Personal rating of 5 out of 5 stars
Illustrated by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov Narrated by Christopher Hampton 5 stars I’ll admit I put off reading this one because I didn’t think I’d ever like a Western. But oh my gosh, this book was so good. Will and his father set out from Texas to Oklahoma to stake their claim during the Land…
Read More
Illustrated by Leeza Hernandez 5 stars A fun read that blends cats, vehicles, and humor. Follow a crew of colorful cats as they build the perfect cat lounge complete with nap nooks, scratching posts, perches, and hidey-holes. But uh-oh, looks like some rats are trying to help. Instead, they cause a big mess. Can the…
Read More
Illustrated by James Mayhew 5 stars A richly illustrated fairy tale of the love shared between a merman and a human. While marketed as an “update to The Little Mermaid story”, that doesn’t feel quite right. A merperson falls in love with a human and his father thinks humans are too dangerous. That’s where the…
Read More
Illustrated by Emily Holden 5 stars A sweet story about love, happiness, belonging, and connection with a fascinating cast of characters. Ruby the barista at the local coffee shop may seem a little strange. That’s because she’s actually a super-genius humanoid created in a lab to solve problems. After escaping the lab, she tries her…
Read More
by Shelia P. Moses Illustrated by Gillian Flint 5 stars Follow the journey of Opal Lee from a young girl living in segregated Texas to a passionate volunteer and activist. The book provides information about Lee’s childhood, education, career, volunteerism, and her activism to make Juneteenth recognized as a federal holiday. Nicely told. I really…
Read More
Illustrated by Kay Davault 5 stars An engaging chosen-one adventure featuring magic, dragons, and a talking llama. In this early chapter book series, llama caretaker Dak is recruited by his mysterious neighbor Fenn and magical llama Lucy to find the twelve Magic Stones of Ravenwood after they have been stolen. Their first stop is Dragons’…
Read More
by Joy Harjo Art by Dana Tiger 5 stars A stunning edition of a powerful poem of grief and healing. It was nice having read this poem previously in An American Sunrise: Poems. Because I was already familiar with the poem, I could focus on its interplay with the artwork in this edition. The poem itself…
Read More
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,…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More