AGOSTINI, Alliah L. with Taffy Elrod. The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate. illus. by Sawyer Cloud. becker&mayer! kids.
Gr 1-5–A beautiful collection of recipes marking an important national holiday, highly recommended for school and public libraries.

ALEXANDER, Lori. Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Park. illus. by Jenn Ely. Astra/Calkins Creek.
Gr 1-3–A lively picture book biography with tie-ins to Earth Day and Women’s History Month. Highly recommended.

ATHERTON, David. David Atherton’s Christmas Cookbook for Kids. illus. by Katie Cottle. Candlewick.
Gr 2-5–A charming, approachable cookbook that evokes the spirit of the holiday season.

BAUSUM, Ann. The Bard and the Book. illus. by Marta Sevilla. Peachtree.
Gr 5-10–A voluminous book centering the playwright, along with a group of people who saved him from outright oblivion, this is a sharply funny, delightful must-have for every library shelf.

BEHRMAN, Sara T. The Sea Hides a Seahorse. illus. by Melanie Mikecz. Collective Book Studio.
PreS-Gr 3–This saltwater standout will have librarians, parents, and mini marine biologists hooked. An excellent work of narrative nonfiction for young readers.

BOLLING, Valerie & Kailei Pew. I See Color. illus. by Laylie Frazier. HarperCollins.
K-Gr 4–An eye-opening album to be read, cherished, used as a cornerstone for study, or shared across curricula.

BURNS, Loree Griffin. One Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Followed Them. illus. by Jamie Green. MIT Kids.
Gr 3-5–Burns’s writing style invites readers into a compelling narrative of wonder and discovery.

CLINE-RANSOME, Lesa. Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis. illus. by James E. Ransome. S. & S. /Paula Wiseman.
Gr 1-3–A strong biography on John Lewis, this highly recommended volume will complement the civil rights shelves as well as collections on Black Americans who worked for the good of the country.

CREWS, Nina. Extraordinary Magic: The Storytelling Life of Virginia Hamilton. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano.
Gr 1-3–Purchase this lovely biography as an intro to Hamilton’s work or to encourage future creators. With each page, readers will be inspired to follow their own magic.

DAY, Nicholas. Nothing: John Cage and 4’33”. illus. by Chris Raschka. Holiday House/Neal Porter.
Gr 1-5–A beautifully written and illustrated story of a man who wanted people to explore nothingness, which is a necessity in today’s busy world. A great read-aloud and a must-purchase for all library collections.

EATON, Maxwell, III. Looking for Peppermint: Or Life in the Forest. Holiday House/Neal Porter.
K-Gr 3–The best kind of nature walk, with an entertaining guide out front, and yet one more blurred line between fiction and nonfiction that offers children more than the sum of its parts.

FINKELSTEIN, Norman H. Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan’s Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants. illus. by Vesper Stamper. Holiday House.
Gr 1-3–A commendable addition to library collections focused on immigration, little-known historical figures, and the pivotal role of language and the written word in shaping the immigrant experience.

GADZEKPO, Darryl & Ella Phillips. From Plant to Plate: Turn Home-Grown Ingredients into Healthy Meals! illus. by Alan Berry Rhys. DK.
Gr 2-5–An informative tool for learning about how food is grown, the value in healthy eating, and how to respect the environment while also taking care of one’s body.

GHAHREMANI, Zohreh. Memory Garden. illus. by Susie Ghahremani. Holt/Godwin.
K-Gr 2–Children and adults will thoroughly enjoy this vivid memoir that weaves past and present in a timeless celebration of family and culture.

HOYT, Megan. A Grand Idea: How William J. Wilgus Created Grand Central Terminal. illus. by David Szalay. HarperCollins.
K-Gr 4–Whether readers are train and construction buffs or not, this is a living, breathing biography of a building, and the man who believed in it from the ground up. Extraordinary.

KIM, Cheryl. Wat Takes His Shot: The Life & Legacy of Basketball Hero Wataru Misaka. illus. by Nat Iwata. Lee & Low.
K-Gr 4–Readers of all ages, especially those who love basketball, will rejoice over Wat’s triumphs.

KING, Coretta Scott. Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King. illus. by Ekua Holmes. Macmillan/Godwin.
Gr3-5–A gorgeous book to introduce children to the triumphs and tragedies of one of the Civil Rights Movement’s most avid champions.

LAPATI, Joanna. Guts for Glory: The Story of Civil War Soldier Rosetta Wakeman. Eerdmans.
Gr 3-6–Epic is an overused word—most of the time. It barely begins to explain the tremendous work and vision behind this sensational piece of compelling nonfiction that truly is a picture book for young readers and adults.

LARSEN, Mylisa. All of Those Babies. illus. by Stephanie Laberis. S. & S. /Beach Lane.
PreS-K–Recommended for curious preschoolers and even early elementary children, for any collection that answers questions about what makes up families.

LEUNG, Julie. Mr. Pei’s Perfect Shapes: The Story of Architect I. M. Pei. illus. by Yifan Wu. HarperCollins/Quill Tree.
PreS-Gr 3–A fascinating and beautifully illustrated biography of one of our most celebrated architects.

MCDANIEL, Brenna J. Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller. illus. by April Harrison. Penguin/Dial.
K-Gr 4–An essential purchase not to be missed—what a wonderful person, and what a worthy life.

MACK, Jeff. Time to Make Art. Holt.
K-Gr 2–There’s not a frown to be found in this celebration of art and artists; it’s delightful!

MEADOWS, Michelle. Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin. illus. by Jamiel Law. HarperCollins.
Gr 4-6–In this stunning picture book biography, Meadows gets into enough detail for readers to understand the nuances of Baldwin’s life without totally overwhelming them.

MEDINA, Uma. Daughter of the Light-Footed People: The Story of Indigenous Marathon Champion Lorena Ramírez. illus. by Natalia Rojas Castro. S. & S. /Atheneum.
Gr 1-4–This is a striking introduction to ultra-marathon runner Lorena Ramírez of the Indigenous Rarámuri people of Mexico. An exceptional addition to all collections.

MENON, Belen. My Mother’s Tongues: A Weaving of Languages. illus. by Rahele Jomepour Bell. Candlewick.
K-Gr 3–This story is an essential mirror and window, serving as a reminder that language is a superpower.

NOGUÉS OTERO, Alex. Plantas que hablan, animales que cantan. illus. by Asia Orlando. Editorial Flamboyant. SP
Gr 2-4–A wonderful, Spanish-language nonfiction text for readers not only interested in the environment but also in the intricacies of the world of animals, plants, and insects.

PIMENTEL, Annette Bay. Los cuentos de Pura Belpré. illus. by Magaly Morales. Vintage Español. SP
Gr 1-4–A biographical text that teaches the importance of inclusion, heritage, and seeing oneself in the stories one reads. A must for biography shelves.

ROCCO, Hayley. Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough. illus. by John Rocco. Putnam.
Gr 1-3–A must-purchase for libraries; children will delight in learning about the “voice of nature. ”

RODAAH, Rahma. Dear Muslim Child. illus. by Aya Ghanameh. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray.
PreS-Gr 1–A love letter to Muslim children at a time when it is needed most.

ROGERS, Kim. I Am Osage: How Clarence Tinker Became the First Native American Major General. illus. by Bobby Von Martin. HarperCollins/Heartdrum.
PreS-Gr 3–The incredible life story of Clarence Tinker, the first Native American major general in the United States, is an excellent addition to nonfiction collections for young readers.

ROSENSTOCK, Barb. The Great Lakes: Our Freshwater Treasure. illus. by Jamey Christoph. Knopf.
Gr 3-6–This is a valuable resource, especially for libraries supporting water conservation and sustainability curriculum units.

RUSSELL-BROWN, Katheryn. La pequeña Melba y su gran trombón. tr. from English by Rita Elena Urquijo-Ruiz. illus. by Frank Morrison. Lee & Low. SP
K-Gr 4–A biographical read about a young woman who beat many odds due to her love of music. Perfect for burgeoning musicians and aficionados, and certainly for the nonfiction shelves.

SÁNCHEZ VEGARA, Maria Isabel. Tenzing Norgay. illus. by Bandana Tulachan. Quarto/Frances Lincoln.
K-Gr 2–Well researched and carefully presented, this is a quality introductory biography for young readers.

SANTOS, Victor D. O. What Makes Us Human. illus. by Anna Forlati. Eerdmans.
Gr 2-6–Despite the book’s brevity, the profundity of the topic of language itself hits its mark. A beautiful addition to all libraries.

SILVER, Erin. Mighty Scared: The Amazing Ways Animals Defend Themselves. illus. by Hayden Maynard. Orca.
Gr 1-3–A thoroughly engaging, fact-filled book with audacious and memorable animal responses to predators. A must-have for every library.

SIMLER, Isabelle. Home. tr. from French by Vineet Lal. Eerdmans.
Gr 2-5–An essential purchase; this standout work of illustrated poems encourages readers to consider wild creatures’ homes and compare their similar needs to our own.

SMITH, Emma Bland. The Fabulous Fannie Farmer: Kitchen Scientist and America’s Cook. illus. by Susan Reagan. Astra/Calkins Creek.
Gr 1-3–This book rightfully bestows hall-of-fame status on a woman who insisted on accuracy when it came to getting success—not waste—from a recipe every time. For the biography shelves.

STONE, Tanya Lee. Remembering Rosalind Franklin: Rosalind Franklin & the Discovery of the Double Helix Structure of DNA. illus. by Gretchen Ellen Powers. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano.
K-Gr 4–While the book’s technical vocabulary and complex scientific concepts may pose a minimal challenge for younger readers, older students with an appreciation for learning about unsung historical figures and an interest in science will find inspiration in Franklin’s resilience.

TONATIUH, Duncan. La princesa y el guerrero: Una leyenda de dos volcanes. tr. from English by Hercilia Mendizabal Frers. Abrams. SP
Gr 1-3–An exceptional and must-have addition to Spanish-language collections.

WHEATLEY, Abigail. World Kitchen: A Children’s Cookbook; Family Recipes from Around the World. illus. by Chaaya Prabhat. Usborne.
Gr 2-5–A visually delightful take on global food, recommended for school and public libraries.