This is the story of a little owl who’s ready to make his first friends—but it’s going to take some practice! In Who Needs Friends? Little Merlin the owl is so eager to make friends and tell them all about himself, that he neglects to think about what they want. After a few false starts…
An account of the reality women faced before abortion was made legal
“With gut-wrenching, realistic scenes that illustrate their youth and innocence to scenes that show their forced growth into motherhood, readers’ hearts will break for these teens who don’t know what to expect when their life throws them the unexpected. An excellent fictionalized look at the reality of teen pregnancy with a historical lens. A must for…
This remarkable graphic novel—is about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by a former Somali refugee
“This engaging, heartwarming story does everything one can ask of a book, and then some.” – Kirkus Reviews Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows…
Follow a girl who explores the mesmerizing wonders of a Nigerian night market
I just finished doing an all day in-service with teachers called “Dealing With Difference: Addressing the Needs of Diverse Learners in the Classroom.” The rural area of Idaho is not filled with racial diversity, so I demonstrated several examples of literature that help learners think beyond their own immediate experience. As Rudine Sims Bishop says:…
A warm play on the theme of inclusivity, with horrors more huggable than otherwise
“A cartoonishly adorable monster cast populate the brightly colored pages of this uplifting tale. Through earnest and optimistic depictions of found family dynamics, Davault presents the ups and downs of relationships while emphasizing openness, communication, and acceptance.” – Publishers Weekly Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends meets Hilda and the Troll in this spooky and sweet…
A Journey Through the Caldecott: Rita Baguio Christensen’s Insight into Celebrating Children’s Literature
“I will defend the importance of bedtime stories to my last gasp.” —JK Rowling I met Rita Baguio Christensen at the BYU Books for Young Readers Conference and was fascinated by her work on the Randolph Caldecott Medal. The Caldecott Medal annually recognizes the preceding year’s “most distinguished American picture book for children”. It is…
A Heartwarming Tale of Sisterhood and Tradition
Critically-acclaimed artist Anoosha Syed brings Anitha Rao-Robinson’s stunning text to life in this story, Sari Sisters, about getting dressed up and the enduring bonds between sisters. Ruhi is ready for her weekend tradition: a dance party with her older sister, Kayra! Everything is ready to go–the music, the lights, the glitterballs–but where is Kayra? Ruhi…
A poverty-stricken boy bravely rides out all the storms life keeps throwing at him.
A gripping new novel in verse by the author of the Printz Honor-winning Starfish, featuring a poverty-stricken boy who bravely rides out all the storms life keeps throwing at him Joe Oak is used to living on unsteady ground. His mom can’t be depended on as she never stays around long once she gets “the…
Funny Poems About School that Make Young Readers Come Back for More
Young readers will find a lot of familiar faces and things in David L. Harrison’s book of funny poems about school. Along the way they’ll recognize the agony of tests, homework, cursive writing, and the mysteries of cafeteria food. Plus, there’s Betsy Lewin’s amusing illustrations that perfectly capture one silly trip through a day at…
The Bard and The Book
The unlikely true story of why we know the name William Shakespeare today, and the four-hundred-year-old book that made it possible. Four hundred years ago, no one bothered to write down the exact words of stage plays. Characters’ lines were scribbled on small rolls of paper (as in, an actor’s role) and passed around, but…
Young People's Pavilion 