Everybody Has a Body by Molli Jackson Ehlert

Illustrated by Lorian Tu 3 stars A sweet book with straightforward text and wonderful illustrations centered around body neutrality. A wonderful exploration of what bodies can do and how people use their bodies everyday. Bodies are described in terms of how they look and feel, their different needs, and what they do in neutral terms….

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Some Bodies by Sophie Kennen

Illustrated by Airin O’Callaghan 5 stars Perfection! I love this book so much. Beautiful illustrations. Catchy rhymes. All around positivity and great messages about body acceptance, differences, and celebrating all the ways bodies exist. The text flows nicely with a great rhythm and a catchy rhyme scheme. A joy to read and it really sings…

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Once There Was by Corinne Demas

Illustrated by Gemma Capdevila 3 stars Soft and lush. Magical and dreamy. Poetic and lovely. Follow the main character through a cyclical rotation of dreaming she is a princess, a horse, a mountain, and the sea, to name a few. The delightful repetition of the text is soothing and smooth while the illustrations are utterly…

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Rumaysa: A Fairytale by Radiya Hafiza

Illustrated by Rhaida El Touny 3 stars A fun new twist on the classic fairy tales Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Sleepy Beauty. Told through interconnected stories, the book follows Rumaysa who is locked away in a tower where a witch makes her spin straw into gold. I really enjoyed the endings in this book. The heroines…

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Don’t Check Out This Book! by Kate Klise

Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise 5 stars Another fantastic read from the Klise team! Appleton Elementary prides itself on staying they same. When the new librarian, Rita B. Danjerous, comes along and introduces a “green dot” collection, not everyone is on board. Following written interactions between various characters, readers will embark on a journey to…

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Mazie’s Amazing Machines by Sheryl Haft

Illustrated by Jeremy Holmes 3 stars A fun, high-energy story about the power of engineering, creative thinking, and problem solving. Mazie loves using engineering to help solve her family’s problems. But when she encounters a problem that seems too big to handle on her own, her family puts their heads together to engineer a solution….

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Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour

Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita 4 stars This is all around a touching and wholesome story. While Mommy leaves on a work trip, the main character stays home with Mama. They go about their daily routines, but things are a little different without Mommy. Works well for discussing missing someone and waiting for them to come…

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Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith

4 stars For Halloween, Hughie volunteers at Harvest House, a haunted house fundraiser highlighting local ghost stories. But strange things start happening at the crossroads by Harvest House. With the help of his friends, Hughie investigates to determine whether something sinister is lurking at the crossroads. A cool blend of mystery, supernatural elements, and current…

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My Bunkmate Hates Puppies (Camp Lil’Vills #1) by Sam Hay

Illustrated by Ria Maria Lee 2 stars Welcome to Lilliputian Villages Summer Camp a.k.a. Camp Lil’Vills where there are plenty of magical surprises in store for the campers. Bloom, the daughter of an ex-evil sorcerer, helps new campers settle in. But when she meets her new bunkmate, Cruella, she’s unsure if camp is the right…

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