Nick and Charlie: A Heartstopper Novella by Alice Oseman

4 stars The Heartstopper boys are back! Loved catching up with Nick and Charlie. In this novella, Nick is excited to head off to university, but that enthusiasm makes Charlie feel left behind. A fun story in which we get a bit of an update on the Heartstopper characters including Tao, Elle, Tori, Aled, Harry,…

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Anybody Here Seen Frenchie? by Leslie Connor

4 stars A heartwarming story about a town coming together to search for a missing child. Aurora and Frenchie are best friends. But when Aurora starts making new friends, she finds it difficult to balance her friendship with Frenchie, who is autistic and nonvocal. When Frenchie goes missing, a part of Aurora can’t help but…

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Something About Grandma by Tania de Regil

5 stars A delightful picture book celebrating the intergenerational love between a child and her grandmother. While her parents wait for the new baby to arrive, Julia visits her grandmother’s house near Mexico City. There, she experiences the magic of her grandmother’s home and the magic of her grandmother herself. Through homesickness, joy, and comfort,…

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Happy All-idays! by Cindy Jin

Illustrated by Rob Sayegh Jr. 4 stars A sweet, rhyming board book that celebrates a few winter holidays. The book shows families celebrating Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa, as well as Christmukkah. A nice read especially for talking about how each holiday is celebrated. The pictures feature different elements such as a unity cup, mazoa, and…

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Fantastic Tales of Nothing (Nothing #1)

by Alejandra Green and Franny Rodriguez 3 stars Enter a fantastic world featuring humans, shape-shifting volkens, and mysterious fae. Nothing is quite as it seems in the magical world of Nothing. Strange things are happening to Nathan. After a chance meeting with a mysterious new friend, Haven, the duo must avoid a pair of volken…

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The Dog that Ate the World by Sandra Dieckmann

4 stars Another stunning picture book from Dieckmann. When a dog arrives in the peaceful valley and begins eating everything in sight, the other animals try to confront him. But when their efforts are in vain, they band together to create beauty in their own world. This fable-style story has a lovely emphasis on community…

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Delicates (Sheets #2) by Brenna Thummler

5 stars A stunning follow-up to Sheets. This one wonderfully captures some of the hardships of growing up female with crush confusion, toxic friendships, and the pressure to fit in. Despite such difficulties, it is filled with hope, kindness, empathy, supportive friendship, and the little moments that bring joy. It shows the power of doing the…

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A Sweet New Year for Ren

by Michelle Sterling Illustrated by Dung Ho 3 stars A deliciously sweet story for a sweet new year. Every year, Ren hopes she can finally help make pineapple cakes for Lunar New Year. Will this be her year? A delightful story with wonderfully warm illustrations. Nice scenes of togetherness and moments of sharing and teaching….

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The Ultimate Guide to Sea Glass

Finding, Collecting, Identifying, and Using the Ocean’s Most Beautiful Stones by Mary Beth Beuke 3 stars A nice resource for those already interested in sea glass and beachcombing who understand the basics. Would recommend to those who have already started a sea glass collection and are looking to learn more about what to look for…

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