Venus Washington Collective Set by Maisha Oso

Today, I'm presenting an entire series of books...three, together in one set. The Venus Washington series by Maisha Oso is a chapter book series, which appears to center around a very, lively girl and various life adventures she tackles with grace. Or, I'm betting, humor. From birthday excitement to games of eye-spy, this promises to be a series with some silliness and tons of heart. Flipping through the books, I also see quite a few illustrations with friends and family. Let's see what this one is all about

VENUS WASHINGTON COLLECTIVE SET

by Maisha Oso

Illustrated by Courtney Lovett

Simon & Schuster

Children's Fiction

304 pages total

ages 5 to 9

The three books in the Venus Washington series full of hilarious misunderstandings and hijinks are perfect for fans of Junie B. Jones and Dory Fantasmagory and now available together in one shrink-wrapped paperback collection!

Venus Washington has a planet-sized imagination and a talent for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary…which sometimes get her into super-sized trouble! One day she’s uncovering the toe-tally gross secret in Grandma’s lasagna, the next she’s masterminding the wildest birthday party in town, and then she’s pretty sure she’s blasting off to Venus itself.

Packed with humor, heart, and just the right amount of chaos, these three books bring together Venus, her besties (and frenemies), her loveable family, and Hamsterburger the hamster. Perfect for fans of funny, fast-paced chapter books that kids want to read again and again!

This zany shrink-wrapped paperback collection includes:
Venus Washington and the Lasagna Drama
Venus Washington and the Birthday Blowout
Venus Washington, Eye Spy

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON      /      PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With tons of energy and a knack for taking everything extremely literally, Venus is a girl who brings chaos with her like a tornado.

This is a set of all three books in the Venus Washington series and is just right for those readers, who are sure of their words and are just settling into slightly longer tales. The books hover around a young girl, who takes everything said very literally and acts without thinking. Her twin neighbors tend to quickly get swept up into her adventures as accomplices, and her family (mother, father, baby brother, grandma, and grandpa) swirl through her antics with care and patience. Tons of patience. 

The three tales go in very several directions, making sure each adventure is different than the last. Lasagna Drama shoots off into silliness after Venus' grandfather states the grandmother put her foot in the lasagna. Birthday Blowout goes crazy as Venus is put in charge of her brother's 1st birthday party decorations and takes her father's statement that he doesn't want a boring, adult part to the extreme. And Eye Spy takes an insane direction after her father says that her mother has eyes on the back of her head, and that she's going on a trip with her to a place just like her name. All adventures pack humor and surprises, and will have readers wondering what in the world Venus will be up to next.

The books fit the intended reading audience wonderfully. The situations come from familiar moments of daily life, and the statements, which send Venus into her own directions, are often ones readers have probably heard themselves. The chapters are kept short to help readers get needed breaks, but the plot is quickly paced, making this one hard to put down. The plentiful illustrations not only entertain but also assist readers to understand what is happening. It creates an enjoyable read for the age group.

There are messages surrounding friendship, family, patience, and more in these pages. Venus is a force to be reckoned with, she's very quick and extreme in her reactions, and that guarantees plenty of smiles. I'd love to say that she's kind-hearted...and she is to an extent...but she also tends not to see beyond her own bubble, which leads to most of the silliness but also showcases a little lack of respect and thoughtfulness. For example, she ignores the teacher, talks back to adults, and causes literal damage. All of this receives mostly sighs or laughs from the adults with few consequences (she was grounded once). However, this is a fun read on the pun end of things. The literal way Venus understands sayings and statements will have readers thinking about such statements themselves. There will also be a few they haven't heard before. 

Summed up, this is a fun read with tons of humorous moments...and a character who always brings adventure and surprises.

And here they are...

Maisha Oso is the author of picture books Buster the Bully, My Hair Is a Book, Before the Ships, and the It’s Almost Time For… series, as well as the Venus Washington chapter book series. She writes stories to empower, entertain, and encourage emotional intelligence in young children. A former strategy and analytics professional from New York City, Maisha is currently working in her most challenging role to date: a stay-at-home mom of three tiny humans. Visit her at MaishaOso.com.

Courtney Lovett has a BFA in visual arts and animation from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She works in different artistic disciplines, including illustration, character design, and animation. As a Black American and a native of the DC-Maryland-Virginia area, her work reflects her heritage and upbringing, focusing on perspectives that are often underrepresented or misrepresented in art and media. Visit her at CourtneyLovett.com.

Sister Love by Naina J.M.D.

It's been a bit since I've shouted out a book birthday, so I'm excited to, finally, scream to the world. It's fun to party, isn't it? 

Today's read comes from a series called Girl Power Diaries which, I believe, features common struggles girls from 4 to 8 years old face in their daily lives. The idea stems from a nine-year-old, who also authored these books. I'm a little curious to see how these are and whether they are more message driven or humorous.

So, let's take a peek! 

SISTER LOVE

Girl Power Diaries

by Naina J.M.D.

Ample Publications

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING OCTOBER 27th!!!

Big feelings. Hurt words. One chance to make things right.

Sister Love is a heartfelt story about two sisters learning to navigate emotions, misunderstandings, and the journey back to each other.

When tempers rise and feelings get hurt, both sisters must face what they feel—and what really matters.

Through moments of conflict, reflection, and reconciliation, this story gently shows young readers that while feelings are always valid, relationships are worth understanding, caring for, and repairing.

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Sisterly struggles hit with power and a bit of humor to show how colorful this relationship can be.

The older sister is more than irritated when her younger one steals her diary and an outfit from her closet. The frustration grows and grows, and soon, the two are going at each other constantly. Then, it goes beyond words, and something breaks. 

This is a quick-paced, energetic read, which lets the two sisters come across with tons of personality. The taunting seems to know no end. Anyone who has a sibling or another child in their household will have no problem sympathizing with the situation. Although these two sisters do push the boundary of going overboard, it makes it clear that both could act and react a bit differently. Plus, there's a good dose of humor to keep the preachiness at bay. The situations and scenes tend to pop-up, from here to there, keeping the plot on its toes by adding a fitting sense of chaos. The turning point is clear and switches the entire thing into wholesome goodness. This held on a bit longer, but lets listeners/readers join the sisters on their touching moments to give balance. 

It's an enjoyable read which makes a clear point and hits home.  

It's Almost Time for...Thanksgiving! by Maisha Oso

IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR...THANKSGIVING!

by Maisha Oso

Illustrated by Tom Knight

Margaret K. McElderry Books

Picture Book  /   Holiday

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

How to Catch a Turkey meets The Night Before series in this vibrant picture book anticipating Thanksgiving, part of the laugh-out-loud rhyming It’s Almost Time For… series!

It’s almost time for Thanksgiving, and excitement is running high! It might not be here yet, but there’s so much to do before the joyful day arrives…

From family football gatherings to preparing the most fantastic and fanciful feast to watching wondrous parade floats on TV, there are endless ways to celebrate! But not everyone can read the signs of the highly anticipated holiday on the way…

It’s Almost Time for…Thanksgiving! is a perfect blend of festive fun and read-aloud magic that will have young readers laughing and identifying the misunderstanding at play before the characters catch on. This picture book makes a delightful gift for kids aged four to eight!

GOODREADS     /    AMAZON     /     PUBLISHER

 

MY TIDBITS

With holiday excitement, lots of activity, and humor packed in as well, this is a read to set the tone for Thanksgiving.

This is part of a series of books, each which centers around a different holiday. Thanksgiving hits center stage in this one...or rather, the preparations surrounding the holiday. Young listeners will get a chance to see how their Thanksgivings line-up with the one this boy experiences. Some activities will be the similar, while others might differ. It offers a great chance for listeners to discuss what their families do differently. Of course, the big turkey, family togetherness, and giving thanks round everything off with a sense of warmth and fun.

The illustrations are lively and offer listeners many details to sink into again and again. These allow small side aspects to trickle in alongside the main story line. For example, the lamb has got its head geared for a different holiday, which adds silliness, too. 

The text bounces with the same energy as the rest of the read to create a lovely group story time or for individuals as well. It's an enjoyable read to pick up for the holiday.

And here they are...

Maisha Oso is the author of picture books Buster the Bully, My Hair Is a Book, Before the Ships, and the It’s Almost Time For… series, as well as the Venus Washington chapter book series. She writes stories to empower, entertain, and encourage emotional intelligence in young children. A former strategy and analytics professional from New York City, Maisha is currently working in her most challenging role to date: a stay-at-home mom of three tiny humans. Visit her at MaishaOso.com.

After an enjoyable stint as a graphic designer, Tom Knight is now proud to be using his imagination as a full-time career. Drawing on a long and abiding love of imagery from children’s literature, Tom has worked for a diverse range of publishers, including Little Tiger Press, Templar, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, and Macmillan. He has also turned his hand to authoring his own titles and is the author and illustrator for the Good Knight, Bad Knight chapter book series and picture book Jimmy Finnigan’s Wild Wood Band. He does all this from a poorly temperature-controlled studio in the garden, where he is constantly distracted by the greedy birds that hang out by the feeder outside his window.

The Old Wooden House by Will Hackett-Jones

The second the author approached me with this read, my curiosity shot sky-high. It's a bedtime read without pictures with the purpose to be boring....not so boring that kids won't listen but boring enough to lull them to sleep. That sounds like a perfect bedtime read to me. So, let's see if it's as great as I hope it is.

THE OLD WOODEN HOUSE

or 'Yat, the boring story!'

by Will Hackett-Jones

Children's Fiction   /  Bedtime Story

50 pages

ages 3 to 7

The Old Wooden The "Post-Gruffalo" Secret to Winning Bedtime
Deliberately Designed Boredom to Lull Even the Most Restless Kids to Sleep

Are Bedtime Stories Keeping Your Kids Awake?

You’ve read about the Gruffalo, the witch, and the robot. Your child’s eyes are wide with excitement… and you know you’ve lost. The bedtime routine has failed. Most children's books are like a shot of espresso right before bed.

It’s Time for a New Strategy. It’s Time for Strategic Boredom.

"The Old Wooden House" is not a story. It’s a parenting hack. It’s the "post-Gruffalo" – the book you reach for after the fun story, specifically designed with one single to ensure no child makes it to the end.

How Does It Work?
Crafted by a British author and narrated in a deliberately mellifluous, monotonous tone, this book

Deliberately Dull A statistical analysis of the most soporific themes (fruit, insects, a family unit) ensures a high "Pleasantness Index" and a zero "Surprise & Delight Index."

Repetitive, Lulling To slow the evening down, not raise it.

Past Tense To evoke calm memories, not the excitement of the present.

No To allow the mind to relax and not be overstimulated.

GOODREADS      /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

With the sole purpose to soothe and lull to sleep, these pages take listeners on a very gentle journey to guide to pleasant dreams.

This book has one purpose: to get kids to fall asleep. Through inviting imagery, these pages guide listeners on a short journey to an apple orchard to retrieve their favorite fruits and return to the house afterwards. The author first gives a short note on how he was inspired to write this book before giving directions on how this book can be read. These reading instructions follow with every 'chapter' break, helping to make sure the tale stays slow and calm. Each moment serves one purpose, to let listeners picture themselves in the described situations (visiting the orchard) and slowly sink into sleep.

At the end of the book are more bedtime tips, which include everything from sleeping temperatures to lavender scents. There are also questions listeners can answer as well as space for them to draw...of course, this section is not thought to be done during the bedtime read.

The entire thing is a calming, mental journey, which allows listeners to close their eyes and slowly feel themselves into the scene. The writing offers simple and familiar descriptions keeping the age group in mind the entire time. It's interesting enough to want to listen and enjoy but never adds even a hint of tension or hectic. Everything is positive and safe, allowing all senses to be mentioned so listeners can really sink into the moments. 

It's a lovely read and works very well for its purpose.

And here he is...

Will Hackett-Jones is a British writer from Needham Market, Suffolk. He has lived in St Petersburg since 2003. He previously founded and ran Cool English Magazine and later Eclectic Translations, a film-subtitling company. He now writes fiction, including the children’s bedtime book The Old Wooden House (ages 3–7; cover image only, no interior illustrations; for difficult nights and travel) and an adult novel in Russian. His work has been covered by BBC Suffolk and Virgin Radio.

Links:
https://willhj.com
BBC origin piece: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yg5vx3xp3o

Nikolas Nurdblok and the Lost Brick by Jeffrey Brown

Was anyone else a LEGO fan? My kids were....are still into LEGO building. Actually, this just inspired me to bring down the LEGO boxes for Thanksgiving. So, thank you book for that inspiration! Anyway, I was curious what this book holds. So, let's open it up and take a peek.

NIKOLAS NURDBLOK

AND THE LOST BRICK

by Jeffrey Brown

DK Flip

Children's Fiction   /   Graphic Novel

176 pages

ages 6 to 9

COMING OCTOBER 27th!!!

The heart-warming genius of bestselling cartoonist Jeffrey Brown meets the unlimited creativity of the LEGO Group in this awesome new adventure for kids aged 7+

Imagine a world where technology has been lost and people have forgotten how to build…

Nikolas Nurdblok is the youngest child in a family of adventurers who search for lost things. Now it is time for Nik to join the rest of his family for his FIRST ADVENTURE.

The problem is that Nik’s family don’t appreciate his genius. After a couple of mishaps that definitely weren’t Nik’s fault, his family set off to find a legendary LOST BRICK but leave him at home.

Nik decides he’s going anyway. His mum and dad didn’t say he couldn’t go - they just said he couldn’t go with them. And so, Nik and his loyal best friend Knute embark on an adventure that will (probably) change the world. OBVIOUSLY Nik can find the lost brick by himself and doesn’t need anyone else there … or does he?

An adventure full of laugh-out-loud moments and the occasional alligator, Nikolas Nurdblok and the Lost Brick is perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man and The 13-Storey Treehouse.

LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group. 2026 The LEGO Group.
Produced by DK Vauxhall Bridge Road London SW1V 2SA under license from the LEGO Group.

GOODREADS      /       PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

LEGOs are all about inspiration, creation, and adventure...but this character proves that it's not always as easy as it seems.

It's Nik's big day! For the very first time, he can join his family on their adventures as LEGO hunters. It's their job to help people find missing LEGO pieces, which can lead to difficult situations and impossible quests. Nik knows he's ready, although his family teases him constantly about being so young and inexperienced. So when he messes up his very first mission, his ego takes a huge hit. Still, Nik isn't one to give up and wants to prove himself...which is easier said than done since his family sees him as the little brother who might not be even able to complete simple errands. After a few more mishaps (which are never his fault, he claims), he's left at home and told not to go anywhere. But he knows he can handle things on his own and decides to head out to prove it.

LEGO fans are sure to enjoy this. Not only is it a LEGO world with LEGO characters, but it awakens the treasure hunting spirit. The hunt for the missing LEGO is a situation that all builders face, at one time or another, and this book takes that down the fun lane that LEGO has had so many blocks throughout time, which have been forgotten or lost. Of course, this read centers around Nik, and while letting the LEGO enjoyment flow, the story also hits deeper notes. Nik is sure he's super talented and only needs the chance to prove himself. Unfortunately, he won't take the responsibility when things don't work out due to his mistakes. So, there's quite a bit of character growth mixed into the LEGO fun. Oh, and there's family dynamics with sibling taunting but founded in wholesome love.

The graphics carry a more casual direction which fits nicely with the story. The dialogue drives the tale forward and draws more than a few smiles with the humor...although some of it might go over younger readers' heads. It is a steady paced read with exciting moments and quite a bit of character inner workings. I expected something a bit more action packed but there are enough scenes to keep the plot driving forward, and it's not boring. It's sure to delight adventure and LEGO fans.

And here they are...

Cartoonist Jeffrey Brown is the New York Times bestselling and Eisner Award-winning author of the Star Wars Darth Vader and Son and Jedi Academy series, as well as dozens of other comics and graphic novels, including Batman and Robin and Howard and Hulk Teach. He also teaches comics at the School of the Art Institute where he received his MFA, and when he's not drawing or writing, he's playing pickup soccer. Jeffrey lives in Chicago with his wife, two sons, dog, and cat.

Chris Nelson is a voice artist, actor, director, presenter and writer. His extensive voice credits include several major projects for Netflix, Disney and Peter Jackson. He has narrated Frank Lampard's Frankie's Magic Football series and Tom MItchell's How to Rob a Bank.

Jeffrey Brown is an Eisner Award-winning cartoonist best known for his internationally acclaimed Star Wars books, including Jedi Academy and the New York Times #1 bestseller Darth Vader and Son. A lifelong comics fan, Brown was pursuing his MFA at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago when he abandoned painting to write and draw his first graphic memoir, Clumsy. Since then, he has created dozens of comics and graphic novels for both adults and children, directed an animated video for the band Death Cab for Cutie, co-wrote the screenplay of the film Save The Date, and exhibited his artwork at galleries in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Brown lives in Chicago with his wife and sons, along with their dog, and, of course, cat.