Category: Children’s

Review | A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano

DeAnneLeave a comment

Leonora Logroño’s family owns the most beloved bakery in Rose Hill, Texas, spending their days conjuring delicious cookies and cakes for any occasion. And no occasion is more important than the annual Dia de los Muertos festival.

Leo hopes that this might be the year that she gets to help prepare for the big celebration—but, once again, she is told she’s too young. Sneaking out of school and down to the bakery, she discovers that her mother, aunt, and four older sisters have in fact been keeping a big secret: they’re brujas—witches of Mexican ancestry—who pour a little bit of sweet magic into everything that they bake.  

Leo knows that she has magical ability as well and is more determined than ever to join the family business—even if she can’t let her mama and hermanas know about it yet.

And when her best friend, Caroline, has a problem that needs solving, Leo has the perfect opportunity to try out her craft. It’s just one little spell, after all…what could possibly go wrong?

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Just from the description I knew this was going to be a cute read, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised at how deep it went into subjects such as family relationships. Leo is the youngest of five and is struggling with the fact that all of her older sisters seem to be included in family activities that she’s excluded from. She immediately picks up that there are secrets not being shared with her and thanks to the little voice of insecurity and anxiety inside of her, she’s worried that the reason she’s being excluded is that there’s something wrong with her or that she’s not good enough. The book is full of life lessons for someone her age, about following the rules, friendships and more. It was an adorable read and I definitely look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Happy reading!

Review | Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Inspiring Young Changemakers

DeAnneLeave a comment

The fifth volume of the best-selling Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series, 100 Inspiring Young Changemakers, includes 100 stories of extraordinary young women who have made their mark on the world.

Readers will celebrate well-known activists Greta Thunberg and Mari Copeny and meet new names like inventors Riya Karumanchi, who developed a smart cane for the visually impaired, and Xóchitl Guadalupe Cruz López, who used recycled materials to build solar-powered water heaters for families who lacked hot water. Each story is told in a whimsical fairy tale style and is paired with a bold, full-page portrait drawn by a female or nonbinary artist. In addition to showcasing the stories of incredible young people, the book features the work of young authors, artists, and editors.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Another great entry to the Rebel Girls library! This installment follows the usual format, sharing stories about a number of inspiring figures. Previous installments have had a wide range of people from different times, so this volume it was refreshing to see that it was concentrating on figures who are contemporary figures. I think taking this route with this installment was smart, as these are figures closer in age to the intended audience and will help them possibly see themselves in the girls represented. As with the other books in this series the art was vibrant and brought each person to life on the page.

Happy reading!

Review | So You Want to be a Viking? by Georgia Amson-Bradshaw

DeAnneLeave a comment

Kate, Eddie, and Angus are dazzled by pictures of Viking warriors’ deadly axes and blingy swords in their library books. But when they’re transported back in time to Scandinavia in 991 CE, they must figure out if they have what it takes to become Vikings themselves.

A big, burly Viking called Bjorn initiates the kids in the ways of wielding a battle ax, plundering and looting, and soon they learn all sorts of other tricks as well, including how to get shipshape and navigate the seven seas with just a stone, how to recite rude poems, and how to scare enemies into submission before a battle even begins. Hervor, the haunted shield-maiden, is also on hand to share her tips on how to take off with a handsome ransom and how to make it into Valhalla in the afterlife.

So You Want to Be a Viking? features the field’s latest scholarship and is illustrated throughout with zany illustrations by Japanese cartoonist Takayo Akiyama. Any kid who’s ever daydreamed about being a fierce Norse warrior will love this interactive guide.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I got this book in an Owlcrate box and have wanted to at least give it a read through since it looked like a fun book for a middle grade audience. The art style is quirky and fun as you go through the book, learning little tidbits about Viking life and beliefs. It’s got a lot of good information that is written in a way that is easily digestible and was a fun read overall. I would definitely recommend it for its intended age group and then they would find the illustrations engaging and the text intriguing.

Happy reading!

Review | Quizzes for Rebel Girls

DeAnneLeave a comment

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a . . . Rebel Girl! Are you:
A. Flying high in the sky like adventurous pilot Amelia Earhart?
B. Catching air like Olympic skateboarder Sky Brown?
C. Climbing your way into the clouds like mountaineer Junko Tabei?Quizzes for Rebel Girls is packed with 50+ quizzes guiding girls to discover the traits, strengths, and habits that make them unique. The quirky questions in this book will help curious readers explore their personalities, forecast their futures, and find common ground with extraordinary women who’ve come before. Colorful illustrations bring this book to life and make it extra fun to share with friends and family! 

This book is filled with playful quizzes like: 

  • Lights, Camera, or Action? 
  • What’s Your STEM Style?
  • Are You a Team Player? 
  • How Do You Use the Power of the Pen?
  • Hometown Hero or World Traveler? 
  • What Is Your Super Power? 

Quizzes for Rebel Girls is brought to you by the team behind the New York Times best-selling series Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls. It can be perfectly paired with Questions for Rebel Girls, filled with silly, serious, and thought-provoking questions that introduce readers to extraordinary women throughout history and ask them to imagine themselves in similar scenarios. Girls love to explore their feelings, uncover their personality, and decode the world around them. Get exploring with Rebel Girls! 

Rating: 5 out of 5.

As soon as I started reading this one I immediately thought of the quizzes in teen magazines and it immediately made the style of the book more fun. The quizzes run a pretty good range of subjects including different careers, personality types and some really fun ones thrown in like what kind of party you should throw. The usual bright and colorful scheme really lends itself to this installment, keeping things upbeat and fun, plus it wouldn’t be a Rebel Girls book without a healthy sprinkling of tidbits and facts about notable and inspiring figures tied into the quizzes.

Happy reading!

Review | Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: Baby’s First Book of Extraordinary Women

DeAnneLeave a comment

This board book adaptation of the New York Times bestselling Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls introduces your little reader to the lives of extraordinary Rebel women, past and present, from around the world.

Welcoming new Rebels into the fold, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: Baby’s First Book of Extraordinary Women features artists and inventors, athletes and activists in its colorful, inviting pages. Readers will meet dancer Misty Copeland, pilot Amelia Earhart, swimmer Yusra Mardini, and many other inspiring icons.

Sparkling, easy-to-read text and beautiful portraits capture each trailblazing woman’s Rebel spirit and make this adaptation of a classic a sure bedtime favorite.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

When I saw this one pop up as another installment in this series of books, I thought it was a great idea for even younger readers. The snippets about each individual is short, easy to understand in most cases and digestible for a much younger reader. The colors and artwork are vibrant and will easily draw the attention of their intended audience. I think for even younger readers this is a great introduction to the entire Rebel Girls series and may pique their interest to check out other installments as they get older, or learn specifically about some of the individuals in the book.

Happy reading!

Review | Questions for Rebel Girls

DeAnne1 Comment

Questions for Rebel Girls sparks lively discussions with more than 500 kid-friendly questions inspired by real rebel women from the best-selling Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series.

Jane Goodall devoted her life to studying chimpanzees. If you dedicated your life to one type of animal, what would it be?

When cyclist Alfonsina Strada began racing, she was so unstoppable that newspapers nicknamed her “the devil in a dress.” What would your cycling nickname be?

Celia Cruz is the Queen of Salsa music. Beyoncé is a pop superstar. Roxanne Shante is an amazing rapper. And Joan Jett is all about rock and roll. If you could be a singing sensation, what type of music would you sing? If you could perform a duet with anyone in the world, who would you pick? 

If you could meet any woman from any country and any time in history, who would it be? What would you ask her? 

Would you rather ask questions or answer them? Luckily, with Questions for Rebel Girls, you can do both!

Girls love to explore their feelings, uncover their personality, and decode the world around them. One way to do that is to explore their answers to provocative questions about anything and everything. Questions for Rebel Girls introduces readers to extraordinary women throughout history and asks them to imagine themselves in similar scenarios. Designed to ignite exciting discussions between little rebels and their siblings, friends, and grown-ups, Questions for Rebel Girls is packed with more than 500 entertaining and thought-provoking questions—including some questions submitted by young fans of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This addition to the Rebel Girls series is a little different, it still includes snippets about many different women/girls and what they are known for, but the main aspect of this one is asking questions of girls who are reading it. Some of them are very deep and introspective questions, some are questions that are simpler such as ‘this or that’ questions and there are even questions sent in by readers! The colors are bright and fun, and as in the other books the artwork is done by different artists that showcase their individual styles. This is a great addition to the series as a whole.

Happy reading!

Review | Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic

DeAnneLeave a comment

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic, edited by award-winning journalist Lilly Workneh with a foreword by #BlackGirlMagic originator CaShawn Thompson, is dedicated to amplifying and celebrating the stories of Black women and girls from around the world; features the work of over 60 Black female and non-binary authors, illustrators, and editors; is designed to acknowledge, applaud, and amplify the incredible stories of Black women and girls from the past and present; and celebrates Black Girl Magic around the world. 

Amongst the women featured from over 30 countries are tennis player Naomi Osaka, astronaut Jeanette Epps, author Toni Morrison, filmmaker Ava DuVernay; aviator Bessie Coleman, Empress Taytu Betul, journalist Ida B. Wells, and many other inspiring leaders, champions, innovators, and creators. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic is the fourth volume of the New York Times bestselling Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series which originally launched in 2016. 

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic is published by Rebel Girls, a global, multi-platform empowerment brand dedicated to helping raise the most inspired and confident global generation of girls through content, experiences, products, and community.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

After reading Rebel Girls Lead I was exciting to get them chance to read this book from the same series. I like that the original volumes in this series highlight multiple races, but that there are installments such as this one that highlight one specific race – and I felt this was a great installment to add to the already existing titles. It includes Black women of varied nationalities, time periods, careers and more. I think this could serve as great inspiration for anyone looking for role models. The art too is a wonderful accompaniment to each story, showcasing the art style of many different artists and providing vibrant images of the women represented. I also appreciated that at the end of the book it showcases other Black women who are featured in the other installments in this series.

Happy reading!

Review | Rebel Girls Lead: 25 Tales of Powerful Women

DeAnneLeave a comment

Rebel Girls Lead: 25 Tales of Powerful Women celebrates the incredible and inspiring stories of 25 women leaders in politics, business, sports, activism, and more, all written in fairy tale form. It is part of the award-winning Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series.

Reach for new heights with Vice President Kamala Harris. Organize voter registration with Stacey Abrams. Spread messages of kindness with Lady Gaga. And captain a team of Olympic gymnasts with Aly Raisman.  

This collection of 25 stories includes the most beloved stories of leadership from the first three volumes of the New York Times best-selling series, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. And also features 11 brand new tales of women’s activism, bravery, and vision.

Rebel Girls Lead celebrates the leadership of women from Michelle Obama to Malala Yousafzai. It is illustrated by female artists from around the world. 

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I had heard about the previous Rebel Girls books in the past, so I was excited to see this new one available. It’s a short volume about women from past and present. Even though this one contains only 25 stories, it has a good mix of cultures, professions/dreams/causes and contemporary/past figures. The way each story is written is easily consumable for most ages, especially it’s target audience. The way each woman is described as well as their dreams, motivations and achievements could easily help shape the dreams of younger generations.

Happy reading!

Review | The Secret Garden: A Graphic Novel by Mariah Marsden & Hanna Luechtefeld

DeAnneLeave a comment

Green-growing secrets and magic await you at Misselthwaite Manor, now reimagined in this graphic novel adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s tale.

Ten-year-old Mary Lennox arrives at a secluded estate on the Yorkshire moors with a scowl and a chip on her shoulder. First, there’s Martha Sowerby: the too-cheery maid with bothersome questions who seems out of place in the dreary manor. Then there’s the elusive Uncle Craven, Mary’s only remaining family—whom she’s not permitted to see. And finally, there are the mysteries that seem to haunt the run-down place: rumors of a lost garden with a tragic past, and a midnight wail that echoes across the moors at night. 

As Mary begins to explore this new world alongside her ragtag companions—a cocky robin redbreast, a sour-faced gardener, and a boy who can talk to animals—she learns that even the loneliest of hearts can grow roots in rocky soil.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

As someone who read The Secret Garden when I was much younger and know that there are certainly problematic elements to the original story (which is purely attributed to the time in which it was written) this was a good example which contained the basic and main plot while shedding those elements. As a good introduction to the story and the overall journey, I felt it was pretty good. The art isn’t as vibrant as I personally would like with a story featuring a garden, but that’s a me thing. I did really enjoy the whimsy in the drawings of flowers and animals, plus the noticeable changes in Mary as she grew over the story.

Happy reading!

Review | Greek Myths: Meet the Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of Ancient Greece by Jean Menzies

DeAnneLeave a comment

Journey into a world of gods, goddesses, heroes, extraordinary creatures, and fantastic monsters with this beautifully illustrated introduction to Ancient Greek mythology for kids.

Perfect for children aged 7 to 9, this collection contains enthralling new retellings of favorite myths as well as some you might not have heard before.

Including the saga of Theseus and the Minotaur, the 12 labors of Herakles, and the escapades of Jason and the Argonauts, each myth is told in engaging modern language, making them easy for children to understand while still retaining the humor and intrigue of the original tales. Each one is brought to life with stunning illustrations by multi-award-winning artist Katie Ponder, which breathe new life into these classic stories.

Additional feature pages and maps delve deeper into the mythical world, including profiles of the gods and a map detailing Odysseus’ long, monster-filled voyage home from the Trojan War. The reference section provides key background information to the stories, such as Ancient Greek storytelling and the incredible beasts of the myths, including centaurs and unicorns.

Greek Myths is the perfect gift for children to explore by themselves or as bedtime stories and will be treasured forever.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I’ve been excited to pick this one up ever since it came out, so I’m glad I was able to get to it. I’ve always enjoyed Greek myths and myths in general, so while I knew a lot of these myths, it was great to read them in a modern language and somewhat simplified. I loved the way that important details were included in these versions. Though it is written for younger readers I feel like it is something that readers of all ages can enjoy. The writing style combined with the artwork was a perfect fit and I loved how bold the artwork was. I’m excited to see what else Jean Menzies publishes as this was such a perfect volume not only sharing famous Greek figures (such as Gods, Goddesses and Heroes) but also talking about the culture of Ancient Greece and what shaped their beliefs and culture.

Happy reading!