Image: Penguin Random House

The Cousins by Karen M. McManus. Unabridged e-audiobook. ~ 9 hours. Read by Sarah Skaer, Kate Reinders, David Garelik and Julia Whelan. Listening Library, November, 2020. 9781984842152. (Review of downloadable e-audio borrowed from the public library.)

Teen Tuesday features The Cousins by Karen M. McManus. Milly, Aubrey and Jonah are the Story cousins and hardly know each other. Their parents are not close and they have never met their grandmother, though Milly is named for her. Twenty-five years earlier, their parents were disinherited abruptly, receiving notes saying, "You know what you did." They didn't, but they went on with their lives always wondering.

Now Mildred Story has had an apparent change of heart. Each cousin receives a type-written note, signed by their grandmother, inviting them to spend the summer working at her resort on an island she basically owns. None of the cousins want to go, but their parents make clear that they are going.

Once they finally meet the famed Mildred Story, the cousins get the distinct impression that she has no interest in a reconciliation. So why are they there? 

My students who love the mystery/ thriller genre love Karen M. McManus' books, One of Us is Lying and Two Can Keep a Secret are rarely on the shelf. (One of Us is Next came out last spring while we were in quarantine.) The Cousins is paced differently. The menace isn't quite as immediate, but mystery and secrets abound. The cousins have their secrets, as do their parents, but their grandmother might have the biggest one yet. 

The POV switches between the cousins. There are also flashbacks to the summer before their parents were disinherited, which shows they were rather spoiled super-rich kids. We learn through their rather damaged children that none matured much. All the narrators bring the unique personalities alive making this an entertaining mystery to read with my ears. I'm eager to share this with my students and learn what they think!

Fact Friday: The Big One: the Cascadia Earthquakes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch

Happy Friday! The Wolf Moon was setting and its light was absolutely gorgeous when I had the dogs out earlier, but it's very cold! It's windy as well. Br-r. Real-feel was 3 degrees! Needless to say, it was a short walk for the hounds. I was layered and cold. Boo kept starting at the big winds.

Image: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Fact Friday features The Big One: the Cascadia Earthquakes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch. Earthquakes through the milennia were and remain a feared event. Unpredictable in timing and force, a quake can be a momentary tremor or can fell skyscapers. Until the 1960s, they were poorly understood by scientists. Thanks to this entry in the my favorite series, "The Scientist in the Field," readers can learn about the work of geologists who not only climb mountains, but also find ponds from which to extract core samples. The information gathered is helping scientists predict when and where earthquakes might happen.

The text is accessible and the plentiful full-color photos capture the work of teams of scientists that include undergraduate students. Back matter points budding scientists and researchers to sources and further reading. As usual, this series lives up to its reputation. Another first-purchase. 

Middle Grade Monday: Shuri: a Black Panther Novel by Nic Stone

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Shuri: a Black Panther Novel by Nic Stone. 272 p. Scholastic Inc., May, 2020. 9781338585476. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Monday! Well, today is the day! It's the Monday of the ALA Midwinter Conference and traditionally the day that the Youth Media Awards are announced! Stay tuned to see if any of your favorite books of 2020 won anything.

Middle Grade Monday features Shuri: a Black Panther Novel by Nic Stone. This series beginner focuses on Princess Shuri, the scientific genius of Wakanda's royal family. The Heart Shaped Herb that is native and vital to Wakanda is dying. Curiously, neither T'Challa nor her mother seem terribly concerned, so Shuri takes it upon herself to discover why. Against orders, she travels outside of Wakanda's protected borders to do so.

I'm barely literate of the Black Panther canon, so I cannot comment on its faithfulness. I enjoyed the adventure and Shuri's intelligence and passion. The pace is fast. There's suspense and humor. 

If you are fan of The Black Panther, you will enjoy this series starter. Book two, The Vanished, is set to release on February 2.

Fact Friday: How We Got to the Moon by John Rocco

Image: Penguin Random House

How We Got to the Moon: the people, technology, and daring feats of science behind humanity's greatest adventure written and illustrated by John Rocco. 264 p. Crown Books for Young Readers, October, 2020. 9780525647416. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Happy Friday! Fact Friday features How We Got to the Moon: the people, technology, and daring feats of science behind humanity's greatest adventure written and illustrated by John Rocco. Now, if you are a Percy Jackson fan, you know Mr. Rocco's work, as he has illustrated all the covers for that series and its spin-offs.

This hefty, oversized, gorgeous volume begins in October of 1957, when people all over the world learned that Russia had launched a satellite called Sputnik. Panic ensued. Were we being spied upon? Could a satellite drop an atomic bomb? The U.S. scrambled to catch up. 

The subtitle really says it all. That's how wide-ranging the text is. Each spread brims with text that explains the history, science, engineering and gives biographical background on some of the many thousands of individuals who worked tirelessly to put a man on the moon. Illustrations vie with the text on each page and just beg to be pored over. There are technical drawings, cutaways, and portraits. This is a book that ought to be read more than once. There's just too much to take in. The back matter is superb. It gives the reader a glimpse into all the research Mr. Rocco did for both the writing and the art, source notes, sources, and suggestions for further reading.

Fact hounds and space geeks will adore this book, but so will the average curious reader. How We Got to the Moon was long-listed for the National Book Award and is a finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction. Who knows what other awards it might garner next Monday? A Sibert? A Newbery? This book needs to be in every library's collection.

Teen Tuesday: The Conference of Birds by Ransom Riggs

Image: Penguin Random House

Teen Tuesday features The Conference of Birds, the fifth novel of the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs. This book opens with Jacob on the run with Noor Pradesh, a new Peculiar but one who is sought after by the Peculiars' enemies because she is the subject of a prophecy. The tension is high from the very first page as Jacob goes against Miss Peregrine's directive and sneaks out to rescue Noor. Noor has recently become Peculiar and she's baffled, terrified and missing her foster mother, V, whom H told Jacob with his dying breath to find. Mysteries pile up and with very few clues to follow, Jacob and the Peculiars very survival is at stake. Of course, the ending is a cliffhanger! Stay tuned to Waiting on Wednesday to find out.

The books really should be read in order to fully appreciate the world and characters that Mr. Riggs created. They are just the ticket for readers who love eerie and horror. I read this one with my ears and Kirby Heyborne was back to narrate. He is one of my favorite narrators and does such a terrific job performing these books.

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

Image: HarperCollins Publishers

Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros. Unabridged e-audiobook. ~3 hours, 35 minutes. Read by Anthony Ray Perez. Quill Tree Books, April, 2020. 9780062971852.

Middle Grade Monday features Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros. Efrén, our twelve-year-old narrator lives with his undocumented parents in a tiny apartment with his five-year-old twin siblings, Mia and Max. His parents work hard to support the family and are loving and involved. Erfén enjoys school and does well. All this changes when ICE raids his Amá's workplace and she is deported. Now Efrén's Apá has to take on more work and Efrén is tasked with increased responsibility while the family explores ways of bringing Amá home, for the U.S. is really home.

This timely and touching book is the author's debut and it has been getting a fair amount of award buzz. I wouldn't be surprised if it wins something next Monday. Mr. Cisneros paints a vivid picture of a working-class, poor immigrant family rich in culture and love who are hopeful and striving for a better life. Readers will empathize with Efrén as he attempts to balance school with caring for his twin siblings, one of whom has some attention and behavior issues and relate to his grief and fear for the well-being of his family. There are moments of heart-melting mushy joy that somewhat leaven the moments of tension and sheer terror.

Narrator Anthony Ray Perez paces his performance well and beautifully conveys Efrén's love and worry for his family. This is a book that belongs on all library shelves. Timely, relevant, important. 

Fact Friday: Rachel Carson and Ecology for Kids: her life and ideas, with 21 activities and experiments by Rowena Rae

Image: Chicago Review Press

Rachel Carson and Ecology for Kids: her life and ideas, with 21 activities and experiments by Rowena Rae. 144 p. Chicago Review Press, February, 2020. (Review of e-book borrowed from public library.)

Happy Friday! We made it through another week! My students have a long weekend to look forward to. We teachers have a PD day on Monday.

Fact Friday features Rachel Carson and Ecology for Kids: her life and ideas with 21 activities and experiments by Rowena Rae. Rachel Carson was born in 1907 and was intensely curious about nature from her early years. Not only did she attend college when few women did, but she also studied science, specifically biology, which even fewer women did. She wrote eloquently about science and nature as well. Her intense observation and study of the natural world led her to the conclusion that pesticide use was adversely affecting animal life and the environment. She began to speak out against the use of pesticides in the 1950s and the 1962 publication of her book, Silent Spring, awakened the general public to these dangers to our environment.

This dual-use biography has activities and experiments that budding environmentalists can try. Although these activities were interesting - things like making bird seed cookies and building a worm farm, I found them intrusive to the flow of the narrative and would've preferred them to be grouped in a separate section, especially as they didn't directly connect to the text. There are plenty of photos to maintain interest and the back matter includes a timeline and glossary.

This biography serves as a fine introduction to the life and work of Rachel Carson.

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Image: Macmillan Publishers

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. Unabridged e-audiobook. ~13 hours, 48 minutes. Read by Avi Roque. Macmillan Audio, September, 2020. 9781250619129. (Review of downloadable e-audiobook borrowed from the public library.)

Teen Tuesday features Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. Sixteen-year-old Yadriel is a transgender boy who lives in a cemetery with his extended family of brujas and brujos. He is determined to become a brujo, even though his father does not acknowledge him as his son. He held a secret initiation ceremony with his best friend, Maritza. After his cousin is brutally murdered, the brujos set out to find his ghost in order to set him free. Yadriel hopes to find his cousin in order to prove himself to his father. Instead, he accidentally summons Julian, a bad-boy classmate who was also murdered around the same time. Julian has unfinished business and no idea who killed him. He teams up with Yadriel and Maritza to find out. 

This deeply nuanced and sparkling debut was such a surprise to me - suspenseful and laugh-out-loud funny as well as tear-inducing! I loved this book and highly recommend it to mature teen readers. The East LA Latinx community is vividly drawn. The magic is oh-so-believable. The characters are unique and memorable. I really did not want this story to end. I was happy to learn that the author might be working on a sequel of sorts. 

I must admit that I had to get used to the narrator's staccato delivery. I thought that I inadvertently upped the speed of audiobook. I soon got used to it. There's an absolutely adorable interview/ love fest between the narrator and the author at the end of the audiobook. 

The Cemetery Boys is a first-purchase for any collection serving teen readers. 

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

Image: Penguin Random House

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller. Unabridged e-audiobook. ~ 6 hours. Read by Greta Jung. Listening Library/ Penguin Random House, January, 2020. 9780593155455. (Review of downloadable e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Happy Monday! I enjoyed the wintery sunshine this weekend and took lots of walks with Boo! I hope your weekend was fantastic.

Middle Grade Monday features When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller. Lily's widowed mother has decided to move the family of three from California to Sunbeam, Washington to care for Lily's grandmother, whose health is declining. Lily loves Halmoni, especially her stories, but she wants to stay in California for seventh grade, not start all over in Washington. Lily has a superpower though. She can become invisible - the QAG - quiet Asian girl. She's so unlike Sam, who is outgoing and can make friends anywhere.

When Lily sees a tiger at the side of the road near Halmoni's house and the tiger seems to be watching Lily, she knows Halmoni will understand the meaning. Instead, Halmoni tells Lily that the tiger is after her because she stole something from her long ago and now the tiger is back to reclaim what was stolen. Lily and her new friend, Ricky set out to trap a tiger.

Fans of magical realism will adore this exquisitely written story-within-a-story. If you loved Where the Mountain Meets the Moon or The Girl Who Swallowed the Moon, you will love When You Trap a Tiger. Warning: I was a weeping mess near the end, so make sure there are tissues handy. There has been a bit of Newbery buzz around this one and deservedly so.

The narrator's performance was well-paced and she had distinct voices for the different characters as well as for the tiger folk tale that interspersed the narrative. My only question has to do with her pronunciation of Halmoni. It sounded like Harmony and when I looked up the pronunciation online, each source pronounced it the l. 

Fact Friday: The Great Bear Rescue: Saving the Gobi Bears by Sandra Markle

Image: Lerner Publishing Group

The Great Bear Rescue: Saving the Gobi Bears by Sandra Markle. 40 p. Sandra Markle's Science Discovery Series. Millbrook Press/ Lerner Publishing Group, September, 2020. 9781541581258. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Happy Friday! We made it! It's a beautiful morning with a crescent moon rising in a clear, star-filled sky. Enjoy the day.

Fact Friday features The Great Bear Rescue: Saving the Gobi Bears by Sandra Markle. I have never associated bear habitats with deserts. Have you? Acclaimed science writer, Sandra Markle, introduces us to the endangered species, Gobi bears, in this beautifully designed book filled with lots of full-color photos of the bears as well as of the conservation scientists attempting to save them. It is estimated that there are only forty bears left in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. While climate change is impacting their chances for survival, illegal gold mining in the region is also having an impact. "Ninja miners" sneak into the desert and dig deep holes in their search for gold. Bears and other wildlife can tumble into those holes and the water that collects there is poisonous. 

Ms. Markle's eloquent text endears and educates. There are interviews with the scientists, helpful maps and useful back matter. The volume concludes with a reminder to readers to also not forget the polar bear. This book is part of a series called Sandra Markle's Science Discoveries. Any new book by Ms. Markle is an automatic purchase for me and should be for anyone who curates a school, public or classroom library collection. Happy reading!

Teen Tuesday and Audiobook Review: Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

Image: Macmillan Publishers

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord.  Unabridged digital audiobook. ~ 10 hours. Read by Dan Bittner and Emily Shaffer. Macmillan Young Listeners, 2020. 9781250262752. (Review of downloadable e-audiobook borrowed from public library)

Teen Tuesday feature Tweet Cute by Emma Lord. Fans of romance will just eat up this updated twist on You've Got Mail. 
Seventeen-year-old Pepper was unwillingly transplanted to New York City from Nashville four years earlier when her mom's burger joint, Big League Burger hit the big time. Even though the franchise has someone to manage their social media, it's Pepper that they and her mom turn to. She's a genius at managing - the great grades, the swim team, almost anything but navigating the streets of New York and friendship.

Jack lives in the shadow of his identical twin brother, Ethan. Jack can't understand Ethan's gravitational pull. He's also resentful of having to constantly cover for his twin working the family business - a small East Village deli called Girl Cheesing. When Big League Burger announces a new menu item on Twitter that looks like it has been stolen from Girl Cheesing, Jack fires off a tweet. And then, it's war.

The two classmates don't realize at first that they are behind the tweets that launched the war. They also don't realize that they've gotten close corresponding on an app that Jack developed called Weazel, where classmates get to connect anonymously before the app reveals their identities.

While there's a lot a angsty fun, this is not a totally breezey romance. Debut author, Ms. Lord does a deep-dive into the myriad of issues the use and mis-use of social media have spawned. The novel is also peopled with interesting characters and an energetic New York vibe. It's a story that keeps the reader guessing to its inevitable romantic end. Warning though: don't read while hungry. I've been on a grilled cheese kick since reading this.

Tweet Cute was such so refreshing and delightful. I'm eager to read more from Ms. Lord. 

The audiobook performances were well-paced. Both narrators sounded appropriately young and engaging. 

Middle Grade Monday: Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

Image: Macmillan Publishers

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh. 240 p. First: Second/ Macmillan Publishers, February, 2020. 9781250171113. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Happy Monday! Break is over and the hybrid students & teachers are back in school. I am back on Zoom with hybrid student on their virtual day. I enjoyed/ needed this break. I read a lot, cooked a lot, ate a lot, cleaned out some closets and enjoyed long walks with my dog. 

Middle Grade Monday features Snapdragon by Kat Leyh. If you love magical realism, feisty, curious characters and graphic novels, then Snapdragon is the book for you!

Snapdragon Bloom, Snap for short, lives with her single mom in a trailer park. Her mom recently kicked out her abusive boyfriend, but he left his dog, Good Boy. When Good Boy goes missing, Snap finds him near the home of the town's witch, Jacks. He's missing a leg and Snap believes the witch had something to do with it. Turns out, Good Boy was hit by a car. Jacks rescued him and nursed him back to health. Snap agrees to help Jacks with her admittedly creepy but non-magical work of collecting road kill to reconstruct skeletons to sell online. In exchange Jacks will help snap care for a litter of orphaned opossums. As the two grow close, Snap realize that Jacks and she may have a connection and Jacks does, indeed, have magic.

This graphic novel was such a delight! The art is gorgeous and the characters are so quirky and memorable. A bit of humor, a bit of creepiness, and a bit menace all add up to a unique, refreshing read. Snapdragon is definitely a first-purchase!

Picture Book Review: The Only Woman in the Photo: Frances Perkins & her New Deal for America by Kathleen Krull

Image: Simon & Schuster

The Only Woman in the Photo: Frances Perkins & her New Deal for America by Kathleen Krull. Illustrated by Alexandra Bye. unpgd. Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, February, 2020. 9781481491518. (Review of finished copy courtesy of an author giveaway.)

Regular readers of this blog probably know about my sixth grade picture book biography unit (on hiatus this year since I am teaching fifth and sixth grade LA virtually) and know that I'm always on the lookout for more picture book biographies to add to my cart. Some time ago, author Kathleen Krull hosted a giveaway of this book. I admire Ms. Krull's work and have a few of her excellent picture book biographies in my cart, so I entered. I usually forget about these entries because I rarely win.

I won! I was so surprised when this picture book arrived in my mail!

Frances Perkins was a shy child who took her grandmother's advice to heart. "When someone opens a door to you, go forward." She realized that she needed to speak up for those who had no voice. And speak up she did. After working as a social worker and workplace safety investigator, she was appointed to the first female Secretary of Labor by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Her advocacy for the poor led to many of FDR's New Deal programs. 

The text is informative and accessible and the illustrations are cartoonish and appealing from the embossed cover through to the end-pages. Back matter includes an afterword with more information about Frances Perkins and sources. This will be a fantastic addition to the cart.

2020 Reading

Well, this was quite the year! I really struggled to achieve my GR goal of 365 books. This was partially due to the fact that I have been teaching 5th & 6th grade LA to the hybrid students on their virtual days and there is a fair amount of time and energy expended there. But even before September and this new job description, I my reading rate was flagging. I found I just couldn't concentrate whenever I sat down to read. It really became a chore! Added to that is the fact that I read some memoirs written for an adult audience, which took longer. I'm proud that I hit the goal, thanks to 40 picture books. My final book of the year, Once and Future, was an absolute delight!

January (22)
1. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
(Tristan Strong #1) by Kwame Mbalia
2. Wait, Rest, Pause: dormancy in nature by Marcie Flinchum Atkins (1/5)
3. Moth: an evolution story by Isabel Thomas (1/5)
4. Nine Months: before a baby is born by Miranda Paul (1/6)
5. Sea Bear: a journey for survival by Lindsay Moore (1/6)
6. No More Poems!: A Book in Verse That Just Gets Worse by Rhett Miller
7. Little Libraries, Big Heroes by Miranda Paul (1/8)*
8. Ron's Big Mission by Rose Blue (1/8)
9. Monument Maker: Daniel Chester French and the Lincoln Memorial by Linda Booth Sweeney
10. Moles (Superpower Field Guide) by Rachel Poliquin (1/11)
11. Give and Take by Elly Swartz (1/12)
12. This Promise of Change: One Girl’s Story in the Fight for  School Equality by Jo Ann Allen Boyce, Debbie Levy (1/12)
13. Killer Style: How Fashion Has Injured, Maimed, and Murdered Through History by Alison Matthews David, Serah-Marie McMahon (1/13)
14. Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Legacy of Orïsha #2)
by Tomi Adeyemi (1/13)
15. Titan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team by Susan Hood (1/14)
16. Feathers by Jorge Corona (1/17)
17. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (Full cast audio) (1/18)
18. The Story That Cannot Be Told by J. Kasper Kramer (1/19)
19. Quack by Anna Humphrey (1/20)(SLJ)
20. On the Horizon by Lois Lowry (1/26)
21. Call Down the Hawk (Dreamer Trilogy #1)by Maggie Stiefvater (1/28)
22. Recess at 20 Below by Cindy Lou Aillaud (1/30)

February (33)
23. Three Little Kittens by Barbara McClintock (2/1)
24. Eat Your Rocks, Croc! by Jess Keating (2/1)
25. Rita and Ralph's Rotten Day by Carmen Agra Deedy (2/1)
26. One Little Bag: an amazing journey by Henry Coles (2/1)*
27. Chicken Little: the real and totally true tale by Sam Wedelich (2/1)
28. Almond by Allen Say (2/1)
29. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart (2/1)
30. Turtle Boy by M Evan Wolkenstein (2/4)
31. Nikki on the Line by Barbara Carroll Roberts (2/4)
32. Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA 34. Mathematician Katherine Johnson by Katherine G. Johnson (2/5)
33. When You Know What I Know by Sonja K. Solter (2/6)
34. Read Something Else: Collected & Dubious Wit & Wisdom of Lemony Snicket by Lemony Snicket (2/8)
35. Dog Man: Fetch-22 (Dog Man #8) by Dav Pilkey (2/8)
36. Brave Face: A Memoir by Shaun David Hutchinson (2/8)
37.  Honey, the Dog Who Saved Abe Lincoln by Shari Swanson (2/9)
38. Diana: Princess of the Amazons by Shannon Hale (2/9)
39. Wonder Woman: Warbringer (the Graphic Novel)
by Louise Simonson (Adapted by), Leigh Bardugo (2/9)
40. Torpedoed: the true story of the World War II sinking of the Children's Ship by Deborah Heiligman (2/11)* 
41. Harry versus the First Hundred Days of School by Emily Jenkins (2/16)(SLJ)
42. Dig by A.S. King (2/16)
43. Maybe by Morris Gleitzman (2/17)*
44. Leaving Lymon by Lesa Cline-Ransome (2/19)*
45. Birthday by Meredith Russo (2/19)*
46. When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (2/20)*
47. City of Secrets by Victoria Ying (2/20)
48. Kent State by Deborah Wiles (2/21)
49. The Complete Mueller Pressure Cooker Cookbook (2/21)
50. Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell (2/21)
51. Dork Diaries 14: Tales from a Not-So-Best Friend Forever by Rachel Renée Russell (2/22)
52. Black Canary: Ignite by Meg Cabot (2/22)
53. Cog by Greg Van Eekhout (2/26)*
54. Shirley & Jamilia Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz (2/27)*
55. All the Days Past, All the Days to Come by Mildred D. Taylor (2/29)

March (20)
56. If I was Your Girl by Meredith Russo (3/2)
57. Young Gifted and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present by Jamia Wilson (3/10)
58. Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Said-Menon (3/11)
59. Fat Girl on a Plane by Kelly Devos (3/11)
60. King of Crows by Libba Bray (3/13)*
61. Strike Zone by Mike Lucia (3/16)
62. The Princess Rules by Philippa Gregory (3/18)(SLJ)
63. Enemy Child: The Story of Norman Mineta, a Boy Imprisoned in a Japanese American Internment Camp During World War II by Andrea Warren (3/19)*
64. Into the Clouds: the race to climb the world's most dangerous mountain by Tod Olson (3/21)*
65. Green on Green by Denise White (3/21)
66. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (3/24)*
67. Timmy Failure: Mistakes were Made by Stephan Pastis (3/24)
68. War is Over by David Almond (3/25)
69. The Tornado Scientist: seeing inside severe storms by Mary Kay Carson (3/26)*
70. Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes (3/27)*
71. Jelly by Jo Cotterill (3/28)*
72. Calm Down Zebra! by Lou Kuenzler (3/29)
73. The Yawns are Coming! by Christopher Eliopoulos (3/29)
74. The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee (3/29)*
75. War Stories by Gordon Korman (3/30)

April (22)
76. Her Own Two Feet: a Rwandan Girl's brave fight to walk by Meredith Davis and Rebecca Uwitonze (4/2)
77. love, love by Victoria Chang (4/3)
78. Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman (4/4)*
79. A Home for Goddesses and Dogs by Leslie Conor (4/4)*
80. One of Us is Next by Karen McManus (4/7)
81. We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices edited by Wade Hudson (4/8)
82. Lifting as We Climb: Black women's battle for the ballot box by Evette Dionne (4/9)*
83. Chirp by Kate Messner (4/9)
84. Astronuts Mission Two: the water planet by Jon Scieszka (4/10)
85. Dugout: the zombie steals home by Scott Morse (4/10)
86. Bendy and the Ink Machine Joey Drew Studios Employee Handbook (4/11)
87. Lila and Hadley by Kody Keplinger (4/12)*
88. Tracking Pythons: The Quest to Catch an Invasive Predator and Save an Ecosystem (ebook) by Kate Messner (4/13)*
89. The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman (4/13)*
90. Monstrous by Carlyn Beccia (4/15)
91. Birdie and Me by J.M.M.Nuanez (4/16)
92. Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard (4/17)
93. The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black (4/19)*
94. Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling (4/21)
95. Every Missing Piece by Melanie Conklin (4/23)*
96. Redwood and Ponytail by K.A. Holt (4/25)
97. Sparrow by Mary Cecilia Jackson (4/26)

May (28)
98. Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams (5/2)*
99. Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang (5/2)*
100. This is a Book to Read with a Worm by Jodi Wheeler-Toppen (5/3)*
101. Balletball by Erin Dionne (5/3)
102. Dream Big, Little Scientists: a bedtime book by Michell Schaub (5/3)*
103. Here We Go Digging for Dinosaur Bones by Susan Lendroth (5/4)
104. You're Invited to a Moth Ball: a nighttime insect celebration by Loree Griffin Burns (5/4)*
105. Rise Up! The Art of Protest by Jo Rippon (5/4)
106. One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul (5/5)*
107. Strong as Sandow: how Eugen Sandow became the strongest man in the world by Don Tate (5/5)*
108. Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: a Cuban folktale by Carmen Agra Deedy (5/5)*
109. Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes by Roshoni Choksi (5/7)
110. When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (Audio reread) (5/8)*
111. Abayomi: the Brazilian puma by Darcy Pattison (5/10)
112. The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead (5/10)*
113. Star Finder! A step-by-step guide to the night sky (5/11)
114. Red Hood by Elena K. Arnold (5/13)
115. Plastic Sea: a bird's-eye view by Kirsti Blom and Geir Wing Gabrielsen (5/15)
116. The Candy Mafia by Lavie Tidhar (5/17)(SLJ)
117. The Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay (5/17)
118. Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang (5/18)*
119. Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Said (5/21)
120. Queen of Physics: how Wu Chien Shiung helped unlock the secrets of the atom by Teresa Robeson (5/22)*
121. The Girl in the Locked Room by Mary Downing Hahn (5/23)
122.  Rick by Alex Gino (5/24)
123. My Eyes are Up Here by Laura Zimmerman (5/25)*
124. She Did It!: 21 Women Who Changed the Way We Think by Emily Arnold McCully (5/26)
125. What Lane? by Torrey Maldonado (5/26)*

June (30)
126. Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare (6/1)
127. Kids Fight Plastic by Martin Dorey (6/4)
128. This is What I Know about Art by Kimberly Drew (6/6)*
129. The Tyrant's Tomb by Rick Riordan (6/7)
130. Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker (6/7)
131. Imaginary Borders by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez (6/9)*
132. Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi (6/9)

133. You Matter by Christian Robinson (6/10)
134. The New Queer Conscience by Adam Eli (6/12)*

135. Things Seen from Above by Shelley Pearsall (6/12)

136. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (6/14)

137. The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity by Amy Alznauer (6/15)
138. We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly (6/16)*
139. Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford (6/17)*
140. Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine (6/18)
141. Let's Talk about Race by Julius Lester (6/18)*

Summer Reading
142. Stealing Mt. Rushmore by Daphne Kalmar (6/21)*(1)
143. Infinity Son by Adam Silvera (6/21)(2)
144. The Gentleman's Guide to Getting Lucky by Mackenzie Lee (6/22)(3)
145. This was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews (6/23)(4)
146. Believe by Julie Mathison (6/23)(SLJ)(5)
147. Wombat Goes to School by Jackie French (6/23)*(6)
148. Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor changed basketball by Jen Bryant (6/24)*(7)
149. Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson (6/25)*(8)
150. I am Someone Else: poems about pretending collected by Lee Bennett Hopkins (6/25)(9)
151. The Superlative A. Lincoln: poems about our 16th president by Eileen R. Meyer (6/25)(10)
152. The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg (6/26)(11)
153. The Magic Eraser by Aaron Starmer (6/26)(12)
154. Bad Best Friend by Rachel Vail (6/27)*(13)
155. Loveboat, Taipei by Abigal Hing Wen (6/30)(14)

July (34)
156. The Plastic Problem by Rachel Salt (7/1)(15)
157. Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley (7/2)(16)
158. Sunny Rolls the Dice by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm (7/2)(17)
159. Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee (7/4)(18)

160. The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate (7/5)(19)
161. Dan, Unmasked by Chris Negron (7/7)(20)
162. The Summer of Jordi Perez and the best burger in Los Angeles by Amy Spalding (7/7)(21)
163. The Daughters of Ys by M.T. Anderson & Jo Rioux (7/8)(22)
164. Women Win the Vote! 19 for the 19th Amendment by Nancy B. Kennedy (7/9)*(23)
165. Doodleville by Chad Sell (7/10)(24)
166. My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi (7/10)(25)
167. The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War, and Survival by Amra Sabic-El-Rayess (7/11)*(26)
168. Otto P. Nudd by Emily Butler (7/11) (SxfLJ) (27)
169. The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton (7/14) (28)
170. The Black Flamingo by Dean Attas (7/14)*(29)
171. Our World: a first geography book by Sue Lowell Gallion (7/17)*(30)
172. The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton (7/18)(31)
173. Itch by Polly Farquhar (7/19)(32)
174. Anti-racist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi (7/19)*(33)
175. March Book One by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin (7/20)*(34)
176. March Book Two by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin (7/20)*(35)
177. March Book Three by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin (7/20)*(36)
178. The City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda (7/21)*(37)
179. All Thirteen: the incredible cave rescue of the Thai boys' soccer team by Christina Soontornvat (7/22)**(38)
180. Beauty Mark by Carole Boston Weatherford (7/24)(39)
181. The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe (7/25)*(40)
182. The Boys in the Back Row by Mike Jung (7/25)*(41)
183. Don't Check Out This Book! by Kate Klise (7/26)(42)
184. The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais (7/27)(43)
185. Sylvie by Sylvie Kantorovitz (7/27)(44)
186. Bob's Burgers (7/28)(45)
187. Monster: a graphic novel adapted by Guy A. Sims (7/29)(46)
188. Burn by Patrick Ness (7/30)*(47)
189. The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg (7/31)*(48)

August (35)
190. You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson (8/3)*(49)
191. Just Watch Me by Erin Silver (8/3)(SLJ)(50)
192. Ruth Objects: the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Doreen Rappaport (8/4)(51)
193. Exquisite: the poetry and life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade (8/4)(52)
194. The Next President: the unexpected beginnings and unwritten future of America's presidents by Kate Messner (8/4)(53)
195. Breaking Through: How female athletes shattered stereotypes in the Roaring Twenties by Sue Macy (8/4)*(54)
196. The Midwinter Witch by Molly Ostertag (8/5)(55)
197. Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai (8/5)(56)

198. Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen by Sarah Kapit (8/6)(56)

199. Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (8/8)**(57)

200. A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow (8/8)(58)

201. Born Curious: 20 girls who grew up to be awesome scientists by Martha Freeman (8/9)(59)

202. The Summer We Found the Baby by Amy Hest (8/9)(60)

203. I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee (8/11)(61)

204. Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson (8/11)(62)

205. What Miss Mitchell Saw by Hayley Barrett (8/12)(63)

206. Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz (8/15)(64)

207. Dark Was the Night: Blind Willie Johnson's Journey to the Stars by Gary Golio (8/15)*(65)

208. The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper (8/16)(66)

209. Faith Taking Flight by Julie Murphy (8/17)(67)

210. Vamos! Let's Go Eat by Raul the Third (8/18)*(68)
211. Equality's Call: the story of voting rights in America by Deborah Diesen (8/19)(69)

212. Honeybee: the busy life of Apis Mellifera by Candace Fleming (8/18)*(70)

213. The Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake (8/19)(71)

214. One Person No Vote: how all voters are not treated equally by Carol Anderson & Tonya Bolden (8/20)*(72)

215. Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone (8/23)*(73)

216. Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick (8/23)*(74)

217. What If It's Us by Becky Albertali and Adam Silvera (8/24)*(75)

218. Cracking the Bell by Geoff Herbach (8/25)*(76)

219. Outlaws by Jen Calonita (8/26)(77)

220. I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn (8/27)(78)

221. Special Forces: Unconventional Warfare by Chris Lynch (8/30)(79)

222. Ollie and Augustus by Gabriel Evans (8/30)(80)

223. Pearl Goes to Preschool by Julie Fortenberry (8/30)(81)

224. American Royals by Katharine McGee (8/31)(82)

September (21)

225. The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu (9/6)

226. Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech (9/6)*(Audio reread)

227. Veg Patch Party by Clare Foges & Al Murphy (9/6)

228. Barely Missing Everything by Matt Mendez (9/7)

229. Parachutes by Kelly Yang (9/12)

230. Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall (9/13)*

231. Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's journey to justice by Debbie Levy (9/19)*

232. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul by Carol Boston Weatherford (9/19)*

233. Hello, Neighbor! The kind and caring world of Mister Rogers by Matthew Cordell (9/19)*

234. All the Way to the Top: how one girl's fight for Americans with disabilities changed everything by Annette Bay Pimentel (9/19)

235. Joni: the lyrical life of Joni Mitchell (9/19)

236. Flying Paintings: the Zhou brothers: a story of revolution and art by Amy Alznauer (9/20)

237. Sometimes a Wall by Dianne White (9/20)

238. All the Birds in the world by David Opie (9/20)

239. Kamala Harris: rooted in justice by Nikki Grimes (9/20)

240. Me and the Sky: Captain Beverley Bass, pioneering pilot by Beverly Bass with Cynthia Williams (9/20)

241. Your Place in the Universe by Jason Chin (9/20)*

242. The Room Where It Happened by John Bolton (9/23)

243. Love, Creekwood by Becky Albertali (9/25)

244. Layoverland: a novel by Gabby Noone (9/26)*

245. Act by Kayla Miller (9/27)

October (30)

246. Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi (10/1)*

247. Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Anderson (10/1)

248. Ronan the Librarian by Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie (10/2)

249. All Because You Matter by Tami Charles (10/2)*

250. Flamer by Mike Curato (10/3)*

251. Take Back the Block by Chrystal C. Giles (10/4)*(SLJ)

252. Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson (10/9)*

253. 10 Things I Hate about Pinky by Sandhya Menon (10/11)

254. Fly on the Wall by Remy Lai (10/12)

255. Notice and Note by Kylene Beers (10/16)*

256. Majesty by Katharine McGee (10/18)

257. The Last Mirror on the Left by Lamar Giles (10/18)*

258. The Boy and the Gorilla by Jackie Azúa Kramer (10/18)*

259. A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett (10/18)* 

260. Marjory Saves the Everglades by Sandra Neil Wallace (10/22)

261. Julián at the Wedding by Jessica Love (10/23)*

262. Becoming Mohammad Ali by Kwame Alexander and James Patterson (10/25)

263. Finish the Fight! The brave and revolutionary women who fought for the right to vote by Veronica Chambers and the staff of the New York Times (10/25)*

264. Lift by Minh Le (10/26)*

265. I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott (10/26)*

266. Cozy by Jan Brett (10/27)

267. How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi (10/27)*

268. Dream Builder: the story of architect Philip Freelon by Kelly Starling Lyons (10/28)

269. Nacho's Nachos: the story behind the world's favorite snack by Sandra Nickel and Oliver Dominguez (10/28)

270. Class Act by Jerry Craft (10/29)*

271. Long Way Down: a graphic novel by Jason Reynolds (10/30)*

272. Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour (10/30)*

273. The Blue House by Phoebe Wahl (10/30)

274. Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp (10/30)*

275. King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callendar (10/31)*

November (38)

276. I am Darn Tough by Licia Morelli (11/2)

277. The Spirit of Springer: the real-life rescue of an orphaned orca by Amanda Abler (11/2)

278. Welcome to Your Period: your complete, no-nonsense guide to going with the flow by Yumi Stynes & Dr. Melissa Kang (11/2)

279. When They Call You a Terrorist (Young Adult Edition): a story of Black Lives Matter and the power to change the world by Patrisse Khan-Cullors (11/3)*

280. Twins by Varian Johnson (11/4)*

281. Life in a Frozen World: wildlife of Antarctica by Mary Batten. (11/5)*

282. Almost American Girl by Robin Ha (11/5)

283. Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson (11/6)

284. Bringing Back the Wolves: how a predator restored an ecosystem by Jude Isabella (11/7)

285. Mary Seacole: Bound for the Battlefield by Susan Goldman Rubin (11/8)

286. My Favorite Color: I can only choose one? by Aaron Becker (11/8)*

287. This is a Book of Shapes by Kenneth Kraegel (11/8)

288. The Black Friend: on being a better white person by Frederick Joseph (11/9)

289. Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia (11/10)*

290. Dog Man: Grime and Punishment by Dav Pilkey (11/11)

291. Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander (11/11)* (Audio Reread)

292. Eric by Shaun Tan (11/12)

293. Addy's Cup of Sugar by Jon Muth (11/12)

294. How It All Blew Up by Arvin Ahmadi (11/14)

295. Catherine's War by Julia Billet (11/15)*

296. Snapdragon by Kat Leyh (11/17)*

297. Packs: strength in numbers by Hannah Salyer (11/18)*

298. Eclipse Chaser: science in the moon's shadow by Ilima Loomis (11/20)*

299. The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan (11/21)

300. Dear Justyce: a novel by Nic Stone (11/22)*

301. Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender (11/26)

302. Condor Comeback by Sy Montgomery (11/27)*

303. Woke: a young poet's call to justice by Mahogany L. Browne with Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood (11/27)

304. We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom (11/27)

305. The Only Woman in the Photo: Frances Perkins & her New Deal for America by Kathleen Krull (11/27)

306. The Teachers March! How Selma's teachers changed history by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace (11/28)

307. Latkes for Santa Claus by Janie Emaus (11/28)

308. Heartstopper: Volume Two by Alice Oseman (11/28)*

309. Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (11/29)*

310. Sun Flower Lion by Kevin Henkes (11/30)

311. Are Your Stars Like My Stars? by Leslie Helakoski (11/30)

312. Hurry Up! A Book about Slowing Down by Kate Dopirak (11/30)*

313. The Little Mermaid by Jerry Pinkney (11/30)*

December (52)

314. Dictionary for a Better World: poems, quotes and anecdotes by Irene Latham and Charles Waters (12/1)

315. A Ride to Remember: a Civil Rights story by Sharon Langley and Amy Nathan (12/4)

316. Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño played the piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle (12/4)

317. Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog by Lisa Papp (12/4)*

318. The Boy Who Invented the Popsicle: the cool science behind Frank Epperson's famous frozen treats by Anne Renaud (12/4)

319. The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar (12/6)

320. Snow Birds by Kirsten Hall (12/6)

321. Speak Up, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell (12/6)

322. Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog by Lisa Papp (12/6)

323. Swish! The slam-dunking, alley-oopimg, high-flying Harlem Globetrotters by Suzanne Spade (12/6)*

324. Jumbo: the making of the Boeing 747 by Chris Gall (12/7)

325. Shuri: a Black Panther novel by Nic Stone (12/7)

326. When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller (12/8)*

327. The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol by Arthur A. Levine (12/10)

328. Go with the Flow by Lili Williams (12/10)

329. William Still and His Freedom Stories: the father of the Underground Railroad by Don Tate (12/11)

330. A Dreidel in Time: a new spin on an old tale by Marcia Berneger (12/12)

331. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (12/15)

332. Goodbye Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea (12/18)

333. Being Frog by April Pulley Sayre (12/19)*

334. Rocket Science: a beginner's guide to the fundamentals of space flight by Andrew Rader, PhD (12/19)

335. The Tie Man's Miracle by Stephen Schnur (12/19)*

336. The Best of Me by David Sedaris (12/21)*

337. The Talk: conversations about race love and truth edited by  Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson (12/21)*

338. Snail Crossing by Corey R. Tabor (12/22)

339. Small Matters: the hidden power of the unseen by Heather Ferranti Kinser (12/22)*

340. The Polio Pioneer: Dr. jonas Salk and the polio vaccine by Linda Elovitz Marshall (12/23)

341. Tiny Monster: the strange creatures that live on us, in us, and around us by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (12/23)

342. Bye, Penguin! by Seou Lee (12/23)

343. If You Take Away the Otter by Susannah Buhrman-Deever (12/23)

344. Hike by Pete Oswald (12/23)

345. Jacob's Fantastic Flight by Philip Waechter (12/23)

346. My Best Friend by Julie Fogliano (12/24)*

347. Northbound: a train ride out of segregation by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein (12/24)

348. No Reading Allowed: the worst read-aloud book ever by Raj Haldar & Chris Carpenter (12/24)

349. The Paper Boat: a refugee story by Thao Lam (12/24)*

350. This is Your Time by Ruby Bridges (12/24)*

351. Star Mother Youngest Child by Louise Moeri (12/25)

352. The Great Bear Rescue: saving the Gobi Bears by Sandra Markle (12/25)*

353. The Conference of Birds by Ransom Riggs (12/25)

354. Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros (12/26)

355. How We Got to the Moon: the people, technology, and  daring feats of science behind humanity's greatest adventure by John Rocco (12/26)*

356. What We Build by Oliver Jeffries (12/ 26)

357. Robobaby by David Wiesner (12/260

358. The Colossus of Roads by Christina Uss (12/27)

359. Once Upon an Eid edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Said (12/28)*

360. Rachel Carson and Ecology for Kids: her life and ideas with 21 activities and experiments by Rowena Rae (12/28)*

361. A High Five for Glenn Burke: a novel by Phil Bildner (12/29)

362. Joey: a baby koala and is mother by Nic Bishop (12/30)

363. The Deep End (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #15) by Jeff Kinney (12/31)

364. The Witches: graphic novel by Roald Dahl/ Pénélope Bagieu (12/31)

365. Once and Future by Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy (12/31)*