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!
Beth recommends: An Anthology of Rocks and Minerals by Devin Dennie (Ages 7 and up)
Do you have a child who likes to explore nature and collect rocks? Let me introduce you to the book An Anthology of Rocks and Minerals by Devin Dennie. This non-fiction book is amazing in how it talks about rocks and minerals found all over the world. Each page is full of information about different rocks or minerals. They are all shown in their raw form and the cut and polished forms of gems. Find out which minerals glow or which ones help in radiology to help detect and treat diseases. It is full of Mineral Myths and Legends, Rocks from Space, and so much more. I really wish this book was our when my oldest was growing up. She was always on the hunt for different rocks (gems to her) to see what she found. She learned all about them and even wanted to be a Lapidary (a person who cuts raw stone to beautiful gems). You can even find places in Virginia to go gem mining! Encourage your child to go out in nature and see what they can find. This is a great way to start!
Madison recommends: The Flicker by H.E. Edgmon (Ages 8-12)
perspectives, the story delivers intense action alongside heartfelt moments of resilience and growth. Despite its darker themes, the siblings’ journey to understanding and unity is both moving and uplifting. Don’t miss this unforgettable tale of survival, familial love, and hope; and check out a copy at your local RPL branch.
Lisa recommends: Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story by Cynthia Rylant (Ages 6-10)
Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story is a wonderful holiday book written by award-winning author Cynthia Rylant. A special Christmas train arrives every year in the mountains of Appalachia bringing special gifts to the children of the town. Frankie looks forward to receiving his gift every year from the man on the train, but he feels disappointed when he does not receive what he wishes for. Beautiful and realistic illustrations by Chris K. Soentpiet give the book depth to go along with its many positive messages about giving.
April recommends: The Christmas House by Ann Turner (ages 6-8)
Ann Turner has crafted a delightful Christmas children’s book, beautifully adorned with an inviting cover. Inside The Christmas House, readers will find thirteen short stories narrated from the perspectives of various family members. These tales reflect past, present, and hopeful future Christmas experiences. Ann Turner offers a wonderful collection of mini stories that parents can share with their children, one for each day of the holiday season. The Christmas House is an excellent addition of any family’s library, but in the meantime, be sure to visit the Richmond Public Library to check out a copy. This book is perfect for elementary-aged readers.
Sarah recommends: We Celebrate the Light by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple
December ushers in a new holiday season. If you’re looking for a book that showcases the different holidays people celebrate, pick up We Celebrate the Light today! In this beautifully illustrated non-fiction picture book, the authors introduce us to Diwali, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Lunar New Year, Chanukah, and Christmas. Throughout the book, we see that the actions and intentions behind each of the holidays end up being similar. Regardless of which traditions you participate in, the holidays are a time for family, gathering, gratitude, yummy food, and hope. This book does a great job of showcasing that in a diverse, colorful, and fun way. Check it out today, and happy holidays to all!
Mirissa recommends: Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton (ages 1-3)
Sandra Boynton is a staple in any board book library, and Barnyard Dance is a classic example why. The book can be sung as lyrics to a song or just read in a fun, rhyming beat. It’s full of movements (like bouncing, swinging, sliding, and bowing) to practice with your little one or modify to your comfort level. Plus, it gives you a chance to practice animal sounds from cow to horse and beyond. Interactive stories like these are great lap reads but also fun for storytimes. Join the hoedown and pick this one up today—you’ll be sure to stomp and clap along.
Summer recommends: The House Without Lights by Reem Farqui (Ages 4-8)
The House Without Lights by Reem Faruqi. In December, all the homes on House’s block light up for Christmas. As a new family moves in, House is delighted to be full of warmth and love, even though there’s no lights on House’s exterior. A couple months later and it’s Eid al-Fitr, a holiday which marks the end of the holiest month of the Muslim calendar, Ramadan. On Eid, House is the most magnificent home on the block. This lovely picture book gives Muslim children representation often neglected around the Christmas-obsessed winter season and teaches non-Muslims about the joy of Eid. No matter what or how we celebrate, family and home mean so much more than decorations.
Rachel recommends: Paradise Sands by Levi Penfold (Ages 7-12)
On a journey to visit their mother, a young girl and her three older brothers cross a desert. Along the way, they find a strange and towering building. The girl, however, remembers and keeps to the rules of the song their mother taught them. She refuses to eat or drink anything in the home, but her brothers are not so cautious. To free herself and her brothers, the girl makes a bargain with the master of the home: the leonine Teller. But in the blistering desert with the temptation of a feast around her, can she really keep from eating or drinking for three days? Paradise Sands is a story familiar to fairytale enthusiasts masterfully illustrated in a style resembling the work of Chris Van Allsburg.
JOAN RECOMMENDS: THE TRUE STORY OF THE 3 LITTLE PIGS BY JON SCIESKA (AGES 7-11 )
Everyone knows the story of the Three Little Pigs, right? Well, according to our narrator, Alexander T. Wolf, everyone has it all wrong! He wants you to know that he’s been misunderstood & misrepresented. He’s here to tell the story of what really happened (from his point of view, that is)! This fractured fairytale is not for the youngest listeners, but older kids and adults will appreciate the humor in the wolf’s outlandish version of events. This book has been around since I was a kid, and I love sharing it with kids now. I recommend this to anyone looking for an entertaining and funny picture book for older kids. It also makes a great read-aloud. Just channel your inner wolf and go for it!
Well, readers, that’s a wrap! Check back again next month for some more fabulous reading recommendations. Until then, happy reading!
