March 2016

An amazing memoir of a neurosurgeon diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. Kalanithi begins to re-examine all of life’s biggest questions in a work that should cause all of us to slow down and reflect a little more.

Touching mother-daughter tale delivered by the dependable Pulitzer Prize-winning Strout. This short novel examines the complexity of love and is a very rewarding read.

Not your typical self-help book, this delightful read will have you laughing on every page and – hopefully – encourage you to go out and be all that you can be.

Intriguing tale of Elizabethan England where Catholics are hunted down for not accepting the Church of England as their place of worship. Great discussion starter for students to discuss contemporary ideas of the relationship between religion and government.

I just saw a teacher reading this with her class and could not believe I had forgotten to include this book on a previous list. Despite what the title may suggest, boys will enjoy this collection of supernatural short stories just as much as girls.

Think Black Swan for teens. Will Taylor, Julian, Alexandra and Kaitlyn rise to the challenges of performing the ballet Coppelia? Read and find out.

When 12-year-old Robin, the son of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, spots someone on Shildii Rock staring at him, he just knows something is wrong. He sets out to solve the mystery with his friend Wayne in this page-turner that mixes mystery and mythology while exposing students to native peoples of the Northwest Territories in Canada.

Caldecott winners do not need my reviews, but this one is so beautiful that I would feel like a criminal to not include it on one of my lists. Floca is a truly gifted illustrator, and this story will delight your children and any train enthusiasts.

Thank goodness for the French! They gave us The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Around the World in Eighty Days, Candide, Madeline and now this magical picture read that will delight all little ones discovering the marvel of books.

If you’re not reading kids’ books, you are truly missing out on some of the most imaginative and creative writing out there. Rubin, along with illustrator Daniel Salmieri, the dynamic duo responsible for Dragons Love Tacos, have created another hilarious read with one of the coolest and most clever ideas I have ever seen to a book for ANY age.