News & Reviews

How Harriet Tubman Rescued Her Brothers A TRUE TALE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP Abrams Books for Young Readers (pub. 1.13.2026) 40 pages Ages 4 - 8 Author: Glennette Tilley Turner Illustrator: Laura Freeman Character: Harriet Tubman Overview: "Harriet Tubman was always a keen observer. She learned to use the North Star for a compass, to tell time by the stars, and to find her way by natural signs as well as any hunter could. She could navigate dense forests, locate waterways in t

A TRUE TALE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP Beach Lane Books (Simon & Schuster) (pub. 2.24.2026) 48 pages Ages 4 - 8 Author: Jane Kurtz Illustrator: Giselle Potter Character: Mary Morland Overview: "While other little girls were sipping tea perched on their chairs, Mary Morland was given the freedom to spend her time outside exploring. After her mother died, her father sent her to live with a professor who taught Mary how to examine plants, animals, rocks, and fossils. She soaked up

The Story of Choreographer Agnes de Mille A TRUE TALE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon & Schuster) (pub. 3.31.2026) 48 pages Ages 4 - 8 Author: Claire Wrenn Bobrow Illustrator: Ilaria Urbinati Character: Agnes de Mille Overview: "In a dusty California town, Agnes de Mille dreams of becoming a dancer. She gallops to New York, then London, performing a show here, a dance there, combining old steps with new. But no one knows what to make of Agnes.

The Story of Joan Baez A TRUE TALE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP Beach Lane Books (Simon & Schuster) (pub. 2.24.2026) 48 pages Ages 4 - 8 Author: Monica Brown Illustrator: Molly Mendoza Character: Joan Baez Overview: " From a young age, Joan Baez knew she wanted to make the world a better place. The daughter of immigrants from Mexico and Scotland, she learned values of compassion and advocacy from her parents. As Joan learned about people in need around the world, she sang to make

The Colorful Story of Cyndi Lauper A TRUE TALE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP Atheneum Books for Young Readers {Simon & Schuster) (pub. 4.21.2026) 40 pages Ages 4 - 8 Authors: Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville Illustrator: Brigette Barrager Character: Cyndi Lauper Overview: "Before Cyndi Lauper was the larger-than-life icon we know today, she was a boisterous little girl who had a hard time fitting in. But she knew she had something amazing to share with the world. She just ne

The True Story of Maria Pepe and her Battle to Play Ball A TRUE TALE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP Christy Ottaviano Books (Little Brown and Company) (pub. 3.3.2026) 48 pages Ages 6 - 8 Author: Maria Pepe & Jean L.S. Patrick Illustrator: Sarah Green Character: Maria Pepe Overview: " Maria Pepe loved baseball. When Little League formed in her hometown in 1972, she was eager to prove herself as a competitor. There was only one problem: Little League was not open to girl players. This

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

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

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