Today, in the category of Books That Surprised Me, allow me to introduce: Hope in the Holler, by Lisa Lewis Tyre published in 2018 by Nancy Paulsen Books 209 pages This book had to sneak up on me in order …
Tag: middle grade fiction
Astrid and Crow…fiction favorites
I have two middle grade novels to share with you today. In some ways, they are utterly different stories. One is set in the 1920s on an island off the coast of Massachusetts. The other is a contemporary story taking …
a beautifully imagined fairy tale
Snow & Rose, written and illustrated by Emily Winfield Martin published in 2017 by Random House 205 pages This book is sooo beautiful. Just look at that cover. And the inside art by Emily Winfield Martin is just as creamily, …
a lush new fantasy…with just a dusting of Christmas
The Wonderling, written and illustrated by Mira Bartók published in 2017 by Candlewick Press Arthur is a groundling, a curious part-animal, part-human creature whose dear fox face and lovely chestnut eyes speak volumes of the sensitive, kind heart within. His …
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moving right along…zesty new reads with peppery plots!
I’ve been on a mission lately to find great new reads packed with action, adventure, mystery, humor, grit. Books you might hand to those who might not relish quieter, understated, or more relationship-centric stories. And I found some winners! I …
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murder, mystery and maharajas!…a thrilling adventure from Sweden
I’ve just finished a highly-original adventure story narrated by a gorilla. Goes by the name of Sally Jones. Brilliant at chess. Also excellent with ships’ engines and the odd accordion in need of repair. It comes to us from Sweden …
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a boy called bat and a bat called echo…two new novels to love
A Boy Called Bat, written by Elana K. Arnold, illustrated by Charles Santoso published in 2017 by Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 192 pages I thoroughly enjoyed this endearing story about a small boy with a huge …
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when dementia alters a grandparent…two thoughtful stories
My glorious, spunky grandmother took care of the “old people” until she was in her 80s. Tended her glorious roses. Tramped through northern Minnesota meadows picking buckets of wild blueberries. Walked to and from her ceramics class on bitter cold …
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three visits to Africa
I love a good piece of multicultural children’s fiction and am delighted today to share three novels set in contemporary Africa that present non-stereotypical portraits of this immensely-varied continent. The stories are set in three regions seldom spotlighted in children’s literature …
too young to remember…a few books for the post-9/11 generation
It’s been 15 years since 9/11 which means that anyone from about the age of 19 and down will have dim or nonexistent memories of that terrible day which left an ugly gash, at the very least, in the rest …
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