Do you love a good mystery? Did you know February 26th was National Tell a Fairy Tale Day? As a lover of fairy tales and mysteries today's book is perfect for me. I am describing it as a Little Red Riding Hood meets The Hunger Games mystery. It is recommended for ages 10-14 and I have to say older readers will enjoy it too. I know I did. The book is The Big Bad Wolf Murder by P.G. Bell.
Do you have a 6- to 9-year-old who is interested in graphic novels? Perhaps they are reluctant to read chapter books but need to shift away from picture books? Or perhaps you just know a mystery lover. Today we have the perfect newly released book for you. It is the first book in the Squirrel Lock Holmes Series. It is The Pet Rock Mystery by Ashley Belote. It is recommended for ages 6 to 9.
A lot can happen as you get older. Especially in the younger years. Today we are sharing two new picture books released this week about some of those moments of becoming a big kid and standing out. The first book is Bartleby by Matt Phelan. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.
Board books are often thought of just for babies and toddlers. However, board books are also the books that have lift flaps, pop-up art, and more fun features that can be ruined pretty quickly by a young child, so they are better for older kids who understand how to be gentle. Today we are sharing two new board books with special features. One is recommended for ages 0 to 3 and the other is for ages 6+. We will start with the one for 0 to 3. It is Clickety Clack: Clack-Clack, Little Crab! by Amy Blay.
Friendship can be hard when growing up. People mature at different times and can grow apart, but each friend is not always aware. It is even worse when there is an age difference between the friends. Today we are sharing a book with the narrator being the younger friend when the friendship breaks. It is a middle grade graphic novel called Wrong Friend by Charise Mericle Harper and illustrated by Rory Lucey. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Do you know anyone into the Manga and Kawaii Characters? I have students who love them and create their own in their artwork. Today I get to share a craft book with you that makes it pretty easy to sew your own plushie or mochi doll in this style. The book is Cute Plushies and Mochi Dolls: Sweet Manga-style Kawaii Characters to Sew by Eriko Teranishi. Don't know how to sew? Don't worry there are tutorials in the book! And how cute would these be in Easter baskets, May Day baskets and more!!
It has been a very long time since I have done a Relaxing Friday Review! I remember when I did them regularly. However, I have not been getting many adult coloring books to review recently, and I guess the adult coloring trend died down a bit. If you go back to my first Relaxing Friday Review, you will see some ways coloring as an adult can help with your thinking skills. There are advantages to it and I am happy to start doing it again. Today we are sharing a newly released coloring book. It is Pop Manga Paint and Ink Coloring Book by Camilla d'Ericco.
Last week was the beginning of Lent. That means Easter is coming! This year it is in April. Passover is also in April. But do you know about Qing Ming? It is another holiday in April. Today we are sharing new picture books about Easter and Qing Ming. We will start with the book about Easter. It is E Is for Easter Egg Hunt by Brittany J. Thurman and illustrated by Derick Brooks. It is an alphabet book and is based on the original podcast: Quentin and Alfie's ABC Adventures. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.
Board books are great for different ages. Babies can't harm them too much and as kids get older, they can handle the flaps and such. Today we are sharing a roundup of board books. They range in recommended ages from 0 to 7. A couple are being rereleased and the others are new this month. The first book is 123s of Kindness at Bedtime by Patricia Hegarty and illustrated by Summer Macon. It is part of the Books of Kindness Collection and is recommended for ages 0 to 3.
Everyone wants to have a place they feel like they belong and matter. Today we are going to share two new picture books (released today) that share messages of belonging and mattering. The first is You Matter, Luma by John R. Miles and illustrated by Nejla Shojaie. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Jennifer Ussi to bring you this post.
I love stories that are fun to read and teach about different places and animals. They are even better when they have life lessons in them as well. Today we get to share the sixth book in The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa: The Ostriches by Jennifer Ussi and illustrated by Lekshmi Bose. We shared our review of the first book in this fun series previously. This post has an amazing giveaway at the end of it!
There have been so many amazing picture books released lately. Today we are sharing two new ones that focus on imagination and stepping out of one's comfort zone. The first book is Maya's World by Andrea Pippins. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Name a magician. Most people tend to name Harry Houdini, even today. He is that well known. Over the years Hazel and I have explored Harry Houdini, but I don't know that much about his life. Today we are sharing a wonderful new picture book biography on him and his love of books. The book is Houdini's Library by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mar Delmar. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8, but I would say it is on the older side of that maybe 6 to 10.
Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in order to provide my honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Sharique Zea to bring you this post.
Have you ever wondered if there are other realms out there? Today we are sharing a middle grade fantasy novel with different realms and a group of kids who travel between them to save the universe. The book is Lionborn by Sharique Zea. There is a giveaway after my review.
The Lunar New Year begins this week! 2026 will be the year of the horse. We have done quite a bit with the lunar new year in the past. Today we are looking at a Persian New Year Holiday that honors spring. It is Nowruz. This year it will be March 20, 2026. It begins at the precise time spring begins every year. To learn about it we are sharing a newly released book called Celebrate Nowruz! A Persian New Year Holiday to Honor Spring by Zohreh Ghahremani and illustrated by Susie Ghahremani. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Family is important. Family is love. For most family is safety. Today we are sharing two beautiful picture books by Jacqueline Woodson about family with very different messages. The first book is Our Gracie Aunt by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Monica Mikai. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
With the mounds of snow and below 0 temperatures, I have to say I am dreaming of springtime. Today we get to share three books released this week that bring a little spring to our winter freeze. Two are board books and one is a picture book with an Easter theme. All three books have to do with gardens! Both of the board books are from the Baby Botanicals series. The first one is Good Morning, Garden! by Jillian Miao and illustrated by Riley Samels. It is recommended for ages 0 to 3.
There were many books released this week. Today we are sharing four of them about animals, community, friendship and more. They are all picture books, and each has a lesson in it. We will start with one about a hummingbird's annual migration. It is Hummingbird's Big Trip by G. Brian Karas. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Carmen Hernández to bring you this post.
Are you or your child a person who lives a bit in his or her head? Perhaps you or your child have ADHD. Or perhaps you are just an overthinker. It can be hard to go someplace new when you are. Other people may not understand your hesitation or behavior. Today we are sharing a picture book that shares how a young boy is feeling about the first day of school and how his ADHD sometimes controls his behavior. The book is In My Mind by Carmen Hernández and illustrated by HV Helmut. There is a giveaway at the end of this post.
When I was in middle and high school, I loved baking bread. I made it almost every week. I tried to share this love with Hazel when she was growing up. When we did the parent child class at a Waldorf School, we were making bread there or at least kneading and shaping bread every class. Today we get to share a beautiful new book about a mom who shares her love of baking bread with her kids each week. The book is Bread Is Love by Pooja Makhijani and illustrated by Lavanya Naidu. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
