by Lindsay Christina King Illustrated by Carolyn Frank 5 stars Such a wonderful read! At the start, we are introduced to Skye, who shares stories from her grandfather about the natural world. They explain the origins of animal characteristics such as raccoon’s black mask, beaver’s large teeth, and rabbit’s long ears. Each story ends with…
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Illustrated by Ashley Belote 4 stars A fun story about experimentation, creativity, and new friends. Victoria Franken loves slime. She’s known for her creative recipes. But has her latest recipe gone too far? A delightful spin on the story of Frankenstein. While it is silly and fun, it also works in some scientific elements in…
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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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Illustrated by Xochitl Cornejo 5 stars A delightful picture book that normalizes questioning one’s gender identity, surrounding yourself with supportive friends and family, and finding a good fit for you. Payden doesn’t quite feel like a boy and sets out to talk to friends and community members about how they found their pronouns. The books…
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5 stars Action, adventure, mystery, drama, humor, and a bit of adorable romance. This Dungeons-and-Dragons-style book has it all! Enter the fantasy world of an unnamed kingdom and join a group of friends on their quest to discover the truth behind an odd plant. This book was so much fun. Filled with supportive friendships, action…
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5 stars Another fantastic volume in the Heartstopper series. This one is heavier than the previous volumes. While the others tend to be sweet with a hint of hardship, this one really focuses on the hardships of life and relationships. It deals with some serious topics including mental health, specifically eating disorders and references to…
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Illustrated by Grace Lin 3 stars A sweet story following a group of sisters, each with a special talent. When Seventh Sister is taken by a hungry dragon, the others team up to rescue her, each contributing their skill. Lin’s illustrations are gorgeous. Dynamic artwork with splendid color and detail. While the sisters look similar…
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2.5 stars I am usually a huge fan of novels-in-verse so I was really excited to read this one. Maddie lives a relatively normal life. But when a state-wide evacuation takes place during a secret sleepover, Maddie finds herself alone. Can she figure out how to survive? Is anyone coming back for her? The premise…
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4 stars A nice introduction to African myths and legends. There are 11 stories included in total that range from 1 to 4 pages. Photographs of various elements associated with the story are paired with each. I especially liked that the book isn’t just a collection of stories with no context. After each story, there…
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4 stars Another stunning picture book from Dieckmann. When a dog arrives in the peaceful valley and begins eating everything in sight, the other animals try to confront him. But when their efforts are in vain, they band together to create beauty in their own world. This fable-style story has a lovely emphasis on community…
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