4 Stars

A modernized telling of Greek Mythology, Lore by Alexandra Bracken is packed full of action, love, heartbreak, sadness, anger, jealously – all the complex emotions. Our main character, Lore, is the kind of character you can’t help but root for from page one. Her energy, story, and character development throughout the book will have you praising and cursing Gods you’d never heard of before! Even without in-depth knowledge of Greek Mythology myself, I was surprised by how easy it was to keep up with the names of the old and new Gods, their bloodlines, and overall terminology. While this book is a hefty 480 pages, and packed with complex plots, the story is easy to follow (and even easier to get hooked on!) and moves quickly. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for their next fantasy/action/suspense read. This book truly has it all!

– Lydia
Posted 11/27/2024

5 Stars

Have you ever wished for the impossible? Lulu the Broadway Mouse tells the funny and heartwarming story of Lulu, a young mouse who longs to perform on the Broadway stage. Living and working behind the scenes in a theater brings her dreams almost within reach—and when Lulu befriends a human girl, Jayne, she moves one step closer to taking the stage herself. But will Jayne’s stage fright be a barrier to fulfilling Lulu’s ambitions, or the key to turning her fantasy to reality? Find out in this feel-good middle grade novel about chasing your dreams and having the courage to stand out! 

– Adrienne
Posted 11/6/2024

5 Stars

Halloween is indeed coming! With the weather getting cooler, the sun setting earlier, and the pumpkin patches opening for business, this is the perfect time to read Halloween is Coming! with your little one. With a wide range of children depicted in the illustrations, it is a fantastic book for all kids to enjoy and relate to. Not only is the writing beautifully rhythmic and the illustrations vibrant and engaging, but it is a great conversation piece for kids! Do you see these changes outside? Do you want to do any of these activities? What would you like to be for Halloween? Can you find the spooky character on each page? Bring fun (and Halloween) right to your door by checking out this fantastic picture book!

-Lydia
Posted 9/19/2024

5 Stars

Frances, a lowly servant, is handed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sew herself into the fabric of fashion history books. Little does she know that her next client has a royal secret. Prince Sebastian is soon to be betrothed… unless his love of glamorous frocks gets in his way. Can Frances and Sebastian quash their fashion-fueled feud and dress for the parts they want in life? Spirited and sweet illustrations are laced with dialogue of accepting differences, self-love and a terrific, twirling take on Cinderella.

-Hannah
Posted 9/4/2024

5 Stars

“Chicago is a beautiful city-the architecture, the food, everything in the city is awesome.” – Chance the Rapper

Journey Around Chicago is an extraordinary alphabet book with stunning illustrations. Tour “Second City” with the help of a cardinal tour guide as he shares the history and sights of the “Windy City.” Enjoy clever alliterations and letter patterns that enhance each page: abstract art, ingenious inventions, and stellar structures are just a few fun letter phrases. Readers also learn facts about Chicago sports, popular foods, and so much more. Journey around Chicago shares the spirit of the city and its cultural diversity. After reading Zschock’s book, Chicago will certainly be your kind of town!

-Benita
Posted 7/19/2024

4 Stars

Getting everything you wish for isn’t as glamourous as it seems. Even wishes have consequences. This modern-day retelling of the Japanese folktale, The Melon Princess and the Amanjaku, will have you biting your nails in suspense! It is the perfect mix of fantasy, thriller, and Japanese culture. Although this book starts off slow, it steadily takes on speed from chapter to chapter until you you’re hit full force with the end. If you’re looking for a page-turner, look no further. But remember, be careful what you wish for.

-Lydia
Posted 7/12/2024

5 Stars

“If you see the magic in a fairy tale, you can face the future.” – Danielle Steel

Once upon a time, a very lonely, bored Princess Sue dreamed of being rescued by a handsome prince. Sue, a feisty princess, longed to see the world and even cut her hair. Eventually, Sue’s prince arrived with the promise of adventure. However, it wasn’t long after they shared true love’s kiss that Princess Sue realized her prince was not as charming as she had imagined. With the help of a fearsome dragon, Princess Sue sets out to save herself and live happily ever after. Princess Sue is no ordinary princess and neither is this magical tale. The rhyming text and fun, colorful illustrations allow the reader to still believe in happy endings.

-Benita
Posted 6/27/2024

5 Stars

“Freedom is the last, best hope on Earth.” – Abraham Lincoln

Johannes lives in the hollow of an ivy-wrapped tree in a park by the sea. He is an unkept and free dog who runs like the light. Being invisible in the park has earned him the title “The Eyes.” Johannes gathers information on anything new and troubling that may upset the equilibrium of the park and reports it to three bison who rule the park. Other companions include Bertrand, a seagull who is Johannes’s closest friend; Sonja, a one-eyed squirrel; Angus, the nocturnal raccoon, and Yolanda, the reading pelican. Under the leadership of Johannes, the animals rally to pull off the impossible: a complex scheme to liberate the bison from their large fenced-in area. With heroic cooperation and the assistance of Helena, a new weed-eating friend, the complicated yet simple escape plan is executed. The Eyes and the Impossible is thought-provoking and entertaining for children as well as adults. It is no wonder why this book earned the prestigious 2024 Newberry Award.

-Benita
Posted 6/12/2024

5 Stars

“Hard times don’t create heroes. It is during the hard times when the ‘hero’ within us is revealed.”- Bob Riley

Superheroes can spin webs, tame beasts, and race to the rescue while chasing bad guys. However, superheroes do not always get their way. Just like us, Superheroes may become sad, maybe even mad, when they are having a bad day. Superheroes could use their power to cause a terrible scene like screeching a shriek, knocking over buildings, and watching the world fill with crime as they sit back feeling frustrated and defeated, but they don’t. They learn to deal with their emotions in constructive ways. Becker’s rhyming text combined with Kaban’s clever illustrations entertain the reader. The message is powerful: we must all learn to cope with sorrow and anger. Like Superheroes we have all sorts of choices. We must use our talents and superpowers within our hearts so we do no harm.

-Benita
Posted 6/10/2024

5 Stars

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” – attributed to Dr. Seuss

It is time to celebrate Africa’s yearly Jungle Dance. While the warthogs waltz, the rhinos rock and roll, and the chimps cha-cha, the animals all laugh at poor Gerald the giraffe, because his dancing is really quite bad. He is rather clumsy and stumbles to the music as he desperately tries to fit in. An embarrassed Gerald leaves the celebration and encounters a violin-playing cricket who advises Gerald to embrace his uniqueness. Andreae’s rhyming lines inspire and teach us that sometimes our problems may be our greatest strength. We should all learn to dance to our own music just like Gerald and celebrate our differences.

-Benita
Posted 6/6/2024

4 Stars

Have you ever wanted to be a unicorn, a sasquatch or a fairy-queen-ballerina-doctor? With the support of Dad, anything is possible! This book will keep the reader guessing with each page turn. A perfect Father’s Day story comes equipped with an overarching message that mythical & magical creatures are brought most to life, to laughter, and to love with the help of a father figure.

-Hannah
Posted 6/5/2024

5 Stars

“In golf, as in life, it’s the follow through that makes the difference.”-Unknown

Alexander’s book is a game-changer for youth as well as adults. The Playbook includes uplifting stories, inspiring life lessons, and motivating quotes from individuals who have excelled in the game of life by following their dreams with courage and passion. Michael Jordan, Pelé, Maya Angelou, Wayne Gretzke, and Wilma Rudolph are just a few of the athletes and role models featured. Fifty-two rules may sound like a lot but they are really quite simple: Believe in yourself. Demonstrate grit. Be resilient. Stay focused and motivated. Surround yourself with great people. The Playbook will inspire its readers to be participants, not spectators, in the game of life.

-Benita
Posted 5/14/2024