Patrick has always wanted a dog, and one summer at his grandfather's house his dreams finally come true. When he sees Oz in the shelter, Patrick knows they'll be best friends. But Oz had a rough start with some mean people and doesn't trust anyone. Will Patrick be able to make Oz happy again and help him find his bark?

This is such a sweet story. I loved how the narrative switched between Patrick and Oz's perspectives. Partway through the story Patrick gets some upsetting news and the tables turn so that Oz needs to help Patrick find his happiness again. It's so heart-warming to see them help each other and the illustrations are simply adorable. It's a perfect read-aloud or early independent chapter book for kids who love dogs.

The Dog Who Lost His Bark by Eoin Colfer, illus. by P.J. Lynch

Erica's Picks
1st - 3rd grade
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​Yasmin loves books and she's determined to read a new one every day. After school, she visits Book Uncle on the corner. A retired teacher, he has set up a free lending library for the neighborhood. Book Uncle is always ready with the perfect book and everyone loves him. But when the Mayor shuts Book Uncle down, Yasmin and the other kids worry they won't be able to get new books anymore. Luckily, a new election is just around the corner. If this Mayor won't let Book Uncle operate, they will campaign for one who will.

This sweet story is a great slice-of-life of a kid in India. I loved everything about the story from Book Uncle himself to the way the students get all the mayoral candidates talking about libraries. Highly recommended!

Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami

Erica's Picks
1st - 3rd grade
​Tags:

When Allie's crayon breaks, she is furious, fuming, frustrated, and so, so, sooo, angry! But with a little help from her brother, she is slowly able to calm down until she's his loving sister again.

This is a short book, but it is full of SEL wisdom. I like how well the boy deals with his sister's tantrum and also that it takes multiple techniques to calm her down. Each tool makes her a little bit calmer, which the book shows visually by having her shed a layer of her suit. The tools vary from squeezing a toy to a mindful breathing exercise. This is a great book for children--especially those with toddler siblings!

Erica's Picks
Allie All Along by Sarah Lynne Reul

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This picture book tells the story of a young student in Bangladesh who has to make a project for his science fair. He notices that his mother has a cough from cooking indoors during the rainy season, and he analyzes the needs of his user and does some research to come up with a solution. A great tie-in for units on inventors. The book takes place during Ramadan and they use his new oven to make a feast for Eid al-Fitr, so there could be a tie in there as well. 

The book has a large format and the warm colored pencil illustrations make it perfect for sharing in a classroom setting. Additional backmatter includes more information about clean cookstoves and information on how to make one yourself.

Erica's Picks
Iqbal and his Ingenious Idea by Elizabeth Suneby and Rebecca Green

Tags: global perspectives, people of color, picture books

Hallelujah,Miss Eula is back! One of my favorite characters in Polacco's many wonderful books, this African-American grandmother takes the young Patricia under her wing when the author moves to California as a young girl. Before Trisha's own grandmother passes away through the "holes in the sky," she tells her granddaughter that she will send a sign that she is watching from the other side. 
The family moves to a diverse neighborhood in Oakland  where Trisha is befriended by Miss Eula's grandson Stewart. They join forces with the entire neighborhood to save a hurting neighbor and her dying garden. And Trisha finds her sign.
A heartwarming celebration of community, diversity and family.



​Tessa's Picks, K-3rd Grade, Family life, People of color, Picture books

Featuring a diverse cast of characters, this book sends the message that life is not color coded.  Just as boys and girls can enjoy race cars, unicorns, dress-up and baseball, they can like all colors as well. Every color is for every one! So express yourself in a rainbow of colors!

Felix loves to wear skirts; they feel fun and airy. He and his mom go to the store and buy him a new red one for the first day of school. Dad is a little worried about this decision and indeed Felix is teased when he arrives in a skirt.  After  discussing how unfair it is that girls can wear both pants and skirts but boys can only wear pants, he and his dad make a trip to the store. Both dad and son go to school dressed in twirly skirts and respond to the other boys' questions with "Today anybody can wear a skirt. Did nobody tell you?"
From then on no one asked Felix if he was a boy or a girl; they simply called him Felix.
The mom and dad in this empathetic book are so sweet and supportive. And the dad really rocks that green skirt.


​Tessa's Picks, K-2nd grade, Family life, Issues Fiction Picture books..

"Mom, I can't sleep!"
"Why not?"
"I don't know...I'm nervous and I can't stop thinking, thinking, thinking..."
"Do you want me to teach you how to breathe?"
"Breathe? But I already know how to breathe!"

This familiar scene of a child having difficulty falling asleep leads to fantastic and imaginative techniques to foster calm and mindfulness. From a boat on your belly to yoga poses these beautifully illustrated and gently described tools are sure to help restless people of any age. Further notes about the techniques are included in the back. This book could be read in a sitting or picked up and put down as needed when you want to try a new tool. The mixed media illustrations perfectly capture abstract concepts to help children with visualizations. A great resource for parents and educators!

Erica's Picks
k - 3
​Tags: Nonfiction, Picture Books

​This early tale of biomimicry is based on historical fact. The Gobukson (or turtle ships) were known for their powerful design that included ironclad covering long before any western ships did. The story follows a young boy who observes a turtle in nature and then takes him to the emperor to illustrate his idea. This is a great book for budding inventors and could easily be paired with a maker's activity on boat building. The illustrations are intricate collages that lend the book a sense of warmth and solidity; you can almost feel the textures beneath your fingers. This really helps showcase the various design elements of the ship. 

Erica's Picks
Grades K - 3
​Tags: History, Nonfiction, Picture Books

​This wise book starts off reassuring readers that when you go out into the world, you may have questions about what you see, and that is okay. People live in many different ways. It goes on to give an example of a kid walking to school and seeing a man sleeping on the street. The child asks "Why would he sleep outside?" The book answers with matter of fact, developmentally-appropriate language and continues to other questions from what is poverty to what is a fundamental human right to how can I help. This book is an excellent resource for parents or educators looking for language and advice on how to broach this topic with children. You could even just sit down with a child and read the whole book together. I love that the book comes from a place of curiosity and compassion. It doesn't talk down to the reader or make them feel bad for asking perfectly natural questions. Illustrated with a mixture of watercolor and photographs, this approachable book is a must-read.

Erica's Picks
Grades 1-4
​Tags: Nonfiction

Fly With Me is a masterpiece of transdisciplinary study. The book examines birds from every possible angle: biological, historical, conservation, art, and stories. Poetry is peppered throughout complementing the other information. It's a National Geographic book, so you can trust that the photography throughout is stunning. Perfect for bird enthusiasts and curious minds. 

Erica's Picks
Grades 1 - 4
Tags: Animals, Nonfiction, Poetry, Science​