Yoshi and the Ocean : A Sea Turtle's Incredible Journey Home by Lindsay Moore

Yoshi and the Ocean: A Sea Turtle's Journey Home by Lindsay Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Moore's nonfiction children's picture book with beautiful paintings of Yoshi's life as a sea turtle with a damaged shell was filled with facts and heart. The story and all the important back of the book facts, and details of Yoshi's journey, a loggerhead compendium filled with pictures and facts on 4 pages, and sea turtle facts and resources will mesmerize all readers! A must read!

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Honor by Thrity Umrigar

Honor by Thrity Umrigar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG what a great book! I wanted to stop listening ( narration was spectacular by Sneha Mathan) to the horror that was Meena's life before and after she marries Abdul who is Muslim to her Hindu. She is attacked by her own brothers, her husband is murdered and burned and Meena is burned and beaten. Smita is a journalist who thinks she is going to help and stay with her journalist friend, Shannon, while she recuperates from surgery. Instead what she learns is that her friend wants her to take over the story of Meena, interview the brothers and village elder, and any witnesses. Smita is accompanied by Mohan as she navigates the story and as she hides a secret Mohan makes her question many things she believed in her life. I loved/hated this story because Thrity Umrigar speaks the truth about what is still continuing to happen in India in small villages that believe tradition dictates burnings, buying off officials and villagers. I was riveted and will continue to be haunted by this book- it is a MUST READ!

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Honeybee Rescue: A Backyard Drama by Loree Griffin Burns & Photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz

Honeybee Rescue: A Backyard Drama by Loree Griffin Burns
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great book- my granddaughter and I read this nonfiction children's picture book and loved the story, the authentic, beautiful photographs about how important honeybees are and the 2 men who rescue a colony of honeybees and relocate them with a soft vaccuum!!! We were captivated by this "drama" story, we learned so much about honeybees and their honeycomb from one day where they made a new home in a rickety old barn. When the owner realizes this he calls an expert and explains his problem. The reader will love and learn so much about this story as well as the resources at the end of the book "An Interview With Mr. Jon Nelson, Bee Rescuer", Glossary, Author's Note, Sources, Further Reading & Acknowledgments.

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Odder by Katherine Applegate

Odder by Katherine Applegate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Odder is a sea otter who is attacked and injured by a shark landing her in the arms of humans in the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Based on a true story of a program that helps injured sea otters become prepared for their life back in the wild ocean. I loved this novel in verse which beautifully tells a story while giving facts the reader will remember forever --the shark - "he's even lost a few teeth, not that it matters. They pop anew unbidden." The reader meets Odder and falls in love with her friends like Kairi, and the humans who help her; the reader feels the water, the food, life in the ocean and the aquarium in the spare, realistic words. I highly recommend this book to all readers!

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A Light in the Flame (Flesh and Fire, #2) by Jennifer L Armentrout

A Light in the Flame by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This 2nd in the Flesh and Fire series was scorching hot! I fell in love with Nyktos & Sera AGAIN as they navigate their friendship, their passion (Nyktos can't love) and their staunch support of each other and their kingdom(s) as this fantasy unfolds. As always, the characters, the plot, and the setting had me turning those pages, I can't wait for the 3rd book! Highly recommended!

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All My Rage by Sabaa

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a haunting must read! I could not stop listening to narrators Deepti Gupta, Kamran R. Khan, and Kausar Mohammed as the tale of 2 teens who have grown up together and life comes crashing down when Misbah, Sal's mother dies, his father is drinking, and secrets Sal is keeping from Noor break them apart. The racism, the abuse, and secrecy were so profound and sinister, that the regret the characters suffer is just so sad. A must read for all!

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Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Marlene and her aunt Tia and friend Camila; together they all help Marlene break the news to her mother that she detests going to the hair salon and having her her straightened (and everything else involved in the hours she spends there 1 day a week). This graphic novel will surely inspire girls that have problems expressing to their parents their misery over "hair" which is either good or bad and must be conquered! I cheered for Marlene and you will too!

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Bear Has a Belly by Jane Whittingham

Bear Has a Belly by Jane Whittingham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From a blog post, this Jane Whittingham book is perfect for my animal loving grandson, and the pictures, photographs of the many different animals AND children each with a different body part highlighted. With activities detailed at the end, this book is perfect for little minds, hands and eyes, the pages are heavy but not board book material, they will stand up to the sometimes rough little hands turning those pages! Highly recommended!

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Animals Move by Jane Whittingham

Animals Move by Jane Whittingham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Including all kinds of animals - pets, farm animals and wild animals, Jane Whittingham gives beautiful photographs on heavy sturdy pages with the many things kids do and animals do such as a little girl is swimming underwater with a corresponding photograph on the right with a baby whale---CALVES SWIM, Children and adults will learn the FUN Baby animal names from the familiar to the strange (echnidas are spiny anteaters, did you know that? their babies are PUGGLES). So take your time and enjoy the many different animal babies rhyming with the way children MOVE. Highly recommended!


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a bear, a bee, and a honey tree

A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree by Daniel Bernstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From a blog post I can't remember this book struck me as a book my K granddaughter would love with all the word, word play, and antics of the bee and bear trying for the honey high up in a tree. I am also going to enjoy this with my grandson who will be 2 years old. With great illustrations by Brandon James Scott, Daniel Bernstrom deliver s a delightful book of the bear and bee fighting over the honey, who will be the winner? Excellent picture book will appeal to all younger children and their parents!

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A Letter From Your Teacher On the Last Day of School by Shannon Olsen & illustrated by Sandie Sonke

A Letter From Your Teacher: On the Last Day of School by Shannon Olsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a great read and this will be a present my K granddaughter and her mom, a K teacher will love celebrating a wonderful school year on the last day of school. With beautiful illustrations (by Sandie Sonke) the rhyming text by Shannon Olsen had me turning the pages, enjoying each and every high and low of the students as they become very special students and friends, ready for the next year of a new teacher and making new memories. Excellent for students, teachers & parents!

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Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This audiobook narrated by Julia Whelan was a gem! No wonder it was voted the Goodreads 2022 Best Romance, but this book was more than a romance. Involving family dynamics between 2 sisters who grieve for their dead mother. Nora is a shark like protagonist, hard working in the book business as a hard driving book agent and younger sister, Libby, pregnant with 2 children. Libby urges Nora to take a 3 week vacation with her to a surprise destination & she grudgingly goes because Nora has sensed losing a little bit of Libby. Surprise surprise when she takes Nora to the setting for one of her romance author's books! There is so much good going on in this book, with hunky guys, the outdoors, THEIR LIST, and running into grumpy Charlie, who Nora worked for in NY. And from there it just gets better and better. I enjoyed the plot, the setting and the many characters seen through Nora's shark eyes. And it is so nice to listen to Julia Whelan as the shark becomes embroiled in small town histrionics & Charlie. A must read!!!

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If the Shoe Fits (Meant to Be, #1) by Julie Murphy

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this new book in a Julie Murphy series, a modern take on the Cinderella story. Cindy is on a plane to visit her stepmother (famous reality queen of modern dating shows), step sisters and triplets. She meets Henry (Prince Charming) on the plane has a great conversation and there it ends --- until Cindy decides to join her stepsisters and enter a dating game show and low & behold the SUITOR is Henry. I loved the story (but I did not like the intense scenes on the dating shows and between the contestants) and root for Cindy and Henry and enjoyed the many plot twists. I really liked so many of the characters (except nasty Allison) and learning about textiles and design. The emphasis on family and friends was nice and authentic. I can't wait to read the 2nd book in the series!

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The Winners (Beartown, #3) by Fredrick Backman

The Winners by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great 3rd book in the series of Beartown hockey. There were more great characters introduced, the rivalry still between the teams in Hed & Beartown, and there are things afoot, deaths, violence, bullying and family relationships explored and friendships celebrated.

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