On Shelves Now: THE SECRET OF THE BLUE GLASS by Tomiko Inui

192 p.
Publisher: Pushkin Children's Books
Ages: 8 to 12

On the first floor of the big house of the Moriyama family, is a small library. There, on the shelves next to the old books, live the Little People, a tiny family who were once brought from England to Japan by a beloved nanny. Since then, each generation of Moriyama-family children has inherited the responsibility of filling the blue glass with milk to feed the Little People and it’s now Yuri’s turn.

The little girl dutifully fulfils her task but the world around the Moriyama family is changing. Japan is caught in the whirl of what will soon become World War II, turning her beloved older brother into a fanatic nationalist and dividing the family for ever. Sheltered in the garden and the house, Yuri is able to keep the Little People safe, and they do their best to comfort Yuri in return, until one day owing to food restrictions milk is in shorter supply…

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On Shelves Now: THE MADMAN OF PINEY WOODS by Christopher Paul Curtis

384 p.
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Ages: 8 to 12

Benji and Red couldn't be more different. They aren't friends. They don't even live in the same town. But their fates are entwined. A chance meeting leads the boys to discover that they have more in common than meets the eye. Both of them have encountered a strange presence in the forest, watching them, tracking them. Could the Madman of Piney Woods be real?

In a tale brimming with intrigue and adventure, Christopher Paul Curtis returns to the vibrant world he brought to life in Elijah of Buxton. Here is another novel that will break your heart--and fill it with joy and laughter, too.

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On Shelves Now: LIES WE TELL OURSELVES by Robin Talley

416 p.
Publisher: Harlequin
Ages: 14 and up

Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School. An honors student at her old school, she is put into remedial classes, spit on and tormented daily.

Linda Hairston is the daughter of one of the town's most vocal opponents of school integration. She has been taught all her life that the races should be kept "separate but equal."

Forced to work together on a school project, Sarah and Linda must confront harsh truths about race, power and the fact that they may be falling for one another.

Boldly realistic and emotionally compelling, Lies We Tell Ourselves is a brave and stunning novel about finding truth amid the lies, and finding your voice even when others are determined to silence it.

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On Shelves Now: SPIRIT WEEK SHOWDOWN by Crystal Allen

240 p.
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Ages: 8 to 12

Nine-year-old cowgirl Mya Tibbs is boot-scootin’ excited for the best week of the whole school year—Spirit Week! She and her megapopular best friend, Naomi Jackson, even made a pinky promise to be Spirit Week partners so they can win the big prize: special VIP tickets to the Fall Festival!

But when the partner picking goes horribly wrong, Mya gets paired with Mean Connie Tate—the biggest bully in school. And she can’t get out of it.

Good gravy.

Now Naomi is friend-ending mad at Mya for breaking a promise—even though Mya couldn’t help it—and everyone at school is calling Mya names. Can Mya work with Mean Connie to win the VIP tickets and get her best friend back?

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ON SHELVES NOW: HONEY, I LOVE by Eloise Greenfield, illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist

32 p.
Publisher: Amistad
Ages: 4 to 8

To one young narrator, it's the simple things that mean the most, like sharing laughter with a friend, taking family rides in the country, and kissing her mama's arm.

When this poem was first published in 1978 in Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems, Eloise Greenfield reminded us that love can be found just about anywhere. Now, almost forty years later, she and celebrated children's book artist Jan Spivey Gilchrist present a stunning, newly illustrated anniversary edition that invites readers to celebrate the simple joys of loving and living.

On Shelves Now: CLEO EDISON OLIVER, PLAYGROUND MILLIONAIRE by Sundee T. Frazier

224 p.
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine
Ages: 8 to 12

Cleopatra Edison Oliver has always been an entrepreneur, just like her inspiration, successful businesswoman Fortune A. Davies. So when Cleo's fifth-grade teacher assigns her class a "Passion Project," Cleo comes up with her best business idea yet: the finest "tooth-pulling" company in town. With the help of her best friend, Caylee, a Nerf gun, her dad's tablet, and her patented Persuasion Power, Cleo's Quick and Painless Tooth Removal Service starts to take off.

But even the best-made plans, by the best CEOs, go awry sometimes. A minor barfing incident during a tooth-pulling operation causes Cleo to lose customers. Caylee, initially enthusiastic about the business, grows distant as Cleo neglects their friendship in lieu of getting more customers. And when a mean classmate makes fun of Cleo for being adopted, everything comes crashing down. Will she be able to rescue her business, salvage her friendship with Caylee, and discover that her true home has been here all along?

On Shelves Now: TO CATCH A CHEAT by Varian Johnson

256 p.
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Ages: 8 to 12

When a video frames Jackson Greene and his friends for a crime they didn't commit, Gang Greene battles the blackmailers in this sequel to the acclaimed The Great Greene Heist.

Jackson Greene is riding high. He is officially retired from conning, so Principal Kelsey is (mostly) off his back. His friends have great new projects of their own. And as he's been hanging out a lot with Gaby de la Cruz, he thinks maybe, just maybe, they'll soon have their first kiss.

Then Jackson receives a link to a faked security video that seems to show him and the rest of Gang Greene flooding the school gym. The thugs behind the video threaten to pass it to the principal--unless Jackson steals an advance copy of the school's toughest exam. So Jackson devises a three-part plan to foil the blackmailers, clear his friends' names for good, and trap the true bad guys along the way. As Gang Greene executes another multistep caper full of twists and turns, they learn that sometimes it takes a thief to catch a cheat.

On Shelves Now: TOUCH THE SKY: Alice Coachman, Olympic High Jumper by Ann Malaspina

32 p.
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Ages: 6 to 9

"Bare feet shouldn't fly. Long legs shouldn't spin. Braids shouldn't flap in the wind. 'Sit on the porch and be a lady,' Papa scolded Alice." In Alice's Georgia hometown, there was no track where an African-American girl could practice, so she made her own crossbar with sticks and rags. With the support of her coach, friends, and community, Alice started to win medals. Her dream to compete at the Olympics came true in 1948. This is an inspiring free-verse story of the first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Photos of Alice Coachman are also included.


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On Shelves Now: TAKING FLIGHT: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina by Michaela & Elaine DePrince

256 p.
Publisher: Ember
Ages: 12 and up

Michaela DePrince was known as girl Number 27 at the orphanage, where she was abandoned at a young age and tormented as a “devil child” for a skin condition that makes her skin appear spotted. But it was at the orphanage that Michaela would find a picture of a beautiful ballerina en pointe that would help change the course of her life.

At the age of four, Michaela was adopted by an American family, who encouraged her love of dancing and enrolled her in classes. She went on to study at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at the American Ballet Theatre and is now the youngest principal dancer with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She has appeared in the ballet documentary First Position, as well as on Dancing with the Stars, Good Morning America, and Nightline.

In this engaging, moving, and unforgettable memoir, Michaela shares her dramatic journey from an orphan in West Africa to becoming one of ballet’s most exciting rising stars

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On Shelves Now: CLEMENTE! by Willie Perdomo, illustrated by Bryan Collier

32 p.
Publisher: Square Fish
Ages: 6 to 10

Born in Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente was the first Latin American player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the only player for whom the five-year initiation period was waived. Known not only for his exceptional baseball skills but also for his extensive charity work in Latin America, Clemente was well-loved during his eighteen years playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He died in a plane crash while bringing aid supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

Willie Perdomo's rhythmic text and Bryan Collier's energetic art combine to tell the story of one of baseball's greats.

On Shelves Now: National Geographic Readers: SONIA SOTOMAYOR by Barbara Kramer

48 p.
Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books
Ages: 6 to 9

Explore one of the most recognized names in modern America with this biography of Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor. Kids will learn about her rise to be the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice and the trials she faced along the way. The level 3 text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging, information for independent readers.

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On Shelves Now: National Geographic Readers: GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER by Jazynka Kitson

32 p.
Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books
Ages: 4 to 6

Take a bite into the fascinating history of peanut butter and the man who invented it. Through leveled text and engaging photos, kids meet George Washington Carver and learn about his important work with peanuts and other plants. This Level 1 reader is carefully leveled for an early independent reading or read aloud experience, perfect to encourage the scientists and explorers of tomorrow!

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On Shelves Now: WE MARCH by Shane W. Evans

23 p.
Publisher: Square Fish
Ages: 4 to 8

On August 28, 1963, a remarkable event took place--more than 250,000 people gathered in our nation's capital to participate in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The march began at the Washington Monument and ended with a rally at the Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech, advocating racial harmony. Many words have been written about that day, but few so delicate and powerful as those presented here by award-winning author and illustrator Shane W. Evans. When combined with his simple yet compelling illustrations, the thrill of the day is brought to life for even the youngest reader to experience.

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On Shelves Now: MALALA: A HERO FOR ALL by Shana Corey, illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles

48 p.
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Ages: 7 to 9

Even as a young girl in Pakistan, Malala spoke up about the importance of girls’ education, via speeches and a blog. Since the Taliban regime was intent on denying girls an education and silencing anyone who disagreed with their laws, this was very dangerous. Malala was shot, but she survived the attack and it did not silence her. In fact, she spoke at the United Nations on her sixteenth birthday, just nine months after she was shot. Malala’s resolve has only magnified her voice, delivering her message of human rights to millions of people.

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On Shelves Now: KENYA'S ART by Linda Trice, illustrated by Hazel Mitchell

32 p.
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Ages: 4 to 8

Kenya’s class is on spring vacation and their teacher asked them to write a report about how they spent their time. But vacation is almost over and Kenya hasn’t done anything worth noting. A late visit to a museum’s recycling exhibit and a walk through her neighborhood with her daddy inspire Kenya to use her old, broken toys and other items to make art with her family. Now she’s prepared to teach her whole class how to Recycle! Reuse! Make Art!

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On Shelves Now: THIS SIDE OF HOME by Renee Watson

336 p.
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Ages: 13 and up

Identical twins Nikki and Maya have been on the same page for everything--friends, school, boys and wanting to attend a historically African-American college. But as their neighborhood goes from rough-and-tumble to up-and-coming, suddenly filled with pretty coffee shops and boutiques, Nikki is thrilled while Maya feels like their home is slipping away. Suddenly, the sisters who had always shared everything must confront their different feelings on class, race, and their evolving neighborhood as they try to figure out whether growing up must mean growing apart.

In her timely YA debut, Renee Watson brings to life the issues teens face every day as they try to reconcile their personal expectations and traditions with those of their culture and community.

On Shelves Now: I AM MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos

40 p.
Publisher: Dial
Ages: 5 to 8

Even as a child, Martin Luther King, Jr. was shocked by the terrible and unfair way African-American people were treated. When he grew up, he decided to do something about it—peacefully, with powerful words. He helped gather people together for nonviolent protests and marches, and he always spoke up about loving other human beings and doing what’s right. He spoke about the dream of a kinder future, and bravely led the way toward racial equality in America.

This lively, New York Times Bestselling biography series inspires kids to dream big, one great role model at a time. You’ll want to collect each book.

On Shelves Now: TO THE RESCUE! GARRETT MORGAN UNDERGROUND by Monica Kulling, illustrated by David Parkins

32 p.
Publisher: Tundra Books
Ages: 5 to 8

The son of freed slaves, Garrett Morgan was determined to have a better life than laboring in the Kentucky fields with his parents and ten siblings. He began by sweeping floors in a clothing factory in Cleveland, Ohio, where he decided to invent a stronger belt for sewing machines. When he was promoted to sewing-machine repairman, Garrett was on his way.

In 1911, 146 workers died in the shocking Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City, so Garrett decided to invent a safety hood for firefighters. Little did he know that most people wouldn’t be interested in buying his safety hood when they discovered its inventor was black. But an explosion that trapped workers in a tunnel under Lake Erie soon changed all that. Garrett’s hoods were rushed to the scene and used to rescue as many men as possible. Developed further, Garrett’s invention came to save thousands of soldiers from chlorine gas in the trenches of World War I.

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On Shelves Now: THE FIRST STEP: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial by Susan E. Goodman, illustrated by E. B. Lewis

40 p
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Ages: 6 to 9

In 1847, Sarah Roberts tried to attend a white school in Boston. Forced out of school because of her race, Sarah and her family fought for her right to have an equal education.

"It was the first case asking our legal system to outlaw separate schools. It was the first time an African-American lawyer worked in a supreme court. It was the first time an African-American lawyer and a white lawyer teamed up to fight for justice. Three important steps forward."

Although not victorious, Sarah paved the way for changes that led to triumph in the Brown vs. Board of Education case, and in countless other steps toward equality.

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On Shelves Now: MY NAME IS NOT FRIDAY by Jon Walter

384 p.
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Ages:12 and up

Well-mannered Samuel and his mischievous younger brother Joshua are free black boys living in an orphanage during the end of the Civil War. Samuel takes the blame for Joshua's latest prank, and the consequence is worse than he could ever imagine. He's taken from the orphanage to the South, given a new name--Friday--and sold into slavery. What follows is a heartbreaking but hopeful account of Samuel's journey from freedom to captivity, and back again.

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On Shelves Now: RUBY LEE & ME by Shannon Hitchcock

224 p.
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Ages: 8 to 12

Everything's changing for Sarah Beth Willis. After Robin's tragic accident, everyone seems different somehow. Days on the farm aren't the same, and the simple fun of riding a bike or playing outside can be scary. And there's talk in town about the new sixth-grade teacher at Shady Creek.

Word is spreading quickly--Mrs. Smyre is like no other teacher anyone has ever seen around these parts. She's the first African American teacher. It's 1969, and while black folks and white folks are cordial, having a black teacher at an all-white school is a strange new happening. For Sarah Beth, there are so many unanswered questions. What is all this talk about Freedom Riders and school integration? Why can't she and Ruby become best friends? And who says school isn't for anybody who wants to learn--or teach? In a world filled with uncertainty, one very special teacher shows her young students and the adults in their lives that change invites unexpected possibilities.

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On Shelves Now: PAPER WISHES by Lois Sepahban

192 p.
Publisher: arrar, Straus and Giroux
Ages: 9 to 12

Ten-year-old Manami did not realize how peaceful her family's life on Bainbridge Island was until the day it all changed. It's 1942, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Manami and her family are Japanese American, which means that the government says they must leave their home by the sea and join other Japanese Americans at a prison camp in the desert. Manami is sad to go, but even worse is that they are going to have to give her dog, Yujiin, to a neighbor to take care of. Manami decides to sneak Yujiin under her coat, but she is caught and forced to abandon him. She is devastated but clings to the hope that somehow Yujiin will find his way to the camp and make her family whole again. It isn't until she finds a way to let go of her guilt that Manami can accept all that has happened to her family.

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On Shelves Now: MY CHINATOWN: One Year in Poems by Kam Mak

32 p.
Publisher: HarperCollins
Ages: 4 to 8

My Chinatown is a deeply personal account by Kam Mak, who grew up in New York’s Chinatown. It explores a boy’s first year in the United States—after emigrating from China—as he grows to love his new home in Chinatown through food, games, and the people surrounding him. The streets come vividly alive through Kam Mak’s spare verse and richly detailed artwork.

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On Shelves Now: FREEDOM IN CONGO SQUARE by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

40 p.
Publisher: little bee
Ages: 4 to 8

This poetic, nonfiction story about a little-known piece of African American history captures a human’s capacity to find hope and joy in difficult circumstances and demonstrates how New Orleans' Congo Square was truly freedom’s heart.

Mondays, there were hogs to slop,

mules to train, and logs to chop.

Slavery was no ways fair.

Six more days to Congo Square.

As slaves relentlessly toiled in an unjust system in 19th century Louisiana, they all counted down the days until Sunday, when at least for half a day they were briefly able to congregate in Congo Square in New Orleans. Here they were free to set up an open market, sing, dance, and play music. They were free to forget their cares, their struggles, and their oppression. This story chronicles slaves' duties each day, from chopping logs on Mondays to baking bread on Wednesdays to plucking hens on Saturday, and builds to the freedom of Sundays and the special experience of an afternoon spent in Congo Square. This book will have a forward from Freddi Williams Evans (freddievans.com), a historian and Congo Square expert, as well as a glossary of terms with pronunciations and definitions.

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On Shelves Now: MIDNIGHT TAXI TANGO: A Bone Street Rumba Novel by Daniel José Older

336 p.
Publisher: Roc
Ages: 14 and up

Carlos Delacruz straddles the line between the living and the not-so alive. As an agent for the Council of the Dead, he eliminates ghostly problems for the flesh-and-blood residents of Brooklyn. This time it’s a string a gruesome paranormal accidents in Von King Park. And they’re putting Carlos’s friend Kia on edge.

When Kia first met Carlos, he was the weird guy who frequented where she worked. But the closer they’ve gotten, the more she’s seeing the world from Carlos’s point of view. In fact, she’s starting to see ghosts. And the situation is far more sinister than that—because whatever is bringing out the dead, it’s only just getting started.

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On Shelves Now: ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY! 40th Anniversary Special Edition by Mildred D. Taylor

304 p.
Publisher: Dial
Ages: 8 to 12

A stunning repackage of Mildred D. Taylor’s Newbery Award-winning masterpiece with cover art by two-time Caldecott Honor Award winner Kadir Nelson and an introduction by Jacqueline Woodson, just in time for its 40th Anniversary!

Set in Mississippi at the height of the Depression, this is the story of one family’s struggle to maintain their integrity, pride, and independence in the face of racism and social injustice. And it is also Cassie’s story—Cassie Logan, an independent girl who discovers over the course of an important year why having land of their own is so crucial to the Logan family, even as she learns to draw strength from her own sense of dignity and self-respect.

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