We have new books coming in all the time with them on display right as you enter the Trove.  Here’s some of our recent favorite new titles!

For Wee Ones

Global Baby Grandparents by Maya Ajmira
(Birth to 3 Years-Old)
Library Catalog

“I’m sorry, but do I even have to make a write-up for this book? If you know any of the ‘Global Baby’ books in the series then you know they pretty much sell themselves. The only mystery surrounding this particular title comes in wondering how they held off from doing a grandparents book before now. As per usual you get these truly gorgeous faces of babies from all around the world, only this time with their grandparents. Earlier this year an article about Jon Klassen’s The Skull bemoaned how many picture books are about grandparents in a given year (since it feels like an easy grab for sentimental grandparent cash). I would have you remember, though, that no matter the subject matter, there are always a few truly amazing books in the bunch, well worth discovering. And with its brightly colored, clear-as-crystal, beautiful photographs, this is one of the few.” – Betsy Bird, School Library Journal

Look (Also Friend) by Gavin Bishop
(Birth to 3 Years-Old)
Library Catalog

“YUSSS!!! Oh lord, people, why is something like this so rare? All I want is for accomplished picture book illustrators to hone their talents to the board book format and THEN be paired with those books that will be most useful to children. I’m talking accordion books/high contrast/lift-the-flaps/you name it. Gavin Bishop is of Maori descent (Ngāti Pukeko, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Mahuta, Tainui) and is a friggin’ New Zealand national treasure. He’s also been making books for kids for decades upon decades. LOOK is a particular delight with faces on one side of the accordion pull-out pages, and objects on the other. Meanwhile FRIEND goes through a range of different emotions with a little dog as your avatar. More of this please!” – Betsy Bird, School Library Journal

Hello, Baby: say Hello in Fifteen languages by Stephani Stilwell
(Birth to 3 Years-Old)
Library Catalog

“This is the book I was just talking about. With the directive to ‘Say hello in 15 languages’ this is a book chock full of baby faces from a wide range of skin tones and ethnicities. Nice too that as you say hello to each baby in a different language, they’ve a wide range of names as well. Languages include English, Chinese (which is listed as ‘Simplified’ though I’m not certain what that means), French, Korean, Spanish, Swahili, Arabic, Russian, German, Hindi, Navajo, American Sign Language, Portuguese, Japanese, and Italian. Extra points to ending with a baby with glasses because, as we all know, babies with glasses are the cutest babies of them all.” – Betsy Bird, School Library Journal

For Younger Readers

The Cozy Home by Ame Dyckman & Mark Teague
(Kindergarten to 2nd Grade)
Library Catalog

“Book one in the Bat, Cat & Rat series introduces the three protagonists as they move into a house together. Approaching their new home, they agree, ‘Sharing is nice.’ But when they're inside, Cat immediately claims the upstairs. Rat claims the downstairs. Graciously, Bat takes the room under the stairs, calling it “the best of all.” In the second story, Joking, Rat repeatedly teases Cat with this toy, a rubber spider suspended from a stick. After Cat bellows, ‘Not funny,’ Bat comes to the rescue, telling Rat that he loves spiders. But when Rat dangles the toy in front of him, Bat pretends to eat it. ‘Not funny,’ complains Rat, to Cat’s satisfaction. In the third story, ‘Reading,’ two characters start learning to read. The “half” fourth story, ‘Sleeping,’ is a soporific charmer. The illustrator of Jane Yolen’s How Do Dinosaurs . . . ? series, Teague creates three lively characters in a variety of engaging scenes. Equally effective as an inviting beginning-reader book or a read-aloud choice for younger children, this volume features friendship among three well-defined characters, along with humor that kids will enjoy.”  – Booklist Reviews

Masala Chai, Fast and Slow by Rajani LaRocca & Neha Rawat
(Preschool to 2nd Grade)
Library Catalog

“LaRocca highlights an intergenerational relationship in an ode to a beloved family ritual. While deliberate Thatha ‘shuffled. He sauntered. He strolled,’ quick-moving young Aarav ‘ran. He rushed. He raced.’ Every day at five o’clock, Thatha makes masala chai, noting that the preparation ‘cannot be rushed.’ But while reaching for cardamom pods, Thatha slips off a stool and sprains his ankle. Hoping to help Thatha by offering ‘a cup of the warm, spiced sweetness,’ Aarav works to take over his grandfather’s chai-making duties. Rushing through many attempts, he doesn’t let the leaves steep long enough and forgets to add the spices, before recalling that mindfulness is required for its preparation—and learning that some things and people are ‘worth slowing down for.’ Rawat’s soft-focus, earth-tone illustrations convey a cozy feel and a deep love of family. An author’s note and recipe for masala chai conclude.” – Publishers Weekly

Forever Our Home by Tonya Simpson & Carla Joseph
(Preschool to 2nd Grade)
Library Catalog

“A tender hymn to the prairie in all seasons. Simpson (Cree/Pasqua First Nation) offers simple rhymes and gently rocking cadences in verse that extols the connection between a young child and the animals, plants, wind, and sky that comprise this landscape: ‘Where the morning sun glows / and the tiger lily grows // where the young bucks still roam, / this my baby is your home.’ Light, full-bleed illustrations by Cree artist Joseph include close-ups of wild creatures—deer, foxes, horses, hawks, chickadees, frogs, an owl—along with landscapes that convey the feel of wind and sun in a prairie meadow. ‘Where fireweed paints the hills come summer / and eagles rule the sky // this is where your spirit can feel / your ancestors as they pass by.’ Here the ancestors are depicted as translucent spirit faces like blossoms among the branches of a tree, while on the opposite page the outline of a child’s profile contains a crescent moon and starry night sky. On other pages eagles soar overhead, bright splashes of wildflowers and tamaracks dot grassland hills, coyotes howl in a snowy landscape, a brown-skinned family, cued as Indigenous, walks together, and children dance. This one is nicely pitched to the youngest of listeners: ‘The morning is so happy that you are here. / Its colors are a gift to you, my dear.” … Uplifting and joyous. – Kirkus Reviews

Fiction

Between Two Brothers by Crystal Allen
(Grades 4-6)
Library Catalog

“Some relationships cannot be broken. Black 13-year-old Isaiah Abernathy is gearing up to see Seth, his older brother and best friend, head off to Texas A&M for college in a few months, much to his dismay. Seth is one of the few people who helps Isaiah keep a check on the inner ‘shy guy’ who makes him feel nervous in social situations. The brothers have a strong bond and always look out for each other. So, when Seth misses the sibling sports competition at the local rec center, Isaiah fumes over what feels like a deep betrayal by his beloved older brother during his time of need. The following day, the two boys get into a heated argument—but before Isaiah can apologize, he learns that Seth was in a terrible accident that’s left him hospitalized in a medically induced coma. Isaiah battles his guilt and, rejecting the doctor’s grim prognosis, tries to find a way to help his brother heal. This book, narrated in Isaiah’s natural and inviting first-person voice, delves deeply into grief, accountability, and anxiety and shows, in an inspirational way, how strong the bonds between family members, friends, and community members can be in times of need. The book also explores with care the need for inner strength and the power of the human mind when working through trauma. A moving and uplifting exploration of sibling bonds.” – Kirkus Reviews

Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea
(Grades 4-6)
Library Catalog

“Twelve-year-old Anna Leilani Kama‘ehu, who is part white, usually loves spending her summers with her grandmother, Tu¯tu¯, in Volcano, a rainforest village in Hawaii. But her Boulder, Colo., classmates have started mocking her whenever she brings up Hawaiian stories such as Pele the Fire Goddess, prompting feelings of shame about her heritage. Now Anna isn’t looking forward to her trip at all; disinterested in listening to more stories about her culture, she instead wants to ‘come and visit like a tourist.’ When Anna questions Pele’s existence, Tu¯tu¯ warns her that she’d best show respect, since she’s ‘on Pele’s land now.’ Still disbelieving, Anna picks a sacred ‘o¯hi‘a lehua flower, a blasphemous act, resulting in Pele’s triggering earthquakes, sinkholes, and volcanic eruptions across the island and sending a giant hawk to kidnap Anna’s best friend, Kaipo. Accompanied by Ilikea, a talking bat, and Makani, the breeze, Anna must win back the goddess’s favor to save Kaipo and the rest of Hawaii. Scenes peppered with pidgin dialect, Hawaiian words, and descriptions of snacks such as li hing mui gummi bears establish a keen sense of place. Anna feels too Hawaiian to fit in at school, but too haole, or white, to feel at home in Hawaii—a struggle that aptly center themes of identity and connection in Maunakea’s energetic, adventuresome debut.” – Publishers Weekly

Pack Your Bags Maggie Diaz by Nina Moreno, Courtney Lovett & Asia Simone
(Grades 4-6)
Library Catalog

“Maggie Diaz is back for the second half of seventh grade, cell phone in hand, ready for more adventures. Set a few months after the first volume, this lighthearted second installment follows Maggie, now nearly 13, as she and best friends Julian and Zoey prepare for their Miami middle school’s big spring break trip to Saint Augustine. The spring semester arrival of new classmate Vanessa, who was formerly home-schooled, changes the trio’s dynamic, and things get even more awkward when Maggie’s recently widowed Abuela decides to be a chaperone for the trip. As friends and classmates begin to experience their first crushes, Maggie explores her complicated feelings for her pal Eddie, who now sports earrings and eyeliner. The author packs an emotional punch into this fun middle school dramedy: sibling issues (Maggie continues to feel like she can’t compare to her perfect 16-year-old sister, Caro), loss (Abuela and the whole family are mourning Abuelo’s death), friendship, jealousy, and first love. In addition to the Cuban American Diazes, the multicultural cast includes Haitian, Creole-speaking Zoey and Japanese and Puerto Rican Vanessa. There’s positive queer representation as well, since Caro now has a cool girlfriend. The cheerful, evocative spot-art illustrations vividly support the text. This is ideal reading for fans of Meg Medina’s Merci Suárez trilogy and anyone looking for stories about plucky girls with close-knit, multigenerational families. A sweet, amusing tale about navigating friendship and family drama.” – Kirkus Reviews

Nonfiction

A Grand Idea – How William J. Wilgus Created Grand Central Terminal by Megan Hoyt, art by Dave Szalay
(Grades K-4)
Library Catalog

Hoyt and Szalay's words and pictures respectively recreate a noble idea followed by a miraculous set of circumstances, including the right people in the right place at the right time, who set it in motion. Anyone who has ever set foot into Grand Central Terminal in New York City knows what an iconic hub it has become. But who had the vision? William J. Wilgus was a chief engineer who saw that the coal-powered trains were part of a gigantic, city-clogging problem, and when two trains crashed and 55 people were ‘injured or worse,’ he set about inventing trains that would be steam-powered and require electricity. He also came up with plans that included two stories of train track, as much steel as three Eiffel Towers, a notion to run those tracks underground, and enlisted the wealthy Vanderbilts to fund it. The details of this story are themselves electrifying—that one man envisioned all this and then set about making it happen is clearly explained, fully illustrated, and brilliant. There are fights! The Vanderbilts have their own ideas about who should be the architects. There are delays! Arguing materials, paths, logistics—it all takes time. Then, the building opens about a decade after it's first considered, and it's beautiful. The stories after that are also included—from the sale of the ‘air rights’ above it to bring in money, to the dawn of the aviation age and Grand Central's fall into disrepair. Resplendent paintings, in a style that borrows the flat forms of American folk art, bring all this to life, while the afterword and time line of events help readers get their bearings in history, not only of New York City, but globally as well. VERDICT A charming tale, and to think it's all true! Whether readers are train and construction buffs or not, this is a living, breathing biography of a building, and the man who believed in it from the ground up. Extraordinary.   – School Library Journal

Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues – The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin by Michelle Meadows, art by Jamiel Law
(Grades K-4)
Library Catalog

“‘Home is brick brown,/ Harlem, uptown,/ trains rumbling by’ begins this fittingly poetic biography of writer James Baldwin (1924–1987). Cast in neutral tones and lustrous blues and browns, Law’s art opens on Baldwin caring for younger siblings in a cramped Harlem apartment, where he reads all he can despite his preacher father’s objections. Though Baldwin faces bullying and prejudice from an early age, he finds support in those who believe in his abilities, and begins to write. Moving first to Greenwich Village, then to Paris, he works ‘to capture/ the voice of his ancestors, stand up for oppressed people,/ and push the world to change.’ Incorporating hue-based lines to introduce narrative beats (‘Paris is fog gray’), Meadows slowly unveils Baldwin’s many facets—burgeoning writer; activist; Black, queer icon—across an elegantly rendered work about a man “with compassion in his heart and a pen in his hand.” Back matter includes an author’s note.”- Publishers Weekly

What’s a Germ, Joseph Lister? – The Medical Mystery That Forever Changed the Way We Heal by Lori Alexander, art by Daniel Duncan
(Grade 3-6)
Library Catalog

“Alexander introduces readers to Joseph Lister, a UK surgeon and physician who dedicated his career to preventing hospital deaths and alerting colleagues to the dangers of germs. She details Lister's early interest in nature, his medical training, and his efforts to improve patient survival in hospitals, which led to experiments, the discovery of germs, and the use of clean tools and antiseptics to prevent infections. Of note are the chapters describing Lister's successful surgery on Queen Victoria and his consultation on King Edward VII's appendectomy. Interspersed throughout are sections on the history of surgery, the efforts of Louis Pasteur, and the work of Robert Koch. Nearly every spread contains at least one full-color illustration, rendered in a humorous cartoon style. Greens and blood reds predominate, and some scenes (particularly historical surgeries) are rather lurid. Frequent sidebars describe related topics (public dissections; women in science), adding depth to the presentation. Including generous back matter (historic photographs, time line, glossary, source notes, and recommended reading), this eminently readable offering fills a void and should fascinate would-be physicians.”- Booklist Reviews

The Observologist – A Handbook for Mounting Very Small Scientific Expeditions by Giselle Clarkson
(Grade 3-7)
Library Catalog

“What do a damp corner, wet pavement, and a weedy patch have in common? They are perfectly ordinary places for an observologist to hang out. An observologist is someone who is keen to notice the tiniest and most extraordinary scientific details specific to slugs, earthworms, flies, bees, ants, fungi, and other living organisms known to populate in small, often overlooked natural locations. Award-winning author/illustrator Clarkson's unique visual representations of over 100 small creatures and their habitats will have readers thinking in miniature while realizing there is no limit to what can be noticed in the world around them. Her technically impressive renderings of earth's small-to-microscopic creatures are vibrant, lively, and imaginative, while intricate text wraps around an environmental conservation approach that encourages us to observe with our undivided attention. VERDICT An amusing approach to a traditional field guide, displaying intricate illustrations. Clarkson's environmental book is well suited for developing naturalists as well as curious observers. It deserves a place of honor on every library shelf and will be a valuable asset in classrooms.”- School Library Journal

Shipwrecked! – Diving for Hidden Time Capsules on the Ocean Floor by Martin W. Sandler
(Grade 5+)
Library Catalog

“From bronze statues and an early ‘computer’ found in the Mediterranean Sea to intricate celadon pottery in the Shinan Islands of East Asia, and other significant finds from locations as far-flung as South Africa, South Carolina, and the Arctic Northwest Passage, uncovering wrecked ships has led to major historical revelations. Sandler has chosen specific shipwrecks to illustrate differing circumstances and parts of the world. The dense but intriguing text is broken up by photographs, period paintings, and spotlight boxes that highlight technological information about the ships, the development of tools that enabled their recovery, or unique cultural elements such as the haenyeo: women divers from Korea. As examples of marine archeology, these projects detail inventiveness and scientific knowledge, the historical background, and the diving expertise required to uncover, conserve, and remove artifacts from challenging circumstances for further study. The well-documented text takes information from adult books, some written by the archeologists themselves, and distills it for a younger audience. The ships and voyages had a variety of purposes. One of the most affecting chapters chronicles the fate of enslaved humans aboard the Sao Jose Paquete de Africa, a Portuguese vessel engaged in the slave trade. The Mary Rose and the Hunley were warships. The Erebus and the Terror were on a mission in ice-filled waters searching for the Northwest Passage, and the wrecks were uncovered with significant help from a person knowledgeable about Inuit oral history. VERDICT Full of adventure and numerous explorations of the value of perseverance, this title will capture the attention of readers through a wealth of scientific and historical details.”- School Library Journal

Graphic Novels

Eowulf: Of Monsters & Middle School by Mike Cavallaro
(Grades 4-8)
Library Catalog

“The lines between friends and enemies blur for a young descendant of Beowulf when monsters threaten her New Jersey town. In this graphic novel spinoff from Cavallaro's Nico Bravo series, red-haired monster hunter Eowulf Wegmund loves battling mystical foes in real life as well as participating in role-playing games with her friends. After seeing aloof Amadeus Hornburg being bullied at school, she befriends him. Her parents warn her against hanging out with a Hornburg, and her gaming squad, who dislike him, are equally displeased. Eowulf feels like everyone is keeping secrets from her, but her anxiety must go on a back burner when rampaging monsters descend upon her quiet, suburban town. With her trusty sentient sword, Roger, she plunges into battle–only to find the battle lines blurry: Whom can she really trust? This new series hits a masterful note in its complex symphony of tween angst; Eowulf knows that something is amiss, and watching her forge ahead with candor and impulsivity makes her a compulsively relatable and endearing hero. Vivid, kinetic illustrations propel the adept plotting, and the coloring by Yeom makes the exciting battles positively blaze on the page. Nico Bravo aficionados will be pleased with winking nods to the trilogy throughout, and the clever, cliffhanging epilogue will certainly hook all readers. Eowulf reads white; there is racial diversity throughout the supporting cast. A pitch-perfect tale of friendship and fantastical foes.”-Kirkus Reviews

Art Club by Rashad Doucet
(Grades 4-7)
Library Catalog

“Adults are often challenging to please, especially when they think they know what's best for you. Dale and his friends face a daunting challenge as they endeavor to convince Vice Principal Ruffin that art is as meaningful and valuable as any other profession. With the guidance of Miss Je'Nae, this misfit group collaborates to resurrect their school's art club and explore ways to make it ‘profitable.’ The heartwarming, adorable, and highly informative narrative is perfectly tailored for middle-grade readers who are figuring out how to stand up for themselves. With vibrant, textured colors spilling over bold comic book lines, this book incorporates the best elements of a classic comic with a charming, warm twist. Beyond its visual appeal, the story imparts valuable life lessons about staying true to what's important, resisting the pressure to choose a career path too soon, and the beauty of adult support for dreams. With an empowering message of the importance of the arts and following personal passion projects, Doucet is poised to inspire a new generation of comic book enthusiasts and creators. The inclusion of a guide detailing the book's creation adds an extra layer of insight. Belongs on the same shelf as Jerry Craft's New Kid series, Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham's Real Friends series, and Victoria Jamieson's Roller Girl (2015).”-Booklist

Are You Afraid of the Dark?: The Witch’s Wings and Other Terrifying Tales by Tehlor Kay Mejia, Tehlor Kay, art by Junyi Wu, Alexis Hernandez, Justin Hernandez, and Kaylee Rowena
(Grades 4-8)
Library Catalog

“Three eerie tales focused on Latine characters comprise this graphic novel counterpart to Nickelodeon's horror anthology television series, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, which aired in the 1990s but has been recently revived. In the bridge tale, Alicia joins the Midnight Society–children who meet in the woods to tell horror stories by firelight–as a hopeful initiate. She has three tries to tell a story scary enough to become a member. Her first follows a lonely teen whose anger catches the attention of the Lechuza, the vengeful spirit of a wronged woman appearing as an owl with red eyes. In her second story, a girl fleeing her parents' endless fighting rides a haunted bus trapped in its own destructive cycle. In Alicia's most chilling story, siblings rescue a stray dog that is slowly revealed to be not of this world. Mejia's storytelling is compelling, with natural dialogue and well-paced scares that carry seamlessly through the different styles of each illustrator, which range from bold lines and limited color palettes to expressively quirky character designs and lurid colors. An excellent creepy collection perfect for Halloween.”-Booklist