(2) K-3 Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth. As cold weather gives way to spring, the monarch butterfly migration begins, and Lucia's papa commences his own journey north. The forested region near the Mexican state of Michoacan is home to Lucia and her family (who are implied, from the back matter, to be Mazahua Indigenous people of the region) and to millions of monarchs, which hibernate there during winter months. Through lyrical text, Harmony describes the parallel journeys of the butterflies and migrant farm workers like Papa, who travel miles "across rivers and mountains" with a guiding sense of purpose; as he reassures his daughter: "When the weather turns cold and the monarcas return, our winged ancestors will guide me home." Lush greens of regional flora frame almost every page and ground the connection between nature and people. The illustrations -- rendered in gouache, watercolor, pencil, crayon, and digital elements -- capture the flitting motion of the monarchs, shifting viewpoints to allow readers to admire their patterned wings or marvel at the specks of orange flying en masse. An author's note detailing the monarch migration and the butterfly's cultural significance in the region; a Spanish glossary; and a "How Can We Help?" section are appended. Concurrently published in Spanish as Un aleteo de esperanza.

Reviewer: Jessica Agudelo | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth. Warm mixed-media illustrations depict the journey of a single book as it passes from person to person over time, connecting -- imperceptibly or overtly, but always powerfully -- readers diverse in age, race, and ability to each other. Although as a physical object, the book suffers wear and tear as it travels through the world, the book is itself a world whose mysterious, often unexpected magic endures long beyond the final page. Particularly satisfying is the illustrations’ acknowledgment of all the places where a book can be read, from a treehouse, to a darkened bedroom at night, to the shore of a lake, to a classroom, and more. The concise text notes the many ways reading can empower, support, and serve us. A heartfelt celebration of the practical, social, intellectual, and emotional uses of books.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth. Estrella's tía Fortuna must leave her casita in Miami's Seaway before it is torn down. She is moving into La Casa de los Viejitos, a facility for seniors. As she and Estrella say goodbye to various elements of the Seaway, Tía Fortuna's attitude is accepting--her home will be a memory, like the home she left in Havana years earlier--though there are hints that she shares some of Estrella's apprehension. Bittersweet though the story is, the overall atmosphere is one of warmth, both in the reassuringly portrayed Casa de los Viejitos as Tía Fortuna settles in and meets her neighbors and in the central Sephardic Jewish family. The dreamy mixed-media illustrations are filled with references to all aspects of Tía Fortuna's background, both in her remembrances and physically among her belongings, with the (somewhat lengthy) text granting particular significance to a mezuzah, a key, and, of course, tasty borekas. An author's note gives more information about Sephardic Jews and Behar's own connection to the story, and a glossary defines the many terms from Spanish, Hebrew, and other languages used within the text. A welcome story about change and aging loved ones, and about Sephardic culture.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth. Evelyn Glennie grew up 1960s Scotland surrounded by music: her mother played the organ and her father played the accordion. By the age of eight, Evelyn could play songs by ear on the piano. She began to experience degenerative hearing loss when she was ten. She was determined to continue playing music, however; she knew that even though she couldn't hear, she could still feel its rhythm and vibrations. After high school, she auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music in ­London, "but they turned her down. No one believed that a deaf musician could have a career in music." ­Glennie fought the decision and eventually was ­admitted--and because of her, "every music school in Great Britain changed its rules... No one should be turned away because of a disability." Glennie's career has taken her around the world; she has won numerous awards (including two Grammys) and was knighted in 1993. Stocker's engaging text is ably supported by Holzwarth's vibrant illustrations, which effectively use color and pattern and movement to represent sound. An author's note provides more information about this remarkable musician's work, and a list of references is appended.

Reviewer: Maija Meadows Hasegawa | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022