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PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : Bookie & Cookie & Bookie & Cookie turn the page by Blanca Gomez

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BOOKIE & COOKIE written & illustrated by Blanca Gomez Rocky Pond Books, 2024 ISBN: 978-0-593-69680-4 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Even the best friendships have rough moments, but a true friend will always find a way to compromise (especially when cookies are involved!) – a scrumptious and clever read-aloud by the illustrator of Very Good Hats and Besos for Baby.Bookie and Cookie are best friends. They love to spend time together, reading books and snacking on treats. But whenever this happens, it’s always at Cookie’s home . . . until the day when Bookie insists on getting together at his home instead. Cookie He doesn’t want to try something new. And now Bookie and Cookie are both alone, and the activities they used to enjoy together aren’t nearly as much fun. Can the two buddies each try something new for the sake of their friendship? REVIEW Bookie a...

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION REVIEW & AUTHOR GUEST POST: Lost on Doll Island by Cassandra Ramos-Gomez

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  LOST ON DOLL ISLAND written by Cassandra Ramos-Gomez Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-6659-7513-1 Source: publisher for review (thanks!) Ages 9-12 Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Diego feels trapped. He’s confined in an arm cast, stuck with his tía and tío in Mexico City, and smothered with the sickening fear that he’s the one who really caused his parents’ divorce. But most of all, he’s trapped in his own secret. Because ever since he got to Mexico City, he’s started having strange dreams of a doll calling his name. Then Diego learns of La Isla de Muñecas, an island full of legendary magic that can make children’s wishes come true. If Diego can harness the power there, maybe he could fix everything that has gone wrong in his life. Maybe he doesn’t have to move to Mexico City, his parents don’t have to separate, and he could even reunite with one of his...

CHAPTER BOOK REVIEW: Miles Lewis, Pet Sitter/Miles Lewis, Top Chef by Kelly Starling Lyons & Wayne Spencer

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MILES LEWIS, PET SITTER written by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Wayne Spencer Penguin Workshop, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-593-75273-9 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 6-9 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From the award-winning author of the Jada Jones chapter books comes an illustrated spin-off series perfect for STEM fans! When Miles and his classmates welcome a few frogs as class pets, it's a reminder that what he really wants more than anything is a dog to call his own. But his parents don't think he's ready, and his attempts to show them that he truly can care for critters all end in disaster. Can Miles pull it together and prove that he's responsible enough for a pet once and for all? REVIEW Miles Lewis wants a dog really badly. After participating with his class in the arrival of some class pets, he's inspired to prove to his parents that he's ready ...

EARLY READER FICTION : Nat the Cat Has a Hat/Stop That Mop!

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NAT THE CAT HAS A HAT written & illustrated by Jarrett Lerner Simon Spotlight, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-6659-5712-0 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-7 Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Nat the Cat gets a little jealous in this fourth book in the hilarious, fourth wall–breaking Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read series about a grumpy cat, a curious rat, and an exasperated narrator from powerhouse creator Jarrett Lerner! Nat the Cat has a hat. Pat the Rat has a nicer hat. Nat the Cat wants a hat like that. Will the two friends have a spat? REVIEW Nat the Cat's jealousy gets the better of him when Pat the Rat seems to get nicer hats. The author/illustrator provides the additional hats Nat desires until the author mentions how silly he is being and he demands that they have no hats at all. When Nat notices that Pat the Rat feels really sad about having no hat, the author/illustrator/narrato...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : The Dream by Gideon Sterer & Nik Henderson

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  THE DREAM written by Gideon Sterer, illustrated by Nik Henderson Clarion Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-06-335799-0 Source: purchased Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK The Transformers meets The Lorax in this epic, wordless fantasy with timely environmental takeaways about how to make our world better for all those who live in it—including those who are furred, feathered, and finned. Perfect for Earth Day and every day! What happens when one girl, disheartened by the way we treat the earth, crosses paths with a mysterious wolf in the woods—who feels just as she does? With the help of countless beasts from land, sky, and sea, can they protect our plant and its inhabitants? Here’s a story for all the doers who believe that working together can make that dream come true. REVIEW This lengthy picture book is completely wordless. Which makes it interesting that it has both an author and ...

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION REVIEW : City Spies: Europa by James Ponti

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  CITY SPIES : EUROPA City Spies #7 written by James Ponti Aladdin, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-5998-8 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK In this seventh installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies work to prevent a dangerous criminal from escaping prison in another international adventure perfect for fans of Spy School and Charlie Thorne. The City Spies are ready to start fresh with a new home, new schools, and a new directive now that Clementine has come in from the cold and Le Fantôme has been put behind bars. But their plans are put into jeopardy when Umbra threatens to attack multiple high-level targets across Europe unless he is released from prison. With intel leading them to Rome, Paris, London, and Amsterdam, the City Spies split up and race across the continent solv...

WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY : The Secrets of the Jellies by Karen Jameson & Marie Hermansson

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  THE SECRETS OF THE JELLIES Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents written by Karen Jameson, illustrated by Marie Hermansson Chronicle Books, 2026 Source : Blue Slip Media/publisher Ages  4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by Blue Slip Media & Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Soak up a sea of secrets and fun facts about jellyfish in this information-rich picture book! A spectacular world of weird and wonderful jellyfish awaits in The Secrets of the Jellies. Engaging rhyming text will amaze young readers with awe-inspiring information about these beguiling sea creatures. Filled with facts and energetic undersea artwork, this aquarium-exhibit-in-a-book helps us learn all about jelly anatomy, behavior, habitats, and ecosystems as we get to know the moon jelly, lion’s mane jellyfish, fried-egg jellyfish, flame jellyfish, and so many more. Dive in and be dazzled! ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR Karen Jameson is a children’s ...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : The Case of Old MacDonald and his farm by Mark Teague

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  THE CASE OF OLD MACDONALD AND HIS FARM written & illustrated by Mark Teague Beach Lane Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-9076-9 Source : publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From New York Times bestselling and award-winning author-illustrator Mark Teague comes a hilarious whodunit picture book about something suspicious afoot on Old MacDonald’s farm! Something mysterious—and silly!—is up at Old MacDonald’s farm. Thank goodness Officer Busby is on the case, because, as she says, “Whoever did this knew their business.” Silly business, that is. What could possibly be going on? Well, it’s April 1st. And everyone knows what that means… REVIEW Poor Old MacDonald, his farm seems to have been attacked by a rash of silliness. Officer Busby of the Animal Control department arrives to help him sort things out. At first, she suspects that a rabbit in a blue coa...

#MMGM : Dragon Girl and the Awakened Flames by Jenny Moore

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  DRAGON GIRL AND THE AWAKENED FLAMES Dragon Girl #1 written by Jenny Moore Sourcebooks Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-4642-5404-8 Source:  purchased/publisher for review in a professional magazine Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK An orphan girl discovers she has dragon blood—the key to immortality. Hunted by an evil necromancer, she must learn to control her emerging powers if she is going to stop him. "A hero forged in fiercest flame, A child of iron and pain. By blood shall heal and chasm seal A kingdom torn in twain."—The Final Prophecy from the Tome of Terrible Tomorrows* *Also known as Odolf's prophecy. (But only by Odolf!) All the best stories and adventures start with a knock at the door… Or the thwump of a dragon's tail at the entrance to her cave, in the case of Emba Oak. But then nothing about Emba's story is normal; from the scales on her arms ...

MIDDLE GRADE NONFICTION : The Amazing Generation by Jonathan Haidt & Catherine Price with Cynthia Yuan Cheng

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  THE AMAZING GENERATION Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World written by Jonathan Haidt & Catherine Price, illustrated by Cynthia Yuan Cheng Rocky Pond Books, 2025 ISBN: 979-8-217-11190-9 Source: purchased Ages 10-14 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller The Anxious Generation, this new book for kids and tweens is a comprehensive guide for living a happy and exciting life that isn’t hijacked by a smartphone. Jonathan Haidt’s blockbuster book, The Anxious Generation, has sparked a global conversation about the effects of smartphones and social media on young people’s development, and has inspired millions of parents, teachers, and leaders to take action. Now, Haidt and Catherine Price, author of the bestselling How to Break Up with Your Phone, have teamed up to create a new book that speaks directly to kids. Their goal? To em...