When I first saw this one, I was like 'oh, a cute sounding YA romance'. Then, I noticed it's a middle grade read, which should head more toward humor than melting moments.  Ah, middle grade romance! My daughters hated watching the drama around them during those years. Both of them were a bit too...hmmm...in their own worlds(?) to throw a glance at any of the 'gross' guys. As a mom, it made my life easy. But the stories! The tears they told me about! The gossip wars! The revenge! (At least, on the girls' sides). And all of that within around a week's period before the couple usually brok ..read more

 Today, I have another flap book!!! Yep, these always make me smile...simple minded fun. But this book isn't really 'simple-minded'. These pages hold dinosaur goodness and promise to teach more facts about these creatures, while offering a playful, guessing-game atmosphere. Since I know a few dino enthusiasts, I'm curious to see if this is one they'd enjoy picking up. So, it's time to let that inner-paleontologist come out and see if this is dino fun or not. WHO'S THAT DINOSAUR? An Animal Guessing Game by Gabrielle Balkan Illustrated by Sam Brewster Phaidon Press Picture Book 28 page ..read more

So, I'm super late getting today's post up because I wasn't sure I'd make it to this one in time. But I sat down...and stood...getting this one read in one go to make sure I can present it. And yes, at almost 500 pages, I did need a few hours for this one. And is it worth the read? Well... OF CAGES AND CROWNS The Culled Crown, #1 by Brianna Joy Crump Wattpad Books YA Fantasy 472 pages COMING... JUNE 18th!!! Destined to compete for the throne, Monroe Benson must fight nine girls for the right to rule. If she wins, she will be crowned queen. To lose is to die. Monroe Benson is mark ..read more

One of my favorite teas is jasmine, which isn't the reason why I took a peek at this read (but it might have had a tiny bit of an influence-ish). This seems like it will be a calming read, perfect for those last moments before bedtime. The toss in of jasmine was something I hadn't seen before and promises a gentle, natural aspect. Maybe?  So, let's cozy into a blanket, stifle a growing yawn, and see if this one invites to sweet dreams. NIGHT BLOOMING JASMINE by Diane De Anda Illustrated by Kendra Binney Star Bright Books Picture Book 32 pages ages 4 to 8 COMING... JUNE 11th!!! Ja ..read more

THE DAY I FELL INTO A FAIRY TALE by Ben Miller Illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzinni Aladin Middle Grade Fantasy 240 pages ages 8 to 12 COMING... APRIL 23rd!!! From actor, author, and comedian Ben Miller comes an illustrated middle grade fantasy adventure following a brother and sister who stumble into a magical new world—perfect for fans of Half Upon a Time and Land of Stories! Lana loves stories, especially the ones she and her brother, Harrison, share in their make-believe games. But when Harrison decides he’s too grown-up to play with Lana anymore, she’s too lonely to find th ..read more

The library in the nearby, small town might be...well, not large, but modern technology and things such as library borrowing opens up an amazing wealth of literature. Once a month, I try to explore a read, which I picked up through our library.  Today's read was a suggestion I stumbled across on Twitter. This book first appeared in 2010 and won quite a bit of attention as well as awards. I found the idea of mixing an orphan, a monastery, and fey interesting, and decided to take a peek. THE CROWFIELD CURSE Crowfield Abby, #1 by Pat Walsh The Chicken House Middle Grade Fantasy 322 page ..read more

I was hoping to get to this one earlier, since it came out the beginning of this month, but time got the better of me. I have been really looking forward to this one, since it could be an amazing read for action and thriller fans. I've heard that the first one from this author in this direction was very good.  Also, now that it's out, you can dive in right away too...looking at the bright side! NO ESCAPE by Maren Stoffels Underlined Young Adult Thriller 208 pages Following the success of her unputdownable debut, Escape Room, Maren Stoffels is back with a new standalone horro ..read more

I saw today's cover and wondered how in the world this would even work. We've had goats, and they weren't as easy to care for as cattle. Plus, they ate all of my flowers whenever they escaped, and they are clever creates. I do find the cute, though. Especially from a distance. My brother and his wife have raised goats for decades, and it's fun to see them grazing and playing around on the pasture. They can do amazing things and should never be underestimated. But a tuggoat? Hmm...I'm definitely curious to see where this one goes. TUGGOAT by Kersten Hamilton Illustrated by Adriane Tsai Bea ..read more

I'm excited about today's read because it happens to come from a writer I worked with years ago. I'm so happy to seeing her works appearing, and each one looks exciting, too! This is the first in a brand new series for middle graders, which circles around Mexican legends. I curious to see where it heads, so let's dive in! WRATH OF THE RAIN GOD Legendarios, Book 1 by Karla Arenas Valenti Illustrated by Vanessa Morales Aladdin Middle Grade Fantasy 144 pages ages 8 to 12 COMING... APRIL 16th!!! Twins coping with moving to a new city get swept back in time by a magical book in this first ..read more

LOOK by Gabi Snyder Illustrated by Samantha Cotterill Paula Wiseman Books Picture Book 48 pages ages 4 to 8 COMING APRIL 16th!!! In the tradition of Tomie dePaola’s Quiet , this lyrical, timely picture book with beautiful diorama illustrations shows that if you really look, you never know what the world might give you to see. The natural world is full of patterns to enjoy for those who can ground themselves, be mindful, and truly see. GOODREADS    /    SIMON & SCHUSTER MY TIDBITS Patterns pop out in a new way, creating a different view of the world around us ..read more