4 stars A sweet story of a girl’s first time fasting for Ramadan. At first, Lailah is excited about being able to fast, but after moving from Abu Dhabi to American, she’s worried about explaining fasting and Ramadan to her teachers and classmates who might not understand. One aspect I loved about the book is…
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5 stars A powerful tale of a life lived and how quickly the world can change. Inside Out & Back Again tells the story of a year in the life of Hà, based on Thanhha Lai’s own childhood. In that year (1975), Hà experiences the Fall of Saigon, the treacherous journey by ship to America,…
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5 stars Loved it. Absolutely loved it. This is the first book I’ve read of Selznick’s. I picked it up after researching books to add to an International Week of the Deaf display for my library. I loved the combination of story told through words and story told through pictures. It was exceptionally fitting for…
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Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton 5 stars An absolutely stunning book about the first day of kindergarten. I really liked the emphasis on confidence and enjoying the experience. Understandably many children’s books on this topic focus on the more negative aspects of fear, worry, and anxiety. This was a fresh perspective of tackling the day as…
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5 stars I loved this book. The writing was perfect. From the first page, I was instantly caught up in the narration. It was so casual and friendly. Even though the plot was not very complex, I was never bored or in a hurry to finish a section. I also thought the pacing was very…
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Illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani 4 stars A lovely story about making new friends and sharing a love of poetry. This is a gorgeous book. The illustrations are calm and soothing, the narration is splendid, and the story itself is heartwarming. I especially loved all the little callouts to famous poets. A delightful way to learn…
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4 stars Okay, after reading so many negative reviews for this book, I’m going to start with a warning. Despite the cutesy art-style, this is not a book meant for children. I got a copy from the library and there is a big old YA sticker on it, but it appears that some people were…
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