The second I saw this book, I knew I had to review it! What could be more apropos for an editor like me than a book about words? And truly, this picture book did not disappoint. Swiss power-duo Rebecca Gugger and Simon Röthlisberger wrote and illustrated the story of Oscar, a boy who uncovers a chest full of jumbled up words, which he quickly begins assigning to different objects and animals… with surprising results! The tale relies heavily on the illustrations to bring definitions to life in hilarious ways. Oscar’s tale highlights the power of words and the magic they […]

Let me preface this review by specifying that I am an only child… but this book made me wish I had a big sister! Nelly Buchet, herself a middle sister, takes on the voice of a small child to tell this adorable story in very few words. Big Sister and Little Sister keep having to change their plans due to weather—first heat so intense that Little Sister’s ice cream melted, then a downpour—long lines, library closures, and more. What a terrible day! Or is it? Somehow, Big Sister manages to find fun in unexpected places and turn a not-so-perfect adventure […]

Going into Annie Mack’s debut middle grade novel, I didn’t expect a goopy little monster to be the reason main character James Dawson makes a good friend at his new school. But when the family moves from Vancouver to a little town outside Kamloops, BC, to set up their bookstore—one that sells crystals and special herbs—James seems like the perfect candidate to help a classmate figure out what’s been slobbering in his ear at night. Although there is a magical aspect to the story, Mack intertwines many key STEM concepts into the plot: the five senses, for once, and especially […]