Review: Yours Truly

 

Briana's life is hard - with her brother desperately needing a transplant and still reeling from the betrayal of her husband. Work seems to be the only solace in her life. But even that changes when the promotion up for grabs seems slightly out of reach. A new doctor is hired, and her boss decides to hold off on retiring until the new doctor has time to acclimate to the job and decide if he wants the promotion.

Briana can't believe that the new doctor is taking her job. She's a little salty to him as a result. Jacob doesn't know anything about the promotion and he's not interested. Due to his social anxiety, it seems every time he opens his mouth, he says the wrong thing. Frustrated, he writes Briana a letter explaining the whole situation. And from that moment on everything changes.

My Thoughts: I really loved the second book in this trilogy. I enjoyed the fake dating plot. I loved how Briana and Jacob wrote letters back and forth. To be honest, I would have read the whole book that way. I love how Briana understood Jacob's feelings and social anxiety - and how she respected them.  I love Jacob's nosy sisters and how he had such a big loving family. I loved seeing the characters from the previous book and I'm eager to see where the next book will lead. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: If you don't have this trilogy in your romance section, order it.

Picture Book Review: I Hate Everything

One little ghost hates everything - but his friend convinces him otherwise.

I have this sentiment too sometimes. And this is a sweet story about friendship and helping to look at the world a little differently. It's a great way to start talking about mental health and kids. 

Picture Book Review: G is for Gratitude

 

This alphabet book is set up nicely - for a child who can't sleep, they breathe deeply and think about all the good things in this world (which can be hard to do these days). 

I'm not sure which letter is my favorite. I'm fond of Creating, Dogs, Hope, Kindness, Voices, and more. The illustrations are lovely. The characters are diverse. There's so much packed into this book; there's so much to talk about. There's such a great opportunity to talk about feelings and big pictures. 

* Book sent for review

** Highly Recommended for your school and public library collections

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.

Review: Octopus Moon

 

For Pearl, things start to change when fifth grade begins. She's not has happy as she used to be. She's not as fun either. Things start to feel really hard - even getting out of bed in the morning. She pretends that everything is fine. But after her parents come back from a parent-teacher conference, they're forced to realize that everything is NOT fine. They take Pearl to a psychologist.

Dr. Jill helps Pearl understand that depression is a disease, an illness. She teaches Pearl coping skills. Pearl starts making progress and starts letting her friends back into her world. Every day isn't a good day and things are still hard, but she's making progress.

My Thoughts: This novel in verse is a powerful read. I love how Pearl did the work to understand depression. She had good days/moments and bad days/moments. Not everyone understanded what she's going through. At first, she had a hard time explaining it, but she found the words. I loved how depression wove itself into the book - how her Grandfather had bad days too. I loved it how in the beginning of the book, they didn't really talk about it, but by the end of the novel, the family recognized that he had depression too.  I loved the environmental moments of the book and how Pearl learned facts about sea creatures. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendations: A must have book for your school or public library's collection.

Picture Book Wednesday: Making the World a Better Place (1)

Just a few pictures book about making the world a better place, slowing down, and speaking up.

This is LeBron's second picture book and it's also super cute. It's about kids who believe in themselves. They can be more than just one thing.

Like I'm a librarian, a book reviewer, a reader, a writer, and an artist. 

I love their confidence! I wish I had that at their age. I love how they dream big! The illustrations are lovely. 

This is a parent wishing only good things for their child. There are big and small moments in this book and everything is celebrated. 

The love shines through the pages in this book. The illustrations are bright and colorful. 

Yo-Yo has a hard time sitting still; her body wants to move! Her grandpa tries to teach her yoga, but it's hard to pay attention.

All of us have a hard time paying attention some times. This book shows off some good tricks for getting back in the moment. There are poses in the back of the book for readers to test out. 

Kids write letters to Ruby Bridges - asking for advice but also saying how much they are inspired by her. The two page spread has a lovely bright illustration plus two letters - a letter to Ruby and a response from Ruby.

These kids have so much going on and so much that they are worried about. Letters range from concerned about climate control to food waste to learning disabilities to racism. I'm both saddened by these letters and impressed at the thoughts of these letters. I wish we lived in a world where children didn't have these worries.... 

Picture Book Wednesday: May's Brave Day

May's set to start school, but there are butterflies in her tummy. How can see get them to stop fluttering? She needs to find her courage for the first day of school.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book talking about mental health and feeling anxious. May had lots of ways of dealing with anxiety. I love how it all worked out. This is a wonderful book to talk about emotions, mental health, and anxiety. 

* Book sent for review

Book Recommendation: This is a fantastic book for your school and public library collections!  

Picture Book Review: Mindfulness Books

Just a few books about slowing down, being mindful, and letting go of things.

It's the first day of the month; it's always good to be reminded to take it easy on yourself. 

I love this book because it celebrates self love and being true to yourself. It's so hard to do, but so important to practice. And we all need a reminder of that!

What happens when you slow down? What do you see? Take a look around and really see people and nature and all the beauty in wonder in the world.

One child wakes up early - too early. The child and the father make some coffee and sit on the front porch to watch the world wake up. And it's glorious. 

Kiki wants to learn karate; she wants to be strong for the right reasons (not like the bullies at school.) She's watched her mother and brother practice Karate and now she's finally ready. But the class doesn't go as she imagines; it's even better. A reminder to pay attention to our bodies and move them with intention. 

All day long Tisha is hurrying; she just wants to slow down. When her mother picks her up from school, they walk home instead of riding the bus. They count things along the way and then sit in the park for a few moments. The day ends with a picnic. Another reminder to slow down and look at things around us, appreciate nature, and slow our bodies. 

Picture Book Review: The Artist

 

One dinosaur love painting until something goes wrong.

This is a great story about making a mistake and moving on from it. It's about being creative and burning out and filling the well again. It sends a great message about how no one is perfect, but we all deserve a second chance. 

Review: Iveliz Explains it All

 

How do you speak up when it feels like no one is listening? One girl takes on seventh grade while facing mental health challenges, and must find her voice to advocate for the help and understanding she deserves.

Listen up:
The end of elementary school?
Worst time of my life.
And the start of middle school?
I just wasn't quite right.
But this year?
YO VOY A MI.

Seventh grade is going to be Iveliz's year. She's going to make a new friend, help her abuela Mimi get settled after moving from Puerto Rico, and she is not going to get into any more trouble at school . . .

Except is that what happens? Of course not.

...summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I read this book because it's a Newbery Honor Book. But I confess, it took me some time to get into it. And then I was hooked. I will say that I was confused about the father. Once I understood what was really happening, everything made sense. I loved the novel in verse - it is one of my favorite forms. I felt terrible for Ive; I just wanted to wrap her up in a big hug. There was so much going on in her brain. I loved the conversations about mental health - with her grandmother, with her friends, and with her therapist. This book gave me ALL the feels, I cried at the end.

This is one of my favorite parts of the book:

And I do love the set up - how it looks like a journal AND the illustrations on some of the pages.

Cover Thoughts: I understand it after reading it, but it doesn't do much for me

Source: My Library

Star Rating: 4.5 Stars (Mostly because I almost put it down)

Library Recommendations: A must have book for your library collection. 

Review: Royals Next Door

 

Piper's summer is about to get way more interesting. As a school teacher, she has the summer off. She's looking forward to relaxing and spending time with her mother. She's not anticipating her world to be turned upside down with the arrival of royals moving in next door.

The British Prince and his new bride need some time away from the spotlight. Their handsome bodyguard isn't too sure about Piper. But Piper's determined to befriend him. What could possibly go wrong?

My Thoughts: This book is based on the what if Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan moved next door to you for the summer. What if you became friends with them? What if that moment changed your life forever?

This was a fun premise and a fun read. I love royal books and while this isn't a royal romance (the romance is with the bodyguard) it's royal adjacent. I loved the moments in the school - the baking moments - and the banter between Piper and Harrison. I liked how Piper discovered herself and began to join the world a little bit more. I enjoyed the frank discussion of mental health - for both Piper and her mother. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My library

Library Recommendations: Grab this one for your romance section!