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CHAPTER BOOK SERIES REVIEW: Cruise Life (books 1 & 2) by Reese Eschmann

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  QUEEN OF THE SEA Cruise Life #1 written by Reese Eschmann Scholastic Inc., 2025 978-1-339-01815-7 Source: purchased Ages 8-11 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book covers & summaries provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Caitlin and her big brother, Dylan, are still getting used to shuttling between Mom’s new little house and Dad’s fancy new condo after their divorce. But summer means a solid six weeks with her dad. Finally, one toothbrush in one place and all her outfits together! So when her dad announces that he’s gotten a new job on the fanciest, most fun, family-friendly cruise line -- and he’s bringing his kids along -- Caitlin has mixed feelings. For about a minute! Then off she goes on the adventure of a lifetime on the biggest ship she’s ever seen, the Wandering Princess, which is tricked out to perfection. But soon the pressures of being a crew kid get to Caitlin. She's already had to adjust to two new homes . . . will she be able ...

WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY: The Monarch by Kirsten Hall & Isabelle Arsenault

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  THE MONARCH written by Kirsten Hall, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-6659-4342-0 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 Picture book nonfiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher on Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A gorgeous, lively picture book companion to Kirsten Hall and Isabelle Arsenault’s beloved and acclaimed The Honeybee that celebrates the inspiring journey of the monarch butterfly. What’s that? In the air! Over here? Over there! It’s the start of a brand-new story… With sweetly fluttering verse and lush, gorgeous illustrations, this brightly beautiful picture book celebrates the wonders of monarch butterflies—a treasured species in need of care and preservation! REVIEW In this book, readers follow a butterfly's journey from caterpillar to butterfly. The adorable butterfly zips and zooms through the book, visiting a barn to find a mate while sipping from...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW and AUTHOR INTERVIEW: The Hole by Lindsay Bonilla & Brizida Magro

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THE HOLE written by Lindsay Bonilla, illustrated by Brizida Magro Nancy Paulson Books, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-593-52914-0 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 A powerful story perfect for opening up conversations about loss What does it feel like to lose someone you love? For one little boy, it’s like he has a hole in his life. It’s in the bottom bunk, where his little brother, Matty, used to sleep, and it’s on his brother’s chair at dinner. It follows him everywhere until the day he decides to really explore it. Inside the hole he confronts his grief—the sadness, the anger, and the truth of how much he misses Matty. His friend is waiting when he climbs out, and when she asks, “Do you want to tell me about your brother?” he’s surprised to find that talking about Matty is a comfort—and helps fill his hole with good memories. REVIEW The Hole is a book th...

WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY: Marjory's River of Grass by Josie James

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MARJORY'S RIVER OF GRASS: Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Fierce Protector of the Everglades written & illustrated by Josie James Christy Ottaviano Books, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-316-44691-4 Source: F & G from publisher (Little, Brown and Co) for review. Ages 7-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A picture book biography of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the remarkable conservationist and naturalist who worked tirelessly to protect the Florida Everglades. As an environmental journalist and conservationist, Marjory Stoneman Douglas spent her life fighting to preserve the Florida Everglades. Now celebrated as a subtropical paradise with a diverse ecosystem, the Everglades was once considered a worthless swamp. Marjory recognized the wetlands as a treasured river, home to an array of species unlike anywhere else in the world—and she was determined to help protect it. This is the story of how Marjor...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW & AUTHOR INTERVIEW: The Search for Carmella by Chloe Savage

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  THE SEARCH FOR CARMELLA: What Mystery Lurks in the Deep? written & illustrated by Chloe Savage Candlewick Press, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-5362-3897-6 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 Ever since Dr. Rose was a little girl playing in rock pools, she has always loved exploring the sea and the weird and wonderful creatures living there. Now, as a marine biologist, Dr. Rose is in search of a sea creature rumored to reside within the ocean’s hidden depths, a mysterious beast that many speak of but no one has ever seen: Carmella. With her team of scientists and explorers, descending in a submersible to the unfathomable dark of the deep ocean, what incredible creatures will Dr. Rose discover inhabiting a nearly pitch-black world? Rich with the magnificent sea life that can be found in deep water, Chloe Savage’s strikingly illustrated tale of a stro...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme by Betsy Bird & Andrea Tsurumi

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POP! GOES THE NURSERY RHYME written by Betsy Bird, pictures by Andrea Tsurumi Union Square Kids, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-4549-6046-1 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 In this laugh-out-loud spin on a classic nursery rhyme collection, a feisty weasel continuously interrupts the narrator’s carefully prepared recitation—adding exuberant mischief to the timeless rhymes we all know and love.The sensible Secretary Bird wants nothing more than to get on with their job of properly narrating a classic nursery rhyme book. But something is afoot in the orderly land of nursery rhymes . . . a zippy little Weasel has entered the scene! As the Secretary Bird tries to get through the rhymes—from Little Miss Muffet to Jack and Jill—the Weasel bursts in, throwing everything into a comical tailspin. Can the Secretary Bird put an end to the chaos?In Pop Goes the Nursery Rhyme, influent...

POETRY COLLECTION REVIEW: Poetry Comics by Grant Snider

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  POETRY COMICS words and pictures by Grant Snider Chronicle Books, 2024 ISBN: 978-1-7972-1965-3 Source: purchased Ages 9 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From the cloud-gazing hours of early spring to the lost bicycles of late autumn, Grant Snider’s brilliantly illustrated Poetry Comics will take you climbing, floating, swimming, and tumbling through all the year’s ups, downs, and in-betweens. He proves that absolutely everything, momentous or minuscule, is worthy of attention, whether snail shells, building blocks, the lamented late bus, or the rare joy of unscuffed shoes. These poems explore everything you never thought to write a poem about, and they’re so fun to read you’ll want to write one yourself. Not to worry, there’s a poem for that, too! FOR COMIC BOOK These poems for kids are brightly illustrated in graphic novel-style panels, adding a delightful new element to appr...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: Fierce Aunties by Laurel Goodluck & Steph Littlebird

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FIERCE AUNTIES!     written by Laurel Goodluck, illustrated by Steph Littlebird Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-6659-4896-8 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A joyful and vibrant celebration of what makes aunties so special, from Indigenous author and illustrator team Laurel Goodluck and Steph Littlebird inviting all kids to connect with the fierce aunties in their lives. Who do you go to for advice and support? Or when you want an adventure and a little extra courage? Or when you need to find that warrior spirit inside you? Fierce aunties! Aunties come in different shapes, sizes, and ages. They all have different laughs, skills, and stories. They might be your parents’ sisters, your older cousins, or even family friends. But there’s something they all have in common. They’re fierce, they love you, and they’ll he...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: Bruce Saves the Planet by Ryan T. Higgins

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  BRUCE SAVES THE PLANET written & illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins Disney Hyperion, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-368-09020-9 Source: purchased Ages 7-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From unwitting mother to unwitting . . . environmental activist? Save the planet with #1 New York Times best-selling author-illustrator Ryan T. Higgins's beloved Mother Bruce. Bruce was a bear who liked to be by himself. But that wasn't easy for him, as mother to four geese and three mice. Luckily, he could enjoy a day of peace and quiet while fishing. But his quiet haven is full of beetles stealing his lunch. And protestors loudly trying to save the forest from the construction of a factory. Will Bruce and the residents of Soggy Hollow manage to save the planet? REVIEW Bruce finds himself inadvertently at the heart of a protest to stop the destruction of the local forest. As per the norm for this grumpy bear, B...

PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY--Birdlore: The Iridescent Life of Florence Merriam Bailey by Jess Keating & Devon Holzwarth

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  BIRDLORE: The Iridescent Life of Florence Merriam Bailey written by Jess Keating, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth Alfred A. Knopf, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-593-48858-4 Source: purchased Ages 6-10 All options expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From the author of Shark Lady comes the true story of Florence Merriam Bailey, the groundbreaking scientist who inspired a nation to take up bird-watching and worked tirelessly to protect our feathered friends. Before Florence, there was no such thing as "bird-watching". Bright plumes on lady's hats were all the rage, but no one was climbing trees or wading through marsh-grass to spot the birds they came from. Even scientists studied birds in labs instead of outside in their natural habitat. But Florence changed all that. A bird-lover since childhood, she wanted to show the world what made these creatures special. She wanted everyone to care as much as she di...