Each month we post an annotated bibliography of books that were rated ‘Outstanding’ and nominated for our Distinguished List at our previous month’s meeting. Members can see full reviews of these books and many more in the March edition of BayViews. Not a member? Join, come to our monthly meetings, and hear about these Outstanding books in person!
Picture Books
Bedtime for Sweet Creatures written by Grimes, Nikki and illustrated by Zunon, Elizabeth; Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2020.
Mother narrates this look at going to bed, describing a toddler who mimics various animals with sounds. The full color collage art is unusual, with a realistic African American family but with animals depicted as patterned block prints. (Grades Baby/Todder-Kindergarten.)
Dads written by Coy, John and illustrated by Huie, Wing Young; Carolrhoda/Lerner, 2020.
Celebrate fathers and all they do with this picture book filled with diverse photos of fathers and families specifically featuring blue-collar and inner-city environments. Sparse text fitting for toddlers through lower elementary accompany the powerful images to make a unique, moving collection. (B/T-2.)
Fiction
A High Five for Glenn Burke written by Bildner, Phil; Farrar Straus Giroux/Macmillan, 2020.
In a novel that thoroughly explores the coming out process, sixth-grader Silas Walker feels as though he has taken a huge step toward acknowledging his gayness when he does a class report on Glenn Burke, a 1970s gay, black baseball player who invented the “high five”. (4-8.)
The New David Espinoza written by Aceves, Fred; HarperTeen/HarperCollins, 2020.
Painfully skinny David has gotten used to being shoved around at school. When a video of him getting slapped goes viral, he decides to spend the summer bulking up using steroids. As David’s gains increase, his relationships disintegrate. A gripping, realistic story. (9-Adult.)
Graphic Novels
Catherine’s War written by Billet, Julia and illustrated by Fauvel, Claire; HarperAlley/HarperCollins, 2020.
Originally published in France in 2017, this graphic novel is based on the true story of a Jewish girl who is hidden in various locations during WWII in France. The full color cartoon artwork in panels is distinctive and conveys a lot of emotion. (4-9.)
Biography
Althea Gibson: The Story of Tennis’ Fleet–of-Foot Girl written by Reid, Megan and illustrated by Freeman, Laura; Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, 2020.
With clever, dynamic text and illustrations, this book takes the reader through Gibson’s rising tennis career. Readers follow her from her sporty origin playing on the streets of Harlem to her historic win at Wimbledon. An excellent introduction to a pioneering African-American champion of sport. (PreK-3.)
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