Mac B., Kid Spy #1: Mac Undercover

“Before Mac Barnett was an author, he was a kid.

And while he was a kid, he was a spy. 

Not just any spy. 

But a spy...for the Queen of England.”

Crown jewels + twelve corgis + paper dry biscuits + one kid spy = a formula for hilarity in Mac Barnett’s new chapter book illustrated by Mike Lowery.  The afternoon I sat down to read it, Avery and Nate saw the cover and rushed over to join me, looking over my shoulder, all of us reading quietly at the same time and for some chapters, taking turns reading aloud.  Their eyes were glued to the pages the whole time.  It’s got quick wit, absurd humor with a glorious dollop of English history to boot.

Mac Undercover is the first in the Mac B., Kid Spy series written by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Mike Lowery and published by Orchard Books.  Book two entitled The Impossible Crime publishes on December 26.

Ode to an Onion

Ode to the Onion was part of a series of poems that Pablo Neruda wrote in praise of humble ordinary objects.  Ones that are present throughout our quotidian lives and quietly populate our days.  This poem was inspired by an onion, its sharpness and sweetness reminding Neruda that “even though there is sadness in the world, there is so much happiness.”  This story is lovely and layered, like the poem to which it pays homage.

Ode to an Onion was written by Alexandra Giardino, illustrated by Felicita Sala and published by Cameron Kids.  It’ll be out soon on October 9.

The Dog that Ate the World

It’s heartening to have a band of friends to make merry with when things go dark — especially when that dark, abysmal place is the belly of a gigantic dog who’s just devoured you.  A hopeful story about community and friendship in unfortunate circumstances.

The Dog that Ate the World was written and illustrated by Sandra Dieckmann and published by Flying Eye Books.

Jasmine Toguchi

Is there a better pairing than Jasmine Toguchi and handmade mochi?  In a recent visit to two small traditional mochi shops, irrepressible, spirited Jasmine came to mind.  Debbi Michiko Florence’s chapter book series is one that Avery returns to and re-reads on a regular basis.  Tried-and-true favorites.  Isn’t that all you can hope for when you bring books home to your kids?  That they’ll truly connect with them, bond with the characters in the stories and read them again and again.

As promised, I’m working on a list of our favorite chapter books for the blog, and you can bet three sweet bites of mochi that Jasmine will be on the list.

The four books in the Jasmine Toguchi series (Mochi Queen, Super Sleuth, Drummer Girl and Flamingo Keeper) were written by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic  and published by Farrar Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers.

The Day You Begin

“There will be times when you walk into a room and there is no one quite like you.”

We have many back to school books but this new one that releases next Tuesday is a special one.  It speaks with empathy and poignancy not only to first-day nerves but to newcomers who feel like outsiders.  It helps us realize that what we feel is a big gap of differences might actually be more narrow than we think.  This story—this beautiful, meaningful set of words—helps readers celebrate their individuality and recognize the uniqueness of their lives.  And how sharing our stories with others around us makes their lives—and the world—richer.  A must-have for every library.

The Day You Begin was written by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López and published by Nancy Paulsen Books. It’ll be out next Tuesday, August 28 and will also be published in Spanish.