Children’s

Turning the Tide Spotlight – Jane Calame

This month’s Turning the Tide spotlight is on Jane Calame, author of Our Earth (Atmosphere Press), a children’s book about sustainability. The book is illustrated by Daniela Frongia. Our Earth is an upbeat, rhyming guide to sustainability for little ones! From water conservation to recycling, this book offers up healthy […]

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Impossible Creatures, Katherine Rundell

The day Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. It’s the day he learned about the Archipelago, a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years—until now. And it’s the day he met Mal, […]

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Lost at Windy River, Trina Rathgeber

Colorist: Jillian Dolan; illustrator: Alina Pete In 1944, thirteen-year-old Ilse Schweder got lost in a snowstorm while checking her family’s trapline in northern Canada. This is the harrowing story of how a young Indigenous girl defies the odds and endures nine days alone in the unforgiving barrens. Ilse faces many […]

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Indie Corner – The Owl Prowl Mystery, Diana Renn

I talked with Dianna Renn, the author of five middle grade and YA novels, including The Owl Prowl Mystery (Fitzroy Books / Regal House, coming 8/13/24) and Trouble at Turtle Pond, which was named a 2023 Green Earth Book Award Honor Book by the Nature Generation and a Massachusetts Book […]

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Indie Corner – The Groundworld Heroes, Adrian So

About the Book   This Indie Corner shares a Turning the Tide spotlight, which is a section of the site that highlights eco-fiction for younger audiences. In fact, this month’s author, Adrian So, had his novel accepted for publication at age 14. The Groundworld Heroes is coming out this August […]

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Flying Up the Mountain, Elizabeth-Irene Baitie

The companion to Crossing the Stream is a moving story of friendship and a timely reminder of our duty to nature. Ato and his friends Dzifa and Leslie have been selected to visit Nnoma, the bird sanctuary that Ato’s father helped build before he died. Ato is convinced that his […]

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Tales of the Urban Wild: A Puma’s Journey, Tiffany Yap

Illustrated by Meital Smith, Tales of the Urban Wild is a graphic novel that follows the life of a young male mountain lion as he struggles to establish his own territory. Navigating urban regions and wildlands, he confronts many challenging obstacles. The story brings awareness to the impact of humans […]

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Secrets of the Sky Series, Sayantani DasGupta

In this middle grade fantasy series starter, 10-year-old New Jersey native Kinjal and his sister Kiya accidentally unleash a monster and are whisked to the realm of the Sky Kingdom. There, the two learn of the kingdom’s missing bees and resolve to unravel the mysterious disappearance before harm comes to […]

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Msitu: The Old-Growth Forest, Serena Echols, Nia McKenzie, Imani Blue

Step into the enchanting world of Msitu, a magnificent old-growth forest where native, non-native, and invasive species dwell together. Join the adventure as we discover the harmonious lives of the forest’s native plant species, living in perfect balance. But when unexpected outsiders disrupt this delicate equilibrium, the forest faces a […]

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Wolfish, Christiane M. Andrews

Inspired by Roman mythology, this mysterious and uniquely magical adventure explores the intricate roles of nature and fate in our lives, the power of language to shape our world, and the boundless importance of love and kindness. See more at Hachette Book Group.

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Ephemeral Wings, Eva Silverfine

Having lost her home to changes in the current, Maggie, a mayfly, is searching the stream for the richest of foods with which to nourish her brief flight in the world of air. But the stream, with its ever-changing currents, seems a confusing array of possibilities. Where are the richest […]

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Trouble at Turtle Pond, Diana Renn

Reviewed by Kimberly Christensen Trouble at Turtle Pond by Diana Renn Middle-grade fiction Miles Kaplan, animal lover, moves to a new town with a terrible secret: Last year, he accidentally let the class rabbit escape and it was never seen again. The fallout was bad enough that Miles and his […]

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Indie Corner – Arlene Mark

Back to the Indie Corner series Arlene Mark’s The Year Without a Summer (August 2022, SparkPress) is a heartwarming and relevant novel for middle-grade and YA readers. It’s certain to provoke thoughtfulness and discussion about the climate and empathy for those around us. For two eighth-graders, disasters erupt—natural, man-made, and […]

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Turn the Tide, Elaine Dimopoulos

Turn the Tide Middle Grade Fiction by Elaine Dimopoulos Reviewed by Kimberly Christensen When twelve-year-old Mimi Laskaris moves to Wilford Island, Florida, she immediately falls in love with the beautiful shoreline and its creatures. Then she discovers “ghost bags”—single-use plastic bags that have been left to litter the beaches. Mimi […]

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Wind, Ellen Dee Davidson

Wind Book Review Reviewed by Mary Woodbury Book information Author: Ellen Dee Davidson Publication date: February 1, 2022 Wind, by Ellen Dee Davidson, is a wonderful novel for children and adults alike. Starting with an adventurous and colorful book cover and getting right into the main character Katie’s whimsical daydreaming […]

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