February 2021: Book Recs
Save Time - Get Your Books Delivered
February is all about love, friendship, heroes and history. Lots of great reads to dive into. Master list & short summaries are below. Quick tip - don’t be afraid to age up or down a bit, particularly if you think the subject matter is of special interest to your child.
Happy reading!
INFANTS
Our Little Kitchen by Jillian Tamaki. A group comes together every Wednesday to prepare a delicious meal for their neighbors using whatever materials are at hand.
We Sang You Home by Richard Van Camp. This stunning board book is filled with heartfelt metaphors, loving illustrations and text exploring the magical bond between a child and parents.
The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez. This brightly-colored, rhyming picture book is a journey through history, ideas and individuals that represent a wide range of Black experiences. Endnotes include resources for children and families.
Tiny T. Rex and the Perfect Valentine by Jonathan Stutzman. Can Tiny T. Rex make the perfect Valentine card for his best friend Pointy? What if a bucket of paint spills, glitter explodes and the card rips? An adorable reminder that true friendship equals a perfect Valentine’s gift.
TODDLERS/PRESCHOOLERS
And the People Stayed Home by Kitty O'Meara. A poem about the pandemic with vivid illustrations and a hope for the future.
Chuckles and Smiles: Children's Poems by Raven Howell. Whimsy and fun poetry for children, ranging in style from couplets and quatrains to free-form poetry and nontraditional haiku. Recommended for toddlers & preschoolers.
Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry. At the National Portrait Gallery, in Washington D.C., Parker Curry was mesmerized by First Lady Michelle Obama’s portrait. An everyday moment becomes an extraordinary one in this heartfelt true story.
Porcupine Cupid by Jason June. Can Porcupine use his quills to poke others like Cupid’s arrow? Ouch, his pals don’t think so! This holiday tale contains humor, affection and sweetness—and of course, a happy ending.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS
The Polio Pioneer by Linda Elovitz Marshall. A biography that sheds light on Dr. Salk's groundbreaking journey and the importance of the Polio vaccination.
Hard-Boiled Bugs for Breakfast: And Other Tasty Poems by Jack Prelutsky. A new collection of 100 poems from the Young People’s Poet Laureate and bestselling poet Jack Prelutsky. Topics include food, animals, self-identity and a simple life.
Who Is Kamala Harris? by Kirsten Anderson. Learn how a small girl in Oakland became a lawyer, senator and eventually the first woman, first African-American and first South Asian-American elected Vice President of the United States.
Granted by John David Anderson. Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets is a fairy and wish granter. Can she succeed on her first wish-granting assignment? And is it hard to give humans what they wish for?
TWEENS/TEENS
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist. Snapshots of a tough childhood, food insecurity, and the superhero strength it takes to grow up during rough times.
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai. Free verse poems, usually just two to three pages, tell the story of 10-year-old Kim Hà, who escapes from Saigon. Trapped at sea, she eventually arrives in Alabama.
Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson. Authors Kwame Alexander and James Patterson join together to imagine Muhammad Ali’s boyhood. Alternating between prose and free verse, readers discover an important icon in sports and social justice.
The Next Great Jane by K. L. Going. A young writer is determined to be the next Jane Austen. But what happens when her mom and fiancé want her to move all the way to California? Can Jane play matchmaker for her marine biologist dad in order to stay in her tiny town?