You Should Meet: Yayoi Kusama by May Nakamura

Illustrated by Alexandra Badiu 3 stars An early reader introduction to the life and work of Yayoi Kusama. The book goes through Kusama’s childhood in Matsumoto, her experience with hallucinations, living in the United States, interactions with other well-known artists, and her impact as an artist, including her various types of work and exhibitions. I…

Read More

Shady Baby by Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade Jr.

Illustrated by Tara Nicole Whitaker 3 stars Join Shady Baby on her busy day, teaching others about sharing and taking turns, while leading by example with just the right amount of sass. Rhythm and rhyme combine to create engaging, rolling text. Adorable illustrations. They’re bright, colorful, and perfectly capture the shade. Nice themes of leadership,…

Read More

ParaNorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-hop-calypse by Stephanie Cooke

Illustrated by Mari Costa 3 stars This book really delivers on the magic, the chaos, and the bunnies. Join a young witch, Abby, as she prepares to spend fall break with her friends Silas, a pumpkinhead; Hannah, a ghost-like entity from another dimension; and Gita, a wolf-girl. She’s looking forward to having fun and practicing…

Read More

My Little Pony: The Manga – A Day in the Life of Equestria Volume 3

by David Lumsdom Illustrated by Shiei 5 stars Another fantastic volume of My Little Pony adventures. The Mane 6 face an interdimensional scavenger hunt thanks to the mischievous Discord. Follow along as they travel through other dimensions, meet their interdimensional counterparts, and track down the Elements of Harmony. A fun story. I especially enjoyed the…

Read More

Waffles + Mochi: Follow That Food! by Christy Webster

Illustrated by Sarah Rebar 5 stars An absolutely adorable introduction to Waffles and Mochi. Once upon a time the two best friends lived in the Land of Frozen Food where all they ate was ice. One day they climb aboard a truck and find themselves in a super market. With the help of some new…

Read More

From Garden to Pickle by Penelope S. Nelson

2 stars A simple look at how pickles are made for early readers. Simple narration paired with bright stock photos provides an overview of how pickles are made. Doesn’t provide much detail beyond pick, scrub, add brine, seal, and wait. Short, simple sentences between 1 to 7 words long. I did enjoy the infographic at…

Read More

Waffles + Mochi: Pickle Party! by Frank Berrios

Illustrated by Sarah Rebar 5 stars An absolutely adorable pickle-filled adventure. Kennedy wants to have a pickle party for her birthday, but Waffles accidently drops the last jar. Determined to set things right, Waffles and Mochi learn all about making pickles and the time it takes to make them. Well-written, especially for an early reader….

Read More

Every Day, Chemistry by Julia Sooy

Illustrated by Bonnie Pang 3 stars A adorable exploration of chemical reactions in everyday life. From baking to cleaning to breathing, Sooy shows how we interact with chemistry every day and how necessary it is to so many different activities. This is a wonderful introduction to thinking about chemistry for young readers. The simple text…

Read More

My First Indoor Garden: Everything You Need to Know to Grow Little Houseplants

by Philippe Asseray Illustrated by Charlène Tong Translated by Grace McQuillan 4 stars A nice little intro to growing indoor plants. The book goes through the basics such as tools needed, best placement practices, watering techniques, fertilizing, and repotting. It provides information about a variety of houseplants including carnivorous plants, water lilies, cacti, mushrooms, and…

Read More