I decided to start my 2025 reading with a few books I found in 2024. And as I like easing into the new year, I decided to start with a picture book or two. Always a favorite genre of mine, as they can be both fun and informative. And the below titles are fun and especially informative with the second. I read both via an online reader copy but they are currently available.
Book One:
A Hen for Izzy Pippik by Aubrey Davis and illustrated by Marie Lafrance
Review: A young girl is waiting for something to happen in her village, which has fallen onto hard times. When a peck at her foot makes her find a chicken with emerald feathers, she is set on one loopy journey for the birds! Lovely story of faith, with humor and love. The illustrations are cute, clever, simple (but not simplistic) and support the story.
Book Two:
Yasmeen Lari, Green Architect : The True Story of Pakistan’s First Woman Architect by Marzieh Abbas and illustrated by Hoda Hadadi
Review: When I grow up I want to be as bada$$ as Lari is. She was not only the first female architect of Pakistan, she was one of the first people to realize that the land’s culture and historical building needed protection. And not only that, she realized that architecture could be environmentally friendly. She also found ways to not only help the people affected by the floods and disasters, but found ways to give them pride in themselves, their land and their historical culture. From a privileged background, Lari took her determination to help her people. The illustrations are lovely, capturing the location, people and place.
End of my first review of 2025. Thank You.
