Personal rating of 5 out of 5 stars
Illustrated by Geneva Bowers 5 stars A gorgeous, lush celebration of Black hair and self-confidence. Told through lyrical narration, a young girl shares some of her favorite hairstyles as she waits for her mother to reveal her latest creation. I loved the different facets expressed through different hair styles, from whimsical to majestic, mischievous to…
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5 stars Another absolutely wonderful collection from Tarpley! Little bits of warmth, encouragement, and positivity told through sweet stories featuring a delightful cast of animals. Adorable artwork. This collection features loveable favorites and brand new characters. I absolutely adore how the Cat’s Cafe world has grown. Includes stories centered around autumn, social distancing during COVID,…
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Illustrated by Hatem Aly 5 stars Hilarious and heartwarming. A sweet adventure told with creativity and humor that celebrates the ups and downs of sibling relationships. The narrator wants to share his perfectly rhyming story, but his sister comes along and changes his words. The new story takes them to unexpected places with unforeseen obstacles,…
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5 stars A modern-day Monster with a story all its own. Told through powerful verse and emotive visuals, this is the story of Amal Shahid, a teenage artist and poet sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. I love Zoboi’s writing and this one did not disappoint. Packed with raw emotion, this book is…
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by Coretta Scott King with the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds Adapted by Julia Sooy Illustrated by Ekua Holmes 5 stars A powerful adaptation of King’s memoir in a format suitable for young readers. I love to see so many more books focusing on the life and work of Coretta Scott King. The book covers King’s…
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Story by Mei Hachimoku Illustrated by Koudon Translated by Alexa Frank 5 stars A beautiful conclusion to a fantastic series. In the final volume, we get all the emotions and I loved every moment of it. The artwork is wonderful. A heartfelt story. I really enjoyed this series. Satisfying to the very end. Goodreads
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Illustrated by Geeta Ladi 5 stars A fun story sharing how the brain feels when it’s seeking different sensory input. Sometimes it is busy like a bee, wants to touch everything like an octopus, or is slow like a sloth. I love that each state is presented without negativity. Instead the story celebrates all the…
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Illustrated by Alina Chau 5 stars A wonderfully sweet story of family, love, and chocolate. The narrator’s family is welcoming a new member. To make his adopted sister feel safe and comfortable, he helps introduce her to the family’s baking traditions and shares their love of chocolate. Such a sweet book. I love that it…
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Illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff 5 stars I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The novel-in-verse genre at its finest. I absolutely loved this book. Well-written with engaging characters, powerful themes, and a wonderful story. Includes themes of friends growing apart, loss, grief, guilt, racism, crushes, masculinity, family, and societal expectations. There was…
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5 stars Another fantastic collection. This series is so sweet. I love how supportive Hiroki’s mom is and how she is willing to learn from him and respect his privacy. In the second volume, we learn a little bit more about Yuri, witness a reunion with a childhood friend, and see Hiroki’s friendship with Daigo…
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