Noodles and Albie On Thin Ice by Eric Bennett

It appears I'm starting out this year a little differently than those before...how? Normally, I grab books from a series without having read any of the other books before. But this month, I've actually read books in several of the series before. Amazing, right? But no worries, I'm sure this trend won't hold.

Today's read comes from an adorable penguin series. The author brought out the first one in 2014 with the intention of raising awareness for penguins (at least, I'm pretty sure that was the reason). It's now time for book four, and it's fun to see these have been doing so well.

So, let's see what the latest adventure holds!

NOODLES & ALBIE ON THIN ICE

by Eric Bennett

Nightingale Books

Picture Book

30 pages

ages 4 to 8

Who doesn't love penguins, and especially Noodles? Kids of all ages will fall head over flipper for Noodles and his best pal, Albie, in this unique, fun, adventure story of travel, friendship, and saving a colony of Australian Little Blue Penguins.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON    /    B&N

MY TIDBITS

This friendly penguin not only packs tons of cuteness but knows how to save the day.

It's time for a baseball game to celebrate New Year's Day in Antarctica, but it doesn't take long before Noodles needs a nap. When he awakens, he discovers that his igloo has broken off from the ice and is floating out at sea. He isn't sure where he's headed, but with Albie at his side, there's no doubt that adventure is coming his way.

This is part of the Noodles & Albie series, and while it can be read as a stand-alone, there are some characters at the end, whose presence will be more understandable if the other books have been visited first. But it does make a lovely story on its own, too.

There is quite a bit of penguin goodness in these pages. While the adventure unfolds, the author seamlessly weaves in some penguin facts and introduces readers to a new species, its habitat, and more. It works right into the story flow, letting the adventure steer the tale from beginning to end.

Noodles is easy to connect with thanks to his human-like and imaginative aspects, such as the baseball cap and a penguin baseball game. This humanization, however, stays on the border to allow the more factual side of penguins to still come across clearly. It creates an enjoyable atmosphere with the hum of fantasy and is sure to draw younger readers/listeners in. But then, Noodles is a lovely character and full of charm.

The text is on the heavier side for a picture book, which makes this a nice read-aloud for story time. It can also be used as an early reader for those, who are sure of their words. Some of the sentences, however, are longer in length and hold a bit more complicated structure. But this also practices those reading skills.

This is a nice addition to the existing series, and it's fun to learn a little about Fairy Island and the penguins which live there.

Go Go Fun Learning Books with Music

Today, I'm going to do something a little different. Instead of a book review for a single book, I wanted to hit upon a series from an independent publisher. No, I'm not receiving any reimbursement for doing this...my kids think I'm crazy for never finding a way to make money from my reviews. But as you might know, Bookworm for Kids is a labor of love. That means that I am never pushed to share a review. So, I'm presenting these books because I really think young readers will enjoy them.

These books come from the Go Go Fun Learning series. This is a musical, singing book collection, which holds over 14 titles. My kids loved books like these when they were small, and this collection has quite the broad assortment as a little more to offer than simple entertainment.

Of course, the music player with the buttons makes it easy for young listeners to choose what they want to hear. The songs are presented in a more childlike fashion (you can head over here to see the demos.) They will quickly pick up on their favorites, no doubt. Each button correlates with a song, which is found on one of the pages. So, it's very easy to use.

For the most part, the songs are already known ones. I was glad to see old nursery rhymes and such included (like Hickory Dickory Dock), since I've noticed that quite a few kids don't seem to know these anymore. 

The collection includes a nice variety of directions...nursery rhymes, lullabies, and Christian songs. But what I also find extremely nice is the foreign language collection. These center around Spanish and Chinese. The English translation is printed along with the Spanish or Chinese one. As a bilingual family, I've noticed that songs tend to stick much faster in young minds than simple words. Plus, older readers, who can read, will enjoy that the two languages are side by side...so much easier to work with.

The illustrations are bright, hold a rounder-cartoon style, and present an energetic and friendly atmosphere. They are easy to identify on the button pad as well.

Summed up, these are fun books, which young readers/listeners are sure to enjoy. And they might learn a few things, too. 

Words from the founder of Go Go Fun Learning...

I’m Tania Wu, a mother and founder of Go Go Fun Learning. I’m always looking to inspire young minds with the joy of language, music, and storytelling. Growing up trilingual, my passion led me to pursue a PhD in literature, teach at UC San Diego, and train in Speech Language Pathology at Boston University. My journey, combined with my background in playing the piano and classical Chinese instruments like the Erhu and Guzheng, fueled the creation of our interactive musical children’s books, the Go Go series.

As winners of the 2024 Mom’s Choice Award and Family Choice Award, at Go Go Fun Learning, we celebrate diversity through melody and rhyme. Our language-learning musical books are available in English, Spanish and Chinese and come with English translations. They blend multicultural musical elements with innovative content, offering a sensory-rich experience that delights little learners. We also offer Christian sound books. Each page comes musically alive with the press of a button, bringing stories, animal adventures, and family-themed songs straight into a child’s hands. In the past year alone, we’ve produced 127 songs in three languages to promote immersive, joyful early learning.

Here's a link to our store:
https://gogofunlearning.com/

Transformers EarthSpark Day for Early Readers

I remember when the very first Transformers appeared, and yes, that probably dates me. It's fun to see that these characters are still going strong. The reluctant readers, whom I know, love things they recognize from videos, movies, and such, and even beginner readers like to visit familiar characters. So, I'm always happy to find reads, which draw these kids in, too.

Let's see how these books do!

TRIO OF TERRANS!

Transformers EarthSpark

Ready-to-Read, Level Two

by Maria Le

Simon Spotlight

Early Reader

ages 5 to 7

EarthSpark is a kids animated series from Nickelodeon and Hasbro introducing the first Transformers bots to be born on Earth, streaming on Paramount+!

Meet a daring new trio of Terran siblings in this Level 2 Ready-to Read based on the show!

Autobot siblings Nightshade, Jawbreaker, and Hashtag have a lot to learn. Join them as they navigate their new world and select their alt-modes!

TRANSFORMERS © 2024 Hasbro. EarthSpark TV series © 2024 Hasbro/Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 GOODREADS    /   AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Fans of the EarthSpark series will recognize the characters and situations, and root for their favorites until the end.

Nightshade, Jawbreaker, and Hashtag get to step into the spotlight in this fast-paced adventure. And I do mean fast. Right away, Optimus Prime and friends are attacked, and the tension stays high thanks to escapes, captures, villains, and more. Each page thrusts the action forward and exposes one sticky problem after the next. Of course, teamwork is golden and the friendship firm, and the three main characters are awaiting a few surprises too as they grow into the challenge. But then, that's one of the things which makes Transformers inspiring.

On the reading end, this is just right for those, who are sure of their words and are building up reading strength. There's about 2-3 sentences per page, and these are written in large font with wider spacing. The vocabulary does stretch word skills while the action flows. This is a very directly described adventure, which states the events, one right after the other, without any descriptions or puff in between. This makes it great for knowers of the show, but maybe not so much for those who aren't as settled into the characters already.

The illustrations concentrate mostly on the individual Transformers with only snippets of the surrounding scenes here and there. Fans will recognize what's going on right away and enjoy seeing their favorite Transformers and more.

This is a fun book for those, who know the series, and is sure to draw these fans in.

WHAT DWELLS WITHIN

Transformers EarthSpark

adapted by Maggie Testa

Simon Spotlight

Picture Book

24 pages

ages 3 to 7

Robby and his Terran friends fight for their lives while trapped underground in this storybook based on a popular episode of the show.

When Robby’s cybersleeves stop working, the Malto Terrans return to the cave where they were born to find the water Robby needs to heal them. Once there, the friends get stuck in an underground tunnel system with Starscream, Nova Storm, and Skywarp! But the devious bots aren’t the most dangerous thing lurking in the tunnels. Can the group band together when faced with a common enemy?

TRANSFORMERS © 2024 Hasbro. Transformers: EarthSpark TV series © 2024 Hasbro/Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Adventure and action shift into high gear as the group of friends do their best to survive.

Robby's and Mo's cybersleeves are no longer working, so they decide to head to the place where the Terrans first appeared, hoping the water there will fix them with its powers. But things go wrong, and the group finds themselves stuck lost in the caves with several very dangerous enemies close behind. Worse yet, they have no idea how to get out.

This short picture book packs a punch and is suitable for those readers, who are pretty sure of their words. It also works well as a read-aloud for individual settings. The print is on the smaller side (white lettering against a dark page), holds around two paragraphs on each page, and helps build word skills as the adventure races along. The tension stays high the entire way through as the group of siblings runs from one dangerous situation into the next. The story glides along nicely and lets even those, who aren't quite as familiar with the characters, sink into the action.

The tension will keep action fans at the edge of their seat, and the illustrations help bring the moments to life. These hold with the text, giving aid to the story flow, but they are also engaging and add to the tension. The dark color tones and constant dimness fit well to the dreary cave atmosphere. However, thanks to the dark coloring of the entire page, the scenes are often very difficult to see. This makes the book less ideal for a group read-aloud, but it's still very entertaining for individual, reading sessions.

The exciting tale grabs and makes this an engaging read, especially for fans, from beginning to end.

Cursed Princess Club Vol. 4 by Lamb Cat

It looks like I'm on a very odd trend, righ  now.  Despite my huge talent for simply picking up books in the middle of a series (or end) without reading the others first, these last days, I'm hitting ones which I've, actually, visited before. It must be a moon/star alignment thing. 

Anyway, today's read is the latest in the Cursed Princess Club series, a graphic novel for teens or middle graders, which takes some very different twists. I'll admit that I've been beginning to wane on this one, since the plot hasn't been seeming to move along anymore, so I'm hoping this book brings some gusto with it.

Guess, it's time to find out.

CURSED PRINCESS CLUB, #4

by Lamb Cat

Webtoon Unscrolled

YA Fantasy

Graphic Novel

320 pages

COMING...

JANUARY 28TH!!!

For fans of Disney princesses and Sailor Moon–style girl power, Cursed Princess Club is a lighthearted story of a young royal who finds her place in a world obsessed with princes, beauty, and happily-ever-afters.

Just because you're cursed doesn't mean you're not special.

Gwendolyn, the youngest of the king's three daughters, is living proof that princesses don't always have it all. She isn't like the other princesses in the Pastel Kingdom. In spite of her big heart and love of baking, Gwendolyn isn't particularly attractive. Unlike her sisters who have woodland creatures do their hair and makeup, or have flowers blossom wherever they sleep, Gwendolyn is a bit. . . different.

When her father proposes marriage for her and her sisters to make an alliance with the Plaid Kingdom, it breaks Gwendolyn's heart to hear that Prince Frederick thinks she's “really ugly.” Overwhelmed and ashamed, she runs away to the forest and encounters the twisted world of the Cursed Princess Club, where her life will never be the same.

In this fourth book of the series, Gwen plans a dinner party with Frederick's help; Frederick spends an afternoon with the Cursed Princesses (without realizing it); and we learn about Prince Whitney. . . all the while Nell's premonition hangs over their heads. The question remains. . . if Nell really is clairvoyant, then who will end up dead?

This volume collects episodes 78-93 of the hit WEBTOON series. A special epilogue features a day with Prince Jamie.

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Gwen, her family, and friends are in for some surprises, which change more than a few things in their already quirky lives.

Gwen and her siblings are miserable after their father, the King, informs each of them about his expectations. It's as if the loving father never understood any of them at all. While her siblings do their best to handle the situations (or mourn them), Gwen is determined to steer clear of embarrassment and heads to the forest to talk to the Cursed Princess Club members...not to ask for their help, though, because they've done too much for her already. Instead, she's going to instruct them to stay away from an invite to the castle. Little does she know that Prince Frederick is following her on a secret mission of his own, one that's going to be completely misunderstood and creates the first step to what might be complete disaster.

While this book starts out with the same trend as the rest of the series, it quickly feeds into several surprising twists and turns. As always, there are misunderstandings, which lead to humorous occurrences...and sometimes, dangerous situations. But the plot starts to take on a new enough direction to demonstrate an over-arching plot, which promises more surprises to come. A couple characters are about to have their worlds turned in a new direction, and with that come some valuable lessons. Of course, these type of changes have their price with this group, which opens the door to tension with the sense of darkness, which makes this group of royalty so fun and unique.

There seems to be a bit more depth in this latest collection, which still stays true to the main message while taking it a step further. Intrigue thickens (well, in the sense that this group tends to run), and it did leave off with me looking forward to see what happens next, more so than the last one did. 

Also, the addition of Prince Frederick's story was a nice add on at the end and gives important richness to the rest of the story while not being overly direct.

I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here because it appears things are going to get interesting in the next episodes.

Journey to the Far Lands by Pirate Sourcil

Today, we're taking a look at the 5th book in the Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior series, a graphic novel adventure with huge nods towards Minecraft and Co. I've, actually, looked at one (or two?) of the earlier books in the series, so I have a pretty good idea how this one is going to go. If it stays true to the rest of the books, that is. 

I've been diving into this series simply because I know more than a few young readers, who adore them. Yes, these kids love video games (especially the one mentioned above), and yes, they are reluctant readers. This is one of the only books I see them grab up and smile about. 

So, off we go to take a look and join in on what should be a quirky adventure!

JOURNEY TO THE FAR LANDS

Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior, #5

Cube Kid

by Pirate Sourcil

Illustrated by Jez and Odone

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Children's Fiction   /  Graphic Novel

96 pages

ages 7 to 11

COMING FEBRUARY 25th!!!

Grab your pickaxes and jump back into the action in this fifth installment of the Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior graphic novel series.

Runt and his crew are back for the fifth installment of the Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior Graphic Novel series. As they prepare for the epic battle against the evil incarnate of Minecraftia: Herobrine, they know they'll be stronger together, but first they have to get Sweetpea on their side. Unfortunately, the baby dragon does what he pleases. As they contemplate their best strategy, Runt and Blurp have the same nightmare: Herobrine won’t let anyone get out alive … unless they give him back Sweetpea. What should they do? Do they stand a chance of defeating Herobrine without losing all their friends? They will need to find courage to face this formidable adversary.

The zany fun continues as Runt embarks on his latest pixelated adventures with his friends. Grab your pickaxe and shovel and get ready for more fun!

GOODREADS   /    AMAZON   /    B&N

MY TIDBITS

Seemingly impossible battles aren't easy to prepare for, but this crew can do it with silly style...or maybe not.

Runt and his friends are getting ready for the huge battle against Herobrine, the evil-of-evilest villains. To do it, though, they're going to need the help of a little dragon. This little dragon has a mind of its own and is almost a battle in and of itself. Still, if they stick together, maybe they can pull this whole thing off.

This read is especially directed at fans of certain video games or those, who simply enjoy digital worlds. While there are obvious parallels to the gaming world for this age group (because this does stay nicely snuggled into the intended audience age level), this is an unique adventure to call its own with fun and quirky characters. The teamwork and friendships make it golden as little Runt keeps determination high, makes quite a few mistakes, and still presses forward to learn and grow. It's a great message for the age group and others.

The tale is fast-paced, packs enough heart to make the characters easy to root for, and always works in a bit of humor to keep things light. Sweetpea is a cute dragon, and his antics will have readers understanding and sympathizing with Runt and his group. The worries and other aspects also add a nice edge, but not enough to darken the story. Just a dab to increase tension, and it works.

The illustrations are, as always, colorful and lively. They accompany the story and add to the atmosphere and humor. The text is never heavy and gently works on word skills, while sinking into the adventures. It's very suited for even reluctant readers.

This is a nice adventure to add to the series and makes sure to keep things interesting so there's not even the slightest sign of boredom yet.

Love From Snoopy by Charles M. Schulz

Time for a little more love, and today's read heads exactly in that direction. With the ever-beloved Snoopy heading into the spotlight, love should beam from every page. I'm not exactly what direction this will go but have no doubt it will be cute.

LOVE FROM SNOOPY

Peanuts

Charles M. Schulz

Illustrated by Scott Jeralds

Simon Spotlight

Board Book

32 pages

ages 2 to 6

Say I heart you with the world’s most loveable dog—the one-and-only Snoopy—in this uplifting and heartwarming picture book perfect for Valentine’s Day or any day of the year!

You are cooler than cool. I love you more than the grandest adventure…

Snoopy is a beagle with a heart of gold. Even when he’s soaring through the sky or having fun with other escapades, he has so much love for the rest of the Peanuts gang. Show your loved ones how much they’re adored with help from Charlie Brown’s best friend!

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON     /      B&N

MY TIDBITS

Snoopy fans are in for lots of love and good feelings with this read.

This is a board book for the younger readers out there and brings across the warming message of love. Snoopy is front and center on each page, accompanied by a short phrase about love. These are very general and directed toward the reader, giving off wholesome vibes the entire way through. 

The illustrations are simple but set Snoopy in slightly different scenes, which fit to each phrase. The few words on each page make this a quick read, which is no problem for even young listeners to understand. It's sweet and brings across the goodness of being loved on each and every page. 

The Generous Giraffe by Michelle Eshkeri

 Today's read comes from a four book series, which takes a look at various 'habits' with the goal of fostering them in younger readers. Now, you might know that I'm rather particular when it comes to books like this, but the cover grabbed my attention...as did a quick peek at the illustrations and such inside. Just a quick glimpse, mind you, to see if I might be interested or not to read the rest. 

Now, I'm going to sit down, open it up, and see if that peek turns into a good read.

THE GENEROUS GIRAFFE

Habit Heroes

by Michelle Eshkeri

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 2 to 6

This funny, charming story is the perfect way to introduce young children to the concept of being generous. Gina loves to think about how he can make others’ lives better. She’s always keen to showcase her generosity as needed, showing children just how good it is to be generous with time and possessions.

The Habit Heroes series of picture books provide a gentle means of discussing good habits and reinforcing positive behavior using charming stories of everyday situations to which children will relate. Supports personal, social and emotional development areas of curriculum for pre-school through to kindergarten. Suitable for children aged 2-6.

Each animal character depicts one area of behavior and manners to help your child understand how they can live life with more positive interactions with their peers.

The entire Habit Heroes Book Series is:

• Great for developing constructive habits for children 2-6 years old.
• Ideally written for the world view of those in preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten.
• Full of delicate illustrations which complement the story.
• Easy reading for bedtime. Not too long for parents or the kids!

Other Books in Set#1, include: The Helpful Hippo, The Courteous Kitten, The Honest Owl

AMAZON    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

This adorable giraffe is hard not to like and her attitude inspires.

Gina is super excited. The entire class is headed to the beach. She's packed everything she needs and soon joins them on the bus. Upon arrival, one of her friends has forgotten some things, but Gina is there to help. And that's just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting day.

Everything about this read radiates wholesome enjoyment. Gina is an adorable giraffe, whose kindness, cheerfulness, and friendliness comes across clearly and, yet, not over the top. She's just naturally a lovely giraffe, and those around her are just as enjoyable and fun. The message about sharing is clear, but it's woven into the tale so that it comes across with the general roll of the plot and doesn't stick-out with preachiness. The good-vibes beam from every page to make this a read to snuggle up with.

The first page starts with an introduction to Gina, which works very well and made me smile with a short list of her favorite things and such. Original and cute. From there, the story takes off...and it's the illustrations, which really carry this read. They invite in and bring across the atmosphere and scenes with energy. Readers, who aren't sure of their words, can flip through these and enjoy the tale on their own. The text is written so that beginner readers, who are pretty sure of their words, can even attempt visiting the tale themselves. The writing flows well enough and fits the age group.

It's an enjoyable read and worth picking up for classrooms as well as individuals. 

Head over to https://www.habit-heroes.net/ to learn more about the rest of the series!

Plant Attack: The Fascinating Ways Flora Defends Itself by Erin Silver

I'm trying to hit more reads this year...and if that means more exciting nonfiction, my life will be amazing! I'm a fan of fun books, which hold facts, surprises and more. This one is all about plants and their clever ways to ward off all sorts of dangers. Telling by the cover, it's going to hold a variety...and that in such a short read? So, this one heads toward the younger audience level...which sounds perfect to me.

Put on those gloves because this read promises to hold, at least, a little danger if I'm not wrong.

PLANT ATTACK@

The Fascinating Ways Flora Defends Itself

by Erin Silver

Illustrated by Julie McLaughlin

Orca Book Publishers

Picture Book Nonfiction

32 pages

ages 6 to 9

COMING..

MARCH 11th!!!

Just like people and animals, plants need to defend themselves.

They can't scream or run away from danger, but many have developed surprisingly cool and courageous ways to keep themselves safe from pesky bugs, hungry animals and even large-clawed crabs. Plants can stab, poison, drown and even suffocate their predators. Discover the corpse flower, which smells like a combination of rotting wounds, garlic, cheese and sour sweat. Then there is the touch-me-not balsam that explodes, flinging anything that touches it through the air. Plant Attack! The Fascinating Ways Flora Defend Themselves explores 15 different plants and the unique, and sometimes bizarre, ways they defend themselves from predators, including us.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Vibrant illustrations accompany a row of various plants, who do their best to protect themselves in, sometimes, very surprising ways.

This books is well set for readers from around the 2nd to 5th grade and presents plant after plant like a mini-parade. A very colorful one, too. Each two-page spread presents a plant, whose name is given at the top along with it's fighting 'superpower'. After a quick introduction to the problem plants face (insects and more), one plant after the other hits the spotlight. This includes everything from the notorious Venus Flytrap to lesser known powers like that of the orchid. A short summary of a paragraph or two gives quick details and insights into the plant. Then, the plant is given one or two paragraphs to speak for itself—which was a fun way to connect with the reader. Lastly, there are a couple number facts surrounding growth and such offered in a small bubble. 

While there are some numbers involved, this book concentrates more on the attributes plants have and use to defend themselves or help their further production. Most won't be a surprise to plant-knowers, but others are lesser known. Each is interesting, and more importantly, brough across in an easy-to-read manner, which works nicely for the intended age group.

It's bright, bold, and awakens awareness for plants, their struggles, and their interesting defenses.

And here they are...

Erin Silver has been writing professionally for nearly 20 years. Her work has appeared in everything from The Washington Post and The Globe and Mail to Harper’s Bazaar and Good Housekeeping, among many other North American magazines, newspapers and blogs. She has a postgraduate journalism degree from Ryerson University and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from King’s College. She's a member of CANSCAIP, SCBWI, IBBY, The Writers Union of Canada, and Authors Booking Service. She lives in Toronto.

Julie McLaughlin is an award-winning illustrator whose work includes commissions for editorial, advertising and publishing clients from around the world. Her previous books have been nominated for several awards, and she won the 2015 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction for Why We Live Where We Live. She is the illustrator of What Animals Want in the Orca Think series and Pride Puppy! Julie grew up on the Prairies and now resides on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Flight by Sandy Whiting

 

FLIGHT 

by Sandy Whiting

Monarch Educational Services LLC

YA Contemporary

Novel in Verse

334 pages

Fifteen-year-old Cassie's World is turned upside-down with the death of her father. Unable to cope, Cassie's mom finds solace in pills. Her brother, Jeremy, becomes lost in Virtual Reality, and her sister, Courtney, spends all her time with her friends, leaving Cassie seemingly unattended and unloved.

At the same time, Cassie's class begins an in-depth unit on butterflies, Cassie's mom unexpectedly takes a trip, leaving her family in the hands of their widowed neighbor. Cassie can either continue to see the worst in her unfortunate surroundings or embrace her new-found knowledge that butterflies aren't the only creatures capable of metamorphosis.

13+, parental substance abuse, rehabilitation, death of a parent.

 

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON   /   B&N

MY TIDBITS

With beauty and heart, this is an heart-touching exploration into discovering a way to heal from grief.

Cassie's wholesome world ended with the illness and death of her father. Her siblings have pulled into their own bubbles as they deal with the loss, and her mother has turned to substance abuse. Cassie's been doing her best to continue and has found moments in life, which offer a bit of freedom. When one of her classes pulls into a theme surrounding butterflies, Cassie's thoughts begin to take a turn. Then, her mother heads off, Cassie and her siblings in the care of a neighbor. And that is when her healing truly begins.

This is written in beautiful verse form and steers through tough themes with care, emotion, and elegance. The writing is quite simple in the word choice, side-stepping flowery language that could distract from the main flow. Instead, Cassie's thoughts come across open and pure as she exposes her worries, hopes, and pain. It's easy to follow as she steers through daily life, school, friends, family, and more. The chapters are kept very short, often only consisting of a page or two as the story settles in. It creates a quicker read and allows for pauses as emotions settle in.

There's a lovely symbolism play between the butterfly and Cassie's situation. This is almost impossible to miss, and still slides in wonderfully with symbolism. It fits the entire, poetic and emotional flow very well. Plus, the little dabs of information were interesting, too.

This is a read with emotion and depth, which hits honestly, easily, and makes a read to enjoy and think about.

Alphabot Adventures: A Robot ABC Book by Lauren Briere

Ready for some simple fun? I know I am. It's been a long time since I took a peek at an ABC book, and this smiling robot on the cover told me it was time to open one again. I have no idea how it's going to flow or exactly what this robot is going to do to bring across these letters, but I'm more than willing to find out. Plus, I hear whispers that this illustrator is quite talented.

So, grab those oars and let's paddle along with this friendly guy!

ALPHABOT ADVENTURES

A Robot ABC Book

by Lauren Briere

Blue Star Press

Picture Book

56 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING MARCH 11th!!!

Join robots on a whimsical adventure from A to Z in this picture book full of funny, alliterative phrases and lush, richly textured watercolor illustrations that will spark early readers' imaginations!

Do robots dream of strumming uplifting tunes on ukuleles under the moonlight? Or perhaps they wonder at the world while wandering woodlands? You bet they do!

Join a crew of whimsical robot friends as they float and fly through the alphabet on their magical adventures. Featuring alliterative sentences like “H Bot is happiest when hiking” and “M Bot makes magical music in the moonlight,” this alphabet book uses humor and wordplay to bring each letter to life.

Talented illustrator Lauren Briére imagined this cast of robots with creative designs to match each letter theme, like Archer bots with amazingly abysmal aim and Quirky quarterback bots dressed for the field. Her richly detailed ink and watercolor scenes amidst lush landscapes and clouds will capture the imaginations of both kids and adults. This sweet, silly book makes a wonderful read-aloud to foster a love of language and literacy.

GOODREADS    /    BLUE STAR PRESS

MY TIDBITS

Fun, imaginative illustrations meet robotic style in a way that invites for gazing again and again and again.

There is so much wrapped into these pages that I had to read it through, right away, a second time. And yet, it's a simple read, which seems very straight forward. What do I mean by that? Well first off, the illustrations are a robot and imagination fan's treat. They are rich with detail and color, and vibrantly bring across emotions with a playful and sincere touch. Just like the cover, the scenes incorporate nature, daily life, or the world around us, making it easy to connect with each moment. While one can flip through these quickly, there's also enough depth to want to enjoy each one. I would have placed a few on my son's bedroom walls when he was young (he loved robots and such) if I could have. 

Then, there's the word flow. Each page is dedicated to a letter. A whimsical sentence is created with several words, which start with this letter. For example, grows, gorgeous, and garden form the sentence for G Bot. The sentences are kept very short, making them quick-paced for reluctant readers and simple for those who want to pick them up a little on their own. Most of the vocabulary is easy, while some words push for word growth.

The letters aren't presented bold at the top of the page, but rather are worked into the illustration to add a little hunting fun. So, there is quite a bit to enjoy.

And here she is...

Lauren Briére grew up in Wrentham, MA, and got her BFA in illustration from MassArt in Boston. She works in Austin, TX, now and runs multiple projects from home. Her professional artist's resume consists of work ranging from children’۪s book illustrations, designer rain umbrellas “Over Our Heads,” animated music videos (two of which were made for the awesomely sweet band The Weepies), and quirky painting series made for her own amusement.

Cover Reveal for Two Weeks to Fall in Love by Kat Featherly!

 Oh..oh..oh! I forgot to announce something yesterday and can't believe I didn't get to it (but my memory is known to have more than a few holes.) Now, I'm not always a huge romance fan, but I ran across a blurb, which sounded like it could be tons of fun. But where's the cover? Because I am a huge cover person and do most of my book hunting by that first glance (each of us has our weak spots). 

So, when I was requested to share the cover the moment it release, of course, I was all in. 

And then, I forgot.

But I don't think it's too late because...well, we did loose power for a while and everything.

Anyway, here it is!!!

TWO WEEKS TO FALL IN LOVE

by Kat Featherly

YA Romance

COMING...

AUGUST 25th!!!

For fans of contemporary, humorous, clean teen romance by Beth Reekles, Sarah Dessen, and Jenny Han comes a debut novel about uncovering secrets, challenging first impressions, and discovering that love—and people—are far more complicated than they seem.

Noah Archer dates girls for two weeks and then moves on—but none of his exes seem to mind. Skyler Fox can’t figure it out. When her best friend becomes Noah’s latest “victim,” Sky decides it’s time to expose him. Her plan? Be the next girl he dates.

     Charming and confident, Noah accepts Sky’s unexpected dating proposal. Beneath his reputation, Noah is searching for something real, driven by a secret. Each short-lived relationship is his way of chasing a connection before it’s too late.

     Sky sets out to expose Noah, but the closer she gets, the more she starts to question her motives… and her heart. As their two weeks unfold and Noah’s secrets begin to surface, Sky is forced to confront the one question she never expected: can she be the one to break his two-week streak?

You can check out all the information by heading to the publisher's website: HERE

And here she is...

Kat Featherly is an author who loves writing feel-good romance books that help you through rough times. She discovered Wattpad during the pandemic, which also inspired her first book, Match Made in Quarantine. Her recent novella Love Bitez was selected as a Shortlister during the 2021 Open Novella Contest. During the day she works as a copywriter, making you want things you probably don’t actually need. She spends every free moment on her laptop, crafting quirky protagonists and dreamy love interests. You can find her reading romance-heavy books, or listening to true crime and murder-mystery podcasts, which might make her quite the paradox but also help her write in various genres. She adopted a dog that is now a professional sock thief, which is why you’ll never catch her wearing the same pair. People assume it’s a fashion choice. She rarely corrects them.

Happy Book Birthday, Nature of Frost by Jus Accardo!

NATURE OF FROST

Omen of Ice #2

by Jus Accardo

Entangled Teen

YA Fantasy   /   Romance

363 pages

A dying kingdom on thin ice…

Not so long ago, druid Keltania Tunne thought she knew the world—and her place in it. Magic was all but dead, and the kingdom torn apart. Then she was sent to the court of the Winter Fae and charged with the protection of Valen, the icily arrogant prince who some believed would bring about the destruction of them all…

Instead, he brought magic.

The greed for magic nearly destroyed their world, and its return could plunge them all back into chaos—or unite the estranged fae courts…if they move quickly.

Now Keltania and Valen must navigate the temperamental fae, their insidious secrets, and an enemy who would cleave the kingdom in two in the name of vengeance—all the while hiding the truth of their connection.

Its magic. Its remarkable power. And its ability to crush their hearts in two.

But no one knows that Valen struck a secret bargain with their enemy...and soon everyone in the land will face the consequences.

The Omen of Ice duology is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Omen of Ice
Book #2 Nature of Frost

GOODREADS   /    AMAZON   /    B&N

MY TIDBITS

The action, adventure, magic, and determination make this a grabbing plot, while the romance is like a lovely layer of icing.

This book takes off where the first one left off and rounds off the duology. I didn't read the first book, which did cause some issues, but it still wasn't impossible to sink into.

The beginning is quick. There's a lot going on, and it heads from one moment right into the next. The excitement and tension remains high, and the romance, while there, isn't at the forefront. There's just too much for moth Keltania and Valen to deal with, and with the high-stakes, they have other things on their minds than just each other. It grabs in and keeps those pages turning, as it's not clear what will happen next.

The middle is quite a bit slower and allows readers to sink more into the characters. There's a lovely richness to the world building and depth. As an 'action' girl, I did find myself skimming paragraphs here and there, though. But the tale still grabs, and it's easy to root for both characters the entire way through. Again, the romance is present but not dominating.

The ending wraps up everything nicely and is very satisfying. The pace picks up again and lets everything shine as Keltania and Valen do their best. There are several grabbing twists and surprises to seal things off well. 

Summed up, it's a grabbing fantasy world with tons of magic, tension, and danger. Both characters are easy to root for and enjoy as they come up against impossible situations and more. The romance is grabbing and doesn't overpower the main plot. But what I really enjoyed is that this is a true YA tale, which even the younger end of the age group can pick up and enjoy.

And here she is...

JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. But at the last minute, she realized her true path lay with fiction, not food. Jus is the bestselling author of the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing, as well as the Darker Agency series, and the New Adult series, The Eternal Balance. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.