The first day of school is full of excitement and fear. There are new things to learn, new buildings to explore, a new schedule, and hopefully, new friends. Unfortunately, these exciting things can also cause fear. Fears include what if I can’t learn fast enough,...

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are key concepts for all ages to embrace. A to Z of Mini Muslims by Mariam Latifi is a perfect choice to introduce young children to Islam. Each letter of the alphabet highlights something special about Islam. Some of the words...

“All good things take time.” Those were Aurora’s constant words of encouragement in Aurora's Orchid by Vicky Weber as she encouraged her family to foster and care for the lonely, spindly orchid plant year after year. Nothing happened; there was no change each year when...

Gearing up to have new experiences can be difficult, both for children and adults, because it takes us out of our comfort zone. If we empower ourselves with courage, we will find a whole new world full of possibilities that will brighten our days. The...

Adventures with Divot & Swish in the Ozark Mountains by Beth Brown is a fun story about bike riding and adventuring! I loved how it encourages kids to get out there and explore the world while being physically active. I also loved the various plugs...

Are you interested in Appalachia and the handicrafts of the people who live there? Did you know that people who live there still make their own brooms, instead of buying them at stores? Follow 80-year-old Amos as he collects the things he needs from his...

Losing a loved one is hard. You can’t imagine what it’ll be like once they’re gone. You can’t imagine not feeling their hugs, not sharing stories on the couch, not laughing at silly things or sharing special songs. It feels like there’s a big hole...

In a quaint town lives a family with a young son who hasn’t yet made friends, since they just started living there. When the dad comes home with a beautiful Christmas tree for the house, the boy hopes that Santa will bring him friends as...

Bobos Babes Adventures: A Magical Halloween by Karen M. Bobos tells the tale of three sisters—Fairy Cora, Angel Scarlett, and Princess Daphne—who are shopping for Halloween masks. The story opens with a bit of mystery right away as the girls, within a fun autumn setting,...

Outstanding illustrations will draw children into Adam’s Atomic Squirrel, and the story will keep them turning the pages. What will happen next? Who’s downstairs making that noise and how will they solve the problem? Author Florence McNeil Jones kept my curiosity at its pique and...