Bloom by Kevin Panetta & Savanna Ganucheau (YA Contemporary Romance Graphic Novel Review)

Bloom
Written by Kevin Panetta
Illustrated by Savannah Ganucheau
Published by First Second
on January 29. 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Graphic Novel
Length: 368 pages
Ages: 14 - 18 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Though he loved working there as a kid, Ari cannot fathom a life wasting away over rising dough and hot ovens. But while interviewing candidates for his replacement, Ari meets Hector, an easy going guy who loves baking as much as Ari wants to escape it. As they become closer over batches of bread, love is ready to bloom... that is, if Ari doesn't ruin everything. 

Writer Kevin Panetta and artist Savanna Ganucheau concoct a delicious recipe of intricately illustrated baking scenes and blushing young love, in which the choices we make can have terrible consequences, but the people who love us can help us grow. 


My Thoughts:

Ari wants nothing more than to escape his hometown by moving to the city to rent an apartment with the other members of his band, but his parents, who own and run a bakery, need him to stay and help out. Ari compromises with finding a replacement. 
Hector is taking a break from culinary school to sort through his grief when he applies for the bakery job. 
As Ari shows Hector the ropes, a beautiful friendship is born. A friendship that blooms into something more. 

This is a super sweet little lgbtqia+ love story that I can't help but compare to Nick & Charlie from Alice Oseman's Heartstopper series. Ari and Hector are such kind and wholesome characters that come into each others' lives at just the right time to help get through their hardships. There's a lot of character growth and little life lessons that make this perfect for young adults. 

This is much more of a summer read than anything but I had to wait a few months on hold but it was worth the wait. 

Follow

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper & Carson Ellis (Children's Picture Book Review)

The Shortest Day
Written by Susan Cooper
 Illustrations by Carson Ellis
Published by Candlewick Press
on October 22, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Seasons
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
In this seasonal treasure, Newbery Medalist Susan Cooper's beloved poem heralds the winter solstice, illuminated by Caldecott Honoree Carson Ellis's strikingly resonant illustrations. 

So the shortest day came, 
and the year died...

As the sun sets on the shortest day of the year, early people would gather to prepare for the long night ahead. They built fires and lit candles. They played music, bringing their own light to the darkness while wondering if the sun would ever rise again. 
Written for a theatrical production that has become a ritual in itself, Susan Cooper's poem "The Shortest Day" captures the magic behind the returning of the light, the yearning for traditions that connect us with generations that have gone before -- and the hope for peace that we carry into the future. 


Our Thoughts:

Welcome, Yule! 

  Celebrate the winter solstice and the Yuletide season with this fantastic picture book version of Susan Cooper's poem, "The Shortest Day." 

Paying homage to our ancestors and other people of the past, The Shortest Day shares the traditions of celebrating the sun that have endured through the ages, such as lighting candles in the trees and decorating with evergreens or keeping a roaring fire throughout the night and greeting the rising sun.

What better way to celebrate the first day of winter and the rebirth of life than to welcome the sun?! I love the simplicity of celebrating and welcoming the seasons with traditions of old and also love that so many of them overlap other religions/spiritualities so that no matter what you celebrate, there's something festive to look forward to for us all. 

I'll admit that I've yet to see a theatrical production of "The Shortest Day" but it sounds absolutely delightful! 


Do you celebrate the first day of winter?

Follow

Dasher by Matt Tavares (Children's Holiday Picture Book Review)

 

Dasher
by Matt Tavares
Published by Candlewick Press
on September 10, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Holidays
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
From the celebrated creator of Red and Lulu comes the story of a brave little doe who meets Santa and changes Christmas forever. 

Dasher is an adventurous young reindeer with a wish in her heart. She spends her days with her family under the hot sun in a traveling circus, but she longs for a different life--one where there is snow beneath her hooves and the North Star above her head. One day, when the opportunity arises, Dasher seizes her destiny and takes off in pursuit of the life she wants to live. It's not long before she meets a nice man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh--a man named Santa. And soon, with the help of a powerful Christmas wish, nothing will be the same. 


Our Thoughts:

Dasher is a beautifully illustrated tale of one of Santa's reindeer and how she went from pulling wagons in a traveling circus to pulling Santa's sleigh!

Dasher was born into a traveling circus and menagerie with her reindeer family and was told stories of the North Star and the cool, snowy winter as she grew so when faced with a chance to escape, Dasher seizes it and heads north where she meets a man in a red suit and an old horse named Silverbell that is trying to deliver toys to children but is stuck in the snow. Can Dasher help the joyful man? And will her Christmas wish come true?

This potential classic is perfect for the Christmas holiday season and shows us a new side to one of our most beloved but often overlooked characters. 

The illustrations and framed text have a very classic style that reminds me of greats like The Night Before Christmas and The Polar Express and will make this a family favorite for years to come! 

Follow

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart (MG Contemporary Book Review)

 I won a paperback copy of this book from the publisher via Goodreads Giveaways. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
by Dan Gemeinhart
Published by Henry Holt & Company
on January 8, 2020
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary
Length: 344 pages
Ages: 9 - 12 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Five years. That's how long Coyote and her dad, Rodeo have lived on the road in an old school bus, crisscrossing the nation. It's also how long ago Coyote lost her mom and two sisters in a car crash. 

Coyote hasn't been home in all that time, but when she learns the park in her old neighborhood is being demolished--the very same park where she, her mom, and her sisters buried a treasured memory box--she devises an elaborate plan to get her dad to drive 3,600 miles back to Washington state in four days... without him realizing it. 


My Thoughts:

Coyote Sunrise and her dad, Rodeo, have been living on a bus for the past five years, traveling wherever their hearts desire, but one day Coyote gets word that a very special park in her home town is being torn down and must find a way back across the country to Washington to save something incredibly important before that happens. With only a few days left to convince her dad to return to a place he has no intention of going to, Coyote recruits a band of hitchhiking friends to help along the way.

This is essentially a road trip story that goes from Florida to Washington but is also about loss, grief, friendships, and parent/child relationships, all while being an incredibly positive and uplifting read that is full of life lessons. 

Coyote is only twelve years old but she has been dealt a devastatingly difficult hand and has learned a lot from her travels across the country with Rodeo and uses those street smarts and Rodeo know-how to secretly get across the country in just a few days. 

This book had a little of everything I'd want from a great middle grade. Adventure, a secret plot, high stakes, a budding friendship, and a bit of emotional turmoil to really round it out. Plus, literature references!

I definitely recommend this and think it would make a fantastic summer read! 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lazy Day Lit (@lazydaylit)

Follow

I Was Their American Dream by Malaka Ghabir (Graphic Memoir)

 

I Was Their American Dream
A Graphic Novel
by Malaka Gharib
Published by Clarkson Potter Publishers
on April 30, 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel, Memoir
Length: 160 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
One part Mari Andrew, one part Marjane Satrapi, I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir is a triumphant tale of self-discovery, a celebration of a family's rich heritage, and a love letter to American immigrant freedom. Malaka Gharib's illustrations come alive with teenage antics and earnest questions about identity and culture, while providing thoughtful insight into the lives of modern immigrants and the generation of millennial children they raised. 


My Thoughts:

Malaka Gharib gives an insightful look into her life growing up as an Egyptian-Filipino-American in California with parents that had differing backgrounds, religions, and dreams for their lives. Malaka juggles her parents' differing religions (her mother is Catholic and her father is Muslim) as well as her cultural heritage (Filipino and Egyptian) but also the American 'dream' and culture that she grew up with as a first-generation American. 

Malaka tells her coming-of-age story in a bold red, white, and blue color scheme that really ties in with the title of the book as well as the content. The illustrations are a little juvenile, or unproportionate, and the artist in me isn't always thrilled with this style but I do love that the style is consistent. There's also a lot of neat extras that remind me of zines, and this author/illustrator mentions in this memoir that she created zines in her youth and is the founder of The Runcible Spoon food zine, so I expect that is why they included such neat formatting for a comic/graphic novel-style memoir. 

I can't find any age recommendations for this online but personally think it is fine for young readers. There's no inflammatory language or mentions of sex or drugs (maybe a little rock-and-roll). 

Follow

Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman (Adult Graphic Novel Review)

Snow, Glass, Apples
Written by Neil Gaiman
Adapted by Colleen Duran
Published by Dark Horse Comics
on August 20, 2019
Genre: Adult, Horror,
Fairytale Retelling, Graphic Novel
Length: 64 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
A chilling fantasy retelling of the Snow White fairy tale by New York Times bestselling creators Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran!

A not-so-evil queen is terrified of her monstrous stepdaughter and determined to repel this creature and save her kingdom from a world where happy endings aren't so happily ever after.


My Thoughts:

This is an absolutely fantastic graphic novel adaptation of Neil Gaiman's dark horror retelling of Snow White! 

The illustrations are stunning. I loved the unique layering of scenes and sequences and the sheer amount of detail on every single page. They all have a wonderfully dark, surreal quality that fits the macabre quality of the story.

The story is rather fascinating, despite that the tale of Snow White is well known. Gaiman turned this classic fairytale on its head, switching where our sympathies lie and turning this into a truly dark and horrific but unique tale that I've yet to see in any retelling. 

Content Warnings include nudity and somewhat pornographic images (breasts, bums, and some obviously sexual poses) and very dark and unpleasant themes such as necrophilia, gore, death, and dun-dun-dun... menstrual blood? 
This is for adults. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lazy Day Lit (@lazydaylit)

Follow

Mouse's Night Before Christmas by Tracey Corderoy (Children's Picture Book Review)

 

Mouse's Night Before Christmas
by Tracey Corderoy
Published by Nosy Crow Ltd
on October 13, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 2 - 5 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
It's Christmas Eve, and everyone is fast asleep except for a lonely mouse that lives in the grandfather clock. When Santa arrives, lost in a blizzard and called by Mouse's wish, it's Mouse who is there to show Santa the way. 

Our Thoughts:

This adorably illustrated picture book has many similarities to the classic  'Twas the Night Before Christmas' rhyme, but this gorgeously illustrated picture book but looks a little closer into the well-known story, at the mouse that lives at the bottom of the grandfather clock. This cute little mouse has a special Christmas wish and when Santa loses his way, Mouse knows just how to help!  

This is a sweet little Christmas Eve story with lovely illustrations that takes us on an adventure with Santa and has a heartwarming ending!

Follow

The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (Monsterstreet #1) by J.H. Reynolds (MG Book Review)

 

 

The Boy Who Cried Werewolf

 

[Monsterstreet #1]

by J.H. Reynolds

The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
[Monsterstreet #1]
by J.H. Reynolds
Published by Kathering Tegan Books

on July 2, 2019
Genre: Children's / MG, Horror
Length: 176 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:

The Monsterstreet series kicks off with this chilling tale about a boy who discovers his father was killed by a legendary werewolf. 

My Thoughts:

Max's mom takes him to stay with the grandparents he hasn't seen since his father died when he was a baby. They promise they have a surprise for him on his last day there, but in the meantime, they warn him to stay out of the forest and to avoid all of the neighbors. But after a daring dog rescue that leads him into the forest, he soon learns that there is more to the story about his father's death than he was told! 

This is a really fun first book to the Monsterstreet series! 
We get a clear idea of what we are going into thanks to the cover art by Chris Finoglio but are met with a mystery that only starts to unravel once Max sets foot in the forbidden forest. 

I was absolutely expecting something similar to Goosebumps when I went into this but was pleasantly surprised by the new twist on a classic horror trope. It's a quick read but a lot of fun with a very mysterious setting and plot. 

I really enjoyed reading this during the 'Spooky Season' before Halloween! I absolutely recommend this to young readers that enjoy monsters, mystery, and / or spooky reads! 

Follow

The Wolf Wants In by Laura McHugh (Adult Mystery Thriller Book Review)

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Goodreads Giveaways. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

The Wolf Wants In

by Laura McHugh

Published by Spiegel & Grau 

(Penguin Random House)

on August 6, 2019

Genre: Adult, Mystery, Thriller

Length: 272 pages

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:

In a small town ravaged by the opioid crisis, a woman confronts a dark secret about her brother's shocking death--a gripping novel of suspense for fans of  Sharp Objects and S-Town. 

Like Laura McHugh's previous award-winning thrillers, The Weight of Blood and Arrowood, The Wolf Wants In is an atmospheric, beautifully told novel that barrels toward a twisting, chilling end and keeps up turning the page to find out how these small-town secrets will unravel--and who will survive.


My Thoughts:

Sadie's brother, Shane, dies of what is waved off as a heart attack but his wife of one year, Crystle--a hard woman from the least-liked family in town--is quick to dispose of his every possession within a month of his death. Sadie is suspicious so she delves into the details of her brother's adult life while repairing a fractured friendship with an old friend whose missing daughter's bones were recently found in the woods nearby, not far from her father's, who was the main suspect in her kidnapping. When Crystle let's slip that Shane might have had something to do with it, Sadie is determined to figure out the truth. Meanwhile, the second MC, Henley, a teenage cousin of Crystle's, ends up entangled in the plot as she tries to escape her dead-end small town.

I don't read a lot of mystery thrillers, and especially not contemporary ones like this, but I'm always branching out and trying new things and I've been gravitating towards books like this a lot more recently. I was quickly caught up in Sadie's search for the truth about her brother and the unfolding story of the Petits and all the connections that come to light. Crystle's callousness towards her deceased husband and the typical drug-ridden small-town family secrets really had me hooked. 

I did think it was more mystery than thriller until the end and that it leaned heavily on the second pov for that suspense, but I still enjoyed it. 

Follow

River by Elisha Cooper (Children's Picture Book Review)

River
Written & Illustrated by Elisha Cooper

Published by Orchard Books

on October 1, 2019  
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Nature
Length: 42 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Caldecott Honor winner Elisha Cooper invites readers to grab their oars and board a canoe down a river exploration filled with adventure and beauty.
In Cooper's flowing prose and stunning watercolor scenes, readers can follow a traveler's trek down the Hudson River as she and her canoe explore the wildlife, flora and fauna, and urban landscape at the river's edge. Through perilous weather and river rushes, the canoe and her captain survive and maneuver their way down the river back home.

River is an outstanding introduction to seeing the world through the eyes of a young explorer and a great picture book for the STEAM curriculum.

Our Thoughts:

Come journey along on a river adventure!

This gorgeously illustrated and descriptive picture book chronicles one woman's solo canoe trip down the Hudson River, all the way to New York City Harbor.  It is a long trip that will take many days and nights and has many ups and downs. The narrator tells us what the woman has brought with her, what she sees on her journey, and the ins and outs of traveling such a long distance down a river.

This is an informative read with lengthy but beautifully descriptive prose that we found to be quite calming. The illustrations capture the beauty of the mountains, forests, towns, and cities she sees along her journey.

 If you've ever wanted to know what a long canoe trip downriver was like, this is the book to read! It's perfect for outdoorsy types or anyone who prefers an adventure from home, especially during these uncertain times! 

Follow

The Falcon's Feather (Explorer Academy #2) by Trudi Trueitt (MG Adventure Book Review)

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

The Falcon's Feather
(Explorer Academy #2)
by Trudi Trueitt
Published by Under the Stars
on March 19, 2019
Genre: Middle Grade, Adventure
Length: 208 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N |
 BookDepository


Synopsis:
Cruz, Sailor, and Emmett, along with their new ally Bryndis, embark on their first globe-trotting mission aboard the ship Orion. Cruz jumps right back into school and starts using the latest technology in submersible underwater dives, but is soon reminded of the dangers of exploration when his equipment fails and he almost drowns. Determined to keep his eye on the prize, Cruz sneaks away to try to find answers but unknowingly lures his friends into bigger trouble. When a friend of Cruz's mom meets an untimely end, Cruz's luck really seems about to run out and the questions multiply. What does the message mean? Where will it lead? Who is following him? And why?

My Thoughts:

We return to 'Explorer Academy' aboard the Orion, the 'flagship of the Academy's fleet' in this excellent sequel to The Nebula Secret.
Split into teams, Cruz Coronado and his classmates continue their unique education while traveling across the globe. Cruz is determined to continue looking for the secrets his deceased mother has left for him and in the meantime, he and his team, Team Cousteau, stay busy learning, inventing things, cracking codes, and more, for grades! But the secret organization that Cruz is hiding his mother's secrets from will stop at nothing to get what they want. 

This is such an amazing series and I would expect nothing less of a National Geographic imprint! If you've ever enjoyed pouring over National Geographic magazines, educational books, or watched their documentaries, you sure to enjoy this fast-paced and adventurous middle-grade series. 

Explorer Academy accepts only the brightest and best for their unique boarding school. Kids in this school learn all about science, technology, conservation, and more, all while being physically immersed in hands-on activities and adventures that will prepare them for real-world situations. In The Falcon's Feather, Cruz gets some first-hand experience steering submersibles and diving to save the whales! 

These books are filled with fun content, learning opportunities, and lots of illustrations imposed over quality photography. There's also 'Truth Behind the Fiction' section included that explains some of the science, technology, and other advancements mentioned within this sequel!


Be sure to check out all of the books in the Explorer Academy series!

Follow

Lily's Water Woes (Wild Fairies #2) by Brandi Dougherty & Renee Kurilla (Children's Chapter Book Review)

Lily's Water Woes
(Wild Fairies #2)

Written by
Brandi Dougherty

Illustrated by
Renee Kurilla

Published by Rodale Kidson May 7, 2019

Genre: Children's, Chapter Books, Fantasy, Fairies

Length: 96 pages

Ages: 6 - 9 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Prepare your wings and listen closely: the wild fairies are now in bloom and popping up in a forest near you!

Our Thoughts:
Lily, the mermaid flower fairy, is feeling quite left out from her fairy friends' favorite activities. She can't be out of water for very long so her visits are very short, meaning she spends most of her time alone in the pond with her frog friend, Splash. She thinks her friends have forgotten her, but it turns out they have whipped together a big surprise for their water-bound friend!

'Lily's Water Woes' begins where the first book in the series, 'Daisy's Decorating Dilemma', leaves off; just after the big Blossom Bash! We were introduced to the entire cast of fairy characters and their sidekicks in the first book and this sequel continues on with the same characters so it was extra easy to identify them and follow along, but in case anyone might read these out of order, each book includes a few pages in the back that show each character with a bit about them and their favorite things!

This nature-based series is super cute with a big focus on friendship. In this sequel, Lily realizes how different she is and how that affects what she can do. Not being as able-bodied as her fairy friends takes its toll on her. Luckily she has a really great group of friends!

My daughter adores these books so far but Lily, who is a mermaid as well as a flower fairy, is her favorite! She really loves all the and colorful illustrations that are added to every spread and the fun activities at the end of the book that includes how-to-draw prompts, spot the difference games, and more!

We can't wait to get our hands on the next one!

Follow

Swan Lake by the New York City Ballet & Valeria Docampo (Children's Picture Book Review)

Swan Lake
by the New York City Ballet
Illustrated by Valeria Docampo
Published by Little Simon
on August 27, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Fairytales
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
In this stunning follow-up to the bestselling The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty, the New York City Ballet presents another timeless tale for a modern ballet lover with Swan Lake.

Our Thoughts:

Based on the New York City Ballet production of Swan Lake, this beautifully illustrated picture book will delight readers of all ages with a classic and beloved tale.

Downtrodden by his parent's demands to marry, Prince Siegfried is too sulky to join his friends on a hunting trip to use his new bow, but he later has a change of heart and sets out toward the lake late into the night. Once there, he comes across a swan that turns into a beautiful young woman. The beautiful Odette, queen of the swans, has been put under a spell by an evil sorcerer. The only way to lift the curse is for someone who has never loved before to swear his love to her and marry her. 

But the sorcerer, von Rothbart, has other plans!

True to the original, this story does not have the happiest of endings. It's honestly a bit heartbreaking and tragic and my own daughter was a little disappointed when it didn't turn out like the children's animated film, 'The Swan Princess'. But it's a lovely story nonetheless, with beautiful illustrations that emulates the actual ballet performance, including costumes and choreography.

Follow

Star Wars: The Galaxy Needs You by Caitlin Kennedy & Eda Kaban (Children's Picture Book Review)

Star Wars:
The Rise of Skywalker:
The Galaxy Needs You
Written by Caitlin Kennedy

Illustrated by Eda Kaban

Published by Disney LucasFilm Press

on December 17, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 48 pages
Ages: 5 - 8 years


Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository


Synopsis:

Have you ever stopped to think about how there is nobody else in the galaxy who is exactly like you? This empowering picture book celebrates young heroes-in-the-making and features illustrations that follow Rey on her own hero's journey.


Our Thoughts:

This inspirational Star Wars based picture book encourages self-worth and empowerment with positive messages paired with illustrations of Rey, the female Jedi introduced in the Star Wars: The Force Awakens film.

The soft, friendly illustrations portray bits of Rey's story from the films while the text reminds the reader that no one in the galaxy quite like you.  No one is smart in the way you're smart, or curious in the way you are curious, or kind in the way you are kind.  That the galaxy needs you.

This wonderful book has a beautiful message that every human should know--that they are worthy--and would be a wonderful gift or addition to any child's library whether or not they are Star Wars fans!

Follow

Even More Lesser Spotted Animals by Martin Brown (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

Even More Lesser Spotted Animals
(Lesser Spotted Animals #2)
by Martin Brown
Published by David Fickling Books
on July 30, 2019
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction, Picture Books
Length: 56 pages
Ages: 7 - 10 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N |
BookDepository

Synopsis:
Just as Lesser Spotted Animals showed you some of the wonderfully WOW wildlife we never get to see, the next book of the lesser-known animal kingdom reveals the stories of even more of the world's unseen and unsung creatures. No king-of-the-jungle, fancy pants, hair necked lions here --we've got the magnificent maned wolf instead. No blue whales either, we've got beaked whales --and lorises and dingisos and dibatags and many, many more. 

Our Thoughts:

This fun and educational picture book shares some of the lesser-known animals in the world, from the tamandua to the mountain tapir, with fun information about where they live, what they eat, what animals they most resemble, and more!

Did you know there's a teddy-bear/kangaroo that lives in Australia and jump or fall out of thirty-foot trees without getting hurt? How about a deer that can leap up into tree branches to hang out? 

Even More Lesser Spotted Animals delves into the details of some animals that you probably haven't even heard of, let alone seen! With cute but realistic animal illustrations, lots of fun facts, and thought bubbles that give the animals a little bit of personality, you are bound to learn something new and interesting!

More like this:

Forgotten Beasts by Matt Sewell
Don't Let Them Disappear! by Chelsea Clinton

Follow

Summer Green to Autumn Gold by Mia Posada (Children's Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

Summer Green to Autumn Gold:
Uncovering Leaves' Hidden Colors
by Mia Posada
Published by
 Millbrook Press
on August 6, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Seasons
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 8 - 9 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository


Synopsis:
This nonfiction picture book, written and illustrated by Mia Posada, beautifully explains why leaves change color in fall. It highlights both the eye-catching colors of the season and the science behind the colors.


Our Thoughts:
This nonfiction picture book is fantastic!

Summer Green to Autumn Gold artfully delves into the life cycle of trees and how they get their bold and beautiful colors, weaving science and story to make a fun and educational picture book that is perfect for nature lovers and curious little ones.

There's much to learn about trees and their leaves from this fun book. It shows us a leaf's cells, which are full of chloroplasts that are full of chlorophyll. It shares how leaves get their food and water to grow. And more specifically, it shares how leaves have pigments hiding behind the green chlorophyll that emerge when the seasons change, making this a great seasonal read as well! It also doesn't just stick to basic colors! It shares that the leaves change 'from emerald to jade to every shade in-between' and more!

I absolutely loved the bright and colorful artwork in this book. Each spread is made up of paper collages and cut-outs using paper mache to give the images and close-ups of the leaves lots of texture and depth. I love that each leaf is labeled so you can learn what tree it is from.

There is extra information about different types of leaves, pigments, and more, as well as a glossary and links to hands-on experiments that you can do with leaves and pigments!

Follow

Deeplight by Frances Hardinge (Young Adult Fantasy Book Review)

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

Deeplight
by Frances Hardinge
Published by Amulet Books
on April 14, 2020
(first published October 2019)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Ages: 14 - 18 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Literary Awards:
British Science Fiction Association Award Nominee for Best Artwork (2019)
Lodestar Award Nominee (2020)

Synopsis:
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea meets Frankenstein in Frances Hardinge's latest fantasy adventure.

The Gods are dead. Decades ago, they turned on one another and tore each other apart. Nobody knows why But are they really gone forever? When 10-year-old Hark finds the still-beating heart of a terrifying deity, he risks everything to keep it out of the hands of smugglers, military scientists, and a secret fanatical cult so that he can use it to save the life of his best friend, Jelt. But with the heart, Jelt gradually and eerily transforms. How long should Hark stay loyal to his friend when he's becoming a monster--and what is Hark willing to sacrifice to save him?

My Thoughts:

Hark and his best friend Jelt are fellow orphans that grew up in a busy island chain called Myriad, where the gods that once ruled the land have been destroyed and sunk into the sea. Both Hark and Jelt have survived any and every way they can, but when Jelt pulls Hark into a dangerous job that ends him landed in indentured servitude, he learns an important lesson about trusting others and friendships that go too far.

Deeplight is rich with detail and description and has great worldbuilding that includes a culture of ancient gods, magical artifacts, and the underwater scavengers that hunt for them. There's a lot of great character growth as well as a focus on friendship and toxic relationships.

I really got some Lies of Locke Lamora and Six of Crows vibes from this right off the bat. Hark and Jelt grew up learning to take care of themselves and how to easily earn extra coin in the meantime. When Hark is captured and sold off to the highest bidder, it is his ability to lie and draw the crowd in with a good story that saves his life and he ends up as a trusted indentured servant to someone who helps him learn new skills and hone his old ones.

This was enjoyable but it took me a couple of tries to really get into the story (although I will say that is mostly on me and my inability to concentrate on bigger books during the pandemic). There's a lot of extra side characters that I had a hard time keeping track of at first. I was mostly drawn in by the friendship that Hark was so eager to praise but quickly seemed like it toxic, if anything.
Once I got a hang of the setting and characters and read about the Hidden Lady, a god that dwells in the deep, I was hooked.

Follow