Way Past Shame by Hallee Adelman
The book Way Past Shame by Hallee Adelman and illustrated by Karen Wall was a book that was not on my radar at first. Recently, I have wanted to read only books that are already out or due soon (just to catch up on my backlog), but I found an early March 2025 reader’s copy of Adelman’s book. At first I didn’t want to read it. The cover was a boy who was just there. It was a bit cartoon-like, but not cartoonish, and the […]
Haru Book 2: Summer by Joe Latham
In February 2024 I read book one of Haru by Joe Latham (or Haru 1: Spring). In August of 2024 I read Haru Book 2: Summer still by Joe Latham. Both were read via an online reader copy but I was thinking I would purchase copies of both when book two came out. However, it is not due until October 2024 and I am glad I did not wait. This is because Book Two is much darker than Book One was. Things are more layered […]
A Story about Cancer with a Happy Ending by India Desjardins
We know there will be a happy ending in A Story about Cancer with a Happy Ending, as the title tells us that. Therefore this Columbo-like story (if you know what that means, we can be friends) by India Desjardins (and Solange Ouellet is the translator) of knowing the ending, but seeing how the characters get there, does not have a surprise at the end, but it does have an emotion that has not been felt for a while in these characters lives: Hope. Told […]
Therapy Chickens: Let the Wisdom of the Flock Bring You Joy by Tedra Hamel
Do you think, when it’s time for a chicken to lay her egg it’s a do or die moment? Like when a human really really has to go and there are four people ahead of you for the one working stall? I mean, does the chicken cross its legs (never mind the road) and squeeze the cheeks and say, “It’s not your turn yet?” (If you don’t know, like I didn’t, chickens can stand in line to wait to lay their eggs as, like anyone, […]
The Sky Is Not Blue by Joy Jones
The use of color has been used before as a theme, but to show that there are colors that are in-between the stereotypical ones is fresh. The Sky Is Not Blue is a cute, simple story that allows us to see that not only are we using our imagination, we are using it in real-life situations. It shows the power of art, color and looking at things a little differently (even if that means sitting in the little chair and not the big teacher chair). […]
Into the Goblin Market by Vikki VanSickle
Recently I located a list of books that were recommended by other booksellers across the country. I found the picture book section and said, “Online reading here I come.” And I was able to read most of them (I have one in physical form so I passed and I have two more to read), but one that really stuck out to me was Into the Goblin Market by Vikki VanSickle and Jensine Eckwall as the illustrator. It is a contemporary folktale or fairy tale that […]
