Alex's bookshelf: all en-US Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:32:32 -0700 60 Alex's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[The Creative Act: A Way of Being]]> 60965426 From the legendary music producer, a master at helping people connect with the wellsprings of their creativity, comes a beautifully crafted book many years in the making that offers that same deep wisdom to all of us.

"A gorgeous and inspiring work of art on creation, creativity, the work of the artist. It will gladden the hearts of writers and artists everywhere, and get them working again with a new sense of meaning and direction. A stunning accomplishment." --Anne Lamott

"I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be." --Rick Rubin

Many famed music producers are known for a particular sound that has its day. Rick Rubin is known for something else: creating a space where artists of all different genres and traditions can home in on who they really are and what they really offer. He has made a practice of helping people transcend their self-imposed expectations in order to reconnect with a state of innocence from which the surprising becomes inevitable. Over the years, as he has thought deeply about where creativity comes from and where it doesn't, he has learned that being an artist isn't about your specific output, it's about your relationship to the world. Creativity has a place in everyone's life, and everyone can make that place larger. In fact, there are few more important responsibilities.

The Creative Act is a beautiful and generous course of study that illuminates the path of the artist as a road we all can follow. It distills the wisdom gleaned from a lifetime's work into a luminous reading experience that puts the power to create moments--and lifetimes--of exhilaration and transcendence within closer reach for all of us.]]>
406 Rick Rubin 0593652886 Alex 0 3.98 2023 The Creative Act: A Way of Being
author: Rick Rubin
name: Alex
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2025/07/01
date added: 2025/07/01
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Nora Ephron at the Movies: A Visual Celebration of the Writer and Director Behind When Harry Met Sally, You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and More]]> 207003745 224 Ilana Kaplan 1419763636 Alex 0 currently-reading 3.33 2024 Nora Ephron at the Movies: A Visual Celebration of the Writer and Director Behind When Harry Met Sally, You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and More
author: Ilana Kaplan
name: Alex
average rating: 3.33
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/28
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5)]]> 214331246 When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.]]>
387 Suzanne Collins 1546171460 Alex 0 currently-reading 4.55 2025 Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5)
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Alex
average rating: 4.55
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/26
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]>
The Very Hungry Caterpillar 4948
One sunny Sunday, the caterpillar was hatched out of a tiny egg. He was very hungry. On Monday, he ate through one apple; on Tuesday, he ate through three plums--and still he was hungry. When full at last, he made a cocoon around himself and went to sleep, to wake up a few weeks later wonderfully transformed into a butterfly!

The brilliantly innovative Eric Carle has dramatized the story of one of Nature's commonest yet loveliest marvels, the metamorphosis of the butterfly. This audiobook will delight as well as instruct the very youngest listener.]]>
26 Eric Carle 0241003008 Alex 0 4.34 1969 The Very Hungry Caterpillar
author: Eric Carle
name: Alex
average rating: 4.34
book published: 1969
rating: 0
read at: 2025/06/25
date added: 2025/06/25
shelves:
review:

]]>
1984: The Graphic Novel 48930315 1984, London is a grim city in the totalitarian state of Oceania where Big Brother is always watching you and the Thought Police can practically read your mind. Winston Smith is a man in grave danger for the simple reason that his memory still functions. Drawn into a forbidden love affair, Winston finds the courage to join a secret revolutionary organization called the Brotherhood, dedicated to the destruction of the Party. Together with his beloved Julia, he hazards his life in a deadly match against the powers that be.

With evocative, immersive art from Fido Nesti, this vision of George Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece provides a new perspective for longtime fans but is also an accessible entry point for young readers and adults who have yet to discover the iconic story that is still so relevant today.]]>
224 Fido Nesti 0358359929 Alex 0 4.23 2020 1984: The Graphic Novel
author: Fido Nesti
name: Alex
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at: 2025/06/25
date added: 2025/06/25
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?]]> 759611 24 Bill Martin Jr. 0805047905 Alex 0 4.26 1967 Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
author: Bill Martin Jr.
name: Alex
average rating: 4.26
book published: 1967
rating: 0
read at: 2025/06/24
date added: 2025/06/24
shelves:
review:

]]>
Orbital 123136728
A team of astronauts in the International Space Station collect meteorological data, conduct scientific experiments and test the limits of the human body. But mostly they observe. Together they watch their silent blue planet, circling it sixteen times, spinning past continents and cycling through seasons, taking in glaciers and deserts, the peaks of mountains and the swells of oceans. Endless shows of spectacular beauty witnessed in a single day.

Yet although separated from the world they cannot escape its constant pull. News reaches them of the death of a mother, and with it comes thoughts of returning home. They look on as a typhoon gathers over an island and people they love, in awe of its magnificence and fearful of its destruction.

The fragility of human life fills their conversations, their fears, their dreams. So far from earth, they have never felt more part - or protective - of it. They begin to ask, what is life without earth? What is earth without humanity?]]>
207 Samantha Harvey 0802161545 Alex 5 3.53 2023 Orbital
author: Samantha Harvey
name: Alex
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2025/06/21
date added: 2025/06/21
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver]]> 34272476
“No matter where one starts reading, Devotions offers much to love, from Oliver's exuberant dog poems to selections from the Pulitzer Prize-winning American Primitive, and Dream Work, one of her exceptional collections. Perhaps more important, the luminous writing provides respite from our crazy world and demonstrates how mindfulness can define and transform a life, moment by moment, poem by poem.” —The Washington Post

“It’s as if the poet herself has sidled beside the reader and pointed us to the poems she considers most worthy of deep consideration.” —Chicago Tribune

Throughout her celebrated career, Mary Oliver has touched countless readers with her brilliantly crafted verse, expounding on her love for the physical world and the powerful bonds between all living things. Identified as "far and away, this country's best selling poet" by Dwight Garner, she now returns with a stunning and definitive collection of her writing from the last fifty years.

Carefully curated, these 200 plus poems feature Oliver's work from her very first book of poetry, No Voyage and Other Poems, published in 1963 at the age of 28, through her most recent collection, Felicity, published in 2015. This timeless volume, arranged by Oliver herself, showcases the beloved poet at her edifying best. Within these pages, she provides us with an extraordinary and invaluable collection of her passionate, perceptive, and much-treasured observations of the natural world.]]>
456 Mary Oliver 0399563245 Alex 5 my-library 4.58 2017 Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver
author: Mary Oliver
name: Alex
average rating: 4.58
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2025/06/19
date added: 2025/06/19
shelves: my-library
review:

]]>
Hush, Little Ones 1345835
From tiny birds safely tucked into warm nests and cuddly rabbits nestled in underground burrows, to bear cubs resting in their dens and young whales lulled in the deep blue sea, the noisy animal kingdom settles down for the night.

In simple language and beautifully evocative, detailed illustrations, John Butler has crafted the perfect bedtime story for parents to share with children. Each animal is depicted in its natural setting as, one by one, baby animals are gently put to bed by their parents.]]>
24 John Butler 1561452971 Alex 0 4.02 2002 Hush, Little Ones
author: John Butler
name: Alex
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2002
rating: 0
read at: 2025/06/17
date added: 2025/06/18
shelves:
review:

]]>
Ten in the Den 1345814 Deep in the den, ten sleepy, cuddly animals snuggle up together for the night. But as the animal friends roll over to make more room, one animal after another gently tumbles out of the cozy den…until Little Mouse is left all alone. But Little Mouse misses his friends, so he comes up with the perfect solution to his problem.
John Butler’s charming version of a children’s favorite countdown to bedtime features a simple but playful text and soft, pastel-colored illustrations of bright-eyed baby animals. The result is an irresistible read-aloud story that will invite delighted responses from young children.]]>
32 John Butler 1561453447 Alex 0 4.14 2005 Ten in the Den
author: John Butler
name: Alex
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at: 2025/06/17
date added: 2025/06/18
shelves:
review:

]]>
The Moors 30838364 87 Jen Silverman 0573705402 Alex 0 4.23 The Moors
author: Jen Silverman
name: Alex
average rating: 4.23
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2019/01/01
date added: 2025/06/12
shelves:
review:

]]>
Witch 63313088 96 Jen Silverman 0573708231 Alex 0 to-read 4.22 Witch
author: Jen Silverman
name: Alex
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Beautiful World, Where Are You]]> 59808034 AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Beautiful World, Where Are You is a new novel by Sally Rooney, the bestselling author of Normal People and Conversations with Friends

Alice, a novelist, meets Felix, who works in a warehouse, and asks him if he’d like to travel to Rome with her. In Dublin, her best friend, Eileen, is getting over a breakup, and slips back into flirting with Simon, a man she has known since childhood.

Alice, Felix, Eileen, and Simon are still young—but life is catching up with them. They desire each other, they delude each other, they get together, they break apart. They have sex, they worry about sex, they worry about their friendships and the world they live in. Are they standing in the last lighted room before the darkness, bearing witness to something? Will they find a way to believe in a beautiful world?]]>
359 Sally Rooney 1250859042 Alex 0 to-read 3.54 2021 Beautiful World, Where Are You
author: Sally Rooney
name: Alex
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
This Is Not My Hat 13531024
Visual humor swims to the fore as the best-selling Jon Klassen follows his breakout debut with another deadpan-funny tale.]]>
40 Jon Klassen 0763655996 Alex 0 4.22 2012 This Is Not My Hat
author: Jon Klassen
name: Alex
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at: 2025/06/06
date added: 2025/06/06
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[What the Sun Sees, What the Moon Sees]]> 1153835 40 Nancy Tafuri 0688144934 Alex 0 3.83 1997 What the Sun Sees, What the Moon Sees
author: Nancy Tafuri
name: Alex
average rating: 3.83
book published: 1997
rating: 0
read at: 2025/06/04
date added: 2025/06/04
shelves:
review:

]]>
My Big Fat Fake Marriage 211003835 Something has to give... Could it be her heart?

Connie has always distrusted nice guys. In her experience, they’re just waiting to reveal some horrible secret. And then she meets big, adorable, Henry Samuel Beckett—editor extraordinaire, lover of bow ties, sweet and so cheery she struggles to believe he’s real.

Until Henry Samuel Beckett—or Beck, as he’s known to most—tells her the secret underneath his sunny surface: He’s been single all his life. But in a moment of panic, he’s told everyone at his publishing house that he’s married. And when Connie, an aspiring writer herself, can’t help defending him, she ends up being the fake wife he doesn’t actually have.

When they head off on a writing retreat, surrounded by people convinced this must be a ruse, both of them can't help but agree. Until they share their first kiss, their first touch, their first time in only one bed. Side by side, every night, as the simmering tension builds…Connie starts to wonder if this might be real after all.]]>
304 Charlotte Stein 1250867975 Alex 0 3.53 2025 My Big Fat Fake Marriage
author: Charlotte Stein
name: Alex
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/06/02
date added: 2025/06/02
shelves:
review:

]]>
The Emperor of Gladness 219848315 Oprah’s Book Club Pick • Ocean Vuong returns with a bighearted novel about chosen family, unexpected friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive

The hardest thing in the world is to live only once…

One late summer evening in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on the edge of a bridge in pelting rain, ready to jump, when he hears someone shout across the river. The voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing to dementia, who convinces him to take another path. Bereft and out of options, he quickly becomes her caretaker. Over the course of the year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond, one built on empathy, spiritual reckoning, and heartbreak, with the power to alter Hai’s relationship to himself, his family, and a community at the brink.

Following the cycles of history, memory, and time, The Emperor of Gladness shows the profound ways in which love, labor, and loneliness form the bedrock of American life. At its heart is a brave epic about what it means to exist on the fringes of society and to reckon with the wounds that haunt our collective soul. Hallmarks of Vuong’s writing – formal innovation, syntactic dexterity, and the ability to twin grit with grace through tenderness – are on full display in this story of loss, hope, and how far we would go to possess one of life’s most fleeting mercies: a second chance.]]>
416 Ocean Vuong 059383187X Alex 0 4.10 2025 The Emperor of Gladness
author: Ocean Vuong
name: Alex
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/06/01
date added: 2025/06/01
shelves:
review:

]]>
English 195467206 It's 2008, and four Iranians assemble triweekly in a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) class in Karaj, Iran. The students are led by Marjan, an anglophile who abolishes Farsi from her classroom. They translate Ricky Martin and endure major preposition confusion; they discover how to be funny in English and ponder what they will lose in the process. As the class slowly devolves into a linguistic mess, some students cling tighter to their mother tongue while others embrace the possibilities of a new language.]]> 84 Sanaz Toossi 0573709882 Alex 0 to-read 4.35 English
author: Sanaz Toossi
name: Alex
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/06/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
Eurydice 5661021 71 Sarah Ruhl 0573662444 Alex 0 4.12 2003 Eurydice
author: Sarah Ruhl
name: Alex
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/30
date added: 2025/05/30
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984]]> 23168840 The Arab of the Future, the #1 French best-seller, tells the unforgettable story of Riad Sattouf's childhood, spent in the shadows of 3 dictators—Muammar Gaddafi, Hafez al-Assad, and his father

In striking, virtuoso graphic style that captures both the immediacy of childhood and the fervor of political idealism, Riad Sattouf recounts his nomadic childhood growing up in rural France, Gaddafi's Libya, and Assad's Syria--but always under the roof of his father, a Syrian Pan-Arabist who drags his family along in his pursuit of grandiose dreams for the Arab nation.

Riad, delicate and wide-eyed, follows in the trail of his mismatched parents; his mother, a bookish French student, is as modest as his father is flamboyant. Venturing first to the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab State and then joining the family tribe in Homs, Syria, they hold fast to the vision of the paradise that always lies just around the corner. And hold they do, though food is scarce, children kill dogs for sport, and with locks banned, the Sattoufs come home one day to discover another family occupying their apartment. The ultimate outsider, Riad, with his flowing blond hair, is called the ultimate insult… Jewish. And in no time at all, his father has come up with yet another grand plan, moving from building a new people to building his own great palace.

Brimming with life and dark humor, The Arab of the Future reveals the truth and texture of one eccentric family in an absurd Middle East, and also introduces a master cartoonist in a work destined to stand alongside Maus and Persepolis.]]>
156 Riad Sattouf 1627793445 Alex 0 to-read 4.09 2014 The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984
author: Riad Sattouf
name: Alex
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
1984 61439040
Alternate cover edition can be found here.]]>
368 George Orwell 0452284236 Alex 0 to-read, favorites 4.22 1949 1984
author: George Orwell
name: Alex
average rating: 4.22
book published: 1949
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/30
shelves: to-read, favorites
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Who Cooked the Last Supper: The Women's History of the World]]> 56354
Starting with women in pre-history the author looks beyond the myth of ‘Man the Hunter’ to reveal women’s central role in the survival and evolution of the human race. She follows their progress from the days when God was a woman through to the triumphs of the Amazons and Assyrian war queens: she looks at the rise of organised religion and the growing oppression of women: she charts the long slow struggle for women’s rights culminating in the twentieth century women’s movements: and finally she presents a vision of women breaking free.

This brilliant and absorbing book turns the spotlight on the hidden side of history to present a fascinating new view of the world, overturning our preconceptions to restore women to their rightful place at the centre of the worldwide story of revolution, empire, war and peace.

Spiced with tales of individual women who have shaped history, celebrating the work and lives of the unsung female millions, distinguished by a wealth of research, The Women’s History of the World redefines the concept of historical reality.]]>
352 Rosalind Miles 0609806955 Alex 0 to-read 3.82 1989 Who Cooked the Last Supper: The Women's History of the World
author: Rosalind Miles
name: Alex
average rating: 3.82
book published: 1989
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Change the Recipe: Because You Can't Build a Better World Without Breaking Some Eggs]]> 216724267 A unique collection of life lessons from renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés 

José Andrés is a chef, an entrepreneur, an author, a television host, and a tireless humanitarian leader across the globe. A Michelin-starred chef with more than forty restaurants, José is also the founder of World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit dedicated to feeding the hungry in the wake of natural and man-made disasters. His lifetime of experience—from kitchens to conflict zones—has given him a wealth of stories and teachable moments that are funny, touching, and insightful, all animated by the belief that food can bring us closer together and the conviction that each of us can change the world for the better.

Written in José’s unmistakable voice, Change the Recipe is a collection of his most affecting and powerful life lessons: hard-won wisdom from a man who has dedicated his life to changing the world through the power of food.]]>
208 José Andrés 0063436159 Alex 0 4.21 Change the Recipe: Because You Can't Build a Better World Without Breaking Some Eggs
author: José Andrés
name: Alex
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/27
date added: 2025/05/27
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present]]> 2767 Zinn portrays a side of American history that can largely be seen as the exploitation and manipulation of the majority by rigged systems that hugely favor a small aggregate of elite rulers from across the orthodox political parties.
A People's History has been assigned as reading in many high schools and colleges across the United States. It has also resulted in a change in the focus of historical work, which now includes stories that previously were ignored

Library Journal calls Howard Zinn’s book “a brilliant and moving history of the American people from the point of view of those…whose plight has been largely omitted from most histories.”]]>
729 Howard Zinn 0060838655 Alex 0 to-read 4.08 1980 A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present
author: Howard Zinn
name: Alex
average rating: 4.08
book published: 1980
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
The Bear's Song 17352907
"Sweet" has new meaning in this richly illustrated, immersive picture book about two bears on a big-city adventure. Papa Bear is searching for Little Bear, who has escaped the den. Little Bear is following a bee, because where there are bees, there is honey! When the quest leads both bears into the bustling city and a humming opera house, theatrical hijinks ensue, culminating in a deliciously harmonious reunion. Children and parents alike will savor Benjamin Chaud's lush illustrations, and relish in the book's bonus seek-and-find elements.

Looking for more Papa Bear and Little Bear? Check out Bear's Sea Escape!]]>
24 Benjamin Chaud 1452114242 Alex 0 4.07 2011 The Bear's Song
author: Benjamin Chaud
name: Alex
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/23
date added: 2025/05/23
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Dancing Hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language]]> 122514322
Our new neighbors’ hands are dancing. Their hands move as if to music. What are they saying to each other?
 
Sam’s new neighbors’ hands make graceful movements she doesn’t recognize, and she wonders what they are saying. Soon she meets her new neighbor, Mai, who teaches Sam some Filipino Sign Language. Along the way, they both discover the joys of making a new friend, a best friend.]]>
40 Joanna Que 1797213326 Alex 0 4.09 2020 Dancing Hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language
author: Joanna Que
name: Alex
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/23
date added: 2025/05/23
shelves:
review:

]]>
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners 53327864
Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her own beauty and discovers a path to self love and empowerment. ]]>
34 Joanna Ho 0062915622 Alex 5 4.56 2021 Eyes that Kiss in the Corners
author: Joanna Ho
name: Alex
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/23
date added: 2025/05/23
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[How I Learned Geography (Caldecott Honor Book)]]> 2427936
The award-winning artist's most personal work to date is based on his childhood memories of World War II and features stunning illustrations that celebrate the power of imagination. An author's note includes a brief description of his family's experience, two of his early drawings, and the only surviving photograph of himself from that time.
How I Learned Geography is a 2009 Caldecott Honor Book and a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.]]>
32 Uri Shulevitz 0374334994 Alex 0 4.04 2008 How I Learned Geography (Caldecott Honor Book)
author: Uri Shulevitz
name: Alex
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/21
date added: 2025/05/21
shelves:
review:

]]>
Freedom in Congo Square 25785628
Mondays, there were hogs to slop,

mules to train, and logs to chop.

Slavery was no ways fair.

Six more days to Congo Square.

As slaves relentlessly toiled in an unjust system in 19th century Louisiana, they all counted down the days until Sunday, when at least for half a day they were briefly able to congregate in Congo Square in New Orleans. Here they were free to set up an open market, sing, dance, and play music. They were free to forget their cares, their struggles, and their oppression. This story chronicles slaves' duties each day, from chopping logs on Mondays to baking bread on Wednesdays to plucking hens on Saturday, and builds to the freedom of Sundays and the special experience of an afternoon spent in Congo Square. This book will have a forward from Freddi Williams Evans (freddievans.com), a historian and Congo Square expert, as well as a glossary of terms with pronunciations and definitions.

AWARDS:

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2016

A School Library Journal Best Book of 2016: Nonfiction

Starred reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and The Horn Book Magazine]]>
34 Carole Boston Weatherford 1499801033 Alex 5 4.27 2016 Freedom in Congo Square
author: Carole Boston Weatherford
name: Alex
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/21
date added: 2025/05/21
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend]]> 18295821
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Dan Santat combines classic storytelling with breathtaking art, creating an unforgettable tale about friendship, imagination, and the courage to find one's place in the world.]]>
40 Dan Santat 0316199982 Alex 0 4.26 2014 The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend
author: Dan Santat
name: Alex
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/21
date added: 2025/05/21
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Knight Owl (The Knight Owl, #1)]]> 57007688
A determined Owl builds strength and confidence in this medieval picture book about the real mettle of a wits, humor, and heart. 

Since the day he hatched, Owl dreamed of becoming a real knight. He may not be the biggest or the strongest, but his sharp nocturnal instincts can help protect the castle, especially since many knights have recently gone missing. While holding guard during Knight Night Watch, Owl is faced with the ultimate trial—a frightening intruder. It’s a daunting duel by any measure. But what Owl lacks in size, he makes up for in good ideas.
 
Full of wordplay and optimism, this surprising display of bravery proves that cleverness (and friendship) can rule over brawn.]]>
48 Christopher Denise 031631062X Alex 5 4.44 2022 Knight Owl (The Knight Owl, #1)
author: Christopher Denise
name: Alex
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/20
date added: 2025/05/20
shelves:
review:

]]>
Violet Shrink 49993414
At cousin Char’s birthday party, Violet hides under a table and imagines she is a shark gliding effortlessly through the water, looking for food. And at Auntie Marlene and Uncle Leli’s anniversary bash, Violet sits alone at the top of the stairs, imagining she is a slithering snake way up in the branches.

When Violet learns that the Shrink family reunion is fast approaching, she musters up the courage to have a talk with her dad.

In this thoughtful story about understanding and acceptance, Violet’s natural introversion and feelings of social anxiety are normalized when she and her father reach a solution together. Christine Baldacchino’s warm text demonstrates the role imagination often plays for children dealing with anxiety, and the power of a child expressing their feelings to a parent who is there to listen. Carmen Mok’s charming illustrations perfectly capture Violet’s emotions and the vibrancy of her imagination. A valuable contribution to books addressing mental health.]]>
32 Christine Baldacchino 1773062050 Alex 0 4.00 Violet Shrink
author: Christine Baldacchino
name: Alex
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/20
date added: 2025/05/20
shelves:
review:

]]>
Joy 40679277
But Fern soon realises that joy doesn’t fit in a bag, or a box or a tin! How will she manage to bring some back to Nanna?

Emotional, funny and uplifting, this beautiful picture book has a strong message about empathy and maintaining loving relationships with our grandparents. Guaranteed to bring a bit of joy into every reader’s life, this story is a pure delight.]]>
32 Corrinne Averiss 1910277657 Alex 0 4.29 2018 Joy
author: Corrinne Averiss
name: Alex
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/20
date added: 2025/05/20
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Pitcher Perfect (Big Shots, #4)]]> 222658358 #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey is back with an all-new enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating sports romance about a playboy hockey rookie and the disciplined softball pitcher completely immune to his charms.

Boston Bearcats rookie Robbie Corrigan is living the dream. He’s made it to the NHL, his best friend/teammate and fellow “orgasm donor” is his roomie—and the women of Boston love them both. Life is sweet. That is, until he meets Skylar Paige, division 1 softball pitcher, girl least likely to take anyone’s bull…and the one member of the opposite sex immune to his charms. Robbie might be dazzled by the badass pitcher, but Skylar pegs him as a filthy player and wants nothing to do with him.

When he discovers she’s carrying a serious torch for her brother’s best friend, Robbie knows he should just go back to clubbing and whipped cream bikini parties, but he can’t seem to leave Skylar to flounder on her romantic quest to land another man. Nor can he miss out on the opportunity to spend time with her and hopefully redeem himself. Before Robbie knows it, he’s agreed to be Skylar’s fake boyfriend/love coach at an upcoming family wilderness competition where her crush will be in attendance. What could go wrong?

Through a series of contests that require them to trust each other, Robbie and Skylar grow closer and closer until their fake relationship starts to feel like the realest thing they’ve ever known and the sizzling lessons in sensuality burn out of control.

But it’s all just pretend…right?]]>
336 Tessa Bailey 0063380838 Alex 0 to-read 4.09 2025 Pitcher Perfect (Big Shots, #4)
author: Tessa Bailey
name: Alex
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder through 카지노싸이트 & Poetry]]> 207568356 The Universe in Verse is an ode to wonder and an exploration of the human search for truth and meaning.  Poetry and science, as Popova writes in her introduction, "are instruments for knowing the world more intimately and loving it more deeply." In 15 short essays on subjects ranging from the mystery of dark matter and the infinity of pi to the resilience of trees and the intelligence of octopuses, Popova tells the stories of scientific searching and discovery. These stories are interwoven with details from the very real and human lives of scientists—many of them women, many underrecognized—and poets inspired by the same questions and the beauty they reveal. Each essay is paired with a poem reflecting its subject by poets ranging from Emily Dickinson, W. H. Auden, and Edna St. Vincent Millay to Maya Angelou, Diane Ackerman, and Tracy K. Smith, and is stunningly illustrated by celebrated artist Ofra Amit. Together, they wake us to a "reality aglow with wonder." ]]> 112 Maria Popova 1635868831 Alex 4 4.24 2024 The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder through 카지노싸이트 & Poetry
author: Maria Popova
name: Alex
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/17
date added: 2025/05/17
shelves:
review:

]]>
The Blur 59447016 Meet a child with superhero-like abilities . . . and the parents who are racing to keep up with her in this sweetly funny picturebook about the blur of childhood, from the award-winning creators of Drawn Together.

From the very beginning, there was something different about this child...

An ultrasonic voice. Fantastically elastic limbs. Super-magnetic powers. But it wasn't until the child took her first steps that she became: THE BLUR!

Nothing can stand in her way as she takes the world by storm: always on the move and darting into danger! All too soon, she is zipping through the days, and zooming over the years...

Framed as an origin story, here is a fun superhero romp for kids, filled with bold and bright illustrations, that will pull at the hearstrings of every parent.]]>
40 Minh Lê 059337746X Alex 0 4.32 2022 The Blur
author: Minh Lê
name: Alex
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/16
date added: 2025/05/16
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Sing a Black Girl's Song: The Unpublished Work of Ntozake Shange]]> 75593479 Ms. Magazine ’s September 2023 Reads for the Rest of Us
The Millions “ Most Anticipated” Books of 2023
LitHub’s Most Anticipated Books of 2023

Never-before-seen unpublished works by award-winning American literary icon Ntozake Shange, featuring essays, plays, and poems from the archives of the seminal Black feminist writer who stands alongside giants like Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, curated by National Book Award winner Imani Perry with a foreword by New York Times bestselling author Tarana Burke.
 
            In the late ’60s, Ntozake Shange was a student at Barnard College discovering her budding talent as a writer, publishing in her school’s literary journal, and finding her unique voice. By the time she left us in 2018,  Shange had scorched blazing trails across countless pages and stages, redefining genre and form as we know them, each verse, dance, and song a love letter to Black women and girls, and the community at large.
            Sing a Black Girl’s Song is a new posthumous collection of Shange’s unpublished poems, essays, and plays from throughout the life of the seminal Black feminist writer. In these pages we meet young Shange, learn the moments that inspired for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf…, travel with an eclectic family of musicians, sit on “The Couch” opposite Shange’s therapist, and discover plays written after for colored girls’ international success. Sing a Black Girl’s Song houses, in their original form, the literary rebel’s politically charged verses from the Black Arts Movement era alongside her signature tender rhythm and cadence  that capture the minutia and nuance of Black life. Sing a Black Girl’s Song is the continuation of a literary tradition that has bolstered generations of writers and a long-lasting gift from one of the fiercest and most highly celebrated artists of our time.   
 ]]>
496 Ntozake Shange 0306828510 Alex 0 to-read 4.27 Sing a Black Girl's Song: The Unpublished Work of Ntozake Shange
author: Ntozake Shange
name: Alex
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
John 26196076 – New Yorker

“ John , like any great play, raises a lot of questions–not just about the human experience, but also about the state of contemporary theater, it doesn’t provide many answers; it is not the playwright’s responsibility to do so.… In John she co-opts the viewer for her own aesthetic use, heightening the tension onstage and deepening the quiet relationships between her characters. Through John, she displays an understanding that the audience is part of the theatrical experience, an inevitability as certain as a Chekhovian gun.” – Slate


The week after Thanksgiving. A bed & breakfast in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. A cheerful innkeeper. A young couple struggling to stay together. Thousands of inanimate objects, watching.

The description by the playwright of the setting is simple, but Annie Baker’s compelling new work is revolutionary in theme and structure and challenges the boundaries of what theatre can be. A kind of magical super-realism permeates throughout this quietly evolving tale, with both the actors and the audience fully vested together in a mesmerizing exploration of the frailty and loneliness of human experience.]]>
111 Annie Baker 1559365293 Alex 0 to-read 4.26 2016 John
author: Annie Baker
name: Alex
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
Vinegar Tom 422986 65 Caryl Churchill 0573619735 Alex 0 to-read 3.73 1976 Vinegar Tom
author: Caryl Churchill
name: Alex
average rating: 3.73
book published: 1976
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
Promenade and Other Plays 287197 136 María Irene Fornés 1555540147 Alex 0 to-read 3.74 1971 Promenade and Other Plays
author: María Irene Fornés
name: Alex
average rating: 3.74
book published: 1971
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Are You a Sleepy Monster? (Your Scary Monster Friend, 2)]]> 155685555
Are you all set for SLEEPOVER TIME? Monster has your scary pajamas ready and UNDER the bed is looking perfectly yucky and monstrous. Wait, what do you mean you sleep ON THE BED? Are you not a monster? ALL monsters sleep under the bed! Can you persuade Monster to sleep on the horribly soft bed with a disgustingly fluffy teddy?

This soothing book helps little ones fall asleep.
   
Children will love playing along with the book as this lovable monster invites them to wear ragged pyjamas, crawl under the bed and act like a monster! Kids get to join in with this hilarious story and play their monstrous part, and by the end all little monsters will be feeling calm and sleepy! This is the perfect bedtime book for energetic kids to expel any last bursts of energy they have and settle in for the night as they tell the monster what to do.]]>
40 Guilherme Karsten 0711283370 Alex 0 4.17 Are You a Sleepy Monster? (Your Scary Monster Friend, 2)
author: Guilherme Karsten
name: Alex
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/14
date added: 2025/05/14
shelves:
review:

]]>
Eynhallow 202142414
When a stranger comes ashore to rent an abandoned cottage, Agnes and the other islanders are abuzz with curiosity. Who is this wealthy foreigner and why on earth would he come to Eynhallow? Her curiosity is soon replaced with vexation when her husband hires her out as cook and washerwoman, leaving Agnes with no say in the matter. Agnes begrudgingly befriends this aristocrat-in-exile; a mercurial scientist who toils night and day on some secret pursuit. Despite herself, she’s drawn to his dark, brooding charm. And who is this Byronic stranger sweeping Agnes off her feet? His name is Frankenstein and he's come to this remote isle to fulfill a monstrous obligation.]]>
178 Tim McGregor 1947879669 Alex 0 4.10 2024 Eynhallow
author: Tim McGregor
name: Alex
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/14
date added: 2025/05/14
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Bear Feels Sad (The Bear Books)]]> 220196232 Bear has the lonely day blues waiting for his friends to have free time in this new picture book in the bestselling series.

Bear feels sad. All his friends are off being busy and he’s by himself. He can’t think of anything to do to cheer himself up. Even building a fort is no fun! But when he finds a beautiful field of flowers, Bear gets the perfect idea to turn his day gathering gifts to share with his friends when they get back!]]>
Karma Wilson Alex 0 3.96 Bear Feels Sad (The Bear Books)
author: Karma Wilson
name: Alex
average rating: 3.96
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/10
date added: 2025/05/10
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Elvis & Romeo (An Elvis & Romeo Book)]]> 220160289 From the bestselling creators of the Ladybug Girl series comes a picture book about the misadventures of two very different dogs who become unlikely friends.

Elvis loves to sleep and doesn’t like running around or playing hide and seek. He can’t wait to go the dog park and have a nice, quiet nap.

Romeo loves to rush and race around, howl, and fetch sticks. He can’t wait to go to the dog park and make a new friend.

Elvis and Romeo’s burgeoning friendship doesn't exactly get off to the most promising start when they meet. It seems like they have nothing in common. But little by little, these polar-opposite pooches may just become the closet of canines after all.]]>
40 David Soman 166594806X Alex 0 4.14 Elvis & Romeo (An Elvis & Romeo Book)
author: David Soman
name: Alex
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/10
date added: 2025/05/10
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[The Survivor Wants to Die at the End (Death-Cast, #2)]]> 199531917 In this third book of the USA Today and #1 New York Times mega-bestselling They Both Die at the End series, two strangers—each with their own complicated relationship to Death-Cast—help each other learn to live.

Paz Dario stays up every night, waiting for the Death-Cast call that would mean he doesn’t have to keep faking his way through this lonely life. After a devastating day, Paz decides he’s done waiting around for Death-Cast. If they say he’s not dying, he’ll just have to prove them wrong. But right before Paz can die, a boy saves his life.

Alano Rosa is heir to the Death-Cast empire that encourages everyone to live their best lives, but he doesn’t feel in control of his own existence thanks to his father. And with a violent organization called the Death Guard threatening Alano, his End Day might be closer than he thinks. It’s time to live.

Fate brings Paz and Alano together, but it’s now up to the boys to survive the tragic trials ahead so no one dies at the end.

This book contains themes that some readers may find difficult.]]>
720 Adam Silvera 0063240858 Alex 0 to-read 4.10 2025 The Survivor Wants to Die at the End (Death-Cast, #2)
author: Adam Silvera
name: Alex
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/09
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
Frankenstein in Baghdad 30780005 The New York Times), Frankenstein in Baghdad captures with white-knuckle horror and black humor the surreal reality of contemporary Iraq.]]> 281 Ahmed Saadawi 0143128795 Alex 4 literary-cannibalism 3.65 2013 Frankenstein in Baghdad
author: Ahmed Saadawi
name: Alex
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/09
date added: 2025/05/09
shelves: literary-cannibalism
review:

]]>
Polar Star (Picture Books) 6394235 32 Sally Grindley 1860394221 Alex 0 3.81 1997 Polar Star (Picture Books)
author: Sally Grindley
name: Alex
average rating: 3.81
book published: 1997
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model]]> 55384168 Discover an empowering new way of understanding your multifaceted mind—and healing the many parts that make you who you are.

Is there just one “you”? We’ve been taught to believe we have a single identity, and to feel fear or shame when we can’t control the inner voices that don’t match the ideal of who we think we should be. Yet Dr. Richard Schwartz’s research now challenges this “mono-mind” theory. “All of us are born with many sub-minds—or parts,” says Dr. Schwartz. “These parts are not imaginary or symbolic. They are individuals who exist as an internal family within us—and the key to health and happiness is to honor, understand, and love every part.”

Dr. Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems (IFS) model has been transforming psychology for decades. With No Bad Parts, you’ll learn why IFS has been so effective in areas such as trauma recovery, addiction therapy, and depression treatment—and how this new understanding of consciousness has the potential to radically change our lives. Here you’ll explore:

• The IFS revolution—how honoring and communicating with our parts changes our approach to mental wellness
• Overturning the cultural, scientific, and spiritual assumptions that reinforce an outdated mono-mind model
• The ego, the inner critic, the saboteur—making these often-maligned parts into powerful allies
• Burdens—why our parts become distorted and stuck in childhood traumas and cultural beliefs
• How IFS demonstrates human goodness by revealing that there are no bad parts
• The Self—discover your wise, compassionate essence of goodness that is the source of healing and harmony
• Exercises for mapping your parts, accessing the Self, working with a challenging protector, identifying each part’s triggers, and more

IFS is a paradigm-changing model because it gives us a powerful approach for healing ourselves, our culture, and our planet. As Dr. Schwartz teaches, “Our parts can sometimes be disruptive or harmful, but once they’re unburdened, they return to their essential goodness. When we learn to love all our parts, we can learn to love all people—and that will contribute to healing the world.”

]]>
216 Richard C. Schwartz 1683646681 Alex 5 4.13 2021 No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model
author: Richard C. Schwartz
name: Alex
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/04
date added: 2025/05/04
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[We Are Not Blood: A Found Family Post Apocalyptic (Annover Park Book 1)]]> 230895006 The Last of Us meets A Quiet Place & Annihilation in this Found Family Post Apocalyptic without zombies.

A 36-year-old sheriff on his way to a meeting.
A 21-year-old student returning to her senior year of college.
A 6-month-old baby in the backseat of her mother’s car.

Three strangers who should’ve never met.

But when the bridge all three are on collapses in a cataclysmic event, Quinn risks her life to save the trapped Ava. The baby’s mother is dead, but her rescue is too little too late. They both hurtle for death, but before the poisoned river below claims them, Anson finds them and carries the girls to the safety of dry land.

Only nothing is safe anymore. As nature mutates, each disaster more disturbing than the last, Anson feels responsible for Quinn and Ava. He promises to find them somewhere safe before he continues his solo journey south, but as weeks turn to months, the unusual trio faces two questions that will forever change the course of their lives. Is any place truly safe? And is blood the only thing that makes us family?

We Are Not Blood is the first book in the Annover Park Trilogy. This series is perfect for fans of The Last of Us, Earth Abides, Annihilation, and The Quiet Place series (more so as the series continues). Filled with disasters, a sloooooooooow burn age gap romance (later in the series), and a literally found family, this trilogy will end on minor cliffhangers with unanswered questions until the resolution in book 3. ]]>
271 Nicole Scarano Alex 0 to-read 4.07 We Are Not Blood: A Found Family Post Apocalyptic (Annover Park Book 1)
author: Nicole Scarano
name: Alex
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
Chooch Helped 207567587
When Elisi paints a mural, Chooch helps. When Edutsi makes grape dumplings, Chooch helps. When oginalii gigs for crawdads, Chooch helps. When Sissy tries to make a clay pot, Chooch helps …

“Hlesdi!” Sissy yells. Quit it! Chooch bursts into tears. What follows is a tender family moment that will resonate with anyone who has welcomed a new little one to the fold. Chooch Helped is the story of an older sibling learning to make space for a new child, told with grace by Andrea L. Rogers and showing one Cherokee family immersing themselves in their cultural traditions.

"]]>
48 Andrea L. Rogers 1646144546 Alex 0 4.26 Chooch Helped
author: Andrea L. Rogers
name: Alex
average rating: 4.26
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/03
date added: 2025/05/03
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered]]> 1117634 Newsweek

One the 100 most influential books published since World War II
The Times Literary Supplement

Hailed as an "eco-bible" by Time magazine, E.F. Schumacher's riveting, richly researched statement on sustainability has become more relevant and vital with each year since its initial groundbreaking publication during the 1973 energy crisis. A landmark statement against "bigger is better" industrialism, Schumacher's Small Is Beautiful paved the way for twenty-first century books on environmentalism and economics, like Jeffrey Sachs's The End of Poverty, Paul Hawken's Natural Capitalism, Mohammad Yunis's Banker to the Poor, and Bill McKibben's Deep Economy. This timely reissue offers a crucial message for the modern world struggling to balance economic growth with the human costs of globalization.]]>
352 Ernst F. Schumacher 0060916303 Alex 0 to-read 4.10 1973 Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered
author: Ernst F. Schumacher
name: Alex
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1973
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten]]> 177721371 From the New York Times best-selling creators of Library Lion comes a warm (and delightfully fuzzy) storybook about learning to be—and be loved for—exactly who you are.

On a street of old houses, a big hairy spider is searching for a home with dark corners to hide in. But when he wakes up, he finds a hand reaching for him and a lady proclaiming that she has always wanted a kitten—and will name him Luigi! At first, a somewhat puzzled Luigi, used to being left alone to creep and dangle and spin webs, resists her kind advances. But soon, tasty breakfasts and getting tucked into bed (no one’s ever wished him good night before) have him thinking that kittens surely live magical lives. I will be a kitten! he decides. But how long can he keep up his facade, and what might be at stake in pretending to be someone you’re not? The award-winning duo behind Library Lion delivers another classic in the making, marked by humor and depth, endearing characters, and the assurance that the right people will accept and adore us, unconditionally, just as we are.]]>
40 Michelle Knudsen 1536219118 Alex 4 4.38 2024 Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten
author: Michelle Knudsen
name: Alex
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/02
date added: 2025/05/02
shelves:
review:

]]>
Old Clothes for Dinner?! 198135912 32 Nathalie Alonso Alex 5 4.32 Old Clothes for Dinner?!
author: Nathalie Alonso
name: Alex
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/02
date added: 2025/05/02
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Understanding Myself: A Kid's Guide to Intense Emotions and Strong Feelings]]> 9685417
Can you feel sad and happy at the same time?
Does anger really make you hot?
Are you likely to be envious?
Why is stuff so embarrassing?
Chock-full of cool psychology and info on emotions, real-life stories from kids, interesting facts, and feeling quizzes, Understanding Myself will help you notice just what all your emotions and feelings are telling you about yourself, your friends, and your family.

So go ahead, take a peek inside! Soon you'll be an expert...on you.



Strong feelings and intense emotions are part of every pre-teens life. Understanding Myself is written especially for kids with intense emotions. This informative and practical guide will help kids know what do when their emotions get to be too much!]]>
112 Mary C. Lamia 1433808897 Alex 0 4.03 Understanding Myself: A Kid's Guide to Intense Emotions and Strong Feelings
author: Mary C. Lamia
name: Alex
average rating: 4.03
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/05/02
date added: 2025/05/02
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China]]> 1918702 Long, long ago a good woman lived contentedly with her three daughters—Shang, tao, and Paotze—in the country-side of northern China...

But one day she had to leave to visit their granny, so she warned her children to close the door tight and to latch it.

Son after, to their surprise, there was a knock at the door and a voice saying that it was their granny, their Po Po. What could the children do but let her in? But what a low voice she had, what thorny hands, and what a hairy face!

The Chinese tale of Lon Po Po, Granny Wolf, like the European tale of Little Red Riding Hood, comes from an ancient oral tradition and is thought to be over a thousand years old. It is a favorite tale of artist Ed young, who translated and illustrated this version. Using a dramatic style that combines techniques used in ancient Chinese panel art with a powerful contemporary palette or watercolors and pastels, Mr. Young has created a book of classic beauty and charm.

Ed Young was born in Tientsin, China, grew up in Shanghai, and brings his Eastern heritage to his artwork. From the authentic Oriental papercut technique of The Emperor and the Kite to the rich and glowing pastels of Yeh Shin, Mr. Young attains a versatility of feeling, theme, and style. Cats are Cats, his much lauded collaboration with anthologist Nancy Larrick, was named one of the Ten Best Illustrated Children's Books of 1988 as well as an ALA Notable Book for Children.

1990 Caldecott Medal Winner

Edition MSRP: $16⁹⁹ USA / $25⁵⁰ CAN (ISBN 0-399-21619-7)]]>
32 Ed Young 0399216197 Alex 0 4.06 1989 Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China
author: Ed Young
name: Alex
average rating: 4.06
book published: 1989
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/30
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[The African Gaze: Photography, Cinema and Power]]> 123028448 288 Amy Sall 0500025398 Alex 0 4.25 The African Gaze: Photography, Cinema and Power
author: Amy Sall
name: Alex
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/29
date added: 2025/04/29
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[The Man Who Didn't Like Animals]]> 199531873
There once was a man who loved his tidy home and who  didn’t  like animals. Then one day, a cat appeared. The man and the cat both liked napping and watching the rain and eating dinner precisely at six. Well, maybe this  one  animal could stay. Next came a dog . . . This big-hearted and funny tale with delightful artwork from Caldecott Honor artist LeUyen Pham celebrates the joy of embracing new perspectives.]]>
40 Deborah Underwood 0358567130 Alex 0 4.53 2024 The Man Who Didn't Like Animals
author: Deborah Underwood
name: Alex
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/23
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves:
review:

]]>
The Quacken 63250718
Lurking in the lake at Cucumonga Campground is a fearsome and frightening creature. Legend says that it swallows kids, canoes, and even whales whole. But all Hector sees are cute, cuddly, quacking ducks. Until he breaks the campground’s most important rule—Don’t Feed the Ducks—and releases…the Quacken.]]>
40 Justin Colón Alex 0 4.18 2024 The Quacken
author: Justin Colón
name: Alex
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/23
date added: 2025/04/23
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[We Are Not Numbers: The Voices of Gaza’s Youth. The Sunday Times Bestseller]]> 220343035 ***THE NUMBER 5 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER***

***THE IRISH BESTSELLER***

'Meaningful and impactful ... A vital [read] ... Tell all your friends' BRITISH VOGUE

'A powerful collection' SERVICE 95, founded by Dua Lipa

'These brilliant young people have embraced writing as a form of liberation, both for the self and to resist the global invisibilisation of Gaza.' FRANCESCA ALBANESE, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories

'This book is a jailbreak and a miracle' NAOMI KLEIN

'Essential . . . A project that insists on liberation' TA-NEHISI COATES

'You'll carry [it] in your heart for a long time' KAMILA SHAMSIE

'Wondrous, devastating and vibrant' BRYAN WASHINGTON

'Impossible to put down or forget' RIZ AHMED

A teenage girl stares at her roof, hoping it won’t collapse over her head. A young student searches the Internet for photos of libraries around the world, hoping he’ll be able to visit them one day. Another walks around the city, taking notes of all the buildings she dreams of repairing.

These are the stories of young people from Gaza, born under Israeli occupation and blockade. They are people who have endured unspeakable struggles and losses, who keep fighting to be recognised not as numbers, but as human beings with hopes, dreams and lives worth living.

We Are Not Numbers was founded in 2014 to give voice to the youth of Gaza. In this collection, vital, urgent and full of heart, spanning over ten years to the present moment, we gain an unparalleled insight into the past, as well as the current and next generation of Palestinian leaders, artists, scientists and scholars and imagine where we might go from here.

'A vital book . . . a profoundly important literary event' CHINA MIEVILLE
'A brilliant collection of voices that lays bare the struggles and suffering of ordinary young Palestinians' MONICA ALI

'We Are Not Numbers is not just a book — it's my life, their life, and our shared story . . . This is Gaza as it truly is, written by those who live it every day' MOTAZ AZIZA

'A rebellion against the singular story. An insightful, multifaceted glimpse into the besieged Gaza Strip, where millions of people continue to confront a genocide waged by an Israeli regime' MOHAMMED EL-KURD
]]>
327 Ahmed Alnaouq 1804955701 Alex 0 to-read 4.91 2025 We Are Not Numbers: The Voices of Gaza’s Youth. The Sunday Times Bestseller
author: Ahmed Alnaouq
name: Alex
average rating: 4.91
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Noodle and the No Bones Day (Noodle and Jonathan)]]> 60137605 From the creator of the viral “Bones or No Bones” TikTok videos comes a sweet and entertaining picture book following Noodle the pug and his human as they navigate Noodle’s first No Bones Day—a day for being kind to yourself!

Noodle is a sweet, silly old pug who enjoys doing all his favorite activities with his favorite human, Jonathan. But one day when Jonathan goes to take Noodle on his morning walk, he finds Noodle still comfortable in bed. When Jonathan lifts Noodle up, Noodle just flops over. It’s almost like Noodle woke up without any bones!

Noodle isn’t sick or sad—but he also isn’t interested in going for walks or sitting outside (he will accept snacks, though). Today, all he needs are extra snuggles and belly rubs. Jonathan soon learns that not every day can be a Bones Day, and sometimes a No Bones Day is exactly what you need to get through the week.]]>
32 Jonathan Graziano 1665927119 Alex 0 4.50 2022 Noodle and the No Bones Day (Noodle and Jonathan)
author: Jonathan Graziano
name: Alex
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/19
date added: 2025/04/19
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown]]> 41453977 Goodnight Moon, Runaway Bunny, and other children’s classics.

What is important about Margaret Wise Brown?

In 42 inspiring pages, this biography by award-winning writer Mac Barnett vividly depicts one of the greatest children's book creators who ever lived: Margaret Wise Brown, the author of Goodnight Moon, The Runaway Bunny, and The Little Fur Family. Illustrated with sumptuous art by rising star Sarah Jacoby, this is essential reading for children's book lovers of every age.]]>
48 Mac Barnett 0062393448 Alex 5 4.21 2019 The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown
author: Mac Barnett
name: Alex
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/19
date added: 2025/04/19
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Good Books for Bad Children: The Genius of Ursula Nordstrom]]> 141579925
"Ursula Nordstrom was a grown-up who never forgot what it was to be a child." The girl who'd always loved to read would grow up to work in the Department of Books for Boys and Girls at Harper & Brothers Publishers. Soon she was editing books by Margaret Wise Brown and E. B. White, discovering new talent like John Steptoe and Maurice Sendak, and reinventing what a book for children should be. "Children want to be seen," she'd tell her writers. "Not good enough for you," she'd scribble in the margins of their manuscripts, asking them to revise. Her favorite books of all? "Good books for bad children," she'd say. And those books went on to win every award imaginable, including the Caldecott and Newbery Medals and the National Book Award.]]>
48 Beth Kephart 0593379578 Alex 5 4.26 2023 Good Books for Bad Children: The Genius of Ursula Nordstrom
author: Beth Kephart
name: Alex
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/19
date added: 2025/04/19
shelves:
review:

]]>
Noodles on a Bicycle 205181096 A vibrant historical picture book about Tokyo's bicycle food deliverers, or demae, who balanced towering trays of steaming hot noodles on their shoulders while navigating crowded city streets.When the deliverymen set off in the morning, the children wait for the flicker of pedal and wheel. It's the demae-- delivery men-- setting off to deliver steaming trays of noodles to hungry customers all over the city. They are whizzing past other bicycles, soaring around curves, avoiding the black smoke of motorcycles. When the children see them, they want to be them. And so they practice with bowls of wobbling water stacked on trays. The day passes, and, finally, exhausted, the demae return home, to their families, and, yes, to steaming bowls of noodles.    This beautifully crafted, visually exciting story by a powerhouse author and illustrator team is sure to be adored by food lovers, young and old.]]> 40 Kyo Maclear 0593706080 Alex 5 4.23 2024 Noodles on a Bicycle
author: Kyo Maclear
name: Alex
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/19
date added: 2025/04/19
shelves:
review:

]]>
Hello There, Sunshine 214557442 From America’s Mom—actress, New York Times bestselling author, NAACP Award–winning personality, and Emmy-winning host Tabitha Browncomes an upbeat, inspiring story about finding your own light.

"Hello there, sunshine!"

Every morning, young Tabitha wakes up and greets the sun. She loves how it brings everyone JOY. But one day she wakes up and the sun is missing! So Tab hops on her strawberry shortcake bike with her puppy in tow and makes it her business to find the sun.

Can she do it? Or will Tabitha find out that sometimes the shine we're looking for is inside of us?

A perfect pick for fans of What Do You Do with an Idea?, You Matter, and Just Because, Brown’s children's debut is a marvelous read-aloud and a great gift that will remind the youngest reader to always stay positive. ]]>
40 Tabitha Brown 006334226X Alex 0 4.20 Hello There, Sunshine
author: Tabitha Brown
name: Alex
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/19
date added: 2025/04/19
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[The Autobiography of Malcolm X]]> 92057
Through a life of passion and struggle, Malcolm X became one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century. In this riveting account, he tells of his journey from a prison cell to Mecca, describing his transition from hoodlum to Muslim minister. Here, the man who called himself "the angriest Black man in America" relates how his conversion to true Islam helped him confront his rage and recognize the brotherhood of all mankind.

An established classic of modern America, "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" was hailed by the New York Times as "Extraordinary. A brilliant, painful, important book." Still extraordinary, still important, this electrifying story has transformed Malcolm X's life into his legacy. The strength of his words, and the power of his ideas continue to resonate more than a generation after they first appeared.]]>
466 Malcolm X Alex 0 my-library, to-read 4.35 1965 The Autobiography of Malcolm X
author: Malcolm X
name: Alex
average rating: 4.35
book published: 1965
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/18
shelves: my-library, to-read
review:

]]>
Snow & Rose 33972789 A New York Times bestselling author-illustrator brings readers into the woods to meet two young sisters and a strange bit of magic in this reimagining of the classic but little-known fairy tale "Snow White and Rose Red."

Snow and Rose didn't know they were in a fairy tale. People never do....

Once, they lived in a big house with spectacular gardens and an army of servants.

Once, they had a father and mother who loved them more than the sun and moon.

But that was before their father disappeared into the woods and their mother disappeared into sorrow.

This is the story of two sisters and the enchanted woods that have been waiting for them to break a set of terrible spells.

Bestselling author-illustrator Emily Winfield Martin has created a world that sits on the border of enchantment, with characters who are grounded in real emotions that readers will recognize in themselves.]]>
213 Emily Winfield Martin 0553538209 Alex 5 4.04 2017 Snow & Rose
author: Emily Winfield Martin
name: Alex
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/15
date added: 2025/04/15
shelves:
review:

]]>
Ain't Burned All the Bright 58437699 Prepare yourself for something unlike anything: A smash-up of art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is to be Black. In America. Right Now. Written by #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jason Reynolds.

Jason Reynolds and his best bud, Jason Griffin had a mind-meld. And they decided to tackle it, in one fell swoop, in about ten sentences, and 300 pages of art, this piece, this contemplation-manifesto-fierce-vulnerable-gorgeous-terrifying-WhatIsWrongWithHumans-hope-filled-hopeful-searing-Eye-Poppingly-Illustrated-tender-heartbreaking-how-The-HECK-did-They-Come-UP-with-This project about oxygen. And all of the symbolism attached to that word, especially NOW.

And so for anyone who didn’t really know what it means to not be able to breathe, REALLY breathe, for generations, now you know. And those who already do, you’ll be nodding yep yep, that is exactly how it is.]]>
384 Jason Reynolds 1534439463 Alex 0 4.41 2022 Ain't Burned All the Bright
author: Jason Reynolds
name: Alex
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/14
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves:
review:

]]>
In Praise of Mystery 205478760
As part of her tenure as U.S. poet laureate, Ada Limón has written “In Praise of Mystery,” which will be engraved on the Europa Clipper spacecraft that launches to Jupiter and its moons in October 2024. Published here as Limón’s debut picture book, this luminous poem is illustrated by celebrated and internationally renowned artist Peter Sís.

In Praise of Mystery celebrates humankind’s endless curiosity, asks us what it means to explore beyond our known world, and shows how the unknown can reflect us back to ourselves.]]>
32 Ada Limon 132405400X Alex 0 3.86 In Praise of Mystery
author: Ada Limon
name: Alex
average rating: 3.86
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves:
review:

]]>
Jack and the Beanstalk 2720293 48 Steven Kellogg 0688102506 Alex 0 3.82 1991 Jack and the Beanstalk
author: Steven Kellogg
name: Alex
average rating: 3.82
book published: 1991
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks]]> 127305908
The Viking warship of King Cnut the Great. Henry VIII's the Mary Rose. Captain John Franklin's doomed HMS Terror. The SS Gairsoppa, destroyed by a Nazi U-boat in the Atlantic during World War II.

Since we first set sail on the open sea, ships and their wrecks have been an inevitable part of human history. Archaeologists have made spectacular discoveries excavating these sunken ships, their protective underwater cocoon keeping evidence of past civilizations preserved. Now, for the first time, world renowned maritime archeologist David Gibbins ties together the stories of some of the most significant shipwrecks in time to form a single overarching narrative of world history.

A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks is not just the story of those ships, the people who sailed on them, and the cargo and treasure they carried, but also the story of the spread of people, religion, and ideas around the world; it is a story of colonialism, migration, and the indominable human spirit that continues today. From the glittering Bronze Age, to the world of Caesar's Rome, through the era of the Vikings, to the exploration of the Arctic, Gibbins uses shipwrecks to tell all.

Drawing on decades of experience excavating shipwrecks around the world, Gibbins reveals the riches beneath the waves and shows us how the treasures found there can be a porthole to the past that tell a new story about the world and its underwater secrets.]]>
289 David Gibbins 1250325374 Alex 0 to-read 3.35 2024 A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks
author: David Gibbins
name: Alex
average rating: 3.35
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
Don't Trust Fish 216247491 An absurdly laugh-out-loud funny picture book about the villainy of fish, illustrated by National Book Award-winning creator Dan Santat

Why, dear reader, must you NEVER EVER trust fish?

1) They spend all their time in the water where we can’t see them.
2) Some are as big as a bus—that is not okay.
3) We don't know what they're teaching in their "schools."
4) They are likely plotting our doom.

This nature-guide-gone-wrong is a hilarious, off-the-rails exploration of the seemingly innocent animals that live in the water.]]>
40 Neil Sharpson 0593616677 Alex 0 so funny 4.44 2025 Don't Trust Fish
author: Neil Sharpson
name: Alex
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves:
review:
so funny
]]>
Big Truck, Little Island 59522472 That big truck is stuck! How will the island residents get where they’re going? A tale of community and ingenuity from the celebrated Chris Van Dusen, inspired by a true story.

When a big truck and its big load get stuck on a narrow road, traffic on the little island comes to a halt. Some cars need to go south and some have to travel north. How will Meg get to her swim meet? What about Barry’s ballet class? Luckily, the kids come up with an ingenious solution: why not just swap cars? Inspired by an incident that happened on Vinalhaven, Maine, Chris Van Dusen tells a fun tale of resourcefulness and community through clever, rhyming wordplay and whimsical illustrations, sprinkled with plenty of cars and trucks for transportation-loving readers.]]>
32 Chris Van Dusen 1536203939 Alex 0 4.11 2022 Big Truck, Little Island
author: Chris Van Dusen
name: Alex
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves:
review:

]]>
The Barnabus Project 49155319 In a world built for Perfect Pets, Barnabus is a Failed Project, half mouse, half elephant, kept out of sight until his dreams of freedom lead him and his misfit friends on a perilous adventure. A stunning picture book from international bestsellers The Fan Brothers, joined by their brother Devin Fan.

Deep underground beneath Perfect Pets, where children can buy genetically engineered "perfect" creatures, there is a secret lab. Barnabus and his friends live in this lab, but none of them is perfect. They are all Failed Projects. Barnabus has never been outside his tiny bell jar, yet he dreams of one day seeing the world above ground that his pal Pip the cockroach has told him about: a world with green hills and trees, and buildings that reach all the way to the sky, lit with their own stars. But Barnabus may have to reach the outside world sooner than he thought, because the Green Rubber Suits are about to recycle all Failed Projects . . . and Barnabus doesn't want to be made into a fluffier pet with bigger eyes. He just wants to be himself. So he decides it's time for he and the others to escape. With his little trunk and a lot of cooperation and courage, Barnabus sets out to find freedom -- and a place where he and his friends can finally be accepted for who they are.

This suspenseful, poignant and magical story about following your dreams and finding where you truly belong will draw readers into a surreal, lushly detailed world in which perfection really means being true to yourself and your friends.]]>
72 Eric Fan 0735263264 Alex 4 best-illustrations 4.38 2020 The Barnabus Project
author: Eric Fan
name: Alex
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves: best-illustrations
review:

]]>
Tomatoes in My Lunchbox 58484156 A moving picture book from a debut author about the first day of school, layered with themes about the immigrant experience and the universal experience of feeling out of place.

child, newly arrived in another country, feels displaced, lonely, and a little scared on her first day of school. Her name doesn't sound the way she's used to hearing it. She knows she doesn't fit in. And when she eats her whole tomato for lunch, she can feel her classmates observing her—and not quite understanding her.

But sometimes all it takes is one friend, one connection, to bring two worlds together, and gradually the girl, her tomato, and her full name, start to feel at home with her new friends and community.

This emotionally sweeping debut picture book by Costantia Manoli, with vibrant art by Magdalena Mora, artfully captures feelings of displacement and the joy that comes from forging new friendships.]]>
32 Costantia Manoli 1250763126 Alex 0 4.16 Tomatoes in My Lunchbox
author: Costantia Manoli
name: Alex
average rating: 4.16
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves:
review:

]]>
The Little Red Fort 34473262
One day, she finds some old boards and decides to build something. She invites her brothers to help, but they just laugh and tell her she doesn't know how to build.

"Then I'll learn," she says.

And she does!

When she creates a dazzling fort that they all want to play in, it is Ruby who has the last laugh.

With sprightly text and winsome pictures, this modern spin on the timeless favorite The Little Red Hen celebrates the pluck and ingenuity of young creators everywhere!]]>
40 Brenda Maier 0545859190 Alex 0 4.26 2018 The Little Red Fort
author: Brenda Maier
name: Alex
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2018
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme]]> 50193700 Avery Monsen 1368053203 Alex 0 4.40 Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme
author: Avery Monsen
name: Alex
average rating: 4.40
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves:
review:

]]>
You Matter 52768168 They All Saw a Cat meets The Important Book in this sensitive and impactful picture book about seeing the world from different points of view by Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honoree Christian Robinson.

In this full, bright, and beautiful picture book, many different perspectives around the world are deftly and empathetically explored—from a pair of bird-watchers to the pigeons they’re feeding. Young readers will be drawn into the luminous illustrations inviting them to engage with the world in a new way and see how everyone is connected, and that everyone matters.]]>
40 Christian Robinson 1534421696 Alex 0 4.15 2020 You Matter
author: Christian Robinson
name: Alex
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves:
review:

]]>
Mel Fell 53327848
Sometimes, you might fall

down,

down,

down,

before you learn to fly

up,

up,

up…]]>
40 Corey R. Tabor 0062878018 Alex 5 4.47 2021 Mel Fell
author: Corey R. Tabor
name: Alex
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves:
review:

]]>
Chez Bob (Chez Bob, 1) 53435396 From the hilarious author of Who Wet My Pants?, Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great, and the Dinosaur Vs. series comes a kid-pleasing read-aloud about a devious alligator who learns to love!

Welcome to Chez Bob, which seems like a real restaurant ... until you realize ... it's on an alligator's NOSE! Bob's got a hidden plan for his customers: "Birds will come to eat, but I will eat the birds!" As they fly in from all over the world to dine on Bob's face, something starts to happen that takes the lazy, hungry reptile by surprise—the birds stay. "More yummy birds!" he rejoices—he'll want for nothing! But when the time is right, will Bob make the right choice?

Comic genius Bob Shea cooks up a tasty tale that proves anyone, even hungry alligators, can have a change of heart and learn to be a good friend.]]>
40 Bob Shea 0316483117 Alex 0 4.28 2021 Chez Bob (Chez Bob, 1)
author: Bob Shea
name: Alex
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves:
review:

]]>
The Dictionary Story 201632466 The much-anticipated new picture book from the best-selling, award-winning creators of A Child of Books.

Dictionary wishes she could tell a story like other books. So one day, she decides to bring her words to life. How exciting it is to finally have an adventure on her very own pages! But what will she do when her characters collide and everything gets all in a jumble, causing the most enormous tantrum to explode? This isn’t what she wanted at all! Luckily her friend Alphabet knows exactly what to do and sings a song that brings calm and order to Dictionary’s pages once again.]]>
56 Oliver Jeffers 1536235504 Alex 0 4.33 The Dictionary Story
author: Oliver Jeffers
name: Alex
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[The Perfect Divorce (Perfect, #2)]]> 219240806 From the author of the multimillion-copy bestselling thriller The Perfect Marriage

Till death do us part. Yours. Not Mine.

It’s been eleven years since high-powered attorney Sarah Morgan defended her husband, Adam, against the charge of murdering his mistress. Sarah has long since moved on, starting a family with her new husband, Bob Miller, and changing careers. Her life is back to being exactly how she always wanted … or is it?

After discovering Bob engaged in a one-night stand, Sarah wastes no time filing for divorce. However, amid their ugly separation, new DNA evidence is uncovered in the case against Adam, forcing the police to reopen the investigation and putting Sarah right back in the spotlight. Everyone wants to know what really happened, most of all former deputy Marcus Hudson, who is hell-bent on finding the truth.

But when the woman Bob slept with is reported missing, he and Sarah start to fight dirty, and a high-stakes game of cat and mouse ensues. Filled with page-turning suspense and Jeneva Rose’s signature twists and turns, this book will have readers wondering: Can Bob and Sarah achieve the perfect divorce? Or will it be “’til death do us part”?]]>
288 Jeneva Rose Alex 0 to-read 4.01 2025 The Perfect Divorce (Perfect, #2)
author: Jeneva Rose
name: Alex
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[It Ends with Us (It Ends with Us, #1)]]> 27362503
Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up — she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan — her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.]]>
386 Colleen Hoover 1668021048 Alex 0 4.11 2016 It Ends with Us (It Ends with Us, #1)
author: Colleen Hoover
name: Alex
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at: 2022/06/14
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves:
review:

]]>
Survival in Auschwitz 6174
In 1943, Primo Levi, a twenty-five-year-old chemist and “Italian citizen of Jewish race,” was arrested by Italian fascists and deported from his native Turin to Auschwitz. Survival in Auschwitz is Levi’s classic account of his ten months in the German death camp, a harrowing story of systematic cruelty and miraculous endurance. Remarkable for its simplicity, restraint, compassion, and even wit, Survival in Auschwitz remains a lasting testament to the indestructibility of the human spirit.]]>
187 Primo Levi 0684826801 Alex 0 4.20 1947 Survival in Auschwitz
author: Primo Levi
name: Alex
average rating: 4.20
book published: 1947
rating: 0
read at: 2022/03/14
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves:
review:

]]>
Coral Reefs 2061854 32 Gail Gibbons 0823420809 Alex 5 best-illustrations 3.94 2007 Coral Reefs
author: Gail Gibbons
name: Alex
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/04
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves: best-illustrations
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back up Again]]> 33376257 I'm famous for falling off a wall.

(You may have heard about it.)

But that's only half the story...
Because I decided to get back up.
And when I did, something amazing happened.

This story is about my life...
AFTER THE FALL.

Inspiring and unforgettable, this epilogue to the beloved classic nursery rhyme will encourage even the most afraid to overcome their fears, learn to get back up--and reach new heights.
(front flap)]]>
40 Dan Santat 1626726825 Alex 0 4.38 2017 After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back up Again
author: Dan Santat
name: Alex
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/05
date added: 2025/04/05
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Practices for Embodied Living: Experiencing the Wisdom of Your Body―A Self Esteem Body Image Workbook]]> 182093501
Practices for Embodied Living offers an experiential guide--centered on prompts, activities, and opportunities for reflection--to support readers who want to practice embodiment. This approachable, visually stimulating book helps individuals and groups resist cultural myths about ideal bodies, get in touch with the goodness of their bodies, and more fully inhabit themselves.

Topics include disembodiment, stress and trauma, sexuality, body image, pain and illness, oppression, and more. Each topic includes various exercises to help readers restore the mind-body connection.]]>
160 Hillary L. McBride 1587436248 Alex 0 4.20 Practices for Embodied Living: Experiencing the Wisdom of Your Body―A Self Esteem Body Image Workbook
author: Hillary L. McBride
name: Alex
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/05
date added: 2025/04/05
shelves:
review:

]]>
600 Black Spots 1135875 20 David A. Carter 1416940928 Alex 0 4.39 2007 600 Black Spots
author: David A. Carter
name: Alex
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/04
date added: 2025/04/04
shelves:
review:

]]>
Tori and the Muses 220273416 From the Grammy-nominated and multiplatinum singer-songwriter and New York Times bestselling author Tori Amos comes Tori and the Muses, a thoughtful and sprightly tale of young Tori navigating the magical world of inspiration in all its forms.

Tori is no ordinary child—her musical inspirations and talents are clear from a young age. But when her dad forces her to rehearse for her recital, Tori is unhappy. She wants to play what she wants to play! And though they don’t see eye to eye, Tori has a eleven Muses who have visited her since she was a baby and inspire her to write and make her own beautiful music. These fairy godmother–like Muses remind Tori that inspiration is everywhere, and perhaps in helping others find their own Muses—including Dad—she may better understand her own inspirations.

So, Tori takes her brand-new floating pink piano—a gift from the Muses—to see what might inspire others, in hopes of understanding what her dad’s Muses might be.  And she is surprised at what she finds. 

Filled with joy, curiosity, and imagination, this debut picture book written by Tori Amos with otherworldly illustrations by Demelsa Haughton will inspire, encourage, and most importantly, remind young readers to find inspiration in the things they love, and to listen to their own Muses.]]>
40 Tori Amos 0593750349 Alex 0 4.13 Tori and the Muses
author: Tori Amos
name: Alex
average rating: 4.13
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/04
date added: 2025/04/04
shelves:
review:

]]>
Brida 2817201 212 Paulo Coelho 0061578932 Alex 0 this book pmtfo 3.59 1990 Brida
author: Paulo Coelho
name: Alex
average rating: 3.59
book published: 1990
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/03
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
this book pmtfo
]]>
<![CDATA[Gustavo, the Shy Ghost (The World of Gustavo, #1)]]> 53146827 This winning debut picture book from Mexican artist Flavia Z. Drago about finding the courage to make friends is perfect for the spooky season — or anytime.

Gustavo is good at doing all sorts of ghostly things: walking through walls, making objects fly, and glowing in the dark. And he loves almost nothing more than playing beautiful music on his violin. But Gustavo is shy, and some things are harder for him to do, like getting in a line to buy eye scream or making friends with other monsters. Whenever he tries getting close to them, he realizes they just can’t see him. Now that the Day of the Dead is fast approaching, what can he do to make them notice him and to share with them something he loves? With fancifully detailed artwork and visual humor, debut picture-book creator Flavia Z. Drago’s vivid illustrations tell a sweet and gently offbeat story of loneliness, bravery, and friendship that is sure to be a treat for little ghouls and goblins everywhere.]]>
34 Flavia Z. Drago 1536211141 Alex 0 4.36 2020 Gustavo, the Shy Ghost (The World of Gustavo, #1)
author: Flavia Z. Drago
name: Alex
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/02
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves:
review:

]]>
The Wrong Book 165937986 What if the narrator of the book you're reading is just...WRONG?! This hilarious book from the author of The Day the Crayons Quit will have you correcting what you're reading—and laughing!

Do bicycles say cock-a-doodle-doo? Do firefighters shout Ding Dong! before they put out a fire?

That’s what the narrator of this hilarious picture book thinks! Good thing there are some other characters in this book to set him straight…

With bright bold illustrations, this laugh-out-loud funny story, written by the author of The Day the Crayons Quit, is sure to give kids—and grown-ups—a serious case of the giggles. 

Because a flower goes chugga-chugga-choo-choo. Right? Right?]]>
40 Drew Daywalt 0593621980 Alex 0 3.88 The Wrong Book
author: Drew Daywalt
name: Alex
average rating: 3.88
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/02
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?]]> 598160
Lots of noise!

Children will chant the rhythmic words. They'll make the sounds the animals make. And they'll pretend to be the zoo animals featured in the book-- look at the last page!

Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle are two of the most respected names in children's education and children's illustrations. This collaboration, their first since the classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (published more than thirty years ago and still a best-seller) shows two masters at their best.

A Redbook Children's Picture Book Award winner

The rollicking companion to Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?]]>
28 Bill Martin Jr. 0805053883 Alex 0 4.19 1991 Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
author: Bill Martin Jr.
name: Alex
average rating: 4.19
book published: 1991
rating: 0
read at: 2025/04/02
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves:
review:

]]>
Home in a Lunchbox 200150490
When Jun moves from Hong Kong to America, the only words she knows are hello, thank you , I don’t know , and toilet . Her new school feels foreign and terrifying.

But when she opens her lunchbox to find her favorite meals—like bao, dumplings, and bok choy—she realizes home isn’t so far away after all.

Through lush art and spare dialogue, Cherry Mo’s breathtakingly beautiful debut picture book reminds readers that friendship and belonging can be found in every bite.]]>
40 Cherry Mo 0593661346 Alex 5 4.57 2024 Home in a Lunchbox
author: Cherry Mo
name: Alex
average rating: 4.57
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/29
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World]]> 208840291 From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Braiding Sweetgrass, a bold and inspiring vision for how to orient our lives around gratitude, reciprocity, and community, based on the lessons of the natural world.

As indigenous scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most? Our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources, and we have surrendered our values to a system that actively harms what we love.

Meanwhile, the serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth—its abundance of sweet, juicy berries—to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution insures its own survival. As Kimmerer explains, “Serviceberries show us another model, one based upon reciprocity, where wealth comes from the quality of your relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency.”]]>
112 Robin Wall Kimmerer 1668072246 Alex 5 4.37 2024 The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
author: Robin Wall Kimmerer
name: Alex
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/31
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves:
review:

]]>
The Art of Communicating 17331360 Peace is Every Step and one of the most respected and celebrated religious leaders in the world, delivers a powerful path to happiness through mastering life's most important skill.

How do we say what we mean in a way that the other person can really hear?

How can we listen with compassion and understanding?

Communication fuels the ties that bind, whether in relationships, business, or everyday interactions. Most of us, however, have never been taught the fundamental skills of communication—or how to best represent our true selves. Effective communication is as important to our well-being and happiness as the food we put into our bodies. It can be either healthy (and nourishing) or toxic (and destructive).

In this precise and practical guide, Zen master and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh reveals how to listen mindfully and express your fullest and most authentic self. With examples from his work with couples, families, and international conflicts, The Art of Communicating helps us move beyond the perils and frustrations of misrepresentation and misunderstanding to learn the listening and speaking skills that will forever change how we experience and impact the world.]]>
176 Thich Nhat Hanh 0062224689 Alex 0 4.08 2013 The Art of Communicating
author: Thich Nhat Hanh
name: Alex
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:

]]>
A Child of Books 28686931 I am a child of books.

I come from a world of stories.

A little girl sails her raft across a sea of words, arriving at the house of a small boy. She invites him to go away with her on an adventure into the world of stories... where, with only a little imaginaton, anything at all can happen.

Irresistibly engaging characters by Oliver Jeffers set sail and chart their way through Sam Winston's fascinating typographical landscapes in this extraordinary ode to the power and promises of storytelling. Forty treasured children's classics and lullabies are featured in the pictures, providing endless opportunities for discovery, memories and sharing.

Woven together by a simple story line, the one-of-a-kind illustrations in a A Child of Books provide an unforgettable reading experience that will inspire and encourage readers of all ages to explore, question, and imagine timeless stories of their own.]]>
40 Oliver Jeffers 0763690775 Alex 0 4.13 2016 A Child of Books
author: Oliver Jeffers
name: Alex
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:

]]>
Tomatoes for Neela 56364345 40 Padma Lakshmi 0593202708 Alex 0 4.30 2021 Tomatoes for Neela
author: Padma Lakshmi
name: Alex
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:

]]>
This Day in June 18615267
An excellent tool for teaching respect, acceptance, and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

This day in June…. Parade starts soon….  Rainbow arches…. Joyful marches!

In a wildly whimsical, validating, and exuberant reflection of the LGBTQ+ community, This Day In June welcomes readers to experience a pride celebration and share in a day when we are all united. Also included is a Note to Parents and Other Caregivers with information on how to talk to children about sexual orientation and gender identity in age-appropriate ways as well as a Reading Guide chock-full of facts about LGBTQ+ history and culture.

A Top Ten Title, American Library Association Rainbow List
Winner,  Notable Books for a Global Society Awards
Named one of the most important books of the last decade by The Advocate's "40 Under 40" list
Top 11 Most Challenged Books by American Library Association 
Winner, Stonewall Book Award—Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award]]>
40 Gayle E. Pitman 143381658X Alex 0 4.17 2013 This Day in June
author: Gayle E. Pitman
name: Alex
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:

]]>
A Little SPOT of Kindness! 45154270 A fun story about the power of kindness! From saying please to sharing toys, your child will learn how to spread kindness in everyday situations as school and at home! Join a little SPOT on a journey as he SPOTS kindness and shows children a fun way to remember to be kind too! If you enjoyed I'm NOT just a Scribble...now there is a fun new way to spread kindness!]]> 0 Diane Alber Alex 0 4.42 A Little SPOT of Kindness!
author: Diane Alber
name: Alex
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:

]]>
<![CDATA[P is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever]]> 36748607
This whimsical, funky book from Raj Haldar (aka rapper Lushlife) turns the traditional idea of an alphabet book on its head, poking fun at the most mischievous words in the English language and demonstrating how to pronounce them. Fun and informative for word nerds of all ages!]]>
32 Raj Haldar 149266393X Alex 5 4.15 2018 P is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever
author: Raj Haldar
name: Alex
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:

]]>