In My Shop: Halloween Items

 

Happy Friday the 13th!

It's almost fall, which means it's the perfect time to shop for a few Halloween items!

Some favorite items:

Coffin Jewelry Box

Pumpkin Trick or Treat Bag

Some new items:

Halloween Card DIY Kits - I'm really excited about these and about sharing my love for card making with others. This kit makes 5 cards.

New Candy Card:

This is quilled and is 3D. I have such a sweet tooth and this was so much fun to make. Candy corn and hard candies are featured in this trick or treat bag.

Book Event: Debbi Michiko Florence

Last weekend, I went to my first book signing in forever. And it was so much fun. Savoy in Westerly Rhode Island hosted Debbi Michiko Florence  and her new book Just be Cool, Jenna Sakai. 

Savoy (picture taken from their website)

Debbi read from the book and answered some questions. 

Jenna's story is the companion novel to Keiko's story. (Read my review here)

I love how the covers match. These colors really are amazing. 

About Jenna's Story:
Debbi did ask for the hair color streak to be wider in Jenna's picture. Otherwise, the cover was perfect.

Of course we talked about the awesome diner and milkshakes. I loved the story of how the diner changed over time in the book and the inspiration behind those changes. 

Just thinking about the story's milkshakes makes me hungry again.

I had the good fortune to read Jenna early and I loved it. Check out my review here. 

And I created an If You Like picture:

Pictures from the event:

Of course, they had drinks to go along with the launch.

And a prize wheel to spin

I won a pair of chopsticks with pink flowers on them. 

And because I loved these books so much, I talked about them when I guest starred on my Librarian Friends' podcast:

You can listen to the episode here.

All in all, it was a Great Event! And I'm so happy I was able to attend.

Picture Book Review: The Incredibly Busy Mind of Bowen Bartholomew Crisp

Bowen's brain doesn't work the same as everyone else's. It's busy and it asks so many questions. Sometimes he feels bad when people ask him questions because he can't give them answer. But then he learns everyone's different.

A good book to talk about the way people think differently - to ask questions and to be curious.  I liked how this book spanned Bowen's life from childhood to grown-up. Everyone struggles to fit in and I like how Bowen turned his difference in thinking into a strength.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A great book for your Growing Up picture book collection 

Top Ten Tuesday: Secondary Characters

 This week's topic is all about secondary characters who need their own books. There are a LOT of these! Hopefully the secondary characters make the book so much better. And they deserve their own happy endings!

Olympia's story is required!

I want to read more in this family - maybe even the evil Jos

Would be fun to read books about the other brothers

Another night in this awesome setting would be amazing

More in this world - ASAP!

More with the romance bookstore

I'm sure there are others, but it's hard to remember them. What books are on your list?

Review: Simone Breaks All the Rules

 

Simone's mom keeps her close - too close for Simone's liking. Simone can't wait to leave for college - but her mom's set on having her commute from home. When Simone's parents attempt to hijack her prom by forcing her to go with an approved boy - Simone knows she has to do something drastic.

Luckily, she realizes she's not the only girl in her class with this problem. Two other girls have overprotective parents. Together, they form a list of rules they want to break before the end of their senior year. 

Having friends that understand everything makes things so much better for Simone. She's even coming up with a fake prom plan. Could she get everything she wants without her parents discovering the truth?

My Thoughts: I loved the newly formed friendship between these girls. I love how they supported each other. I love how they came up with rules and followed the list - creating experiences for themselves. The friendship stole the book for me. The romance was cute, but I loved the new friendships more. Wasn't a huge fan of Gabby, so I was happy Simone has people who understood her. I loved the prom - the dresses and fashion. And how everything turned out! 

Excited for the second book in the series.

Cover Thoughts: Love it - know that I understand the significance of the butterfly

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library.

Board Books (13) Concepts

 

We just bought a bunch of new board books for our library.

I'll be talking about a few favorites over the next couple months

Today I'm talking about concept books:

Picking out differences and realizing that different is ok. Great Concept. Fun illustrations. Wonderful Message.

Bright colors are in this opposite book. Adorable illustrations - of course my favorite is the library one. Although libraries aren't quiet places anymore. 

Same illustrator as above - more bright illustrations for these colorful dogs who play in a world of colors. They have so much fun!

A must have for small Marvel fans - this is an alphabet book featuring so many Marvel characters.

Forty Minutes for 40

 

If anyone would be interested in a chat about librarianship or blogging, leave a message in the comments and I'll randomly pick someone.

Probably Zoom is best for me, but if that's best for you, we can figure out an alternative.