To Burp or Not to Burp: A Guide to Your Body in Space


Dave Williams - 2016
    Dave Williams, a NASA astronaut who speaks from first-hand experience. Written for kids ages 7 to 10, this book uses age-appropriate language to explain the different phenomena that astronauts encounter during a mission. The bright, colorful pages, short blocks of text accompanied by photos and humorous illustrations make this a very attractive choice for young readers. The opening message from Dr. Dave empowers kids to follow his example by believing in themselves and following their dreams.

Tidesong


Wendy Xu - 2021
    To train for her entrance exams, Sophie is sent to relatives she’s never met.Cousin Sage and Great-Aunt Lan seem more interested in giving Sophie chores than in teaching her magic. Frustrated, Sophie attempts magic on her own, but the spell goes wrong, and she accidentally entangles her magic with the magic of a young water dragon named Lir.Lir is trapped on land and can’t remember where he came from. Even so, he’s everything Sophie isn’t—beloved by Sophie’s family and skilled at magic. With his help, Sophie might just ace her entrance exams, but that means standing in the way of Lir’s attempts to regain his memories. Sophie knows what she’s doing is wrong, but without Lir’s help, can she prove herself?

The Whole Wide World and Me


Toni Yuly - 2019
    . .Like a cloud in the sky . . .So am I.Just as a pebble is part of a mountain, just as a wave is part of the sea, so, too, is every one of us part of something bigger. With bright collage illustrations and a simple, lyrical text, acclaimed author-illustrator Toni Yuly invites readers to celebrate our relationship to the natural world.

Ogilvy


Deborah Underwood - 2019
    L. McBeth.When Ogilvy moves to a new town, the possibilities feel endless. There are so many new bunny friends and fun things to do together! But in this town, bunnies in dresses play ball and knit socks, and bunnies in sweaters make art and climb rocks. Ogilvy wants to do everything—and won't let a sweater or a dress get in the way.

A Crazy-Much Love


Joy Jordan-Lake - 2019
    From the child’s first bath and first time riding a tricycle, all the way to her boarding that big yellow bus, the crazy-much love grows SO MUCH that it spills out the windows and busts down the doors. A warm, lyrical celebration of the deep love parents hold for their children, and a comforting message for kids about how there can be only one special YOU.

King & King


Linda de Haan - 2000
    So began the search to find the prince's perfect match and lo and behold... his name was Lee. You are cordially invited to join the merriest, most unexpected wedding of the year. King & King is a contemporary tale about finding true love and living happily ever after, sure to woo readers of any age. A great gift. Exuberant artwork full of visual play calls for repeated readings. Accelerated Reader quiz available.Inside/Out Book Club selection. Lambda Literary Award. Honorable mention in the "Most Unusual Book of the Year" category for Publishers Weekly's 2002 "Off the Cuff" Awards, or "Cuffies" selected by booksellers.

The International Day of the Girl: Celebrating Girls Around the World


Jessica Dee Humphreys - 2020
    The United Nations designated October 11th as the International Day of the Girl, a day to increase awareness of problems that affect girls --- and only girls --- around the world and to encourage progress toward gender equality. Nine stories inspired by the real-life experiences of girls from all over the globe bring to light the importance of this day. Each story is set in a different country and describes an inequity faced by a character and how she addressed it. The challenges include gender-based violence, illiteracy, lack of access to technology, sanitation, nutritional disparity and child marriage.

Breathing Makes It Better: A Book for Sad Days, Mad Days, Glad Days, and All the Feelings In-Between


Christopher Willard - 2019
    With rhythmic writing and engaging illustrations, Breathing Makes It Better guides children to breathe through their feelings and find calm with recurring cues to stop and take a breath. Simple guided practices, like imagining you are a tree blowing in the wind, follow each story to teach children how to apply mindfulness techniques when they need them the most.

The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James


Ashley Herring Blake - 2019
    James navigates heart surgery, reconnections with a lost mother, first kisses, and emerging feelings for another girl.When Sunny St. James receives a new heart, she decides to set off on a "New Life Plan": 1) do awesome amazing things she could never do before; 2) find a new best friend; and 3) kiss a boy for the first time.Her "New Life Plan" seems to be racing forward, but when she meets her new best friend Quinn, Sunny questions whether she really wants to kiss a boy at all. When the reemergence of her mother, Sunny begins a journey to becoming the new Sunny St. James.

If We Were Gone: Imagining the World Without People


John Coy - 2020
    . . we need these elements to live in this world. But does the world need us? And what would happen to the world if humans were gone? This is the premise of a thought-provoking picture book from John Coy. His insightful text explores how nature would reclaim the planet, accompanied by Natalie Capannelli's gorgeous watercolor illustrations. Back matter gives further context and discusses what kids (and all of us) can do to truly help our planet.

Love in the Library


Maggie Tokuda-Hall - 2022
    But to fall in love in a place like Minidoka, a place built to make people feel like they weren’t human—that was miraculous.After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Tama is sent to live in a War Relocation Center in the desert. All Japanese Americans from the West Coast—elderly people, children, babies—now live in prison camps like Minidoka. To be who she is has become a crime, it seems, and Tama doesn’t know when or if she will ever leave. Trying not to think of the life she once had, she works in the camp’s tiny library, taking solace in pages bursting with color and light, love and fairness. And she isn’t the only one. George waits each morning by the door, his arms piled with books checked out the day before. As their friendship grows, Tama wonders: Can anyone possibly read so much? Is she the reason George comes to the library every day? Beautifully illustrated and complete with an afterword, back matter, and a photo of the real Tama and George—the author’s grandparents—Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s elegant love story for readers of all ages sheds light on a shameful chapter of American history.

Annie's Plaid Shirt


Stacy B. Davids - 2015
    But one day her mom tells Annie that she must wear a dress to her uncle's wedding. Annie protests, but her mom insists and buys her a fancy new dress anyway. Annie is miserable. She feels weird in dresses. Why can't her mom understand?Then Annie has an idea. But will her mom agree?Annie's Plaid Shirt will inspire readers to be themselves and will touch the hearts of those who love them.Themes of gender norms, identity, individuality, tolerance, and self-esteem.

Diana Dances


Luciano Lozano - 2019
    She's bored. She can't concentrate. And she really doesn't like math. Diana visits the doctor after her mother receives a call from a concerned school teacher, but the family doctor finds nothing amiss. It's only when Diana hears the soft musical notes filling the psychologist's office that her body begins swaying rhythmically and the correct diagnosis can be made: Diana is a dancer! This wonderfully illustrated picture book debut showcases Luciano Lozano's modern yet timeless style, making for a story that readers will want to return to again and again. Elements of diversity woven throughout the story send subtle yet powerful messages of inclusivity and body positivity to young readers. While Diana Dances is sure to resonate with budding dancers, its wonderful tribute to the need for self-expression, the power of movement, and the importance of self-esteem is universal. Diana's joy at finding her creative outlet is infectious, making Lozano's fearless heroine a sure-to-be favorite with children. The verdict is in: Diana is delightful!

The Breakaways


Cathy G. Johnson - 2019
    To her surprise, Amanda, a popular eighth grader, convinces her to join the school soccer team, the Bloodhounds. Having never played soccer in her life, Faith ends up on the C team, a ragtag group that’s way better at drama than at teamwork. Although they are awful at soccer, Faith and her teammates soon form a bond both on and off the soccer field that challenges their notions of loyalty, identity, friendship, and unity.The Breakaways is a portrait of friendship in its many forms, and a raw and beautifully honest look into the lives of a diverse and defiantly independent group of kids learning to make room for themselves in the world.

Lulu is a Rhinoceros


Jason Flom - 2018
    But sometimes, being yourself can be a difficult road to walk. And just when all hope seems lost, Lulu finds a small friend that makes a big difference in her life when she realizes that the courage to be herself has been inside of her all along... The first picture book in its series, Lulu is Rhinoceros takes readers on an adventure through the big city to fetch and retrieve the most important possession Lulu owns-her identity! With adorable and vibrant artwork by the inimitable illustrator Sophie Corrigan, Lulu is a Rhinoceros explores social themes addressing individuality, tolerance, and most importantly, acceptance-with laughter and excitement throughout! ***A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the African Wildlife Foundation to help protect Africa's endangered wildlife and sustain the invaluable environment they live in*** ABOUT THE AUTHORS Jason Flom Jason Flom is the CEO of Lava Records and Lava Music Publishing, having previously served as Chairman and CEO at Atlantic Records, Virgin Records, and Capitol Music Group. During this time in the music business, he has been personally responsible for discovering and launching all-star musical icons such as Kid Rock, Katy Perry, and Lorde, among many others. Jason is also an active philanthropist as the founding board member of the Innocence Project, and as board member of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, The Legal Action Center, The Drug Policy Alliance, The Anti-Recidivism Coalition, the NYU Prison Education Program and VetPaw. He is currently the host of the podcast Wrongful Conviction with 46.2k followers on Instagram (@itsjasonflom) Allison Flom Allison Flom is a New York City based storyteller. Her work explores themes of identity, justice, and human rights.