Jasmine Toguchi

Is there a better pairing than Jasmine Toguchi and handmade mochi?  In a recent visit to two small traditional mochi shops, irrepressible, spirited Jasmine came to mind.  Debbi Michiko Florence’s chapter book series is one that Avery returns to and re-reads on a regular basis.  Tried-and-true favorites.  Isn’t that all you can hope for when you bring books home to your kids?  That they’ll truly connect with them, bond with the characters in the stories and read them again and again.

As promised, I’m working on a list of our favorite chapter books for the blog, and you can bet three sweet bites of mochi that Jasmine will be on the list.

The four books in the Jasmine Toguchi series (Mochi Queen, Super Sleuth, Drummer Girl and Flamingo Keeper) were written by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic  and published by Farrar Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers.

The Day You Begin

“There will be times when you walk into a room and there is no one quite like you.”

We have many back to school books but this new one that releases next Tuesday is a special one.  It speaks with empathy and poignancy not only to first-day nerves but to newcomers who feel like outsiders.  It helps us realize that what we feel is a big gap of differences might actually be more narrow than we think.  This story—this beautiful, meaningful set of words—helps readers celebrate their individuality and recognize the uniqueness of their lives.  And how sharing our stories with others around us makes their lives—and the world—richer.  A must-have for every library.

The Day You Begin was written by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López and published by Nancy Paulsen Books. It’ll be out next Tuesday, August 28 and will also be published in Spanish.

Vivid: Poems & Notes About Color

And yet another book to add to this year’s foison of color books.  It’s a resplendent collection of poems about color accompanied by fascinating bits about the history, science, language and culture of color.

“What color paint would you like tonight?

Crimson, scarlet, or cadmium light?

Magenta, madder, beet, carmine?

Quinacridone rose, alizarin?

There are a zillion!

Even vermillion!”

Vivid: Poems & Notes About Color was written and illustrated by Julie Paschkis and published by Henry Holt and Co.

Good Morning, Neighbor

This charming story is about friendship, sharing and how teamwork and compromise can bring big — and delicious — ideas to life.  And it’s a lovely reminder of the importance of breaking bread together and coming together as a community.

Good Morning, Neighbor was written by Davide Cali, illustrated by Maria Dek and published by Princeton Architectural Press.  It’ll be out on September 4.

Time for Bed, Miyuki

“With a rain of gold on silver hills, the sun offers its last light before leaving for the night.”

Night is falling and Grandpa tells Miyuki that it’s bedtime but she’s “busy playing and trying to push back time.”  She thinks of one more thing — which turns into a long string of “one more things”— that she needs to finish preparing for tomorrow.  Illustrator Seng Soun Ratanavanh’s art and palette are some sort of wonderful otherworldly dream.  Time for Bed, Miyuki is an enchanting, poetic tale to settle down with at the end of the day.  One of our favorites published this year.

Time for Bed, Miyuki was written by Roxane Marie Galliez, illustrated by Seng Soun Ratanavanh and published by Princeton Architectural Press.  It’ll be out on September 18.