A three-fer! PB, MG and YA

Something for everyone – PB, MG and YA! And right in time for gift giving time! With some extras at the very end. 🎄🎅

First up – picture book.

HOW CATS SAY I LOVE YOU by Guy Brown, illustrated by Davide Ortu

From the publisher: Platypus Media, LLC, Sept 2023

Cats have a lot to say!

Just like people, cats share their feelings in all sorts of ways. It's up to us to uncover what our furry friends are trying to tell us. Are they gently purring or curiously crouching? Is their tail straight or swishing? Featuring a diverse cast of kids and cats from all over the world, this social-emotional learning book models empathy and compassion. Young readers will learn to look for the different ways their friends―human and feline alike―share their feelings.

Each silly, sassy cat expresses a different emotion to their human pal, who responds to the cat's needs by handing them a treat to soothe their nerves, giving them space to calm down, or offering lots of cuddles. The kids also describe how they communicate those same feelings. Sometimes they hold hands with their best friends, ask their parents for a hug, or say they need to take a break.

Written by award-winning author (and cat owner) Guy Brown, with colorful and lively illustrations from Davide Ortu, How Cats Say I Love You teaches young kids how to care for others' feelings as well as their own, while showing that healthy relationships are rooted in communication. 

For all the cat lovers out there, with or without a cat of their own, this adorable book is about all the ways cats communicate with their humans. Not only does it showcase lots of different cats, emotions, behavior and responses, but also takes the reader around the world. The emotions translate from cat to human and human to cat. The back matter reveals the type of cats in the book, where they’re from and what their names mean. When I said adorable, I meant it. 

Second book – Middle Grade

THE LOST LIBRARY by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

From the publisher: Feiwel & Friends, August 2023

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.

Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself.

Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It’s about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you).

This is a wonderful tale of a boy Evan, and his friend Rafe, finding a mystery in their small town and how it relates to Evan and his family.

But it also is about how a wee free library got started, how a library burned down, who was responsible and the heroes, and a fabulous orange cat named Mortimer.

It’s also about finding the truth, telling the truth, healing the past and forging your own path forward.

It’s quite lovely and I’ll bet you will think so too.

Third book – Young Adult

BEHOLDER by Ryan La Sala

From the publisher: PUSH, October 2023

From Ryan La Sala, author of the tantalizingly twisted The Honeys and riotously imaginative Reverie, comes a chilling new contemporary fable about art, aesthetic obsession, and the gaze that peers back at us from behind our reflections.

No one survived the party at the penthouse. Except Athan.

Athanasios “Athan” Bakirtzis has made it far in life relying on his charm and good looks, even securing an invitation to a mysterious penthouse soiree for New York City’s artsy elite. But when he sneaks off to the bathroom, he hears a slam, followed by a scream. Athan peers outside, only to be pushed back in by a boy his age. The boy gravely tells him not to open the door, then closes Athan in.

Outside the door, the party descends into chaos. Through hours of howls, laughter, and sobs, Athan stays hidden. When he finally emerges, he discovers a massacre where the corpses appear to have arranged themselves into a disturbingly elegant sculpture―and Athan’s mysterious savior is nowhere to be found. Athan―the only known survivor―is now the primary suspect.

In a race to prove his innocence, Athan is swept up in a supernatural mystery, one of secret occult societies and deadly eldritch horrors with rather distinctive taste. Something evil is waking up in the walls of New York City, and it’s compelling victims toward violence, chaos, and self-destruction. Bound to him by a mysterious hereditary power, Athan has felt this evil hiding behind his reflection his entire life, watching him. Waiting. Now, it’s taking over.

I reviewed THE HONEYS and enjoyed the supernatural elements and story. This one was a level above that in supernatural elements and the wild pace of the story. It galloped along and I was just a passenger.

There were horror parts, too. And I don’t generally read much horror, but once I caught on to what Athan’s sight was about, I was totally in. The characters’ thoughts and emotions put you right in the story. The risks they take make you hold your breath. And the ending party is fantastically crazy. Then the actual ending is sad and good and satisfying. 

PS

In my, to be read or recently read pile, is: 

a first time for everything by Dan Santat, winner of the National Book Award

Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee, National Book Award Finalist

Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson, two books in the series so far

Itty Bitty Kitty Corn by Shannon Hale, illustrated by Leuyen Pham - talk about CUTE! Three books and lots of cuteness overload. 

The first one just came out but the next two are from 2022 and Kitty Corn is from 2021. I have lots of catching up to do. All these amazing authors have so many incredible books out - let's get reading! 

MG Book Blurb - THE HURRICANE GIRLS

THE HURRICANE GIRLS at first seems like a straightforward story, but there is so much more to it. It’s complex, layered, and very satisfying.

From the publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books, August 2023

A coming-of-age middle grade novel about three best friends born in the wake of Hurricane Katrina who must confront storms of their own 12 years later, from a National Book Award winning author.

Born in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Greer, Joya Mia, and Kiki are seventh graders and the best of friends. After an accident leaves Greer's little sister paralyzed, Greer is forever changed by the experience and blames herself. Kiki and Joya Mia will do anything to help Greer let go of this emotional burden, and a plan is hatched to compete in a triathlon. Each girl will participate: Kiki will swim, Joya Mia will cycle, and Greer, if they can persuade her, will run—something she once loved to do.

Set on the Westbank of New Orleans, this contemporary coming-of-age novel is a journey of growth, healing, and difficult transitions as the girls navigate their many life challenges: family trauma, body insecurity, and the conflict between ambition and responsibility. It's a powerful and enlightening exploration of how to surmount personal tragedy through friendship and forgiveness.

Each chapter is told by one of the three girls, so you get to experience all the issues the girls are dealing with: guilt, self-blame, body and self-insecurity, first romance, first job and responsibility. And those are just the main plots. The subplots add dimension and opens the reader to different experiences. Of course, set in New Orleans is a fantastic character, too.

I think the biggest themes are friendship and communication. There’s a lot of heart.

Book Blurb - TOP STORY - MG

TOP STORY, by Kelly Yang, is one of those books that shows us why we need diverse books. I probably should say, this is one of those series that shows us why. And you don’t have to have read the four previous books to follow, TOP STORY stands on its own.

From the publisher: Scholastic Press (Sept 2023)

Mia Tang is at the top of her game!

She’s spending winter break with Mom, Lupe, Jason, and Hank in San Francisco’s Chinatown! Rich with history and hilarious aunties and uncles, it’s the place to find a great story―one she hopes to publish while attending journalism camp at the Tribune. But this trip has as many bumps as the hills of San Francisco . . .

1. Mia's camp is full of older kids, with famous relatives, fancy laptops, and major connections! Can she compete with just her pen and passion?

2. Lupe’s thinking about skipping ahead to college! Will Mia ever get a chance to just chill with her best friend?

3. Jason’s crushing hard on a new girl. For the first time ever, Mia is speechless…and jealous. Can she find the courage to tell Jason―gulp―that she has a crush on him?

Even for the best writers, it’s not always easy to find the right words. But if anyone can tell a top story, it’s Mia Tang!

It’s important to learn about other people, cultures, traditions, stories. It’s like traveling without leaving your home, which is what reading good books is all about!  

There so many characters who all have their own stories and are intertwined so well. There are kids, adults, parents, aunties and a puppy. Even San Francisco is its own character too. It’s richly written with many full circle moments.

I think it’s too easy to forget the different struggles others go through. TOP STORY shines a light on that. It also emphasizes how we all need to be true to ourselves and chase our dreams with lots of hard work.

AWESOME MG GN! BUZZING

BUZZING by Samuel Sattin, illustrated by Rye Hickman

Little, Brown Ink (July 18, 2023)

From the Publisher:

A moving middle grade graphic novel about friendship, belonging, and learning to love yourself despite the voices in your head.

Isaac Itkin can’t get away from his thoughts.
 
As a lonely twelve-year-old kid with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), everything from studying to looking in the mirror becomes a battle between him and a swarm of unhelpful thoughts.
 
The strict therapy his mother insists on doesn’t seem to be working, but when a group of friends invites him to join their after-school role-playing game, the thoughts feel a little less loud, and the world feels a little brighter.
 
But Isaac’s therapist says that exposure to games can have negative effects on kids with OCD, and when his grades slip, his helicopter mother won’t let him play anymore. Now Isaac needs to find a way to prove to himself, to his mother, and to the world that the way to quiet the noise in his head may have been inside him all along.

I loved this book. I know a little bit about obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and some from what I’ve seen on TV or in movies. But this is the first time I’ve read about it in young people. 

We get to see what the disorder is like from the inside and how it affects Isaac, the main character, his life, family, relationships and school. And how Isaac finds his own place in the world. He starts to understand that he’s not what his thoughts are telling him. Buzzed is about how he finds friends and activities/outlets and how they add to his well-being. His mom is about protecting him but doesn’t realize how his new friends make him healthier and happier. The mom and the sister also have their eyes opened to how stuck they are in the family dynamic and that it can change for the better. For anyone who feels different or weird – and that includes almost all of us – there is a community waiting for us. It’s just a matter of finding it.

Really well done.

3 Upcoming Picture Books - Fall 2023

I Am My Ancestor’s Wildest Dreams by Tanisia Moore Illustrated by Robert Paul Jr.

From the Publisher: Scholastic, Fall 2023

YOU are your ancestors’ wildest dreams. How will you express YOUR greatness? This electrifying anthem to Black boy joy and pride is perfect for fans of I Am Every Good Thing, Little Legends, and All Because You Matter.

I am fly.

From my crown

down to the kicks

on my feet...

I AM my ancestors' wildest dreams.

In a story that sizzles and soars, a young child discovers his place in a distinguished lineage. As he meets ten exceptional Black men ― historical and contemporary heroes who have paved the way for his own future success ― he internalizes and asserts their greatness. Just like them, he can reach his dreams. And just like him, you have within you big potential.

This is a colorful and accessible book that kids will love. They will easily relate to the set of modern heroes like Chadwick Boseman, Tupac, John Lewis, and Kobe Bryant. The theme of reaching for your dreams no matter what they are, aligns with the different types of heroes. You can be anything and fulfill a destiny greater than you ever imagined. Standing on the shoulders of all who came before, fulfilling their dreams, you can continue the legacy.

There is backmatter with paragraphs on all the ancestors listed in the book, a note from the author and a note from the artist.

All We Need is Love and a really soft pillow! By Peter Reynolds and Henry Rocket Reynolds

From the publisher: Scholastic, Fall 2023

A tender and timeless tale about what truly matters: LOVE -- from creative visionary of The Word Collector, Happy Dreamer, and The Dot, #1 New York Times bestseller Peter H. Reynolds!

Poppy: All we need is love.

Little One: And a pillow.

Poppy: Yes, a pillow, but that is all we need.

This heartfelt celebration of love follows Poppy and Little One as they discuss all the things they need in life like a really good pillow or a roof over their heads but most important of all, love. Despite the challenges they face as a storm sweeps away their home, this duo never lose their optimism because in the end they know that all they truly need is love . . . and each other.

This tender, wholly original tale of all the ways we express and share love, from our most celebrated, bestselling creator Peter H. Reynolds, is a needed comfort and a new classic that will offer reassurance to readers of every age.

This is such a sweet book and I just wanted to cuddle the little creatures in it. The relationship between a dad and his child and how they relate, dream, and ultimately know that as long as they have each other, they’ll be okay. What starts with just needing a really soft pillow, grows into a house, water, chocolate, a toilet, until they have a nice little homestead to call home. But when a storm comes and takes it all away, they are left with each other again, just as they started out. With so many different kinds of tragedies that change our lives, the basic need of being alive with our loved ones, stands above all the other needs. And knowing that you can begin again. And again.

Seals Are Jerks! By Jared Chapman

From the publisher: Scholastic, Fall 2023

Seals are Lorelei's favorite animal: they're so cute and cuddly and best buddies with penguins. Well... that's what she thought before learning the ugly truth — some seals EAT penguins! She doesn't want to believe it at first, but she drags Penguin, the classroom guest, and seal whistleblower, to Antarctica to prove Penguin wrong and confront Seal face-to-face. And Seal finally reveals the truth.

This is a story about when you first realize and understand that nature is not all cute and cuddly. Some of it is life and death, eat or be eaten, survival of the fittest. It’s done in a fun and entertaining way as Lorelei presents her nature project only to hear that her favorite seals may not be what she thought. She takes an impromptu trip to Antarctica and learns the truth for herself. And she introduces PB&J to the seals and penguins, too.

It's a good comparison to human characteristics – we all have faults but we’re not always the sum of our faults. We have good qualities, too, and we can accept both good and bad - in ourselves, our family and our friends.  

There is backmatter with Antarctica facts.  

Two MG GN - short for Middle Grade Graphic Novel

These two graphic novels are fun reads.

Batcat by Meggie Ramm

Imprint of Abrams / Amulet Books, March 2023

From the Publisher:

A new graphic novel series for emerging readers about accepting yourself and others from up-and-coming author-illustrator Meggie Ramm

Batcat loves being all alone in their home on Spooky Island. Up in their tree house, they pass the time playing video games and watching TV. But when Batcat suddenly finds themself haunted by an annoying, ice cream–stealing ghost, they visit the local Island Witch for a spell to remove their ghastly guest permanently! 

With their Ghost-B-Gone spell in hand, Batcat travels across Spooky Island to gather ingredients—to the Cavernous Caves where the bats tell them they’re too round to be a bat, and to the Whispering Cemetery where the cats will help only if they commit to being a true cat. But Batcat is neither and that's what makes them special, right?  

From up-and-coming author Meggie Ramm comes a sweet and fun story about accepting yourself when you're perfectly in-between here and there.

This graphic novel is a quick read – as most are – but it carries a message everyone needs to hear no matter what age you are. A bit like the Wizard of Oz. It’s got adventure, an unexpected friendship and heart. If you give someone a chance, they might surprise you.

Mighty Bite by Nathan Hale

Harry N. Abrams, April 2023

From the Publisher:

What happens when a couple of prehistoric creatures want to become internet stars? Trilobite and Amber (a walking whale) dream of fame and fortune. They don’t realize that most of the world thinks that they’re extinct. When a wandering paleo-newscaster introduces them to the world of internet videos, they hop at the chance to get behind the camera. The competition for internet fame will be fierce—Trilobite and Amber will face off against ancient sea creatures, talking cacti, floating cat heads, and more! Friendships will be tested, allies will be made, and cameras will be smashed! Our heroes will have to use all of their newfound skills when they find themselves competing in an all out video-making battle royale!

With laugh-out-loud gags and outrageous, elaborate artwork, fans of Dog Man and InvestiGators have never seen anything like Nathan Hale’s The Mighty Bite!

This graphic novel is exactly what it says on the back cover – wacky, funny and unique. It’s a tremendous adventure that will take you just about everywhere. Mostly places you’d never expect. The quirky cast of characters grows as the adventure continues. Will trilobite get what he’s questing for or something better? Start reading and find out!

BLOG TOUR! Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt

I am so fortunate to be on this blog tour for an incredible author and book. Not only is there a book blurb, but there’s an author interview AND a giveaway.

This book should be in every classroom. We all need to learn about people different from ourselves: understanding what they go through, why they do what they do and need the things that help them function in the world.

All the way through it, I was in awe of the incredible scenes, language and feelings that struck me. It’s a memorable novel in verse and I love the characters. I know everyone can relate to something in this story. And it’s also helpful to know that what we experience and maybe feel is isolating, is probably more common than we think or know. From excellent teachers to annoying teachers, friends and bullies, family and neighbors, I think there is something that will resonate with everyone in the story. Really, is anyone normal? We’re all individuals and what’s normal to one is not to another.

Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt

From the publisher: Scholastic Press, April 2023

An extraordinary novel-in-verse about a neurodivergent girl who comes to understand and celebrate her difference.

Selah knows her rules for being normal.

She always, always sticks to them. This means keeping her feelings locked tightly inside, despite the way they build up inside her as each school day goes on, so that she has to run to the bathroom and hide in the stall until she can calm down. So that she has to tear off her normal-person mask the second she gets home from school, and listen to her favorite pop song on repeat, trying to recharge. Selah feels like a dragon stuck in a world of humans, but she knows how to hide it.

Until the day she explodes and hits a fellow student.

Selah's friends pull away from her, her school threatens expulsion, and her comfortable, familiar world starts to crumble.

But as Selah starts to figure out more about who she is, she comes to understand that different doesn’t mean damaged. Can she get her school to understand that, too, before it’s too late?

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: 

Angela Russell: Do you work/teach full time? Do your students inspire you?

Meg Eden Kuyatt: At the moment, I have lots of little jobs—which I think is how I work best. I tend to burn out when I do any one thing too much or for too long, and especially for teaching, I really want to be present for my students and able to give them my best feedback. My students absolutely inspire me! I love how I can teach the same lesson or give the same prompt and they always see new things. I especially love giving prompts like asking them to write what’s inside them, and the things they discover are so incredible. I’m also blown away by my students’ humility and willingness to learn. Especially my students at the community college where I work—they never give any excuses. They have such incredible attitudes and often are juggling so many different things in life that I’m just blown away that they are taking the time to be in my class in the first place. 

 

AR: What is your writing process and how do you make / find time to write.

MEK: I find that typically I work best every other day, or at least, only making myself write every other day. If I try to force it every day I can stress myself out, and stress is the enemy of creative writing. But really, I’m always playing and thinking. I’m always scribbling down notes and ideas. We make time for the things we love, even if it’s in little bits, and even if there are seasons where we need to refill and step away. I’m learning that I have certain phases with new projects, where I’m so uncertain and asking so many questions, and that scares me, but I’m comforted knowing this will pass and with time, I’ll become more confident!

 

AR: Do you have any heroes? Yes, though I don’t know where to even start!

MEK: I have lots of heroes but the first that comes to mind is my old pastor, Pastor Ed. Whenever he came up to preach, he made clear that he was actively not there to call out specific people or shame; he was just this guy coming up to tell us what God had been teaching him recently. He was always honest and real about what he was struggling with and learning, so it never felt like this guy talking down to you but with you—and as a kid especially, that was very compelling.

 

I realize now that as a writer, he has been my biggest influence. When I write stories, I think about his approach to sermons. I ask myself: what am I struggling with right now? What do I need to hear and learn? And that’s the engine for my stories.

 

I was recently speaking at a conference, and I had this moment where I was absolutely chuffed inside because I heard Pastor Ed’s mannerisms in how I was talking. When he preached, another great thing he did was he had a very clear structure and order. His messages were easy to remember because he organized them in a very logical, practical way. As a speaker, I always really try to emulate this so my audience will remember the points I’m trying to make.

 

Pastor Ed is a very humble dude, and I think this is part of what makes it easy for me to listen to and respect him (I’m still learning the humility thing). I really love that Pastor Ed always stressed that we should never just take his word for something. We should never believe something’s true because he said it; we should always examine the Bible for what it says is true. This instilled in me a great value for critical, independent thinking (and I want to add here that this included me wanting to decide for myself if the Bible is true and trustworthy), and also makes me as a writer and instructor desire to instill this in my students and readers. I rarely want to be didactic on the page, and I never want to preach to my audience (because unlike Pastor Ed, I am not a preacher!). I want to give my readers questions to think about and wrestle with themselves. I want to give a sense of my stance, where I’m coming from and what I believe, but all I can do is pose an argument. Kids are smart. They are going to decide what they believe for themselves.

 

AR: There is a definite need in the market for this book and I think it should be in the middle school curriculum.  (not a question – just an opinion 😊)

MEK: Thank you so much! That makes me so happy to hear!

 

AR: What were your favorite books growing up and do you have any now?

MEK: Anne of Green Gables was a huge one. As I got older, Screwtape Letters was another—I love how it plays with point of view and a story many of us have heard but seeing it from the opposite side. 

 

I have so many favorite books now, but a few are Elle McNicoll’s A Kind of Spark, anything by Corey Ann Haydu (though my favorite is probably Lawless Spaces or One Jar of Magic) and John Perkin’s Let Justice Roll Down.

 

AR: Is much of this story based on your experiences? What that where the idea for the book came from?

MEK: Yes and no. Little bits are from my experience and perception, like being at a small private school, or a girl braiding my hair in the recess line and how that came as such a shock to me. Everything I write has some element of my experience—little surface details but even more so, the emotions I’ve felt. This book came from the emotion, from feeling overwhelmed in the middle of COVID and feeling so small and like I had no control. There’s an emotional truth to the story, which is what matters most to me, that even if Selah’s story isn’t literally autobiographical, it captures my feelings of trying to figure out how to navigate living in a neurotypical world. 

 

AR: Did this come all as one story or did you piece things together?

MEK: This one had a long “incubation period” and many false starts but once I figured out the right starting point and started really drafting, it came together all at once. But really, I’m not sure that’s fair to say. The first draft happened in a very short period of time, but there were years of gathering experiences and ideas that ended up in that final draft. So it’s really both. 

 

AR: What did you learn/discover while writing it?

MEK: I think the main thing is that I discovered I am actually autistic, and that I have so many ways to fly—that autism has difficulties, but it also has beautiful strengths. I think if it weren’t for this book, I might’ve never sought a formal diagnosis for my autism, so for that I am so incredibly grateful. 

 

AR: What are you working on next / future projects readers can look forward to? 

MEK: I am in the middle of a few projects. I’m waiting for feedback on a possible middle grade project and am taking a little bit of a breather to play with new ideas until I hear more. I’m also editing a YA manuscript that has taken me at least 20 drafts at this point, but I think (hope) we’re starting to go in the right direction… 

 

I’m really interested in protagonists with all sorts of different autistic experiences, generational neurodivergence or how people dealt (often maladaptively) with being autistic in previous generations, and I’m really interested in the magic in the everyday. 

Here's a link to all of Meg's book tour events. CLICK HERE  

Here is the rafflecopter link to enter to win an arc of Good Different!

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/df05f79b2/.

You can find links to Meg’s books and social media info below:

 

Twitter: @ConfusedNarwhal

Instagram: @meden_author

Facebook: Meg Eden Writes Poems

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/buwBXX

www.megedenbooks.com

 

Twofer this month: First up, picture books about the sun

This month there are two posts! This first one is about STEM books for kids. The second post on April 15, is an author interview, book blurb, with a chance to win a copy! I'm excited to be on this blog tour. You don't want to miss all these incredible books.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Daytime Star (Skytime) Board Book by Elizabeth Everett (Author), Beatriz Castro (Illustrator)

From the publisher: Science, Naturally! An Imprint of Platypus Media, LLC, Feb 2023

How I wonder what you are… the Sun, our most important star!

We see the Sun every day. When we wake up, it rises with us. During the day, it gives us light and keeps us warm. But the Sun is just a star and there are billions of others. So why is this one so important?

A science lesson wrapped in a familiar rhyme, Twinkle, Twinkle, Daytime Star introduces children to the many ways the Sun affects our world, from small things we experience every day on planet Earth, to the way our entire solar system functions.

Readers discover how this one special star affects Earth's orbit and rotation, day and night, the changing seasons, the length of a year, the lives of plants and animals, and the production of energy and radiation, light and shadows, and even vitamins.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Daytime Star is a must-have for any child who is curious about the world around them. With glowing illustrations and a well-known beginning, this charming story is a cozy way to learn about the one-of-a-kind star that makes everything possible. In this book, the Sun truly shines!

This is a fun take on the Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star song. A great introduction to the only star in our solar system and how it affects people, animals, and plants on earth. It shows the passage of time, seasons and how long a calendar year is. The rhyme coupled with the kid-centric illustrations make this colorful and accessible for all. And you can get it in a bilingual English/Spanish edition.

This is the Sun by Elizabeth Everett (Author), Evelline Andrya (Illustrator)

From the publisher: Science, Naturally! An Imprint of Platypus Media, LLC, Nov 2022

This is the Sun that makes the world go round!

From the tiniest animal to the tallest tree, everything on Earth is connected through the circle of life. But at the center of it all is a different kind of circle—the Sun!

Through a charming story with rhythmic repetition, young children are introduced to the bright Sun that provides energy for life on Earth.

Follow along as a young tree uses light from the Sun to make its own food, then passes its energy along the food chain… until it circles all the way back to a brand-new sprout growing toward the Sun. Readers see how each living thing in the food web provides energy to the next, over and over again.

The vibrant collage art grows along with the increasingly multilevel story. As you read, look for the bug, spider, lizard, fox, and more as they move through each of the pages and build a full ecosystem.

This is the Sun gives readers a glimpse into how all the living things are connected through the circle of life—and the role the Sun plays in making it all possible.

This is another fun take on the song, There Was an Old Woman. Beautiful collage artwork builds and incorporates all the plants, animals, the tree and the sun. This is a circle of life book, as well, but completely different than the one above. We follow the sunlight and the tree, all the way through the bugs, reptiles, animals, and seeds that grow again from the sun.

Both of these books are beautiful and colorful with repetition that kids love.

 

Ghosts, ghosts, and more ghosts!

I recently read two middle grade ghost stories and watched a Netflix show adapted from a middle grade ghost series. Although, they upped the age a bit, so they’re teenagers. And it’s not even October! Ghost stories are good any time of year. Plus, it was my birthday month, so, busy busy time. 😀

Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur T. Bradley

From the publisher, Viking (Penguin Random House): published August 2020

When JJ Jacobson convinced his mom to accept a surprise invitation to an all-expenses-paid weekend getaway at the illustrious Barclay Hotel, he never imagined that he'd find himself in the midst of a murder mystery. He thought he was in for a run-of-the-mill weekend ghost hunting at the most haunted spot in town, but when he arrives at the Barclay Hotel and his mother is blamed for the hotel owner's death, he realizes his weekend is going to be anything but ordinary.

Now, with the help of his new friends, Penny and Emma, JJ has to track down a killer, clear his mother's name, and maybe even meet a ghost or two along the way.

This story begins by introducing us to the characters. It started a bit slow and threw me off but did not deter. It’s a mystery, ghost story, friendship and family story. All great ingredients for a fun book (IMO). AND there’s are twists I did not see coming. Which makes it even more fun! That’s a real feat to be able to do that. Each character is unique and interesting and the story flows from there. With excellent writing and illustrations, you just can’t go wrong.

I learned that this book is good for reluctant readers, too. It feels lower middle grade and easy to digest. Not sure why I’m using food references, lol. I’m glad my friend told me about this title. And when I got it from the library, the library gave me another suggestion, which is the next ghost story. Win, win.

Scritch Scratch by Lindsay Currie

From the publisher, Sourcebooks Young Readers: published September 2020

A ghost story about a malevolent spirit, an unlucky girl, and a haunting mystery that will tie the two together.

Claire has absolutely no interest in the paranormal. She’s a scientist, which is why she can’t think of anything worse than having to help out her dad on one of his ghost-themed Chicago bus tours. She thinks she’s made it through when she sees a boy with a sad face and dark eyes at the back of the bus. There’s something off about his presence, especially because when she checks at the end of the tour…he’s gone.

Claire tries to brush it off, she must be imagining things, letting her dad’s ghost stories get the best of her. But then the scratching starts. Voices whisper to her in the dark. The number 396 appears everywhere she turns. And the boy with the dark eyes starts following her.

Claire is being haunted. The boy from the bus wants something...and Claire needs to find out what before it’s too late.

Loved this story. It was spooky, haunting but not too scary, included really interesting Chicago history, and was quite gripping to read. Also had friendship issues, family issues and young love interest. That’s pretty darn cool. I’m also hoping this is the beginning of a series with these characters. That would be so fun. These characters are engaging and heartfelt and care about each other so much. It also shows that everyone has problems, no matter how perfect or put together they may seem.

This one felt more upper middle grade, was more serious and a bit scarier than the first book above. Both are worth reading and pretty awesome they came out one month apart in 2020.

The Netflix series I watched is Lockwood & Co. I LOVED these books by Jonathan Stroud. There are five in the series, and they are all fantastic. I was very excited to see it was coming to a screen near me. The first half hour, they talked so fast that I could hardly understand anything they said. Having subtitles on for that part would be helpful. After that, it was a normal speed of speaking. I’m not sure if knowing the books made it easier for me or not. I’d be curious what someone else thought who didn’t read the books. Unfortunately, I watched the series too fast and now it’s done. 😩 They could have done 10 or 20 episodes and that would be fine with me. I’m hoping they do a season for each book – at least! – and get them filming quickly. Need that Lockwood fix. This show is definitely scarier than the two stories above, but I believe it matches the books pretty well. The skull in the glass though, is super funny in the novels. At least, I thought so.  

If you enjoy ghost stories, you will like ALL of these. Boo!