It’s the start of a new month, so what better time to add to your TBR list than with these five March 2024 new releases.
A special story about nature, love, and the timeless power of community, Linden by Colleen Muske is a children’s story with elements of growth, nurture, loss, and regrowth.
In this story, Linden dreams of being a red barn full of horses or a lighthouse to see over the sea. In the end, the power of Linden finds that simply being and his addition to the community are enough.
A beautifully illustrated ode to the seasons of life and what a tree adds to a community, this is a great story for readers of all ages to understand community and the power of love. Set to release on March 26, 2024.
The Quiet Cook saves an illustrious star from a too salty cookie, and Violet finds her voice, which is the most important point in this juvenile book of fiction by Gabrielle Nidus. The underlying theme of young girls finding and using their voice is a powerful message.
The main character transforms from the quiet kid to finding the right time to speak and be heard, reaffirming that being quiet does not mean there is nothing to say. The letter to families and ideas to help quiet kids find their voice are nice additions to the text.
This colorfully creative text opens the door to better understanding introverted individuals, while allowing readers the chance to celebrate great cooking adventures through teamwork. Set to be released on March 19, 2024.
In the genre of graphic novels, Andy Warhol: A Graphic Biography is a remarkable text of artistry and brilliance.
Author Michele Botton says, “I have chosen to tell the story of Warhol’s life in a straightforward, chronological manner, narrating the events, friendships and way of making art that show how Warhol came across and who he was.” This attempt is admiral, and sometimes leaves the story flat and misses the depth on just how complex Warhol was as a person and artist, particularly in his relationships.
That, however, is the only critique. The graphic format works beautifully for this story. The pink title pages, the script, the layout of the panels and color plays to Warhol’s work are absolutely stunning. I even learned a story about his life I had not heard before!
At just 65 pages, readers can discover many details about Warhol’s life in a quick read of this graphic biography. Set to release on March 5, 2024, this is a great text to introduce readers to Warhol or to remind ourselves of his passions and greatness. This is also a great text for students just learning about art or studying biography.
In the genre of Time Traveler Fiction (yes, I have recently seen that as a genre!), author Emily Barth Isler delivers a must-read in the middle grade novel, The Color of Sound.
“--I kept so much inside. I kept so much color to myself because I was scared of being too much” (p. 237). A musical prodigy, Rosie is too much – in a great way. This middle grade children’s fiction text is a smooth read. The reader moves through the pages on the musical notes of Rosie’s violin and her synesthesia, as she sees music – and the world – in colors.
This book moves through one girl’s summer – a summer where she boycotts her violin and subsequently her mom – in an attempt to figure out herself. What she finds out about her family (no spoiler, but Shanna is a great character addition!) and herself as she makes new friends and rekindles old ones is simply remarkable.
This is a well-crafted text that will appeal to young readers, musicians, and individuals trying to figure out complex familial relationships. With a March 5, 2024, release, this is a must-read!
Another middle grade novel written in verse to release in March is Lesa Cline-Ransome’s One Big, Open Sky.
An Own Voices book selection, this novel in verse adds a strong voice to the story of the movement West, and the reader is instantly drawn into the emotion in this historical fiction book.
In this book that examines the Black homesteader movement, three women narrate a wagon journey west. There are food shortages, perils of the countryside, and supply issues. Beginning in 1879, there are also larger societal issues of slavery, racism, and patriarchal dominance for the women to consider.
Some strengths of the book include giving voice and story from an undertold perspective, novel in verse format, and the story itself – it’s powerful, interesting, and engaging.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, this would be a great whole-class read for teachers or would make a great literature circle choice, as it provides a wonderful perspective.
Shout out and huge thank you to #NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copies of these books!
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