The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park by Michiko Aoyama

Translated by Takami Nieda 4 stars A wonderfully cozy read. Rumor has it that the hippo ride at Hinode Park has magical powers. Rub a body part on Kabahiko the healing hippo and it will heal the same part on you. Follow various neighbors as they seek Kabahiko’s healing powers, only to discover what they…

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This Book is Not Garbage by Isabel Thomas

Illustrated by Alex Paterson 4 stars A great place to begin your eco journey. Told with a wonderful blend of humor and information. With tips to reduce your plastic use, save wildlife, and keep items out of the landfill, this book is a helpful guide for living a more environmentally friendly life for young readers….

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Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 3 by Suol

Original Story by Gwon Gyeoeul Translated by David Odell 3 stars Just when Penelope thinks she’s getting the hang of hard more, more obstacles appear in her path. In this volume her relationships with her brothers become rocky and she has another encounter with the dangerous and unpredictable Callisto. An interesting volume with some intriguing…

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Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 2 by Suol

Original Story by Gwon Gyeoeul Translated by David Odell 3 stars Penelope continues her journey to survive as the villain in Daughter of the Duke’s Super Love Project. In this volume she ventures out to find Eckles in an attempt to secure him as a love interest and learns more about the mysterious Winter. An…

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A Kind Life: Eat Plants, Buy Less, Slow Down, and Save the Planet

by Carina Wohlleben 2 stars An okay read. Originally published in German, I feel like the translated title is a bit misleading. The book focuses on arguments for veganism and connecting more with nature. There isn’t a whole lot in the Buy Less and Slow Down departments. It also comes from a very privileged perspective…

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Mama Car by Lucy Catchpole

Illustrated by Karen George 5 stars Absolutely adorable! The narration perfectly captures a child’s perspective as she introduces her mother’s wheelchair, aka Mama Car, and the various expeditions they go on together. The artwork is so sweet. Lovely representations of wheelchair use and limb differences. This book was so cute. Feel-good and cozy with wonderful…

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Good Spirits (Ghosted #1) by B. K. Borison

3 stars A spicy paranormal romance that puts a modern spin on A Christmas Carol. Harriet loves all things Christmas, but when a Ghost of Christmas Past comes to haunt her, they’re both a little confused about the assignment. As they visit her holiday past, they uncover something deeper than either of them expected. Interesting…

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101 Seeds for Library Joy by Rebecca Hass

4 stars A nice little guide with tips on how to get the most out of library work and find joy and balance in your life. The book suggests activities for increasing joy for patrons, coworkers, and yourself. Each page provides a short tip or exercise for finding and creating joy in library work. Many…

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Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

3 stars A nice collection of poetry. Includes topics of COVID-19, connection, history, racism, war, loneliness, politics, and grief. I enjoyed the different styles used and the various forms the poems take, from erasure poems to a screenplay, found poetry to concrete poems. The formatting is visually interesting, utilizing different page colors, shapes, and orientations…

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Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 2 by Ryoko Kui

Translated by Taylor Engel 3 stars The party continues their decent into the dungeon to rescue Falin. Along the way they encounter golems, orcs, treasure insects, ghosts, living pictures, mimics, and a kelpie. This series is growing on me a little. Laois still weirds me out and I didn’t particularly like the kelpie chapter in…

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