National Network for Equitable Library Service

Today is the day the exuberant Lucy is going to make a new friend! But she finds it's harder than she had thought—she accidentally ruins the giraffe's breakfast and is much too big for the frogs' pond. Just when she's about to give up, an unexpected friend finds her, and loves her just the way she is. This heartwarming story offers a unique and humor-filled spin on the all-important themes of persistence and friendship.

A sensitive, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful novel in verse about one girl's journey in the aftermath of abuse. One day after school, on the couch in the basement, Tori's uncle did something bad. Afterward, Tori tells her mom. Even though telling was a brave thing to do, her mom still doesn't believe her at first. Her grandma still takes his side. And Tori doesn't want anyone else—even her best friend—to know what happened. Now Tori finds herself battling mixed emotions—anger, shame, and sadness—as she deals with the trauma.

Trucks need a time-out in this picture book about emotions written by Todd Tarpley (Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep! and Ten Tiny Toes) and illustrated by bestselling artist Guy Parker-Rees (Giraffes Can't Dance). Whirr! Whomp! Grind! Chomp! Three toy trucks have big plans for their day at the playground: digging and lifting, building and shifting. But then they start to get tired... and hot... and hungry.... They're grumpy! When they throw a total truck tantrum, will anyone be able to calm them down?

In this remarkable author–illustrator debut that's perfect for fans of Last Stop on Market Street and Extra Yarn, a generous woman is rewarded by her community. Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu's delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. Has she been so generous that she has nothing left for herself?

From bestselling and award-winning husband and wife team Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney, comes an innovative, beautifully illustrated novel that delivers a front-row seat to the dramatic events that led to African Americans earning the right to vote. "Right here, I'm sharing the honest-to-goodness." —Loretta. "I'm gon' reach back, and tell how it all went. I'm gon' speak on it. My way." —Roly. "I got more nerve than a bad tooth. But there's nothing bad about being bold." —Aggie B.

Following in the tradition of J. K. Rowling and Roald Dahl, Kimmy Schmidt is an exciting new voice in middle-grade fantasy adventure. This debut will change the way boys and girls everywhere see the world—and each other! Penn dreads the day that he will start to become a monster, but it's inevitable. The youngest of his tribe in Greemulax, he knows that as boys become men, they turn into powerful, hairy blue creatures called Grabagorns, and that their solemn vow is to never again be weak.

Six-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and four-time Caldecott Honor recipient Bryan Collier brings this classic, inspirational poem to life, written by poet Useni Eugene Perkins. Hey black child, Do you know who you are? Who really are? Do you know you can be What you want to be If you try to be What you can be? This lyrical, empowering poem celebrates black children and seeks to inspire all young people to dream big and achieve their goals.

After spending the summer at home in Connecticut, Emmy is eager to return to her friends at Wellsworth. Before she leaves, she receives a key to a safety-deposit box and a letter from her father, telling her to hide the surviving relics and to trust no one. When she returns to school, she realizes her best friend Lola is being framed by the Order for a crime she didn't commit. Jonas informs Emmy if she gives up her father, he'll set things right. It all comes to a head at an exhibit on Medieval manuscripts at the British Library. Will Emmy be able to stop them once and for all?

Llama's back and ready to destroy the world again... this time with his best camelid, Alpaca! Llama loves cooking... and baking... and, above all, eating. For breakfast, Llama makes one epic spread... as well as a big mess. But Llama hates cleaning. So by lunch, Llama has cooked up something really devious—an idea—and by second lunch, Llama has cloned his most fastidious friend, Alpaca, to clean his house. And Llama doesn't stop at just one clone. By dinner, the alpaca clones threaten to tidy the world into utter destruction? The alpacalypse is here!

Iggy Peck is an architect at his very core: When he's not making houses out of food, his head is up in the clouds, dreaming of design. So he's totally blown away when Ada Twist's Aunt Bernice inherits an old house from ice-cream mogul Herbert Sherbert that is filled with countless rooms from all his favorite architectural periods. But something's not quite right... Everyone says the house is haunted, and it seems that a number of priceless antiques—which were supposed to help Aunt Bernice pay for the house's upkeep—have gone missing.