Georgia’s Day Out: A Dog's Day in Historic Jonesborough is an intriguingly different story. Written by Jeff Ward and beautifully illustrated by Ben Marchál in a clear “cartoon” style, it is based firmly in reality. Teenagers do become so involved in their own lives that...

Magenta is a captivating story that follows the journey of a small black cat named Magenta, who yearns for a loving family and a place to call home. She is lost, wet, hungry, and alone when she discovers a fairy door in the woods. Author...

Girl power is evident throughout the pages of Dr. Samantha Pillay's book When I'm the President: Dreaming is Believing. Each spread identifies an important aspect of being the president. The values necessary for a leader to have -- honesty, listening, problem-solving, and promoting world peace...

When children learn about compassion, they can develop empathy and understand the emotions of others and themselves. This is also helpful in dealing with difficult times. Author Tess Grandison explores these subjects in Louis and the Orphaned Peacock. The story begins with Bella, a peahen...

Petunia the Perfectionist is a children's picture book written by Marissa Bader with illustrations by Ellie Beykzadeh. It tells the story of Petunia, a young girl who is obsessed with perfection. Her pursuit of perfection leaves her with no time for fun and takes away...

Twins Mac & Madi's Big Sister is a children's picture book in a series by Linda Herron. Molly's twin sisters, Mac and Madi, seem to get everyone's admiration while Molly fades into the background. She notices their unique bond and the way strangers are drawn...

Can We Get a Rhinoceros? by Christian Kueng is an entertaining and adorable children's picture book about a little boy who wants to have an unusual pet—a rhinoceros. When he asks his mother for permission to get one, she doesn't like the idea. She tells him they don't...

Gugu Giraffe Goes Fishing by Auralee Arkinsly is a wonderful book for any child who is a budding scientist, biologist, zoologist, conservationist, or naturalist. As a former high school biology teacher, I wish all my former students had this book as children. The information shared...

Billy Be Kind: My BIG Feelings by Kim Adams is a children's picture book about social issues. Olivia was sad because her best friend Maya was moving away. Billy Be Kind is a friendly little mouse, and he wants to help Olivia manage her emotions....

Reckoning of Ascendancy is the second book in Total Control by David F. Smith, a thriller that explores themes of global political intrigue, religious fanaticism, and terrorism. Yasin Akbar’s eugenics program ignites a dangerous game of power, with a sinister program to heal "the world...

Answers for Curious Kids: Where Every Question Sparks an Adventure!, written by Robyn Connelly and illustrated by Tamar Bluaaw, is an exciting children’s book for curious young minds. It tells the story of Kade, a nine-year-old boy who asks many questions and wonders how different...

Paul G. O’Connor's Words catapults readers into a high-octane thriller where a single line of text throws the world into disarray. This enigmatic message, appearing on every digital device globally, sparks a technological pandemic. At the heart of the chaos is Genevieve Phillips, a student...

Home for the Bewildered by Michelle Tobin is a poignant novel that delves into social issues surrounding mental health in 1970s Lansing, Michigan. The story follows Dr. Dorothy Morrissey, the first female psychologist at St. Lawrence Asylum, as she navigates her complex relationships with her...

Katie Otey beautifully and humorously captures the struggles of growing up with siblings, especially when they have differing personalities, as is often the case, in this endearing, illustrated children’s book, Izzy’s (Almost) Epic Day. Izzy is an eleven-year-old sixth grader with an overactive imagination that...

Noah Zark: What Do You Do When Your House Is a Zoo? by Susan Polk Van Dusen is a delightful rhyming picture book for young readers who love animals. Like many young children, Noah prefers animal friends to human ones. Unlike most children, though, his...

The delightful children’s book What Sammy Rose Loved by Nancy Ciammetti Short introduces us to Sammy Rose, a young girl who loves to sleep. From the time she was a baby, her parents were amazed at how easily she fell asleep, often joking about what...

Delight in Your Hue: The Creator Painted You by Bree Burks is, as its title suggests, a delightful and entertaining lesson in the beauty of diversity, chock full of positive messages for young readers and the adults who encourage them. Bo, a blue fish, has...

Dancing with No Shoes by Scott Lindgren is a powerful coming-of-age story centered on David Hardy, a teenager with cerebral palsy who refuses to let his disability define his future. Set during one transformative summer in Boston, the novel masterfully interweaves elements of romance, mystery,...

Ren and her family are out at sea on a sailing trip when their idyllic holiday is cut short by a mysterious meteor shower, which damages their boat and leaves them stranded with no possibility of rescue for a considerable period. She takes it upon...

Pickles the Mermaid by Laura Strachan is a children's picture book that follows the story of its titular mermaid, Pickles, who loves eating pickles and enjoys spreading joy by asking her sea friends if they would like a "tickle or a pickle." However, she faces...