​One of the year's most visually and philosophically intriguing covers is  Am I Me? The husband and wife team of  Sean Qualls and Selina Alko has created a stunningly bold and colorful cover image. Readers will find deeper concepts embedded within the art. Look at the shared faces, each maintaining a uniquely individual identity, while expressing a shared perception. One thing that immediately caught my eye was the use of stars. The shared eye becomes a star, symbolizing a united vision.
I grabbed a heavy glass star and went in search of the numerous stars found throughout the book.

If you enjoy the challenge of origami, try making origami stars. Includes two instructional videos.

Want something less intricate? Try these cut paper stars. Instructional video guides you through each fold.

Lots of stars! Printable templates to use for making stars with a variety of points.

Yes. There will probably be a wait.
Yes. I am a librarian and always try to be prepared for such contingencies. ​

I stepped into the hair salon for my regularly scheduled trim, sporting an ARC of this fantastic new book from Tracey Baptiste: Rise of the Jumbies.  A lovely young lady who introduced herself as Delia informed me that she was ready to shampoo my hair. But then she noticed my book and proceeded to ask me about Baptiste's middle grade novel. The cover is that eye-arresting. Take a look for yourself. We chatted for a few minutes, forgetting all about the scheduled shampoo. Seriously, why worry about your hair when there are jumbies to discuss?

Eventually we made our way back to the shampoo area and as the warm water streamed over the back of my head, Delia's slender fingers began to massage my tresses. Okay, they are rapidly thinning, but still for the sake of the story let’s imagine a flowing head of hair. Delia began to tell me her story. She was not a reader. Never enjoyed books. Then one day she saw a movie: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. She fell in love with Harry and his fantastic adventures. She sought out the movie sequels and viewed each film several times over. She couldn't get enough of the story so decided to try actually reading the books from which the movies were based. She was totally captivated by the stories and proceeded to read the entire series. Something clicked for her. She began to ask friends if there might be other books similar to Harry Potter that she might enjoy. Her friends were happy to offer her reading suggestions. Today she reads some literature for children and teens, however now she primarily  reads books written for adults. Delia discovered that she is drawn to books with a heavy philosophical bent. I thought about the original Rowling title Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and wondered to myself if perhaps there were a connection.

But this was only the beginning. Delia noticed that her eleven-year-old brother did not enjoy reading. She wondered if perhaps Harry Potter might cast its magical spell over him in a way similar to her own experience. Unfortunately this presented a bit of dilemma. Delia lives in South Texas and her younger brother lives in Chicago. The resourceful siblings found a solution. Each Sunday they would read together via Facetime.

This slim volume chronicles the lives of six brave women. Their pioneering work advanced progress in astronomy, underwater cartography, chemistry, and mathematic research. Five were born in the United States and all worked as scientists and researchers in the United States.
Lawlor highlights their passion for discovery and the significant contributions that each made to the body of scientific knowledge. She focuses on the determination that each exhibited as she overcame obstacles. These women were consciously aware of their roles as mentors for the next generation of scientists. 
While their respective research achievements are considerable, Lawlor gives added emphasis to the importance of role models for young girls interested in pursuing careers in the sciences. and inspires future generations of young women to excel in fields of scientific endeavor. 
Back matter includes a glossary, listing of sources, source notes, picture credits, and index.

Shetterly's fascinating study of the lives and contributions of four African American female mathematicians, initially known as computers, has been edited for young readers. It is an engrossing historical saga. The struggles and sacrifices of each had to make to ensure the success of the space program were intense. “First in space means first, period. Second in space is second in everything.” statement from Lyndon Johnson.  In addition to encountering barriers faced by women, these brave young pioneers were also subjected to discrimination and racial prejudice.
“Even as a professional in an integrated world, I had been the only black woman in enough drawing rooms and boardrooms to have an inkling of the chutzpah it took for an African American woman in a segregated southern workplace to tell her bosses she was sure her calculations would put a man on the Moon.”
This audiobook edition makes for compelling listening. Bahni Turpin's excellent narration brilliantly brings the story of these remarkable women to life. 

Who knew that an anthology of females worldwide who have made important contributions to science would make a stunning volume of bold graphic designs?  Rachel Ignofotsky knew. 
The book's content chronologically describes the contributions of women to the world of science beginning with Egyptian astronomer and mathematician Hypia in Ancient Alexandria and concludes in 2014 with brief bbiography of mathematician Iranian/America Scientist Mayam Mirzakani. Each of the 50 featured women has made significant advancements to the body of science, technology, engineering, and mathematic knowledge.
The succinct recap of each woman’s achievements is accompanied with stunning graphic portraits (the images are worthy pieces of art and can be purchased separately. See the postcard collection below.)
Ignofotsky includes a glossary, as well as sources. Interspersed throughout the book are excellent infographics featuring a timeline, lab tools, statistics in STEM, and "More Women in Science."

Ignotofyky's stunning graphic portraits are available as a set of postcards.

Hidden Figures is now a major motion picture. 

Holly M. McGhee has a way of revealing the heart of a story and connecting its essence with her audience. Come With Me is a picture book with a straightforward message that resonates with readers young and old: sometimes the world can be a scary place. When confronted with frightening news reports, one little girl feels powerless. Her parents respond with the gentle invitation "Come With Me.”
Each adult finds a way to introduce this child to her world and to help her to see the kindness, courage, and bravery that can be found in quiet everyday acts of understanding, respect, and courtesy.
McGhee chooses to set the story in a bustling metropolitan city. I love this. I love the premise that peace and a sense security can be found anywhere. Even, or perhaps especially, kindness can be discovered in a big city.
Thank you Holly and Pascal for this gift to children, families and communities. it's a gentle and comforting reassurance nestled within the warm embrace of two covers.

​ ​No matter where children live, adults can find ways to help them feel safe and secure. A follow-up activity for this book could be to create a personal version of Come With Me. Using photographs and/or simple drawings, children can create a journal of images depicting moments when they have experienced insight and understanding. 
A Come With Me journal may not only invite a child to take the next step, but may serve as an invitation for other youngsters to join in.

Little Elliot, Big City
​by Mike Curto

Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo

Last Stop on Market Street
by Matt de la Peña  ill by Christian Robinson

Happy Book Lover Day to all those whose shelves are spilling over with volumes and whose library hold list is longer than the grocery list. This is the day for those who can remember characters and scenes from books as if they were a part of real life because for this reader at least, they are a part of real life.
I owe the origin of my ongoing love of books to my mother. Books were an integral part of my childhood. In our home the bedtime ritual consisted of bath time, tooth brushing, donning snugly pajamas (with footies), and then curling up close to mother as she read us a story. Eventually mother would close the book. We'd beg for more. But mother remained firm. The next chapter would be waiting for us tomorrow night. She would tuck each of us in, kiss us goodnight. I would sigh and close my eyes, wondering what would happen next in the Hundred Acre Wood, if Jim Hawkins would escape Captain Long John Silver, and what magical place Mary Poppins would next take her charges to visit. It was the stuff of dreams. The perfect way to end each day.

​Ah, summer days with new books to read, a shady spot in the park and popsicles. Could there be anything better?

A doll created by my grandmother keeps company with a few of my childhood favorites. The pages are old and worn, the bindings are loose. In the case of my well-loved and well-used fairy tale collection, I covered the broken binding with strong adhesive tape because I refused to give up the book. These were my stories. I loved rereading them multiple times. Eventually I loved the cover completely off the book. 
Such books are some of my dearest and truest childhood friends. These books have shaped my life.

​Mother always made sure that we each received a gift-wrapped book for every holiday and special occasion. She took great care to select a book that she thought each of her children would enjoy and was immensely pleased when her selection became one of our favorites.
​
I continue the tradition with my own family.  However now I also use spreads from picture book galleys as gift wrap. Here I used pages from Blizzard by John Rocco.

I first met Roxie Munro in 2014 when she presented her forthcoming book Market Maze to a group of librarians. In her introductory remarks she used a term that was unfamiliar to me: gamification. The word intrigued me. I hastily scribbled it down on in my notes, determined to learn more about the concept: "the application of game-design elements and game principles in non-game contexts." *
​The genius of Munro's work lies in her ability to create a story, add a game element, and then take the book one step farther, creating layers of visual complexity within a picture book format. 

Munro wants to paint what she loves: her neighborhood. So she moves beyond the walls of the National Gallery and sets this book in her own community. ​With the accomplished strokes of the artist's brush, she brings this masterpiece into her own environment. That's where the gamification commences. Her neighborhood becomes a repository for these masterpiece images. Readers will enjoy locating the art reproductions, referring back to the pages on which each is introduced and then, observing the clever placement of each classic showpiece within the neighborhood. For example, Cassatt's sketch of mother and child is located at the Day Care Center, The Degas sculpture of a ballerina is found in front of the Dance Studio. 
A map key with corresponding images and descriptions of the art is located on the back pages.
It's art. It's educational. It invites discovery and exploration. It encourages creation. It's gamification. It's brilliant!​

...and in today's "strange but true" turn of events: Yesterday I set Miles Morales down on the table. When I returned to retrieve the book, a case for a new keypad was beside it. The shock of seeing these two items together creeped me out. Seriously. I spent the entire day looking over my shoulder.
Read Reynolds's book and you will understand just how freaky this is. I won't give away an important plot point. However, if anyone has an unexplained encounter relating to this book, please share your experience in the comments section.
Maybe it's just me. 

Full disclosure: I knew nothing about Miles Morales prior to reading this book.  After picking up the novel, I stopped after the first couple of chapters and did some research, learning more about this Super Hero. I found his back story fascinating. Biracial, his mother is from the Puerto Rico and his father is African American, Miles inherits the burden of a family history of crime.

​​​"Because no matter what you say, you're just like me."

​Reynolds takes this character and adds complexity and depth to the thirteen-year-old who is wrestling to find the balance between his teen life and his super powers (in addition to wall- crawling and unlike Peter Parker, he has the ability to camouflage himself). He's a Brooklyn boy attending an upscale academy where he is besieged by racial harassment. Miles also struggles with  issues such as deciding whether or not to pursue the poetry-loving girl in class. He also grapples with the constant pressure to succeed in school.