Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington

Illustrated by Shane W. Evans 4 stars A sweet picture book celebrating Kwanzaa. Li’l Rabbit’s Granna is sick and his family is too busy taking care of her to put together their Karamu feast. Li’l Rabbit sets out to find a special Zawadi for her and ends up making an extra special Kwanzaa for them…

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Quest Kids and the Dragon Pants of Gold by Mark Leiknes

3 stars A whirlwind adventure starring an elf kid, a wizard-in-training, a rock troll, an impulsive leader, and a flatulent pig-dog-thing. The Quest Kids set out to rescue a town, but may have bitten off more than they can chew. Along the way, they must face a golden-pants-wearing dragon, an invisible forest, acid swamps, a…

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The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers and Other Gruesome Tales

by Jen Campbell, Illustrated by Adam de Souza 5 stars A delightfully dark collection of tales spanning the globe. From Korea and Japan to Norway and Ireland to Nigeria and South Africa. A nice selection, all with a gruesome or spooky leaning. I especially enjoyed that Campbell’s selection highlighted many brave, creative, clever, and quick…

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Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmermann

Illustrated by Jamie Green 5 stars Delightfully lyrical and beautifully illustrated, this captivating picture book takes the reader on a journey through the world of mushrooms. The book is simple but each page in a work of art. A perfect introduction for those fascinated by mushrooms. The text describes the look, scent, and behavior of…

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Morning Sun in Wuhan by Ying Chang Compestine

4 stars An interesting look at the initial outbreak of Covid in Wuhan through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old. Mei loves cooking, improving her skill through an online cooking game. But when the pandemic spreads, Mei faces being separated from her family, a city-wide shutdown, food shortages, neighbors turning on each other, and those around…

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She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice for Change

by Suma Subramaniam, Illustrated by Shreya Gupta 5 stars A stunning picture book following the life of M.S. Subbulakshmi. Subbulakshmi loves to sing and wants to share her magnificent voice with others, but girls are barred from singing at public performances in India. That doesn’t stop her. With the support of her mother, she keeps…

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Binny’s Diwali by Thrity Umrigar

Illustrated by Nidhi Chanani 4 stars A sweet story of one girl’s victory of goodness and light. Binny is tasked with sharing her favorite holiday with her class, Diwali. Plans are set, jalebis and pedas are made, but when it comes time to present, Binny doesn’t know what to say. Remembering the the guiding lights…

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The Weeding Handbook: A Shelf-by-Shelf Guide by Rebecca Vnuk

4 stars As someone who recently took over a position at my library that involved weeding, I found this guide extremely helpful. It is a great place to start for those new to weeding or looking for a more systematic structure to the process. The book gives information on the basics of weeding before going…

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Deadendia: The Watcher’s Test (Deadendia #1)

by Hamish Steele 5 stars A fantastic adventure featuring demon-possessed pugs, ghost collectors, spells gone awry, a celebrity-themed amusement park, and a cast of unforgettable characters. A little bit of romance, some mystery, and a whole lot of creepiness make for a very fun reading experience. I’ll admit, I watched the Netflix adaptation first. While…

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Aster and the Accidental Magic (Aster #1) by Thom Pico

Illustrated by Karensac 5 stars A fantastic adventure with some serious Hildafolk vibes and a charm all its own. As a sort of inverse to Hilda, the sassy and sarcastic Aster moves from the city to what she sees as the boring wilderness with nothing to do. However, this wilderness is not all it seems. As Aster…

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