Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers: Abrams Books for Young Readers

Showing posts with label Abrams Books for Young Readers. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY to... What Kind of Queen? A Royal Biography of Drag Queen and Activist José Sarria By Kyle Casey Chu and Andrew W. Shaffer, Illustrator Cindy Lozito!

Time to blow up the balloons, hang the streamers, and pull out the party hats! We've got a BOOK BIRTHDAY on our hands, and it's time to scream and shout all about it! Coming in hot via via Abrams Books for Young Readers... 🌈 a joyous picture book biography of José Sarria, a pioneering activist, drag queen, and the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in the United States!

🎈 Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY wishes to What Kind of Queen? A Royal Biography of Drag Queen and Activist José Sarria By Kyle Casey Chu and Andrew W. Shaffer, Illustrator Cindy Lozito 🎂

🌟 Have you ever read a Picture Book Biography? Who is someone you've found fascinating or would love to learn more about?

🥳 If you're like me, you love learning new things, and when it's bite sized/fun sized and visually appealing, that makes it special on a whole other level! The #picturebookbiography allows readers of ALL AGES the chance to explore times, places, and the lives of people they may never have and in a way that's not overwhelming. Think more appetizer with the chance to dive into the main course on your own! So for me, this style of #edutainment is a total win. Here we get the highlights of a life lived with passion and a true sense of self that celebrates the you that is YOU not who the world may want to see... and really, being your authentic self is the only way to truly be!

👉 CLICK FOR MORE and spread the love!

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ABOUT THE BOOK...

Once upon a time, there lived a boy named José who dreamed of becoming royalty—and of a queendom where everyone would be treated fairly and with respect.

A child of immigrants from Colombia, José Sarria was born in San Francisco in 1922. With the support of his family, he grew up to discover what it means to be a queen.

He fought against evil by serving in WWII, helping to liberate a Nazi concentration camp; he inspired others to be their authentic selves by performing at San Francisco's Black Cat Café, a haven for artists and activists; and he cared for his community through his LGBTQ+ advocacy work, including the establishment of the Imperial Court System, a global charitable organization that still thrives today.

Sarria led by example, joyfully giving back to his community while challenging the status quo. With a fairy-tale feel and radiant illustrations, this picture book biography celebrates his legacy of seeing the world not as it is but as it could be

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR...

Kyle Casey Chu, also known as Panda Dulce, is a San Francisco–born-and-raised writer and a founding queen of Drag Story Hour. Her first novel, The Queen Bees of Tybee County (2025), was named an Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature - Children's Literature Honor title. Andrew W. Shaffer is a San Francisco–based historian of LGBTQ community and culture. His background includes graduate work at the University of San Francisco and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he helped to build the city’s first permanent LGBTQ archives.

Cindy Lozito is a mixed Latina illustrator, cartoonist, and muralist based in Philadelphia, originally from Queens, New York. Her murals and artwork have appeared at the World Trade Center and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and in the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. When she is not illustrating, you can find Lozito giving her terrier mix belly rubs, singing in her local choir, or drinking too much cold brew.

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Special thanks to Mitch at Abrams for the for heads up on this title. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the illustrator, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title celebrates its BOOK BIRTHDAY today, so snag your copy online or at your favorite brick and mortar!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY to... HOLLY JOLLY KITTY-CORN by Shannon Hale, Illustrated by LeUyen Pham - REVIEW!

It's TIIIIIIMMMMMMEEEEEE!

That's right!

The calendar may say AUTUMN, the temp where I'm at may say SUMMER, but the READING we're taking in today SCREAMS HOLIDAY... and there's no better series to kick it off with! Ladies and gents, prepare to don your cat ear, unicorn horn headbands in celebration of today's newest arrival via Abrams Books for Young Readers...

HOLLY JOLLY KITTY-CORN

Shannon Hale

Illustrated by

LeUyen Pham

9781419768798

Abrams Books for Young Readers

This dynamic friend duo is back and ready to celebrate the holidays together. I mean there are SO MANY THINGS to do, and experiences to share, and since they always agree, it'll be like gliding on a smooth frozen lake... right? Umm, about that. So just because you're friendship seems written in the twinkle lights, it doesn't mean you necessarily have the same favorite things on your must do holiday list... which they quickly discover. What they also find out is that simply bending to the other's interests won't actually keep the peace on earth alive.

Unicorn may love the music, and Kitty may enjoy the gingerbread houses, but it doesn’t mean they can't still have the merriest of holiday seasons! The best way to celebrate TOGETHER is to actually take both your worlds and share them. It's hard to feed that holiday spirit when you're constantly worried about the other person being happy, and neglecting yourself. You talk. You share. You experience each other's traditions, and make new ones TOGETHER.

A great addition to the series, and a wonderful treat this holiday season. Filled with the gorgeous stylings we've come to love, and the heartfelt messages the world needs, readers of all ages will reach for this one time and again...perhaps making it a new tradition of their own!

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About the authors...

LeUyen Pham and Shannon Hale are the team behind the bestselling picture book Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn, the bestselling graphic novels Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever, and, with Dean Hale, the early chapter book series The Princess in Black. They’ve made a bunch of other books, too. They are both: moms of kids who aren’t afraid to get messy, wives to husbands who make art, Honor award winners (Caldecott and Newbery), caretakers of cats, and believers in unicorns. LeUyen lives in Los Angeles, Shannon lives in Utah, and with each other, they know they can be—and make—anything.

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Special thanks to Mitch at Abrams for the copy for review. (THANKS.. and yes, that's my pupper getting in on the Kitty-Corn fun!) For more information on this title, the authors, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is newly available TODAY, so click on over to your favorite online retailer or visit your local brick and mortar to get YOUR kitty-corn on!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Sunday, March 30, 2025

STORYBOOK SUNDAY: Old Blue Is My Home by Lita Judge - REVIEW!

We're celebrating another day of bookish fun with Storybook Sunday! For those not up to speed on the post, I read a lot of great storybooks and thought, why not give them their own day in the sun. Hence, Storybook Sunday appears every now and then! Today's featured title is getting ready to celebrate it's book birthday, and tackles a topic that'll hit home for many, while enlightening others to a "now" world problem they just don't think about. Ladies and gents, today's ebook of choice...

Old Blue Is My Home

Lita Judge

9781419771521

Abrams Books for Young Readers

While this book almost brought me to tears, it's a reality for MOST people at some point in their lives. Old Blue is a van that this loving, and tight knit family call home. It gives them the freedom to travel, to spread out and experience the world, to focus on the things that really matter, practice minimalism without even realizing it...and while all of those are wonderful things, it also leaves room for insecurities, worry, and feelings of never quite fitting in. I get it; it makes them different. For me it wasn't the differences that caused pause, but the familiar feeling of uncertainty. I mean, most people live paycheck to paycheck without much of (or any) security blanket between them and the unknown. It's the way of the world at this point, but as adults, we learn to squelch that little voice whispering "what if" in order to live in the now...for kids, they shouldn't have to shoulder that worry. They shouldn't have to hide who they are, where they are from, or where they live. They should simply have to BE.

Although sadness was dancing in my eyes as I read, a smile was warming my heart as I saw the love bloom across the pages. The family may have been in what many would view as hard times, but they made the best of things, and celebrated each other. If someone had a bad day, they refocused their energy on bringing them joy. If it was raining outside, they shared their space until the sun rose again. If the sun was bright in the sky, they enjoyed the great outdoors and the bounty of space and beauty that surrounded them. They had goals for a more anchored future, but they looked happily towards reaching it together. It's an interesting way to address a topic that can be scary, while normalizing something that's been seen as taboo in the past. At book's end, the author shares their own history that's reflected in the pages, and offers some further information on the subject matter to help educate and inspire.

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About the author...

Lita Judge is the award-winning author-illustrator of many children’s books, including Dogs: A History of Our Best Friends, The Wisdom of Trees, Born in the Wild, Flight School, Red Sled, and her illustrated young adult novel, Mary’s Monster, as well as the illustrator of Forty Winks: A Bedtime Adventure, written by Kelly DiPucchio. She lives with her husband, three cats, and a parrot in New Hampshire.

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Special thanks to Tayla at Abrams for the ecopy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title celebrates its BOOK BIRTHDAY April 8th, 2025, so mark your calendar, or preorder your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Time to be FOR REAL with... BEARSUIT TURTLE MAKES A FRIEND by Bob Shea - REVIEW!

Hi there friends!

Time to jump between the epages of a NEW TITLE coming to you via Abrams Books for Young Readers NEXT WEEK! It's a storybook title that while fun, and creative, it reminds us of a very important lesson to be learned at any age. Filled with friendship, finding your true self, and more, let's take a closer look at today's ebook of choice...

Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend

Bob Shea

9781419771552

Abrams Books for Young Readers

Release Date: 03/25/25

This is the story of a FOR REAL bear and a FOR REAL bear expert that discover while it's great to be whatever you want to be, the best thing to be is your FOR REAL self.

I love the imagination shown here, and our friend's dedication to his chosen self. I love how even though his new friends tries to discredit his claims, when things seemingly check out, he's down to support him! The FOR REAL bear facts at the end check out out, but what really check's out is the fact that these two acquaintances are well on their way to becoming besties, and that is something FOR REAL to celebrate.

A great read for wee ones at story time, bedtime, or practically ANY TIME because there's never a bad time to be FOR REAL.

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About the author...

Bob Shea is an acclaimed children’s book author who has written and illustrated over a dozen picture books, including the Dinosaur vs. series and Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great. Shea’s characters have appeared on Playhouse Disney, PBS Kids, and Nick Jr. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Colleen, and their son, Ryan. He and Colleen own Perfectly Nice, a graphic design studio.

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Special thanks to Anneliese at Abrams Books for Young Readers for eARC for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is set to release March 25th, 2025, so mark your calendar or preorder your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Saturday, November 9, 2024

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WEEK: Picture book fun with Abrams Children's Books!

Hello again!

This week is National Book Award Week which focuses on "...future authors, books, and literature in general". It's a time when awards are handed out, the current landscape of the reading world is gazed upon, and what the coming years hold is pondered. This week, I want to focus on not award winners, though bookmarks up to them, but on books in general...the joy they bring, the adventures they hold, and the moments they create.

Today, we're stepping into the bookish arena with Abrams Children's Books and a selection of titles that are either available now, or just about to celebrate their bookish birthdays. So get your wish lists ready and prepare for a variety of adventures through the pages because, after all, that's the beauty of books. There are countless journeys to take, roads to travel, and stars to seek, all in the comfort of your favorite reading spot.

I Am We: A Book of Community

Susan Verde

Illustrated by

Peter H. Reynolds

9781419771941

The beauty of this book is in the simplicity in which it begins, and the vibrancy with which it grows. It reminds us that taking time to care for ourselves is just as important as the time we give of ourselves to others because you can't give what you're not already receiving. If you drain your own battery, there's nothing left to share. It's not selfish in any fashion; it's caring to the utmost degree. The illustrations start with individual people, and animals, but build into full color scenes filled with people, places, and life. It might possibly be one of the books many NEED right now considering the condition of our world, and the political climate...but I digress.

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It's Hard to Be a Baby

Cheryl B. Klein

Illustrated by

Juana Medina

9781419767333

Okay, I thought this one was cute as I was reading because, think about...being a baby doesn't really seem HARD! You get everything you need at any time and have all the attention you could want. Everything is for you or about you. Everyone wants to see the little baby, hold the little baby, love the little baby...but is that what YOU want? I mean, if you were the baby. It's not like anyone consults you. You may have all the attention, but does anyone REALLY know what you're asking for? We really DON'T know...we're all just guessing...but it DOES get better on both sides of the experience. Communication improves, movement expands, and the love still grows. I gotta say though, as much fun as the story was, and how great I think little babies are going to respond to it (even if we can't tell what they're thinking), I adored discovering that the narrator of the story was a an older sibling. It just gave it another level of sweetness, and made my heart smile because they're sharing their own hard earned wisdom with the next generation.

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Gwendolyn and the Light

Susan Yoon

Illustrated by

Audrey Helen Weber

9781419763793

A tale of loneliness and friendship. It reminds us that not every connection looks the same, but those that matter will be there through thick and thin, nearness and distance, sun up and sun down. With a peaceful color palette throughout, this gentle story will help little ones towards their own "light".

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The Class with Wings

Paul Fleischman

Illustrated by

Hannah Salyer

9781949480436

This is a story that lets your imagination take flight! It shares factual information as the class studies veery bird migration, while allowing them to see the similarities between themselves and their aviary friends. Both are smaller than other creatures, and have "predators" aplenty, but both have rich, full histories to share, lives they're creating, and futures to soar towards. The student's teacher helps to encourage their exploration of the world that surrounds them, and her classroom exercise of slowing down, listening, and being in the moment, allows them to build healthy habits that will aid them in their journey for knowledge throughout their lives. The subtle use of color in the illustrations really highlights the moments being shared, and draws readers in to explore the scenes before them.

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Chloe and the Fireflies

Chris Clarkson

Illustrated by

Julie Jarema

9781419766480

This beautifully told story illustrates the wishes of a young girl's heart as she finally finds her forever home. It shows us the importance of family (not necessarily by blood, but by choice), and how beautiful that kinship can be. It reminds us that new situations may be uncomfortable, and strange, but a positive attitude, and a right proper wish, can set in motion the foundation for a happily-ever-after we'd adore to call our own. I love the nontraditional family that's represented because THAT'S reality. There is no version that is the only version it can be, and the version that is right for us is the perfect fit. A touching tale that will certainly have some readers seeing themselves in the characters, but I hope they are equally feeling the love that shines from each page.

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The Band in Our Basement

Kelly J. Baptist

Illustrated by

Jenin Mohammed

9781419769078

Release Date: November 12,2024

The jammy session has just begun, but bedtime is the last thing these two little kiddos are focused on. The sweet melody of jazzy tunes floating through the floors and doors is keeping them from reaching dream time status. Does it bother them? No way! In fact, they wish they could join in the fun...and let's just say the temptation to get up close and personal with the notes coming from the basement are too much to bear. What becomes of their nighttime escapade throughout the house? Why, a brilliant accompaniment they didn't see coming, and the chance to paint their dreams in a brilliant shade of their choosing. A great reminder of the power of family relationships, the wonder that a great song can bring to light, and the tranquility that can be found in the every day, if only we take a moment to stop and appreciate the beauty that surrounds.

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Special thanks to the dream team at Abrams Children's for the chance to bring these titles to you and to the publisher for the ecopies for review. (THANKS!) For more information on these titles, the author, illustrators, or publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Sunday, August 4, 2024

Storybook Sunday: MAYA MAKES WAVES by Maya Gabeira, Illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki - REVIEW!

Today's featured title celebrates its BOOK BIRTHDAY this Tuesday via Abrams Books for Young Readers and just happens to be the SECOND storybook featuring May, our brave little leading lady. Her first story took us to the water's edge as we discovered how big waves can intimidate, but we shouldn't let that stand in the way of chasing our dreams. This time, Maya takes us into the ocean for a look at this beautiful world that is at risk from its greatest "predators"...us. Ladies and gents, set your sights on today's book of choice...

Maya Makes Waves

Maya Gabeira

Illustrated by

Ramona Kaulitzki

9781419760013

Abrams Books for Young Readers

Release Date: August 6th, 2024

This is a story about the beauty of the ocean and how finding the courage in ourselves to speak up for its conservation can provide a better tomorrow for all. The ocean is full of creatures that can teach us everything from how to be strong, how to stay calm, and how to mighty, but they can't protect themselves from pollution, over harvesting, and destruction of the marine environment. One person may not be able to do it all, but one person can "make waves" that get that ripple effect going so that we can save this watery world of wonder for our oceanic friends, as well as our selves.

Through colorfully illustrated pages, the story unfolds from this professional surfer's own experiences, giving us a tale of encouragement as well as information so that we can take our own steps to impact this initiative. The lessons shared carry right off the page and into the very day with ideas on how to make our own voices heard on behalf of those that have no voice. It's a tale that is perfectly timed with a message that reverberates through every generation.

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About the author...

Maya Gabeira is a Brazilian big-wave surfer best known for setting the 2018 Guinness World Record for biggest wave ever surfed by a woman and then breaking her own record in 2020 with a wave of 73.5 feet, the biggest surfed by anyone—male or female—that year. As an ESPY Award winner and seven-time Red Bull World Surf League Big Wave Awards winner, Gabeira is one of the most influential surfers of all time. Named a UNESCO Champion of the Ocean and Youth, she is also passionately committed to and a fierce advocate for restoring the world’s oceans. She is the author of the picture book Maya and the Beast, and she lives in Nazaré, Portugal. Ramona Kaulitzki is the illustrator of Maya and the Beast and the #1 New York Times bestseller Sisters First, as well as Wonderful You, Badger’s Perfect Garden, and several other books. She lives in Germany, and her love for animals and nature is a major inspiration for her work.

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Special thanks to Mary at Abrams for the chance to bring this title to you and for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, illustrator, or publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Sunday, March 10, 2024

STORYBOOK SUNDAY celebrates Women's History Month with Abrams Books for Young Readers!

March is Women's History Month. Here's a little "Did You Know" behind how it all started...

Did You Know? Women’s History Month started as Women’s History Week . . .

Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration in 1978. The organizers selected the week of March 8 to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year.

In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians—led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance)—successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th 1980 as National Women’s History Week.

Subsequent Presidents continued to proclaim a National Women’s History Week in March until 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, each president has issued an annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”

So, March is our month and there are so many reasons to celebrate, let alone so many fabulous women to discuss, stand behind, cheer for, and just plain recognize! This year, the folks at Abrams Books for Young Readers helped me out with a few selections. The first is a woman I've read a little bit about before, but whose story never fails to amaze me. The second is a woman I'm just learning about, but her story is not only unique in its own right, its captivating and as important as any other in today's day and age. Ladies and gents, let's jump right in...

LUCY!

HOW LUCILLE BALL DID IT ALL

By Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville

Illustrated by

Brigette Barrager

9781419749926

Abrams Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: March 19, 2024

Lucille Ball...started out as a precocious young girl that knew her calling in life before she was old enough to drive. She loved the sound of laughter, and bringing a smile to someone's face. In a time when women were more seen and not heard, she was a stand out, but it didn't come easy. It took dedication to a dream that naysayers refused to see as a possibility. It took backbone when others shot her down and told her she couldn't do this well, or couldn't do that well. It took gumption to keep on the path she saw so clearly for herself , and one day she not only achieved the dream she dreamt, but she made strides for women in the workforce, and those in power. She became the Queen of Comedy...but did you know she called the shots on her show AND was a producer as well? Hat's off this this feisty woman who the world couldn't keep down!

Her story is told in bite sized bits so younger readers won't be overwhelmed, while older readers will still be entertained. The illustrations throughout burst with personality, and the limited color used until things turn full color in the end really make each image POP.

👧 👩 👵 👰 👸 💁 🙆 🙋

SIGNS OF HOPE

THE REVOLUTIONARY ART OF SISTER CORITA KENT

By Mara Rockliff

Illustrated by

Melissa Sweet

9781419752216

Abrams Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: April 16, 2024

Sister Corita Kent took art and made it SING.

It wasn't just about the creation of a marvelous work, but the making of something that told a story, proclaimed a message, conveyed hope, peace, and love. It was about making art accessible to the masses, but also meaningful to them as well...and it wasn't always about creation either, but seeing things differently. Think the infamous Pop Art soup cans...it took the ordinary and brought it into a new focus. The same could be said for Corita's work. She would focus in on smaller areas of life to bring it into a new view. Nothing was out of bounds, and there was no wrong way to create art. Draw upside down? Certainly! Paint image after image of whatever comes to mind? Why not! It wasn't about prestige or wealth, but about the commonwealth, as in the need to express one's self, and bring understanding to the people.

The illustrations throughout really capture the eye and make you want to explore them further. You see not only the Sister's work and learn about her approach, but the style in which her story is told by the illustrator that brings it to life.

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Special thanks to Abrams Books for the ecopies for review. (THANKS!)... and the chance to celebrate Women's History Month with all of you! For more information on these titles, authors, illustrators, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. Both titles have future release dates coming up this Spring via Abrams Books for Young Readers, so mark your calendar or preorder your copies today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Seeing isn't believing... Manolo & the Unicorn by Jackie Azúa Kramer and Jonah Kramer - REVIEW!

Ready to say hello to another bookish day? Great because we've got a magical, wonderful, beautiful new Picture Book for you today, or now via Abrams Kids! It's a story that takes the whimsical and brings it into realty with lovely results for our main little lad. So, if you're ready, let's journey into the land of imagination for a special treat...

Manolo & the Unicorn

Jackie Azúa Kramer and Jonah Kramer

Illustrated by

Zach Manbeck

9781951836528

Cameron Books

From the soothing color palette to the gorgeous illustrations, you can tell right from the start that you're stepping into a heartwarming tale.

Our little leading lad, Manolo, is a reader, and sees the world as it should be not necessarily as it is... not normally a problem because we SHOULD look for the best in things, situations, and people, but when it comes to sharing that vision with others, things can get tricky. How so? Well... not everyone is predisposed to believing things with their heart instead of their eyes, and when the Animal Parade at school rolls around, they're all choosing lions 🦁, tigers 🐅, and bears 🐻, while he wants to represent his favorite... the unicorn 🦄. He knows they exist despite not having seen one, but the class is more than skeptical... to the point that Manolo starts to doubt himself. Just when that darkness tries to take hold, a magical chance encounter reaffirms his belief, and gives him the confidence to be himself, BELIEVE in himself, and share those feelings with his fellow classmates, so they too can be a part of the magic.

A timely tale filled with love, inner strength, and acceptance, Manolo will inspire readers to hold strong to their convictions, face adversity with an open heart and mind, and seek the beauty in their own "unicorns" to share with the world.

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Special thanks to the dream team at Blue Slip Media for the chance to bring this title to you and to Abrams for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the illustrator, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

THREE IS NOT A CROWD!: Party Hearty Kitty-Corn by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham - REVIEW!

Did someone say BOOK BIRTHDAY?

Today, we're getting our inner kitty-corn on as we join the BOOK-abration for the latest release in the ADORABLE and GLITTERASTIC series starring Kitty-Corn! It's been building a name for itself between the adorable illustrations, brilliant color palette, and tales of true friendship...a reputation that is totally deserved and added to with this release as we find out that three is most certainly not a crowd. So, if you're ready...because I KNOW YOU ARE...let's get between the pages of today's BOOK BIRTHDAY celebrant via Abrams Books for Young Readers...

Party Hearty Kitty-Corn

Shannon Hale & LeUyen Pham

9781419750953

Abrams Books for Young Readers

There's a party going on, or rather being planned, and while these TWO besties have things under wraps, there's a new four legged fur kid in town that wants in on the action! With his adorable ARF at practically everything, and innocent cluelessness, you can't help but be drawn to the little guy, and yet some aren't taking the intrusion as kindly. Some are feeling left out, pushed aside, and no longer in the spotlight. Some are letting the green-eyed monster rule their hearts, and when it unleashes its fury, well...there is a moment of relief, a moment of regret, and then a moment of forgiveness and understanding. Unicorn helps Kitty-Corn understand that just because someone new joins their duo, she isn't any less important, any less special, any less LOVED than before...and that's a lesson well worth learning.

I've loved this series from the start, and they simply keep the love rolling! I adore the characters and the brilliant illustrations. I cherish the messages shared in laugher, story lines, and images. I am thankful that kiddos of all ages have stories like this to help make those bumps in growing up a little less high, and those lows a little less low. A great addition to the series, and a great way to help little ones grow their circle of friends without losing themselves or their initial connections in the process.

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About the authors...

LeUyen Pham and Shannon Hale are the team behind the bestselling picture book Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn, the bestselling graphic novels Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever, and, with Dean Hale, the early chapter book series The Princess in Black. They’ve made a bunch of other books, too. They are both: moms of kids who aren’t afraid to get messy, wives to husbands who make art, Honor award winners (Caldecott and Newbery), caretakers of cats, and believers in unicorns. LeUyen lives in Los Angeles, Shannon lives in Utah, and with each other, they know they can be—and make—anything.

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Special thanks to Mary at Abrams for the copy for review. (THANKS...and yes, that's my very own party hearty pupper kitty-corn!) For more information on this title, the authors, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is newly available TODAY, so click on over to your favorite online retailer or visit your local brick and mortar to get YOUR kitty-corn on!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY to... The Cosmic Adventures of Astrid and Stella: STAR STRUCK! - Review!

Back again with another BOOK BIRTHDAY that's out of this world! That's right. It's time to buckle in and catch a ride with Astrid and Stella as they head out on another cosmic adventure in their latest release...

Star Struck

The Cosmic Adventures of Astrid and Stella, Book 2

Sabrina Moyle

Illustrated by

Eunice Moyle

9781419757020

Amulet Books

This is the second colorful adventure in this high flying Graphic Novel series aimed at younger readers. This time around our besties experience a friendship fail while discovering how to come back together again, visit the happiest place in the galaxy where a particularly feline nemesis might just be hiding in plain sight, and uncover the whereabouts of one Whiffny Shears, a missing celebrity that might not be missin so much as purposefully lost. Besides all the adventure you can shake a stick at, you get the wonderfully funTASTIC illustrations to lose yourself in, and explore while uncovering something new with each look. Then there is the fact that you'll be thoroughly entertained by the jokes and puns running throughout from Astrid, Stella, and Robot! Seriously, it's a triple threat and we're only on book two, so I can only imagine what the next instalment will bring!

Take a chance on this friendly duo, and watch your mood soar to the sky!

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Special thanks to Mary at Abrams for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the authors, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is newly available TODAY, so click on over to your favorite online retailer or visit your local brick and mortar to snag your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

TCBR AWARENESS TOUR: The Museum of Lost Teeth by Elyssa Friedland - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Today's the day for the bookish amongst you because we've got a plethora, a cornucopia, a MASSIVE AMOUNT OF BOOKISH DELIGHTS happening throughout the day, and you're getting in on the ground floor! Excited? Well, I don't blame you! There's a little something for everyone, so, if this feels like your favorite post, keep coming back because there's more where that came from! Anywho...

Let's get this party started with the fabulosity that is The Children's Book Review as we set our sights on a Picture Book title that recently hit bookstore shelves via Abrams Books for Young Readers. It's filled with information, inFUNmation, puns, smiles, and gorgeous illustrations, it's hard to say whether kiddos or adults will have more fun between the pages! Care to meet today's blog tour guest? Here we go....

The Museum of Lost Teeth

Elyssa Friedland

Illustrated by

Gladys Jose

9781419757051

Abrams Books for Young Readers

About the book...

Find out where the tooth fairy takes all those lost teeth in this laugh-out-loud new picture book, perfect for fans of School’s First Day of School.

Toothy lives in Liam’s mouth next to his best friend Fang. He’s a good tooth—sparkly and strong, and he loves doing the floss.

One day, Toothy notices that he is loose and panics! Where will he go after he leaves his comfy spot next to Fang? After a crunchy apple seals the deal, Toothy is tucked under Liam’s pillow. When the Tooth Fairy appears, she takes Toothy to the Museum of Lost Teeth. It’s a more incredible place than Toothy could have ever imagined. It’s filled with new friends and fun activities like Tooth or Dare! Toothy finds a new home on the Firsts Floor, where first baby teeth are proudly displayed.

In the tradition of School’s First Day of School, The Museum of Lost Teeth answers the question “Where do all the lost teeth go?” in this unexpected and hilarious picture book.

Amazon | Bookshop | Barnes and Noble

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From cover to unde-cover, inside the cover pages to the back side cover pages, and EVERYTHING in between, this is one story that gets stuck in your teeth in the BEST way possible. It's charming, it's witty. It's filled with adventure for Toothy, as well as a new world of dental care for Liam. It's educational while still being whimsical, and allowing kids to simply be kids for a while longer. If you've ever had a question about the Tooth Fairy, all the how, why, where, and when types, this book overs in its own unique way an explanation as to their ability to get to so many teeth losers each night, what happens to the teeth left behind, and the simple fact that no tooth gets left behind! A new adventure awaits both the tooth that has lost its owner, as well as for the owner that lost their tooth.

I love how the author approaches the topic because some wee ones can get very upset about losing a tooth. It's not just about the payment for the lost item, but the fact that it's a slightly scary and new situation that they are trying to wrap their minds around while seemingly saying goodbye to their younger days. With style and finesse, the author and illustrator team up to deliver a plausible after for the tooth and its buddy's, while making it clear that Liam will never forget them, but in a positive way. The puns throughout are hilarious, adding just the right amount of humor to an already whimsical story that will cause giggles in all ages. Special note, I mentioned the interior of the cover and back pages. Make sure you read the letters shared by the tooth fairies! You'll get a kick out of them.

All in all, a new way to approach the legend, and the myth, without punching holes in the glass ceiling of childhood belief. We all know those clear walls of fascination come down at some point, but the longer they last, the more imagination can grow, and there's nothing like a bit of wishes and dreams to spice up an average day!

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About the author...

Elyssa Friedland is the bestselling author of four adult novels published by William Morrow and Berkley. She has written for the Washington Post, McSweeney’s, POPSUGAR, RealSimple.com, and Bustle, among others. She lives in New York City with her husband and three young children. The Museum of Lost Teeth is her first picture book.

For more information, visit elyssafriedland.com or https://www.instagram.com/elyssafriedland/

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About the illustrator...

Gladys Jose is an illustrator and storyteller. She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2012, where she earned a BFA specializing in graphic design. Jose is the illustrator of a number of books for young readers, including Fresh Princess and Clayton Parker Really Really REALLY Has to Pee. She lives in the sunny state of Florida.

For more information, visit gladysjose.com or https://www.instagram.com/gladysjoseillustrates/

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Enter for a chance to win a copy of The Museum of Lost Teeth with a $25 Bookshop.org gift card.

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

A copy of The Museum of Lost Teeth

A $25 Bookshop.org Gift Card

Two (2) winners receive:

A signed copy of The Museum of Lost Teeth

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Special thanks to The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the copy for review! (THANKS!) For more information on this author, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links above. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour going on now for more bookish fun.

🦷 TOUR SCHEDULE 🦷

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

The Children’s Book Review

A book review of The Museum of Lost Teeth

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

The Fairview Review

A book review of The Museum of Lost Teeth

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Life Is What It’s Called

A book review of The Museum of Lost Teeth

Friday, February 10, 2023

icefairy’s Treasure Chest