By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Author: Lokelani Alabanza, Copyright: c.2026, Publisher: W.W. Norton, SRP: $29.99, Page Count: 264 pages

Your tongue can barely stay behind your teeth.

Is it Rocky Road that’s tempting you, or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough? Maybe something with caramel on top, or just plain vanilla, dressed up in a rainbow of sprinkles. Have you ever had a bad ice cream cone on a hot summer’s day? Probably not — so dip into the new book “Ice Cream Queen” by Lokelani Albanza and have a taste.

For nearly three centuries, says Albanza, “African American hands have been touching sugar.” Planting it, harvesting it, processing it, every step was loaded with possible danger, loss of limb, and loss of life.

Sugar is the first ingredient for ice cream, which was first made some 1500 years ago but which didn’t arrive in this country until around 1744. Thirty years after that, America’s first ice cream parlor was opened in New York City, and it was a hit. Take note, though, and stress the word “parlor.” An ice cream shop was a totally unacceptable place for unchaperoned ladies. A parlor was completely fine.

Writing about memories of her grandma’s stash of ice cream, Albanza recalls enjoying it after a good Southern meal cooked by the Tennessean woman. In her career journey, Albanza learned about other Black cooks and Black cookbooks — “And then I found Sarah Estell.”

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From roughly 1840 until the Civil War, Estell, a Black woman, owned and ran an ice cream “saloon” in Nashville, serving ice cream she made. Known locally as the “Ice Cream Queen,” Estell seemed to disappear after 1865.

Like her “North Star,” Estell, Albanza makes unusual kinds of ice cream.

In this book, you’ll find a glossary of terms, lists of equipment needed, and directions for different bases to get you started. There are recipes for basic flavors, Parmesan, cream cheese & pepper jelly, burnt almond, and marshmallow. You can have blueberry ice cream, cranberry-cherry vodka, summer corn, and more. But why stop there?

Says Albanza, “I have yet to come across one person who doesn’t like ice cream. Not one.”

So, what’s your preference? A waffle cone, a regular cone, or in a bowl? Sprinkles or not, and okay, now you want some ice cream, but first, check out “Ice Cream Queen.”

The thing you’ll notice about this book is that it’s so happy. From the “birth of ice cream,” to tales of notable people in frozen-concoction history, to recipes for kids and kids-at-heart, this is one of those books that cooks will love, but it’s not just for them. Alabanza satisfies everyone, from historians to foodies, with step-by-step, easy-to-try instructions, so you can create tasty foundations for whatever flavor you might want to try. There’s even some encouragement for a little experimentation of your own. Glossy photos will make your mouth water as you smile big.

Summertime can be a scorcher, and you know what cools you off best? Yep, so find this book, invest in a few tools, and be the hit of the neighborhood. For that, a book like “Ice Cream Queen” can’t be licked.

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By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Authors: Various, Copyright: c.2026, Publishers: Various, SRP: $21.00 – $29.00, Page Counts: Various

The videos and news reports were inspiring.

In them, a hesitant prospective college student became a happy, new college-bound student with the click of a key. They were accepted into the college of their dreams – so how can you get the same feeling next spring, when you’re the one with the highest of hopes?

You can start by reading these great books and sharing them with your family…

You probably already know that getting into the college of your choice is not something you do last-minute. In “The People’s Guide to College Applications: A Week-by-Week Approach to Writing, Connecting, and Getting in” (Prometheus Books, $ 21.95), Jill Constantino takes you through each step, but not in a frantic way. There’s no pressure here, just easy-to-grasp, makes-sense methods to apply for the college you want. There are reminders here, things you can’t forget and things you can, hints on asking for referrals and writing essays, and plenty of reminders to take a deep breath. Bonus: it’s also a book for parents, who may feel just as much pressure as their child does.

Okay, but let’s say that you’re an adult, a parent who’s sweating those college applications, classes, and the FAFSA for yourself, ugh!  Then you’ll want to read “Student Parent: The Fight for Families, the Cost of Poverty, and the Power of College” by Nicole Lynn Lewis (Beacon Press, $26.97). an urgent call meant for nontraditional students who are also Black, Latinx, gay, Moms, or Dads.

Inside this book, you’ll find stats and stories that may already sound familiar, tales of not enough money, not enough support, not enough arms or sleep or resources. If you’re looking for a book of advice, this isn’t it, though. It’s more of a resource that you’ll want to take to your guidance counselor or any local politician.

Alright, but what if you’ve decided that college can wait? Is that okay? Look for “The Mission Generation: Reclaim Your Purpose, Rewrite Success, Rebuild Our Future” by Arun Gupta and Thomas J. Fewer (Wiley, $29.00) because – guess what? – you have many options for your future.

The kind of workday your Grandpa had is probably over, and you can’t count on toiling at the same place for 40 years for a pension and a gold watch. You already know that, and this book will help you decide your next step. You’ll learn what kind of worker you are, what’s stopping you from finding a job or occupation you’ll love, how to determine the purpose you envision for your future, and how to get where you need to be. This book isn’t just for high schoolers, but for anyone ages 16 and beyond who’s feeling restless, ready for change, or who’s thinking about some kind of purposeful retirement.

And if these aren’t the college-based or not-college-bound books you need, then be sure to ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for help on ideas, how-to’s, test prep books, or study guides. They’ll have books for you, and maybe a little inspiration, too.

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By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Authors: Various, Copyright: c. 2025, 2026, Publishers: Various, SRPs: $17.99-$18.99, Page Counts: Various, 

Everybody in your family has stories to share.

Your parents have told you some, no doubt. Your grandparents have offered a few, too, and aunties and uncles have spun some good tales. But there’s so much more to know, so grab one of these great books and learn about Black History and Black life.

For the youngest reader, “As You Are: A Hope for Black Sons” by Kimberly A. Gordon Biddle, illustrated by David Wilkerson (Magination Press, $18.99) is a book for young Black boys and for their mothers. It’s a hope inside a prayer that the world treats a child gently, and it could make a great baby shower gift.

If someone said you couldn’t do something that you were clearly able to do, would you fight to do it anyhow?  In the new book, “Remember Her Name! Debbie Allen’s Rise to Fame” by Tami Charles, illustrated by Meredith Lucius (Charlesbridge, $17.99), a young girl in the Jim Crow South is told that she can’t dance because of the color of her skin.

She didn’t listen, though, and neither did her mother, who took her daughter to Mexico, where the girl soared! This is an inspiration for any 5-to-7-year-old; be sure to check out the back-of-the-book information, if you’re an adult fan.

Do you often hear your elders say things that sound like lessons?  They might be, so “Where There is Love: A Story of African Proverbs” by Shauntay Grant, illustrated by Leticia Moreno (Penguin Workshop, $18.99) is a book you’ll like. It’s a quick-to-read collection of short proverbs that you can say every day. Kids ages 4-to-6 will easily remember what they find in this book; again, look in the back for more information.

Surely, you love your neighborhood, which is why the tale inside “Main Street: A Community Story about Redlining” by Britt Hawthorne and Tiffany Jewell, illustrated by David Wilkerson (Penguin Kokila, $18.99) is a book for you.

Olivia’s neighborhood is having a block party, but she’s sad when no one shows up. That’s when she learns that “the government” is discriminating against the people and businesses near where she lives. So, what can she and her neighbors do? The answer might inspire 6-to-8-year-old kids to stand up to wrongs they see, and to help make their neighborhoods stronger and safer.

And finally, if a kid wants a book, where can they go to find it? In “I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy” by Mychal Threets, illustrated by Lorraine Nam (Random House, $18.99) is a good introduction to the best of what a library has to offer. The freedom to walk into a library and borrow a book is the theme here, as is the sheer happiness of being welcomed, no matter who you are.  This is an easy book for kids as young as two and as old as five to enjoy.

On that note, if you want more, head to that library, or a nearby bookstore. They’ll be glad to see you. They’ve got stories to share.

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