Silver Linings by Fiona Woodcock

4 stars A heartwarming story of looking on the bright side. Pip has a tendency to see the negative in a situation. But Parker is always there to reframe it. When Parker makes a mistake, it’s Pip’s turn to show him the silver lining. Beautiful illustrations. Loved the soft color palette. A sweet reminder of…

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Shuna’s Journey by Hayao Miyazaki

Translated by Alex Dudok de Wit 3 stars A standalone tale loosely based on the Tibetan folktale, “The Prince Who Turned into a Dog”. This book is all Miyazaki. Stunning settings, a strong woman with agency and determination, fascinating creatures, rich backgrounds, and intentional ambiguity. Slow-paced story that puts more emphasis on the visuals than…

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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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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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Howl’s Moving Castle: Picture Book

adapted by Naoko Amemiya 3 stars A lengthy picture book that covers the entirety of the film, Howl’s Moving Castle. I don’t normally like picture books that use screengrabs of movies, but the artwork from this movie is so well done, I really didn’t mind. I think you could take any Miyazaki film and easily…

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Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld

5 stars A stunning picture book with a heartfelt message and beautiful artwork. Finn is in a bad mood. When Grandpa suggests going for a walk, Finn reluctantly agrees. Along the way, Grandpa shares a wonderful message of remembering what’s beneath, both in one’s surroundings and within other people. Though the story may appear simple…

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