(“Happy Winter,” photo by Nancy Ellen Row Rawley/use with permission only)

I can almost see the dining room table now, I’ve been reviewing so many books. It’s funny cuz it is true, dear readers. Lots of great titles for 2023-2024. It’s a great time to be a book reviewer. Happy 2024, y’all.

• “Be My ValenSlime” is a new, gooey and heartfelt (see what I did there?) book by Kris Tarantino, with big, beautiful illustrations by Cori Doerrfeld (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2023, ages 3 and up, $13.99). This is a Christian book about monsters, valentines, and a happy little monster named Snoodle who really loves candy hearts, sparkly stickers and fun stuff. Will they be able to win the others over? I love the enthusiasm and sweetness of this picture book. Highly recommend.
•  Now comes Flubby in another new release in the Flubby series. This one is “Flubby Does Not Like Valentine’s Day,” by J.E. Morris (Penguin Workshop, 2023, all ages, $9.99). Cute illustrations, simple sentences, and our hero, Flubby, shines.
• “Cupig: The Valentine’s Day Pig,” by Claire Tattersfield, with illustrations by Rob Sayegh Jr. (Flamingo Books, 2023, all ages, $14.99). Cupig, flying around the world in heart-patterned undies, loves her work. But sometimes? She makes some mistakes. Funny, rhyming story that the kids will get a kick out of.
• “Lola and the Troll,” by Connie Schultz (author) and Sandy Rodriguez (illustrator) is another good read. Fun books this week! This debut picture book (Razorbill, 2024, all ages, $18.99) gives us a creative take on how to deal with bullies.
• “Grumpy Monkey Spring Fever” (with stickers, yes, stickers and hidden eggs included), is a new read in the Grumpy Monkey series from Suzanne Lang and Max Lang. This is the ninth title, and they’re all pretty funny. And, you know, kids like monkeys. Great illustrations, very lively and bright.

Bon appetit, babies. It will be spring soon.

Love,

Wacky Mommy