Book Reviews

2024 Honorable Mentions

One of the hardest parts of reviewing books is knowing you can't share all your favorites...

December 20, 2024

"Just What to Do" By Kyle Lukoff and Illustrated by Hala Tahboub

Often when a friend or loved one is grieving it’s hard to know what to do...

December 6, 2024

I See Color By Valerie Bolling & Kailei Pew and Illustrated by Laylie Frazier

One of the best parts of working in the KidLit space is seeing the writers in your community thrive...

November 22, 2024

"Tana Cooks With Care" By Stacy Wells and Maria Gabriela Gama Dos Santos

Tana is a young girl who loves to cook and learn about her Choctaw culture...

November 8, 2024

"Basil & Dahlia A Tragical Tale of Sinister Sweetness" By Joy McCullough and Illustrated by Shane Cluskey

Do you like books about orphans? Evil bakers? Eclairs? Sinister Sweetness?...

October 28, 2024

Double Feature! "Prunella" and "Millie Fleur's Poison Garden"

Welcome to my first double feature book review...

October 11, 2024

"Bunny Should Be Sleeping" By Amy Hest Illustrated by Renata Liwska

Be still my heart!...

September 27, 2024

"Cactus Queen" Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Park By Lori Alexander and Illustrated Jenn Ely

I’ve found a super cute STEAM picture book...

October 9, 2024

"The Ship in the Window" By Travis Jonker and Illustrated By Matthew Cordell

It is a fact universally known that I adore small mice...

August 31, 2024

"The Ocean Gardener" By Clara Anganuzzi

An underrated gem...

August 31, 2024

"Monti and Leo: A Newcomer in Pocketville" By Sylvie Kantorovitz

One day a newcomer named Leo comes to town and shakes things up...

July 31, 2024

"Spider in the Well" By Jess Hannigan

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 slaps...

July 31, 2024

"The Iguanodon's Horn: How Artists and Scientists Put a Dinosaur Back Together Again and Again and Again" By Sean Rubin

FINALLY I got the full method about the art in a picture book...

June 28, 2024

"If You Run Out of Words" By Felicita Sala

Time to WEEP! I know that’s not a good start to a book review...

June 28, 2024

"Sleepy Sheepy and the Sheepover" By Lucy Ruth Cummins and Illustrated by Pete Oswald

We’ve all been there. The Sleepover. Pardon! The Sheepover...

May 24, 2024

"The Three Little Tardigrades" By Sandra Fay

Once there were three little tardigrades named Colin, Gavin and Doug...

May 23, 2024

"The Truth about Triangles" By Michael Leali

There is such a plethora of good middle grade books being published right now, it can be hard to choose...

April 26, 2024

"Escargot and the Search for Spring” By Dashka Slater and Illustrated by Sydney Hanson

Some time ago a friend put a terrible curse upon my head...

April 26, 2024

"Cinderella and a Mouse Called Fred” By Deborah Hopkinson and Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

When Whitney and Brandy gave us their Cinderella masterpiece I know we were feeling blessed...

April 12, 2024

"Milkweed for Monarchs" By Christine Van Zandt Illustrated by Alejandra Barajas

Monarchs face drastic challenges to survive but there's one thing you can do to help...

March 29, 2024

"The Code Agency” By Eagle Brite

This is my first middle grade review...

March 29, 2024

"Hidden Gem" By Linda Liu

There is something so soothing about crouching down and picking out rocks to slide into your pocket...

March 29, 2024

"Mara Hears in Style" By Terri Clemmons and Illustrated by Lucy Rogers

It's my very first GIVEAWAY!

February 2, 2024

"Glitter Everywhere!: Where It Came From, Where It's Found & Where It's Going" By Chris Barton and Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

This is also my very first non fiction review...

February 2, 2024

"Good Books for Bad Children: The Genius of Ursula" By Beth Kephart and Illustrated by Chloe Bristol

I adore Ursula Nordstrom and you do too...

February 2, 2024

"The Sugar Plum Bakers: And the 12 Holiday Treats" By Pat Tanumihardja and Illustrated By Bonnie Lui

It’s the last book review of the year...

December 15, 2023

"The Christmassy Cactus" By Beth Ferry and Illustrated by A. N. Kang

Each year I pick out a special book to add to my holiday collection and read it to my cats. They love it...

December 15, 2023

"Our Dragon" By Mem Fox and Illustrated by Linda Davick

I've got my wee nephew staying here this week and he is acting...

December 15, 2023

"Mermaid and Pirate" By Tracey Baptiste and Illustrated by Leisl Adams

Mermaids are having a moment...

November 3, 2023

"The Brilliant Ms. Bangle" By Cara Devins and Illustrated by K-Fai Steele

There’s a new fashion maven in town and her name is Ms. Bangle. Oh, did I mention? She’s also...

October 20, 2023

"Dragon Cat Wins the Lottery" By Audrey Beth Stein and Illustrated By Alina Lutaeva

Do you have a super imaginative kid who wishes they could write their own bedtime story?...

October 6, 2023

"Oh No, The Aunts Are Here" By Adam Rex and illustrated by Lian Cho

I can relate to arriving on the scene and at least two of my wee charges trying to cover their ears...

September 15, 2023

"Just a Worm” By Marie Boyd

Did I pick this book out for a review because I love worms? Or because I have been waiting to brag...

September 1, 2023

"One More Jar of Jam” By Michelle Sumovich Illustrated by Gracey Zhang

Do you ever read a book and think, why didn’t I write that? One More Jar of Jam is that book for me...

August 18, 2023

"Mr. S" By Monica Arnaldo

Reader, I do not make this point lightly, but this was one of the BEST books I have read all year...

August 11, 2023

"Woo Hoo! You're Doing Great!" By Sandra Boynton

As you gaze upon this excited and encouraging chicken shouting “WOO HOO! YOU’RE DOING GREAT!” you probably aren’t thinking "Looks like a tearjerker.” But...

August 4, 2023

"A Garden in My Hands" By Meera Sriram Illustrated By Sandhya Prabhat

Ooo I love love these bright colors and swirls and designs...

July 21, 2023

"Nothing's Wrong! A Hare, a Bear, and Some Pie to Share” By Jory John Illustrated By Erin Kraan

Anders the hare has baked a beautiful pie to take on a picnic with his good buddy Jeff...

July 21, 2023

"Our Incredible Library Book (and the wonderful journeys it took)” By Caroline Crowe Illustrated By John Joseph

Pretty sure a librarian would go nuts reading this book. Like literally insane...

July 21, 2023

"Ari Arranges Everything" By Katie Vernon

Folks, we’ve got an excellent beginning sentence this week. “I’m Ari, and I have been...

June 9, 2023

"Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike" By Dashka Slater Illustrated by Laura Hughes

When I saw “Wild Blue” on the cover of this book I thought of Ralphie in A Christmas Story...

June 2, 2023

"Courage Like Kate” The True Story of a Girl Lighthouse Keeper By Anna Crowley Redding Illustrated By Emily Sutton

Do you like stories about bravery and bad weather and the sea and being awesome your whole life...

June 2, 2023

"How to Eat A Book” By Mrs. & Mr. Macleod

“Sheila sat down to eat her first book, and the strangest thing happened … The book ate her!”...

May 19, 2023

"BIG" By Vashti Harrison

BIG is a love story about loving and protecting …yourself!

May 12, 2023

This is a Story" By John Schu and Illustrated by Lauren Castillo

At my house John Schu is basically Kim Kardashian...

May 5, 2023

"Perfect Partners” By Mary Amato and Illustrated By Kashin Kheiriyeh

Cat loves purring, posing and painting. But...

May 4, 2023

"Marjory Saves the Everglades" By Sandra Neil Wallace Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon

Happy Friday everyone! I have a wonderful surprise for you...

April 26, 2023

"Twenty Questions” By Mac Barnett Illustrated By Christian Robinson

Today I’ll be changing the review format a bit...

April 14, 2023

"Agatha May and the Anglerfish” By Nora Morrison and Jessie Ann Foley Illustrated by Mika Song

Agatha May is a doodling, distracted daydreamer...

April 7, 2023

"Once Upon a Book” By Grace Lin and Kate Messner Illustrated By Grace Lin

This is a gentle book with lyrical prose and space for imagination...

March 31, 2023

"Luna Oscura” Written and Illustrated By Heidi Moreno

Surprise! It’s a cat book! Hmmm… maybe not a huge surprise. Ok how about…

March 24, 2023

"Ferdinand Cheval: The Postman Who Delivered a Palace"

Only the best of luck led me to grabbing this book...

March 24, 2023

"How to Party Like a Snail" By Naseem Hrab and Illustrated by Kelly Collier

Pretty sure no one is going to be surprised that I adored this book about a snail in jammies...

March 17, 2023

I Don't Care By Julie Fogliano and Illustrated by Caldecott Honorees Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal

Starting out with the refrain “I don’t care”, two girls share the small things that don’t matter...

March 3, 2023

"The Green Piano” By Roberta Flack with Tonya Bolden Illustrated By Hayden Goodman

It’s our last book review for Black History Month and it ends with a bang! Or a clang!...

February 24, 2023

Choosing Brave ~ How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement

This might be the first Caldecott Honor book I’ve reviewed…

February 17, 2023

"Bessie the Motorcycle Queen" by Charles R. Smith Jr. Illustrated by Charlot Kristensen

This cover had me vrooming over to check it out...

February 10, 2023

"To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights" By Angela Dalton and Illustrated by Lauren Semmer

To Boldly Go? I know that phrase. Wait, IS THAT A STAR TREK BOOK?...

February 3, 2023

"Dazzling Travis: A Story About Being Confident & Original" By Hannah Carmona and Illustrated by Brenda Figueroa

Today’s review is a bit different (and early!) because I got the opportunity to be an ambassador for ...

January 26, 2023

"The Mermaid Moon" By Briony May Smith

The Mermaid Moon is a tale (tail?) of friendship between...

January 26, 2023

Lewis Harvey Griffin-Haire

This isn’t a book review week. I feel lucky that those who read my book reviews are mostly people who care about me, personally. If it was a whole host of strangers I’m not sure I would feel comfortable sharing...

January 13, 2023

"Library Girl" HOW NANCY PEARL BECAME AMERICA'S MOST CELEBRATED LIBRARIAN By Karen Henry Clark Illustrated by Sheryl Murray

Y'all it's me! Just kidding...

January 13, 2023

"Sam's Super Seats" By Keah Brown and Illustrated by Sharee Miller

Ack! Sam’s Super Seats is just about one of the...

December 31, 2022

"The Sour Grape" By Jory John and Illustrated by Pete Oswald

Have you read The Bad Seed? No? Then get out of here. Go to...

December 16, 2022

"Too Many Pigs and One Big Bad Wolf" By Davide Cali and Illustrated by Marianna Balducci

Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. Then the wolf ate them...

December 9, 2022

"Everybody! You, Me & Us" By Elise Gravel

Everybody! Is all about empathy and seeing how...

December 3, 2022

"Five Hiding Ostriches" By Barbara Barbieri McGrath and Illustrated by Riley Samels

Five Hiding Ostriches is a cute rhyming story about five ostriches hiding from a lion! Scary!...

December 7, 2022

"Mushroom Rain" By Laura K. Zimmermann and Illustrated by Jamie Green

“Bizarre blooms with strange scents - some like bubble gum, coconut, maple syrup … others, the stench of burnt hair, rotten cabbage or animals long dead”...

November 11, 2022

"Every Dog in the Neighborhood" By Philip C. Stead and Illustrated by Matthew Cordell

This collaboration with Philip C. Stead is yet another example of two brilliant storytellers getting together and...

November 4, 2022

"Witch Hazel" by Molly Idle

Witch Hazel is a magical story that weaves intergenerational family lore through the relationship between Grandmother and ...

October 28, 2022

"So Not Ghoul" By Karen Yin and Illustrated by Bonnie Lui

Mimi is a Chinese American ghost attending her first day of school in the traditional Chinese clothing her ghost family thinks she should wear...

October 21, 2022

"Creepy Crayon!" By Aaron Reynolds and Illustrated by Peter Brown

Jasper isn’t doing well in school. He’s failing his classes and needs some serious help. Enter the purple crayon...

October 14, 2022

“Brand-New Bubbe” By Sarah Aronson Illustrated by Ariel Landy

Brand New Bubbe from Sarah Aronson and Ariel Landy is a different perspective on blended families in picture book form...

October 13, 2022

“A Spoonful of Frogs” By Casey Lyall and Illustrated by Vera Brosgol

A plucky witch is trying to cook up a delicious dish and the very last step is a spoonful of frogs. But frogs …

September 30, 2022

“Lizzy and the Cloud” By Terry Fan and Eric Fan

Lizzy and the Cloud is the first Fan Brothers book I ‘ve read even though these authors/brothers are uber popular. When I'm choosing books to review I like to go by my mood, the cover, and how the book feels in my hands. Lizzy and the Cloud has weight. The first read through is simple. In an alternate world of muted misty blue, lemony yellow, soft gray and a hint of grass green tones, lives Lizzy. One day at the park she buys a cloud from the cloud vendor...

September 23, 2022

“Dress-Up Day” By Blanca Gómez

Everyone should know I love a dress up moment, so Blanca Gómez's Dress-Up Day was always going to be my jam. A little girl is excited to wear her new bunny costume for Dress-Up Day at school, until she has to stay at home sick! Her mom encourages her to wear the costume the next day and she hops to school proudly, only to feel like maybe it wasn't such a good idea...

September 16, 2022

"All Cats Welcome" By Susin Nielsen and Illustrated by Vivian Mineker

For my first Book Review back I’m pleased to bring you, “All Cats Welcome” by Susin Nielsen and illustrated by Vivian Mineker. Leonard the cat is lonely...

September 9, 2022

"Nigel and the Moon" By Antwan Eady and llustrated by Gracey Zhang

Nigel is a boy with big dreams. Huge dreams. Maybe too many dreams? Nigel tells the moon his dreams at night and the moon keeps them safe. "Among the stars, he twirls, quietly soaring in the still of the night... Now the moon isn't the brightest body in the sky. Nigel is." During career week at school...

February 5, 2023

"Oona and the Shark" by Kelly Dipucchio and Illustrated by Raissa Figueroa

I thought it would be best to kick off summer with a lush and magical ocean book and as usual, I am right. "Oona and the Shark" is the second Oona book about a charming inventor mermaid with a huge afro...

July 23, 2022

"A Perfect Fit" by Mara Rockliff and Illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal

Lithuania-born Jewish emigrant Lena comes to America with the words of her grandfather "If she could help another person, that would be real success" as her guiding principle in the new country. After refusing an arranged marriage she finds work in a sewing sweatshop with her sister and discovers her love of fine fabrics, fashion and shiny things...

July 23, 2022

"Out On A Limb" by Jordan Morris and Illustrated by Charlie Mylie

A little girl named Lulu breaks her tibia and fibula and receives a yellow cast. At first, she has fun managing daily life with her new cast. Kids at school ask questions and she gets to recount the story over and over. But once the attention wears off, Lulu becomes despondent as her cast itches and even a visit from her Grandpa can't cheer her....

July 23, 2022

"The Library Fish" By Alyssa Satin Capucilli and Illustrated by Gladys Jose

When a fishbowl is placed on the front steps of the library with feeding and care instructions, Mr. Hughes the librarian welcomes the fish inside to become The Library Fish. This spunky fish helps check out books to patrons and travels in the bookmobile...

July 23, 2022

Howdy

Welcome to my first update! Here you will find publishing news about my process and work, my Doodles which I do when I'm supposed to be writing, and industry news/reviews of books I think you (yes I mean everyone regardless of your age) should read...

July 23, 2022

Elspeth Lorraine

Book Reviews

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Elspeth Lorraine

Book Reviews

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