The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln Illustrated by Claire Powell 5 stars An absolutely fantastic read. Lincoln creates a fun blend of The Westing Game and Lemony Snicket with a style and characters all her own. Each member of the Swift family is named by the Family Dictionary with the expectation they will live up to their name. But Shenanigan isn’t so…

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Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure

by Megan Wagner Lloyd 3 stars A sweet story of one cat’s determination to help the human she loves. Told through three different perspectives, Haven tells the tale of a housecat traversing the wild, making new friends, encountering new enemies, and facing the odds in an unknown world. Perfect for readers who enjoy animals, nature,…

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This Story Is Not About a Kitten

by Randall de Sève, Illustrated by Carson Ellis 4 stars A delightfully sweet story of a neighborhood coming together. This is a nesting-style story in which each element builds on the next in the vein of The Napping House and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly!. Lovely illustrations that capture the homey feel of the…

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Witch Hazel by Molly Idle

5 stars An absolutely beautiful story, both visually and in its content, that explores loss, memory, and time spent together. Gentle and slow, this lovely book celebrates the connection between grandmother and granddaughter, passing on stories and making new memories. Poetic wordplay and soft, rounded illustrations make for a soothing reading experience. The artwork is…

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Outside, Inside by LeUyen Pham

5 stars An absolutely beautiful time capsule of a book that captures both heartwarming and heartbreaking moments of lockdowns, quarantines, and the spread of Covid-19. Pham’s artwork perfectly captures the happiness, stress, hope, sorrow, and frustration of the time. Through empty streets, flourishing wildlife, and homebound scenes, Pham shows some of the changes to the…

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Cat Massage Therapy Volume 1 by Haru Hisakawa

4 stars Absolutely adorable. Purrr-fect low-stakes story for cat-lovers. Featuring toe beans, chin scritches, tummy rubs, and lap sitting. This book is packed with cuteness. Follow Nekoyama as he makes friends with the Manager of a cat massage parlor and spreads the joy of cat massages with his coworkers. A nice little stress reliever in…

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Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan

4 stars Weird and wonderful. Exactly what I’ve come to expect from Tan. As always, he creates a fascinating world, filled with mystery and wonder. Through mistakes, fights, and reconciliation, follow two boys through their adventures. Each page has its own story, depicting an event in one remarkable summer. From parades and parties to undercover…

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