Reviews written by Adrien Carter, Newsletter Manager and Staff Reviewer

What I Liked: This book is a bit confusing from the start as it transitions between the various characters’ perspectives. Something else that is confusing at the beginning of the book is that Alex is missing, and the conspiracy theories the characters are creating seem realistic because you are just...

Willow and Lily are good friends even if Lily is a fairy and Willow is a human girl. Willow shares with Lily that she’s nervous about her upcoming performance in her school celebration. Lily isn’t too sure how she can help Lily without being spotted by the other children so...

This book is a reimagining of the fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty” that is set in Africa. Princess Rebecca gets a curse placed on her shortly after being born by an evil fairy. The curse states that if she hasn’t found true love by sixteen she is going to fall into...

This book celebrates the way that love is shown such as loud, gentle, or through food. This book highlights the various ways in which someone might show they care to loved ones. What I Liked: This book is sweet and simple with each page...

Jasmine prefers to blend with the background, she peeks around and hides behind her big glasses when watching others play. When she’s reading with her grandpa though she creates a new character, Action Jasmine. Action Jasmine isn’t scared, she’s brave and always saves the day. Jasmine’s grandpa is challenging her...

What I Liked: This book does a great job of introducing you to Charlie and his fears regarding his ability to take life from others. It then introduces you to Sam, Charlie’s twin sister, and his best friend, Ravi. These relationships are important to establish from the start of the...

What Do You Do When Your Dog Grows Old? Is a sweet poem about the dogs who stand by our side through the ups and downs. This poem highlights the journey of loving a dog as it gets older and the eventual loss of the aging dog. ...

In this book Emily Elizabeth with the help of Clifford the Big Red Dog, share how they started out small and the world was big. She then goes on to share how they always had one another to lean on, and how they grew big together and keep dreaming even...

Rhea is excited for Rodeo Day; she especially likes the boots, buckles, ruffles, and riding her trusty steed with her teammates. Overall though, Rhea likes to win. Rhea feels like victory is hers as her friends and her stampede through the arena but things don’t go according to plan. Is...

Ari is on a hide-and-seek hunt searching for Grandma through the various rooms in her house. Grandma is just as good at hiding as her chameleons are, though. Will Ari be able to find Grandma and each of her chameleons? What I Liked: This...

Carrot Cake and Pufftail live amongst their woodland friends and have a very important job: they are to protect their friends and attack when needed. Carrot Cake and Pufftail have a plan when Renard Fox moves in and begins causing trouble. Unfortunately, their first impression of Renard Fox is wrong,...

Mariam has come with her family to Makkah for the annual pilgrimage of Hajj. Her mother explains how Hajj is a time to do good, share, and be thankful, causing Mariam to wonder what she could do. She comes up with a brilliant plan: she will share Zamzam, blessed water...

In We Can Play Anything, two young children let their imaginations run wild as they think about all the things they can play. Are they going to sleep in an animal hotel, bake animal cookies, hang out with a story snake, or what else? With each other, they can play...

Nisha is used to being swooped into hugs or having her cheeks squished by her aunts and uncles, but she’s acting different now that her Ammamma and Appappa have come to visit from India. Nisha is now a bit shy and apprehensive about interacting with them. Nisha questions why hugging...

Freddie and Stella have decided that they are going to take down their former best friend who is now the popular girl, beloved by the students and teachers, Levi. The best way to do this is by winning the Beaumont-Gardiner Award which goes to the collest, smartest, and hottest girl...