May 2019 Reading Wrapup

Hello readers!

It's been a minute since I've done a monthly wrap-up.
Spring is always a busy time here, full of outdoor adventures and working in the garden, but it's starting to get hot hot hot out again so I may have more time to read (and write)! It's easier for me to update what I'm reading on bookstagram but I still love the blogging community and will try to stay active here.

I've been mostly sticking to reviews around here so here's all the newer stuff I read or posted in May!

I ended up feeling really nostalgic and then a bit heartbroken after rereading Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls last month. 

I read the new 'all-too-possible' dystopian Young Adult novel, Internment by Samira Ahmed, about a young Muslim-American and her family that are rounded up and sent to internment camps.

I read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah in the last few days of April and wow, was this an amazing 5 star read! If you enjoy WW2 historical fiction, this is a must read! 

Books I Read in May

I started and almost finished the Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo! I've put this one off for too long and now that it's being adapted by Netflix into an 8 episode series, I figured I'd give it a try. For YA, it's worth the read! 

I also read Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed which I really enjoyed and gave 5 stars; my very first Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None;
and Flush by Carl Hiaasen to cross that F off my ABC Challenge!

Children's Picture Books We Read in May

I read hundreds of picture books to my daughter monthly but here are some of the ones I took the time to review.
Wilderness, Wonders of Nature, Frida Catlo, and Who's Afraid of Little Wolf? were books I received from the publisher in exchange for reviews! 

We learned just how far a good friend would go to cheer someone up in the adorable and heartwarming Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman.

We journeyed through remote wilderness habitats in Wilderness: Earth's Amazing Habitats by Mia Cassany and beautifully illustrated by Marcos Navarro. This nonfiction picture book is stunning!

Because of Because by Mo Willems, we have a better appreciation for music and have been learning to read it as well! This book celebrates classical music and everything it takes to make a performance possible!

We were introduced to many different species of birds, insects, and fish with traditional illustrations and plenty of educational text in the beautiful giant nonfiction book, Wonders of Nature by Florence Guiraud. 

We watched on in amazement as both flora and fauna reclaimed the city in the lyrical read-aloud, The Night the Forest Came to Town by Charles Ghigna. 

We learned all about Frida Catlo (Kahlo) and her nine lives in this fun Wild Bios board book from Courtney Acampora and Maggie Fischer. The illustrations by Lindsay Dale-Scott are bright and festive and the play on words was lots of fun!

Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds reminds and urges us to speak up and use our voices in many ways, to express ourselves, to help prevent bullying, and to help stop injustices in the world.

We learned about looking past our prejudices and just having fun like children should in Who is Afraid of Little Wolf? by Yaya Kawamura. 

Thanks for the visit! I hope you all had an awesome May! Happy Reading!

Internment by Samira Ahmed (YA Book Review)

Internment

by Samira Ahmed

Published by Atom

on March 19, 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian / Contemporary

Length: 386 pages

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Synopsis:

Rebellions are built on hope. 

Set in a horrifying near-future United States, seventeen-year-old Layla Amin and her parents are forced into an internment camp for Muslim American citizens. 

With the help of newly made friends also trapped within the internment camp, her boyfriend on the outside, and an unexpected alliance, Layla begins a journey to fight for freedom, leading a revolution against the internment camps Director and his guard. 

Heart-racing and emotional, Internment challenges readers to fight complicit silence that exists in our society today. 

My Thoughts:

CW for excessive colorful language, xenophobia, and violence. 

Set in a horrifying near-future U.S., seventeen-year-old Layla Amin (a Muslim American) and her parents are forcibly detained and bused to an internment camp after the president declared a Muslim ban across the United States. There, she makes new friends, unlikely allies, and uses her right as an American to stand up against the fascist regime that imprisoned her.
"Rebellion," after all, "is as American as apple pie."

Layla, her family, and everyone else thrust into the camp are shaken to the core. The political climate in this dystopia closely mirrors our current reality in the US, making this pretty realistic and more of a cautionary tale than anything.  There's a quote on the book that says it's a "scathing indictment of the current political climate," and it does not sugar coat or shy away from pointing out what has happened in the past to Japanese-Americans, what is happening, and what could happen. Because of the inflammatory nature of this book, I wouldn't recommend it to those whose 'feathers are ruffled too easily'. 

If you do happen to read this, be sure to read the author's note as well! I think the book is 4 star quality for YA but I added a star for the author's note alone. 

Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert by Morag Hood & Ella Okstad (Picture Book Review)

Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert

by Morag Hood

Illustrated by Ella Okstad

Published by Aladdin

on November 20, 2018

Length: 32 pages

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Synopsis:

Meet the master of magical creatures: Sophie Johnson! She's an expert on unicorns...or so she thinks!

Sophie is a unicorn expert. She dresses up her toys, stuffed animals, and even her baby brother as unicorns! But living with enchanted animals can be tricky business. And Sophie is so caught up in teaching others that she fails to notice the magic right under her nose. 

This funny and fresh picture book tells the story of a unicorn hiding in plain sight and a little girl who is totally oblivious to his presence!

My Thoughts:

Sophie Johnson is a unicorn expert! In fact, she has seventeen of them! She teaches them to hunt for food and all about magic. But what Sophie doesn't realize is that a real live unicorn has slipped in amongst her homemade ones! Will she notice the magic in her midst?

The cover of this book makes it look like we're about to enter a party and it definitely has that feel to it! Plus there's a ton of color and rainbows throughout. And unicorns, of course!

It's quite a silly book but I thought it left a good little message about opening your eyes and seeing what is right before you. See the magic in the world and keep using your imagination! 

A must for every little unicorn lover!

Who is Afraid of Little Wolf? by Yayo Kawamura (Board Book Review)

I received a free physical copy of this board book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

Who's Afraid of Little Wolf?

by Yayo Kawamura
Published by Prestel Junior
on March 19, 2019
Length: 24 pages

Ages: 2-5 

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Synopsis:

This enchanting board book follows Little Wolf as he searches for someone to play with and carries a simple yet profound message about prejudice and preconceived notions. 

Little Wolf is bored, and so he asks some other animals to play. But no one wants to join him--not the squirrel, nor the bunny, nor the fox. Their parents have told them not to play with wolves. But when Little Wolf meets a bee, she is brave enough to play and the two have a great time. The other animals see there's nothing to be afraid of and decide to join in. 

Our Thoughts:

Little Wolf would like to play with the other animals, but when he asks, they tell him that they are not allowed to play with wolves. This makes Little Wolf very sad until a bee comes along and asks Little Wolf to play. The other animals notice how much fun Little Wolf and the bee are having together and ask to join in. Soon, they are all friends. 

This is a heartwarming little board book about not judging a book by its cover and looking past the prejudices we've been taught to see the good in others.

It's always sad to see a child bullied or ostracized by others, and this cute little book shows us how that can feel. Nobody wants to be left out. Sometimes, the more there are, the merrier things will be. 

More from Prestel Junior:

    

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls (Children's Book Review)

Where the Red Fern Grows

by Wilson Rawls

Published by Yearling Books

in 1961
Genre: Children's 

Length: 304 pages

Ages: 8 - 12

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Literary Awards:
North Dakota Children's Choice Awards (1981)
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (1987) 

Synopsis:

Billy, Old Dan, and Little Ann - a boy and his two dogs. 

A loving threesome, they roamed the dark hills and river bottoms of Cherokee county. Old Dan had the brawn, Little Ann had the brains, and Billy had the will to make them into the finest hunting team in the valley. Glory and victory were coming, but sadness waited too. 

My Thoughts:

Ten-year-old Billy lies awake at night listening to the coon hounds running through the foothills and wants nothing more than a pair of his own. He wants them so bad, he works hard for two years straight to save the money for them. And once he has them, there's absolutely nothing that can tear them apart. 

I came across this book secondhand last year and it kept nagging at me that I wasn't quite sure if it was a book I had read in my youth or if the cover was just familiar, or even if maybe I had seen the movie without reading the book. I finally started it and instantly knew I had read the book before, not just seen the movie. Even though it had been decades and I honestly couldn't remember a thing about it, every sentence was familiar to me and the entire read was incredibly nostalgic. I also cried my eyes out at the end and have no idea how I would forget such a heartbreaking ending.

There's so much about this book that shows it's age. It's a remnant of the past. It's funny how, as a kid, it didn't bother me that Billy spent his entire day in the woods or crossed a mountain and went into town barefoot but to think of any child doing that today is almost laughable. I always loved those sort of 'boys books' where they went off into or lived in the wilderness. This reminds me so much of books like My Side of the Mountain, Hatchet, and Rascal. 

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Say Something by Peter H. Reynolds (Picture Book Review)

Say Something
by Peter H. Reynolds
Published by Orchard Books
on February 26, 2019
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 4-8

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Synopsis:
The world needs your voice. If you have a brilliant idea... say something! If you see injustice... say something!

In this empowering new picture book, beloved author Peter H. Reynolds explores the many ways that a single voice can make a difference. Each of us, each and every day, have the chance to say something: with our actions, our words, and our voices. Perfect for kid activists everywhere, this timely story reminds readers of the undeniable importance and power of their voice. There are so many ways to tell the world who you are... what you are thinking... and what you believe. And how you'll make it better. The time is now: SAY SOMETHING!

My Thoughts:

Say Something is such a wonderful and important picture book! It's all about using your voice, speaking up, sharing your ideas, expressing yourself, and making the world a kinder and more peaceful place.

This is such a great reminder to all of the importance of speaking up for ourselves and others, speaking out about injustices, and putting meaningful and kind words out into the world. Words matter!

We loved the colorful backgrounds, all the thought bubbles, and the diverse illustrated individuals. This book has such a bright, positive vibe that it makes me want to share it with everyone I know and more! 

I also really love that this is dedicated to Emma Gonzalez; a brave young girl who used her voice to speak out about gun violence in schools.

It's a must read! 

Frida Catlo (Wild Bios) by Courtney Acampora & Maggie Fischer (Board Book Review)

We received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Frida Catlo 
(Wild Bios series)
by Courtney Acampora and Maggie Fischer
Illustrated by Lindsay Dale-Scott
Published by Silver Dolphin Books

on January 8, 2019
Length: 16 pages

Ages: 3 months to 2 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository 

Synopsis: 
Meet one of history's greatest figures in this adorable board book with an animal twist! 
Famous Meowxican painter Frida Catlo was a pioneer for female artists. She always painted from the heart, even in the face of health problems and personal struggles. With hilarious puns and colorful illustrations, this book brings Frida's legacy to life for babies and parents alike!

Our Thoughts:

This adorable little board book introduces us to infamous Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, in a fun and animalistic way. 

I love the concept of this series! It gives real information about Frida Kahlo's life, some of which probably isn't too interesting for the babies and toddlers that will have it read to them, but still important. We learn all about her home, her culture, and her hobby as well as major events in her life. 

The play on words makes this extra purrfect! There are so many and it makes it extra fun to emphasize them and see if my little one catches on to the change or not. I do think some of the words are a bit difficult to follow and would make more sense to an adult than a young reader.

I'm looking forward to reading more of the Wild Bios board books for both the reimagining of famous persons and the fun words that are included! 

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction Book Review)

The Nightingale

by Kristin Hannah

Published by St. Martin's Griffin

on October 8, 2015
Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction
Length:  564 pages (paperback)

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Literary Awards:

Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction (2015)

Audie Award for Fiction (2016)
International DUBLIN Literary Award Nominee (2017)
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best of the Best (2018)

Synopsis:

France, 1939 
In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn't believe that the Nazis will invade France... but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When France is overrun, Vianne is forced to take an enemy into her house, and suddenly her every move is watched; her life and her child's life is at constant risk. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates around her, she must make one terrible choice after another. 

Vianne's sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets the compelling and mysterious Gaetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can... completely. When he betrays her, Isabelle races headlong into danger and joins the Resistance, never looking back or giving a thought to the real--and deadly--consequences. 

My Thoughts:

This was a fantastic read. I flew through the almost 500+ pages of my oversized paperback in just a couple of days. 
It reminded me how much I love historical fiction and introduced me to an author that I'm looking forward to reading more from. 
This book also kind of destroyed me. I cried and raged, but then again, anything about the Holocaust usually has that effect on me. 

The content matter in itself is always sobering but I loved the focus on the women and what they did to survive the war, keep their families safe and fed, and help their neighbors and loved ones, even if it meant risking their own lives to help them. It was especially neat to find out that Isabelle was based on a real woman who helped downed pilots escape from France. 

I enjoyed how the strained relationships between family members played out throughout the book. There was father-daughter conflict and the sisters were not close, either, which built a lot of tension in the story. 

I'm really looking forward to the movie adaptation of this but, even though I've mentioned it in my Book to Movie Adaptations Master List, so far there is no cast and no word on if it will actually happen or how long we have to wait if it does. Still, I can see this being pretty amazing and just as heartbreaking on screen. 

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Because by Mo Williams & Amber Ren (Picture Book Review)

Because

Written by Mo Williams

Illustrated by Amber Ren

Published by Hyperion Books for Children

On March 5, 2019

Length: 40 pages

Ages: 3-5 years

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Synopsis:

Mo Willems, a number one New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, composes a powerful symphony of chance, discovery, persistence, and magic in this moving tale of a young girl's journey to center stage. Illustrator Amber Ren brings Willems' music to life, conducting a stunning picture book debut. 

My Thoughts:

This incredibly touching picture book celebrates music and how it changes lives.

Because is a chain of events that lead to a little girl hearing a classical music performance for the first time. Her life was changed because of it; because someone made beautiful music, and someone else learned to play it on an instrument, and someone else invited many musicians to play it together, and so on and so forth. 

I loved the illustrations with all the details and diverse characters.
We especially loved the pages where the orchestra starts playing and you can see and hear the music through illustration. So moving! 

The hardcover picture book includes the music sheets for "Symphony no. 8 in B-minor" by Franz Schubert and 'The Cold' by Hilary Purrington on the end pages for the musically inclined! 

More from this author:

    

Wonders of Nature: Explorations in the World of Birds, Insects, and Fish by Florence Guiraud (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

I received a free physical copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Wonders of Nature: Explorations in the World of Birds, Insects, and Fish

by Florence Guiraud
Published by Prestel Junior

on October 23, 2018
Genre: Children's Nonfiction 

Length: 93 pages

Ages: 5 - 9

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:

A stunningly illustrated treasury of animals, this book will entrance and delight young children in the world of nature.

Our Thoughts:

Wonders of Nature is an absolutely gorgeous oversized nonfiction that explores and celebrates the beauty of the world of birds, insects, and fish. It covers many different bird species, showing us their diverse feathers, claws, and other features. 
The insect section has a lovely variety of butterflies! It also has a section of ocean-dwelling fauna that includes starfish, coral, and more. Each section ends in a 'random directory' that includes text information on the illustrated species. 

The cover of this book is simply stunning and would be it's own reason to own this one, but the inside illustrations are just as beautiful and who doesn't want to learn a little something about the world around us and the flora and fauna in it? 

This book has helped spur my daughter's interest in the birds and butterflies that we see daily and we are looking forward to learning more from it!

More educational books from this publisher:

    

The Night the Forest Came to Town by Charles Ghigna (Picture Book Review)

The Night the Forest Came to Town

by Charles Ghigna

Illustrated by Annie Wilkinson

Published by Orca Book Publishers

on October 9, 2018

Length:  32 pages 

Ages:  4-8  

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:

From dusk to dawn a forest creeps into a town where the grown-ups are too distracted to notice. But the children do. They see greenery take root in the lifeless cracks of dull sidewalks. They see an eagle build her nest atop a forgotten fountain and saplings start to sprout in dark corners. A gray-drab city defined by concrete and steel, vibrations and notifications, transforms into a living garden where apartment buildings overflow with window boxes full of flowers, birds sing songs through day and night and children laugh and tend to their gardens. Watch as nature reclaims this town. 

My Thoughts:

This is a beautifully illustrated poem about a bare, brick city and how nature returned to it. Seeds found places to grow in the nooks and crannies and empty lots.  Animals and birds found places to burrow and nest. And the children noticed. 

The illustrations are of a unique style and all set in dark hues to represent the night. We loved all the plants and animals and how the children noticed it all with bright curious eyes. 

There's a very clear message within this poetic picture book telling us to set down our electronic devices, look up, and notice the world around us. To see the changes and beauty every day. 


This gorgeous picture book celebrates nature, change, and growth and is a lovely poetic read aloud. We enjoyed reading it before bedtime the most! 

Wilderness: Earth's Amazing Habitats by Mia Cassany & Marcos Navarro (Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

I received a free physical copy of this picture book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Wilderness: Earth's Amazing Habitats

by Mia Cassany

Illustrated by Marcos Navarro

Published by Prestel Junior

on March 19, 2019

Length: 40 pages

Ages: 6-9 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:

This brilliantly illustrated book takes young readers to the planet's wild regions, including forests, jungles, tundras, and deserts to discover the animals that call it home. 

My Thoughts:

Get ready for an adventure!

Wilderness is wonderfully educational and features large full-spread illustrations of colorful flora and fauna from thirteen different habitats around the world; from safeguarded national parks in Africa that help protect endangered animals from poachers to the Qinling Mountains in the middle of China where only about 250 Qinling Pandas exist today!

The habitats include many national parks and animal/nature reserves, some of which have been declared to be UNESCO World Heritage sites, meaning they will be protected for future generations.
Each page shares the name of the park or reserve with a little information on why the reserve was created. It also includes both tree or plants and animals that are unique to that habitat and part of the world. You can get lost in the beautiful imagery of this book!

Includes a world map at the front of the book and extra information on the animals of each habitat in the back.


Many thanks to the publisher for giving us the opportunity to explore more of the world with this wonderful book! We took it on a few adventures in our own little corner of the world!

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman & Jay Fleck (Picture Book Review)

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug

Written by Jonathan Stutzman

Illustrated by Jay Fleck

Published by Chronicle Books
on March 5, 2019

Length: 48 pages

Ages: 3-5 

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:

Meet Tiny, a diminutive but determined T-Rex in a big world, as he embraces all obstacles against him in his quest to learn how to hug. 

My Thoughts:

Tiny T. Rex visits his good friend, Pointy, but Pointy doesn't want to play. He's too sad. :(
Tiny T. Rex is determined to help. But how? His arms are too small for hugs!  He asks his family members for help, each giving him different advice until he comes up with a plan to practice, practice, practice and luckily discovers a way to give Pointy a hug and cheer him up! 

A heartwarming picture book about a tiny T. Rex that is determined to cheer up his friend! 

We loved the illustrations and the adorable T. Rex that is still too tiny to be anything but cute. My daughter thought it was especially fun that the dinosaurs in this story were doing regular every day human things like yoga, math, and sports.
The overall story is delightful and incredibly sweet. We loved it very much! 

More picture books featuring dinosaurs:

Happy reading!