2023 Beehive Book Awards Nominees
CLAU is beyond thrilled to announce the 2023 Beehive Book Award Nominees!
Many thanks go out to the hardworking committees who prepared these lists.
Download a tri-fold pamphlet.
Many thanks go out to the hardworking committees who prepared these lists.
Download a tri-fold pamphlet.
CHILDREN'S FICTION
The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo (September 2021)
In a time of war, a mysterious child appears at the monastery of the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing. Gentle Brother Edik finds the girl, Beatryce, curled in a stall, wracked with fever, coated in dirt and blood, and holding fast to the ear of Answelica the goat. As the monk nurses Beatryce to health, he uncovers her dangerous secret, one that imperils them
all--for the king of the land seeks just such a girl, and Brother Edik, who penned the prophecy himself, knows why.
Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman (September 2021)
In Chennai, India, after spending his whole life in jail with his mother, who is serving time for a crime she did not commit, nine-year-old Kabir is suddenly released and has to figure out how to survive on his own in the outside world.
Clues to the Universe by Christina Li (January 2021)
Though Ro and Benji were only supposed to be science class partners, the pair become unlikely friends. As the two friends face bullying, grief, and their own differences, they try to piece together clues to some of the biggest questions in the universe.
A Discovery of Dragons by Lindsay Galvin (July 2021)
After falling overboard during a huge storm in 1835, Simon washes up onto an unexplored island where he makes a discovery that could change the world. An exciting book based on the real events of Charles Darwin's legendary voyage.
Distress Signal by Mary E. Lambert (October 2020)
Lavender and the rest of the sixth-graders are on a camping trip to the Chiricahua wilderness, but when a flash flood scatters the group, Lavender finds herself lost with three other classmates. They have only one pack of supplies and the most basic wilderness knowledge, but if they are to survive they need to put their differences aside and work as a team.
Double the Danger and Zero Zucchini by Betsy Uhrig (September 2020)
While brainstorming ideas to improve his aunt's boring children's book, twelve-year-old Alex recruits his friends to act out new scenes that will make the plot more exciting--and dangerous.
Glitch by Laura Martin (June 2020)
Regan and Elliot have been enemies since they started training to become Glitchers--people who travel through time to preserve important historical events. But everything changes when they find a letter from Regan's future self, warning them about an impending disaster that threatens them and everyone they know. Will they be able to set aside their past in order to save the future?
Hockey Night in Kenya by Danson Mutinda (October 2020)
Kenyan orphans, Kitoo and Nigosi, spend their days studying, playing soccer, helping their elders with chores around the orphanage and reading from the limited selection of books in their library. When the librarian gives Kitoo a copy of Sports Around the World he becomes fascinated by an image of the Canadian national men's ice hockey team. Then one day the fates align and Kitoo finds a pair of beat up old roller blades, he teaches himself to skate and dreams of one day playing hockey like the men in his book. But you can’t play ice hockey in Kenya, can you?
Monster and Boy by Hannah Barnaby (July 2020)
When Monster (who lives under the bed) meets the boy (who sleeps in the bed), the boy starts to scream--and Monster promptly swallows him. It's the beginning of a beautiful friendship!
The Republic of Birds by Jessica Miller (April 2021)
When the bird army kidnaps Olga's sister in a surprise attack on the human kingdom, Olga realizes she has to venture into the Republic of Birds to bring her back. But first, she must learn to unlock her magical ability. As her journey takes her into the hidden world of the Iagas, Olga discovers the truth about the war with the birds--and learns just how much is at stake.
The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo (September 2021)
In a time of war, a mysterious child appears at the monastery of the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing. Gentle Brother Edik finds the girl, Beatryce, curled in a stall, wracked with fever, coated in dirt and blood, and holding fast to the ear of Answelica the goat. As the monk nurses Beatryce to health, he uncovers her dangerous secret, one that imperils them
all--for the king of the land seeks just such a girl, and Brother Edik, who penned the prophecy himself, knows why.
Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman (September 2021)
In Chennai, India, after spending his whole life in jail with his mother, who is serving time for a crime she did not commit, nine-year-old Kabir is suddenly released and has to figure out how to survive on his own in the outside world.
Clues to the Universe by Christina Li (January 2021)
Though Ro and Benji were only supposed to be science class partners, the pair become unlikely friends. As the two friends face bullying, grief, and their own differences, they try to piece together clues to some of the biggest questions in the universe.
A Discovery of Dragons by Lindsay Galvin (July 2021)
After falling overboard during a huge storm in 1835, Simon washes up onto an unexplored island where he makes a discovery that could change the world. An exciting book based on the real events of Charles Darwin's legendary voyage.
Distress Signal by Mary E. Lambert (October 2020)
Lavender and the rest of the sixth-graders are on a camping trip to the Chiricahua wilderness, but when a flash flood scatters the group, Lavender finds herself lost with three other classmates. They have only one pack of supplies and the most basic wilderness knowledge, but if they are to survive they need to put their differences aside and work as a team.
Double the Danger and Zero Zucchini by Betsy Uhrig (September 2020)
While brainstorming ideas to improve his aunt's boring children's book, twelve-year-old Alex recruits his friends to act out new scenes that will make the plot more exciting--and dangerous.
Glitch by Laura Martin (June 2020)
Regan and Elliot have been enemies since they started training to become Glitchers--people who travel through time to preserve important historical events. But everything changes when they find a letter from Regan's future self, warning them about an impending disaster that threatens them and everyone they know. Will they be able to set aside their past in order to save the future?
Hockey Night in Kenya by Danson Mutinda (October 2020)
Kenyan orphans, Kitoo and Nigosi, spend their days studying, playing soccer, helping their elders with chores around the orphanage and reading from the limited selection of books in their library. When the librarian gives Kitoo a copy of Sports Around the World he becomes fascinated by an image of the Canadian national men's ice hockey team. Then one day the fates align and Kitoo finds a pair of beat up old roller blades, he teaches himself to skate and dreams of one day playing hockey like the men in his book. But you can’t play ice hockey in Kenya, can you?
Monster and Boy by Hannah Barnaby (July 2020)
When Monster (who lives under the bed) meets the boy (who sleeps in the bed), the boy starts to scream--and Monster promptly swallows him. It's the beginning of a beautiful friendship!
The Republic of Birds by Jessica Miller (April 2021)
When the bird army kidnaps Olga's sister in a surprise attack on the human kingdom, Olga realizes she has to venture into the Republic of Birds to bring her back. But first, she must learn to unlock her magical ability. As her journey takes her into the hidden world of the Iagas, Olga discovers the truth about the war with the birds--and learns just how much is at stake.
PICTURE BOOKS
Can We Be Friends? Unexpected Animal Friendships from Around the World
by Erica Sirotich (September 2020)
Take a journey exploring five unexpected animal friendships! This adorable picture book, based on real-life stories, showcases popular duos like Mzee the tortoise and Owen the hippo and Koko the gorilla and her kittens, as well as lesser-known ones like Kumbali the cheetah and Kago the dog.
Bumble and Bee: Don’t Worry, Bee Happy by Ross Burach (December 2019)
Whether it is best friends picture day or the waggle dance, Bumble and Bee buzz around the pond, trying to engage Froggy in their playful activities--even coming up with a terrifying way to cure Froggy's hiccups.
Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor (February 2021)
Readers will delight in turning their book sideways and upside down to follow Mel on her journey from downward fall to triumphant flight in this tale of self-confidence and taking a leap of faith.
On Account of the Gum by Adam Rex (October 2020)
Serious humor abounds in this story about one kid's hilarious misadventures with gum, and the cumulative buildup of stuff stuck in hair.
See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka (September 2020)
What happens when the book gets it wrong? Max is not a cat--Max is a dog! But much to his dismay, this book keeps instructing readers to see the cat. How can Max get through to the book that he is a dog?
Soaked! by Abi Cushman (July 2020)
A hula-hooping moose, a badger with a bumblebee umbrella and a rabbit in a cashmere sweater show their grumpy bear friend that a day of fun does not have to depend on sunshine and blue skies.
Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler and Loren Long (March 2021)
An eye-opening exploration of the many types of work that go into building our world--from the making of a bridge to a wind farm and beyond. An architect may dream up the plans for a house, but someone has to actually work the saws and pound the nails.
Something’s Wrong! A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear
by Jory John, Erin Balzer, and Erin Kraan (March 2021)
Jeff the bear is sure he has forgotten something when he sets out from home, but none of the animals he meets initially inform him that he is only wearing his underwear, until he reaches his friend Anders the hare--who quickly thinks of a way to avoid embarrassing Jeff by starting a fashion trend.
The Yawns Are Coming! by Christopher Eliopoulos (April 2020)
Two best friends get together for a sleepover, but their plans to stay up all night are foiled when they are besieged by the Yawns and other harbingers of sleep.
Wishes by Muon Thi Van and Victo Ngai (May 2021)
In this spare, poetic picture book based on author Muon Van's family history and told through a series of wishes, a family packs up everything they own and embarks on a perilous oceanic voyage toward a better life.
Can We Be Friends? Unexpected Animal Friendships from Around the World
by Erica Sirotich (September 2020)
Take a journey exploring five unexpected animal friendships! This adorable picture book, based on real-life stories, showcases popular duos like Mzee the tortoise and Owen the hippo and Koko the gorilla and her kittens, as well as lesser-known ones like Kumbali the cheetah and Kago the dog.
Bumble and Bee: Don’t Worry, Bee Happy by Ross Burach (December 2019)
Whether it is best friends picture day or the waggle dance, Bumble and Bee buzz around the pond, trying to engage Froggy in their playful activities--even coming up with a terrifying way to cure Froggy's hiccups.
Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor (February 2021)
Readers will delight in turning their book sideways and upside down to follow Mel on her journey from downward fall to triumphant flight in this tale of self-confidence and taking a leap of faith.
On Account of the Gum by Adam Rex (October 2020)
Serious humor abounds in this story about one kid's hilarious misadventures with gum, and the cumulative buildup of stuff stuck in hair.
See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka (September 2020)
What happens when the book gets it wrong? Max is not a cat--Max is a dog! But much to his dismay, this book keeps instructing readers to see the cat. How can Max get through to the book that he is a dog?
Soaked! by Abi Cushman (July 2020)
A hula-hooping moose, a badger with a bumblebee umbrella and a rabbit in a cashmere sweater show their grumpy bear friend that a day of fun does not have to depend on sunshine and blue skies.
Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler and Loren Long (March 2021)
An eye-opening exploration of the many types of work that go into building our world--from the making of a bridge to a wind farm and beyond. An architect may dream up the plans for a house, but someone has to actually work the saws and pound the nails.
Something’s Wrong! A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear
by Jory John, Erin Balzer, and Erin Kraan (March 2021)
Jeff the bear is sure he has forgotten something when he sets out from home, but none of the animals he meets initially inform him that he is only wearing his underwear, until he reaches his friend Anders the hare--who quickly thinks of a way to avoid embarrassing Jeff by starting a fashion trend.
The Yawns Are Coming! by Christopher Eliopoulos (April 2020)
Two best friends get together for a sleepover, but their plans to stay up all night are foiled when they are besieged by the Yawns and other harbingers of sleep.
Wishes by Muon Thi Van and Victo Ngai (May 2021)
In this spare, poetic picture book based on author Muon Van's family history and told through a series of wishes, a family packs up everything they own and embarks on a perilous oceanic voyage toward a better life.
INFORMATIONAL BOOKS
Black Heroes of the Wild West by James Otis Smith (September 2020)
Celebrates the extraordinary lives of three black heroes who took control of their destinies and stood up for their Old West communities, including barrier-breaking Mary “Stagecoach Mary” Fields, Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves and mustang tamer Bob Lemmons.
The Boy Whose Head Was Filled with Stars: A Life of Edwin Hubble
by Isabelle Marinov and Deborah Marcero (January 2021)
This is the story of Edwin Hubble, a boy fascinated by the stars who surmounted many hurdles to follow his dreams of becoming an astronomer. Using the insights of great mathematicians and endlessly observing the sky, he succeeded in confirming two things that altered human life forever: that there are more galaxies than our own, and that the universe is always expanding.
Drop: An Adventure through the Water Cycle by Emily Kate Moon (February 2021)
Meet Drop. She's water! She makes life on Earth possible, and has a great time doing it. A water ride like you've never experienced before, featuring the cutest drop of water in all of precipitation.
The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field
by Scott Riley, Nguyen Quang, and Kim Lien (March 2021)
On a tiny Thai island without room for a soccer field, a group of resourceful teen boys gathers scraps and works together to build a floating field so they can play the game they love.
History Smashers: Pearl Harbor by Kate Messner and Dylan Meconis (November 2020)
A perspective-changing reanalysis of the events of the Pearl Harbor attacks investigates theories that the U.S. Navy Base was a known possible target and that early warning signs were accidentally or deliberately ignored.
Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued by Peter Sis (January 2021)
In 1938, twenty-nine-year-old Nicholas Winton saved the lives of almost 700 children trapped in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. One of the children he saved was a young girl named Vera, whose family enlisted Nicky’s aid when the Germans occupied their country. As the war passes and Vera grows up, she must find balance in her dual identities--one her birthright, the other her choice.
The Screaming Hairy Armadillo and 76 Other Animals with Weird, Wild Names
by Matthew Murrie, Steve Murrie, and Julie Benbassat (September 2020)
An illustrated compendium of animals with funny, fascinating or otherwise unusual names, from the sparklemuffin peacock spider to the fried egg jellyfish, describes the characteristics that gave each specimen its remarkable moniker.
So You Want to be an Owl by Jane Porter and Maddie Frost (January 2021)
Welcome to Owl School! Professor Olaf Owl is here to tell you everything you need to know about being an owl, from hunting to camouflage to seeing in the dark. Study hard, and soon you'll be a first-rate member of Team Owl!
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford and Floyd Cooper (February 2021)
A powerful look at the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation's history.
Your Place in the Universe by Jason Chin (September 2020)
Explore the known Universe and consider its mind-boggling scale in this crisply illustrated, well-researched picture book from Caldecott Medalist Jason Chin.
Black Heroes of the Wild West by James Otis Smith (September 2020)
Celebrates the extraordinary lives of three black heroes who took control of their destinies and stood up for their Old West communities, including barrier-breaking Mary “Stagecoach Mary” Fields, Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves and mustang tamer Bob Lemmons.
The Boy Whose Head Was Filled with Stars: A Life of Edwin Hubble
by Isabelle Marinov and Deborah Marcero (January 2021)
This is the story of Edwin Hubble, a boy fascinated by the stars who surmounted many hurdles to follow his dreams of becoming an astronomer. Using the insights of great mathematicians and endlessly observing the sky, he succeeded in confirming two things that altered human life forever: that there are more galaxies than our own, and that the universe is always expanding.
Drop: An Adventure through the Water Cycle by Emily Kate Moon (February 2021)
Meet Drop. She's water! She makes life on Earth possible, and has a great time doing it. A water ride like you've never experienced before, featuring the cutest drop of water in all of precipitation.
The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field
by Scott Riley, Nguyen Quang, and Kim Lien (March 2021)
On a tiny Thai island without room for a soccer field, a group of resourceful teen boys gathers scraps and works together to build a floating field so they can play the game they love.
History Smashers: Pearl Harbor by Kate Messner and Dylan Meconis (November 2020)
A perspective-changing reanalysis of the events of the Pearl Harbor attacks investigates theories that the U.S. Navy Base was a known possible target and that early warning signs were accidentally or deliberately ignored.
Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued by Peter Sis (January 2021)
In 1938, twenty-nine-year-old Nicholas Winton saved the lives of almost 700 children trapped in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. One of the children he saved was a young girl named Vera, whose family enlisted Nicky’s aid when the Germans occupied their country. As the war passes and Vera grows up, she must find balance in her dual identities--one her birthright, the other her choice.
The Screaming Hairy Armadillo and 76 Other Animals with Weird, Wild Names
by Matthew Murrie, Steve Murrie, and Julie Benbassat (September 2020)
An illustrated compendium of animals with funny, fascinating or otherwise unusual names, from the sparklemuffin peacock spider to the fried egg jellyfish, describes the characteristics that gave each specimen its remarkable moniker.
So You Want to be an Owl by Jane Porter and Maddie Frost (January 2021)
Welcome to Owl School! Professor Olaf Owl is here to tell you everything you need to know about being an owl, from hunting to camouflage to seeing in the dark. Study hard, and soon you'll be a first-rate member of Team Owl!
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford and Floyd Cooper (February 2021)
A powerful look at the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation's history.
Your Place in the Universe by Jason Chin (September 2020)
Explore the known Universe and consider its mind-boggling scale in this crisply illustrated, well-researched picture book from Caldecott Medalist Jason Chin.
YOUNG ADULT
*The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris (April 2021)
A gripping, evocative novel about a Black teen who has the power to see into the future, whose life turns upside down when he foresees his younger brother’s imminent death.
Curses by Lish McBride (July 2021)
Forced to live as a beast forever unless she agrees to marry a man of her mother's choosing before her 18th birthday, Merit Cravan joins forces with a con artist who is her only hope in finding the best match.
Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez (September 2020)
Seventeen-year-old Camila Hassan, a rising soccer star in Rosario, Argentina, dreams of playing professionally, in defiance of her fathers' wishes and at the risk of her budding romance with Diego.
Ground Zero by Alan Gratz (February 2021)
Brandon is visiting his dad on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 when the attack comes; Reshmina is a girl in Afghanistan who has grown up in the aftermath of that attack but dreams of peace. Both are struggling to survive, changed forever by the events of 9/11.
*In The Wild Light by Jeff Zentner (August 2021)
When his best friend, Delaney, gets them both full rides to an elite prep school in Connecticut, Cash must choose between his need to love and protect Delaney and his loyalty to his grandparents and their small Appalachian town.
Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon (June 2021)
After picking up a book from the library, Yvette--who has given up on love--gains the ability to see how other people's romantic relationships will end.
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix (September 2020)
Searching for the father she has never met in an alternate-world 1983 London, Susan is drawn into an extended family of magical, left-handed, fighting booksellers who police intruders from the mythical Old World of England.
The Silver Blonde by Elizabeth Ross (July 2021)
In 1946 Hollywood, eighteen-year-old Clara Berg dreams of becoming a film editor and going on a real date with handsome yet unpredictable screenwriter Gil, until she stumbles upon a murder mystery.
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim (July 2021)
After unleashing forbidden magic, being banished by her stepmother and unable to speak or her brothers will die, Shiori'anma must find a way to save them with the help of a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry.
XOXO by Axie Oh (July 2021)
Jenny never had much time for boys, K-pop, or really anything besides her dream of being a professional cellist. But when she finds herself falling for a K-pop idol, she has to decide whether their love is worth the risk.
* indicates recommended for more mature readers
*The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris (April 2021)
A gripping, evocative novel about a Black teen who has the power to see into the future, whose life turns upside down when he foresees his younger brother’s imminent death.
Curses by Lish McBride (July 2021)
Forced to live as a beast forever unless she agrees to marry a man of her mother's choosing before her 18th birthday, Merit Cravan joins forces with a con artist who is her only hope in finding the best match.
Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez (September 2020)
Seventeen-year-old Camila Hassan, a rising soccer star in Rosario, Argentina, dreams of playing professionally, in defiance of her fathers' wishes and at the risk of her budding romance with Diego.
Ground Zero by Alan Gratz (February 2021)
Brandon is visiting his dad on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 when the attack comes; Reshmina is a girl in Afghanistan who has grown up in the aftermath of that attack but dreams of peace. Both are struggling to survive, changed forever by the events of 9/11.
*In The Wild Light by Jeff Zentner (August 2021)
When his best friend, Delaney, gets them both full rides to an elite prep school in Connecticut, Cash must choose between his need to love and protect Delaney and his loyalty to his grandparents and their small Appalachian town.
Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon (June 2021)
After picking up a book from the library, Yvette--who has given up on love--gains the ability to see how other people's romantic relationships will end.
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix (September 2020)
Searching for the father she has never met in an alternate-world 1983 London, Susan is drawn into an extended family of magical, left-handed, fighting booksellers who police intruders from the mythical Old World of England.
The Silver Blonde by Elizabeth Ross (July 2021)
In 1946 Hollywood, eighteen-year-old Clara Berg dreams of becoming a film editor and going on a real date with handsome yet unpredictable screenwriter Gil, until she stumbles upon a murder mystery.
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim (July 2021)
After unleashing forbidden magic, being banished by her stepmother and unable to speak or her brothers will die, Shiori'anma must find a way to save them with the help of a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry.
XOXO by Axie Oh (July 2021)
Jenny never had much time for boys, K-pop, or really anything besides her dream of being a professional cellist. But when she finds herself falling for a K-pop idol, she has to decide whether their love is worth the risk.
* indicates recommended for more mature readers
GRAPHIC NOVELS: CHILDREN
Agent 9! Flood-a-Geddon by James Burks (March 2021)
Placed on probation for causing too much collateral damage, feline operative Agent 9 of the Super-Secret Spy Service teams up with robotic partner FiN to rescue the S4 headquarters from a bumbling supervillain who would build a massive water park by melting the polar ice caps.
Chunky by Yehudi Mercado (June 2021)
Hudi needs to lose weight, according to his doctors. Concerned about the serious medical issue Hudi had when he was younger, his parents push him to try out for sports. Hudi would rather do anything else, but then he meets Chunky, his imaginary friend and mascot. Together, they decide to give baseball a shot. Can Chunky help Hudi stay true to himself or will this friendship strike out?
A Shot in the Arm! Big Ideas That Changed the World by Don Brown (March 2021)
Explores the history of vaccinations and the struggle to protect people from infectious diseases, from smallpox--perhaps humankind's greatest affliction to date--to the COVID-19 pandemic. Brown tackles the science behind how our immune systems work, the discovery of bacteria, and more.
Simon and Chester: Super Detectives! by Cale Atkinson (February 2021)
Welcome to the world of Simon and Chester, ghost and boy duo extraordinaire. They like to kick butt and take names. They don't like chores. They are best friends. And they are about to solve the mystery of a lifetime.
Tales of the Feathered Serpent: Rise of the Halfling King by David Bowles and Charlene Bowles (November 2020)
A prophecy predicts that a young boy, half-human and half-mystical being, will defeat the evil king and lead the kingdom back to justice.
Agent 9! Flood-a-Geddon by James Burks (March 2021)
Placed on probation for causing too much collateral damage, feline operative Agent 9 of the Super-Secret Spy Service teams up with robotic partner FiN to rescue the S4 headquarters from a bumbling supervillain who would build a massive water park by melting the polar ice caps.
Chunky by Yehudi Mercado (June 2021)
Hudi needs to lose weight, according to his doctors. Concerned about the serious medical issue Hudi had when he was younger, his parents push him to try out for sports. Hudi would rather do anything else, but then he meets Chunky, his imaginary friend and mascot. Together, they decide to give baseball a shot. Can Chunky help Hudi stay true to himself or will this friendship strike out?
A Shot in the Arm! Big Ideas That Changed the World by Don Brown (March 2021)
Explores the history of vaccinations and the struggle to protect people from infectious diseases, from smallpox--perhaps humankind's greatest affliction to date--to the COVID-19 pandemic. Brown tackles the science behind how our immune systems work, the discovery of bacteria, and more.
Simon and Chester: Super Detectives! by Cale Atkinson (February 2021)
Welcome to the world of Simon and Chester, ghost and boy duo extraordinaire. They like to kick butt and take names. They don't like chores. They are best friends. And they are about to solve the mystery of a lifetime.
Tales of the Feathered Serpent: Rise of the Halfling King by David Bowles and Charlene Bowles (November 2020)
A prophecy predicts that a young boy, half-human and half-mystical being, will defeat the evil king and lead the kingdom back to justice.
GRAPHIC NOVELS: YOUNG ADULT
Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder (April 2020)
Tyler Feder shares her story of her mother's first oncology appointment to facing reality as a motherless daughter in this frank and refreshingly funny graphic memoir.
Displacement by Kiku Hughes (August 2020)
A teenager is pulled back in time to witness her grandmother's experiences in World War II-era Japanese internment camps.
*Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney and Robyn Smith (February 2021)
Nubia has always stood out because of her Amazonian strength, but even though she uses her ability for good she is seen as a threat, so when her best friend Quisha is threatened by a boy who thinks he owns the town, Nubia risks everything to become the hero society tells her she is not.
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen (October 2020)
Real life isn't a fairytale. It's hard enough trying to communicate with your parents as a kid, but for Tien, he doesn't even have the right words because his parents are struggling with their English. Is there a Vietnamese word for what he's going through? Is there a way to tell them he's gay?
*Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and Danica Novgorodoff (October 2020)
As Will, fifteen, sets out to avenge his brother Shawn's fatal shooting, seven ghosts who knew Shawn board the elevator and reveal truths Will needs to know.
* indicates recommended for more mature readers
Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder (April 2020)
Tyler Feder shares her story of her mother's first oncology appointment to facing reality as a motherless daughter in this frank and refreshingly funny graphic memoir.
Displacement by Kiku Hughes (August 2020)
A teenager is pulled back in time to witness her grandmother's experiences in World War II-era Japanese internment camps.
*Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney and Robyn Smith (February 2021)
Nubia has always stood out because of her Amazonian strength, but even though she uses her ability for good she is seen as a threat, so when her best friend Quisha is threatened by a boy who thinks he owns the town, Nubia risks everything to become the hero society tells her she is not.
The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen (October 2020)
Real life isn't a fairytale. It's hard enough trying to communicate with your parents as a kid, but for Tien, he doesn't even have the right words because his parents are struggling with their English. Is there a Vietnamese word for what he's going through? Is there a way to tell them he's gay?
*Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and Danica Novgorodoff (October 2020)
As Will, fifteen, sets out to avenge his brother Shawn's fatal shooting, seven ghosts who knew Shawn board the elevator and reveal truths Will needs to know.
* indicates recommended for more mature readers
POETRY
Delicious! Poems Celebrating Street Food Around the World by Julie Larios and Julie Paschkis (April 2021)
The world is a delicious place! Come along on an international journey to try a hot pretzel in New York City; saffron tea in Mumbai, India; deep fried scorpions in Beijing, China; and much, much more.
Hard-Boiled Bugs for Breakfast by Jack Prelutsky and Ruth Chan (January 2021)
More than 100 funny new poems from Jack Prelutsky, the nation's first children's poet laureate, in a wide array of poetic forms, from haiku to concrete poems and everything in between, and hilariously illustrated in black-and-white on every page.
No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History
edited by Linsday H. Hetcalf, Keila V. Dawson and Jeanette Bradley (September 2020)
Joseph Bruchac, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, and others present poems about young activists who have stepped up to make changes in their community and in the United States.
Star Fish by Lisa Fipps (March 2021)
Bullied and shamed her whole life for being fat, twelve-year-old Ellie finally gains the confidence to stand up for herself, with the help of some wonderful new allies.
Write! Write! Write! by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater and Ryan O’Rourke (March 2020)
A poetry collection that explores every stage and every aspect of the writing process also celebrates how writing teaches patience, helps express opinions and allows us to imagine the impossible.
Delicious! Poems Celebrating Street Food Around the World by Julie Larios and Julie Paschkis (April 2021)
The world is a delicious place! Come along on an international journey to try a hot pretzel in New York City; saffron tea in Mumbai, India; deep fried scorpions in Beijing, China; and much, much more.
Hard-Boiled Bugs for Breakfast by Jack Prelutsky and Ruth Chan (January 2021)
More than 100 funny new poems from Jack Prelutsky, the nation's first children's poet laureate, in a wide array of poetic forms, from haiku to concrete poems and everything in between, and hilariously illustrated in black-and-white on every page.
No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History
edited by Linsday H. Hetcalf, Keila V. Dawson and Jeanette Bradley (September 2020)
Joseph Bruchac, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, and others present poems about young activists who have stepped up to make changes in their community and in the United States.
Star Fish by Lisa Fipps (March 2021)
Bullied and shamed her whole life for being fat, twelve-year-old Ellie finally gains the confidence to stand up for herself, with the help of some wonderful new allies.
Write! Write! Write! by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater and Ryan O’Rourke (March 2020)
A poetry collection that explores every stage and every aspect of the writing process also celebrates how writing teaches patience, helps express opinions and allows us to imagine the impossible.