Chalk the Walk is a fun and happy book about two kids who use chalk to make art on the sidewalk. As they draw, more people from the neighborhood join in. Everyone works together to make something beautiful. The words in the book rhyme, and the pictures get more colorful as the story goes on. The drawings show how art can bring people together. This book is great for young kids. It shows how a simple piece of chalk can help you use your imagination and have fun with others.
Girls on the Rise is a powerful picture book by Amanda Gorman, the famous poet from the presidential inauguration. Her poem celebrates girls for being brave, strong, and kind. It shows that girls are amazing on their own—but even stronger when they support each other.
The pictures by Loveis Wise are colorful and full of life. They show girls from all over the world being proud, bold, and hopeful.
This book is great for young readers. It’s easy to understand, fun to read out loud, and reminds all girls that they can do great things—together.
Reviewed by OHS student, Rory C.
This intense thriller novel is one that will surely keep readers on their toes and wondering what is the real truth.
Harlow Ford has spent her whole life running with her mom, Cora, never truly knowing what they are afraid of. As they wound up in a car accident and are faced with tragic decisions, Cora tells Harlow to never stop running before she dies, forcing Harlow to make a choice; keep living in secrecy, or finally face the truth?
The eye-catching mystery is great at keeping you wondering if what they are saying is true. You never expect what the next page may hold for you. In addition, the wonderful atmosphere and setting of the novel embraces the readers completely. It feels as if you are inside of Harlow’s mind and feeling it with her.
I like the plot of the book. At first, I thought it would not be that interesting or surprising but as I went on, it did shock me a little.I was not expecting the ending or all of these hidden twists and that was pretty exciting. The characters were also well-developed. They were not good or bad but just human. It was great to see characters who truly feel human and are well-rounded people. I dislike how the book is paced. It felt as if the first 3/4 of the book were the same thing over and over. Obviously, it is a mystery so they cannot hand you the answer to everything right away. But, I felt like this was a little excessive. Harlow kind of only had the same knowledge the whole time and it got very repetitive. The story itself is intriguing but the pacing makes it a little less enjoyable. It was almost like a dump of information once we got to the end and it made sense but it was still annoying.
If you like thrillers and horror, I would recommend this book. It encapsulates you completely and brings you into the atmosphere of the novel.
Wren’s Nest is a heartwarming picture book about a girl named Wren who loves watching birds with her grandpa. When she was a baby, wrens built a nest outside her window. Every spring, she and her grandpa watched baby birds grow. But when Wren moves to the city, she misses the meadow and the wrens—until she finds a new bird family nesting on their porch.
This story is about change, love, and the beauty of nature. The soft, colorful pictures help tell the story in a calm, peaceful way. The book also includes facts and tips about birdwatching and what to do if you find a nest. Great for lessons on nature, birds, and family connections.
This Book Is Not for You by Howard Pearlstein, with fun pictures by Susanna Covelli, tells a silly story through a grumpy narrator who says the book is boring and has nothing cool in it. But the pictures show the opposite—there are monsters, aliens, ninjas, and more! Kids will laugh at how wrong the narrator is and enjoy spotting all the exciting things happening around him.
The book is fun and playful, especially for read-aloud time. But the joke gets repeated a lot, and some students might lose interest. It’s good for a quick laugh and to talk about point of view, but it’s not the strongest book for deeper lessons or repeated reading.
Robots Don’t Make You Go to Bed by Laurel Gale, illustrated by Susanna Covelli, is a humorous and heartfelt story that encourages students to reflect on the value of family and the emotional support caregivers provide. When Owen builds a robot mom to escape rules and routines, he soon learns that while robots might skip bedtime and chores, they can’t offer the love, comfort, and connection that real parents do.
With its engaging illustrations and light science-fiction twist, this book is a great tool for discussions about family roles, emotions, and even early STEM topics. It’s especially effective when exploring themes of empathy and gratitude.
Steve: A Pretty Exceptional Horse by Kelly Collier is a funny and easy-to-read graphic novel that attempts to help kids learn an important lesson—being yourself is what really makes you special. Steve the Horse wants to stand out, so he finds a shiny horn and tries to show off. But his friends remind him that he doesn’t need fancy things to be important. This book could be used for classroom discussions about confidence, friendship, and what it means to be “exceptional.” Early readers may enjoy the humor, but the message misses the mark.
Lights Out by Jessica Stremer is a simple story with a big message. It tells the story of a young girl who finds a bird that got lost in the bright lights of the city. She learns that too much light at night can confuse birds that are trying to fly home. So, she asks her neighbors to turn off their lights—and they do!
This story shows how small actions, like turning off a light, can help animals and protect nature. With beautiful pictures and an easy-to-follow message, Lights Out is a great book to start conversations about helping the environment.
Megan Fullmer Perry’s The Overlook Book uses layered paper collage and shifting visual viewpoints to help students understand how perspective shapes understanding. By showing scenes from multiple angles, the book encourages critical thinking, empathy, and open-minded discussion around themes like friendship, inclusion, and kindness. A valuable resource for social-emotional learning and classroom conversations about seeing beyond first impressions. This book is a creative tool for teaching perspective and empathy.
Where to Hide a Star by Oliver Jeffers is a heartwarming tale perfect for sparking classroom conversations about friendship, imagination, and empathy. When a beloved star goes missing, the Boy embarks on a space-bound adventure that introduces a new character and a powerful message about sharing what brings us joy. With its rich illustrations and gentle humor, this book is an ideal read-aloud and a valuable addition to social-emotional learning lessons. Where to Hide a Star is a stellar story of friendship and wonder.
