Today I get to share with you a humorous book that has some lessons built in about self-worth, friendships and so much more! The book is The Bravest Warrior in Nefaria by Adi Alsaid. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12 and will have readers laughing and enjoying the story!
Friendships are important. Sometimes your best friend may be someone whom at first you thought you didn't like or weren't going to like. Have you ever had one of those friendships? We often jump to judgement before getting to know someone and this can cause a missed opportunity at a best friend. Today I'm going to share two new picture books about friendships that almost don't happen because of missed opportunities. The first is I'm Sticking with You--And the Chicken Too! by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and illustrated by Steve Small. It is recommended for ages 4-8.
June is Pride Month. As a straight ally and teacher, I feel it is important for us to take time to support the LGBTQ community. Today I get to share a brand-new picture book about a first crush between two girls. The book is called The Wishing Flower by A.J. Irving and illustrated by Kip Alizadeh. The recommended ages are 4 to 8.
Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am working with Purple Butterfly Press and The Children's Book Review to be part of this Virtual Book Tour and will receive a small stipend for sharing this book with you. All opinions are my own.
As the end of the school year approaches, families start thinking about summer camp. Did you go away to summer camp or do your kids? The fun adventures in the woods away from home meeting new people, summer camp offers so much. Today I get to share with you a fun book about a group of animals who go to summer camp and make new friends and want to find a way to stay in touch with the new friends. The book is called Chipper Sends Sunshine by Kimber Fox Morgan and illustrated by Kim Sponaugle.
Today I am sharing an amazing new young adult book. Although it is fiction, it is perfect for showing strong women, gay rights as well as civil rights (and the racism that once plagued the South). The book is We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds.
Today I get to share another novel from Betty Culley. This one is a young adult novel written in verse. It delves into the topic of adoption, family, belonging and so much more. The book is The Name She Gave Me.
Did you go through a unicorn phase? I remember loving unicorns in middle school. In fact one of my graphic arts projects in middle school was screen printing a unicorn on a mirror. I had the mirror for a very long time and may still. I'm not sure where it is though. I remember seeing it when my parents moved during college. Unicorns have become a big thing. They are always cute and sparkly. They apparently poop rainbows now. And every animal can become a type of unicorn. I see the marketing for a caticorn or llamacorn. Have you seen it? Let's face it today's kids are going crazy for anything unicorn. Today I get to share a new middle grade fantasy novel. It is described as a book for Percy Jackson fans, and I wholeheartedly agree. The book is about a world with unicorns, but unicorns are not what we think they are. The book is Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman. It is the first book in a series that will be extremely popular!! It has an 8- to 12-year-old reading level.
As Hazel is in middle school now, I am finding the novels about middle school interesting. Middle school is such a hard time for most kids. It is a time when they are truly trying to find their place in the world. They struggle to be heard and to be seen as well as to not stick out. Today I am sharing a book about that struggle. It is Dear Student by Elly Swartz.
It is hard to believe December is already here. Last year, 2020, was a very tough year on the world. This year, 2021, had glimpses of normalcy but really wasn't much better. In fact for me personally it was even tougher than 2020. However, that is not what I want to focus on today. Today I get to share a sweet new Christmas picture book with you. It is The Gift Shop Bear by Phyllis Harris. It is recommended for ages 4 to 7.
Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in exchange for honest reviews. All opinions are my own.
Hispanic Heritage Month ends Friday and I wanted to share two new Latinx books with you to help celebrate. One is a graphic memoir. The author was in middle school living in New York City when 9/11 occurred. The other is a young adult novel that deals with ethnicity as well as rape and more. We will start with Big Apple Diaries by Alyssa Bermudez. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Today I am sharing Barbara Dee's newest novel. Barbara's novel seem to always capture the emotions and actions of middle school students. This one is no different. It is Violets Are Blue. It is recommended for grades 4 to 8.
What do you collect? I have a few collections of things like teapots, snow globes and rocks and shells. Today we are sharing a new picture book about friendship, adventure, wonder and collecting. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7. The book is The Collectors by Alice Feagan.
Do you have siblings? Where do you fall in the order? I am the youngest of three girls. I went through my elementary school being called my middle sister's name and then in middle school one of the art teachers kept calling out my oldest sister's name for an end of the quarter review and when he finally used our last name I realized he meant me. He had never taken the time to learn my first name and my oldest sister is truly an artist so he remembered her. (She earned a degree in art.) So I can completely relate to today's book. The book is Kyle's Little Sister by BonHyung Jeong. It is a graphic novel for middle school ages (age 8-12).
June is Pride Month! As a straight ally and a former GSA advisor, June always holds a special place in my heart. The gender and sexuality issues have morphed as we we gain more understanding but the issues still exist to get equal rights and fair and safe treatment for all. Today I am going to share three books--two picture books and one middle grade book that deals with different parts of our own uniqueness and identity. The first picture book is not particular to Pride Month but more about being different and finding acceptance. It is recommended for ages 2 to 5. It is Oddbird by Derek Desierto.
We have had the pleasure of sharing The Startup Squad series with you since it began. This fun multicultural middle grades novel series is about four friends who work together to start businesses. Each book is full of fun, mistakes, friendship, and entrepreneur ideas for kids. Today's is no exception. It is The Startup Squad: Party Problems by Brian Weisfeld and Nicole C. Kear.
Today I am participating in a Virtual Book Tour for Six Thousand Doughnuts by Thomas Tosi. The book is being released next week, June 4, 2021. It is a middle grade novel with some illustrations throughout it. It is recommended for ages 8-12.
A few months ago I reviewed The Ambassador to Nowhere, Texas. I discovered it was a sequel to another book, When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, both by Kimberly Willis Holt. The Ambassador to Nowhere, Texas was set in the era of 9/11 and told the story of a middle school girl in Antler, Texas and how she and those around her dealt with all that was happening. During the book she and a friend begin to try to find out about Zachary Beaver because of a photograph of him and her father and his best friend from when they were about her age. Having not read the first book I was thrilled with the mystery, but it also left a yearning to read the first book, so today I am sharing with you the first book! It is set in 1971 with the Vietnam War going on. Seeing how I turned one in 1971 I was curious to read about this era.
Yesterday we kicked off our celebration of Asian-American Heritage Month. Today's book features a young Filipino-American girl so it is perfect for this month. The book is Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly. Today is the release day of this book!! The book is recommended for ages 7 to 12 but I think the sweet spot is for 6 to 9. This is definitely an emerging reader novel thanks to the pictures throughout and larger print size.
Today I get to share with you a fun, soon to be released young adult novel. It will be released on April 1, 2021. It is the second novel by Jenna Guillaume. You can see my review of her first one here. This new novel is a new feminine twist on Weird Science. The book is called You Were Made for Me.
