Review: Chess for Babies - Levy Rozman - March 2026 I'll be honest with you: when this ARC landed in my hands, I laughed. Chess for Babies? My first thought was that it had to be a novelty gift , the kind of thing you buy for the chess-obsessed uncle who already has everything. But then I sat down with it, and I completely changed my tune. Levy Rozman  better known online as GothamChess, International Master and one of the most beloved chess educators on YouTube has done something genuinely clever here. He's taken a game that intimidates grown adults and distilled it into its purest, most joyful form. The board book walks tiny readers through the names of the pieces, the basics of how each one moves, and the concept of what it means to win. That's it. No openings, no tactics puzzles, no commentary about the Sicilian Defence. Just the beautiful bones of the game, served up in a format a baby can hold with both chubby fists. What makes this book work , really work  is the...

Review: Ms Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest - Chris Grabenstein - October 2025 Oh, this one had me grinning from the first page. You know how some books just feel like summer? Like the literary equivalent of a road trip with the windows down and a cooler full of snacks? That's exactly what Chris Grabenstein has served up with Ms. Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest, and I am absolutely here for it. Think The Amazing Race but make it tween fiction, Route 66, and absolutely brimming with riddles. At the heart of this romp are brothers Ben and Ethan Broderick, who couldn't be more different if they tried. Twelve-year-old Ben is the kind of kid who'd rather spend a Saturday mastering a retro arcade game than breathe fresh air, while older brother Ethan is all sports, friends, and cool. The one thing they do share? An equal and very relatable resentment of being dragged on a family road trip. (Honestly, same.) But here...

Review : Witchycakes #2 - Changing Magic - Kara LaReau and Illustrated by Ariane Moreira - August 2025 There's something wonderfully comforting about settling down with a cup of tea and a book that feels like a warm hug, and Witchycakes #2: Changing Magic delivers exactly that cozy feeling. As soon as I opened this charming chapter book, I was transported to the magical little bakery where Blue, our adorable witch-in-training, is learning that change isn't quite as scary as it seems. What I absolutely love about this story is how it captures that bittersweet feeling we all get when seasons shift. Blue doesn't want summer to end, clinging to those long sunny days the way my own kids resist putting away their shorts when autumn arrives. It's such a relatable struggle, and watching Blue work through these feelings while delivering magical baked goods around town felt both gentle and genuine. The beauty of this book lies in its sweetness . As Blue helps their neighbors ad...

Review: Junie B Jones and a Little Monkey Business - Adapted by Colleen AF Venable and Ilustrated by Homie Bean - September 2025 Right, so here's the thing about Junie B. Jones , she tells it exactly like it is, and bless her cotton socks for that. When Barbara Park plonked a baby brother situation into Junie B.'s world in Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business , she gave us one of those deliciously chaotic stories that perfectly captures how kids actually feel about new siblings. Now, this graphic novel adaptation brings all that mayhem to life with pictures that are just as wonderfully chaotic as Junie B. herself. Our girl Junie B. is decidedly NOT thrilled about this impending arrival. Babies, she informs us with absolute authority, smell like "P.U." She knows this because she smelled one once, and that's scientific evidence enough for her, thank you very much. I mean, can we blame her? She's quite content with her life as it is—Room Nine at kinderga...

Review: School Dance - Book #3 The Brinkley Yearbooks Series - Sarah Sax - August 2025 Okay, real talk—if you’ve ever felt like the universe was out to embarrass you in front of your entire school, then School Dance by Sarah Sax is going to feel like your diary got turned into a novel. Milo, our lovable disaster magnet, is convinced he’s cursed. And honestly? After face-planting into a wedding cake and nearly concussing himself on Halloween, I don’t blame him. But what makes this story shine isn’t just the slapstick moments (though they’re hilarious)—it’s the heart behind them. Milo’s journey to the dance floor is about more than just avoiding catastrophe. It’s about friendship, family, and finding the courage to show up as your full, awkward self. Al and Viv, his ride-or-die besties, are the kind of friends every tween deserves—supportive, slightly chaotic, and totally determined to help Milo break his “curse.” And then there’s Abuela. Oh, Abuela! She’s the kind of grandparent who br...

Review: Witchycakes - Book #1 Sweet Magic - Written by Kara LaReau and Illustrated by Ariane Moreira - August 2025 There’s a certain kind of book that feels like it was baked just for you—warm, sweet, and sprinkled with a little bit of magic. Witchycakes: Sweet Magic is exactly that kind of treat. A huge thank you to RandomHouse Kids for sending me the paperback copy—it’s been a joy to read, and I’m already counting down the days until Book #2! In the heart of Shelville, nestled inside the coziest magical bakery you can imagine, lives Blue—a witch-in-training with a heart as big as their delivery basket. While Mama conjures up enchanted scones and pies, Blue pedals around town helping neighbors with kindness, cleverness, and a dash of spellwork. Whether it’s cheering someone up or solving a quirky problem, Blue’s adventures are full of warmth and whimsy. Ariane Moreira’s illustrations are pure delight—full-color, expressive, and bursting with charm on every page. It’s the kind of bo...