It’s the first week back to school here, and it’s amazing to see students and fellow teachers in real life again. I thought we’d start off this new season of the Brainstorm with a little something for each subject. I tried to pick books that are fairly recent to our libraries. For some of these I couldn't choose between an upper level read or a lower level read, so I included both. After each summary I have written LG if it is aimed at lower grades (K-3), MG if it is aimed at middle grades (3-8), and YA if it is aimed at teens. YA+ means it is written for adults but accessible for teens. Here's to a great new school year of reading!
Art
The Crayon Man: the True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons by Natascha Biebow, ill. by Steven Salerno
A picture book biography about the man and his team who invented crayons. LG
Maya Lin: Thinking with Her Hands by Susan Goldman Rubin
A biography of the artist who designed the Vietnam War Memorial and other art pieces with purpose. YA
Bible
Why God?: Big Answers about God and Why We Believe in Him by Dan DeWitt, ill. by Christine Grove
A picture book featuring two kids asking their Mom questions about God, and she gives them some things to think about. LG
Computers
Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust by Gary F. Marcus & Ernest Davis
A realistic look at the current abilities and limitations of modern AI and the author's suggestions about what needs to happen in order to get AI to the place where it could take care of household chores or put Grandpa to bed without calamity. YA+
Language
How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander, ill. by Melissa Sweet
A picture book poetic ode to reading. LG
In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri, translated by Ann Goldstein
A exploration of language learning, living overseas, and writing in your family’s language vs your school language vs a language you learned by choice. YA+
Learning Support/Life Skills
This Beach Is Loud! by Samantha Cotterill
A little boy sensory issues is SUPER excited to go the beach. But when he and his dad finally get there, he doesn't like the texture of the sand and all the noise is a bit overwhelming. Is the day ruined, or can he enjoy the beach?
Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic: a Comedian’s Guide to Life on the Spectrum by Michael McCreary
Comedian Michael McCreary shares about his life, how he was diagnosed with autism, what it was like for him at home and at school, how he found his way into comedy, and along the way how his brain works and the range of ways someone on the spectrum views the world. YA
Library
Just Like Beverly: a Biography of Beverly Cleary by Vicki Conrad, ill. by David Hohn
A picture book biography of librarian and children’s author, Beverly Cleary. LG
Lunch
What’s Your Favorite Food? by Eric Carle, et al
Eric Carle and 13 other illustrators share their favorite foods. LG
Math
How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems by Randall Munroe
Randall Munroe is back with scientifically-sound, mathematically-demonstrated answers for the most ridiculous ways to do things. (And interspersed with humorous stick figure illustrations of said situations.) If you've ever wondered how to build your own lava moat and keep your house cool, which kind of professional athlete you should employ to take down a drone fastest, or the most ridiculous way to move your house, look no further. YA+
Music
Because by Mo Willems, ill. by Amber Ren
A trail of causes and effects, becauses, of how an orchestra came together to play a certain piece and how a girl ended up at that concert and was changed. LG
PE/Sports
All or Nothing (Bird & Squirrel, #6) by James Burks
Bird and Squirrel enter one epic adventure race and learn a lot about perseverance, teamwork, good sportsmanship, and what is truly important along the way. MG
Psychology
Cat’s Café: a Comics Collection by Matt Tarpley
A collection of comics about Cat who runs a café, provides for the caffeine needs of others, but more importantly provides a safe place where everyone can be real, get emotional support, and connect with others. MG-YA+
Science
Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor by Laurie Wallmark, ill. by Katy Wu
A picture book biography of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr. LG-MG
The Mars Challenge: the Past, Present, and Future of Human Spaceflight by Alison Wilgus, ill. by Wyeth Yates
Through the conversations of an eager teen who wants to go to Mars and an adult scientist, readers learn all the hurdles that need to be passed before humans are ready for a manned mission to Mars, from overcoming the headaches gravity poses to figuring out how to keep humans alive once they get there and everything in between. MG-YA
Social Studies/History
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, ill. by Kadir Nelson
A poetic ode to African Americans of the past and future, highlighting the hurdles they have overcome and their resilience despite the hardships they have faced. LG-YA
Spies: the Secret Showdown between America and Russia by Marc Favreau
A history of spycraft between the USSR and the USA during the Cold War. YA
Theater Arts
Josephine Baker by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara ; ill. by Agathe Sorlet
A succinct picture book biography of the dancer, actress, spy, and civil rights activist. LG
Midsummer's Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca
Mimi doesn't feel like she belongs in her artsy/musical/sporty racially-blended family. The only thing she feels somewhat competent is baking. But as soon as she enters a baking competition her whole family starts to get seriously stranger. This is a marvelous rewrite of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night Dream" in terms modern kids can understand and relate to. Actual Shakespeare lines get to be woven in because Mimi's brother is currently in a production of the play and constantly is spouting lines of it. And he also breaks down the plot of the play for Mimi at various points, so readers can catch the parallels even if they've never read or seen the original. MG
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