The Book Search

 Would you be surprised to hear that body images are something that kids think about?  The images kids see on social media (including TV and video games) shape the way they think about their own bodies and not always for the better.  Here are two books where the main characters are thinking about the way that they are perceived and how people perceive them in two really different ways.   The first one is called Time to Roll by Jamie Summer.  This is a sequel to her book Roll With It.  The main character, Ellie, wants to be a baker and finds happiness cooking and baking for her family.  She is also in a wheelchair most of the time, which she doesn't find as off putting as some other people do.  In Roll With It, Ellie and her mom move back to their hometown to help Ellie's grandmother because Ellie's grandfather is struggling with dementia.  In this second book, Ellie has happily settled into her new hometown, she has wonderful friends and her ...

 There are (at least) two amazing new books out for elementary students that revolve around African animals, come check them out! The first one is the third from Katherine Applegate about a group of animals that lived in a mall in Seattle, Washington.  The first one was the One and Only Ivan about a silverback gorilla, told from the gorilla's point of view.  The second was The One and Only Bob, about a stray dog that lived with the gorilla and told from the dog's point of view.  This one, The One and Only Ruby is told from a baby elephant's point of view.  Ruby and Ivan have been relocated to a zoo that has spaces that mimic their natural habitats.  Ivan lives in an enclosure with other gorillas and has a wonderful companion gorilla.  Ruby lives in an adjoining enclosure, with a herd of other female elephants.  Ruby is anxious about her coming of age ceremony-Tuskday, where the other elephants will celebrate her getting her tusks.  It turns o...