News & Reviews

A Poetic Ode to Judy Blume A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Christy Ottaviano Books (Little Brown Young Readers) (pub. 2.17.2026) 48 pages Ages 6 -1o A uthor and Illustrator: Selina Alko C haracter: Judy Blume O verview : " Judy Blume is known for fearlessly discussing topics that were once considered taboo. As a young girl, Judy was not encouraged to share her feelings, so instead she invented stories as a way to understand the world around her. Growing up Jewish, during

Barack Obama's First Presidential Seder A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Crown Books for Young Readers (pub. 3.4.2025) 40 pages Ages 4 - 8 A uthor: Richard Michelson Illustrator: E.B. Lewis C haracters: President Barack Obama and Seder guests O verview : " In 1800, President John Adams held the first formal Christmas dinner at the newly built White House. In 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes observed Easter with a public “Egg Roll." But it wasn’t until 2009 that a US

Louisa May Alcott Creates Little Women A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Calkins Creek (Astra Books for Young Readers) (pub. 1.20.2026) 40 pages Ages 7 -1o A uthor: Kate Hannigan Illustrator: Sofia Moore C haracter: Louisa May Alcott O verview : " Louisa May Alcott wrote the beloved classic Little Women , but she started out as just a little girl scribbling in her journal. Born into the middle of a spirited, creative group of sisters, Louisa was always up for explorati

How the Scientist, Writer, and Nature Lover Changed the Environmental Movement A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Calkins Creek (Astra Books for Young Readers) (pub. 3.11.2025) 40 pages Ages 7 -10 A uthor: Kate Hannigan Illustrator: Katie Hickey C haracter: Rachel Carson O verview : "Rachel Carson wasn’t always the Rachel Carson, renowned environmental activist. From her earliest years, Rachel had a passion for nature—to her, it was a fairyland, and she loved to write a

Patrick Kelly Designs His Dreams A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Abrams Books for Young Readers (pub. 1.13.2026) 48 pages Ages 4 - 8 A uthor: Eric Darnell Pritchard Illustrator: Shannon Wright C haracter: Patrick Kelly O verview : " Patrick Kelly was one of the most influential fashion designers of the twentieth century, but growing up in Vicksburg, Mississippi, he didn’t see many boys who liked to sew. That didn’t stop him from sitting down at his grandma’s table and

The HIdden Discoveries of Eunice Newton Foote, the First Climate Scientist A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Henry Holt and Compay (MacKids) (pub. 4.16.2026) 40 pages Ages 4 - 8 A uthor: Rebecca Donnelly Illustrator: Mercè López C haracter: Eunice Newton Foote O verview : " In an era when few women practiced science, Eunice Newton Foote dared to search for answers to a mystery that no one else had solved. A visionary scientist, suffragist, and mother, Eunice conducted a

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

How the Apollo Moon Missions Made Alma Thomas's Art Soar A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Millbrook Press (Lerner Publishing) (pub. 11.4.2025) 32 pages Ages 6-10 A uthor and Illustrator: Nina Crews C haracter: Alma Thomas O verview : " In 1969, people around the world watched as the Apollo 10 astronauts sent the first-ever live color television broadcasts from space. Abstract painter Alma Thomas was among those watching, and afterward, she began a series of bright, bold p