Staff Picks Youth

A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of Rita Moreno: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Trailblazer!

by Anika Aldamuy Denise

Rosita Dolores Alverio, a girl who loves to sing and dance for anyone who will watch her. This is the story of Rita Moreno, from her childhood days in Puerto Rico to her rise to stardom. An inspiring picture book biography that portrays her experiences from migration to perseverance, belonging, talent, and triumph. Rita Moreno is a Latina trailblazer and one of only six women with four awards for the arts known as EGOT (an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony). She continues to be an influential voice that sparks determination and activism. Leo Espinosa’s beautiful illustrations are vibrant and captivating. Rita’s iconic lilac dress in this book will be as memorable for the young readers as for those who have seen her unforgettable Oscar-winning performance in “West Side Story”. This is a great choice for a read-aloud that can be paired with video clips of Rita’s “West Side Story” performance and her Oscar acceptance moment.

Recommended by: Fanny Camargo, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Youth Biographies

Lupe Wong Won’t Dance

by Donna Barba Higuera

Guadalupe (Lupe) loves baseball and is a pitcher on her school team. She REALLY wants to meet her favorite pitcher who is Chinacan/Mexinese just like her but the deal is she needs to get all A’s in order to do that. She’s pretty confident until she finds out that the next unit in Physical Education class is square dancing. She tries to talk the school principal into rescinding the requirement. That idea fails, but Lupe doesn’t lose her can-do attitude.

This book is available in the library and on Hoopla as an ebook.

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager 

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Little Bat in Night School

by Brian Lies

An adorable book from Caldecott winner, Brian Lies. Little Bat is going to night school for the first time and he is ready. When he gets there he meets all kinds of animals and makes a special friend with a opossum… they both hang upside down. He experiences many new things but also learns the importance of trying, kindness, and acceptance. A great read for little ones going to school for the first time or for preschool and kindergarten teachers to read to the class.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Curse of the Night Witch

by Alex Aster

This fast-paced fantasy is inspired by Colombian mythology. Tor Luna lives on Emblem Island where an emblem shows up on your arm to dictate how you will spend your life. When Tor wishes for a different emblem and a new one appears, it sets him off on an adventure along with his friends, Engle and Melda.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Flint Water Crisis

by Julie Knutson

What happens when the water supply for a large city becomes unsafe? Considered a major environmental catastrophe, this book investigates the causes and impacts of using a new water resource for the city of Flint, MI.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Youth Nonfiction

Let’s Go Swimming!

by Norm Feuti

Hedgehog has all he needs for a fun day swimming at the pond until he remembers he needs his friend Harry to go along. Unfortunately Harry is afraid to go underwater. Another book in the series Hello, Hedgehog to help young ones learn to read using bright graphics and basic words.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Youth Fiction

A Pizza with Everything on It

by Kyle Scheele

What toppings do you like on your pizza? Pepperoni? Mushrooms? Penguins? A particle accelerator?  When a child tasks his pizza shop owning father to make them a pizza with everything on it, they mean EVERYTHING.  As father and child pile on a doghouse, regular house, even the White House, the pizza crust magically expands to accommodate all the not so traditional toppings.  What happens when the pizza crust can’t hold anymore toppings?  The answer is out of this world! A fun and quirky read.

This book is available in the library and on Hoopla as an ebook.

Recommended by: Stephanie Thomas, Youth Services Preschool Services Coordinator

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Pay Attention, Carter Jones

by Gary D. Schmidt

Right when Carter Jones is starting sixth grade, a butler from England appears at their door and stays. Carter’s father is deployed in Afghanistan so they can use the help but the butler has some different ideas including a love of the game of cricket. Carter’s family, including his three sisters, adjusts as the butler insists on manners and always remembering ‘who you are’.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Becoming RBG

by Debbie Levy

This graphic novel biography clearly outlines the outstanding life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Beginning with her birth, the author details her rise, through law school and various jobs, to the Supreme Court of the United States of America. 

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Youth Biographies

Walking Toward Peace: The True Story of a Brave Woman Called Peace Pilgrim

by Kathleen Krull

This is the true story of a woman who gave up everything she owned, including her name, to walk over twenty-five thousand miles, spreading peace.  With her new name, “Peace Pilgrim” starts on an amazing journey, walking through all fifty states.  She spread the message of, “a golden age of peace, a world with no fighting between people or nations.” Over twenty-eight purposeful years, she walked many different pilgrimages, crossing the country seven times. Peace Pilgrim was an amazing woman, who proved one person can inspire many.  

 “Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.” – Peace Pilgrim

Recommended by: Malorie Carpenter, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Youth Fiction