When the Lake Burns by Geneviève Bigué

Translated by Luke Langille 2 stars I was initially drawn in by the mysterious title and the gorgeous color palette, but this story was not for me. It somehow feels like it dragged out while also being underdeveloped. It’s like the start of a story. There were aspects of greed/pride, poverty, grief, and friendship that…

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Winnie-the-Pooh: The Graphic Novel Adaptation by Travis Dandro

Original story by A. A. Milne 3 stars A sweet graphic novel adaptation of some classic Hundred Acre Wood adventures. This book collects the stories from the first Winnie-the-Pooh book in an adorable comic-style presentation. Includes popular stories such as Pooh getting stuck in Rabbit’s front door, Kanga and Roo’s arrival, and the flooding of…

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Chang’e on the Moon (Everlasting Tales #1) by Katrina Moore

Illustrated by Cornelia Li 5 stars A gorgeous retelling of the story of Chang’e and how she became the moon goddess. The story focuses on Chang’e’s courage, kindness, and love of the Earth, and her relationship with her husband, Hou Yi. Well-told. The book wonderfully presents the tale’s action, romance, and lessons of kindness, selflessness,…

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ParaNorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-hop-calypse by Stephanie Cooke

Illustrated by Mari Costa 3 stars This book really delivers on the magic, the chaos, and the bunnies. Join a young witch, Abby, as she prepares to spend fall break with her friends Silas, a pumpkinhead; Hannah, a ghost-like entity from another dimension; and Gita, a wolf-girl. She’s looking forward to having fun and practicing…

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The Little World of Liz Climo by Liz Climo

3 stars A fun collection of one-page comics featuring a lovable cast of animals. Sorted into categories of love and friendship, holidays and celebrations, family, and daily life, this collection brings a bit of humor, relatability, and strangeness. Adorable artwork. I loved getting to know all the reoccurring characters. A sweet collection focusing on friendship,…

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I Am Not the Easter Bunny! by T. L. McBeth

4 stars A hilarious picture book, perfect for Easter time. The narrator is sure they’ve found the Easter Bunny, but the bunny is adamant that they’re just a normal rabbit. Follow along, look for clues, and decide for yourself. Such a fun read. Cute illustrations. I’m always a sucker for fourth wall breaks. A silly…

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Escargot and the Search for Spring by Dashka Slater

Illustrated by Sydney Hanson 4 stars An absolutely adorable book about a French snail venturing out after a long winter. Funny and sweet. I’m always a fan of fourth wall breaks and loved the humor of Escargot’s conversations with the reader. This is the first Escargot book I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. Will…

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Native American Stories for Kids

12 Traditional Stories from Indigenous Tribes Across North America by Tom Pecore Weso Illustrated by Gloria Félix 4 stars A nice collection of stories from tribal nations throughout North America. The stories cover different topics from creation to explaining nature to codes of conduct. Groups included are the Menominee, Navajo/Diné, Athabascan, Cherokee, Zuni Pueblo/A:shiwi, Cheyenne,…

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Storyteller Skye: Teaching from My Ojibway Grandfather

by Lindsay Christina King Illustrated by Carolyn Frank 5 stars Such a wonderful read! At the start, we are introduced to Skye, who shares stories from her grandfather about the natural world. They explain the origins of animal characteristics such as raccoon’s black mask, beaver’s large teeth, and rabbit’s long ears. Each story ends with…

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