Babies/Tots
Farm Boots
By Lisl Detlefsen
Illustrated by Renee Kurilla
Feeding Minds Press, 2023, $17.99
Skip into Spring with this lively, rhyming paean to footgear for rain, mud, snow, chores and vigorous play throughout the seasons. The book depicts children of many ethnicities as they help plant seeds, gather eggs and tend animals on their small family farms. Readers get a glimpse of the people and farming lifestyle that helps nourish our nation and is a vital antidote to huge corporate farms.
ages 3 – 7
A Bone for Bo
By Joan Waites
Schiffer, 2022, $16.99
Acclaimed author/illustrator Joan Waites invites readers into the New Mexico home of renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe. In this fictional tale based on O’Keeffe’s relationship with her chow named Bo, the artist misses the apple blossoms and red poppies that inspired her large flower paintings on the east coast. When Bo discovers a bright white animal bone, its “smooth texture and beautiful shape” lead her to a new focus for her painting. Waites’s art is an homage to the austere beauty of this landscape and to O’Keeffe’s use of color and form. Youngsters will love looking for the tiny blue-tailed skink as they turn the pages of this delightful book, which is perfect for National Women’s History Month.
Marvelous Mabel
By Crystal Hubbard
Illustrated by Alleanna Harris
Lee & Low, 2022, $20.95
Born in 1915, Mabel Fairbanks battled racism and poverty to become a preeminent figure skater and coach. Though denied many opportunities because she was Black, Mabel’s talent and fierce drive led her to other avenues. After a career as a performer, Mabel went on to teach anyone with a desire to learn, regardless of ethnicity, including Hollywood celebrities (Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Eartha Kitt) and their children. She coached skaters who then won U.S. championships and Olympic medals. In 1997, Mabel became the first African American inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame. What better way to celebrate National Women’s History Month than with the true story of this incredible athlete?
ages 8 – 11
Justice Rising
By Katheryn Russell-Brown
Illustrated by Kim Holt
Viking, 2023, $18.99
This illustrated history showcases 12 Black women whose determination and hard work helped power the Civil Rights Movement. While including short, compelling biographies of well-remembered figures (Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King), the book is an especially valuable addition to any home, classroom or library because it describes the contributions of children (Ruby Bridges, Claudette Colvin) and those less well-known (Gloria Richardson, Dorothy Cotton).
Made to Bloom
By Stephanie Leavell
As a board-certified music therapist, Stephani Leavell engages with children in a variety of settings from hospitals and clinics to schools. Leavell’s album “Made to Bloom” reflects her conviction that when kids are celebrated for whom they are, they will blossom. The album’s title track offers self-authentication to kids who are a little different in one way or another, with a tuneful reminder to be true to themselves. Other highlights include, “Slow Down,” “It’s a Good Day,” “Grateful Heart” and “If You Need to Cry” – Leavell’s favorite track on the album. The album is available on all streaming services and at musicforkiddos.com.
