Although storytelling is at the heart of the Wampanoag tradition, their perspective of the first Thanksgiving is all too frequently left out of American classrooms. Fortunately, this picture book brings the Native American or First Peoples' side of the story to life. The book begins with a note for context, alongside a short glossary with pronunciations of the authentic Wampanoag words used throughout. The story itself is framed with a modern-day grandmother telling the tale to her two grandchildren in the oral tradition of their people. The grandmother sets the scene with Weeâchumun, the spirit of corn, glimpsing the incoming ships of the new arrivals. A harsh winter hits the settlers, who are unprepared and unfamiliar with the new land. It is up to Weeâchumun, Fox, and the other spirits and animals of the land to determine whether they will help these strangers. They prompt the native First Peoples to offer assistance by sharing their knowledge of the land and crops. Eventually, the two groups of people gather together for the famous feast that represents the first Thanksgiving. Although this specific meeting was peaceful, there are also reminders of the negative, lasting impacts of colonialism as well. The book concludes with a map of the Wampanoag tribes and other information, and even a nasamp recipe. The authors are all tribal members, lending their authentic voices and viewpoints to this story. This book will be an essential addition to all classrooms and libraries in order to ensure a more diverse representation in their Thanksgiving collections.

Wombat buddies Scratch and Dig are extremely proud of the extensive and sizable burrow they have constructed, especially as they watch a dangerous brush fire quickly approach one fateful day. They count themselves to be quite fortunate as the flames draw closer because they know they can find refuge inside their carefully constructed home. Animals of all types flee the impending flames, but by the time they reach Scratch and Dig's burrow, they are tired, hot, and unable to continue. Luckily, wombat burrows are bigger than they might initially appear, and Scratch reluctantly agrees with Dig's offer to invite other creatures inside to stay safe. Little do they know that this magnanimous decision will dramatically impact their own lives in the not-too-distant future. This charming story connects young readers both with real-life creatures and events found in Australia and with the universal concept of neighborliness. Digitally rendered illustrations invite readers to the Australian bush, where wombats, koalas, wallabies, and tiger snakes all reside. Muted hues of the Australian landscape make the experience more palpable to readers, especially as fire ultimately gives way to rain. Utilizing primarily dialogue and a repetitive structure, the narrative is easily accessible to young readers and gives them a foundation from which to discuss both the creatures and the events from the plot after the story ends. At the book's conclusion, readers find both an author's note and a glossary that provide more detailed information about the inspiration for the story and the real-life characters and events featured within it. This is an educational and uplifting story about how friendship and open-mindedness can unite a community of otherwise disparate creatures, and it is a unique addition to library collections for young readers.

Looking for a way to explain anxiety to children? Meet Olivia. Olivia rides a bike, has a favorite stuffed animal, and sometimes invisible thorned vines grow in Olivia's belly. These vines wind around her, stopping her from moving. Olivia makes a list of the things that make the vines grow, but sometimes the vines grow for no reason. When the vines grow, Olivia worries others will either laugh at her or be mad at her. Sometimes breathing exercises help Olivia control the vines, but when faced with something terrifying, Olivia cannot stop the vines from taking over. With help from her teacher, Olivia learns a new strategy for living with her invisible, thorny vines. A good introduction to anxiety, this book ends with an author's note explaining Olivia's vines are anxiety, tips to help reduce anxiety, and questions to help the reader connect their experiences to the book. Large, full-page illustrations help the reader feel the range of emotions Olivia experiences, and the combination of ink, watercolor, and marker generates colorful and textured pictures. While geared towards young children, adults and older children will like this book and find it useful.

What would it be like to spend a day in the life of a shark? What do these mystical, mammoth underwater specimens do all day? Fascinated as a young child, a marine biologist dives into the dark blue waters to teach children about the misunderstood shark species. Captivated by her curiosity for these fascinating, fanged fish, she has devoted her life and many hours to observing and studying them, sharing her knowledge in a creatively formatted book perfect for elementary-age children. This book will bite the reader's intrigue with its thoughtful text features, vibrant illustrations, and impressive facts. The book offers detailed diagrams of shark anatomy, introduces sophisticated academic vocabulary, and provides captivating captions with each picture. Children will learn about shark habitats, the different species of sharks worldwide, their predatory skills, and acquire knowledge about some truly unusual shark types, among other topics. Jackson provides a book that invites children to rethink their idea of this underwater predator. In this book, children will discover that these mysterious sea creatures, assumed only to be cold-blooded killers, are brilliant and unique and are a species with marvelous diversity and contribution to our underwater world.

Art is powerful, and so is the human spirit illuminating it. In the first book for youth about the artist Charlotte Salomon, Wider recounts the true story of a young woman who finds her voice in one of history's darkest times, creating beauty amidst personal and global challenges. Salomon, a Jewish painter in her twenties, contends with anti-Semitism amplified by the rise of Hitler in her native Germany. Eventually escaping to France, she documents her life through painted scenes while remaining hidden in a villa. After Salomon is sent to Auschwitz, her fate, along with that of her art, hangs in the balance, but the legacy of her fortitude, determination, and talent persists. Ideal for teaching about art history, World War II, the Holocaust, and women's studies, this book balances historical fact with an engrossing creative nonfiction narrative that immerses readers in critical junctures in Salomon's life so that they, too, feel like they are inhabiting the scenes Salomon paints. Budding artists will especially appreciate Wider's commentary on the technique and symbolism of Salomon's work. Told like a mystery, the story immediately grips the reader, though its jumps in time are initially jarring. Young readers may find the content triggering, with many references to loss, grief, discrimination, and violence, making it more appropriate for older students. Interspersed throughout with photos of Salomon and her paintings and supplemented by a family tree, chronological timeline, notes, and a bibliography including such sources as recordings, films, and interviews, the book is a launchpad for students' research into the era. However, there are no recommended resources specifically for young readers. The author's note adds to the book's depth, as readers can learn how writers make personal connections to their subject matter. An impactful read, this inspiring book models tenacity through Salomon's example.

This new fictional but realistic story about Yossel, a Jewish boy who travels to America to escape religious persecution in Russia, is excellent. Yossel is used to the smell of cinnamon in his cozy home, being near neighbors, and the people in his small community- especially his best friend Moishe. Immigrating to America with his parents is a new and daunting experience. His family arrives in New York but doesn't settle there, as many immigrants did. Instead, they take trains to the southwest and settle in New Mexico, near the Navajo Nation. Yossel must get used to so many new things. He is learning English and Navajo. The mesas are tall and beautiful but different. The wide-open spaces make him feel tiny and empty. Then, one day, a young Navajo boy comes with his family to Yossel's family's trading post. Yossel comes out of hiding, and the two strike up a friendship. Yossel begins to heal and become more at peace with his new home. The originality of the story, a Jewish immigrant family settling in the southwest, is interesting and engaging for the reader. This book is beautifully written and illustrated. The artwork is stunning, done in acrylic paints that look more like blended oil pastels. The Navajo artwork with the well-written narrative intertwines the two cultural traditions perfectly. The author includes a helpful historical note about other Jewish groups who fled to this area, as well as continued reading sources. This book is a fantastic read-aloud, enabling interesting discussion for students. Pairing this book with similarly themed upper grade novels, such as Blood Secret or The Length of a String, would be an excellent literature study for intermediate students. This book is highly recommended.

Follow Mouse along the journey through the woods as they experience the beauty of the changing seasons. Each month brings its own unique beauty, and the reader can take note of the changing scenery and meet Mouse's friends. This book features incredibly detailed illustrations of nature and the homes that Mouse's friends live within. Most pages also include beautiful flaps that can be lifted to reveal more details of the homes featured. This book is sure to be a hit during read-aloud, and it can be used to spark numerous conversations about Mouse, his friends, the homes they live in, seasons, and more. The end of the book features a two-page spread about the months of the years and things that the reader can spot in nature during each month. The last page features details about all of the animals mentioned in the previous pages that are introduced as Mouse's friends, such as Badger or Otter, and gives a few facts pertaining to each one. This book is sure to spark the curiosity of a nature-driven individual and is highly recommended.