Picture Book Wednesday: We Cannot be Friends

Duckie meets Crocodile. She wants to be friends, and it just might have worked. Until a crocodile parent comes by and says that they eat Duckies. Not a good way to start a friendship, but that's not the end...

This is a fun book about friendships and finding new foods to eat. Ame's books are always funny and this is no different. Another winner of a book. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Epistolary Novels

 This week's topic is actually how your blog has changed over the years. TBH, I hate going back and looking at things I wrote about 15+ years ago. It makes me cringe. So, I'm changing it up to showcase kids, middle grade, and teen epistolary novels.

Letters:

Review

Review

Emails, texts...

Diaries:

The book that changed my life

What would you add to this list?

Middle Grade Monday: Meet Me on Mercer Street

Kacie comes back to town after spending the summer with her cousins to discover that everything has changed. Her best friend has moved away without saying goodbye. The grocery store her family owned is being turned into a chain store. What is happening to her neighborhood? Kacie has all these questions, but no one is giving her answers. 

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book and it's exploration of what makes a community. I felt terrible for Kacie discovering that her friend left without saying goodbye. But I love how she found a new friend. I love how she draws everything and then is able to share things that happened. And that ending! It's a delightful story. This is a hybrid novel - half novel and half graphic novel.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Why I read this book: The tagline hooked me (Harriet the Spy meets Front Desk)

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your graphic novel collection.

Picture Book Review: Counting on Mom

 

This is a cute counting book with kids and moms.

Charming illustrations, this concept book is sweet. There are not a lot of words, so this would make a good read-aloud. And it's perfect for Mother's Day. 

Picture Book Biographies

Just a few picture biographies that I enjoyed:

José Andres uses his love for cooking and sharing food with the world. He first learned out to become a chef. When disaster strikes around the world, he and his non-profit are there to help. They use volunteers to help and make a huge difference. 

* I first learned about World Central Kitchen from Selena + Chef

Jeanne Power lived on an island and the sea made her mind come alive. She decided to study the sea and its creatures even though women weren't allowed to be scientists. She created aquariums to study creatures - but her favorite creature to observe was the paper nautilus. Her findings were significant and groundbreaking. The illustrations are lovely.

If you're a cook or baker and you measure ingredients preciously - you have Fannie Farmer to thank. She took recipes that had been handed down from generations and confirmed the ratio of ingredients. She became a teacher and a principal of a school in Boston. She taught many women how to cook and produced a cookbook, which is still in print. 

This was a fascinating story. 

Clara Driscoll worked for Tiffany Glass Company - she was in charge of the Women's Glass Company. They created flower pieces of glass for the windows. She loved nature and sketched several ideas - including new ideas for lamps. The women's team took on jobs that the men turned down. They had a competition between then. This was a fascinating read! 

TV Review: The Residence

 

Haven't done one of these in a while, but this show spoke to me.

What I like:

The multiple suspects

The birding - which was usual

Detective Cupp was funny - direct - and smart

White House setting

Randall Park

The jurisdiction questions - especially the Park Service  

The Twists and Turns

The Reveal

I highly recommend this show and I do hope there's another season planned.

Romance Review: Wake Up Nat & Darcy

 

Darcy has been working at the TV network for three years. She's been putting in her dues and working her way up the ladder. It seems to have paid off. She's been asked to co-host a segment for the Olympics. As a former Hockey Olympian, she's excited to return. However, she's not too sure about her new co-host.

Nat, just cut from the Olympic team, isn't sure where to turn next. She's surprised to be offered a job hosting. She's not sure she can do it without murdering Darcy - the woman she loved and who broke her heart in college.

Can they host together without killing each other?

My Thoughts: I really loved this book: for the sports, for the banter, for the chemistry, and for all the fun. I love that Darcy and Nat had a relationship back in the college. I love how they had to work through their baggage. I felt bad that they had to deal with a lot of misogyny. But I did love how they sparked socially media rumors. That was cute! I'm so looking forward to the next book. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Why I Read It: I heard about the sequel online and obviously had to read this one first.

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your romance collection.