​Your Place in the Universe                                       
Written & Illustrated by Jason Chin
Ages:  8 - 12
Grade level:  3 – 7

​This is a wonderful book to help littles get a perspective on size. It starts with a pair of kids. Then the words and illustrations put them together. Two kids, they’re as tall as an ostrich. Each page moves onto larger and larger things, until children meet unimaginable ones like the earth, the moon, and eventually, the universe. Somehow the author/illustrator helps us imagine them all. Incredible!
 
The back matter is just as incredible too! It starts with the size of us humans and moves skyward. Up to the atmosphere, to the solar system, and beyond. It even peeks into light years, using stars to peer into the past and to guess the age of the universe itself. It’s a one-of-a-kind book for kids, their parents, and teachers!

​Penguin and Pinecone: A Friendship Story
Written & Illustrated by Salina Yoon
Illustrated by Rachel Clowes
Age Level: 1 – 4
Grade Level: PS – Up

Who knew a Penguin and a Pinecone could be friends? Not me, but this is a great friendship story, especially if you or your best friend move away! It’s  also part of a series of 9 books.
 
Penguin must not live in Antarctica – there are no pine trees, but wherever he lives, he meets a pinecone and they become best friends. They do all kinds of best friend things together, but their problem – Penguin discovers Pinecone belongs in a forest far away. Penguin is the best kind of friend – he takes Pinecone home. And at the end when Penguin comes back for a visit, Pinecone realizes he can’t stay forever. This is ONE lovely friendship story, especially the last line. (You’ll have to read it for yourself😊) 

​Pizza and Taco: Super-Awesome Comic
Written & Illustrated by Stephen Shaskan
Age Level: 5 – 8
Grade Level: K – 3

I loved this story! It’s #3 in a series of thirteen easy chapter books that are also graphic novels. The characters are a great combo -  pizza and taco. Who DOESN’T love them? They’re great as foods, but even better in their starring roles.
 
The problem,and the fun, it all begins when they decide to write a story together. Somehow they can’t agree on the plot or on their superhero features. How can they ever find their way back to a super-awesome comic book? You’ll have to read to find out!

​Little Bat in Night School
Written & Illustrated by Brian Lies
Age Level: 4 - 7
Grade Level: PS – 3 

Young readers and their parents will LOVE this book. Little Bat can’t wait for the first day of school, but new places can be scary. How does he find the courage to fly? Read and find out – Little Bat’s story is as cute as the cover promises!

The ​Puppy Place: Snowball #2
Written by Ellen Miles
Illustrated by Rich Davis
Age Level: 7 – 10
Grade Level: 2 - 5

I don’t usually read older books, but I found myself reading this one. Mostly because I was curious about the series. When I taught second grade, Puppy Place was always one of the choices in the Scholastic flier. I can see why. This is #2 in the series. It came out in November of 2011. Puppy Place is still publishing new chapter books. The latest, #69 came out this month, in February of 2024.
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And the plot, it’s short and simple, but these are great chapter book reads for kids who want to leave picture books behind. A kid wants a dog so he fosters one, a Westie. He decides the dog is better off with his grand-buddy so he gives it to her as a Christmas gift. He checks with the fostering place first, of course. This is an easy read, and it’s a perfect fit for its audience. Kids love dogs, and doggie books are best sellers at Scholastic.

​Aria Jones & The Guardians Wedja
Written by Melayna Evans
Age Level: 9 – 12
Grade Level:  4 – 7
 
If you read the first Jagger Jones book like I did, you couldn’t wait to get your hands on this one. It didn’t disappoint! Little sister Aria gets to be the main character. It starts with a field trip to an Egyptian museum where a pair of statues pass her some bracelets. They’re really tickets to the past. Aria hurries home to pack her bag, grab Jagger, and answer a call for help. Tatia is Pharaoh now, after the death of her father, mother, and step-brother, and she’s dying too. The Gods have stopped talking to the royal family, but they sent Aria and Jagger to help Tatia. Can the siblings figure out how to save them in time? You’ll have to read to find out, but be prepared – you won’t want to put this book down.

PS – Book 3 is in the works, and I can’t wait to read it!

​Be Strong:   The Rise of Beloved Public Art Sculptor
                            Nancy Schön
Written by Darcy Pattison
Illustrated by Rich Davis
Age Level/Grade Level: Not Available

Have you read, ‘Make Way for Ducklings?’ It won the Caldecott Medal for the best picture book in 1941. It was also the beginning of another story – the one in this book.
 
Follow Nancy Schön’s story from 1979 when she discovered public art to 1987, when her sculpture made its way into the Boston Public Garden. It took Nancy eight years to turn her idea into a sculpture, and it wasn’t easy. On her worst day, when she wanted to quit, a friend gave her two words on a slip of paper: Be Strong. If you want to find out how Nancy overcame her struggles, check out this book for yourself.
 
Then check out the back matter with photos of Nancy’s real life, her bio, Robert McCloskey’s involvement, and a list of Nancy’s sculptures over time. Best of all there’s a note from the author. Would you believe she made Nancy’s REAL words purple? It made rereading sweet – because I got to meet the REAL Nancy.  

​Friends Are Friends Forever
Written by Dane Liu
Illustrated by Lynn Scurfield
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: 1 – 2

​This book is lovely, from the illustrations to its theme.  DanDan lives in Northeastern China, and tomorrow her family is moving to America. Imagine the thoughts flying through her head! Moving is scary. Imagine having to go to a brand-new country!
 
Her best friend Yueyue says goodbye with a hug and three words . . . friends are forever. Then the two girls make snowflakes one last time. Yueyue sends DanDan off to America with stacks of red paper and a spool of string. Why? To make snowflakes with a new friend. It won’t be easy – DanDan doesn’t speak English. Read and find out if she finds that new American friend. Back matter includes information about the Lunar New Year and directions for those special red snowflakes.

​I Survived: The American Revolution, 1776
Written by Lauren Tarshis
Age Level: 8 – 11
Grade Level: 2 – 5

If you want to read history from a kid’s point of view, this is another great title from the I Survived series. It takes place in the run-up to the Battle of Brooklyn during the American Revolution. The date of that battle – August 27 of 1776.
 
Young Nathaniel Fox runs away from home, hoping to escape his mean old uncle. Instead he lands in New York Harbor days before the big battle. Follow Nathaniel and discover what life was like for tweens in 1776, whether they were soldiers or civilians.
 
Don’t forget the back matter! You’ll find some interesting tidbits, like how rich the colonies were, the importance of our French allies, and the author’s opinion of George Washington. The most shocking one – how many American soldiers died on prison ships by the end of winter 1777. Would you believe it’s more than the number who died during the entire war?
 
PS – if you’d like to read what I learned for my middle grade novel, click on this link: 
                   http://www.rindabeach.com/blog/the-books-i-read-for-research

​Ninita’s Big World: The True Story of a Deaf Pygmy
                 Marmoset
Written by Sarah Glenn Marsh
Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman
Age Level: 4 – 7
Grade Level: PS – 3

Do you like to read nonfiction that’s about real animals? If you answered yes, then check out this story of how Ninita survived. She was abandoned by her parents when she was three weeks old, all because she was deaf.       A foundation for pygmy marmosets raised her, because they’re endanger.
 
The book also includes some neat facts about pygmy marmosets. Their size – take a look at your thumb. Then look at your palm. An adult pygmy could cuddle up in your hand. The most interesting fact – when they’re taken in as pets, they can’t survive because they need to live on their own, and that’s also part of Ninita’s story – how she learns to live alone, in spite of her hearing difficulties.