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Eggs from Red Hen Farm by Monica Wellington

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Eggs from Red Hen Farm by Monica Wellington
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A practical picture book that explains where eggs come from AND teaches young readers how to read a basic map — what fun! I loved maps when I was a kid and this book is a great introduction to the concept of getting on the road to move from one place to the next.

Eggs from Red Hen Farm by Monica Wellington, (List Price: $18.99, Holiday House, 9780823447824,  March 2022)

Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

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Abdul's Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
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This is a beautifully diverse book about Abdul finding his voice despite his learning challenges. Throughout the story Abdul doesn’t think he is a writer, but he knows he has stories to tell. Once he has a mentor he learns that everyone makes mistakes and the best stories come from what look like messes. In the end Abdul finds his voice and confidence in what once felt like an impossible task.

Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, (List Price: $17.99, Salaam Reads, Simon ∓ Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781534462984,  March 2022)

Reviewed by Josie Greenwald, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Catalina Incognito by Jennifer Torres

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Catalina Incognito by Jennifer Torres, Gladys Jose (illus.)
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Catalina Incognito is the first book in what’s sure to be a charming new chapter book series. Gifted with a magic sewing kit on her eighth birthday, shy and reserved Catalina learns about taking chances and trying again — and also solves the mystery of her aunt’s missing ruby. I loved the way Spanish phrases are mixed in throughout the book..

Catalina Incognito by Jennifer Torres, Gladys Jose (illus.), (List Price: $5.99, Aladdin, 9781534482784,  March 2022)

Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Chickadee: Criminal Mastermind by Monica Silvie

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Chickadee: Criminal Mastermind by Monica Silvie
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Calling all bird lovers — you need this picture book! I adored the little chickadee who narrates this story. I could easily imagine my own little backyard chickadees thinking of themselves as criminal masterminds as they steal my blueberries! This picture book will offer plenty of fun for readers of all ages.

Chickadee: Criminal Mastermind by Monica Silvie, (List Price: $18.99, Kids Can Press, 9781525303388, June 2022)

Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Keep Your Head Up by Aliya King Neil, Charly Palmer (illus.)

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Keep Your Head Up by Aliya King Neil, Charly Palmer (illus.)
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Everyone knows Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day. What Keep Your Head Up does even better is how do you deal with the bad in a given day and, even when a meltdown happens, how do you make good decisions going forward. I love Charly Palmer’s artwork and the expressiveness he puts in the faces and postures of his characters. even to the cloud of feeling “a little scrunchy” hovering over the kid.


Keep Your Head Up by Aliya King Neil, Charly Palmer (illus.), (List Price: $17.99, Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 9781534480407, September 2021)

Reviewed by Lisa Yee Swope, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina


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Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady

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Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady
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Nigel and the Moon will make your heart swell in the best way! Sure to be a beloved book, Nigel’s story resonates deeply with those who are scared to share their dreams. When Nigel looks up at the moon, anything is possible; but in school he’s hesitant to share. Career week in school is tricky when you want to be an astronaut, dancer, and a superhero! I loved Nigel and his story, and applaud Antwan Eady on this superb debut!

Nigel and the Moon by Antwan Eady, (List Price: $17.99, Katherine Tegen Books, 9780063056282, February 2022)

Reviewed by Lauren Kean from Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina


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The Love You Save by Goldie Taylor

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The Love You Save by Goldie Taylor
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The Love You Save is powerful, heartbreaking memoir that will capture your heart from the first chapter. Journalist and activist Goldie Taylor shares painful childhood memories of trauma and family strife against the backdrop of strength and hope she found as a highly gifted student reading books by authors like James Baldwin. Readers who enjoy heavy-hitting memoirs like Educated and Memorial Drive will appreciate Taylor’s honest and poetic prose in this must-read memoir–but have the tissues ready!

The Love You Save by Goldie Taylor, (List Price: $28.99, Hanover Square Press, 9781335449375, January 2023)

Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Never Tell by Stacey Abrams

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Never Tell
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When Erin, a local professor and criminal psychologist, gets drawn into a serial murder case, she wants nothing more than to run the other way. When the clues start leading to her own past; however, she’s got no choice than to fully immerse herself into the investigation – with the help of the charming local newspaper owner desperate for a story that will save his paper. Never Tell is a must-read for anyone who likes romance, mysteries, or a well-drawn out game of cat and mouse. Stacey Abrams’ While Justice Sleeps was one of my favorite books of 2021, so I’m excited to read through her suspense novels, written under the name Selena Montgomery.

Never Tell by Stacey Abrams, (List Price: $16.99, 9781250805829, January 2022)

Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Justice Is… by Preet Bharara

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Justice Is...
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Justice Is… is the perfect introduction to justice for young readers. While the text teaches readers what justice is, how hard it can be, and why it is so important, the illustrations guide the story by portraying key people and social movements from history. With an emphasis on the United States but including world figures like Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai, this book makes a wonderful accompaniment to biographies and stories of history and justice.

Justice Is… by Preet Bharara, (List Price: $17.99, Crown Books for Young Readers, 9780593176627, January 2022)

Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Admissions by Kendra James

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Admissions
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I’ve loved books about boarding schools since I was a child who romanticized the idea of living away from home with a school full of friends, but as I’ve grown older I’ve become much more interested in what’s hiding beneath the polished surface image of boarding schools. Kendra James was the first Black American legacy student at Taft, a private boarding school in Connecticut, so her perspective on privilege (including her own) was totally fascinating in its layers. I so appreciated the thoughtful and deeply candid telling of her experience at Taft.

Admissions by Kendra James, (List Price: $29.00, Grand Central Publishing, 9781538753484, January 2022)

Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Ear Worm! by Jo Knowles, Galia Bernstein (Illus.)

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Ear Worm!
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This fun book about a little worm with a tune stuck in his head is a great way to introduce young readers to the term “ear worm.” I would have been fascinated by this book as a child because I constantly had tunes stuck in my head, and like the little worm, I wondered where they came from. I love the way each animal’s song is illustrated.

Ear Worm! by Jo Knowles, Galia Bernstein (Illus.) (List Price: $17.99, Candlewick, 9781536207835, 1/11/2022)

Reviewed by Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Fox by Isabel Thomas

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Fox
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A beautiful picture book for the changing seasons. The colorful illustrations remind me of Eric Carle and I love the sound words that make reading aloud to kids so much fun.

Fox by Isabel Thomas, (List Price: $18.99, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 9781547606924, November 2021)

Reviewed by Jamie Southern, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman

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The Ivory Key
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Families are hard to live with, even more so when it seems like everything you do tears you apart further. The Ivory Key opens with a family torn asunder, tossed to four separate lives, yet they’re still as connected as ever, and they need each other, even though they refuse to admit it. I loved every single second of this book, but mostly, I loved the realistic nature of every relationship. I loved that the true backbone of this story was a family, that even though the plot was something much greater than them, they were the most important thing. Raman has a gift for storytelling, and it shines brightly from within the pages of The Ivory Key.

The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman, (List Price: 18.99, Clarion Books, 9780358468332, January 2022

Reviewed by Caitlyn Vanorder, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Honor by Thrity Umrigar

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Honor
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Honor is the kind of book that makes me want to sit for hours and read. Thrity Umrigar transports the reader to India through both the eyes of an Indian American journalist and the subject of her article, a Hindu woman who was the victim of a horrible attack at the hands of her own family. The result is powerful and poignant.

Honor by Thrity Umrigar, (List Price: $26.95, Algonquin Books, 9781616209957, January 2022)

Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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I’m Hungry!, ¡Tengo hambre! by Angela Dominguez

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I'm Hungry! / ¡Tengo Hambre!
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I’m Hungry! / ¡Tengo Hambre! is a great picture book with two adorable characters at its center. It’s an excellent teaching tool for Spanish or English, and would make for a great introduction to bilingual books for young readers. Easy to follow, clear, and cute as a button, this book is sure to be a beloved addition to any library.

I’m Hungry!, ¡Tengo hambre! by Angela Dominguez, (List Price: $18.99, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 9781250779960, January 2022)

Reviewed by Lauren Kean, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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