Nour’s Secret Library
by Wafa’ Tarnowska, Vali Mintzi (Illustrator)

4 out of 5 stars

Nour and her cousin Amir must hide in the basement with their family while the Syrian civil war rages through their beloved city of Damascus. In the rubble of abandoned buildings, Amir finds books that he brings home. Amir and Nour collect so many books that they open their own secret library for the civilians of the city to enjoy. Their neighbors begin to rescue books from the war-torn streets as well, and soon they have a flourishing library. In the middle of destruction, they create something beautiful!

This was such touching and emotional story! I loved the way the story puts you right into Nour’s shoes, showing her love for her family and her love for books. You really get a sense of the terror and uncertainty of living in the middle of a war. But there is also hope and light!

Rooftop Garden
by Danna Smith (Author), Pati Aguilera (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

A group of neighbors decide to plant a rooftop garden. They plant the seeds, water them, and weed. They encourage pollinators like butterflies and bees, but they gently remove the pesky bugs and snails. Finally they can harvest their crop of vegetables and have a big feast!

I liked the illustrations, and I especially appreciated that the neighbors are from all types of ethnicities and ages. On each page, we see them all working together to build their garden. The art style is simple and attractive with bright colors.

What Goes Inside? (Neatly Organized Things)
by Magda Garguláková, Federico Bonifacini (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

A dog named Bruno invites the reader to explore what goes inside various containers and places. We look inside a fridge, a washing machine, and a toolbox. We explore items in a classroom, a gym, and a camper. We even take a look inside an Inuit igloo!

I think my favorite places to look inside were the artist’s suitcase and the rock band’s van, because I am a musician and my brother is an artist. I also really loved looking inside a book of fairy tales and identifying Snow White, Cinderella, and other fairy tale characters!

Amazing Plants of the World
by Štěpánka Sekaninová

4 out of 5 stars

The mysterious botanist, Dr. Carnation, gives us a tour of his secluded gardens, where weird and wild plants are growing. We see carnivorous plants and stinky flowers. There are strange shapes in the blossoms and fungi. We learn about orchids that look like flies or babies or dancing girls.

Unfortunately there is also a “naked man orchid” with a little appendage hanging down. I found that in poor taste for a children’s book. Even if it is a flower common to the Mediterranean, that doesn’t mean it should be included in a children’s picture book. The text says, “Luckily they are unashamed of their nakedness. Quite the opposite.” I guess it’s supposed to be cute or funny, but I found it to be very inappropriate.

Georgie Dupree: Classroom Confidence
by Ceece Kelley

5 out of 5 stars

Georgie is a little nervous about her first day at a new school. Her neighborhood friends are in a different class. What if she can’t make any new friends? But Georgie sees a girl with pink shoes and asks to be her friend, and by the end of the day Georgie has three new friends. Georgie makes up a dance and teaches it to her new friends at school. Even the stuck-up kids want to learn Georgie’s new dance. Georgie learns to be confident and keep trying, even when she feels nervous or anxious. Each day is new opportunity to learn and be kind!

Dear Mama’s Loving Arms
by Ceece Kelley, Sawyer Cloud (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

A baby and his mother spend the day together. She sings a special song to him, “Who loves Baby the most? Who hugs Baby the most? Who kisses Baby the most? Your Dear Mama – that who.” They laugh and play together until it is time for lunch and a nap. The baby cries, but the mama’s soothing ways lull the baby to sleep. The baby dreams that he and his mother are having adventures together.

This is such a sweet book! You can feel the love and affection on every page. The story is told from the baby’s point of view, as he reacts to his mother’s loving presence. His whole world revolves around her and the way she cares for him in each moment.

Hello, Dark
by Wai Mei Wong, Tamara Campeau (Illustrator)

4 out of 5 stars

A little boy manages his fear of the dark by pretending that the dark is a person he can befriend. He remembers that the dark does good things, like allowing wild animals such as owls and foxes to sneak around safely at night. The boy enjoys seeing the moon and stars shining in the dark. The boy and the dark listen to soothing music together. They play shadow games, and practice mindful breathing to stay calm. The boy sleeps peacefully, knowing that the dark is his friend.

This sweet book is perfect for any little children (or adults!) who are afraid of the dark. The story teaches ways to reframe your negative thoughts into something positive. I loved that it includes things like slow breathing and listening to music to help yourself stay calm.