Just Add Glitter by Angela DiTerlizzi

4 stars This is such a beautiful and adorable book. Honestly, I don’t really like glitter that much. I don’t really like it at all. But I can definitely see the appeal of this book. All the sparkles and shimmers are mesmerizing.  I have noticed a trend in children’s books lately. A lot of them…

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Octopus Escapes! by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer

3 stars The thing I found most fascinating about this book is that it is based on actual facts about octopuses. Lachenmeyer took actual traits of this wondrous creature and tied them together in a fun picture book about a runaway octopus.  Cute illustrations. I liked the cartooniness of them and think this would appeal…

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25 Women Who Fought Back (Daring Women) by Jill Sherman

5 stars Fantastic book. Great for middle school and high school readers. This book was well put together. The information was interesting and the language used was approachable. Terms that may be unfamiliar to the reader were briefly explained as well as defined in the glossary at the end. It was also a good length….

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Hilda and the Midnight Giant (Hilda #2) by Luke Pearson

5 stars Okay, okay, I’m guilty of watching the corresponding Netflix episode before reading this book, but in my defense, it’s a difficult show to stop watching. Anyway, I knew what was going to happen, but I still loved every moment of reading this book. The Midnight Giant is one of my favorite storylines so…

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The Emoji Movie: Emoji Encyclopedia by Cordelia Evans

4 stars Fun companion guide to The Emoji Movie.  The book starts by giving you a basic rundown of texting, the settings of the movie, and references some of the basic events of the movie. It then goes on to introduce the emojis. There is a blurb about each one as well as a usefulness…

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Isaac and His Amazing Asperger Superpowers! by Melanie Walsh

3 stars Good book that describes one boy’s experience with Asperger’s syndrome. One of the things that is so difficult about writing books about those on the autism spectrum is that each person is so different in terms of strengths, deficits, stims, interests, and needs. I have been working with children on the spectrum (including…

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Uniquely Wired: A Story about Autism and Its Gifts by Julia Cook

3 stars A good picture book for learning about some of the common-ish characteristics of autism spectrum disorders. As the book mentions, “Once you’ve met one autistic child, you have met ONE autistic child.” I have been working with children on the spectrum for the past six years and have never met two children who…

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Fierce Fairy Tales: Poems & Stories to Stir Your Soul by Nikita Gill

1 star I was pretty disappointed with this one.  I’ll start off by saying that I really enjoy fairy tale retellings and read quite a few ( Wicked, TaleSpins, Ever After High, Wolves and Witches). I love when people put their own twist on a classic, when they recreate a well-known character or completely reimagine a story. However, I…

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The Magic Misfits: The Second Story by Neil Patrick Harris

4 stars Everything you loved about book number one now in a completely new adventure. This series is so amazing. I love the whole concept. And the magic trick how-tos are such a fun way for readers to really engage with the book.  I was slightly disappointed that the audiobook wasn’t fully read by Neil…

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Do You Believe in Unicorns? by Bethanie Deeney Murguia

3 stars Cute book with a unique concept centering around trying to determine whether the creature shown is a unicorn or just a horse. I loved the ambiguity of the illustrations. I found the text a little dry, but the illustrations were fun and adorable. The book focuses on the belief in unicorns making them…

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