The Sunflower Sword by Mark Sperring, Illustrated by Miriam Latimer

4 stars An adorable story about imagination, kindness, and unexpected friendships. This sweet tale follows a little knight who longs to swoosh and whoosh a sword like the bigger knights. His mother bestows him with a sunflower instead and he learns there’s more to life than fighting dragons. I’ve got a soft spot for stories…

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The Daughters of Ys by M. T. Anderson, Illustrated by Jo Rioux

4 stars A wonderful reimagining of the City of Ys, revamping the legend of King Gradlon and his daughter, Dahut. Anderson’s tale intermixes other Breton themes and stories such as Saint Corentin and his miraculous fish. The city of pleasure hides dark secrets, seeped in grief, greed, and sin. Filled with sea monsters, murder, seduction,…

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The Bad Guys: Episode 2: Mission Unpluckable by Aaron Blabey

3 stars Another hilarious adventure featuring Mr. Wolf and his fellow Good Guy Club members attempting to right wrongs and shake off their “bad guy” reputations. In the second episode, the team joins forces with another misunderstood critter to rescue the mistreated chickens from a Chicken Farm. They must come to terms with their own…

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The Bad Guys: Episode 1 by Aaron Blabey

3 stars An exciting adventure featuring a misunderstood wolf, his attempts to turn around the reputation of carnivores from land and sea, and the mayhem that ensues along the way. I enjoyed the twist on the gray area between “good” and “bad” and the theme of carnivores being misunderstood. Similar style to picture books like Misunderstood…

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The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton

4 stars A charming read featuring a warrior princess, an adorable pony, a great battle, and a few pony farts thrown in. Fun, humorous, and heartwarming. Beaton shows the importance of being true to yourself and embracing your interests, even if they don’t fit with who others think you should be. Promotes helping others and…

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The Golden Hour by Niki Smith

5 stars A stunning graphic novel that perfectly captures the beauty of everyday life cut with the shattering effects of anxiety and PTSD. Manuel works to navigate a world that no long feels safe after witnessing a traumatic event involving gun violence. With the help of some new friends, a supportive therapist, and a love…

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