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KPS Librarians Recommend Gift Books
By Patricia Richardson and KPS Library Staff
Books. Gifts. Joy.
One of our main goals in the Kalamazoo Public Schools libraries this year is about joy: Share books that bring joy to students, staff, and families. The kinds of books that bring joy are as different and unique as we are. With that in mind, here are some wide-ranging titles that have made our students smile. Share books, share joy.
PICTURE BOOKS
Great gifts for all ages
Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson
We never really know what life is like for all the people around us, no matter what they look like on the outside. That’s what Milo learns on a long subway ride with his mother and sister. Watching all the people on the train, he imagines what their lives must be like and draws their lives in his notebook. When one boy gets off at the same subway stop as him, Milo realizes “Maybe you can’t really know anyone just by looking at their face.”
Wintercake by Lynne Rae Perkins
When Thomas misplaces the basket of dried fruit he needs to make his seasonal winter cake, friends old and new come together to save the day. This cozy, gently humorous, and irresistible holiday tale features universal themes of friendship, community, empathy, and generosity. It’s also a story about making mistakes and how mistakes can sometimes lead to wonderful things.
What I Am by Divya Srinivasan
The young narrator opens the story by describing her various attributes: a human, a girl, a daughter, a granddaughter. She then begins to explore a series of seemingly opposite qualities: selfish and generous, mean and kind, a scaredy-cat and brave. The illustrations beautifully convey the contradictions that can exist within a person: she likes to dance and sing in front of family, but does not like to dance or sing in front of a crowd. She does not want to go to parties, but then does not want to leave the party. The story's stunning conclusion will inspire readers to proudly be who they are.
Mii Maanda Ezhi-Gkendmaanh = This is How I Know: a Book about the Seasons by Brittany Luby, illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley
In this lyrical story-poem, written in Anishinaabemowin and English, a child and grandmother explore their surroundings, taking pleasure in the familiar sights that each new season brings.
Outside, Inside by Leuyen Pham
One day, everything changed. Everyone who was normally outside went inside, and people were forced to stay inside because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to protect those we loved, people stayed inside but continued to grow. This hopeful book encourages readers to consider their own, ongoing paths through the pandemic, without ever denigrating or playing down the seriousness.
Only a Tree Knows How to be a Tree by Mary Murphy
Only I know how to be me.
Only you know how to be you.
All living creatures have a special place in the world in this extraordinary exploration of the concept of self for very young readers.
Wild Symphony by Dan Brown
Maestro Mouse leads readers through the animal kingdom, describing various features about animals such as armadillos, swans, and beetles. Accompanying each animal is a musical composition that can be accessed through an interactive smartphone app.
Fluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion by Stephe W. Martin
The cover pretty much says it all!
FICTION
Second grade and up
J.D. the Kid Barber series by J. Dillard
Hilarious illustrated chapter book series about an 8-year-old barber in Meridian, Mississippi, and his growing business empire. Titles include: J.D. and the Great Barber Battle, J.D. and the Family Business, and J.D. and the Hair Show Showdown.
Too Small Tola by Atinuke
This illustrated chapter book offers three delightful stories about Tola, a young girl who lives with her family in an apartment building in Lagos, Nigeria. Throughout the book's adventures, Tola proves that she may be small, but she is also helpful, clever, and kind.
A Whale of the Wild by Roseanne Parry
In the stand-alone companion to A Wolf Called Wander, a young orca whale must lead her brother on a tumultuous journey to be reunited with their pod. This gorgeously illustrated animal adventure novel explores family bonds, survival, global warming, and a changing seascape. Includes information about orcas and their habitats.
Fourth grade and up
Stuntboy, in the Meantime by Jason Reynolds, drawings by Raúl the Third
Portico Reeves’s superpower is making sure all the other superheroes—like his parents and two best friends—stay super. And safe. Super safe. And he does this all in secret. No one in his civilian life knows he’s actually…Stuntboy! Hilarious, hopeful, and action-packed.
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
Struggling with her brother Quinton's disappearance and bullying at school, 13-year-old Amari is at the end of her rope when she receives a mysterious container purportedly from her brother. Inside, she learns of a supernatural world and of an invitation to a training camp hosted by the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. She agrees to attend and learns that she is a magician whose powers are considered illegal. But, Amari is determined to become a junior agent no matter the obstacles so she can find her brother. First book in an exciting new trilogy.
The Lion of Mars by Jennifer Holm
Bell has spent his whole life — all 11 years of it — on Mars. But, he's still just a regular kid - he loves cats, any kind of cake, and is curious about the secrets the adults in the U.S. colony are keeping. Like, why don't they have contact with anyone on the other Mars colonies? Why are they so isolated? When a virus breaks out and the grown-ups fall ill, Bell and the other children are the only ones who can help. It's up to Bell - a regular kid on a very different world - to uncover the truth and save his family ... and possibly unite an entire planet.
Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia
A collection of 17 uplifting stories, poems, and a comic about being a black boy and the joy that comes from celebrating superheroes, baking, skateboarding, and other endeavors.
The Insiders by Mark Oshiro
Twelve-year-old Héctor Muñoz, fleeing from bullies, discovers a magical closet that not only provides him sanctuary but also unites him with two kids facing similar problems at their schools, helping them find friendship and strength in each other.
High School & Adult
Game Changer by Neal Shusterman
All it takes is one hit on the football field, and suddenly Ash's life doesn't look quite the way he remembers it. He's been hit into another dimension — and keeps bouncing through worlds that are almost-but-not-really his own. The changes start small, but they quickly spiral out of control as Ash slides into universes where he has everything he's ever wanted, universes where society is stuck in the past, universes where he finds himself looking at life through entirely different eyes.
Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
Corayne an-Amarat's world is turned upside down when she learns she is the last of an ancient lineage, destined to save the world from destruction. She is joined by a squire, an immortal, an assassin, an ancient sorceress, a forger, and a bounty hunter as they embark on a dangerous quest to stop the evil Taristan from opening the long-dormant Spindles, portals that open up to other realms.
Skyhunter series by Marie Lu
Talin is a Striker, a member of an elite fighting force that stands as the last defense for Mara, the only free nation in the world, but when a mysterious prisoner is brought from the front to Mara's capital, Talin senses there is more to him than meets the eye.
The Truth Project by Danta Medema
Cordelia Koenig, 17 and heading into her final high school year, has her stress-inducing senior project all planned: She will do a find-your-roots genealogy test and write about her results and at the same time maybe reconnect with her former best friend and longtime crush Kodiak Jones, who happens to be her project partner. Of course, her DNA test comes back with shocking results: the "father" she has grown up with is not really her biological father. Now, unsure of everything in her life, Cordelia sets out to find out where she really came from. Told through a series of poems, text messages, and emails.
A Love Hate Thing by Whitney D. Grandison
Troubled black teen Tyson Trice is recovering from being shot and ends up at the house of Nandy Smith and her well-to-do family in the Pacific Hills community. Nandy has a reputation to keep up and she won't let Trice ruin it. Tyson brings Nandy out of her shell, while she works to melt the ice that's taken over his heart. Their growing attraction causes problems when the past threatens to pull Trice back onto the streets.
Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds
What if you could bring your best friend back to life — but only for a short time? Jamal's best friend, Q, doesn't know that he died, and that he's about to die again. He doesn't know that Jamal tried to save him — and that the reason they haven't been friends for two years is because Jamal blames Q for the accident that killed his parents. What if Jamal could have a second chance?
GRAPHIC NOVELS
Second grade and up
Pea, Bee, & Jay series by Brian Smith
A green pea, a bespectacled honeybee, and a blue jay become fast friends in this lively graphic novel early-reader. Books in the series include Stuck Together, Wannabees, and Lift Off.
Pizza and Taco series by Stephen Shaskan
Best friends Pizza and Taco agree on nearly everything until Pizza declares himself the best of all, leading to debating, voting, competing, and finally defining what being the best really means. Laugh through all of their adventures in Who’s the Best, Best Party Ever!, and Super-Awesome Comic!
Fourth grade and up
Lightfall: the Girl and the Galdurian by Tim Probert
For fans of Amulet and middle-grade readers who love sweeping worlds like in “Star Wars,” the first book of the Lightfall series introduces Bea and Cad, two unlikely friends who get swept up in an epic quest to save their world from falling into eternal darkness.
Long Distance by Whitney Gardner
After moving to Seattle, Vega's dads send her to the very strange Camp Best Friend, where she discovers that one can make new friends without forgetting old ones.
Artie and the Wolf Moon by Olivia Stephens
Hoping to capture a photograph of a full moon with her late father's film camera, eighth grader Artie Irvin instead learns she's a werewolf and embarks on a journey of discovering her family's history, a new crush, and the real monsters in the world around her.
High School & Adult
A Map the to Sun by Sloane Leong
Luna and Ren are inseparable. But when Luna suddenly moves due to a family emergency right before their freshman year, the two lose contact. Years later, Luna returns and wants to pick up where she and Ren left off. Ren would rather ignore Luna. When their high school starts a girls' basketball team, both Ren, with her new friends, and Luna join. During their first season, this diverse and endearing group of teens are challenged in ways that make them reevaluate who and how they trust.
Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman
Young love — with all its awkwardness, tenderness, and raw emotions — blossoms between two teenagers who appear to be worlds apart. Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn't think he has a chance. But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.
NON-FICTION
Grades K-5 and up
Thanku: Poems of Gratitude edited by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Marlena Myles
Gratitude isn't something we need to save up for a special holiday. What are you grateful for right now? This anthology brings together a diverse group of poets who express gratitude for everything from a puppy to hot cocoa to the sky itself. Each writer uses a different poetic form, and readers will encounter a concrete poem, a sonnet, a pantoum, a sijo, and much more.
I Am the Shark by Joan Holub, illustrated by Laurie Keller
In this hilarious book, the Great White Shark thinks he is the greatest shark there is. One by one his fellow sharks – from the oldest Greenland Shark to the fastest Mako Shark – challenge Great White, leading him to be down in the dumps and think he isn't so great after all. However, when all is said and done, the other sharks in the book encourage Great White to like who he is just the way he is.
If the World Were 100 People: A Visual Guide to Our Global Village by Jackie McCann, illustrated by Aaron Cushley
Help your child become a global citizen with this accessible introduction to the people who live on our planet, with big ideas broken into bite-size chunks through clever graphic design.
Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon by Simran Jeet Singh, illustrated by Baljinder Kaur
Every step forward is a victory.
Fauja Singh was born determined. He was also born with legs that wouldn't allow him to play cricket with his friends or carry him to school miles from his village in Punjab. But that didn't stop him. This true story of Fauja Singh reminds us that it's both where we start and how we finish that make our journeys unforgettable.
The People Remember By Ibi Zoboi, illustrated by Loveis Wise
This lyrical and powerful tribute tells the journey of African descendants in America by connecting their history to the seven principles of Kwanzaa. A beautiful gift for readers of all ages.
4th grade and up
All Thirteen : the Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat
A unique account of the amazing Thai cave rescue told in a heart-racing, you-are-there style that blends suspense, science, and cultural insight. Meticulously researched and generously illustrated with photographs, this page-turner includes an author’s note describing her experience meeting the team.
Murder on the Baltimore Express: The Plot to Keep Abraham Lincoln from Becoming President by Suzzane Jurmain
In 1861, newly elected U.S. President Abraham Lincoln set out on a train journey from his home in Springfield, Illinois, to his inauguration in Washington, D.C. When an assassination plot by Confederate sympathizers is uncovered, detective Allan Pinkerton races to keep the president alive. Includes black-and-white photographs and a timeline.
High School & Adult
The Kitchen Without Borders: Recipes and Stories from Refugee and Immigrant Chefs
Refugees by status, chefs by calling. This is a special kind of cookbook. In it, chefs from around the world – all part of Eat Offbeat, a catering company staffed by immigrants and refugees who have found a new home and new hope through cooking- offer up to 70 authentic, surprising, nourishing recipes. The food has roots that run as deep as its flavors, celebrating the culinary traditions of Syria, Iran, Eritrea, Venezuela, and more.
The Power of Style: How Fashion and Beauty are Being Used to Reclaim Cultures by Christian Allaire
Style is not just the clothes on our backs—it is self-expression, representation, and transformation. As a fashion-obsessed Ojibwe teen, Christian Allaire rarely saw anyone that looked like him in the magazines or movies he looked to for inspiration. Now the Fashion and Style Writer for Vogue, he is working to change that—because clothes are never just clothes. Men’s heels are a statement of pride in the face of LGTBQIA+ discrimination, while ribbon shirts honor Indigenous ancestors and keep culture alive. Allaire takes the reader through boldly designed chapters to discuss additional topics like cosplay, make up, hijabs, and hair, probing the connections between fashion and history, culture, politics, and social justice.
All Boys Aren’t Blue: a Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson
Journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist Johnson takes readers through his life from childhood through young adulthood, reflecting on how his identity as a queer Black boy was shaped, refracted, and often suppressed for his own safety.
I Am the Night Sky & Other Reflections by Muslim American Youth
Presents poems, essays, artwork, and stories that reflect on what it means to be young and Muslim in contemporary America.
Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness & Community by the Born This Way Foundation, Lady Gaga
The quiet power of kindness can change the way we view one another, our communities, and even ourselves. In these pages you’ll read true stories about kindness, bravery, and resilience from young people, including kids who stood up to bullies, started social movements, worked to break social stigmas, and created safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth.
Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore our Radical Anatomy edited by Kelly Jensen
Thirty-seven writers, models, actors, musicians, and artists share essays, lists, comics, and illustrations—about everything from size and shape to scoliosis, from eating disorders to cancer, from sexuality and gender identity to the use of makeup as armor. Together, they contribute a broad variety of perspectives on what it’s like to live in their particular bodies—and how their bodies have helped to inform who they are and how they move through the world.
The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country by Amada Gorman
On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman became the sixth and youngest poet, at age twenty-two, to deliver a poetry reading at a presidential inauguration. Her inaugural poem, 'The Hill We Climb,' is now available in this special edition.