Outstanding Books of the Month – January 2024
Each month we post an annotated bibliography of books that were rated ‘Outstanding’ at our previous meeting and nominated for our year-end Distinguished List. You can see full reviews of these books and many more in our BayViews blog. Interested in becoming a member? Join, come to our monthly meetings, and hear about these Outstanding books in person!
Fiction
Barely Floating by Lilliam Rivera, Kokila, August 2023.
Bold and brash 12-year-old Nat finds a path toward her dreams pursuing a sport not known for valuing an overweight Latina like herself. Like synchronized swimming, Rivera displays the power of believing in yourself, supporting one another, and floating when life seems determined to pull you down.
Non-Fiction
Behold the octopus! by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez, Peachtree, April 2023.
Bold rhyming adjectives, matched with riveting detailed text, follow flowing images to capture the essence of 12 species of octopus. Vivid pastel and colored pencil illustrations give a strong sense of dynamic movement on – and off!– every page. A versatile read-aloud that will inspire awe in all.
Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider by Jessica Lanan, illustrated by Jessica Lanan, Roaring Brook, April 2023.
Well-paced text and dynamic illustrations invite us to vividly imagine a jumping spider’s unique attributes and senses in great detail. Jumper presents an exemplary and captivating read-aloud that will draw not only understanding, but also connection and curiosity for the arthopod’s world.
Picture Book
Big by Vashti Harrison, illustrated by Vashti Harrison, Little Brown, May 2023.
A young Black girl experiences the joy of childhood, and then the hurt. Extraordinary chalk pastel illustrations portray the impact of body-shaming, as well as determination to push back by affirming the power of inner strength and self-acceptance in a sometimes small-minded world.
Eclipse by Andy Rash, illustrated by Andy Rash, Scholastic, September 2023.
When a young, white student learns of an upcoming eclipse, he makes plans to see it with his dad. Colorful comic-style illustrations, outlined in black, show the preparations, totality and future ramifications. An utterly charming, and inspiring science-based story.
Hornbeam All In by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard, Beach Lane, December 2023.
Hornbeam is a reluctant moose who stars in three brief chapters in this picture book that could also serve as a beginning reader. Hornbeam go illustrated byes on a picnic with duck Eureka, sleeps over at Cuddy the bull’s house, and is taught to swim by skunk Adorabelle.
How to count to one: (and don’t even THINK about bigger numbers!) by Salmon Caspar, illustrated by Matt Hunt, Nosy Crow, June 2023.
No matter how exciting the items to count, readers are unreasonably told to only count to one. Defiant young audiences will not be able to resist counting, shouting and giggling through every page. A crowd-pleasing read-aloud cleverly enticing young readers to take on higher numbers with enthusiasm.
The Last Stand by Antwan Eady, illustrated by Jarrett Pumphrey, Random/Knopf, January 2024.
A Black farmer grandfather and grandson bring their crops to sell as the grandson gradually takes over the job. Together, Eady and the Pumphreys have created a book that can be appreciated on multiple levels for a broad and varied audience.
Summer is for Cousins by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Abhi Alwar, Abrams, May 2023.
An irresistible mix of summer adventure and warm family interactions is enriched by colorful, lively illustrations and specific examples of how a young Indian American boy’s maturity brings new skills and opportunities to step up, contribute and add to the joy.
Biography
Loud and Proud: The Life of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, Simon & Schuster, September 2023.
Shirley Chisolm rose from poverty to political heights, including being the first African American woman to run for President. Bright bold illustrations capture the Congresswoman’s dynamic personality, as well as the tenor and style of the times.
Tomfoolery! Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming-of-Age of Children’s Books by Michelle Markel, illustrated by Barbara McClintock, Chronicle, November 2023.
This brief picture book biography of 19th Century illustrator Randolph Caldecott is lively and energetic, describing his youth, attempts at newspaper and magazine illustrations, and finally his success. McClintock’s illustrations evoke the style of Caldecott.
Folklore
Skull, The: A Tyrolean Folktale by Jon Klassen, illustrated by Jon Klassen, Candlewick, July 2023.
Otilla is lost in the forest when she comes upon a mansion and hears a voice, which turns out to be a skull who needs Otilla’s help to get away from a vengeful skeleton. This slightly scary story is told in a way that will assist those moving into chapter books and makes a great read-aloud.
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