5 stars A modern-day Monster with a story all its own. Told through powerful verse and emotive visuals, this is the story of Amal Shahid, a teenage artist and poet sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. I love Zoboi’s writing and this one did not disappoint. Packed with raw emotion, this book is…
Read More
by Shinobumaru Translated by Jason Muell 4 stars A foundling human taken in by spirits, a young exorcist who is the natural enemy of her world, and a bookshop that caters to the spirit realm. A really fun world to dive into. I loved meeting all of the different spirits and learning about the dynamics…
Read More
3 stars A nice collection of poems centered around love. Giovanni travels the highs and lows of love in its various forms: romantic love, familial love, love for your heritage, love for your community. It celebrates the beautiful moments and gives voice to the painfulness of loss and what could have been. Humor, heart, and…
Read More
by Coretta Scott King with the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds Adapted by Julia Sooy Illustrated by Ekua Holmes 5 stars A powerful adaptation of King’s memoir in a format suitable for young readers. I love to see so many more books focusing on the life and work of Coretta Scott King. The book covers King’s…
Read More
Translated by Minna Lin 4 stars Another fun collection of slice-of-life adventures featuring supernatural cats. In this volume, we get updates on some of the yokai cats already introduced in the series and meet a few new ones including Sazae Oni (Turban Shell Oni), Keseran Pasaran (Dandelion Fluff), Umibozu (Sea Monster), and the cockatrice-like Nue….
Read More
by Priscilla Pardini Illustrated by Joanne Scholler Bowring 4 stars I’ve lived in Milwaukee for over 10 years and while I’ve heard the name Betty Brinn plenty of times, I didn’t really know anything about her. This was such a great biography to correct that. The book is quite text-heavy but I found the story…
Read More
Story by Mei Hachimoku Illustrated by Koudon Translated by Alexa Frank 5 stars A beautiful conclusion to a fantastic series. In the final volume, we get all the emotions and I loved every moment of it. The artwork is wonderful. A heartfelt story. I really enjoyed this series. Satisfying to the very end. Goodreads
Read More
Illustrated by Geeta Ladi 5 stars A fun story sharing how the brain feels when it’s seeking different sensory input. Sometimes it is busy like a bee, wants to touch everything like an octopus, or is slow like a sloth. I love that each state is presented without negativity. Instead the story celebrates all the…
Read More
Illustrated by Alina Chau 5 stars A wonderfully sweet story of family, love, and chocolate. The narrator’s family is welcoming a new member. To make his adopted sister feel safe and comfortable, he helps introduce her to the family’s baking traditions and shares their love of chocolate. Such a sweet book. I love that it…
Read More
Illustrated by David Roberts 3.5 stars Bright, colorful illustrations and a story that encourages empathy, kindness, and acceptance. The illustrations are wonderfully diverse, featuring characters with different skin colors, gender expressions, body types, disabilities, hair styles, and nationalities. I love how the pages mirror each other, showing the similarities among individuals, their likes and dislikes….
Read More