4 Stars

The Island of Sol is a tropical oasis with lots of nature and wildlife to keep any adventurer entertained. Isla Verde is one such adventurer, but with a unique talent – she can talk to animals! When the prospect of making a new human friend comes along, Isla is worried that her ability to talk to animals will make her come across as weird. This book (and the series to follow) is all about making friends and celebrating their differences. Sometimes it’s the things that make us different that bring us together.

-Lydia
Posted 4/10/2024

5 Stars

How could one’s life be anything other than whimsical as it nearly begins on a Ferris wheel ride?  Emma Phineas Wilkey, Ferris for short, is a spirited young lady on summer vacation. In tow, she has Billy Jackson, her piano-virtuoso best friend; Pinky, her outlaw-in-training sister, and her loving family. This cast of characters help Ferris embark on adventures imbued with life lessons– on upholding promises, harnessing the power of words, and unabashedly showing big love. DiCamillo’s new novel is laugh-out-loud funny and chock-full of candid conversations of self-discovery, friendship and penning a life story that is also a love story.

-Hannah
Posted 4/10/2024

5 Stars

There is the family that you’re born into, and the family that you make. But what happens when you have to decide where you fit best? Not Quite a Narwhal is a short, sweet story of belonging and acceptance. This book takes us on a Kelp’s journey of figuring out whether he is a sea unicorn, or a land narwhal, and maybe…just maybe…he can be both.

-Lydia
Posted 3/28/2024

4 Stars

Step onto the forest floor and what do you see? What do you smell? What do you hear? Through Christiane Dorion’s vivid descriptions and Jane McGuinness’s lively illustrations, you are transported through the pages of Into the Forest, where you can answer these questions and more! Everything you could want to know about the life-cycle of the forest, the wildlife that inhabits it, and the experiences you can anticipate are documented in this stunning, easy non-fiction book. Crack open the spine and get lost on a “journey through our woodland world” from the comfort of your own home.

-Lydia
Posted 3/28/2024

5 Stars

People are buzzing about their distaste for the bee… and nobody feels the sting of hurt quite like Jerry, who only wants to make friends. One day, Jerry decides to wear a wayside wig and gets mistaken for a boy on his way to school instead of a bee. With this disguise, Jerry is able to experience a life of acceptance rather than avoidance. But what happens when the disguise is gone? This is a sweeter-than-honey story about what can happen when you challenge misconceptions and embrace the true you.

-Hannah
Posted 3/15/2024

4 Stars

Jo’s bored and forlorn attitude shifts one fateful day when she encounters a canine courier on its weekend errands. Equipped with a basket, a list, and a tail-swishing “can-do” attitude, Jo and Pawcasso set off on all kinds of accidental adventures, like a painting class. But what happens when Jo weaves herself into the community through a web of little white lies? This sweet story speaks to the importance of strong connections – to community, to family, and to furry friends.

-Hannah
Posted 3/4/2024

5 Stars

Do you ever live a moment you wish you could bottle up and access later? That is the foundation of The Happy Shop, run by sisters Frida and Flora. Residents of the town aren’t inextricably drawn to the storefront until they’re in dire need, like new-to-town Darcy. A clumsy mishap leads her to begin part-time work with the sisters where she discovers the hidden power of emotions, happy and otherwise. This middle-grade illustrated novel candidly explores vulnerability, family and self-exploration.

-Hannah
Posted 2/26/2024

4 Stars

As she enters middle school, Violet must face another change: a new house and her attic bedroom, covered in unnerving old wallpaper. Soon after the move, Violet contracts a mysterious illness and begins to suspect she’s sharing her room with an evil force. Incorporating aspects of the literary classic The Yellow Wallpaper, this middle-grade retelling features an emotionally intense narrative with beautiful prose and a fully developed cast of characters.

-Amity
Posted 2/13/2024

5 Stars

Differences have a way of pulling us apart when trying to connect. Hedgehog really wants a hug, but he has a big pokey problem! Every animal he encounters has a reason they’d rather not give him a squeeze (like counting acorns, practicing a birdsong or hibernating)… that is, until Turtle. This sweet story drives home a message about how the right friend will pick to love you, regardless of a few pesky prickles.

-Hannah
Posted 2/13/2024

5 Stars

Mae meets a bear cub as she travels by train, which she doesn’t like to do; Bear is nervous to be surrounded by humans. Bears and humans don’t spend much time together normally… but what happens when these two travelers filled with trepidation overcome their fears? In a touching tale of creativity, friendship and exploration, this book tips its hat to the courage it takes to be kind.

-Hannah
Posted 12/12/2023