There’s no better way to spend clear summer nights than stargazing! It’s time to reflect on the year so far. Read on to discover which 2024 titles have earned review recognition from industry professionals.
Picture Books
Best Believe: The Tres Hermanas, a Sisterhood for the Common Good by NoNieqa Ramos and illustrated by Nicole Medina
Grade Level: 1 – 4
Age Level: 6 – 10
Rhythmic verse presents three sisters who moved from Puerto Rico to New York City as children and grew up to be pioneering activists in their Bronx community, focusing on schools, libraries, and the arts.
★”The sisters’ fiery spirit runs through the text, which frankly calls out disparities and celebrates the Tres Hermanas’ many victories as they passionately defended the rights of Puerto Rican Americans and lifted up their culture. . . Illustrations channeling the sisters’ Puerto Rican roots feature saturated colors, tropical flower embellishments, moving portraits of the family and community, and a clean, modern aesthetic.”—starred, Booklist
A Better Best Friend by Olivier Tallec
Grade Level: PreK – 1
Age Level: 3 – 7
A feel-good picture book about best friendship told with dry comedy and an open ending—squirrel and mushroom are best friends until another best friend (a fly) comes to play.
★”Demonstrates the value of a best friend—or two.”—starred, Foreword Reviews
Everybody’s Book: The Story of the Sarajevo Haggadah by Linda Leopold Strauss and illustrated by Tim Smart
Grade Level: PreK – 2
Age Level: 4 – 8
The true story of the famous Sarajevo Haggadah begins long ago in Spain. Used for centuries and declared a treasure, people of many faiths have protected the haggadah up to this day.
★”Bright watercolor illustrations follow the true story of a book’s remarkable journey through generations and across multiple wars…People of all cultures and faiths come together to protect the book from Nazi invasions, Serbian bombs, and the passage of time.”—Foreword Reviews
A Ramadan to Remember by Marzieh A. Ali and illustrated by Najwa Awatiff
Published by Soaring Kite Books
Grade Level: K – 3
Age Level: 5 – 9
Ramadan is almost here! It’s Zain’s favorite time of the year. Well, it usually is. After a recent move, will Zain find a new Muslim friend to celebrate with him?
★”This lovely picture book shares the specifics of the Ramadan holiday with readers of all backgrounds, while illustrating the very real emotions of one boy who feels alienated from his peers. . . . [A] heartfelt and detailed book to share with all children, whether or not they celebrate Ramadan themselves.”—starred, School Library Journal
The Rock in My Throat by Kao Kalia Yang by Jiemei Lin
Grade Level: K – 4
Age Level: 5 – 10
In this moving true story, Kao Kalia Yang shares her experiences as a Hmong refugee child navigating life at home and school in America while carrying the weight of her selective mutism.
★”A heartfelt story that teaches children about diversity and reflects difficulties with being different, understood, and accepted.”—starred, Booklist
Touch the Sky by Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic and illustrated by Chris Park
Grade Level: K – 3
Age Level: 5 – 9
Both heartfelt and hilarious, this picture book captures the unforgettable moment when a child learns how to pump on a swing. It’s a story for every kid on the cusp of learning something new.
★”Lucianovic demonstrates a keen, child-friendly understanding of what it’s like to master a new skill. . . The energetic, loosely drawn mixed-media illustrations zing with color. . . It’s swing, hit, and no miss with this rip-roaring charmer.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
Early Readers
Imani Picks Up the Pieces by Cicely Lewis and illustrated by Anastasia Magloire Williams
Grade Level: 1 – 3
Age Level: 6 – 9
Imani learns resilience when she loses her research project the night before it’s due. This early chapter book introduces Imani’s hair magic and includes critical thinking questions and a nonfiction feature on African spirituals.
★”Written in flowing sentences ideal for practicing readers, this title celebrates Black history, hearth, and hair, and makes any reader feel like they are special and worthy. . .Vivid illustrations paired with a relatable story equals a must-have for any library.” –starred, School Library Journal
The Pinchers and the Diamond Heist by Anders Sparring and illustrated by Per Gustavsson
Grade Level: 1 – 4
Age Level: 6 – 10
Theo can count pretty high and knows several French words. But he can’t lie or steal. “You must try harder,” says his mother. After a prison break and a diamond heist, Theo surprises everyone with a lie that saves the day.
★”Appealing and playful . . . A family engages in cheerful criminality while their youngest makes vain efforts to tell the truth in the delightful caper novel The Pinchers and the Diamond Heist.”—starred, Foreword Reviews
Middle Grade
The Color of Sound by Emily Barth Isler
Grade Level: 6 – 8
Age Level: 11 – 14
Musical prodigy Rosie stops playing the violin, upsetting her ambitious mother but making room in her life for new experiences, including a glitch in space-time that lets her meet her mom as a twelve-year-old.
★”Intricately entwining interpersonal growth with each character’s relationship to their Jewish faith and culture, Isler highlights the role of family history in identity formation through metaphorical time travel. Color-centric imagery rendered in immersive prose translates Rosie’s synesthesia in this salient celebration of family, music, and neurodiversity.”—starred, Publishers Weekly
★”Isler crafts an exceptionally honest portrayal of complicated mother-daughter dynamics, and a protagonist whose independence and kindness is a stunning solo. . . a perfect book club pick and a reminder to all that patience and understanding can change lives.”—starred, School Library Journal
Cruzita and the Mariacheros by Ashley Granillo
Grade Level: 6 – 8
Age Level: 11 – 14
Cruzita wants to be a pop star. She doesn’t want to take mariachi lessons—until she and her fellow mariacheros come up with a plan to save her family’s struggling bakery and to let Cruzita shine.
★”Mariachi, family, and pan dulce are the ingredients for this perfect middle grade novel. Highly recommended for all middle grade collections.”—starred, School Library Journal
Young Adult
Pangu’s Shadow by Karen Bao
Grade Level: 7 – 12
Age Level: 12 – 18
When Ver and Aryl, rival apprentices at the most prestigious biology lab in the Pangu Star System, become the prime suspects in their teacher’s murder, they must team up to clear their names.
★”This dual-perspective tale maintains a vivid connection to each narrator’s voice while keeping up an exciting pace and unfurling a satisfying mystery. Hard to put down: A strongly written work that pulls no punches while providing much-needed representation.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
Eyes Open by Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Grade Level: 9 – 12
Age Level: 14 – 18
Living under the Salazar dictatorship in 1960s Portugal, Sónia must find her voice as a poet and an activist after the government arrests her boyfriend and shuts down her family’s business in this moving novel in verse.
★”Beautifully and fluidly written, Miller-Lachmann’s memorable verse novel captures the setting splendidly, dramatizing the abysmal condition of women under the dictatorship.”—starred, Booklist
“The verse format allows Sónia’s poetic voice to shine, drawing readers into the stark reality she’s dealing with. . . Conveys harshness, beauty—and lingering hope.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
Graphic Novels
Just Another Story: A Graphic Migration Account by Ernesto Saade
Grade Level: 9 – 12
Age Level: 14 – 18
When Carlos was nineteen, his mother decided to leave her life in El Salvador. Refusing to let her go without him, Carlos joined her journey north. Together they experienced the risks countless people face as they migrate.
★”Powerful vignettes weave the epic odyssey of one family’s migration while highlighting the risks and sacrifices undertaken daily by migrants searching for the American dream. The striking illustrations deftly convey complex emotions and poignant symbolism.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
★”With delicacy and grace, Salvadoran cartoonist Saade crafts a resonant and distinctive graphic novel debut . . . Each panel is a testament to individual resilience, culminating in an expansive story of human beings triumphing against unspeakable odds.”—starred, Publishers Weekly
Nonfiction
Defending Nature: How the US Military Protects Threatened and Endangered Species by Sneed B. Collard III
Grade Level: 4 – 8
Age Level: 9 – 14
On Eglin Air Force Base, scientists and soldiers work together to protect endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers, gopher tortoises, and reticulated flatwoods salamanders. Discover the challenges endangered species face and how the military works to protect them.
★”Essential, and eye-opening, reading for serious students of wildlife conservation.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
The Observologist: A Handbook for Mounting Very Small Scientific Expeditions by Giselle Clarkson
An observologist is someone who makes small scientific expeditions every day. By looking at more than 100 small creatures and features of the natural world under the microscope in this fascinating catalog, you’ll discover an extraordinary world—right under your nose.
★”[T]his book will have readers sharpening their senses in no time. A charming work sure to spark a lifelong habit of looking closely at the natural world.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
★”Clarkson’s fond factoids and mindful sketches express joy in learning while promoting empathy for tiny creatures . . . Nature nerds will rejoice in this compendium of creepy-crawlies.”—starred, Publishers Weekly
★”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.”—starred, School Library Journal
Space Torah: Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman’s Cosmic Mitzvah by Rachelle Burk and illustrated by Craig Orback
Published by Intergalactic Afikoman
Grade Level: K – 3
Age Level: 5 – 9
As a child, Jeff’s head was often in the clouds. As an astronaut, he journeyed far beyond them. On his final mission, Jeff brought a miniature Torah into orbit for an out-of-this-world Shabbat celebration!
★”A beautiful and meaningful juxtaposition of ancient Jewish tradition with modern space exploration.”—starred, Booklist
Starlight Symphony by Buffy Silverman
Grade Level: PreK – 3
Age Level: 4 – 9
Nature is full of music. Listen in as a wood thrush, a cricket, a woodpecker, and many other animals perform a symphony under the stars. Rhyming verse and eye-catching photos will draw in animal lovers and music lovers alike!
★”Whether a bedtime story for the very young or a nature text for early elementary schoolers, this title has broad appeal and utility. Perfectly pitched for its audience.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
Wildfire: The Culture, Science, and Future of Fire by Ferin Davis Anderson and Stephanie Sammartino McPherson
Grade Level: 8 – 12
Age Level: 13 – 18
Environmental scientist Ferin Davis Anderson and author Stephanie Sammartino McPherson examine how Indigenous people, farmers, and forestry departments have used fire to manage resources and how climate change is impacting the future of fire.
★”It’s nice to have this balanced, reassuring offering that puts wildfires into ecological perspective. . . This authoritative STEAM selection has multiple crosscurricular applications, engaging live action-style reporting on narrow escapes and heroic deeds, and serves as a buffer for climate anxiety.”—starred, Booklist
The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities around the World by Lee Wind
Grade Level: 6 – 12
Age Level: 11 – 18
Author Lee Wind takes readers on a journey to examine gender identity and representation throughout history—from ancient burial sites to people identifying as gender fluid today. Learn how cultures past and present debunk the idea of a gender binary.
★”An accessible, thorough, curiosity-provoking introduction to gender.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
Keep up with the latest stars and award on the Recently Recognized page on the Lerner website.