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Showing posts from October, 2026

PICTURE BOOK REVIEWS : 4 books about unusual pets!

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  FRANKENKITTY written by Maudie Powell-Tuck, illustrated by Mini Grey Tiger Tales, 2026 ISBN: 9781664300972 Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Meet Frankenkitty—a stitched-together kitten with a haunted castle for a home and a reputation that seems to terrify everyone…even his own inventor! Only Olive, the inventor’s brave young daughter, sees the sweet side of this misunderstood kitty. But when terrible things start to happen at the castle—like mice invading the kitchen, frogs appearing in the bathtub, and Brussels sprouts showing up on the dinner menu—poor Frankenkitty gets the blame and is banished from the castle into the snow. Will Olive be able to rescue the poor kitten before it's too late? This spooky-but-fun story is perfect for kids who love their monsters cute and their bedtime stories dramatic! REVIEW An inventor creates a creature he names FrankenKitty. But wh...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW & AUTHOR INTERVIEW : Bitsy Bat, Snow Star by Kaz Windness

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  BITSY BAT, SNOW STAR Bitsy Bat #3 written & illustrated by Kaz Windness Beach Lane Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-6366-4 Source : publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover, summary & interview provided by the publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK When Bitsy wakes up to see her first-ever snowfall, she’s excited to try out wintry activities with her friends at school. But sledding turns out to be harder than she thought, and making snow angels and snowmen leaves her feeling cold and wet. Bitsy tries to pretend she’s having fun…until a friendly snowball fight pushes her over the edge. She retreats inside the school, worried her friends won’t like her anymore once they find out she doesn’t love the snow like they do. But a surprise is waiting for her—Enzo Owl and Mo are inside too! They don’t like snow either and would rather read in the cozy nook. Bitsy comes up with an indoor activity for a snowy day—making paper snowflakes—that just mi...

WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY : A Quilt of Stars by Dr. Karen Nyberg, Ann McCallum Staats, and Alida Massari

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A QUILT OF STARS : Astronaut Karen Nyberg Stitches a Dream written by Dr. Karen Nyberg & Ann McCallum Staats illustrated by Alida Massari Familius LLC, 2026 ISBN: 979-8-89396-001-3 Source: Author (Ann McCallum Staats) for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Stitch together a dream with astronaut Karen Nyberg as she shares her quilt with the world, the stars, and beyond. What would you do with an impossible dream? Dr. Karen Nyberg yearned to reach the stars, and when they were finally within grasp, she wanted to share the extraordinary sight with the world. Seeing that the Earth from a distance was like a quilted masterpiece of people and places, she put her skills with needle and thread to use―in space! When Nyberg lived on the International Space Station, she and NASA invited crafters from around the world to join a project to stitch together a global community quilt. Thousands of people ...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : A Book for Everyone by Hayley Rocco and John Rocco

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A BOOK FOR EVERYONE All the Books #2 written by Hayley Rocco, illustrated by John Rocco Alvina Ling Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-31658842-3 Source : School Library Journal/purchased copy Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK There’s a perfect story for every reader! Piper Waterstone, everyone’s favorite chipmunk from All the Books, returns in a charming and whimsical tale from award-winning creators Hayley Rocco and John Rocco. It’s time for the yearly reading challenge! Piper Waterstone can’t wait to read all the books on this year’s reading list. She’s going to go on so many adventures and is positive she’ll win! But her best friend, Gregory, would rather play pretend pirates than read a book. Can Piper help find a book perfect for Gregory and win the reading challenge? Join Piper on her enchanting reading adventures as she learns not every book is for every reader, but there is a reader ...

CHAPTER BOOK FICTION : Shermy and Shake, the Not-So-Unhappy-Campers by Kirby Larson (Available Nov 17, 2026)

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  SHERMY AND SHAKE, THE NOT-SO-UNHAPPY-CAMPERS Shermy and Shake #4 written by Kirby Larson, illustrated by Shinji Fujioka Candlewick Press, 2026 ISBN: 978-1536239027 SOURCE : publisher/School Library Journal  Ages 6-9 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Unlikely best pals Shermy and Shake go on a fun road trip, meet a brand-new baby, and spend the weekend at a real sleepaway camp in a season full of adventure and steadfast friendship. Awesome-possum! Shermy takes his time and thinks things through, while his best friend, Shake, likes to jump in with both feet. But like peanut butter and sweet pickles, the two boys go together perfectly. Whether it’s crafting leprechaun traps, going to Camp Hootie Hoot with the Owl Scouts, or tackling the school talent show (Shake wants to perform, but Shermy would prefer to cheer from the audience), they bring out the best in each other—even whe...