Enjoyable and quick read that's a little confusing at the beginning, but with a great message about diversity and tolerance.Enjoyable and quick read that's a little confusing at the beginning, but with a great message about diversity and tolerance....more
Entertaining and enlightening stories that give the reader insight into the lives of Palestinian families living in Maryland, USA. As with all short sEntertaining and enlightening stories that give the reader insight into the lives of Palestinian families living in Maryland, USA. As with all short story collections, I liked some more than others, but all of them were worth reading....more
I should probably start by admitting the only reason I picked up this book is because I needed to fill a prompt in the 2024 Popsugar Reading ChallengeI should probably start by admitting the only reason I picked up this book is because I needed to fill a prompt in the 2024 Popsugar Reading Challenge: a book about K-pop. Anything that says it's got "whip-smart humor" or is "darkly satirical" is normally not a book I'm going to enjoy. And, true to form, I did not enjoy this book. For the first 50 pages I wasn't even sure I would finish it. The writing never got any better, it was just weird and disjointed and the point of view from the main character was just so out there that I was having a hard time relating to any of the characters. Unfortunately, that's the only point of view you get in the whole book. The story itself finally started getting a little more interesting around page 70. I did manage to finish, but I really got no enjoyment out of reading this book....more
Just as enjoyable as New Kid, I love how Craft can make a serious point without beating the reader over the head with it. I love how these books make Just as enjoyable as New Kid, I love how Craft can make a serious point without beating the reader over the head with it. I love how these books make you feel all the feels and still come away feeling hopeful and uplifted. Highly recommended!...more
This was a quick read that is just uplifting and beautiful. Despite being published almost thirty years ago, it's still relevant today. The themes of This was a quick read that is just uplifting and beautiful. Despite being published almost thirty years ago, it's still relevant today. The themes of family, bullying, friendship, fitting in, and kindness are all timeless and this book is both realistic and entertaining. Highly recommended! ...more
Selah is a 7th grader at Pebblecreek private school where she feels comfortable, most of the time, because she understands the rules: rules for being Selah is a 7th grader at Pebblecreek private school where she feels comfortable, most of the time, because she understands the rules: rules for being normal and fitting in with her classmates. But following the rules makes her feelings build up all day, every day. One day those feelings just explode and disaster strikes, resulting in her hitting a classmate. Of course, Selah gets supended, but she can't articulate to her mom or her classmates what she's feeling inside and how she didn't mean it or want to hurt someone else. She can't articulate what's wrong because everyone already thinks she's "weird" or "damamged" and she doesn't want to prove them right.
Selah's journey to discover what really is going on in her brain and her body is a painful, but realistic one. As the parent of a neurodivergent child who wasn't diagnosed until her early 20s, I just felt for Selah and for her mom. I could tell that the mom was just trying so hard to not screw things up, to help Selah get along in life and succeed the best she knew how. But like Maya Angelou said, when you know better, you do better. Selah's determination to learn and "know better" was inspiring. Her mom's determination to do better was just as touching.
This is a powerful novel-in-verse, made even more so by knowing that the author is also on the Autism spectrum so she knows first-hand how it feels. I highly recommend this book to everyone ages 10+, but especially to anyone who feels weird or different or loves someone who's different....more
This book is just a gem! Not only can I use it in story time with the letter "U", but it opens a conversation with the kids on perspective and diversiThis book is just a gem! Not only can I use it in story time with the letter "U", but it opens a conversation with the kids on perspective and diversity at a level preschoolers can understand. The illustrations are marvelous and the idea of a fish swimming upside down is just fun! I also love how the situation with the bat turned out - an opportunity to point out kindness. :)
This will definitely be a hit in story time!...more
I picked this book up to fill a prompt in a reading challenge I'm doing, "read a book about a holiday you don't celebrate." The blurb for this book caI picked this book up to fill a prompt in a reading challenge I'm doing, "read a book about a holiday you don't celebrate." The blurb for this book calls it stories of "Hope and Joy" in celebration of Eid. I was familiar with Ramadan before reading this book, but somehow had never heard about Eid. This book was just a delightful anthology with stories that felt absolutely real. It's a beautiful peek into Muslim culture that educates and entertains at the same time. Short stories aimed at middle grade readers, it doesn't go deep into anything, but rather gives a great introduction and brief overview of the Eid traditions of various groups of Muslim people. Thoroughly enjoyable!...more
I expected it to be a little closer to the content of the Disney+ series, but they pretty much only share a vague premise. Entertaining enough if you'I expected it to be a little closer to the content of the Disney+ series, but they pretty much only share a vague premise. Entertaining enough if you're into superhero comics....more
The illustrations are great, and there's a lot of different kids from different countries featured. I enjoyed learning to say peace in multiple languaThe illustrations are great, and there's a lot of different kids from different countries featured. I enjoyed learning to say peace in multiple languages. This is a nice book to read one-on-one and discuss diversity and its beauty, but it's not conducive to story time (there's no real plot)....more
Fantastic illustrations - each layout has a child from another country telling us in a sentence for two how and why they came to America and where theFantastic illustrations - each layout has a child from another country telling us in a sentence for two how and why they came to America and where they settled. Vivid and bright, this book is all positive, although there's no real story line so I would not use it in regular story time. However, it would be a great springboard for discussion with kids in elementary school....more
This book is an interesting take on time travel. If you can suspend your disbelief about the method of traveling, it's an enjoyable character study.
CThis book is an interesting take on time travel. If you can suspend your disbelief about the method of traveling, it's an enjoyable character study.
Cassandra is obviously unique and struggles to connect. When her boyfriend breaks up with her completely unexpectedly and she gets fired, she inadvertently discovers she has the power to travel back in time. Her attempts to "fix" herself and what she learns on that journey not only kept me entertained but wondering how/if it was all going to work out....more
Two little boys who like to play different things learn to compromise and find a way to play together. I love the ending! And I enjoyed the way that tTwo little boys who like to play different things learn to compromise and find a way to play together. I love the ending! And I enjoyed the way that the characters were given permission to play with whatever kind of toys they wanted without being stereotyped. A fun group read aloud....more
An interesting folktale for Chinese New Year. At first I thought it was going to be like Jack in the Beanstalk since the son is sent to town with someAn interesting folktale for Chinese New Year. At first I thought it was going to be like Jack in the Beanstalk since the son is sent to town with some eggs to sell to buy a bag of rice. Instead, he buys a talking wok. The talking wok does its best to level the playing field by stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Fun illustrations, this bright, colorful book could spark some nice conversations on wealth distribution, or just enjoy it for CNY!...more
Gertie is the littlest yak in her herd, but all she wants is to be big. Her mother assures her that she will grow someday, but suggests that until theGertie is the littlest yak in her herd, but all she wants is to be big. Her mother assures her that she will grow someday, but suggests that until then Gertie enjoy being little. So Gertie creates a "Growing-Up Plan" and does all her exercises, eats all her vegetables, and reads all the books (minds need to grow, too!), but she still doesn't grow. When she has an opportunity to help the herd because of her size, she learns there are some things to enjoy about being small.
The rhyming text just begs to be read quickly, I have to force myself to slow down a bit at story time, but the illustrations are just adorable. (Yaks wearing sweaters and woolly hats!) A great story time book!...more
Take One of Us is Lying and throw in some bullying and some blackmail and serve it up for the middle school crowd, and you get I Know You're Lying. HoTake One of Us is Lying and throw in some bullying and some blackmail and serve it up for the middle school crowd, and you get I Know You're Lying. However, in this book, the main characters are actually likable and fairly innocent, and their secrets are middle school level secrets. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended!!...more
Vlad the Vampire loves fashion and always dresses in a way to hide his rosy pink cheeks, which embarrass him. He worries about being different from evVlad the Vampire loves fashion and always dresses in a way to hide his rosy pink cheeks, which embarrass him. He worries about being different from everyone else. Eventually, he learns to be himself and love who he is. It's a great message, but a little long for preschoolers. Still, it could work with the right reader. Nowhere in the text or pictures do we ever get an explanation of what a vampire is or any mention of blood. There's random fangs and capes and bats, but all the characters seem to be paranormal creatures of some sort. There's nothing scary....more
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