Sian's post last week brought so many visitors to our blog! We are so honored that Sian has chosen us to share his reviews with you. We know he'll be one of your favorite reviewers too!

This story is about a girl named Cici trying to get her grandmother to America. Cici and her family came from Taiwan and settled in Seattle. She is 12 years old. Her grandmother, A-má does not have money to buy a plane ticket. So Cici joined a cooking contest that would give her money if she won. 

In the contest, she teamed up with Miranda. She learned cooking from her mom, Miranda, and through reading library books. She became good at cooking and went on to win the contest. With the money she won, she brought her grandmother to Seattle and surprised her dad. 

Measuring Up is a beautiful story and it is presented from Cici's perspective. It is a graphic novel. The story takes you through the journey of Cici's cooking contest and various dishes. The story taught me to always have courage and conviction to win something. 

-Sian, age 8

We are so excited to be able to share with you a review from one of our very own WPL patrons, Sian Nissam! 

(If you would like to write a review and be featured on our blog please reach out to us here!)

This book was about two brothers in a refugee camp. Their names were Omar and Hassan. They did not have parents so they had a foster mother named Fatuma. Hassan is 7 and Omar is 8. They lived in a refugee camp for 7 years. Omar spent the whole time taking care of Hassan and playing. Hassan could not talk except for saying the word "hooyo." Tall Salan, an educated adult from the U.N., was the person who told Omar to go to school. Although Omar refused at first he still decided to go to school. After 12 years in a refugee camp Omar and his brother resettled in America. Omar grew up to be an adult that helped other refugees. 

The thing I liked about this book is the way the story is presented. It showed cartoons. After reading the story I felt grateful for what I have. 

-Sian, age 8

Calling all book lovers! The 2021-2022 Massachusetts Children's Book Award (MCBA) nominees are here!

What you need to know:

-These books aren't just amazing books-they're on this list because kids like you think they're awesome too! For information on how to vote for this year's winner or how to lend your own voice to nominate your favorites for future awards, click here, or contact any of the children's librarians at the Worcester Public Library.

-Tune into Facebook Live with Ms. Rezarta to learn more about the authors, illustrators, and titles that have been nominated!

Cassius Clay was just a regular kid before he became Muhammad Ali.

Also available in eBook, eAudio, and Playaway formats.

The monsters from Charlie Hernandez' childhood are no longer figments of his imagination.

Also available in eBook format.

Spy training adventures for the craftiest of kids.

Also available in eBook and eAudio formats.

G-ma is the only person who understands that Scoob was unfairly grounded for punching the school bully. G-ma invites Scoob on a road trip in her RV so Scoob can get away from all of the unfairness in his life. But when G-ma reveals her special green traveler's book that listed the safe places for black people to travel during the 1960s, Scoob realizes that it takes a lot of courage to stand up to all kinds of bullies in the world and to do what's right. 

Also available in eAudio and Playaway formats.

Twelve-year old Ivy's whole world is shattered when a tornado tears through her town and destroys her home. The only thing that brings her solace is her notebook where she draws all her feelings and dreams including those that she doesn't share with anyone. But when her notebook is stolen and someone else learns her secret will she be brave enough to reveal her whole self?

Also available in Playaway format.

Leo learns that she comes from a long history of witches!

Also available in Playaway format.

Marcus is on an adventure of a lifetime to find his father and learn more about his Puerto Rican heritage.

Also available in eBook and eAudio formats.

Cici is devastated when she has to move from Taiwan to Seattle and can no longer see her A-má. Can she be the champion of the kids' cooking contest to pay for her grandma's plane ticket to come visit her? Cici is in it to win it! 

Merci Suárez navigates all of the changes and new experiences of starting middle school.

Also available in Spanish (Merci Suárez Se Pone Las Pilas), large type, eBook, and audiobook formats. 

Jude moves from Syria to the United States in order to be safe but her life still feels unsettled. Can she still follow her dreams even when everything compared to her old life is so different?

Also available in eBook, eAudio, and Playaway formats.

Liv knows in his heart that he's a boy even though the world says otherwise, but how can he possibly express who he really is when he can only wear skirts to school?

Also available in eBook format.

The biggest bully in class is about to meet his match(es). 

Also available in eBook and eAudio formats.

When a group of best friends witness a meteor falling from the sky they go on an epic adventure to find out where it went. 

Mayan mythology has come alive for thirteen year old Zane Obispo.

Also available in eBook and audiobook formats.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the history of racism and how to move forward from our complicated past and present experiences. 

Also available in eBook format.

All about the many ways of becoming a family.

Also available in audiobook, eBook, eAudio, and Playaway formats.

Twelve year old Usagi, born under the zodiac sign of the wood rabbit, has to hide her powers (and those of her sister and friend) in order to protect herself from the evil Dragonlord.

Wild and unbelievable facts about our amazing world. Can you figure out which ones are real or fake?

Have you ever been the new kid? What about being a kid who not only moved from Earth to Mars but then to a brand new planet where the entire alien species hates your guts and threatens to vaporize you? Welcome to Lan's new life. 

Everything you ever wanted to learn about climate change and how you can make a difference in combatting it.

*Available to request from libraries outside of Worcester.

Clara, a twelve year old from Jamaica, has to piece the parts of her life back together after she loses her memory.

Also available in eBook format.

Omar and Hassan are brothers learning to survive living in a refugee camp after their father is killed. 

Also available in eBook and eAudio formats.

Roz the robot wakes up for the first time on an island with no idea who she is or where she came from.

Also available in eBook, eAudio, and Playway formats.

Aster is expected to shape-shift like the rest of the boys in his village but when he finds himself instead entranced by witchcraft he has to find the courage to be who he is meant to be.

Also available in Spanish (El Niño Brujo) and eBook formats.

Tune into Facebook Live to get the scoop on all of the nominees for this year's Massachusetts Children's Book Award (selected and nominated by kids just like you!) where children's literature extraordinaire, Ms. Rezarta Reso, will highlight the nominated books so you can learn all about them (and fill up your to-read book list!)

Watch our first episode today at 4 (scroll down on the page if you don't see it right away) or watch the recording anytime) featuring Pablo Cartaya!

Here are some of Ms. Rezarta's reflections on two of Pablo Cartaya's wonderful books: 

I have such fond memories of reading 

In this award winning (The Pura Belpré award for outstanding Latinx literature and the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award-MCBA) story, Arturo, a thirteen year old from Miami, has to save his town from the threat of land developers. In addition to being a great advocate for his community, he is so sweet to his crush, Carmen, and has such a great love and outstanding dedication to his abuela and saving her restaurant. You are sure to enjoy reading it too!

Since I greatly love Pablo Cartaya’s writing, I was so excited to hear that another one of his books: 

To put it simply-Marcus Vega is my new hero. 

Marcus Vega does not think he is a normal kid. At six feet tall and 180 pounds, Marcus imagines that when other kids see him walk down the hall, they want to clear out of the way and hide like campers in a forest who spot a grizzly bear. 

Unfortunately, Marcus is not just imagining how kids feel about him since they call him names like The Mastodon of Montgomery Middle, The Springfield Skyscraper, Moving Mountain, and The Terrible Tower. To make matters even worse “darling child” (his parent is head of the parents association so of course he can do no wrong), Stephen Hobert, relentlessly tortures Marcus and never misses a chance to tell Marcus that he’s abnormal. 

As if Marcus’ school life wasn’t enough of a hardship, he is also still grieving the loss of his father who abandoned him years ago, and he has to juggle his schoolwork responsibilities while caring for his brother Charlie who has Down Syndrome. Marcus knows that his life is hard but he can’t really complain as much as he would like.  His mom desperately needs his help because she is already stressed from working and having a long commute, while also trying to advocate for Charlie’s rights to remain at his school because the parents of the other children in his class are prejudice against him. 

Marcus absolutely, without question, needs a break! 

Thankfully, things seem to take a turn for the better in Marcus’ life when he has the opportunity to visit his family in Puerto Rico. If Marcus could go to Puerto Rico, he could meet his extended family and even try to look for his father. Will Marcus go to Puerto Rico to discover his inner strength and resolve to meet the challenges in his life? Or will he find his father and wish that he had never gone to Puerto Rico in the first place? 

You’ll have to read to find out but one thing is for sure: like me, you will never forget Gentle Giant, Marcus Vega. 

Click here for more information about Pablo Cartaya’s amazing life and work. 

*The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is also available in eBook and eAudio formats.

Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish is also available in eBook and eAudio formats.

-Rezi