April Pulley

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7 Spooky, Punchy, Totally Not Boring Poetry Books for Young Readers

Jul 24, 2024 | slj.com | April Pulley

These individual poems and collections about animals, outer space, feelings, and more will satisfy a wide range of budding poets and other interested readers. COELHO, Joseph. Spooky Poems Aloud: 25 Poems to Frighten and Delight. illus. by Daniel Gray-Barnett. 40p. (Poetry to Perform). Quarto/Wide Eyed Eds. Aug. 2024. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780711287402. Gr 1-4–Coelho encourages young readers to experiment with sharing and writing poetry in this thematic collection of creepy poems.
8 Remarkable Poetry Books For Young Readers of All Ages

Jul 22, 2024 | slj.com | April Pulley

GRANDITS, John. Dog & Cat: Concrete Poems & Conversations. Carus Kids. Gr 3-7–A heartwarming and nerve-racking poem that accurately portrays one family’s emotional roller-coaster, told in the voices of its feline and canine companions, and a must-have for libraries. HUGHES, Langston. Aunt Sue’s Stories. illus. by Gary Kelley. Creative Eds. Gr 2-4–A stellar combination of words and illustrations sure to inform and inspire kids across a wide range of ages. A must-read. JACOB, Lucinda & Sarah Webb, eds.
2 Picture Books Based on Emily Dickinson

Jun 27, 2024 | slj.com | April Pulley

In these two picture books, a couple of different illustrators have shared their creative vision for Emily Dickinson’s famous poem, “Hope Is the Thing with Feathers.” One hallmark of a classic is that it can be interpreted in many ways. Here, two different illustrators have shared their creative vision for Emily Dickinson’s famous poem, “Hope Is the Thing with Feathers.”DICKINSON, Emily. Hope Is the Thing with Feathers. illus. by Tatyana Feeney. 24p. (Petite Poems). Cameron Kids. Mar. 2024. Tr $15.99.
10 Reference Titles for Research in Women

Jun 25, 2024 | slj.com | April Pulley

These titles are available as a downloadable spreadsheet. ALLEN, John. Artificial Intelligence: Promise and Peril. 64p. ReferencePoint. Apr. 2024. Tr $32.95. ISBN 9781678207243. Gr 5 Up–This title outlines the topic from the birth of the term artificial intelligence (AI) in 1955 to business giants discussing privacy, usage, and protective measures with the government in 2023.
Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall

Jun 18, 2024 | slj.com | Lynn Brunelle |Debbie Tanner |April Pulley

. Jun. 2024. 48p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780823452286. COPY ISBN Gr 2-4–Little is known about occurrences out in the open waters of the ocean, but this title tackles what happens when a whale dies. Brunelle opens by introducing a blue whale and helping readers understand its size and life span; things take a really compelling turn when the whale dies and the story of the decomposition of the body of the largest mammal on Earth begins.
Spirit Sleuths: How Magicians and Detectives Exposed the Ghost Hoaxes

Jun 18, 2024 | slj.com | Gail Jarrow |Shelley Diaz |April Pulley

. Sept. 2024. 176p. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9781662680236. COPY ISBN Gr 7 Up–A natural and riveting follow-up to Jarrow’s Spooked and The Amazing Harry Kellar, her previous books about debunking hoaxes and the supernatural. In concise, approachable chapters, the author details the origins of Spiritualism, its popularity and most well-known practitioners, and the sleuths who dedicated their lives to disproving the methods and beliefs that made it popular.
In Praise of Mystery

Jun 18, 2024 | slj.com | Kate Newcombe |April Pulley

by (text) & illus. by Peter Sís . Oct. 2024. 32p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781324054009. COPY ISBN PreS-Gr 2–Limón’s words will travel nearly two billion miles to Jupiter’s second moon, Europa, via NASA spacecraft in the fall of 2024. The poem speaks to the power of the “mysteries below our sky” and the value in retaining one’s sense of wonder while journeying into the larger world.
The Idea in You

Jun 18, 2024 | slj.com | Jennifer Noonan |April Pulley

by (text) & illus. by Sean Qualls . Sept. 2024. 32p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781419738265. COPY ISBN Gr 1-5–Where do ideas come from? They can come from anywhere. A star is “idea-ified,” and readers are encouraged to reach for it, hold it, and listen. Maybe it becomes a story, or music, or perhaps it’s one ingredient in a recipe for something greater. Ideas can be sweet, or sad, but are something that can be molded over time and explored again and again.
The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate

May 1, 2024 | slj.com | Kate Newcombe |April Pulley

. Apr. 2024. 72p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780760385791. COPY ISBN Gr 1-5–Agostini has written multiple books about Juneteenth, and her expertise shines in these pages. The book opens with a nice explainer about the holiday, noting that while the celebration of Emancipation had been observed for over 150 years, it only became a federal holiday in 2021. Throughout the book, readers follow a little girl named Alliah and her grandparents as they prepare for their Juneteenth festivities.