Mind vs. Machine: The Chess Match that Changed the World Written by Steve Sheinkin and Maurice Ashley Illustrated by Thien Pham Roaring Brook Press, 2026. Comic. 240 pgs. It's May 1997, and the hopes of humanity are resting on the shoulders of one man; the world chess champion named Garry Kasparov. In an epic 6-match showdown, Garry takes on IBM's new chess supercomputer called Deep Blue. By 1997, computers had been playing chess for nearly 50 years. In 1988 a computer had even beat a grandmaster under tournament conditions. But this wasn't any ordinary chess computer, and Garry Kasparov wasn't just any chess player. In this true battle of human intelligence against artificial intelligence - who would come out on top? And could anyone blame people for hopig the humans would win? Sheinkin partners with chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley to recount the story of an ultimate battle of man against creation. Sheinkin is predictably fantastic, telling this high-interest story wi...
The Faerie Isle Written by SĆne Quinn Illustrated by Mermot Flynn Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2025. Informational. This collection of Irish folktales is centered around mythical creatures. Some are well-known, like the mermaid, leprechaun, and selkie; some are less-known such as the faerie dog, pooka, or sheerie; and some are known from stories brought from Ireland to the United States, including the headless horseman. Each section gives an overview on what the creature is, how the myth originated, possible scientific explanations, and a story of a person interacting with said creature. I am at a loss if I recommend the physical book or an audio book more. The images are immersive and beautiful and really help you imagine the creature. However, the narration by Aoife McMahon is enchanting. Told in her native Irish accent both helps children know how to say words that may not be intuitive and makes it feel like you are being told a story passed down generations. Overall, this ...