Fairest of all (Whatever After #1) by Sarah Mlynowski

2 stars The mirror in the basement is not all it seems. After knocking on the mirror three times, Abby and her brother, Jonah, are transported into a fairy tale realm. While trying to help a young girl, they realize they’ve changed the ending of her story. Now they must set things right and find…

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The Worry Balloon by Mónica Mancillas

Illustrated by Betty C. Tang 4 stars The first day of school has arrived, but with it comes Isla’s worries. With her Mami by her side, Isla practices mindfulness, visualization, and positive thinking to battle her anxiety and blow the worry balloon away. Beautiful illustrations. Nice visual representations of how Isla’s feelings influence how she…

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John’s Turn by Mac Barnett

Illustrated by Kate Berube 3 stars A visually pleasing story that perfectly encapsulates the beauty of doing something you love. Every Friday, one of the students gets to share a talent with the entire school. Today, it’s John’s turn. He’s nervous all day, but as he starts performing, magic happens. The illustrations are wonderful. It…

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The Wooden Mile (Something Wickedly Weird #1)

by Chris Mould 3 stars A delightfully spooky tale of a mysterious house, wretched villains, and something lurking in the night. A nice creepy equivalent for fans of Roald Dahl. The story was quick and engaging. It was easy to get swept up in the mysterious setting and odd events. I really enjoyed the artwork. The…

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Wonderfully Wired Brains: An Introduction to the World of Neurodiversity

by Louise Gooding Illustrated by Ruth Burrows 5 stars A fantastic introduction to how the brain works and neurodiversity. Burrows works in modern understandings about different conditions, including how gender may affect getting a diagnosis. The book covers some basics on how the brain works, dives into different neurodiverse experiences, gives a little history, and…

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Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith

Illustrated by Boulet 2 stars A unique retelling of Beowulf in graphic novel format. I expected to like this more than I did. I love retellings, especially when they give women and girls more active roles. I’ll admit, I did judge this by the cover. I loved the art style and color and assumed it…

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Grandad’s Pride by Harry Woodgate (Grandad’s Camper #2)

5 stars One of the sweetest picture books I’ve ever read. When Milly discovers her Grandad’s Pride flag in the attic, she comes up with a plan to bring the Pride celebration to his small seaside town. The townspeople band together to create a celebration of love, diversity, and being yourself. A delightful read. Beautiful…

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The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship

by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S. K. Ali Illustrated by Hatem Aly 5 stars Another beautiful story from Muhammad and Ali. This one focuses on kindness and friendship. When their teacher tasks them with drawing the kind of world they’d like to live in, Faizah and her friends take action at their school to create a…

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Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures

by Jason Pamment 5 stars bsolutely stunning! The artwork is gorgeous. The story is heartwarming. I loved the world Pamment created. A fun adventure filled with new friendships, found family, and discovering your place in the world. Perfect for fans of The Stonekeeper series who are looking for a relaxing read. A gorgeous book with a story…

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