About Kristi Morefield

Teacher-Librarian at Chambers Prairie Elementary School in Lacey, WA.

The Last Kids on Earth and the Destructor’s Lair by Max Brallier

The Last Kids on Earth and the Destructor’s Lair is an adventure where Jack and Quint must stop a powerful monster from destroying Earth while trapped in the Monster Dimension.

The story is fast-paced and funny, with lots of action and suspense. It also shows the importance of friendship and teamwork when facing big challenges. The short chapters and illustrations make the book easy to read and follow.

Overall, this is a great addition to a school library. If you already have The Last Kids on Earth series, you should add this 10th edition to complete the set.

The Sneakiest in the World by Ben Clanton

The Sneakiest in the World is a funny picture book about a character who tries very hard to be sneaky. The story shows all the silly ways they attempt to sneak around, but things don’t always go as planned.

The writing is simple and humorous, which makes it easy and fun to read. The illustrations are bright, expressive, and add a lot of the jokes to the story. This book is great for students in grades K–3, but the reading level and humor also work well for early elementary readers in grades 2–4.

Overall, The Sneakiest in the World is a fun addition to an elementary school library, especially for kids who enjoy silly stories and graphic novels.

The Glass Pyramid by Jeanne Walker Harvey

The Glass Pyramid is a true story about architect I. M. Pei and how he designed the glass pyramid at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The book shows how Pei faced problems and people who did not agree with his ideas. He used creativity and kept working until his design became a success.

The writing is clear and easy to understand, and the illustrations help readers see both the old museum and the modern glass pyramid. This book teaches that big ideas take time and hard work. It would be a good addition to an elementary school library, but it should be considered an additional purchase rather than a core title.

I’m Trying to Love Farts by Bethany Barton

I’m Trying to Love Farts by Bethany Barton is a funny and informative picture book about something everyone experiences—farts! The book explains how the digestive system works and why our bodies make gas in a way that is easy to understand.

The writing is silly and fun, which will make kids laugh, but it also includes real science facts. The illustrations are bright and goofy, helping explain what is happening in the body.

This book is a good fit for students in grades K–3, but the reading level and science ideas may be easier for students in grades 2–5 to understand.

Overall, it is a fun and helpful book that shows kids that even gross topics are normal and part of how our bodies work.

Where There is Love A Story in African Proverbs by Shauntay Grant

Where There Is Love by Shauntay Grant is a warm picture book about family and learning from elders. The story follows a young girl spending the day with her nana, where she hears African proverbs that teach important life lessons.

The writing is simple but thoughtful, and the proverbs add meaning, though some may need explanation for younger readers. The illustrations are bright and full of warmth.

While the story will appeal most to students in grades K–3, the reading level and deeper meaning may be better suited for grades 2–5. This book would be a great addition to an elementary school library, especially for read-alouds and lessons about family and culture.

The Blue Velvet Chair by Rio Cortez

The Blue Velvet Chair by Rio Cortez is a meaningful picture book about family and memories. The story is about a girl whose mother tells her the story of a special blue chair that has been passed down in their family.

The writing is simple but also a little poetic, so some parts may take time to understand. The pictures are warm and detailed, and they help show the love and history in the story.

This book helps kids learn how objects can hold important family stories. It works well as a read-aloud for younger students, and older elementary students can read it on their own. It would be a great addition to an elementary school library, especially for learning about family and culture.

To the Top of the World: Barbara Hillary, the First Black Woman to Reach the North and South Poles by Deborah Blumenthal

To the Top of the World tells the true story of Barbara Hillary, a brave woman who followed her dreams later in life. Even after facing hard challenges, including illness, she worked to become an explorer. At age 75, she became the first Black woman to reach the North Pole, and later she also reached the South Pole.

The writing is clear and easy to understand, making it a great choice for elementary students. The illustrations are bright and help show how cold and exciting the polar regions are.

While the story will likely appeal most to younger students in grades K–3, the reading level may be better suited for students in grades 2–5.

This book shares an important message: you are never too old to try something new. It would be a great addition to an elementary school library, especially for students who enjoy true stories and learning about inspiring people.

You Are Not Alone by Ingrid Law

You Are Not Alone by Ingrid Law is a quiet picture book that focuses on the idea of connection and belonging. It shares the message that people are part of a larger world and are never truly alone.

The writing is simple and easy to follow, which makes it accessible for young children. The story is repetitive, and the message is direct. Some readers may find that it doesn’t have a strong plot or memorable characters to keep them fully engaged.

The illustrations are soft and pleasant, but they may not stand out as much as in other picture books. While they match the tone of the story, they don’t add a lot of excitement.

Overall, You Are Not Alone may work as a gentle read-aloud for younger students, but it may not be a favorite for all readers. I recommend this book more for preschool and kindergarten, where its simple message and calm style are a better fit.

Camping in the Wild by Nicholas Oldland

Camping in the Wild by Nicholas Oldland is a fun and thoughtful story about three animal friends—a bear, a moose, and a beaver—who go on a camping trip together. At first, everything seems peaceful, but soon the friends start to get annoyed with each other. They each want things their own way, and it leads to problems.

The story teaches an important lesson about friendship, patience, and working together. Even when friends disagree, they can still solve problems if they listen and care about each other. The ending shows how the animals learn from their mistakes and make things right again.

The illustrations are simple but colorful, and they help show the animals’ feelings clearly. This makes it easy for readers to understand what is happening in the story.

Overall, Camping in the Wild is an enjoyable book with a strong message. It would be a great choice to add as an additional purchase for a school library, especially for younger elementary students who are learning about friendship and teamwork.

Everyday Vietnamese by Kim Thompson

Everyday Vietnamese offers a simple, friendly introduction to basic Vietnamese phrases for young learners, with bright illustrations that help give context to the vocabulary. The book is easy to follow and works well as an introductory cultural resource.

However, the content is very limited, and the phrases are presented without enough depth or explanation. Most importantly, nowhere in the book does the author include guidance on how to make the sounds of the Vietnamese words. Without pronunciation support or phonetic cues, young readers and educators may struggle to use the phrases accurately, which reduces the book’s effectiveness as a language-learning tool.

Overall, Everyday Vietnamese provides a visually appealing introduction but lacks the pronunciation support and contextual detail needed to fully support beginners.