Fall by Tricia Gardella

 

Fall by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is all about the things of Fall. The leaves changing, the squirrels collecting nuts for hibernation through the winter, football, and so much more!! It's a great way to talk to young readers about the changes that the seasons go through, how that's normal, and things to look forward to.

The illustrations of this story are very well done also. They help to show the beautiful color changes as well as to illustrate in vivid imagery the events of the season.

My only disappointment is that hockey wasn't mentioned in this book!! LOL

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Middle C Learns a Music Lesson by Tricia Gardella

 

Middle C Learns a Music Lesson by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Middle C has had it. No one ever plays him right and he's tired of it. Percival does his best to hit middle C but this time, middle C escapes and goes on an adventure. Music just isn't the same now and in most places, music is now non-existent. Middle C realizes that he might have overreacted a bit (you think?!) and decides to go back to Percival. Sweet music relies on middle C and he just needed to be more patient and understanding about his complexity.

The illustrations in this book are phenomenal and go well with the story. I love how this book focuses on music and gives the younger generation a taste of how beautiful music can be when all the players (notes) work together.

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Bubbles in Autumn (Seasons with Bubble Girl) by Wanda Carter Roush

 

Bubbles in Autumn by Wanda Carter Roush
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a timely read for this time of the year! There are bubbles all around and it's a joy to capture them in their beauty. This book reflects on the colors changing, the squirrels gathering nuts for the winter hibernation, the festivals that occur, and more. The overall theme is to not change to fit in, rather to fit in where you are!

My favorite part about this book is the vibrant illustrations! They are a perfect match to go along with the story and help the reader to envision what autumn looks like, especially if they live in an area where the colors don't change as much!

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Lucky Lin-Lin series of books by Lyn Lozano Galicia

 

Lucky Lyn-Lyn at Big School: An Inspiring Picture Book About Courage, Confidence, and the Power of Asking Questions by Lyn Lozano Galicia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lyn-Lyn and her sister Bing-Bing have just left the familiarity of their home in Manila and have moved to Happy Island to live on a farm. Gone are the loud sounds of the city and they are now replaced with the more calmer rural life. It's time for school to start and Bing-Bing is going to kindergarten while Lyn Lyn is going to "big school". The sisters are very close and can't image spending the day so far apart. An opportunity opens up and Lyn Lyn becomes very brave and asks an important question.

This book is about having confidence and not being afraid to ask questions. There are some neat activities in the back of the book as well for further engagment from the readers.

View all my reviews Lucky Lyn-Lyn's Big Idea: A Heartwarming Story About Entrepreneurship, Teamwork, and Believing in Yourself by Lyn Lozano Galicia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lyn-Lyn enjoys living in Manila and seeing the people in the marketplace. It gives her an idea to start her own business. The way that she goes about it isn't the most ethical and I wish she would have fixed this before the story ended (I feel like it was an unfinished part of this story that could have easily been fixed). She inspires her friends with her idea and together they begin to do good things.

This story is about having an imagination and not being afraid to try something new. I loved this book except for the unraveled end that I mentioned earlier.

View all my reviews Lucky Lyn-Lyn and the Halloween Mystery: An Illustrated Children’s Halloween Book About Curiosity, Imagination, and Mystery by Lyn Lozano Galicia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lyn-Lyn and her sister Bing-Bing are out on Halloween night. They see 2 people dressed all in white. It's getting to late to farm so the girls become concerned. They follow them for awhile and then suddenly they disappeared. The girls run home as quick as they can!! Over dinner their mother recants a similar story from earlier in the day.

This book is timely for the Halloween season and is all about imagination.

View all my reviews Lucky Lyn-Lyn and the Christmas Coins: An Illustrated Children’s Book About Honesty, Kindness, and Giving by Lyn Lozano Galicia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's Christmas time and Ling-Ling and her sister Bing-Bing love getting coins from Mr. Chu. He's their dad's best friend but ironically looks like Santa Claus. They go to visit him and they are given a Christmas coin. Bing-Bing went in her PJs because she was so excited to go!! Ling-Ling asks if they can go again but this time everyone dresses up. They get another coin from Mr. Chu, even though they'd already received one.

I feel like the mark was missed in this story. Ling-Ling should not have been greedy and wanting another coin. I feel like the message of this book is going to mislead the actions of others to follow in her steps.

View all my reviews Lucky Lyn-Lyn and the Brown River: An Illustrated Children’s Book About Courage, Confidence, and Trying New Things by Lyn Lozano Galicia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lyn-Lyn and Bing-Bing walk to school everyday and they love the sites and sounds of the farmland around them. It's the rainy season so they are sure to take their umbrellas with them to school. One day they come home and the stream that they walk through is brown. It also looks very deep. They become scared until a friend comes along and shows them that it's safe to cross and explains why the water is brown.



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The Nightingale Detective Agency: A 1920s cozy mystery with secrets worth killing for by Denise Devine

 

The Nightingale Detective Agency: A 1920s cozy mystery with secrets worth killing for... by Denise Devine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in a new series by a fairly new-to-me author! I've read one other book of hers but I'm excited about this new series.

This cozy read is set in the 1920's Prohibition era, Charlotte Van Elsberg is determined that she is going to be the first female private investigator. She gets the opportunity when a young debutante is found dead. This story is full of mystery, grit, suspense, and a good bit of tension too.

This was a fun afternoon read!

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The Fortress of Us by Diane Hester

 

The Fortress of Us by Diane Hester
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There was no hope in putting this book down for a break once I got started. It grabs you, sits you on the edge of your seat, and holds you there until you reach the end.

Kelsey is a neurodivergent who witnesses her mother's death. She then witnesses another death and ends up on the run. She's on a mission to save her friend while trying to deal with her grief and all the things that come with it. Did I mention she's only 8 years old??

There are so many twists and turns, unexpected and ones you can see coming. All the stages of grief were experienced while reading this and I'm still not quite over it. Just be sure to clear your day to finish this one because you won't be able to put it down.

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Andy the Admiral and the USS Shipshape by Mark C. Fava

 

Andy the Admiral and the USS Shipshape by Mark C. Fava
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Andy the Admiral takes his reader on a tour of the Navy ship that he is on. He speaks of the ways that a seaman should act, with manners, cleanliness, and more. He does so in a rhyming manner to make it more memorable for the younger reader or listener.

This would be a great book for a family with a new seaman who may be in training. It can give them a brief glimpse into the life of the Navy and might even inspire them to go into the Navy one day as well.

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