Lupe Lopez: Rock Star Rules!
by E.E. Charlton-Trujillo (Author), Pat Zietlow Miller ( Author), Joe Cepeda (Illustrator)
Lupe Lopez is a rock star! …in her imagination. She drums with her pencils on everything in the classroom, making lots of noise. When the teacher insists that Lupe must follow the rules, Lupe comes up with her own rock star rules and ignores the teacher. She gets into trouble and realizes that maybe even rock stars have to follow the rules.
This is such a cute book! I love how Lupe slowly begins to realize that the rules are important, and she learns that having friends is better than having fans. Lupe has a lot of energy, and she learns to direct that energy into good things within the limits of the rules.
I love the colorful illustrations! This whole book is so bright!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Frindleswylde
by Natalia O’Hara, Lauren O’Hara
Granny warns young Cora that she must be careful to not get tricked by the winter boy, Frindleswylde. If you let him in the house, he will freeze your bones and steal the light from the lantern. In the end, it is Granny herself who is tricked, and Cora must go on a dangerous quest to get their lantern light back. Frindleswylde sets three impossible tasks for Cora to complete, or she will be forced to stay in his frozen land as the Queen of Winter. Cora cleverly accomplishes each task, but Frindleswylde has more tricks up his sleeve, and Cora will have to search deep inside herself for the warmth and light to combat the cold dark.
This is such a beautiful fairy tale! I love that Cora continually finds the courage to fight for what she loves, even when things are so difficult and painful for her. The writing has that old-fashioned fairy tale style that I love so much.
The illustrations are absolutely lovely! The colors really capture the icy cold of Frindleswylde’s wintery land. The art style is delicate and beautiful!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Finding Fire
by Logan S. Kline (Goodreads Author)
When their fire goes out, the cave family are in trouble. A young boy volunteers to go in search of fire, hoping that a lightning strike might set the trees on fire. Along the way, he encounters many dangers and even makes a friend when he rescues a little mastodon/wooly mammoth creature.
This story is told entirely without words, but the illustrations are so expressive that you don’t really need words. The art is compelling and clear, so that the story flows along naturally from page to page. I really felt connected to that little caveman child, and was cheering for him to succeed in his quest for fire! He has so much courage to venture out into the wilderness all alone. He’s resourceful and clever too, finding inventive ways to stay safe from predators.
This is such a fun book!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Mommy’s Hometown
by Hope Lim (Goodreads Author), Jaime Kim (Illustrator)
A mother tells her son about her hometown where she used to play in the river, and look up at the mountains. Together they go to visit her old hometown, but the town has grown into a big city. You can’t see the mountains because there are buildings blocking the view. The boy is disappointed until they wade into the river. They splash and play and search for fish and hidden treasures. The river is exactly like his mother told him. Some things have changed, but the river is the same.
This is such a sweet book! I love the way the boy and his mother connect through shared memories. That legacy is so beautiful! It makes me think of when I visited places my parents grew up and saw their old homes and heard their stories of their childhood.
The illustrations are absolutely wonderful! I love the soft art style.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Granny and Bean
by Karen Hesse, Charlotte Voake (Illustrator)
Granny and Bean spend the day by the seaside while the blustery wind blows their hair. It’s a gray rainy day, but they refuse to go home! They explore and play and sing. They build a sand castle and leap over driftwood. They stop for a while to have a snack. And finally, when they have sorted through their best shells, they decide that they are ready to go home.
I love the impressionist art style! Everything is so fuzzy and blurry and gray, but there is a bright spot of yellow and blue where Granny and Bean are skipping along in their raincoats. It’s lovely and atmospheric, perfect for this type of book!
What a fun day! You can really see the affectionate bond between Granny and Bean, and how they are just having a delightful time, no matter what the weather may do.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Isle of You
by David LaRochelle (Goodreads Author), Jaime Kim (Illustrations)
After a difficult day, a child escapes to the Isle of You where all their favorite things are waiting for them! There are adventures, costumes, and dancing polar bears on roller skates. You can climb a mountain, or ride a pony, or swim under a waterfall. You can walk along the beach and find a starfish that grants wishes. You can take a nap in a hammock. And when you feel better, you can come back, but always remember that someone loves you.
This is such a sweet book! It’s really calming and soothing, perfect for when the reader is feeling upset or anxious. I love how the writing weaves this spell of magic around you, inviting you into the world of imagination.
The illustrations are so cute! Every scene is full of enchantment and dreamy wispy colors.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Sometimes, All I Need Is Me
by Juliana Perdomo
A little girl discovers that even when circumstances are difficult, she can rely on herself to find courage and calm. When others are there to help her, that is wonderful. But if she has to make do on her own, she can do that too. She is independent when she needs to be!
This is such a sweet book! I love how resilient and brave this little girl is. No matter what circumstances she is in, she is happy to be with others, but she can also make her own way.
I love the colorful illustrations! Every page is so bright and cheerful!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Luminous Libro 