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Dragon Masters Readalikes

When it comes to early illustrated chapter books, the  Dragon Masters  series by Tracey West checks a lot of boxes. These stories are fast-paced and action-oriented but accessible to newly independent readers. The world-building is magical and the quests are exciting. If your J Intermediate-level reader has already devoured the thirty books in this super popular series, here are a few recommendations to broaden their horizons (at least until #31 comes out!). Llama Quest: Danger in the Dragons' Den Written by Megan Reyes  Illustrated by Kay Davault New York : Random House, 2025. Intermediate. 106 pages. Dak lives on his family's llama farm, which means his life is full of llama poop and empty of adventure. Then Dak meets the mysterious girl who lives with the monks next door and a talking llama named Lucy who is the keeper of the Ravenwood stones. These magical, protective stones have been scattered across the kingdom by a sneaky thief. Together Team Llama Quest has t...
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If You Like.. the Winter Olympics

 The 2026 Winter Olympics are here! Taking place in Milan and Cortina, Italy, this amazing sports spectacle features athletes from all over the world competing in various winter sports, such as skating, skiing, and snowboarding. It is an exciting time to cheer on your favorite athletes as they represent our country.  Here is a list of books to read to learn more about the Olympics, famous Olympians, and the sports that athletes are competing in right now!  What are the Winter Olympics? By Gail Herman New York: Penguin Workshop, 2021. Informational. 108 pages.  In this Who HQ book, readers can learn all about the Winter Olympics- how they began, various controversies and interesting happenings, and new sporting events that have been added through the years. This overview of the hallmark of winter sports competitions woud appeal to all middle grade readers!  Fearless Heart: An Illustrated Biography of Surya Bonaly Written by Frank Murphy with Surya Bonaly Illustra...

If You Like… Chickens

There is something comical yet endearing about chickens. It's not much debate that they are some of the silliest birds, and children's book writers agree! There are so many memorable picture books about the little birds. Here are a few books to check out!   Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) Written by Linda Bailey Illustrated by K-Fai Steele New York: Tundra Books of Northern New York, 2025. Picture Book. Lena is a chicken, but if you ask her, she is a dinosaur! And she can’t understand why the (other) chickens in the coop act the way they do. When a sneaky weasel causes problems for the hens, Lena the dinosaur may be their only hope. This hilarious picture book will have to laughing out loud as you cheer on the chickens.   Mavis the Bravest Written by Lu Fraser Illustrated by Sarah Warburton New York : Godwin Books, Henry Holt and Company, 2024. Picture Book. Mavis is content to keep to her knitting because she’s convinced that she doesn’t have...

Review: A Tale of Plagues and Perfumes

A Tale of Plagues and Perfumes By Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski New York: Henry Holt & Co., 2026. Fantasy. 352 pgs. In the city of Yerat, 12-year-old Nia has a special gift and a big secret. She has a supernatural sense of smell, and she's worried if anyone finds out they'll mark her as a Sinsory. The Sinsories are a group of people born with magical senses that they periodically use to fight plagues and protect others, but superstitious people still view them as evil. Though she tries to hide her gift, Nia is recruited to the Cloister - a school where Sinsories learn to fight plagues. Her start at the Cloister is rocky, but her unique sense of smell makes Nia a vital part of crafting a curefume for a new, very strong, scent-based plague. As the plague claims victims; and Nia fears for the safety of her loved ones outside the Cloister; she and two new Sinsory friends decide to risk everything to save those they love. This high-stakes fantasy novel is set in a remarkably...

De la hora del cuento: La letra "Q"

  Cuentos La casita del ratón Escrito por Jonathan Stutzman Ilustrado por Isabelle Arsenault Barcelona : Editorial EkarĆ©, 2023. Libro ilustrado. "Vicente es un ratón que, allĆ” donde vaya, lleva una casita sobre su espalda. En ella todos aquellos que necesitan cobijo pueden entrar: una rana cansada, una familia de erizos, un gato hambriento ... incluso algunos animales de aspecto temible. Y es que la casita del ratón es mĆ”s grande de lo que parece. En este libro con vocación de clĆ”sico, los talentos de Stutzman y Arsenault se emplean en narrar una encantadora historia sobre la verdadera generosidad." --Editor Cuentitos Te quiero, Spot Por Eric Hill New York, New York : Frederick Warne, 2024. PequeƱo libro ilustrado. "Es el dĆ­a de San ValentĆ­n y Spot estĆ” planeando una sorpresa especial ... Este conmovedor cuento es ideal para compartir con tu pequeƱo amor." --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "Q" El muƱequito de queso apestoso y otros cuentos con demasiada...

From Story Time: The Letter "Q"

Preschool Time It's So Quiet: a Not-Quite-Going-to-Bed Book Written by Sherri Duskey Rinker Illustrated by Tony Fucile San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC, 2021. Picture Book. Little mouse cannot sleep because it is too quiet--but when he really listens he finds to night is full of all sorts of sounds, so many if fact that it is too noisy to sleep. --Editor Preschool Time I Quit Written by Kristen Tracy Illustrated by Federico Fabiani New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2024. Picture Book. When kitty first got adopted, everything was purr-fect. Then came the rules. NO eating the bread! NO chasing the baby! BAD KITTY! Excuse me? She's not a bad kitty. Left with no choice, she says goodbye to everything she loves (even her favorite crinkled-up receipt) and quits! But kitty's adventure in the great outdoors doesn't go as planned, and she realizes that she may have made a few mistakes. She knows she can do better, but how can she get home? Would her family even want her back...

Review: The Sky Was My Blanket

  The Sky Was My Blanket By Uri Shulevitz New York : Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2025. Biography, 149 pages. The Sky Was My Blanket by Uri Shulevitz is a compelling biography based on his uncle's experiences as a young man escaping the dangers of World War II. Yehiel left his home rejecting the strict religious rules of his father. He journeyed from place to place, often pushed out by the fear of capture or imprisonment, never knowing where he would end up. With no permanent shelter, he often slept outside, relying on the open sky as protection. Shulevitz's simple yet reflective storytelling captures the confusion and terror of living through these uncertain times. This book gently introduces readers to the realities of World War II and of living as a refugee. Despite it's weighty topic, Shulevitz prioritizes themes of human resilience, resistance, and true kindness. It's a relatively short book broken into chapters that are only a few pages at most. ...