St. Patrick’s Day, Women’s History Month, Dr. Seuss’s Birthday and March Madness are celebrated in this month’s Book Recommendations!
The Leprechaun Under the Bed by Teresa Bateman (Gr. K-3)
A leprechaun can be alone without being lonely,” says Brian O’Shea.
And that’s how Brian likes it– so when a big human man tries to build a cottage on top of Brian’s underground home, the leprechaun does his best to scare the fellow away with his magical tricks.
Too Many Leprechauns, or, How That Pot o’ Gold Got to the End of the Rainbow. By Stephen Krensky. (Gr. K-2)
When fairy-shoemaking leprechauns invade Finn’s town, their hammering keeps the townsfolk awake. Finn must find a way to trick them into moving their shoemaking elsewhere.
Just Like Beverly: A Biography of Beverly Cleary (Growing to Greatness) by Vicki Conrad (Gr. K-4)
Children’s book author Beverly Cleary began as a young girl who struggled to read — but this story shows how Beverly successfully created relatable books that are now beloved by generations of children.
Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa by Veronica Chambers (Gr. K-3)
This biography celebrates the life of Cuban singer Celia Cruz from her childhood in Havana to her international fame as the Queen of Salsa. As a girl, Celia’s voice enchanted neighbors when she sang lullabies to her younger siblings. In high school, she sang Afro-Cuban rhythms in local clubs. Her big break came in 1950 when she was hired as lead singer for Cuba’s most popular band, La Sonora Matancera, and together they created a new style of Latin dance music.
Maybe Something Beautiful by F. Isabel Campoy (Gr. K-3)
Mira lives in a gray and hopeless urban community until a muralist arrives and, along with his paints and brushes, brings color, joy, and togetherness to Mira and her neighbors.
The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories by Dr. Seuss (Gr. K-6)
Fans of Dr. Seuss had their fondest wish come true when editor Charles Cohen collected these seven lost stories which were originally published in Redbook magazine in the 1950s.
The Boy Who Never Gave Up: Stephen Curry, the Children’s Book by Anthony Curcio (Gr. K-3)
This picture book biography tells the story of a young boy who many said was too short to play in high school, too weak to play in college and not good enough to play in the NBA. Against all odds, this small boy who follows his dream, not only makes it to the NBA, but becomes one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball.
Lion on the Inside: How One Girl Changed Basketball (CitizenKid) by Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir (Gr. K-2)
Abdul-Qaadir, a Black athlete and the first Muslim woman to play NCAA Division I basketball while wearing a hijab, shows talent in childhood. In high school, she’s a star player—but in a playoff game, a referee says she can’t play in her hijab. Her teammates back her up, and she plays, becoming the all-time lead scorer in Massachusetts state history. Abdul-Qaadir plays college basketball and is recognized by President Barack Obama for her accomplishments. She’s ready to play professionally when “it happens again”: She is told she can’t play wearing her hijab. She must choose, and she chooses her faith.
