Stephanie Seales, a library staff member who works both in the Children’s Room at the Main Library and at the North Branch, (and in her spare time is a book critic in the Young Readers division for Kirkus!) was recently on the radio:

“I was recently privileged to be featured on NPR station WCAI’s The Point for a short segment on children’s books (you’ll find me around the 25:00 minute mark). I shared a few new, quality titles that feature racially and ethnically diverse protagonists. When children and teens read books that serve as both windows & mirrors, they increase their capacity for empathy and expand their worldview. The following titles are the ones I highlighted on The Point and have appeal to a broad audience:

PICTURE BOOKS (roughly ages 3-8)

One Word from Sophia illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail and written by Jim Averbeck

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music, illustrated by Rafael López and written by Margarita Engle (sadly, didn’t make it onto the show)

MIDDLE GRADE (roughly ages 8-12)

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

GRAPHIC NOVELS (all ages)

Princeless, written by Jeremy Whitley and illustrated by M. Goodwin & Jules Rivera

Moon Girl and the Devil Dinosaur, Volume I: BFF by Amy Reeder, Brandon Montclare, and Natacha Bustos

Young Adult (roughly ages 14 & up)

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson (sadly, also didn’t make it onto the show)”