Staff Reads: October 2020
What has the CBC been reading lately?
Jena
The Big Bang Book by Asa Stahl; illus. by Carly Allen-Fletcher (Creston Books, April 2020)
This book is truly fantastic for any kid who is starting to find a love for outer space, rockets, or the stars. The artwork is absolutely stunning, and the actual story is simplified enough to provide an excellent introduction to The Big Bang and how our universe came to be. It also encourages kids to expand their imaginations and the way they dream.
Ryan
This Thing Called Life by Christian Borstlap (Prestel, October 2020)
Although it came out in 2015, I am just now finding All the Bright Places. This book got to me. From its honest portrayal of Mental Health struggles to the way it showcases the nuance of label, image, and how we categorize ourselves, All the Bright Places makes you question everything around you.
Sommer
When We Are Kind / Nihá’ádaahwiinít’íįgo by Monique Gray Smith, illus. by Nicole Neidhardt, translated by Mildred Walters (Orca Book Publishers, October, 2020)
This is a great bilingual read about the importance of being considerate to ourselves and those around us. With its English and Diné translations and charming illustrations, this book shows how powerful kind actions are.
Shaina
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix (HarperCollins, September 2020)
This is another excellent fantasy from the creator of Sabriel. What I loved most about this book was the more contemporary, real world setting than most of Nix’s other tales. Set in 1980’s London, this is both great fantasy and a love letter for book lovers. Magical booksellers who protect the world from mythic creatures… who can’t get excited about that?
Nick
The Teacher’s March, by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace (Boyds Mill Kane Press, September 2020)
In 1964, Reverend F. D. Reese began the fight for voting rights in Selma, calling on the help of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the teachers in his community to force the hands of officials who turned a blind eye to the struggle of Black people. Although faced with outright violence and arrests during peaceful marches, Reverend Reese did not back down and continued to speak about the importance of the teachers marching together, as a group of respected leaders in the community. This story shows how oppressive Jim Crow Laws were and how much strife Civil Rights Activists overcame.
Jules
The Diver by Veronica Carratello (Nobrow Press, August 2018)
This is a fantastic read for little ones with big dreams. Follow a young girl and a penny on their dreams of becoming a successful diver. This book is an ideal bedtime story to show young ones that they can shoot for the stars—or the perfect dive.
Carl
Dewdrop, by Katie O’Neill (Oni Press, April 2020)
This is my favorite book of the year! A gently illustrated undersea fantasy for young readers, the message of lowering self-imposed pressure in order to achieve one’s goals is a message for the year and for everyone. Mindfulness, joy, and friendship are central to this inspirational story.
Laura
Even Goats Need Closure by Jane Donovan and Holly Trechter (Sky Candle Press, October 2020)
Diverting and enjoyable story! Theo, a charming, curious, and carefree 16-year-old moves to a small town in Minnesota with her mom and aunt to renovate and reopen the old family resort. We make friends and meet the quirky townsfolk through Theo, as she experiences the world through her video lens, but something weird is going on, she keeps finding dead bodies. A delightful, cozy mystery and exactly what I needed.
