Picture Book Wednesday: Thankful Books

Just a few books to celebrate being thankful and a big family meal.

This story about growing the pumpkin for the pie builds upon itself. 

The illustrations are lovely, and the book clearly explains how a pumpkin grows. The author's note talks about pumpkins, how bees are super important, how to cook pumpkin from the plant, and even shares a pie recipe. 

Lola's family owns an apple orchard. Her family is busy making pies for their shop for Thanksgiving tables. Lola decides she can take care of the family dinner. She even has a plan - but each day, her parents need her help baking the pies. Will they ever have dinner?

I really loved this book - it's a little long so maybe better for older readers. I love how everyone pitched in to help. I loved the funny ending. The book has an author's note where the author talks about her experience being similar to Lola's experience. And there is an apple pie recipe to test. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Older Books still on my TBR

 This week's topic is older books on your TBR list. 

Confession: We did this topic in 2020 and sadly my answers haven't changed.

Because of my job, I gravitate towards books that just came into the library and rarely grab older books from the shelves. It's not that I don't want to read these books, it's just that I usually have so many new ones checked out (and I can't even read all of these) that I don't have time to search for older books.

I am a great and terrible library user. I have way too many books out all the time. And many books on hold.

Although, some of the books I have checked out are for work and many others are picture books, so they are a quick read....

Middle Grade Review: Upstaged

It's the summer before high school starts and Ash can't wait to spend the summer at camp with their best friend and crush Ivy. It's going to be amazing. But nothing turns out as planned. They're not in the same bunch. Ivy gets the lead in the play and spends much of her time learning lines and choreography. Ash starts spending their time creating a masterpiece for the stage. They're the stage manager for the production. But the more time they spend apart, the more Ash becomes cranky. Will they have any time for fun this summer?

My Thoughts: This was a great graphic novel; I loved it. As someone who worked backstage at the theater, I enjoyed those parts of the book. Ash struggled with friendships this summer. There were people in their cabin that just wanted to hang out and be friends, but Ash couldn't see it. They were too focused on how everything was terrible. I did like how everything turned out. Lots of drama here!

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Hand this one to all your theater kids! This is a fantastic graphic novel for your library's collection.

Review: Every Time You Hear That Song

 

When country music legend Decklee Cassel dies, her televised funeral unveils the much talked about time capsule. It's supposed to have all kinds of pictures, a full album, and so many memories. But when it's opened, the capsule is empty. Instead Decklee sends her fans on a scavenger hunt to find the hidden memories.

Darren Purchase has always loved Decklee Cassel. She and her mom spend hours singing her songs. She's determined to uncover the treasures left behind. Stuck in a small town that she can't wait to leave behind, Darren doesn't have many friends. She does convince a co-worker to drive her the first stop. If they win the prize, she could leave this town in the dust, and he could open a restaurant. 

My Thoughts: This was a great book. I love how it moved back and forth between present day and Decklee making her mark in the country world. She sacrificed so much for stardom. She was terrible, but I felt sorry for her. I loved the idea of the scavenger hunt and having fans search for items. I love how Darren and Kendall became friends during the trip. I liked the idea of escaping a small town - that makes sense to me. But I did also love how it played out. I enjoyed the twist; I did not see that coming.

Cover Thoughts: ok

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great book for your collection

Holiday Review: The Holiday Cottage

Imogen's family life has always been hard. It's been just her and her mother, Tina. But Tina never wanted a child. 

Imogen never had a sense of family. Now she's a workaholic with no friends and no work life balance. Because of a strong desire to fit in, Imogen made up stories about her family to share with co-workers. But in reality, she spends Christmas alone, working. 

After a huge fight with her mother, Imogen messes up for the first time at work. Her boss, thinking that she's close to burn out, makes her take a month long vacation.

Imogen has no idea what she's going to do with her time. But at her last work event, lunch with a client, she's offered a place to stay outside of London.

Imogen's time at the Holiday Cottage change everything. 

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book - but I do wish the ending was a little longer. Everything tied up so quickly. I confess it took me a little bit to get into the book, especially after that moment with Tina. I wasn't sure where the book was going. I felt so bad for Imogen, especially the moment with Tina and the moments with her co-workers. I would have liked to see them have the tough conversation at the end of the book. I adored Ralph. I loved Sara's girls. There were some sweet moments, some funny moments, and some yikes moments. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great book for your Hallmark movie watchers!

* This is not a romance, but it does have romance in the book

Review: Dead Below Deck

 

Maggie feels lucky to be part of the friend group. She has been invited to spend spring break with her new friends, sailing on a yacht to Grand Cayman. But something happens on that trip. Maggie wakes up hung over and unable to recall the night before.

Then they discover that Giselle, the daughter of the man who owns the boat, is missing. And there's blood on the railing. Could she have been pushed overboard?

Now the police are questioning all the girls - but Maggie is their primary suspect. She has the most secrets and the most to lose...

My Thoughts: I loved this book - I didn't want to stop reading it. I was almost late going back to work because I was 10 pages away from the end and my lunch break was over. It was so hard to go back to work!

I really loved the set-up of this book. It starts with the friends missing Giselle. Then it goes backwards in time until the girls get on the yacht. Then it moves forward. Interspersed between the chapters are police interviews and letters that Giselle wrote to her dead month about the events leading up to Spring Break. 

All the drama in this book kept me turning the pages as secrets were spilled. I devoured this fantastic thriller. If you like twisty books, this one is for you!

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation:  A must have book for public libraries 

Picture Book Wednesday: Ice Cream Everywhere

Ice Cream is loved all around the world - with lots of different textures and flavors.

I'm a sucker for ice cream, it's one of my favorite deserts. It was fun reading about ice cream flavors from around the world. We might all be a little bit different, but ice cream can cheer us all up! There's a lot of knowledge in this book - and it might inspire you to go out for ice cream...