“Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story”

By Kevin Noble Maillard, Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

This was a beautiful picture book that show how “The story of fry bread is the story of the American Indians: embracing community and culture in the face of opposition” (Maillard, Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, pg. 31). Each spread shows how fry bread in fact reflects and ties into the American Indians life; Fry bread is food, fry bread is shape, fry bread is sound, fry bread is color, fry bread is flavor, fry bread is time, fry bread is art, fry bread is history, fry bread is place, fry bread is nation, fry bread is everything, fry bread is us, and fry bread is you. The text is simple, yet conveys complex ideas and the illustrations are gorgeously done and highlight how those who identify as Native American are make up a very diverse population. As wonderful as the story itself is, even better are the author’s notes at the back, broken up into each topic, giving further information about it. Highly recommended! The story is great for younger kids, while the detailed author note’s will provide more information for older kids and adults. Fry Bread won the Sibert Award 2020, which is the ALA award for most distinguished informational book for children, and was an American Indian Youth Literature 2020 Honor book.

“The Kindness Book”

By Todd Parr

Todd Parr’s books are some of the best out there for pictures books that help children understand difficult things, like feelings, being different, families, and now kindness. Anyone who has, or spends time around children knows that being kind does not usually come naturally, it’s something that has be to demonstrated, shown and taught. With bright illustrations, diverse characters and situations, and simple text, Todd Parr delivers a great book about being kind by highlighting what kindness is, rather than saying what it isn’t. I also love that he highlights more than once that we should be kind to ourselves-a great message for kids, but also for adults who often forget to be kind to themselves. Highly recommended.

“Good Night, Little Blue Truck”

By Alice Schertle

Everyone’s favorite little blue truck is back! This time, Little Blue and his friends are helping each other stay safe, warm and dry in the middle of a big, scary storm! Little Blue welcomes all his friends into his shed away from the grumbly thunder with his friendly beep-beep-beep! And once the storm clears away, he helps all his friends find their way back to their own beds. Another great offering from Alice Schertle.

“My Two Blankets”

By Irna Kobald & Freya Blackwood

A great picture book that would be a good way to have a conversation with a child about immigration and being a refugee. In this beautifully illustrated book, a little girl named Cartwheel moves to a new country with her auntie because of a war at home. At first everything is scary and hard. Nothing looks right, and she can’t understand anyone. She hides under her blanket from her home country and sometimes doesn’t want to come out. But eventually that starts to change-a little girl at the part smiles at her and they become friends. Cartwheel starts a new blanket, one with colors and fabrics from her new home. This is a hopeful story about having to start over, though it does not hide the difficulties that come with it. It is also a great lesson to kids about the new kid in class, and how being a friend can make a big difference.

By Sarah Rehborg

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