We Who Produce Pearls: An Anthem for Asian America by Joanna Ho

Illustrated by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya 4 stars A powerful, beautiful celebration of resilience and identity told through fierce verse and stunning illustrations. The book draws parallels between different culture’s histories, struggles, and treatment while still recognizing the distinctness and diversity of different groups. Gorgeous illustrations that pair wonderfully with each verse. Beautiful color and a wonderful…

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Not Perfect by Maya Myers

Illustrated by Hyewon Yum 4 stars While Dot recognizes she is good at many different things, she strives for perfection. When the class is assigned to make a poster of someone they admire, she wants hers to be perfect. Things don’t go as planned, but sometimes imperfections can spark creativity and a new way of…

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Go to Sleep, Anxiety! by Luna Chi

Illustrated by Gurihiru 4 stars Such a sweet story. Riley’s Emotions are settling into their nighttime routines… all but one. Anxiety is too worked up to sleep. With the help of the other Emotions, she comes up with strategies to help her when her worries get out of control. Includes some nice strategies for calming…

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Catstrology: Unlock the Secrets of the Stars with Cats

Illustrated by Luna Malcolm 4 stars A fun way to learn some of the basics of astrology and look at adorable pictures of cats. I was pleasantly surprised by how helpful this was in understanding common components of astrology. The book covers the sun signs, the basics of planetary positions, the four elements of the…

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Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson

4 stars Beautiful and gruesome. The horror romance I didn’t know I was looking for. It somehow manages to perfectly balance cozy and unsettling. One of those reads you just can’t look away from. Perfectly paced, it draws you in no matter how much you want to look away. I loved the way Dawson planted…

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The Story of Gumluck the Wizard (Gumluck #1) by Adam Rex

4 stars Wasn’t sure what to expect, but this one was adorable. Meet Gumluck, also known as the Little Wizard Who Lives in the Big Hill, or so he thinks. He spends his time thinking of others, helping them without thanks, and doing his best to make them happy. All he really wants is to…

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Loading Penguin Hugs: Heartwarming Comics from Chibird by Jacqueline Chen

4 stars An absolutely adorable collection of feel-good comics told with warmth, positivity, and humor. Cute artwork featuring various animals including a motivational penguin, some positivity bunnies, and a supportive hedgehog. At the back is an index broken out by theme (positivity, self-esteem, bad day). This was a nice detail and works well for finding…

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