Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe

2 stars I’ve come to the conclusion this series just isn’t for me. When the Webtoon was getting a lot of hype, I gave it a try. Even a few episodes in, I just couldn’t get into the story. I was hoping it was just the episodic fashion and this would be alleviated in book…

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My Magical Unicorn by Yujin Shin

5 stars This has everything I look for and love in a board book. Fun, colorful artwork, a simple but sweet story (bonus points for rhyming), and activities to keep little ones entertained. This push, pull, slide adventure has plenty to keep little hands busy as they journey through a magical land with a unicorn…

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Drawn Together by Minh Lê, Illustrated by Dan Santat

4 stars A beautiful exploration of the ways differences can separate people, but common interests can bridge the gaps to bring them closer together. Spanning age, language, and culture, Lê demonstrates how relationships do not have to be defined by the words we use to communicate. All they need is a shared space to overcome…

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Looking for a Jumbie by Tracey Baptiste, Illustrated by Amber Ren

5 stars An impressive picture book debut from Tracey Baptiste, author of The Jumbies series, this gorgeous book weaves an enchanting tale of a moonlit stroll to find some jumbies. Great for those already familiar with jumbies as well as those experiencing them for the first time. Featuring a Douen, a Lagahoo, Mama D’Leau, and many more,…

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Fangs by Sarah Andersen

3 stars A light-hearted gothic romance between a vampire and a werewolf told in similar slice-of-life style to Andersen’s Sarah’s Scribbles series. Really enjoyed the different art style for this one. It worked very well for the mood and the characters (and it was gorgeous!). This book gives a humorous look at some of the…

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The Black Mage by Daniel Barnes, Artwork by D. J. Kirkland

2 stars This is a tricky one to rate. It tells the story of Tom Token being accepted as the first black student at a historically white mage school, St. Ivory Academy. I personally enjoyed the word play involved. Tom has a crow named Jim and the higher-ups in the school like Headmaster Lynch walk…

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