Sea of Constellations by Melissa Cristina Márquez

Illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza 3 stars A The Rainbow Fish-style adventure with stronger themes and a most satisfying ending, in my opinion. When the ocean goes dark one day, Maren and Remy seek the guidance of Huixtocihuatl, the Aztec goddess of salt and salt water. Along the way, they meet various creatures that are troubled…

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The Little World of Liz Climo by Liz Climo

3 stars A fun collection of one-page comics featuring a lovable cast of animals. Sorted into categories of love and friendship, holidays and celebrations, family, and daily life, this collection brings a bit of humor, relatability, and strangeness. Adorable artwork. I loved getting to know all the reoccurring characters. A sweet collection focusing on friendship,…

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Exactly as Planned by Tao Nyeu

3.5 stars A heartwarming two-sided picture book celebrating adapting to the circumstances and spending time with good friends. Read the book one way to follow Fox’s preparations for tea with Moose. Flip it the other way to follow Moose’s journey to Fox’s tree for tea. The stories meet in the middle in a sweet resolution….

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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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One Cup at a Time: A Cat’s Café Collection by Gwen Tarpley

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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My Sister, The Cat Vol. 1 by Senko

Translated by Liya Sultanova 5 stars Absolutely adorable. Heartwarming and hilarious. After the death of his mother, Nekota is taken in by a family of anthropomorphic cats. He gets along especially well with his new cat-sister, Neneko, and the manga centers around slice-of-life adventures showing their bond. Cute art style. I loved reading about the…

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The Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature’s Rhythms

by Fiona Cook Illustrated by Roux 4 stars An nice introduction to the Wheel of the Year, its different spokes, and holidays and activities associated with each. While this is aimed at children, the book also works for adults looking for ways to connect to nature and discover their own inner magic. Each section includes…

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Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb

Illustrated by Erin Kraan 3 stars A The Pout-Pout Fish-style story featuring a grumpy bison. Buffalo Fluffalo wants to be alone. The other animals offer him gifts and ask him to spend time with them, but all they get back is a gruff rebuke. A cute book with nice messages of being kind to others, accepting…

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I Am Not the Easter Bunny! by T. L. McBeth

4 stars A hilarious picture book, perfect for Easter time. The narrator is sure they’ve found the Easter Bunny, but the bunny is adamant that they’re just a normal rabbit. Follow along, look for clues, and decide for yourself. Such a fun read. Cute illustrations. I’m always a sucker for fourth wall breaks. A silly…

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