Media Matters

 Picture book by Beth Ferry. I really liked this picture book about a girl who uses the scientific method and magnetism to try to “attract” friends. Ultimately she discovers the best way to make friends is by being herself.

 Picture book by Martin Waddell. Classic tale in which a hardworking duck and a lazy farmer get their just reward. Great illustrations too!

 Picture book by Helen Yoon. Charming illustrations with a whimsical storyline.

 Book by Amina Luqman-Dawson. This book tells a bit of history I was previously unaware of. The various short chapters told from different viewpoints made the story interesting and accessible. Recommended for ages 10+

 Book by Pam Munoz Ryan. I really enjoyed this story of four children in different times and places who all come to possess the same enchanted harmonica. Rich themes abound, most notably discrimination on the basis of physical appearance, religion, poverty, and race. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed its renditions of many of the songs mentioned in the book. It would be really fun to gift this book with a harmonica!

 Book by Julie Berry. This was a quick read, utterly compelling and unusual. It defies genre classification as it had elements of dystopian society meets mystery thriller meets romance.  Note: thematically, the town’s judgment/speculation about her virginity following her abduction is a major plot point, but the content is not at all explicit, so it’s very accessible and worthy of discussion for ages 13+. A bit like The Scarlet Letter, but better IMO.

 Picture book by Pat Zietlow Miller. I really liked the story of cooperation over competition, and the additional information at the end about Wilma Rudolph and the first non-segregated event in Clarksville.

 Picture book by Andrea Beaty. Cute book with a great message about the importance of failure in the creative process.

 Picture book by Andrea Beaty. I really liked this story of a boy who struggles with dyslexia, but has a gift for art and a vibrant imagination. The author’s note adds additional insight.

 Picture book by Maggie Tokuda-Hall. I loved this true story of the author’s grandparents, falling in love at the library of a Japanese internment camp during WW2. No objectionable or scary content, but it definitely would be appreciated more by older readers. I felt the author’s note at the end was quite political and angry, which seemed at odds with the gentle, joyful story.