Hop into spring with our bouquet of fresh book releases to brighten your reading list! Whether you’re looking for picture books, graphic novels, fiction, or nonfiction, this delightful bouquet will have something for everyone.
New Picture Books
Dreams to Ashes: The 1871 Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre by Livia Blackburne and illustrated by Nicole Xu
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – 5
A powerful nonfiction picture book about the history of Chinese immigration to the West Coast, presented through the lens of the 1871 Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre. An essential account that offers both heartbreak and hope.
★”Meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated in full-color drawings . . . the story acknowledges the growing pains of pushing out of communities (Indigenous and other immigrant communities) by the Spanish colonial missions and later by Americans to make room for Western development . . . This deeply felt coverage of the inflection points for so many communities is a must-have for all libraries.”—starred, School Library Journal
“Deftly brings to light a lesser-known horror in the context of America’s history of racism against Chinese immigrants.”—Kirkus Reviews
“In this ruminative account of a lesser-known race riot that left 18 immigrants dead, Blackburne poses big, still cogent questions.”—Booklist
Dino-Birthday by Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Barry Gott
- Interest Level: Grade K-3
Happy birthday, dear dinos! Check out four birthdays in four seasons and see all the fun ways dinos celebrate. With playful party themes, presents, cake, and lots of games for everyone!
“With Wheeler’s clever rhyming text and Gott’s amusing illustrations, this is a perfect read aloud for Dinovember or any time of year. Children will relate to the themed parties and enjoy Gott’s creative details that perfectly match the story. Combining birthdays and dinosaurs is a perfect match. This book is guaranteed to have high circulation—best to order more than one!”—School Library Journal
The Secret Recipe by Ilan Stavans and illustrated by Taia Morley
- Interest Level: Grade PreK – 2
“Una merenda azeremos,” Abuela says to her grandson. “It means ‘we will cook together’ in our secret language.” Can a language be secret? The next time the boy visits Abuela, he surprises her with a few words.
The See You Soon Spice-Box by Pamela Ehrenberg and illustrated by Gabby Grant
- Interest Level: Grade PreK – 2
Great-Grandma Faye says that Havdalah is like saying to Shabbat, “See you soon!” When Silas video calls Great-Grandma Faye, they chant the Havdalah service together, until Great-Grandma Faye finally visits in person.
“A gentle demonstration of how familial bonds—and traditions—can endure even over vast physical distances.”—Kirkus Reviews
Saif’s Special Patches by Humera Malik and illustrated by Ravan Sader
- Interest Level: Grade PreK – 3
Saif is “just shy,” or at least that’s what everyone tells him. When his mom comforts him with a patchwork quilt made of his special memories, he remembers he’s brave, smart, persistent, and helpful, too.
“Sader evokes peace and calm with a brightly colored palette of yellows, reds, purples, and blues reminiscent of pastels on a watercolor background. VERDICT This warm tale about self-realization and growth is recommended for picture book collections.”—School Library Journal
All by Myself: (But Sometimes I Need a Little Help!) by Elizabeth Everett and illustrated by Shelley Hanmo
- Interest Level: Grade PreK – 2
I can do many things all by myself, but sometimes I need a little help. A child can stack blocks but needs help building castles. They can connect two pieces but not the whole puzzle. And that’s okay!
New Graphic Novels
I’m a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods by Anne Lambelet
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – 5
Dumbo octopus Grimpy presents a tour of the whole cephalopod class: cuttlefish, nautiluses, octopuses, and squids. When he dwells on everything he can’t do, the others show him why it’s great to be a dumbo!
★”Lambelet offers an enchanting blend of whimsy and well-chosen, creatively expressed facts. . . An informative, buoyant, and wildly original look at some marine marvels.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
★”Perfect for young marine biologists, this title uses humor and fascinating facts to capture the imagination and remind readers that new discoveries are being made every day.” —starred, School Library Journal
The Golden Poo: Book 1 by Park Song-eui, illustrated by Kim Duck-Young, and translated by Gloria Ohe
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – 5
Dr. Egg, Dr. Yang, and Dr. Woong find a mysterious golden poo in the woods! Can you solve the mystery before they can? Come learn all about living things through the science of poo!
All Aboard the Poo Boat, Book 2 by Park Song-eui, illustrated by Kim Duck-Young, and translated by Gloria Ohe
- Interest Level: Grade 2 – 5
Dr. Egg and friends hop aboard the Poo Boat to find the animal owners of some new and mysterious scat. Join them to learn all about living things through the science of poo!
New Fiction
The Red Car to Hollywood by Jennie Liu
- Interest Level: Grade 9 – 12
In LA’s Chinatown in 1924, sixteen-year-old Ruby Chan rebels against her parents’ conventional plans for her future. A friendship with nineteen-year-old Anna May Wong, a rising Hollywood film star, opens up new possibilities.
★”Meticulously researched and sumptuously realized, Ruby’s story captures the time when women were swiftly gaining ground in all parts of society whilst burdened by old structures dragging them down. . . Readers will be inspired by Ruby’s resilience and dazzled by the historical setting that Liu has painstakingly recreated.”—starred, Booklist
“Centering female perspectives—such as Ruby’s ruminations on her mother’s own marriage, her witnessing Anna’s attempts to break Hollywood glass ceilings, and her recovering from sexual assault at the hands of a powerful individual—serves to showcase myriad additional challenges posed against Chinese American women in a narrative that expertly captures a complex historical moment.”—Publishers Weekly
The Pinchers and the Curse of the Egyptian Cat by Anders Sparring and illustrated by Per Gustavsson
- Interest Level: 1 -4
Theo and his sister Ellen accidentally break an ancient cat statue and unleash a curse that turns thieves into honest people and honest people into thieves. Suddenly Ellen can’t lie and Theo is becoming a criminal. Can they break the curse?
“Another lively, funny jaunt with this unforgettable family.”—Kirkus Reviews
Slam Dunk by Steven Barwin and Gabriel David Tick
- Interest Level: Grade 5 – 8
The slam dunk is one of the most exciting shots in basketball—but it didn’t start out that way. Read about the history of the famous shot, the most memorable plays, and the top dunkers.
“A sports journalist and the author of many middle-grade books, Doeden weaves the facts into an enjoyable and informative narrative, illustrated with well-chosen color photos of players in action.”—Booklist
New Nonfiction
Interrupted Lives: Nine Stories of Child Survivors of the Holocaust by Amanda Friedeman and Kelley Szany
- Interest Level: Grade 5 – 9
After surviving World War II and the Holocaust as children, nine survivors share their memories in first-person interviews.
“Young readers will empathize with their experiences and admire their resilience.”—Booklist
Design Thinking: A Guide to Innovation by Fred Estes
- Interest Level: Grade 7 – 12
Design thinking is a six-step process used in creative problem solving. This book examines each step—notice and reflect, empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test—and provides case studies to illustrate how design thinking can create a more human-centered, equitable world.
★”Ideal for teens, educators, and community leaders who want to inspire youth to apply design thinking in creating real-world solutions. The writing motivates readers to reflect on their own ideas with examples that make the concepts relatable. . . What distinguishes this book is its focus on practical, real-world applications.”—starred, School Library Journal
“With clear organization and a focus on fostering growth and action, this guide to the design thinking process offers much to young innovators and the educators who empower them. . . Veteran educator Estes encourages a positive mindset built on empathy, collaboration, curiosity, and openness to differences that enhances learning and growth in all settings.”—Kirkus Reviews