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 […]
Every Peach Is a Story: A Picture Book by David Mas Masumoto
I have been reading picture books coming out in 2025 from online reader copies recently. Every Peach Is a Story: A Picture Book by David Mas Masumoto, Nikiko Masumoto, and Lauren Tamaki (due in March 2025) is one of those. The cover was a bit awkward, being busy and (frankly) a bit messy looking. Yet, I knew that if I didn’t like it, I didn’t have to finish it. And while it is not my favorite read this year, it has a strong place. It […]
Grandpa’s Magic Mask: A Story of Growth and Bravery in English and Chinese by Siping Wu
A House Just for Mommy: A Bedtime Story Told in English and Chinese by Dayong Gan
The Boy, the Deer, and the King: A Legend Retold in English and Chinese by Xiaochun Tang
Little Malan’s Debut: A Story of Courage Told in English and Chinese by Lumin Qian
I do not speak a second language. As an adult, I regret not working harder on that, but I take solace in the fact that there are bilingual books out there and I can read the English part and admire the second language. Usually this is French or Spanish, but I have noticed that Chinese is taking its place. I’m not sure if the Chinese in these four books is Mandarin or Cantonese, so please let me know if you know! All will be available […]
Me: Moth by Amber McBride
I took a roundabout path to read Me: Moth by Amber McBride. I had reader copies (mostly online) and then saw the final book was out (losing all my reader copies). I then happened to see the book on a shelf at work, but then noticed it was at my library and since I was not sure if I really wanted to read it, I took it out of the library. It took so long for me to finally get a copy and read that […]
Popi's All Souls Song by C.K. Malone
Popi’s All Souls Song by C.K. Malone and illustrated by Shelly Swann is due mid September 2024. I was able to find an online reader copy and I am curious about the final product. I think reading online made me “miss” some important pieces of the story. There is a small bump near the end that did not flow for me. However, overall it is an interesting story that takes a familiar topic (the death of a loved one) and handles it with love, care […]
There's a Ghost in the Garden by Kyo Maclear
There is a message inside of There’s a Ghost in the Garden by Kyo Maclear, but it is one that will be different for each reader. Also, it is okay if you just enjoy the words of Maclear, the flow of text and the illustrations (by Katty Maurey) without taking any meaning from them. It works on both levels allowing the reader to take what is needed at each listen and/or reading. This can work for many ages, though it is for slightly older listeners/readers. […]
