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. 

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: Here Come the Aunties

There are so many aunties with so many talents in this book.

I love how this book goes through the calendar year and showcases daily occurrences and special events occasions. I love how it highlights indigenous moments. This book really brings home the feeling and message of community and family.

* A must have picture book for any library collection

Mood Board: You Had Me @ Hello World

While this book was a romance, it dealt with a lot of heavy moments.

Abuse

Being kicked out of home

Escape

Finding a path for yourself

Rescuing your family

Following your passion

Standing up for yourself

Saying no to people

None of that is easy, but all of that is in this book.

It was a good book, but the ending was a little bit rushed. I wish there was another chapter or two.

 

Middle Grade Review: Treasure of Ocean Parkway

* Book 2 in the series *

Thea discovers a clue hidden in a closet in her apartment. She knows exactly who should help her solve it - the podcasters from her apartment building. She finds Roya and Amin and pitches them the idea, a new mystery for their next podcast.

The clue is a treasure hunt from her grandfather. Her dad won't talk about him; they don't have a good relationship. Currently her grandfather lives in a home for people with dementia. The clues are supposed to lead to a treasure within the apartment building. 

Can they solve the clues and find the treasure or is it lost forever?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this sequel. I felt bad for Thea as she was lonely without her sister for company and she barely saw her parents.  I love that she gave from a long time of artists. I love how she became friends with Roya and Amin over the course of figuring out the puzzles. I love how the puzzles here related to the building and also art. Amin's train contest was a fun side story. I love how they set this up for another book in the series. I hope there are several more in the works. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Why I Read This One: I loved the first book - and the combination of mysteries and podcasts

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your middle grade collections.

Review: Let's Get Together

 

Liberty Perry is in a new foster home and will be attending a new school. When she arrives, everyone seems overly friendly. When she arrives in the office, she's called by a different name. 

Kenya can't wait for the new school year and for outdoor club. Maybe this is finally the year something with happen with the boy she's been crushing over. She's stunned to learn there's a new girl in school that everyone is telling her about. Everyone wants her to know the new girl looks exactly like Kenya. How can that be?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book; although I did find the ending a little rushed. Both girls have their lives unended by this news. There's a nasty trick between them that does sort itself out. I can't imagine what they must be going through, especially Liberty who found a foster home that she enjoys. I loved the moments of friendship between Liberty and Carrie-Anne (even the tough conversation). If you have a reader who loves The Parent Trap, this book is for them!

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Why I Read This: I'm a huge fan of the Parent Trap

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

Picture Book Review: Old Blue is my Home

One little girl has a love/hate relationship with her family's blue van. The van is also their home. Not everyone at school understands how it feels to be homeless. 

This is a great book to teach empathy and to share that not everyone is fortunate to have a home. It is hopeful. 

Picture Book Wednesday: Cousins

There's nothing better than spending the day with your large family, especially cousins. 

I love how the cousins have such fun together. Even cleaning together is fun. I loved the bit about the pie - I'm not sure I could choose my favorite type of pie either. The day seems magical - loud, full of adventure, and most of all family. Sure, they squabble, but at the end of the day, they are family.

* book sent for review

Picture Book Review: Today

Time can take forever or fly by in a blink. Summer is finally here and it's time for cousins and family and fun. 

The illustrations are charming. I can feel the summer sun as I look through them. I want to be at the lake with this family too. There is a note at the end from author about being in the present and mindfulness.

Middle Grade Review: Speak Up Santiago

First in a new graphic novel series

Santiago is spending the summer with his grandmother. Everyone on that side of the family speaks Spanish, but he's just learning. His grandmother doesn't speak English that well. He's nervous that they will have trouble communicating. 

Santiago loves playing soccer and found a group of friends. Together, they hope to enter a tournament at the end of the month. But they all speak Spanish too. 

Santiago does pretty well for most of the summer, but he worries about being enough. When he overhears people talking about him and his language barrier, he shuts down. Will it cost him his happiness over the summer?

My Thoughts: I really loved this graphic novel. I love how Santiago was nervous in the beginning, but he found his footing. I loved the moments between him and his grandmother. This graphic novel had a lot of Spanish and English together. It's not an entire bilingual graphic novel, but it's close. I felt bad for Santiago and wanted to wrap in him up in a hug when things went sideways for him. But I did like how everything turned out. I also love that this series is continuing with one of the friends as the main character next. I can't wait to read what happens. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your school and public library

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival Day

 

 * Book 10 in the Mindy Kim series * 

Mindy's grandfather dies; she and her family are heading to Korea. They will be there for the Mid-Autumn Festival. It's a tradition that honors family and ancestors. Of course, she's sad about the death of her grandfather. But, since it's her first official festival in Korea and she's determined to make it the best it can be. 

My Thoughts: I love this series. I love how Mindy discovers more about Korea - the food and the culture. She has all the feels - sadness about her grandfather, happiness to see her family, and excitement over her first festival. I wish there were more traditions about family here. Mindy Kim is such a sweet girl with a big heart who enjoys learning and her family. I can't wait for more books about her. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming and makes me hungry

Source: Book sent for review

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

Review: Lasagna Means I Love You

                       

Mo's grandmother died, leaving her in the care of her uncle. But her uncle never agreed to take Mo and he has his own military career to consider. Mo becomes a ward of the state. 

At the social worker's office, Mo discovers a family cookbook. She loves the idea of passing down recipes, stories, and traditions. She doesn't have anything from her grandmother, MO had to pack everything in one suitcase. 

At the first place, Mo doesn't get along with the other kids, but the second one has promise. Mo decides to start up a blog, asking people for family recipes and stories to share. She tries cooking some of the recipes and discovers she enjoys it. But how can she have a family recipe of her own when she doesn't have a family?

My Thoughts: This was an excellent story - it tugged at my heartstrings. I loved it for so many reasons:

Recipes

Traditions

Stories

Blogging

Friendship

Foster Families (we need more of these stories)

Found Family

Finding Yourself

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendations: A must have book for your school and public library collection!

Picture Book Wednesday: One Day

 

A parent's wish for her baby boy.

This book is super sweet and adorable. The illustrations are soft and warm and magical. A perfect book for parents to share with their little ones. 

Picture Book Wednesday: Plátanos Go with Everything

 

Plátanos  are the perfect food - they cheer you up when you're sad and keep you happy. They remind Yesenia's family of home - life in the Dominican Republic. Everyone in her family loves them.

There's a lot of love in this book to go with the mouthwatering food. This book is a celebration of family and plátanos. The bright colorful illustrations make this book pop.

Picture Book Wednesday: Family Books

 

Just a few books about family.

Gigi isn't sure about her name. Gigi sounds too babish, Geraldine is hard for Ojiji to pronounce. She decides on a new name, but it's hard to remember when people call her something different. 

A sweet story about memories and family moments. Of course, I love the moments in the library and the ice cream shop. 

A little girl and her family go out for dim sum - it's a weekly tradition. 

There's a lot of love in this family gathering, lots of food, and sharing. It's an adorable sweet story. 

Nina's grandmothers live on the opposite sides of the world. When she travels to see them, she does different but the same things.

A great story about similarities and opposites. I love how each page spread is split between the two different places. Fantastic illustrations make this book one to pour over -together. 

BookTok: The Jasmine Project

This debut novel was amazing!

 

@yabooknerdlibrarian My new favorite YA book that I could not put down! #YAbooks #fivestars #booktok #librariansoftiktok #amreading #debutnovel ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Review: The Complete Book of Aspen

 

Aspen's father recently died- leaving a huge whole in her heart. Eight months later, her mom emerges from her grief and begins to live again. When her best friend gives her a DNA test to take because Sophie's obsessed with science, Aspen doesn't think twice.

Until her mom starts acting strange about it. And then the results come back. Aspen's relieved she doesn't have the cancer gene. But then she notices that there's not one drop of Italian blood in her DNA. Instead, she's Greek. But her father's ancestry is well known. 

There has to be some mistake.

Now Aspen's desperate to know who her father is - but her mom's not talking.

My Thoughts: This novel in verse sucked me in and didn't let go. I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed the concrete poems (poems in shapes) that mixed with regular poems. I felt terrible for Aspen as she struggled to uncover her identity - from her fights with her mother, her not so great boyfriend, and her friend who was dealing with her own family drama. A fun and fast read!

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: ARC sent for review

Library Recommendation: Recommended for your school and public libraries

Graphic Novel Review: Miss Quinces

 

All Sue wants to do is spend time at camp with her friends and create graphic novel art. But her parents never let her have any fun. Instead, they are going to visit family in Honduras. To her horror, there is also no cell service/internet. But there is LOTS of family.

It gets worse. 

Her mom announces that she's throwing Sue a surprise quinceañera. Sue hates being the center of attention. She's really upset about this - especially since nothing is her style. How will she survive?

My Thoughts: I really loved this graphic novel. I loved the big family and the relationship Sue had with her Abuelita. I loved all the noisy moments and the quiet ones. I loved Sue's nerdy love for comic books and creating art. Life throws obstacles in your way, but Sue made them work for her. A great graphic novel that was hard to put down. 

Cover Thoughts: Funny

Source: My library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for school and public libraries.

Picture Book Review: Duck Duck Dad

The ducklings come to love their father - even though he doesn't look like them. Ralph didn't want to stop at the eggs - but once he did, his life changed forever. The ducklings are always hungry. The ducklings need constant attention. What's a dog to do?

This a story about parents and children. It's sweet and funny and has a great message.  

Picture Books: Books about Family

I recently read some picture books about family and wanted to share:

Our World is a Family: All about being safe and welcome in the community

I Love You, Baby Burrito: One day in the life of a much loved baby. This book is in Spanish and English.

The Bear in My Family: A funny book about siblings - grumpy and protective

Me and Ms. Too: A story about a blended family who are adjusting and learning what each other likes.

Better Together: Everything works better when you work together