The Walrus and the Caribou by Maika Harper

Illustrated by Marcus Cutler 3 stars A humorous rendition of Inuit folklore showing that you don’t always get it right on the first try. During the creation of the world, Guk breathes life into two animals. A walrus whom she gives a large pair of antlers and a caribou with a set of long tusks….

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The Race by Édouard Manceau

Translated by Sarah Quinn 3 stars A strange but entertaining read. Manceau describes a race between caribou from an outsider’s perspective who knows nothing about races. This leads to some humorous descriptions and interpretations (the finish line, the starting pistol, the lineup at the start of the race). The pictures are fun and give a…

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I Love My Magic! by Kelly Leigh Miller

4 stars Short and sweet. Willow loves using magic. But sometimes she uses it too much. When her wand is confiscated, Willow has to do things a different way… and it’s maybe not as bad as it first seemed. Cute messages about seeing the world in different ways and using your talents for good, not…

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I Am Stuck by Julia Mills

5 stars An absolutely adorable book. Turtle is stuck. Various animals pass by, offering advice. But it isn’t until a friend comes along to weather the storm with him that Turtle sees what he needed all along. I loved the message that even if your friends can’t fix your problem directly, having them around can…

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What Happened to You? by James Catchpole

Illustrated by Karen George 4 stars A sweet story with important messages. Joe is playing pirates on the playground. When other kids see him, all they want to talk about is that he has one leg. Joe does his best to answer their questions, but really just wants to get back to his game. A…

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Come Over to My House by Eliza Hull & Sally Rippin

Illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett 5 stars A delightful, rhyming picture book, perfect for reading aloud. Readers are invited into the homes of a variety of children to play and learn about how different families do things. From using Braille books and guide dogs to flashing doorbells to prosthetic limbs to noise-canceling headphones, this book shows…

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Princess Unlimited by Jacob Sager Weinstein

Illustrated by Raissa Figueroa 3 stars A fun twist of an adventure story with humor, kindness, and bravery all its own. Princess Susan is worried about her kingdom’s dragon problem, but her parents are too concerned with buying sparkles and frills to do much about it. The enterprising princess takes matters into her own hands…

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Song in the City by Daniel Bernstrom

Illustrated by Jenin Mohammed 5 stars A beautiful story of stopping to appreciate the world around you, sharing experiences, and changing perspectives. Told through rhythmic text, the book tells the story of Emmalene and Grandma Jean’s journey to church. On the way, Emmalene listens to the song of the city, but Grandma Jean doesn’t have…

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We Are a Song by Lorian Tu

4 stars A touching tale of all the individual pieces that come together to make a family. Arturo and Emilyn visit their family members to pick up supplies for a party. Along the way, they cherish the different elements of their Chinese and Cuban heritage and find inspiration for a poem. Such a sweet story….

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Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian by Jacob Sager Weinstein

Illustrated by Vera Brosgol 5 stars This book is fantastic! What a great concept. Humorous and fun with lots of library love. I especially love the idea of fighting evil by providing accurate information and connecting people with the resources they need. To be honest, I’ll read anything that Brosgol illustrates. Her artwork in this…

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