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MIDDLE GRADE FICTION REVIEW : Monster and Apprentice by Jessica Khoury

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MONSTER AND APPRENTICE written by Jessica Khoury McElderry Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-9148-3 Source : ARC from publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 10-14 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK After a life on the streets Rolan is chosen to apprentice under a feared monster hunter to slay Cryptics—deadly magical creatures born of secrets in this middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of Witcher and Demon Slayer. Rolan Strider has never belonged—not at school, not in the city of Crisanth, and definitely not in the life of his crime-lord father. So when he’s caught vandalizing one of the city’s lanterns—a serious offense in a world where darkness breeds monsters—he expects prison. Instead, he’s claimed by the Arcanist, a legendary warrior who hunts terrifying creatures born from the secrets people hide. Dragged beyond the safety of the city, Rolan is forced to train under Luc’s harsh guidance—learn...
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PICTURE BOOK REVIEWS : Tiny T. Rex Tries Soccer/Max Explains Everything: Soccer Expert

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TINY T-REX TRIES SOCCER written by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Jay Fleck Chronicle Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-7972-3385-7 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 Tiny T. Rex is ready to try lots of new things. First up is his favorite sport—soccer! He has his shin protectors, socks, cleats, special headband, and jersey (even though it's a little too big). He is ready! But it turns out that soccer is very tricky. With the help of his teammates and lots of practice, Tiny learns to juggle, dribble, pass, shoot, and . . . score! REVIEW This new book in the Tiny T. Rex series finds Tiny playing soccer. He has all his gear and is ready to play. But he discovers that watching and playing are not the same thing. He struggles with dribbling, juggling, and shooting. Tiny's sad that his brother and sister play better than him. His siblings remind him that if he practic...
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WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY : The Long Hike by Meghan McCarthy

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THE LONG HIKE The True Story of the First Appalachian Thru-Hike written & illustrated by Meghan McCarthy Beach Lane Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-4994-1 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 Award-winning nonfiction creator Meghan McCarthy tells the story of Earl Shaffer, the first person to thru-hike all 2,000-plus miles of the Appalachian Trail in one hiking season in this empowering picture book. While serving in World War II, Earl Shaffer lost his best friend in combat. After the war ended, he returned home and set off on a hiking adventure to walk off his troubles and find solace in the beauty and “power of nature,” as he put it in his diary. Earl didn’t use a tent, preferring to sleep under the stars. He survived the cold, harsh rain, mud, blisters, steep mountaintops, and a plethora of bugs. But among the challenges, Earl also discovered wildlife, beautifu...
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GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW : Lionel Messi's World Cup Triumph by Chris Barish & Nate Sweitzer

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  LIONEL MESSI'S WORLD CUP TRIUMPH History's Greatest Games #1 written by Chris Barish, illustrated by Nate Sweitzer Abrams Fanfare, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-4197-7939-8 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 It’s the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, and Lionel Messi—one of the greatest players to ever take the field—is one match away from victory. Despite his many awards and accolades, Messi has never been able to add a World Cup trophy to his collection.If Argentina wins, this would be a historic moment not just for the country, but for the entire legacy of soccer on the international stage.Travel back in time to learn how the World Cup began and see the incredible players—from Maradona to Mbappé—who built it into the global phenomenon we know today.This exciting new graphic novel series offers a portal to the past, putting young readers in the middle...
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PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : 102 by Matthew Cordell

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102 written & illustrated by Matthew Cordell Little, Brown and Company, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-316-58095-3 Source; eARC from publisher & purchased final copy Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell comes a cozy, magical nighttime adventure, in which a child discovers the mysterious, miniature world beyond his bedroom walls. Sent home from school earlier in the day with a fever, George awakens in the middle of the night to discover a cricket beckoning him on an adventure and soon finds himself shrunken down in size. He follows the insect guide through a crack in his bedroom wall, through the moonlit yard, and into the home of a family of mice at the base of an oak tree. There, in a tiny, cozy kitchen, George discovers the meaning of his quest: he must help the Mama mouse complete her special 102-bean soup for her sick young son. Delightfully sweet...
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MIDDLE GRADE FICTION : Wild Blizzard by Rodman Philbrick (Available October 20, 2026)

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WILD BLIZZARD  The Wild series by Rodman Philbrick Scholastic Press, 2026 Source : from publisher for review Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A WILD adventure from Rodman Philbrick, author of Wildfire, Wild River, andWild Wave. When Jack's bus slides off the road in the middle of a blizzard, it's up to him to go for help through the raging storm. It's kids vs. nature in an edge-of-your seat read! Jack and his friends are on the school bus driving back from a science fair, when a bomb cyclone hits. Out of nowhere, blinding snow fills the sky, and a powerful wind starts to shake the bus.Moments later, the bus swerves off the road, crashing into the trees, and leaving their teacher unconscious at the wheel. With minimal resources, limited fuel, the blizzard only getting worse, and the bus getting colder every minute, the kids will have to figure out how to get to safety ...
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PICTURE BOOK REVIEW & AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR INTERVIEW : Tajin and the Twelve Thunders by Magaly Morales

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TAJIN AND THE TWELVE THUNDERS A Pre-Columbian Myth written and illustrated by Magaly Morales Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-4197-6885-9 Source : publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. Thanks to the publisher for arranging the interview & providing the cover image & summary. ABOUT THE BOOK A mischievous boy tricks the 12 thunder gods in order to create the first hurricanes in Magaly Morales’s debut author-illustrated picture book, a retelling of a Mexican folktale Tajín is a fun-loving child full of energy and mischief. When his antics prove too rough for even the monkeys of the forest, he’s sent to the pyramid of Los Nichos. There live the Twelve Thunders, who, with their sweeping capes, thunderous boots, and flashing swords, make the weather. For a time, the boy is on his best behavior while in their service . . . but all too soon, he yearns to join the Thunders in the sky. Based on a popular Mexican myth, Tajín and the Twelve Thunders...
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EARLY READER REVIEW : What Will We Find in This Box? by Mo Willems (coming Sept. 1, 2026)

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  WHAT WILL WE FIND IN THIS BOX? A Snake & Bat Book written & illustrated by Mo Willems Union Square Kids, 2026 ISBN: 9781454966784 Ages 3+ All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author Mo Willems comes SNAKE & BAT, an exciting early reader series set in the world of ELEPHANT & PIGGIE!   Bat plans so that Snake does not have to.  Snake goes to bat when Bat makes mis-snakes.   Best Friends Snake and Bat love being themselves with each other.  In What Will We Find in This Box? , Snake and Bat find a box. The box is exciting! The box is instructive. The box can be a toy. The box is also . . . not theirs! How can a box be one thing and so many things at the same time? Read and find out!  REVIEW In the first of what I hope will be many books about Bat and Snake, the friends discover a box. Ea...
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MIDDLE GRADE FICTION REVIEW : DragonBorn by Struan Murray

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DRAGONBORN Dragonborn #1 written by Struan Murray Dutton Children's Books, 2025 ISBN: 979-8-217-11321-7 Source : purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Become the impossible . . . Life is no fun for Alex Evans. Ever since her dad's death, her overprotective mother has smothered her with unbreakable rules and unspoken fears. When the frustration inside Alex finally gets too big to bear, it rushes to the surface. And flames spill from her mouth. Because Alex is a dragon. One of the many who live among us, unless something awakens their true nature. Led by the mighty Oliphos to the legendary island of Skralla, Alex must now train alongside fierce, frightening dragon children, if she is to unlock the power of her birthright. But other dragons are rising too. Drak Midna, the greatest dragon of all, is preparing a war against the human world, and Alex has to be good enough ...
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PICTURE BOOK REVIEWS : The Pool is Cool & Deep Blue

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  THE POOL IS COOL written by Dwayne Reed, illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice Little, Brown and Company, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-316-46206-8 Source : F & G for review from publisher Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK This bounce-to-the-beat picture book by America’s favorite rapping teacher follows a young son who helps his father overcome his fear of swimming. Bloop. Dribble. Drip. Drizzle. Splish. Spray. Splash! I’m here with my dad in this cool swimming class! But I can tell something’s wrong and that this isn’t him, Cuz my dad makes every excuse not to swim. I wish I could convince him THE POOL IS COOL! With rhyming text and vibrant illustrations that capture the essence of summer, this tender story about a father and son will encourage confident and reluctant swimmers alike to overcome their fears one stroke at a time. REVIEW A young boy wants his dad to join him in the pool...
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