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Books That Take You There: Cultural Moments of 2023

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Believe it or not, 2023 is winding down. As I've been thinking about pop culture moments and current events from the year, several have stuck out in my mind. So here's a list of some books to take you to the scene of some of the biggest pop culture events from 2023.

For those that went to the Eras Tour... or watched everyone else's grainy concert videos:
Written by Wendy Loggia
Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri
New York: Random House Children's Books, 2023. Informational.

This short Little Golden Book biography of Taylor Swift follows the singer from her birth through her early career. Those who know a lot about Taylor's life won't be surprised by the contents, but will still love looking through the beautiful pastel illustrations. Taylor fans will love this tiny biography of their favorite singer.

For those that waited for news about the Titan Submersible:
Written by Denise Lewis Patrick
Illustrated by Winona Nelson
Scholastic Press, 2023. Informational. 78 pages.

This book answers plenty of common questions about the original Titanic tragedy. Questions like "How were passengers grouped?," "How much did a ticket cost?," and "Who rescued the survivors?" are answered in short 1-3 page color illustrated spreads. Because of the way it's broken up, this book is easily browsable for those who don't want to read all 78 pages. 

For those that tried the Grimace Shake... or just watched a million Tik Tok videos about it:
By Katie Turner
Rolling Meadows, Illinois: Cottage Door Press, 2021. Picture Book.

Bean does not like to try new foods. In fact, he outright refuses to do so. When he goes to the ice cream shop, he will only eat his favorite flavor, vanilla. So what will he do when a bunch of sprinkles explode onto the last 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream in the shop? 
If the videos I watched on the subject are any indication, the Grimace Shake was probably only mildly better than the cactus, trout, broccoli, and yarn ice cream creations found on the pages of this fun picture book.

For those who enjoyed when everything turned pink in honor of the Barbie movie this summer:
Pink is NOT a Color
By Lindsay Ward
New York: Two Lions, 2022. Picture Book.

Pink has always loved looking at everything through rose-colored glasses. But when all of the other colors get ready for the Rainbow Extravaganza, pink starts to wonder where she belongs. Will she be able to find her place? Just like the Barbie movie, this book about self-acceptance is pink-colored fun!

For those who have been hoping the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes end soon so that production on their favorite movie will continue:
By Meghan McCarthy
New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. Informational.

If you would like an easy introduction to movies from silent films to Star Wars, this is a great choice. Movie buffs will love finding their favorite actors and movies among the pages of this beautiful book. And the illustrations are beautiful, so it's worth checking out just to flip through the pages.
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