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 WHEN TWILIGHT COMES: THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS THAT BRING DAWN TO DUSK TO LIFE BY MARCIE FLINCHUM ATKINS (AGES 5-8).
A newly released non-fiction picture book is my pick for May’s blog. When Twilight Comes: The Animals and Plants That Bring Dawn and Dusk to Life by Virginia author Marcie Flinchum Atkins reveals that special time in the morning and evening where some plants and animals are most active. The book contains gentle, lyrical free-verse paired with imagery that ignites the senses. The pages are filled with illustrations by Michelle Morin that are colorful, detailed and complex allowing for I Spy learning moments when reading with a child. One can ask their listener if they can find the white-tailed deer hidden in the forest or describe the colors of the sunset. So many opportunities are present for a child to learn! Atkins ends her book with a twilight glossary of terms including an explanation of what animals are crepuscular. She also includes a selection of Morin’s illustrations identifying plants and animals from the preceding pages with detailed descriptions. I loved that a note was included letting the reader know that the book was based on summers in Virginia. I have not come across many picture books that celebrate the flora and fauna of our Commonwealth in such a beautiful way.
LAUREN RECOMMENDS TWO DOGS IN A TRENCH COAT ENTER STAGE LEFT BY JULIE FALATKO (AGES 8-12).
When their human, Stewart, is cast in a play as an evil villain, his dogs worry he may stay evil forever. They learn a valuable lesson in distinguishing truth from fiction and understand that acting is different from lying. The illustrations are adorable, and it’s perfect for a 1st or 2nd grader who wants to start reading chapter books but still likes pictures. It’s also a great introduction to theatre terms and all the things that need to happen to create a show. If you like this book, check out the others in this series of very silly dogs and their crazy adventures!
GENEVIEVRE RECOMMENDS A FISHBOY NAMED… SASHIMI BY DAN SANTAT (AGES 6 -10).
Sashimi is a fishboy (a.k.a. a reverse mermaid with a humanoid body, a fishlike head, gills, a distinct “dead-eyed” stare, and a suspiciously pungent fish odor). Having grown up around only mermaids and wanting to learn more about others like him, he decides to infiltrate a 6th grade class to hunt down answers about the mysterious Beast of Barnacle Bay. Soon Sashimi finds himself facing bullies, feeling the extreme awkwardness of trying to fit in as the new kid (what 6th grader hasn’t felt that before?), navigating new friendships, hunting for cryptids, and getting into mischievous antics that will leave readers laughing and eagerly awaiting Sashimi’s next adventure. Written and illustrated by Thai-American Caldecott Medal winner Dan Santat, this humorous and heartfelt graphic novel will appeal to fans of series like Dog Man, InvestiGators, and Narwhal and Jelly.
KATIE RECOMMENDS THE WEEDY GARDEN: A HAPPY HABITAT FOR WILD FRIENDS BY MARGARET RENKL (AGES 4 -8).
I love a non-fiction book that is also a great read aloud. The Weedy Garden by Margaret Renkl introduces the reader to a plethora of ecosystems one might find in a garden. This gorgeously illustrated book will encourage getting our hands dirty as the weather warms up outside!
BETH RECOMMENDS DINOSAUR LADY: THE DARING DISCOVERIES OF MARY ANNING, THE FIRST PALEONTOLOGIST BY LINDA SKEERS (AGES 3 -8).
This story tells about the life of Mary Anning who loved to find unusual things to sell to tourist to help her family. One day Mary and her brother find some bones, and it turns out it was an unknown species. A collector sold it to a museum, and they named it Ichthyosaurus which means “fish lizard”. Mary kept on discovering different bones and fossils but could not get credit because women were not allowed into the Geological Society of London at the time. Mary continued to discover fossils and bones to which the Geological Society named them. Poor Mary never got credit for any of the work she did even though all the other scientists asked her for advice and knowledge of what they were working with daily thanks to her. As frustrated as Mary was with not being allowed to join the Society, teach lessons at college, or print any of her findings, Mary continued her work until she died in 1847 at the young age of 47. Mary Anning was noted as the First Paleontologist, but it wasn’t until 2010 that The Royal Society of London named Mary Anning one of the ten most influential British women of science. Thanks to Mary Anning, paleontologist around the world know more about different species of dinosaurs, what they most likely ate, how they lived, and what they probably looked like.
RACHEL RECOMMENDS THE LIST OF UNSPEAKABLE FEARS BY J. KASPER KRAMER (AGES 8 – 12).
Essie has never been a brave person, but seeing the General Slocum burn from her New York City tenement in 1904 changed something in her. Loud noises, large bodies of water, and fire became sources of anxiety. After watching her da die of tuberculosis, Essie became afraid of very nearly everything. She even started keeping track of them in her List of Unspeakable Fears. Spiders, ghosts, furnaces, hypothermia, cats, doors, the sick bell… The list goes on for pages. Doors and the sick bell in particular feature in her night terrors.
Shortly after Essie turns ten, her mam remarries. Her new stepfather, Dr. Blackcreek, is a doctor working on the infamous North Brother Island where the desperately ill are sent for treatment (and quarantine). In Dr. Blackcreek’s isolated and largely empty estate, Essie begins to experience truly bizarre happenings. Essie’s mam and Dr. Blackcreek believe it to be Essie’s night terrors, but she’s sure she’s awake when these strange things happen.
And Dr. Blackcreek, with his arguments with police and midnight walks, is clearly hiding something. Does that something have anything to do with the impossible appearance of a drowned girl in Essie’s room?
The List of Unspeakable Fears is a ghost story about bereavement, mental illness, and learning to accept courage when fearlessness is out of reach.
In addition to illness and death, this book also deals with period typical xenophobia/racism and sexism.
MIRISSA RECOMMENDS GATHER ROUND BY DAVID COVELL (AGES 3 – 5).
Camping season is just around the corner, and there’s no better way to prepare than with a campfire story. My favorite part of this book is the onomatopoeia of how the fire sounds: “Crackle. Crinkle. Sizzle. Pop.” But readers of all ages will also enjoy watching the fire transform as the simple, rhyming text moves along. At times, the fire appears as a creature like a fox or bird. Other times it becomes more than a source of light, serving as a heat source to warm a stew that is shared with others. As night falls and the fire burns low, we’re left with a feeling of coziness and community with everyone—and everything—that shares the natural world around us.
MADISON RECOMMENDS CINDERELLA SKELETON BY ROBERT D. SAN SOUCI (AGES 4 – 8).
*Read in a Vincent Price voice*. While pulling books for the East End Branch’s World Goth Day display, I rediscovered a favorite from my childhood: Cinderella Skeleton by Robert D. San Souci. I always love finding books from my childhood in the library collection, so I had to reread this spooky, rhyming retelling of the classic Cinderella story. With dancing skeletons, creepy-cute illustrations, and plenty of humor, this gothic twist on a fairy tale is perfect for kids who love all things macabre and grotesque. Along with the delightfully eerie artwork, the story also introduces readers to fun and descriptive vocabulary. Check out Cinderella Skeleton at your local Richmond Public Library Branch this May!
SUMMER RECOMMENDS BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US BY MIA WENJEN (AGES 7 – 10).
This heart-wrenching picture book tells the story of two girls, generations apart, facing similar struggles. One is interned during the 1940s because she and her family are Japanese. The other is detained because she and her family are undocumented. They are held in the exact same facility, and the text in the style of verso poetry beautifully connects their stories. While it can be difficult to talk to children about topics such as immigration, race, and incarceration, picture books can help them understand and start that conversation in an age-appropriate manner.
ADRIANE RECOMMENDS THE MAGIC IN YOU BY MAT RICARDO (AGES 8 – 12).
Have you ever wanted to learn to do basic magic tricks? Become a spy? Do some science experiments? Become a circus performer? And or be a comedian? If any (or all!) of this interest you, I have the perfect book to get you started! Mat Ricardo has a guide to getting you started. With The Magic in You. Each chapter outlines basic skills to being a magician, circus performer, scientist, comedian, and spy.
RICHARD RECOMMENDS NANCY DREW: THE WHISPERING STATUE BY CAROLYN KEENE (AGES 8 – 12).
Here’s another classic mystery with our hero Nancy Drew, “The Whispering Statue”. In this exciting story, Nancy faces two mysteries at once! The first concerns a valuable collection of rare books that Mrs. Horace Merriam commissioned an art dealer to sell on her behalf, but Mrs. Merriam believes he may have cheated her. The second mystery revolves around the baffling theft of a beautiful marble statue. To solve both mysteries, the famous young detective disguises herself and assumes a false identity, however danger is around every corner. An attempted kidnapping, a nearly disastrous sailboat collision, and an encounter with a dishonest sculptor are just a few of the exciting challenges that Nancy is faced with as she gathers evidence against a clever ring of art thieves. Happy reading!
JOAN RECOMMENDS GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS BY MO WILLEMS (AGES 3 – 8).
If your kids know the original story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, they will love this twisted retelling. In this version, three dinosaurs (who are somehow familiar with the past antics of “a poorly supervised little girl named Goldilocks”) set a trap complete with an empty house, 3 bowls, 3 chairs, 3 beds, and 3 hungry dinosaurs lurking in the woods. Goldilocks does indeed enter the house, but if you think you know how it all goes down, you’ll be delighted in the witty ways Willems subverts expectations. This twist on the Goldilocks story will appeal to a range of ages. Preschoolers will likely enjoy the book but will miss out on most of the humor. In order to fully appreciate the humor, you need to have a good understanding of the original story and the ability to pick up on the sly hints incorporated into the text and illustrations. Perfect for kids in elementary school, it makes a great read-aloud and invites comparison to the original and other versions of the story.
Well, readers, that’s a wrap! Check back again next month for some more fabulous reading recommendations or check out our past May Book Chats. Until then, happy reading!
May Book Chat with Youth Services Team – 2025
May Book Chat with the Youth Services Team – 2024
