I Am Thinking My Life by Allysun Atwater, Illustrated by Stevie Lewis

3 stars A sweet picture book about the power of thinking. The illustrations in this book are phenomenal! I easily got lost in the fantastical details and wonder on each page. They are beautiful and engaging. Loved the whimsical world colliding with reality. Personally, I just couldn’t quite get behind the entire message. It promotes…

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Small Spaces (Small Spaces #1) by Katherine Arden

5 stars A delightfully spooky tale featuring a mysterious book, a class field trip to a farm, and an unexpected villain. Perfect for young readers looking for an engaging story that is thrillingly creepy. No gore or intense violence. This one uses unsettling elements to scare the reader. There’s an ominous vibe throughout the book…

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Black is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes

5 stars A stunning book that celebrates black identity and culture. Lyrical and rhythmic, this picture book has wonderful layers that readers can build upon. References to black history, literature, and music are woven into the each line. Works wonderfully for entertainment, inspiration, and education. At the back of the book is additional information that…

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The Flower of the Witch by Enrico Orlandi, Translated by Jamie Richards

4 stars A fast-paced adventure story that blends mythology, coming-of-age themes, and questions of what it is to be a man. The artwork has a cartoon-y style but with a darker aesthetic. It pulls together some great folklore elements (ravens, shapeshifting, skulls, walking dead, demons, spirits). I really enjoyed the sinister elements in the artwork,…

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Sheets (Sheets #1) by Brenna Thummler

5 stars Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. I’ve seen a lot of hype about this book and it is much deserved. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, but was sucked into the blending of Marjorie’s and Wendell’s worlds. A girl whose family owns a laundromat befriending a sheet-donning ghost has got to be one of…

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The Book With No Pictures by B. J. Novak

5 stars This book has no pictures and it doesn’t need them. A humorous read aloud filled with silly noises, meta humor, and fun fonts sure to insight laughter and engagement. Novak forces adults to not take themselves so seriously and play up the text when reading to children. Some of my best memories as…

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