Blooper Reel: Knightley Turns One

 Last month, Knightley turned one. 

We had a small party with doggie ice cream.

Enjoy these cute pictures! 

Good Morning! 

Let's Play

Chomp

Oh Hi there! 

What are you doing?

No thanks

I just want the ice cream

Oh is it MY birthday? 

How many pictures do you have to take?

Looking Cute! 

Really you can stop taking pictures

This is the worst

What are you doing Emma?

Stinking Cute!

Am the goodest boy 

Finally!

Is it my turn yet?

Best part of the day! 

Kids Summer Reading (4): All Together Now

 

The past three weeks, we talked about FRIENDSHIP and COMMUNITY and KINDNESS programs. Go back and check them out if you missed them.

This week I'm sharing art and display ideas:

Kindness Tree or Kindness Branches Out

Friendship is in the Air

Sunflowers

Dandelions

Photo Moment:

Grateful Wreath

This Community Loves Books

Add favorite book titles on the hearts from staff and patrons. Keep growing the display all summer long

BookTok: Book Mail

A box of ARCs came in the mail!

 

@yabooknerdlibrarian Book mail! I’m so excited! Thanks @wednesdaybooks for this awesome book box! #booktok #YAbooks #booksinthemail #bookmail #upcomingbooks ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Review: The Inn at Tansy Falls

 

First in a new series

Nell is on her way to a small Vermont town - sent there by her best friend. Her best friend died, leaving her the responsibility of spreading her ashes in one of her favorite places. Nell isn't keen on leaving London. She's been stuck in her ways for the past few years.

However, once she gets to Tansy Falls, she's thrown into the small town with a list from Megan. Megan has created an itinerary for her - seeing the town and getting to know the people. It doesn't all go according to plan - it's mud season in Vermont. And she's not used to it. Before long, Nell comes to love the town and the people. 

She can't imagine leaving at the end of two weeks. 

My Thoughts: I grew up in Vermont, so I appreciated the setting, the mud season, and the jokes. Nell was a fish out of water a few times, adding to the humor of the story. I loved watching Nell fall in love with the town and with people in it. The town has a fun cast of characters - from the feuding ladies, Nell's new friends, the sweet boy with his cute single father... This book totally makes me want to visit home. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. This book would make a lovely Hallmark movie. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendations: Grab this one for your romance collection and hand it out to your Hallmark watchers. 

Picture Book Wednesday: Black Joy Books

Yes, it's Black History Month and it's great to celebrate heroes and heroines of the past and of today. However, it's just as important for kiddos to read books about Black Joy and slice of life books. 

Here are a few of those:

Based on the Christmas song - 12 days of Christmas - but this is not a Christmas story. This is really a story for every holiday and for those with a big family.

I love all the food and all the family. It's a lot of people for one family (compared to mine which is small).  The illustrations are fun and that ending! 

 

These two books are very similar - both focused on showcasing all the awesome things the future is going to bring. 

There's so much encouragement and love in these books. Both feature STEAM futures - both showcase famous Black heroines and heroes. Both are very inspiring and lovely books to share.

 One father shares moments of history with his son - sharing with him the attributes of each historical figure.

This is a sweet story of role models and sharing inspiration of others - sharing dreams and hopes for the future. And then letting go to make your own path. 

* there is a mini biography of all the historical figures mentioned

** this book was sent for review

A bedtime book filled with different families - and different Motown songs.

A sweet bedtime story with charming illustrations that you can't help but sing.

* there is an author's note sharing the playlist of this book

** this book was sent for review

Top Ten Tuesday: 2023 Debut Books

 This week's topic is all about 2023 debut books we want to read.

YA Books:

Any of these also on your list?

Book Tok: Mary Anne's Bad Luck Mystery

@yabooknerdlibrarian Chain letters and the Baby Sitter’s Club. Which character are you most like? Which is your favorite? #bsc #babysittersclub #chainletter #badluck #booktok #graphicnovels #annmmartin ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Review: Rory and the Magic Mix-Up

 

Rory's excited to go to magic school, but every spell she tries endings up a disaster. Will she flunk out of fairy godmother school?

This is the first book in charming new series from Disney. It's a younger chapter book with beautiful illustrations. I can't wait to see what happens next. 

Hand this one off to readers who like:

Fairy Tales

Magic

Friendship

Fish out of Water Stories

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school or public library collection

Kids Summer Reading (3): All Together Now

The past two weeks, we talked about FRIENDSHIP and COMMUNITY programs. Go back and check them out if you missed them.

This week we're sharing Kindness Ideas

Kindness "Game"

Another Game:

Kindness Ideas (Could incorporate into a bingo KIND game)

Secret Notes:

Kindness Craft:  This works better everyone knows each other - might be better for a school...

Kindness Quilt - or large piece of artwork. You could then hang the whole piece in the library, and it could be a decoration for the rest of the summer program. 

Review: My Big Fat Heart-Shaped Fail

 

Ever since Paige and Jess spent their spring vacation together - Abby's been feeling left out. She invented a fake boyfriend to cover up the fact that her current crush is dating one of her best friends. She has all these secrets building up inside her. When she and her friends get five free balloons, she decides to write her secrets on paper and release them. She calculates that they will float away and she will feel better,

Abby doesn't expect them to land near the school. She doesn't expect her secrets to become public knowledge. She doesn't expect everyone to gossip about them and attempt to figure out the truth. What was supposed to be a fun day turns into Abby's worst nightmare...

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this middle grade book all about friendship drama, first romances, and being an outsider. I felt really bad for Abby - she had such a hard day and she made such terrible choices. I really did enjoy the I wanted to say vs What I did say moments. I wanted to wrap Abby up in a huge hug. But I do love the way everything turned out. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: ARC sent for review

Library Recommendations: A great middle grade book about friendship drama - grab this one for your school and public library collections

Review: Controlled Burn

 

Maia's lucky. Or so they say. 

She's lucky:

She had an inkling something was wrong

She's lucky she smelled smoke

She's lucky she pulled her sister to safety

But Maia would also tell you that she caused the fire. That she feels guilty for wasting time. That she froze before pulling her sister out of the house. That she wishes she had been braver. 

When her parents drop her off at her grandparent's house for the summer, Maia can't help but feel it's her punishment. But she decides to attempt to conquer her fears and learn to control her anxiety. Can she become a braver version of herself? 

My Thoughts: I really loved this book - it was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. I wanted to wrap Maia up in a hug. I felt so badly for her. But I am also so proud of her - for so many reasons. I loved her adventures at her grandparents house - her new friends - and finding her braver self. I loved the moments in the box fort. I loved the moments with the dog and the deer. I love how Maia began to understand her grandfather. I tore through this book, not wanting it to end, but also wanting Maia to find comfort and to forgive herself. Grief and healing are in the forefront of this novel. I also loved the nature moments and how Maia found herself loving the outdoors.

Cover Thoughts: Spooky

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your library's collection

Picture Book Wednesday: Not your Fairy Tales

There are not your average fairy tales...

In this story - there are four little pigs. Their mother sends them out to live their lives. One wants to be a builder, one a star, one a pumpkin, and the fourth a storyteller. 

This is a funny tale that's a little mixed up. It will help if readers know the original tale. I love the illustrations, especially the blueprints. I love the wolf who isn't trying to eat the pigs. I love that each pig has their own personality and hopes and dreams.

Hansel and Gretel get lost in the wood - but in this story they refuse to believe their parents are bad people. Or that the witch isn't a nice lady. It leads to some problems on their end but eventually, they figure everything out.

Another funny mixed-up tale. I love the gingerbread house - who wouldn't want to live there. I like Gretel's feminist touches in this story. And that ending!