As I become more intentional about reading literature centered around making education for Black students more purposeful, I have been fascinated with The Black Panther Party. Admittedly, I was only familiar with the organization based on what I had heard in the media about The Panthers being radical and wreaking havoc. Conversely, I arrived at […]
Category Archives: New Book Reviews
May
25
#BlackGirlMagic: Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston – Review by Alex Harrison
posted by CBethM
Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop gained more notoriety in the literacy world for her concept of books being windows that offer readers a view of an unfamiliar world, sliding glass doors that are a portal to an untapped imaginative world, or mirrors that reflect personal experiences. With recent book bans across the country, it is important […]
February
16
A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow – Review by Kacy Smith Paterson
posted by CBethM
A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow Tor Teen, 2020 288 pages, Grades 8 and Up Bethany C. Morrow writes in multiple genres for both adult and young adult audiences She weaves speculative fiction, magical realism, and social justice into her 2020 release, A Song Below Water, a story of black magical teenagers in […]
February
09
The Blue House by Phoebe Wahl – Review by Shilpa Mehta
posted by CBethM
The Blue House centers around Leo and his father’s beautiful home though not necessarily in a literal sense, yet it is cozy, filled with warmth and love, and a sanctuary for both father and son. Wahl’s illustrations speak volumes, there is much for the young readers to discover on each page that speaks of Leo’s […]
February
02
Snowman-Cold=Puddle: Spring Equations by Laura Purdie Salas – Review by Shilpa Mehta
posted by CBethM
In this thoughtfully written non-fiction book, Salas takes young readers on a mathematical journey of the world around them, an equation leading the way, followed by an explanatory text. From the nocturnal symphony of frogs to the tap of the woodpecker and the ballet of the kites, Salas adds a fresh dimension to all she […]
January
26
Review of Stella by McCall Hoyle – Review by Millicent Flake
posted by CBethM
My new granddog Maisy spent the first six months of her life in an animal shelter. When my son and his wife brought her home, she was fearful of everything. She is a sweet girl and wanted to be good but didn’t know exactly what was expected of her. She wasn’t sure where she should […]
January
05
Jubilee: The First Therapy Horse and an Olympic Dream by K T Johnston, illustrated by Anabella Ortiz – Review by Annette Bay Pimentel
posted by CBethM
What does it mean to have a disability? Sometimes disabilities are obvious to an onlooker—a wheelchair or a white cane signal “disability.” But many disabilities are silent. Kids in a class might never know that their fellow students live with disability. Jubilee: The First Therapy Horse and an Olympic Dream by K T Johnston, illustrated […]
December
08
Giving Thanks for Fry Bread by Trevor Scott Barton
posted by CBethM
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. “Wait, Mr Barton,” said my students. “You mean Christmas isn’t your favorite holiday? That’s when you get presents and stuff!” “Nope,” I said. I like the ‘Thanks’ and the ‘Giving’ parts of Thanksgiving. I like to say ‘thanks’ to all of the people who mean the world to me. And […]
April
27
New Book Review: The Wonder of the World Leaf by Summer Edward, Reviewed by Josh Hem Lee
posted by donalynm
The children’s picture book The Wonder of the World Leaf is written by Summer Edward with illustrations by Sayada Ramdial. In the book, we follow the quest of Wygenia, a young girl who lives on the island of Trinidad. When her beloved Grannie falls ill, Wygenia determines to find a seemingly magical leaf called Wonder […]
January
04
Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes – The Beginning of an Era – Review by Maggie Bokelman
posted by CBethM
I don’t recall any year as eagerly anticipated as 2021. But how to celebrate? Parties are out—at least, the usual sort. And while virtual gatherings have their merits, we’re all a bit tired of screens. This might be the perfect year to ring in with poetry: poetry that connects and inspires us; poetry that pays […]
Nerdy Book Club 