Bad Island by Doug TenNapel

3 stars TenNapel’s world building never disappoints. In this case it’s an island with strange plants, a mysterious origin, and an overabundance of creatures that want to kill you. This may go down as the worst family vacation ever, but at least it brought them closer in the end. Danger, adventure, humor, and fast-paced fun….

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I Am Thinking My Life by Allysun Atwater, Illustrated by Stevie Lewis

3 stars A sweet picture book about the power of thinking. The illustrations in this book are phenomenal! I easily got lost in the fantastical details and wonder on each page. They are beautiful and engaging. Loved the whimsical world colliding with reality. Personally, I just couldn’t quite get behind the entire message. It promotes…

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Small Spaces (Small Spaces #1) by Katherine Arden

5 stars A delightfully spooky tale featuring a mysterious book, a class field trip to a farm, and an unexpected villain. Perfect for young readers looking for an engaging story that is thrillingly creepy. No gore or intense violence. This one uses unsettling elements to scare the reader. There’s an ominous vibe throughout the book…

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Chef’s Kiss by Jarrett Melendez, Illustrated by Danica Brine

4 stars A sweet, adorable tale about cooking, finding your passions, gaining confidence, and always having friends by your side. Such a cute story. Melendez provides a fresh, fun look at life after college complete with the struggles of finding a job, dealing with overbearing parents, new crushes, and fights with friends. Plenty of romantic…

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