Picture Books
Julia's House for Lost Creatures
Rodney Was a Tortoise
Knight Owl
How This Book Was Made
Laxmi's Mooch
Graphic Novels
Fangs
Frizzy
Nimona
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World
Cat's Cafe
Middle Grade
The Lost Year
A Kind of Spark
The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S.
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe
Every Bird a Prince
YA/Adult
Tempest in the Tea Room
Coffee Days Whiskey Nights
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
The Circus Infinite
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
Best of December
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson
The worst kids in the entire town have decided to take the starring roles in this year's Christmas pageant, surely bringing disaster ... or will it? This silly story made me giggle but also let me pause to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas through the eyes of someone who'd never experienced it before.
Tempest in the Tea Room
by Libi Astaire
Imagine combining Jane Austen with Sherlock Holmes. This brilliant self-published cozy mystery positively oozes wit and charm and brings up some clever points about the Jewish community in the Regency period.
Mistletoe and Murder
by Robin Stevens
Daisy and Hazel are headed to uni to celebrate the holidays with Daisy's brother, but they soon learn they'll have to compete with another detective agency to prevent a murder. On the surface, this book is charming and classy, but it has a lot of interesting points on the effects of micro aggression and stereotyping.
The Lost Year
by Katherine Marsh
Great Grandma has always been silent on the subject of her past, but when Matt discovers an old photo, he learns that she lived through the Holodomer ... or did she? I was frankly shocked that I'd never heard of the holodomer before, but this book brings it to light with remarkable perceptiveness on how it relates to current times.
Chicken and Mermaid
by Laurel Lorenzini
A chicken and a mermaid can't be friends; they're just too different! This quirky picture book reminds us that friendships can take many forms.
Coffee Days Whiskey Nights
by Parker Lee
Morning thoughts are not evening thoughts, and what looks one way in morning sunshine takes on a very different form under streetlights. This clever book battles with common human experiences, reflecting on how even a few hours can change one's perspective.
Ne M'oublie Pas
by Alix Garin
Clémence can't stand seeing Grandma on sedatives to keep the dementia in check, so they break out of the nursing home and decide to go see Grandma's childhood home one last time despite having no right of attorney or much money. This one is a tough one—some adult content, but also a lot of processing loss.
Best of November
Garlic and the Witch
by Bree Paulsen
Garlic has always just been a little vegetable girl, but growing up is hard even for a plant. Both this and its companion, Garlic and the Vampire, are truly charming little graphic novels that explore anxiety and courage in a fresh, magical way.
The Beast and the Bethany
by Jack Meggitt-Phillips
Ebenezer has to keep the beast happy so it will keep giving him the elixir of youth, so when the beast demands a child to eat, Ebenezer decides to find the nastiest, most annoying child in town, but he doesn't expect to be so conflicted about his lifestyle. The charming style and irreverent tone of this book create a remarkably thoughtful point about what it means to be human.
Finding Audrey
by Sophie Kinsella
Mum has always been prone to overreacting, but after the incident, traumatized Audrey can't let her one friendship get swept away by Mum's worrying. I love the way this book twists the themes of PTSD, romance, and hovering parents to create a tale that reminds us that we don't have to do it alone.
The Fourteenth Goldfish
by Jennifer L. Holm
The young man who's arrived at Ellie's house claims to be her grandfather, but despite his stubborn mannerisms and stodgy style of dressing, he can't really be an old man who's found the cure for aging. This humorous story explores what it means for science to go to far and how to decide when to put aside progress for the sake of human value.
A Kind of Spark
by Elle McNicoll
When Addie learns that many of the witches burned in witch hunts displayed autistic tendencies, she decides to stand up for them in a way she's never been able to stand up for herself. This poignant book explores teacher-led bullying and considers the ways that autism has been used as an excuse for discrimination throughout history. Sorry, I'm still crying thinking about it.
The Museum of Lost and Found
by Leila Sales
Vanessa thought that she and Bailey would be friends forever, but when she creates an exhibit from the tattered pieces of their friendship, she realizes that a little perspective can change everything. This book not only explores why friendships fall apart but addresses body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRB) in a way that sheds light on the guilt and determination that go hand-in-hand with both.
A Snake Falls to Earth
by Darcie Little Badger
Nina has always dreamed of meeting the animal people of legend, so when Oli, a snake person, comes looking for a way to save a rare species of toad, Nina is willing to do whatever it takes, despite the many risks. This book is a unique blend of cultural history and magical realism that speaks volumes about the way all life is connected.
Best of October
Moraline
by Cintia Alfonso Fior
Long Live the Pumpkin Queen
by Shea Ernshaw
Fangs
by Sarah Andersen
The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S.
by David Levithan
Gustavo the Shy Ghost
by Flavia Z. Drago
Fluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion
by Stephen W. Martin
Séance Tea Party
by Reimena Yee
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe
by Carlos Hernandez
Best of September
Literary Critters: William Shakesbear's Journey for Inspiration
by Sophie Corrigan
If Someone 'Ook the T
by Exolution
Julia's House for Lost Creatures
by Ben Hatke
The Nowhere Emporium
by Ross MacKenzie
My Plain Jane
by Cynthia Hand et al.
Frigg's Journey to Anasgar
by Deb Cushman
Nimona
by ND Stevenson
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
by Sue Lynn Tan
Frizzy
by Claribel A. Ortega
Best of August
Kenny and the Dragon
by Tony DiTerlizzi
Saturday at the Food Pantry
by Diane O'Neill
Izzy the Very Bad Burgler
by Amy Proud
Strictly No Elephants
by Lisa Mantchev
Lasso Lou and Cowboy McCoy
by Barbara Larmon Failing
Littered with Trouble
by Eryn Scott
Best of July
The Greatest Cause of Mia Dubois
by Chris Casavant
The Big Orange Splot
by Daniel Pinkwater
Summertime with Snowman Paul
by Yossi Lapid
Sorry I'm Late: I Didn't Want To Come
by Jessica Pan
Best of June
Perfectly Pegasus
by Jessie Sima
Red Panda & Moon Bear
by Jarod Rosello
Parenthesis
by Élodie Durand
Rodney Was a Tortoise
by Nan Forler
Wretched Water Park
by Kiersten White
Best of May
Every Bird a Prince
by Jenn Reese
The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart
by Stephanie Burgis
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
by John Koenig
Why Johnny Doesn't Flap: NT is OK!
By Clay Morton
Best of April
This is (Not) Enough
by Anna Kang
Knight Owl
by Christopher Denise
Little Black Bird
by Anna Kirchner
The Circus Infinite
by Khan Wong
Magyk
by Angie Sage
Best of March
Peter & Ernesto: Sloths in the Night
by Graham Annable
Strange Planet
by Nathan W. Pyle
City of Ghosts
by Victoria Schwab
The Flint Heart
by Katherine Paterson
Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
by Brandon Sanderson
Best of February
Caps for Sale
by Esphyr Slobodkina
What a classic. Poetic without being overbearing. Silly, yet it it makes a good point.
Cat's Cafe
by Matt Tarpley
The very definition of a warm hug. This book gets what it's like to feel anxious, lonely, burnt out, and afraid.
The King's Decree
by Torina Kingsley
Princess Divina used to be happy, but now she can't seem to get out of bed or force a smile: she has clinical depression. The king will do everything in his power to help his daughter experience happiness again, but even though dozens of princes come with jokes and songs, perhaps a sweeping romance isn't what Divina needs.
This book isn't subtle about its theme of depression, but there's so much more to it. Really insightful and thoughtfully inclusive.
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World
by Debbie Tung
As an introvert who loves to read, this book speaks directly to my soul. Brilliantly done and cleverly illustrated.
The Story of Stuff
by Annie Leonard
Before reading this book, I hadn't really considered where all my cheap plastic treasures come from nor where they go. A deeply impactful book that I still think about a year later. It sounds like it'll be scary, but it's not a doom and gloom project: just a statement of facts and a hope that we don't have to stay in our world-destroying habits.
Best of January
Laxmi's Mooch
by Shelly Anand
Laxmi is worried when one of her friends teases her about the hairs that grow on her upper lip. When she explains this to her mom, though, she's taken on a whirlwind journey through the many elegant ladies who also have body hair.
I love the theme of body acceptance in this book (not me crying in a Barnes & Noble because this book makes me feel seen)
This Book Is for You: I Hope You Find it Mildly Uplifting
by Worry Lines
I do find it uplifting. Thank you!
Okapi Loves his Zebra Pants
by Terri Tatchell
Okapi isn't a zebra or a wildebeest, but he discovers in this charming book that he can be who he's meant to be without shame.
I admit I had never heard of an okapi before reading this book. I appreciate the balance this book brings as it both reinforces how to deal with mean teasing and explores some unique species, some of whom are endangered. I'm not sure it needed to rhyme, but it worked out.
A Game of Fox and Squirrels
by Jenn Reese
Samantha did not want to leave her parents and move in with her aunt. In fact, she will do anything to get back, including making a deal with a sneaky fox. The game progresses, and Sam finds herself going to greater and greater lengths to appease the fox, but will it be worth it?
This is one of those books that features a young girl, but I suspect only just the right eleven-year-old person would really understand this book and love it. It's unclear throughout the story how much is real and how much is fiction. Is the fox really a fox, or is he Samantha's abusive father? It takes Sam a long time to recognize that she is hurt and that she doesn't have to keep hurting, but that moment when she does absolutely had me bawling. I recommend this book to anyone who has been told they are not worthy of love or that they have to earn it. Thank you to the author for unflinchingly adding a lovely lesbian marriage to this story; it made me feel right at home.
This is one of those books that features a young girl, but I suspect only just the right eleven-year-old person would really understand this book and love it. It's unclear throughout the story how much is real and how much is fiction. Is the fox really a fox, or is he Samantha's abusive father? It takes Sam a long time to recognize that she is hurt and that she doesn't have to keep hurting, but that moment when she does absolutely had me bawling. I recommend this book to anyone who has been told they are not worthy of love or that they have to earn it. Thank you to the author for unflinchingly adding a lovely lesbian marriage to this story; it made me feel right at home.
How This Book Was Made
by Mac Barnett
As an editor, I found so much humor in this book. It's both educational and clever.
The Strider and the Regulus
by Tricia D. Wagner
Swift isn't ready to grow up yet, regardless of how persistent his father is about having the infamous Justus talk – a conversation Swift knows will change him and push him toward a career. When he finds a treasure map hidden in an old book, he has the perfect distraction and an excuse to avoid applying for a medical internship.
I was really fascinated and delighted by how much happens in such a short book. Each word feels intentional, giving me a solid feeling of who these characters are without any unnecessary exposition. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to recall any moments when this book bothers to go back and set the scene, yet I was never confused. Brilliant details made it easy for me to picture exactly what was happening. I struggled to breathe along with Swift when the boom hit his chest. I shivered when the pirate skiff followed him into the cove. I felt the holly bushes prickling his skin as he hid from his father. While this isn't exactly a magical story, despite what the cover led me to believe, it's powerful.
I was really fascinated and delighted by how much happens in such a short book. Each word feels intentional, giving me a solid feeling of who these characters are without any unnecessary exposition. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to recall any moments when this book bothers to go back and set the scene, yet I was never confused. Brilliant details made it easy for me to picture exactly what was happening. I struggled to breathe along with Swift when the boom hit his chest. I shivered when the pirate skiff followed him into the cove. I felt the holly bushes prickling his skin as he hid from his father. While this isn't exactly a magical story, despite what the cover led me to believe, it's powerful.
