Sylvia Patience, the author of The Double Crossing (Paper Angel Press, 2023), reached out to me with a request to review her historical middle-grade book. She suspected that it was a book that would interest me and she was right.REVIEWI first learned about the ocean liner, the St. Louis in Barbara Krasner's picture book, Liesl's Ocean Rescue.… Continue reading THE DOUBLE CROSSING by Sylvia Patience: A Middle Grade Historical Fiction Review, Author Interview, & Giveaway
Please welcome Amanda Moyer, my guest blogger for a review of Kara Linaburg's suspenseful novel, A STUDY IN TERMINAL (Monarch Educational Services, June 2022). REVIEWA Study in Terminal by Kara Linaburg is a young adult novel telling the story of Sean Brogan, a young man trying to face the demons of his past that have haunted his… Continue reading A STUDY IN TERMINAL: A YA THRILLER BY KARA LINABURG
Although The Orange Horse written and illustrated by Hsu-Kung Liu (Reycraft: 2019) was published four years ago, the theme and message of the book are timeless. Written and illustrated with simple language and child-friendly illustrations, this book is playful yet simultaneously touching and serious.REVIEWI love the believability of how the story opens:Every child knows that horses aren't orange,… Continue reading THE ORANGE HORSE: A Picture Book Review and Giveaway
I last featured Brooke White when I introduced her and her self-published book. Today she returns as one of my guest reviewers. Take it away, Brooke!REVIEWHave you ever felt guilty for something that you think is your fault? In the novel Hidden Truths by Elly Swartz (Delacorte Press, 2023), each chapter is told from Eric or… Continue reading HIDDEN TRUTHS: A Middle Grade Book Review by Guest Blogger, Brooke White
Today I am happy to bring you a forthcoming book from Monarch Educational Services. Lori Keating's debut picture book, THE MEMORY QUILT sensitively deals with a child's grief. But I want Georgie to tell you about it, not me.REVIEWThe Memory Quilt is a meaningful, beautifully written picture book by Lori Keating, and Illustrated by the talented Alyssa Grizenko. This… Continue reading THE MEMORY QUILT by Lori Keating: A Picture Book Review by Guest Blogger, Georgie Bartlett
Marsha Diane Arnold's lovely friendship/nature picture books are no strangers to my blog. I've had the privilege of sharing several: May I Come In?, Badger's Perfect Garden, Mine. Yours Lights Out and Galapagos Girl. She's back again with her newest book, One Small Thing (Beaming Books) which comes out next week! You can find the story behind this story on her website where… Continue reading ONE SMALL THING: A Picture Book Review and Giveaway
Long-time readers of my blog may remember that I am one of Nikki Grimes' many fans. In the past, I reviewed Ordinary Hazards, Between the Lines, and Words with Wings. Nikki's poetry sings and she captures the conflicts and emotions of adolescents beautifully.Garvey's Choice (WordSong, 2016) is no different. Except...it is different. Each of the 100+ poems which… Continue reading GARVEY'S CHOICE: A Middle-Grade Verse Novel and a Giveaway
Today I have the pleasure of introducing a new tween blogger, Olivia A. She's a granddaughter of a friend of mine, and a bibliophile. (When her family moved from North Carolina to Texas she brought along her 1000-book library!). Let's help her celebrate her book-reviewing career with her thoughts on EVERY MISSING PIECE by Melanie Conklin.Maddy has trouble… Continue reading EVERY MISSING PIECE: A Middle-Grade Review by Debut Tween Blogger, Olivia A.
I'm happy to share two more picture book giveaways both courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press.THE SNOWMAN'S WALTZThis beautiful winter story by Karen Konnerth and illustrated by Emily Neilson, is a unique friendship story between dancing snow people and penguins. Yes. You heard that right. Snowmen, snow women, and even a snow child learn how they can dance with… Continue reading Two Rhyming,Counting, Dancing Picture Book Review + Two Giveaways
I have received so many picture books from Sleeping Bear Press that I decided to double up on some of my reviews. I went through my pile and found these two with the word "Hole" in the title. They're as different as a fantasy/science book can be from a friendship/grief title. But as you'll see,… Continue reading I Read Two "Hole" Books: 2 Picture Book Reviews, 2 Giveaways, and 1 Mini-Author Interview