Illustrated by Manal Mirza 4 stars A sweet story of kindness, generosity, helping others, and family. As her family celebrates Ramadan, Zahra prays for a sister and to find her missing teddy bear. Little does she know there are surprises in store for her under the Ramadan moon. An adorable story. Nicely told with a…
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Adapted by Mallory Reaves Art by Studio Dice 3 stars Based on the 2017 live-action Beauty and the Beast movie, this manga follows the Beast’s perspective, showing a bit more of his thoughts and backstory. I ended up liking this story more than Belle’s Tale. Belle is pretty genuine with her actions so her stream of…
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Adapted by Mallory Reaves Art by Studio Dice 2.5 stars Based on the 2017 live-action Beauty and the Beast movie, this manga follows Belle’s perspective, providing her stream of consciousness as she rescues her father, befriends the castle’s inhabitants, and slowly falls in love with the Beast. A good adaptation. I would say you should…
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Original Story by Gwon Gyeoeul Translated by David Odell 4 stars A gorgeously-illustrated, immersive story of romance, danger, and video games. When normal mode proves too easy, it’s time to play Daughter of the Duke’s Super Love Project on hard mode. Unfortunately, that means playing as the villain, Penelope. And when the player wakes up…
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with Mykaell Blais 4 stars A sweet introduction to gender and stereotypes that encourages children to reflect on what they’ve been taught about self expression and interests. The book discusses the difference between sex and gender, explains gender identity, introduces common stereotypes regarding gender, and highlights famous people who have gone against those stereotypes and…
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Illustrated by Bev Johnson 3 stars Spinach spends her time at the animal shelter watching all the other kittens play and get adopted. But she’s stuck in her own cage. She has pectus excavatum, which means her rib cage is too small, making it hard for her to run and play like the others. But…
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by Laurel Snyder Illustrated by Dan Santat 3 stars Embark on a fairy tale adventure where you get to decide what happens next. Along the way, you’ll meet friends, foes, and the just plain weird. But beware and choose wisely. There are quite a few grisly endings. See how well you survive in a fairy…
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by Ann Hazzard and Vivianne Aponte Rivera Illustrated by Gloria Félix 3 stars A touching story about a young girl dealing with her father being taken to a detention center. One day Carmen’s father is arrested and taken away. Her mother explains that he doesn’t have the government papers he needs to stay. Through family…
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by Estela Juarez with Lissette Norman Illustrated by Teresa Martínez 5 stars A heartfelt story with a powerful message of hope, resilience, and using your voice to demand change. Estela lives happily with her family… until the government tells her mother she must return to the country she was born in. As part of coping…
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4 stars A beautiful collection of poetry celebrating the beauty of gardens, flowers, nature, and the seasons. While the collection focuses on gardens and nature, themes of death and love are also mixed in, rounding out the reading experience. The majority of the poets included are American as well as a few European poets and…
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