​On the First Day of First Grade
Written by Tish Rabe
Illustrated by Sarah Jennings
Age Level: 4 – 8  
Grade Level: PS – 3

Looking for a gift for a Kindergartener who’s heading into First Grade? This is it! The rhyme isn’t perfect, but  littles will love singing this version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” with a twist . . . Parents too. It shows twelve of the great things waiting for you in first grade. 

​History Smashers: Women’s Right to Vote
Written by Kate Messner
Illustrated by Dylan Meconis
Age Level: 8 – 12
Grade Level: 3 – 7

This book is so well done! It’s chock full of information. I was fascinated with the new things I learned. For instance, I thought all suffragettes had the same beliefs. They didn’t! Some believed ALL women should vote. Others thought only white women should.
 
Another example – the fight for the vote began with Abigail Adams. She tried talking to her husband, to her son. They both became president, but neither listened. It took until President Woodrow Wilson to get the 17th amendment passed, but it almost didn’t. It came down to one state, Tennessee. To one man and his vote, and a letter from his mother. It made all the difference.
 
Throughout the book there are short biographies of the famous, and not so famous. I loved the mix of people until I got to the most recent ones. That’s where the majority of names came from one party, from one side of the aisle. I wish the author had looked harder for names from the other side. For women like Nikki Hailey or Condoleezza Rice to name a few. They’re out there, working hard for the things they believe in.

​Grandude’s Green Submarine
Written by Paul McCartney
Illustrated by Kathryn Durst
Age Level: 2 – 6
Grade Level: PS – 1

​I usually don’t like the books celebrity authors write, but this one is wonderful! As a grandmother I can get into words like Grandude, Nandude, and Chillers, and I really love that grandparents can still be adventurous. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the man who wrote Let It Be could write a children’s book that was so good . . . that the publisher asked him to write a sequel. Well done, Paul!
 
PS – My only disappointment – Paul didn’t use a yellow submarine 😊

​The Seventh Wish
Written by Kate Messner
Age Level: 9 – 12
Grade Level: 4 – 6

This is an unusual book that’s meant for the right reader. It has a place for families dealing with drug addiction and recovery.
 
Life seems normal for Charlie. She’s in middle school, and she needs to pay for her dance costume. When she goes ice-fishing, she catches that fish who grants wishes. You’d think that would guarantee a happy ending, but everything changes when Charlie discovers her big sister is addicted to heroin. There are some things that wishes can’t fix .
 
The heart of the story is the relationship betweeen the two sisters. The older took the Dare pledge and failed, but she wants Charlie to succeed. This book isn’t for everyone, but it could help a teen/tween whose family is struggling with addiction. It helps to know, you’re not alone. 

​The Fun Book of Scary Stuff
Written by Emily Jenkins
Illustrated by Hyewon Yum
Age Level: 3 – 6
Grade Level: P – 1

I love this book! It’s more than a scary story. The main character is afraid of almost everything, but his medium-sized dog isn’t. . . until something unexpected happens. That’s when the boy realizes he has one sure-fire trick to fight fear. You’ll love his strategy – and this story!

​HoneyBee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera
Written by Candace Fleming
Illustrated by Eric Rohmann
Age Level: 4 – 12
Grade Level: 1 – 4

I loved every page of this book! The words and illustrations – gorgeous! Follow a worker bee, an Apis Mellifera, from the moment she hatches, until the day she dies. Her story is so well done!
 
Back matter includes a diagram of a bee. It illustrates what each part does and how it helps the bee survive. There’s additional information about the jobs bees do every day. This is nonfiction, but it’s also a great story!

​What James Said
Written by Liz Rosenberg
Illustrated by Matt Myers
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: K – 3
​
​What happens when a little girl discovers her best friend James has been talking behind her back? And he said . . . that she was perfect. Oh! My! The horror of it all! I guess praise doesn’t always work out.
 
Me, I’d be thrilled, but this little girl got mad. So mad she gave him the silent treatment. James needs to figure out why, then find a way to fix it. How does this one end – wih the kids as friends or enemies? Friendship –is tricky!
 

You Are My Friend:
                  The Story of Mr. Rogers and His Neighborhood
Written by Aimee Reid
Illustrated by Matt Phelan
Age Level: 5 – 8
Grade Level: K – 3

Have you ever wondered how Mr. Rogers came up with the ideas for his neighborhood? You should read his story. I’m glad I did! It’s fictional, but it helped me picture his childhood. I didn’t know allergies kept him inside, or that he hid his feelings. They only came out when he played with his puppets. His mother taught him to look for helpers when he needed them, and that’s what Mr. Rogers taught kids on his TV show. Don’t forget to read the back matter! It includes a short biography, a note from the author and illustrator, plus a bibliography of resources so you can learn more about him.

​​Prince Fly Guy
Written & Illustrated by Tedd Arnold
Age Level: 4 – 7
Grade Level: P – 2

​What do you do when you have to write a story, and you’re stuck? Ask your best friend. He’ll help you pick and choose ideas. Buzz hits the lottery when he writes about Prince Fly Guy. It’s a fairy tale of a story from Buzz, Fly Guy, and Tedd Arnold!

​
​How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodbye?
Written by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Mark Teague
Age Level: 2 – 3
Grade Level: P – K

I love this series, but this book is especially well-done. Each spread asks the question, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodbye? Each dinosaur must face their worst fear – that Mom, Dad, or Grandma’s leaving. It’s a great way to help kids handle it too. (The same fear) And best of all, they get to do it with dinosaurs!