Yes, we do judge books by their covers. And as a high school librarian, my readers advisory absolutely includes the books cover art. Here are six favorites with nothing but the covers to speak for themselves.
Category Archives: Illustrators
Six sensational books related to beauty standards
There can be multiple list or a super long list of books featuring conversations about beauty standards whether it deals with eating disorders, disability, fashion/style, or body positivity, however here are six that stick out to me.
- Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying: Mom’s focus on body and a tragedy lead Valerie down the path of an eating disorder.
- Lu by Jason Reynolds: Born with albinism, Lu is the co-captain of his track team and helping other makes things right as the stellar main character in the four part series of Reynolds’.
- Boys Run the Riot by Keito Gaku: The transgender character finds refuge in fashion.
- The Skin I’m In by Sharon Flake: This classic in which a student and her teacher bond over conversations of self esteem related to colorism.
- A Face for Picasso by Ariel Henley: Henley details the quest to “normalize” her face having been born with Crouzon Syndrome and always comparing herself to her twin.
- North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley: Born with a port wine stain, the quest to cover it rather than accept it is Terra’s journey of self acceptance in this YA title.
Six sensational vampire stories
I already shared a post about witches so it’s appropriate that I share one about vampires- whether they’re making a comeback or they never really die (see that?!!) there are some oldies and some new for your reading pleasure.
- Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey: A witty mix of Romanian lore, romance, power, and deception.
- Camp Sylvania by Julie Murphy: A middle grade about a woman who is running a camp, but it’s not just any summer camp, it’ll be a blood farm for vampires.
- The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron: A group of pals realize their family’s history and lean into being a part of the solution even though the new problem is their new friend just became the thing they’re supposed to fear.
- A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal: This complex and epic beginning to a series drips with creativity.
- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer: No need to say more. Love it or hate it, it is a seminal read.
- Fangs by Sarah Andersen: This slim graphic novel is the sweetest love story.
Six sensational funny books
Young adult can get downright dark and middle grade weaves in and out of serious topics, so where’s the funny? Here are a few favorites:
- Slugfest by Gordon Korman: When you have to go to a summer school gym class called PEE, then you know it’s going to be a good time.
- This Will Be Funny Someday by Katie Henry: I mean, it’s right in the title.
- The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee with art by Dan Santat: A supergroup of misfits and a mystery to solve, what could possibly go right?!?!
- American Panda by Gloria Chao: Mom’s voicemails for her 17 year old college student daughter.
- Swim the Fly by Don Calame: When you’re going to try to make the swim team for a girl and all of your “bros” have weird goals for the summer, readers are just along for the ride.
- Lumberjanes: Unicorn Power by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Brooklyn Allen: When aren’t the hardcore lady types from Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp entertaining?
Six sensational stories with witches
It might not be spooky season, but that’s okay because a book with witches is immemorial!
- A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi: I devoured every book Rinaldi wrote when I was a tween and this was one of my favorites.
- Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama: I own the entire series and the spinoff Witch Hat Kitchen because the atelier of little witch girls is the sweetest.
- The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare: A contemporary classic about the dangers of assumptions.
- The Witches by Roald Dahl: Whether in original format or the movie version which is unforgettable, I’m glad to have reread Dahl’s book to remember reading it as a child and being scared out of my mind!
- Garlic and the Witch by Bree Paulsen: This and its sequel featuring vegetables as characters and a mansion on the hill will delight all readers.
- The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner: If ever I’ve wanted a wardrobe, it’s hers.
Six sensational books near/by/about water
With a heat index of about 100 degrees here in New York State, I figured water both to hydrate and swim in is the best way to keep cool besides air conditioning. Hence, today’s topic featuring water!
- The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag: Featuring a selkie.
- A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America’s First All-Black High School Rowing Team by Arshay Cooper: Like Crossing the Line by Kareem Rosser, addressing racism in sports notoriously dominated by white people leads to a deeper understanding of the discipline of any sport and how it shapes us as humans.
- In Waves by A.J. Dungo: Deeply emotional, this graphic memoir is an homage to surfing and a woman.
- Swim the Fly by Don Calame: So stinkin’ funny and also about a boy winning the affections of a girl on the swim team by joining the swim team.
- Aniana Del Mar Jumps In by Jasminne Mendez: Being diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, Dominican girl Aniana conspires with her dad to swim against mom’s wishes.
- Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas: A middle grade graphic novel with a big heart.
Six sensational books with dog companions
Dogs are the best. As mentioned in a previous post about books with animal companions, I promised I’d do a post specifically about dog companions because dogs are the best.
Pictured here is Baxter, our American Great Dane rescue who we’ve had for a little less than a year. Have I said it already? Dogs are the best.
Here are some favorites with dog companions.
- Spy X Family series by Tatsuya Endo: Bond was originally trained by a secret group as a weapon of mass destruction, now he’s the fourth family member with a special skill.
- Doomsday With My Dog series by Yu Ishihara: Haru keeps a girl company waxing philosophical about life at the end of time.
- Alone by Megan E. Freeman: George helps Maddie survive after being left behind.
- A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks: Tank is Joy’s dog walking side hustle and neighborhood boop, bringing her comfort during hard times.
- And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps: Lucky, Lucky Dawg, and Lucky Duck beg the question– who rescued who as readers immerse themselves in Joe’s world. This book will gets its own blog post, but the dogs certainly fill a void after the death of Joe’s grandma.
- Something Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango: Sparrow is a dog learning to provide therapy which is exactly what Laura needs after her traumatic experience.
Six sensational fashion-forward characters
I love a good dress. I definitely notice when characters in graphic novels have style or pay attention when the character is fashion-conscious or has designs (yup, I went there) on being in the fashion industry. Here are six favorites:
- Any Way You Look by Maleeha Siddiqui: A fashionista Muslim girl working at her mother’s custom shop has an eye for details.
- 100 Unforgettable Dresses by Hal Rubenstein: Recommended by a colleague who knows I love dresses, this one paints a portrait of 100 dresses from the past and present.
- Dressed in Dreams: A Black Girl’s Love Letter to the Power of Fashion by Tanisha C. Ford: A collection of items and styles that absolutely meets expectations.
- I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn: Kimi loves fashion and sees a future in it even when others might not. She perseveres during a trip to Japan and back to her roots.
- The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang: Enough said!
- The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner: If I’ve ever loved a character’s fashion sense, it’s Moth’s. Thank you to Steinkellner for creating her fabulous wardrobe.
It’s Delicate(s)!
When Sheets, published by creator Brenna Thummler, dropped in 2018, I read it and enjoyed it. When its sequel, Delicates, dropped in 2021, I read it and was moved by it. Then the last of the trilogy, Lights, dropped in 2023 and not only did I read it, I read it from an advanced copy and completely melted. But maybe that’s not the right analogy with a series full of ghosts. I was levitating.
To be brief: the series follows lonely Marjorie, a motherless girl being raised by her dad running a laundromat where ghost friends including Wendell live. Making friends is a struggle and when Eliza and Marjorie pair up as oddball friends, there’s the sweetest sense that they’ve found someone special. But teenagers are fickle creatures and school is hard. The characters drive the story but equally evocative is the carefully selected color palette enhancing every scene. Feelings are felt among every panel and page because of the skilling coloring and illustrations.
Those feelings were no different when I figured out a way to drive nearly six hours from home for the last of only three staged musical readings of Delicates at Dramashop in Erie, PA. My only regret is that I didn’t bring my teenaged sons to see it with me. Not only would they have admired the talent of the cast (so, so much talent) but the skilled storytelling and the whimsical use of the small set and props. The experience of watching the pianist play right in front of the audience and the intimate setting of being so close to the stage with the lights the same colors as the colors in the graphic novels felt like a warm hug. Layered with raw emotions like Marjorie’s loneliness or Eliza being bullied while her helpless dad tries to help are turned upside down when the audience can’t help but laugh at the catty popular girls’ snarky comments and Marjorie’s little sibling. In two hours, everyone relived their youth. It was all laid bare through Thummler’s story.
Of course only one thing could top the night, but I made sure in advance that there would be a cherry on this sundae and that was the presence of the creator, Brenna Thummler herself. Wearing a fabulously fantastic pink jumpsuit with a vivid backpack, she had her pastel Sharpies ready to sign the books I brought only after she wiped away the tears of love and gratitude for the cast and crew to bring life to her stories on stage. She was being gifted items from fans and friends after giving us all the greatest gift to see it live.
Last & first
I quickly finished a book that I wasn’t really feeling via audiobook early last night. But I didn’t want to end January with a book I wasn’t a fan of. I realized I had borrowed several last-minute titles via Hoopla before the end of the month a few days ago including a picture book award for Sydney Taylor at the Youth Media Awards called Two New Years by Richard Ho and illustrated by Lynn Scurfield.
And boy, that was a good choice to end January with. The book’s content was quietly celebratory and the illustrations perfectly complimentary to the text. What I loved most is the meditative short sentences that honor the Asian and Jewish heritage that readers find out is the shared heritage of the author, Richard Ho in the author’s note. In addition to the informative story, there’s additional explanation in the backmatter about specific foods, activities, and attire that compliment what was left out of the picture book but serve to add layers to a combined upbringing that, as he mentioned, have more similarities than anyone would think.
At the start of February, I’m only a few page in to The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla and I’m already hooked. It comes highly recommended both as a Schneider Family Book Award for middle grade at the Youth Media Awards but many librarians I know. I’m excited to report back when I’m finished.
Readers Be Advised 