Shark Girl by Kate Beaton

3 stars An odd little story with nice age-appropriate messaging about ethical fishing practices. The story follows Shark Girl who, after witnessing human irresponsibility and greedy fishing practices, decides to take revenge by starting a mutiny. A nice blend of humor and an examination of human nature. Showcases both the good and the bad of…

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Lily the Pond Mermaid by Lucy Fleming

3 stars A sweet story about a pond mermaid and her overwhelming worries. Lily does everything she can to help her friends who live in and around the pond. But she worries that the responsibility is just too much for her to handle alone. After a major storm, Lily finds the courage to talk to…

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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic FCBD 2020 by Jeremy Whitley

Illustrated by Trish Forstner 3 stars A wonderful intro into the Friendship is Magic Season 10 storyline. Twilight Sparkle takes on some big responsibilities, but her friends are still there to help her succeed. Leave it to Whitley to perfectly capture the essence of the show in an all-new adventure that expands the MLP universe….

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Why Johnny Doesn’t Flap: NT is OK! by Clay Morton & Gail Morton

Illustrated by Alex Merry 5 stars A hilarious and sweet story. Told from the perspective of an autistic child, we learn about Johnny, who is neurotypical. Because of this, Johnny does things differently than the narrator. He doesn’t show up at the right time, he varies his routine, he speaks in idioms, and wants to…

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Shady Baby by Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade Jr.

Illustrated by Tara Nicole Whitaker 3 stars Join Shady Baby on her busy day, teaching others about sharing and taking turns, while leading by example with just the right amount of sass. Rhythm and rhyme combine to create engaging, rolling text. Adorable illustrations. They’re bright, colorful, and perfectly capture the shade. Nice themes of leadership,…

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Ditching Saskia by John Moore

Illustrated by Neetols 5 stars A heartfelt story that explores themes of grief, self-confidence, vulnerability, and friendship. A Spirit Flower gives you the chance to summon a ghost… for those who can afford it. Damian has saved up for a flower to summon the ghost of his mother. It should have been simple, but things…

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School-Live!, Vol. 3 by Norimitsu Kaihou

Illustrated by Sadoru Chiba Translated by Leighann Harvey 4 stars Back from their first field trip, the trio welcomes new addition, Miki, to their home and puts on a field day. As Miki slowly settles in to life at the school and learns more about the club’s past, she must decide whether to become an…

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School-Live!, Vol. 2 by Norimitsu Kaihou

Illustrated by Sadoru Chiba Translated by Leighann Harvey 4 stars A school club, a promising idea, and the zombie apocalypse. In this volume, the School Living club goes on their first field trip off school grounds together. We also get some background on a new character, Miki, who has been living in the zombie-infested mall….

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