Books Added to My Shelves in March 2024

This is my monthly roundup of books that I added to my shelves in March 2024. Some of the books came directly from authors or publishers, others were a purchase or a gift. You’ll find books from all kinds of genres including adult and children’s books. I’ll even share a few things from our family’s life in the last month as well.

Family and Life Update

After I returned from my two-week trip with my mom and sister, our family got together to celebrate my mom’s 85th birthday!

Reagan was home for Spring Break and we did some fun day trips including a day in Pella with our daughter-in-law.

Pat and I took a quick weekend trip to Florida to celebrate our 25th Anniversary. We soaked up every bit of sun we could and had a really wonderful weekend.

I’m always so thankful when all 6 of us can be together.

Now on to the books! 

Even though I didn’t read much during the first 2 weeks of March, I still finished 5 books this month. I’m also watching “Survivor” and “American Idol”.

My current reads are THE SWEET BLUE DISTANCE, SHE COME BY IT NATURAL, YOUR LONGEVITY BLUEPRINT, and I’m listening to THE POSTCARD.

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Be sure to follow me on Instagram, HERE to see snippets of what I’m reading or what’s going on in my daily life.

If you have missed any of my recent book reviews, you can see all of them by clicking, HERE.  Or you can stay up to date with my monthly Quick Lit Roundup.

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Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction

LIGHTHOUSE

The St. Simons Trilogy #1

By: Eugenia Price

Published: May 29, 2012 (originally in 1971)

Publisher: Turner

Historical Fiction

Format: Paperback purchase

My mom, sister, and I traveled to St. Simon’s Island during our two-week trip. Our cousins have lived there for many years, in fact, Pat and I even honeymooned there. My cousin has often told me about Eugenia Price and her books, so I purchased Book #1 in the series while I was there from Righton Books.

From the New York Times best-selling author Eugenia Price, Lighthouse is the saga of James Gould, a young man raised in the post-Revolution North who realizes his dream of designing and building a lighthouse on St. Simons Island in Georgia after much hardship and success.

APPLE

Skin to the Core

By: Eric Gansworth

Published: October 6, 2020

Publisher: Levine Querido

YA Biography

Format: Paperback purchase

This was a required book for my daughter’s college class. When she was home for spring break she passed it on to me thinking I might enjoy it as well.

Apple: Skin to the Core, is a YA memoir-in-verse. Eric Gansworth tells the story of his life, of an Onondaga family living among Tuscaroras, and of Native people in America, including the damaging legacy of government boarding schools—and in doing so grapples with the slur common in Native communities, for someone “red on the outside, white on the inside,” and reclaims it.

THE FRINGE HOURS

Making Time for You

By: Jessica Turner

Published: February 17, 2015

Publisher: Revell

Non-Fiction

Format: Paperback

I’ve been reading a lot about time management and distractions lately. Turner’s book has been on my list for a while and I noticed that the paperback was only $2.99 so I grabbed it right away. It’s still a great deal less than $7 right now.

Every woman has had this experience: you get to the end of the day and realize you did nothing for you. And if you go days, weeks, or even months in this cycle, you begin to feel like you have lost a bit of yourself.

While life is busy with a litany of must-dos–work, child-rearing, keeping house, grocery shopping, laundry and on and on–women do not have to push their own needs aside. Yet this is often what happens. There’s just no time, right? Wrong.
In this practical and liberating book, Jessica Turner empowers women to take back pockets of time “they already have “in their day in order to practice self-care and do the things they love.

Turner uses her own experiences and those of women across the country to teach readers how to balance their many responsibilities while still taking time to invest in themselves. She also addresses barriers to this lifestyle, such as comparison and guilt, and demonstrates how eliminating these feelings and making changes to one’s schedule will make the reader a better wife, mother, and friend.

Perfect for any woman who is doing everything for everyone–except herself–“The Fringe Hours” is ideal for both individuals and small group use.

ELVIS AND ME

By: Pricilla Beaulieu Presley

Published: Originally, September 19, 1985

Publisher: Berkley

Memoir

Format: eBook purchase

After just visiting Graceland, this was in the Kindle Daily Deals and I couldn’t not grab it.

Decades after his death, millions of fans continue to worship Elvis the legend. But very few knew him as Elvis the man. Here in her own words, Priscilla Presley tells the story of their love, revealing the details of their first meeting, their marriage, their affairs, their divorce, and the unbreakable bond that has remained long after his tragic death.

A tribute to both the man and the legend, Elvis and Me gives Elvis fans the world over an unprecedented look at the true life of the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll and the woman who loved him.

THE LOST LETTERS OF AISLING

By: Cynthia Ellingsen

Published: April 1, 2024

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Historical Fiction

Format: eBook purchase

This was one of the free Kindle choices for March. If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can receive a free Kindle book every month. I have read lots of great books this way including a definite favorite of the year, DON’T FORGET TO WRITE.

Rainey’s grandmother makes a startling Take me home. To Ireland, the country she fled post–World War II. Though they’re inseparably close, Rainey knows few of her grandmother’s secrets. Until they arrive at Aisling—the majestic estate on the southern coast of Ireland where her grandmother was raised—and Rainey discovers a collection of seventy-year-old letters in a trunk.

Dublin, 1945. The Germans surrender, celebrants crowd the streets, and fourteen-year-old Evie meets her best friend, the spirited Harding McGovern. Years on, they are more like sisters when rumors begin that Harding works in the black market trade—a source of wealth that could give her a dream life in America but could also cause great danger. Evie is uncertain of the truth but will stand by Harding, whatever the cost.

As Rainey uses the letters to reunite her grandmother with the past, what unfolds is a never-forgotten story of family, friendship, and love, and the healing that comes from letting go of secrets.

MISS MORGAN’S BOOK BRIGADE

By: Janet Skeslien Charles

Published: April 30, 2024

Publisher: Atria

Historical Fiction

Format: Paperback for review

I shared this one last month as an eBook, but was thrilled to also get a physical copy. Janet’s book THE PARIS LIBRARY was a favorite book of 2021. I’m thrilled to get the chance to read her newest novel set during WWI and the 1980s in New York City.

1918: As the Great War rages, Jessie Carson takes a leave of absence from the New York Public Library to work for the American Committee for Devastated France. Founded by millionaire Anne Morgan, this group of international women help rebuild devastated French communities just miles from the front. Upon arrival, Jessie strives to establish something that the French have never seen—children’s libraries. She turns ambulances into bookmobiles and trains the first French female librarians. Then she disappears.

1987: When NYPL librarian and aspiring writer Wendy Peterson stumbles across a passing reference to Jessie Carson in the archives, she becomes consumed with learning her fate. In her obsessive research, she discovers that she and the elusive librarian have more in common than their work at New York’s famed library, but she has no idea their paths will converge in surprising ways across time.

SHELTERWOOD

By: Lisa Wingate

Published: June 4, 2024

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Historical Fiction

Format: eBook for review

Lisa Wingate is known for her popular book BEFORE WE WERE YOURS. I love dual-timeline novels and am excited to check this one out.

Oklahoma, 1909. Eleven-year-old Olive Augusta Radley knows that her stepfather doesn’t have good intentions toward the two Choctaw girls boarded in their home as wards. When the older girl disappears, Ollie flees to the woods, taking six-year-old Nessa with her. Together they begin a perilous journey to the rugged Winding Stair Mountains, the notorious territory of outlaws, treasure hunters, and desperate men. Along the way, Ollie and Nessa form an unlikely band with others like themselves, struggling to stay one step ahead of those who seek to exploit them . . . or worse.

Oklahoma, 1990. Law Enforcement Ranger Valerie Boren O’dell arrives at Horsethief Trail National Park seeking a quiet place to balance a career and single parenthood. But no sooner has Valerie reported for duty than she’s faced with local controversy over the park’s opening, a teenage hiker gone missing from one of the trails, and the long-hidden burial site of three children deep in a cave. Val’s quest to uncover the truth wins an ally among the neighboring Choctaw Tribal Police but soon collides with old secrets and the tragic and deadly history of the land itself.

In this emotional and enveloping novel, Lisa Wingate traces the story of children abandoned by the law and the battle to see justice done. Amid times of deep conflict over who owns the land and its riches, Ollie and Val traverse the wild and beautiful terrain, each leaving behind one life in search of another.

HUSBANDS AND LOVERS

By: Beatriz Williams

Published: June 25, 2024

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Historical Fiction

Format: eBook for review

I was thrilled to see Beatriz Williams has a new book coming this summer and even more excited to receive an early copy. I loved A HUNDRED SUMMERS as well as her collaborative novel, THE FORGOTTEN ROOM.

Two women—separated by decades and continents, and united by a mysterious family heirloom—discover second chances at love in this sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Wives.

A sprawling and exciting new novel from Beatriz Williams, the acclaimed author of A Hundred Summers and The Summer Wives.

COLLEGE GIRL MISSING

The True Story of How A Young Woman Disappeared in Plain Sight

By: Shawn Cohen

Published: May 28, 2024

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Non-Fiction/True Crime

Format: eBook for review

When I was in college, a young Iowa college student disappeared while driving back to campus. Her body was found, but over 30 years later, her murderer still has not been found. HERE is a recent CBS news story on this case. I remember this case impacting me greatly. I’m interested in this one, but also a little concerned it may hit too close to home as the mom of a college student.

When Lauren Spierer―a gregarious young woman at a crossroads in her life―vanished from Indiana University , her story drew global attention from celebrities and news outlets such as People magazine, CNN, and USA Today . Lauren’s disappearance wasn’t just some random abduction. What makes the case so confounding is that the 20-year-old was out with dozens of classmates in a bustling university town on the night she went missing. She was seen in public by witnesses and security cameras, and ended up in a townhouse complex with several wealthy, well-connected male students―never to be seen again. Despite the media frenzy surrounding the case, the police investigation went nowhere and her body was never found.   Armed with the support of Lauren’s parents and never-before-seen evidence that chronicles a cover-up, a botched investigation, conflicting testimony, and new interviews, Cohen leads readers through a gripping narrative before finally shining a light on those often forgotten in true the innocent people left behind. College Girl, Missing will take readers through a minute-by-minute recap of the last hours of Lauren’s life, and ask the What happened to Lauren Spierer?

Children’s Fiction and Non-Fiction

IT’S YOUR TIME TO SHINE

By: Dianne White

Illustrated by: Nanette Regan

Published: March 5, 2024

Publisher: Little Simon

Fiction

Format: Board Book

Teach your little one early to be confident! Check out Dianne White’s other books.

It’s your time to shine.
Show the world who you are:
confident,
courageous
a bright rising star!

Growing up means there are times for feeling your best, succeeding, feeling uncertain, and failing—and everything in between. Things may be ever-changing but this moment, right now—whether it’s a regular day or a pivotal occasion like a graduation—is the reader’s time to take charge.

HELLO CLOWNFISH

Read and Play in the Coral Reef

By: Hannah Rogge

Illustrated by: Emily Dove

Published: April 16, 2024

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Board Book

Introduce ocean life to your little one with this fun board book. Emily Dove’s illustrations are so cute!

Water babies and ocean lovers will adore this ingeniously crafted nature book! Simply “swim” the two clownfish characters—attached to the board book with ribbons—through the beautifully illustrated pages to explore the coral reef and learn how clever clownfish spend their days. Full of playful and informative touches, this book is a sweet introduction to these bright and curious little fish and the vital ecosystem of coral reefs.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Bookscape Board Books

By: Ingela P. Arrhenius

Published: April 16, 2024

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Board Book

New in the Bookscape Board Book series by Ingela P. Arrhenius.

Gear up for baby’s first wilderness adventure with this adorable board book all about the great outdoors!

Hike beside mountain lakes, pedal down rocky hillsides, and swoop across snowy ski slopes in this one-of-a-kind board book by celebrated illustrator Ingela P Arrhenius. Each uniquely shaped page overlaps with the next to create a complete landscape when closed—and an immersive world to explore when open. Simple text and vibrant illustrations introduce babies and toddlers to the many ways of enjoying time in nature.

HELLO HELLO COLORS

By: Brendan Wenzel

Published: June 18, 2024

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Board Book

Using animals to teach early learning concepts makes reading and learning fun for little ones.

Caldecott Honor–winning illustrator Brendan Wenzel’s irresistible animal images take the spotlight in this new series of concept board books for young children, based on his award-winning picture book Hello Hello .

Say hello to early learning concepts and the wild world of animals!

Little ones will learn their colors with the help of a zebra, a swordfish, a sloth, and . . . an axolotl? More than sixty wonderful and endangered creatures from earth, sea, and sky parade across the pages and show the beauty and variety of our planet. A key at the back of the book identifies the animals for even more nature fun.

HELLO HELLO SHAPES

By: Brendan Wenzel

Published: June 18, 2024

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Board Book

Another Hello Hello board book!

Caldecott Honor–winning illustrator Brendan Wenzel’s irresistible animal images take the spotlight in this new series of concept board books for young children, based on his award-winning picture book Hello Hello.

Say hello to early learning concepts and the wild world of animals!

Little ones will learn their shapes with the help of a couple of polar bears, some tree frogs, and a whole host of parrots! More than forty wonderful and endangered creatures from earth, sea, and sky parade across the pages and show the beauty and variety of our planet. A key at the back of the book identifies the animals for even more nature fun

ON A SUMMER NIGHT

By: Deborah Hopkinson

Illustrated by: Kenard Pak

Published: May 14, 2024

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

Summer nights are magical. Add this to your bedtime reading routine this summer. Hopkinson also wrote ONLY ONE.

Step into the quiet magic of this celebration of summer nighttime and the mystery of a world lit differently by the moon.

On a summer night, the world is still. Even the crickets think it’s too hot to sing. But all at once, a girl wakes. In the kitchen, the cat rolls onto its soft paws. A neighbor’s small white dog yaps, a brown rabbit peeks from a hedge, and the leaves of a cherry tree begin to stir in the breeze. Readers witness and Who has woken them all?  In this soothing bedtime story, the quiet of a warm summer night is brought to vivid, magical life with the soft steps of bare feet, the padding of paws, and the bright, golden light of the moon. One by one, each creature is roused and then gently returned to sleep in a lovely and lyrical exploration of wakefulness, restfulness, and the mysterious calm of the night.

SAVING DELICIA

A Story about Small Seeds and Big Dreams

By: Laura Gehl

Illustrated by: Patricia Metola

Published: April 9, 2024

Publisher: Flyaway Books

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

I love children’s stories to connect and encourage passing something on to the next generation. Laura Gehl is a favorite children’s author! She also collaborated with Patricia Metola on this book.

When the last delicia tree is in danger of extinction, a young girl creates a seed bank as a surprise for Old Otis, whose stories have inspired her. Kari’s favorite parts of summer are eating juicy fruit from the delicia tree and listening to stories from Old Otis. But now the last remaining delicia is in danger. What if this beloved tree dies out? Is there anything one girl can do? With inspiration, information, and a pocketful of seeds, Kari sets out to craft a surprise for Otis―and for the future. This tender story celebrates the connections between generations, emphasizing that small steps can have a big impact when one looks beyond the present. An author’s note about seed banks around the world is included.

FINDING GRATEFUL

By: Dianne White

Illustrated by: Faith Pray

Published: April 16, 2024

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

Teaching gratitude early is such a gift to your child’s future selves. I’ve loved Dianne White’s other books.

A heartfelt picture book that celebrates embracing the moment and finding gratitude right here, right now.

What does grateful look like? How does it feel? How do you find it? Even in the face of a challenge, you don’t need a You just need to pay attention to the little things—a smile, a hug, the smell of newly cut grass—that add up to a sense of presence and hope.

With evocative, lyrical prose, this warmly illustrated children’s book is a reminder to pause, reflect, and take in the glimmers of positivity and connection that can be found amid even the most difficult circumstances. Both a timely meditation on finding gratitude in everyday moments and a timeless ode to the simple joy of truly being present, Finding Grateful encourages readers to slow down and embrace the beauty of being right where they are.

KEEP UP, DUCK!

By: Ivan and Rachel Bates

Published: March 19, 2024

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

For your little tag-along…this will be a fun read-aloud!

Mama Duck and her ducklings are swimming to the lily pond, but the smallest duck, Puck, is always at the end of the line. As paddleboats splish and splosh by, Puck falls farther behind. “Keep up, Duck!” Mama quacks. Puck looks at the nearby boats and wonders, how can he keep up? He may not swim very fast, but he is determined. Hop! Hop! Plop! Will he have the last laugh? Children will love being in on the cheeky Puck’s sneaky solutions and mimicking all the sound words and the titular catchy chorus.

A SUNDAE WITH EVERYTHING ON IT

By: Kyle Scheele and Andy J. Pizza

Published: April 16, 2024

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

Andy J. Pizza’s book INVISIBLE THINGS made learning about feelings fun so you know this one will be too. Pair this one with a fun trip to get ice cream!

From the laugh-out-loud talent behind A Pizza with Everything on It , Kyle Scheele and Andy J. Pizza stir up yet another deliciously hilarious picture book adventure that will melt readers’ hearts.

Embark on a quest for dessert that is truly out-of-this-world in this deliciously funny family adventure tale. Sure, it’s hard to find a bowl big enough for an asteroid-size scoop of ice cream, but when your mom is a quantum physicist who also happens to be the inventor of a space-time travel device, the sweet taste of success is all but guaranteed. Get ready for a joyride around the Spooniverse as this mom and son duo embark on an inter-dimensional quest for the perfect dessert!

TOO MANY GOLEMS

By: Jane Yolen

Published: April 23, 2024

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

Jane Yolen’s lyrical tales are always a hit with kids.

Award-winning author Jane Yolen brings us a delightfully humorous tale inspired by Jewish folklore of a well-intentioned but mischievous boy who accidentally summons ten golems.

“A truly original story that charmed me from start to finish. This book put a big smile on my face!”— Lesléa Newman, author of Welcoming A Passover Tale with a Tail , winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award and National Jewish Book Award

“A delightful reimagining of Jewish folklore! Magic that will captivate children of all backgrounds.”—Ruth Behar, Pura Belpré Author Award winner and author of Tía Fortuna’s New A Jewish Cuban Journey , a Sydney Taylor Notable Book

The rabbi’s son, Abi, has a habit of getting in trouble. It’s not on purpose, and usually, they’re harmless accidents. But this time, Abi has stolen a scroll from the synagogue—to practice his Hebrew!—and is not ready for what, or rather, who will show up at his front door as a result.

The golems Abi summons may look monstrous, but we soon learn they are only there to help! With beloved author Jane Yolen’s signature wit and delightful illustrations by Maya Shleifer, Too Many Golems conveys the unexpected joy of magical accidents and the importance of being a good neighbor to all.

BASKETBALL TOWN

By: Scott Rothman

Illustrated by: Darnell Johnson

Published: September 12, 2023

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

It’s basketball season! Encourage a love of basketball with this great read-aloud!

Maxwell loves basketball so much, he dreams about it every night—crashing the boards, splashing treys, and taking it to the rack. Then one day he wakes up . . . in Basketball Town! Everywhere he looks, everyone is hooping, and Maxwell can play anytime he wants. To get him ready for the Championship, the Mayor sends Maxwell to Skillsville, where he aces Alley-Oop Academy and the College of the Crossover, earning his dunking diploma from Phi Slamma Jamma. At the Championship, he’s thrilled to discover that his team from home is there, up against the greatest team ever assembled! With Maxwell’s team down by twenty and only five minutes to go, can Maxwell and his team work together to give themselves a chance to win? Anyone scouting for basketball- or sports-themed books for the younger set will want to grab this gem by Scott Rothman, with energetic illustrations by Darnell Johnson—a story full of fun lingo and crackling with action.

TWO TOGETHER

By: Brenden Wenzel

Published: April 23, 2024

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

The third book by Brenden Wenzel that I am featuring this month. A great book for showing that people can still get along despite their differences.

In this companion book to They All Saw a Cat and Inside Cat , a journey home leads to unexpected adventures for a cat and dog. A playful, imaginative story of friendship, empathy, and discovery by Caldecott Honor winner Brendan Wenzel.

Cat and Dog are headed home. A simple route lies ahead of them . . . or does it? There’s so much to see and smell and hear, and the two of them experience the world very differently. A stream, for instance, is watery fun for Dog, but it may not be so delightful for Cat!

As their journey becomes an adventure full of unexpected twists and turns, Cat and Dog show that it’s possible for two creatures to travel in the world together despite their distinctive perspectives and abilities—and even to appreciate and enjoy them. With the irresistible read-aloud appeal of Brendan Wenzel’s They All Saw a Cat , winner of the Caldecott Honor , this is a funny, exuberant companion tale that’s an imaginative tribute to empathy, friendship, and understanding.

TREASURE OF MEASURES

By: Mike Downs

Illustrated by: Joy Hwang Ruiz

Published: April 9, 2024

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

A great book for introducing the concept of measurement.

There are so many little life moments to measure—and so many creative ways to measure them!

How do you measure how long it takes to read a good book? Sure, you can use units of time, like minutes or hours . . . but you can also use your very own how many times you laugh or cry, how many pages you turn, or how many times you ask to read it again. And measuring rainfall could mean using decibels of sound . . . or how many people you see opening umbrellas. This playful picture book introduces young readers to different units of measurement, then invites them to think of creative ways to quantify the meaningful moments in their lives. The possibilities are as limitless as the imagination!

CRESS WATERCRESS

By: Gregory Maguire

Illustrated by: David Litchfield

Published: March 29, 2022

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Middle-Grade Fiction

Format: Paperback for review

I just think this sounds delightful.

Gregory Maguire turns his trademark wit and wisdom to an animal adventure about growing up, moving on, and finding community. When Papa doesn’t return from a nocturnal honey-gathering expedition, Cress holds out hope, but her mother assumes the worst. It’s a dangerous world for rabbits, after all. Mama moves what’s left of the Watercress family to the basement unit of the Broken Arms, a run-down apartment oak with a suspect owl landlord, a nosy mouse super, a rowdy family of squirrels, and a pair of songbirds who broadcast everyone’s business. Can a dead tree full of annoying neighbors, and no Papa, ever be home? In the timeless spirit of E. B. White and The Wind and the Willows—yet thoroughly of its time—this read-aloud and read-alone gem for animal lovers of all ages features an unforgettable cast that leaps off the page in glowing illustrations by David Litchfield. This tender meditation on coming-of-age invites us to flourish wherever we find ourselves.

JUNETEENTH IS

By: Natasha Tripplett

Illustrated by: Daniel J. O’Brien

Published: April 9, 2024

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Non-Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

As a kid, I’d never heard of Juneteenth. Let’s stop that cycle and make sure all children know about this day and what it stands for.

An intimate look at Juneteenth, this story is a warm look at a family and a community. 

Juneteenth is the smell of brisket filling the air. Juneteenth is the sounds of music, dancing, and cheering ringing from the parade outside. It is love. It is prayer. It is friends and relatives coming together to commemorate freedom, hope for tomorrow, and one another.

This book is an ode to the history of the Black community in the United States, a tribute to Black joy, and a portrait of familial love. With poignant text and vivid illustrations, Juneteenth Is offers a window and a mirror for readers, resonating with kids who will see themselves reflected in its pages and those who hope to understand experiences beyond their own.

TACKO FALL

To New Heights

By: Tacko Fall and Justin Haynes

Illustrated by: Reggie Brown

Published: September 20, 2022

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Biography

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

During this March Madness season, inspire your future ballers that they can work hard and do great things!

Tacko Fall was always tall, even as a child, but he wasn’t always a slam-dunk star. On his first official day of training as a boy in Senegal, running up and down the basketball court was exhausting. The first time he tried weight-lifting, he could barely lift the bar, even with no weights on it! The game had many rules that he didn’t understand, but Tacko set aside frustration and found the courage to keep working. The more he practiced, the more his skills grew, and the more reachable his goals became. Touching on immigration, determination, hard work, and the long road to success, this picture-book biography of one rising basketball star will delight his many fans and introduce him to new ones. Coauthored with his sports agent and paired with engaging illustrations, Tacko Fall’s relatable story will motivate readers to overcome obstacles and aim high—and higher still.

ALL ABOUT U.S.

A Look at the Lives of 50 Real Kids from Across the United States

By: Matt Lamothe and Jenny Volvovski

Published: August 6, 2024

Publisher: Chronicle Kids

Non-Fiction/Biography

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

This is such a cool book. I think kids will really love reading about other kids around the USA doing amazing things.

A gorgeously illustrated companion to Matt Lamothe’s This Is How We Do It featuring 50 kids from across the United States.

From the rocky coastline of Maine to the lush rainforests of Hawai‘i, read about the many different places American kids call home—and about 50 real kids who live there.

In Iowa, Amelia and her dad soar through the skies in their red-and-white-striped plane.
In Rhode Island, Ramon and his sisters ride scooters in the apartment building courtyard.
In Louisiana, Adrain Jr. races his dirt bike down a gravel road, speeding past cornfields.

Matt Lamothe and Jenny Volvovski document the daily lives of 50 children from America’s 50 states in this compelling companion to the award-winning picture book This Is How We Do It. Fifty unique, authentic portraits of growing up in America This illustration-packed nonfiction children’s book depicts a diverse collection of families, homes, and dreams, highlighting what makes each child’s world so unique yet also familiar. All About U.S. brings us together by celebrating the similarities and differences between kids’ day-to-day experiences across the United States.

Which books are you adding to your reading list?

Click HERE to see all the posts featuring new books on my shelves.

So many books, so little time!