Memorably set in WWII Ukraine and then Germany, this middle grade novel-in-verse is the story of two sisters who used their talent playing the piano to escape their parents’ fate on the death march to Drobitsky Yar. They hid as students in a prestigious German music school in Berlin through the whole war. One of the …
A work of triumphant wonder, representation and truth telling to transform the 1619 Project’s essence into picture book for children. A family tree assignment sparks questions of “who are you, trace your roots, draw a flag that represents your ancestral land…” and for some and reminders the erasure of records. Grandmother gathers the family around …
As a lover of all things wrapped in dough and filled with savory or sweet deliciousness, this book is just scrumptious perfection. Have you ever noticed how many global cuisines have their own version of dumplings? Step into the kitchens while ten different recipes are being followed by families who love good food, too. A …
I’m so excited to share this graphic novel with customers– it’s exciting, tender, beautifully rendered in every way. It works well for middle schoolers and high schoolers, plus all the adults who enjoy family drama, origin stories, and the paranormal. Bonus: When you read this, you support a debut, local author! — Tegan Tigani, Queen …
This is the second graphic novel in the Trot & Cap’n Bill Adventures. Sea Siren Princess Clia comes from her undersea world to search for her kidnapped friend. Trot, Grandpa, and Cap’n Bill the talking cat come to her aid. Well-done illustrations really capture the story. (Ages 9-12) –Melissa DeMotte, The Well-Read Moose, Coeur d’Alene, …
This wonderful new middle grade novel is something of a hybrid. It is autobiographical fiction. Or, rather, it is the creative way that the author tells his own story. And Nayeri’s work is compelling and compassionate. Written with great heart and humor— and with a genuine flair for the art of storytelling— Everything Sad Is …
National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman wowed at the Inauguration. You can preorder her upcoming books with your local independent bookstore now!
A few years ago, Robert Macfarlane, who’s something of a patron saint at Madison Books (see our review of 2019 book of the year Underland, now out in paperback) wrote The Lost Words, an ornate linguistic repository intended to preserve the lexicon of the natural world that’s literally being removed from dictionaries. Lavishly illustrated by Jackie Morris, it became …
The first time I saw a collection that took my breath away, it was on a small island in the San Juans, on the mantel of a fireplace at a friend’s mom’s house. It was an assortment of rocks that had been gathered and gifted over many years. There were different sizes, colors, and textures …
The Polish science fiction writing genius, gave us a short story par excellence with The Seventh Voyage. It’s one of many adventures of his indefatigable comedic protagonist Ijon Tichy. In this instance the innocent Ijon is merely cruising in his space ship when he gets caught in a time loop. As a result, past and …
