AVANT-GARDE, Zaila. Words Are Magic. illus. by Felicia Whaley. Random. ISBN 9780593571682.
PreS-Gr 1–Winner of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee, Avant-garde presents a fun, interactive homage to words. A brightly illustrated Avant-garde has fun participating in active word pursuits and ends by proclaiming, “I love words!”—a sentiment that will be echoed by readers after they finish this book.

BAILEY, Jenn. Henry and the Something New. illus. by Mika Song. Chronicle. ISBN 9781797213903.
K-Gr 2–Henry’s class goes to the museum, where they are encouraged to learn something new. With spare text and illustrations, resonating with much heart, this sweet chapter book thoughtfully tackles important topics, such as riding a school bus for the first time and knowing when to use your loud voice.

BARROWS, Annie. Stella & Marigold. illus. by Sophie Blackall. Chronicle. ISBN 9781797219707.
Gr 1-3–When Stella meets baby sister Marigold, she promises to tell her all the secret things she knows, forever. Barrows and Blackall shine again with this beautifully illustrated series debut that explores the power of sisterhood and the absolute magic of childhood imagination for emerging readers.

DAVID, Arihhonni. The Good Game. Holiday House. ISBN 9780823456222.
K-Gr 2–David, a member of the Mohawk Nation, shares a story based on a Native American legend about a lacrosse game between two different types of animals that has a surprising ending. Few words per page and a tightly curated vocabulary make this a good choice for early readers.

DICAMILLO, Kate. Orris and Timble: The Beginning. illus. by Carmen Mok. Candlewick. ISBN 9781536222791.
K-Gr 2–Rat Orris lives alone in his barn; then Timble the owl gets stuck in a trap, and a new friendship is born from Orris’s reluctant decision to free him. This lushly illustrated story tenderly depicts the warmth of connection and doing the right thing even when it’s scary

HENRY, Steve. Friends Are Fun. Holiday House. ISBN 9780823454785.
PreS-Gr 1–Pete the parrot is alone on his island, until one day he isn’t. This vibrant book contains short sentences and precisely crafted images that are well-aligned to the text, making it a great choice for beginning readers. An easy-to-read story that’s a simple homage to friendship.

HEREDIA, María Fernanda. Juan y Yun tienen un plan. illus. by Roger Ycasa. Vista Higher Learning. ISBN 9781543398151. SP
Gr 1-4–Juan is new at school and has become the target of a bully. He and new friend Yun hatch a revenge plot that quickly backfires. With subtlety and nuance, the award-winning Ecuadoran Heredia and oft-collaborator Ycasa craft a sensitive Spanish-language story about bullying, divorce, and friendship that will resonate with elementary readers.

MENSAH, Bernard. Rise of the Green Flame. illus. by Natasha Nayo. Scholastic. ISBN 9781338843293.
Gr 1-4–Eight-year-old Kwame is dismayed that his powers aren’t coming to him at the magical Nkonyaa school. Then evil magic descends upon the campus, and Kwame may be the only one who can stop it. Readers will love the lively illustrations and engaging prose in this book inspired by Ghanian mythology.

MESSNER, Kate. The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Emma McKenna, Full Out. illus. by Kat Fajardo. Algonquin. ISBN 9781523525720.
Gr 1-4–Third grader Emma almost loses herself trying to blend in at Curiosity Academy, until a school mascot debate brings out her true colors. This series debut authentically explores the highs and lows of elementary school with joyful artwork and a rich cast of characters young readers will love.

TABOR, Corey R. Fox Plays Ball. Greenwillow. ISBN 9780063370920.
Gr 1-4–Fox, Elephant, Rabbit, Bear, and Snail are ready to play. With the woods as their field, the animal friends throw, catch, chase, and dive for a football. This charming beginning reader’s fluid art, dynamic and panel-filled design, and age-relevant, controlled vocabulary make this a must.

TABOR,Corey R. Fox Versus Fox. Greenwillow. ISBN 9780063277939.
PreS-Gr 2–Fox, a woodland fox, is confused when he meets an arctic fox. They can’t both be foxes—can they? Each lists things they can do; turns out, they do the same things, just differently! Short sentences and repetition make this an excellent choice for early readers and shared story times with an adult.

VALENTI, Karla Arenas. The Beginning of All Things. illus. by Vanessa Morales. S. & S./Aladdin. ISBN 9781665936026.
Gr 2-4–Twins Martín and Emma get stuck in the middle of an Aztec creation story without a portal to get back home in this second rollicking “Legendarios” series entry. Valenti expertly explores perennial themes such as sibling relationships and moving to a new city against the magical backdrops of time travel and Aztec mythology.