Picture Book Review: Spooky Scouts

 

Luna LOVES being a Spooky Scout - especially the camping trip. But this camping trip, there's a full moon. Something happens to Luna during a full moon - something secret. Could this secret ruin the trip?

This was a funny book where Luna desperately tries to keep her secret. I love how Luna loves s'mores. The secret is a clever twist, and it contains a great message that being yourself is very brave. While this book is NOT a Halloween book per se, it's perfect for the Halloween season.

* Book sent for review

** This book publishes on Tuesday

Review: All You had to do was Stay

 

Two broken hearts. Four years apart. One chance to choose again.

Hannah has built her dream career, planning other people's happy ever afters - with no hope of her own. Not since that day four years ago; the one she never talks about.

Jude is getting on a plane for the first time in four years. He's not happy about it, but at least he'll be back in Sydney before too long - safe from the things he'd prefer to forget.

But when Hannah's twin and Jude's brother make a shock announcement, and appoint a certain wedding planner, the summer stretching ahead of them suddenly looks a whole lot different...

As they're thrown back together, is it possible that first love could get a second chance? - summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I really loved this second chance romance book. I loved how the brother tried to throw Hannah and Jude in each other's paths. The brothers were super cute. I really loved their scenes. I loved the wedding planning. I hated Marc - but his character did add tension to the story. I enjoyed seeing the past relationship between Hannah and Jude unfold - how they got together and why they broke up. 

Source: Netgalley

Library Recommendation: A great second chance romance for your adult collection. 

Review: A Matter of Murder

 

* Book 2 in the Lizzie and Darcy Mysteries * 

Jane and Mr. Bingley are married and living in their newly inherited estate. Unfortunately, the estate is cursed. The townspeople aren't interested in socializing with the newly married couple.

Lizzie and her family have arrived from London for the summer. Most of the family believes it's simply a vacation, but Lizzie has been forced to visit due to threatening letters. Is the curse real or is someone trying to scare Lizzie?

My Thoughts: I have loved this series and I'm sad that it's over. I loved seeing characters from previous books. I loved seeing Darcy's sister again. I loved the small town and the estate gossip. The mystery of the dead body was entertaining and had several twists. There were many moments I didn't see coming. A fantastic series if you're a Jane Austen fan! 

Cover Thoughts: Cute with so much detail
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A fantastic duology for your school and public library collection

Picture Book Review: School Books

 

Here's a few more school picture books:

This book shares the lead up to the end of the summer and the first moments of school.

I love the when this happens then this happens push and pull of this book. This book is part of a series - not with the same characters, but with the same set-up. 

Sometimes you just need a day off from school - but what happens when you've accomplished all your goals and still have half the day left? What happens when your imagination runs while and you think about ALL that you're missing out on?

This is a funny picture book about getting to miss school and then missing school. I do love all the imaginative things that could have happened while you're not there. 

* picture book sent for review

All the creatures in the lake go to school - fish go to fish school, lizards go to lizard school, and frogs for to frog school. But Axl isn't sure where to go. What kind of creature is he?

Poor Axl has a hard time figuring out where he belongs. There are some funny moments. There are no parents. But there is a moment where Axl realizes he's not like any of the other lake creatures. And that's ok. I love this message. 

* This book was sent for review

** There are Axolotl facts at the back of the book

Learning can be different for everyone - there's not one way to learn. This picture book highlights some of those ways. 

I really loved how this book created space for all types of learning. The illustrations are soft. There are diverse characters. I love how you can tell which kid learns different with each new teaching moment.  This will make an excellent book to jump start a discussion.

* This book was sent for review

Top Ten Tuesday: Series Books

 This week's topic is series I need to catch up on - which I'm changing to series I want to start. There are times when I see a new book coming out and don't realize it's part of a series and that I need to go back and read the first few books. 

Have you read any of these? Which should I read first?

Middle Grade Monday: Theft of the Ruby Lotus

 

Ria is unhappy with her mother. For years, her mother's worked at the MET. Now she's suddenly changed jobs and Ria's going to be forced to move to Germany. Ria's angry. She doesn't even want to attend the sleepover at the MET with her school.

But a mysterious package arrives at the house. It's a ruby. Ria can't help but wonder if it's the ruby that was stolen from the sword at the museum. Maybe this is why her mother lost her job. Maybe if she can put the ruby back, everything will be ok.

She enlists the help of her two best friends. But as they work to achieve their goal, thieves interrupt them. The thieves steal the sword. Now Ria and her friends will have to locate the sword, add the ruby back, and hope that no one is the wiser. 

Why I Read it: I love heist books

My Thoughts: I love how this was inspired by another book - From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. There are some trust issues in this book: between Ria and her mom but also between Ria and a new boy. There's a little bit of romance here. There's a lot of talk about museums and their "belongings" - I really liked this discussion. It's a great point. This book was a really fun read - lots of twists and turns, lots of great characters, and a real sense of community. 

Cover Thoughts: Cool

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great middle school book for your school or public library.

Board Books: Concepts

 

Just a few board books on concepts:

Saying goodnight to all the toys - this board book is super cute with the rhyming text. This is perfect for the smallest Toy Story fans

What to do when you visit a farm or dinner- from the start to the end. Lots of vocabulary here. Cute illustrations with diverse characters.

This board book takes three animals and creates 4 pages of clues to guess the animal's identity. I love this different type of book - what a fun way to learn. 

A clever way to learn about shapes and it's the perfect book for pet lovers.

Nature is on display here in this black and white board book. There is also a page about reading with your baby, which contains really great information. 

A large board book that isn't really a story, but a list of things separated by categories. There's so much to talk about with all the items. The illustrations are bright and readers will want to pour over this book.

The perfect book for all the Taylor-tots out there. This seek and find book has Swiftie Easter Eggs. It will keep readers pouring over the brightly colored places. 

Picture Book Review: Don't Splash Grandpa

Everyone at the pool knows the first rule: Don't Splash Grandpa. They all work really hard to have fun but to obey that rule. But what happened when Grandpa gets splashed?

A funny rhyming story about a morning in the pool with Grandpa is fantastic. I loved the cute illustrations with bright colors. Perfect for a summer read.

Review: Bookstore Diaries

 

Jax owns the family bookstore - complete with the African gray parrot, Ramon. She and her ex-husband have a unique way to co-parent. Harris comes to her with a request - he'd like his girlfriend to be able to sleep over at the house with the kids. Jax says no. He takes things to the next level, and everything spirals out of control.

Jax's sister Ryleigh turns down a marriage proposal she thought she wanted. Now she's questioning all her life choices. She loves being an elementary school teacher, but she also wants to become a mom. Should she move back to San Diego where the dating pool is larger even though that means missing out on family time?

As these two sisters struggle with life changing decisions, they also discover truths about themselves. Could these truths be the key to their happiness?

My Thoughts: I loved how the book alternated between the two sisters. This was a fun read, one that I didn't want to put down. I did enjoy how everything worked out and how the sisters took a deep look at themselves. I would really love to visit this bookstore. Also, the parrot stole many scenes and added humor to the story. 

Cover Thoughts: Pretty

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your public library's adult collection

Upcoming Review: Lost Perfumes of Paris

 

Élodie is following in the footsteps of her mother - to the best of her ability. She's excited about the perfume she's just created. She can't wait to hear her father's reaction. 

Élodie's dumbfounded to learn that he hates it. Worse, he reaction from the other lab assistants makes Élodie want to quit all together.

But she pivot's after taking over at a luncheon with the people who make decisions - including her father. He thinks she overstepped. Élodie just wants what's best for her family's perfume company.

She plans to enter - and win the Essence of Paris

 contest. That will prove to everyone that she has what it takes to succeed as a perfumer. But she must team up with Marcelo - the son of the financier of the company. Can they win the contest and secure Élodie's future?

My Thoughts: I loved this book. I loved reading about Élodie creating the perfumes and all that it entails. It made me want to create my own perfume. I loved how Élodie and Marcelo wandered Paris together - discovering pieces of history and being inspired to create the perfume. I felt terrible for Élodie with her family troubles, but I love how she dealt with them. I can see this book becoming a book club favorite.

Publication Date: September 8

Source: Netgalley

Cover Thoughts: Charming - I love the perfume bottle with the Eiffel Tower in the distance

Library Recommendation: A must have historical fiction for your adult fiction collection.

Picture Book Review: School Books

Just a few back to school books:

Romeo is good at a lot of things, but catching isn't one of them. Luckily dog school and Elvis might be able to help him.

This is a cute Ready to Read/I Can Read book that showcases failure and trying again and again.

What happens when there's no vacancy at the human school? A bunch of students go to the dragon school. There, they will learn a different skill set. 

This book has a great message about fitting in. We all have differences and similarities. Plus, everyone has something they can teach others. Dragon school only sounds a tiny bit dangerous, but mostly fun! 

Tomorrow and Yesterday are sisters - and they are opposites of each other. Yesterday is always rushing and Tomorrow is always slow. 

This is a story about sisters who approach the world differently. They meet other kids who help them see more ways to see the world. 

It's the first day of school and Afua has a LOT of feelings. The day is busy and full of little moments.

This is a great book about feelings; I love how her feelings blend together. Afua is brave and determined to have fun. 

Sammy and Sunny have their first day of school on the same day. They are both nervous, but both learned a lot.

I loved the comparison of days between Sunny, the dog, and Sammy the student. The ending is funny! 

Tiny T. Rex is nervous for the first day of school. He's worried about making mistakes and he does.

Mistakes are a part of life, and this is a good way to share that message. Tiny also comes up with some creative ways to solve problems.

Top Ten Tuesday: Years in Books

 This week's topic is books we've read on one day over many years. Because I don't have dates of books read, I'm going to share books I've posted on August 1.

2025:

Eliza from Scratch 

2024:

Liar Liar

2023:

This is a booklist of Forgotten Books (books from 10 years ago)

2022:

Sense and Second Degree Murder

2021:

A booklist of board books about Love

2020:

No post on that date

2019:

On Your Radar - the newest Kristan Higgins book

2018:

Picture book review: Mae Among the Stars

2017:

Fantasy book recommendations

2016:

Relentless 

2015:

Grace Cries Uncle 

2014:

Suddenly Last Summer 

2012:

What's on my hold list (maybe I should bring this back)

2011:

Bite Club

This is a wild look back in time.