This was a cute story about trying to cool off in the summer by using a magic door to Winterland. This book is just a repeat of an episode of the show, and I think it works better as a show than a book. However, it’s meant for kids and they’re going to like it. 

 

This is a very simple color book. Each page gives you the English name of a color, as well as the Chinese name of that same color both in English and in character. There’s also an item associated with that color that’s also associated with celebrating Chinese New Year.  These items are described with their history at the end. This book will help kids learn Chinese colors and match them with items they see during these celebrations. 

 

This was a fun things online book about pumpkin picking and pumpkin carving. In particular the illustrations are beautiful to look at. This would be fun not just at bedtime, not just at Halloween, but at story time all through the year. 

 

This book was a mess. The main student in this story is convinced that their teacher is a robot. They’re convinced of this because of the way they teach, send kids out for recess, the assignments, etc. There’s not a lot of storytelling. The pictures do most of it and the story is all told in thought/speech bubbles. It’s not bad but it’s not great, and it would be horrible for story time. But it could be OK for interactive play. 

 

This was a fun rhyming book with great illustrations. It’s opening day for the Unicorn Hotel and they need the guests to see everything perfectly, but everything goes wrong.  Kids will like this book and want to read it again and again, and since it’s short parents probably won’t say no. 

 

When picking up a Disney World of Reading Level 1, please be aware that they are most other easy readers level 3 and level 4. Disney level 1 readers are supposed to be for those ready to start chapter books. And that is exactly what this is. This version actually has three of books where each queen tells a version of their famous story. It’s very conceited honestly. Overall, I like Disney Worlds of Reading but don’t pick up a Level 1 thinking you’re going to get See Spot Run. I wish there was a standard across all the publishers and what level 1, 2 and 3 readers should consist of. 

 

I’m not sure what I was expecting from this graphic novel. There was something about the title that made me think it was a demon fantasy. However, it is a biography of the author and illustrator as looking back on their life and breaking the 4th wall, about being transgendered in a time when it was not as visible as it is now. This book follows the character from age 11 to about age 19-20ish and it’s set at a middle grade reading level. There’s something in here for everyone.  One doesn’t have to be trans, one just must be an ally, or open minded, to enjoy this book. What is neat is within the book, the author living their trans life now is talking to their younger self and saying it will be OK, or it’s going to change, or it’ll get better you have to live through this to get to the good stuff. Overall, this was a great read with great illustrations, and I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next. 

 

Charlie is a girl who is not one for being out with nature. However, she is going to be spending a week in a nature hiking camp communing with God. This is a trip not just about God, but about feminism and the place of women within their spirituality and in their community. I should also mention that Charlie is the only black girl in the group. This book does have an Eisenhower Honor and a Stonewall Honor. One of the side characters is trans and you’re led to believe that Charlie is probably lesbian. Which is why Charlie is arguing with God. I do not know if this book has a volume two. I hope it doesn’t. However, the story does not end, and they haven’t even made it to the full point of the hike. Throughout Charlie is talking to God: “Why am I here? Why did you send me here?  There are no conclusions, no points made.  It sets off to make a point about feminism and getting away from the men and being who you are.  But it’s left completely in the air. I really wanted to like this book, I was hoping it was going someplace profound. However, the author launched a balloon in the air and left it sitting. 

 

Remarkable Ruby is another in the Invisible Emmie series. Like the rest of the books in the series it can be read as a standalone. Ruby is a middle school girl who is very tall for her age, she is also very introverted. One of her best friends moved away and her other best friend is separated for now. We follow Ruby in the chapter parts as she’s going through her seventh-grade year of school feeling left out, alone, nervous, anxious, etc. In the comic part of the book, we follow Mia, who is the former friend of Ruby. Mia is an overachiever, and right now she’s trying to become class president. She forgets her friends, gets annoyed when they don’t want to help with her election Mia even worries that her friends are talking to the wrong people and will hurt her chances of winning the election. Overall, I like this series, but this is probably my least favorite book so far. For one, this book is the longest and it didn’t need to be. While the situations are very real to modern middle school, it feels both pushed and dragged like it’s trying to make a point instead of just being a story where someone can find the point on their own. Overall, I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. 

 

This is a Comics collection, not a story.  It feels like it skips moment to moment rather than being fluid. I am not someone who finds the character Heart funny. I find her egotistical, naughty and bratty. It’s not a character I would want to be friends with, which made reading this collection mind numbingly boring. I DNFed halfway through and have no desire to pick it up again.