Annette Feels Free

Annette Feels Free book cover

written & illustrated by Katie Mazeika

40 pages, 4–8 years; published 2022 by Beach Lane Books

Such an interesting biography about world-class swimmer Annette Kellerman. Annette Feels Free is packed with information and yet it never feels didactic. Kellerman was a remarkable woman, and it’s fantastic to share her story with young children. Mazeika’s illustrations have delicate lines paired with powerful colors and composition. She shows how Annette went from wearing leg braces, to swimming, to winning races, and then designing her own swimwear. An amazing inspiration for females, and any child with disabilities, to show how you can break barriers and achieve success while striving to be your true self. 

Reading is an exercise in empathy; an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while. 

—Malorie Blackman

Wishes

by Mượn Thị Văn, illustrated by Victo Ngai 

40 pages, 4–8 years; published 2021 by Orchard Books at Scholastic

Such a profound message in only 75 words. Muon shares crucial information by attributing wishes to inanimate objects, and Ngai’s illustratrations add much more content to each spread. This family’s journey across the vast ocean is a scary and lonely time, but the muted color palette makes the scenes intriguing and dreamlike rather than frightening. Wishes is a wonderful, heartfelt story about refugee families and the sacrifices they make in order to better their lives. The art note adds informative historical and personal details as well. Wishes is a must-read that will inspire empathy.

A room without books is like a body without a soul.

—Marcus Tullius Cicero

Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates

Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates book cover

by Cheryl B. Klein, illustrated by Abhi Alwar

32 pages, 3–7 years; published 2022 by Dial Books

A gem of a story about the challenges of relationships brought to life by cohabitating hamsters. Klein addresses this complex topic with a simple and fun scenario children will relate to. Despite the confines of a cage, Henry tries to distance himself from George, his chatterbox of a roommate. Henry speaks few words but all with optimum effectiveness. This story is both humorous and heartfelt, pairing well with quirky illustrations by Alwar. Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates is a great read-aloud with a wonderful message about compromise. 

You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild to pick up a book and read to a child.

—Anita Merina

The Beak Book

The Beak Book cover

written & illustrated by Robin Page

40 pages, 3–8 years; published 2021 by Beach Lane Books

Robin Page’s The Beak Book packs a visual punch. The stark white pages contain brilliantly colorful birds. These closeup illustrations of beaks contain unique patterns and intense gazes. Each zoom view is accompanied by a small vignette of the entire bird’s body. These two perspectives do a great job of entertaining and educating readers. Back matter adds yet another layer of intrigue by providing geographic locations, diet, and even the size ratio of one bird to another. What a striking compilation of non-fiction material!

Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.

—Frederick Douglas

The Cot in the Living Room

by Hilda Eunice Burgos, illustrated by Gaby D’Alessandro

40 pages, 4–8 years; published 2021 by Kokila

The Cot in the Living Room has a universal appeal to children who have all felt at one time or another that things were unfair. Burgos presents young characters whose parents have diverse jobs that create a need for overnight child care. D’Alessandro’s illustrations are packed with details, and the wordless spread at the end is a delightful bonus. The jealousy about sleeping on the cot with great views of the George Washington bridge eventually turns into understanding that it’s never easy to sleep anywhere without your family. What a touching story about community and culture, and looking out for one another.

Reading for me, is spending time with a friend.

—Gary Paulsen

Berry Song

Berry Song book cover

written & illustrated by Michaela Goade 

40 pages, 4–8 years; published 2022 by Little, Brown and Company

The Berry Song book cover alone is stunning. The pages inside reveal more beauty and a poetic story about a young girl and her grandmother on a hunt for wild berries. Michaela Goades’ artwork bears luscious colors and mystical layers sure to captivate the eyes of every reader. Her words read like a rhythmic song, and the attention to detail includes renderings of different berries on the endpapers complete with a caution about toxic look-alikes. Backmatter describing the foraging way of life for the indigenous peoples of Alaskan is not to be missed. Such a beautiful ode to a grandmother. 

I think books are like people, in the sense that they’ll turn up in your life when you most need them.

—Emma Thompson

Sunrise Summer

written & illustrated by Matthew Swanson & Robbi Behr 

48 pages, 4–7 years; published 2020 by Imprint by Macmillan

This fascinating story about commercial fishing in Alaska becomes even more fascinating when you learn it’s from the illustrator’s childhood. Robbi Behr brings her family’s story to life with deeply saturated images packed with details. Kids will love her character’s independence as she helps work the salmon nets on the summer shoreline. Matthew Swanson tells the complex story in a simple, engaging tone that makes you feel like you’re part of the fishing team. Fact-packed backmatter adds even more interest. Sunrise Summer is a beautiful book about teamwork, family traditions, and living in harmony with nature. 

Books to the ceiling, Books to the sky, My pile of books is a mile high.

How I love them! How I need them!

I’ll have a long beard by the time I read them.

— Arnold Lobel

Chez Bob

written & illustrated by Bob Shea

40 pages, 3-5 years; published 2021 by Hatchett Book Group

From the very first line, this book is 100% Bob Shea humor. Chez Bob is such a delight to read and is bursting with dynamic illustrations. Shea has a flair for getting to the heart of a story with simple, yet witty language (many a line will amuse the adult reading). Kids will grow fond of alligator Bob as quickly as he grows fond of the birds on his nose. What a fun way to show the importance of friendship and what it means to be part of a community.

Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.

— Lemony Snicket