A library is a keeper of stories. A keeper of memories. A keeper of hope.
Founded in 1893, the library at New York’s Jewish Theological Seminary collected the stories of Jewish people from around the world. These stories and the information preserved in this building were particularly precious because historically so many Jewish stories have been erased through war and suppression. The top level of the library’s tower caught fire in 1966, endangering the whole collection. Despite efforts to protect as many of the books as possible, water damage was catastrophic. Neighbors and strangers alike gathered “Operation Booklift” to hand over hand pass the books out of the ruined building. Many methods were tried to safely dry the books until volunteers finally found that repeatedly placing paper towels between every other page dried the books. Ultimately, 70,000 books were turned to ash, but 170,000 books were saved.
A Keeper of Stories is a reminder that even in times of devastation, when individuals work as a community, much can be saved. A library is a keeper of stories, but we are the keepers of stories too.
The book A Tree for Me is a celebration of the diversity of trees found in a temperate climate. A boy, his father, and a dog take a walk through the park and point out noteworthy characteristics of the trees they come across. The details described are typical of what a young child might notice and are usually inadequate to differentiate specific trees. The story ends with the boy choosing a tree from a nursery to plant at their home.
Colorful illustrations lend the book a cheerful feel. A Tree for Me is a good pick for Arbor Day discussions or for a young explorers just starting to notice the world around them. Endpapers include a picture glossary of the trees from the park as well as a bulleted list and resources titled “Why We Love Trees.”
You Are Not Sleepy tells the very relatable story of a pig who, though it is nap time, is not at all sleepy. It begins with the room being too bright, then too dark, then too moth-filled, and continues in this fashion throughout the rest of the story. It’s a great choice for any kids who love the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series as it will feel like a new twist on a familiar structure. Teague’s illustrations are also a delight, and the expressions on the supporting characters are sure to bring joy to young readers.
The Pharaoh vs. the Felines tells of Cambyses II, ruler of Persia, and Pharaoh Amasis II, ruler of Ancient Egypt. While it might seem challenging to make this historical conflict engaging and accessible for early elementary readers, Fox pulls it off by centering the narrative around one irresistible subject: cats.
The book begins with a brief explanation of the fertile crescent and its historical significance. The author goes on to tell the story of the conflict between Camyses and Amasis that led to the eventual invasion of Egypt. Mixed in with the story are numerous cat puns and cute illustrations, so while this would be a great story to share during a unit on early civilizations, it’s also sure to be a hit with cat fans.
Izzy is having a terrible day. She’s the self-proclaimed “President of Mistakes,” and though we don’t know right away what she’s done, it’s clear she believes it’s a big one. As she visits family and helps make tortillas, her frustration only grows as nothing seems to go right. Eventually, the truth of her mistake spills out, leading to a sweet moment of connection as she and her lito make “mistacos” together. Soon, the whole family joins in, and Izzy begins to feel lighter.
This is a wonderful SEL story. Many kids will relate to Izzy’s frustration and the sense that everything is going wrong. Kids will find her big confession hilarious, and Kinkz’s bright, expressive illustrations add charm and humor to every page. At its heart, this story is a reminder that talking about our feelings is often the first step toward feeling better.
Kinkz also weaves Spanglish naturally throughout the text, creating a voice that will feel authentic and familiar to many readers. At the end, she makes a heartfelt plea for Spanglish to be accepted and celebrated, especially when spoken by children who are navigating two languages and cultures. This book would be a great addition to any home or school library.
Written by Dorson Plourde and Illustrated by Isabella Fassler
Two brothers hatch a plan on a hot summer day that involves fries, ketchup, and a whole lot of waiting. The younger brother tries to fill the silence with questions, restless in the stillness, while the older brother insists they must stay quiet if they want the garbage gulls to arrive. Eventually, the gulls do come, whisking the boys away from the sweltering concrete of the parking lot.
Plourde’s poetic style makes this a delightful read-aloud, and kids will relate to both the sticky, endless feeling of a hot summer day and the longing to escape it. Fassler’s illustrations perfectly match the mood, encouraging readers to slow down and soak in that atmosphere of waiting. This is a perfect summer read and is ideal for sharing aloud in the classroom, either before the break begins or as kids reflect on it after returning to school.
Karima’s world is alive through sounds, not through words. She delights in the everyday music around her: the scurrying of squirrel feet, the beep of bus cards being scanned, the symphony of sounds in the park. She doesn’t speak aloud in the text, and so, to others, she is “Quiet Karima.” There is much more to her than that, though. “Quiet Karima is not all that I am,” she thinks after expressing herself through music.
This story could connect with so many of the quiet kids constantly being prodded to speak more or being called shy in most every interaction. It may also speak to nonverbal kids or help other children understand that complexity can live in quiet too. It celebrates the richness of spirit that can hide in the most seemingly introverted kids.
Written by Elizabeth Dennis and illustrated by Clarice Elliott
How do kids around the world go to school? What do they do when they get there? These questions and more are answered in this Ready-to-Read (level 2) book. Three short chapters the daily lives of school children worldwide. Chapter one shares kids walking, riding bikes, gondolas, boats, trains and buses and even a snow machine to school. Chapter two talks about what school looks like, i.e. where it’s held and who is there. Chapter three is about lunch, recess, homework and school day length. In the end, it’s noted that whatever school looks like around the world, it’s still kids learning just like the reader. A map and added activity (create your own school) are nice extras.
Three simple chapters have longer sentences and color illustrations. High interest vocabulary and unfamiliar words are bolded with pronunciation in parentheses. Characters are diverse and the schools span the world, giving a nice global perspective that is not Eurocentric. This interesting book will be a great addition to your library and a nice opening book for the new school year. Highly recommended.
Written by Ellen Potter and illustrated by Sara Cristofori
Cordelia and Isaac receive a message via carrier pigeon from their friend, Fenton (a rat), asking for their help in Central Park Zoo. A mysterious creature is scaring the animals. This time, the sea lions saw the scary creature with glowing white eyes and the with pointy ears and a bushy tail. Cordelia offers to catch it. They meet Viola, the Central Park Zoo groundskeeper , and tell her all about it. She solves part of the mystery by telling them that the sea lions must have seen a coyote, the same one that has been spotted all around Central Park. She also shares that it is lonely, because it doesn’t have a pack. Cordelia and Isaac vow to help. They want to question other animals and decide to enlist Fenton’s help asking the dogs in Central Park if they know anything. After all, Fenton know s how to speak dog language. Princess Cha-Cha leads them to the coyote’s den after Fenton helps her dodge her owner by being chased by other dogs. They locate the coyote, named Ghost, and decide that the best way to help him find his pack is to take him to Viola. How to do that? Dress him up in Princess Cha-Cha’s spaghetti and meatball outfit and join a parade with dogs and baseball players. All goes well until the dogs realize that Ghost is a coyote and things get a dicey. Cordelia asks the dogs (through Fenton) to help Ghost find his pack – first, by protecting him from an approaching dog catcher. The dogs rally round Ghost and chase the dog catcher away and the parade resumes. Cordelia, Isaac, Fenton and Ghost finally make their way to Viola, who promises to help Ghost and plans to take him to a wildlife rehabilitation center where he can get the help he needs.
Cordelia, Isaac and Fenton end the day in the tree house in Central Park for a sleepover. Shakespeare, the squirrel, tucks them in and Cordelia thinks about her next adventures, knowing that wherever they take her, she’ll always come home to Central Park and the Squirrel that raised her.
This sweet story is the third in a series, Squirlish, about an intriguing young girl that lives in Central Park, knows squirrel language and helps her animal friends whenever they ask. This is a great book for younger readers that are moving into chapter books that are a little longer. Black and white illustrations are scattered throughout the story and chapters are short. Kids will love that Cordelia is not only a friend to animals, she can also speak to some of them! How cool is that? Add this to your library. It won’t stay on the shelves very long. Highly recommended.
Caged is a very poignant picture book based on the author’s experiences as a child in a Hmong refugee camp. It tells how being watched over by guards, eating meager meals, and waiting for approval to leave were normalized in the lives of children. Yet despite all of this, the children’s imagination, youthful joy, and loving connection to family make the story one of hope. While physically caged, the essence of the individual, the families, and the larger community refused to be bound. Creative and colorful illustrations help juxtapose the feelings of confinement and hope.
In the Author’s Note, Kao Kalia Yang describes how a question from her daughter about the detention of immigrant children on the US-Mexican border inspired her to revisit her experiences as a child in a refugee camp. Beyond it’s picture book audience, this powerfully personal story has abundant curriculum connections for secondary social studies.
