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

Awake , Asleep by Kyle Lukoff and Nadia Alam
(Birth to 3 Years-Old)
Library Catalog

“From dawn to bedtime, loving glimpses of children living through an ordinary day. Writing almost entirely in rhyming, sonorous sequences of simple nouns, Lukoff begins with sunrise—’A kiss, a blink, a dawn, / a break. // A yawn, / a peep, / a stretch, / awake!’—and goes on to caption cozy digital paintings of three young suburban child neighbors stirring out of bed, dressing and eating, walking out with parents to a playground…then at day’s end coming back home for a bath, a meal, a book, and finally bed. Realistically, the outing has its emotional downs as well as ups, as a broken toy and other mishaps lead to ‘a lap’  for one child, ‘a nap’ for another, and, following a tantrum, a calming bath for a third. Alam depicts a cast diverse of age, race, and family composition, including among the last a child and a baby sibling with two male-presenting parents (brown skinned, in different shades) and a live-in elder. From first light to moonlit final scene, each moment of this domestic round glows with feelings of warmth and safety.  Soothing, familiar, and perfect for reading at bedtime—or any other time.” –Kirkus Reviews

When Water Flows by Aida Salazar and Caribay M. Benavides
(Birth to 3 Years-Old)
Library Catalog

“Explore the mesmerizing celebration of water and its wonders in this lyrical board book. The text, interwoven with Spanish words, features an older woman explaining the different features of water to a young girl. While the word count is higher than in typical board books, it will appeal to a variety of ages. The vibrant art complements the text and will keep readers engaged. VERDICT With the inclusion of both Spanish and English words, this is a useful and beautiful title for all libraries.” –School Library Journal

Hello, Hello Opposites by Brendan Wenzel
(Birth to 3 Years-Old)
Library Catalog

“Discover a world of opposites, animals, and unique word pairings in this captivating concept book. Readers are introduced to a variety of animals and opposite pairings in this compelling board book. ‘Hello bright, Hello dull./ Hello empty, Hello full.’ An author's note at the end explains that each featured animal is under threat, providing age-appropriate details of the species and specific breed. A key indicates whether the animal is near-threatened, vulnerable, endangered, or near extinction. VERDICT This is a great purchase for libraries looking to expand their animal or concept collections, and a wonderful way to introduce an essential aspect of environmental studies for the young.” –School Library Journal

For Younger Readers

Look Up! Fontaine the Pigeon Starts a Revolution by Britt Gondolfi and Amanda Romanick
(Preschool – 3rd Grade)
Library Catalog

“The kids will not see this coming. Start the story hour with any of Mo Willems's ‘Pigeon’ books, then show them what pigeons can really do–especially when they collaborate. Fontaine, the pigeon, is dismayed by the hordes of people below his perch staring into their screens and ignoring the fabulous teeming life all around them. Fontaine ‘got so tired of all the insanity. He dreamed up all the ways he could wake up humanity.’ It's actually just one way: He organizes all the other pigeons to do what they do best–perfect for gross-out loving children–in a targeted effort to take out the screens, one by one. The gloppy mess they fire, with astonishing accuracy, makes one person suggest that perhaps the birds are trying to tell them something. Lesson learned, and there is dancing in the streets. This tale is told in Gondolfi's casual rhyming text; the goal is not perfect scansion but the compelling idea, its execution, and the revolution itself. Romanick's art offers many hilarious moments, with a diverse street crew, a wide array of birds/comrades, and suspense as the first ‘bomb’ is dropped. VERDICT Pure silliness, this is sure to be popular with the early elementary set.” –School Library Journal

It’s Hard to Be a Baby by Cheryl B. Klein and Juana Medina
(Preschool – 3rd Grade)
Library Catalog

“A knowledgeable narrator describes the challenges of coming into the world, surviving your first years, and beginning to grow up. The many babies depicted here in detailed multimedia illustrations are healthy, plump, and very well loved. They and their families are diverse in terms of race; some infants belong to same-sex couples. The narrator addresses the babies directly, detailing their lives in utero: ‘You just kicked your feet! Turned somersaults! Partied! And you got to be naked, which is the best!’ Birth brought with it a host of problems: ‘You have to tell these people everything. When you’re hot. When you’re hungry.’ The humorously authoritative voice continues: ‘But hang in there, babies. Good things are coming.’ The babies will discover their hands and feet, they’ll start sleeping through the night, and they’ll learn to crawl and walk. There’s a bit of a surprise ending when the narrator is revealed. (Some readers may have even noticed the speaker lurking on earlier pages.) The illustrations depict harried grown-ups attending to these new arrivals. One especially amusing image shows a parent trying to hold a baby amid a chaotic plumbing situation; on another spread, parents struggle to get a stroller safely down the subway steps. Adults and many preschoolers will certainly smile with recognition at the experiences portrayed, though the book is a bit too sophisticated for babies themselves. New big siblings will get a kick out of this—as will first-time parents.” -Kirkus Reviews

Crowning Glory: A Celebration of Black Hair by Carole Boston Weatherford and Ekua Holmes
(Preschool – 3rd Grade)
Library Catalog

“In this eloquent ode to Black hair, Weatherford presents Black women young and old wearing their hair in various stages and styles on many occasions, whether it is to church, outdoors, at the beach, birthday parties, and so many other locations and settings. Beautifully captured in bright illustrations, the words are so lyrical and poignant that any Black child will feel uplifted. The author interweaves a nonfiction theme into an inspirational picture book with scenes composed by Holmes. The book ends with a potent epilogue in which every hairstyle is listed and explained, from bantou knots to Afros and cornrows. VERDICT A great read for every child, but Black children will find these pages especially gratifying and welcoming.” –School Library Journal

Fiction

A Brush With Magic by Flora Ahn
(Grades 4-6)
Library Catalog

“A California girl makes an unexpected friend during a summer abroad visiting relatives in Seoul. Twelve-year-old Yumi is taking her first trip to South Korea, her parents' homeland, along with her 16-year-old sister, Minji. Yumi hopes the trip will help the sisters be close again, but she soon feels left out when Minji leaves her behind to explore with their teenage cousins. Forlorn, Yumi spends her days with Harabujee, her beloved grandfather, who teaches her brush painting, tells her Korean fairy tales, and shares old memories of Yumi's mom's childhood. One day, Yumi goes to a neighborhood art store, where she finds an unusually beautiful brush. But when she brings it home and tries to paint with it, a dokkaebi, or Korean goblin, emerges. At first it seems that Dodo, the goblin, will alleviate Yumi's loneliness. She shape-shifts into Yumi's look-alike, makes paintings come to life, and leads her on adventures through the city. But Dodo's erratic behavior soon has Yumi wondering whether she can trust her, while simultaneously allowing her insights into Minji's own feelings about growing up. Apt details of contemporary Korean life are woven naturally throughout the narrative, and the well-rounded characters are welcome representations of the diversity of modern-day Korean youth. Fantastical elements are seamlessly woven into this engaging, entertaining story. Park's charming brush painting-style spot art adorns the text. A universal coming-of-age tale becomes extraordinary through an encounter with Korean folk magic.” –Kirkus Reviews

Grow Up, Luchy Zapata by Alexandra Alessandri
(Grades 4-6)
Library Catalog

“Colombian American 11-year-old Luchy Zapata is thrilled to be starting middle school in Miami with her best friends Cami and Mateo. But since returning from her summer trip to Colombia, Cami has been acting distant and seems concerned with projecting a more mature image. With their once-easy friendship now marred by ‘awkwardness full of sharp edges,’ Luchy–with the help of dependable Mateo–tries to win back her friend. She makes a scrapbook celebrating their shared history and even attempts to modify her style with makeup and ‘cool’ clothes. She eventually joins Cami on the middle school soccer team, certain that doing so will give them more time together and thus fix everything (it might also make Luchy's soccer-obsessed papi proud). But when Luchy's cleats go missing on the day of tryouts–and she realizes that Cami is the only other person who knows her locker combination–Luchy vows vengeance. Told via thoughtful and confidently rendered narration, this sincere tale of diverging friendship by Alessandri (The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía) is augmented by organically layered subplots surrounding Luchy's feelings of disconnect from her Colombian heritage and her steadfast friendship with Mateo.” –Publishers Weekly

Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek by Kwame Mbalia
(Grades 4-6)
Library Catalog

“Mbalia takes the legacy of Pullman porters as inspiration for his latest fantasy world rooted in Black lore and traditions in this series opener. Twelve-year-old Jax Freeman is an unwilling transplant to Chicago, sent away from his Raleigh, North Carolina, home by his parents after an incident lands him in the juvenile justice system. Just about as soon as he descends from the train, the weirdness starts: Inanimate objects speak to him, a strange old woman tells him his ancestors need him, and a terrifying creature tries to steal his skin. The strangeness keeps building, from the inspirational signs at his grandmother's house that keep changing their messages to the class in…magic?…at DuSable Middle School. And what's with the peculiar reactions he gets whenever people learn his surname? Pretty soon Jax is riding a magic train called the Shriek, charged with a mission to heal a feud among the five magical summoning families of Chicago–a mission that killed his great-great-grandfather. Jax spends most of the novel in a state of frustration as he tries to understand this new world, and readers may sympathize as they wait with him for other characters to dole out information. Mbalia has so much fun developing the world's rules and inhabitants, though, that readers will probably not mind the adventure's bagginess. Jax has a digressive narrative style that runs to broad comedy, but it's his fundamental decency that really shines.” –Kirkus Reviews

Nonfiction

Dinosaurs to Chickens: How Evolution Works by Nick Lund, art by Lucy Rose
(Grades 2-5)
Library Catalog

“Evolution is a pretty sophisticated concept, and this offering makes abstract ideas accessible through the effective use of graphics (charts, time lines, flowcharts, and lifelike illustrations of multiple examples of critters at various stages as they've evolved over time). The accompanying text alternates effortlessly between descriptions of current, familiar animals (there are separate sections on insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, including humans) and their evolutionary ancestors, explaining how species that have survived usually needed to morph to combat weaknesses, evade predators, and adapt to changing ecosystems. There's also material on how unique contemporary physical features allow animals to communicate and protect themselves and their young. The busy pages offer a pleasing balance of illustrations and accessible blocks of text, supported by a detailed glossary and suggestions for further reading. The 125 subjects range from common pets (cats and dogs) to slightly more exotic examples (great white shark, platypus), and the inclusion of insects and birds is a nice touch. This visual treat should prove satisfying for both browsers and researchers.” –Booklist

Growing Up: An Inclusive Guide to Puberty and Your Changing Body by Rachel Greener, art by Clare Owen
(Grades 3-6)
Library Catalog

“A guide to the ins and outs of maturation. Greener and Owen's book covers physical and emotional changes, friendship, self-care, and digital citizenship and safety. Written in second person, the text addresses young readers directly, inviting them to consider their own experiences. The book both normalizes and affirms the diversity of human bodies and experiences, whether biological realities (‘These changes happen at a different speed for everyone') or bodily autonomy and choice (‘Not every grown-up can or will choose to use their body to make a baby. There are lots of different ways to be a grown-up'). Illustrations rendered in gentle hues include informative biological diagrams and tools such as menstrual products; the art portrays people of diverse racial identities, abilities, religions, and body sizes going about their lives. A section on boundary setting addresses consent and the importance of listening when someone says no, though it doesn't address affirmative consent. The author doesn't discuss transgender experiences (beyond acknowledging that some people's gender identities are at odds with the sex they were assigned at birth) or puberty blockers; still, her use of words such as some and most helps to avoid overgeneralization: ‘During puberty, most people born with a vulva will start having periods.' Frequent reminders to talk with a ‘grown-up you trust' responsibly keep the focus on young readers and their potential needs. An extensive and accurate puberty primer.” –Kirkus Reviews

Lonely Planet Kids: Mysterious World – Discover All That is Strange and Unexplained Across Our Planet by Laura Knowles
(Grades 3-7)
Library Catalog

“Uncover our planet's most sensational secrets with this mind-boggling atlas of mysteries that's packed with more than 100 strange and unexplained enigmas. What happened to the Bermuda Triangle? Where have Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the Yowie been sighted? Why does the legend of Area 51 fascinate us? Bursting with stories about ghostly hauntings, bizarre disappearances, and curious cryptids, this awesome guide to the unusual is the ultimate fact-packed mystery book for readers all over the world. Written by Laura Knowles, author of It Starts with a Seed, which won the 2017 Margaret Mallett Award for Children's Nonfiction.” –Publisher Marketing

Graphic Novels

Meesh the Bad Demon series by Michelle Lam
(Grades 3-6)
Library Catalog

“Meesh is a demon who fancies herself a fairy princess and would rather tend to flowers than attend fire-breathing and acid-puking classes at demon school. After a scuffle with some other kids at school, she discovers that her community's lava is poisoned and everyone is turning to stone. She decides to go to Plumeria, where the fairies live, to get help, and a mishap leaves her and the fairy princess stranded and out of reach. The demons and fairies have a long antagonistic history that puts this new alliance to the test, but once Meesh and new friend Nouna see the big picture, they realize everyone wins when they put their differences aside. This comic is beautifully illustrated with simple, cartoon drawings and pastel palettes, and it's as much about accepting other folks who are different as it is about loving and accepting oneself with all of one's strengths and weaknesses. The story has something for everyone: fairy princesses, unicorns, demons, werewolves, and high adventure with a cast of brave kids.” –Booklist

Cowgirls & Dinosaurs: Big Trouble in Little Spittle by Lucie Ebrey
(Grades 3-7)
Library Catalog

“In the distant past, an unknown object came tumbling through the atmosphere, wiping out countless species and leaving a mysterious object in the heart of the impact crater. In the aftermath, humans evolved from apelike creatures (and dinosaurs continued evolving right alongside them) and appointed sheriffs and deputies to protect the communities of the world and safeguard the object that caused the widespread destruction. In the present, aspiring sheriff Abigail has been unable to secure herself a position, until she stops a crime in the town of Little Spittle, where a mousy young deputy named Clementine decides to give her a chance. That small crime, though, is only the beginning of a much larger danger to the town and entire world, and the pair embarks on a journey to prevent a nefarious villain, the Bandit Queen, from bringing destruction to the world. Ebrey's Western-inspired comic is a satisfying blend of antic silliness, adventure, and just the right amount of heart, all amplified by the cartoonish character design and expressive dino companions.” –Booklist

Monster Locker by Jorge Aguirre, art by Andres Vera Martinez
(Grades 4-8)
Library Catalog

:A locker in a middle school basement leads to world-ending trouble. Sixth grade isn't looking too good for friendless Pablo Ortiz, who still has no cell phone. Prepping for his sister's quinceañera is no fun, either. ‘New year, new school, same crap.' Then Pablo pries open his locker to discover that Obie the Evil, a blobby, tadpolelike monster, resides inside. Obie wants Pablo's help in unleashing ‘the world's most loathsome monsters,' who will conquer and enslave all humans. After Pablo (who'd prefer to fly under the radar) refuses repeated requests, the persistent Obie tricks him into opening a portal to the realm of monsters, summoning Coatlicue. The vindictive Aztec Earth goddess releases frightening creatures in her wake that first attack Pablo's school and then head out into Columbus, Ohio, transforming captured people into animals. Joined by his newfound friends and guided by his feisty, wise abuela, Pablo must step up to become an unexpected hero who saves the day in an unanticipated way. Centered on an amusing premise, this tale of ancient monsters and one very irate goddess serves up heaps of goofy humor thanks to its reluctant, pint-size Latine hero, comically antagonistic baddies, and frequent breaking of the fourth wall. A rich cast of culturally diverse characters, seamlessly inserted social commentary, and bustling, snappy artwork contribute greatly to a briskly paced adventure that teases a sequel. A simply smashing monster bash.” –Kirkus Reviews

The Firelight Apprentice by Bree Paulsen
(Grades 5-8)
Library Catalog

“Ada knows that it is up to her to protect her sister, Safi: their mother, a magician, is dead, their father is deeply injured from a recent war, and Safi has incredible untrained magical abilities that, if detected by undead magicians desperate for power, could put her in danger. She tries to hide her concerns when traveling magicians see Safi's budding abilities and offer her a mentorship, determined to send off her exuberant little sister with enough positivity that Safi won't worry. Ada, however, is left with nothing but stress and fear about her family, and she will need to muster significant courage to save her sister when things go horribly wrong during her training. In this magic-infused graphic novel, lush, saturated colors do substantial work in establishing mood-particularly of note are the outside scenes that feature bright pops of color depicting Ada's persistent efforts at joy and connection against a bruised green/yellow hue evoking the universal devastation of war. Wordless panels offer as many setting details as the exposition, making this a remarkably well-developed world for such a short graphic novel. Careful pacing lays out the meaningful relationships between key characters, the role of magic in this world, and the mystery building around Safi's mentors, and while the conclusion feels a bit rushed, a tender epilogue fills in remaining questions. Paulsen has an eye for capturing vulnerability as a source of untapped power rather than a weakness (Garlic and the Vampire, BCCB 7/21), and Ada is particularly memorable as she uses her ferocious love for her sister to make choices where all the options feel unbearable. Budding steampunk fans will likely fall hardcore for this dangerous but ultimately hopeful adventure.” –Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books