Welcome to another installment in our series of blog posts featuring children’s books we’re currently loving! “Book Chat with the Youth Services Team” features one book recommendation from each of our Youth Services team members. We cover a variety of books from fiction to non-fiction, picture books to chapter books, graphic novels and more! We hope that this month’s reading recommendations get you excited about some awesome new books we’ve added to our collection as well as some oldies but goodies. Enjoy!
LISA RECOMMENDS THE RARE BIRD BY ELISHA COOPER (AGES 3 -6).
My book recommendation for this month features a new release by one of my favorite contemporary children’s authors/illustrators: Elisha Cooper. With an artistic style I would describe as simple, expressive, and colorful, Cooper has again given us another cat book to follow up on his 2018 Caldecott award-winning, Big Cat, Little Cat. In The Rare Bird, a cat imagines that he is a bird and goes about his day pretending to be a bird in Cooper’s playful illustrations. The cat falls asleep and starts to dream that he is a real bird and soars through the skies. The story concludes with a child reading to the cat about other animals, strengthening their bond and sparking the cat’s imagination with new ideas.
LAUREN RECOMMENDS ACCIDENTAL DEMONS BY CLARE EDGE (AGES 8-12).
What do you do when you’re a blood witch with diabetes? Well, conjure a blood sugar sniffing demon that’s what! Bernadette Crowley is part of a long line of blood witches, and she is the first in her family lineage to have diabetes. It creates problems in all aspects of her life, between managing a chronic illness and keeping her magical abilities a secret, she has a lot on her plate. Full of suspense, learning new skills, and learning to ask for help when needed, this book has such a great message that having an illness or disability doesn’t make you any less magical.
GENEVIEVRE RECOMMENDS MY OLIVE TREE BY HAZAR ELBAYYA (AGES 4-8).
My Olive Tree by Hazar Elbayya is a powerful picture book following young Salam, whose name translates to “peace be upon you,” and Sido (her grandfather), who teaches her about the importance of olives and olive trees to the lives of their Palestinian community. Exploring deeply resonating themes of enduring and coming together as a community through love and a symbolic gesture of peace, heritage, and resilience through planting trees for the future, this book explores the importance of never giving up in the face of hardship. While the book includes the context of a community impacted by violence, it is done in an age-appropriate way that demonstrates the importance of cultural connection and holding onto hope. As both Arab American Heritage Month and Arbor Day are celebrated in April, this is the perfect book for opening up conversations about empathy, culture, shared humanity, and tree planting.
RACHEL RECOMMENDS A SCAR LIKE A RIVER BY LISA GRAFF (AGES 9 – 14).
The first thing people notice when they meet thirteen-year-old Fallon Little is the scar that cuts across her face. She’s had it since she was five, and she claims not to remember how she got it. That’s what she told her parents, the doctors, and the police. To her, it’s all a blur. Only her best friend, Trent, knows the truth: it was her Uncle Geebie who unzipped her face from her left eyebrow to her right upper lip. That’s a secret—but it’s only Fallon’s third biggest. Fallon has other things to worry about, anyway. There are auditions for the school musical, which she and her second-best friend, Kaia, are both trying out for, but on the same day as tryouts, Uncle Geebie dies. There’s a funeral, of course, where people gather to remember him. Fallon’s memories of her uncle are tied to all three of her biggest secrets—but they aren’t the kind of memories you share at a funeral. They’re also the kind of secrets that become harder and harder to keep when everyone won’t stop talking about the person who caused them. A Scar Like a River is a story about honesty and dishonesty, the consequences of both, and what it means to show up for the people you love while navigating your own pain. It also addresses child sexual abuse and incest with striking honesty—content that may be triggering for some readers and healing for others.
MIRISSA RECOMMENDS SMALL SPACES BY KATHERINE ARDEN (AGES 9 – 14).
Are you afraid of scarecrows? If not, you might still give them a healthy side eye after reading this middle-grade novel, the first of four books in Katherine Arden’s Small Spaces series. It’s just the right amount of spooky, following along as Ollie—who is still lost in deep grief after a tragic accident—discovers that the ghost story she’s been reading might actually be true. If you aren’t swayed by a scarecrow army and the occasional ghost appearance, rest assured that the characters in the book feel complicated and interesting even when they aren’t running for their lives. But will Ollie trade her newfound friendships for a chance to get back the person she’s lost? The Smiling Man sure thinks so, but you’ll have to read to find out.
MADISON RECOMMENDS THINKER: MY PUPPY POET AND ME BY ELOISE GREENFIELD (AGES 4 – 8).
Told from the perspective of a playful puppy, this charming poetry collection tells the story of Jace, and his new puppy, Thinker, through playful verse. Featuring simple, engaging poems, Thinker: My Puppy Poet and Me is an ideal pick for younger readers who are just beginning to explore poetry. Celebrate National Poetry Month with RPL and check out this adorable poetry book at your local branch!
SUMMER RECOMMENDS HOUSECAT TROUBLE BY MASON DICKERSON (AGES 7 – 10).
This adorable graphic novel tells the story of Buster the house cat’s adventure. While his beloved owner is away, mischievous purple spirits overrun their home, wreaking havoc everywhere. With the help of savvy street cats Chauncey and Nova, Buster faces a murder of crows, fearsome dogs, and the mysterious spirits with the courage only a cat with one braincell could muster. The entire graphic novel is in full color and Dickerson brings the island setting to life in his original, funky style. Any fan of cats or noble quests can enjoy this sweet story.
ADRIANE RECOMMENDS THE MIGHTY MACY BY ALEXANDER KWAME (AGES 6 – 10).
Have you ever been upset about something that happened, but weren’t sure what to do about it? Macy is upset because the school is facing a budget crisis, to fix the crisis they have cut the library hours. This means the library is only open on Monday and Friday. Macy is upset and she wants to do something about it, but what? Told as only Kwame Alexander can, in verse, Macy finds her voice and learns to advocate for her school.
JOAN RECOMMENDS LIGHT AS A FEATHER: FIFTEEN PHENOMENAL NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS BY WILL HILLENBRAND (AGES 4 – 8).
The first thing that drew me to this nonfiction picture book was its bright, boldly illustrated cover. Although I am not really a bird enthusiast, I wanted to see more. The inside layout was just as engaging and I actually learned quite a bit! Each highlighted birds’ profile provides measurements, habitat information, and conservation concerns for the species. Additional information and interesting anecdotes are found on the opposing pages. Everything is presented in a child-friendly way, answering questions such as “Why are feathers so light?” “How do owls manage to be so quiet?” and “What kind of sounds can mockingbirds make?” The author also explores topics such as why birds have different bill shapes, why scientists put bands on birds, and what to do if you find an injured bird. The back of the book includes a peek at the author’s shape-based approach to drawing, an author’s note, and several resources to explore. Pro-tip: Don’t skip the Author’s Note. (Let’s just say that eagle-eyed youngsters will want to go back and give all of the illustrations a second look!)
Well, readers, that’s a wrap! Check back again next month for some more fabulous reading recommendations or check out our past April Book Chats. Until then, happy reading!
April Book Chat with Youth Services Team – 2025
April Book Chat with the Youth Services Team – 2024
