The year 2020 was a great year for books. I reviewed many of them here in previous columns, but it was impossible to share them all. I am going to highlight some of the best picture books and novels that I have yet to share. DERRICK BARNES and GORDON C. JAMES’ “I AM EVERY GOOD […]
2020 has been a roller coaster of a year, but books have been undeniably good. This year, all three of my favorite picture book authors/illustrators have released new titles — two debuted on the same day. I wrote about Christian Robinson’s “You Matter” a few months back, so I will reserve this review for the […]
Sometimes you just want to read a good mystery. In fact, I would say that a significant percentage of the “What should I read next?” types of questions from upper elementary students fall into the mystery genre. (Roughly 50% are “I finished every Dav Pilkey book, and now I don’t know what to read!” If […]
I am bursting with picture book recommendations! The last few months have been challenging, to put it mildly, but one of the things I have been able to look forward to is the steady stream of excellent picture books. The first title is one I pre-ordered as early as I could. Award-winning illustrator (and author) […]
The Children’s Department staff is excited to announce virtual storytimes every Tuesday morning at 10 AM. Join your children’s library staff as we read, sing, rhyme, play, and craft! Check our Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram page every Tuesday for new videos! Live Storytime on Zoom is also available bi-weekly on Tuesday mornings, at 9:30 am […]
Did you know that May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month? In honor of this fact, I want to share one of my favorite newish picture books by a Southeast Asian American author and illustrator. “PRIYA DREAMS OF MARIGOLD AND MASALA,” written and illustrated by MEENAL PATEL, is a sweet story of a grandmother, named […]
It’s been a while since I rounded up my favorite picture books for a review, so I am eager to share one of my most recent favorites. On a good week, I bring home approximately 10 picture books to read with my son. They typically fall into three categories: books my son wants to read […]
In preparing for the library’s Black History Month celebration on Feb. 22, I chose to read Erica Armstrong Dunbar and Kathleen Van Cleve’s young readers edition of “NEVER CAUGHT: THE STORY OF ONA JUDGE.” Ona Maria Judge was born into slavery around 1773 or 1774 at George Washington’s Mount Vernon to Betty, an enslaved woman, […]
The end of the year is always a scramble to chip away at my TBR (to be read) list in order to meet an arbitrary goal I set for myself when I was feeling much more ambitious — sometime around the first of January. I never include picture books when I track my reading; considering […]
Twelve-year-old Guero (a lifelong nickname referring to his pale skin and red hair) has spent his entire life crossing back and forth over the U.S.-Mexico border. Born and raised in the southernmost part of Texas, the title character of “THEY CALL ME GUERO” often makes trips into Mexico to visit family and stock up on […]
1901 East 20th Street
Joplin, MO 64804
Phone: 417-623-7953
