Mexikid: a graphic memoir (Pedro Martín)

 

I don't really love reading graphic novels, but this one was recommended by many people that I admire as readers and so I decided to read it. The author is also the illustrator and there is a LOT in the illustrations. It also received a number of awards this year:

• Newberry Honor Book
• Pure Belpre author award
• Pura Belpre illustrator award
• Odyssey honor audiobook
• NPR best books of the year
• New York Times best books of the year
• The Guardian five best young adult books of the year
• Boston Globe best books of the year
• Booklist best books of the year
• Kirkus best books of the year
• Publisher Weekly best books of 2023

Goodreads says: 

A poignant, hilarious, and unforgettable graphic memoir about a Mexican-American boy’s family and their adventure-filled road trip to bring their abuelito back from Mexico to live with them.

Pedro Martín has grown up hearing stories about his abuelito—his legendary crime-fighting, grandfather who was once a part of the Mexican Revolution! But that doesn't mean Pedro is excited at the news that Abuelito is coming to live with their family. After all, Pedro has 8 brothers and sisters and the house is crowded enough! Still, Pedro piles into the Winnebago with his family for a road trip to Mexico to bring Abuelito home, and what follows is the trip of a lifetime, one filled with laughs and heartache. Along the way, Pedro finally connects with his abuelito and learns what it means to grow up and find his grito.

More Than A Body (Lexie Kite and Lindsay Kite)

 

My daughter recommended this book to me. I'm so glad! I think this should be required reading for all teenagers and women. For me, it'll take more than one read. I plan to put it on my list of books to re-read annually.

Goodreads says:
"An indispensable resource for women of all ages, this is a guide to help us better connect to ourselves, to value ourselves, to love ourselves, and ultimately, to be ourselves."

—Chelsea Clinton

Positive body image isn’t believing your body looks good; it is knowing your body is good, regardless of how it looks.

How do you feel about your body? Have you ever stayed home from a social activity or other opportunity because of concern about how you looked? Have you ever passed judgment on someone because of how they looked or dressed? Have you ever had difficulty concentrating on a task because you were self-conscious about your appearance?

Our beauty-obsessed world perpetuates the idea that happiness, health, and ability to be loved are dependent on how we look, but authors Lindsay and Lexie Kite offer an alternative vision. With insights drawn from their extensive body image research, Lindsay and Lexie—PhDs and founders of the nonprofit Beauty Redefined (and also twin sisters!)—lay out an action plan that arms you with the skills you need to reconnect with your whole self and free yourself from the constraints of self-objectification.

From media consumption to health and fitness to self-reflection and self-compassion, Lindsay and Lexie share powerful and practical advice that goes beyond “body positivity” to help readers develop body image resilience—all while cutting through the empty promises sold by media, advertisers, and the beauty and weight-loss industries. In the process, they show how facing your feelings of body shame or embarrassment can become a catalyst for personal growth.

Drop! An Adventure Through The Water Cycle (Emily Kate Moon)

 

A great book for our matter unit! 

Goodreads says:

A water ride like you've never experienced before, featuring the cutest drop of water in all of precipitation.

Meet Drop. She's water! And she's seen a thing or two--even dinosaurs. Everywhere Drop flows--and she flows everywhere --she makes life on Earth possible, and has a great time doing it. Have you ever plummeted from a rain cloud? Or taken a thousand-year nap in a glacier? Drop has! She'll tell you all about it. With delightful panache and a steady stream of funny one-liners, Drop takes readers on an adventure through the water cycle and beyond. Filled with irresistible artwork, funny asides, and a steady sprinkle of kid-enticing facts, Drop is the story about water everyone has been thirsting for.

The Wisdom of Trees (Lita Judge)

 

I've read a few things about how trees seem to communicate. This is a wonderful addition to that topic.

Goodreads says:

With lush illustrations, poems, and accessible scientific information, The Wisdom of Trees by Lita Judge is a fascinating exploration of the hidden communities trees create to strengthen themselves and others.

We clean the air and seed the clouds, we drench the thirsty land with rain. We are like wizards.

The story of a tree is a story of community, communication, and cooperation. Although trees may seem like silent, independent organisms, they form a network buzzing with they talk, share food, raise their young, and offer protection. Trees thrive on diversity, learn from their ancestors, and give back to their communities. Trees not only sustain life on our planet―they can also teach us important lessons about patience, survival, and teamwork.

A New York Public Library Best Book of 2021
A New York Public Library Top Ten Book for Kids
Green Earth Book Award Longlist
An ALA SustainRT Top 10 Sustainability-Themed Children’s Books 2022

The Miracle Morning (Hal Elrod)

 

I really loved this book. It validates my tendancy to be an early riser and he gives some great tips on how to spend that time as well as why to get up and practice positive habits each morning. I love the positivity he exudes as well. He's honest about struggles. 10/10 recommend! 

This guy has a ton of resources and says he's always willing to have people contact him and share struggles as well as successes.

Things to check out:

• www.tmmbook.com
• Hal Elrod podcasts
• www.yourpalhal.com
• Facebook group www.myTMMcommunity.com

Goodreads says:

Start waking up to your full potential every single day with the updated and expanded edition of the groundbreaking book with more than 2 million copies sold.

Getting everything you want out of life isn’t about doing more. It’s about becoming more. Hal Elrod and The Miracle Morning have helped millions of people become the person they need to be to create the life they’ve always wanted. Now, it’s your turn.

Hal’s revolutionary S.A.V.E.R.S. method is a simple, effective step-by-step process to transform your life in as little as six minutes per day:

•Silence: Reduce stress and improve mental clarity by beginning each day with peaceful, purposeful quiet
•Affirmations: Reprogram your mind to overcome any fears or beliefs that are limiting your potential or causing you to suffer
•Visualization:Experience the power of mentally rehearsing yourself showing up at your best each day
•Exercise: Boost your mental and physical energy in as little as 60 seconds
•Reading: Acquire knowledge and expand your abilities by learning from experts
•Scribing: Keep a journal to deepen gratitude, gain insights, track progress, and increase your productivity by getting clear on your top priorities

This updated and expanded edition has more than 40 pages of new content, including:

•The Miracle Evening: Optimize your bedtime and sleep to wake up every day feeling refreshed and energized for your Miracle Morning
•The Miracle Life: Begin your path to inner freedom so you can truly be happy and learn to love the life you have while you create the life you want

What Do You Do With a Problem (Kobi Yamada)

 

The symbolism in this book is amazing. It's quite didactic, but then again, I think it is written to be that way. It doesn't try to be a story...it is just didactic and so I'm okay with that. 

The problem is symbolized in a dark cloud that follows him around. I especially love the picture of the child finally attacking his problem and seeing it dissipate. Problems can be opportunities!

Goodreads says:

From the same author and illustrator as our #1 nationally best-selling What Do You Do With an Idea? comes a new book to encourage you to look closely at problems and discover the possibilities they can hold.

What do you do with a problem? Especially one that follows you around and doesn't seem to be going away? Do you worry about it? Ignore it? Do you run and hide from it?

This is the story of a persistent problem and the child who isn't so sure what to make of it. The longer the problem is avoided, the bigger it seems to get. But when the child finally musters up the courage to face it, the problem turns out to be something quite different than it appeared.

This is a story for anyone, at any age, who has ever had a problem that they wished would go away. It's a story to inspire you to look closely at that problem and to find out why it's here. Because you might discover something amazing about your problem… and yourself.

What are problems for? They challenge us, shape us, push us, and help us to discover just how strong and brave and capable we really are. Even though we don't always want them, problems have a way of bringing unexpected gifts.

So, what will you do with your problem? Now that's up to you.

A Good Thing Happened Today (Michelle Figueroa)

 

After a day at the ski hill, we needed a light read. This one was lovely! After we talked about acts of kindness we saw today and then we watched videos from the tiktok account @thatgoodnewsgirl There is a lot of good in the world! 

Goodreads says:

A lyrical picture book that highlights good moments—from small to big—that inspire children to become the good news in the world! Written by the creator of Good News Movement, Michelle Figueroa, and illustrated by #1  New York Times  bestselling illustrator Ramona Kaulitzki. A good thing happened today. Hooray! Did you hear? Good things are happening every day, and everywhere! A rhythmic collection of happiness and hope inspired by real-life good news, this book reminds us that there are positive things happening every day and we can all be a part of it. Perfect for graduation, birthdays, and anytime reading.

So Good they Can't Ignore You (Cal Newport)

 

I love this book. Surprisingly, the title of this book comes from a quote of Steve Martin, of all people!  It gives you ideas of something you can actually do! Forget about finding your passion.  Adopt the craftsmanship mindset. If you work on your skills and become a master, passion becomes one of the results. 

In the book, he gives four great rules:

Rules #1 Don't follow your passions. That's dangerous, Career passions are rare. Passions take time and is a side affect of mastery. Seek autonomy. competence and relatedness. Traits that define great work are creativity, impact (find a way to make a difference) and control (keep it!).

Rule #2 Be so good they can't ignore you. Develop your skills. Become a fanatic! 

Rule #3 Turn down a promotion. Stay in control of your life

Rule #4 Think Small, Act Big. Have a mission. Misions require capital and marketing. Make small steps in the right direction and success will be the natural result.

Goodreads says:

In this eye-opening account, Cal Newport debunks the long-held belief that "follow your passion" is good advice.

Not only is the cliché flawed—preexisting passions are rare and have little to do with how most people end up loving their work—but it can also be dangerous, leading to anxiety and chronic job hopping.

After making his case against passion, Newport sets out on a quest to discover the reality of how people end up loving what they do. Spending time with organic farmers, venture capitalists, screenwriters, freelance computer programmers, and others who admitted to deriving great satisfaction from their work, Newport uncovers the strategies they used and the pitfalls they avoided in developing their compelling careers.

Matching your job to a preexisting passion does not matter, he reveals. Passion comes after you put in the hard work to become excellent at something valuable, not before. In other words, what you do for a living is much less important than how you do it.

With a title taken from the comedian Steve Martin, who once said his advice for aspiring entertainers was to "be so good they can't ignore you," Cal Newport's clearly written manifesto is mandatory reading for anyone fretting about what to do with their life, or frustrated by their current job situation and eager to find a fresh new way to take control of their livelihood. He provides an evidence-based blueprint for creating work you love.

So Good They Can't Ignore You will change the way we think about our careers, happiness, and the crafting of a remarkable life.

The IHeards (Emily Kilgore)

 

Pretty didactic...which isn't my favorite type of story - but this one is worth the time. No one likes being around a gossip.

Goodreads says:
Mason is struggling with his Iheards in this picture book about gossip from the author/illustrator team behind The Whatifs .


It didn't matter if the Iheards were true or made-up, harmless or hurtful.
As soon as Mason thought about them, the Iheards burst out.

Mason is constantly gossiping about everyone. Because of this, the Iheards love him. They sneak up to him and whisper all kinds of rumors in his real things or pretend, innocent or mean. As he prepares for an upcoming history presentation, the Iheards buzz all around, making him blurt out more rumors than usual. Will he be able to change from spreading gossip to sharing something more positive?

Homes in the Wild: Where Baby Animals and Their Parents Live (Lita Judge)

 

I wish we still did the life cycles unit! This would have been perfect for the parenting part. Beautiful illustrations and LOTS of information in this non-fiction book.

Goodreads says:

As informative as it is lovely, Homes in the Wild is an adorable nonfiction picture book from author/illustrator Lita Judge that shows that wild creatures―from beavers to bobcats, and sloths to squirrels―aren't so different from us after all.

Just like us, every baby animal has a home. Some live in complex burrows deep underground, others in simple nests high in the treetops. But all homes, regardless of where they are or how they're built, serve the same providing shelter where a baby can eat, sleep, learn, and stay safe while growing up.

Animal lovers will delight in this gorgeously illustrated peek inside the homes―from burrows deep underground to nests high in the trees―where baby animals live and grow.

A 2020 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12

What Do You Do With a Chance? (Kobi Yamada)

 

At first, when I read this, I thought, "This isn't a kid's book!" However, thinking about it a little more, I think it'd be a good way to talk to kids about trying something they feel a little uncomfortable with. Some people don't like to try anything they aren't sure will work. This book would also be great for teenagers and adults too! 

Goodreads says:

The award–winning creators of The New York Times best sellers What Do You Do With an Idea? and What Do You Do With a Problem? return with a captivating story about a child who isn't sure what to make of a chance encounter and then discovers that when you have courage, take chances, and say yes to new experiences, amazing things can happen.

In this story, a child is visited by his first chance and unsure what to do with it, he lets it go. Later on, when a new chance arrives he reaches for it, but this time he misses and falls. Embarrassed and afraid, he begins ignoring each new chance that comes by, even though he still wants to take them. Then one day he realizes that he doesn't need to be brave all the time, just at the right time, to find out what amazing things can happen when he takes a chance…

The final addition to the award-winning What Do You Do With…? picture book series created by New York Times best selling author Kobi Yamada and illustrator by Mae Besom, What Do You Do With a Chance? inspires kids of all ages and parents alike to find the courage to go for the opportunities that come their way. Because you never know when a chance, once taken, might be the one to change everything.

Bird Talk (Lita Judge)

 

Beautiful illustrations! Fascinating information about how birds communicate.

Goodreads says:

A gorgeously illustrated tribute to birds of all kinds and the fantastic, funny, fascinating things that they do.

Birds have lots of ways of They sing and talk, dance and drum, cuddle and fight. But what does all of the bird talk mean?
Filled with gorgeous illustrations, this fascinating picture book takes a look at the secret life of birds in a child-friendly format that is sure to appeal to readers of all ages - whether they're die-hard bird-watchers or just curious about the creatures in their own backyards.

Amazing Sights in the Sky: Eclipses (Jane P Gardener)

 

Good info! Mentions the 2017 eclipse (remember....when Donald Trump looked straight at it? LOL)

Also has a good idea for an experiment.

Found on Epic

Goodreads says:

In Eclipses, early fluent readers will explore the science behind solar and lunar eclipses. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they explore outer space, Earth's orbit, and how it plays a role in eclipses. An infographic, sidebars, and an activity offer kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about eclipses using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Eclipses also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index. Eclipses is part of Jump!'s Amazing Sights in the Sky series.

I Absolutely, Positively Love My Spots

 

I don't know if I'd read this one in class....I'm trying to get my students to understand that we don't comment on people's bodies. Then again, when they get teased about something, it's good to find the confident aspect of it.

Goodreads says:

"Highly recommended." —School Library Journal

A young girl with vitiligo celebrates her skin in this joyful picture book by debut author Lid’ya C. Rivera and illustrated by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Niña Mata!

This lyrical celebration of self-esteem, perseverance, and loving the skin you're in will inspire all children to appreciate their spots or what makes them different. Perfect for pairing with I Am Enough by Grace Byers, Remarkably You by Pat Zietlow Miller, and I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes.

Includes a personal letter from the author and facts about vitiligo.

Breaking Free (Rachel Jeffs)

 

This was  disturbing...so much abuse and control, all in the name of religion. I couldn't stop though. It was like driving by a car accident and having to rubber neck...which seems kind of rude - but here I am. He picked the wrong daughter to abuse, that's for sure. Good for her for breaking away! 

Goodreads says:

In this searing memoir of survival in the spirit of Stolen Innocence, the daughter of Warren Jeffs, the self-proclaimed Prophet of the FLDS Church, takes you deep inside the secretive polygamist Mormon fundamentalist cult run by her family and how she escaped it.

Born into the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Rachel Jeffs was raised in a strict patriarchal culture defined by subordinate sister wives and men they must obey. No one in this radical splinter sect of the Mormon Church was more powerful or terrifying than its leader Warren Jeffs—Rachel’s father.

Living outside mainstream Mormonism and federal law, Jeffs arranged marriages between under-age girls and middle-aged and elderly members of his congregation. In 2006, he gained international notoriety when the FBI placed him on its Ten Most Wanted List. Though he is serving a life sentence for child sexual assault, Jeffs’ iron grip on the church remains firm, and his edicts to his followers increasingly restrictive and bizarre.

In Breaking Free, Rachel blows the lid off this taciturn community made famous by John Krakauer’s bestselling Under the Banner of Heaven to offer a harrowing look at her life with Warren Jeffs, and the years of physical and emotional abuse she suffered. Sexually assaulted, compelled into an arranged polygamous marriage, locked away in "houses of hiding" as punishment for perceived transgressions, and physically separated from her children, Rachel, Jeffs’ first plural daughter by his second of more than fifty wives, eventually found the courage to leave the church in 2015. But Breaking Free is not only her story—Rachel’s experiences illuminate those of her family and the countless others who remain trapped in the strange world she left behind.

A shocking and mesmerizing memoir of faith, abuse, courage, and freedom, Breaking Free is an expose of religious extremism and a beacon of hope for anyone trying to overcome personal obstacles.

My Room is a Zoo! (Jerry Ruff)

 

Lovely illustrations! I imagine this would be a book lots of kids could relate to. There's so much to still do when you get sent to bed. 

Found on Epic

Goodreads says:

An entire alphabet of raucous stuffed animals keeps an imaginative boy up at bedtime in this illustrated picture book.

Laxmi's Mooch (Shelly Anand)

 

I don't know if I'd read this one in class....I'm trying to get my students to understand that we don't comment on people's bodies. Then again, when they get teased about something, it's good to find the confident aspect of it. 


Goodreads says:

A joyful, body-positive picture book about a young Indian American girl's journey to accept her body hair and celebrate her heritage after being teased about her mustache.

Laxmi never paid much attention to the tiny hairs above her lip. But one day while playing farm animals at recess, her friends point out that her whiskers would make her the perfect cat. She starts to notice body hair all over--on her arms, legs, and even between her eyebrows.

With her parents' help, Laxmi learns that hair isn't just for heads, but that it grows everywhere, regardless of gender. Featuring affirming text by Shelly Anand and exuberant, endearing illustrations by Nabi H. Ali, Laxmi's Mooch is a celebration of our bodies and our body hair, in whichever way they grow.

My Hair Is Magic (ML Marroquin)

 

This is me. I always worried about having big hair after having some adults laugh at my hair. May I never do that to a child! 

Goodreads says:

This little girl knows her hair is great just as it is. When people ask, “Why is your hair so BIG?” she answers, “Why isn’t yours?” Her hair is soft, it protects her, it’s both gentle and fierce. While some might worry about how it’s different and try to contain it, she gives it the freedom to be so extraordinary it almost has a life of its own.

Told in bold verse and vivid, fantastical illustrations, these critical questions will ring familiar, and the proud, confident answers show that what really matters is how readers see themselves.

My Mother's Tongues (Uma Menon)

 

Great book for International Mother Tongue Day.

Goodreads says:

In a sparkling debut authored by a sixteen-year-old daughter of immigrants, this ode to the power of multilingualism gives voice to the lasting benefits of speaking with more than one tongue.

Sumi’s mother can speak two languages, Malayalam and English. And she can switch between them at the speed of sound: one language when talking to Sumi’s grandmother, another when she addresses the cashier. Sometimes with Sumi she speaks a combination of both. Could it be she possesses a superpower? With awe and curiosity, young Sumi recounts the story of her mother’s migration from India and how she came to acquire two tongues, now woven together like fine cloth. Rahele Jomepour Bell’s inviting illustrations make playful use of visual metaphors, while Uma Menon’s lyrical text, told astutely from a child’s perspective, touches lightly on such subjects as linguistic diversity and accent discrimination (“no matter how they speak, every person’s voice is unique and important”). This welcome debut, penned when the author was still a teenager, is an unabashed celebration of the gift of multilingualism—a gift that can transport people across borders and around the world.

Lunch From Home (Joshua David Stein)

 

This is a big topic and it comes up at school all the time. 

Goodreads says:

What happens when a child's favorite packed lunch is met with disparaging comments at the school lunch table?

In a classroom of sandwiches, four students stand out with their homemade, culturally-specific lunches. But before they can dig in and enjoy their favorite foods, their lunches are spoiled by scrunched noses and disgusted reactions from their sandwich-eating classmates.

Follow each of the four students as they learn to cope with their first "lunch box moments" in this picture book that encourages empathy and inspires all readers to stand up for their food! Inspired by the "lunch box moments" of four acclaimed chefs, Ray Garcia, Preeti Mistry, Mina Park, and Niki Russ Federman, this heartwarming story reminds us all that one's food is a reflection of self and an authentic celebration of culture.

Big (Vashti Harrison)

 

This picture book would be a great one to introduce the chapter book, Starfish by Lisa Fipps.

Goodreads says:

This deeply moving story shares valuable lessons about fitting in, standing out, and the beauty of joyful acceptance.

The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning creator Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.

The Proudest Color (Sheila Modir and Jeff Kashou)

 

Love this one. Great for Black History Month.

Goodreads says:

For me, brown is more than feeling proud. 
It’s the color I see when I see me.

Zahra sees the world in vivid color. When she’s happy, she feels a razzle-dazzle pink in her hands. When she’s sad, she feels a deep blue behind her eyes. But she isn’t quite sure how to feel about the color of her skin. Kids at school tell her she is different, but her mother tells her to be proud! From a diverse team and based on extensive research, The Proudest Color is a timely, sensitive introduction to race, racism, and racial pride.

Froggy Gets Dressed (London)

 

Just a fun little silly book with a lot of repetition. My students will love it, I'm sure. Good for the first day of snow! 

Goodreads says:

Rambunctious Froggy hops out into the snow for a winter frolic but is called back by his mother to put on some necessary articles of clothing.

The Wishing Flower (AJ Irving)

 

The summary says that this is an LGBTQ-inclusive story but it is very subtle in that regard. But then again, maybe I just don't know enough about what it is like to be an LGBTQ child. I don't know. I think there are a lot of kids who feel like they don't belong and don't have a friend. 

My class will love looking under the dust-cover of this one! It's beautiful!

The author grew up in Boise and lives in SLC now. What are the chances she isn't a member of the LDS church? That puts an interesting spin on her topics.

Goodreads says:

An LGBTQ-inclusive story about understanding your peers, your feelings, and yourself, The Wishing Flower is a love letter to longing, belonging, and longing to belong.

Birdie finds comfort in nature and books, but more than anything she longs for connection, to be understood. At school, Birdie feels like an outsider. Quiet and shy, she prefers to read by herself, rather than jump rope or swing with the other kids. That all changes when Sunny, the new girl, comes along. Like Birdie, Sunny has a nature name. She also likes to read, and loves to rescue bugs. And when Sunny smiles at her, Birdie's heart balloons like a parachute.

From the acclaimed author of Dance Like a Leaf, with stunning illustrations by Kip Alizadeh, this book will inspire readers to honor their wishes and show the world their truest selves.

Not Little (Maya Myers)

 

A good conversation starter about body image and how to not handle it when people comment on your size.

Goodreads says:

Just because you're really small doesn't mean you can't have a big heart. When the diminutive Dot stands up to a bully on behalf of an even smaller friend, she proves how big she can truly be.

Dot is the smallest person in her family and at school; even her name is small! People often mistake her for being younger than she is, but not when she tells them the square root of sixty-four is eight, nor when she orders from the grown-up menu at restaurants or checks out the hard books at the library. She may be small, but she's not little.

When a new boy named Sam joins Dot's class, she wonders if he's even smaller than she is. When she sees him getting bullied by a mean kid twice his size, she knows she has to do the big thing and stand up for him.

Maya Myers's debut picture book has a pitch-perfect voice that captures the inimitable Dot in all her fierceness, and Hyewon Yum's delightful pastel-hued artwork is its perfect complement.

The Smallest Owlet (Georgia Graham)

 

The illustrations in this book are captivating. I know my students would sit and listen in awe as they learned some great facts about owls. 

Goodreads says:

Join the owls in the aspen grove as they nurture and raise their young through winter, spring, and summer. Using their superior eyesight, sound absorbing feathers, and powerful talons they have the hunting skills they need to constantly deliver prey to their young. But the owlets need to be protected as well as fed. The Smallest Owlet is based on a true story that happened in the aspen grove behind Georgia Graham's house where an owlet fell from its nest. Mother Owl stayed on the ground with the owlet, heroically protecting it until its flight feathers developed.

Stranded! A Mostly True Story From Iceland (Avar Dor Benediktsson)

What kid wouldn't be enamored by hearing a tale of visiting volcano? It's full of good advice, like if your shoes start to melt you probably shouldn't be standing there.  The author breaks the fourth wall and tells us what we are all thinking, for example, you should never sleep next to a volcano and it can't be true that his Grandpa did (He did!). The illustrations in this book are bright and colorful! I loved them!

Unfortunately, my library only has this book available as an e-book. I'd love to read it to my class! It's just not the same reading it on the ViewBoard though. I think I've got to buy it! 

Goodreads says:

Based on a true story, the author humorously recounts the time his grandfather got stranded with a friend on Surtsey, a brand new volcanic island in Iceland. The adventurers face epic challenges like molten lava, melted eyeglasses and scant supplies before finally getting rescued. Graphic novel-like layouts and spirited text invite readers to search for the one thing that's not actually true in this thrilling yet light-hearted tale of adventure. Endnotes include information about volcanoes, Icelandic culture and Norse mythology.

Molly's Tuxedo (Vicki Johnson)

 

This book doesn't mention being anything about LGBTQ kids, but the main character is a great role model for kids who just want to be themselves. I understand not feeling comfortable in scratchy stiff outfits! It's not about dresses....dresses are great. It's about being comfortable. At first she is questioned (girls don't wear tuxedos) but it doesn't last long....and the better we get at that, the better world it'll be, I think.

Goodreads says:

*2024 NCTE Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction For Children Recommended Book* Molly has big plans to wear a dashing tuxedo for her school picture day—but Mom’s picked out a dress. With her friends’ support, Molly proves the way to look your best is to be yourself.