Matthew would just like the school bullies to stop mocking his tics and leave him and his Tourette's alone, but one day, they chase him until they allMatthew would just like the school bullies to stop mocking his tics and leave him and his Tourette's alone, but one day, they chase him until they all find themselves trapped underground. With no better options, they begin to explore, eventually discovering some sinister secrets, including man-eating slime. Learning to work together won't be enough unless the others realize that there's more to Matthew's imaginary friends than pure fiction.
What a wild ride! I love that the protagonist thoughtfully explains Tourette's without breaking the flow of the story. But this book is about so much more than mere representation. It's action-packed from beginning to end, with great characters and a creative premise. I had a lot of fun reading it, and I hope there will be more. ...more
Once upon a time, the land was mostly sad and ruined. But then the Whispering Witch came, and she brought the world back to life. But the old folks diOnce upon a time, the land was mostly sad and ruined. But then the Whispering Witch came, and she brought the world back to life. But the old folks didn't like change, and they blamed her for forcing them to do things differently. So the Witch spoke to the children instead.
This book isn't shy about saying exactly what it wants. I don't think that's a bad thing since environmental justice is imminent and important to us all. But I did find it oddly incongruent that this book creates a fantasy setting that's ideally suited to a metaphor, but instead of working with that more gently, it just said exactly what it would say if there hadn't been any magic involved. I would still give this book 5 stars except that it really missed out on the opportunity to use the lyricism that it had. Line breaks were haphazard, repetitions felt accidental, and the tone felt a little too much like a whisper to match with the message's powerful call to action. The artwork is gorgeous, which is wonderful in one way, but it also served to show the limits of the narration.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has noticed that the world isn't as it should be and is wondering if we can make a difference. We might not have whisper magic, but we will become the adults of the future.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this ARC. All opinions are my own. ...more
This girl is sure she's a princess, but no one else seems to think so. How rude! She makes herself a crown (out of a pineapple) and acquires some subjThis girl is sure she's a princess, but no one else seems to think so. How rude! She makes herself a crown (out of a pineapple) and acquires some subjects (fruit flies). But being a pineapple princess isn't all it's cracked up to be in the end.
This is a silly sort of book that I can certainly relate to in some ways, but I'm left shaking my head at others. It's a lot of fun to read aloud. ...more
Hana loves her hijabs. She loves to accessorize and style them. But she has so many. Then she realizes there might be a way to share her love of hijabHana loves her hijabs. She loves to accessorize and style them. But she has so many. Then she realizes there might be a way to share her love of hijab fashion.
This is a sweet story with a ton of colorful illustrations. It warmed my heart to see so much love for hijabs, and I'm glad that Hana shares that. ...more
Roxie and Scout are a content-creating team. With Roxie using her research and reporting skills and Scout holding the camera and doing the editing, thRoxie and Scout are a content-creating team. With Roxie using her research and reporting skills and Scout holding the camera and doing the editing, they're almost sure they can't lose the upcoming Veracity kids' video competition. But in the meantime, they learn that their apartment building, Umbrella House, is being targeted by developers who are trying to abolish its rights as a co-op for former squatters. The two kids hope that their news stories and some local art movements will be enough to save their community, but it looks less hopeful when Scout announces that he's thinking of going away to a photography camp all summer.
This book has a lot of moving parts, but it worked together to create something pretty compelling. Personally, I might have taken out Scout's arc, but it adds a certain balance to the book and helps create multiple points of tension as Roxie tries to figure out whether she's good enough at reporting. There's a lot of history tucked into this short book, and it was fun to think about the many artists of various sorts who have made a difference by sharing truth in an aesthetic way. I admit I was looking for something a little more magical after I saw the cover art on this book, but I'm not disappointed, and that art really is beautiful.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own. ...more
Facing the difficulty of few friends and a scary financial situation at home, Leo receives a very special birthday present. His uncle sends him a guitFacing the difficulty of few friends and a scary financial situation at home, Leo receives a very special birthday present. His uncle sends him a guitar, and when Leo plays with his heart, music legends appear in his room to comment and give advice, guiding Leo through some of life's turbulent crises and helping him find the magic that was inside him all along.
Honestly, a really fun concept. The musical artists who show up when Leo plays his guitar are close enough to how I've always pictured them that this book doesn't feel like too much of a stretch. Leo is a fun character, and the mix of Spanish and English in this book makes it a unique reading experience. I'm excited for book 2!...more
A girl lives with her mother surrounded by the forest and a few people. She's not sure why her dad went to live on the other side of the forest, but sA girl lives with her mother surrounded by the forest and a few people. She's not sure why her dad went to live on the other side of the forest, but she and her friend set out on a quest to find him. Maybe he'll come back then.
If this book is trying to convince me that it was originally a diary written by a ten year old girl who doesn't get out much but has a vivid imagination that might touch on some real magic, it does a fantastic job. If it's trying to do anything else, it could have done a little better. The style is very strong and convincing with a believable voice and an excellent sense of mood. The plot is very basic, and the character arc feels a little like an afterthought. This book also brings up some topics that the point of view character doesn't really understand but includes anyway, and I'm not sure how to interpret this, as most kids also won't understand, and this book doesn't feel marketed to adults. It has some interesting themes and concepts, and I certainly have plenty to think about, but I have so far liked this author's other books better. ...more
Some kids and a dog play an alphabet game where the narrator asks them to retrieve an object starting with a certain letter. The kids are great at it,Some kids and a dog play an alphabet game where the narrator asks them to retrieve an object starting with a certain letter. The kids are great at it, but the dog seems to have trouble finding anything besides ducks. But somehow, he's never wrong as long as the narrator is willing to consider things from a different perspective.
What can I say? David LaRochelle might be my new favorite picture book author. The books make one really good point and are charming the rest of the time. None have failed to make me laugh so far. ...more
You go for a nice walk in the jungle. But wait! There's a hungry tiger. No matter where you go, it seems like the tiger is waiting there to eat you.
TYou go for a nice walk in the jungle. But wait! There's a hungry tiger. No matter where you go, it seems like the tiger is waiting there to eat you.
This is a delightful interactive story that reminds me of *Going on a Bear Hunt* but even sillier! It made me laugh so many times, and I can't wait to read it to my kiddos. ...more
The residents of a cluttered little town have endless work to do, for their Sunday is missing. But no matter how much effort they put in, everything cThe residents of a cluttered little town have endless work to do, for their Sunday is missing. But no matter how much effort they put in, everything comes out feeling pointless. At last, one brave girl descends into the underground to find the witch who has taken Sunday. She meets her doppelganger, who insists on getting as much rest and "personal care" as possible.
This whimsical story has touchstones in many classic fairy tales, but it more broadly speaks to the need for balance in rest and work. The residents of the town are burnt out after endless days of toil, but an opposing character is the doppelganger, who is so committed to self-care that she appears selfish. The book is not subtle with its themes, but because of that, it can be very playful in its interpretations. The text is readable, the scenes dynamic, and the art truly a joy to behold. While it's currently Thursday morning and I've a ways to go, I'm now looking forward to my own Sunday quite a bit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own. ...more
The narrator has finally learned to draw a horse, but now the horse wants a bicycle. But there's a problem: no one knows how to draw a bicycle. The hoThe narrator has finally learned to draw a horse, but now the horse wants a bicycle. But there's a problem: no one knows how to draw a bicycle. The horse and cat work together to find a solution, but it turns out bikes are difficult all around.
I enjoy how this book plays with shapes and colors, suggesting some useful stepping stones for kids looking to improve their art skills. I was a little thrown off by the way the dialogue is formatted, sometimes in the narrative style and sometimes as speech bubbles. It was still fun to read, though. ...more
The world outside is too full of everything all the time, so a little girl escapes with her books and hides inside a whale. But then a boy comes, noisThe world outside is too full of everything all the time, so a little girl escapes with her books and hides inside a whale. But then a boy comes, noisy and full. They strike a deal and discover that there's room for both of them.
I spent a lot of my childhood as the kid no one listened to but also found solace in books. This story is ideal for kids who enjoy the quiet and don't always feel the need to be doing. ...more
You thought disabled people didn't have sex? Think again. There are a lot of different kinds of disabilities, and many of them require special consideYou thought disabled people didn't have sex? Think again. There are a lot of different kinds of disabilities, and many of them require special consideration during sexual encounters, but this book reinforces that intimacy is better in any relationship when there's a lot of communication and a willingness to be curious, patient, and a little silly.
I can't say I'm a huge fan of the art style here. Felt incongruous. And I found myself reminding myself that this is the "quick and easy" guide, not the exhaustive guide, so I shouldn't be surprised that a lot of the answers are surface-level. Despite being so short, this book gave me a lot to think about and some really great advice. It's very approachable and a great introduction for anyone unsure how to navigate sex with disability. ...more
Andrew writes dark fairy tales. Thomas draws dark illustrations. They might be a little in love, whatever that means for two queer dudes in a classicaAndrew writes dark fairy tales. Thomas draws dark illustrations. They might be a little in love, whatever that means for two queer dudes in a classical academy. But then Thomas pulls away: the monsters he draws have been coming to life and hunting at night, and Thomas is the only one who can stop them.
Or, you know, whatever to the plot. This one is certainly creepier than my usual fare, with plants growing where they really don't belong and mysterious monsters lurking. But I can forgive a lot for the sake of some really beautiful storytelling, and this one has that. I'm still wondering about a lot of things, which I don't hate, but it also leaves me unsatisfied. ...more
Sarah moves from England to France and begins work as a bilingual corporate executive, making the big bucks and using her degree. It's everything she Sarah moves from England to France and begins work as a bilingual corporate executive, making the big bucks and using her degree. It's everything she ever wanted. But she's lonely. So lonely, in fact, that a chance encounter with a Chinese woman at the cafe has Sarah clinging to this tiny social connection, hoping to find meaning in her life despite the language barrier.
I like graphic novels with a lot fewer words, but I can't deny that this one was impactful. It brilliantly captures the guilt and hope one feels while trying to adjust to a new language, particularly when the people around you are using a lot of slang or speaking rapidly. I didn't love the ending, but I'm not much of a romantic at heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own. ...more
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