The Bookish Austin

Images from my Goodreads shelves

Let’s be honest here - October was a rough month for my personal life. However, I had the opportunity to read quite a bit. <3 I finished 20 books - whew! I don’t think I finished the TBR Pile I had set out for October, but that’s okay since I finished so many other wonderful titles. Here are a few of my favorites from October (it’s so hard to choose so few): 

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman: I saw some naysayer reviews but I love the Practical Magic series so much and this addition about the Owens’ matriarch was absolutely lovely. I’m curious to see if Hoffman will write more in this world or not!? 

When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore: McLemore has made their way into my top authors list. I love their work so much - full of magical realism, love, and fairy tale retellings galore! This novel with glass pumpkins, a girl with flowers growing from her wrists, and a boy trying to live his life bring this novel to the top of my favorites! 

The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen: I’ve been listening to The Bright Sessions podcast and I was delighted to dive more into Caleb’s (an empath) story! I’m curious about anyone’s opinions who have read the book but NOT listened to the podcast!? 

Image from my Goodreads page

I can’t believe it’s the last week of October already! This month has been flying by and that saddens me, but I’m also looking forward to all the amazing picture books coming out in the upcoming weeks! It’s the height of publishing season!

I’ve been reading quite a few picture books, as always and I’ve FINALLY finished watching Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices that premiered on September 1st (more information and trailer) on Netflix. PLEASE check out this amazing show! Here are the books/episodes I finished the season off with: 

Episode 7: Pretty Brown Face by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brown Boy Joy by Thomishia Booker (Read by Jill Scott)

Episode 8: Firebird by Misty Copeland (Read by Misty Copeland)

Episode 12: We March by Shane W. Evans (Read by Marley Dias)

And, of course, I have read other books too! Here’s some favorites from the past few weeks: 

My Creepy Valentine by Arthur Howard: This book is such a wonderful crossover for Halloween and Valentine’s Day! This little witch doesn’t want to celebrate...until she finds just the right person that tugs at her creepy heartstrings! 

Good Morning Zoom by Lindsay Rechler: A parody fit for the current times of COVID-19! Take your kids on a journey of how they might be navigating the world these days with Zoom school, stay-at-home orders, and being comfortable at home! 

Image from my Goodreads page

How are you all doing?! I’m chugging away here on my reading goals. What have you all been reading lately? :) I would love to hear about your picture reading (Tumblr | Instagram | Goodreads) - please don’t be shy! 

Here are a few of my recent. favorite picture book finds: 

For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World by Michael W. Walters (Author) & Keisha Morris (Illustrator): Having conversations with children about violence and helping them make sense of all the negative media these days is difficult. This gorgeous book will help children think about the world they live in as they follow the main character as he tries to understand the world as it affects him. 

Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina (Author) & Sonia Sanchez (Illustrator): Do you ever have difficulty talking to children about people leaving or moving away? This is going to be the perfect book to read with your little one to help them know it’s ok to have people that just get you and it’s ok that they sometimes leave. They’ll leave a hole, but will also have given you so much. <3 

Bunheads by Misty Copeland (Author) & Setor Fiadzigbey (Illustrator): Misty Copeland has several books out, but this is her newest picture book. This is about Misty as a young girl as she works hard for one of the lead roles in a ballet, alongside her is a fellow ballerina seeking the same. It shows that friendly competition can be a supportive and beautiful thing if you work hard and push others too as well. 

My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero (Author) & Zeke Peña (Illustrator): This heartwarming book is all about Daisy Ramona as she rides around the town on a motorcycle with her papi after he gets home from work. It’s full of love, spirit, and color - definitely a book to instill fond memories with your children. 

Image from my Goodreads webpage 

I had such a wonderful month of reading! What did you read? What were some of your favorites!? I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. <3 

Here were some of my favorites reads during September: 

The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune: Klune is working his way up my “Favorite Authors” list. This is the gay superhero novel you didn’t know you needed in your life. It has humor, friendship, and crazy shenanigans but WITH SUPERHEROES. 

Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore: I love all of McLemore’s works and they are one of my favorites when it comes to retellings. This novel is a mix of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Red Shoes in the historical context of the dancing plague of 1518 (it’s a legit thing, look it up for real). It’s beautifully written with their signature magical realism! 

Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram: This is the second novel in this series, but Darius warms my heart. He’s funny, he’s naive, but he’s also learning and growing. I truly hope you enjoy him as much as I do! 

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas: Did you realize you wanted a Latinx, trans protagonist with magic to see and release spirits from the Earth? I bet you realize that now. This is Thomas’ debut novel and it is gorgeous. I want everyone to meet these characters so we can gush about them later. <3 

Images from my Goodreads page

Hey everyone! You saw in my last post that I have been watching the show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices that premiered on September 1st (more information and trailer) on Netflix. PLEASE check out this amazing show! I watched a few episodes out of order the past two weeks (I’ll get to all of them, don’t worry). Here are the newest to add to my “read pile”: 

Episode 9: Let’s Talk About Race by Julius Lester (Read by Common)

Episode 10: The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson (Read by Jacqueline Woodson)

Episode 11: Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi (Read by Kendrick Sampson)

On top of this amazing show, I’ve been continuing my own reading journey in the picture book world! I should reach my goal early if my timing is correct! Here’s a few of my favorites from the past couple of weeks: 

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes & Gordon C James: Barnes has a book on Bookmarks (see previous posts) and this one is just as wonderful! The painted scenes are gorgeous and elicits such an emotional response that can empower kids to embrace themselves and all they’re worth. 

Lights on Wonder Rock by David Litchfield: The COLORS of this book drew me to it, but it’s such a cute story about a girl meeting an alien as a child. Her whole life is spent searching for this lost friend, only to realize she had so much on Earth already. 

An Ordinary Day by Elana K. Arnold (Author) & Elizabet Vukovic (Illustrator): This is an emotional book. Transposing two stories, Arnold brings to light the joys and sorrows that ordinary days can bring to people. The dichotomy of the pain and sadness with the happiness really highlights how empathetic we need to be as humans. 

Our Subway Baby by Peter Mercurio (Author) & Leo Espinosa (Illustrator): This NONFICTION picture book is so cute! It’s about Peter Mercurio and his husband, Danny, as they traverse adoption services after they literally find an abandoned baby in a subway station! It’s such a heartwarming story! 

And here are a few picture book recommendations for the Halloween season (there will be more, promise). Both of these are full of wonderful humor, with amazing artwork: 

The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra by Marc Tyler Nobleman (Author) & Ana Aranda (Illustrator): You will roll on the floor laughing as these three goats try to convince a chupacabra that it shouldn’t eat THEM for dinner! 

She Wanted to Be Haunted by Marcus Ewert (Author) & Susie Ghahremani (Illustrator): This pink little house wants to be haunted so badly! Hopefully her father (a haunted castle) and mother (a witch’s hut) can teach her a thing or two about the spooky world. 

Image from publisher’s website

Bye, Bye Blue Creek by Andrew Smith

Release: October 13, 2020

Publisher: Simon Schuster Books (for YR)

*I received a free, digital ARC of this title from Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions contained within this review are my own.* 

I’m incredibly biased when it comes to books by Andrew Smith. I had the opportunity to meet him a few years ago (out of the kindness of his heart, we had a three hour coffee house chat) as well as attend a couple of his author events. I think, at this point, I have read every single one of his books (minus one short story collection he’s featured in). I am delighted to be able to review his newest book - Bye, Bye Blue Creek!

This newest book is a continuation of Sam Abernathy’s pre-Stand-Off middle grade adventures that started with The Size of the Truth (2019; you can read my review here). Sam is a few weeks away from heading off to Pine Mountain (his new boarding school), where he will be a twelve-year-old freshman (the horror) away from his family (the freedom and terror). However, he has to find a way to say good-bye to his friends, come to terms with his claustrophobia, and handle the creepy new family that moved into Blue Creek’s infamous haunted house! What kind of shenanigans will he get into before he’s off to school!? 

Just as with The Size of the Truth, you’ll see similarly feelings reflected in this review. Abernathy is adorably naive, yet also sophisticated for a twelve-year-old. He has high hopes, big dreams, and wants to break out of the expectations people have put upon him. Can’t we all relate similarly on a base level? Sam continues to show us how wonderful it is to grow up and discover while simultaneously having fun, learning new skills, and ultimately, standing up for oneself in times of change. 

Images from my Goodreads page

How have you all been!? It’s time for another update on my picture book reading (that’s two picture books per day for the year 2020). Over the past two weeks I have been thoroughly enjoying Netflix’s new show: Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices that premiered on September 1st (more information and trailer). If you haven’t watched any episodes, I highly recommend it! These are the ones I have watched so far (I’ve been trying to pace myself): 

Episode 1: I Love My Hair! by Natashia Anastasia Tarpley (Read by Tiffany Haddish)

Episode 2: I Am Enough by Grace Byers (Read by Grace Byers)

Episode 3: Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes (Read by Caleb McLaughlin)

Episode 4: Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o (Read by Lupita Nyong’o)

Episode 5: ABCs for Girls Like Me by Melanie Goolsby (Read by Marsai Martin)

Episode 6: I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown & Jason “Rachel” Brown (Read by Karamo Brown)

They have been so wonderful and I hope you are able to tune in to Netflix to watch! Besides these, I’ve also had a few other favorites from the past couple weeks: 

I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott (Author) & Sydney Smith (Contributor): This book is an exploration of the difficulties and beauty of living life with a stutter. It’s gorgeously illustrated and will help build such empathy for understanding. 

The Great Realization by Tomos Roberts (Author) & Nomoco (Illustrator): Covid-19 has affected us all in seen and unseen ways. This beautiful illustrated poem navigates the negatives and positives we have seen so far due to this virus. 

The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt by Riel Nason (Author) & Byron Eggenschwiler (Illustrator): This little ghost doesn’t know what to since they are so different from all the other ghosts! What is a quilt ghost supposed to do? They soon learn that there’s more to being a ghost than meets the eye. Such a wonderful book for accepting oneself and all the differences we have from others. 

Image from publisher’s website

Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power

Release: July 7, 2020

Publisher: Delacorte Press

*I received a free, digital ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions contained within this review are my own.* 

Holy mystery Batman! Rory Power intrigued me with her debut novel, Wilder Girls (see review here), in 2019 with a satisfying mix of mystery and science fiction. She’s back with her newest release, Burn Our Bodies Down, set in a farming, pastoral area where the town has more secrets than they’re letting on, but it can’t hold a candle to secrets held by the Nielsen family. 

In Burn Our Bodies Down, Margot is searching for answers to her past. Her mother won’t give her answers and she has no other family of which to speak, until she finds a clue that leads her to her grandmother’s farm. Unfortunately, she arrives to find her grandma’s fields burning and a dead girl that looks eerily similar to herself. The question is, will Margot finally find the family she has so desperately wanted or will she uncover dark truths that were better left buried? 

I really enjoyed Burn Our Bodies Down. Especially when comparing it to Power’s first novel and the growth in her writing! I honestly don’t want to say too much about this book because I don’t really want to spoil any plot lines. Just know that Power does a wonderful job of mixing the mystery, the science fiction, and the intensity of family relations all into one neat package. 

My only “complaint” is that this book seems to have a LONG set up with a BAM ending. We slowly piece together bits of information until everything comes to a final, heart wrenching climax toward the end. It reminds me a bit of a horror movie construction, which makes sense for a horror novel, but I think I would have enjoyed a bit more unraveling throughout rather than at the end. Sometimes this really bothers me, but other times it doesn’t bother me (respectively, I’m looking at you Beasts Made of Night and American Gods). However, I’m rather middle of the road for Burn Our Bodies Down because I didn’t find myself bored, even through the long set up. 

Image from my Goodreads page

I feel so accomplished this month in my reading goals! I ended up reading TWENTY FOUR books this month! I have so many I want to talk about this month, but I’m limiting myself to these few: 

The Tea Dragon Society and The Tea Dragon Festival by Katie O’Neill: My coworkers are probably tired hearing me talk about my love of these ADORABLE GRAPHIC NOVELS. They’re considered middle grade/young reader and are so wholesome. There’s adventure, there’s tea, and there’s dragons that grow tea leaves on their horns. What more could you want? Plus there’s a companion card game...

This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell (Author) & Aurelia Durand (Illustrations): I shouldn’t have to talk about why this book is amazing and important. Jewell keeps this concise, informative, and provides a wonderful jumping off point for building your own awareness for who YOU are and how you fit into the overall societal narrative. 

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo: This book hit me in the heart a whole lot more than I was fully expecting. Life is going to be tough, it’s going to break you, but that doesn’t mean you’re broken and incapable of receiving love. Definitely look into this one when you’re going through a hard time in life. <3 

Images from my Goodreads page

I can’t believe it’s already been two weeks since I updated you on my picture book reading! As you can see, I’ve been a busy bee with work and reading but I find such joy in exploring this world of picture books. I’m also super excited about Netflix’s upcoming release of Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices premiering on September 1st (more information and trailer). 

Here are a some of my favorite picture books from the past few weeks: 

You Can Read by Helaine Baker (Author) & Mark Hoffmann (Illustrator): This book is all about being able to read where YOU want to do so! Make reading YOUR OWN and embrace all the places a book can take you (and the places you can take a book). 

Goat’s Coat by Tom Percival (Author) & Christine Pym (Illustrator): Goat is so proud of his coat, but on his journeys he realizes that he can use it to help many others along the way. This is a story of giving and how that positivity will always come back to you in kind. 

Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina (Author) & Angela Dominguez (Illustrator): Abuela and Mia have difficulty communicating as Abuela speaks Spanish and Mia speaks English. When Abuela moves in, they have to find creative and fun ways to teach each other their special ways of reaching each other.  

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly (Author), Winifred Conkling (Author), & Laura Freeman (Illustrator): I love the stories about these women! This picture book is no different. These authors take us through the lives of each of these four women as they make history with NASA!  

Image from the publisher’s website 

The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters

Release: September 8, 2020

Publisher: Duet Books

*I received a free, digital ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions contained within this review are my own.* 

Julian Winters is a writer that keeps popping into my radar for a variety of reasons. First with his work Running With Lions (2018) which I would say I enjoyed. I have, since, followed with his works in short story collections - Out Now: Queer We Go Again! (2020; see review here) and Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America (2019). I would say that I really enjoyed these short works. And now he has this newest book (which comes out in a few weeks) called The Summer of Everything. 

The Summer of Everything is a contemporary novel following recent high school graduate Wesley Hudson as he traverses his final summer of childhood. Unfortunately, it just seems his life is falling apart - his relationship with his brother is still in the dumps, Wes is in love with his best friend Nico, and the bookshop he has tied his heart and soul to is on the verge of closing down. Wes is trying to save all of these relationships, but he’s not quite sure he has the power to affect much in the end. 

I would say I also enjoyed this book of Winters’, but I didn’t love it, which is why I’m giving it 3-out-of-5 Awesome Austin Points. However, I think the reason I didn’t love it is because of ME, not the book. The plot and conflict are relatable and important to the narrative for the intersection between LGBTQ+ and black youth. The characters were humorous and had multiple dimensions. I loved the quirkiness of working in a bookstore near the beach.

My issue? I kept comparing it to Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz and that’s definitely my own bias. Young love. Pining. Struggles with sibling relationships. The realizations of growing up and moving on. I couldn’t read this book without Ari & Dante popping up into the back of my head at every turn. My bar was set by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. 

The Summer of Everything just didn’t quite reach this bar. They’re in the same race, but this one didn’t quite get there for me. I wanted a bit more depth in the emotional department because it seemed everything was just too easy for Wes (other than his own anxiety, which definitely was not easy to work with). I may have also wanted the pacing to be a bit quicker - it seemed to take so long to reach the heart of the story. 

Images from my Goodreads page

How are you all doing? I hope this post finds you well (or on your journey to being so) and in happy reading spirits. What have you been reading lately? Have you discovered any awesome children’s books to share? 

Here are a some of my favorites from the past few weeks: 

Yo Soy Muslim: A Father’s Letter to His Daughter by Mark Gonzalez (Author) & Mehrdokht Amini (Illustrator): Gonzalez wrote this book to help his children instill a sense of pride and love for their multicultural heritage. If you want a beautiful, uplifting story with amazing illustrations, this is going to be the book to pick up. 

The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity: A Tale of the Genius Ramanujan by Amy Alznauer (Author) & Daniel Miyares (Illustrator): This picture book biography is about an influential Indian mathematician. His work transformed the world of mathematics in the early 1900’s with his exploration of numbers. This book, with its wonderful artwork, will be a wonderful nonfiction read for your little ones! 

Winged Wonders: Solving the Monarch Migration Mystery by Meeg Pincus (Author) & Yas Imamura (Illustrator): Another nonfiction read but this time about butterflies! This picture book helps children (and adults, myself included) understand the immense amount of collaboration required to achieve the knowledge we have about monarch butterflies! 

Bunnies on the Bus by Philip Ardagh (Author) & Ben Mantle (Illustrator): This new picture book (August 4, 2020) had me rolling with laughter as these rabbits rampaged through town in a bus! The sheer amount of hidden joys in the background art made this book worth it (watch out for those little thieves) and will provide wonder on every page. 

Image from publisher’s website

Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth

Release: April 7, 2020

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

*I received a free, digital ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions contained within this review are my own.* 

Chosen Ones is Veronica Roth’s debut novel in the adult publishing world. Centered around five individuals currently in their mid to late twenties, who once saved the world from complete destruction. Unfortunately being “The Chosen” comes with a lot of mental, physical, and emotional baggage that isn’t as easy to evade. Not to mention the fame and continued expectations the world constantly thrusts upon them. But what happens when the world needs saving again? Are they strong enough to risk life for the world once more? 

Have you ever read a book by an author where, the further in you read, the more similarities you notice about the main characters compared to characters in that author’s previous works? This was definitely one of those books for me. The book is written from the perspective of Sloane, one of the Chosen, but the more I read, the more I thought Sloane was similar to Tris in the Divergent series. Both are incredibly strong willed individuals with little regard to their own safety. They want to help others, but do so by charging into situations and asking questions later. They’re a bit prickly, with closed off emotions, while simultaneously being outspoken with candor. They both also have male counterparts that are capable of great violence but choose to be more reserved. I could go on, but hopefully my point is made. I had a very hard time pulling apart Sloane and Tris in my mind. Do with that information what you wish. 

Other than this difficulty of mine, I thought Roth chose an interesting tactic to introduce us to these characters as adults, as they’re dealing with the emotional runoff from their experiences - depression, PTSD, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and the intricacies of being celebrities for such a morbid experience. I enjoyed this different, more realistic take on being thrust into the “Chosen” trope. Even if it still lent to a rather predictable storyline where the trope is concerned. 

Images from my Goodreads page

I’m still over here working on reading two picture books per day in between all the other reading I want (need?) to do. :) Reading these picture books always warms my heart and they are a special spark for each and every day. I highly suggest you try to read a few a week if you want to experience all this goodness. Who says picture books are just for kids? :) 

Here are a few of my favorites from the past few weeks: 

Dewdrop by Katie O’Neill: Dewdrop is the most adorable axolotl I have ever seen. They are also the most supportive friend you’ll ever witness! This book is full of so much love and compassion that I think it should be a staple for all kids.

Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! by Cori Doerrfeld: Have the kids in your life ever had a big change where they had to leave friends or friends left them? This book helps children understand that people come and go but the experiences we have with them are forever in our memories. 

Vote for Our Future by Margaret McNamara (Author) & Micah Player (Illustrator): In this day and age, it is never too early to discuss politics with children. This book highlights why it’s important for kids to learn about voting as well as promoting political awareness in your community. If the decisions of adults affect children, why can’t they speak up as well? 

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (Author) & Luisa Uribe (Illustrator): This book is going to lift up every child, no matter their name, to know that THEY are unique and THEIR name is beautiful - no matter its origin or pronunciation. The girl in this book is upset that her name is constantly mispronounced, so her mother teaches her the beauty and musicality in names from all types of cultural backgrounds. 

Images rom my Goodreads page

July was such a busy month for my reading life - thanks to The Reading Rush and a week-long vacation from work. My month was full of amazing books and I hope you had just as successful a month with your own reading piles! 

Here are a few of my favorites from the month: 

The Kyoshi Novels by F.C. Yee: The second book in this series was released recently and I couldn’t help but reread the first, directly diving into the second afterward. I love the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender and these companion novels, adding to the canon with Avatar Kyoshi (the Earth Avatar before Aang), are absolutely wonderful. <3 

The Adventure Zone: Petals to the Metal by the McElroy’s (Clint, Justin, Travis, and Griffin) and Cary Pietsch (Illustrator): If you’ve ever listened to the Dungeons & Dragons podcast, The Adventure Zone (podcast website), then you’ll be obsessed with these wonderful graphic novel adaptations! This is the third installment and I hate that they are making me wait one year in between each release. GAH! 

Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono (Author) & Emily Balistrieri (Translator): If you love the Studio Ghibli film (by the same name) as much as I, then you’ll adore the book that inspired it! This is such a special work for me since Kiki has been an inspiration of my love for witches since I was a small child! 

Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman: I have a complete review for the first volume of this comic and I’m adding it here, again, because it’s so cute! I love the humor, the artwork, and the wonderful gay-centered relationship between Nick and Charlie. 

I’m hoping August will be just as productive for my reading habits as July has been. My vacation is almost over, though, so I may lose a bit of time to work. Pesky bills. :) 

Image from publisher’s website

Hounded by Kevin Hearne

Release: 2011

Publisher: Del Rey

I read this book six years ago and, for some reason, I recall sitting on the cliffs overlooking a forest while the sun beat down on me. For some reason I never continued with the rest of the series even though I liked it (I probably found something else to read and then got distracted). When some friends and I decided to complete the Magical Readathon (Twitter | YouTube | Instagram | Website) this past month, I decided to pick this one up for my Transfiguration O.W.L. (read a book with a shapeshifter in it). 

If you are a fan of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, then this is going to be a series you should look into. Hounded follows Atticus O’Sullivan (not his real name), one of the last Druids to roam the USA. The issue? Atticus has lived for over 2,000 years and he has a lot of witches, werewolves, and vampires to deal with while trying to maintain his little, occult shop in Arizona. Even further, Atticus has a sword that some of the gods don’t believe belongs to him and they will try most anything to get it back. 

This series has everything I love in a modern day fantasy novel: intelligent and witty characters, magic (So. Much. Magic.), a talkative sidekick, and so many shenanigans that you wonder how the main character isn’t dead from sheer exhaustion. Atticus draws his power from the Earth - including his shapeshifting abilities - and uses it to cause some major chaos (all to protect himself, of course), but I very much enjoyed the way Kevin Hearne set up the limits of his magic as well as the magics for other beings around him. Atticus is charismatic in the Han Solo kind-of-way that let’s him sway people but still gets him into all kinds of mischief. 

Images from my Goodreads page

Here I am trucking along with my picture book reading! I’ve surpassed the halfway point (average of two books per day) and well on my way to completing this goal early. :) You’ll see I have quite a few Spanish books this time around (and that’s not going to change) - they have been challenging me in such fantastic ways. 

Have you read any amazing picture books lately? Here are a few of my recent favorites: 

Unstoppable by Adam Rex & Laura Park: THIS. BOOK. IS. SO. FUNNY. The hilarity builds from page to page and will leave you cackling with joy by the end (I know it sure had my coworkers crying with laughter).

A Thousand No’s by DJ Corchin (Author) & Dan Dougherty (Illustrator): What do you do with all those NO’s you hear as you try and try again? You turn them into something amazing! This book is about perseverance and sticking true to your goals, even if they don’t turn out the exact way you imagined. 

An ABC of Equality by Chana Ginelle Ewing: This ABC book uses simple definitions and wonderful artwork to help kids navigate the world full of people that may be different from themselves in some way!

Auntie Uncle by Ellie Royce (Author) & Hannah Chambers (Illustrator): I picked this book up for one of my brothers (he’s a drag queen) because this book shows, in such a fun way, the dichotomy and fluidity that exists in people. In this example? As nephew shows the different sides of his Auntie Uncle!