en-US Fri, 16 May 2025 07:13:36 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 8112318
Logan, the Candymaker's son, who can detect the color of chocolate by touch alone?

Miles, the boy who is allergic to merry-go-rounds and the color pink?

Daisy, the cheerful girl who can lift a fifty-pound lump of taffy like it's a feather?

Or Philip, the suit-and-tie wearing boy who's always scribbling in a secret notebook?

This sweet, charming, and cleverly crafted story, told from each contestant's perspective, is filled with mystery, friendship, and juicy revelations.]]> 453 Wendy Mass 0316002585 Mandy 0 to-read 4.29 2010
author: Wendy Mass
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 217938304 32 Chelsea Tornetto 1534113061 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.52
author: Chelsea Tornetto
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.52
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/14
date added: 2025/05/14
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 220481348 Follow along with one little shellfish to discover cutting-edge, under-the-sea science!

Did you know that deep in the ocean, fish are loud? Scientists have recently discovered that fish and shellfish grunt and groan, crackle and cluck, and even burp and boop to communicate. They warn each other, woo each other, and welcome each other with all kinds of sounds, making the ocean quite noisy! This upbeat, rhyming nonfiction picture book explores underwater science in a unique way and is perfect for any school or home library.]]> 40 Kirsten Pendreigh 146421896X Mandy 5 4.75
author: Kirsten Pendreigh
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.75
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/14
date added: 2025/05/14
shelves: school-wishlist, picture-books
review:

]]> 219542928 Axolotl snacks-alotl.

And lives life to the max-alotl.

Little brother Axolittle

likes to study facts a little.

For total opposites like these two, sometimes differences can lead them to poke-a-little and joke-a-little, then shout-a-lotl and pout-a-lotl. This axo-lutely hilarious new read-aloud about fighting and making up is a must-buy for siblings and friends who need to chill their gills and learn to get along.]]> 40 Jess Hitchman 1464237905 Mandy 4 4.55
author: Jess Hitchman
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.55
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/14
date added: 2025/05/14
shelves: picture-books, great-read-aloud, school-wishlist
review:

]]> 218187023 A heartwarming picture book teaching children patience and to live in the moment.

Reha despises the present, all because her brother says he won't let her play with his dinosaur toys until she's older. To solve this problem, she decides to build a time machine. But even though she does everything her time travel book says, she can't seem to get it right. Then in her last attempt to find what she needs, her brother asks if he can help. Perhaps the present could be okay after all?]]> 36 Maria Marianayagam 1728271258 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.40
author: Maria Marianayagam
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/21
date added: 2025/05/14
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 217506549 368 Julie Clark 1464221286 Mandy 0 currently-reading 4.25 2025
author: Julie Clark
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/11
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 60198127 A stunning adaptation of a tale that’s been winning hearts for twenty-five years

Shade is a young Silverwing bat, the runt of his colony. But he’s determined to prove himself on the long, dangerous winter migration to Hibernaculum, millions of wingbeats to the south. When he becomes separated from the other bats during a fierce storm, he must undertake the most incredible journey of his young life.]]> 224 Kenneth Oppel 1443462179 Mandy 0 currently-reading 3.96 2023
author: Kenneth Oppel
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 221737140 Best friends Ember the Fire Dragon and Gus the Mushroom Dragon search for a magic jewel in the first installment of this full-color, fantasy adventure series perfect for beginning readers!



Pick a book. Grow a Reader!

This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, plenty of humor, and full-color artwork on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and fluency. Acorn books plant a love of reading and help readers grow!

Dragon Hill is in trouble! The magic jewel that protects Dragon Hill has gone missing, and best friends Ember the Fire Dragon and Gus the Mushroom Dragon work together to find the jewel. But they are young dragons and Ember doesn't yet know how to use her fire powers. The two friends follow squirrel paw prints and meet a helpful Tree Dragon. Will they be able to find the magic jewel?

Ember and Gus’s adventure is told through five full-color short stories with easy-to-read text throughout, making this book a perfect choice for new readers!]]> 64 Tracey West 1546193146 Mandy 4 3.50
author: Tracey West
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves:
review:

]]> 222376612
When they discover a baby river otter with a hurt leg, Ivy worries about the little otter being separated from its family--a feeling she knows all too well. She's struggled to make new friends since her twin cousin BFFs moved away.

Taking on a big project for the wildlife hospital keeps her busy, but can she find the confidence she needs to make it a success, build new friendships, and help the otter heal enough to return to the wild?]]> 128 Kate Messner 1547617578 Mandy 4 school-wishlist 4.00
author: Kate Messner
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: school-wishlist
review:

]]> 214390837 What would happen if Cinderella found herself in the beast's castle, and Beauty woke up in some evil stepmother's home? Fairy tales meet Freaky Friday in this series, where there’s a magical mix-up for every princess!

Ella’s spent her life dreaming about adventure, but it’s hard to have adventures when you’re stuck with a stepfamily who treat you like a servant. When she unexpectedly wakes up in a land far, far away, she’s thrilled at the chance to embark on an epic quest. That is, until she finds herself trapped once more—this time in the castle of a dangerous beast.

Belle, meanwhile, has plans. Her family’s trading company is on the brink of ruin, and to save it, she’s going to enter—and win—a royal competition in the prince’s honor. But when she unexpectedly winds up in a cellar with a wicked stepfamily who have their own plans to keep her from the competition . . . things get complicated.

Happily-ever-after couldn’t feel farther away. Can Ella escape the beast’s clutches? And can Belle get rid of this stepfamily in time for the competition?

For other Princess Swaps, don't miss Snow White and the Dragon (or, Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs)!]]> 304 Kim Bussing 0593708040 Mandy 0 3.86
author: Kim Bussing
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.86
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/05
date added: 2025/05/05
shelves:
review:

]]> 210563226 In her stunning literary debut, Mia Araujo presents a gorgeous reimagining of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, spinning a new story that is accompanied by arresting, ethereal illustrations about twin sisters and how one must venture outside the safety of their home, into the wilderness, in order to find herself and true happiness.

Afia has always felt like half of a whole. Her twin sister, Aya, is perfectly happy with fulfilling their family's expectations of them. But Afia dreams of exploring the world beyond her secluded cliffside home of Dafra. She dreams of adventure.

When she meets a charming shape-shifter named Bakame, who dazzles her with promises of a magical land called Ijabu, Afia decides to take her destiny into her own hands. Although it will mean leaving everything she has ever known behind, including her beloved sister, Afia follows Bakame into the forbidden forests surrounding Dafra, from which no one has ever returned.

Filled with magical sights, a charismatic Queen and her intriguing court, Ijabu is everything that Afia has ever dreamed of. But she soon discovers that nothing is as it seems, and this fantasy world demands a terrible price. With the help of a mysterious trickster, Afia must evade the Queen's hunters and the lost dreamers of Ijabu, who wish to pull her deeper into their web.

Now, Afia must find the courage to survive while standing on her own--or risking losing herself completely to the wonders of Ijabu.

Debut author-illustrator Mia Araujo weaves an extraordinarily luminous and beautiful story, inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, about what it takes to find your true self, even if it means facing your deepest fears.

"Nothing short of an amazing adventure into a fantastic world, Mia Araujo has crafted a beautiful narrative, made all the more incredible by stunning visuals that overflow with heart and soul." -- David F. Walker, Eisner-award winning author of Bitter Root and The Second Chance of Darius Logan]]> 304 Mia Araujo 1338856723 Mandy 4 school-wishlist 4.29 2025
author: Mia Araujo
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/03
date added: 2025/05/03
shelves: school-wishlist
review:

]]> 217927197 Toy Story meets Traction Man Is Here in this picture book that offers a fresh spin on a universal the secret action-adventure story of a toy.

When Red, a game piece, is accidentally left out of the game box, nothing—not a hungry robot nor the ferocious family dog Lady Flufferton—will stop Red from reaching home.

The unthinkable has happened! Red is alone on the living room floor, far from the safety of the game closet and best pal, Yellow. After almost being devoured by a ravenous robot (a.k.a. the vacuum cleaner), Red embarks on the dangerous journey home. There will be perils—a transparent cliffside to climb, hanging forests to conquer, and the beastly Lady Flufferton (a.k.a. the family dog) to escape. And there will be setbacks—as when Red is found and carelessly tossed into the junk drawer. But in this action-packed, humorous story, Red learns from mistakes and discovers that with perseverance and resourcefulness nothing is impossible.]]> 43 Alex Willan 1662620926 Mandy 5 4.58
author: Alex Willan
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.58
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/30
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves: great-read-aloud, picture-books, school-wishlist
review:

]]> 59475210 From award-winning author Martine Murray (dubbed Australia’s Kate DiCamillo) and painter Anna Read comes a timeless and timely tale about the monstrousness of envy, and every creature’s—even a monster’s—need for love

It starts with a whisper in your ear. A prickly feeling that something isn’t quite right. And it builds until a sneaky, possessive thought wriggles into your mind, and an insidious want burrows into your heart. Before you know it, you’re discontent, convinced that you’re owed more than what you’ve got. This is the work of the Wanting Monster.

One day, the Wanting Monster arrives in a small village, but no one notices him, despite his antics. Feeling snubbed, he starts sowing discontent and envy of one’s neighbor. So infectious is the wanting and greed awakened by the Wanting Monster that even the stars are plucked, one by one, from the sky. Covetousness and distrust reign. Will the village people ever return to their senses? Will they ever learn that it’s the monster of wanting that’s been poisoning their minds? The Wanting Monster almost triumphs . . . fortunately, he is finally seen for what he is, and this recognition unleashes the purifying force of collective lamentation and a coming together to reroot and rebuild.]]> 52 Martine Murray 0645039500 Mandy 0 picture-books 3.75
author: Martine Murray
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.75
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/30
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 217111963 This dazzling nonfiction book is a visual and conceptual exploration of motion across time and space!

Nothing in the universe is in a state of absolute rest. The Earth, its oceans, its atmosphere, and even the continents are in continuous motion. After all, the entire universe is constantly expanding. Add in the movement of humans and animals, and you’ll realize that the whole world is constantly on the move! From the history of navigation and modes of transportation, to the trajectories of human populations around the globe, to astonishing animal migration patterns, On the Move is an engaging, informative, and visually dazzling overview of movement across time and space.]]> 64 Romana Romanyshyn 159270414X Mandy 0 picture-books 4.25
author: Romana Romanyshyn
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/30
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 212923945 40 Katherine Jumbe 1646144635 Mandy 4 picture-books 3.62
author: Katherine Jumbe
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.62
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/30
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 214274120 Hupo is on a mission to restore dreams and wonder to his home once again, before the Wallower destroys everything!

Hupo and the Aletha love to amble through the bustling streets of their city, talking to shopkeepers and recounting tales of their favourite adventurer, the Great Humdingo —much to the annoyance of everyone around them. But when mysterious, zombifying mists creep into town and the Aletha is captured by a sinister force in the mountains, Hupo’s on a mission to set everything to rights� But can he hold onto who he is when everything around him seems so terrible?

Creator Billy Partridge whisks us into his magical tale with whimsical artwork and a story about imagination, adventure, and courage to be yourself.]]> 64 Billy Partridge 1838741623 Mandy 0 graphic-novel 3.97 2025
author: Billy Partridge
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/30
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves: graphic-novel
review:

]]> 217247862 Jarvis revisits his beloved, sometimes befuddled, duo in a fifth set of stories where gentle mix-ups and genuine friendship abound.

Bear and Bird may not always understand each other, but they both want nothing more than for their best friend to be happy. So when they each find today’s date circled in red, they obviously assume it’s the other one’s birthday (so sorry, Snail!). And when Bird puts her pal through his paces—to prove he’s himself and not his look-alike cousin—she finds a sweet way to soothe an unhappy Bear when the test is done. Whether it’s Bird bravely helping Bear to retrieve a ball from a cave full of stinky goo (or so they’ve heard) or both of them putting their faith in a flying umbrella when Bird blithely removes the candy trail meant to lead them home, Jarvis’s subtle humor and sweet illustrations create a charming world that young readers are eager to come back to.]]> 64 Jarvis 1536239429 Mandy 0 3.88
author: Jarvis
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.88
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/30
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves:
review:

]]> 215749120 Roam the water with me. We are here to learn.
Here to spin wisdom, to grow �

From award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders and seven-time CBCA-winner Freya Blackwood comes Afloat, a story told in a time of climate crisis. Against a backdrop of a changed environment, an Elder leads a child along the waterways, sharing her People's knowledge and gathering community along the way.

Afloat is an uplifting and inspiring picture book that uses the practice of weaving as a powerful metaphor for the honouring and teaching of First Nations wisdom, and the coming together of all people to survive, thrive and create a more hopeful future.]]> 32 Kirli Saunders 1646145070 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.00
author: Kirli Saunders
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/30
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 195853521 336 Terri Libenson 0063320932 Mandy 4 graphic-novel 4.13
author: Terri Libenson
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.13
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/29
date added: 2025/04/29
shelves: graphic-novel
review:

]]> 34002095 Join Baby and his doting mama at a bustling southwest Nigerian marketplace for a bright, bouncy read-aloud offering a gentle introduction to numbers.

Market is very crowded.
Mama is very busy.
Baby is very curious.

When Baby and Mama go to the market, Baby is so adorable that the banana seller gives him six bananas. Baby eats one and puts five in the basket, but Mama doesn't notice. As Mama and Baby wend their way through the stalls, cheeky Baby collects five oranges, four biscuits, three ears of sweet corn, two pieces of coconut . . . until Mama notices that her basket is getting very heavy! Poor Baby, she thinks, he must be very hungry by now! Rhythmic language, visual humor, and a bounty of delectable food make this a tale that is sure to whet little appetites for story time.]]> 32 Atinuke 076369570X Mandy 4 picture-books 4.33 2017
author: Atinuke
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/29
date added: 2025/04/29
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 215160421 For fans of Duncan Tonatiuh and Yuyi Morales' Dreamers, a one-of-a-kind picture book about one immigrant family's journey north, illustrated in the vein of an ancient codex and drawing upon Mesoamerican mythology.

We, the Vargas Ramírez family, come from a faraway place north of Tenochtitlan called Iztapalapa, Land of Clay Upon Water. A land surrounded by cars and dry grass; a place where the pieces of our small world were scattered. For some time we lived there, but then one day my father heard a beautiful birdsong that rose up and appeared to say tihui, tihui, tihui: let’s go, let’s go, let’s go. And so we gathered up our friends who made up that small world and decided to head north, for the other side, and a better life.

Together the Boy and his family will journey from the Land of the Frogs to The Place Where Feet Cry to the River Where the Waters Tangle, fleeing Gunmen and braving Coyotes and plunging darknesses as black as an obsidian forest. Originally published in Mexico, Pilgrim Codex (CĂłdice peregrino) captures through the eyes of a child one family's part in the ever-changing and fleeting story of the brave migrant warriors who search for a better place to live.]]> 48 Vivian Mansour 1646145151 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.25
author: Vivian Mansour
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/28
date added: 2025/04/29
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 213245109 A heartwarming story of new siblings captures the friendship, imagination, and occasional rivalry of a brother and baby sister growing up together.

You were as small as a pumpkin,
with a cute button nose.
It was love at first sight . . .

When a big brother meets the baby sibling he’s been waiting for, he loves her immediately, but is a little disappointed at how little she can do. Soon it’s time to show her the ropes! Walking, talking, hide-and-seek, reading, making Mom and Dad laugh—he’s got her covered. Even through tantrums and squabbles, each day they learn new things or make new friends, and wherever they go, they can always count on each other. In a charmingly illustrated story with sure appeal for families introducing a new baby, Ugandan-Canadian-Australian author Yvonne Sewankambo and illustrator Aurore McLeod relay the magic (and occasional missteps) of sibling relationships everywhere.]]> 32 Yvonne Sewankambo 1536239003 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.12
author: Yvonne Sewankambo
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.12
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/25
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 215808076 Set off on a magical nature adventure—and let your imagination soar—on a forest walk with the creator of Jabari Jumps.

Let’s go, let’s go! Hopping and skipping into the woods behind their house, a trio of kids and their loyal doggy companion head off into the wild world in search of fairies. Their explorations lead them across a babbling brook and through bushes and meadows of fragrant honey snowdrops and bee balm. But where are the fairies? They peer under heavy rocks and peek under fleecy carpets of moss, finding dragonlike salamanders and scampering creepy-crawlies, but no fairies. The adventurers don’t lose hope, though—if they look very closely and listen hard enough, there’s always magic to be found in the woods! Gaia Cornwall has crafted an enchanting story that celebrates flights of fancy, curiosity, and the wonder to be found in the natural world.]]> 40 Gaia Cornwall 1536230715 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.19
author: Gaia Cornwall
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.19
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/25
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 214391739 64 Hannah Tuncliffe 1838749268 Mandy 4 graphic-novel 4.15
author: Hannah Tuncliffe
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.15
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/27
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: graphic-novel
review:

]]> 214540633 A picture-book love letter to bookstores, inspired by a song from award-winning children’s songwriter, ukulele player, and debut author Emily Arrow.

Dear Bookstore, I remember
the first time I ever visited you.

For one little girl, the local bookstore is not only the beginning of her reading journey, it’s a world that’s always there for her—one that allows her imagination to soar, provides any answers she needs, and sparks her curiosity. It’s a place of wishes and dreams, where everybody and every book fits in. There’s always someone there who is happy to see her and help find her next exciting chapter. With cozy, fanciful illustrations by Geneviève Godbout and based on musician Emily Arrow’s song of the same name, Dear Bookstore is an ode to bookstores, the people who love them, and the books that fill them with magic.]]> 32 Emily Arrow 1536210692 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.30 2025
author: Emily Arrow
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/25
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 215808134 Avery stumbles into a magical circle transporting her to a wonderous fairy world.

Avery’s family has just moved to a small cottage in the forest. She is obsessed with plants and loves exploring nature outside her home until one day she stumbles into a magic fairy circle. Shrinking to the size of a teeny tiny fairy, Avery tries to find her way back home. A young fairy named Birch agrees to help her reverse the magic, but only if Avery helps her complete some fairy chores! Hopefully, Avery can befriend Birch and complete the tasks required if she wants to return home before her parents discover she is missing...]]> 56 Rowan Kingsbury 1838741984 Mandy 4 graphic-novel, picture-books 4.25 2025
author: Rowan Kingsbury
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/25
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: graphic-novel, picture-books
review:

]]> 199798045
Bash, a young ghost who’s never been good at “ghost stuff� is heading off to Scare School, the world’s leading institution for elementary scare instruction, and he’s not happy about it. In fact, he’s kind of scared! His older sister Bella, precocious in every way, was a star student there and he knows the classes are hard and the teachers are tough.

Even before his first day of school, Bash is worried about how he’s going to make it through the rigorous curriculum when he hasn’t been able to get the hang of basics like making himself invisible or passing through walls (without bonking his head!). Will the young ghost get boooo ted out of Scare School?]]> 144 Jarrett Lerner 1665922087 Mandy 4 school-wishlist 4.29
author: Jarrett Lerner
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.29
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/27
date added: 2025/04/27
shelves: school-wishlist
review:

]]> 223641794 Narwhal and Jelly meets The Mouse and the Motorcycle in this action-packed, hilarious graphic novel series starter perfect for early and reluctant readers ages 5-9.

Can Ham the hamster and Shelby the ferret become the greatest racecar drivers—and the greatest friends—of all time?

Ham and Shelby meet in the pet shop and become fast friends. But who is the fastest? Who will become the greatest racer in the world?

Only one can be the best. So as they race again and again, with better and better cars, Ham is determined to cross the finish line first every time.

But when disaster strikes, Ham will have to learn that some things—like friendship—are even more important than winning.]]> 96 C. S. Jennings 1368099297 Mandy 4 4.00
author: C. S. Jennings
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/27
date added: 2025/04/27
shelves: graphic-novel, school-wishlist
review:

]]> 178187116
Meet your favourite new MURRAY AND BUN!

Murray is a cat. Murray loves snoozing, fluffy blankets, and peace and quiet.

Bun is a bun. Bun loves� EVERYTHING!

And together they are unstoppable!

SOMETIMES Murray’s enchanted cat flap leads to the garden� but mostly it leads to ADVENTURE!

And when Murray and Bun travel through the cat flap and find themselves in a land of VIKINGS, they are given a VERY IMPORTANT to travel to TROLL ISLAND and rescue Eggrik the Viking� if he hasn’t already been gobbled up by the trolls, that is.

Perfect for newly independent readers and fans of Bunny vs Monkey, Dog Man, Adventure Mice and Claude, this funny, exciting, and hugely loveable story � brilliantly illustrated throughout � will delight adventure-lovers young and old. After all, heroes come in all shapes and sizes!]]> 216 Adam Stower 0008561257 Mandy 4 school-wishlist 4.46
author: Adam Stower
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/27
date added: 2025/04/27
shelves: school-wishlist
review:

]]> 221473243
Since her mama died, thirteen-year-old Lavender has a disastrous memory problem. She forgets her lessons with her papa, an apothecary. She develops elaborate evasions to hide her lack of memory of the herbs and remedies she must learn to attain her dream of being an apothecary apprentice. Worst of all, she forgets memories of her mama.

Despite her papa’s disdain for magic, Lavender seeks a memory remedy from a clothing enchantress named Frey. As the two develop a friendship, Frey uses her spinning magic to help Lavender re-experience past moments with her mama. Lavender hears her mama’s laughter again, her singing voice, and how it felt to be wrapped in her hugs.

But when Lavender discovers the truth about Frey's magic and its vengeful purpose she must decide whether to stay immersed in beloved memories with her mama or save the people she loves most in the present.]]> 288 C.M. Cornwell 0593898761 Mandy 4 school-wishlist 4.20
author: C.M. Cornwell
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/26
date added: 2025/04/26
shelves: school-wishlist
review:

]]> 213870703 Did you know there are more microbes on Earth than stars in the universe? That some five million microbes live on your hand? A child’s curiosity helps her understand why these tiny organisms make such a big difference in her life.

After the last drop of rain falls, Meena and her mom head outside to their garden, which is bursting with veggies and flowers. But it isn’t the produce that Meena is curious about. It’s the microbes in the soil (giving it that earthy smell), in the compost pile, in our bodies—everywhere!—that have Meena wondering. How do they live? What do they eat? Where did Meena’s own microbiome come from? Comparing microbe communities to a bustling city, where everyone has a job to do, Meena’s scientist mom answers her questions while they garden, gather vegetables for a neighbor, have a snack at the picnic table, and end the day with a sudsy bath. Physician-scientist Dr. Majdi Osman introduces the adorable Meena during a day of eye-opening exploration, while Teresa Martínez’s engaging illustrations capture the mother-daughter pair in perspectives ranging from microscopic to bird’s-eye view. Back matter includes a resource list and an author’s note on the far-reaching role that the microbiome plays in our health and development.]]> 40 Majdi Osman 1536227595 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.04
author: Majdi Osman
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.04
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/23
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 199636703
Η Λίλυ ήθελε πάντα να νιώθει ότι π�ο�τατεύει τη λίμνη της και όλους τους φίλους της που ζού�αν �ε αυτήν� Ώ�που μια τ�ομε�ή καταιγίδα ξέ�πα�ε ξαφνικά και την έφε�ε αντιμέτωπη με τον μεγαλύτε�ο φόβο της!

�να τ�υφε�ό πα�αμύθι που μας δείχνει πως ακόμα και οι μεγαλύτε�οι φόβοι μας μπο�ούν να εξαφανι�τούν όταν β�ί�κουμε το θά��ος να τους μοι�α�τούμε με τους φίλους μας και να ζητή�ουμε τη βοήθειά τους.]]> 32 Lucy Fleming 1529504473 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.11
author: Lucy Fleming
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/23
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 212808259 Whoever you are, whatever you do, however you feel . . . be YOU!

Showcasing children dressed as their favorite animals, this joyful picture book empowers the youngest of readers to be true to themselves, whoever they are and however they are feeling. Told in easy rhyming text and featuring charming illustrations, this celebratory story encourages resilience and self-acceptance.]]> 32 Karl Newson 1536241199 Mandy 4 picture-books 3.71
author: Karl Newson
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.71
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/23
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 213974044
Is it a big bike or a little bike?

Fast or slow?

Dirty or clean?

It all depends on who is taking it for a ride. . .

Join a charming cast of characters who discover just how far a different perspective—and one simple bike—can take you. Perfect for fans of books by Brendan Wenzel, Antoinette Portis, and Corey Tabor, Big Bike, Little Bike will wheel riders and readers away on a hilarious and heartfelt journey!]]> 40 Kellie DuBay Gillis 0063315238 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.41 2025
author: Kellie DuBay Gillis
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/23
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 213870684 When Louis threatens to run away, Mom goes to playful lengths to express how much she’d miss him in this lyrical, beautiful, and reassuring story of parental love.

The splashing waves will call to me,
Louis’s mother, why do you cry?

Louis has just spilled his milk, and Mom is a little frustrated, so her little bear decides it’s time to head to the end of the world, far, far away. But just as Louis is prepared to depart, he can’t help but ask Mom, “Will you be sad when I’m gone?� So Mom relays her tale—of a mama bear whose tears create a great sea, who searches for her boy under waves and on mountaintops and beseeches the wind and the swaying trees to help her find him. Will the sadness end there, or will even the child’s toys begin to cry, with no one to tuck them in or hold them tight? Illustrating the depth and breadth of a mother’s love, Ronda Armitage’s heart-tugging tale is filled with Victoria Turnbull’s rich, whimsical scenes full of wonder that will take children to the very ends of their imaginations.]]> 32 Ronda Armitage 1536235881 Mandy 0 picture-books 3.38 2024
author: Ronda Armitage
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.38
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/22
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 198714392 “I can give Kingsley piggyback rides, even though he’s older than me! I can run SUPER fast!�



Discover Strong Like Me, a picture-book story about finding what makes YOU strong.



Kamara loves being super strong - it makes her feel fizzy and zappy! But her classmates and their negative words lead her to question how strong she really is. With Sport's Day and the Big Race looming, does Kamara have what it takes to reach the finish line?



And can she discover what being STRONG means to her?



“A BEAUTIFUL celebration of STRENGTH in all its forms.� - Dapo Adeola, author of Hey You! An Empowering Celebration of Growing Up Black



Strong Like Me is a timely picture-book debut by writer, social commentator and podcast host, Kelechi Okafor. This inspirational story sets out to help children discover their power, champion themselves, and be unapologetically secure in who they are.



Packed full of heart, the story opens important conversations around ability, intersectionality, race and identity.]]> 0 Kelechi Okafor 0241584728 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.11
author: Kelechi Okafor
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/22
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 211401562 Dog lovers unite! Find a leash and chase down this hilarious day-in-the-life ode to an unstoppable, odiferous, furry family member who may seem very familiar.

Meet Peggy—a very naughty dog who gets into a lot of trouble. Some of the things she loves doing: leaping on the bed in the morning and sticking her hairy bottom in Dad’s face. Sweeping her human family off their feet with her favorite sticks. And most of all, rolling in everything stinky and smelly she can find! And that’s not even the naughtiest thing she does . . . But do you think her family loves her anyway? Open the windows for this happy, bighearted story about a beloved puppy named Peggy—a story that delights in the smelly but cherished canine family members that we couldn’t do without.]]> 40 Helen Stephens 1536235725 Mandy 0 picture-books 3.91
author: Helen Stephens
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.91
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/22
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 212078725 40 Mocculere 1838742026 Mandy 0 picture-books 3.75
author: Mocculere
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.75
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/22
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 216968938 Get ready for THE (creepy) beach read of the summer! Mega bestselling and award-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson (The Weight of Blood; White Smoke) makes her thrilling middle-grade debut with this can't-put-it-down murder mystery set on Martha's Vineyard. Think JAWS for a whole new generation!



This summer, there's blood in the water...watch out for sharks!

Kaylani is a born-and-bred Brooklyn girl. She expects to feel like a fish out of water spending the hot and sticky summer on Martha's Vineyard with family friends, the Watsons. But her mother insists, especially since Kaylani still spends long hours on the phone with her imprisoned father.

The Watsons live in the town of Oak Bluffs, a place with a rich Black history that fascinates Kaylani. Though the Watsons' daughter, London, is snobby and unfriendly, Kaylani ends up connecting with some other kids in the town, who show her around. The beach IS really nice, and there's good ice cream to be had. Maybe there's something to Martha's Vineyard...

But then a shocking murder--or was it a drowning? A shark attack?--rocks the community to its core.

Kaylani is determined to solve the mystery but in order to do so, she will come face-to-face with sinister truths and shocking secrets that promise to forever change her life as she knows it.

Tiffany D. Jackon's acclaimed and bestselling YA thriller have made her one of today's biggest authors. Now she brings her dazzling talents to a slightly younger audience, and lucky us--we get to be the publisher!]]> 272 Tiffany D. Jackson 1338849913 Mandy 0 4.17 2025
author: Tiffany D. Jackson
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/21
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves:
review:

]]> 216879591 A companion to Miss Quinces, Kat Fajardo's bestselling, award-winning middle-grade graphic novel!

Sue is heading to Camp Willow with her friends for two whole weeks this summer! She’s looking forward to hiking, archery, and making some comics in the fresh air. She’s especially excited about LARPing (live-action roleplaying), and can’t wait for the freedom that comes with being away from home. But she won’t be far from her family’s watchful eye because her big sister, Carmen, is a camp counselor and her little sister, Ester, will be a camper! All Sue wants is to spend quality time and make memories with her friends, but Ester won’t give her any space and Sue can’t escape the responsibility of having to look after her. On top of that, it turns out that Sue and her friends won’t be assigned to very many of the same activities. To make matters even worse, her best friend, Sam, has a best camp friend named Marisol? And Sue’s good friend Izzy has a crush on Sue?! This summer isn’t at all going as planned!]]> 272 Kat Fajardo 1338535617 Mandy 0 graphic-novel 4.00 2025
author: Kat Fajardo
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/21
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves: graphic-novel
review:

]]> 215198021 #1 New York Times bestselling cartoonists Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud team up for a one-of-a-kind friendship story about creativity and self-expression that blends how-to and comics magic. Welcome to the club!

Makayla is bursting with ideas but doesn't know how to make them into a story. Howard loves to draw, but he struggles to come up with ideas and his dad thinks comics are a waste of time. Lynda constantly draws in her sketchbook but keeps focusing on what she feels are mistakes, and Art simply loves being creative and is excited to try something new. They come together to form The Cartoonists Club, where kids can learn about making comics and use their creativity and imagination for their own storytelling adventures!]]> 280 Raina Telgemeier 1338777211 Mandy 0 graphic-novel 3.83 2025
author: Raina Telgemeier
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/20
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves: graphic-novel
review:

]]> 200108787 Aaron Reynolds meets The Great British Baking Show in this tale of a hapless snake just trying to bake a cake!

All Blake the snake wants to do is bake a cake for his friend Drake's birthday. But mistake after mistake means he keeps having to pump the brakes. How can he share a delicious dessert at the picnic party if each time he bakes, he burns the cake, or it falls in the lake, or—watch out! EARTHQUAKE! Time to give it another take, Blake. Sheer determination is his only hope as he bakes and bakes and BAKES a new cake. 

Married duo Amy and Alison Young will leave readers in stitches as they follow this rambunctious reptile on his quest for the perfect bake.]]> 0 Amy Young 0593621751 Mandy 4 picture-books 3.82
author: Amy Young
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.82
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/22
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 213870132 Buzzy was a busy bee, a friendly, little honey bee.

From Miss USA 2010, Rima Fakih Slaiby, and debut author Theresa AlHayek comes a story about a brave little bee who never gives up.

Buzzy Bee is excited to participate in the Colony's upcoming race. There's just one he isn't very fast! But Buzzy is not a quitter, so he practices tirelessly to get better and better. But on the day of the race, things don't exactly go as expected. Can Buzzy save the day and win the race?

Told in beautiful bouncing rhyme with gorgeous illustrations by Angela Li, Brave Buzzy Bee provides a lesson for young readers about the true meaning of bravery, featuring a character that audiences can't help but fall in love with.]]> 32 Rima Fakih Slaiby 0593624467 Mandy 4 picture-books 3.29
author: Rima Fakih Slaiby
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.29
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/22
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 212808323 But something isnt right Ronnie just cannot tell the time!

The animals band
together to help teach Ronnie and soon his COCK-A-DOODLE-DOOs are perfectly
on time...mostly!]]> 32 Michael Parkin 1838749195 Mandy 0 picture-books 3.79
author: Michael Parkin
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.79
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/22
date added: 2025/04/22
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 213870124 From actor and die-hard baseball fan Patrick Renna comes practical advice full of wit and humor about baseball (and life)—complete with a customizable dedication page for a very special slugger.

With dozens of "unwritten" rules about baseball and the game of life, this is a must-have for any fan of America's favorite pastime.]]> 32 Patrick Renna 0593754875 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.36
author: Patrick Renna
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.36
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/18
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 214269016 A breathtakingly vulnerable and tender exploration of love and loss that follows two boys as they take their first trip back to the lake without their father, from debut author-illustrator Angie Kang.

Today, Brother is taking me up to swim in the lake like Father used to.

I want to thank him for bringing us here, but I can’t find the words.
Instead, I loop my arms around his torso, and he does the same back.

Here, in our lake, the water holds us close.

On a sweltering hot day, a little boy mirrors his brother as he takes off his shirt, stretches, and walks toward the edge of the tall rock, ready to dive into the cool lake waters glistening below. Only this time, Father is not here. And the water looks so far away. How can he take the plunge? 

With a gorgeous, deft touch in her exquisitely soft illustrations and words, Angie Kang conveys vulnerability, longing, and connection as these two boys hear Father’s laugh and see his memory all around them, uniting them in a bittersweet moment.]]> 40 Angie Kang 0593698231 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.25
author: Angie Kang
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/18
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 214268972 A tale told in three parts by three friends! Powerhouse creators, Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser, have come together to create a wholly inventive picture book that is perfect for fans of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Introducing Papilio Polyxenes, the Black Swallowtail Butterfly! She’s an adorable and hilarious caterpillar who is ready to join the world and become a butterfly! But growing up is a complicated work in progress, and Papilio encounters some hiccups as she learns to fly, fall, and feed. While avoiding foes and making friends, she transforms from caterpillar, to chrysalis, to butterfly...and most importantly, learns to believe in herself along the way.

Told in three parts, mega-bestselling author-illustrator Ben Clanton, Caldecott Honoree Corey R. Tabor, and rising star Andy Chou Musser have come together to create an expressive character who exudes all of the emotions that accompany life's big firsts and the experiences that help us to discover our inner strength.]]> 48 Ben Clanton 0593693256 Mandy 5 4.29
author: Ben Clanton
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.29
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/18
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books, school-wishlist
review:

]]> 213618277 A funny misunderstanding sparks a sweet little goat’s joyful journey to self-discovery.

“He’s the G.O.A.T. Greatest Of All Time!�

Wow . . . Goat had no idea!

But why is he the greatest? Is he the fastest? Nope, Horse easily beats him in a race. Maybe he’s the strongest? No, that’s Donkey. Goat isn’t the highest jumper, either, or even the best spitter—and he’s definitely not the bravest. Out of ideas of what makes him great, he’s beginning to doubt that he’s great at anything when a sudden call for help gives him his chance to shine.

Kids will get a kick out of Goat’s antics and cheer him on as he finally stops comparing himself to everyone else and discovers that there’s greatness in us all.]]> 32 Bea Birdsong 0593405420 Mandy 5 4.02
author: Bea Birdsong
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.02
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/20
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books, great-read-aloud
review:

]]> 212806641 In this companion to the acclaimed and bestselling picture books In a Jar and Out of a Jar, a little bunny and his friends collect their hopes and dreams for the future in jars.

Llewellyn the bunny and his friends dream of many things. Some of their dreams are small, like learning to ice skate, visiting a friend, or acting in the school play. And some of their dreams are big, like going to the moon, or becoming a ballet dancer or a wildlife photographer. Their dreams feel so precious that the bunnies place them in jars for safekeeping. But when a storm comes and destroys their collection of jars, Llewellyn and his friends wonder: what's the point of dreaming if everything could be lost?

This timely, powerful, and beautifully illustrated story of perseverance and resilience explores setbacks, loss, and grief, and shows how—with the help of friends and loved ones—to find the strength to start again.]]> 40 Deborah Marcero 0593696697 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.25 2025
author: Deborah Marcero
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/20
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 212806687 The follow-up to Rocket Ship, Solo Trip that is sure to delight fans of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and explores the complicated emotions around building friendships and overcoming disappointment; featuring art from New York Times bestselling illustrator Scott Magoon!

"Rocket ship. Lunar trip.
Such excitement on the strip.
Launchpad's ready. Clouds, at bay.
She's going to the moon today!"

After embarking on her first solo mission to place a satellite into orbit, Rocket is back, and she's headed on a lunar expedition! But this time she's not going alone. Instead of exploring, Rocket's mission is to drop off the spacecraft, Lander, and then return to Earth while Lander investigates the moon's surface.

Rocket can't seem to muster up any friendly words on their journey into orbit--the Moon is big! Why can't they share?! But when she learns that Lander is afraid of heights and needs a helping hand, Rocket decides to put aside her disappointment and help Lander accomplish his goal.

With delightful rhyming stanzas and pictures by New York Times bestselling illustrator Scott Magoon, Rocket Beams, Lunar Dreams explores the complicated emotions around overcoming fears, forging friendships, and making peace with the fact that things don't always turn out as expected.]]> 32 Chiara Colombi 0593526066 Mandy 5 picture-books 3.96
author: Chiara Colombi
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.96
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/18
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 211953340 A sharp and heartfelt picture book about a young soccer-loving girl who’s an interpreter for her Spanish-speaking parents.Some kids have one to be a kid! Cecilia has two. When she isn't on the soccer field scoring goals, she's accompanying her parents to all kinds of grown-up places, like the DMV, the accountant's office, and the auto shop. She helps them translate from Spanish to English and from English to Spanish. It’s an important job, and it can even be fun. It’s also hard work. Sometimes Cecilia's second job is so much responsibility, it feels like she'll split in two! Is it time for Cecilia to blow her whistle and call for a time-out?Olivia Abtahi’s clever text and Monica Arnaldo’s charming illustrations capture a common aspect of life for immigrant and bilingual families while offering a model for teamwork that helps everyone feel understood.]]> 40 Olivia Abtahi 0593620445 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.44
author: Olivia Abtahi
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/18
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 212294443 40 Bernard Mensah 0593406443 Mandy 4 picture-books 3.79
author: Bernard Mensah
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.79
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/18
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 213870128 A laugh-out-loud funny picture book about a dog who doesn't know how many pairs of pants to wear (or where to wear them!) by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Day the Crayons Quit.

One pair of pants? Two pairs? Three? How many pants should Little Freddie wear? And where should he put them? What about underpants? Where do they go?

In a book with text and art that are sure to induce giggles, Drew Daywalt and Lucy Ruth Cummins settle the age-old Do a dog’s front legs deserve pants, too?]]> 40 Drew Daywalt 0593691423 Mandy 4 4.00
author: Drew Daywalt
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/18
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books, school-wishlist, great-read-aloud
review:

]]> 212294419 A surprisingly humorous story of choosing and being chosen, this picture book is an ode to cats and the people who love them.

I have three cats—Big, Little, and Middle—in charge of my backyard.
But that one over there? She’s not mine. Not at all.

When a new cat appears in her back yard, a young girl isn't sure what to do. The new kitty is a little smelly and covered in fleas�who would want a cat like that? Besides she already has three cats, and they're not too keen on this newcomer either.

But day by day and season by season, the new cat comes back, and the girl and her kitties warm to the new furry face in their yard. Before they know it, the new cat isn't so new�she's part of the family.]]> 40 Michelle Sumovich 0593112717 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.23
author: Michelle Sumovich
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.23
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/18
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 217480642 An electrifying new picture book by #1 New York Times bestselling author and presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman

Who are we? We are a billion voices, bright and brave; we are light, standing together in the fight. Girls are strong and powerful alone, but even stronger when they work to uplift one another. In this galvanizing original poem by presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman, girls and girlhood are celebrated in their many forms, all beautiful, not for how they look but for how they look into the face of fear. Creating a rousing rallying cry with vivid illustrations by Loveis Wise, Gorman reminds us how girls have shaped our history while marching boldly into the future.]]> Amanda Gorman 0593624203 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.28
author: Amanda Gorman
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.28
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/20
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 228786599 A graphic novel with rich, irresistible art and an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink story, Puppy Quest for the Golden Bones is an immersive and rollicking graphic novel of two treasure-hunting dog adventurers who are in way over their snouts!

Adventurers Sparky and Pugsly have been hired by the prince of the kingdom of New Pawston to find its most precious treasure, the Golden Bones. They aren't the sharpest dogs, but they make up for it with a lot of energy and enthusiasm!

Unafraid and unaware, their search sends them from one peril to another—going up against brigands, a secret society of cats, a snobby hotel clerk, and the deepening mystery of the Prince’s true intentions. All the while, the two remain constant companions, their friendship and their understanding of the world growing as they move through it. 

This zany graphic novel, written by Michael Sweater and rendered in bracing panoramic detail by artist Josue Cruz, is a delightful romp for mutts and kids alike! ]]> 208 Michael Sweater 1454946954 Mandy 0 graphic-novel 0.0
author: Michael Sweater
name: Mandy
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/20
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: graphic-novel
review:

]]> 214986186 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Adam Rex has created a funny and timely conversation starter about how dull life might become if everyone always agreed

Everyone agrees with Junior Junior, including the mysterious voice from across the valley.

“Junior Junior is the greatest in the world!� he shouts.
“Junior Junior is the greatest in the world!� the echo shouts back.

Until one day, a new girl moves in next door. A disagreeable, rude girl who doesn’t think Junior is right all the time. Unable to stand living next door to someone like that, Junior runs to the valley to meet his echo. But when being around someone who agrees with him all the time is less fun than he imagines, Junior Junior must decide if a new friend is worth admitting he was wrong.]]> 48 Adam Rex 0593699327 Mandy 4 picture-books 3.78
author: Adam Rex
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.78
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/20
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 212806615 A powerful story perfect for opening up conversations about loss

What does it feel like to lose someone you love? For one little boy, it’s like he has a hole in his life. It’s in the bottom bunk, where his little brother, Matty, used to sleep, and it’s on his brother’s chair at dinner. It follows him everywhere until the day he decides to really explore it. Inside the hole he confronts his grief—the sadness, the anger, and the truth of how much he misses Matty. His friend is waiting when he climbs out, and when she asks, “Do you want to tell me about your brother?� he’s surprised to find that talking about Matty is a comfort—and helps fill his hole with good memories.]]> 32 Lindsay Bonilla 0593529146 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.54
author: Lindsay Bonilla
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.54
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/20
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 214537838 From Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña and bestselling illustrator Loren Long, the powerhouse duo behind the #1 New York Times bestseller Love, comes a moving meditation on the places we feel most comfortable, loved, and protected—wherever that might be.

Home is a tired lullaby
and a late-night traffic that mumbles in
through a crack in your curtains.

Home is the faint trumpet of a distant barge
as your grandfather casts his line
from the edge of his houseboat.

With lyrical text and expressive artwork, Matt de la Peña and Loren Long celebrate the beauty and love found in every home, no matter its size. They show how a home is more than just a place . . . People can be a kind of home—a family and a community that cares for one another. And the natural world is another kind of home, a refuge we share with every living thing on Earth.

This deeply moving ode to the universal pull of home, whatever its form, is destined to become a new classic that will be cherished by readers of every age.]]> 48 Matt de la Peña 0593110897 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.14 2025
author: Matt de la Peña
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/20
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 211642066
Dexter Foreman is twelve� going on eighty. He has lived at The Pines Retirement Village with his grandmother since he was six years old, and as a result, he gets along better with senior citizens than kids his own age. He’s been home-schooled by the residents up until the day the county’s truancy officer shows up and announces that Dex has to go to the local middle school.

At school, Dex sticks out like a sore thumb. He dresses like a grandpa (and can be just as cranky). His taste in movies and music is decades out of date. Only a few students—like Gianna Greco, a reporter at the school’s newspaper—find him intriguing. For most, he is a weirdo ... or a target.

Raised among a generation of Mr. Fix-its, Dex can repair seemingly anything with his trusty Swiss army knife� which comes in handy since their old school building seems to be crumbling around them. It also ends up putting Dexter in a situation that could either make or break his school career.

Dexter would do anything to return to his old life at The Pines. But when his wish finally seems to be coming true, his old and new worlds collide in a way that surprises everyone—and Dexter most of all.]]> 288 Gordon Korman 0063238144 Mandy 5 4.32 2025
author: Gordon Korman
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/20
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: school-wishlist, wishlist, great-read-aloud
review:

]]> 220543001 Kids will love joining Peyton and Bennett as they discover an alligator is taking a bubble bath in their bathtub!

When Peyton and Bennett discover an alligator in their bathtub, they must figure out a way to get him out. But first they find out he isn't a normally alligator, while he is friendly, sophisticated, and charming. What can they do to get this alligator out of the bathtub? Turn off the hot water? Tell him they are out of alligator food? Drain the bathtub? The answer lies with finding out why Alistair, the alligator, is there in the first place.

Perfect
All gift occasions
Promoting a love for reading
Building imagination
Supporting critical thinking skills
Improving literacy
Developing speech and language]]> 32 Lynsey Martin 1960616234 Mandy 0 picture-books 3.83
author: Lynsey Martin
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.83
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 1113545 404 Brandon Mull 159038783X Mandy 4 4.05 2007
author: Brandon Mull
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/17
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves:
review:

]]> 214152293 Based on the author’s true family history, this picture book about Japanese American incarceration in Hawai'i during World War II is a moving tribute to the importance of finding and collecting pieces of hope, big or small, even in the darkest of times.

Grandfather loved music, seashells, and the sound of the ocean in Hawai'i. But when war came, there was no more music. And in this war, there was no kindness for anyone who looked Japanese.

Taken to an island prison, Grandfather passed many long, lonely days away from his family searching for tiny seashells. He collected the shells, labelled them, and saved them with care. His collection has been passed down to his children and grandchildren, and now, author-illustrator Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson tells the story of her grandfather and his shells.]]> 48 Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson 1665938676 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.39
author: Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.39
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/16
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 213618286 A little girl meets more relatives than she can count—but how will she communicate with them if she can’t speak their language?

It’s a little girl’s first trip to her papa’s homeland and she’s wowed by all the amazing sights and sounds—and especially by the size of her enormous family! But she only knows a little Spanish, and it’s hard not to be able to share jokes and stories. Fortunately, her relatives help her see that there are other ways they can connect—by sharing the love of delicious food, for example, or by enjoying a good soccer game—and soon she feels like she’s right where she in the heart of a loving family, learning as she goes along.]]> 32 Jacqueline Alcántara 0593620135 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.08
author: Jacqueline Alcántara
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.08
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/16
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 217343165 For fans of I'm Not Scared, You're Scared, comes a hilarious picture book about using humor to combat fear, from actor and director Ben Falcone.

It's time for bed, but Claire can't fall asleep. There's a storm outside, and the thunder is so loud and scary! Good thing her parents are there to help. They tell Claire there's no reason to be afraid. After all, there are plenty of things that are scarier than thunder...like a scorpion named Finn who plays the violin! A snake with big fangs and uneven bangs! And a dragon named Rance with ants in his pants! The hilarious list gets more and more outsized, building on itself in the most outrageous ways possible, until Claire is giggling herself right to sleep.

Actor/Director/Writer Ben Falcone delivers a delightfully silly story—brought to bouncy life by Kevin Cornell—that reminds us that sometimes a good belly laugh is just the thing you need.]]> 32 Ben Falcone 0593697006 Mandy 4 picture-books 3.56
author: Ben Falcone
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.56
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/16
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 214269035 Caldecott Honor winner Micha Archer’s spectacular collages showcase the wind’s ever-changing, blustery nature throughout the seasons.

Seasons come and go, and the wind wafts its way through them all. This delights a family of children, and when they ask the wind, “How will you blow today?� they get a kick out of not knowing what answer they’ll get. Will the wind send gentle breezes that tickle and delight, cooling them off on hot days? Or strong gusts that knock their hats off and send them running inside on stormy days? One thing is for certain to our wind watchers—the wind is an always-changing wonder and constantly takes their breath away!

Caldecott Honor winner Micha Archer’s stunning illustrations are sure to engage readers as they bring to vivid life the excitement of our windy weather.]]> 32 Micha Archer 0593616553 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.19
author: Micha Archer
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.19
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/15
date added: 2025/04/15
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 213618294 A sweetly humorous picture book about composting, told from the point of view of a worm.

Meet Worm. He might be little. He might have no hands. But Worm would love to make a sandwich, just for you! 

To get started he'll need just one garbage! Delicious, delectable garbage like apple cores and mushy grapes, broccoli bottoms and carrot tops, sad celery, and drippy cucumbers. Worm and his friends eat the garbage. And then they do what everyone does after they eat garbage. They poop! The poop goes in the compost and the compost goes in your garden, which is where the vegetables for your sandwich come from!

Simple, right? Worm thought you'd agree. He might just need a bit of assistance along the way . . .

This hilarious, engaging picture book is the perfect introduction to the process of composting from start to finish, told from the perspective of one little worm who is very eager to help.]]> 32 Brianne Farley 0593697804 Mandy 4 4.26
author: Brianne Farley
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.26
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/15
date added: 2025/04/15
shelves: school-wishlist, picture-books
review:

]]> 211026615 In this adorable counting story brimming with unconditional love, a mother duck searching for her seven missing ducklings ends up collecting even more “babies� as she goes.

When a plump mother duck awakens one morning, she’s stunned to discover that her seven eggs have hatched in the night and all of her ducklings have wandered off. Now she has to search for them out in the wild! The mother duck keeps careful count as she discovers her babies one by one—on branches, stuck in ooze, and even in the jaws of a fox. Five, six, seven . . . eight? Nine? Sharp-eyed readers will love seeing the mother unwittingly rescue not only her own ducklings, but also an unusual flock of other creatures! Luckily, she has plenty of love to give! Annette LeBlanc Cate’s whimsical illustrations and natural rhymes make this tale of counting and family a sweet delight.]]> 40 Annette LeBlanc Cate 1536235741 Mandy 5 4.17
author: Annette LeBlanc Cate
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/14
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: school-wishlist, picture-books, great-read-aloud
review:

]]> 218629476
You see, the robot wasn’t designed to live in the wilderness. But when she washes up on an island, she must learn from the animal inhabitants and adapt to her new, natural surroundings, and before long, the island begins to feel like home.

Filled with bestselling creator and award-winning artist Peter Brown’s stunning artwork, this moving picture book is the perfect gift for readers new to The Wild Robot or for longtime fans of the middle-grade book series that sparked a global phenomenon.]]> 48 Peter Brown 0316669466 Mandy 4 4.45 2025
author: Peter Brown
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/14
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: picture-books, school-wishlist
review:

]]> 220175469 40 Vivienne Chang 0316377201 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.25
author: Vivienne Chang
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/14
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 214988419 In this extraordinary companion to This Is a Window, the power of children’s imaginations returns to center stage—this time in a shared backyard, where kids run a make-believe city full of hustle and bustle.

Welcome to Cat Pine Falls, a charming make-believe city made by kids, in their shared backyard! Here, pinecones are currency, the trees are tall skyscrapers for business up high, and a handy kid-run subway line zips between all the unmissable action. Young listeners will delight in eureka moments sparked by the delightfully imaginative pairing of words and the “carwash� is really a willow tree, the “café� is really an overturned kiddie pool, and more. As they follow along, kids will love being on the lookout for the Mayor of Cat Pine Falls� a cat! —who is expertly hidden on every spread of gorgeous, collage-style art. 

With satisfying rhymes that make for a sweet read-aloud, here’s a story that will delight kids, creative-minded parents, and childcare professionals alike, encouraging kids to create community through a shared imaginative playtime.]]> 40 Lauren Paige Conrad 1662651805 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.22
author: Lauren Paige Conrad
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/14
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 218372186 32 Rajani LaRocca 031657175X Mandy 0 picture-books 4.20
author: Rajani LaRocca
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/14
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 216122451
When Dexter the chipmunk's home is destroyed and his belongings scattered, he comes up with the perfect plan � stuff his most treasured possessions into his cheeks for safe-keeping. But his plan has one major flaw. Dexter can't smile anymore . . . not with all the stuff in his mouth. He can't thank any of his friends for their gifts, their help or their kindness either. One day, Dexter can't take it anymore, and he finally tries to talk, with hilarious � but possibly disastrous � results.

Combining humor, charming illustrations, and SEL themes of grieving, overcoming loss and helping others, Katie Lee Reinert and Sara Aziz craft a timeless story about value, significance, and what is truly worth holding onto. It will be a welcome addition to library and classroom shelves, in counseling offices, and as a gentle story time read at home.]]> 32 Katie Lee Reinert 1957655380 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.74
author: Katie Lee Reinert
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.74
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/13
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 217105705
Young Pauline Baynes lives in India, a land of towering mountains, sparkling lakes, and bright flowers. She even has a pet monkey that joins her for tea.

Then her life takes a turn, and Pauline is sent to dreary England. Books bring light and color to her world, so she sets out to paint the stories she loves. Years later, two iconic authors see her paintings and know she’s the illustrator for their stories—of fire-breathing dragons, towering giants, a golden lion, and four brave children.

Follow Pauline into some of the most beloved and prominent landscapes in all of children’s the magical lands of J.R.R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis.
]]> 48 Katie Wray Schon 1956393153 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.42 2025
author: Katie Wray Schon
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/13
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 214679713 Put bedtime blues at bay by diving into this fact-filled exploration of ocean animal sleep habits with a young girl learning to get a good night's sleep of her own.

It's dark outside, but one little girl can't fall asleep in her new bed. With the help of an unexpected friend, she discovers the weird and wonderful ways sea creatures sleep, and finally catches a little shut eye herself. From sleeping with one eye open, upside down, or in a self-made "booger bubble", readers will find plenty of fascinating facts about sleep habits on almost every page. This informational fiction story is a playful introduction to navigating a major childhood milestone that also reassures readers that no matter how you feel, you are never truly alone.

Filled with charming illustrations, humor, and an adorable cast of characters, this book is sure to become a bedtime, and daytime favorite as well as a go-to for teachers and caregivers. Don't miss these other underwater adventures featuring major childhood milestones from Bonnie Kelso and Gnome Road Sea Smiles (2024) Sea Suds (Coming 2026)]]> 32 Bonnie Kelso 1957655364 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.60
author: Bonnie Kelso
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.60
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/14
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 216972031
An underwater trickster tale is found in this rhyming picture book romp. A clever little girl "with a net for catching pearls" meets a shark who wants nothing more than to eat her for dinner. Listeners will find nothing short of a classic a bully being shown up by his weaker and far more clever adversary! An ebullient and unabashedly entertaining story—One Day at the Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea has enough bite to excite listeners of all ages.

“Excuse me,� said the shark, showing off his many teeth.

“Would it trouble you to join me as my dinner on the reef?�

“Don’t be hasty, Madam shark. Rather, let us make a deal.�

“I will find you something tasty. If I can't, I'll be your meal.�

Delightful characters created by Brandon James Scott (A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree) are perfectly matched to Daniel Bernstrom's rollicking tale of bravery, trickery and undersea adventure! A perfect follow up to One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree.]]> 48 Daniel Bernstrom 166264082X Mandy 5 3.89
author: Daniel Bernstrom
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.89
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/13
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves: great-read-aloud, picture-books
review:

]]> 227975063
It’s Makar Sankranti, the Indian festival of kites, and Mini wants to join in the fun. But her older brother insists that flying kites is not for little girls. Using her craft-making skills, Mini constructs her own not-so-perfect kite and learns to fly it with her brother’s help. But during Sankranti, it’s fair game to cut another kite’s string and keep it as your own! When a red kite comes along and causes a KITE-ASTROPHE, Mini decides it’s time to challenge the red kite to a battle in the sky. In the end, she discovers that her not-so-perfect kite is really her very own perfect diamond.

Suhasini Gupta and Devika Oza create an exciting story filled with culture, determination, and the love between siblings. Filled with stunning, richly-colored illustrations and including an author's note and back matter about Sankranti and the math and science of kite flying, this book will make a delightful addition to library story times, read-alouds at home and in classrooms, and is sure to have kids shouting “Kai Po Che� and making kites of their own.]]> 32 Suhasini Gupta 1957655402 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.70
author: Suhasini Gupta
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.70
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/13
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 216122479 I raise my fist and I declare . . . that it's ok to rock our hair! A young girl celebrates her right under laws such as the CROWN Act to style her hair in any way she sees fit in this empowering tribute to the unique and special ways that people can rock their hair.

At first, it can be hard to stand out. But with the encouragement and support of family, friends, and the community, one girl discovers the joy in standing up and stepping out as she relishes in the beauty of her hair in twist-outs, braids, ribbons and more. Told in bouncing rhymes with engaging pictures and backmatter about the CROWN Act (legislation enacted in multiple states and introduced at the federal level), author-illustrator Angel Tate weaves together themes of confidence, individual expression, and advocating for yourself and others.]]> 32 Angel Tate 1957655445 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.46
author: Angel Tate
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/13
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 210270229 “A sweet, funny story . . . great for fans of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh.� —Kirkus Reviews

On the other side of the old wooden bridge, deep in Piney Glen, Duck opens his mailbox to find a letter from

Dear Duck,
Please come! I lost my tooth.

Duck sets out to find that tooth—it’s a good-friend thing to do, after all. Along the way, he enlists help from Badger, Turtle, Squirrel, and Mouse.

Can they be the kind of friends Rabbit most needs?
]]> 40 Sarah Mackenzie 1956393110 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.35
author: Sarah Mackenzie
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/13
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 203332389 U.S. Poet Laureate Ada LimĂłn has a keen eye for the natural world.



This poem pulses with the joyful energy of a fox bounding through backyards, piecing together a living in his own way. Paired with lush illustrations by Gaby D'Alessandro, this picture book brings LimĂłn's work to a new generation.


Comes with its streak of red / flashing across the lawn, squirrel / bound and bouncing . . .]]> 24 Ada Limon Mandy 0 picture-books 3.59
author: Ada Limon
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.59
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 216390752 Chicken Soup for the Soul BABIES imparts good values through heartwarming and humorous stories to help little ones put their best foot forward.

When Dolphin, Pufferfish, and Sea Otter are playing tag, Dolphin gets a little too excited and accidentally swims into the other two. Ouch!

After hearing the commotion, wise Octopus floats over and shares that when big emotions bubble up, it’s helpful to name them. The friends then pick words to describe how they feel and practice taking deep breaths to reset as they watch their big emotions float away. 

A bubbly and swimmingly sweet board book about the value of moving through your emotions.]]> 24 Andrea J. Loney 163289386X Mandy 0 picture-books 4.25
author: Andrea J. Loney
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 220843676 From the bestselling author of The Day I Had a Bulldozer and The Day I Had a Dinosaur comes an engaging and imaginative adventure sure to entertain all fire truck fans!

When the firefighters take the day off to test out the new swirly twirly waterslide, Luke and his friends jump at the opportunity to take over the fire department. They use their newly discovered firefighting equipment to help others in their community. Come along with these kind friends as they use their big imaginations to be heroes for a day. Empower your little one to use their imaginations and dream big!

Parents, young readers, fire truck lovers, and educators will delight in the silly mishaps, opportunities for kindness, teamwork, and perseverance in this fire truck picture book.

Perfect Young truck fansEmerging preschool and kindergarten readersGifts for all occasionsFire truck enthusiastsEncouraging imagination and teamwork]]> 32 Ashley Wall 1960616188 Mandy 0 picture-books 3.90
author: Ashley Wall
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.90
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 220554340 18 Anna McQuinn 1623544092 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.00
author: Anna McQuinn
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 216390489 The Baby Loves Science board book series is big, brainy science for the littlest listeners.

It's time to get dressed! How does Baby know what to wear? She checks the weather--and learns about wind, the water cycle, precipitation, and prediction! Accurate enough to satisfy an expert, yet simple enough for baby, this clever board book explores meteorology and what meteorologists do.

Beautiful, visually stimulating illustrations complement age-appropriate language to encourage baby's sense of wonder. Parents and caregivers may learn a thing or two as well!]]> 22 Ruth Spiro 1632894475 Mandy 0 picture-books 3.83
author: Ruth Spiro
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.83
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 214401446 Some people are scared of sharks. Not Cristina Zenato.


As a little girl, Cristina dreamed of making friends with the sharks deep in the ocean. When she grew up, she made those dreams come true, becoming a diver, conservationist, and shark advocate. But Cristina discovered that sharks—the sleek, strong, powerful guardians of the ocean—need our help. She started diving in a protective suit and, as she built trust with sharks, they began coming to her with fishing hooks stuck in their bodies. Did she have the courage to remove the hooks?


Sharks Unhooked is the true story of how one woman is exploring the ocean, helping our ecosystem, and forming incredible bonds with animals beneath the rolling surf.]]> 32 Patricia Newman Mandy 4 picture-books 4.60
author: Patricia Newman
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.60
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 214401400

In the tradition of Kitten's First Full Moon and Spot, the Cat, author-illustrator Chris Monroe takes readers on a journey they won't soon forget in this nearly wordless picture book.]]> 32 Chris Monroe Mandy 5 picture-books 4.10
author: Chris Monroe
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.10
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 214401476

Author Sara Levine's simple, lyrical text encourages readers to take time to observe eggs. Accompanied by photos of many types of eggs, egg cases, and galls, this book explains which ones you can safely collect and which you should leave behind. Back matter provides more information about featured eggs, egg cases, and galls—including the creatures that hatch from them—and expands on how to care for them at home or in the classroom.]]> 32 Sara Levine Mandy 0 picture-books 4.00
author: Sara Levine
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 220551881 From a military family, Esmerelda discovers that home is where she's always welcomed—thanks to music, dance, and the big, unconditional love from her extended family.

An ideal picture book for kindergarteners and 1st graders who are moving, need reassurances during a transition, and could use the reminder that home is family.

Papa's job in the military has taken Esmerelda and her family all over the world—and yet she's never lived in the United States. Now she and her family are moving to San Antonio, Texas.

Although many of her extended family members live there, Esmerelda is unsure it'll feel like home. Even more, she's unsure she will fit in. Gradually, music and her sweet abuela spark bravery and the realization that home is not always a place—it's familia.

Heartwarming and hopeful, Welcome Home, Esmerelda will provide reassurance to any kid that while moving and change are difficult, you have the support of loved ones to help you through it.

"Every so often, a character resonates with readers of all ages. Esmerelda reminds us that home is in the heart—and in music. And if we listen closely, our favorite songs will always meet us on the dance floors of our lives, right when we're ready to feel the beat again."—Antwan Eady, author of Nigel and the Moon and The Last Stand]]> 35 Daniela Ramirez 1632893622 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.81
author: Daniela Ramirez
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.81
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 213619886 In this picture book love letter to public libraries, 6-year-old Orson learns to navigate his big feelings by sharing his love of reading with newfound friends at his local branch.

When Orson visits his local library, he likes to sit and read quietly by himself. However, not everyone is on the same page as him. One day, when the library is buzzing with activities like read-alouds and book club, Orson decides he’s had enough and lets everyone know how he really feels! But when he goes to cool off in a quiet room after his emotional outburst, he realizes that he may be missing out on all that the library and its sometimes not-so-quiet community have to offer.

Here is a story for book lovers who love trips to the library, kids with big feelings, and readers learning to share their passion for books with new friends.]]> 32 Laura Gehl 1662602081 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.41 2025
author: Laura Gehl
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/09
date added: 2025/04/09
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 214401453 24 Ilan Stavans 1728486432 Mandy 0 picture-books 3.50
author: Ilan Stavans
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/09
date added: 2025/04/09
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 216390797 The best-selling author of the Baby Loves Science series levels up with this playful STEM picture book introducing kids (and grown-ups) to climate science.

Do you want to know a secret? Sometimes grown-ups need YOU to explain things to THEM. Like climate science!

In this tongue-in-cheek guide, an in-the-know narrator instructs kid readers in the fine art of explaining climate science to a grown-up. Both children and their adults
The difference between weather and climate.How climate scientists collect data.What causes climate change.What we can do to reverse course and repair the planet.
Fun and fact-filled, the How to Explain Science to a Grown-Up series will empower kid experts to explore complex scientific concepts with any grown-up who will listen.]]> 35 Ruth Spiro 1632892650 Mandy 0 picture-books 4.18
author: Ruth Spiro
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.18
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/09
date added: 2025/04/09
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 219334878 Middle school can feel like a battlefield! 7th grader Grace is trying to find her footing at school...but between a mean girl ex-bff and her parents divorce, things are pretty rocky. Is the fencing club the answer to finding her people...and maybe even herself?  Suit up for this sharp-witted graphic novel debut about friendship trouble, family, and fencing!

On guard? Ready? Fence!

Grace is not ready for a new school year. Especially since her BFF Ava dropped her at the end of last year. To make things worse, the dust is still settling from her parents divorce, and she and her mom are not getting along (at all!). Now she has no friends, no hobbies (band was Ava's thing), and home feels just as complicated as school! There's not a single place Grace can just relax and be herself. Until she sees the school's fencing club practicing. They look so sure of themselves. So steady. Not to mention, they have super cool...swords? Needles? What are they called? Grace is pretty sure she wants to find out, but what if she isn't good enough? Ava was always the talented one. It may not solve everything, but if she can get past her worries, could this be a place Grace can finally belong and be herself?]]> 256 Cassidy Wasserman 0593649982 Mandy 0 to-read 4.36
author: Cassidy Wasserman
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.36
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 227453694 A deeply personal middle-grade novel by award-winning author McCall Hoyle affirms the powerful and enduring relationship between dogs and humans.

Ripley, an old German Shepherd Dog, has been trained to guard ever since she was a pup. For years, she helped protect the wildlife refuge with Max, the best man she has ever known. That was before the accident. And before his last words: “Take care of the girls, Ripley.�

Ripley adores her girls, especially Charlie, more than anything, even peanut butter and watches over her, especially in the face of bullies and trespassers who threaten the wildlife refuge. But Ripley has been tiring more easily and experiencing more aches and pains. She knows she will not live forever. Dogs do not have forever.

As Ripley’s strength declines, Charlie decides to celebrate Ripley’s friendship with the things Ripley loves most—ice cream in Nags Head, fried chicken from the Golden Skillet, sandpiper chasing at the beach, and more. On one last adventure together, the two must learn that true love is more about lifting each other up than it is about holding on.

Eventually, Ripley also discovers there’s something more important than protecting—it’s teaching Charlie to be independent. And when the time comes, Ripley will be ready to move on because she has done everything a good dog should. She didn’t just take care of her girl. She taught Charlie to take care of herself.

Forever Ripley is a heartwarming tribute to love, resilience, and the joy of a life well lived—proving that even in goodbye, there is beauty, courage, and the promise of new beginnings.]]> 208 McCall Hoyle 1639934162 Mandy 5 school-wishlist 4.80
author: McCall Hoyle
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.80
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/08
date added: 2025/04/08
shelves: school-wishlist
review:

]]> 75341404
Wee Unicorn is very small, and she's very loud . . . but she's not magic (and everyone knows unicorns are supposed to be magic!). Wee Unicorn would love to find friends to play with, but how can she fit in when she feels so different?

A fun-filled tale of adventure and finding friendship in the most unexpected places by Meg McLaren, winner of the Scottish Bookbug Picture Book Prize and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.]]> 34 Meg McLaren 1444964623 Mandy 5 4.23
author: Meg McLaren
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.23
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/07
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves: picture-books, great-read-aloud
review:

]]> 216390783 What happens when you do everything right, but it doesn’t work out? When classmates start having success with their seeds, one student's just won't sprout.

A picture book about planting and growing, where grown-ups and kids can talk about disappointment, emotions, and second chances.

It's seed-planting time in Ms. Greene's classroom! One of the kids has big predictions for their mystery seed and does everything just so to make sure it grows. But as all the other seeds start to sprout, theirs . . . doesn't. 

So they proclaim they'll never try to grow another seed again! But when they learn the leftover seeds will be thrown out, they start to think about second chances and enlists their classmates to help plant a beautiful garden for all to enjoy.

A fantastic social-emotional learning book that'll inspire conversations about handling disappointment and one's emotions, while leaving readers with an encouraging and hopeful ending.]]> 47 Sarah Lynne Reul 1632894181 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.21
author: Sarah Lynne Reul
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/07
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 216390790 Based on a true story to the beginning of the storied career of children’s book author Jane Yolen, written by her very own daughter.

Janie Yolen loves to read, write, dance, and sing. So when her teacher announces Janie's elementary class will perform a play, Janie is thrilled. There's just one problem . . . the play is boring. With the support of her teacher and classmates, Janie rewrites the play, resulting in a hit class musical.

An inspiring and funny look at how a writer became a writer, told by another prolific author--Heidi E. Y. Stemple, Jane's own daughter!]]> 39 Heidi E.Y. Stemple 1632899922 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.14
author: Heidi E.Y. Stemple
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/07
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 214152230 Two brothers don’t know what to make of their parents spending their date night at home in this charming picture book celebrating the joy of a close-knit family sharing a special evening of togetherness, fun, and love.

Langston and Emerson get super excited when their parents go out for date night. It means their favorite babysitter will stay over, and there will be slime-making, couch jumping, and pizza! But this date night is different. Mom and Dad are getting ready to go out, but they’re staying…home.

When the brothers devise a plan to figure out what their parents are up to, they discover something beautiful.]]> 32 Victoria Scott-Miller 166592781X Mandy 0 picture-books 4.00
author: Victoria Scott-Miller
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/05
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 2754117 32 Trish Cooke 0439982782 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.25
author: Trish Cooke
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/06
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 216524217 A picture book celebrating the beauty of nature, new experiences, and gaining perspective. Sometimes you have to go far, far away to appreciate the world around you.

Excellent for fans of The Camping Trip and 3�7-year-olds with an interest in the outdoors will love the exploration of wildlife and its rewards.

Mom and Mama are taking Rowan on his first camping trip far, far away from the city where they live. Rowan is excited to see all kinds of wildlife, possibly even a bear or a moose!

But they are canoe camping, which means they carry all their supplies on their back and paddle from place to place. Before long, Rowan is tired and hungry, itchy from mosquito bites, and downright grumpy. In fact, he wants to go home.

When night falls, Mom and Mama listen to his complaints, but when they show him the sky—full of stars like he's never seen before—Rowan realizes that though camping is hard work, it is worth it in the end.

Young readers will have a better appreciation for the challenges and rewards that come with being in the outdoors, and will come back to Far, Far Away often to remind themselves of nature’s beauty.]]> 32 Molly Griffin 1623543630 Mandy 0 picture-books 3.86
author: Molly Griffin
name: Mandy
average rating: 3.86
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/06
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]> 216752100 A fierce competition ensues between two boys arguing over whose dad is strongest in this absurdly silly-yet-sweet picture book, with a surprise twist ending.

Two boys try to one-up each other about their strong dads. One says his dad can pick up a truck filled with elephants, which makes the other boy claim his dad can do the same, but with pregnant elephants!

Eventually the boys realize something even more special about their dads.

The perfect book for any kid who intensely loves their parent.]]> 39 Fran Pintadera 1632894319 Mandy 4 picture-books 4.22
author: Fran Pintadera
name: Mandy
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/06
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves: picture-books
review:

]]>