BookKids: What We’re Lovin’

Here’s what the Kids team is reading and loving lately. Every month we’ll feature a few titles, from picture books to middle grade, graphic novels, YA fiction, fantasy & more! Check out more Kids bookseller recommendations on our Instagram (@bookpeople)!

Savannah raved about Llama Destroys the World for months– and it’s finally out! 

She said: “Dat. Dat. Dat. I couldn’t stop smiling reading this incredibly cute, fun, and quirky picture book by author/illustrator power couple Stutzman & Fox. What could be cuter than a llama who splits his dancing pants because of eating too much pie? Then he proceeds to unwittingly “destroy” the earth because of said pants rippage…” Savannah is no longer working at BookPeople, but she made sure to send us a pic all the way from NYC!

Tomoko loves If I Was the Sunshine by Julie Fogliano and Loren Long.

She says: “I love this new picture book from Julie Fogliano and Loren Long so much! Fogliano’s words have the loveliest sing-song cadence, and their whimsy is so clever! I love the imaginative ways these seemingly simple words play with the abstract and physical and imagine relationships and connections between the two. Paired with Loren Long’s gorgeously rich and textural illustrations (I absolutely want to frame several spreads, especially the bear in winter!), the book is a work of art that provokes such delight-filled response and feeling. I can’t wait to share If I Was the Sunshine!”

Will B. devours middle grade fantasy, and his latest recommendation is Order of the Majestic by Matt Myklusch.

Will says: “Who would think that someone from Hoboken would end up being magical?! I kid of course but I found this to be a very fun and amusing read. Joey Kopecky’s main goal in life is to get through life without being noticed. Squeak by with the minimum of effort. But then he makes a mistake, he does too well on a test. In fact he does better than anyone has ever done on the test. And because of that his put together plan is ruined as his parents get him into an incredibly prestigious school. All he has to do is take one more test. In the course of that test the room ends up disappearing around him and he reappears by a beautiful old theater. He meets a washed up old magician named Redondo the Magnificent and they bring out the better aspects of one another. Our young possibly genius from Jersey finds himself smack dab in the middle of an ages old conflict between two rival factions. And Magic is real, did I forget to mention that curveball? I highly recommend this to those looking for something similar to The Magic Misfits mixed in with a bit of Harry Potter.”

Eugenia is obsessed with Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki & artwork by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell

She says: “Freddy is head over heels for Laura Dean, her effortlessly cool sorta-girlfriend who keeps blowing her off, taking advantage of Freddy’s loyalty. I feel like at some point or another, we’ve all had a Laura Dean, where we become so obsessed with this person, this IDEA of a person, that we forget about everything else that matters: our family, our friends, our own goals and dreams, and… basic human decency. This all happens to Freddy, and through Mariko Tamaki’s storytelling and Valero-O’Connell’s mesmerizing artwork, we get to take this journey with her as she meets new people, revisits old friends, and finds her own self worth outside of her relationship with Laura Dean. The characters are beautiful and flawed, and there are spreads in this book that are going to haunt my dreams forever– in a good way. Valero-O’Connell is an incredible talent! Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me is a moving, masterful portrayal of heartbreak, friendship, and self-discovery. I am in love with this book and I really hope teens respond to it the same way.”

Christina just finished reading Julie Murphy’s Ramona Blue

She says: “I absolutely loved Ramona Blue! I’ve always been a fan of Julie Murphy since the days of Dumplin’. But with this one, she has now firmly established herself as one of my favorite YA authors. The story of Ramona is realistic, heartbreaking, and full of hope. It’s a story that explores family, obligations, sexuality, and so much more in the lives of characters on the brink of adulthood. Ramona is so admirable for taking care of her family even when it means sacrificing her dreams and happiness. She is so deserving of the happy ending she finally achieves.”

One more Teen recommendation for you is a book that comes out next week (Tues 5/14)! MK read an advanced copy of We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra! There’s still time to pre-order, or you can swing by the store on New Release day 🙂

MK says: “This book took my heart, stomped on it, put it back together, and then stomped on it again. It is so beautiful and riveting. An absolutely perfect YA romance for the modern world. I read it in literally one night, and haven’t stopped thinking about it since.”

What have YOU been loving lately?!