This is my favorite time of year. Something about leaves changing, sweaters and a pair of socks, and a nice mug of hot chocolate makes it feel necessary to snuggle up with a good book.
Goodness and gratitude come easily in times like these, so I hold the moments close in hopes that they’ll keep me warm on colder days. Here are a few books for you to snuggle up with. I hope they keep you warm.
The Girl Who Stole an Elephant by Nizrana Farook
Nizrana Farook’s lush and thrilling middle grade novel, set in Sri Lanka, will leave you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Chaya, a nobleman’s rebellious daughter, impetuously steals from the king and queen; first jewels, and eventually, something much larger — an elephant. As one of the more privileged children among her friends in the village, she is incensed by the wealth of the palace and the poverty of her neighbors. And so, while she is wrong to steal, she shares all that she takes with those who desperately need it. The Girl Who Stole an Elephant provokes lots of conversations about right and wrong, complicating that binary in important and challenging ways. Chaya’s generosity is starkly contrasted with the corruption and greed of the palace and, ultimately, her strength and resilience are rewarded.
Chloe the Chameleon by Susan Kay, illustrated by Jenny Reynush
Chloe is a chameleon with lots of worries about her first day of school. She feels plain compared to all of the other animals that she meets along her path. And since she is a chameleon, she changes colors depending on the animals she encounters. A parrot suggests that she should be red. A snake thinks green would best. By the time she reaches her friend, Andi the painted turtle, she is a mixed-up mess. Andi reassures Chloe and encourages her to be exactly who she is, which is just enough for friends who care for her. Susan Kay’s simple story is full of the goodness, encouragement and confidence that good friends bring.
No Kimchi for Me! written and illustrated by Aram Kim
Yoomi the Kitty wants to do all the same things as her big brothers. But when she sits down to lunch with Jun, Yoon and Grandma, there’s one thing she just can’t do: eat kimchi! She hates spicy, stinky kimchi, and Jun and Yoon take the opportunity to exclude her the rest of the afternoon, calling her a baby over and over. Yoomi is so desperate to be a big kid, just like her brothers, so she’s determined to like kimchi. She puts it on everything in the hope that the taste that she hates will be disguised: cookies, ice cream, pizza — nothing works. But Grandma has a better idea. She calls a very sad and defeated Yoomi into the kitchen and together they make a kimchi pancake. Instead of excluding Yoomi from the process, Grandma makes the process fun, inviting her to crack the eggs, stir the batter and pour it onto the griddle. When they all sit down to share the food they made together, Yoomi loves her kimchi pancake. I think that making food and sharing food is the cornerstone of love and generosity and it’s no wonder that Yoomi is finally able to love kimchi after her Grandma lovingly shares her recipe with her.
Tía Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina, illustrated by Claudio Munoz
From start to finish, Tía Isa Wants a Car is full of goodness and generosity, and it is one of my family’s absolute favorite books. The young narrator of the book is living in the United States with her Tía Isa and Tío Andres. Her parents have stayed behind in Cuba to care for her abuelo. Her Tía and Tío work hard to send money back to Cuba, supporting their family there, but Tía Isa wants to buy a car so that she can get anywhere she wants to go. But the narrator sees that Tía Isa sets aside the majority of her money to send back to her family and keeps only a very small amount for a car. She decides that she will try to save money from jobs she does for friends and neighbors to put toward Tía’s car. Meg Medina’s story is a beautiful example of love, care, generosity and sacrifice and I absolutely recommend listening to her read her book on Julie’s Library. It’s just the best.
Wednesday & Woof: Catastrophe by Sheri Winston, illustrated by Gladys Jose
I love everything about this brand new early reader chapter book series. Wednesday and her service dog, Woof, are neighborhood detectives, on the case whenever a neighbor is in need. First up, Mrs. Winters’s lost cat. Wednesday is so quick to help, and so serious about being the best detective ever, that she almost makes the most critical mistake a detective can make: jumping to conclusions based on how a person looks. Her best friend, Belinda, helps her to see that making assumptions is never the kind thing to do, and it can seriously distract a detective when she’s looking for clues in all the wrong places. Don’t miss this kind-hearted, exciting and fun new series by Sherri Winston. Lots of pictures and reading benchmarks make it the perfect next step if your young reader is ready for something a bit longer and more complex.
– Margaret Leonard
Margaret Leonard is the owner of Dotters Books, an independent bookstore in Eau Claire. The shop, which specializes in books by a diverse range of authors, began as a book club and opened its doors in the fall of 2018. Follow Dotters Books on Instagram and Facebook.