Inward by Yung Pueblo is a beautiful collection of spiritual poems. Two serve as an intro of sorts, followed by 5 sections- Distance, Union, Interlude, Self-Love, and Understanding. This book dealt me a gut punch. These poems sang to my soul, conjuring sadness and longing, but hope as well. They are about loving yourself, and […]
Poetry Builders: Ana and Adam Build an Acrostic by Victoria Peterson-Hilleque, illustrated by Winifred Barnum-Newman Ana and Adam Build an Acrostic is part of the Poetry Builders Series to teach kids about all sorts of poetry types. This one, by Victoria Peterson-Hilleque, focuses on acrostics. These poems take a word and use each letter of […]
Wolf Sanctuary by Chuck Rineer Wolf Sanctuary by Chuck Rineer is a dazzling compilation of photographs that the author took of the wolves at Wolf Sanctuary of PA, a preservation and education facility run by the Darlington family. There are ten chapters, each with brief written introductions, and full of stunning photos. While there is […]
Bees, Bugs, and Butterflies by Ben Raskin Raskin’s Bees, Bugs, and Butterflies is a lovely non-fiction children’s book that looks at gardens, and how they function as an ecosystem. A big focus is on pollination and why it’s so necessary. Kids will learn all about the various critters that help gardens function and flourish. There […]
The Day is Ready for You by Alison Malee is a poetry collection divded into three parts: unmoveable things, a restless pause, and prayers like exhales. The entire collection is free-verse, and written in all lowercase text. Part one seems very anger filled, with themes of a wanting for love, the inculcated beliefs of being […]
Erik the Lone Wolf by Sarah Finan Erik the Lone Wolf is a cute story about Erik, a wolf cub who feels crowded by his big family. Tired of being told what to do, Erik sets off by himself, determined to be a ‘lone wolf’. When he gets into trouble, Erik wishes he had his […]
Song Castle by Luke Waterson is a historical fiction novel centring on the 1176 CE events in Wales during which Prince Rhys of Deheubarth arranged a most magnificent contest of song and music to establish Wales as a place of culture, and not just of war. People came to this, the very first Eisteddfod, from […]
Beau Taplin’s Bloom is a beautiful collection of poems focused on deep love, self introspection, and the value of being true to oneself. Most of the poems in this collection are fairly short, and all are thought provoking. Several of these poems spoke to me on a very deep level. Many actually made me uncomfortable […]
Welcome to the Hotel of Hoo! Mr Nicholas Noo will be your guide, introducing you (and his very first guests) to the crew that works at the Hoo. Door by door, you’ll meet elves, fairies, ghosts, and trolls. There’s even a room with dragons! But whatever you do, avoid Door 32! My cubs and I […]
The Little Book of Lagom by Jonny Jackson & Elias Larsen Jackson & Larsen’s Little Book of Lagom is all about learning to live in simplicity. Lagom is a Swedish word that means ‘just the right amount’. I loved the sidebar explanation for how it possibly came about, deriving from the phrase ‘laget om’ or […]