Adler, David A. Don’t Throw It to Mo!  
Underdog football player Mo Jackson may be the smallest kid on his team, but Coach Steve has a plan for him to save the day. (Geisel Medal Book) E 428 ADL

Andrews, Troy.  Trombone Shorty.  
In this autobiography, Trombone Shorty reminisces about his early life in the jazz music scene of his beloved hometown of New Orleans. (Caldecott Honor Book) E-B ANDREWS

Bagley, Jessixa. Boats for Papa.
Bagley’s gentle artwork and warm story sensitively portray Buckley’s way of coping with the absence of his father by making boats from found beach objects.  E BAG

Barnett, Mac. Leo: A Ghost Story.
‪Leo, a child ghost, leaves his home when its new occupants fear him.  He soon meets Jane and discovers the wonder and joy of a true friend. Cut-paper collages capture Leo’s emotional journey. E BAR

Barnett, Mac. The Skunk.
What is a man to do when a skunk appears on his doorstep? Readers follow the man and skunk on a quirky, humorous adventure. E BAR

Beaton, Kate.  The Princess and the Pony.
Princess Pinecone wants a proper warrior’s horse for her birthday. The round, short, flatulent one she gets instead is not what she had in mind, but she learns it can be a secret weapon. E BEA

Bell, Cece. I Yam a Donkey! 
Correcting a donkey’s grammar and pronunciation comically leads to one yam’s demise. E BEL
  
Davis, Eleanor and Drew Weing. Flop to the Top!
Wanda is shocked to learn that her dog, Wilbur—not Wanda—has become an instant celebrity when a selfie goes viral. Bright, bold cartoon art tells this story, emphasizing that friendship and family are more important than fame. J-GRAPHIC DAV

de la Peña,Matt. Last Stop on Market Street.
CJ’s journey with his Nana is not just a simple bus ride; it is a multi-sensory experience through which he discovers that beautiful music, nature, and people surround him. (Newbery Medal Book & Caldecott Honor Book) E DEL

Dyckman, Ame. Wolfie the Bunny.
When her parents decide to raise a baby wolf as their own, Dot the rabbit fears that he will eat them all up, until a surprising encounter with a bear brings them closer together. E DYC

Engle, Margarita. Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music.
In this story inspired by a real musician, a girl in Cuba longs to play the drums, and with perseverance, she breaks down the gender barrier, eventually becoming a famous drummer. (Belpré Illustrator Medal Book) E ENG

Guiberson, Brenda Z. The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea.
A dozen intriguing sea animals in the ocean explain their unique characteristics. Readers are invited to choose which is the most amazing. J 591.77 GUI

Henkes, Kevin. Waiting.
In this gentle story of five animal figurines waiting together by the window, readers and characters meet new friends, observe the unhurried passage of the seasons, and anticipate what may come next.  (Caldecott & Geisel Honor Book) E HEN

Lawson, JonArno. Sidewalk Flowers.
A little girl collects wildflowers while her distracted father pays little attention. In a wordless homage to the importance of small things, each flower becomes a gift, transforming the giver and the recipient. J-GRAPHIC LAW

Liniers. Written and Drawn by Henrietta.  
Henrietta is writing and illustrating a story about a three-headed monster. Liniers’ thin-lined, expressive cartoons, complete with Henrietta’s crayon-thick scrawls, track her joyful creation of a scary and funny adventure. (Batchelder Honor Book) J-GRAPHIC LIN

London, Jonathan.  Hippos Are Huge!
The hippo, with its monstrous jaw and razor-sharp tusks, is the most dangerous animal in Africa. Filled with fascinating facts about the fierce, but sometimes playful, hippopotamus. J 599.635 LON

Mattick, Lindsay. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear.
This heartening tale is an incredible account of the friendship and love shared between a soldier and the real bear that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. (Caldecott Medal Book) E MAT

Medina, Meg. Mango, Abuela, and Me.
When Mia discovers that her Abuela can’t speak English, she finds the perfect gift that helps them both with their language barrier. Vibrant illustrations and Spanish words blend together to create a warm family story. (Belpré Author & Illustrator Honor Book) E MED

Nelson, Kadir. If You Plant a Seed.
‪A rabbit and mouse wait patiently for the seeds they planted to grow into delicious vegetables. When some birds want part of the harvest, everyone learns being kind is the most fruitful way to be. E NEL

Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux. The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, & Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore.
Takes readers through the National Memorial African Bookstore in Harlem. This one-of-a-kind store offered a place for African Americans to read, learn, and debate ideas for over 40 years. E NEL

Nilsson, Ulf. Detective Gordon: The First Case.
Squirrel’s nuts have been stolen! Never fear, a bulbous toad, Detective Gordon, and his new mouse assistant, Buffy, are on the case. A delightful mystery.  J-M NIL

Pearle, Ida. The Moon Is Going to Addy’s House.
Addy and her family watch the moon follow them through the sky on a car ride home. Colorful cut-paper collage illustrations in luminescent tones illuminate the journey. E PEA

Pinkney, Jerry. The Grasshopper and the Ants.
In this adaptation of Aesop’s fable, vivid, intricate watercolors bring to life hardworking ants as they prepare for the winter, while a playful grasshopper wishes they would join in his merrymaking instead. E 398.2 PIN

Portis, Antoinette. Wait.
On their way to catch a bus, a mother wants to hurry; her child wants to wait. A surprise stops them both, just short of the bus. E POR

Rockliff, Mara. Gingerbread for Liberty: How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution.
Little-known hero baker of the American Revolution Christopher Ludwick stars in this engaging picture book biography with a tasty twist. E-B LUDWICK

Rosenthal, Betsy R. An Ambush of Tigers: A Wild Gathering of Collective Nouns.
This collection of humorous illustrations and clever word play introduces children to the wide variety of animal groups, such as a prickle of porcupines and a tower of giraffes. E 428.2 ROS

Ruddell, Deborah. The Popcorn Astronauts: And Other Biteable Rhymes.
Sink your teeth into a delicious collection of poetry for all seasons, complete with imaginative watercolor illustrations that bring the whimsy to life. J 811.6 RUD

Ruzzier, Sergio. Two Mice.
Two mice embark on adventures on the water and in the air, by both day and night. Beginning readers will enjoy the simple text, the counting experience, and the colorful illustrations. E RUZ
  
Savage, Stephen. Supertruck.
When a blizzard comes to town, an unassuming garbage truck secretly trades his glasses for a powerful snowplow and becomes the heroic "Supertruck.” (Geisel Honor Book) E SAV

Shea, Bob. Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret.
Ballet Cat loves ballet more than anything. What happens when her best friend Sparkles doesn’t want to play ballet every day? Find out in an early reader that breezily dances along. E 428 SHE

Stead, Philip. Lenny & Lucy.
Homemade guardians Lenny and Lucy protect Peter and his dog from the dark, scary woods and help him find fun and friendship at his new home. Pops of color bring life to the charcoal illustrations. E STE

Stead, Philip. Special Delivery.
Meeting some odd characters along the way, Sadie travels by plane, train, and alligator to deliver an elephant to lonely Great Aunt Josephine. E STE

Tallec, Oliver. Who Done It?   
Flip the pages to view the suspect line-ups and use the visual clues to determine the “who done it” on each page. A mystery designed for preschoolers. E TAL

Tarpley, Todd. Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep! 
Three rowdy robots keep a young boy awake with their requests for more oil, tightened bolts, loosened fan belts, and more. Will a bedtime story finally lead to sleep? E TAR

Tavares, Matt. Growing Up Pedro.
A young Pedro Martinez, inspired by his brother Ramon, rises from humble beginnings in the Dominican Republic to become one of the best Major League Baseball players of our time. E-B MARTINEZ
  
Thompson, Laurie Ann. Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah.
Emmanuel doesn't allow his malformed leg to deter him from riding a bike to crusade for disability rights in Ghana. His successes chronicled in this biography are inspirational. E-B YEBOAH
  
Van Biesen, Koen. Roger Is Reading a Book.
Cinematic art and text illuminate exuberant Emily, whose loud hobbies interrupt Roger as he tries to peacefully read his book.  E VAN

Winter, Jonah. Lillian’s Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Recalling the fight for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a 100-year-old woman on the way to cast her ballot recounts the journey her family faced in gaining the right to vote. GOLDSTAR WIN

MIDDLE READERS

Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. The War That Saved My Life.
Bradley’s powerful plot, remarkably drawn characters, and sparse language are outstanding components of this novel about courage, community, and conviction. (Newbery Honor Book) J-HF BRA

Burgess, Matthew. Enormous Smallness: A Story of E. E. Cummings.
From an early age, poet E. E. Cummings loved words. Burgess’s text, enhanced by Di Giacomo’s collage illustrations, explores Cummings’ life from his childhood to his career as a poet. E-B CUMMINGS
  
Davy, Owen. Mad about Monkeys.
Learn about more than 250 species of monkeys from around the world through a series of warm illustrations and fascinating facts. J 599.8 DAV
   
Draper, Sharon M. Stella by Starlight.
In 1932 North Carolina, Stella feels the effects of a Klan cross burning, segregation, voter registration, and a major house fire in a story of change in a close-knit community. J-HF DRA

Gino, Alex. George.
George identifies as a girl; if only the rest of the world would too. With the help of best friend Kelly, George takes the first steps to becoming Melissa, her true self. J GIN
  
Graff, Lisa. Lost in the Sun.
In his efforts to make a fresh start in middle school, Trent struggles to put a traumatic event behind him. Fallon, the class outcast, strives to help Trent let go of his guilt. J GRA
  
Hilton, Marilyn. Full Cicada Moon.
Set against the backdrop of the first lunar landing, this free verse novel features Mimi Oliver, a half Japanese, half African American girl who learns about fitting in and standing up for what’s right. J-HF HIL

Hunt, Lynda Mullaly. Fish in a Tree.
With the help of an insightful teacher and quirky friends, Ally discovers how smart she really is in spite of being identified as dyslexic.

Jamieson, Victoria. Roller Girl.
Astrid falls in love with roller derby and learns how to be tougher, stronger, and fearless. Jamieson perfectly captures the highs and lows of growing up in this dynamic graphic novel. (Newbery Honor Book) J-GRAPHIC JAM

Jones, Kelly. Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer.
Told primarily in letters, a series of humorous events kicks off when Sophie discovers chickens with astonishing abilities after her family inherits her great uncle’s farm. J-FAN JON

Kelly, Erin Entrada. Blackbird Fly.
Eighth-grader Apple, a Filipino American, faces bullying, parental conflicts, fickle friends, and a lack of self-confidence with the help of a Beatles cassette, new friends, and the determination to play the guitar. J KEL

McDougall, Sophia.  Mars Evacuees.
A war between Earth and aliens leads to the evacuation of children to Mars. When the grown-ups disappear, Alice, her friends, and a robot goldfish make a discovery that might just change everything. J-SF MCD

Rappaport, Doreen. Frederick’s Journey: The Life of Frederick Douglass.
The story of Frederick Douglass’ inspirational life and quest for equal rights unfolds with dramatic illustrations and powerful language, including quotes from Douglass. J-B DOUGLASS
  
Rockliff, Mara. Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery That Baffled All of France.
Follow along as Ben Franklin applies the scientific method to a new mysterious phenomenon Dr. Mesmer has been spreading across France. A whimsical look at science and history. J 973.3 ROC

Ryan, Pam Muñoz. Echo.
This original fairytale intertwines with historical fiction to explore music and its power to save, heal, and set free. (Newbery Honor Book) J-FAN RYA

Sachar, Louis. Fuzzy Mud.
Taking a shortcut through the off-limits woods to avoid a bully, Tamaya and Marshall encounter fuzzy-looking mud that unleashes a medical and environmental disaster. J-SF SAC

Sands, Kevin. The Blackthorn Key.  
In 1665 London, Christopher, an apothecary’s apprentice, and his best friend Tom attempt to uncover the truth behind a mysterious cult. They follow a trail of puzzles, codes, pranks, and danger toward a powerful secret.

Selznick, Brian. The Marvels.
Two seemingly unrelated plots—Billy Marvel’s wordless, illustrated story set in 1776; and Joseph Jervis’s prose story set in 1990—come together in a tale of mystery, adventure, friendship, and family. J-HF SEL

Smith, Charles R. Jr. 28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World.
From the shooting of Crispus Attucks to the inauguration of President Barack Obama, 28 moments in Black history are celebrated through poetry, prose, and vivid illustrations. J 973.0496 SMI
  
Tate, Don.  Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton.
George Moses Horton overcame slavery and illiteracy to become a remarkable poet. His love of words and success as a poet will inspire readers. E-B HORTON

Vernon, Ursula. Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible.
In a spunky graphic novel retelling of Sleeping Beauty, Harriet, a hamster princess, embarks on many wild adventures until the curse on her backfires and she needs to save her parents. J-FAN VER

Williams-Garcia, Rita. Gone Crazy in Alabama.
Sisters Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern travel to rural Alabama to visit Big Ma during the summer of 1969, where they find out about southern culture, animal rights, and the strength of their family, both past and present. J-HF WIL

OLDER READERS

Benjamin, Ali. The Thing about Jellyfish.
Suzy Swanson suspects that a rare jellyfish sting caused the death of her friend. With imagination and determination, she sets out on a journey to prove her theory—and starts her journey of healing. J BEN

Grove, Tim.  First Flight around the World: The Adventures of the American Fliers Who Won the Race.
In 1924, a group of brave men faced violent weather, unreliable navigation, crashes, and unfamiliar foreign cultures in their goal to win the race to be the first to circumnavigate the globe by plane. J 629.13 GRO

Lai, Thanhhà.  Listen, Slowly.
California-born Mai learns the true meaning of family and friendship when she travels with her grandmother to her native Vietnam and learns about her grandfather’s fate. J LAI

Oppel, Kenneth. The Nest.
Steve is always anxious and his baby brother’s health issues take it to another level.  When he is approached by the Wasp Queen, who claims she can solve his worries, he learns agreeing with the wasps comes with a dangerous price. Haunting and eerie. J-HOR OPP

Pearsall, Shelley. The Seventh Most Important Thing.
After throwing a brick at the Junk Man’s head, 13-year-old Arthur is sentenced to assist him. Little does he know that the junk he collects is part of a significant work of art. J-HF PEA

Resau, Laura.  The Lightning Queen.
An unlikely friendship between Esma, a Romani girl, and Teo, a Mixteco boy, underpins an adventurous story that spans several generations and presents insights into two marginalized cultures. J RES

ALL AGES

Cotton, Katie. Counting Lions.
Written in free verse poems, this oversize counting book features striking detailed portraits filled with emotion, which showcase a variety of creatures. E 590 COT
   
Guojing.  The Only Child.
An only child trying to find her way to grandma’s house becomes lost in an unknown world, but imaginative companions help her find her way back. A stunning wordless graphic novel that explores isolation and resourcefulness. E GUO
 
Hughes, Langston. Sail Away.
Poems by legendary African American poet Langston Hughes celebrate water in many forms. His words are brought to life with brightly colored collage art by Ashley Bryan. J 811.52 HUG

Myers, Christopher. My Pen.
In detailed, pen-and-ink illustrations, Myers relates the story of a boy and his pen, who, together, can build worlds, ride dinosaurs, and show love—all they have to do is let the worlds inside themselves out! E MYE

National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry: More Than 200 Poems with Photographs That Float, Zoom, and Bloom!  
Bold, colorful photos, paired with kid-friendly poems about nature, connect readers to the outside world and show how easily poetic inspiration comes from our planet. J 808.81 NAT

Robertson, Robbie. Hiawatha and the Peacemaker.
After losing his family to war, the grieving Hiawatha is asked by the Peacemaker to help him unite the five warring Iroquois nations. Vivid oil paintings illustrate the fictional retelling of the true story. E-AV KIT ROB

Spiegelman, Nadja. Lost in NYC: A Subway Adventure.
Explore the New York City subway system with Pablo and Alicia as they get separated from their class while finding their way to the Empire State Building. Includes maps, archival photos, and historical notes. J-GRAPHIC SPI

Weatherford, Carole Boston. Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement.
The inspirational singer and Civil Rights activist comes to life in 22 brief, first person, free verse poems that seamlessly incorporate Hamer’s own words. The biography takes her from a sharecropping child to a community leader. (Caldecott & Sibert Honor Book)J-B HAMER