The year is halfway over, I’ve read so many books and yet not enough, and I am tired. I am achieving my goals, exhausting my bones, and shooooooo. June 2023 was a weird month, because I basically lost an entire week of reading with DAR’s Continental Congress. Oh, I did a lot of reading—but not…

Oh, we’re halfway there…and living on a prayer is generous. Living on a stack of TBR books and an unfinished to-do list. Here are five books I’m excited about releasing in July 2023! Have you placed your pre-orders or holds yet? Buzzing: A Graphic Novel by Samuel Sattin and Rye Hickman This graphic novel popped…

Another easy reader round-up: a few doozies this time. All stuff that I can see really appealing to emerging readers, but some to varying levels of success. Maxie Wiz and Her Dragon by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud This is a cute, rhyming Level.1 easy reader that honestly feels a LOW one. “Hocus-Pocus, time…

Back again with another picture book round up–this time featuring some pop culture folks–including a folk artist, a singer, an author and…Madame Alexander. You Gotta Meet Mr. Pierce: The Storied Life of Folk Artist Elijah Pierce by Chiquita Mullins Lee and Carmella Van Vlett, illustrated by Jennifer Mack-Watkins What a great representation of an artist…

Another picture book round-up featuring some great diverse stories, including ones about Banned Books, Father-Son Juice Making, museum visits, grandparents, and more. The Great Banned Books Bake Sale by Aya Khalil, illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan A sweet, if not perhaps too optimistic, take on the book banning, a young Egyptian girl in America helps organize…

Got developing readers who love graphic novels but maybe aren’t ready for really thick books? Pick up the I Can Read! Comics graphic easy readers, the level 1 “Fish and Wave” and “Fish and Sun” by Sergio Ruzzier, the creator behind Fox and Chick In Fish and Wave–which was a 2023 Geisel honor–a little pink…

We are ALMOST halfway through the year, and I am EXHAUSTED. I keep going through mini two-day reading slumps, then devouring picture books, and then repeating the cycle. I’m incredibly behind on the “for me” books I want to read because of my other commitments, and while that’s FINE….it’s also annoying to ME, a little…

A few weeks ago, I took a good old American “Mental Health Day” and after catching up on some much needed sleep and making a nourishing lunch, I became one with my couch and watched the entire second season of Schmigadoon. That left me with almost a whole day left though, so I started scrolling…

I can’t believe it’s already almost June, and I’m already dreaming about these library holds being filled. Here are 5 books I’m excited about that are releasing in June 2023. What books you are you most looking forward to? Zero Days by Ruth Ware A new Ruth Ware? A must-read for me. I remember squealing…

Not Done Yet: Shirley Chisholm’s Fight for Change by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrated by Nina Crews This is a pretty basic, good starter biography for introducing readers to Shirley Chisholm. Nothing wrong with it, but just kind of basic—gets a pretty good rhythm with the prose, but not too poetic. Computer-ish illustrations, but engaging, larger…