Skip to main content

Books That Take You There: Cultural Moments of 2023

By
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.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

By
Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Umami

By
  Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience?  Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Faves: Easy Readers of 2024

By
Hello world! I know you have been anticipating the release of this list all year... my favorite easy readers! Whether they're funny or sweet, these titles are all great for kids taking their first steps for reading. So without further ado...here are my five favorite easy readers of 2024. Lone Wolf Goes to School Written by Kiah Thomas Illustrated by K-Fai Steele New York: Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2024. Easy Reader.  Lone wolf would spend all of his time alone if he could. Unfortunately, he has to go to school with the "snotty" kids, and even when he leaves school there's people at the beach, on the mountains, and at the movie theater. What's a wolf to do? Invite them all to a party at his house and then leave so that all the places he wants to be are empty, of course! If you're looking for a moralistic read-aloud that will teach the virtues of making friends so that you aren't lonely, you should definitely look elsewhere. However, if you're loo...
Post a Comment
Read more