Cover of Opening the Road Title: OPENING THE ROAD: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book Written by: Keila V. Dawson Illustrated by: Alleanna Harris Beaming Books, 2021 For ages: 4-8 Themes/topics: The Green Book, segregation, travel, racism, biography, Black Americans, Black entrepreneurs Opening pages: Victor Hugo Green was tired of hearing no. Victor loved the…
Title: Praline Lady Written by: Kirstie Myvett Illustrated by: Kameko Madere Pelican, 2020 For ages: 3-8 Themes/topics: Black women, New Orleans, 1800s history, pralines, woman entrepreneurs First page: Praline Lady stands over the stove in her shotgun house. She adds white sugar, brown sugar, butter, milk, and pecans to a pot. She stirs the mixture until…
Title: Lone Wolf Written and illustrated by: Sarah Kurpiel Greenwillow Books, 2020 For ages: 4-8 Themes/topics: family, belonging, identity, self-discovery, huskies First page: Maple loved being the Parker family dog. Why I recommend this book: Maple the husky is the adorable and beloved family dog. But she looks a lot like a wolf. So much so…
Title: Tulip and Doug: A Spud-tacular Friendship Story Written by: Emma Wood Illustrated by: Carla Martell Scholastic NZ, 2020 For ages: 3+ Themes/topics: friendship, imagination, being true to yourself First page: Tulip was famous in her neighbourhood for two reasons: She was a fearless adventurer.She went everywhere with a seriously strange sidekick. A potato. Why I…
Title: Let’s Dance Written by: Valerie Bolling Illustrated by: Maine Diaz Boyd Mills Press, 2020 For ages: 3-7 Themes/topics: dancing, cultures from around the world, rhyme, rhythm, joy First pages: Tappity-Tap Fingers Snap Turn, Twirl Twist, Whirl Summary (from the publisher): This rhythmic showcase of dances from all over the world features…
Title: Hello, Little One: A Monarch Butterfly Story Written by: Zeena Pliska Illustrated by: Fiona Halliday Page Street Kids, 2020 For ages: 4-8 Themes/topics: Monarch butterflies, metamorphosis, life cycles, inter-generational friendship First page: I crawl from green leaf to green leaf. Eating and waiting. Waiting for something other than these green leaves. Everything is green. Summary…
Title: BEDTIME DADDY! Written by: Sharon Giltrow Illustrated by: Katrin Dreiling EK Books, 2020 For ages: 3-7 Themes/topics: bedtime, parent-child bond, role reversal First page: When you see your daddy rub his eyes and stifle a yawn, announce, “Bedtime, Daddy!” Summary (from the publisher): Putting Daddy to bed can be hard work. Especially when he starts…
Title: EVIE’S FIELD DAY: More Than One Way to Win Written by: Claire Annette Noland Illustrated by: Alicia Teba Cardinal Rule Press, 2020 For ages: 4-8 Themes/topics: Field Day, sportsmanship, winning, kindness First page: Evie loved to win. She could jump the highest, run the fastest, and hop the farthest. Summary (from the publisher): Tackling the…
Title: THE FORT Written by: Laura Perdew Illustrated by: Adelina Lirius Page Street Kids, 2020 For ages: 4-8 Themes/topics: imaginative play, sharing, friendship First spread: As the prince strutted toward his castle, he daydreamed about the royal feast he was planning. He imagined music and food and fun with friends. But when he crossed over the…
Title: WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane Written by: Kirsten W. Larson Illustrated by: Tracy Subisak Calkins Creek/Boyd Mills 2020 For ages: 7-10 Themes/topics: inventions, STEM, perseverance First spread: To Emma Lilian Todd, problems were like gusts of wind: they set her mind soaring. Sometimes the problems seemed small, like where to find…
