ALPHABEDTIME by Susanna Leonard Hill, illustrated by Betsy Snyder. Special BLOG TOUR PPBF!

Blog Tour Stop! Everybody ready? Susanna Leonard Hill’s new ALPHABEDTIME! has frolicked onto bookstore shelves all over, and we’re celebrating here, there, and everywhere. Today I have an extra-special Perfect Picture Book Friday, to celebrate the newest book-baby of our very own PPBF Founder, Susanna! Title: Alphabedtime! Author: Susanna Leonard Hill (yes, THE Susanna Leonard Hill) Illustrator: Betsy…

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Two Books to Help Develop an Attitude of Gratitude!

This was first posted on my Starborn Revue blog in 2016. I wanted to share these two books with you here. It’s Thanksgiving Day in the United States, a day in which to remember what you’re grateful for in your life. These two books help us think about gratitude in a fun but meaningful way.…

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THE LONGEST LETSGOBOY by Derick Wilder, illustrated by Catia Chien — Book Recommendation

Title: THE LONGEST LETSGOBOY Author: Derick Wilder Illustrator: Catia Chien Publisher: San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, October 2021 Genre: Picture book Audience Age: 3 to 8 years Themes/Topics: dogs, dying, love, pets, hope Opening Sentences:  Mewmew wakes me, rumbledrumming my tummy. I strrrrretch my oldbones. Synopsis: This lovely, moving, heartfelt story tells of a much-loved old dog’s last day, from the…

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BECAUSE OF THAT CROW by Beverley Brenna — Book Recommendation

Title: Because of That Crow Author: Beverley Brenna Publisher: Markham, Ontario/Brighton, MA: Red Deer Press, 2020 Genre: Middle grade contemporary fiction, with a touch of magic Audience Age: 8 to 12 Themes/Topics: grief, parents’ death, healing, coping, hope Opening Sentences: Everything was different because of that crow. Harris knew it. And he was pretty sure the others knew it, too. Grampa,…

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MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL by Rajani LaRocca — Book Recommendation

Title: Much Ado About Baseball Author: Rajani LaRocca Publisher: New York: Yellow Jacket, 2021 Genre: Middle Grade contemporary with a touch of magic Audience Age: 8 to 12 Themes/Topics: belonging, making new friends, magic, math, baseball, Shakespeare Opening Sentences:  “Baseball is magic. Time stops between the instant the ball is released and when it makes it over the plate, between…

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From the Desk of Zoe Washington (MG)

Ahhhh — that was time well spent on this dreary late-October day. How did I spend it, you ask? Reading. Voraciously. As if the book were a scrumptious cupcake I couldn’t wait to devour. Cupcake? Yes. If you read FROM THE DESK OF ZOE WASHINGTON by Janae Marks, you’ll quickly learn that cupcakes are very…

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I AM ONE by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

The wonderful and creative Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds, who have brought us such books as The Museum, I Am Yoga, and I Am Peace, among others, have collaborated on another inspiring book — and I think this may be their best yet! In the wake of the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, many…

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LOVE LIKE SKY by Leslie C. Youngblood (MG)

This is another book that I’m just setting down long enough to post about it, then going right back to reading. It is moving and real. I was immediately drawn to G-baby (Georgie), the main character, who is trying so hard to get used to being part of a “blended-up” family. She’s torn between a…

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