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MIDDLE GRADE FICTION REVIEW & INTERVIEW : Relic of Thieves (Underwild #2) by Shana Targosz

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  RELIC OF THIEVES The Underwild #2 written by Shana Targosz Aladdin, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-5766-3 Source : ARC 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 An ordinary girl’s longing to return to the way things were sets off a chain of events that lands her and her best friend in the Underwild in this second book in the New York Times bestselling middle grade fantasy series The Underwild—perfect for fans of Greenwild and Rick Riordan. The best ways Anya knows how to cope with the struggles life throws her way is to keep her head down, stay invisible, and stick close to her best friend, Lizzie. Lizzie has been Anya’s rock since second grade. Together, they pretend the world away. But when Lizzie moves out of state, Anya is left adrift and desperately lonely. One day, Anya follows a strange girl home from school and is shocked to see her go into the home of the w...
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PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen & Violeta Engarnacion

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  BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US written by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnacion Red Comet Press, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-63655-192-0 Source: author for review (Thanks!) Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A powerful reverso poem about two girls separated by barbed wire and 80 years of history Barbed Wire Between Us is a powerful reverso poem that tells two deeply resonant stories across time. It begins with a Japanese American girl sent to an internment camp in Oklahoma during World War II. Read in reverse, it reveals the journey of a Latina girl detained in the very same camp decades later, during the U.S. policy of migrant family separation. Harrowing and emotionally charged, this poetic narrative compels us to confront a haunting question: What have we truly learned in the past 80 years about how we treat the most vulnerable among us? With haunting symmetry and striking parallels, Ba...
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WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY : Who Hid the Stars? by Valentina Gottardi, Maciej Michno, and Danio Miserocchi

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  WHO HID THE STARS? How Light Pollution Changes Our World written by Valentina Gottardi, Maciej Michno, and Danio Miserocchi illustrated by Valentina Gottardi translated by Sylvia Notini Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5651-7 Source: publisher for review Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A richly illustrated picture book exploring light pollution and its surprising impact on nature and wildlife. When streetlights outshine the stars, what does that mean for plants, animals, and us? This absorbing nonfiction picture book investigates artificial light and its unexpected impact on our planet. Who Hid the Stars? explores fascinating topics including: How artificial light developed throughout history—from fire to LEDs How city lights interrupt bird migration patterns How streetlights gather insects—and their predators How turtles struggle to hatch without da...
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PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : Loops by Jashar Awan

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  LOOPS written & illustrated by Jashar Awan Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-7494-3 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 3-7 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor–winning author-illustrator Jashar Awan comes a hilarious and all-too-relatable picture book about the perseverance and positive self-talk needed to learn to tie your shoelaces! This big kid is wearing his first pair of big-kid shoes, the kind with laces! Even though they’re a little on the roomy side—shoes to grow into, of course—he knows he can take care of them. Except they keep falling off! Not to worry, he’ll just tie them up again, because he knows how to tie those loops! But wait a second, where did that darn shoe go? Nothing is ever truly easy when you’re just starting something new; but, just like with any stage in childhood, whether it’s making...
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MIDDLE GRADE GRAPHIC NOVEL : Camp Monster by Kate Messner & Falynn Koch

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  CAMP MONSTER written by Kate Messner, illustrated by Falynn Koch Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-5476-0941-3 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary are provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK New York Times bestselling author Kate Messner invites you to Camp Monster in this fun-filled young middle-grade graphic novel series perfect for fans of InvestiGators. Tasha's family has run Camp Yeti for generations, but these days there just aren't enough Yetis to fill the bunks. This summer they are rebranding as CAMP MONSTER--a super fun summer camp experience for ALL of monster-kind. Tasha can't wait to show off all the camp traditions she loves! But things get off to a rocky start--the goblins are causing a ruckus, the ogre is a total diva, and the werewolf keeps disappearing. This is not the perfect summer Tasha had hoped for. Then a series of mysterious mish...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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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 ...
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