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by David Shannon

I wasn't as impressed with this book. I have read and liked No, David!, but this book lacked the same level of connection.  In this book a young girl uses her magic wand to show off her inconsistent powers.  The author takes everyday aspects to a young girl's life and adds her view of that situation with her magic.  For example, instead of changing a frog into a prince, she turns her dad into a "horse."  It did have some humor and I can see reading it to the kindergartners who would find that simple level of humor funny.  They might then be able to decorate their own magic wands or the crown like she makes for her dad.  I could use my own magic wand in class and crack jokes about having the best behaved class ever, but my magic not working.

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illustrated by Leonard Kirk, Terry Pallot, and Val Staples
This graphic novel has the Avengers go back in time to ancient Sumeria to help farmers defeat the Gorg's men who are coming to attack the village.  The Avengers help the farmers build a wall, teach them better irrigation techniques, and how to fight.   I did not like this story because it perpetuates the "white" savior narrative.  While not all the Avengers are white, most are and the ancient farmers are clearly brown-skinned.  I would have liked the book better if the Avengers could have learned something from these ancient farmers.  I don't really see myself using this in the library, although I know that it is a popular graphic novel for check out.

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by Veronica Chambers
illustrated by Julie Maren

This is an empowering story of a young girl who makes her way in the world of music where fans make her doubt her abilities.  I appreciate that this book shows the Afro-Cuban influence of music...that Cubanos could come in dark skin.   I included some YouTube videos because it is hard to read a book about music and not listen to it.  Her look surprised me with her different bold color hair styles in her later years.  I also had to wee out some videos because there were lots of scantily clad women in them, Carnival-style.  I think it would be fun to have the students try some salsa dancing, too.

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Celia Cruz con Sonora Matancera - El Yerberito Moderno 1967

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by Tammi Sauer
illustrated by Michael Slack

This is a unique book about an unlikely friendship and listening to what others say vs. what you know in your heart.  The minnow learns in school that sharks are dangerous, but that is not what he sees in his friend.  Still, the minnow listens to others and stops being friends with the shark until the shark saves the minnows from a net.   This book could be used to teach about stereotypes and what it means to be a friend.  I can see using it with 2nd and 3rd graders as an introduction to the dangers of stereotypes and how they can limit individuals and are hurtful.

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by Christina Rice

I enjoyed this graphic novel more than I imagined I would.  It reminded me of the Hercules and Zena TV shows I would watch when I was little.  They each had distinct characters whose interactions could cause drama or humor.  In the end, there's a clear moral that is spelled out.  So it was with this My Little Pony Story.  I really liked the message and feel like it was presented in a clear way.  I oddly found that I wanted to recommend this to a few of my former middle schoolers who could learn the lesson of this book that: there is a time and place for assertiveness.  In this story, the minotaur learns this lesson and that he needs to be a better role model for his son who has been getting into trouble for acting out at school and at home with his mother, trying to be assertive like his father.  I can see using this with younger classes (1st-3rd grade) in teaching about manners in class.  Or, what might be a good idea would be to arrange to have the fifth graders use the My Little Pony stories to read aloud to younger classes.  That way they all benefit.

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by Helen Ketteman
illustrated by Keith Graves

I honestly didn't like this book as much upon first reading.  It's about a long-eared armadillo who overhears what others are saying.  He then distorts the message as he tells the animal who was being spoken about causing the animal to get intensely angry.  In the end, the crocodile bites off his long ears and he can't overhear what others are saying anymore.  While I think the book addresses the spreading of rumors, the outcome of the armadillo not really learning to change, but having his ears cut off, doesn't really send the message I would want to share in my library.  Instead, I would want to discuss how the armadillo could have changed.  I used a great article with my middle schoolers called "How to Handle Rumors" by a website called Bullies to Buddies.  It would make a great companion piece to take the angle of how the animals could have responded upon hearing the rumors.  They're message is a simple, "You can believe it if you want, but it's not true."  The article focuses on staying non-emotional since most "bullies" are trying to get a rise or reaction and by not providing it, it defuses the situation.

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by Nancy Andrews-Goebel
illustrated by David Diaz

This is a non-fiction book that includes a take on the "This is the House That Jack Built" nursery rhyme.  This would be a book for older readers as the reading level and number of proper nouns make it more difficult reading.  I like the inspirational nature of the story that one man and his art transformed an entire town into an artist community.  This would be a great book to use when the students make pottery in art class.  I know that art teacher has a kiln.  It would also lend itself to further research into the Casas Grandes civilization and their pottery which is the inspiration for the painting Juan makes on his pots.  Younger kids could draw the art style on paper pots, but the older students may be able to incorporate it into their own pottery designs.

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by Kashmira Sheth
illustrated by Yoshiko Jaeggi

This is a lovely story about an Indian wedding.  It weaves Hindu words throughout the text as it shares Indian wedding traditions.  The plot involves a ruse to steal the groom's shoes (a wedding tradition).  I could see using this in a multi-cultural unit.  I would love to have someone of Indian descent who has been to a wedding in India to come and speak.  Another idea would be to create a makerspace lesson where the students create rangoli designs like the ones created on the floor in the book.  It involves colored sand.

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by Cari Meister
illustrated by Rich Davis

This is a fun easy-reader.  It's labeled as level 1 and certainly fits an emergent reader.  I like that the beginning of the book has a list of sight words used in the book.  I remember creating flashcards with my own kids when we got books with sight words.  The parent/educator page also has questions to ask while reading.  I am thinking about creating a section of the library for these easy readers.  At this time, they're shelved with all the "E" picture books.