Tabatha's Bag of Books

Hiya, Readers! Are you ready for spring? I am always eager for the extended daylight, nature re-blooming, warmer temperatures and the anticipated March and April 2022 book releases from publishers! What new books will hit the shelves of bookstores and libraries and which titles will make it onto my own spring reading stack this year? Sometimes I select a book solely on its cover because it intrigued me, or the art was simply irresistible; other times it is a title that grabs my attention. Then there are the authors, my trusty favorites and the ambitious newcomers, that lead me to a book. Spring book releases are like the seedlings to a farmer's crop, the thriving sprouts of the book-world! One title I am looking forward to diving into is "Girl on Fire," by Alicia Keys, illustrated by Brittney Williams. It is GRAMMY® award-winning artist Alicia Keys' first young adult graphic novel about a 14-year-old girl named Lola who discovers powers she never knew she had. Lola tries to keep her powers a secret, but the problem is that secrets cannot stay hidden for long. I am excited to read Girl on Fire and learn more about Lola, her powers, her strength and the obstacles she will face! I have compiled a list of the ten newest, upcoming books I am adding to my reading stack for kids and young adults. So, what is on your own reading list? Do you know what new books are ready to hit the shelves? You can find a complete list of new books on Amazon or by visiting the publishersweekly.com website. Getting kids enthusiastic about new releases is something I encourage. Books pave the path for other interests and notoriety; a new book may one day be the ground breaker for a blockbuster movie or a video game character or toy. To get kids more involved with emerging books try a "book release lottery" at home or in the classroom by writing the name of each title on a piece of paper, fold it, put them all in a jar and then randomly select one each week to enjoy or to order on its release date. Until next time, take notice of those authors and artists creating new books for us to devour — titles that can bring tears to our eyes, challenge us to be better people, spark our imaginations and remind us that there are no limits to the adventures our minds can take us on! Remember to keep those pages turning! Smiles, Tabatha Jean D'Agata SPRING 2022 BOOK PICKS For the younger kiddos "Why Not You?" by Ciara and Russell Wilson (Preschool) "Wow in the World: Wow in the Wild: The Amazing World of Animals ," by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, illustrated by Jack Teagle (Ages: 7 to 12) "I Love You Like Yellow," by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by Vashti Harrison (Ages: 4 to 8) "The Bad Seed Goes to the Library," by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald (Ages: 4 to 8) "I'm Not Scared, You're Scared!" by Seth Myers, illustrated by Rob Sayegh, Jr. (Ages: 3 to 7) For the older kiddos "Girl on Fire," by Alicia Keys, illustrated by Brittney Williams (Young adult) "The Fear," by Natasha Preston (Young adult) "Once Upon Another Time," by James Riley (Chapter Book / Ages: 8 to 12) "The Rumor Game," by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra (Young adult) "Children of the Flying City," by Jason Sheehan (Chapter Book / Ages: 10 to 12)