Category Archives: Reviewer’s Library Type

The Los Angeles Chargers (EPIC NFL Team Profiles)

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Discover the Los Angeles Chargers through this captivating team profile! Written at a 2nd grade reading level, this book is ideal for elementary to middle school students. With vibrant photos and engaging text, it highlights the team’s history, accomplishments, and legendary players, keeping readers thoroughly engaged.

The book includes helpful features like a table of contents, a timeline of key events in the team’s history, a map of the team’s location, a glossary, and an index. A “To Learn More” page encourages students to further explore the Chargers, both in the library and online. This book is a must-read for any young Chargers fan!

The Most Magnificent Maker’s A to Z by Ashley Spires

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    This ABC book pairs perfectly with the popular The Most Magnificent Thing. As readers go through the alphabet, we follow the maker as she tries to create yet another magnificent thing. Each featured word or phrase is followed by descriptions that support STEAM thinking, like “Q is for QUESTIONS. Why isn’t it working? What would make it better?” Readers will be inspired as the maker “Experiments” and makes “Mistakes” until the girl and her pup assistant find success.

    Alex Morgan (Sports Superstars Series)

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    “Sports Superstars” presents biographies of some of today’s most popular athletes. These books introduce the athlete’s background with a focus on how they became the superstars they are today. There are also numerous “fun facts” about everything from their favorite hobby to what’s on their trophy shelves. Full of nonfiction text features, these books would be great for students writing reports, getting an introduction to biographies, or just learning about one of their favorite athletes.

    Alex Morgan has been inspiring young soccer players for over ten years, and this biography shows why. Following her early skill in the sport, hard work in school, and eventual success on the world stage, the book gives a full picture of why Alex Morgan is such a superstar. Morgan’s role in the US Women’s National Team’s fight for equal pay also gives students a model for self-advocacy. I highly recommend adding this biography to any school library.

    A Bindi Can Be… by Suma Subramaniam

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    Suma Subramaniam’s joyful book highlights all the things a bindi can be to the young narrator of this story. The illustrations are bright, beautiful, and full of the delight the girl feels while wearing her bindi. The book does a fantastic job balancing providing information about what a bindi is and celebrating its place on the girl’s forehead. The back of the book features information about what bindis are, why people wear them, and how they are made. There is also a glossary of terms and pronunciation guide to help anyone not familiar with the terminology in the book. This is a great addition to any home or school library.

    Kevin Durant (Sports Superstars Series)

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    “Sports Superstars” presents biographies of some of today’s most popular athletes. These books introduce the athlete’s background with a focus on how they became the superstars they are today. There are also numerous “fun facts” about everything from their favorite hobby to what’s on their trophy shelves. Full of nonfiction text features, these books would be great for students writing reports, getting an introduction to biographies, or just learning about one of their favorite athletes.

    After watching team USA take home the gold medal in the 2024 Olympics, kids will love learning more about superstar Kevin Durant. Kids will also enjoy the early photographs of Durant and learning about how his long career began. The book follows his career from being drafted to the NBA through championships and trades to where he is today. It also gives information about his career threatening injury and how he now supports injured athletes on their road to recovery. This is an inspiring and high interest pick for any school library.

    Cristiano Ronaldo (Sports Superstars Series)

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    “Sports Superstars” presents biographies of some of today’s most popular athletes. These books introduce the athlete’s background with a focus on how they became the superstars they are today. There are also numerous “fun facts” about everything from their favorite hobby to what’s on their trophy shelves. Full of nonfiction text features, these books would be great for students writing reports, getting an introduction to biographies, or just learning about one of their favorite athletes.

    The debate about whether Messi or Ronaldo holds the title of greatest soccer player of all time is often heard in the sports section of my library. This book is the perfect resource for all those kids needing some backup for their argument that it is, in fact, Ronaldo. The book provides a timeline of Ronaldo’s rise to soccer stardom and also gives information about his business enterprises. This one won’t stay on the shelf.

    Chloe Kim (Sports Superstars Series)

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    “Sports Superstars” presents biographies of some of today’s most popular athletes. These books introduce the athlete’s background with a focus on how they became the superstars they are today. There are also numerous “fun facts” about everything from their favorite hobby to what’s on their trophy shelves. Full of nonfiction text features, these books would be great for students writing reports, getting an introduction to biographies, or just learning about one of their favorite athletes.

    Chloe Kim has been a competitive snowboarder since the time she was six years old. By age eight, she was training with the U.S national team. Young snowboarders and athletes of all types will love learning about Kim’s path and successes. There are numerous interesting facts about Kim’s traditions, her favorite things, and even her own Barbie doll. This is a great addition to any school library.

    Like Lava in My Veins by Derrick Barnes

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    Derrick Barnes has created yet another empowering and engaging picture book that will inspire elementary age kids. Like Lava in My Veins follows Bobby Beacon as he starts at a new school for kids with superpowers. Bobby has the power to control fire and lava, but when he gets heated, those powers can get away from him. His teacher at his new school doesn’t understand Bobby or see his amazing talents, and he ends up in the principal’s office. When he’s transferred to a new class, though, Bobby finally starts to feel seen and understand how to control his fire. This picture book is drawn in graphic novel style, which will make it immediately appealing to many readers, but it’s also a phenomenal story for social emotional development. I love that his “fire” is shown to be a superpower. The book showed the value of controlled anger when faced with injustice, which is something I haven’t seen tackled in a picture book. Like Lava in My Veins is a unique and powerful book that will be appreciated by adults and kids alike.

    This Wolf Was Different by Katie Slivensky

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    A wolf cub is born to a pack, but she doesn’t feel or act like her brothers and sisters. She is, as the title says, a little bit different. Eventually the wolf finds something else in the forest that is quite different, and a bond is formed. This lovely imagining of how wolves began their transition to domestication will capture the hearts of young wolf and dog lovers alike. The beautiful illustrations add to the dreamy quality of this envisioned tale. The text is simple enough to be understood by very young readers but the ideas are complex enough to capture the imagination of mid level elementary students as well.

    Yaya and the Sea by Karen Good Marable

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    Yaya and the Sea lets readers follow along on a special trip to the ocean. The book begins with Yaya and her mom waking before dawn and traveling through the city to meet Yaya’s aunties on the train. On the train, Yaya listens to her mom and her friends chat, and we understand how fortunate she feels to be included on this journey. When they reach their destination, we get to watch along with Yaya as the four friends participate in a special ritual to welcome spring and new beginnings. Tonya Engel’s illustrations depict this peaceful and significant moment in beautiful detail. Yaya and the Sea is a lovely story, and I can see many readers wanting to take this serene journey with Yaya time and time again.