(Photo by Rawley/use with permission only, please)

• Today let’s talk about sharing. Wait. That’s mine! Give it back, I mean it. J.E. Morris (author of the “Flubby,” and “Maud the Koala” series) has a new picture book coming out end of August. “Sharing is UnBEARable!” brings us the story of bears Orson and Izzy and their big ol’ fight over a… what? A rock? (Not just any rock, though — it’s the best napping rock ever.) Come on you two, let’s not do this. Cute story about conflict resolution, with graphic novel-style art. (Penguin Workshop, Aug. 2024, ages 4 and up, $16.99.)
• “La Panza de Mamá,” escrito por Isabel Quintero, illustrado por Iliana Galvez, con traducido por Aida Salazar. (Kokila/Penguin Random House, 2024, all ages, $18.99.) Sweet, loving picture book (in Spanish) about a little boy who loves his mama, and his mama who loves him back. (Even if you aren’t fluent in Spanish, give the Spanish-language books a try. Your kids might be practicing, and you can always use a dictionary or Google Translate.)
• Here’s a nice surprise from one of my favorite authors of books for grown-ups: Isabel Allende. Sandy Rodriguez provided the illustrations. “Perla la súper perrita” is a cute Spanish-language book about a small dog who is big in personality. (Philomel/Penguin Random House, 2024, all ages, $18.99.)
• Hello, “Doris,” you awesome elephant. (Boxer Books Limited/Rocket Bird Books/Harper Collins, author/illustrator Lo Cole, 2024, $18.99.) What does one do, eggsactly, when one wants to fit in, maybe hide a little bit, but you’re an elephant? Kinda big? Also bright, bright red? The primary colors are lovely, and the book has a great rhythm from one page to the next.
• Pssst… ready? ? Listo? Here is another fine book in Spanish: “La Verdad Sobre El Sofá” (G.P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin Random House, 2024, all ages, $19.99). Lively and beautifully illustrated book from Adam Rubin, with art by Liniers.

The pick of the week is… It’s gotta be “Doris,” because this book is colorful, playful, and I like a somewhat grouchy hero. Especially when she’s a red elephant.

Disclaimer: All of the books reviewed today were sent to me free to review. Disclaimer here. See you next time!

WM

(“Puppy + Sally”; photo by Rawley/use with permission only, please)

• “My Lighthouse: A Story of Finding Your Way Home,” by author Ali Gilkeson and illustrator Lee Wildish, is our first new release for review this week. (WaterBrook/Random House, 2024, 40 pages, ages 3 and up, $14.99.) “This is a story about a house…” the book begins, and we are invited into the world of Fynn, his parents, and the lighthouse they call home.
• “A Flicker of Hope: A Story of Migration,” o “Un Alete de Esperanza: Una Historia de Migración,” a lovely book about migration, is available in both English and Spanish. I reviewed it here; check it out. Compliments to author Cynthia Harmony and illustrator Devon Holzwarth.
• “Siendo Tú: Una Primera Conversación Sobre Género,” texto de Megan Madison y Jessica Ralli, con arte de Anne/Andy Passchier, traducción de Cristina Nuñez. This is a fantastic and much-needed new book about gender. The illustrations are supercool and yes, remind me of my old favorite art kit, ColorForms. (Dude I love ColorForms.) The book is perfect for kids of all ages and their grown-ups.
• And… last two! There’s a new graphic novel version of “Amber Brown is Not a Crayon,” the Paula Danziger classic. Great fun. I’ve been a Danziger fan since I was a kid and discovered “The Cat Ate My Gymsuit.” Great fun, great title.
• Ryan Seacrest and his sis, Meredith Seacrest Lynch, are scheduled to release their first kids’ title, “The Make-Believers.” This sweet picture book shares with readers the joys of imagination and dreaming big. Look for it in early October; it’s available to pre-order now.

The pick of the week is… “Siendo Tú…” for being creative and matter-of-fact.

Disclaimer: All of the books reviewed today were sent to me free to review. Disclaimer here. See you next time!

WM

(Photo used with permission of author)

• “A Magic Fierce & Bright,” is a new release from Hemant Nayak, an author (and E.R. doctor! OK, cool) from my very own Pacific Northwest. (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2024, ages middle grade and up, 374 pages, $19.99.) Imagine you are… 500 years in the future, living in the remote jungles of South India, and looking, and not yet finding, your sister. Bam. Now imagine you’re gifted at both technology (re-starting it, cuz it’s trashed) and magic. A technomancer, they call it. I’m liking this one. Just started it, and I think you should do the same. Then leave me a note, kk?
• There are several books, favorites that I re-read, every summer, or every few years, always during summertime. Other people must do this, too? It’s kind of funny, the associations books bring into our lives. One of these titles for me is Curtis Sittenfeld’s classic from 2008, “American Wife: A Novel.” (Random House, high school through adults, 558 pages.) This novel is about a smart, thoughtful girl, Alice Lindgren, who is expected to choose the life her parents want for her. Not surprisingly, she grows into a woman who aims to please, First Lady Alice Blackwell. (There is some speculation that Alice may be based on W’s wife, Laura.) This is a gripping, inventive read about money, class, and expectations. It’s an unusual book, one of a kind, and I find something new in it every time I read it. Highly recommend.
• Another summer read for me, for decades now, is Stephen King’s genius, gripping, crazy-ass, most prophetic book. You may know it already, you may love it, like millions of other readers. Or it may just scare the hell out of you and yes, I’m talking about 1978’s post-apocalyptic/sci-fi/horror fest, “The Stand.” (Penguin Books, 817 pages, but I had to get the long-play extended version for my Kindle. I think that one adds several hundred or possibly more pages.) Mother Abagail, the Walking Dude gah, Nick, Larry Underwood, Frannie and Stu, all my favorites, every year. Maybe not the entire book, every reading, but yes, I love the hell out of this one. I like a lot of King’s other stuff, too, duh. I’ve written love letters to him and his amazing writer/editor wife, Tabby, from time to time. He’s a great storyteller, and that’s what I’m in it for. But this one, and “Carrie,” were my top two picks out of the gate, when I first discovered him. I mark this one: Pick of the Week. And Summer.
• Finished Lucinda Williams’ stellar memoir, “Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You” yesterday. (Crown/New York, 2023, 260 pages, $28.99.) One of those books that you read so quickly, a page turner, right? It was. But the last few chapters? You slow down noooo I want more. And you can’t stand for it to end. That’s this book. As promised by other readers, as I knew it would be — fantastic. Just raw and gorgeous and true, like my Lu. Go read it, and listen to the songs and albums she talks about throughout. When she wrote the songs, who/what they were about, what she thinks of the work she’s shared with us over the years. I love her.
• I’m also reading my two Book of the Month Club books. (Here’s a hell yes for a subscription. So worth it. Buy one for yourself, buy one for a friend, and thanks to my sister for the birthday gift.) The first, by Marjan Kamali, is “The Lion Women of Tehran” (Gallery Books, 2024, 327 pages, $29.99). The second is Liz Moore’s “The God of the Woods” (Riverhead Books, 2024, 478 pages, $30.00). Both excellent reads. Go read excerpts on Amazon or the library or wherever you find your excerpts.

Bon appetit! Disclaimer: All of the books reviewed today were sent to me free for review purposes. Disclaimer here. See you next time!

WM