The Brunch Shift by Adrienne Thurman
When reading a book, you always start with the cover. When I saw it as an online reader, the cover image was just a thumbnail for The Brunch Shift. I did not think I was going to like it based on the cover alone as unfortunately, there did not seem to be anything grabbing me. I figured I knew the story, “Mom was at the restaurant while the child was home with dad or grandparent (other adult) and waiting. It would be a story about […]
The Dino Door by Josh Funk and Renée Kurilla
The online read The Dino Door by a favorite author of mine, Josh Funk, was enjoyable, but did not WOW me. I do like the very end with the silly image that gives a fourth wall break, in one of the pictures on the bedroom wall of the child, so that boosts the overall simplicity, but getting there was not my thing. And when I say simple I mean simple as there are maybe a dozen or so words on the pages total. Writing a […]
Spoops: The Little Spirits of Halloween by A.J. LoCascio
When I get excited about a book I find it funny that I don’t run out and tell everyone and anyone about it. Yet, I almost missed telling you about Spoops: The Little Spirits of Halloween by A.J. LoCascio and illustrator Laurie Conley. I will start by saying the very least I can say is it is an outstanding and fun story. There is a delightfully classical element as well as a modern tone which allows it to work for many ages. It is simple as […]
The Best Worst Camp Out Ever by Joe Cepeda
Every so often I still find an older online reader copy in my saved links. And The Best Worst Camp Out Ever by Joe Cepeda (from late April/early May 2024) is one of them. I honestly do not think I would have liked this book if I had not found (again) and read it on a day in October 2025. I was in the right place and it was the right time for it. Summer was ending, fall was bursting out (minus good color for […]
Sad Book by Michael Rosen
A while back I found the companion book to Michael Rosen’s Sad Book. Therefore, I figured I should see how the whole thing started and got a copy of the book from my library. After finishing it, I think that The Sad Book is a well done book on dealing with grief, but the second book, Where Are You, Eddie? (coming in Summer 2026) was more detailed and the stronger read of the two. With that said, I feel that The Sad Book could be […]
My Mom Is Like a Kite by Lisl H. Detlefsen
While mental health issue stories are not new, even in children’s books, Lisl H. Detlefsen makes a fresh and creative work in My Mom Is Like a Kite. I assumed that the Mom in question would probably have highs and lows, but I did not expect them to be as serious as they are. I assumed this would be a lighthearted story about feelings, one that says even adults are happy, sad, scared, etc. You know, real emotions. This is partly because Nathalie Dion’s illustrations […]
