The book uses simple, rhyming lines to explain the pine marten's behavior, its forest home, and what it eats. The text is direct and easy to follow.
Each page focuses on a different aspect of the animal’s life, making it a useful educational tool.
The pine marten is the only character and is portrayed as active and curious. The writing emphasizes its agility, strength, and love for trees.
The book follows Jamie and her trusty robot companion through a delightful adventure that showcases how even ordinary items, like socks, can spark extraordinary moments.
Rusu’s book is
filled with playful humor, vivid imagery, and a creative blend of the real and
the imaginary, making it a perfect read for young children and their parents
who are navigating their own big feelings.
One of the standout features of this graphic novel is how themes of comfort, emotion, and the occasional chaos of childhood are wonderfully mixed.
Through the imaginative
lens of a child’s world, Rusu touches on separation anxiety, the need for
routine, and the importance of emotional expression, all with a charming robot
by Jamie’s side. The vibrant illustrations by Martín
Morón bring Jamie’s world to life with bright colors and whimsical designs,
perfectly complementing the story.
Now, let’s hear from the author herself, Meredith Rusu, as she shares insights into the inspiration, characters, and creative process behind There’s a Robot in My Socks in our exclusive KBR interview:
This book, Ink and Light, an anthology of poetry by our very own, Nia Shetty is filled with such moments.
Raw.
Powerful. Immediate. Shetty’s subject matter strikes an impressive chord. Each
line resonates energy and angst, anguish and anticipation. Clarity and an
unnervingly keen conception of ‘how it is’.
She doesn’t spare the truth either. Diaspora, the forced shedding of cultural identity, racial discrimination, and the eternal search for buried hope; all chime subtly throughout each poem but amazingly, never in an oppressive nor despairing way.
There is a force of optimism and expectation behind each verse
that somehow provides light to the various patches of shade.
The
resulting pieces are articulate, elegant odes to the author’s cultural roots
and sharp contemporary observations. And, as mentioned, stirring enough to incite
genuine emotion.
In a world where diversity is budding into literature, authors Noel-Andrew Bennett and Roxanne Bennett shine a vibrant light with their delightful children's book, Jerk Chicken Magic. In an exclusive interview, the duo shared insights into their creative process, the challenges they faced, and how they created a wholesome book with deeper implications. As an immigrant child myself, I know the importance of these books and teaching children about cultural consciousness at a young age.
From the beginning of our conversation, it was clear that Noel-Andrew and Roxanne's passion for their cultural heritage was embedded into each page of their work. Drawing inspiration from their Jamaican roots and immigrant experiences in Canada, the couple set out to fill a void they noticed in children's literature. With two young children themself, they aimed to create a children’s book filled with vivid imagery that not only celebrated Jamaica but also resonated with immigrant families worldwide.
Set against the backdrop of Jamaica's flavorful culinary tradition, this book takes readers on a savory adventure through the magic of jerk chicken.
Authored by Noel-Andrew and Roxanne Bennett, Jerk Chicken Magic is more than just a children's picture book—it's a celebration of resilience, adaptability, and the profound significance of preserving cultural heritage.
When they cross paths at a bookstore, neither of them knows that this is the start of a unique and heartwarming love story.
Both Natasha and Daniel have their own demons to fight, with each of them living in homes that feel broken as they dream of a way to escape their reality.
Ironically, 'dream' is not a word in
Natasha’s vocabulary as she only sticks to the facts and science. On the
contrary, Daniel fantasizes about saying his poetry out loud, a thought he
keeps hidden from his Korean parents. The reader gets to dive into each of
their perspectives with chapters alternating between the two.
A world where firemen don’t deal with fires, but their purpose is to burn books.
Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which paper burns . A dystopian universe crafted by Ray Bradbury where Guy Montag chooses to challenge everything he’s ever believed.
After meeting an inquisitive young girl Charisse, Montag decides to go on a treacherous journey to figure out what caused the end of free speech and literature. While naive Montag doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into, sometimes not asking questions about things, the answers might scare you.
I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter handles sensitive topics like depression, grief.
The book starts off with Olga, getting violently killed in a bus accident. Olga was the perfect Mexican daughter who went to church, attended college, listened to her parents, and would never bring shame to the family.
Julia is far from perfect, and she matches the
standards of the rebellious younger daughter.
Once you open this book , you cannot put down this emotional read. The main character, Golden Macaroni is a star soccer player, who has everything he wants until his life hits a roadblock.
His dad is diagnosed with ALS* , but Golden simply can’t believe that there is no cure. He’ll do anything to make sure that his dad will never stop trying to get better.
On the soccer field, Golden is working extremely hard to become captain of the team, one of his steps in becoming the next Messi.
The book is written from the first person perspectives of 15 year old Pulga and his cousin Pequeña . It starts off with Pequeña being pregnant and hating the baby's father, a gang member. Chico and Pulga are best friends who have to flee their town because of a dangerous gang leader, Rey.
They decide to risk the
journey to the United States, and Pequeña joins them. They pack their bags and
leave on La Bestia, a dangerous train that goes through Mexico. It's a tough
journey, with lots of obstacles and violence, but their friendship and the hope
for a better life keep them going.
Here is a piece she penned recently about the healing and enlightening qualities of (self) reflection.
We are delighted to see that reading and writing are some of the best ways to increase self-awareness. Great for curating creativity, too! Thanks, Nia! Self-reflection is a state of mind, that with true determination and intention to reflect, we might end up learning new things about ourselves that could change our lives.
In the new year, reflecting can help us take control of our lives by learning where we can improve and grow as people. By consistently reflecting on what we are doing right, and where we might be making a mistake, we are able to constantly make enlightening changes in daily aspects of our life.
Climate change takes
the shape of 3 natural disasters in this novel. A raging wildfire in
California, a ravenous polar bear in Canada, and a hurricane ready to destroy
Miami. In this novel, Akira, Owen and George, and Natalie find a way to fight back against Mother Nature in order to protect their home. Akira has the help of her horse, Dodger, but will she be able to out run the fire?
Owen and George are minutes away from becoming a polar bears
lunch, but can they escape? Natalie could be dragged away by the rising
floodwaters, but can Natalie find refuge?
Esther has been
yearning for her Papa ever since he left Poland to live in Cuba in the midst of
World War 2, to provide for the family.
Eliza Quan is the most experienced, hardworking, and slightly cutthroat
journalist on the Bugle newspaper and has been for 3 years.
Anjali is an avid tabla player and is
used to others assuming that she’s doesn’t play the 'manly instrument'. As her skills grow, and she quickly rises to the top of the class, Anjali is surprised to be hearing harsh words from her friend Deepak.
Anjali feels pressured to do her absolute best and show Deepak that she can play the tabla as good or better than him.
When the teacher mentions an upcoming concert, Anjali feels the weight on her shoulders to do extremely well.
A decade long war rages and terrorizes the families of Troy and Greece, as their families are torn apart by the Trojan War. Will the nightmare ever end?
Do the words Helen of Troy, Trojan War, or at least Achilles heel sound familiar to you? Let me give you a background.
Paris, Prince of Troy, was promised the hand of Helen, unaware that she was married to the King of Sparta. Paris stole Helen and whisked her away to Troy, prompting a years-long battle that rewrote history between the Greeks and Trojans.
The Iliad focuses on the tension between Greek King Agaemmon and the mighty Greek demigod Achilles. Agaemmon had taken the daughter of an important priest favored by the gods and refused to return her.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin is a confounding, confusing
mystery thriller, so be prepared to get scared and follow the winding road of
unexpected events. If you are a middle school reader like me , this may be
one of your first mystery novel of its kind.
It all started with chosen tenants in an apartment building, and one mistake. An abandoned house, a puff of smoke and neatly delivered letters prompts a murder investigation.
That’s the main question for these carefully chosen tenants, for step by step, as they figure it out, there might be a prize at the end. But later on, in this mind boggling game, a question pops into 12-year old Turtle Wexler’s mind; was it ever a murder to begin with?
This is a review of Starfish by Lisa Fipps. An empowering
novel written in verse on a young girl’s journey of finding herself. This book will
give you confidence and spark a new feeling inside of you, hope.
Ellie, dressed in a bright blue whale swimsuit, innocently cannon balled at her own 5th birthday party.
Little did she know that one incident would lead to a lifetime of bullying and a name that stuck forever. Her diary is not filled with personal thoughts or feelings, but a list of 'Fat Girl Rules', similar to a survival playbook.
Ellie has found a home in her swimming pool, but when her best friend moves away, Ellie thinks nothing will be the same again.
She finds comfort in her new next door neighbor, Catalina as they embark on a new friendship.
Seventh grader Efrén is shocked when he comes home from school one day and his mother
is not there. His neighbors sadly inform that she was deported to Mexico during an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement( ICE ) raid. Efrén’s mom always made sure everyone looked their best and took care of everything around the house.
So the entire family is suddenly in limbo and struggling to survive while figuring out how to be reunited.
His dad starts working overtime to provide money for solution, leaving Efrén to care for his twin kindergarten siblings, Max and Mia.
Like any other 7th
grader , Efrén still has to deal with schoolwork, school elections etc. knowing
which friends he trusts enough to tell them the truth of what’s happening in
his life right now. Efrén has stepped up to the plate but is he able to deliver
enough to get his family back together.