Picture Day

Gr 4 Up–Viv has an idea that will make her seventh grade picture day different from all the ones that came before it. Instead of looking the same as she does in every other school picture (after her mother braids her hair), Viv decides to cut off that braid while her friends help her live stream the event. Suddenly Viv is a sensation, not only for her bold new haircut but also because other students want her to help draw attention to their own causes. But as Viv is drawn toward the idea of being popular, she starts drifting further away from the people who know her and care about her the most. This story about reinvention and self-acceptance will be easy and accessible for kids who are already in middle school, and those who will be soon. It’s a book that teaches gentle but important lessons about life, priorities, and relationships, and it will definitely appeal to fans of realistic graphic novels like Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm’s “Sunny” series. The artwork is sweet, colorful, and filled with energy, reminiscent of the art in Kayla Miller’s “Click” series.