Top Ten Tuesday: Covers

 This week's topic is a cover freebie - so I'm picking books that make me want to start decorating for Christmas already.

Don't these covers make you want to curl up with a cozy sweater with a mug of hot chocolate in front of a lighted tree and a fire? That's my cozy moment. 

What other books should I add to the list? 

Middle Grade Monday: Wilderness Hacks

 

Sadie and Silas have had a tough year. They lost their father to cancer. Silas became gluten free and Sadie changed diets too. She wants to help cheer him up, which is why she agrees to create a video to enter a contest to win an experience with a survival influencer.

She never imagines that she'll win. She can bring a guest, but Silas is too young to participate. She brings him along anyways to meet Radley. First impressions on both sides aren't great. They film a little bit - fishing, creating a fire, and cooking the fish. 

Then they go white water rafting. That's when everything changes. What starts out as a fun trip turns into a nightmare after disaster strikes the region. Sadie and Radley must find a way to work together in order to survive. 

Why I Read It: I Love Survival Books

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I liked how Sadie and Radley didn't like each other at first. Their first impressions were not great, but I also liked how they talked it through. I liked Radley's impressions of being an influencer and how life changed for him once he became more famous. I loved Sadie's relationship with her brother and how she wanted to make happy memories for him. I loved the survival moments (although there is a bad scene with some chipmunks and another with a mountain lion). I did love the ending. 

Cover Thoughts: Great

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school and public library

Board Books: Family

Just a few sweet board books about family and love

This is one of those board books with puns - all about love between parent and child. Each page has a touch and feel illustration. Simply adorable. 

Sophie Beer books are a favorite of mine and at my library. This one is not all rainbows and sunshine - sometimes there are hard moments too. But through it all, there is lots of love. The bright illustrations are perfect and the characters throughout the book are diverse. 

Another Sophie Beer book - this one celebrates differences between people. What a fantastic message! More brightly colored illustrations with diverse characters. 

This one is about loving nature. The colors from the die cuts appear in different pages that are unique. Love the message here. 

Picture Book Review: Beatrix and her Friends

 

A picture book biography about Beatrix Potter - the author of Peter Rabbit. Peter was influenced by her childhood pets and summer holidays. She didn't enjoy the city of London and lives for summers in Scotland where she would be free in nature. 

A delightful, charming read that makes me want to learn more about this author/illustrator. I loved the illustrations in this book - they show how Beatrix's imagination created stories about her favorite characters. 

Review: Faraway Inn

 

Calisa travels to Vermont to spend the summer with her great aunt at her B&B. She needs to get out of New York City and away from the boy who just broke her heart. When she arrives, the B&B is more rundown than she imagined. Worse, her aunt isn't interested in her help. In fact, she's only allowing Calisa to stay for three days. 

Calisa is determined to make herself useful in hopes that it will prolong her stay. There aren't many guests, but she begins with making pancakes, cleaning rooms, and bringing back the afternoon tea time. 

Strange things start happening that Calisa can't explain. No one is answering her questions. In fact, her great aunt told her not to ask questions. But Calisa can't help but wonder if something more is happening here...

Why I read this book: I love Sarah Beth Durst's books and come on, look at that cover!

My Thoughts: I loved this book. I loved that it's set in Vermont. I love the setting and the description of nature. I enjoyed getting to know the guests, the quirks of the B&B, and the magic behind it all. I loved the relationship between Calisa and Jack, the groundskeeper's son. I couldn't put this book down, but I also didn't want it to end. This was a cozy read that wrapped you up like a warm hug.

Cover Thoughts: Charming and gorgeous

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school and public teen library section

Review: Most Likely to Murder

When the yearbook comes out, there's something funny about it. Instead of the usual senior superlatives, there are ways people die. People believe it's the work of Martina and Rick - best friends who have pulled some epic pranks. But they swear it's not them.

Mostly people see this as a joke until their guidance counselor goes missing. He turns up in a lake - and his superlative said he'd be sleeping with the fishes. Maybe it wasn't a prank after all. Maybe this is real. The other people named in the superlatives get together to share information. Could there really be someone out to get them?

My Thoughts: I Loved this thriller. It was clever and smart. I loved how the group came together to share information. I loved how they looked after each other. I loved the friendship between Rick and Martina - and how it connected their families. I loved Rick's crush on Nika and how that worked out. A fantastic thriller with a strong friendship core, a little romance, and lots of twists and turns. 

Cover Thoughts: Love it - very clever

Source: My Library

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

Picture Book Wednesday: Helping Daddy

 

Daddy has lots of jobs - and baby wants to help. Sometimes Baby's help means more work, but Daddy doesn't seem to mind. Daddy and Baby have a fantastic day together.

I love how this story is simple with word count and yet conveys so much. The illustrations are sweet and charming. A fantastic slice of life moment between a father and child.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Still Excited to Read

 This week's topic is books we were excited to read but still haven't...yet

Sadly this happens to me often, but I still plan to read these books.

Ok, I just put this on hold at my library

This one has been on hold at my library - just waiting for it to be sent

I did check this one out - but it was overdue and I had to return it before I had a chance to read it

Also had to give back to the library before reading

Currently have this book - just need to read it

Currently checked out of the library and on my shelf

Just placed a hold on it at my library 

Somehow I didn't realize this had come out yet.

Always interested in a good Jane Austen novel

Loved the first book - here for this one. Currently checked out of the library.

It's possible I have too many books checked out of the library - and that's chronic issue for me.  I never have enough time to read all the books I want to...

Middle Grade Monday: School Dance

* Book 3 in the Brinkley Yearbook series * 

The Snowball Soiree is fast approaching and Milo is nervous. Whenever he dances, something bad happens. While he wants to go, he doesn't think that he should. His father is a great dance and tries to help. Taking dance lessons might work - but the only person who can take him is his grandmother who's not supposed to drive without one of his parents. Keeping secrets is making him more stressed. Can he relax and find his rhythm?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book - there's a lot of drama and friendship. There's even a little romance. I loved the group of friends. I loved Milo's grandmother and her desire for freedom, even though it's hard. She made me miss my grandmother! I loved their relationship. I loved how everything turned out. I hope there are many more books in this series.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

 Library Recommendation: A must have series for your school or public library. 

Review: Bake it Off

 

If you're a Swiftie and a baker, this book is for you.

This book contains recipes from the Eras with cute names, great photographs, and tons of easter eggs. Some of them are inspired by Taylor's bakes. They look wonderful.

There are a few I'm excited to test out. 

Christmas in July: Board Books

It's Christmas in July Week on the blog! Here are some cute Christmas board books.

These cats are getting ready for Christmas in the most adorable way - love the photographs here. 

Mouse is decorating the Christmas tree - and counting the ornaments. This is a cute story with a fun ending. 

Gerald is dancing as Christmas approaches - can everyone dance as he does with abandonment and freedom? This one might be hard to read aloud as the songs change midway through the book.

The reindeer (and three friends) might make different sounds if you tickle them. In addition to the sound, this book has different furs to touch. There's not much to this book, but I bet the kids will love it regardless. 

What is the sound of joy? There are so many possibilities, but this book highlights the joy behind Christmas with the birth of Jesus. A nice way to introduce kids to Jesus.

Review: Love in 280 Characters or Less

 

Sydney is headed off to college - she's excited but nervous. Her best friend Malcom seems to be hitting it out of the park. But she's struggling to make friends, to connect to her roommate, and to figure out what she wants.

Sydney loves writing and fashion. She writes an online blog and is active on twitter. The book is composed of her blog posts, tweets, and texts. Life isn't all that it's made up to be online - it gets messy.

Why I read it: I love college books and epistolary novels.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book - for the format, for the drama, and for Sydney's struggles. I like how she doesn't immediately fit in at school because it's more realistic. I love how she found an audience who admired/supported her writing. I love how Sydney's TA supports her but also guides her to different reading materials. There is a racial incident that shakes her world and changes everything. I wouldn't mind a sequel five years from now and seeing Sydney in the adult world.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

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

Review: The Shippers

 

JoJo's ex-best friend crashes her wedding. He tells her she's making a mistake marrying Pearce. But to JoJo, Pearce is the first boy she's ever dated that she didn't dump. In fact, JoJo chased him. He didn't seem that interested in getting married. They took forever to figure out a date and plan the wedding. Even then, JoJo didn't get anything she wanted - his mother planned the whole thing, right down to the itchy wedding dress. JoJo is no longer sure of anything. So, she does what Cooper suggests - she faints and then calls off the wedding.

Six weeks later, her sister is getting married on a cruise ship. Her sister decides that JoJo should date their recently single child neighborhood friend - the one JoJo had the biggest crush on. The one she shared her first kiss with. Only he doesn't remember her. Still, the plan must go on. JoJo and Allison are determined to use this week to make him fall in love with her.

Since Cooper showed up, JoJo enlists his help. Things are awkward and funny, but they also just might seem to be working....

My Thoughts: I liked this one, but I didn't love it. I think it's because I didn't connect much with JoJo. She was forcing too much and made too big a deal out of getting together with Finn. I did like Cooper. And I need to know why they stopped talking all those years ago. Also, I wanted more about the cruise ship - the events on board, the food, the ship itself. I read this one quickly because it was a good read, but there was something missing for me. I do really like this author's work, and I'll read more of her books.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: my Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your romance collection 

Picture Book Review: Nature Books

Just a few picture books about Nature.

When life gets crazy and overwhelming, sometimes one needs to escape into nature. 

Nature grounds us and lets us remember to slow down, breathe deeply, and be present. I love how there are little Nature Knows moments in the book. 

* Book sent for review

A journal reflecting two types of butterflies, this book is chock full of information.

The illustrations are amazing; I love the set-up of this book.  The timeline goes through June to September.  There are several pages of notes about journaling, sketching, and butterflies. This book is fantastic for any nature lover and older readers