From Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca
July 20th marks the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11's historic moon landing as artfully envisioned and expanded on in Caldecott Medalist Brian Floca's 2009 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book, Moonshot, newly revisited to go behind the scenes and beyond the famous three male astronauts for a look at the diverse men and women who made their legendary journey possible. Not surprisingly, our attention, too, is turned toward the sky and stars above this month in the pages of new board books (Neil Armswan), picture books (Small World), nonfiction (Star Stories) and countless more out of this world books and events. For those who'd rather read up on events closer to home, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States and Chelsea Johnson and Carolyn Choi's IntersectionAllies, among others, help expand both our vocabulary and frames surrounding allyship, equality, and national identity. Of course, 57th Street Books' Young Readers Advisory Board can recommend a seemingly infinite number of new releases as well, including (appropriately) Blastaway by Melissa Landers, which Tess (age 8) says has everything, "from the fantastical science fiction to everyday annoyances, such as siblings." Find more Young Reader recommended reads below and stop by 57th Street Books for your FREE Summer Reading Journal to start taking note of the great books you read this summer. Our annual Summer Reading Challenge is open to all, but especially readers under the age of 8, whom we invite to write a minimum (no maximum!) of 10 brief book recommendations by September 30 for a special prize. Ask a bookseller for details, and happy summer reading! Where will it take you? —Colin, et al. at 57th Street Books
P.S. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 on July 20th at 57th Street Books with the Museum of Science & Industry and John Hare, author of Field Trip to the Moon. Blast off... er, see details below! Moonshot(Atheneum Books)
Brian Floca
57th Street Books' Young Readers Advisory Board is comprised of bright, bold, and adventurous young readers on Chicago's South Side, proudly presenting recommendations and reviews of new books each month in Middle Grade and YA literature. 8 and up and interested in becoming a member of the Young Readers Advisory Board? Email kidsbooks@semcoop.com for more details.
"The Miraculous by Jess Redman is about a boy called Wunder and his friend Faye. All the trouble starts when Wunder stops believing in miracles when his baby sister dies. That's when a witch arrives and everything changes. She sends them on a journey to find a branch that if planted, makes the DoorWay Tree; a tree that can help heal the people of the town. Overall, the plot is engaging and wants to make you continue reading for a long time." —Ella (age 9)
"If you like books where you'll be saying, 'The suspence is killing me,' then this book is a great fit for you. Skyjackedby Paul Griffin is an intense mystery and is action-packed. I felt that Skyjacked was a page-turner and it got me very excited." —Theo (age 9)
"Let Me Fix That forYou by Janice Erlbaum is a story about friendship, as well as the struggles that come with it. 7th grader Gladys is having trouble making friends at her school. In attempt to fix this, she starts a business in the cafeteria using one of her talents, fixing things. Throughout the novel, Gladys encounters many problems in need of a fix, as well as her own at home. This is a hilarious, heartwarming novel about friendship, fitting in, and middle school." —Isabella (age 12)
Wild Bios: Neil Armswan (Silver Dolphin Books)
Courtney Acampora & Maggie Fischer, illus. by Zoe Persico
Meet one of history's greatest figures in this adorable board book with an animal twist! With wings to the future and beak held high, Neil Armswan was a model astronaut and pioneer in space travel, leaving webbed footprints on the moon.
This board book version of Georgia O'Keeffe—from the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series—introduces the youngest dreamers to this great artist who broke boundaries.
Read Aloud (3-7 years)The King of Kindergarten (Nancy Paulsen Books)
Derrick Barnes, illus. by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
The morning sun blares through your window like a million brass trumpets. It sits and shines behind your head—like a crown. Mommy says that today, you are going to be the King of Kindergarten!
A confident little boy takes pride in his first day of kindergarten, by the Newbery Honor-winning author of Crown.
From Hans Christian Andersen award-winning author Philippe Fix, a dazzling portrait of a dreamy optimist filling Paris with ingenious gadgets, toys, and magical contraptions. In a fresh translation, Seraphin now allows a new generation to experience the wonder and inventive spectacle of the original.
Liz Garton Scanlon, illus. by Frann Preston-Gannon
One dark bird is perched up high, with a view of the town and a taste of the sky. Then she's joined by two more, then three, then four. Before long, there are hundreds of starlings dancing across the sky—and avoiding a hunting hawk with one of the most spectacular tricks in the animal kingdom.
Change and transitions are hard, but Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! demonstrates how, when one experience ends, it opens the door for another to begin. a gentle story about the difficulty of change . . . and the wonder that new beginnings can bring.
It's game day! In this action-packed picture book from Daria Peoples-Riley, the creator of the acclaimed This Is It, a young basketball player gets ready for a neighborhood pickup game. I Got Next encourages hard work and determination and celebrates the imagination and the joy of basketball.
When Nanda is born, the whole of her world is the circle of her mother's arms. But as she grows, the world grows too. Eventually, Nanda's studies lead her to become an astronaut and see the small, round shape of Earth far away. A geometric meditation on wonder, Small World is a modern classic that expresses our big and small place in the vast universe.
Usagi was born in the year of the wood rabbit, and it's given her extraordinary zodiac gifts. But she can never use them, not while the mysterious, vicious Dragonlord hunts down all those in her land with zodiac powers. As new mysteries unfold, Usagi must decide who she stands with, and who she trusts, as she takes on deadly foes on her path to the elusive, dangerous Dragonlord himself.
False accusations and false confessions of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts, took her mother, Tituba, away from her. Now Violet seeks revenge on those who tore her family apart. Readers will be instantly transported back in time in this dark and gripping novel!
In this lyrical coming-of-age story about family, sisterhood, music, race, and identity, Mariama J. Lockington draws on some of the emotional truths from her own experiences growing up with an adoptive white family. For Black Girls Like Me is for anyone who has ever asked themselves: How do you figure out where you are going if you don't know where you came from?
In a journal he calls The Miraculous, Wunder Ellis records stories of the inexplicable and the extraordinary. But when his newborn sister dies, he stops believing in miracles. When he meets a cape-wearing, outspoken new friend, Wunder learns to regain his faith in miracles after the tragedy that changed his world. A sparkling debut novel about finding brightness in the darkest moments.
A series of misadventures take Marcus Vega all over Puerto Rico in search of his elusive namesake. Marcus doesn't know if he'll ever find his father, but what he ultimately discovers changes his life. And he even learns a bit of Spanish along the way.
Drew Callander & Alana Harrison, illus. by Ryan Andrews
You wake up in the fictional land of Astorya, where stories from our world come to life. You're a real human being (we assume), and in this fictional world, that makes you a superhero. Armed with your trusty pencil you have the power to create: what you write, draw, or scribble in the book becomes part of the story!
New in paperback! Four starred reviews for this incisive, laugh-out-loud contemporary debut about a Taiwanese-American teen whose parents want her to be a doctor and marry a Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer despite her squeamishness with germs and crush on a Japanese classmate. Read ahead! Gloria Chao returns to launch Our Wayward Fate, Tuesday, October 15 at 57th Street Books! RSVP and details here.
"A call-to-action to everyone out there who wants to fight back."—Bustle
Three misfits come together to avenge the rape of a fellow classmate and trigger a change in the misogynist culture at their high school transforming the lives of everyone around them in this searing and timely story.
Serafina and Braeden make an epic return in the highly anticipated fourth installment of Robert Beatty's #1 New York Times best-selling series. Serafina witnesses a crime that turns her world upside down. How can all that once seemed good and worthy of protection now be evil? And how can she guard those around her when she can't even be sure of the truth of her own heart?
In a series of texts and emails, best friends Ava and Gen share their stories of their first semesters of college on opposite sides of the country. From first loves to weird roommates, Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin's I Hate Everyone But You is a hilarious and heartfelt debut novel about new beginnings, self-discovery, coming out and mental health, and the power of friendship.
An attraction between foster siblings sets fire to forbidden love in this contemporary reimagining of Wuthering Heights. Emma and Dylan try to constrain their romance to the page—for fear of threatening Dylan's chances at being adopted into a loving home. But the strength of first love is all-consuming, and they soon get enveloped in a secretive relationship with a very uncertain outcome.
Sam J. Miller's follow up to his award-winning debut novel, The Art of Starving. Solomon and Ash both experienced a traumatic event when they were twelve. As Solomon slips further into the place he calls Darkside, Ash realizes her only chance to free her best friend from his pain is to face the truth—together.
Emiline is a charming, dyslexia-friendly children's story about learning to read, told in a traditional, watercolored style reminiscent of Beatrix Potter and Garth Williams. When fixing a dangerous situation means Emiline must read some magic words, she discovers that with practice, curiosity, and help from her friends, she can improve at reading and save the day!
The plucky, troublemaking Akissi is back with her mischief on The Ivory Coast! This time, she has to keep herself from drowning, stand up to a bully, make peace with her arch nemesis—the prettiest girl in school, and evade a witch doctor's potion.
When Counselor Jen takes the Roanoke scouts on a mission to find a Jackalope, they end up stumbling on a young cowgirl who's been living in the woods surrounding camp with her herd of unusual critters! This multiple Eisner Award and GLAAD Award-winning series features danger, adventure, and life-long friendships.
When you have something to say but don't know where to start, here you'll find pages packed with inspiration. From funny and uplifting quotations to thought-provoking journaling ideas, you can scribble on, scratch out, and journal your way through prompts that let you reflect on all the good things, the bad things, and the incredible things to come.
Bruce Lee (Frances Lincoln Ltd)
Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illus. by Miguel Bustos
Part of the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Bruce Lee, the martial artist and Hollywood film star. This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the great actor's life.
Going beyond the story of America as a country "discovered" by a few brave men in the "New World," Indigenous human rights advocate Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz reveals the roles that settler colonialism and policies of American Indian genocide played in forming our national identity. The original academic text is fully adapted by curriculum experts Debbie Reese and Jean Mendoza.
Read ahead! Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz is coming to 57th Street Books to speak with young readers about An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United Stateson Saturday, August 24! Save the date and keep up withour calendarfor more details, coming soon!
The brainchild of three women-of-color sociologists, IntersectionAllies is a smooth, gleeful entry into intersectional feminism. The nine interconnected characters proudly describe themselves and their backgrounds, offering an opportunity to take pride in a personal story and connect to collective struggle for justice.
As an adult book, Sam Quinones's Dreamland took the world by storm, winning the NBCC Award for General Nonfiction and hitting at least a dozen Best Book of the Year lists. Now, adapted for the first time for a young adult audience, this compelling reporting explains the roots of the current opiate crisis.
Beautifully retold by the award-winning author Beverley Naidoo, this earliest-known version of Cinderella is brought to life for the modern day reader. Rhodopis is a Greek girl who is sold into slavery by bandits and taken to Egypt. When Horus, the falcon, sweeps in to steal her slipper, Rhodopis has little idea that this act will lead her to the King of Egypt.
Star Stories (Running Press Kids)
Anita Ganeri, illus. by Andy Wilx
For thousands of years people have looked up to the night sky and told stories about the stars. These epic tales tell of vengeful gods and goddesses, of monsters and heroes. This stunning book brings together 23 of these legends from all over the world: from Ancient Greece to North America, Egypt, China, India, and the South Pacific.
In Forgiving Others Ali's friend Faisal shows him that good friends always forgive each other. There are good lessons in that for children (and adults too). Reading good books, with good messages and good role models is part of lifelong character development.
NAACP Image Award winner Vashti Harrison (bottom left) and former NFL wide-receiver Matthew A. Cherry meet fans of all ages after reading from their new book, Hair Love, Saturday, May 18 at 57th Street Books. Share the love with a signed copy, available now for a limited time, just like this month's events!
John Hare presents Field Trip to the Moon with the Museum of Science & IndustrySaturday, July 20th 2pm at 57th Street BooksClimb aboard the spaceship bus for a fantastic field trip adventure to the moon. Published in time for the fiftieth anniversary of the first moon walk, Field Trip to the Moon,is a perfect guide to the galaxy near and far. Join author-illustrator John Hare and educators from the Museum of Science & Industry on July 20th for a space adventure and rocket-making activities! Learn more and RSVP here.
SCBWI presents: Meet an Agent! featuring Alexandra WeissFriday, July 26th 6pm at 57th Street BooksPlease join us for a spectacular evening featuring Alexandra Weiss, Associate Agent with the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency! Come one, come all and learn about what's hot and not in children's publishing, what catches an agent's eye, and what THIS PARTICULAR agent is looking for in a new client. Come for the wisdom, stay for the brownies! Alex will be open to participants sending her queries after the big event! So make sure you attend July 26th so that you can hear the secret password to use when you submit your manuscript! RSVP here.
