4.5 ⭐This book was magical. It‘s part graphic novel, part, heavily illustrated middle grade fantasy. Knell lives on a star farm. Her best friend is a fairy, her second-best friend is a thumbkin, and the school know it all is a centaur. They were all getting ready to start new apprenticeships. Nell wants to be an artist however, her teacher assigned her to work with the Lore keeper. This book is expository in nature as it‘s told in journal entries,

4.5⭐WOW! I hate I waited so long to read this book. This is a high fantasy graphic novel. Hawke and Grayson are twins. They are grandchildren to the ruler of their land, and cousin to Reyden, who is next in line for the thrown. On the night of the blessing, a rarely seen militant cousin Mirelle, invades and kills grandfather and Reyden. The boys run & find a hiding place in the wind. This world has a “nun” like society called the Communion of Blue

4 ⭐ This book was a treat to read. Five kids are called to the principal‘s office to be interrogated. They had to wait for an interpreter because not all the kids speak English. There was apparently an incident and the principle wanted to get to the bottom of it. All these kids think they are in trouble but shouldn‘t be. We hear the story from each of them in turn until the end. This book shows the casual racism that can be apparent in school.

4 ⭐ This picture book was lovely. Peanut loves to be themselves, and has so much fun doing the things they love, that their friends often join in. When Peanut decides to enter a rhythmic gymnastics competition they even turn a tumble into a triumph. All kids could learn from this book. Do what your heart loves, and others will love it with you.

2 ⭐I was quite enjoying this book. The story is about a child who is playing outside and gets “caught”. They realize it‘s their inner voice that is invisible trap. They have worked themself up making something small like a snagged shoelace, bigger than it is. I really like the message in the book. However, I do not like the hidden religion. He was up in the tree and hears voice that basically tells him to calm down, and you‘ll see the solution,

3.5 ⭐ This story is told in two perspectives, that of Lucas, the closet autistic, popular boy, and Jeremy, the first year in transition at high school where he once was the most popular cheerleader. The story isn‘t just about Jeremy‘s transition. This story would be a lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers trope. And it‘s OK. There are times where it‘s really hard to like Jeremy. Jeremy is angry all the time. They constantly want to seek out

3.5 ⭐ This book was not at all with that what I was expecting. It was quite fun and very interesting. It is a memoir about Michael and his girlfriend, Coconut and how she tries to turn them vegan. Michael is a veteran and Coconut is a nurse. She goes down the vegetarian/vegan tunnel that leads to animal rights activism. She wants Michael right there beside her. But for Michael, watching the bloody documentaries and reading the horrible books

3 ⭐This was a fun non-fiction graphic novel for the earliest chapter book leaders. In it, we follow Bert the beetle as he tries to find a home. On his journey, we learned about various other insects, and what their homes look like and how they come about. This was a lovely, and that many kids will find interesting.

3 ⭐ This is a story to not only explain what Vitiligo is but also help kids feel better in their own skin. Awais is going to a new day at a new school and is very worried that people will make fun of his white patches of skin. However, a friend recognizes that differences are great and helps Awais gain confidence in himself. This book is a little overly long and while not preachy it definitely is a topic book.

4.5 ⭐ This book is really silly, and kids are going to love it. Armadillo is lonely he throws a party for his friend, and they ask will there be cake? Will there be music? Will there be games? When Armadillo says yes, he thinks of these party items differently than the other animals do. But everything works out in the end. There is a cadence to this book which is nice, but sometime is a little tongue twisty, and it rhymes really well, but there

2 ⭐ Pretzel is a pug who loves to pop. Pop in this case means fart. If you‘ve ever had a pug, you know they are very good at this. And this story is about Pretzel popping off so much that it annoys her family and they don‘t want to be with her until she stops farting. I don‘t like this book. Farting is a natural body occurrence and the fact that the family does not want to be with someone until they quit.

4 ⭐ This is a really cute story. It‘s about a group of Welles, yes, rain boots, that go off to have an adventure. On their adventure, they meet up with their little girl who should be in bed. The illustrations are bright and colorful, but I do think the story is quite long. this has a “Brave Little Toaster” feel. Overall, this was fine, and I would read it again, but most kids would probably fall asleep before you get to the end.

4 ⭐ This book is a info dump about Texas. However, this info dump works really well. The author has arranged it in sections that work well together. These sections include various cities, sports places, food inventions, and important people. I like that this book is fully illustrated. Many books like this would be a mix of illustrations and real photos but I think it works well. I actually hope this becomes a series and we get one for every state.

4 ⭐ Overall, It‘s about the Van Buren sisters, and how they dared ride across country on a motorbike wearing pants. This doesn‘t sound like anything now, but at the time they did this, it was very controversial. We can thank the Van Buren sisters for helping the movement of women‘s rights. And we can thank the publisher for making sure that this book is available for all to read and find out about these amazing sisters.

2 ⭐ The best part of this book is the illustrations. I wish they had left off the gold borders around every illustration because that makes it look self-published and story needs more work. It‘s supposed to be a tongue-in-cheek look at a space mission. The otters launch themselves off but are not quite smart enough to realize they did not go to space, but just landed a few hundred feet away from where they left. All in all this book does not work.

2 ⭐ I really wanted to like this book, but it was very confusing. Part of it seems new, modern and futuristic. At the same time you have a group of engineers working on clockworks. I got about halfway through this book and ended up with a DNF. I wanted to like it, but found myself not caring because I was having a hard time following the story.

2 ⭐ This was a sad DNF. I really thought I would love this book. I do like the art and it‘s a supernatural tale. That part I liked, however, one of our main characters makes himself a girl. Very much Weird Science movie vibes. When they made this girl, he made her mindless. She can harm and do battle, but has no thoughts or knowledge of her own. She is an empty vessel for them to do with as they please. Tt just turned me off

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐5 ⭐
What a wonderful book. It packs a fantastic and heartfelt message in so few pages. Beebee is a quite trans girl who is active in cheerleading, Annie a hell on wheels personality that just wants to be left alone. However, Annie‘s anti-social personality might make it hard to get into college no matter how good her grades and test scores. So at her mother‘s behest, she joins cheerleading.

4 ⭐ This is the first goosebumps graphic novel. It‘s an original tale and not a graphic novel of an already existing tale. This is also not written by RL Stine. However, it was still a fantastic read. I find the scary aspects are not there, but the essence of horror is. This book is about creatures that go bump on a Moonlit night. This book is about werewolves and the swamp that protects them.

3 ⭐ This simple poem is an ode to a morning walk in the city. A family greets the day with a walk around their community saying Hi to the joy in life. This story is lovely, but quiet. The illustrations match.

3 ⭐ This was an interesting book. It is about what light allows us to do, and the significant roles it plays in our world. This book is beautifully illustrated and a lovely read.

4 ⭐ Loved this book. Ruby is rambunctious. She is crazy and loves to play and be on the move. Ruby also falls down, a lot! Turns out Ruby has a medical problem and her parents starting treating her differently. They let Ruby get away with things her brothers get in trouble for, and Ruby hates being treated different. Ruby has to let her parents know that she may be different, but it‘s just different. Punish me! Treat me like my brothers.

0 ⭐ Ummmmmmm. No. There is a kitty that loves to sing every night, but they don‘t sing well, and it annoys everyone. One night, a black cat poisons the singing cat so she will stop singing for one night only. The following night he gifts her a repaired guitar and an orchestra, and they live happily ever after in cat stardom. It‘s the poisoning that I draw a line at. This book is vailed harassment and assault. One cat did something horrible to

2 ⭐ This story looks like a picture book, but is actually a chapter book, where the chapters are just a page or two. In all honestly, I DNFed this book after the 3rd chapter. It was just too wordy and couldn‘t keep my attention, especially when I thought the galley was going to be something different.

4 ⭐ Henry has no slime. He was born different. But he wants to be like other snails, he just has to learn to do things differently. And sometimes he has to ask for help. This book was lovely, and a lovely parable of disability, and how there is ability, it is just sometimes different. And while this book is lovely, the illustrations are bright and colorful and kids will love it, as an adult I find a few things funny.

4 ⭐ This is lovely and looks at a concept that can be hard to teach children. What is enough? The examples the author and illustrator use to for this concept is fantastic. The book reminds one to look past new, bright, more, better, and that enough is plenty. The most heartstring pulling illustration in the book is the kids at the school book fair pooling their money together to buy a $16.99 bear book..

4 ⭐ This book was truly unique. Bash is a basketball like game on a futuristic earth. This game is of major importance to the world and has many levels. What makes it different from basketball as we know it now, is the ability of the environment to change, which changes the play of the game. It can go from a standard court, to an artic court, to a desert court, in the flash of a light. Rudy is a star player, but a novice. He has dreams of making

4 ⭐ This book is a little hard to talk about. The title is considered derogatory by many. At the time it was published (1997) this may have not been the case. Uncle Mordici is telling his niece where she got her hair. That it was sent by God to represent her culture. I liked this book, and think I understand it. However, I am not the right person to tell one how true or how good of a representation this book is or isn‘t. ⬇

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐5 ⭐
This book is wonderful. A little girl is excited to be her aunts flower girl. That is until she learns she has to wear a dress. She would rather give up the honor than wear a dress. It‘s just not her. Luckily, she has an understanding family, who find the perfect suit for their flower girl on the big day.

4 ⭐ This is a beginner reader graphic novel, and it works. The story is simple, and a tad cute, the characters are believable and the story easy to follow. Just beware, kids may want to make their own blue lemonade at the end.

4 ⭐ I LOVE THIS BOOK! This is a look at the hard work of Easter Bunnies. They have to make those chocolate eggs, but Steve has not made an egg all season. He decides to abandon the recipe and do things his own way. The results are hilarious and so much fun! This book is not religious in nature but keeps the spirit of egg hunts and the Easter bunny alive. The book rhymes and runs in near perfect cadence. It is part tongue twister, and all laughs.

4 ⭐ Little People Big Dreams does it again with Pasteur. Louis was a scientist who made great discoveries while trying to keep wine from spoiling. These discoveries lead to new treatments to make things safer for humans, and eventually led him to create the first vaccines. His original vaccine for chicken cholera may have been a mistake, but sometimes small mistakes make life better for all.

4 ⭐One thing that Little People Big Dreams does well is introduce children to people they may not learn about otherwise. Lewis Hamilton is one of those people. In the US, NASCAR is the racing norm. Not as many people follow Grand Prix, so the names are not as known or hyped. This was a great beginning look at a different version of a sport as well as a modern person who is making strides in all areas of life.

4 ⭐ This is a fun little non-fiction book. It is what one would expect from a title like this for this age, but also a bit different. The book looks at concepts not always seen in this level of book. It jumps out of the gate talking about Fractals, where, how and, why they are found in nature. Then it talks about smells and what makes them at the chemical level. This was nicely done and very informative.

4 ⭐ This is a lovely picture book history of Clara Luper. This is a bit longer and meant more for kids in school rather than bedtime reading. It is interesting and entertaining and a great way to learn of a figure in American history.

4 ⭐This was an interesting alphabet. It let the alphabet be the sideline to talking about what each person represented by the letter did and/or meant to people and history. It was a great primer for further interest in history.

4 ⭐ This is a simple alphabet with the premise “love is”. There is nothing surprising and it has been done before. However, that will not keep this from being a beloved board book by those who find it in a crowded field.

4 ⭐This book is a metaphor for depression in kids. It‘s the big blue elephant sitting on the chest. This book isn‘t about teaching the child to “get better” but more of, it happens, and it can be lived with, and treated. This book is more about saying “it‘s okay” then “let‘s fix you”. I like that, and I think for the kids that need it, they will like this book.

4 ⭐ Grandpa is in a car center and Daria visits him often. The reader experiences Daria‘s loss of her grandfather as he gets worse and eventually passes away. This book does an excellent job of pointing out how to keep love alive and still feel and love people after they are gone. It‘s a sad book, but one that focuses the topic and makes it easier to understand and give children a way to cope with loss.

4⭐ This book illustrates that every dino needs to take time out. Meditating helps calm the mind and body. In this book we have 2 dinos, Rex, a terrible tyranno and Sam, a much calmer and bigger being. Part of the story is told in a rhyming pattern. However, the author leaves off the cadence and rhyming pattern to describe the scene, which takes the reader out of the story and making it seem much longer that it is.

2 ⭐ This book is beautifully illustrated. Sophie is a little girl who has been brave for a long time. But one day, in the woods, she sees a wolf, and is afraid. Her fear builds until it comes pouring forth to an adult, who helps her confront her fear. This book is lovely, but it has a depressive air. It‘s a sad story of a girl and a lonely puppy who gets lost and becomes a fearful skittish adult dog. However, the story leaves one depressed

4 ⭐ This book is adorable. A little girl is at her grandmas with her stuffed giraffe. They are a bit board and go outside to find a tiger. But there are no tigers in a garden. Sure, there are dragonflies as big as your head, plants that want to eat you, and a grumpy polar bear, but there are no tigers in the garden. Until there are. This was fun and the illustrations are wonderful. Kids will want this read over and over again.

4 ⭐ This book is a little hard to talk about. The title is considered derogatory by many. At the time it was published (1997) this may have not been the case. Uncle Mordici is telling his niece where she got her hair. That it was sent by God to represent her culture. I liked this book, and think I understand it. However, I am not the right person to tell one how true or how good of a representation this book is or isn‘t. ⬇

3 ⭐ This is an odd little story. It is about a man, who befriends a “beast” who is stealing pears from his tree. Not only does he befriend the beast but convinces the beast to be shown to the science of animal groups, where no one can believe this wonderous new creature. This book is historically banned for violence, and for not being age appropriate. I find that odd. It‘s a picture book, for picture book age ranges. ⬇

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐5 ⭐
The reason this book has been historically banned are atrocious. This is a classic story of a princess who saves not just herself, but the prince as well. The problem, for this reader, is that the prince is a narcissistic A55#013 who cannot see beyond the vain. He tells the princess, who just saved him, that a paper bag is a horrible thing to wear and to come back when better dressed. As a woman, I stand behind ⬇

4 ⭐ This book is form 1992 and has historically been banned. It‘s about a little girl named Christy, and her friend Kira. Kira lives in a bad neighborhood and her parents want to move. Christy suggests the house next door, and it happens. But neighbors are not happy with Kira‘s family moving into their neighborhood, as Kira and her family are Black. They are mistreated and even have their property harmed, plus other neighbors move out. ⬇

4 ⭐ Upon reading this book I was trying to figure out why this book was banned. It was a story of monkeys. They showed off their fingers, they played the drums and other instruments, and talked with friends. Why was this book banned? Apparently, someone thought that this book was associating African culture with monkeys. I don‘t see this because the moneys do more than play drums, they also play banjos and fiddles. I don‘t think African ⬇

4 ⭐ In this book Asha has two mums, and her teacher doesn‘t believe her. The teacher is not going to let Asha go on the school field trip unless she has her mom and her dad sign the permission slip. This book is from 1990, and it shouldn‘t be banned. Asha has to teach her teacher and her classmates that people do have two moms. What this teacher leaves out is single moms. That was also a thing in 1990. If you needed a dad and a ⬇

3⭐ This book is frequently banned based on Yertle‘s story and Mack demanding that the turtles on the bottom of the tower have rights just like those at the top. By many, this book is seen as too political. However, reading with a modern eye, I think that story two, Gertrude McFuzz would be just as, if not more problematic. Gertrude is not happy with who they are. They want a second feather just like someone else has. ⬇

5 ⭐ This historically banned book is a look at World War 2 and the Nazi concentration camps as seen through the eyes of a child. This book is form 1985 and does not have a happy ending. While this book is older, it reminds me of the Boy in the Striped Pajamas. A little girl, Rose Balance, sees kids in cages with stars on their chest and just wants to help them get food. This book is sad, but this book is true. This book SHOULD NOT BE BANNED.