My Little Pony: Art is Magic!, Vol. 1

5 stars A fascinating look at the process of creating the My Little Pony comics. Learn more about how a variety of comic artists bring the stories to life. Featuring interviews and artwork from Tony Fleecs, Jay P. Fosgitt, Agnes Garbowska, Brenda Hickey, Andy Price, and Sara Richard. I loved exploring the different iterations of…

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From Garden to Pickle by Penelope S. Nelson

2 stars A simple look at how pickles are made for early readers. Simple narration paired with bright stock photos provides an overview of how pickles are made. Doesn’t provide much detail beyond pick, scrub, add brine, seal, and wait. Short, simple sentences between 1 to 7 words long. I did enjoy the infographic at…

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The Gingerbread Man: Buttons on the Loose by Laura Murray

Illustrated by Mike Lowery 3 stars A cute little early graphic novel. Join the Gingerbread Man as he searches for his missing buttons in this adorable rhyming tale. Cute artwork. Great rhythm and rhyme. Short and simple story with dynamic illustrations. A nice next step for those who enjoy the picture book series and a…

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I Am a Cat Barista, Vol. 1 by Hiro Maijima

Translated by Kat Skarbinec 4 stars Wholesome and delightful. Welcome to Cafe Hachiware, a mysterious cat cafe that only presents itself to weary souls. Inside, you’ll find a cat barista, ready to make you the drink he thinks you need and offer some helpful advice. Each chapter presents a trouble human with their own problem….

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Rarity’s Charity by G. M. Berrow

3 stars An early chapter book adaptation of My Little Pony: Rarity and the Curious Case of Charity. Rarity is excited for her new apprentice to arrive, but when Charity takes her idolization of Rarity too far, Rarity must figure out how to be the mentor Charity actually needs. While it’s the same story, the chapters…

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At Blackwater Pond: Mary Oliver Reads Mary Oliver

5 stars A wonderful collection of poems read by Mary Oliver herself pulled from throughout her writing career. A fantastic listen. Featuring birds, plants, and the natural world, Oliver reflects on beauty, virtue, death, and more. I loved listening to these poems and especially hearing Oliver tell them. She reads each poem with her own…

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Get the Party Started (DnDoggos #1) by Scott Underhill

3 stars An action-packed adventure featuring a band of adorable canines on their first D&D campaign. Join Pickles, Tonka, and Zoey along with DM Magnus as they set out on a rescue mission. An entertaining and fun-filled adventure story with plenty of humor. The illustrations are great and the characters are so much fun. I…

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The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught

5 stars An adorably cozy fantasy story. After an important pastry order is placed, bakery apprentice Juniper sets out with Hadley the bard to collect special mushrooms for the recipe. On their journey, they stumble upon a mystery. Something is eating all the farmers’ crops… something big. Looking for inspiration for their songs, Hadley convinces…

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