Baby Books & Picture Books Up to Age 5
We Are Water Protectors
By Michaela Goade & Carole Lindstrom
A 2021 Caldecott Medal aware winner for the most distinguished American picture book for children! A wonderful story about an Indigenous-led movement to protect our Earth’s water supply. A lesson in advocacy and preservation.
Jabari Jumps
By Gaia Cornwall
A story about a young boy overcoming his fears of jumping into the pool, with the support of his loving father.
Froodle
By Antoinette Portis
A sweet story about changing your tune to be different from the norm.
Books for Ages 5-8
Ambitious Girl
By Meena Harris
A book celebrating empowering our young girls as they grow up to be proud, assertive, and confident.
Zen Shorts (Series)
By Jon J. Muth
A book series about Stillwater, the beloved Zen panda. Zen Happiness and Zen Socks are part of the series in which a giant panda moves into the neighborhood and tells amazing tales to the children.
Listening with My Heart: A Story of Kindness & Self-Compassion
By Gabi Garcia
A guide to our children about being friends to themselves. Mindfulness and self-compassion activities are included.
Books for Ages 8-12
When You Trap a Tiger
By Tae Keller
2021 Newberry Medal Award Winner! A story about Korean folklore as a young girl faces a magical tiger is on a mission to unlock the power of stories and save her family.
All Thirteen: The Incredible Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team
By Christina Soontornvat
A page turner true story account of the 17-day rescue of the Wild Boars Thai soccer team that was trapped in cave after they went out looking for a fun adventure. The author captures first-hand interviews from rescue workers and careful details of the region’s culture and religion, as she happened to be visiting family in Northern Thailand at the time the team went missing.
The Phantom Tollbooth
By Norton Juster
A classic novel about 10-year old Milo, who believes life is boring. Follow him through the phantom tollbooth, as he finds the world around him to be an adventure he never thought was present. This book never gets old, so read it WITH your kids!
Books for Middle-Schoolers & Tweens
Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story)
By Daniel Nayeri
A true story about a boy named Khosrou, who everyone calls Daniel, about his family’s history and flight from Iran. Daniel weaves a tale that nobody believes to save his life and stake his claim on the truth.
Dragon Hoops
By Gene Luen Yang
A graphic novelist and math teacher, Gene Luen Yang, cures his writer’s block by delving into the story of his school’s men’s varsity basketball team. This book is full of insight into race, ethnicity, teamwork, winning, and losing.
Five Feet Apart
By Rachael Lippincott
A story about two teenagers with chronic medical illnesses who have to navigate young love and the struggles they deal with daily due to their medical conditions.
Young Adult Books for High-school Aged Kids
All the Days Past, All the Days Yet to Come
By Mildred Taylor
A journey through the Civil Rights movement in America through the eyes of Cassie Logan. This is the completion to a book series about the Logan Family.
Legendborn
By Tracy Deonn
A story about how one young lady processes her grief and encounters mystery, magic, and fantasy and a secret society called “Legendborn”. You won’t be disappointed!
The Impossible First: From Fire to Ice - Crossing Antarctica Alone
By Colin O’Brady
A memoir about Colin’s quest to cross the world’s most harsh and barren continent alone. A gripping tale of challenges, vulnerability, and triumph.
Books for Adults
Outliers: The Story of Success
By Malcolm Gladwell
Why are some people more successful than others? What separates the best and the brightest from the average? Gladwell believes we pay too much attention to what successful people are like and not enough about their stories, their upbringing, their culture, their experiences. A great read for parents and high-schoolers!