Personal rating of 3 out of 5 stars
by Angélique Roché Illustrated by Alvin Epps, Bex Glendining, and Millicent Monroe 3 stars I was really excited to see a graphic novel about Opal Lee geared toward adults, but the execution of this just did not work for me. The story jumps around to different time periods without much context given. I had a…
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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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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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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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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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Illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant 3 stars A touching story about Morris Micklewhite, whose favorite part of school is the dress-up center and the swish, swish, swish of the tangerine dress the color of his mother’s hair. Morris is bullied for wearing the dress by his classmates and told that “boys don’t wear dresses”. But Morris…
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3 stars A sweet story showcasing the joy of two rabbits spending time together. The text is simple and sweet with soothing repetition and soft illustrations. I do feel that parts of the book were a bit dated. The marriage plotline felt odd to me to be honest because we never really see the rabbits…
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3 stars A humorous story in the tradition of “The Magic Porridge Pot” with important lessons about paying attention and following rules. When Strega Nona leaves to visit a friend, Big Anthony seizes the opportunity to try out her magic pasta pot. The pot begins to produce pasta for all the townspeople. Unfortunately, Big Anthony…
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3 stars When the Solstice Blessing turns into a violent political coup, twins Grayson and Hawke must flee their home. They find refuge in the Communion of Blue where girls and women learn to spin the threads of reality. While Hawke (now Hanna) feels stifled and wants nothing more than to avenge the family and…
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by Hwang Bo-reum Translated by Shanna Tan Narrated by Rosa Escoda 3 stars A delightfully cozy collection of essays about the joys and comfort of books and reading. Bo-reum shares different ways to read more and connect more deeply with the books you read. Nicely written with an interesting blend of literature, memoir, and moments…
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