Picture Book Review: Bruce Saves the Planet

Yesterday was Earth Day, here's a fun book:

When Bruce wants some peace and quiet, he heads to the stream to fish. But something's different. Bruce lands in the thick of things.

My Thoughts: I adore the Bruce books - he's so grumpy yet so loveable. I love how he saves the day without meaning too. The geese and the mice push him into things - like this. He's a good sport about it all. This book shows the process of how things change, even if it does happen much faster in the book than in real life. 

There is an author's note in the back about how readers can help the environment, and it shares some endangered animals.  

Top Ten Tuesday: Books that Surprised Me

 This week's topic is all about books that surprised the reader. I'm changing it to authors, because these authors are great at surprising plot twists. 

The Biggest:

Sarah J Maas

Frieda McFadden

Very Big:

Ally Carter

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Rebecca Yarros

James Ponti

Stuart Gibbs

Lisa McMann

Mary Higgins Clark

Hafsah Faizal

Any of these authors surprise you with their many plot twists?

Middle Grade Review: Speak Up Santiago

First in a new graphic novel series

Santiago is spending the summer with his grandmother. Everyone on that side of the family speaks Spanish, but he's just learning. His grandmother doesn't speak English that well. He's nervous that they will have trouble communicating. 

Santiago loves playing soccer and found a group of friends. Together, they hope to enter a tournament at the end of the month. But they all speak Spanish too. 

Santiago does pretty well for most of the summer, but he worries about being enough. When he overhears people talking about him and his language barrier, he shuts down. Will it cost him his happiness over the summer?

My Thoughts: I really loved this graphic novel. I love how Santiago was nervous in the beginning, but he found his footing. I loved the moments between him and his grandmother. This graphic novel had a lot of Spanish and English together. It's not an entire bilingual graphic novel, but it's close. I felt bad for Santiago and wanted to wrap in him up in a hug when things went sideways for him. But I did like how everything turned out. I also love that this series is continuing with one of the friends as the main character next. I can't wait to read what happens. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your school and public library

Nonfiction Review: Cookies from around the World

 

I'm such a fan of desserts, so this book was fascinating to me. It showcased the first recorded desserts in Ancient Egypt and then it talked about how desserts evolved over time. Lots of flavors were shared here - from lots of different countries. 

Board Books: Food

Just a few board books about food.

This fun book describes different Jewish foods and their shapes. 

One of those books I love with food puns. This one has texture all over the pages, making it fun to pour over. This is my new favorite board book! 

A pun-filled book about love between a parents and a child - all about baking. This is a new favorite read.

Picture Book Review: My Lost Freedom

 

This might be a hard book for younger readers, but it's an important one. 

This is the story of George Takei and his time at the internment camps.

There's a lot to unpack. While this is terrible to read about - it's necessary to understand our past. There's some joy here as people tried to make the best of a terrible situation. It ends with hope.

There are author photos in the back from before the war, at the internment camp, and after the war. 

This book should be in every library. 

Booklist: Hockey

 

Lately, I've been reading hockey books. I thought I would create a booklist

Books Included:

It's a Love/Skate Relationship

Being Sloan Jacobs

Icebreaker

Michigan vs. the Boys

Off the Ice

A Cold Day in the Sun

Bea Mullins Takes a Shot

On Thin Ice (currently checked out from the library)

* If you love the figure skating books, here's a list for you