(Timberline Lodge/Mt. Hood/Oregon, Sept. 6, 2004; photo by Rawley/use with permission only, please)

• If you’re an adult, and feel like it’s, I don’t know, weird or something? to purchase picture books for yourself? Please consider this permission to start a huge collection right now. Begin with this one, beautifully written and illustrated by Jeanne Walker Harvey (author) and Khoa Le (artist). “The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I.M. Pei” (Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster; scheduled for release May 27, 2025; ages 4 and up; $19.99) is a work of art, in and of itself. Ieoh Ming (I.M.) Pei, a gifted and extraordinary Chinese American architect, was enlisted by the President of France for oh? Just a small little gig. Remodel the Louvre, take care of the Mona Lisa, and talk later? Maybe keep it a secret so no one has a fit? This book… so good. If you have kids in your life, maybe purchase a copy for them, too. Great idea. (Resources in the back of the book, too.)
• “Cousins in the Time of Magic,” written by the talented Emma Otheguy, arrived awhile back and was misplaced. By me. I’m the one who misplaced it, yeah. But it is never too late for a review around here. (Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster, 2025, ages 8 and up, 228 pages, $17.99.) I really love this one, and it is the truth: History can come alive with the right book. Cousins Siggy, Camila and Jorge travel back to 1862 — just in time for the Battle of Puebla, and the reason for Cinco de Mayo.
• “Mermaids are the Worst!” is the latest title in this delight of a series by Alex Willan (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025, all ages, $19.99). The color scheme is kinda the best, all shades of blue, purple and sandy brown. The mermaids feel like they’re 3D and right here with me, so that’s fun. Did you know that mermaids are fast swimmers? Of course they are. Great singers? Again, yes! and friends with the narwhals? Hmm. That’s cool. Fun read as we head into summer.
• A new novel by Alison McGhee addresses the fall-out for a child whose mom had a scary ex-boyfriend. Ten-year-old Daisy is rebuilding, after this ugly time, and she is not “Weird Sad and Silent,” but some people act like she is. She meets a friend who begins to help her with the bullying, and the past trauma. (Rocky Pond Books/Penguin Random House; scheduled for publication May 6, 2025; ages 8 and older; 188 pages; $17.99.) McGhee does a careful, thoughtful job with this heavy topic. Good pick for anyone who has been through it, is going through it, or knows someone who is. And that’s all of us, sadly. I appreciate this title so much.
• When you say, “Ain’t It Funny” when it’s not. We all know that one. Maya is 11, and her dad just bailed on their home life to pursue his stand-up comedy career. Her mom and grandma are there for her, but far too busy, along with Maya, running the family’s Russian deli in New Jersey. And the sixth-grade talent show is coming up. There’s a lot going on at the surface, and underneath, too, with this novel, for ages 8 and up. Margaret Gurevich’s writing brings to mind Judy Blume and her “New York kid” books that I loved so much growing up. “Ain’t It Funny” is in turn sweet, bittersweet, funny, sad and pensive. Perfect book for the kids who aren’t too sure what’s happening next. Yummy recipes from Babushka are included for Sour Cream Cake, Cheese and Garlic Spread and Syrniki (Cheese Pancakes). (Penguin Workshop/Penguin Random House, 2024, grades 3 and older, 234 pages, $17.99.)

The pick of the week is… I.M. Pei and the beautiful Louvre for the win.

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

Besos y abrazos, WM

(“Neskowin/Proposal Rock on Ocean Side”; photo by Rawley/use with permission only, please)

Good afternoon from the Willamette Valley, where it is a glorious Monday. I need to turn off the news and read instead. Highly recommend this technique for de-stressing, for kids and grown-ups alike. And here are this week’s reviews:

• “Hap-Pea Easter,” kids! Keith Baker’s new picture book is here just in time for the spring holiday. (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, 2025, all ages, $9.99.) (Quietly asking, are we going to be able to afford eggs this year, those of us who don’t raise our own chickens? Just substitute chocolate eggs, it will be OK.) These holiday peas are sure cheerful little guys. They popped by for Halloween and Valentine’s Day, it’s nice to see them for Easter, too. Get ready for “gentle showers, blooming flowers, longer sunny daylight hours.” This one is a treat.

• The kids are ready to crack their second case in “The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist,” James Ponti’s latest. Add it to your list: it’s due to be released in early September. (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster; kids ages 8 and up; $18.99.)

• And whoooooosh… here comes “Let’s Fly! Barrington Irving’s Record-Breaking Flight Around the World,” by the one and only Mr. Irving himself. Brave, cool, inspiring story. (Chana Stiefel co-wrote the picture book, and Shamar Knight Justice provided the great illustrations; Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House; 2025; all ages; $18.99.) Kids who like to fidget with hands-on projects will love this book, and it may even inspire them to do great stuff when they grow up. How great? How about becoming a pilot, at age 23 (this was in 2007) and flying solo around the world? Irving broke records as the youngest person to do this, and the first Black man to undertake the feat, too. Pretty cool.

• Author and illustrator Katie Mazeika is another brave and cool one. She writes about her childhood experiences after losing one of her eyes to cancer in “Maybe Just Ask Me!” Great title, and pretty intense story about what she went through. A lot of time, energy and thoughtfulness went into making this colorful, sweet, joyful book. (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster; scheduled for release April 22, 2025; ages 4 and up; $19.99.) My motto has always been, Talk to me, not about me. (A friend was once hashing through a problem with me, about another friend. Stopped and said, “I should be talking to them, not about them,” and that sentiment has stuck with me.) This is Mazeika’s philosophy, too. Good starting point for kids, and adults, about how to have some of those difficult conversations, which perhaps do not need to be so difficult.

• “Goat is the G.O.A.T” is a sweet and funny new picture book from Bea Birdson, illustrated by Kelly Murphy. (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin Young Readers, 2025, all ages, $18.99.) Goat hears that his name stands for Greatest of All Time… which means, maybe they’ll have a parade for him, or toss confetti his way, that would be awesome awesomeness. But what is he the greatest at? There has to be something. There will be something.

My pick of the week is… “Let’s Fly!” cuz there is nothing like the freedom of the skies.

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