Rory is not excited to start middle school. For one, he still can't say his 'r's, which makes even saying his name an opportunity for ridicule. Secondly, his best friend Brent has betrayed him and started hanging out with the same jerks who make fun of his speech. Lastly he found out that at the end of the year he needs to give a big oral presentation in front of the whole school.

Then, after making fun of Rory and ditching him yet again, Brent gets in an accident. Suddenly the whole school is obsessed with Brent and full of sympathy for him. But Rory still doesn't know if he can forgive Brent for how he acted. When Brent ends up changed and becomes the brunt of ridicule himself, will Rory stand up for him, or enjoy the poetic justice?

I loved this story of friendship, resilience, and doing the right thing even when it's hard. As someone who went to speech therapy for her 'r's for years, I could definitely relate to Rory. The complexity of Brent and Rory's relationship and how it changes is really compelling. Sports fans will appreciate the parallels Rory draws between his story and Muhammad Ali and music fans will appreciate Rory's love of classic rock and electric guitar. A moving story without simple answers that deserves a wide audience.

The Way I Say It by Nancy Tandon

Erica's Picks 
3rd - 5th grade
tags: character driven, contemporary fiction, disability, friendship, issues fiction, school stories, SEL

Etan loves spending time at his grandfather's shop. Ever since his mother went to stay in the hospital, he hasn't felt like speaking much. Etan's grandfather understands and doesn't try to pressure him or make him feel guilty. So he's happy to help his grandfather's friend by making a grocery delivery to a house on the outskirts of town. When he gets there, he discovers it's the home of "the creature," a girl with a skin condition who was bullied so badly she's now home-schooled. Etan quickly befriends her, even when his classmates tease him for it. Everyone is excited for The Battle of the Bay with the A's pitted against the Giants in the World Series, but soon something will happen that will take everyone's minds off baseball and their own problems as they have to face the power and brutality of nature.

There's so many aspects of this book to love from the incorporation of Jewish folklore and the golem to the way Etan and Malia's friendship blossoms. There's just a hint of magical realism but it's mostly grounded in history. Of course people familiar with Bay Area history will know what to expect as the Battle of the Bay looms closer, but for many readers it will be a surprise. A novel in verse, it is a quick but impactful read that I highly recommend, especially for locals.

​The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron

Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th grade
​tags: character driven, disability, family life, friendship, historical fiction, magical realism, mental illness, novels in verse, People of Color, SEL

Jo Jo's best friend at home is her cat Mimi. Jo Jo had a best friend at school, but she's afraid Fern doesn't want to be friends anymore. Which makes it even more important for Jo Jo to protect Mimi. That's why Jo Jo sneaks Mimi into her backpack and takes her to school when she overhears her mom is planning on taking Mimi her to get shots. What will happen to her cat at school? Will she make a new best friend? 

Jo Jo Makoons is a great addition to the cannon of fiesty and funny early chapter book heroines like Ruby Lu and Gooney Bird Greene. She lives on an Ojibwe reservation and some Ojibwe and Michif words are sprinkled throughout, which is a fun bonus. There's ample illustrations and short chapters which make it perfect for students just transitioning to chapter books.

Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend by Dawn Quigley illustrated by Tara Audibert

Erica's Picks
1st - 3rd grade
​tags: animals, character driven, contemporary fiction, friendship, global perspectives, People of Color, SEL

It all started with a pesky seagull. When it steals Sofia's ice cream cone, Max offers her a replacement and before they know it that same gull leads them to an abandoned sailboat. Soon the magical boat whisks them away to Hawaii where a nest of baby sea turtles is in trouble. Will Max and Sofia be able to save the turtles with the help of a new friend, Laila? Or will the poor, helpless turtles be doomed?

This is a great early chapter series for animal lovers. The sailboat is magical, but the dangerous situation the sea turtles face is all too real. The ample pictures and short chapters along with fun animal facts and plenty of action make this an engaging read for children just starting chapter books.

Wind Riders #1 Rescue on Turtle Beach by Jen Marlin illustrated by Izzy Burton

Erica's Picks
1st - 3rd grade
tags: adventure, animals, contemporary fiction, issues fiction, magical realism, People of Color

Some animals are easy to love, like the adorable hummingbears who nest in shimmering bubble nests in willow trees and coo gently to each other. Tourists flock to Perchance during their annual migration and the town depends on money from this event.

Some animals are harder to love, like the screechers. With coarse hair and tusks at the end of their long, ugly snouts they'd have trouble winning any beauty contests. But the real reason the people of Perchance hate them is the horrible, eye-watering stench they give off when startled, which is often. Their meat is no good, but with a bounty out on the stinky eye-sores, they have been hunted to near-extinction anyway.

Willodeen isn't your average villager though. She loves all creatures, even the smelly ones. So when a baby screecher mysteriously appears, Willodeen knows she must care for it and hide it from the other villagers. When she discovers a connection between the screechers and hummingbears, she realizes that revealing her secret might be the only way to save Perchance. But as hard as standing up to the adults in the village is, getting them to actually listen is even harder.

Applegate delivers another home run in this gentle story of the interconnectedness of all creatures. It would make a great read-aloud and the short chapters and charming illustrations make it an appealing choice for readers transitioning into longer chapter books. 

Willodeen by Katherine Applegate illustrated by Charles Santoso

Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th grade
​tags: animals, fantasy, friendship, SEL

When Beatryce is discovered by a monk and a goat she is sick and doesn't remember any details of her life, but she does know how to read and write. This shocks everyone as it is illegal for girls to have this knowledge. The monk tries to protect her by shaving her head and dressing her in robes, but soon the king himself comes looking for her, the girl prophesied to dethrone him. Beatryce has a fierce protector in the goat and makes new friends along the way, but will it be enough to save her from the king?

This is an admittedly unusual premise for a children's book, but DiCamillo and Blackall are masters of their craft and they do not disappoint here. The story reads like a classic fairy tale and the cast of quirky characters is sure to draw fans. The moral at the heart about the power of love and story is definitely one I can get behind. My prophecy is that will become a classic and be read aloud by generations.

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Erica's Picks
3rd - 6th
​tags: adventure, animals, fairy tales, historical fiction

​Jordan loves her basketball teammates and playing with them at practice, but after she became paralyzed from the waist down she hasn't been allowed to play in official games. Jordan is having difficulty adjusting to life in a wheelchair, but things change when she comes across a wounded baby elephant on her way home from school. She takes the elephant home to her mother, a veterinarian, and quickly forms a strong bond with the animal. Soon Jordan is back to competing, this time in water polo, and what starts as a hard year turns out to be the most magical of her life.

I love Marshmallow! This sweet, intelligent creature is sure to win over animal lovers. Jordan's profound sense of loss when she can't play basketball with her team and her commitment to learning a new sport will resonate with sports fans as well. The drawings have a beautiful, dreamlike quality while remaining rooted in real-life, which is perfect for the magical realism of the story. I love that the author includes the occasional word in Indonesian and all the details of the setting. A great comic book with wide appeal.

Marshmallow & Jordan by Alina Chau

Erica's Picks
3rd - 6th
​tags: animals, character driven, comics, magical realism, disability, friendship, global perspectives, People of Color, school stories, sports

Del and Alma are cousins and best friends and soon they will live in the same building, above the Curious Cousins Secondhand Shoppe. Alma is excited to live closer to her family, but at first it feels like she doesn't belong. Del can't wait for Alma to move in, but she wishes Alma believed in magic like she does. When the best friends get in their first big fight and Del's magical earrings go missing will they be able to work it out or will the move turn out to be a disaster?

I love the family relationships in this book between the cousins but also the grandmother and great-aunt who run the shop and all the other relatives that live in the building. The story switches between Alma and Del's perspectives so you can see both sides of the story and understand where their disagreement is coming from. I love the way it depicts life in a big city and the hints of magic throughout. A warm, wise, wonderful book for the early chapter book crowd

Hand-Me-Down Magic #1: Stoop Sale Treasure by Corey Ann Haydu, illustrated by Luisa Uribe

Erica's Picks
2nd - 4th
​tags: character driven, family life, People of Color

Tola is the youngest of three, but don't underestimate her! Even though she is smaller than her siblings her kindness, bravery, and determination help her to do great things. From standing up to mean older kids to helping neighbors in need with her amazing number skills, Tola saves the day again and again. Get to know Tola and her neighbors in Lagos, Nigeria in this sweet, realistic story.

I love a character who is small but mighty so I naturally love Tola! This early chapter book has ample illustrations and three short stories that are quick to read and entertaining. With great lessons and a wonderful setting this is a perfect read-aloud book.

Too Small Tola by Atinuke, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu 

Erica's Picks
1st - 3rd
tags: character driven, contemporary fiction, family life, global perspectives, People of Color

When Jo gets bored one summer day, she is delighted to discover a dog walking around town with a basket and shopping list. Jo decides to follow the dog as it stops in at various stores and and the clerks check the list and fill his basket. When Jo is mistaken for the dog's owner and finally makes some friends, she doesn't correct them. But when people complain about dogs walking around without a leash the town is divided and Jo is caught in the middle. Will her new friends still like her when they discover the truth? And will the friendly shopping dog end up behind bars?

This comic is great for fans of realistic comics, especially dog lovers. Both Jo and the reader learn a great lesson in empathy and understanding other perspectives as the issue of whether off-leash dogs should be allowed is debated and finally brought to a resolution.

Pawcasso by Remy Lai 

Erica's Picks
3rd - 6th grade
​tags: animals, character driven, comics, contemporary fiction, family life, friendship, summer vacation