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FANTASTIC FRIDAY: The Firelight Apprentice by Bree Paulson

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  THE FIRELIGHT APPRENTICE      written & illustrated by Bree Paulsen Quill Tree Books, 2024 ISBN: 978-0-06-326659-9 Source: publisher for review Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK In a city powered by magic and still recovering from a bloody war, Ada is concerned about her younger sister Safi’s developing powers. She understands that Safi could learn how to control her magic under the apprenticeship of a king's magician. But with the memories of war still fresh, Ada is conflicted by this prospect—despite her knowing that she can’t keep Safi safely at home with the threat of deadly, power-thieving liches prowling the kingdom. When a traveling group of magicians comes to the city to perform, they immediately recognize Safi’s talents and offer to take her on as an apprentice. Safi is thrilled about her new adventure—even if that means leaving behind Ada and the...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: Whoa Panda! by C.S. Jennings

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  WHOA PANDA! written & illustrated by C.S. Jennings Nancy Paulsen Books, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-593-32478-3 Source: publisher for review Ages 3-6 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From “Whoa!” to “Way to go!,” this is a humorous and heartwarming look at the importance of communicating personal boundaries. Panda gets excited when he sees a potential friend. So excited, he’s apt to put his cold, wet nose right in their face! Eeek! Whoa Panda! Fortunately Panda has a friend to help him navigate how close is too close. And before long, he is able to say “Way to go, Panda” instead of “Whoa Panda!” With irresistible art and a simple, encouraging text, this entertaining picture book is perfect for helping little ones become more self-aware of personal boundaries. REVIEW After waving at the narrator, Panda runs and hugs the 'narrator' (shown in the illustrations with a closeup of Panda's fac...

WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY: Hello, I'm a Toucan by Hayley & John Rocco

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HELLO, I'M A TOUCAN Meet the Wild Things #5 written by Hayley Rocco, illustrated by John Rocco G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-593-85875-2 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Meet the toucan in this clever, funny, and informative nonfiction picture book, part of a series that focuses on endangered species. Did you know a toucan's bill is four times the size of its head? But you might be surprised by how lightweight and strong it is. And did you know that toucans use their bills to keep cool when it's hot outside, by increasing blood flow from the rest of their body to maintain the perfect temperature? You can't get much cooler than that. But did you also know the toucan is endangered and needs our help? With humans chopping down rainforests and taking toucans from their homes to make them pets, these unique birds need our protecti...

BOARD BOOK REVIEW: Kitty-Corn Club--Parts of Us by Shannon Hale & LeUyen Pham

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PARTS OF US Kitty-Corn Club #2 written by Shannon Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham Abrams Appleseed, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-4197-6882-8 Source: publisher for review Ages 0-3 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK This original concept board book celebrates what makes our bodies unique—from head to toe and horn to tail. From the bestselling and award-winning Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn creators, author Shannon Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham All are welcome in the kitty-corn club! Whether you’re long-tailed or short-tailed, furry or feathered, taloned or tentacled, you are just right. From head to toe and horn to tail, join Kitty and Unicorn—alongside Gecko, Parakeet, and a new Octopus friend—as they demonstrate, with humor and creativity, the many ways our bodies may be different, unique, and amazing. Teeny-tiny mini-moo Kitty-corns will read with you Silly-willy hardy-hars Let’s all look at body parts REV...

#MMGM: Author Interview & Book Review: Kaya of the Ocean by Gloria L. Huang

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  KAYA OF THE OCEAN by Gloria L. Huang Holiday House, 2025 ISBN: 9780823457885 Source: eARC from Beth Parker PR Ages 9-12 Middle grade fantasy/speculative fiction Book cover, author photo, and interview provided through Beth Parker PR. ABOUT THE BOOK On the surface, thirteen-year-old Kaya leads a charmed life. She lives in beautiful, beachy Lihiwai. She has ride-or-die best friends. She’s ultrasmart and killing it at school. She even works with a super-cute boy at her parents’ restaurant. But she also has anxiety—serious anxiety, the kind that makes you scratch and pick—and she’s always had bad luck around the ocean. It’s hard to enjoy Hawaiian beaches when you’ve almost drowned more than once. But as stranger and stranger things happen to Kaya around the sea, she realizes that—wanted or not—she has a special connection to it. Waves rise when she’s angry. Surf smooths when she’s calm. Fish come when she calls them. And when she learns the truth about her family and her divine ...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: Forts by Katie Venit & Kenard Pak

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  FORTS written by Katie Venit, illustrated by Kendard Pak Viking, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-593-46615-5 Source: Penguin Random House for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A lyrical ode to all the secret spaces in our world. The world is filled with forts. Tiny worlds within this world, safe as coat pockets. Everyone needs a room of their own. A place to hide and play, ponder and dream. Whether it’s a tree house in the backyard or a blanket fort inside, a fort is a magical place filled with imagination and wonder. Debut author Katie Venit and celebrated illustrator Kenard Pak have crafted a lyrical celebration of the secret spaces we hold so dear. Forts encourages readers to explore the world around them to find the perfect place where they belong. REVIEW In this poem about the importance of having our own space, the author highlights forts of all kinds. Inside, outside, tents or tre...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: All the Hulk Feels by Dan Santat

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  ALL THE HULK FEELS A Mighty Marvel Comics Picture Book written & illustrated by Dan Santat Abrams Fanfare, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-4197-7613-7 Source: Abrams for review Ages 5-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK In this graphic novel picture book from Marvel and Caldecott Medal–winning author Dan Santat, Bruce Banner and the Incredible Hulk work together to wrangle their super-sized emotions. Sequential illustration panels combine with traditional picture book elements to create a dazzling new reading experience for budding Marvel fans—and a perfect introduction to comics for the youngest readers. When scientist Bruce Banner starts to feel his emotions getting out of hand, he transforms into his alter ego, the Incredible Hulk! Usually, Hulk is ready to use his anger to smash supervillains, but when everyday moments like pickles on a burger (yuck!) begin triggering Bruce’s transformation...

WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY: Talking Rocks and Minerals by Paige Towler & Matthew Carlson

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  TALKING ROCKS AND MINERALS: Fact-Packed Guide to Geology written by Paige Towler, illustrated by Matthew Carlson Grosset & Dunlap, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-593-89095-0 Source: Penguin Random House for review Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK For fans of Ricky, the Rock That Couldn’t Roll comes a delightful nonfiction picture book told from the perspective of rocks—offering a fun and informative view of geology, straight from the source. Let’s talk rocks. No, let’s let rocks talk! Pebble the Rock Reporter is ready to interview a whole host of rocks and minerals to get the scoop on the fundamentals of geology. Rocks and minerals have lots to tell us, and they are ready for their close-up! Explaining how different rocks and gemstones form from minerals, this quirky nonfiction picture book is full of fun facts and puns galore—a great gift for any young rock collector or rock lover...

GRAPHIC NOVEL: Iron Man: Something Strange! by Dean Hale & Douglas Holgate

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  IRON MAN : SOMETHING STRANGE! A Mighty Marvel Team-Up #1 written by Dean Hale, illustrated Douglas Holgate Abrams Fanfare, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-4197-7459-1 Source: publisher for review! Ages 8-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Iron Man must team up with Doctor Strange to outsmart an otherworldly force that threatens New York City in this new Mighty Marvel Team-Up series! There’s chaos at Avengers Tower! When the communications system goes down at the tower, technical genius and super hero Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, thinks there will be a quick and easy solution. But when Iron Man learns that the root of the problem is the arrival of the otherworldly creature Gargantos and it’s missing children that are loose across New York City, Iron Man quickly finds that he’s out of his depth. Luckily for him, mystical expert Doctor Strange arrives to team up with Iron Man and save the day! The tw...

WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY: Ray: How Light Works by Emily Kate Moon

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RAY: How Light Works A Science Pals Book written & illustrated by Emily Kate Moon Dial Books for Young Readers, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-593-85798-4 Source: Penguin Young Readers for review Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK The Science Pals series introduces the dazzling Ray, revealing how light works—from the creator of An Adventure through the Water Cycle and All About Air Meet Ray. He's light! And he's been shining since time began. Wherever there's life on Earth, there's Ray, helping everything under the sun thrive. And Ray can really move—fast. Have you ever hurtled through space? Become a rainbow? Made food for plants? Ray has! With brilliant wit and sparkling one-liners, Ray introduces readers to a light show like no other. Filled with awe-inspiring artwork, funny asides, and a spotlight on kid-enticing facts, Ray invites us to bask in his warmth, as he illumina...