News & Reviews

How Septima Clark Led the Civil Rights Movement to Justice A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Quill Tree Books (Harper Collins) (pub. 1.27.2026) 40 pages Ages 4 - 8 A uthors: Yvonne Clark-Rhines with Monica Clark-Robinson Illustrator: Abigail Albano-Payton C haracter: Septima Clark O verview : " Septima Clark was born poor, Black, and a girl. Being one of those things in 1898 was hard, but all three meant that access to education was going to be a fight. But with stron

The Story of James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Carolrhoda Books (Lerner) pub. 11.4.2025 40 pages Ages 7 -11 A uthor: Sun Yung Shin & Melina Mangal Illustrator: Leslie Barlow C haracter: James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs O verview : " James Boggs was a worker from rural Alabama in the segregated South. Grace Lee Boggs was a philosopher from urban Rhode Island and New York City. Both found their life’s work, and each other, in Detroit. James

The First Woman to Stand on Top of the World A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Union Square Kids (pub. 2.10.2026) 48 pages Ages 5 and up A uthor: Elyssa Gavin Illustrator: HifuMiyo C haracter: Junko Tabei O verview : " Fourteen climbers from the Ladies Climbing Club in Japan begin their climb up Mount Everest. Junko Tabei, a mountain climbing pioneer—the woman who formed the group —faces many hardships as she leads them: frigid temperatures, gusting winds, an avalanche,

How Marie Procai Kept the Ukranian Art of Pysanky Alive A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Calkins Creek (Astra Books) 2.10.2026 48 pages Ages 7 -1o A uthor: Sandra Neil Wallace Illustrator: Evan Turk C haracter: Marie Procai O verview : " As a new immigrant to America living in Minneapolis, Marie Procai felt homesick and alone—she missed her homeland, Ukraine. She took comfort in the ancient Ukrainian art of making pysanky, intricately decorated eggs for Easter, an art

The World's First All-Woman Anti-Poaching Unit A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Millbrook Press (Lerner Publishing) pub. 4.1.2025 40 pages Ages 6 - 10 A uthor and photographer: Kelly Crull C haracters: The Black Mambas O verview : " The Black Mambas, South Africa's first women-led anti-poaching unit, is unlike any other: they carry no weapons. Instead, they keep animals safe with frequent patrols and a keen eye for footprints, snares, and other clues that poachers are nea

A True Story of an Extraordinary World war II Rescue A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Chronicle Books pub. 9.2.2025 68 pages Ages 5 - 8 A uthor: Elizabeth Brown Illustrator: M elissa Castrillón C haracter: Aristides de Sousa Mendes O verview : "'He who saves a single life, saves the world entire.' —The Talmud Here is the true and powerful story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who, against his government’s commands, helped refugees flee France to escape the Nazis by grant

How Rose Valland Saved Art from the Nazis A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Beach Lane Books (Simon Kids) pub. 9.16.2025 40 pages Ages 6 - 10 A uthor and illustrator: Erin McGuire C haracter: Rose Valland O verview : " Rose Valland loved art. When the Nazis invaded Paris during World War II and took over her beloved museum, Rose could have fled. But who would save the artwork? So, Rose remained and saw how she was underestimated by the soldiers for being a quiet, unass

The First Woman to Serve on the United States Supreme Court A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Sleeping Bear Press pub. 5.1.2025 40 pages Ages 6 - 9 A uthor: Molly Golden Illustrator: Julia Breckenreid C haracter: Sandra Day O'Connor O verview : "On September 25, 1981, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to be a Supreme Court Justice in United States history. But who was Sandra Day O’Connor? In the 1930s, it was hard to imagine any woman sitting on the highest co

The Story of America's First Female Smokejumper A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Viking Books for Young Readers (Penguin Random House) pub. 7.1.2025 40 pages Ages 4 - 7 A uthor: Jessica Lawson Illustrator: Sarah Gonzales C haracter: Deanne Shulman O verview : " Deanne loved being outdoors. With her family, she spent summers sailing the Salton Sea and backpacking the Sierra Nevada Mountains. As she grew older, her love of nature only grew. So when the heat rose each fir

The Quaker Dwarf Who Fought Slavery A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP PM Press pub. 10.14.2025 32 pages Ages 3 - 8 A uthor: Michelle Markel and Marcus Rediker Illustrator: Sarah Bachman C haracter: Benjamin Lay O verview : " Fearless Benjamin tells the story of a courageous little person, only four feet tall, who fought slavery at a time when almost everyone else accepted it. A shepherd, a sailor, and a Quaker, Benjamin Lay insisted that all people, of all nat