(2) K-3 Illustrated by Rachel Wada. Makio's father and Mr. Hirota's daughter work at the harbor. One day, while Makio and Mr. Hirota watch, a tsunami strikes. Mr. Hirota builds a phone booth to talk to his dead daughter; Makio is disappointed that it's "connected to nowhere" until the villagers use it to speak to those lost. The quietly powerful text acknowledges the community's grief; the haunting art conveys Makio's emotions. This tender look at loss is inspired by real events following Japan's 2011 tsunami.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan. Lou loves spending time with his two grandfathers, Grandad and Pops, including building elaborate contraptions involving pulleys and ramps. When Pops becomes sad and withdrawn after suffering a fall, Lou is determined to cheer him up. The combination of a new contraption, the playing of Pops's favorite music, and an actual ramp for his wheelchair does the trick. A warm intergenerational story accompanied by expressive illustrations full of engaging detail.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alice Carter. Angus loves sparkly things so much it's like he can even hear and feel sparkles. When his grandma gives Angus her beautiful, bright beaded necklace, he feels "his inner sparkle, fizzy and warm." Angus proudly wears the necklace to school only to be ridiculed for it. Charming illustrations accompany a text that celebrates differences--and friends that embrace all of yours.

Reviewer: Monique Harris

(3) 4-6 After a "rotten bad year," which included becoming a bully and stealing from a friend's intellectually challenged uncle, eleven-year-old Jett is sent to the coast to stay with gentle, nonjudgmental Grandma Jo for the summer. In this quiet but affecting verse novel, Jett relates the year's heartwrenching events as he develops empathy and finally makes amends with the man he hurt.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) YA High school seniors Tessa and Jack long to control their own lives. Tessa's alcoholic stepfather and her well-intentioned but controlling grandmother keep her from making the choices she wants, such as pursuing her art; prankster and petty criminal Jack struggles to hide his single mother's schizophrenia. A rushed ending mars this character-driven debut about two complex teenagers, each saved by the other's friendship.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(4) 4-6 Information about conservation and tips on recycling are included with these craft projects ideas, arranged by material (plastic, metal, paper, glass). Lively photos of kids, familiar materials, and finished projects accompany an enthusiastic text, which makes clear when adult assistance is necessary. Some of the projects are more engaging than others, but all should be appropriate for middle-grade crafters.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo