(Sweetie-pie of mine/photo by Rawley, use with permission only, please and thank you)

Yes, I have a super-cool selection of books for you today. But when is that not true? (Smiles.)

• “Little Black Hole” — written by Molly Webster, illustrated by Alex Willmore; Philomel/Penguin Random House, 2023, all ages, $18.99. Inspired and fun picture book about our hero, Little Black Hole, and her galaxy of friends. She wonders, though, what’s it all about? Good way to introduce some complex science to the littles.
• “Flora’s Wish” — story/art by Fiona Halliday; Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House, 2023, ages little and up, $18.99. Flora’s best friend is Lion (as in Dandelion). The little field mouse and the flower love each other. One day, though, things change for Lion, and Flora, forever. Lovely, beautiful illustrated book about friendship and grief.
• “There Was a Party for Langston” — Jason Reynolds, author, and Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey, artists; A Caitlyn Dlouhey Book/Atheneum Books for Young readers, 2023, all ages, $18.99. Do you know Amiri Baraka? Maya Angelou? Zora Neale Hurston? Claude McKay? Alice Walker? Richard Wright? Octavia Butler? You will hear their names and want to know more about them, and other writers, after reading this fantastic new book. You will also, of course, get a glimpse into the life of one of my favorite poets and storytellers, Langston Hughes. *** Highly recommended for classroom and library purchase.
• “Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All” — written by (Olympic Medalist siblings) Maia and Alex Shibutani, and Dane Liu, with illustrations by Aaliya Jaleel. (Viking/Penguin Random House, 2023, all ages, $18.99.) Thirty-six Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are profiled in this new, beautiful, much-needed book. Learn about movie star Anna May Wong, Congressman Daniel Inouye, composer Robert “Bobby” Lopez, astronaut Dr. Kalpana Chawala and so many other beloved heroes. *** Highly recommended for classroom and library purchase.
• “Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series” — by author Traci Sorell, with illustrations by Arigon Starr; Kokila/Penguin Random House, 2023, all ages, $18.99. Lovingly researched and illustrated story of baseball players, and Native American men, Charles Bender and John Meyers, whose paths crossed during the 1911 World Series. Astounding book. *** Highly recommended for classroom and library purchase.
• “Witches of Brooklyn: Spell of a Time” — Sophie Escabasse, author/artist; book four in the series; RHKidsGraphic, 2023, all ages, 217 pages, $13.99. I love when I get specifics on how the art was done. This one was “drawn with pencil, and then all the pages were scanned. Inking and coloring were done with Procreate and Photoshop.” Our hero Effie is pretty cool and collected, but when her school trip to Coney Island does not go according to plan (and a mermaid is missing)… yeah, buddy.

All for now, more reviews in a few days!

WM