• Reviews

    C. R. Mudgeon

    With a  title like that, who could resist this book!  C.R. Mudgeon is a hedgehog who knows what he likes and likes what he knows, that is until a new neighbor moves in upstairs and his whole world gets turned around! Paprika the squirrel likes bright colors, spicy food, and…

  • Reviews

    Eleanor & Park

    This book cover has bee intriguing to me for the past couple of months and I finally got a chance to read the book last week.  A story of love found in the most unlikely of places is one that I rarely can put down.  This is a universal story…

  • Reviews

    The Story of Fish & Snail

    The Story of Fish & Snail written and illustrated by Deborah Freedman is a beautifully told story about friendship in a new and unique way.  “Every day, Snail waits for Fish to come home with a new story.”  But one day, Fish wants to be able show timid Snail a…

  • Reviews

    A Funny Little Bird

    I found a Funny Little Bird to be full of fun, excitement, and even a good lesson on being a friend and a nice person (or bird!).  The little bird in the story is almost invisible and soon becomes upset because he has no friends.  But after an afternoon of…

  • Reviews

    Ribbit!

    Ribbit! written by Rodrigo Folgueira and illustrated by Poly Bernatene is an adorable story of friendship that will definitely be on my  list for story time in the summer.  One morning a family of frogs wakes up to find a pink pig sitting happily on a rock.  The little pig lets out…

  • Reviews

    33 Minutes

    A lot can happen in 33 minutes… just ask Sam Lewis, who is going to get his butt kicked in 33 minutes by his former best friend, Morgan Sturtz.  Written in a span of time that takes only 33 minutes, Todd Hasak-Lowy creates a typical middle school environment where anything can happen. …

  • Reviews

    Maggot Moon

    Sally Gardner’s Maggot Moon was unexpected and has left me with an unsettled feeling.  The story itself was well-written, really capturing the essence of the characters and the setting.  The story begins with the powerful, “I’m wondering what if…”  What if are two very powerful words that make all the…

  • Reviews

    Navigating Early

    Clare Vanderpool has an amazing quotation on the header of her website from Madeleine L’Engle, “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”  I think this is just what Vanderpool did in…

  • Reviews

    Tracing Stars

     Tracing Stars is a coming of age story for a young girl in a small coastal town where being different makes you stand out.  Indie Lee Chickory is a fish freak – she’s knows everything there is to know about the fish that can be found in the ocean that borders town.  She…

  • Reviews

    Penguin and Pinecone

    “One day Penguin found a curious object.”  And so begins this beautiful story of friendship between a penguin and that curious object – a pinecone!  Salina Yoon has created such a cute world with her whimsical illustrations and simple text about what it means to be a friend.  I don’t…