About This Book: With stunning lyricism reminiscent of traditional African spirituals and today’s rhythm and flow of hip-hop, a teacher shares the history of being Black in the US, while continuing to march into the present day.  Why I Love This Story Thank you to Charlesbridge Publishing for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I Heard An American Journey by Jaha Nailah Avery is a stunning poetic ode to the past and hope for the future. Each stanza in the book begins with the statement I Heard and then continues sharing a part of Black history with ..read more

About This Book: A band of swashbuckling pie-rats has only one goal: to find dessert! Whether it’s banana cream, lemon meringue, apple, or cherry, these ravenous rodents will battle storms and scallywags to find the best pie. But will their adventures reveal that there is more than one way to satisfy a sweet tooth? With rollicking rhyme and lively illustrations, Pie-Rats is a hunger-inducing read-aloud that will have readers begging for another helping. Why I Love This Story: Thank you to Viking Books for a copy of Pie-Rats.  Pie-Rats by Lisa Frankel Riddiough is a fu ..read more

About This Book: Though octopuses live in every ocean and along every US coast, you may never catch a glimpse of one in the wild. All 300 species, from the tiny wolfi octopus to the enormous Pacific octopus, can camouflage themselves by changing color, pattern, and texture. Some octopuses are also capable of regenerating limbs, surviving on land for short periods of time, and fitting through impossibly small spaces! Why I Love This Story: Thank you to Albert Whitman for a copy of this book  Octopus Acrobatics written by Sue Fliess is a fantastic nonfiction book that showcases the differe ..read more

About this Book: Every summer, the branches of a little girl’s favorite tree droops heavy with mangoes. And this year, she is finally old enough to help her family harvest them. Her brother shares a memory about his first-time mango picking: his father holding him steady as he reached high above for the fruit. But when the girl climbs the tree, she becomes too dizzy. Then her grandma shares a mango memory: learning, many years ago, to toss a stone that knocked the fruit from the branches. But when the girl throws her stone, she keeps missing. How can this little heroine create her&n ..read more

Book Overview: I received a copy of this book from the National Center for Youth Issues in exchange for an honest review. Winners Don’t Whine and Whiners Don’t Win by Julia Cook follows a young boy named Wendell whose competitive nature becomes his main focus. Wendell has to win at everything, and if he doesn’t, he whines about it. When Wendell has one of those days where nothing seems to go his way, his mom helps him understand that “everything in life doesn’t have to be a contest and that losing does not make you a loser. In fact, it can make you stronger”  Why I Love This Story Julia ..read more

I recieved a copy of this iecture book from Simon Kids Publishing in exchange for an honest review.  Introduction of the story: Love is Loud: How Diane Nash Led the Civil Rights Movement by Sandra Neil Wallace Introduces readers to one of the unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement. Diane grew up in the south side of Chicago in the 1940s. As a university student, she visited the Tennessee State Fair in 1959. Shocked to see a bathroom sign that read For Colored Women, Diane learned that segregation in the South went beyond schools—it was part of daily life. She decided to fight back, n ..read more

I am so excited to be a part of the blog tour for Mending the Moon written by Emma Pearl and illustrated by Sara Ugolotti.  Introduction of the story Mending the Moon follows a young girl named Luna who loved to watch the moon and stars shine in the night sky. One night, she is shocked to see the moon fall out of the sky and shatter into pieces. Luna understands the importance of the moon, and with some help from her Papa, and the animals of the forest, Luna works to put each piece of the moon back together. Along the way, the animals each participate in their own unique ways, showcasing ..read more

Back of Book: Born to parents who fled slavery and the Trail of Tears, Magnolia Flower is a girl with a vibrant spirit. Not to be deterred by rigid ways of the world, she longs to connect with others, who too long for freedom. She finds this in a young man of letters who her father disapproves of. In her quest to be free, Magnolia must make a choice and set off on a journey that will prove just how brave one can be when leading with one’s heart. The acclaimed writer of several American classics, Zora Neale Hurston wrote this stirring folktale brimming with poetic prose, culture, and history ..read more

Back of Book: People have been going potty since, well, since the beginning of people! Ever wonder what humans used before potties or paper? You might be surprised at the clever tools that humans came up with over the centuries. From the great outdoors to ceramic pots, bum brushes and bidets, prepare for an adventure as we explore the interesting and sometimes shocking history of human potty practices! Award-winning children’s author Sophia Gholz and illustrator Xiana Teimoy team up to put a humorous spin on the fun and fascinating facts surrounding the history of toilet paper (and other pott ..read more

Book Summary:  Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan is a beautiful blend of the history of Juneteenth and a biography of Opal Lee’s life. The story opens up with a wonderful picnic scene where the children gather around to hear two different stories that intertwine the importance of Juneteenth. First, they hear about the history of Juneteenth, and how the state of Texas was the last place to hear the news of the Emancipation Proclamation. Second, they hear about Opal Lee’s childhood, and experiences on Juneteenth. She ..read more