Sal and Gabi Break the Universe By Carlos Hernandez Guest Review by Sally Castillo (Lewis & Clark MAT 2021-2022) Sal and Gabi Break the Universe starts with an ordinary “new kid at school” plot device. Sal Vidón, who recently moved to Miami from Connecticut, gets sent to the Principal’s office on his third day […]
Month: October 2021
Fry Bread
Written by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal Reviewed by Miles Hartfelder (2021-2022) When you ask someone about their culture, they will most likely mention certain foods they associate with that culture. Food plays an important role in each of our lives and in each of our respective histories. In Fry Bread, an […]
Families Can
Written by Dan Saks and Illustrated by Brooke Smart Reviewed by Emily Richardson, 2021-2022 “A family is love, no matter how it looks, And when they are together, like the pages in this book, Your family’s a story that’s unique and true. A family is beautiful, as beautiful as you.” This picture book is a […]
Magnificent Homespun Brown
Written by Samara Cole Doyon & illustrated by Kaylani Juanita Reviewed by Sofia Puorro A common topic in elementary school settings is a child’s favorite color. It is a question we ask children as a way to get to know them and it is a salient theme in children’s books, but it isn’t often that […]
What Riley Wore by Elana K. Arnold
Written by Elana K. Arnold Illustrated by Linda Davick Reviewed by Ellen Hurd What Riley Wore is a colorfully illustrated picture book that features a non-gendered main character named Riley. Riley knows just what to wear for any occasion, such as a superhero costume for going to the dentist “because teeth cleaning is scary,” a […]
Starfish
Written by Lisa Fipps Reviewed by Erin Healy (2021-2022) “But every time I try to stand up for myself, the words get stuck in my throat, like a giant glob of peanut butter. Besides, if they even listened, They’d just snap back, ‘If you don’t like being teased, Lose weight.’” If you have ever lived […]
My First Day
Written and illustrated by Phùng Nguyên Quang and Hunỳnh Kim Liên Reviewed by Lucie Wharton-Moeur Early Elementary Picturebook The first day of school is an event every child around the world experiences. In this story, a young boy who lives along The Mekong Delta begins his journey to school on the first day. This is […]
I Am Every Good Thing
Written by Derrick Barnes Illustrated by Gordon C. James Reviewed by Mary Bishop Picture Book / Concept Book This book radiates Black boy brilliance! The illustrations are painted in a gestural nature with bright colors that exude action and life. The narrator is a young boy who is conveying his multifaceted self – a spirited, […]
When We Were Alone
Written by David A. Robertson Illustrated by Julie Flett Reviewed by Lindsey Smith Why does the child’s grandmother wear such colorful clothes? Why is her hair so long? Why does she spend so much time with her brother? Why does she sometimes speak Cree? In this simple yet haunting dialogue between a child and grandmother, […]
Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin
Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin Written and Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh Reviewed by Jane Lyons Upper Elementary Picturebook This children’s book tells the story of two cousins. Charlie lives in the United States, and Carlitos lives in Mexico. They write to each other about their lives in hopes that they can meet together […]