Specs by Van G. Garrett

Illustrated by Reggie Brown 3 stars A sweet book celebrating the uniqueness and style of wearing glasses. Join Brea as she looks for the perfect pair of glasses to reflect her individuality, personality, and spec-tacularness. Nicely written with great rhythm. Adorable and fun illustrations. A great way to get kids excited about picking new glasses…

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It’s Almost Time for . . . Halloween! by Maisha Oso

Illustrated by Tom Knight 4 stars A delightful rhyming picture book that leans into the cuteness of Halloween rather than the frightening. Told with humor and engaging illustrations, this is such a sweet book. Nicely written. I really enjoyed the rhyme scheme. Great rhythm. I also love the inclusion of baking with pumpkins, not just…

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Except When They Don’t by Laura Gehl

Illustrated by Joshua Heinsz 4 stars An engaging and fun way to talk about gender stereotypes. Told through rhythm and rhyme, a group of children show how fun it is to play how you want instead of worrying about how girls and boys are expected to play. I loved seeing the creativity of the children…

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Adventures with My Daddies by Gareth Peter

Illustrated by Garry Parsons 5 stars Absolutely adorable. This is such a cute book and a pleasure to read. Join a family on their bedtime adventures as they read stories and let their imaginations run wild. Sweet rhymes, action-packed illustrations, and wonderful messages about what makes a family. This rhythmic picture book is perfect for…

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No One Owns the Color by Gianna Davy

Illustrated by Brenda Rodriguez 3 stars Loved the messaging. The book showcases all the colors in your life, from the colors you choose (clothing, favorite colors) to the colors that are part of you (skin, eyes). I initially enjoyed the rhythm, rhyme, and repetition, but they aren’t consistent. This had so much potential to be…

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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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Honk Honk, Beep Beep, Putter Putt! by Rukhsana Khan

Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat 3 stars A fun, engaging story of how different vehicles communicate told through rhythm, rhyme, and repetition. Ibraheem and his cat, Mitu, join Baba on his delivery trip through Pakistan. Along the way, they must navigate the busy streets, communicate with other vehicles, and make sure everyone stays safe while they…

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Challah for Shabbat Tonight by Sara Holly Ackerman

Illustrated by Alona Millgram 5 stars In this delightful rhyming and rhythmic story, join the narrator and her grandmother as they bake challah for the Shabbat. Well-written and engaging. Told through catchy rhymes, the book goes through each step of making challah, from mixing together the ingredients and waiting for the dough to rise to…

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The Gingerbread Man: Buttons on the Loose by Laura Murray

Illustrated by Mike Lowery 3 stars A cute little early graphic novel. Join the Gingerbread Man as he searches for his missing buttons in this adorable rhyming tale. Cute artwork. Great rhythm and rhyme. Short and simple story with dynamic illustrations. A nice next step for those who enjoy the picture book series and a…

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Gorgeously Me! by Jonathan Van Ness

Illustrated by Kamala Nair 4 stars An adorably sweet book with wonderfully bright illustrations. Told through flowing rhyme and a catchy refrain, the book encourages self-love and acceptance, teamwork, helping others, and individuality. Beautiful messages and a soothing rhythm. The artwork is absolutely beautiful. Gorgeous details and colors. A wonderful, heartfelt read. Goodreads

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