In A Year of Good News, animated filmmaker Martin Smatana spreads happiness by sharing 52 good-news stories from around the world. In this uplifting collection of everyday, often inconspicuous stories, ably translated from Slovak by Julia and Peter Sherwood, Smatana puts "good news under the spotlight" and shows readers bright spots can always be found. Highlights include the Canadian post office sending postcards with messages of solidarity to every household in the country during the Covid-19 lockdown, and a 109-year-old Australian man knitting sweaters for penguins to stop them from swallowing oil while cleaning themselves following a spill. These touching, concise stories, just one or two sentences each, are accompanied by Smatana's charming textile illustrations made from leftover clothing scraps. Together, the stories and artwork provide hope and comfort. --Lana Barnes, freelance reviewer and proofreader

The inspiring and deeply moving picture book Big tells the story of a Black child "with a big laugh and a big heart and very big dreams." She is praised by caring adults for being "a big girl," and this is good--until it's not. Suddenly, big means getting stuck in a swing, being teased by other kids, and finding herself belittled by adults. It means feeling "out of place, exposed, [and] judged." Until, finally, powerfully, this wonderful girl begins to "shake off" the words of others, to "see things more clearly," and to "make more space for herself." Little Leaders series creator Vashti Harrison's succinct text is emotionally resonant and gracefully executed, as are her beautifully rendered digital and chalk pastel illustrations, both of which keep the focus clearly on the child and her rewarding journey to self-love. The gatefold at the heart of the book is stunning, as the child remembers who she is... and it's good! --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author

Children's poet Joseph Coelho (Grandpa's Stories) and illustrator Daniel Gray-Barnett (Smile Out Loud) ask young readers to "face your fears and find your courage with poetry" in their third read-aloud poetry collaboration, Courage Out Loud. This installation of the Poetry to Perform series focuses less on the whimsical and more on the emotional, tackling issues of bravery, fear, and sadness through rhymes that children can practice reading aloud: "A poem has the might/ to give your passion bite,/ to let your words take flight!/ A poem has the might./ Your words might change a mind,/ inspire someone to be kind." Each page comes with a craft prompt from Coelho and entertaining, cartoon-style illustrations from Gray-Barnett. Courage Out Loud should be a useful writing tool in the arsenals of teachers and librarians, and a practical gift for aspiring poets. --Nicole Brinkley, bookseller and writer

Stories of the Buddha bring meditation practices into focus in Enlighten Me, a thought-provoking middle-grade graphic novel by Minh Lê (Drawn Together), illustrated by Chan Chau (The Rise (and Falls) of Jackie Chan).

In the aftermath of a fight at school, Binh's parents decide to take the whole family to a weekend silent meditation camp. Binh would prefer to play video games but, as he learns about the Buddha and his imagination travels with the stories about the spiritual leader, Binh realizes meditation might be worth trying. Lê's dialogue is direct and expressive as it teaches the importance of being present in the moment. Chau's spirited illustrations are presented in dynamic panels that often overlap each other or are broken by energetic figures. Informative, imaginative, and quietly impressive, Enlighten Me inspires readers to take a deep breath. --Kyla Paterno, freelance reviewer

The loving, whimsical Grandparents by Ariel Andrés Almada, illustrated by Sonja Wimmer, is an ode to the wonderful relationships between children and their grandparents. This fifth title in the Family Love series opens with a girl writing a letter to her grandparents "that tastes of happiness mixed with love." The book follows this with a series of stylized and surreal illustrations of diverse children and their elders. Sprinkled throughout are spreads of the original letter-writer growing up and realizing how important these intergenerational experiences are. This picture book, capably translated from the Spanish by Jon Brokenbrow, will likely encourage children to keep their special memories alive, as it invites them to reflect on their own funny moments, quiet times, and adventures with Grandma and/or Grandpa. A perfect book to bring the family closer together at holiday time, and to encourage children to write their own letters. --Melinda Greenblatt, freelance book reviewer

The graduating class of a high school in one of Chicago's well-off suburbs gathers for an epic end-of-year celebration in House Party, a lively YA contemporary novel edited by justin a. reynolds (Opposite of Always). Eleven alternating narrators--written by 10 different authors--each have their own goals for the night. In Christina Hammonds Reed's "The Popular Girl," Black teen Penny wants to take her mind off her mother's illness and her recent breakup with Jenny S., "the former love of my life." Jrue, "The Class Clown" (justin a. reynolds) is determined to go down in history as "the best prankster our school's ever seen." Even "The Cool Mom" (Ryan La Sala), Carla, who is white, attends to find her missing dog. But nothing goes according to the characters' plans--romances bloom, friendships are tested, and rivalries explode. House Party is an entertaining romp through a night of chaotic celebration and a bittersweet snapshot of teenagers transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. --Alanna Felton, freelance reviewer

For thousands of years, people have used flowers to communicate, heal, nourish, and prettify. Molly Williams's How to Speak Flower is a lovely compendium of flower legend, science, and symbolism--in short, a brief yet cohesive history of floriography. Packed with fun facts, charts, crafts, and quizzes, this is a perfect gift for budding fans of floriography. Williams's light, friendly tone belies the depth of information she covers in this guide. Sections about flower life cycles, traditional flower uses (lavender for relaxation), and floral associations (petunias can represent anger!) share space with quizzes ("What's your flower power?") and floral bath bomb recipes. Dutch multidisciplinary artist Miriam Bos charmingly illustrates with bright and delicate spot art, ensuring readers can return again and again for the sheer joy of the collaboration. --Emilie Coulter, freelance writer and editor

Indigenous Ingenuity by Deidre Havrelock (Buffalo Wild!), member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, and Edward Kay (Gross Science series) is an engaging and cleverly compiled guide to North American and Mesoamerican Indigenous innovation. STEM topics (housing, medicine, clothing, agriculture, and hunting among them) are compellingly and conversationally discussed, including unexpected topics like Aztec warrior education, and eccentric ones like the invention of the whoopee cushion. Grayscale boxes spotlight enthralling facts (Ancient Romans imported "the best urine" from Portugal to use as mouthwash) and creative activities (how to write a pictographic story; a weaving craft). Photos and spot art by Kalila Fuller (Finding My Dance) depict artifacts that include Tlingit armor, implements such as ancient fish traps, scientific processes, people of note, and more. The authors correct misconceptions, and herald interconnectedness and future-minded thinking. An authors' note, introduction, epilogue, glossary, bibliography, and index supplement this necessary text. --Samantha Zaboski, freelance editor and reviewer

Marc Bernadin (Adora and the Distance) reimagines scenes from the life of a giant in the nuanced, inspirational graphic novel Messenger: The Legend of Muhammad Ali, illustrated by Ron Salas (Northguard).

This work of young adult nonfiction aims to capture the epic essence of the boxer rather than a complete, true-to-life picture. Bernadin focuses primarily on iconic moments like Ali's 1960 Olympic victory, his first meeting with Malcolm X, and his role in the 1990 release of American hostages from Iraq. Each chapter illustrates the words of Ali's first boxing coach, "What makes a fighter great is what they do after they get hit." Salas's sensitively rendered grayscale art vividly conveys every flicker of his subjects' emotions.

Bernadin captures the feel of a mythic hero without glossing over Ali's complexities. This story should captivate sports fans and anyone looking for an inspiring story of a fighter who "shook up the world." --Jaclyn Fulwood, youth experience manager, Dayton Metro Library

Hui Li brilliantly transforms the history of Chinese characters into a marvelous adventure in Scrolls. Watching Grandpa practice calligraphy inspires Lulu (and her never-far-away pup, Dumpling) to try it. Lulu's drawing of "DOOR" opens a portal where the pictographs she's been learning come alive: a helpful bird, a riverside village, a fiery dragon. Cleverly, Lulu's paintbrush enables a safe return home, much like Harold's purple crayon. Li's first solo author/artist title, created in watercolor, colored pencil, and Chinese ink, is an imaginative, purposefully rendered comic picture-book. Li adds Chinese characters across the page-tops, encouraging readers to find them within her inviting drawings. "Imagine if every character you draw has its own story," Li's author's note muses. Here, it magically does. --Terry Hong

Hungry toddlers will be heading for the kitchen thanks to the appetizing and high-engagement board book Spaghetti!, the fifth in the My First Cookbooks series. With clean lines and a bold color palette, Lotta Nieminen's mixed-media artwork details the step-by-step preparation of four servings of pasta with a garlicky marinara sauce. Straightforward text alongside labeled cooking tools and ingredients clarifies quantities, provides cooking instructions, and offers helpful tips to build culinary literacy: "If [the spaghetti is] slightly soft and chewy, it is ready." Thick pages nestle sturdy interactive elements including sliding tabs, a flap, and a brilliantly designed final page that invites readers to twirl their finished plate of spaghetti using a fork removed from the spread prior. A cookbook sure to earn rave reviews among discerning high-chair critics. --Kit Ballenger, youth librarian, Help Your Shelf

The dynamic picture book Tenacious: Fifteen Adventures Alongside Disabled Athletes explores the feats of accomplished children and adults as they "race and jump and shoot and soar/ in sports events and so much more."

Debut author Patty Cisneros Prevo, a gold medal-winning Paralympian in wheelchair basketball, pairs melodic rhyming text ("Paddle further, surf the wave/ Trust yourself. Be bold! Be brave!") with biographies of athletes. Each bio includes the athlete's daily challenge and daily joy; for example, Meira Va'a Nelson, a Pacific Islander who competes in adaptive surfing, is challenged daily by the loss of her daughter but finds joy in the rest of her family. Dion MBD (Where We Come From) illustrates color-rich images of the athletes that evoke movement and excitement. The book begins and ends with the athletes gliding forward together as one, faces set in determination, anticipating their next adventure. --Kieran Slattery, freelance reviewer, teacher, co-creator of Gender Inclusive Classrooms

"Could I swim in ice cream?" "What's the opposite of a spider?" "Why can't I tickle myself?" "Are cats liquid or solid?" Good questions all, and they're among dozens given serious consideration in The Bedtime Book of Incredible Questions. As Isabel Thomas (Moth) explains, the book is dedicated to the idea that "science is about asking questions" and "each one is a stepping stone on the path to understanding the universe and everything in it." Thomas's answers are informed by scientific research and illustrated with equally finespun art by Aaron Cushley (J.R.R. Tolkien) that teems with children and animals hot on the trail of knowledge. There are also images of curiosities like, say, two terrified-looking flowers riding a skateboard down a ramp ("Do plants have feelings?"). --Nell Beram, freelance writer and YA author

In The Women Who Built Hollywood, Susan Goldman Rubin profiles 12 female powerhouses who made big contributions when movies were a new American art form in the early 20th century. Among those featured are Anna May Wong (1905-1961), the first Chinese American movie star, and actress Hattie McDaniel (1893-1952), the first African American to win an Academy Award. Replete with archival black-and-white photos, this galvanic book gestures at the secret to so many of its subjects' long careers in Hollywood, both on-screen and behind the scenes: as Frances Marion (1888-1973), the first woman to receive an Oscar for writing, says here, "I hope my story shows one thing--how many women gave me real aid when I stood at the crossroads." --Nell Beram, freelance writer and YA author

Transported by Matt Ralphs and illustrated by debut children's book artist Rui Ricardo is an exciting and educational examination of the 50 most significant vehicles in human history. Beginning with the ancient Polynesian canoe and working chronologically toward the electric and solar-powered vehicles of the present, Ralphs (Norse Myths) provides a litany of fun facts about each vehicle and explains how transportation factors into all aspects of human life. This includes seemingly simple activities like cargo hauling and farming to extravagant displays of luxury, power, and scientific advancement. Ricardo's realistic, detailed illustrations feature magnificent scale and dynamic movement: wheels churning up dust, sails swelling with the wind, smoke billowing out of chimney stacks, and propellers whirring at top speed. Transported is a great gift for young readers interested in history, science, and exploration. --Cade Williams, freelance reviewer