Book Review #118

 The Little Broomstick

Author: Mary Stewart
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Publication Date: April 5, 2018
ISBN-13: 978-1444940190
Reading Level: Middle Grade (approx. ages 8–12)

Main Character: Mary Smith, a lonely girl who discovers a magical flower and a broomstick with a mind of its own.

Plot: Mary Smith, bored in the countryside, stumbles across a strange glowing flower called “fly-by-night.” Soon afterward, she finds an old broomstick that magically awakens and sweeps her into the sky. It takes her to Endor College, a school for witches where spells, animals, and strange experiments take place. But the magic is not as charming as it first appears, and Mary must use her courage and her newly found powers to set things right.

Settings: Shady countryside house and garden, Enchanted forest, Endor College for witches (floating, mysterious, and slightly eerie)

Genre/Theme/Style: Fantasy, Magic, Adventure, Courage, Classic British Children’s Literature.

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁 

Why 4 Roars? 

A magical, broomstick-fueled adventure that feels like an early bridge between The Worst Witch and Harry Potter. Perfect for kids who enjoy longer chapter books, cozy fantasy worlds, and brave young heroes. Not a picture book. It would be best for confident readers who want depth and mystery. (Might be difficult for some readers—slow read.)

Critical Analysis: Mary Stewart blends atmospheric writing with old-school fantasy charm. The story is slower than modern children’s fantasy, but it rewards patient readers with vivid description, strong worldbuilding, and a heroine who grows braver with every chapter. The witches are more unsettling than silly, so this book works well for children who like a little suspense but not horror.

Connections: Pairs well with The Worst Witch (younger readers) or Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (older readers)
Can be used in a Halloween reading unit focused on witches and magic without being too scary.

Tie-in option: the 2017 Studio Ponoc animated film Mary and the Witch’s Flower is based on this book.

Happy Halloween!

Book Review #117

 Essential Succulents: The Beginner's Guide

Note: This is a nonfiction companion pick to go along with Sutton the Succulent Finds a Home, a way for kids and families to take the story one step further by learning to actually grow succulents themselves.

Author: Ken Shelf
Photographer: Rachel Weill
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Publication Date: November 13, 2018
ISBN: 978-1984856562
Genre: Nonfiction
Topic: Succulent care and design

I Gave This Book 5 Roars!🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁 

Why 5 Roars?

This guide makes succulents simple and approachable for beginners, including older children who are inspired by Sutton’s story and want to try growing their own. The photography is inviting, the instructions are clear, and the projects range from very easy to creative challenges.

Critical Analysis:
Shelf’s writing is straightforward, encouraging even the most hesitant beginner to get started. The strength of this book is how it balances plant care basics (light, soil, irrigation) with creative design projects (terrariums, outdoor water-saving gardens, wreaths). The photography by Rachel Weill adds visual appeal, which makes it easier to follow instructions while also sparking inspiration.

Accuracy:
The book provides practical advice for growing succulents indoors and outdoors, from watering techniques to container tips.

Organization:
The layout is clean and logical: plant-by-plant guides, followed by DIY projects that grow in difficulty.

Design:
Bright photographs and step-by-step layouts make this a hands-on guide rather than just a reference book.

Style:
Accessible, upbeat, and beginner-friendly, perfect for families, classrooms, and anyone who wants to bring a little greenery indoors.

Connections:

• Ideal to pair with Sutton the Succulent Finds a Home in a Classroom Unit: read Sutton’s story, then try growing a real succulent.

• Can be used in science lessons (plant biology, water conservation, adaptation).

• Encourages responsibility and patience in children caring for plants at home.

Reminder for Readers: While Essential Succulents is not written for children, it is best suited for adults ages 18 and up who want to support children in learning about succulents. Parents, grandparents, teachers, and caregivers can use this guide to confidently introduce kids to plant care, creating a hands-on extension of Sutton the Succulent Finds a Home.

Book Review #116

 

Sutton the Succulent Finds a Home

Author: Madison Alexander
Illustrator: Victoria Mikki
Publisher: Little Succulent Press
Publication Date: September 9, 2025
ISBN-13: 979-8218802936
Reading Level: Ages 4–8

Main Character: Sutton, a little succulent with a big heart.

Plot: Sutton longs to find where she belongs. Along her journey, she discovers that being different doesn’t mean she doesn’t fit in; it means she has her own special place to grow.

Settings: The different places Sutton tries to grow before discovering the perfect home.

Genre/Theme/Style: Picture book / Themes of resilience, confidence, patience, and self-acceptance.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars?
The message is timeless yet especially fitting for September, when children are navigating new classrooms and friendships. Sutton’s story provides comfort and courage, reminding readers that their uniqueness is their strength. It also speaks to us about learning to grow wherever you are at in life.

Critical Analysis:
Alexander’s narrative gently affirms the struggles kids feel when they don’t quite fit in. Using a succulent as the central figure is a brilliant metaphor: a plant known for resilience and thriving in surprising conditions. Victoria Mikki’s art enriches the text with expressive illustrations that make Sutton feel alive, tender, and hopeful. The balance of text and imagery ensures accessibility for read-alouds or independent reading.

Excerpt:
"On a warm, golden morning, the wind whisked a lonely leaf through the air and dropped it right into Ruth, the gardener’s blooming flower bed. The leaf wasn’t just any leaf. It was thick and smooth, with a dewy green surface that glistened in the sunlight."

Connections:

• Perfect back-to-school read to foster discussions about differences and belonging.

• Can tie into science lessons about plant diversity and adaptation.

• Pairs well with other picture books on self-acceptance, such as The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson or Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell.

Library Card Sign-Up Month - September

 

OpenAI. (2025). Get your superpower—sign up for a library card. ChatGPT.

Get Your Superpower This September!

Did you know a library card is like having a superpower in your pocket? With one little card, you can check out stacks of books, read e-books on a tablet, listen to audiobooks, and even explore fun online games and homework help.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, and we’re celebrating all the kids who join the adventure! If you don’t have a card yet, stop by your local library and sign up; it’s free and only takes a few minutes. Do you already have a card? Use it to discover a new favorite story, learn amazing facts, or borrow a book you’ve been waiting to read.

Your library card is your ticket to explore, imagine, and grow. Let’s see how many new readers we can welcome this September!

Book Review #115

 The Universe In You: A Microscopic Journey

Author/Illustrator: Jason Chin
Publisher: Neal Porter Books (Holiday House)
ISBN: 9780823446230

Genre: Non-Fiction, Picture Book.

Topic: Microscopic Biology, Human Body & Matter.

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars?
This book sparks wonder while delivering real science in a kid-friendly way. It’s beautifully illustrated, thoughtfully written, and clearly meant for curious kids. 

However, I had to keep reminding myself that it was a picture book. There are small amounts of text, but I actually would have preferred a little more text or none at all. There are reference pages in the back of the book, but these seem very different from the rest of the book... almost like an afterthought.

Critical Analysis: Jason Chin has a gift for turning complex science into visual experience. His illustrations take readers through layers of scale, from cells to molecules to atoms, making the invisible world vivid and understandable. It's really about the scale! 

Accuracy: It is grounded in current biology and physics. The facts are presented and clarified further in the back of the book.

Organization: The structure follows a journey inward, moving from skin to cells to the tiniest particles that make up matter. It’s organized cleanly and builds curiosity with each turn of the page.

Design: The book uses watercolor illustrations that stretch across full spreads, covering each concept without overwhelming the reader. 

Style: Clear and engaging. The second-person voice pulls readers in and helps them see science as personal and relevant.

Awards:

• ALA Notable Children’s Book

• Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor

• NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book

Connections: Use with units on cells, atoms, or human biology. Could be paired with Your Place in the Universe (also by Chin) or as a companion to science journals, classroom discussions on scale, or art projects about “what’s inside.” 

Book Review #114

 When You Reach Me

Author: Rebecca Stead
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books / Random House
ISBN: 9780375850868
Reading Level: Ages 10–13 (Grades 5–8)

Main Character: Miranda, a sixth-grade girl living in 1970s New York. 

Plot: When You Reach Me follows Miranda as she navigates friendship shifts, mysterious notes, a break-in, and a tangle of time-travel clues. As summer winds down and school approaches, Miranda’s world becomes more layered and uncertain but also more interesting.

She receives strange anonymous messages that predict the future and hint at a tragedy she might be able to prevent. Alongside that mystery is the very real challenge of figuring out who she is becoming and what it means to let go or hold on.

Settings: 1970s Manhattan apartment buildings, corner stores, and city sidewalks.

Genre/Theme/Style: Realistic Fiction + Light Sci-Fi, Mystery, Growing Up, Time Travel, & Retro Vibes.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? It’s smart, layered, and thrilling. Perfect for readers who want something thoughtful to wrap up the summer, especially kids who’ve outgrown chapter books but still crave stories that have meaning.

Critical Analysis: The book weaves together a coming-of-age story with a science fiction twist that never overwhelms the emotional depth. Themes of forgiveness, independence, and time (literal and emotional) give it staying power. It’s a cool puzzle kids will want to solve. 

Connections: Pairs beautifully with books like Harriet the Spy (city kids with notebooks), Tuck Everlasting (big questions about time), and The Westing Game (puzzling plots). Could also spark great conversations about what readers would do if they could send a message to their past or future selves.