Dance Like a Leaf
by A.J. Irving (Goodreads Author), Claudia Navarro (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars

A little girl and her grandmother share a cup of tea, bundle up in multiple scarves, and dance with the autumn leaves. But as the months go by, the grandmother begins to decline. She can’t get out of bed, but the little girl paints the trees for her on a canvas full of autumn color. When the grandmother dies, her granddaughter still remembers how she was taught to dance with the leaves and enjoy a warm cup of tea. The moments of joy that they shared will never be lost.

Voy a portarme muy bien
by Chris Haughton (Goodreads Author)
5 out of 5 stars

Simon has promised to be a good dog while his owner is away, but he is tempted by the delicious cake, the enticing cat chase, and digging in the dirt. He repents of his evil deeds, and learns some self-control. He is rewarded with a trip to the park, where he does NOT get into trouble. Or does he?

Simon ha prometido ser un buen perro mientras su dueño no esta en casa, pero se siente tentado por el delicioso pastel, la tentadora persecución del gato, y la excavación en la tierra. Se arrepiente de sus malas acciones y aprende algo de autocontrol. Es recompensado con un viaje al parque, donde NO se mete en problemas. ¿O si?

Un Vampiro Peligrozo
by José Carlos Andrés, Gómez (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

A little vampire tries to scare a girl, but he isn’t scary at all, and she only laughs at him. He needs to pass his exam to become a vampire, or he will be forced to work with the banana peelers. With the help of some adorable werewolves and bats and a friendly ghost, the little vampire might be able to give the girl a big scare, but only if she plays along and pretends to be scared.

Un pequeño vampiro intenta asustar a una nina, pero él no da miedo en absoluto y ella solo se ríe de él. Necesita aprobar su examen para ser vampiro, o se verá obligado a trabajar con los peladores de platanos. Con la ayuda de unos adorables hombres lobo y murciélagos y un fantasma amistoso, el pequeño vampiro podría darle un gran susto a la niña, pero solo si ella sigue el juego y finge estar asustada.

The Last Hazelnut
by Susanna Isern, Mariana Ruiz Johnson (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars

Tim and Teo love to eat hazelnuts together on top of their favorite mountain. When each of them thinks their friend selfishly took the last hazelnut instead of sharing, they have a huge argument! But who really took the last hazelnut? Tim and Teo spend the days missing each other and wishing they could be friends again. Can these friends ever forgive each other?

The Tiny Baker
by Hayley Barrett (Author), Alison Jay (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

The tiny baker has the most dainty and delicious treats at her fashionable tearoom. Her insect customers are always well-behaved and elegantly dressed. But when the ladybug pastry chefs in the kitchen are called away to migrate, they leave a huge mess in the kitchen! How will the tiny baker clean up the mess and deliver delectable desserts to her fancy clientele? She discovers that true friends are always willing to help in a crisis.

I adore this book! Everything about it is perfection.
I love the positive messages about true friendship and jumping in to help someone in need.

The Kiosk
by Anete Melece
3 out of 5 stars

Olga, a very plump woman, lives in her newspaper kiosk, and dreams of travelling. She finds herself stuck in her kiosk, and unable to leave by the door because of her girth. So she picks up the kiosk structure and walks down the street looking for adventure with her kiosk on her back.

The illustrations are full of bright colors and little details in the setting that make the story come alive. Each character in the story has their own unique look. I like the whimsical art style.

I am concerned about stereotypes and unhealthy messages in this book. Olga lives in squalid conditions in her kiosk where she has an armchair, sink, and toilet squeezed into a small space. I worry about children getting confusing messages about the health of this woman and her extreme weight.

Claris: The Chicest Mouse in Paris
by Megan Hess

5 out of 5 stars

Claris dreams about moving to Paris, and she takes a leap of faith to make her dreams come true. She meets a mean cat in Paris, and has to use all her fashion wiles and personal compassion to win the day.

I just adore Claris! She is such a sweet and lovely little mouse. I love stories about mice anyway, but this little mouse takes the cake. I love all her pretty clothes. She is the epitome of elegance and refinement, but with a heart of compassion and humility.

Claris: Fashion Show Fiasco
by Megan Hess

5 out of 5 stars

Claris and Monsieur Cat have to return a lost invitation to Fashion Week’s greatest show. They go on an adventure across half of Paris to track down the fashionista who has lost their important invitation.