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BRANDI Brandi, when not escaping the pesky paparazzi, enjoys reading and buying books for the Children's and Young Adult sections. When she's not reading picture books and middle grade or YA fantasy, she likes humorous fiction and the occasional memoir. She is an advocate for cats and giraffes, enjoys swing dancing and anything that lets her hone her inner child. She especially loves matching young readers with books they will love. |
4 paws all around! This is the best problems book yet. Anyone who has lived with cats will find it purr-fectly accurate. Kitties and kiddies will be scratching at the bit for Cat Problems. To quote our feline protagonist, " I already want more!"
Oh my heart! This book has turned my eyes into the ocean. Combined with stunning illustrations and beautiful text, the story is more heartwarming than I have words to express. What a gorgeous book to share with a child. This is a truly remarkable picture book.
What a D-elightful novel! If you love language and offbeat stories, pick this up. What would you do if you woke up one day and discovered a letter missing from the alphabet? How would it affect language? Where did the missing letter go? Plus a million other questions you'd want to find the answers to. Dhikilo wants to know as well and sets off on an adventure to find out what happened to "D". This charming novel is truly a book for all ages. I would not hesitate giving this novel to a ten year old who is looking for a challenge. If they enjoyed The Phantom Tollbooth, this will be right up their ally. Read it with a child or teen. Read it for yourself! You'll find a new appreciation for the letter D when you are done with this book.
This heart-pounding queer fantasy is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It's filled to the brim with lush romance and complex, beautiful characters. While I know she has many other books, this is the first I've ever read by Tessa Gratton and I'm immediately impressed with her remarkable writing. My favorite take away from this gorgeous novel is how important the power of choice is, not just in love, but in life. The choice to be exactly who you are and having the strength to fight for this right even against the person you love most in the world. I'm overwhelmed with emotion after reading this book.
Hot Pot Night is a fun book that will encourage community building through food! The vibrant illustrations and simple text tell readers about a group of neighbors who come together to share a meal. One person brings the hot pot and everyone else each brings their own ingredients to contribute to this shared dish. I love how the story ends with a cultural reference to this Chinese dish and includes a recipe to share with your own community. This mouthwatering story is sure to delight everyone!
Everyone needs a book that makes them say "aww". Gustavo will charm his way into your heart with the music of his sweet story. People will love the bright colors of Flavia Z. Drago's illustrations, perfect for Day of the Dead celebrations, or anytime of the year. Plus, kids will enjoy the search and find element as they look for Gustavo on every page. (Try it. He's not always easy to find!)
This is so much fun! I loved playing this game in school when I was a kid. The artwork is very reminiscent of the actual game, and the path tabs are a fun alternative to the choose your own adventure style. The colors are bright and inviting. I'm excited to see the full version in July.
I'm only a couple chapters in, but I'm already loving this book. I've laughed heartily several times so far and anticipate more hilarity to ensue. I can't wait to finish it. Very reminiscent of Flawed Dogs by Berkley Breathed.
I was literally thinking this exact question on my way into work this morning. What Sound is Morning is a lovely book to wake up to. You really can feel the sun rising with the beautiful color scheme and gentle text. It makes me want to yawn and stretch. If you are a coffee person, brew yourself a cup and sit down to enjoy this early morning story. This is perfect for fans of books like Blue on Blue by Dianne White in that it really takes you to the moment the book features.
This is laugh out loud funny! All children need this book.
This book is too gorgeous for words! I absolutely love it. The illustrations are works of art and the text is a perfect balance. A stunning book for bedtime with a special nod to Carl Sagan fans. We are all made of star stuff.
This book is stunning! The story took a wild turn I was definitely not expecting and has left me mesmerized. It made me so angry in parts and feel a fierce love for Peony and her strong sense of self. Nothing will keep her from returning to the home she truly belongs in. If I could nominate this one for a Newbery I would. It is no wonder it's won so many awards already in Australia and New Zealand. I dub this book my favorite middle grade novel of 2020.
I have been excited for the release of The Starless Sea before I even knew it was a possibility. If you've read The Night Circus you already know what an amazingly talented author Erin Morgenstern is. She has the ability to take you away into another space through the use of words. The Starless Sea is just as enchanting as The Night Circus, but in new and astounding ways. I'm not sure there is an accurate word to describe the way her books make me feel when I read them, but I do know that when I read them it's an all encompassing experience. The Starless Sea will entice you with stories within stories; twists, turns and surprising reveals. Zachary Ezra Rawlins loves philosophy and books. One day he finds a book that will change his life forever. It shows him that sometimes you have to have faith in the most incomprehensible things.
Princess Scallywag and the Brave, Brave Knight is an absolute delight from start to finish. Great illustrations, perfect font use, and, most of all, it's a wonderfully, fun story for everyone. Fans of the Paper Bag Princess will fall in love with Princess Scallywag too.
This book is hilarious! It is impossible to read even half the book without needing tissues to wipe away the laughter tears. Kids will go bananas for this one.
Llama is right. Tuesdays are for dancing! And no, you absolutely can't dance without your dancing pants. No matter how tight they are. No matter how tight they are, and how risky this might be for the end of the world. Kids and adults will delight in this hilarious story.
What a sweet approach to helping kids brave the night.
A beautiful, honest and hilarious novel about growing through your grief. Quinn Roberts loses his sister when she dies in a car accident. Now his ambitions and purpose in life has come to a standstill. If not for his best friend, Geoff, he might never leave the house. When Geoff convinces Quinn to go to a college party with him, Quinn meets a hot guy who jump-starts his heart again and encourages him to start taking part in his own life. I can't imagine losing my sisters. But I know what it's like to lose a family member without warning. Tim Federle deftly navigates the frustration and hopelessness of never getting to say goodbye, of experiencing guilt despite the circumstances, and feeling so singular in your grief. However, through all this, he shows us that it's okay to remember the person you lost and still look forward to your own future, while sharing a laugh, or two, or three, with current and new loved ones along the way. Whether you've lost someone or not, this novel will make you laugh and encourage you to follow your dreams.
Imagine a world where you knew the exact date you would die. This is the reality in which 17 year old Denton finds himself. He doesn't know the time of his death, he just knows that he will not live to see 18. With death looming, Denton decides he can’t waste any more of his life by just being “normal”. Instead, he’s going to change the world with the time he has left and ends up learning that science can sometimes make mistakes too. What that means for Denton will change his world in a way he never expected. Speaking of the unexpected, this novel made me laugh more times than I can count. In this refreshing novel, Lance Rubin shows that it’s okay to also see humor in the things we fear.
Those who know me, know that I do not usually go for the creepy, haunting books, but when Suzanne Young writes a book, I just can’t help but read it. So, I swallowed my trepidation and entered the world of Hotel for the Lost. As the book tagline says," Stay Tonight, Stay Forever." Well, I did. Once I opened the book, I couldn’t put it down and it has stayed with me long after I read the final page. Hotel for the Lost is delightfully spooky.
By the time your senior year rolls around, you are expected to make some pretty big decisions. Will you go to college? What do you want to do with the rest of your life? But that's not the only thing these four seniors have to put the pressure on. Now they have to contend with an asteroid, heading toward Earth. There is a 66% chance it will hit the Earth and obliterate any hope of a future, for anyone. Of course, there is a small chance it wont. Faced with this uncertainty, four seniors from different social backgrounds must decide who they want to be today, rather than tomorrow. However, amid this looming catastrophic event, there is hope. The hope of humanity; the hope of being true to yourself. From beginning to end I was captured by this amazing debut. Tommy Wallach's words are poetry in prose form. We All Looked Up left me feeling light, optimistic and thoughtful.
Kate DiCamillo tugs at our heartstrings yet again with her newest novel about three young ladies bonding through personal tragedies. Raymie sets out to win her father's affection by competing in the Little Miss Central Florida contest. If she succeeds, she's convinced this will bring her father back home. Her competition includes Louisana Elefante and Beverly Tapinski, who have their own agendas for the competition. Through a good deed mishap, the girls band together to rescue a book and a cat, with unexpected results that ultimately solidify their friendship. You'll definitely need a tissue with this book. It's beautiful, heartbreaking and endearing.
I think this book was written for me. I am pretty sure I have a mild to not so mild case of undiagnosed arachnophobia. I can't even look at a photo of a spider without cringing. But I safely read this entire book and can now say I actually like a spider book - book being the keyword here. This may not have cured my spider fears, but it certainly has given me some facts to appreciate about spiders. It's funny and informative and not at all scary. Finally, a book that will appeal to everyone, no matter their phobia level