I’m Kinda Chubby and I’m Your Hero Vol. 2 by Nore

Translated by Philip Reuben 4 stars A heartfelt conclusion to the series. After his successful stage performance in the first book, Ponjirou is invited to audition for a TV show. Meanwhile, Konnosuke must come up with the perfect recipe for the pastry shop. Together, they help make each other’s dreams come true. In this volume,…

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My Little Pony: The Art of Equestria by Mary Jane Begin

4 stars A beautiful art book for fans of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. The book goes through the conception of Friendship is Magic, various characters and creatures, the show’s settings, some behind the scenes work, and the MLP fandom. Inside you’ll find shots from the show, concept art, clothing design, storyboards, and fan…

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The Queen of Chess: How Judit Polgár Changed the Game

by Laurie Wallmark Illustrated by Stevie Lewis 4 stars A wonderful celebration of Judit Polgár that covers her journey to become the youngest grandmaster at the time. Well-told. The story focuses on the first 15 years of Polgár’s life. Wallmark nicely captures the tension of chess matches and the excitement of victory. Provides a nice…

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I’m Kinda Chubby and I’m Your Hero Vol. 1 by Nore

Translated by Philip Reuben 4 stars This is such a sweet story. Ponjirou is a stage actor hoping to make it big. His confidence grows when he receives fan gifts from a fancy patisserie. Konnosuke is a dedicated pastry chef who wants to be the best. He has a hard time opening up about his…

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We Are a Song by Lorian Tu

4 stars A touching tale of all the individual pieces that come together to make a family. Arturo and Emilyn visit their family members to pick up supplies for a party. Along the way, they cherish the different elements of their Chinese and Cuban heritage and find inspiration for a poem. Such a sweet story….

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The Magic of Forests: A Fascinating Guide to Forests Around the World

by Vicky Woodgate 4 stars Join feline explorer, Mimi, on a journey through the forests of the world. In this book, you’ll discover what makes a forest, types of forests and habitats within them, and the many ways forests and trees benefit humans, other plants, animals, and the planet. The book includes maps, biographies, timelines,…

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Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld

by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale Illustrated by Asiah Fulmore 4 stars I wasn’t sure about this one going into it. The DC reboots have been hit or miss for me. But I ended up really enjoying it. Princess Amaya is always up to something. But when her magical pranks go too far, her parents…

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That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime Volume 1

Story by Fuse Adapted by Taiki Kawakami Characters by Mitz Vah Translated by Stephen Paul 4 stars I’ve been enjoying the anime so far and thought I’d give the manga a try. The first volume covers the first 5 episodes of the anime. The show sticks pretty closely to the manga from what I remember….

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Rory and the Magical Mix-Ups (Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy #1)

by Kallie George Illustrated by Lorenz Alvarez Gómez 4 stars Such a sweet story! Rory dreams of being a fairy godmother, but she’s having trouble with her magical spelling. It’s her first week at Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy and no matter how hard she tries, her spells aren’t going as planned. Will she be ready for…

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Native American Stories for Kids

12 Traditional Stories from Indigenous Tribes Across North America by Tom Pecore Weso Illustrated by Gloria Félix 4 stars A nice collection of stories from tribal nations throughout North America. The stories cover different topics from creation to explaining nature to codes of conduct. Groups included are the Menominee, Navajo/Diné, Athabascan, Cherokee, Zuni Pueblo/A:shiwi, Cheyenne,…

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