(“Cascade Head, Oregon Coast, West Coast/Best Coast”; photo by Rawley/use with permission only, please)

Hello, friends and readers, what’s shaking? I’m reviewing as many books as I can in one fell swoops — all of the spring titles are popping up in my mailbox. In interest of fairness, each book gets a one-sentence review. Here we go…

• “Little Bunny, Spring is Here!” is a new, bright, sweet and timely board book from author/illustrator Deborah Marcero. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin Random House, 2025, ages newborn-4, $8.99)
• “Roald Dahl’s How to Have an Eggstraordinary Easter,” illustrated by Quentin Blake (Grosset & Dunlap/Penguin Random House, 2025, ages 4-8, $9.99). This one… so fun. “Huzzah! Hooray! It’s almost Easter Day! Time for Muggle-Wump the monkey to bring the Easter eggs!”
• “When I Talk to God, I Talk About Feelings” is a lovely new story (with beautiful art by Lisa Fields) from Chrissy Metz and Bradley Collins. (Flamingo Books/Penguin Random House; scheduled for release April 8, 2025; ages 4 and up; $18.99.) (Their previous book, which was also a good read, was “When I Talk to God, I Talk About You.”)
• Ooooooh, this one is cool, too, and again, fantastic art and a thoughtful story. “Miss Prim Goes Wild,” by Katy Rose, with art by Thai My Phuong (WaterBrook/Penguin Random House; due to be released March 25, 2025; all ages; $13.99).
• “Our Lake,” written and illustrated by the gifted Angie Kang, is an insightful and kind-hearted glimpse into how two young boys deal with the loss of their father. (Kokila/Penguin Random House, 2025, all ages, $19.99.)
• “Where Are You, Brontë?” is the late and great Tomie dePaola’s final completed manuscript, a love letter to his friend and companion, a beloved Airedale Terrier; Barbara McClintock’s illustrations are perfection, I know that dePaola would have been pleased. (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; due to be released May 6, 2025; all ages; $19.99.)
• Reverend, U.S. Senator and author Raphael G. Warnock and illustrator TeMika Grooms have brought us a treasure with the new picture book, “We’re in This Together: Leo’s Lunch Box.” Loaves and fishes, y’all. Loaves and fishes forever. A note to readers states: “One in five children in America is food insecure and uncertain where they will get their next meal. This continues not because of a poverty of resources but of moral courage and imagination. We can fix this and we will when we come to recognize that we are all in this together.” That, I love. And today? With what we’re going through in the United States? Those words mean more than ever. That’s more than one sentence, I know. (Philomel/Penguin Random House; scheduled for release April 22, 2025; ages 4 and up; $19.99.)

The pick of the week is… Roald Dahl because I love that guy. Did you know (you probably already know) he wrote a title for almost every letter of the alphabet? I may have mentioned that before. A is for… can’t remember what A is for, ha. B is for “The BFG,” C is for (of course) “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” D is for (my fave) “Danny the Champion of the World,” F is for “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and so and and so forth.

Disclaimer: All of the books included in today’s post were sent to me free for review purposes. Disclaimer here. Enjoy, bon appetit, and see you next time!

WM

(Mt. Hood camping trip, 2006; photo by Rawley/use with permission only, please)

Hello, cats and kittens, what’s shaking? Would you like to know what I’m reading today? Of course you would. OK, I’ll tell you. None of these books are on the shelves yet, but here is a sneak peek:

• “Fierce Aunties!” is a fiercely great new picture book by Laurel Goodluck, with illustrations by Steph Littlebird (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; release date is April 15, 2025; all ages; $19.99). Goodluck’s intertribal background is Mandan and Hidatsa, from the North Dakota prairies; and Tsimshian, from an Alaskan rainforest. This book is a beautiful love letter to her mother and aunties, including Dody, Phyllis and Karen, as well as elders Aunt Alice and Aunt Lucy. They were born, respectively in in 1899 and 1901 and preferred to speak the family’s tribal language, Hidatsa. They were the family’s last generation to be fluent in the language. Steph Littlebird dedicated her illustrations (which are fantastic) to a long list of amazing family members, including her Grandma Mickey, aunties Sylvia, Julie, Carol, and everyone else who is “in my heart always.” This is a special, meaningful book about the power of love and strong females.

• Hello, hello, “Brave Buzzy Bee,” and welcome. Angela Li did the sweet-as-honey illustrations; Rima Fakih Slaiby and Theresa Alhayek wrote the rhyming picture book, which is pretty fun and bounces along. (Flamingo Books/Penguin Random House; on the shelves Feb. 25, 2025; ages 4-8; $18.99.) Buzzy Bee and his best friend Bumble are ready for the race, but a little apprehensive, too. His dad comes along with encouraging words: “Buzzy was excited for the race ahead but also nervous, so his daddy said, ‘Please be patient, little bee. Bee-lieve, and try your best bravely! Many things won’t go your way, but you can try again each day.‘”

• “Astronaut Hayley’s Brave Adventure” is the story of Ms. Hayley Arceneaux, who wrote her autobiographical story of 1) being a survivor of pediatric cancer and 2) becoming the youngest American to orbit Earth and oh, man. What an inspiring story! (Convergent Books; scheduled for release Feb. 18, 2025; all ages; $13.99.) Be sure to read the bios in the back about Arceneaux and illustrator Lucie Bee. She is a picture book illustrator residing in Yorkshire, Northern England. She works digitally, mostly, but “occasionally returns to her much-loved black tin of watercolors and box of colored pencils.” I love that. The art is bold and lifts the reader right up into space, with our characters.

• Time for one more, Eliza Kinkz’s “!Mistaco!” which is a very goofy and fun picture book — in Spanglish, my specialty — about making mistakes… and fixing them… and learning from them. What do you do when you have a rotten day at school, then all you want to do is hide in the car, but hello/goodbye bees, noooooo bees, go away, and… Then you end up having to help make the tortillas. Yeah. It’s a lot. The art, the story, the Spanglish, the great family and Izzy, a very funny and striking young hero — this gem has it all. (I love that it’s scheduled for publication on April Fools’ Day this year, thank you, Kokila/Penguin Random House for having a great sense of humor. Ages 4-8, $18.99, buy 2 or 4 copies, keep one and give the rest away as gifts. That’s what I say about all of these titles, come to think of it. Wonderful crop of books.)

The pick of the week is… all of them. It’s a great collection. Big high-five to “Fierce Aunties” and “Mistaco,” love you lots.

Disclaimer: All of the books included in today’s post were sent to me free for review purposes. Disclaimer here. See you next time!

WM

(Wacky Dog, the Best in the West; photo by Rawley/use with permission only)

Welcome, welcome to the book review of the month, now that February is almost over. Ha. I need to write more reviews, y’all. Wintertime has been… uninspiring. But the book selection is good! I’ve been reading a lot. Happy hours. So here we go.

• “True Gretch: Lessons for Anyone Who Wants to Make a Difference” (Co-written with Lisa Dickey, Simon & Schuster, 2024-2025, 176 pages, $18.99). This is the Young Readers’ Edition of Gretchen Whitmer’s memoir, “True Gretch: What I’ve Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything In Between.” Whitmer (D, Governor of Michigan) is a progressive politician and outspoken supporter of healthcare, women’s rights, and infrastructure legislation. I’ve seen several interviews with her. She’s brave, went through some rough stuff and is OK, and I like her.
• Mother-daughter team Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor co-wrote a lovely memoir awhile back, “Traveling with Pomegranates” (Viking Penguin, 2009, 282 pages, $16). If you’re like me, and God knows I am, you’re stuck at home and not traveling at the moment. This book takes you on an amazing (and free) journey to tour sacred sites in Greece and France, circa 1998-2000, with our soul-searching tour guides, Sue and Ann. I’m loving this book, and looking forward to re-reading two of Sue’s novels, “The Secret Life of Bees” and “The Mermaid Chair.” They were both exquisite.
• “Simply Jamie: Fast & Simple Food” is another knock-it-out-of-the-park cookbook by my hero, Jamie Oliver (Flatiron Books, 2025, 285 beautiful pages, $39.99). Pick it up and try out some new recipes that live up to the title. They all look good, but especially these: No-Cook Pasta Sauces, all of them; Chicken Noodle Broth; Roasted Veg with Camembert Fondue; and… Hero Chocolate Cake. Oh, hello.

My pick of the week is… “True Gretch.” I appreciate how forthright she is and I thank her for looking out for our country.

Disclaimer: All of the books included in today’s post were sent to me free for review purposes. Disclaimer here. Have a great week, y’all, and see you next time!

WM

(Cascade Head, Oregon Coast, 2007; photo by Steve Rawley, use with permission only, please)

Holla. What are you up to, friends? Leave a note if you feel so inclined, or send an email. Here are a few new titles that came my way. I just started reading them, in my own inimitable style: all at once. Highly recommend them, even though I’m technically in the middle of them all. OK! 

• “Build a Girlfriend,” by Elba Luz (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025, ages teens and up, 362 pages, $19.99) is first on the stack. Luz is a gem — this is the first YA romantic comedy for the author — and she tackles all the challenges: bisexuality, cultural issues, mental health stuff. Our hero, Amelia Hernandez, is single. Again. And revenge-dating her ex. She feels that she is cursed for love (blame her family), but jumps back in the fray, anyway.
• “First Love Language,” by Stefany Valentine (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House, 2025, ages teen and up; 300 pages). This book also tackles some of the challenges that can come along with being a teenage female. Catie Carlson, who is Taiwanese-American, loves her adopted family (they’re white), but also hopes to make connections with her bio family.
• “Everwhen the Doomsday Vault” (great title!) is the first book in a new series by Thomas Wheeler (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; scheduled for release Jan. 28, 2025; grades 3-7; 293 pages; $18.99). You know how it goes when you accidentally kind of create a black hole in your room? And next thing you know you’re traveling from 1878 to 2022? It’s weird. But that’s time travel. This is a fun one, inspired (just a little) by Douglas Adams’s “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” series. We are introduced to the Everwhen School, where we will meet  Millie da Vinci, and Dean Marconi, who may have some famous family members. Wheeler is also a screenwriter (“Puss in Boots,” “The Lego Ninjago Movie”) and it looks like “Everwhen” is headed to the big screen, too.
• “City Spies: London Calling,” the latest in the series by James Ponti, is another good read (Aladdin Books/Simon & Schuster; on sale Feb. 4, 2025, grades 3-7, 394 pages, $18.99). The spies are on the go again, from Istanbul, to Rome to the U.K. I love this series because… good writing, characters and plots, but also just because it’s fun to learn about geography while you’re in the middle of a good story. (In addition to City Spies, Ponti is the writer of the Sherlock Society, Framed! and the Dead City series.

My pick of the week is “First Love Language.” It’s a sweet and salty read, a little quirky, and handles a difficult topic in a thoughtful manner. Looking forward to reading more from Valentine, and the other writers featured this week. Disclaimer: The titles included in today’s post were sent to me free for review purposes. Disclaimer here. See you next time!

WM

(“Windsor Castle Moat Garden,” photo by Steve Rawley, use with permission only, please)

That’s an old pic that Steve took for me when he and our daughter were in England. It popped up and I now gift it to you. I’m mad for orange roses, by the way, ever since I was a kid. My favorite variety is Tropicana, of course, but I am also fond of Sterling Silver. Which is not orange, but is still a pretty, pretty rose. It’s gonna be a long winter, y’all. I’ll prune my wild roses and Napoleon roses next month. Oh, hi! Are you looking for book reviews? Here’s what’s on the nightstand this week… Picture books! Super nice ones. Flowers and hearts for Valentine’s Day.

• “Lily’s Dream: A Fairy Friendship (Fairies Welcome),” by Bea (Brittany) Jackson, is my pick of the week. (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, 2025, ages 4-8, $18.99.) The glittery cover and dreamy art will capture the attention of the kids. It’s awfully pretty, and will hopefully inspire them to create some art of their own. The author lives in Detroit, Michigan, and this is the first book in a series she has planned. “Lily was a dreamer. She dreamed of soaring with the birds and the butterflies high above the treetops. More than anything, she wanted to fly.”
• “Bitsy Bat, Team Star” is another new picture book about hope and flying. The Bitsy Bat series is written and illustrated by Kaz Windness. (A Paula Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster, on sale 2/4/2025, ages 4-8, $19.99.) Enzo Owl is a new student at school, and is non-speaking. Some of the students don’t know what to make of this. Winnie to the rescue. “‘Why doesn’t Enzo speak?’ asked Winnie. ‘Enzo uses a tablet and sign language to communicate,’ said Mr. Nibbles. ‘That’s a cool way to talk, Enzo,’ said Mo. ‘Thanks,’ signed Enzo.” Bitsy is a great character, and the kids like her. I love Windness’s art, it’s ebullient, colorful and full of life. Great introduction to talking to kids about kids who have extra needs.
• And now for three new Valentine’s Day books… Keith Baker’s “Hap-Pea Valentine’s Day,” is a lot of fun. This is the first in a series of holiday books (including Easter and Halloween) scheduled for release this year. All kinds of hearts = all kinds of love. (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, 2024, ages 4-8, $9.99.)
• Bigfoot!! You know we like that fella out in my part of the country (the wilds of Oregon). Sarah Glenn Marsh, writer, and Ishaa Lobo, illustrator, present “Bigfoot’s Big Heart.” (Viking/Penguin Random House, 2024, ages 3 and up, $18.99.) In this peek into Sasquatch’s life, he’s a homebody, mostly. Humans fear him and he stays away. But he enjoys his knitting, while he’s wearing his cozy robe and fluffy slippers. He’s misunderstood, yes, but his friends — including Nessie in Scotland, Mothman in the Appalachian Mountains, Chupacabra in Puerto Rico — know him and love him. When he loses the Valentines he’s sending them, who will help? Delightful book.
• Awwww, Nicola Killen is back with “The Little Puppy (My Little Animal Friend)” (A Paula Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster, 2024, ages 4 and up, $17.99). When Grandma and her new pup, Milo, come to visit, Ollie is ex-cit-ed!! But you know puppies. Things sometimes get a little hectic. Killen’s art is beautiful.

Disclaimer: The titles included in today’s post were sent to me free for review purposes. Disclaimer here. See you next time!

WM

(“Mt. Hood/Trillium Lake,” photo by Rawley, yeah I’m ready for spring and summer; use with permission only, please)

• “Unstoppable John: How John Lewis Got His Library Card — and Helped Change History,” is a fantastic new picture book/biography by Pat Zietlow Miller (Viking/Penguin Random House, 2025, all ages, $18.99). Jerry Jordan provided the illustrations, which are outstanding, thank you. The late, great John Lewis was a badass, gifted, astounding politician, forward-thinker and reader. In 1956, when he was a kid, he wanted to check out library books, but the library people wouldn’t let him. “But that didn’t stop John. John sent a letter to the library asking them to lend books to everyone. He waited and waited. But the library never wrote back.” That small — yet huge, unfair and yes, illegal situation — changed the man’s life and impacted the work he did, starting then, and for the rest of his years. I have so much love in my heart for Lewis. This book moves mountains, by telling his story. Thank you to everyone who brought this fine picture book into existence.
• “Saturday Morning at the ‘Shop” is a cool new picture book written by Keenan Jones, with illustrations by Ken Daley (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, 2025, all ages, $18.99). “Every picture tells a story/don’t it?” to quote the song, and yes, this is a great story, with great pictures, about a longstanding African-American tradition for the guys, as told through the eyes of a young man who spends his day there.
• Book three of the week is: “Nearly Exactly Almost Like Me,” a sweet, funny and inspiring picture book about two brothers. And yes, thank you!! they are brothers, even though they look nothing alike and people say things. Author Jennifer Bradbury did a lovely job with this book, which is illustrated by Pearl AuYeung. (A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book/Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster; on sale Feb. 11, 2025; ages 4 and up; $19.99).

These books are my three picks of the week and I hope they win many, many, many awards. They deserve it, and all the love. All would be great additions to any library collection. Shout-out of the week to Perri Klass, by the way, for this excellent review of one of my lifelong favorite books, the American classic “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” by Betty Smith. Disclaimer: The titles included in today’s post were sent to me free for review purposes. Disclaimer here. See you next time! WM

“Light in Corvallis,” photo (from Aug. 2022) by Nancy Ellen Row, use pic with permission only, please.

I will tell you a little about each book and then move along, because today is dreary and misty and I’d rather be reading than writing. But this is an interesting batch, so here we go…

• “The Bookshop on the Corner,” by Jenny Colgan (author of “Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop” and others) (William Morrow-HarperCollins, 2016, 370 pages). Such fun, this one.
• Having a little love affair with “Pack of Two: The Intricate Bond Between People and Dogs,” by Caroline Knapp (who also wrote “Alice K.’s Guide to Life” and “Drinking: A Love Story) (Dial Press, 1998, 249 pages). After losing both of her parents, and giving up alcohol after two decades of drinking, Knapp was looking for some meaning in life. She found… Woof! I think many of us can relate. Poignant and straight-ahead read.
• “The Davenports: More Than This” is the second title in this regal, elegant and saucy series from author Krystal Marquis (Dial Books/Penguin Random House, 2024, 379 pages). Love it, love the characters, and love the descriptions and plots of Marquis’s novels.
• “One Long River of Song: Notes on Wonder,” is a book of essays, each different, each its own animal, by the late, great Brian Doyle. This is a Little Free Library find and I’m happy to add it to my collection. Looking forward to starting it. (Little, Brown and Company/Hachette, 2017, pages.)
• “The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha,” (published a long time ago, contains so many books, so many pages). My copy dates back to college, when I took one of my fave English classes ever, “Bible as Literature,” with one of Portland State University’s most esteemed scholars, Professor Deanne Westbrook. My heart forever. I’m reading through Psalms at the moment. It always helps. For those of us who are into the Bible, I mean.

The pick of the week is… the Bible. Just because it includes stories that are both uplifting and terrifying, lol. Disclaimer: All of the books included in today’s post were sent to me free for review purposes. Disclaimer here. All for now, see you next time!

WM

(“These Two”; photo by Rawley/use with permission only, please)

Up first this week: Books for the holidays and yes, I know I’m early, or late, depending on your schedule. Order or shop for them now and thank me later. Belated (in my humble opinion) is always better. Then it’s a gift and a surprise. xoxoxo WM

• • “Santa Mouse Finds a Furry Friend,” is a new story from “Santa Mouse” author Michael Brown, who dreamed up the original story when he found a piece of fabric decorated with a small Christmas mouse. I loved this book when I was a kid, and a whole new generation is now being introduced to our friend. Sweet and charming illustrations are by Robert McPhillips (Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, 2024, $18.99). “One Christmas Eve, as they set out in boots and suits so neatly dressed, this little friend asked Santa  Claus which gift did Santa think was best. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘we need good foor, warm clothes to wear, a place to live. But sometimes it is friendship that can be the finest gift to give.'”
  • And just for fun and happiness, here are two little board books: “Light,” by Ruth Forman, with illustrations by Katura Gaines and “What’s Mine is Yours,” by Hannah Eliot, with illustrations by Sally Walker (both from Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, 2024, $8.99 apiece.) In “Light,” a child takes a journey, his eyes laughing bright, seeing all… just like you. In “What’s Mine is Yours,” a mother and child spend peaceful time sharing everything — pancakes, smiles and wonders. Quiet and delightful.
  • Well, hello, again, Airi Sano, Prankmaster General, how’ve you been, kid? “International Menace” is the latest novel in the series by Zoe Tokushige, with illustrations by Jennifer Naalchigar (Philomel/Penguin Random House, 2024, grade 3 and older, $14.99). Airi and family leave Hawaii for the summer to visit her grandparents and cousins in Japan. I’m sure it will be a typical boring vacation, lol. I love Airi, her hijinks, spirit and big heart, and I also love the roadmaps, clues, keys and illustrations sprinkled throughout the books. They make it really fun and engaging for readers.

The pick of the week is… “Light,” for the perfect illustrations and the uplifting story.

Disclaimer: All of the books included in today’s post were sent to me free for review purposes. Disclaimer here. See you next time!

WM

(“Fall Scarecrow,” photo by Rawley/use with permission only, please)

• • The team of Rocco and Rocco (Haley and John Rocco) bring us a new series, and it’s pretty cool. “Meet the Wild Things: Hello, I’m a QUOKKA,” “Hello, I’m a SLOTH” and “Hello, I’m a PANGOLIN” are picture books filled with stories, facts and references about endangered species (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2024, all ages, $16.99 each book). “Hi! Hey! G’day, mate! I’m a quokka. If you haven’t heard that before, it sounds like KWAH-kuh when you say it out loud. Can you say it?” and just like that, the little guys win my heart. (They’re related to kangaroos and wallabies, but are tinier, so that’s awesome.) The drawings are vivid and help readers get to know the animals. These titles are my pick of the week, highly recommended, and would be nice ones to donate to classrooms and libraries.
  • “Little Ghost Makes a Friend” is a new picture book (ages 3 and up) written and illustrated by Maggie Edkins Willis (A Paula Wiseman Book, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2024, $18.99). It’s Halloween today, by the way, so happy trick or treating, kids. Hope you have fun. Little Ghost and his mama are in charge of haunting the house where they live. A little girl moves in next door, and Little Ghost makes it his mission to become friends. The book’s art is so pretty — reminds me of Gene Zion and Margaret Bloy Graham’s books. And “The Sugar Mouse Cake,” a book I’ve adored my entire life. (As long as we’re on the subject of sweetness… The author dedicated this one to her grandma, and how sweet is that? “For my grandma, Margie Edkins. Thank you for reading me all those books.” That’s all I need, honestly, to make today beautiful. That, and it’s Halloween.

• • And now for a book that introduces Indian cultures and traditions to young readers: “Sari Sisters,” by Anitha Rao-Robinson and Anoosha Syed, author and illustrator, respectively. (Viking, 2024, ages 3-7 and older, 32 pages, $18.99.) Meet sisters Ruhi and Kayra, who are at different stages in their lives but are still best buddies. When Ruhi finds out that Kayra is learning to wear a sari, she wants one, too, and decides to throw a dance party so everyone can celebrate together. Things don’t always go as planned. Thoughtful, lovely book about being creative and flexible while growing up and experiencing changes.

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Disclaimer: All of the books included in today’s post were sent to me free for review purposes. Disclaimer here. See you next time!

WM

(“Boo!” photo by Rawley/use with permission only, please)

• • I love the cover on this one, and the story. Many, many cool details. “Brandon and the Totally Troublesome Time Machine,” written by Seth Fishman, with illustrations by Mark Fearing, is a fast and funny new picture book. (Penguin Workshop, 2024, ages 5 and up, $18.99.) “This morning started like any other day. EXCEPT THAT… BRANDON INVENTED A TIME MACHINE.” Now. To go back in time and meet Alexander Hamilton? Or go back a little while, maybe to yesterday, and fix that homework? Asking for a friend. 
  • Our hero in “Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All” has a goal. It’s a small goal, but it’s an excellent goal: find the matches for all the mis-matched, unloved socks she finds at her parents’ New York City laundromat. Harriet the Spy has met her match. Magnolia is daffy and sweet, brave and funny. With her new friend, Iris, they set off to explore the city and figure some things out. Author/artist Chanel Miller did a fine job with this one. (Philomel, 2024, ages 10 and up, 145 pages, $17.99.)

• • Tis the season… “All By My Elf,” is a new board book for the holidays, just for the babies. Author Jeffrey Burton and illustrator Nanette Regan have done a nice job with this one, and I love the bedazzled cover. (Little Simon, 2024, 18 pages, babies and toddlers, $9.99.)

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The pick of the week is… “Magnolia Wu,” because you know I love my friend Harriet and this is just a great novel. And the fun illustrations add to the book. (That’s the link to the author’s website, check it out.)

Disclaimer: All of the books included in today’s post were sent to me free for review purposes. Disclaimer here. See you next time!

WM