Pop Manga Paint and Ink Coloring Book -- A Relaxing Friday Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It has been a very long time since I have done a Relaxing Friday Review! I remember when I did them regularly. However, I have not been getting many adult coloring books to review recently, and I guess the adult coloring trend died down a bit. If you go back to my first Relaxing Friday Review, you will see some ways coloring as an adult can help with your thinking skills. There are advantages to it and I am happy to start doing it again. Today we are sharing a newly released coloring book. It is Pop Manga Paint and Ink Coloring Book by Camilla d'Ericco. 

Picture Books About April Holidays

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

Last week was the beginning of Lent. That means Easter is coming! This year it is in April. Passover is also in April. But do you know about Qing Ming? It is another holiday in April. Today we are sharing new picture books about Easter and Qing Ming. We will start with the book about Easter. It is E Is for Easter Egg Hunt by Brittany J. Thurman and illustrated by Derick Brooks. It is an alphabet book and is based on the original podcast: Quentin and Alfie's ABC Adventures. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.

Newly Released Board Book Roundup

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

Board books are great for different ages. Babies can't harm them too much and as kids get older, they can handle the flaps and such. Today we are sharing a roundup of board books. They range in recommended ages from 0 to 7. A couple are being rereleased and the others are new this month. The first book is 123s of Kindness at Bedtime by Patricia Hegarty and illustrated by Summer Macon. It is part of the Books of Kindness Collection and is recommended for ages 0 to 3. 

Two New Picture Books Reminding Readers They Matter and There Is a Place for Them

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own. 

Everyone wants to have a place they feel like they belong and matter. Today we are going to share two new picture books (released today) that share messages of belonging and mattering. The first is You Matter, Luma by John R. Miles and illustrated by Nejla Shojaie. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa: The Ostriches -- Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Jennifer Ussi to bring you this post.

I love stories that are fun to read and teach about different places and animals. They are even better when they have life lessons in them as well.  Today we get to share the sixth book in The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa: The Ostriches by Jennifer Ussi and illustrated by Lekshmi Bose. We shared our review of the first book in this fun series previously. This post has an amazing giveaway at the end of it!

New Picture Books About Courage, Imagination & Changing One's Ways

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

There have been so many amazing picture books released lately. Today we are sharing two new ones that focus on imagination and stepping out of one's comfort zone. The first book is Maya's World by Andrea Pippins. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Houdini's Library

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Name a magician. Most people tend to name Harry Houdini, even today. He is that well known. Over the years Hazel and I have explored Harry Houdini, but I don't know that much about his life. Today we are sharing a wonderful new picture book biography on him and his love of books. The book is Houdini's Library by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mar Delmar. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8, but I would say it is on the older side of that maybe 6 to 10. 

Lionborn -- Middle Grade Fantasy Novel Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in order to provide my honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Sharique Zea to bring you this post.

Have you ever wondered if there are other realms out there? Today we are sharing a middle grade fantasy novel with different realms and a group of kids who travel between them to save the universe. The book is Lionborn by Sharique Zea. There is a giveaway after my review.

Celebrate Nowruz A Persian New Year Holiday to Honor Spring

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

The Lunar New Year begins this week! 2026 will be the year of the horse. We have done quite a bit with the lunar new year in the past. Today we are looking at a Persian New Year Holiday that honors spring. It is Nowruz. This year it will be March 20, 2026. It begins at the precise time spring begins every year. To learn about it we are sharing a newly released book called Celebrate Nowruz! A Persian New Year Holiday to Honor Spring by Zohreh Ghahremani and illustrated by Susie Ghahremani. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Two Picture Books by Jacqueline Woodson About Family & Love

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

Family is important. Family is love. For most family is safety. Today we are sharing two beautiful picture books by Jacqueline Woodson about family with very different messages. The first book is Our Gracie Aunt by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Monica Mikai. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Books for Young Ones with a Garden Theme

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

With the mounds of snow and below 0 temperatures, I have to say I am dreaming of springtime. Today we get to share three books released this week that bring a little spring to our winter freeze. Two are board books and one is a picture book with an Easter theme. All three books have to do with gardens! Both of the board books are from the Baby Botanicals series. The first one is Good Morning, Garden! by Jillian Miao and illustrated by Riley Samels. It is recommended for ages 0 to 3. 

Picture Books with Animals Sharing Friendship, Community & More

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

There were many books released this week. Today we are sharing four of them about animals, community, friendship and more. They are all picture books, and each has a lesson in it. We will start with one about a hummingbird's annual migration. It is Hummingbird's Big Trip by G. Brian Karas. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

In My Mind -- Picture Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Carmen Hernández to bring you this post.

Are you or your child a person who lives a bit in his or her head? Perhaps you or your child have ADHD. Or perhaps you are just an overthinker. It can be hard to go someplace new when you are. Other people may not understand your hesitation or behavior. Today we are sharing a picture book that shares how a young boy is feeling about the first day of school and how his ADHD sometimes controls his behavior. The book is In My Mind by Carmen Hernández and illustrated by HV Helmut. There is a giveaway at the end of this post.

Bread Is Love -- New Picture Book Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

When I was in middle and high school, I loved baking bread. I made it almost every week. I tried to share this love with Hazel when she was growing up. When we did the parent child class at a Waldorf School, we were making bread there or at least kneading and shaping bread every class. Today we get to share a beautiful new book about a mom who shares her love of baking bread with her kids each week. The book is Bread Is Love by Pooja Makhijani and illustrated by Lavanya Naidu. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

The Princess and the Grain of Rice -- Fairy Tales in Different Cultures Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It has been a while since I have had a Fairy Tale in Different Cultures post and this one is a great story!! Today I get to share a Korean version of the Princess and the Pea. Tina Cho looked for stories about princesses who were like herself and her daughter. They didn't seem to be in the stories nor the movies. She decided to change that by writing her own. She picked her favorite fairy tale and changed it by adding some Korean culture and history. The book is The Princess and the Grain of Rice by Tina Cho and illustrated by Honee Jang. The book is recommended for ages 4 to 8, but I would say older kids may enjoy it as well especially if doing a unit on fairy tales or other cultures.

Paper Book for Nature Lovers -- Joyful Sunday Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What brings you joy? I know crafting brings me joy as does nature. Today I get to share a beautiful new paper book about nature and I'm sharing a haiku with crafts from it! The book is Paper Book for Nature Lovers by the Editors of Flow Magazine. I've reviewed one of these paper books from Flow Magazine previously too. 

Books About Love for Ages 10+ -- Valentine's Day Reads

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide you with honest reviews. All opinions are my own. 

In January we did two roundups of picture books for Valentine's Day. Young children are not the only ones who celebrate or need to read about love and relationships! Today we are sharing a roundup of novels for ages 10+. They include middle grade novels and young adult novels. These books I have either read completely or at least started but wanted to get them shared before Valentine's Day. We will be sharing them from youngest to oldest readers. The first book is Mountain Upside Down by Sara Ryan. It is recommended for older middle grade readers--ages 10 to 13. 

The Lion's Run -- Review of New Historical Fiction Middle Grade Novel

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Do you have a middle grade reader who loves historical fiction? World War II? Or perhaps horses? Today we are sharing a historical fiction middle grade novel set during World War II in occupied France. The main characters are two brave kids from very different backgrounds who work together to do what is right. The book is The Lion's Run by Sara Pennypacker. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

Venus! Fierce and Fabulous

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Are you doing a solar system or space unit and want to add some fun? Stacy McAnulty has an amazing series of picture books that are humorous and full of information. Today we get to share the newest one: Venus! Fierce and Fabulous written by Stacy McAnulty and illustrated by Stevie Lewis. It is the ninth book in Our Universe series. We have reviewed several of the books in the series and can say these books are amazing resources for studying space but also just fun books to read for story time! The series is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Children's Books Sharing Different Cultures and Languages

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

I love sharing books that teach us about different cultures and languages. Today I have four books to share with you and two of them are being released this week! The first book is about a Korean word that means so much and doesn't have an English equivalent. The book is Jeong Is Jeong by Jessica Yoon and illustrated by Michelle Lee. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.