Top Ten Tuesday: May Flowers

 This week's topic is all about May Flowers - or floral book covers. Here are some flower covers of books I want to read.

Flowers are so cheerful; they brighten up any room.

Middle Grade Booklist: Parent Trap

 

I read one for last week and realized, I've read several, so I made a booklist for Parent Trap Inspired Books

Books Included:

Reverse Parent Trap

North of Supernova

No Way Ever Sisters

Parent Trap

Let It Glow

Meet Me Halfway

Let's Get Together

 Bhai for Now

Are you a fan of the Parent Trap?

Happy Mother's Day

Sending love to all the moms and mother figures out there. 

 

Picture Book Review: When You Dream Big

 

It's DREAM BIG week at school. Everyone has ideas on what they want to be when they grow up. Everyone except Charley. She's not sure. How can she figure it out?

It's not easy figuring out what you want to be. Charley comes up with an answer that works. She's brave and her idea sets off a spark reaction in her class.

Review: In the Blood

 

Tessa was abandoned at the fire station when she was a baby. She's never known anything about her birth parents and always wondered. Not that her adoptive parents aren't great, but it just feels like a part of her is missing. 

When she turns 18, her best friend gives her an ancestry kit, hoping that Tessa will find some answers. She never imagines what she'll uncover and how that will change everything.

My Thoughts: I really love April Henry and was thrilled to have an ARC of her latest book. I love how Tessa's school work in science class mirrored her testing. I loved Tessa's friendship with El and her growing relationship with Victor. I loved the alternative perspectives. On the mystery side, I loved learning details about the Portland Phantom - from the documentary excerpts and the police officers working the case. I liked the perspective of the killer and learning details from him.  This one was a creepy addictive read that I didn't want to put down (classic April Henry) 

Cover Thoughts: Creepy -but good!

Source: ARC sent for review

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

* Book comes out May 12 (Tuesday)

Graphic Novel Review: Just Between Us

 

Lydia is super talented and she's smashing the competition. But she also doesn't remember why she chose figure skating. It's a lot of pressure and with the Olympics looming, she's not sure she has what it takes. When a rival starts training at her ice rink, she sees the way Elaine sparkles on the ice. Could she be the key to helping Lydia figure out her problem.

My Thoughts: I love figure skating, so I'm here for all the books. I love how these two rivals formed a friendship and began to care about each other and learn from other. And that ending! I enjoyed the soft colors with the illustrations - the yellows combined with the black.

* If you loved watching Alyssa Liu skate; read this graphic novel.

Picture Book Review: A Puppy Like Yours

A puppy like yours might be very different than mine, but we love them so much!

There's a great message in this adorable picture book. The illustrations are wonderful. Share this with a dog lover today!

Source: Book signed by Kayla Harren at PLA

Picture of my pups:

Knightley: Black and Tan

Emma: Black and White

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I Miss

 Top Ten Tuesday: Authors We Wish Were Still Writing

Obviously the biggest:

Jane Austen

Others who died:

Louisa May Alcott

Edith Wharton

Huntley Fitzpatrick

LM Montgomery

Mary Higgins Clark

I would love more from these authors:

Tessa Dare 

Judy Blume

Miranda Kenneally

Jenna Evans Welch

I would have said, but these two authors have book news! 

Lisa Kleypas

Sarah Dessen

Book series that Died:

Heist Society. I want MORE of these.

I'm sure there are others, but I'm drawing a blank right now. What authors do you miss?

Middle Grade Review: No Way Never Sisters

Roxy and Meli couldn't be more different. They're not friends - at all. But their parents are in love and are engaged. Roxy and Meli can't believe how fast everything is changing. This summer, they all move in to a new house together. Life isn't the same and they're not happy. They come up with a brilliantly terrible idea. They're going to split up their parents and then their lives will return back to normal.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book; I wanted to like it more but I just...felt badly for the parents. I didn't feel much sympathy for the girls, even though their lives were being upended. There were so many misunderstandings between them that made them unhappy with each other.  I did like how they started to trust each other and balance each other out. I loved the Benjis and how they were so happy to hang out together. Meli has scoliosis and has to wear a brace. Meli's Abuela is super sweet and of course smart. I love how she influenced the girls at the end. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A fun family drama filled read, recommended for your school and public library

Picture Book Review: Read All about It

 

Hedgehog's father gives him strict rules to follow. In one day, Hedgehog breaks them all - for a good cause. But is that how his father will see it?

This book talks about rules, helping people, and sharing the news. I love the soft illustrations in this story. I love how it ended on a funny note.

Moderating a Panel at PLA (Public Library Association)

 Last month, I was excited to check off a huge item on my professional bucket list - be part of a presentation at a national conference. I'd requested to present at a YALSA conference before and was rejected, but this opportunity came to me.

The panel of authors was amazing. I loved all their books.

Marissa Meyer:

Review

Michelle Jabes Corpora:

Book 1 Review

Book 2 Review

And I'm waiting desperately for the last book in the trilogy

Randy Ribay

Review

Emiko Jean:

Review

Author Interview 

What a line up right?

And I was lucky enough to moderate the panel. 

We had a lightening round of getting to know you questions where we learned about the author's favorite writing snack, if they're a plotter or a panser, if they listen to music when they write, and a book they recently read and enjoyed.

I asked questions of each author. And then the crowd asked questions.

Emiko Jean has a fantastic secondary character in Jiji, the main character's grandfather. We talked about him. Marissa Meyer talked about the struggles of writing with someone else and what happens when you disagree. She also talked about her favorite types of escape rooms and tactile vs technological pieces. Michelle Jabes Corpora talked about how she writes the books as written and not each character's story first and then pieces together the story. She also talked about social media and using it as her real self - not always with make-up and not always polished. Because being real is important - especially for teens. There will be a snake with her on book tour and in some videos. Randy Ribay's book is about the possibility of death, so he talked about what he would do with his last days. He also talked about colonialism and how stories are erased from cultures. His story is steeped in Filipino mythology with his own twist.  

There was a lot of laughter. 

Of course, I was awkward, but I hope in the best way. I was a little nervous at the beginning, but I think it went well. And it would be fun to moderate more panels/author chats, so let me know if you need one!

On Your Radar: Nest of Tongues

Title: Nest of Tongues

Author: Randy Ribay

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: August 11, 2026

Why it Should be on Your Radar:

Sibling story (Lily and Caleb)

Manananggal (Filipino vampires)

Family

Action and Danger

Creepy

Caleb is marked for death

Uncovering clues while fighting for your life

That ending!

* This ARC was sent for review for a PLA panel that will talk about TOMORROW.

Come back and see what it was all about. 

Review: Wildlife Rescue

 

* Book 3 in the Wildlife Rescue series *

A turtle gets hit by a car and needs help. Luckily the local wildlife hospital is there. Twins Ana and Sofia are visiting their cousins, who volunteer with the animals. Ana and Sofia get to visit the hospital and help take care of the tortoises. 

They learn the road where the turtle was hit is very dangerous for tortoises. And people drive too fast on it, causing more injuries. They want to come up with a plan to help. But will anyone listen?

My Thoughts: I accidentally read book 3 first. I felt like I missed some of the back stories. But it wasn't hard picking up the story. I love what the kids did to raise awareness about the tortoises. I felt bad for Ana, the twin who follows her sister's lead. But she starts making her own choices about what she wants to do. It must be hard to be a twin. I loved the tips on how to help animals in the back of the book. I'm looking forward to reading the rest in the series. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: This is the perfect series for an animal lover.

Picture Book Wednesday: Farm Books

Just a few nonfiction picture books about farms:

This takes a look at dairy farming in the US - from family farms to robotic milking machines to grocery stores. It's a very linear read. 

I confess I knew almost nothing about silkie chickens but this book makes me want to meet one! They're so tiny and I love the bluish features. 

These goats look so cute! We had goats at the library last summer, but not angora goats. It would be fun to see them with their long soft mohair (which is great to use for knitting)

I've seen alpacas, but I've never met one, which I need to work on changing. There are two kinds of alpacas and their fleece is wildly different from each other. They are related to camels and llamas.

* What I like about these Abdo Kids Jumbo books is that they are long, they have great pictures, and just the right amount of information. They're fun to read for storytimes when you want a nonfiction book too. And I always learn something from these books. I love the extra facts at the end.

Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie

 This week's topic is a Freebie. I have a lot of books checked out from the library right now, so here are my next reads.

Have you read any of these? Which one should I start with?