Reviews written by Beth Rodgers, Staff Reviewer

‘The Last Summer’ by Cait Marie has all the signs of a predictable sweet romance, and even though this is true, there is also quite a twist thrown in that is not necessarily expected. While Lila and Gavin have known each other since they were born only three days apart,...

‘Children of the World’ by Nicola Edwards, illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier, is a great book for children and adults alike to learn about children and their lives. The book shares about children at home, from their kitchens, to their sicknesses, to families and talk of bedtime, to how they live...

‘A Party on Planet Purple,’ adapted by May Nakamura, from the ‘Donkey Hodie’ television series, a Fred Rogers production, follows Purple Panda and Donkey Hodie as they embark on a trip to visit Planet Purple, where Purple Panda’s mother lives. The story is cute, and...

‘Crab & Snail: The Invisible Whale’ by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Jared Chapman, is an adorable story in cartoon form about Crab, Snail, and a host of friends they meet while on the beach. It’s important to know, though, that Crab and Snail are BBF—Best Beach Friends. Their facial expressions...

‘Game Changer’ by Abbi Glines combines heartache with the beauty of finding love where you least expected it. Despite Asa Griffith’s difficult family life, he has an end goal—to get out of Lawton, Alabama as fast as he can to escape his abusive father. The trouble is that he wants...

‘Meant To Be’ by Jo Knowles captures the insecurities of being a kid who just wants to do the right thing, but somehow keeps messing up and feeling guilty that things aren’t turning out quite right. While it’s never easy to be a pre-teen, teenager, or even an adult, Ivy...

‘Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis’ by Greg Dawson and Susan Hood is a captivating nonfiction story in verse about Zhanna, alias Anna, and her sister, Frina, as they struggle to escape the Holocaust and the Nazis who always pose an obstacle to their freedom. ...

‘Layla, the Last Black Unicorn’ by Tiffany Haddish, co-written by Jerdine Nolen, and illustrated by Jessica Gibson, is an endearing story about the power of being true to oneself and realizing one’s own worth despite any hardships that may get in the way of achieving one’s own sense of peace....

‘Book Buddies: Marco Polo Brave Explorer’ by Cynthia Lord, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin, tells the story of Marco Polo, a retired Christmas ornament with dreams of being a great explorer. The problem is that he’s very tiny, and when it is decided that he will no longer be an ornament,...

‘Little Kids First Big Book of Baby Animals’ by Maya Myers, a National Geographic Kids book, contains six chapters, plus an animal map, parent tips, a glossary, and more. The images are vivid and colorful, with a fact chart for the animals to help better understand them in quick fashion....

‘Mythical Beasts: 100 Fun Facts about Real Animals and the Myths They Inspire,’ a National Geographic Kids book by Stephanie Warren Drimmer, has so many tales about creatures, both mythical and real. There are lots of real animals that seem to come from myths and legends, including a bird much...

‘Bling! 100 Fun Facts about Rocks and Gems,’ a National Geographic Kids book by Emma Carlson Berne, is a Level 3 Fact Reader, sharing so much information about rocks, gems, and more. There are lots of quick trivia points placed throughout the pages of the book, along with paragraphs that...

‘Finding Her Edge’ by Jennifer Iacopelli is a light-hearted, sweet young adult story with a mix of themes, including dedication, motivation, self-worth, endurance, and, of course, romance. Adriana has always felt like she’s in her sister Elisa’s shadow. While Elisa is preparing for Olympic stardom,...

‘The Turtle of Michigan’ by Naomi Shihab Nye is a wonderfully engaging read about a young boy named Aref (pronounced “R-F”) and the journey he takes with his parents to move across the world from Oman to Michigan. It is an entirely different world, and even though Aref finds it...

‘The Girl with No Sol’ by Karen Vega follows main character Kalamiti Sol as she navigates her life on the streets, in high school, and with her friends and family. She learns that bad decisions don’t necessarily have to equate to bad outcomes. Having a support system and trying to...