A new picture book showing the joy of a snow day, a memoir in graphic novel about a boy and his family during the Cuban Revolution, and a middle grade book featuring a pocket bear—a good luck charm for soldiers going into battle.
On our latest installment of What We’re Reading, Grand Rapids Area Library children's librarian Tracy Kampa reviews these books, plus shares some of her favorite books from 2025 that she hopes will be recognized at the 2026 American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards on January 26.
New book recommendations
The Snowball Fight, written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld.
Tracy's take: Sometimes a book comes along that is so Minnesotan, it demands to be shared--even if you feel like you've lived the plot yourself, perhaps too many times. Slowly, the ground is covered by white, each flake whooshing down to take its place among the others, until it is finally announced: snow day! The lure of the outside is great, and two young friends meet in the yards between their houses to start the intensive labor required to build the perfect fort from which to hold an epic battle. The snowballs fly until one friend must warn the other about imminent danger about to slide off the roof, and the snowball fight is necessarily abandoned for another winter joy. Soon, though, cold fingers and red noses force our intrepid adventurers inside for some hot chocolate with marshmallows, which reminds them of unfinished business still waiting in the yard. If you yearned for the joy of a snow day spent outside, or want to share this particular type of joy with friends who might live in warmer climates, check out The Snowball Fight, written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld.
How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares.
Tracy's take: I love a good memoir, and a graphic novel memoir with defining illustrations is hard to beat. Carlos lived in Cuba with his family, including grandparents who owned a farm across the road, and an aunt who lived next door. He was happy playing with friends, catching tarantulas, and going to the beach with his siblings and his abuelo. After his father won the lottery, though, Carlos and his family packed up and moved to the city so his papi could open a furniture-making business. While Carlos adjusted to life in the city, however, Fidel Castro plots to take over Cuba from Batista. The political tension increases, and Carlos's life gets less predictable and significantly more frightening until the day his papi disappeared and Carlos's sense of safety crumbled into fear. Neighbors told on neighbors, private property was seized and quickly it became too dangerous to go to school. Carlos and his family are invited back to the country to stay with his abuela and abuelo until things might become safer in the city. A knock on the door reveals a monumental surprise. which ends in a terrifying journey. This book, How to Say Goodbye in Cuban, is the story of the author's father, a story kept quiet until many decades had passed. It is a significant historical memoir, and its importance is evident, especially as our country finds itself at historic crossroads. I very much appreciated this book, How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares. And I think you might too.
Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate.
Tracy's take: Anybody know what a pocket bear is? I didn't until I read Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate and did a little deep diving. Pocket bears, also called mascot bears and soldier bears, were tiny stuffed animals, usually around three and a half inches tall, that soldiers would tuck into their pockets as both a safety talisman and a reminder of loved ones at home. Along with their tiny size, a hallmark of the bears was their slightly turned up eyes. So when the pocket was opened, often in the mud of the trenches, the bear would be looking at the soldier. These mascot bears reached their height of popularity during World War I. The pocket bear in Applegate's story is the lead stuffy at the Second Chance's home, where stuffed animals are washed, mended, and given another go at it. The home is run by Elizaveta and her daughter Dasha, themselves refugees and victims of the war in Ukraine. Told through the eyes of Zephyrina, a cat who wanders through the night and often brings gifts home to Elizaveta and Dasha, Pocket Bear is chock full of hope, wonder and a whole lot of love and care during a time when this world needs a lot of that. Super short chapters makes this a wonderful read aloud. Next time you're at the library, check out Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate.
Youth Media Awards 2026
Tracy Kampa’s favorite time of year has arrived. The American Library Association announces their Youth Media Awards on January 26. Among the many awards honoring children’s literature include the Coretta Scott King Awards, which are given to outstanding African-American authors and illustrators; the Michael L. Printz Award, awarded to a book that exemplifies excellence in literature for young adults; the Pura Belpré Awards, presented to authors and illustrators who best portray the Latino experience; the Robert F. Sibert Medal, given to the best informational book; and many, many more.
The two “big” awards have historically been the Randolph Caldecott Medal, given to the best illustrations in a picture book, and the John Newbery Medal, given to the book that has made the most significant contribution to children's literature in the past year.
Tracy has spent a great deal of time over the last year thinking about and reading up on which book will be awarded the Newbery Medal. While it’s hard to predict which books will win, she noted that her favorite book was The Trouble with Heroes, by Kate Messner.
Tracy also hopes these books will be recognized for an award on Monday:
- Pocket Bear, by Katherine Applegate;
- The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest, by Aubrey Hartman;
- Will’s Race for Home, by Jewell Parker Rhodes;
- The Winter of the Dollhouse, by Laura Amy Schlitz;
- All the Blues in the Sky, by Renee Watson;
- A World Without Summer, by Nicholas Day; and
- Death in the Jungle, by Candace Fleming.
Visit the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards page for more information on these awards.
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What We're Reading is made possible in part by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
