We Are Water Protectors
By: Carole Lindstrom
Illustrated by: Michaela Goade
Medal Winner
NOT REVIEWED
Water is the first medicine, it affects and connects us all...
When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people's water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth's most sacred resource.
Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, this bold and lyrical picture book issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth's water from harm and corruption.
From the dust jacket
The Cat Man of Aleppo
By: Irene Latham, Karim Shamsi-Basha
Illustrated by: Yuko Shimizu
Honor
Reviewed by: Deanna Knoll
Recommended age: Ages 6-10
War is always terrible, but it hurts my heart when I consider the suffering children, elderly, animals, and others who are in the wrong place at the wrong time through no fault of their own. This story is a beautiful example of what happens when a person chooses to dig deep and help others in spite of his own suffering. This is one of my favorite picture books about the fallout from war and how war can inspire compassion even in the most difficult of times.
Me & Mama
By: Cozbi A. Cabrera
Illustrated by: Cozbi A. Cabrera
Honor
NOT REVIEWED
On a rainy day when the house smells like cinnamon and Papa and Luca are still asleep, when the clouds are wearing shadows and the wind paints the window with beads of water, I want to be everywhere Mama is.
With lush artwork every bit as poetic as her words, Cozbi A. Cabrera introduces readers to a spirited daughter and the wonder of her world as a special day with her mother unfolds—a world where differences are respected, nature is admired and, above all else, love is abundant. Beautifully so.
Me & Mama is a gorgeous celebration of the bond between mother and daughter.
From the dust jacket
Outside In
By: Deborah Underwood
Illustrated by: Cindy Derby
Honor
Reviewed by: Deanna Knoll
Recommended age: Ages 4-10
This is such a sweet plea for all of us to remember to spend time outdoors and appreciate the beauty of nature.
Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart
By: Zetta Elliott
Illustrated by: Noa Denmon
Honor
Reviewed by: Deanna Knoll
While I fully appreciate the sentiment of this poem as a mature adult, this book seems more of a picture book written to address national issues rather than a book that sparks a child's imagination, encourages deeper exploration of a topic, or brings more beauty into the world of a child. In this book, the words don't seem connected to the images on each page. While children are certainly part of the national conversations and events currently happening in the US, a poem with abstract ideas and descriptions of emotions not tied to specific events within the book seem too complex for the intended audience. To address such difficult and nuanced problems, books that tell stories will be much more effective for this age group.
