Island
Island Beautiful illustrations and accessible storyline about the history of the galapagos islands and the remarkable evolutionary processes that happen there.
Rhiannon LeFay
The Marrow Thieves
The Marrow Thieves Articulate writing, symbolic concepts, and unforgettable characters make this dystopia hard to put down – then hard to stop thinking about once it’s over.
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt This book celebrates the endless wonders than can be found in a garden – both the things we put there and expect to find as well as the wild and free life forms that might surprise us.
The Ocean Calls
The Ocean Calls I love learning about the haenyeo tradition of female divers in Korea and the main character in this story is a young girl learning how to become a haenyeo from her grandmother. The art is beautiful and the experiences Dayeon has are fascinating and exciting.
Just Mercy: Adapted for Young People
Just Mercy: Adapted for Young People A heartbreaking but necessary book about Bryan Stevenson’s life and career dedicated to transforming our justice system and the way our culture views criminality and the death penalty.
Seabird in the Forest
Seabird in the Forest Marbled murrelets are elusive, rarely seen, and extremely endangered. This book describes the life cycle of one baby murrelet, from its nest in an old growth forest to the sea where it will live most of it’s adult life.
Esperanza Rising
Esperanza Rising Esperanza learns to transcend her emotional challenges as well as the physical challenges before her when her family must leave home to become migrant farm workers during the great depression. Esperanza is inspiring, courageous, and she feels so real.
Seedfolks
Seedfolks This is a lovely little chapter book about the lives of several isolated neighbors who come to know each other through a shared project of creating a community garden out of an abandoned lot next to their building. It’s heartwarming and inspiring!
Miss Rumphius
Miss Rumphius My favorite picture book and one of my favorite book characters ever – spreading seeds and a love for flowers is an excellent way to make the world a better place!
Yoshi and the Ocean
Yoshi and the Ocean This incredibly beautiful picture book tells the true story of Yoshi, an injured sea turtle who was healed and then released back into the wild with a tracking device, telling us of her extensive journey across blue planet earth.