Penny’s family is always on the go. They are always in and out the door and no one stops to do puzzles, play the banjo, or scratch Bo-Belly’s ears. One day something green sprouts in the floor. Unsure what it is, but feeling that it is something special, Penny starts to nurture it. Soon a tree is growing in their house and the family starts to slow down, feel a sense of calm and spend more time at home.

The watercolor illustrations help evoke the sense of calm and wonder surrounding the mysterious tree that sprouts in the house. A wonderful reminder for overscheduled families to slow down and spend time together.

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.

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 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 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 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.

Proper Badger is off to school. He would never trash a classroom, but of course that is what inadvertently happens. Proper Badger thinks he is doing things right, but of course he is just creating chaos. Did he burrow under the desks? Did he eat the class pet for lunch? Of course not! Proper Badger would never! The illustrations add to the tale showing all of the mischief Proper Badger gets into.

Good night, Himalayas! The sun begins to set over the mountain crest.

Explore the Himalayan mountains with this bedtime story. Travel by bike or by boat. Swim in a lake or have a picnic. Each page explores a different feature of the Himalayan mountains with a text box that includes a pronunciation guide and facts about the area that will introduce readers to an area they may not be familiar with. The illustrations are vibrant, inviting, and fill the 2 page spread.

This graphic novel series highlights memorable sports accomplishments from the past. From boxing to tennis, horse racing to rowing the series highlights the achievements of 20th century athletes.

• Series includes:
  • The Miracle on Ice
  • Rumble in the Jungle: Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman
  • Billie Jean King and the Battle of the Sexes
  • Going for Gold: Wilma Rudolph and the 1960 Olympics
  • Off to the Races!: Secretariat and the Triple Crown
  • A Winning Crew: The 1936 U.S. Olympic Rowing Team

The stories are factually accurate and told through illustration, text boxes, and speech bubbles. The speech bubbles with red font are direct historical quotes. Speech bubbles with black font are recreated dialog for the sake of the narrative story.

Fox loves sharing a cup of cocoa around the fire with his friends. But as the sun sets, all his friends head off to bed. Feeling lonely, Fox sets out to find someone awake with whom to share a cup of cocoa. He helps turtle, bear, rabbit, and duckling, but as soon as they can, they head off to bed. Finally in frustration, fox yells, “Doesn’t anyone want to have cocoa with me?” All the animals grumpily rouse to “Shhh!” fox. Fox starts to cry. Owl, bat, frog, and raccoon gather around to comfort him and are thrilled with the idea of having a cup of cocoa with him. As dawn arrives, they all head to sleep…until fox is awakened by all of his daytime friends arrive to share a cup a cocoa.

A fun and engaging title to include when studying nocturnal and diurnal animals.