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.
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.
We have been back to school for a couple of weeks now and Hazel has been back for one week. Even college students seem to be heading back now. Today we have two books for young readers that are educational or school themed. They are both humorous! We will start with the educational one. It is Our Solar System! A Stellar Neighborhood by Stacy McAnulty and illustrated by Stevie Lewis. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Are you a Stranger Things fan? I haven't watched it yet. It is on Hazel's and my list of shows to watch but with her at boarding school we don't have enough time to watch everything on the list! However, it is all the radio morning show I listen to has been talking about for a couple of months. They are on Season 5, and it is the final season. The second volume of Season 5 dropped last night! Apparently in the first episode of Season 5, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle is the center of the plot, and Episode 6 is called "Escape from Camazotz." Camazotz is a planet that is controlled by IT in A Wrinkle in Time. When copies of A Wrinkle in Time or A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel were offered for review as well as sharing as part of the Stranger Things drop, I jumped at the offer. I loved A Wrinkle in Time when I was younger and bought the entire boxed set for Hazel when she was younger. One of my favorite devotionals was written by Madeline L'Engle or at least it consisted of pieces of her writing. Needless to say, I am a fan! Today we are sharing A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel by Madeline L'Engle and adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson. It is recommended for ages 8 to 11.
On Sunday I shared a post about Banned Books Week and reviewed a couple of banned books. I was a couple of weeks late for Banned Books Week. Did you know that graphic novels are often banned books? Many schools don't want their kids reading them as they don't think of them as real books. Can you imagine? For some readers, the illustrations of graphic novels are what help them get into the book. Personally, I feel that if a child enjoys reading a book, it is a good thing. The more we force kids to read certain books or types of books, the less the child wants to read. I know this was definitely true for Hazel. She dreaded summer reading assignments. She hated being forced to read certain books. Even books she may have chosen on her own, when forced to read them she did not enjoy them. So I say let the kids read graphic novels and banned books. Let them read books about the topics that interest them as well as ones that relate to their lives like the book I am sharing today. It is a middle grade graphic novel all about turning twelve and the changes that come with this new age. The book is Turning Twelve by Kathryn Ormsbee and illustrated by Molly Brooks. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
I read banned books. In fact, I even review banned books (often before they are banned). Banning books seems to be an epidemic lately. Books are banned or challenged (before banning) by people who are trying to protect children. They feel these books are inappropriate for children. Perhaps for their own children, but they don't want their own children's friends reading them either because kids talk. In early October every year there is a Banned Books Week. This year it was October 5-11. (Next year it is October 4-10, 2026.) It is a week to make aware some of the books that are being challenged and possibly banned around the world. You may be surprised by some of the books on the list. There are many I read in school when I was young, or my friends did in other classes I didn't take. There are books like Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and George Orwell's 1984. There are other classics like Animal House, Fahrenheit 451, To Kill a Mockingbird, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Number the Stars, Of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby, ... the list goes on and on and includes The Holy Bible. Books tend to get challenged if they share cultural identity like A Place Inside of Me or Fry Bread or sexual or gender identity like Spin with Me or It's Okay to be a Unicorn or sexual encounters like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Speak is our first book for review today. It is recommended for ages 12 to 18 or young adult. The other book we will be reviewing is a picture book!
October has begun and Halloween seems to be everywhere! It is the month of ghosts, goblins and witches. Today we are sharing a book about witches however it is not really a Halloween book. It is a graphic novel about growing up and finding one's way. The book is Jazzy the Witch in Broom Doom by Jessixa Bagley. It is recommended for ages eight to twelve.
When you hear disability what do you think of? Many of us have been programmed to go to someone in a wheelchair and with mental issues. While this is a true disabled person there are many of other types of disabilities and some cannot be seen. July is Disability Awareness Month or officially National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Some places even call it Disability Pride Month and have parades. This year we are celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, so it is extra special! Today I am two books that share what life is like with different disabilities and a bit about loving someone with a disability. One book is a middle grade graphic novel, and the other is a young adult nonfiction book sharing real stories from couples of different abilities. We will start with the graphic novel. It is Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia with art by Brittney Williams and lettering by Tyler Smith. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
We are sharing our final summer theme for this year!! And it is one of my favorites. I remember doing this theme when Hazel was much younger and the truth is we often explore this theme in different ways at different ages. We will be reviewing a book for ages 9 and up but there are so many resources in our roundup for younger children as well as teenagers! It is such a versatile theme. The theme is exploring color!! To begin this theme, we are going to share Fun with Colors! Easy Painting Activities for Kids by Azabu Atelier. Again it is recommended for ages 9 and up.
Schools are ending and summer vacations are beginning. But that means summer reading is beginning as well!! Earlier this week we shared a roundup of new picture books for 4- to 8-year-olds. Today we are sharing the middle grade roundup including three new books--two of which will be reviewed today. (The third will be reviewed later this summer!) There is a variety of books here and there is something for everyone in the age range of 8- to 12-year-olds. The first book is the only graphic novel on the list. It is Space Chasers by Leland Melvin and Joe Caramagna and illustrated by Alison Acton.
Are you into manga? It seems like manga is a growing artwork. It is originally a graphic novel from Japan. Now we see manga style artwork without the comic part. Today we are sharing some new manga artwork product by Camilla d'Errico. The products are post cards and a sticker book. The post cards are Pop Manga Postcards.
I am continuing my themed reviews. Today we are focusing on outer space, and I am sharing two books for younger readers (3-8 year olds). One is a pop-up and the other is graphic novel style. We will start with the pop-up. It is Into Starry Outer Space by Joel Stern and illustrated by Vivian Mineker. It is recommended for ages 3 to 5.
Have you been watching the Olympics? Hazel and I have been watching the Women's Gymnastics. We are loving seeing these beautiful women make their dreams come true. What is your favorite sport to watch? I always feel like the Olympics brings positivity to the world. It gives us a sense of pride and love for our country, and I am guessing it does for other people around the world. It is a piece of history that is made every four years but doesn't often make it into the history books. However, did you know there are books written by former Gold Medal Olympians and even some about amazing Olympians and teams? Today I am going to share three such books. The ages of recommendations for these books range from 4 to 14. Only one of the books is really a history book about the gold medal Olympian team and the other two are books written by them sharing a piece of their advice off the field. The first book is From My Head to My Toes by Aly Raisman and illustrated by Bea Jackson. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Do you like ghost stories? Do you believe in ghosts? Today we are sharing a young adult graphic novel that is a Japanese ghost story. It is called Festival of Shadows: A Japanese Ghost Story by Atelier Sento. It is recommended for grades 8 to 12.
I feel like it has been a while since I shared a middle grade book. I am behind on my reading. Today however I am sharing a new (out today) middle grade graphic novel. This book delves into the differences of people and cultures as well as a bit about a loggerhead turtle. To go with this book, I am providing a round-up of over 30 turtle crafts, activities, and more. The book is Saving Sunshine by Saadia Faruqi and illustrated by Shazleen Khan. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Have you discovered the Shadow and Bone Series? There are a series of books as well as a television series on Netflix. We discovered this amazing series when they released the television series. We got to review the first book in the series. After reading the first book, Hazel could not wait to get her hands on the next book and really all the books in the three series of Grishaverse. At the time they were hard to come by because of the television series. The second season was released recently. Today I get to share the newest book with you. It is a graphic novel and it gives a bit of the background story of the Darkling. It is Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo and illustrated by Dani Pendergast.
As March draws to a close, I want to continue sharing resources for Women's History Month. Today's book is perfect for Women's History Month or Black History Month and of course for any day as it is a history book! The book is a historical graphic novel for middle grades. It is part of the History Comics Series. It is Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin by Tracey Baptiste and Shauna J. Grant. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
On the news last week while I was on vacation in Florida, I heard about an arrest of a New Jersey man who threatened a kill a Florida sheriff after he publicly denounced hate groups and antisemitic groups after white supremacists were recording holding antisemitic signs over a speedway here in Florida. Swastikas were also found as graffiti in a local school. (Source) It amazes me in this day and age how much antisemitism there still is. The Holocaust ended 78 years ago! We need to educate ourselves and our youth about the truth of the Holocaust so it won't be repeated. Today I am sharing a new nonfiction graphic novel about a brave woman who survived being in Auschwitz. The book is The Librarian of Auschwitz based on a novel by Antonio Iturbe, adapted by Salva Rubio and translated by Lilit Zekulin Thwaites and illustrated by Loreto Aroca. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Today I get to share with you a new middle school graphic novel. It is about the summer the author went on a three-week tour of Europe and experienced many firsts in his life. The book is A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat. It is recommended for ages 10 to 14.
