This season’s series tackle nuanced topics that play a crucial role in fostering literacy development, language acquisition and cognitive growth. These books encourage diverse learners to engage with content that challenges their linguistic skills, while helping them build vocabulary and enhance reading comprehension, critical thinking, and cultural understanding. By discussing intricate themes from different cultural perspectives, readers gain insight into various worldviews and ways of thinking. There is something for everyone in this season’s selections, with books spanning a broad spectrum of reading levels and interests, all while supporting curricula and learning standards.

Elementary

Hansen, Grace. Anaconda.ISBN 9781098267582.
––––. Llama.ISBN 9781098267599.
––––. Ocelote.ISBN 9781098267605.
––––. Perezoso.ISBN 9781098267629.
––––. Rana punta de flecha.ISBN 9781098267612.
––––. Tucán.ISBN 9781098267636.
ea vol: tr by Maria Puchol. 24p. (Animales sudamericanos). Abdo/Kids Jumbo. Sept. 2023. Tr $32.79.
PreS-Gr 3–From the dense rainforests of the Amazon to the windswept plains of Patagonia, these books are a fantastic way to introduce children to the magnificent creatures that call South America their home. A variety of animals, including anacondas and sloths, are explored in this series, giving curious readers a deep dive into the worlds of each of these fascinating creatures. Text and color photographs appear on each page, with new words and concepts highlighted or bold for emphasis and retention. Plenty of white space makes these books an excellent choice for readers in both early childhood education programs and daycares that serve linguistically diverse learners, as well as more experienced early elementary readers. Overall, these books provide a captivating glimpse into the rich biodiversity and unique habitats of South America’s animals. They encourage curiosity and respect for nature while fostering a love for exploration and learning. VERDICT A great choice for ECE classrooms and STEM school libraries.

McAneney, Caitie. Yo puedo crear (I Can Create).ISBN 9781499442861.
––––. Yo puedo descansar (I Can Rest).ISBN 9781499442892.
––––. Yo puedo hablar (I Can Talk).ISBN 9781499442922.
––––. Yo puedo moverme (I Can Move).ISBN 9781499442830.
––––. Yo puedo respirar (I Can Breathe).ISBN 9781499442809.
ea vol: 24p. (Mis libros de calma/My Calm-Down Books). Rosen/PowerKids. Aug. 2023. Tr $25.27.
PreS-Gr 1–In a world where children are constantly bombarded with stimuli that can trigger a wide range of emotions, these series titles provide a safe and nurturing space for them to explore their feelings. Through relatable situations and engaging narratives, these books capture the essence of each emotion, from loneliness to anger, and how to process them—through mindful movement, rest, creativity, and communication. What truly sets this series apart is its focus on guiding children through healthy ways of processing their emotions, through its delivery of skillful coping strategies and practical tips, all delivered in an age-appropriate and easily comprehensible manner. Each book emphasizes the importance of open communication, allowing kids to express themselves without judgment, and encourages seeking support from trusted adults when needed. The illustrations accompanying the text are delightful. Each emotion is depicted through vibrant and expressive characters, capturing the essence of what it feels like to experience that particular emotion. VERDICT Ideal for ECE classrooms for its visual appeal to younger readers who might not yet have a strong grasp of reading.

Schuh, Mari. Mi vida con diabetes.ISBN 9781645496045.
––––. Mi vida con epilepsia.ISBN 9781645496052.
––––. Mi vida con leucemia.ISBN 9781645496069.
––––. Mi vida con síndrome de Tourette.ISBN 9781645496038.
ea vol: illus. by Ana Sebastián. 24p. (Mi vida con...). Amicus Illustrated. Jul. 2023. Tr $35.70
K-Gr 3–This is a continuation of last season’s illustrated series about real children who live with and experience a variety of disabilities, neurodiversities, and conditions. Using colorful illustrations, these books give examples of how kids live with diabetes, epilepsy, leukemia, and Tourette’s syndrome. Both challenges and opportunities for how each child encounters and manages their own disability are thoughtfully presented, with a short biography of each real child included at the end of the book, along with suggestions for how readers can respect children who experience each condition. The series is told in first person, giving power to each character’s voice and evoking empathy and understanding on the part of readers. Illustrations reflect racial diversity, translations are accurate, and the dyslexic-friendly font makes this series widely usable and accessible. VERDICT An essential series for virtually any collection.

Storm, Marysa.El gran tiburón blanco.ISBN 9781623108267.
––––. El tiburón duende.ISBN 9781623108250.
––––. El tiburón martillo.ISBN 9781623108274.
––––. El tiburón sarda.ISBN 9781623108243.
––––. El tiburón tigre.ISBN 9781623108298.
––––. El tiburón toro.ISBN 9781623108281.
ea vol: 24p. (El mundo de tiburones). Black Rabbit/ Bolt Jr. Jul. 2023. Tr $35.70.
K-Gr 3–Dive into the exhilarating realm of the ocean’s apex predators with this captivating series that covers great whites, goblin sharks, bull sharks, and more. This engrossing collection provides an insightful and thrilling exploration into the lives of these majestic creatures, combining science, adventure, and awe-inspiring visuals to create an immersive reading experience for shark enthusiasts in the early to middle grades. With each installment, the series delves into a specific aspect of shark biology, behavior, and their vital role in marine ecosystems. The books expertly weave together facts, anecdotes, and engaging narratives, blending scientific accuracy with accessible language to ensure readers, whether novices or experts, can easily comprehend the intricate world of sharks. What truly sets this series apart is its stunning visual components. The pages come alive with breathtaking photography and intricate illustrations, capturing the essence of these creatures in their natural habitats. VERDICT A solid addition to larger science collections, especially in elementary school libraries.

Upper Elementary to Middle School

Gish, Melissa.El águila.ISBN 9781640267398.
––––. El elefante.ISBN 9781640267404.
––––. El gorila.ISBN 9781640267428.
––––. El murciélago.ISBN 9781640267367.
––––. El puma.ISBN 9781640267374.
––––. El tiburón.ISBN 9781640267503.
Skog, Jason. El delfín.ISBN 9781640267381.
Wimmer, Teresa. La serpiente.ISBN 9781640267510.
ea vol: 48p. (Vida salvaje). The Creative Company/Creative Education. Jul. 2023. Tr $44.25.
Gr 3-8–This in-depth nonfiction series, tailored for middle-grade readers, delves into the intriguing lives of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish. Both fast facts and in-depth information are accompanied by vivid images and fascinating information about the animals’ daily lives, dietary patterns, natural habitats, and greater ecological contributions. Built on a solid foundation of life sciences, and complemented by captions, charts and graphs, and distribution maps, as well as a table of contents and a glossary, each volume also weaves in a traditional folk story linked to the featured creature. This fusion adds a cross-disciplinary aspect of cultural diversity to the informative content, inspiring further research while aligning with Common Core curricular standards for the middle grades. VERDICT Excellent translations are matched by broad appeal, making this series perfect for any upper elementary or middle school collection.

Lewis, Cicely. Resistencia a la esclavitud (Resistance to Slavery). ISBN 9781728491875.
Smith, Elliott. Abolicionismo (Abolitionism).ISBN 9781728491851.
––––. El tráfico de esclavos (The Slave Trade).ISBN 9781728491882.
––––. Jim Crow (Jim Crow).ISBN 9781728491868.
––––. La esclavitud y la Guerra Civil (Slavery and the Civil War). ISBN 9781728491905.
––––. La esclavitud y la Reconstrucción (Slavery and Reconstruction). ISBN 9781728491899.
ea vol: 32p. (La esclavitud en Estados Unidos y la lucha por la libertad (American Slavery and the Fight for Freedom). Lerner ediciones. Aug. 2023. Tr $30.65.
Gr 4-8–This six-part series explores various historical and social aspects of slavery, abolition, and resistance, while also inspiring readers to take action in their own communities. Curated by Woke Librarian Cicely Lewis, these books confront bias by centering the experiences of non-white groups through personal accounts of historically oppressed communities. QR codes lead readers to supplementary learning materials, including recorded accounts of formerly enslaved people. This series’ strength is its unfiltered and critical representation of a variety of primary and secondary sources for readers to evaluate and explore both inside and outside the context of topics covered in each book. The intersectionality and complexity of these historical topics are presented in a way that maximizes creative thinking while also inspiring action and positive change. VERDICT An essential purchase for any library.