With recurring characters and presented in chronological order from the 1990's to 2007, this collection set in an "unnamed southern majority-Black suburb" reads very much like a novel. In fact, it reads like the most intimate journal of a community. The uber talented Ladee Hubbard is a writer whose eyes and heart are both clearly wide open, allowing for the same in her readers.

This perfect pariing of poem and artwork turned my insides to mush! It's a great gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduations or anytime you want to declare your unconditional love for someone in your life.

Although on the surface, The Promise is about a deathbed request from a wife to her husband, it is just one of the many broken and unfulfilled promises which permeate this brilliant, searing, Booker prize winning novel. Damon Galgut's gift for language, for observation and for storytelling had me wishing I had nothing but time to read this book.

If you ask anyone in the 7th grade class, nothing ever happens in their small town of Fawn Creek, LA or as they call it Yawn Creek. Nothing, that is, until the day Orchid Mason arrives. Not only is Orchid the new girl, she's lovely and kind and filled with stories of her travels to all corners of the world. But is it safe to be kind when there are bullies lurking? Is it ok to be different when you also want to fit it? Complicated and challenging questions for Orchid's new community in a town where "nothing" ever happens.

Just like her best friend Tiny, Bina is the purple bear you've been missing in your life. Tiny is having a party and can't find Bina. Discovering where Bina may be will make you laugh, but discovering why will melt your heart.

An intense, off-kilter and wholely unique world view permeate every story in this collection.  I kept thinking there was no way the next bizarre and riveting tale could be as good as the one I'd just finished.  I was wrong every time.

Although all three generations of women in this book are unforgettable, it's Elvira, the grandmother I can't stop thinking about.  Through her own voice, as well as filtered through her 9 year old granddaughter, Swiv, Elvira is fierce, funny, loving, resilient and she imbues those qualities in everyone around her.  I could have kept reading about this family forever.

Grieving the loss of his beloved grandfather in the used bookstore he has inherited, high school student Rintaro seems lost.  But then the talking cat arrives and needs his help saving books. Rintaro hears his Grandfather's words echoing in his head, "Books are powerful" and he can't say "no." Especially well suited for holiday time, readers of all ages will enjoy this modern fable. 

"Gertie is The Littlest Yak in her whole pack, and she's feeling stuck in her smallness. She wants to grow up and have bigness and tallness." With illustrations that match this adorable tale told in rhyme, Gertie learns that bigess comes in all forms, including in a yak just her size.

Meet Mr. Watson.  Mr. Watson and Mr. Nelson love each other. They are happy living together with their 2 dogs, 3 cats and a handful of chickens.  But when the chickens multiply to the hundreds (456 to be exact), organize a midnight sing-along and take over EVERY corner of the house, Mr. Nelson threatens to move out.  Readers of all ages will enjoy every moment of this warm, funny story and page after page of eye catching, chicken-filled illustrations. 

Traci Todd's clear-eyed prose and Caldecott Honoree Christian Robinson's luminous artwork combine in this beautiful tribute to the musical genius and civil rights activist Nina Simone.  If you don't know Nina, this is a wonderful introduction. If you already know and love Nina, this book is a treasure.     

This is a novel with so much emotional power, humanity and truth about the world, I had to keep reminding myself it was a work of fiction.  It's a testament to Myriam Chancy's brilliance, talent and strength of will, and to the lives of her characters in the aftermath of Haiti's devastating earthquake in 2010.