Time for the round-up of books I want to review but cannot do 250 words each for. They range from picture books to graphic novels. And we see old favoirte authors, new ones, and adult auhotrs coming to dark side (afterall, we are kids and have cookies).
Sometimes I like Jim Benton, sometimes I do not. And this was a do not. Catwad Volume 1: It’s Me is a collection of (to some, though the line about running hate for Catwad was amusing) humorous stories that has a Ren & Stimpy, Beavis & Butthead, and Frog & Toad on meth feeling. The characters are two cats (one blue and grumpy, the other orange and really dumb). In several short comics, the two friends do all sorts of odd things, get into trouble, have issues and there is a fart joke. There are a couple serious gross out moments, cartoon action and disorder. Catwad is Cartoon Networkesque without the laughs.
I have a story about Augusten Burroughs, but since it has nothing to do with his My Little Thief picture book, we will not worry about it. In this (as one reviewer said) uneven picture book (I am not sure what their issue was, but I found myself thinking the flow was making me stumble over words) we find Chloe is a fan of the night, but not birds (though crows seem to be like bugs and she likes bugs). And one day a crow (despite her not being a fan of) start an interesting friendship that might just get Chole into deep trouble. The artwork of Bonnie Lui is delightful and stays with the flow of things with the right colors and details needed. Sometimes they felt a smidgen stiff, but they are not unpleasant.
Do you like pizza and puns? Then A Pizza My Heart could work for you. This board book (due in May 2023) is a sweet books shaped like a pizza and as you grow your toppings, you read about the punny things that our narrator (the pizza themselves? I was not sure) gives out not only by the slice, but by the whole pie. Yes, it is cheesy, and it is piled on high and thick, but it is a treat, nonetheless. Stephani Stilwell mixed text and illustrations to show off their talents for a good chuckle and how to make your love rise.
This might be a controversial statement, but The Making of Butterflies is not an easy read. Written in Ebonics, a language Zora Neale Hurston knew well, it might not flow for the younger listener, and for the reader who needs a little help, it also could be difficult. However, it is a lovely folktale about the how and why the Creator made butterflies. Sweetly told, but strong and bold illustrations that are blossoming in colors and minimal details, grace the page. Ibram X. Kendi retells this 
tale from Hurston and Kah Yangni is the one that gives the grand imagery its spark. The image chosen for this does have one of my favorite lines.
