With the movie coming out in February 2022 you’ve got to read “The Sky is Everywhere.” This poetic book explores the pain felt after the sudden loss of a loved one, as well as the mistakes and messes that can be made when experiencing such grief. Jandy Nelson pours so much love into her books that you’ll remember the stories and messages for years.
A gorgeous, gorgeous garden-themed picture book to encourage the little one in your life. Not only is this an uplifting book to read to a growing child, but it’s a gentle reminder to grown-ups that every day your beloved child is changing and blossoming into an incredible person. Mechal Renee Roe’s empowering words and colorful inspiration will keep both grown up and child enamored with this book.
My favorite picture book of the year!
Hugo is just a delight! He is an adorable French pigeon that watches over the park and all of its visitors—from Monsieur Petit to Conquine. This is a story of community, acts of kindness, and lifelong friendships. Plus, I love his little "Spring is Coming" dance he does to make a shy friend smile.
I love this peaceful and pleasant follow-up to “A Sick Day for Amos McGee.” This heartfelt story is built on the married author-illustrator duo’s imagination of what a perfect world would be: Full of gentle kindness, dear friendship, and playful days. I cannot say enough good things about Amos McGee!
I knew this book would be good when I heard praise for it twice during a book conference, and when I saw it on the finalist list for the National Book Award. Then I read it and fully understood why people are so in love and passionate about "Me (Moth)". This book is beautiful, emotional, and shook me all the way to my core. This haunting novel in verse is a great gift for teens and adults alike.
The hype around this book is insane, and well earned! This is a debut YA novel from Ayana Gray, and I’ve got to say she has really nailed it! Her writing style is so vivid and beautiful, and the way she brings mythology and adventure together creates a stunning story. This is only the first book in this new trilogy, and it is going to be a good one I can tell. A great gift for fans of An Ember in the Ashes, Kingdom of the Wicked, and Iron Widow.
Did I have an impromptu poetry read aloud after receiving this book in our shipment? Yes. It was delightful and I wish you could've been there. However, you can buy this book and have poetry read aloud sessions in your home or classroom! This book is one poem per day, and it’s full of all kinds of poetry (long, short, old, new, rhyming, not rhyming, etc.) This is an excellent gift book to add to a child’s library, keep in a classroom, or at a grandparent’s house.
I wish this was the book we read in my fairytales class in college! Harrow does a perfect job of bringing a tale as old as time to life, adding lots of adventure, and social/moral contemplations for her characters. An EXCELLENT read for folklore/classic fairytales, or someone just looking for a good escapism read.
I love a sweet cat book, and that is exactly what “Negative Cat” is. It’s a story of a boy who takes on all the responsibilities of taking care of a cat, but the cat, Max, is just kind of negative (aka a regular, unaffectionate cat). When others give up on Max, the boy continues to be patient and loving, and eventually the cat comes out of his negative shell when read to. It’s a great book about caring, patience, and never giving up on those hard to love.
When a book has a title this good, you know it’s going to be a great read! Set in a magical bookshop during the tail end of WWII, this is a heroic story of a young girl determined to save the people she loves. This is not only a great gift for young reader, but it is also an excellent book to read with your favorite bookworm.
Y'all, I love Naomi Novik. This book is what I like to call the "goth version of Harry Potter." Novik's writing is vivid and enthralling, the main character is powerful (but in a fantastically dark way), and the entire book kept me on my toes. Lucky for me and you, if you read this book and can't wait to see what happens next book #2 was just published!
“Why do I read? Books only bring me pain.” Those are the exact words I said aloud after literally screaming on and off through the last fifty pages of this book. It was a fantastic time! The main characters are clever and powerful, the world building beautiful and intricate, and of course the plot absolutely thrilling. If you haven’t, please read “A Deadly Education” and “The Last Graduate” so we can impatiently wait for the third book in the Scholomance Series together!
Well folks, she’s done it again; Sabaa Tahir made me cry. She made me cry because she writes characters and stories so true to life it’s impossible to leave the world of her book an unchanged person. This is a teen story, but also a mother’s story, which really makes me even more emotional and in love with Sabaa as an author. “All My Rage” is about anger and suffering, but at its core it’s about hope, perseverance, and about the mistakes and sacrifices—insignificant and tremendous— we make for those we love most.
PS – While you’re waiting for the publication date you can read (and cry about) her fantasy series, “An Ember in the Ashes.”
I read this book because so many cool kids have bought it and I wanted to know what was up. This is a geat book for any 10-12 year old who loves Neil Gaiman, old Westerns, and other magical adventures. I would describe it as fairly "gritty," but is fine for any kid who can handle the Harry Potter books and is fine with a few minor medical procedures being describes. It's an exciting story of a strong girl fighting tooth and nail to do what's right!
A great adventure book for young readers! Nathan’s expectations for an “uneventful” summer at his grandmother’s are shattered when he begins to meet and interact with Navajo Holy Beings, including a sick Water Monster. Weaving real world issues with native mythology this book is not only exciting for readers, but also shares messages about bravery and service to others.
A stunning read for middle grade children who are interested in history, social justice, and finding your voice. Hiranandani’s writing style immerses the reader into Ariel’s story, and introduces young readers to life in 1967 when Loving vs Virginia passed, Martin Luther King Jr. was still fighting for justice, advancements in how we understand learning disabilities, and life as a Jewish family after World War II. A great fiction book to teach children about the 60s, finding self-confidence, and how accepting change can be a long, tumultuous journey that is completely worth the rewards.
A super entertaining book about a young and talented softball player who while fighting for a championship title is also trying to solve an old family mystery. This sport story also reminds readers of the value of our oldest relatives and the history they've witnessed and carry with them to this day. Also, a great way of showing kids that the Civil Rights movement was actually not that long ago and that though things have progressed since then, it is still an on-going battle. This book kept me enthralled from the first page to the very last.
One of my favorite picture books to come out this summer! Dot may be short, but she is NOT little, so don't you call her "little girl." (Coincidentally, this is one of my personal pet peeves, too.)She's smart, spunky, and unafraid to stand up for what is right. Great for small, but mighty children who aren't afraid to speak up for themselves and their friends.
AH! This beloved webcomic is going to be printed into an actual book! A unique and beautiful telling of the Persephone and Hades mythology. This book is full of glamour, romance, drama, humor, friendship, and more! Great for fans of beautiful art, mythological romance, and powerful women. This story does include content about sexual assault, toxic relationships, and PTSD, but the author handles these topics incredibly well and respectfully. It really is fantastic all around.
PS - The hardcover is being released at the same time as the paperback, if you prefer a hardcover :)
A book with writing as beautiful as the cover! I loved getting lost in January's story and following her on adventures through the Doors. If you've been searching for a book comparable to "The Night Circus" this is the book, trust me. Magical realism, vivid descriptions, and a sweet love story. I'm already excited to re-read and enjoy the book all over again.
As a I millennialI thought cookbooks were obsolete, until I found Cookie and Kate's "Love Real Food." Now I use this book at least once a week (the pages have the food stains to prove it), and when I serve her food to guests they rave about the meal. Cookie and Kate is an excellent vegetarian cooking blog, and her cookbook features all-new recipes that are honestly some of her best. Trust me, her recipes are not only vegetarian/vegan friendly, but they're REALLY, REALLY flavorful, filling, and fairly healthy. Friends, her salad game alone is UNMATCHED.
BONUS: Cookie is a dog!! Her owner Kathryne does the cooking, but Cookie is always there to cheer her on and taste test when necessary. Seriously, Cookie is so cute and I love seeing pictures of her in the book and on the blog.
Looking for a book that encourages children to explore the sciences and to have the confidence chase their dreams despite criticism and road blocks? Well look no further! This book about the true story of astronomer Vera Rubin whose curiosity led her to conduct extensive research and answer very big questions about the universe. I loved, loved, LOVED seeing her life's dedication to astronomy illustrated on the page; this woman really didn’t care if others doubted or despised her, she just kept doing her research to support her hypothesis.
Wow, never have I felt so seen by a cartoon pig. Pig is kind and popular with all of the other animals, but no one knows that he is secretly worried ALL THE TIME thinking about all the "what if's." I loved seeing Pig work through these big emotions, seeking help, and in the end seeing how much his friends love and support him. Really, really sweet and helpful for anxious children.
If you enjoy laughing outloud so often and uncontrollably that people ask you to read in a different room, this is the book for you! Allie Brosh has been making people laugh for years on her blog (Hyperbole and a Half), and now with her two books. These hilarious tales are well-written and perfectly matched with poorly drawn illustrations to really send readers into hysteric laughter. While her stories are goofy, they can also be honest and serious about hard topics when necessary. Love, love, love Brosh, even if she disappeared for 7 years and surprised us with this newest book.
If Leslie Jordan's Instagram makes you smile, and helped you get through the scary time of the pandemic/quarantine, then you should buy his book! His stories are just as hilarious in print as they are on Instagram, and for me it was the best item I could buy to commemorate those quarantine days after getting my vaccine.
This is a beautiful novel written in verse about a young girl going through a lot of big changes. Written in beautiful verse, this book approaches heavy topics (abelism, racism, assimilation, and domestic abuse) compassionatley. This is a wonderful middle grade title that is rooted in kindness, and invites each reader to become more empathetic and actively help those in need.
Do you love comedy? Do you love strong women? Do you love strong women showing their soft side by writing an entire book full of life advice as a letter to her two young daughters? Then you'll love this book! It's truly the perfect balance of knock-out humor, brutal honesty, and inspiring advice.
This book is thrilling, informative, and inspiring in all the best ways. This is an incredible (true) story about a woman, Virgina Hall, who bravely joined the Special Operatives Executive early in the war. She worked in occupied France as a spy for majority of the war, and was possibly the most competent and skilled spy during WWII. Most of the other operatives, including her superiors, doubted her, but Sonia Purnell has revealed how smart, resourcful, and tough Hall was in her service to the Allies. Truly, this woman was unstoppable and deserves more recognition.
I have loved this book since I was in pre-school. I fooled everyone by telling them I could "read" this book, when really I'd just memorized it. This is a great book for bedtime because it keeps a steady and sing-songy rhythme. I will recommend this book for all of time, it is so good!
This book made my heart so happy. It's a beautifully illustrated story of a house in the country that is loving and inviting, though it dearly longs for a family to fill it's rooms after years of emptiness. Patiently it waits for the perfect family to bring light and life to the home. For me, this is a nostalgic story about an old country home I once visited often, and the beauty of time passing. Beautiful, sentimental, and heartfelt.
This is my favorite Rick Riordan series! It has all the greatness of his books: lots of mythology (Norse, in this series), plenty of comic relief, and tons of action. Also important are the diverse characters that allow readers to see themselves, or to gain an understanding of others. It's great for all readers to enjoy!
BOOK ONE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES
