kangrantdanmei's reviews
118 reviews

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

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4.0

I love the philosophy in this book. I love the characters development! I really love Nora's struggle to find how she wants to live. This book has so many lessons in it. Not that page-turner for me but I certainly will recommend this book to at least read once in this dull life. And you will live life.
The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross

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Forget I've tons of CR, I'll read this first
The White and Blue Between Us by Kiyuhiko

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4.0

I have posted my review to the X platform, I attached the link below.

First off, I'm giving this book 4 stars! Now, diving into the details—⁠

Starting with the minus points:

Firstly, the characters. I felt there weren't many standout side characters; most seemed like passersby, except for ML's bro and mom, then MC's grandpa. I expected something more.

Next up, is the plot, especially the climax. It didn't feel quite as intense as I anticipated.

You see, I was building an emotional connection with the story and the characters, but before that feeling reached the peak, the plot's climax occurred.

I kinda felt: what is really happening? Why it suddenly—⁠

Now, third: how they resolved things. If I were in the MC's shoes, I wouldn't have given in to ML so easily. While the book aimed for character understanding and warm feelings, something is lacking there. Perhaps the MC was too understanding, so it feels like not natural? Like ... it is unreal?!

Now, onto the positive aspects – there are so many! I'll go with what I love the most.

Firstly, I adore the MC's personality.

His emotional range, can be escalated from -100 to 100.
Welcome to Gabby's Dollhouse by Gabhi Martins

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5.0

It's a cool story that gets kids thinking instead of just reading! There's a clue, and they gotta figure it out. My child was really into this book!
Pete the Cat's Train Trip by Kimberly Dean, James Dean

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4.0

Bukunya bagus, informasi yang diberikan banyak. Pertualangan di dalam kereta yang paling membuat anakku woa woa!
Mia and the Girl with a Twirl by Robin Farley

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5.0

From here we can teach our kids something like acceptance and not fix in one style/kind only of things. There are so many things to learn, not only one, or we can even create a new style/things in whatever it is applied to in real life. A good book!
Potty Patrol by Nickelodeon Publishing

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3.0

This book is a good one, informative and easy to understand too. However there is one thing that I don't like. There's a plot hole that even my child wonders: how exactly did they help them (the kids) to do a potty? Just convincing?

The ending is not clear and kinda rushed.
Dotson: My Journey Growing Up Transgender by Grayson Lee White

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4.0

I'll give this book 4/5 stars! There's so much I love about it and just a few things that didn't quite click for me.

First, let me break down what I enjoyed the most.

Firstly, what really stood out to me is how this book dives deep into the experiences of trans-child – how they navigate it and what it feels like. Bonus points for having a glossary at the back, which is pretty cool!

Secondly, the sweet dynamic between Grayson and his sister, plus the solid parental support, is heartwarming. Their bonding sets a good example for readers who might already be parents.

Lastly, I love how Grayson poured his feelings into this book. He went all out, detailing everything, even sharing how he navigated through it all and how the judgments and activities that cornered him made him stressed. I feel like I really got to experience his journey.

Now, on to the not-so-great part (maybe it's just my perspective). I'd say this book might not be the best fit for middle-graders. Grayson acknowledges that not all transgender individuals have the privileges he does. It sheds light on the harsh reality that not everyone is supportive, especially for young kids trans. I'm concerned this might leave them questioning why they're different, leading to frustration or sadness. It could also impact kids who don't have a strong foundation yet. You know, some young people like to follow suit on a whim.

Okay, that is all!
The Cross-Eyed Kitten: Children's Book About Inclusion and Kindness for Kids 3-7 by Judith M. Ackerman

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4.0

4/5 stars for this book!

This heartwarming book is all about embracing and accepting differences. Even when you're different and standing out, at some point, they will be seen as strengths. The book lays it out clearly.

Apart from that, it teaches adopting over buying when it comes to pets.

Another cool point: the illustrations are stunning and lifelike.

Some downsides of this cute book are:
1) Its text might be too much for kids aged 3-5 (they prefer cute visuals but informative, I believe)
2) The tones of its illustrations are too warm. Children (I saw it from my kids' reaction) like a colorful tone.

So, I conclude that this book is more suitable for kids aged 6 and above.

But overall, this is a good book!
Race to Kindness by Orion Jean

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5.0

Straight 5 stars for this one!

I love this book!!

A really good picture book!

((Pst. I don't think I ever dislike a picture book or child book tho))

The vibe this book gives off: heartwarming. Cute. Straightforward. Inspirational.

The concept is fantastic: a race for doing kindness. So they (the kids) are competing with each other to do goodwill. A really brilliant idea, isn't it? For kids, it gives them a lot of fun experiences!

Plus, the illustrations are so pretty, and the word choices in each sentence beautifully convey that kindness can take many forms.

Helping someone with small things counts as an act of kindness too!

For parents, this book is a great tool to explain the concept of kindness ❤️