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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...

ACTIVITY BOOK : Plant Pandemonium (Big Brain Puzzles) by Camille Pichon

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PLANT PANDEMONIUM! Big Brain Puzzles by Camille Pichon Twirl, 2025 ISBN: 978-2-40806-181-4 Source: Publisher/Blue Slip Media Ages 6 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by Blue Slip Media & publisher through Amazon.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Be a puzzle master! Forty-five challenging games designed for kids aged 6 and up are included in this interactive plant-themed book. Fold and unfold flaps to arrange the houseplants, move play pieces around to plant vegetables, slide tabs to find the earthworms that have been digging underground—and more! • Features 45 challenging puzzles • Includes QR code for puzzle solutions • Interactive elements add an extra layer of fun • Helps develop problem-solving and creative-thinking skills REVIEW The puzzles in Plant Pandemonium  present readers with numerous opportunities to practice hand-eye coordination. With 45 challenges on 5 different boards, kids have plenty of room to interact with the book. Each d...

WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY : The Secret Life of a Sea Turtle by Maddalena Bearzi & Alex Boersma

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  THE SECRET LIFE OF A SEA TURTLE written by Maddalena Bearzi, illustrated by Alex Boersma Roaring Brook Press, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-250-90167-5 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 Follow the captivating yet perilous life of one sea turtle in this dazzling nonfiction tale by the co-founder of the Ocean Conservation Society, perfect for fans of Jason Chin's ISLAND. On a beach at the Ría Lagartos nature reserve in Mexico, a sea turtle is born. Newly hatched into a big world, she breaks out of an egg buried in the sand. Now, her journey begins. To reach the ocean she must avoid predatory opossums, crabs, and raccoons -- many of her siblings will not make it. But our sea turtle does, and when she finally dives beneath the blue sea, she’ll travel for thousands of miles on a beautiful and pulse-pounding adventure. Brilliant, informative, and compelling, The Secret Life o...

WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY : Monarch and Mourning Cloak by Melissa Stewart & Sarah S. Brannen

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  MONARCH AND MOURNING CLOAK : A Butterfly Journal written by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen Beach Lane Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-6271-1 Source : Publisher through Blue Slip Media Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by Blue Slip Media. ABOUT THE BOOK A luminously illustrated and thoroughly informative picture book poetry collection by Sibert Honor–winning duo Melissa Stewart and Sarah S. Brannen that captures the beauty and complexity of monarch and mourning cloak butterflies. Monarch and mourning cloak butterflies may seem similar on the surface; they are about the same size and common throughout North America. But following along at a butterfly’s-eye-view, readers will discover how they live in different habitats, eat different foods, and have different strategies for avoiding enemies and making it through winter. Because even though all butterflies have the same basic body features and life cycle, each specie...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : I'm Busy by Michael Ian Black & Debbie RIdpath Ohi

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  I'M BUSY written by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-1524-3 Source: publisher/author 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 In this fifth book in the series from New York Times bestselling author Michael Ian Black and celebrated illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi, a flamingo, a girl, and a potato tackle what it’s like to feel super-busy-all-the-time. So much to do and so little time! How can a girl get everything done? Especially when Potato and Flamingo are asking her to hula hoop or play superheroes, when she has more important things to do, like piano practice, Spanish lessons, solving mysteries, and getting into the right college. Okay, that might be too much… Can friends can help her find some balance and understand that no matter how busy you get, you should always find t...

WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY : Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault by Megan Clendenan & Brittany Cicchese

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  JUST IN CASE : Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault written by Megan Clendenan, illustrated by Brittany Cicchese Charlesbridge, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-62354-480-5 Ages 6-10 Source: Blue Slip Media All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Psst . . . Guess what? 800 miles from the North Pole, buried deep in a mountain, the Svalbard Seed Vault holds priceless treasure. Seeds! Perfect for 5-8-year-old future conservationists, this is a fascinating glimpse into a unique conservation collection, highlighting the importance of natural resources and protecting planet Earth. On the Arctic island of Spitsbergen in Norway, polar bears roam and there are no gardens, forests, or fields. But buried deep underground, the Svalbard Seed Bank protects more than 580 million seeds with plenty of room for more. How and why was the vault built? What's it like inside? How does the vault protect the seeds? Lear...

MIDDLE GRADE SPECULATIVE FICTION : The Aftermath by Tracy Wolff

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THE AFTERMYTH The Aftermyth #1 written by Tracy Wolff Aladdin, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-8546-8 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 a world ruled by the tenets of Greek mythology, one girl’s fate is more than it appears in the first book in a new dark academia fantasy middle grade series from #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Crave series Tracy Wolff. What’s your myth? Penelope Weaver has spent her whole life preparing to attend Anaximander’s Academy, where students learn how to bring to life the stories of Greek mythology as well as discover the Greek god whose principles they most embody. Penelope knows she’s an Athena—all smart, practical, and rule-following girls who take part in stories that matter are Athenas. But when Penelope and her twin brother Paris arrive at Anaximander’s, it appears fate has other plans. Penelope isn’t pla...

WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY : The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne by Laura Alary & Yas Imamura

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  THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE Discovering the Stuff of Stars written by Laura Alary, illustrated by Yas Imamura Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2026 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 7-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK An incredible picture book biography about how the trailblazing astronomer found her people — and figured out what stars are made of.  Cecilia Payne loved learning to see nature's wonders, even things other people called impossible. While studying at Cambridge, she dreamed of becoming a great astronomer like the ones she read about in the library. But too many people thought women didn't belong among stars or atoms.  So, Cecilia packed her bags for Harvard, where she could surround herself with women who also loved astronomy and physics. These "Harvard Computers" shared their treasures with her—thousands of photographs of starlight. Ceci...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : Valentines are the Worst! by Alex Willan

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  VALENTINES ARE THE WORST! written & illustrated by Alex Willan Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-6261-2 Source : publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK An unsuspecting Gilbert the Goblin finds himself in the crosshairs of cupids and their heart-tipped arrows in the hilarious latest installment in The Worst! picture book series, where even the strangest of creatures can become the best of friends. Who needs valentines? Not Gilbert the goblin! There’s no time for cards and hugs and all that mushy malarky with far more important matters at hand—like, uh…eating tacos. When Gilbert bumps into a squad of cupids bent on showering him with love arrows, he runs for his life! This is clearly proof that valentines are the worst! Can Gilbert avoid the trappings of the holiday or will love find a way? REVIEW As in previous books in the...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : Mungo on His Own by Matthew Burgess & Julie Benbassat

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MUNGO ON HIS OWN written by Matthew Burgess, art by Julie Benbassat Clarion Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-06-321671-6 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 A young fox learns the joys – and surprises – of being independent in this lush new story from award-winning children’s book author, Matthew Burgess and rising-star illustrator, Julie Benbassat. One evening, young Mungo ventures into the forest to find the sweet, red berries he’s been dreaming about. But he soon finds that foraging alone can be hard for a kit like him, and Mungo gets lost. Very lost! Will he find the berries—and his way back home—all on his own? With suspense, daring, and foxy resolve, here is a story for all readers who wish to strike out on their own before returning to the cozy warmth of home. REVIEW This adorable book follows the misadventures of a young fox who leaves the den by himself for the fir...