Book Finder

Intended for young readers, adults will likely be as intrigued at the graphical presentation of information which can be consumed in large bites or small chunks.

Looking at the past and how different historical events connect is as interesting as it is learning about those who initially investigated them. The latest Factopia book connects seemingly disparate facts while Famous Finds and Finders: Searching for the Past (opens in a new window) takes a brief look at who, how, and when discovery.

The title says it all!  Brief but accessible information about a range of topics is ideal to dip into or spend hours poring over.  

Short poems are generously illustrated in a large, inviting, and diverse collection of poetry— and as the title indicates, there is at least one for each day! To build on daily poems, try some of the ideas in Poetry Prompts: All Sorts of Ways to Start a Poem from Joseph Coelho (opens in a new window).

Set in the Florida Keys, a teen nicknamed Wrecker becomes involved with a fake Covid vaccination card smuggling ring to further confuse his already complicated his life. By turns humorous and tense, this fast-paced novel is sure to engage readers.

“Artists have always had a keen eye for finding the most interesting parts of our communities.” Travel with two young people as they explore the world of art across time and distance. From Giza in Ancient Egypt to Prague in 2018, this realistically illustrated presentation includes a glossary and additional resources.

All children have wishes that reflect their hopes and dreams. Wishes from kids from Guatemala to Japan and places in between are presented in handsome illustrations and brief text, sure to start conversations as readers see reflections of themselves in others from around the world.

Asked by his mother to look for one of the twins’ socks, Milo goes to the basement of their new home where he finds a door. He enters and begins to descend — and descend — going deeper into an eerie, peculiar world. Sophisticated images create a fantastic world in which threats are overcome by love … and a pink sock.

An abandoned puppy helps 11-year-old Laura move forward after the 911 call she made to save her parents from an overdose. Now in the care of her Titi Silvia, they ultimately find a way to heal themselves in this novel in verse that explores family, communication, and friendship. 

Brother and sister Zara and Zeeshan, accompany their parents to Key West where their pediatrician mother will be honored. Their bickering ends when they discover a loggerhead turtle in distress that they name Sunshine. Together the siblings figure out how to help Sunshine return to the sea while gaining a new respect for each other. 

After a series of adult owners, a set of puppets (a king, a wolf, an owl, and a boy) — originally owned by a sea captain named Spelhorst — wind up in the home where two sisters live. There, the puppets’ dreams, and yearnings are ultimately fulfilled. Beautiful, spare prose is accompanied by black/white illustrations for a gentle fantasy.

The “ick” factor combines with humorous illustrations and solid information to present the plagues that have afflicted people for centuries. From the bubonic plague to scurvy, the informal narrative is edifying, engaging, and well-documented for a different approach to disease and history.  

How does a girl stand out from the crowd when she has a braid and a fluffy, flowered sweater on picture day? Olivia (aka Viv) finds a way with unexpected consequences in this authentic, often humorous, graphic novel.

Few people realize that the fame of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous 16th century painting was created in large measure by its theft in the 20th century. The lively narrative alternates between the creator and the search for the missing painting. Sardonic illustrations add humor and interest to this well-documented and fascinating story.

Inspired by the author’s family on the North Carolina coast during Jim Crow, this touching portrait introduces twins James Henry and Hattie and the mysterious trauma that made James Henry unable to leave the security of his home. The story unfolds slowly in accessible free verse to its satisfying resolution. 

Two books from a Little Free Library hold the secret of a town’s long hidden mystery. Told from different points of view, a boy named Evan, Al (a ghost librarian), and a handsome orange cat called Mortimer reveal the secret behind the town’s puzzling history in this twisty, satisfying tale.

The deep-sea submersible named Alvin can carry three people. “In its [50 year] lifetime, Alvin has changed minds, science, and lives.” Join the exploration of how this was achieved in a relaxed but fully sourced narrative punctuated with black/white photographs.

Wrap-around stories are used to present fascinating information in an inviting, accessible but authoritative way. Frogs: Awesome Amphibians (Science Comics series) provides information about commonplace creatures now at risk. World War II: Fight on the Home Front (opens in a new window) (History Comics series) provides a look at the impact of the last century’s war at those not engaged on the frontline.  

A fragmented family and a shared love of space brings brothers, Houston, and Robbie closer than ever. When Houston is accepted into a prestigious junior astronaut program, he must find a way to bring his younger brother along in the face of Robbie’s disabilities for a powerful story of inclusion and fraternal love.

An indigenous boy must travel up a mountain to collect obsidian for knapping, a trek from which his brothers did not return. There he meets a golden eagle, actually a god named Savik. Ultimately, this is a beautifully told and handsomely illustrated story of the origin of the Iñupiaq messenger feast celebrated by native Alaskans.

Are the creatures in this lighthearted look at dangerous animals out to get humans or are they just doing what they need to survive and thrive? Common names as well as Latin names are presented alongside a humorous illustration and an invented name for the critter’s survival mechanism. 

You’re invited to a party for the late but ever-great poet of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes, held at the Schomburg Library in New York and attended by Maya Angelou and Amiri Baraka. Inspired by a photograph, the author’s lively rhythmic language combines with illustrations made of handmade stamps for a party to enjoy again and again.

Short stories, ideal for reading aloud or independently, are presented followed by information about the animal and region in the narrative, subtly presenting issues in climate change. Handsome illustrations throughout both illuminate and engage.

Bear and Moose, two dogs who don’t look like their names, are adopted by Kathy. The dogs soon find a lost and lonely kitten named Tiger. This sweetly told and gently illustrated story with a very happy ending is the beginning of a new series just right for young animal lovers.