THE SEED OF COMPASSION
THE SEED OF COMPASSION by His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivers a valuable lesson in Compassion.
It shows his life as a Buddhist and the many lessons that the monks taught him. No matter how many lessons he learned, he always remembered the seed of compassion that his mother planted in him as a child.
THE STORY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
THE STORY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR by Christine Platt is a middle grade book portraying the life of Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
From his early years, witnessing injustice to his march in Alabama from Selma to Montgomery, it inspires children to speak up for equality and justice.
This book spreads a message of unity and strength and encourages people to stand against injustice, no matter your age or race.
Standing up for what’s right can help create positive change in this world. This book is powerful and a total must-have for every home.
EGG OR EYE?
Chick and Brain, EGG OR EYEBALL is a funny series by Newbery Honor winner and one of our favorite author/illustrators, Cece Bell.
In this new book, Brain finds an object he believes is an eyeball, but Chick begs to differ. He thinks it’s an egg. A debate ensues, and it wakes up their other friends, and they all join in the debate over whether it’s an egg or an eyeball.
ALL Cece Bell’s books are hilarious, and Chick and Brain will have you cracking up. What do you think it was, an egg or an eyeball? The answer will surprise you. Special thanks to our book besties @candlewickpress for this book.
THE BOY WHO DREAMED OF INFINITY
I first learned about world-renowned Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan when I saw the movie “The Man Who Knew Infinity” starring Dev Patel and loved every minute. (Check it out)
Amy Alznauer’s THE BOY WHO DREAMED OF INFINITY features his life as a child growing up in South India. Born in 1887, as a child he never talked much, but he had a passion for numbers which often got him in trouble. He wanted to understand how many numbers made a single number by understanding how they work.
Deemed unteachable by several teachers, Ramanujan left school and studied math on his own, using college math books. He studied math every chance he got and discovered intricate formulas and patterns. Will an endless list of tiny numbers add up to one or infinity?
Soon Ramanujan’s ideas on infinity were admired all over the world. He was a genius at Mathematics, and like most child geniuses, often misunderstood.
With exquisite and vibrant illustrations by Daniel Miyares, this book is perfect for young aspiring Mathematicians. It’s very inspirational and encourages children to embrace their differences and to never be afraid to explore their curiosity. Thank you to our bookish besties @candlewickpress for sending us this gem. Perfect for middle graders.
EXQUISITE
EXQUISITE by Suzanna Slade celebrates the life and poetry of Gwendolyn Brooks.
Gwendolyn grew up in Chicago and loved writing poems. She sat on her back porch and drew inspiration from colorful clouds and from the people in her neighborhood.
After many magazines rejected her poems, Gwendolyn persevered and never stopped writing inspiration poetry.
She wrote poems of the war, the civil rights movement, entertainers, and shared important stories about her life growing.
Gwendolyn later won the Pulitzer Prize and became the first African-American to do so.
Gwendolyn Brooks is an icon and her books and poems still live on today and it’s truly an inspiration for young poets worldwide. I couldn’t get enough of the vibrant, canvas-like illustrations by Cozbi A. Cabrera.
SELENA: QUEEN OF TEJANO MUSIC
SELENA: QUEEN OF TEJANO MUSIC by Silvia López celebrates the life of renowned Tejano musician Selena Quintanilla.
Selena grew up in Texas to a family of musicians, so there was always singing and dancing in her home. Her father had a Tejano band where Selena sang the lead when she was just 9 years old.
She later formed her band called Selena y Los Dinos and won many awards, including a Grammy, and inspired many around the world.
This book is so beautiful and the vibrant illustrations by Paola Escobar help to capture the essence of Mexican culture throughout the entire book.
Selena Quintanilla excelled in a male-dominated industry and helped to bring change to the platform. Her legacy still lives on. Perfect for little middle-grade musicians and also available in Spanish. Link in bio to get this and more of our favorites.
YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK
Jamia Wilson’s YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK, celebrates the life and achievements of 52 Black Hero’s who have greatly contributed to their country.
It not only features African American‘s but also Black people from many countries around the world. Some include Brian Lara from Trinidad and Tobago, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie from Nigeria and Usain Bolt from Jamaica. Zoom in to view the Hall of Famers.
The book is literally full of Color(pun intended) due to the brilliant vibrancy of Andrea Pippins Illustrations.
Young, Gifted and Black is perfect for teaching diversity and great for parents and educators who want to introduce different cultures at an early age.
PEYTON PICKS THE PERFECT PIE
PEYTON PICKS THE PERFECT PIE: A Thanksgiving Celebration by Jack Bishop is a scrumptiously delicious book that celebrates food and family.
Peyton is very particular, but not picky. She likes her dog, long division, and even dodgeball. Not picky at all, but particular about food. She doesn’t like it when two foods touch on her plate; she doesn’t like green foods, slimy, lumpy, or flaky food either.
As Thanksgiving approaches, Peyton planned to try pie, and there was going to be lots of it. From British lemon chess to ruffled milk pie that originated in Greece, Peyton has a tough choice.
Pie is so flaky and slimy, would she be able to try it? Alas, her aunt Polly enters with some ice cream. Everything is better with ice cream, she proclaimed, and Peyton couldn’t agree more. She officially loves pies, especially when it’s topped with ice cream.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for family gatherings with yummy food and it might be difficult for picky eaters, but incorporating something new can make a big difference.
Coupled with delicious pie recipes and vibrant, fall illustrations by Michelle Mee Nutter, this book is the perfect Thanksgiving treat.
ISLANDBORN
We love this book called ISLANDBORN by Junot Díaz. Not only because it’s such a beautiful story but the illustrations by Leo Espinosa are the best…ever! It’s full of color and definitely reminds you of the Islands.
In the book, Lola has to draw a picture that reminds her of the island she came from, but unlike the other children, she can’t seem to remember, so she sets out on a mission to find out everything about the island from her family and by asking people in her neighborhood.
You’ll be amazed at all the things Lola learned. From the music to the food to some beautiful moments in history and also some terrifying ones.
The book is completely relatable and absolutely relevant. It’s important to teach children about their ancestors and where they came from. Knowing your culture and heritage is beautiful.
Younger children will love the beautiful, vibrant pictures and older children will love reading it too. A must-have for every home.
ME AND THE WORLD
Did you know that people in India read the most and that Hong Kong is the most visited city in the world?
ME AND THE WORLD by Mireia Trius is a magnificent infographic book about this beautiful and diverse world we live in.
From the different types of families to different jobs, homes, school uniforms, and even playground games, this book highlights our differences, and what makes each country, each culture, and each person special?
Thanks to the vibrant and vivid illustrations by Joana Casals, this is the perfect pictorial Encyclopedia for children and even adults.
Teachers and Educators will love it, we couldn’t put this book down.
SLEUTH & SOLVE
SLEUTH & SOLVE by Victor Escandell features 20+ mind-twisting mysteries that are interactive fun.
Each puzzle allows you to think logically and imaginatively to solve them, which encourages critical thinking.
The stories are historical fiction, so it awakens imagination, and you can play by yourself or with friends and family.
We are obsessed with this book, and it is perfect for middle graders and young adults who love mysteries.
Each page is ladened with bright, vibrant illustrations that are inviting and literally look like a board game in a book.
TREE OF WONDER
TREE OF WONDER: The Many Marvelous Lives Of A Rainforest Tree by Kate Messner is absolutely one of our favorite books.
The rainforest is home to thousands of creatures and thousands of trees. Many creatures live in trees, and the ALMENDRO TREE is home to many of them.
It produces millions of flowers when it blooms, which attracts animals from all over the forest. From great green macaws to agoutis and hundreds of poisonous dart frogs, it provides food and shelter.
Not only is the Almendro tree the source of support and protection to animals, but the tree also benefits from some of its tenants. Howler monkeys take fruit from the Almendro tree and drop the seeds on the ground, which produces more trees.
This symbiotic relationship allows each creature to thrive in their habitat.
Children will love learning about animals and this wonderful tree. It’s perfect for little biologist and great for teachers and educators.
The vibrant and vivid acrylic illustrations by Simona Mulazzani capture the entire essence of this book. Thank you @chroniclekidsbooks for sending us this book.
SOUND
SOUND by Romana Romanyshyn is absolutely beautiful. It pays homage to sound by featuring the many ways sound influences us.
Sound is the vibration of particles in space received by the organs of hearing, which is the ear and measured in decibels.
Whether loud, soft, familiar, or new, sound is all around us. We create music because of sound, and we all have our unique way of sounding. This is our voice.
This book is marvelous and loaded with information about sounds. From the frequency to the many ways we hear sounds, it is definitely a must-have for little scientists.
The bright and vibrant neon illustrations by Avdriy Lesiv are breathtaking.
THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE
THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE by Thomas Harding is the true story of a house, its history, and the four families who make it home.
The house was home to a doctor and his family, and they lived happily, playing and planting veggies and swimming in the lake, but soon some angry men came and took the family away, leaving the house alone.
A year later, another family lived, and they filled the house with music and love, but that family fled because of the war. The house was once empty again.
Soon another family moved in and found shelter and safety from the war outside, but soon the house was struck with bullets and the family had to escape to another shelter leaving the house alone.
With cobwebs and leaves all around, the house was abandoned, but finally, a new family came after many years.
They fixed up the dilapidated house and children played in the lake once again. The house felt alive and full of laughter and love, but a wall was built restricting them from enjoying their wonderful surroundings.
After some years the wall was broken and the children ran and swam free, but everyone moved away again and the house was along.
Then finally a young man entered and with the help from neighbors, they fixed the house until it was new again.
This book is absolutely amazing and holds strong bonds between families and the value a home brings. People say a house is not a house without people in it.
The wonderful illustrations by Britta Teckentrup are magnificent
It did not matter who occupies the house, whether it was German spies or refugees; the house served a purpose to provide warm shelter and absorb the love and kindness that’s within.
Thank you to our besties for sending us this gem.