Coral’s Reef Vol. 1 by David Lumsdon

Illustrated by Shiei 3 stars I loved the My Little Pony: The Manga – A Day in the Life of Equestria Vol. 1 so I was really excited to see these two team up again. Welcome to Reef Beach, home to many fantastical residents including ifrits, sea sprites, sirens, kappa, and more. Follow Coral as she makes…

Read More

Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac

3 stars A sweet novel-in-verse about family, perseverance, and the bond between a girl and her dog. Malian is visiting her grandparents on a Wabanaki reservation when the COVID-19 shelter in place order is enacted. Together with Malsum, the mysterious rez dog who adopted her, and her grandparent’s stories, Malian finds the strength to overcome…

Read More

The Christmas Swap by Talia Samuels

4 stars I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I’m not much of fan of fake dating stories, but this one managed to do it without being creepy and added a nice twist. After a rough breakup with her toxic ex-girlfriend, Margot just wants a nice holiday. She gets her chance when Ben invites her…

Read More

Athena the Brain (Goddess Girls Graphic Novels #1)

Created by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams Adapted by David Camptiti Illustrated by Eduardo Garcia 2 stars Athena has just found out some shocking news. She’s the daughter of Zeus and now she’s being summoned to Mount Olympus Academy. She’ll meet new friends (and enemies), create some exciting inventions, and try to get the hang…

Read More

Come Over to My House by Eliza Hull & Sally Rippin

Illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett 5 stars A delightful, rhyming picture book, perfect for reading aloud. Readers are invited into the homes of a variety of children to play and learn about how different families do things. From using Braille books and guide dogs to flashing doorbells to prosthetic limbs to noise-canceling headphones, this book shows…

Read More

In a Glass Grimmly (A Tale Dark & Grimm #2) by Adam Gidwitz

5 stars Another amazing book in the series. This one tells of cousins Jack and Jill as they go in search of a long-lost treasure. The adventures are all new, so you can read this one without having read the first one, though the first one is also amazing and I highly recommend it. Fantastically…

Read More

Song in the City by Daniel Bernstrom

Illustrated by Jenin Mohammed 5 stars A beautiful story of stopping to appreciate the world around you, sharing experiences, and changing perspectives. Told through rhythmic text, the book tells the story of Emmalene and Grandma Jean’s journey to church. On the way, Emmalene listens to the song of the city, but Grandma Jean doesn’t have…

Read More

The Enchantress Returns (The Land of Stories #2) (Audiobook)

by Chris Colfer 3 stars Another fun dive into the Land of Stories. Alex and Conner are back in the real world after their first adventure in their father’s homeland. This comes with its own ups and downs, including a new dog, getting used to school again, and their mother’s changing relationship with her coworker,…

Read More

We Are a Song by Lorian Tu

4 stars A touching tale of all the individual pieces that come together to make a family. Arturo and Emilyn visit their family members to pick up supplies for a party. Along the way, they cherish the different elements of their Chinese and Cuban heritage and find inspiration for a poem. Such a sweet story….

Read More

Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel

Written by Jason Reynolds Art by Danica Novgorodoff 5 stars I loved Reynolds’ original novel-in-verse and was a little nervous about this graphic adaptation. But it really delivered. Reynolds’ words and messages shine through accompanied by Novgorodoff’s haunting artwork and stunning visuals. The watercolors perfectly capture the essence of Reynolds’ words. Absolutely stunning. A fantastic…

Read More