Words Between Us by Angela Pham Krans

Illustrated by Dung Ho 4 stars A beautiful picture book about language, heritage, and the bond between a grandmother and grandchild. I love the way Felix and his grandmother connect across generations, languages, and cultures, sharing things they enjoy with each other. Felix is so excited for his grandmother to come to America and meet…

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My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

5 stars I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It’s not a genre I would typically gravitate toward, but I was instantly pulled in by Braithwaite’s dark humor and dry wit. Korede would do anything to protect her younger sister, Ayoola. But after the third boyfriend who’s wound of dead in…

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My Little Pony: Classics Reimagined: Little Fillies

by Megan Brown Illustrated by Jenna Ayoub 3 stars A unique retelling of Little Women featuring the Mane 6. There is plenty of pony humor, fourth wall breaks, and shenanigans in this retelling. As a My Little Pony fan and lover of literature in general, it was fun to read this mashup and see a…

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Thistlefoot by Gennarose Nethercott

4 stars Beautifully written. I absolutely love Nethercott’s writing style. Lyrical and stunning to visualize. Siblings Bellatine and Isaac haven’t seen each other in years, but reunite to claim a strange inheritance. They are both surprised to receive a house with chicken legs. Together they embark on a journey filled with unexpected encounters, close calls,…

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Spicy Spicy Hot! by Lenny Wen

4 stars A beautiful story of love, family, and the connection between food and culture. Lintang is excited to meet her grandmother for the first time and try the sambal that everyone loves. But when Lintang gets a taste, she finds it’s too spicy. She wants to connect with her family and her Indonesian heritage,…

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Love Is My Favorite Color by Nina Laden

Illustrated by Melissa Castrillon 4 stars Sweet, poetic text with magnificent, fantastical artwork. The narration is lovely. The narrator speaks of love, gratitude, sharing, hope, knowledge, and equality, showing the importance of each. A beautiful representation of incorporating each into one’s daily life and worldview. I really love Castrillon’s art style. The illustrations follow the…

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Slumbering Beauty, Vol. 2 by Yumi Unita

Translated by Angela Liu 4 stars A fitting conclusion to the story of Yoneko, her friendship with Nerimu, and her unconventional apprenticeship as a slumber spirit. In this volume, we really see Yoneko debating whether she’d like to be a slumber spirit or not. I absolutely loved her connection with Nerimu and how it builds…

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Because I Already Loved You by Andrée-Anne Cyr

Illustrated by Bérengère Delaporte Translated by Karen Li 3.5 stars Told from the perspective of a child, this book is a touching story of grief, loss, and recovery. Everyone is excited about the new baby. They all prepare for the upcoming arrival. But when his parents come home from the hospital without his new sibling,…

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Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour

Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita 4 stars This is all around a touching and wholesome story. While Mommy leaves on a work trip, the main character stays home with Mama. They go about their daily routines, but things are a little different without Mommy. Works well for discussing missing someone and waiting for them to come…

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A Dreidel in Time: A New Spin on an Old Tale

by Marcia Berneger Illustrated by Beatriz Castro 3 stars A fun, quick read about the origins of Hanukkah complete with adventure and time travel. Reminiscent of the Magic Treehouse books. All Devorah and Benjamin want to do is open their Hanukkah presents. But they’re in for a surprise when their family gives them an old…

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