Picture Book Review: Summer Books

 

These picture books are perfect for a nice sunny day and hanging outside:

Neighbors of Acorn Village decide to have a cozy summer day - doing ALL the things they love about summer. 

I love the illustrations in this book - there are so many details. Just look at that lazy river! If you like this one, there's also a winter story too. I hope there are Spring and Fall stories in the works.

Three siblings have the time of the lives at the lake with their dogs and their moms.

This is such a cute story about a date full of love and fun! And there's also a winter story. The illustrations are soft and wonderful. It makes me want to spend a day at the lake too.

A tiny hiker is so excited to hike. She loves seeing everything in the forest. But it's a hard hike - will she be able to make it?

I love the excitement about being outdoors and looking at everything. And I know how she feels being tired and cranky. I'm that way often up when I hike up a mountain. I love the ending. The illustrations are charming. 

Spike and Roscoe have an adventure planned - but nothing goes that way it's supposed to. Is there day ruined?

I love how the two friends made the best of things. The ending is very sweet - there's nothing like good friends.

 Mama likes to have all kinds of adventures, but Oliver is unsure. Lots of times things go wrong and you can never be too prepared. But sometimes things are just right.

If they didn't go on adventures, there are things that Oliver would miss. I like how he lists them all. Maybe it's not so bad after all.

Where do you want to go on an adventure?

Review: School for Woodland Creatures

 

* Book 3 in Our Friend Hedgehog series * 

Annika Mae is headed off to school and the animals feel left behind.  She will learn new things and make new friends. What if she forgets all about them? 

It's boring without their friend. Owl comes up with the brilliant idea that they should form a school. Each of them can teach a subject they're an expert in. Hedgehog doesn't know what she will teach. She's not an expert at anything. 

My Thoughts: I Love this series - it's all about friendship and support and helping each other. This addition is cute. I love that the animal friends want to host their own school to learn something but also to make the day speed by faster. I felt bad for Hedgehog and her struggles to find something that she's an expert in - in order to teach. The lessons did not go as planned, but that ending was perfect. The illustrations are amazing. Lauren Castillo is one of my favorite illustrators. I hope there are many more books in this series to come! 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have series for your school and public libraries 

Fall Romance: Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow

 

First in a series

Willow's home and family farm is in serious trouble. They have a great turn out in the spring and summer months, but the rest of the year is empty for the farm. There's still a lot of work to be done, but no income is coming in. When Willow realizes her father has a meeting with a developer, she panics. Surely there's something she can do to save the farm.

Then she comes up with a brilliant idea. She can create a pumpkin patch to save the farm. But she has no pumpkins and only six weeks to make it happen. Willow makes a bargain with her father. If at the end of six weeks, the pumpkin patch hasn't saved the farm, they can talk about selling to Dylan and his brother. She makes a pact with Dylan - that he spends the next six weeks learning about the farm and lending a hand as needed. If she doesn't pull this off, they will sell the land to him.

Willow doesn't think Dylan will last even one week on the farm; he's too much of a city boy. However, they are both determined to get their way and the challenge is accepted. Will these next six weeks make or break the farm? And Willow's heart?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I loved the fall vibes, the setting, and the town. I get that this is an enemies to lovers story, but that seemed overly shared. I felt bad for Willow and how her idea initially got little to no support from her friends and family. I'm surprised she also didn't have an idea for Christmas at the farm too, although maybe that's in the next book. I did want to go to a pumpkin patch after reading this book.

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great fall romance for your collection - perfect for readers who love Hallmark movies.

Christmas Book Review: Mint to Be

For as long as anyone in the small town can remember - it's Always been Emma and Aiden. They've been best friends for years. But that was before - before the fight, before Emma left for boarding school without saying goodbye, and before she came back to town with a new boyfriend. 

Emma and Aiden haven't spoken in months. They've sent a few texts back and forth but nothing substantial. He's had a hard time without her. 

Emma can't believe she's back. Everything looks and feels different after spending time in New York City. When Aiden and Sam finally meet - things do not go well. Emma's torn between her oldest friend and her new boyfriend. 

My Thoughts: I really liked this book - from the mint hot chocolate to the friendship between Emma and Aiden. I really enjoyed the dual POV and timeline. While the reader knows something happened between Emma and Aiden before she left, it takes a long time to uncover all that information. The only thing I didn't like in this book was Sam. He was terrible - very similar to those Hallmark movies where you never knew why the relationship was happening.  

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A cute holiday romance with a friends to lovers trope.

Picture Book Wednesday: Funny Animal Books

 

Here are some funny animal books:

Bunnies take over a rocket that's heading to the moon! They are a little silly (or a lot) silly. What would you do in a rocket?

I didn't realize this was part of series - this is book 4.

When a shark arrives on the farm, he's hungry. He's eating the farm animals. Who will stop him?

This has such a funny ending and no animals are harmed in this book.

This book reads front to back and back to front - and asks the question which animal is cooler. 

I love how this book works - and the tones for the illustrations are also great. 

Worm needs a new job but nothing feels right - until he spies a job for a security guard. Not everyone believes he can do the job. But someone is trying to steal the inventions - what can a worm do?

The ending is quite funny - setting this up for another book. 

Seahorse is NOT having a good day - and nothing is going to change his mind. 

Do you have a favorite snack? Or something to cuddle? What changes your mood?

Axolotl-Ella had big plans and the first step in her plan was to attend the King's festival to meet the prince. 

It's a different sort of fairy tale with a fantastic ending. 

Top Ten Tuesdays: Fall Colors

 This week's topic is autumn covers, but I'm choosing spines instead. 

Sometimes spines have their own art to them, which I appreciate. It's fun to look at something from a different angle. These are a mix of old favorites from my personal library, one just sent for review, and a few from the library.

These are also a mix of middle grade, YA, and adult books.

Books pictured:

Falling Into You

Silver Kingdom

Baby Sitter's Summer

Practically Magic

The Me I Used to Be

Grave Mercy

Girl who Could Not Dream

Court of Thorns and Roses

Crown of Midnight

Raised by Wolves

Secrets of My Hollywood Life 

Girls in Pants

Belles

Saddlehill Academy #1: Sweet and Bitter Rivals

Middle Grade Monday: Pizza Face and Fruitcake

 

Read my review for Four Eyes: Book 1

* Book 2 in the trilogy *

Rex is having a hard time growing up. He's still short. His face is breaking out. His body smells. His mom is a single mom who works hard, but they have a hard time affording food. The other guys pick on him. Rex keeps saying the wrong things to girls and his friends group implodes. He's forced to eat alone at school. Nothing is going his way.

* Book 3 in the trilogy *

Rex's friends all seem to be dating someone. He begins to date Charlotte. While she's great, there's someone else on Rex's mind. He's not sure what to do about it. He kisses a boy, but that boy pretends he doesn't exist at school. Why is love so confusing?

My Thoughts on both books: Rex struggles a lot. Middle school is the worst and everything seems to be terrible. There are so many body and emotional changes. Everything is dramatic and terrible. But everyone else is also figuring everything out. These books do a great job at reminding readers that:

1. everyone struggles

2. it's not the end of the world

3. life gets better

4. you will discover your true self

5. some people are just jerks

Rex isn't always right, but he tries. And he apologies when he's wrong. 

Cover Thoughts: Inviting

Source: My Library

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

Board Books: Halloween

Here are some Halloween Board Books; I[m hoping more come into the library in the next couple of days.

Two chicks are excited to celebrate Halloween. I love the pictures in this cute story. 

What kinds of noises do you hear on Halloween night - something sinister or just a few animal noises?

This cute story has a surprise ending. I love the sliders that make this story interactive. 

* Book sent for review

This book is about a town that LOVES Halloween. They host Halloween every night.

The town looks super cute with all kinds of shops filled with treats and tricks. The illustrations are cute and brightly colored. There's a lot to look at here! 

Vacation Photos: Vermont

 

We spent this past week in Vermont and while I didn't take a ton of photos, here are some:

Sunflowers from the garden

Getting ready for Halloween

Glen Lake

Glen Lake

Early Morning Walks

Maybe a little too early

We went for a walk at the only Revolutionary battlefield in Vermont

It's so pretty here

We visited with family a lot

We attended a college volleyball game - which was really neat

The foliage was nice.

BUT I had a massive cold that kicked my butt the entire week. 

I wanted to go hiking but couldn't.

Still, we relaxed and had good food and enjoyed good company

Review: Rainy Day Bookshop

 

Emma has had a hard life. She was driving during a car accident that killed her father. She was 15. Afterward she turned to drugs/alcohol to numb the pain. She left home as soon as she could and left town with her much older boyfriend. Everything changed when she became pregnant. She became sober, left her boyfriend, and started talking to her mom again. When her mom asks her for help, she agrees to come back home on a temporary basis to run the Rainy Day Bookshop. 

Rosie's thrilled that her daughter and granddaughter are home. She just hopes that she can mend fences with Emma. She hates walking on eggshells; always afraid she'll say the wrong thing. Can they find a way forward together?

My Thoughts: While this is a book centered on relationships and both Rosie and Emma have romance stories. This book isn't a romance. The main relationship is between mother and daughter. There are four points of view in this story, which allows readers to see people from different perspectives. The kids in this book were adorable: Olive, Finn, and Zara. They stole their scenes. Set aside an afternoon to read this one; you won't want to put it down until you've finished it. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable 

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your public library collection

Christmas Book Review: Christmas at Honeycombe Bay

Eloise doesn't want to celebrate Christmas. The person she usually celebrates with is now part of a couple. As she's retired with no family, Christmas hasn't seemed magical in years. On a whim she calls up a bed and breakfast in a summer tourist town.  

The owner at the B&B hasn't had any guests in the last year - not since Bart's wife died. He's rattling around alone in that big house. He's not sure he wants to open up the house, but he could use the money. 

When Eloise arrives, she's surprised to discover that she enjoys spending time with Bart. She's also surprised that there's another guest arriving. She's even more surprised when she learns the town is celebrating Christmas. She's not pleased but when a tragedy strikes, everything changes. When a young mother and a little boy need a place to stay, Christmas plans change.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I loved walking along the seaside town and seeing all the Christmas moments. I loved how the plans changed and how tragedy brought together people who needed each other. I really loved the found family - the friendships and the romances. I loved how Toby's excitement for the holidays boosted everyone's holiday spirits. A delightful holiday romance about found family, community, and the gift of kindness. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: Netgalley

Library Recommendations: A fantastic holiday romance for your public library's collection - highly recommended.

Hand this one too: Hallmark movie watchers. Perfect for readers of Debbie Macomber. 

Picture Book Wednesday: Halloween Books

Just a few books for Halloween:

Four friends find a strange box with a note full of don'ts. Instead of following the instructions, they do the opposite....

A fun slightly scary book for Halloween with fun illustrations. 

On Halloween, the houses give out candy but this year, Lao Ye (Lilly's grandfather) wants to throw a party using family recipes. Lilly isn't sure that the neighbors will appreciate his food; she's worried. 

Lao Ye knows that making your family dishes is what helps others become part of that family. I love this message - of friendship, community, and sharing recipes. Simply a magical story. 

Cat doesn't like Halloween - for many reasons. Could there be something Cat likes about Halloween? 

No. There's nothing Cat likes about Halloween. Cat is a mix between Grumpy Cat and Bad Kitty. The ending is sweet. 

A party is happening on Halloween - but it's hard to decide the theme. There are so many choices. What would you choose?

I love how the party turned out. The costumes are very creative. I love how the whole family celebrated together. This rhyming story is super fun!

I expect more Halloween books to be arriving at the library any day now. I always loving seeing the new holiday picture books. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Book that create happy memories

 This week's topic is Book that create happy memories. I almost don't know where
to begin. But maybe books I remember reading over and over as a child. Comfort reads. Milestone reads. 

This might be the first book I remember reading. I'm not sure why I loved it so much, but I did.

I read this in high school and loved it. My parents took me to Orchard House and I was stunned to learn that it was fiction. I really wanted Jo March to be real. (I knew it was fiction, but for some reason I thought it was the story of her life. I hated finding out there was no Laurie.)

I started reading Mary Higgins Clark in 7th grade and never looked back

My sister and I borrowed this book from my cousin. We kept it so long, I think she forgot we had it. Eventually we gave it back. I bought copies one year for my sister and I for Christmas. 

While I loved the Anne movies, I was more an Emily of New Moon reader. Loved this trilogy so hard.

I read this book until it fell apart. And then kept reading it in pieces

I read this in high school after realizing that Clueless was Emma.

Read during grad school and realized teen books are awesome - and became a teen librarian

What books create happy memories for you????