(“fresh up”/photo by Rawley, use with permission only, please)

Graphic novels are still on the radar and going strong, and that is a great thing. The art and stories and pretty cool, and they’re engaging. The series can grab big money as collector items, too. “Cassi and the House of Memories,” from artist/writer Dean Stuart, is a deep, thoughtful book about Cassi and her relationship with her Grandpa Charlie, who is struggling with his memory. Hard topic, great handling of it. I appreciate this book, which is Stuart’s debut graphic novel. (Viking/Penguin Random House, 2025, ages 8 and up, $14.99.)

(“Gleneden Beach, Oregon coast”; photo by Rawley/use with permission only, please)

• “This Moment is Special: A Día de Muertos Story,” a new children’s picture book written and illustrated by John Parra, is a great way to introduce kids and others to a special holiday that means so much to so many. The book is in both Spanish and English, and the illustrations are bright and playful. (Beach Lane Books/A Paula Wiseman Title; scheduled for release July 15, 2025; all ages; $19.99.)
• “Living Bridges: The Hidden World of India’s Woven Trees,” poses the question: How would you get around in your village, in the mountains, if there was no ease of transport? Especially during monsoon season? In the state of Meghalaya (northeastern India) the community comes together, and has for centuries now, to use rubber ficus trees to make Jingkieng Jri, aka Living Root Bridges. Author Sandhya Acharya and illustrator Avani Dwivedi have done a thoughtful job with this picture book of introducing readers to the twisting, braiding and tying, along with the science and care, that goes into building these magnificent structures. (A Paula Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025, ages 4 and up, $19.99.)
• “Always Be My Bibi,” a new young adult romance, introduces us to Bibi Hossain, who is not spending the summer working at her family’s fried chicken joint, after all. Instead, she’s traveling from Paterson, New Jersey, to Bangladesh for her big sister Halima’s surprise! wedding at the bridegroom’s family’s tea estate. This trip could get interesting! (Salaam Reads, ages 7th grade and up, 356 pages, $19.99.)
• Christine Virnig’s (“A Bite Above the Rest”) new scary-fun mystery (for middle grade readers and up) is scheduled for release Aug. 25. “Phantom Academy” tells the tale of one young Finn, who gets knocked in the head with a stray coconut, doesn’t survive, and lands at the academy for the recently deceased. Kinda dark and twisty, but still fun. The kids will love it; the grown-ups may have some questions, as grown-ups often do. (Aladdin, ages 8 and up, $18.99/hardcover, $8.99/paperback.)
• G.F. Miller’s new romantic read for young readers is “What If You Fall for Me First?” (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, 2025, 368 pages, $8.99.) Sofia is not “sooo nice,” okay? And is on a mission to show Mark Chen, her crush, that she’s complex. She enlists cool guy Holden to help her, but how is this going to go, folks? Read and see. It’s been fun finding some good summer reads, by the way. Here’s another one…
• The final title in the Restorationists trilogy, “Beyond the Far Horizon,” is scheduled for release Sept. 9. (Written by Carolyn Leiloglou, with illustrations by Vivienne To, WaterBrook/Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, middle grades and up.) Join Ravi, Georgia and Vincent as they fight with the Distortionists, and learn about art and adventure along the way. Books where kids are the heroes are the best.
• One more picture book… “Kittybunkport,” by Scott Rothman, with illustrations by Zachariah OHora (Viking/Penguin Random House, 2025, ages 3 and up, $18.99). Chowder and Crackers, two sweet and shy kitty cats, living large, catching lobster, enjoying their lobster rolls, and suddenly tasked with fixing the “super-haunted” lighthouse. For the record? They’re not both in agreement on this. The illustrations are pretty great, and the story is funny and dramatic.

The pick of the week is… “Living Bridges,” because I was geeking out on the science-y stuff and resources in the back of the book.

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

WM

I’m ready to say goodbye to winter/spring/rando everything and move into summer. How about you? Here is an amazing and intriguing collection of new releases for you. Enjoy!

• Just started “Growing Home” this morning and it is a delight of a book. (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025, written by Beth Ferry, art by The Fan Brothers, ages 6 and up, 261 pages, $17.99.) Introducing the Tuppers, with Ivy the houseplant, Arthur the recuperating spider, Ollie (a violet), goldfish Toasty and the big oak tree in the front yard. I predict that the kids will like this magical novel, that reads like a grown-up book, very much.

• Almost finished reading “Schooled,” a new middle-grade title from Jamie Sumner (“Roll with It”). (Yes, my former students and I did love the other “Schooled,” Gordon Korman’s middle-grade novel, when it came out. Highly recommend.) Sumner’s book is a healing, not sweetness and light, incredibly compassionate story of a boy, Lenny, and four other kids who are all going through it for different reasons. They’ve landed (with their professor parents) at the university where their folks are teaching, and form a new cohort, in a new setting. Scheduled for release end of August; add it to your list. OK, I’d better type faster — my cat is trying to find a way to walk on the table, but no luck. So many wonderful spring titles! I’m into these stacks and stacks of books but he is not. (Atheneum Books, ages 10 and up, 224 pages, $17.99.)

• “Shorter Christian Prayer” is the newest prayer book I’ve added to my collection, and I love it very much. Morning and evening prayers, and the layout is approachable. Really enjoying this one.
• Latest title in the “Meet the Wild Things” series from Hayley and John Rocco will be on the shelves end of June. “Hello, I’m a Toucan” is as bright and colorful as the featured birds. Facts and links included, and a perfect pick for the nature lovers in your life. (Penguin Young Readers, all ages, $16.99.) Look for the Roccos’ other titles, too, including “Hello, I’m a Quokka” and “Hello, I’m an Axolotl.”

• “Ray: How Light Works” is a new, non-fiction title, part of the “Science Pals” book series, from science writer Emily Kate Moon. I love the design of this book, with some pages you can turn sideways and into posters, lots of facts and figures, and an engaging, easy to understand style. (Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House, 2025, all ages, $18.99.)

My picks of the week are: “Schooled” and “Schooled.” Double schooled. All of the titles in today’s post were sent to me for review purposes. Disclaimer here. Bon appetit! And see you next time

WM

(Photo by Rawley with permission of the author; use with permission only, please)

Good morning, friends and enemies! Kidding. We’ve been having some technical difficulties lately, please buckle your seatbelt and hang on for the ride. No enemies in the house, go somewhere else, please, if you wanna fight. Have fun reading the reviews (mostly kid and young adult books), leave a comment if you’d like, and please follow me on:

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Bon appetit and have a lovely day.

WM