Happy Book Birthday, Be My Howlentine by Dona Herweck Rice!

 

It's time to shout-out another book birthday! Today's read slides into this week's Halloween spirit...while hinting at Valentine's Day? I find the mix smile worthy and a bit quirky, but hey, monsters need love, too. I'm expecting all sorts of fun and humor in this book. Also, there should be some warmth and 'love'. 

Let's settle down into those chairs and see what this book holds.

BE MY HOWLENTINE

by Dona Herweck Rice

Illustrated by Kelly Kennedy

Curiosity Unlocked Books

Picture Book

36 pages

ages 4 to 8

A feel-good mashup of two favorite holidays—Halloween & Valentine’s Day

In Monster Town, every day is Halloween, until Wolfie O’Howler falls head-over-paws for the witch next door. Determined to show Selena Witchington how much he cares, Wolfie hatches a plan to bring Valentine’s Day to town for the very first time. He and his monster friends work together to create a celebration that’s equal parts spooky and sweet, with heart-eyed jack-o-lanterns, mummy-wrapped gifts, and a serenade under the full moon.

This charming tale blends the excitement of Halloween with the warmth of Valentine’s Day, offering a story that sparks laughter, empathy, and a genuine love of reading. Children ages 4–8 and their grown-ups will love the clever wordplay, expressive artwork, and the spirited residents of Monster Town. Join the fun!

You’ll love the spirited residents and playful storytelling—perfect for Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and any monster-themed storytime.

Reading can spark clever wordplay as well as conversations about holidays and courage,  and extend the fun beyond the book with creative and engaging ideas for classroom or at-home activities

Be My Howlentine is a fun, emotionally intelligent story that kids and adults will love.

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Spooky monsters and creepy haunts slam against unexpected moments of hearts and love to create a fun mix.

Halloween and Monster Town are as intertwined as can be until Wolfie hears a song and his heart goes pitter-patter. He's not sure what these feelings mean until he sees his new neighbor and knows that he's in love. He tries his best to carefully and secretly lay hints of his budding affections, but nothing runs smoothly. Since Halloween dreariness and scares are all he knows...and he's aware that these aren't going to help him this time...he decides to reach out to the rest of the town for help.

This is a lovely read for the Halloween season! At first, I wondered if this read would snuggle too close to Valentine's Day, but it stays firmly planted in the spooky and monsterly realm while adding a dash of the lovey-dovey holiday. And it does it in such a fun way. Wolfie is a wonderful werewolf, and it's easy to root for him as he tries his best to figure out how to approach the love of his life. The monsters of the town come along with Halloween goodness in creepy style. Vampires, skeletons...everything is represented to let creepy fun radiate from every page. But of course, these monsters are a community. All are ready to help Wolfie as best they can, highlighting teamwork and the fun of trying something new. 

The illustrations present Monster Town with Halloween goodness and make it a place that readers might want to visit. The color tones remain in the dark, dreary direction with details of ghostly shadows and creepy corners at every turn of the page. Even when the pink hearts mix in, it's like dabs of sudden color which doesn't drown out the original feel of the town completely. There are so many things to explore that readers will come back and study the scenes themselves.

This makes a lovely read-aloud as the story runs smoothly and keeps a quick-pace. It fits the age group well and will keep even more reluctant readers' attentions. At the end of the book, the author adds several activities which can make this book into an entire theme. So, there's a lot to enjoy in these pages.

Invisible by Eloy Moreno

I've had today's read on my stack just waiting to be grabbed up...and wow, have my fingers been itching, too. But I don't play favorites, so it had to wait. That means I'm super excited to, finally, have the chance and dive in. Originally, this was published in Spanish but has reached the English market with power...as I understand. It is a serious read and hits on the theme of feeling invisible. From what I understand, this one will twist the gut hard and leave more than a little food for thought.

So, let's dive in and see how it goes.

INVISIBLE

by Eloy Moreno

Sourcebooks Young Readers

Tween Contemporary

336 pages

ages 10 to 13

When a thirteen-year-old boy is bullied at school, he discovers an ability to turn "invisible." An emotional and compelling portrayal of bullying and mental health, perfect for fans of RJ Palacio's Wonder.

"...I decided to find a new power, one so great they wouldn't be able to hurt me at all. And I finally found it."

"Which power was that?"

"I have the power to make myself invisible."

A boy wakes up in a hospital room with no memory of how he got there.

As time passes, the pieces of what happened that fateful day start falling into place, and the boy remembers his secret: he has the power to become invisible.

But the boy is hesitant to tell anyone the truth. What will they think of him if they find out the reason he gained this ability? And what if it makes everything worse?

Told in alternating perspectives following the boy, his friends, his parents, his teacher, as well as his bully, the events of that day are slowly revealed through flashbacks. A heart wrenching and powerful read for anyone who has ever felt "invisible."

GOODREADS     /       PUBLISHER       /       AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

There are books, which are written for young readers but, actually, leave real food-for-thought for all ages. This is one of those.

A boy wakes up in the hospital in pain but unable to remember exactly what happened. His parents take turns staying with him, and a couple of friends visit as well While most of his memory remains, he can't seem to remember anything about the accident. Worse yet, he realizes that he's lost his superpowers, especially that of being invisible. These were the only defenses he had against the drastic bullying he faced. When his parents introduce a new doctor, he decides to open up and the truth is harsher than anyone expected.

The author hits the gut by taking the usual, sugar-sweetness of imagination and twisting it into a last defense system for a boy in a very tragic situation. This boy is bullied hard, not just at school, but the band of kids manages to take it to other parts of his life. Although the boy seems to have a couple of friends, none really provide help. The boy's feeling of isolation pierces readers, especially since everyone has felt this way to a certain extent at one time or another. The boy translates all of this into monsters, which constantly follow and haunt him...and this sets off the light coating of bittersweet sadness as he develops so-called superpowers to offer a last chance of defense. While all of this is already enough to hit hard, the author then weaves the tale from different points of view and makes each character human and lays their thoughts and reasonings bare. Even that of the bully. These switches in POV are always clear, keeping confusion at bay to make the story and situations bring a realistic weight...and that is not easily forgotten.

While I haven't read this in Spanish, the English translation flows very well. While, sometimes, it's almost lyrical, others, the text punches, quick and short. The insights from the other characters dance and step in between with exactly what is needed to make the meaning sit. So, it's a delight to read from the literature side of things. As to the book in total...it's not a light read and destroys any sense of fuzzy feelings. It lets the boy's pain come across clearly and sticks with the reader long after the book is laid down.

This is the type of book, which classrooms and homeschoolers are going to want to take a peek at. There is a study guide available, which helps teachers or groups steer through this book with some questions, discussions, activities, role plays, and more. Of course, this won't be for every reader due to the depth and direction, but for those wanting to dive in, it's well worth the read.

You can learn more about Eloy Moreno...

Instagram: @eloymorenoescritor

 https://www.eloymoreno.com

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.