41-42. Two Henry Chapter books

41. Henry's Picture-Perfect Day. Jenn Bailey. Illustrated by Mika Song. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, school, friendship]

First sentence: Classroom Ten was buzzing. Everyone was excited for Picture Day. Almost everyone. Henry tugged at his new shirt. The collar was too close to his ears. The cuffs were too tight on his wrists. The buttons went on forever. And the shirt had stripes.

Premise/plot: Henry is not excited for Picture Day. It is not regular. He is not dressed regular. He has all the thoughts and opinions. But with the help of some friends, Henry may just survive Picture Day.

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, love, love HENRY. He is so very relatable. Because he is so relatable to me, I find so many quotes to love. Like, "Henry had never practiced smiling. Maybe that was why he never looked like he thought he should in pictures."

I definitely recommend all the Henry books!

42. Henry Upside Down. Jenn Bailey. Illustrated by Mika Song. 2026. 52 pages. [Source: Library] [early chapter book, 5 stars, school, friendship]

First sentence: Henry could hardly wait. It was finally Garden Time for Classroom Ten. Each week, someone from their class would take care of the school garden.

Premise/plot: Henry wants to be the one to take care of the garden. He wants his best, best, best friend, Katie, to be his helper. The week will be perfect. Henry has thought everything out--and made a list. But when Katie invites her new friend, Ivy, to help too, well, that is NOT regular. Henry does not like the intrusion of Ivy into his friendship with Katie. Is there room in this garden for three???

My thoughts: Henry has some adjustments to make in this fourth early chapter book in the series. I love, love, love, love Henry. He is a GREAT character. I love and adore him. Not only that I understand him. Highly recommend the whole series.

Quotes: Henry liked lists. Lists meant not guessing. Guesses could be wrong. Lists meant not forgetting. Unless you forgot the list.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

88. Kitty vs. Kindergarten

88. Kitty vs. Kindergarten. Martha Freeman. Illustrated by Eda Kaban. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, pets, school]

First sentence: Kitty was a good, nice kitty who lived with a good, nice family.

Premise/plot: Kitty does not particularly want to go to school with her human child to kindergarten. Kitty is quite content to stay at home and 'be regular' doing all the regular kitty things. However, Kitty is catnapped and taken for show and tell. Will Kitty survive her day at kindergarten? Will Kitty learn anything at school?

My thoughts: It was okay. I wanted to like it more than I did...because KITTY. The story is fine enough. Kitty gets out of his comfort zone. Kitty ends up teaching the kindergarten class a few things. It is enjoyable enough to share with little ones starting school who also happen to love KITTIES.



© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

63. Henry's School Days

Henry's School Days. (Too Many School Days) Robert Quackenbush. 1987/2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

First sentence: When Henry the Duck was growing up, he got into a lot of trouble at school--like the time he went to hang up his coat on an overcrowded rack. Before his teacher could stop him and help him find a place for his coat...all the coats came tumbling down!

I feel seen. Henry the Duck has quite a time leading his teachers to say that Henry has too many school days. Will Henry the Duck ever have a good day at school? 

When I was growing up I loved some of Quackenbush's books. I've loved becoming reacquainted with his books as an adult. I absolutely LOVE the story, the characters, and the illustrations.

I am definitely going to see what other "new" books they have by Quackenbush.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

44. Henry and the Something New

Henry and the Something New. Jenn Bailey. Illustrated by Mika Song. 2024. 56 pages. [Source: Library] [early chapter book; series book]

First sentence: Today was Field Trip Day. Henry was excited. Everyone in Classroom Ten would ride the bus to the museum. Henry was also worried. Everyone in Class Ten would ride the bus to the museum.

Premise/plot: Do you know Henry? Henry has starred in a picture book and another early chapter book. You can read about Henry in A Friend for Henry and Henry, Like Always. Henry, who is on the autism spectrum, is excited-scared about the class field trip. Should he go? Should he stay? It might be awesome. It might be too overwhelming. Henry does decide to go...but will his non-regular day turn out to be amazing?

My thoughts: I really LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Henry. I love the writing and characterization. So few words yet so relatable. I definitely recommend all the books. I hope there are many, many more in the future. The world needs more Henry. 

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

221-223. Picture Book Parade

221. Bear With Me. Kerascoët (Sebastien Cosset and Marie Pommepuy). 2023. [June] 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book] [near wordless picture book]

First sentence: Bear with me!

Premise/plot: Oh how I love thee, let me count the ways. This is a near wordless picture book starring a growing girl (she's an infant on the first spread and starting school towards the second half) and her beloved bear. Throughout the book, you see her growing up. This sequence is beautifully illustrated and super relatable. The conflict in this one--well, one of two conflicts, perhaps--is WHAT will she do at school without bear? (And perhaps just perhaps what will Bear do all day without her while she's at school.) 

My thoughts: I don't always love wordless books, but this near-wordless picture book charmed me from page one. SO much story is expressed on each spread. SO much emotion. So many relatable experiences--from both sides. For example, the sequence where the dad has had ENOUGH and is putting his foot down, so to speak, and washing Bear in the washing machine. Those two pages express so much just through illustrations alone. But I think my favorite pages deal with the girl's attempt to take the Bear with her. Literally, "Bear with me." 

I loved this one so much. It was super cute and adorable. It was very relatable.

222. The Together Tree. Aisha Saeed. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2023. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book] [school, bullying]

First sentence: Rumi joined Ms. Garza's class on the first warm day of spring. 

Premise/plot: Rumi, the new student, is bullied by his classmates. He spends his time during recess drawing underneath a tree. Soon he's not alone. It doesn't happen over night, nor quickly enough for Rumi, perhaps, but unlikely friends can become good friends.

My thoughts: This is a picture book that addresses bullying AND reaction to bullying. The focus isn't so much on the person bullying and the person being bullied as it is the bystanders who witness bullying situations. 

This is a message-driven book. Unfortunately, bullying continues to exist in this world despite all the calls for kindness and compassion. Still every book that promotes kindness and compassion is welcome.

I liked this one. The illustrator has long been one of my favorites. 

223.  Tap! Tap! Tap! Dance! Dance! Dance! Hervé Tullet. 2023. [May] 64 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book] [interactive]

First sentence: Ready? Place your hand here. Close your eyes. Concentrate. Wiggle your fingers gently to warm them up. Heads up, your turn now....

Premise/plot: This is an "interactive" book that may [or may not] appeal to young children. It invites them to follow the instructions of the book, be directed by the illustrations. It is written in second person, present tense. 

My thoughts: I may not be the right audience for this one. I wanted to be. I just wasn't. I do think it has potential to appeal to young ones. (As do most books). I think if there was more tapping and less swooshing or sweeping, it might have been more enjoyable to me.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

133. Audrey L & Audrey W: True Creative Talents

True Creative Talents (Audrey L & Audrey W #2) 2022. [October] 176 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Diego was flicking boogers again. Not actual straight-from-your-nose boogers, but the crusty crumbly bits of dried up glue that he'd peeled from his palms.

Premise/plot: Audrey L and Audrey W are best, best friends. Or they are supposed to be. But what happens when enough is enough is enough in Room 19? What happens if the table arrangements (the assigned seating at the tables) are completely redone! If Audrey L and Audrey W are assigned different tables, different teams/pods, will they still be best, best, best friends? Or will Audrey W replace her with a new friend (one named Bettina).

Meanwhile, the class is preparing for a talent show. Can Audrey L find her true talent???

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I still enjoy these characters. I still enjoy chapter books with a strong school setting. In particular, ones that flesh out all the students in a particular classroom and follows them through several books. Classroom dynamics are quite interesting. Audrey L is a great main character. But I like seeing the big picture too!

I loved the description of Audrey W being the guacamole to Audrey L's taco.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

127. Hide and Go Beak

The Great Mathemachicken: Hide and Go Beak. Nancy Krulik. 2022. [January] 96 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: "Tag! You're it!" Clucky clucked. He pecked his friend Chirpy's back. Chirpy ruffled her wings. But she didn't chase the other chicks.

Premise/plot: The first in a new early chapter book series starring a chicken, Chirpy, who loves math and science. Chirpy often sneaks out of the coop and onto the school bus. She is always eager to learn at school and to share her new knowledge with her fellow chickens in the coop.

In this first adventure, she is learning about simple machines. She may just be able to save a life when a FOX is trying to get one of the chickens.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. I did. There are so many books--picture books, early readers, early chapter books--starring chickens. I'm so glad that this sub-sub-sub-genre exists in the publishing world. 

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

125. Audrey L and Audrey W: Best Friends-ish

Audrey L. and Audrey W. Best Friends-ish (Book 1) Carter Higgins. Illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann. 2021. 184 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: At the beginning of the school year, Audrey had been super-duper-duper sure that second grade would be twice as fun as first. She was ready.

Premise/plot: Audrey L is having a harder time than she'd like adjusting to second grade. When Audrey W joins the class--and is assigned to her table/group--things get interesting. Audrey is her official welcome ambassador. Are the two Audrey's more similar than different? Do they have potential to be best friends? This is a situational school drama-comedy. Audrey L definitely is having a time of it. (I believe the book spans a week or possibly two. Not much longer.) 

My thoughts: I LOVED the narration in this one. Audrey L is given quite the unique voice and I absolutely loved getting to know HER. I thought it was super-relatable; it had humor and heart. I look forward to reading book two.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

111. Ways to Build Dreams

Sadly No Cover Yet

Ways to Build Dreams. Renee Watson. Illustrated by Nina Mata. 2023. [October] 208 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Everything feels new. The clothes I got for Christmas still fit in that stiff way that new clothes fit, and they haven't been worn enough to start fading. We've finally stopped eating holiday food and have gone back to more everyday meals--peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, burgers and fries, spaghetti. We're two weeks into the new year, and still people are saying Happy New Year! if it's the first time they've seen someone since December.

Premise/plot: This is the fourth Ryan Hart novel. Previous books include: Ways To Make Sunshine, Ways to Grow Love, and Ways to Share Joy. This LOVELY chapter book covers Ryan Hart's last five months in elementary school (aka, January - May of her fifth grade year). Readers spend time with Ryan Hart at school and home. 

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, crazy love the Ryan Hart series. I adore every single member of her family. I love Ryan, Ray, Rose, the parents, and the grandma. I ADORE the relationships between all the family members. I love seeing the complexities of those relationships. I love seeing Ryan hang out with her best friends. I love seeing her strive at school. I love the occasional trip to church. Everything about Ryan Hart's world is one I'm invested in--I just adore this series so much. 

This one has so many perfectly-perfect scenes. I don't know if this is the last book, but if it happens to be the last book it is incredibly satisfying. (Do I want it to be the end? No. Never. I want to be friends with Ryan forever and ever and ever.) 

Quotes:

Always, they ask, What do you want to do when you grow up? but I have never been asked, Who do you want to be? I've never thought about there being a difference.
Like she [her Grandma] is thinking again about how I am changing, changing. She is smiling at me in a way that tells me her love is not based on what I do, but who I am.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

88. A Fine, Fine School

A Fine, Fine School. Sharon Creech. Illustrated by Harry Bliss. 2001. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Mr. Keene was a principal who loved his school. Every morning he strolled down the hallway and saw the children in their classes. He saw them learning shapes and colors and numbers and letters. He saw them reading and writing and drawing and painting. He saw them making dinosaurs and forts and pyramids. "Oh!" he would say. "Aren't these fine children? Aren't these fine teachers? Isn't this a fine, fine school?" 

Premise/plot: What happens when Mr. Keene, the school principal, gets CARRIED away with the idea of having a fine, fine school??????? Mr. Keene is so incredibly proud of how wonderfully FINE his school is, that he always has to push, to strive to make things even better. But is there such a thing as TOO much????

My thoughts: I really LOVED this one so much. I can't believe I'm only now discovering this one. I had no idea Sharon Creech ever wrote picture books. So what led me to seek this one out? to discover it? I saw that there is a sequel coming SMART, SMART SCHOOL. The premise to that one sounds awesome. I knew I needed to go back and pick this one up.

This is a funny picture book that I'd recommend to teachers and students.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

87. Betsy-Tacy

Betsy-Tacy. Maud Hart Lovelace. Illustrated by Lois Lenski. 1940. 144 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: It was difficult, later, to think of a time when Betsy and Tacy had not been friends.

Premise/plot: Betsy meets Tacy, her new neighbor, at her fifth birthday party. The two girls become instant best friends, near sisters. These two are inseparable. They want to do everything together--always together. This book focuses on their time together--at home, at school, etc. The book concludes with the two meeting another little girl near their own age, Tb.

My thoughts: I have no memory of reading Betsy-Tacy growing up. I'd heard of the book series certainly. But if I'm honest, I thought it was literally about ONE girl named Betsy-Tacy. These books are set around the turn of the twentieth century. Yes, it was published originally in 1940...but Betsy and company would have been born in the 1890s. 

The book is interesting in that it feels TIMELESS and time-specific. The two things shouldn't both be true. The book feels timeless because it captures childhood realistically--family life, friendship, thoughts and feelings about school. Some things never change. It feels time-specific because of the descriptions and illustrations. It feels delightfully historic. I like that about it.

One thing that struck me, and it's a slight spoiler, is that Tacy has a sibling--younger, I believe--die. This would have been more common during this time period. I loved how this was handled. 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

76. A Friend for Henry

A Friend for Henry. Jenn Bailey. Illustrated by Mika Song. 2019. 36 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: In Classroom Six, second left down the hall, Henry was looking for a friend.

Premise/plot: Henry struggles a bit making a friend in school. 

My thoughts: This book is simple yet universal. The book isn't clear on the specifics. Is this his first-first day of school? Is this a new school year? Has Henry moved to a new school? But I'm not overly bothered by the lack of specifics. Making (and keeping) friends especially when you're super-young is a universal struggle or problem. (It doesn't have to signal neuro-diversity. Though in this case, it's meant to be. The jacket flap informs readers [let's be honest, adults] that Henry is on the autism spectrum. Little ones for whom this book is read aloud may or may not pick up on that angle of it.

Overall, I liked it. I definitely liked the early chapter book a bit more. But I liked this one just fine. 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

75. Henry, Like Always

Henry, Like Always (Henry #1) Jenn Bailey. Illustrated by Mika Song. 2023. [January] 48 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Henry always liked Classroom Ten. His friends were there. Gilly was there. And Mrs. Tanaka was there.

Premise/plot: Henry is starring in a new early chapter book series. He first appeared in A Friend for Henry, a picture book. Henry--who decidedly, definitely does NOT like change--is upset that 'share day' is being moved from Friday to Thursday to make way for a [loud, noisy, bothersome] parade. He does not like it one little bit. Parades ARE not regular. The book chronicles one school week--Monday through Friday.

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, love, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one. I love and adore Henry. I absolutely do. Henry and I are like peas in a pod. I found this book to be a delight. I loved the narrative, the story, the characters. Everything was perfect. I want MORE, MORE, MORE. 

I have not read the picture book yet, but I will soon.

Quotes:

Tuesday was Art Day, just like always. Henry wore his orange shirt on Art Day.
“Why?” asked Katie.
“Because Art Day is messy,” said Henry. “And I do not like orange.”

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

32. The Secret Sisters

The Secret Sisters. Avi. 2023. [August] 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: As far as Ida Bidson was concerned, it was the most exciting day in her fourteen years of life: she was about to leave for high school. It was September 13, 1925, a bright and chilly Sunday morning, when she stepped out of her log cabin home, high among Colorado's Elkhead Mountains.

Premise/plot: The Secret Sisters is the sequel to Avi's Secret School. Ida Bidson, our fourteen year old protagonist, is taking her first steps to fulfilling her lifelong dreams. She's leaving home to attend high school. She'll be boarding with Miss Trudy Sedgewick who will be acting as her guardian for the school year. 

The novel chronicles one semester--the fall semester--at high school. Ida will be meeting teachers, classmates, and...the school principal. Some will be kindred spirits...others not so much. She'll be taking many subjects--most of them new to her. She'll also be experiencing a more 'modern' world. Indoor plumbing. Electricity. Movie theaters with motion pictures. Popular music. 

It is titled Secret Sisters. This is the club that she forms with other freshman girls. Each week they take turns being 'president' of the club and choose a new activity to do. 

My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one so much. I loved meeting Ida and all of her new friends. They were a hoot! I love that this one is so grounded in the 1920s. Ida is learning a new way to talk, and a new way to "experience" the world around her. In addition to the vocabulary, there's plenty of cultural references to songs, dances, movies, actors, artists, hairstyles and fashion, etc. Even 'new' recipes for 'modern' households. I love that Trudy is so determined to be 'modern' that she is cooking all these recipes from magazines. Readers are learning alongside Ida about this 'modern' world. So it never feels like an info-dump as Ida processes the world around her. 

I loved the characters and characterization. I loved the story. I wouldn't mind a book for each semester of her high school year.

Quotes:

She searched for the country called Latin but couldn't find it. As she flipped through the book, she felt as if the world were getting bigger.
Learning is wonderful. But at the same time--hard. Why is something good hard? Because, she told herself, the more you learn, the more things change. It's not the learning that's hard--it's the changing.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

29. The Secret School

The Secret School Avi. 2001. 157 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: On a cool Monday morning in early April 1925, Ida Bidson, aged fourteen, carefully guided her family's battered Model T Ford along a narrow, twisting dirt road in Elk Valley, Colorado. "Brake and clutch!" she shouted. Ida, only four-feet-eleven and unable to reach the floor of the car, knelt on the torn seat and gripped the steering wheel tightly. Her seven-year-old brother, Felix, hunched on the floor before her and used his hands to push the brake and clutch pedals down. 

Premise/plot: Ida desperately wants the chance to go to high school. Ultimately she wants to go to "normal school" and get her teaching certificate as well. But this eighth grader may not get the chance to graduate eighth grade dashing all her future dreams. Why? Well, their current teacher is leaving abruptly--a family emergency. The school board had decided to end the term early. The two eighth graders wouldn't get a chance to take their final [final, final] exams and graduate. The two wouldn't be permitted to go on to high school the next school term. But Ida, well, she has BIG dreams. And when someone suggests that she should be their teacher for the rest of the term, well, it makes a lot of sense. It has risks, for sure. She'll be a secret teacher at a secret school. Will she get a chance to take her exam? Will she be going to high school after all?

My thoughts: I love, love, love stories of one-room schoolhouses. This one was a PERFECTLY PERFECT fit for me. I loved getting to know Ida. I loved getting to know all her classmates/students. I felt the story was fleshed out. It felt very REAL. I cared about these students and their families. I wanted more, more, more. 

I don't know WHY I'm just now discovering this one. But I am super thankful I read it.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

28. Roscoe Riley Rules #1: Never Glue Your Friends To Chairs

Never Glue Your Friends To Chairs (Roscoe Riley Rules #1) Katherine Applegate. Illustrated by Brian Biggs. 2008. 79 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Hey! Over here! It's me. Roscoe. Welcome to the Official Roscoe Riley Time-out Corner. Want to hang out with me? I have to warn you, though. We're going to be here for a while.

Premise/plot: Roscoe Riley has GLUE, but not just any glue, it is Super-Mega-Gonzo Glue. It is PERMANENT. Of course, how and why he uses this super-permanent glue is an interesting, humorous story. (He's only got the best intentions, right????) 

My thoughts: This is my first introduction to Roscoe Riley. Apparently there's a series! This one strongly reminds me (in the best way) of Junie B. Jones. It also reminds me of Robert Munsch's humor. I like this early chapter book very much. I could see how it could hook young readers and make them want to read more, more, more.

I am so glad I revisited Katherine Applegate's earlier works. I'm definitely going to see if the library has more of this series.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

12. Sincerely Sicily

Sincerely Sicily. Tamika Burgess. 2023. 304 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Demanding to see the email only shows me how real this all is. Pa's phone trembles in my hands as I read it for myself. I almost can't get past the words: Sicily Jordan is registered and has been placed in a sixth grade class.

Premise/plot: Sicily Jordan will be attending a different middle school than her (current) best friends. It is the absolute end of the world. There is no recovering from this trauma, this abuse. HOW dare the universe do this to her?!?! She can't even. 

Reyna Sado--her best friend from kindergarten that disappeared (moved away)--attends the same middle school now. These two have the potential to be friends, but, because they don't have 100% the same interests and personalities, there's some doubt whether these two will reconnect...permanently. 

Meanwhile, Sicily has decided to cancel Grandma (Abuela) after she--or whether her hairstyle [braids]--was critiqued. Her father is reluctant to cut all ties with his mother, after all she's grieving the loss of her husband, is physically in need of help, and is from a different generation, but possibly to avoid being canceled himself decides to give grandma an ultimatum. 

The only other plot thread to be found is Sicily's interest in writing for the school newspaper. She's discouraged by the super mean-girl-bossy-rich-girl eighth grader. But she's encouraged by others. 

My thoughts: Sincerely Sicily wasn't for me--personally. This middle grade "problem novel" is a two-note song. For those that love the two notes and want to support a new author, this one might be a fantastic fit. 

Race and racism is front and center on almost every single page of this one. Sicily is learning the distinctive differences and nuances between race and culture, culture and race. And she is personally becoming fascinated with the history of all her blended cultures from her family tree. Like researching these cultures, traditions, etc., is her favorite new hobby. She writes about it every day in her journal. And occasionally--here and there--there are brief moments where you could see, yes, race is coming into play, perhaps there's a smidge of prejudice and offense to be taken. The journal entries--and some of the conversations--to me seem a little more info-dump than I prefer. I'm sure this seems [extra] harsh.

For me, the weakest element of this one was the characterization or lack thereof. Sicily, our heroine, is the most developed. And her sole interests seem to be a) learning about her race and culture b) writing about her race and culture c) talking about her race and culture d) talking about writing about her race and culture e) finding offense when people misunderstand her race and/or culture. Based on her interactions with her family, friends, classmates, etc, she seems a little immature and slightly bratty. Her characterization may be 1000% correct for your typical sixth grader. I am not calling into question her authenticity. Sicily wasn't necessarily given opportunities to shine with strong, developed relationships with other characters. The next-best-developed character was her crush, Michael. The conversations between these two show potential. I felt that Sicily could have potential to be a good, solid heroine if she felt more dimensional. The relationships were also on the weak side, in my opinion.

 "Problem novels" aren't my favorite and best type of realistic fiction to read.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

9. A Boy Called Bat

 

A Boy Called Bat. Elana K. Arnold. 2017. 208 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Bixby Alexander Tam stared into the refrigerator, trying to decide what to eat. He knew that the longer he took, the more energy he was wasting, and Bixby Alexander Tam did not like to waste energy. But he also didn't like to eat leftovers, or cheese that had to be sliced, or any of the yogurt flavors in the fridge.

Premise/plot: Bat (Bixby Alexander Tam) is having a not-so-great day. In fact, he's on the verge of a meltdown. His day begins to improve when his mom--an animal rescuer presumably--brings home a newborn baby skunk. BAT is super-excited to take care of it. He loves animals and animal facts. As the days and weeks pass, Bat becomes bonded. Can they keep the baby skunk as their forever pet? Or will they have to let him go to another rescue/refuge center?

My thoughts: Bat is in an interesting character. I do believe he is on the spectrum. Everything about this one felt authentic--his relationships with his mom, his dad, his sister, his teacher, classmates, etc. I loved the ending. Nothing is tied neatly in a bow, but there is potential--great potential for Bat to be in a good, happy and healthy place. 

My sister recommended this one to me. She thought I would find Bat relatable. I did, I really did!!! So I'm very glad I checked this one out from the library. 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

2. Madison Morris Is Not a Mouse!

Madison Morris is NOT a Mouse! [Class Critters #3] Kathryn Holmes. Illustrated by Ariel Landy. 2022. 128 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: "You're late," Madison Morris's great-aunt grumbled as Madison's mama helper her climb into the car. She said the same thing every Thursday. Madison and her mama were never late. Still, Madison knew better than to argue.

Premise/plot: Madison Morris started out the day super-positive and excited. Today is the day when all the students share their ideas on projects for how to change the world [activism]. But Great Aunt Joelle is a Negative Nelly, a true downer. Her negativity drowns out all the joy from Madison's day. She is now second-guessing all of her ideas--and she had so many. When she's called upon first by the teacher, she begs off saying that she'll share her ideas later... But actions have consequences in magical classrooms. And in this classroom, students can turn into animals. Madison Morris turns into a mouse....what will it take for her to become human again???

My thoughts: I like the series overall. I do. Series books can be so important for young readers. And this series offers entertainment and mild morals. There's a lesson packed into each book. The series will only improve once more titles are available. Binge-reading series is so much fun...for readers of all ages.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

1. Marya Khan and the Incredible Henna Party

Marya Khan and the Incredible Henna Party. Saadia Faruqi. Illustrated by Ani Bushry. 2022. [October 18] 144 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First Sentence: It wasn't fair that my birthday party was exactly two days after Alexa R.'s. "Why couldn't I have been born a little early?" I groaned at breakfast on Monday.

Premise/plot: Marya Khan is about to turn eight. But her birthday party doesn't feel like a party. At least not in comparison. Her parents think an appropriate party includes inviting over a best friend, getting pizza, and watching a movie. Marya Khan dreams a little bigger. A LOT bigger. Something perhaps even bigger and better than her neighbor-and-classmate, Alexa, will have. Her storytelling gets a little out of control and catches the attention of Alexa who believes Marya really is having this awesome party--a henna party. Can Marya convince her parents to throw her a big(ger) party in just a few days???? Or will she be caught out in her lie????

My thoughts: I really loved this one. It was such a great early chapter book. I loved meeting Marya and her family. I loved meeting her friends. I loved how the tense relationship between Alexa and Marya was explored. [Marya is more than a little jealous. But Alexa doesn't seem to have any negative, mean feelings about her.] I loved that this story shows the importance of empathy. Lest you think it is all about morals and lessons, this one offers some humor as well.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers