Fros, Fades, and Braids: A Brief History of Black Hair in America

by Sean Qualls 5 stars A fantastic read. Explores the history of Black hair in America, from pivotal Black figures in the haircare industry to views of Black hair through time and different styles and trends. Well written. This was such an interesting read. Includes sections on different styles such as afros, Jheri curl, locs,…

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Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner

3 stars This one definitely pulled me in with that killer title. A fun story with great messages. Margot hates feeling invisible. Her mom is always at work, her dad is preoccupied with getting famous, and she’s not getting much attention for her song videos online. When she finds a discarded synthesizer, Margot sees it…

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The Witches of Pepperwood Bay Vol. 1

by Lisa Manuzak Wiley 3 stars After a magical teapot goes missing at the Harvest Fest, witch sisters Juniper, Lily, and Clover are on the case. Their investigation will take them through Pepperwood Bay and under the sea as they follow leads and work through sisterly disputes. I really enjoyed the artwork. Dynamic movement with…

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You’re Strong, Smart, and You Got This: Drawings, Affirmations, and Comfort to Help with Anxiety and Depression

by Kate Allan 4 stars Another beautiful collection of artwork featuring magical, adorable animals and positive affirmations. Throughout the book, Allan writes to her younger self, offering wisdom, words of encouragement, and recognition that things will be hard but it will all be okay. I absolutely adore the artwork. Beautiful depictions of animals and creatures…

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The Boxcar Librarian by Briana Labuskes

3.5 stars Historical fiction with some mystery, a bit of romance, and plenty of drama. Join a cast of book-lovers as they navigate Depression era Montana. There’s Millie, a writer for the Federal Writers’ Project sent to Missoula to investigate a delivery scandal; Alice, a well-off woman who uses her influence to get books into…

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Learning to Fly (Unicornia #1) by Ana Punset

Illustrated by Diana Vicedo Translated by Rosie Eyre 3 stars Simple and sweet. Claudia and her parents have just moved to Unicornia. Before now, Claudia didn’t even know unicorns were real, and now she’s living in a world of flying buses, a magical school, and more unicorns than she can count. She’s living the dream….

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Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Vol. 3

by Haro Aso Illustrated by Kotaro Takata Translated by Nova Skipper 3 stars Akira and Kencho make plans to leave Tokyo, but first they must secure a new set of wheels. They reunite with an acquaintance at an RV show, team up, and hit the road. But the journey is not without unforeseen obstacles. I…

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Stolen Colors by Khushboo Patel

Illustrated by Tara Anand 5 stars Fantastically written. Shreya loves painting. She feels special when her art teacher praises her work. Mr. Rao even asks Shreya to come to the art room for him to paint her. But then something happens. Shreya feels different. She doesn’t want to be praised anymore. She doesn’t want to…

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Gwei the Hungry Ghost by Emeline Lee

Illustrated by Basia Tran 5 stars Heartwarming and sweet. Hungry ghost Gwei can’t wait to head into the city for the Ghost Festival to snack on all his favorite foods. But no matter how much he eats, he always feels empty. It isn’t until he meets another hungry little ghost that he learns maybe it’s…

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