spaceonthebookcase's reviews
1122 reviews

A Fairy Finds Her Song: Ready-to-Read Level 1 by Bea Jackson

5.0

A perfect follow up to Bea Jackson's children's picture book Lily's Dream. In A Fairy Finds Her Song, Lily the Fairy is on a mission to figure out her special gift. With fairy friends and her human friend Willow by her side, Lily learns to grow into her own special fairy. Easy to read and follow, this is a great beginner book for young readers.

Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy.

Love Is Taylor Swift by Patty Michaels

3.0

An easy to follow board book about what it means to be a Swiftie. I'm not quite sure who the target for this book is as I feel like a lot of it would go over the age of the intended reader, while not being mature enough for Swifties who play dress up with their friends and need the confidence to sing and dance like no one is watching. It's cool, but it's a weird fit for the category. 

Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy. 

Bitsy Bat, Team Star by Kaz Windness

5.0

Told from the perspective as someone with autism, alongside a great guide in the back, Bitsy must make the choice between winning and being a good friend. Learning the power of friendship is hard, especially for children with autism so I loved how the author modeled the desired behavior in these types of situations. 

Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy. 

Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan

5.0

Every Monday Mabel wakes up to check outside to make sure she hasn't missed the most exciting thing about the day. From her set routine to waiting for it to arrive, Mabel doesn't understand why no one else is excited but she is. What is it? Garbage day. Looking through the world through the eyes of a child, Mabel is an easily relatable character and the illustrations are solid. 

Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy. 

Hap-Pea Easter by Keith Baker

5.0

Keith Baker is back with another Hap-Pea story, this time featuring Easter. From spring colors to decorating eggs, this easy to follow children's book brings pastels and fun. Absolutely adorable!

Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy. 

When Alexander Graced the Table by Alexander Smalls, Denene Millner

5.0

Sundays are for church and family meals, and Alexander looks forward to helping cook every week. With an eye on impressing his dad, Alexander makes a dessert all by himself for Sunday dinner. A story about self belief and putting yourself out there, Alexander learns he can believe in himself. I didn't love the way Alexander's father tended to ignore him, and to get his attention he had to do something for his dad, but I think this opens the door for communication about the importance of being good enough for yourself.

Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy. 

Lily's Dream: A Fairy Friendship by Bea Jackson

5.0

If at first you don't succeed, the best lesson is to practice. Frustrated that she can't fly like everyone else, Lily is exposed to a hidden fairy house close to the ground. When she befriends a human named Willow, Lily learns the meaning of friendship and helpfulness. Eventually Lily's dream does come true, because of her resilience. Beautifully illustrated with strong messaging, I definitely recommend this book. 

Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy. 

Saturday Morning at the 'Shop by Keenan Jones

5.0

Author Keenan Jones and Illustrator Ken Daley take inspiration from their own lives as young black men visiting their local barber shops. Places where community is celebrates and wisdom is passed on, Saturday Morning at the 'Shop highlights the importance of coming together in joy and happiness. 

Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy. 

Mai's Áo Dài by Monique Truong, Thái Nguyễn

5.0

With big dreams in her head, Mai laments about following her families tradition for the Lunar New Year. While her mood shifts during the story, I really loved the interaction between Mai and her dad. He validated her feelings, while also standing firm in why they lift up their culture. The story includes a glossary to help pronounce unfamiliar words and ends with a color page for young readers to design their own Ao Dai. 

Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy. 

Dinosaur Roar! by Paul Stickland

5.0

An easy to follow rhythming book about dinosaurs and all of the shapes, sizes and personalities they come in. What really stood out to me was the vivid illustrations and strong use of contrasting colors so each dinosaur pops of the page. A Smithsonian Kids classic, Dinosaur Roar! has been delighting young readers for 30 years. Highly recommend. 

Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted copy.