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Review: The Faerie Isle

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The Faerie Isle Written by Síne Quinn Illustrated by Mermot Flynn Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2025. Informational. This collection of Irish folktales is centered around mythical creatures. Some are well-known, like the mermaid, leprechaun, and selkie; some are less-known such as the faerie dog, pooka, or sheerie; and some are known from stories brought from Ireland to the United States, including the headless horseman. Each section gives an overview on what the creature is, how the myth originated, possible scientific explanations, and a story of a person interacting with said creature. I am at a loss if I recommend the physical book or an audio book more. The images are immersive and beautiful and really help you imagine the creature. However, the narration by Aoife McMahon is enchanting. Told in her native Irish accent both helps children know how to say words that may not be intuitive and makes it feel like you are being told a story passed down generations. Overall, this ...
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Display: Teddy's Top Picks

By Suzanne
  Bear in the Air Written by Susan Meyers Illustrated by Amy Bates New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010. Picture book. When a teddy bear is lost by the child who loves him, the bear begins an adventurous journey to get back home again. -- Editor Blanket and Bear, A Remarkable Pair Written by L.J.R. Kelly Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013. Picture book. When a boy loses his beloved blanket and bear, they travel a great distance to make their way back to him. -- Editor A Bear to Share Written by Jessica Alba, Nora Weinstein, and Kelly Patricof  Illustrated by Alicia Mas New York, NY : Baby2Baby/Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2021. Picture book. Tiana loves her teddy bear, Bach. She doesn't mind that he's a little worn and somewhat torn. So when her mother suggests she make room for a new bear, Tiana can't believe her ears! Will Tiana have to lose the one bear she really loves? Or will she find room in her heart for t...
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De la hora del cuento: La letra "B"

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  Cuentos La bicicleta nueva Por Darcy Day Zoells New York : Clavis, 2023. Libro ilustrado. "Mari tiene una bicicleta nueva. Ahora el mundo luce diferente. ¡Hay tantas cosas que puede hacer! ¿Hacia dónde irá? ¿Qué descubrirá? ¿Conocerá a nuevos amigos? ¡Acompaña a Mari a descubrir lo más importante que la bicicleta puede llevar!" --Editor Cuentitos Me gusta mi bici Por AG Ferrari New York : Holiday House, 2022. Fácil. "Ilustraciones y texto fácil muestran las ventajas de andar en bicicleta cuando las calles están llenas de otros veh̕culos." --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "B" Baby Ballena El oso polar y la bailarina El tejado de Benito Mi abuela es una bruja ¡Hola, Lola! A la bodega
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From Story Time... The Letter "B"

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Preschool Time The Best Bad Day Ever By Marianna Coppo Beverly, MA: Frances Lincoln Children's Books. 2023. Picture Book. A grumpy wolf cub has a bad day, until he meets a penguin with a similar disposition. --Editor Preschool Time The Bear, the Book, and the Blanket Written by Lou Peacock Illustrated by Ged Adamson Lincoln, MA: Nosy Crow Inc., 2024. Picture Book. Oh no! Baby is wide awake! Baby can't go to bed without Bear, Book, and Blanket. Luckily, these ten boisterous bunnies are here to help. But something else important is also missing! Will Baby ever be able to get to sleep? --Publisher Toddler Time Swarm of Bees Written by Lemony Snicket Illustrated by Rilla Alexander New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2019. Picture Book. Whether you're a kid or a bee, sometimes you feel so mad, you buzz around looking for people to sting and trouble to make. See how one boy, a swarm of bees, and a whole town can get riled up and then find a way to feel better through the comfort...
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Review: Sneaks

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Sneaks By Amy Tern New York : Holiday House, 2026. J Fiction. 232 pages. In this engaging mystery, kleptomaniac Valory and agoraphobic Rook try to figure out what's happening the neighboring apartment building. Is the strange, paranoid Ms. Smith secretly holding a child captive in her apartment next door? And is there a connection between this child and a girl who was kidnapped several states away? On top of their amateur investigation, our protagonists must overcome their fears and the biases people have towards them. Valory has been a dishonest troublemaker in the past and finds that now adults don't necessarily trust her when it really matters. Rook, on the other hand, is a prodigious pianist who has become terrified of leaving his home, which makes snooping around a little tricky. Sneaks is fast-paced and suspenseful but also full of heart. 
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Review: The Ginghams

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The Ginghams By T.C. Kemper New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2026. Fiction. 232 pages. Joni is a twelve-year-old artist just returning from summer camp, excited to see her best friend, May, a rock and roll drummer in the making. But things in Olive Springs are not how they were when Joni left it. May has suddenly traded her signature wild curls for a neat and proper bun. The eclectic book store/ice cream shop has been transformed into a parlor that only sells vanilla. And the weirdest of all? A weekly book club being run by the new family in town, The Ginghams, seems to change everyone that attends into a proper and prim "model citizen," dead eyed and smiling. Can Joni and her friend Tyler solve the mystery of what is happening to their beloved town? Or will they be forced to conform too? This middle grade thriller was a quick and exciting read, perfect for the start of the Halloween season, though it never gets too creepy. The characters were well developed, the plot was ni...
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Books to Read About Grandparents

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Grandparents can be an essential part of a young child's life. There are a variety of ways that grandparents are involved with grandchildren. Sometimes a grandparent fills the role of a primary caregiver. Other times, grandparents are available as an extra support system in addition to parents. There are also times when grandparents don't live close, and aren't able to spend nearly as much time with their grandchildren as they would like. No matter the particular situation, these books about grandparents might help a child in your life see themselves in the books, or think about another person whose life and circumstances are very different from their own. When We Were Snails By Nan Cao New York, NY : Crown Books for Young Readers, 2026. Picture Book. A young girl's mother has to go far away for work, and that means she will be staying with her grandparents. Like many young kids losing the comfort and security a parent provides, there are moments of sadness and struggle...
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