And Tango Makes Three

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written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell and illustrated by Henry Cole

Roy and Silo are a penguin couple. They build a nest of rocks together just like the other penguin couples at New York’s Central Park Zoo. But, unlike the other penguin pairs, they cannot produce an egg – they are both males. They try to hatch a rock, which doesn’t result in a chick. Their keeper, Mr. Gramzay, solves that problem by giving them another couple’s second egg to hatch (penguins will only hatch one egg, but sometimes lay two). Little Tango hatches and is loved by her parents.

This story is based on a true occurrence at the Central Park Zoo, where Roy, Silo and Tango made their home for many years. This is a gentle reminder that there are loving, diverse families in the world and acceptance of those differences is natural. In this case, it is a family of a tiny penguin chick and her two loving fathers, who “knew just what to do” as they take care of their adopted offspring.

Accompanying illustrations are softly hued watercolors and add to the gentleness of the story. Originally published in 2005, this book is still fresh and necessary. It is a very organic approach to tolerance and the notion that diverse families exist everywhere, even in a penguin colony. New additions include educator notes and afterward by author Eliot Schrefer. Highly recommended.

Rules for Rule Breaking

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Rules for Rule Breaking is a right-at-home teen novel. Despite Winter Park and Bobby Bae’s similarities—the obvious one being Korean-Americans stuck in North Carolina, or the not-so-obvious, but wildly fierce academic rivalry they share—the two are discordant. Reluctantly following their parents’ wishes, Winter and Bobby must spend their summer visiting East Coast colleges; on their journey they get a taste of growing up, growing together, and growing comfortable in being uncomfortable. The dialogue and relationship between the pair, and the small cast of characters, is realistic to the high school experience, and incredibly natural. Talia Tucker is impressive with how honest she crafts the dialogue, how its cadence and terminology ebb and flow in an in-tune manner. However, the story is too often lost in this strength and unfortunately fails to achieve the poignancy and depth that novels which utilize more narrative, show-not-tell, elements excel at. Additionally, college-hopefuls may find the book repetitive due to its contents being heavily centered on the stressful situation they’re already in. Overall, teenagers will see themselves in Rules for Rule Breaking, which features all of the messy relationships, aspirations, and young love that mingle in their high school hallways: it’s a comfortable read.

As You Wish

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by Nashae Jones

Eighth grader, Bernadette (Birdie) Nkrumah has been best friends with Deve Banerjees since they were young. Birdie has always been just a little low on the social pyramid at school, mostly because she struggles to keep her overprotective mother under control which makes her just a little bit weird sometimes. This year she has PLANS! This is the year she’s going to get a boyfriend and be more normal. Deve does not understand this plan – he likes her just as she is. Birdie quickly learns that her family is related to an ancient family from Ghana who achieved the trickster god Anansi’s favor. Periodically down her family line, Anansi appears and grants the person 3 wishes. Wisher beware because Anansi never grants a favor without a hidden trick hiding in the fine print. Birdie thinks she’s being clever, but with every wish, the consequences get more tangled. I really enjoyed this book. Birdie’s older cousin was the protagonist of Nashae Jones’ other book Courtesy of Cupid and makes several appearances in this story. It is a completely separate story, and unnecessary to have read the other book first or at all. (Their families sure have been blessed – cursed?- by the gods, however!) 

A wonderful, magical, gently romantic book of finding one’s person who might just be standing right in front of you. I also really enjoyed the mythological character of Anansi in this story. Perfect book to put in the hands of a middle school reader looking for romance that is not at all over-the top. There’s not even any kissing.

Radiant

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by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

This heart-felt verse novel takes place in 1963. Cooper Dale, the main character, wants to be RADIANT! She wants to be a success! In her integrated class, she’s the only black girl, which sometimes causes her problems. Her nemesis is a white boy, Wade Carter, who needles and bullies her constantly. Her life gets more complicated when her mother goes to work cleaning the Carter house because the family is dealing with an illness. Cooper begins to feel torn between her hatred for Wade and her increasing sympathy for his family situation. Her strength and resiliency carry the book as she struggles to find forgiveness in her heart for her worst enemy, all the while catching Beatles fever herself (along with most of the female population of the time). This lovely verse novel gives us a glimpse into the civil rights struggles of the 1960s through Cooper’s eyes. She learns how to be radiant through the difficult times with the support of friends, family, her church, and her community. I enjoyed this book a lot and I think my readers of verse novels will enjoy this historical piece.

Space chasers

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by Melvin, Leland, illustrated by Alison Acton

This inspirational space science graphic novel tells the story of five students, two dogs, and an inspired real world astronaut who conceives of training and sending a young team of diverse people to a space station orbiting the earth. I loved the tension between individual characters’ story arcs and the idea of inspiring students to potential careers in space. I did find the premise a bit unrealistic, but once I got past that, the story had action, adventure, pitfalls, solutions, and ultimately (spoiler) a happy ending. I tried to imagine the kids who got stuck temporarily in this book in the same situation that the adults in real life faced last year while they were really stuck for much longer than their intended time aboard the space station. I guess that’s the part that felt unrealistic. I cannot imagine NASA allowing children alone in space. Or even dogs! I did like the diversity represented by the student astronauts and how each struggled to feel confident and adjust to everyone’s individual weaknesses. Artwork was colorful and appealing, though that is always such a personal choice. Clear expressive features on faces help convey emotion. I think students will enjoy this and be anxiously awaiting the next one in the series – out in February of 2026.

Giant Parsnip Soup

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by Daniela Sosa

Two friends discover a giant parsnip and think of all kinds of wonderful things to make – a rocket? A slide? A car? They decide on parsnip soup. The rest of this counting story includes the ingredients and growing group of friends that enjoy the soup at the end.

This lovely book is simply written and filled with colorful collage illustrations. Characters are diverse and text is accessible. Share this story with your younger students, who will delight in the active group of chefs that create a shared soup. Recommended.

Saturday Morning at the ‘Shop

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This book is a celebration of how a black barbershop plays an important role in the black community. The ‘shop is a sound booth, a gallery, a sports show, a comedy club, a playground, a showroom, a classroom, and a studio where community shares wisdom, joy, and love. Each spread begins with, “The ‘shop is our…” and continues with a description. Word choice and cadence reflect the culture of a black urban barbershop.

The illustrations are bright and cheerful and depict the shared experiences at the barbershop. Characters are mainly brown skinned boys and men with a variety of hair styles..

We Are the Builders!

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In We Are the Builders!, Ramla, a young woman wearing a hijab, walks through a diverse neighborhood identifying ways people young and old can make a difference in their communities. Each of ten identified community roles is described in poetic verse and includes an invitation to join in helping through that role. The book recognizes that improving a community requires the engagement of multiple roles.

The endpapers explain that We Are the Builders! is a picture book version of the authors social change ecosystem map. Through identifying the role that best fits our interests and strengths, we can change the world for the better.

Tricky Chopsticks

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Jenny Chow just can’t get the hang of chopsticks and everyone in her family knows it. Her struggle has her feeling like an outsider in her extended family. Jenny’s cousin is having a party featuring the family’s annual chopstick challenge. Some onomatopoeia and Chinese characters accompany her unsuccessful practice attempts. Jenny realized that trying the same thing again and again will not help her improve.

Jenny gains inspiration from a set of tongs and fashions her chopsticks with a rubber band and folded star; acting like a training wheels. Through persistence and practice Jenny successfully participates in the chopstick challenge, an important family tradition. Her family is there to cheer on her success.

Tricky Chopsticks is a story highlighting family traditions and ingenuity when faced with a challenge.

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Sourgrass

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Neighbors Sophia and May are best of friends who know they can always rely on each other to be there. One day their adventures together take them beyond their yards to a nearby field. There they find a wild blooming field of sourgrass. May shares, “My mom says it show up every spring, keeping a promise.” Sharing sourgrass becomes a sweet representation of their deep bond.

May moves away, straining their bonds of friendship, withering their joyful connection, and leaving Sophia with only their imaginary friends. Frequent letters soon dwindled to nothing. Sofia begins to wonder if she has been forgotten. Spring brings the promised return of the sourgrass and with it all of her wonderful memories. Inspired by the sourgrass’s promised return, Sophia reaches out again to May by letter hoping that the promise of their friendship will also be kept. The story ends with a return letter from May and a glimpse of a little redheaded girl who could fill the void of May’s absence.

Sophie is a dark skinned girl with cornrows and May, a light skinned girl with brown hair. Pastel illustrations convey the connection and the feelings of the two friends.