My Reading Week #IMWAYR- February 13, 2023

Thanks to Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts for this meme!

Nell Plants a Tree by Anne Wynter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lyrical text. Inviting illustrations. A perfect read-aloud or read together that celebrates family and nature.

You Gotta Meet Mr. Pierce!: The Storied Life of Folk Artist Elijah Pierce by Chiquita Mullins Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A wonderful nonfiction picture book biography about a folk artist I wasn’t familiar with. It’s great when “forgotten” people get their share of the spotlight. I also enjoy how the author ends up writing about them.

The Story of Ukraine: An Anthem of Glory and Freedom by Olena Kharchenko
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A nice picture book to learn about a country. Great for kids who may have questions with what’s going on in Ukraine.

Stillwater and Koo Save the World by Jon J Muth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A nice enough introduction to not feeling too overwhelmed when seeing how broken the world is and how we can only do our own acts of kindness to make a difference.

Inside the Books: Readers and Libraries Around the World by Toni Buzzeo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I found this book listed in the bibliography of a nonfiction book, Improbable Libraries.

Celebrates the power of books and the different and unique ways the love of reading has been shared in other countries.

The Book Boat’s In by Cynthia Cotten
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A charming story I found listed in the bibliography of a nonfiction book, Improbable Libraries.

This one bases it on the Erie Canal floating libraries of the 1800’s. A boy wants to own a copy of one of his favorite books and has to earn enough money before the library/bookstore floats away for a long time.

My First Heroes: Black History by Editors of Silver Dolphin Books
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was actually pretty cute. 4 mini biographies for the youngest readers to know. Includes interactive elements.

Kellan’s Unbirthday Cake by KiwiCo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I ran across this board book during a volunteer shift sprucing up donated kids books to go to other readers. I was ready to hate it but I like how some of the vagueness invites conversation.

Kellan Gobbles the Alphabet by KiwiCo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I ran across this board book during a volunteer shift sprucing up donated kids books to go to other readers. I was ready to hate it but I appreciate that the answers aren’t given out and that people actually have to think about what they’re reading.

Fish and Sun by Sergio Ruzzier
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A new early reader comic series featuring a fish meeting new friends.

Knight of the Cape by Terry Catasús Jennings
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A Cuban American girl has bookish adventures as a way to connect with her grandmother who’s moved far away and has trouble remembering things. In this first installment, she’s off to prove to the school bully that girls can be knights, too, and she’s off to find some heroic deeds to do.

She Persisted: Dorothy Height by Kelly Starling Lyons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wonderful. Inspiring. I love learning about new people. It’s great that Dorothy Height’s story will be known to a new generation of readers.

Vampiric Vacation by Kiersten White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Mysterious Benedict Society will enjoy this quirky and kooky middle grade series. Something sinister surrounds a trio of sibling’s summer break when their parents sends them off to stay with an aunt who may not be all there and who sends them away to a spa hotel that may be as wretched and full of danger as their first adventure. I didn’t realize this was a planned 5-book series but have really been liking it.

Manila Noir by Jessica Hagedorn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Some familiar and new (to me) authors contributed to this anthology of short stories all taking place in sprawling Manila, Philippines. As the title also suggests, you do have to be a certain frame of mind to read the cynical rather bleak crime stories.

Improbable Libraries: A Visual Journey to the World’s Most Unusual Libraries by Alex Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A delightful book about unusual libraries. It’s great and inspiring to see how creative people have been to spread the love of reading to others. I definitely want to go on more bookish adventures.

You can view all my reviews over on Goodreads. Please consider supporting independent bookstores when you want to buy any of the books I’ve mentioned via Bookshop.org or Libro.fm.

 

Thanks for visiting my blog. Happy Reading!

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