3 stars A fun follow-up in the fast-paced Chronicles of Claudette series. This one continues the overarching story, branching off into the reference to the escaped Calavera Island prisoner mentioned in the first one. I love how this book plays off of Giants Beware!. The characters continue to grow, their dynamics ever changing. Gaston has swore…
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4 stars A lovely illustrated edition of Neil Gaiman’s poem, “Instructions”. First published in A Wolf at the Door: And Other Retold Fairy Tales, “Instructions” provides the reader with tips, tricks, and reminders pulled straight from fairy tales, myths, and other stories. The illustrated edition adds even deeper meaning to the poem, incorporating further references into…
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3 stars An adorable magical adventure complete with new friends, unexpected danger, and the quest for unlimited snacks. In the first book starring two characters from Yi’s webcomic, Squash and Ginny set out to collect the ingredients for an unlimited snack potion. Along the way, they encounter difficult dilemmas, problems requiring some creative thinking, and…
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4 stars A heartfelt tale of friendship, community, and a bit of wonder. Red the wishtree has a lot to offer: shade, homes for animals, and a place for wishes. But perhaps their most important contribution is one not directly evident. Through their story, they promote acceptance, understanding, and sympathy. A sweet tale about different…
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4 stars A gorgeous book to immerse yourself in. Beautiful artwork, a captivating story, and wonderful lessons and messages. Reminiscent of Kay O’Neill‘s The Tea Dragon Society. Gentle fantasy with fantastic artwork. This book is so much more than pretty pictures and Xu accomplishes a lot with a relatively simple story. Sophie’s insecurity is easy to relate…
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2 stars First of all, Iredale knocked it out of the park with that artwork. Each page is gorgeous and I loved all the details woven into each spread. She really captured the magic of the settings, especially their natural elements. However, the book itself is a bit odd. I’m hesitant to call it a…
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4 stars A heartwarming and magical tale that explores family structures, fantasy versus reality, and self-discovery. Mystery, secrets, and magic combine to explore some of the complexities of growing up and coming into one’s self. The majority of the book is in black and white, which makes the full-color fantasy scenes even more magical. The…
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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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5 stars Gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous! Every page is a treat to the eyes, every word a treat to the soul. This is the book every book-lover needs in their life. It perfectly captures the magic of stories and why we all fell in love with reading in the first place. Everything about this book is…
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3 stars Aesthetically, this books is absolutely gorgeous. Julia Iredale knocked it out of the park with those illustrations and, let’s be real, that cover is perfection. Overall, the stories were good. What Chainani did well, he did very well. The diversity of the characters is splendid. Loved the cultural elements woven in. Not just giving us…
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