Little Witch Academia Vol. 1

by Yoh Yoshinari Art by Keisuke Sato 3 stars A nice blend of events from the anime along with original mini-stories. Great for those who want more after watching the show. I especially loved the character design section at the end. It delivers on all the personalities from the show. Nice art style. Fun humor….

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Gigi and Ojiji (Gigi and Ojiji #1)

by Melissa Iwai 5 stars A sweet story about a young girl developing a relationship with her grandfather after he comes from Japan to live with them. Gigi is excited to read with him, play tag, and teach her dog, Roscoe, new tricks. But when he arrives, he isn’t quite how she expected and she’s…

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Meesh the Bad Demon (Meesh the Bad Demon #1)

3.5 stars by Michelle Lam Meesh has little interest in being a demon. She spends more time watching her favorite show following the fairy princess, Nouna, and talking to flowers than breathing fire and puking acid. But when a new threat puts Mount Magma in danger, Meesh sets out to find help, learning to embrace…

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Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic

Edited by g. haron davis Stories by Saundra Mitchell, Sonora Reyes, RenĂ©e Reynolds, A. R. Capetta, Cory McCarthy, Francesca Tacchi, Ayida Shonibar, Nik Traxler, g. haron davis, Jonathan Lenore Kastin, Mason Deaver, Ash Nouveau, Cam Montgomery, Dove Salvatierra, and Emery Lee 5 stars Generally with anthologies, there are some stories that resonate with a reader…

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The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw (Audiobook)

5 stars Beautiful and unsettling. A mermaid in human form and a plague doctor travel together after the mermaid’s daughters devour the kingdom. On their journey, they come across a village of ageless children ruled by three “saints” with mystifying abilities to bring back the dead. As the pair investigate, they uncover the saint’s dark…

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The Way of the Househusband Vol. 1 by Kousuke Oono

3.5 stars A humorous slice-of-life comedy following a yakuza-member-turned-househusband as he navigates daily life. Follow Tatsu as he carries out duties like shopping for groceries, taking a cooking class, tackling a DIY project, and looking after a neighborhood kid. While his tasks are often mundane, Tatsu’s old life catches up with him and his over-the-top…

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Marshmallow & Jordan by Alina Chau

4 stars A passionate athlete, a mysterious elephant, a prolonged drought, and a new interest that may divide friendships. When Jordan can no longer compete on the basketball team, she tries out water polo. But doing so means Jordan has to choose between getting better at water polo or keeping up with her friends on…

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A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin

5 stars A delightfully sweet story with a fun spin to explain the phases of the moon. Perfect for reading during the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival or any time you’re looking for a tasty story. Little Star’s mother makes a big mooncake and hangs it in the sky to cool. She instructions Little Star not to…

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A Sweet New Year for Ren

by Michelle Sterling Illustrated by Dung Ho 3 stars A deliciously sweet story for a sweet new year. Every year, Ren hopes she can finally help make pineapple cakes for Lunar New Year. Will this be her year? A delightful story with wonderfully warm illustrations. Nice scenes of togetherness and moments of sharing and teaching….

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Dragon Noodle Party: A Story of Chinese Zodiac Animals

by Ying Chang Compestine Illustrated by Paula Pang 4 stars A sweet story about the animals of the Chinese zodiac preparing for a party. While the book is simple, it is a pleasure to read, especially for a young audience. The illustrations are delightful. Works well for discussing the Chinese zodiac, various animals, action labels,…

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