Kids’ Picks
Spring is finally here again! While this season is usually a time to celebrate everything new again, we know that it has been on the challenging side as well. If you have been hanging out at home this spring, we hope you have at least been able to spend time outside, seeing all of the wonderful things that spring brings to us! One of the not-so-wonderful things is a whole lot of rain. For those inevitable rainy days, here are some new releases to help pass the time!
Ages 3-5
“Macca the Alpaca” by Matt Cosgrove
Through rhymes and beautiful pictures, we instantly fall in love with everything about Macca. He’s young, easygoing and loves to cuddle. Life is to be enjoyed and spent having fun! When Macca meets Harmer, the llama who is nothing but a bully, his peaceful and fun days seem to come to an end. When Harmer challenges Macca to a battle of strength, Macca is determined to find a way to beat him. He uses his wit and agility to eventually win and teach all of us that hugs are better than shoves.
“How to Make a Shark Smile” by Shawn Achor & Amy Blankson
Ripple the dolphin moves into a new aquarium. While she can’t wait to meet new friends, she is surprised by how scared and quiet everyone is. Then she discovers they are all afraid of a mean shark named Snark! Ripple is determined to show everyone how having a positive mindset can be contagious and spread happiness. But then Snark shows up. Will Ripple be able to convince him, too?
Ages 6-8
“The Paper Kingdom” by Helena Ku Rhee
Daniel’s parents work as nighttime office cleaners. He usually is in bed when they leave, and the babysitter stays with him. One night, the sitter can’t come and Daniel has to go to work with his parents. What he thinks is going to be a long night of vacuums and dusting turns into anything but. His parents turn the office into a magnificent kingdom that is filled with paper. They fill the kingdom with dragon and kings to entertain Daniel and encourage him to become king of the paper kingdom. “The Paper Kingdom” is a beautiful story showing that all you need is your imagination to turn something ordinary into something wonderful.
“In a Jar” by Deborah Marcero
Llewellyn is a little rabbit who loves to collect things. He gathers things you see everyday such as feather, stones and flowers, and put them in jars. When he meets another rabbit named Evelyn, they begin to collect things together. Except that now they decide to collect extraordinary things like rainbows and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. When they are home and take out the jars and look inside, they remember all of the things they have found and done together. Sadly, one day Evelyn tells Llewellyn that her family is moving. Will they be able to continue their magical friendship from a distance?
Ages 9-12
“If We Were Giants” by Dave Matthews & Clete Barrett Smith
Kirra lives in a community hidden inside a dormant volcano. Her father is a storyteller and Kirra is training to become one as well. They are the only people allowed to travel beyond the volcano’s walls, to spread scary tales to keep outsiders away from their hidden community. Kirra hears rumors about strangers called the “Takers.” She leaves the volcano by herself, desperate to finally tell her own story. What she doesn’t realize is that she leads the Takers back to her home and they rob her of everything. She is found by a boy named Luwan, who takes her in and makes her a part of his family. They live high in the trees of a dense forest. Kirra hides who she is and is terrified to leave the safety of her tree. Luwan loves to explore and one day finds himself captured by the Takers. Kirra must come out of hiding and tell the most important tale of her life if she wants to save the Tree Folk.
“When Stars Are Scattered” by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed
Omar and his nonverbal younger brother, Hassan, don’t know much about life beyond the walls of their refugee camp in Kenya. They have been there almost their whole lives. Life isn’t easy for them. There is never enough food and not much access to medical care, despite Hassan desperately needing it. When the opportunity for Omar to go to school arises, he is faced with a tough choice. Does he go to school, grasping the chance that he and Hassan might have a better life? But what if going to school means leaving Hassan, the only family that he has left, especially when Hassan is so dependent on him? “When Stars Are Scattered” is an intense and heartbreaking look at the inside of the life of a refugee, but also a story of hope and perseverance.
