January 2021

On DACA when she decided to write about being undocumented for the first time using her own name, Cornejo Villavicencio embarked on a trip across the country to tell the stories of her fellow undocumented immigrants – and to find the hidden key to her own. A well-deserved National Book Award finalist.

Let’s get this straight: I’m an avid Dodger fan. But I cannot resist great baseball stories, and Horwitz knows how to spin a good yarn. The longtime PR director for the New York Mets shares his reflections throughout four dynamic and unpredictable decades in baseball. I breezed through this book and hopes he writes four more!  

A collection of 75 recipes from Grandmothers in eight eastern African countries. Delight as they welcome you into their kitchens to share flavorful recipes and stories of family, love and tradition in this transporting cookbook-meets-travelogue, a great start to the new year.

The pandemic has been a blessing in many ways, as I have had the opportunity to revisit a lot of my favorite books to read with my teens. Fifteen-year-old Megumi was very sad when her parents broke up. But now, with her mother running off on a “trip” to her own childhood home, Megumi is left to stay with her father (who is never around) and her cranky grandmother (who is unfortunately always around). Just when she feels that no one cares, Megumi meets Dr. Mizutani, a smart young woman who offers Megumi a part-time job in her veterinary office helping her heal sick birds. Dr. Mizutani seems to understand Megumi without asking a lot of questions. And as Megumi finally begins to accept why her mother had to leave, she discovers a confident strength within herself.

Looking for a thriller to start the year? This will keep you up at night. When 17-year-old Jamie arrives on the idyllic New England island of Little Bly to work as a summer au pair, she is stunned to learn of the horror that precedes her. Seeking the truth surrounding a young couple’s tragic deaths, Jamie discovers that she herself looks shockingly like the dead girl – and that she has a disturbing ability to sense the two ghosts. Why is Jamie’s connection to the couple so intense? What really happened last summer at Little Bly? As the secrets of the house wrap tighter and tighter around her, Jamie must navigate the increasingly blurred divide between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Sometime I grab books just because of the titles. David Gershwin’s summer is about to take a turn for the weird. When his dad’s new patient Zelda tells him she’s from outer space and on a quest to take Johnny Depp back to her planet, he knows he should run away screaming. But with one look from her mean, green eyes, David’s hooked, and soon he’s leaping across rooftops, running from police and stealing cars just to stay by her side. He might not be a typical hero, but David’s going to get the girl even if it takes him to the ends of the earth or beyond. Obviously, a fun read.

The first volume of the hilarious and heartfelt Akissi comics, this great “tweener” that can be enjoyed by all ages. Laugh out loud at the misadadventures of Akissi in these girls-will-be-girls comics, based on Abouet's childhood on the Ivory Coast.

What starts as an ordinary Sunday at the Heckelbeck house turns into a hair-raising adventure for the whole family when one of Henry’s toys gets stuck in Heidi’s hair! Mom’s only solution is to cut a chunk of Heidi’s hair, but when the salon can’t undo the horrible hairdo, Heidi must use magic to save the day. But will her magical hairdo become a hair don’t? Includes delightful illustrations by Priscilla Burris.

In a sad attempt to interest my children in one of my favorite adult comedies, I had to grab this. Michael Scott is Line Leader at Dunder Mifflin Elementary. It’s a very big job, but Michael is sure he can live up to the “World’s Best Line Leader” title printed on his water bottle. There’s just one problem – Michael doesn’t know how to lead the line. Filled with colorful, detailed illustrations and brimming with nods to iconic moments from the show, this hilarious reimagining features a pint-sized cast.

A pesky fly gets into Pig’s face and starts to ruin his day. Should he let it? This book talks us through Pig’s ideas, thoughts and coping strategies. Terrific way for parents to share with their children tips about managing frustration.