Sylvia Vardell

1 month ago | hbook.com | Monique Harris |Danielle Ford |Pauletta Brown Bracy |Sylvia Vardell

Mighty: The Story of an Oak Tree Ecosystem by Henry Cole; illus. by the authorPrimary    Peachtree    48 pp. 2/25    9781682637333    $18.99e-book ed. 9781682637708    $11.99The life of an oak tree is beautifully depicted in this engaging informational picture book.

1 month ago | hbook.com | Monique Harris |Danielle Ford |Pauletta Brown Bracy |Sylvia Vardell

Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer by Quartez Harris; illus. by Gordon C. JamesPrimary, Intermediate    Little, Brown    40 pp. 1/25    9780316483933    $18.99Few writers have commanded the English language like James Baldwin (1924–1987). As a child in Harlem, Jimmy was expected to care for his eight siblings while his mother did domestic work. He endured a domineering stepfather, bullying, racism, and police violence. All the while, he escaped through the world of words and books.

1 month ago | hbook.com | Martha V. Parravano |Sylvia Vardell |Julie Danielson

In the Desert by David Elliott; illus. by Gordy WrightPrimary    Candlewick    40 pp. 3/25    9781536223385    $18.99In fifteen verses, Elliott celebrates creatures who inhabit the Sahara Desert—and, in one introductory poem, the desert itself. As always in this winning series (see At the Poles, rev. 9/23, and eight other titles), the poems are an enticing mix of the evocative and the witty, with haunting language characterizing some poems and light wordplay others.

2 months ago | hbook.com | Sylvia Vardell |Adrienne L. Pettinelli |Sarah Ellis |Martha V. Parravano

Green Promises: Girls Who Loved the Earth by Jeannine AtkinsIntermediate, Middle School    Atheneum    320 pp. 2/25    9781665950572    $17.99e-book ed. 9781665950596    $10.99Atkins (Hidden Powers, rev. 5/22, and others) continues uncovering stories of real women of science who have made unsung contributions to their fields.

Mar 19, 2025 | hbook.com | Monique Harris |Betty Carter |Pauletta Brown Bracy |Sylvia Vardell

What I Must Tell the World: How Lorraine Hansberry Found Her Voice by Jay Leslie; illus. by Loveis WisePrimary    Hillman Grad/Zando    48 pp. 10/24    9781638930693    $19.99“Our stories can change the world.” Carl Hansberry’s words and courageous example were an inspiration to his daughter Lorraine (1930–1965). From a young age, Lorraine knew she wanted to share the stories that seemed to swirl around her in her Chicago neighborhood of Bronzeville.