Crack Goes the Cascarón: An Eggcellent Not-Just-for-Easter Shellebration! by Sara Andrea Fajardo, Illustrated by Rocío Arreola Mendoza - REVIEW!

Tis the season for spring filled holidays, and today we're stepping into the traditions of the Latine community as we explore an EGG-cellent celebration that's definitely all it's CRACKED up to be!  Let's step between the pages of a new Storybook title that shares the story of Tori and his familia as they make preparations to see just who should claim the crown as cascarone king/queen!

Crack Goes the Cascarón

An Eggcellent Not-Just-for-Easter Shellebration!

by

Sara Andrea Fajardo

Illustrated by

Rocío Arreola Mendoza

9780593805671

Knopf Books for Young Readers

This fun filled and colorful tale shares with us a tradition that I hadn't heard of before, but found rather EGG-citing!  Colored eggs (or this year potatoes considering the prices 🤣) were always something that brought to mind Easter.  We would hard boil them, let them cool and dry, then die them, or draw on them, or use those little shrinky sleeves to make them MORE than what they were.  We'd use the plastic ones to fill with little treasures or candies and place them in baskets for giving, or outside for egg hunts.  THIS tradition, uses the eggs themselves, emptied, dried, and FILLED with all kinds of things...but most commonly, confetti...and Toni has his eye set on being crowned king of the celebration!  He has it all planned out, and ready to go...but his family isn't EGG-actly taking it lying down.  They may have some plans of their own that are going to shove an EGG shaped obstacle in his path to being ruler!  

I love how the family gets in on the fun, and I ADORE who actually becomes the champion...or rather protects their title.  😃  It sounds like a great way to be playful with family and friends, challenge each other to friendly competition, and carry on a celebration that started somewhere back in the 1800's.  The story along with the EGG-cellent illustrations really bring this party from page to life...as does the HOW-TO on how to make your own!  So, this year when Easter rolls around, maybe you'll start a new tradition in your family...or perhaps surprise them with all you've learned about this one!  😉

And now, for a peek behind the INSPIRATION FOR THE STORY from the author herself....

I wanted to write a book that was a celebration of my latinidad without it being centered on identity. Something that felt like both a celebration and invitation to join in on the fun. 

 

I was inspired by my prankster family. As a kid my brothers loved playing jokes on my sister and me, swapping out our cereal for Legos or tying all the spoons together so that when we pulled one out, we'd get 20 clattering ones instead. 

 

And then, there was my grandmother who on Día de los inocentes (Peruvian April Fools Day) would spare no one. Everyone was a target for one of her pranks. She was tiny, barely grazing five feet, and looked so unassuming, she was the last person anyone would ever suspect. That's where the Abuela character came from. In fact the characters are also named after my family members, Toti is my uncle who is the non-stop entertainer, and Carlita, is my cousin who is whip smart, nothing gets past her.

 

In a nutshell, this book is my homage to fun loving Latine families and one of my all-time favorite traditions, cascarones. It's impossible not to have fun when you have a cascarón in your hand.

About the author...

Sara Andrea Fajardo has been on a life-long path of telling stories: first as a photojournalist, then as a multimedia storyteller for humanitarian aid organizations, and now as a children’s writer. She has lived in Peru, Finland, Japan, Kenya and currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, with her husband and two children.

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About the illustrator...

Rocío Arreola Mendoza is a freelance illustrator and co-founder of Cúrcumas Creative Studio. She has worked with Matamoros City’s Government in Mexico, making commercial illustrations for social media and printed campaigns. She lives in Mexico with her husband, child, and cats.

Special thanks to the Alessandra at Random House Children's Books for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the illustrator, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now wherever books are sold.

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

Farewell 2024, HELLO 2025 Releases!: The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold - REVIEW!

Should old acquaintance be forgot?  I guess it REALLY depends on the acquaintance.  Considering the story I'm featuring today, it's a little bit of both.  But I digress...today we're saying GOODBYE to 2024, and HELLO to 2025.  It's here whether we're ready or not...and hopefully you're more ready than not...but if you're reading list isn't ready, I've got another for your TBR right here.  It's a YA lit Dystopian title set to release January 7th via Delacorte Press, and it's one of those stories you can't help but be caught up in, yet the exact why is illusive.  Ready for more?  Here we go!  Ladies and gents, today's ebook of choice...

The Last Bookstore on Earth

by

Lily Braun-Arnold

9780593899489

Delacorte Press

About the book...

The world is about to end. Again.

Ever since the first Storm wreaked havoc on civilization as we know it, seventeen-year-old Liz Flannery has been holed up in an abandoned bookstore in suburban New Jersey where she used to work, trading books for supplies with the few remaining survivors. It’s the one place left that feels safe to her.

Until she learns that another earth-shattering Storm is coming . . . and everything changes.

Enter Maeve, a prickly and potentially dangerous out-of-towner who breaks into the bookstore looking for shelter one night. Though the two girls are immediately at odds, Maeve has what Liz needs—the skills to repair the dilapidated store before the next climate disaster strikes—and Liz reluctantly agrees to let her stay.

As the girls grow closer and undeniable feelings spring up between them, they realize that they face greater threats than the impending Storm. And when Maeve’s secrets and Liz’s inner demons come back to haunt them both, they find themselves fighting for their lives as their world crumbles around them.

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Have you ever read a book where nothing much happens and yet EVERYTHING happens?  It's not a mover and shaker type of story, and yet you can't turn away from it.  I think it's the humanity in the writing, and the eeriness of the reality painted before our eyes that really caught me in its spell.  I could step back and see that we hadn't moved very much in the story, and yet I couldn't care less.  I was caught in the here and now, but also the glimpses at the past as we gradually build the history of what happened in the world and in HER world.  The her in that statement is Liz.  I could easily see myself in her place, and while I'd like to say that I would have had a more Maeve take on the change in circumstances, meaning that I could keep things light, keep moving, and do what was needed whenever needed, I think I'd really be more of a Liz whereas I would want to preserve what I could of normal everyday life, and try to make a go of things where I was at versus taking on the newly changed world.  The thing is the place that they've landed isn't even their final destination because everything that's already happened is about to come back again in possibly an even worse way.  The good news, they've been through some of it at least before so they know what to avoid, but the bad news is that a world in turmoil tossed into MORE turmoil doesn't always take that change kindly.  Some fight back...and sometimes the one with more bite wins.

This was an incredible story that kept me turning pages.  I needed to know what happened before, but I wanted to see what would happen in the present.  Honestly, I'm still curious what would happen in the days to come, but I'm not certain this is the type of story that would benefit from an additional release.  I think it's meant to leave you with the feelings built during the story, while making you imagine what might still occur.  I'll warn you the feelings do get heavy, and some scenes are definitely more traumatic than others, but I wouldn't miss out on the experience for the world.  If you enjoy Young Adult Fiction with a Fantasy/Dystopian flair, this is wholeheartedly the story for you.

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About the author...

Lily Braun-Arnold is currently an undergraduate at Smith College studying English. When she isn’t writing, she can be found working at her local independent bookstore, Watchung Booksellers, or daydreaming about living in outer space.

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Special thanks to the Random House Children's team for the approval on NetGalley for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links above.  This title is set to release January 7th, 2025 via Delacorte Press, so mark your calendar, or preorder your copy today!

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

...and wishing you and yours a happy new year!

Tis the season for STORYBOOKS!: Eight Sweet Nights, A Festival of Lights by Charlotte Offsay, Illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt - REVIEW!

Tis the season for STORYBOOKS!

You know, those short tales filled with WONDER, illustrations, memories in the making, and morals to take away.  They are an integral part of childhood, and a great way to step back to those days as an adult reader.  They're beautiful to add to your own collection, and a great gifting idea for little readers in the making.  

Today's featured title comes to us via Random House Children's Books and focuses on a story that's just as beautiful as the season.  It takes us through a modern day celebration that has its roots deeply in the past, and adds in a bit of edutainment to broaden our knowledge horizons.  So whether you already take part in this seasonal affair, or are simply curious to know more, take a closer look between the pages of today's ebook of choice...

Eight Sweet Nights, A Festival of Lights

by

Charlotte Offsay

Illustrated by

Menahem Halberstadt

9780593808726

Doubleday Books for Young Readers

About the book...

A warm and yummy Hanukkah-themed picture book about the joys of coming together to celebrate with family and food.

It’s time to start counting sleeps—Hanukkah is coming! Shimmering, shining, sparkling. Eight sweet nights, a festival of lights.

Set in a cozy house full of latkes, applesauce, sufganiyot, and other Hanukkah holiday treats, this warm and emotional story highlights the importance and joy of passing along traditions from one generation to the next, and making new traditions too.

🕎  ✡  🕎  ✡  🕎  ✡  🕎  ✡  🕎  ✡  🕎

Hanukkah.

Feast of the Maccabees.

Festival of Lights.

All names for the same celebration that takes place over the course of eight nights some time between November and the beginning of January (this year happens to fall on December 25th through January 2nd). In Hebrew, Hanukkah means “dedication,” and the holiday marks the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC, after a small group of Jewish fighters liberated it from occupying foreign forces.  What most on the outside see is the lighting of the candles in the menorah, eight days of gifts, and foods being cooked in celebration of the season.  On the inside of the celebration, there are connections to the past to remember, traditions to be carried out, and new memories to be added to carry it all forward to the next generation.  

The story between these pages let's us share in the festivities of the first night. It shares the traditional names, foods, and histories that go along with eight nights of celebration.  It shares a bit of the why behind the practices, as does the add in at story's end, while respecting the who both between the pages and the individual reading the pages so that no one feels left out, nor disrespected.  There's a joy, and a peacefulness to the tale that stays with you through the turn of the final page, while the beauty of the togetherness illustrated warms your heart.

A great story to add to your holiday reading this season and a great gift idea for those you hold dear!

🕎  ✡  🕎  ✡  🕎  ✡  🕎  ✡  🕎  ✡  🕎

Special thanks to Alessandra at Random House Children's Books for the ecopy 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.  This title is available now wherever books are sold.

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

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WEEK: Big Shark, Little Shark and the Christmas Tree by Anna Membrino, Illustrated by Tim Budgen - REVIEW!

Hi 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.

Big Shark, Little Shark and the Christmas Tree

by

Anna Membrino

 Illustrated by

Tim Budgen

9780593807828

Okay, I gotta say, I'm really feeling a FIN-ship with Little Shark and Big Shark.  I mean, hello...they LOVE TO READ!  Friends from the word go!  Anywho, they start out enjoying a day of reading until a mysterious shadow lands something in their midst.  But wait, is that...a Christmas tree?  Seems to be, but things aren't exactly as they should be, bringing fishy frowns instead of smiles.  Good thing our sharky duo has a plan to make it merry and bright once again...and the end result is SEA-tacular!

The coral-filled and colorful illustrations are brilliantly done to entice little readers' eyes.  The easy read story style makes it less intimidating and therefore the perfect holiday pick for early readers just getting their feet wet...so to speak.  It allows kiddos to take center stage during story time not only to share their skills, but a tale of Christmas time fun to be enjoyed by all!

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Special thanks to Alessandra at Random House Children's Books for the ecopy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the illustrator, feel free to click through the links provided above. This story is available now, wherever books are sold.

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

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WEEK: There's a Little Snowman in Your Book by Tom Fletcher - REVIEW!

Hello, hello!

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 taking a look at a new Board Book, available now for your winter reading pleasure, that's filled with more than just words, and illustrations, and bookish joy.  That's right.  In today's book...there's a SNOWMAN!  Get ready for a flurry of fun as we step between the epages of today's featured title...

There's a Little Snowman in Your Book

by

Tom Fletcher

Have you read ANY of the "in your book" series?  If you have, you know what you're in store for; if you haven't, it's high time you check it out because they are RIDICULOUSLY CUTE, FUN, and filled with friends you'll adore making and won't soon forget.

This time around, we're checking into a title filled with familiar friends, like Monster and Elf, and making a NEW wintertime friend.  You get to join the first two in making some snowy day magic that results in the appearance of Snowman!  Then with the right words, and a wave of your fingers, you'll be transported somewhere very, VERY far north where a certain holiday figure just so happens to reside.  You'll pay a visit to his workshop, meet a special team that's especially busy at this time of year, and get a special sneak peek at Snowman's present!  BUT, SHHH!  Don't tell him what it is!

The adorable illustrations never fail to impress.  The interactive nature of the stories allow readers of all ages to get in on the fun, and easily reach for it time and time again.  The consistency of the series, whether it be in sturdy, tiny hand friendly, Board Book format, or a little bit larger, and gloriously illustrated Storybook format, makes this one that you'll want to add to your bookshelves, and keep you adding it to as more and more release!  The variety of characters available makes it so that there's a little something for everyone, and some titles can be kept aside for more seasonal reads...not that you won't want to read about the Witch during summer, or the Elf at Easter!  Seriously, they are TOO CUTE TO MISS!

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Special thanks to Alessandra at Random House Children's Books for the ecopy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the illustrator, feel free to click through the links provided above. This story is available now, wherever books are sold.

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

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WEEK: Christmas Forever by Elysa Dutton, Illustrated by Manu Montoya - REVIEW!

Hello, hello!

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 getting our holly jolly spirit on with a title from Random House Children's Books.  It gives us a look at a grand adventure to make Christmas FOREVER!  (Can you IMAGINE?!)  SO, if you're ready, let's get between the epages ...

Christmas Forever

by

Elysa Dutton

Illustrated by 

Manu Montoya

9780593430996

Holiday decorations.  They each have their own time and place for display, and then they go back into storage until the next year rolls around.  It's dark, and musty, and certainly not filled with sparkling holiday delights...but what if they didn't have to go to this place?  What if...it could be CHRISTMAS FOREVER?!

Sounds perfect, right?  In theory, yes, but too much of anything is indeed still too much, but I digress; that's not the point of this tale.  This lovely storybook isn't setting out to make a case for one holiday at a time, but rather to remind us that what makes the holidays special isn't our location, or the chance that those times may never end.  What makes the holidays the holidays, the special moments those special moments, is the family and friends that surround.  It's the company we keep, the loved ones we draw close, the friends we hold dear...that's what truly gives the holidays that extra sparkle and shine...something the ornament friends come to realize when one of their own looks like their be left behind!

Readers will love teaming up with these ornament friends to put their plan into action.  You'll plot with them to make their dreams come true.  You'll give pause when you see there's a furry friend that might cause some mischief.  You'll laugh when an unexpected rescue takes place, and that four-legged little mischief maker gets a little taste of the mayhem they always seem to be causing!  The illustrations really play well with the story to bring it all to life, and the color palette keeps your attention without overpowering the tale.  A great addition to any family holiday reading time!

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Special thanks to Alessandra at Random House Children's Books for the ecopy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the illustrator, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This story is available now, wherever books are sold.

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

Happy BOOK BIRTHDAY Week to... TAYLOR SWIFT: A LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK BIOGRAPHY by Wendy Loggia - REVIEW!

Hey there Swifties and non-Swifties.

Today, we're gonna take this not-so-great week and SHAKE IT OFF as we set our bookish focus on a NEW TITLE available now via Golden Books/Random House Children's Books. It's a LOVE STORY...no, wait, LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO! 😉 *checks info* Correction, it's a Biography that fills in all that BLANK SPACE for that BEJEWELED musical artist that draws fans from knee high, TWENTY TWO, and beyond! ARE YOU READY FOR YOU? 😏 Well then, YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN just a smidgen so I can get the details out, and then you can get your GORGEOUS self to the bookstore of your choosing to snag a copy of this week's celebrant...

TAYLOR SWIFT: A LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK BIOGRAPHY

By

Wendy Loggia

Illustrated by

Elisa Chavarri

9780593566718

Golden Books

This is the story you may or may not know, but will certainly love, of how one young lady with the talent and a dream, followed her hours and heart to make things happen... and is still doing so today!

Say her name; there's not many that can honestly say they've never heard of her. Taylor Swift is an icon in her own right, but not everyone knows how she got where she is today, and that inspirational story is just the boost of confidence little ones need to take that next step on their own path in life. Whether they want a music career, film, medical, or blue collar, is not the "bigness" of the goal, or how important it may be viewed as, but that there is a goal, a dream they want with all their hearts, and they're not afraid to go out there and get it. Life isn't easy, life likes to throw monkey wrenches in the best oiled of works, but if we hold on to our truths, and keep that end goal in sight, there's nothing we can't achieve. 

I loved the inspiring story shared, and when paired with the lovely, and colorful illustrations, it really brought Taylor's story to life. If you're a die hard fan, they may be things you already know, but if you're not as hardcare or from the youngest set just starting out in the fandom, prepare for your eyes and your heart to be opened. 

This title is available now wherever books are sold!

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Special thanks to Sarah at Random House Children's Books for the ecopy 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!

Spread a little sunshine with... THE BLUE UMBRELLA by Emily Ann Davison - REVIEW!

Time to blow the candles out, it's a BOOK BIRTHDAY post featuring a NEW Picture Book in stores now via Random House Studio!  What are you in store for?  Well, a bit of stormy weather, but rest assured the leading little lady in our story has it all under control.  In fact, when things look dreary, she brings on the cheery.  When things seem too small, she finds a way to help them all...with the help of a particular rainy day gear in a nice shade of blue.  So, if you're ready, let's take a closer look at today's book of choice...

The Blue Umbrella

by

Emily Ann Davison

Illustrated by

Momoko Abe

Random House Studio

Let me tell you about this particular blue umbrella...it's certainly not like any you've encountered, and yet we all have the power that it holds. We all have the ability to take shelter from a storm, but also GIVE shelter from a storm. We have the choice to leave some out, or let others in. We have the chance to make a big SPLASH in this mud puddle of a world by sharing a SMILE, a KIND WORD, a HEALING HUG, or a place to just BE YOU. It's a story about a mysterious umbrella that shows up on a little girl's doorstep...but it's really a story about each of us taking a chance on ourselves, and one another, to make the world a brighter (and drier!) place.

Between the gently shared story filled with heart, and the wonderful full-color illustrations, you can't go wrong! I especially loved when the group gathered under the umbrella was so very large. Seeing the diversity represented in the "masses" was truly heart warming. From the (possibly) mother daughter combo out for a roll and a skate to the pierced mohawk fella sharing a smile with a few of the elders, there is certainly the ability to see yourself, whomever your self might be, within the pages. A great read for the kiddos as well as older readers for the sheer reminder of the bridges that kindness can build...or, in this case, the shelter from the rain of life it can provide.

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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 Random House Children's Books 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!

October reading SPOOKTACULAR: Spooky reading fun for everyone!

 

Looking for something SPOOKY to add to your October MUST READ list? Here's a few titles to enchant, entertain, and spook-ify everyone in your reading group from the tall to the small! These are all titles I had the pleasure of indulging in recently, so take a look, and see what catches your fancy! 

                      

  

THERE'S A WITCH IN YOUR BOOK by Tom Fletcher (Randomhousekids)

A great book series in picture book and board book versions, tips one falls into the latter and let's readers of all ages get in on the SPOOKY season fun! With a call to interact on each page, it's more than storytime; is an experience. 

THE MONSTERS ON THE BUS (Randomhousekids)

Okay, so it's definitely on the lighter side of the Halloween hubbub, but it DOES feature monsters, even if they are from Sesame Street! This all audience friendly board book gives us a new spin on the classic singalong song of yesterday, but plenty of smiles and silliness along the way. 

POULTRYGEIST by Eric Geron (Candlewick)

I was actually surprised by this one! On the surface, it'll definitely bring some laughter and spooky fun for the kiddos. Between the illustrations, and the plucky turn of events by book's end, the old chicken that crossed the road never looked so enticing. Below the surface from an adult perspective, I was actually a little shocked by the beginning of the tale showing just how our lead chicken became a "geist"... and the persumed continuance of the story circle on the final pages. Again though, surface... kid friendly and funny!

LEILA THE PERFECT WITCH by Flavia Z Drago (Candlewick)

Remember Gustavo? Our little friendly ghost? Well Leila is from the same "series" and her richly illustrated tale brings the spooky-esque fun readers want this time of year, but with timeless lessons for all ages. Perfect is fine and dandy, but perfectly you is the best thing of all!

 

THE WITCH HUNT by Sasha Peyton Smith (Simon Teen )

Read THE WITCH HAVEN? If not, you've some catching up to do. Personal opinion, you need to read the first book in this series before diving into this one. It helps to know the back story, the connections, and all the feels you're stepping into with one... and trust me, there are feels! It was great catching up with the girls again, but oh my heart! I was torn this way and that by both fellas trying to decipher who was being genuine, honest, and there for our girl! Sometimes you have to do things by yourself, but a burden shared is a worry halved, and when a helping hand honestly exists, there is no harm in opening up and letting them in. 

TRESSPASSERS by Claire McFall (Walker Books)

Though I loved all the books in this group, I think this one was one of my favorite! The first book was fantastic, and this second in the planned trilogy was amazing! All the feels, all the new experiences, all the unknowns, all the new souls, and the trouble that's followed them into what was suppose to be their HEA... oh my goodness, I couldn't get enough! 

(happy tears!)

                      

Special thanks to the publishers listed above for the copies for review and the chance to bring these titles to you!  (THANKS!)  For more information on any title listed, the authors, or the publishers, feel free to click on through the links above.  Be on the lookout for each at your favorite online retailer or local brick and mortar store to add some extra SPOOKINESS to your October reading!

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

Back to School with LITTLE TORTOISE and Random House Studio!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Time to ring the old school bell, at least in my neck of the woods, as we send kids back to the hallowed halls of learning. Yep. That's right! Summer is officially over and school is back in session. Some are more ready for it than others, as is always the case, but it is inevitable. My favorite part, aside from all the learning ops, and reading, was back to school shopping! Oh wait, you think I mean the clothes? Nope. In fact, many of the schools I attended had uniforms and not in the vague-stricter-dress-code-policies a lot of schools have today. I mean ACTUAL uniforms, but, I digress....but shopping love was for the SCHOOL SUPPLIES! Getting a new pack of your favorite pens! Selecting just the right backpack! Nabbing the last plum colored Five-Star binder that was the velcro closure NOT the zipper because you really liked it better! Those were the days...of course, now I use the season as an excuse for new office supplies, but what can you do! 😁 Anywho...

Today's featured title was specially selected for the day, and if you've got any kiddos, know some kiddos, or even some non-kiddos hurrying back to class, it might be just the perfect addition to your back to school extracurricular reading....

Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School!

by

Carrie Finison

Illustrated by

Erin Kraan

9780593305669

Random House Studio

Little Tortoise is ready and raring to go! She's had the first day of school marked on her calendar for AGES and she is totally prepared. After checking off her to do list, she packs up and heads out, ready to race to the schoolhouse. Thing is...despite her extra energy, and preparation, she's still not maybe as fast as some of the other students...and THAT'S OKAY! That's really the point of the story, in fact. She doesn't let the others speediness, or alternative movement options, dampen her spirits. She is determined to get there on time, in her own time, and not be late. When things send her for a spin just as the schoolhouse is in sight, it seems her journey is at an end, and frustration starts to get the better of her...and yet, there is one that happens to be as not fast or even more not as fast than she that helps her not only be right side up once again, but helps her understand that it's all in the TRYING, the NEVER GIVE UP attitude, and the simply doing better today than yesterday. Together, they make quite a pair AND a grand entrance...just in the nick of time.

The story is delightful, the illustrations marvelous, and the timing of the book PERFECT! From her racing stripes to her racing helmet, you can't help but love Little Tortoise...and even though so many of her classmates make the trip faster than she, instead of focusing on why most didn't lend a hand (or faster means of transport), I choose to see that they understood her determination to do this on her own four feet. I loved the teacher's arrival...that was a splendid choice and a great way to prove the point on trying. You'll laugh at the animal antics, giggle as Little Tortoise gets stuck between the pages on her way through, and enjoy the surprise twist at the end just when you thought the class was fully in session!

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Special thanks to Sarah and the Random House Children's Book team for the chance to bring this title to you as well as 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. This title is available now via Random House Studio, so click on over to your favorite online retailer or snag yours locally at your brick and mortar store!

Until next time, GOOD LUCK IN CLASS...

...and if it looks good, READ IT!.