The Happy Shop by Brittany Long Olsen
The Happy Shop by Brittany Long Olsen was a book I had on my TBR for awhile now. I didn’t know what to expect, except it was a graphic novel and would have some type of magic in it. And in the short run, that is what it is all about: A girl finds a magical shop, magical things happen, she makes magical friends. Yet, there is a bit more. It is about how and why the girl is in need of a magical shop. […]
Why We Need Aunts. by Gregory E. Lang
The title is: Why We Need Aunts. The author is Gregory E. Lang. The illustrator is Lisa Alderson. It was read via an online reader copy. It is due in September 2025. Yes, dear reader, one must wait until Fall 2025 to learn why Lang thinks we need aunts and how Alderson has decided to illustrate that. I will say that the number one reason one needs an aunt is that we are AWESOME! We spoil you. We give great hugs. We know the fun […]
Papilio by Ben Clanton, Andy Chou Musser and Corey R. Tabor
The concept of coming of age is told through the eyes of a butterfly in Papilio. Ben Clanton, Andy Chou Musser, and Corey R. Tabor created a unique read (the coming of age concept) but still is a book about a butterfly and its life cycle. We follow Papilio from the changes they have from egg to a falling (though feels like flying) caterpillar, to an actual flying butterfly. Told in three “chapters” these sections show us the stages of going from caterpillar, to caterpillar […]
Harley Quinn's Bud and Lou: Trouble Times Two by Ben Hed
The title, Harley Quinn’s Bud and Lou: Trouble Times Two by Ben Hed is exactly what you expect from a hero/villain comic/graphic novel, and that makes this a fun read. It is comforting, and yes, it is cheesy and goofy and has way bad puns, but I want more of Bud and Lou! They are perhaps the coolest hyenas since The Lion Kings Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed. Hed is the author and illustrator of several comics, but the only one I know I have read […]
Wise Up! Wise Down!: A Poetic Conversation by John Agard and JonArno Lawson
The last few weeks have been filled with one thing after another! I needed some down time for reading as what I have found of late is pretty tough. Prison camps, transgender issues, first crushes, The Holocaust. Therefore I found this odd and little looking book called, Wise Up! Wise Down!: A Poetic Conversation by John Agard, JonArno Lawson and illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura on line and read it for a nice winding down. This book is a unique mix of subjects and forms for […]
Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi
Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi is a relatable story of trying to balance it all, but with the addition of being a Muslim which many readers (strong 8 to 12-13) might not be familiar with. Overall, things are sweet, fun and informative. However, my score of a 3 is more of a 3.5 as there were a few things I would have liked to know more about and a few arcs in the story were not my favorite. The cover gives you how the illustrations […]
