Remembering African Wild Dogs
An absolutely stunning book that I read in one sitting, while waiting for my kid at a library event. I actually paged through it twice, to look at all the images a second time around. It’s from a series organized to raise awareness of wildlife species that are at risk of extinction. Wildlife photographers donated […]
Little White Duck
A beautifully illustrated book where the author reminisces growing up in China just after the Cultural Revolution. She depicts stories from her parent’s youth, and her bafflement at the death of Chairman Mao (adults weeping all around her at the loss). Traditional celebrations, New Year’s events, her youthful enthusiasm for school and doing her part […]
The Woman in the Woods
Eight stories from different indigenous cultures. I thought they would all be older fables, but some had a distinctly modern feel. It was a very uneven read for me. I didn’t enjoy the first few much and was going to put it back on my return stack as ‘abandoned’. But then ended up waiting for […]
Horse Trouble
Semi-autobiographical, this book was one I could not put down. It’s another one set in middle school, with yet another unique interest- horseback riding. Kate struggles with her self-image and confidence. She’s shy at school, feels awkward and embarrassed around her older brother’s friends (whose teasing and jokes escalate into harrassment near the end of […]
Sunny Rolls the Dice
Another graphic novel about growing pains in middle school: struggling to fit in, baffled at friends’ sudden interest in boys, cool clothes and jewelry, and having an uncommon interest. In this case, it’s Dungeons and Dragons, which Sunny plays with three guy friends. Her best school friend frowns on this because she thinks they’re too […]
Dogs of Myth
It’s just what the title says- a collection of dog stories sourced from many different cultures. The species featured include basenji, akita, husky, bloodhound, saluki, shar-pei, curly-coated retriever, spaniel, rottweiler and wolfhound. Most of the dogs are in a supportive role- or at least friendly to humans. There are origin stories of the beginning of […]
Return to the Hundred-Acre Wood
Illustrations by Mark Burgess. With the approval and support of the Trustees of the Pooh Properties Trust and in which Winne-the-Pooh enjoys further adventures with Christopher Robin and his friends. I opened this one with some trepidation. It’s very hard to read a book which attempts to pick up and carry on another’s legacy, especially […]
Scary Stories for Young Foxes
Oh how I liked this book! I thought from the flyleaf description and a few other reviews that led me to this, that it would be rather silly. Not at all. It has some very dark themes and unsettling depictions of the real kinds of horror animals face in the wild, or anyone in a […]
Beastars Vol. 7
The species leaders at the conference decide that whichever student can identify the murder (no, it’s still not solved) will be proclaimed next Beastar of the school. They want Legoshi to do it. He’s hesitant of course (I’m liking his character more and more- this nice decent guy forced to show his aggressive side). And […]
Beastars Vol. 6
Warning for more SPOILERS. The biggest is in white text, highlight to read. In the opening scene, Legoshi and Haru confess their feelings for each other and become intimate- or attempt to. But the predator/prey instincts are too strong and they can’t go through with it. When they return to school things are even more […]