Tag: humor

photo of globe with dolls dressed as from other countries - different skin color faces
Posted in PB, So Many Good Books

Inclusive Picture Books

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Perfect Picture Books

I haven’t been reading and recommending picture books lately, but thought it might be helpful to share some that include other cultures, immigrants, and books about acceptance of those who are “different.” I strongly believe that exposing young children to these topics will help them understand our beautiful diverse world better. And perhaps there will be a little less “othering.”

Little Bird Laila (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2025)
by Kelly Yang and illustrated by Xindi Yan

New (HarperCollins, 2025)
by Niña Mata

So Loud! (Annick Press, 2024)
by Sahar Golshan and illustrated by Shiva Delsooz

The Light Within You (Two Lions, 2023)
by Namita Moolani Mehra and illustrated by Kamala Nai

American Desi (Little, Brown and Company, 2022)
by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and illustrated by Supriya Kelka

Powwow Day (Charlesbridge, 2022)
by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight

The Capybaras (Greystone Kids, 2021)
by Alfredo Soderguit

Swashby and the Sea (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020)
by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

When Your Daddy’s a Soldier (Viking Books for Young Readers, October 2022)
by Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan and illustrated by EG Keller

The Star Festival (Albert Whitman & Company, 2021)
by Moni Ritchie Hadley and illustrated by Mizuho Fujisawa

Federico and the Wolf (Clarion Books, 2020)
by Rebecca J. Gomez and illustrated by Elisa Chavarri

Let’s Dance! (Boyds Mill & Kane, 2020)
by Valerie Bolling and illustrated by Maine Diaz

No Party Poopers (little bee books, 2020)
by Gretchen McLellan and illustrated by Lucy Semple

Ohana Means Family (Neal Porter Books, 2020)
by Ilima Loomis and illustrated by Kenard Pak

A Friend for Henry (Chronicle Books, 2019)
by Jenn Bailey and illustrated by Mika Song

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story (Roaring Brook Press, 2019)
by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

Cover of Leeva at Lasst
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Leeva at Last

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Leeva at Last (Balzer + Bray, 2023) by Sara Pennypacker with pictures by Matthew Cordell is a delightful bittersweet story.

Leeva’s parents only think of two things: fame and money. And since she’s only 8 or 9, she can’t help with either. But she can fix the food, wash the dishes, and never leave the house! But wondering what people are for, Leeva sneaks out through the hedge surrounding the backyard and discovers the library next door and the amazing librarians who share books and cookies with her. Discovering what people are for, ends up with Leeva changing the whole community.

Read about the author here and check out all of Sara’s books here.

Read about the illustrator here. Matthew is also an author.

cover of Press 1 for Invasion
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

Press 1 for Invasion

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Press 1 for Invasion (Aladdin, 2025) by J.A. Dauber is hilarious and deliciously scary. The first line is great: “It’s all my parents’ fault.”

Precocious 10-year-old Matt’s parents won’t let him have a cell phone like the other kids, so, of course, when he sees a cell phone on the sidewalk, he picks it up and keeps it. But it won’t make calls and the only app he can use is the camera. But when Matt takes a picture of Mr. Mackintosh, the school crossing guard, it shows a purple alien with scary teeth, six or seven eye stalks, and tentacles. But Matt’s the only one who can see it. Then the lunch lady, Mrs. MacGillicuddy, reveals that there’s an alien invasion and only he can help save everyone in the world from being eaten.

Matt is definitely funny–the way he thinks and talks–yet he also finds out he hasn’t been a great friend. But the threat of being cooked in an oven changes one’s perspective.

Read about the author here. He’s also written a YA novel, Mayhem and Madness: Chronicles of a Teenaged Supervillain.

cover of The Accidental Stowaway
Posted in #Giveaway, MG Novels, So Many Good Books

The Accidental Stowaway

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

I just finished reading the fun romp, The Accidental Stowaway (Candlewick, 2022) by Judith Eagle and illustrated by Jo Rioux.

Twelve-year-old Patch Leonard didn’t mean to stowaway on the RMS Glorious steamship. But when she’s erroneously accused of stealing a plate of toffee, she runs. Right up on the gangplank. Before she knows it the ship has sailed and she’s stuck. Patch makes new friends, has to avoid being caught by the chief steward, and overhears criminals plotting a kidnap. And that’s only part of her problems.

Read about the author’s other books here.

Read about the illustrator here and check out her art here. Jo is also an author and you can see her books here.

I have a gently-read paperback (Walker, 2025) for one lucky winner who comments. (Let me know if you share this post on Social Media for extra tickets.)

cover of Dead Man's Hand in front of the two books that follow this one
Posted in MG Novels, So Many Good Books

The Abilene Kid: Dead Man’s Hand

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

The Abilene Kid: Dead Man’s Hand (Wise Wolf Books, 2025) by John V. Madormo was a fun time travel western! (Another MMGM blogger recently shared this book and it sounded so interesting I had to read it. Thanks, Rosi Hollinbeck!)

Twelve-year-old Dominick is obsessed with the Old West. So much so that when he writes about “The Most Influential Person in His Life” he chooses “Lone Wolf” Malone, a sheriff from the time period. His teacher is not amused.

Then a book in the library transports Dominick to 1888 Abilene, Kansas and he gets to see what it’s really like living there. Under the name, Pete Moss, he becomes an apprentice to the local sheriff, Lone Wolf himself, and wants to warn him about his upcoming death, but the sheriff won’t listen.

This is the first book in a four volume series. The Abilene Kid: The Boot Hill Curse and The Abilene Kid: Sacred Relics are already out. But the fourth book is only available for preorder.

Read about the author here and read log lines about some of his books here. (This might be helpful for writers writing their own.)