Staff Reads: May 2020
What has the CBC been reading lately?
Ryan
I’m Not a Mouse written and illustrated by Evgenia Golubeva (Child’s Play, February 2020)
What can Olivia do about a nickname she doesn’t like and worse, transforms her into a mouse? This imaginative picture book, written and illustrated by an award-winning animation director, takes a humorous view on pet names and stars one self-assured black girl.
Shaina
Mrs. Peanuckles’s Tree Alphabet by Jessie Ford and Mrs. Peanuckle (Rodale Kids, June 2018)
This is one of the most interesting board books ever. It also happens to be one of the most interesting alphabet books ever. The illustrations are colorful and engaging and the information about trees is awesome for kids and the adults who are reading to them. One of a series, these books are all worth a read!
Sommer
The Girl Who Spoke to the Moon by Land Wilson; illus. by Sue Cornelison (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky / Little Pickle Press, March 2020)
A beautifully inspiring book about a young girl named Sophia and her friendship with the Moon. One night, the Moon shows Sophia that Mother Earth is suffering from air, land, and water pollution. Whimsically poetic and charming, this story asks all its readers to try to help Mother Earth with Sophia.
John
Heavy Vinyl Y2K-0 by Carly Usdin & Nina Vakueva (Boom! Studios, March 2020)
This graphic novel is the continuation of a wonderful series from Boom! Studios. It features four girls working at a record store in 1999 trying to figure out and take down the corporate master’s of the music industry. There is nothing this book doesn’t have; it’s joyful, engaging, tense, sad, funny, heartfelt, and romantic.
Jules
Witches of Ash & Ruin by E. Latimer (Freeform/Disney, March 2020)
E. Latimer writes a thrilling tale about a young bisexual witch and her coven, who are under attack by a mysterious force. Not only is Dayna dealing with supernatural drama and intrigue, but she’s also trying to navigate the aftermath of a very public outing in high school. I really love this book because it’s not just witch friendly, but also the book offers teenage dilemmas that we can all relate to.
Laura
The Disney Book: A Celebration of the World of Disney by Jim Fanning (DK, October 2015)
There’s comfort in the arts, and nothing gets my creative (& nostalgic) juices going like Disney. From movies to music to the parks, this book shows the innovative ways that Walter Disney has shaped our world. Amazing photographs and facts bring escapism for these short- attention- span times.
Jena
The Good Hawk by Joseph Elliott (Walker Books / Candlewick, January 2020)
A thrilling adventure set in the historic Scottish Highlands that consists of a heroine with special needs, finally. Agatha and Jaime are suddenly faced with a responsibility they never imagined: saving their clan from extinction. Amidst the action, Agatha and Jaime find themselves navigating conflict and conversations that deal with accepting differences in tradition, priorities, abilities, and so much more. A great middle grade read for a kid who enjoys a plot with a bit of explicit violence.
