Books We Love
We work with lots of amazing books and love to take the opportunity to highlight our favorites. Each month, our literacy team selects a few of our favorite books to share with our community. We will be sharing amazing books for a wide age range. We will also use this space to highlight the voices and stories of those from historically marginalized groups. You can donate any of these titles - and previous Books We Love - using our Book Wish List.
May
Kapaemahu
by Hinalcimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson (Author), Danielle Sousa (Illustrator), Kokila (Publisher)
An Indigenous legend about how four extraordinary individuals of dual male and female spirit, or Mahu, brought healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii, based on the Academy Award–contending short film.
Joyful Song
by Leslea Newman (Author), Susan Gal (Illustrator), Levine Querido (Publisher)
What a happy day!
Zachary’s baby sister will have her naming ceremony. In the temple! With his moms, the congregation, and all their friends!
He’s so excited he can barely contain it. On the walk from their home, they meet neighbor after neighbor who want to know the baby’s name.
But ― not yet! ― his mothers tell him. The tradition is to have a great reveal at the ceremony. So they invite each neighbor to come along. A colorful, diverse parade blooms along the route, until… At last it’s time, and Zachary gets to reveal his sister’s name…
What is it?
A truly JOYFUL moment for everyone!
The Moon Without Stars
by Chanel Miller (Author), Philomel Books (Publisher)
At the beginning of seventh grade, Luna knows who she is: an observant, quiet girl who loves writing and making zines with her best friend, Scott. But when one of their zines takes off, Luna is somehow swept up into the popular group and learns just how much of herself she's going to have to compromise to stay there. Will she give up her writing? Her best friend? What about her own beliefs about who she is and what she stands for?
Featuring author-illustrator Chanel Miller’s signature line drawings, The Moon Without Stars is a deeply personal and often funny novel about what it means to lose and then find yourself again during the vulnerable, life-changing years of middle school.
Tricky Chopsticks
by Sylvia Chen (Author), Fanny Liem (Illustrator), Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Publisher)
Jenny Chow struggles with chopsticks—aiya, those slippery, oh-so-tricky chopsticks! But cousin Victor’s birthday party is just around the corner, along with her family’s annual chopsticks challenge. Jenny doesn’t want to be the only Chow who never learns how to use the utensils. She’ll do whatever it takes to prove she can hold her own in her family’s long-held tradition—no matter how many experiments she wobbles and fumbles through.