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: Thelma the Tiny Sea Turtle - Karen May - July 2011 There's something absolutely magical about a good ocean adventure, and Karen May's Thelma the Tiny Sea Turtle delivers that magic in spades. This delightful junior fiction tale captures the heart with its brave little protagonist and the big, beautiful, sometimes dangerous world she navigates. Life on the reef isn't all sunshine and coral gardens, as young Thelma discovers. When our tiny turtle hero finds herself separated from safety, she embarks on an unforgettable journey that had me instantly thinking of Finding Nemo. Just like Nemo's quest to reunite with Marlin, Thelma's adventure takes her through encounters with a colourful cast of sea creatures—some wonderfully kind and helpful, others decidedly less friendly. Karen May does a brilliant job creating a diverse underwater community that feels both realistic and entertaining. What I particularly love about this book is how it balances adventure with ...

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...

Review: Amber Brown is Not a Crayon - Adapted and Illustrated by Victoria Ying from Paula Danziger's JFIC series - May 2024 Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon: The Graphic Novel, adapted by Victoria Ying from Paula Danziger’s beloved chapter book series, breathes new life into the story of Amber Brown and her best friend, Justin Daniels. This graphic novel is a vibrant and engaging retelling that resonates with both new readers and longtime fans of the series. Amber Brown and Justin Daniels share an inseparable bond. They've known each other for years, sharing classes, homework, and unwavering support. Their friendship is a beacon of consistency in Amber’s life, especially as she navigates the challenges of shared custody between her parents. However, their world is turned upside down when Justin announces he’s moving away. The impending separation tests their friendship, leading to misunderstandings and arguments. The question looms: can they reconcile before it’s too late? The grap...

Review: Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code - Rebel Girls - November 2021 One thing I am happy I get to read them now as a reviewer, but I so wish that when I was in my tweens/teens that Rebel Girls had existed as I could have gone down a completely different track with my career as I would have been exposed to more female role models, as it was I had ones like Ann M. Martin, Beverley Cleary, Judy Blume, Louise May Alcott, and Laura Ingalls Wilder, Jacqueline Wilson, and Francine Pascal and then their book characters like Elizabeth Wakefield, Harriet the Spy and Mary Ann Spiers. This makes sense as to why I went down the track of reading and writing, and even so with this I often wish I had parents at the same time that encouraged me as I would be on a completely different life path than I am now. Who knows where I could be if only we had books like Rebel Girls in the 90s and early to mid-2000s? Working for the House of Science as an EA, I am now exposed to females in the STEM field and one...

Review: Ella Says... I'm Going to be an Astronaut - Anu D. Misa - March 2020 I loved this book as it shows that girls can do anything just like boys, in a world where girls couldn't be astronauts - now females are training to go to space and the International Space Station which I love. In this cute children's book by Anu D. Misa, we are reunited with Ella and her dog Ollie on their latest adventure. One evening Ella hears a crash and tiptoes downstairs quietly trying not to wake anyone up, but her younger brother Parker has heard the noise too. So together, they head outside to investigate. In their backyard is a sad little alien who has crashed his spaceship rocket. With Ella, Parker, and Ollie's help, the spaceship rocket will be repaired and the four of them will head off to space on a fun and crazy adventure to the moon and back all before morning. This junior fiction read is suitable for children aged 5-9 years old and is a great read to remind children and gir...