Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Raiders of the Lost Heart intrigued me because it was promising me an adventure romance which I don't see a lot of. With comparisons to Romancing the Stone and Indiana Jones I knew I had to read this one before the year ended. It did finally inspire me to watch The Lost City out of curiosity wondering if it would have any of those vibes.

Dr. Corrie Mejia is very passionate about finding the lost remains of Chimalli, an Aztec warrior she believes to be one of her ancestors. Which is why she agrees to trek through the Mexican jungles with her enemy Dr. Ford Matthews and play second fiddle despite the fact that she should be leading this expedition. While working on this dig old feelings from college resurface while the stakes get higher in the search for Chimalli. 

Corrie and Ford have enough chemistry and there's enough steam to satisfy readers but it's still hard to get into this couple because of how easy they get together. Corrie's anger towards Ford is warranted since he basically slept his way into a fellowship that should've been hers. It felt like the author uses Ford having a dead parent and a dying parent as a way for readers to have instantly sympathy for him and also justify his actions while absolving him from accountability. Corrie so easily forgives him even as he uses her dissertation as a guide for this dig that he'll not only receive the credit for but a substantial amount of money for.  

And as much as we are told she's a great archaeologist that's not portrayed on page. At times it felt like the book was actively going against the message it was trying to tell about women being seen as equals in their industries. Even in the author's note Jo Segura mentions that while she likes archeology in actuality it's quite boring so she left that boring stuff out in order to not bore readers. There's much talk from Corrie about not falling into the sexy Latina stereotype yet all she's portrayed as is the sexy Latina with much description of her fabulous breasts and how much the crew is lusting after her. Corrie is also willing to risk her reputation very easily for sex with the man who has screwed her over multiple times in her career to advance his own. And for a professor who taught at Yale, Ford was very bad at doing research which causes them to run into problems later. Which was also wild because so much of archaeology is research! 

What started off as an interesting premise ended up fizzling out for this reader. 

The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

Welcome Back, Booklovers! The Monsters We Defy is a fantasy that came on my radar once I heard it was serving up Harlem Renaissance vibes. I really enjoy historical fantasy and the way they make the past fantastical while also showing readers the human side of these people we read about in history books.

In The Monsters We Defy we follow Clara, a young woman cursed with the ability to communicate with spirits. People often seek out the spirit's assistance in their every day lives and she acts as their go between helping broker the deals. The problem is when you accept help from a spirit there's always a twist to it that never works the way you want it to. 

Clara has the opportunity to break this curse upon here by stealing away an enchanted ring from Madame Josephine. However stealing the ring won't be easy and Clara puts together a band of people who need to be released from bad deals with enigmas to help her. At the same time young people are going missing in her neighborhood and she's trying to investigate the cause. Clara is told by The Empress that securing the ring will bring back those who are missing so that's additional motivation for pulling off this heist. 

DC provides a unique backdrop with personality of it's own while still giving the vibes expected from the art scene of that era. Even if I wasn't familiar with DC from a recent visit, Leslye Penelope paints a clear image of the city. While it is more of a slow burn type of fantasy there's enough here to keep readers engaged. The cast of characters are each entertaining in their own right. One of my favorites being Clara's feisty roommate Zelda. And I suggest reading through the author's note if you're interested in hearing about what parts of this story were inspired by real life people besides the celebrities you hear name dropped on page. So much attention to detail when into this story including the addition of Clara working at The Journal of Negro History. Fans of historical fantasy will enjoy this one but it's worth checking out if you're looking for a different kind of fantasy in general. 

Salsa Magic by Letisha Marrero

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I love books that feel authentic. And Salsa Magic caught my eye between the cover that was giving throwback in the best of ways and the synopsis that hinted at the tale of a Nuyorican family that was sure to touch my heart. Levine Querido provided me a finished copy and with them releasing another book I enjoyed I was looking forward to this read. 

Maya Beatriz is a middle schooler navigating first crushes, standing out on the soccer team, and dealing with gentrification of their neighborhood affecting her family's business. One day an estranged auntie arrives from Puerto Rico and her presence sends her family into a frenzy. Abuela doesn't want them speaking Titi Yaya and there are whispers of her being a bruja. Plus Maya is having strange dreams. Maya is not sure why she feels a connection to Titi Yaya however she wants to know more. And when Titi starts talking about Yoruban Gods and Goddess and family legacy, Maya knows she must follow her heart to fulfill her destiny. 

This is a great story about family and coming of age. Maya's family dynamics are relatable especially to Caribbean American readers. There's so many little things in the Afro-Caribbean experience that translate regardless of language or island so it was nice to see that represented here. The book has a strong message about making amends and connecting with your family members while they're still here. So often we make excuses to hold grudges or let our busy day to day lives get in the way and then regret not spending time with people when they're gone.  And so many traditions die out because there's no one willing to pass them along. 

In between connecting with her estranged aunt, Maya is also dealing with a crush on a girl from her soccer team and a bully on a rival team. Her relationship dynamics with her aunt who because of her age is more like a sister-cousin to her, is also changing. 

This book is perfect for fans of Encanto and Elizabeth Acevedo. Letisha Marrero writes in a way that's almost lyrical. You can practically smell the cafecito through the pages. 

Thankful for the Maverick by Rochelle Alers

Welcome Back, Booklovers. And Happy Thanksgiving Eve! Small town romance is good for any time of the year but especially when it starts to get cold in the fall. There's something about cranking up the heat, brewing a cup of tea, wrapping up in a blanket, and sitting down for a quick read.

Thankful for the Maverick is a part of the Montana Mavericks: Brothers & Broncos series which is an overarching series about people who live in small town Montana. Both main characters Brynn and Garrett have previously been mentioned in other books though they weren't featured heavily so you don't need to read the rest of the series to read this one.

Brynn Hawkins is apart of the famed Hawkins Sisters, a group of sister that have been garnering attention of the rodeo circuit. Garrett Abernathy runs his family's ranch and is content with his life in Bronco after his marriage fell apart once he and his wife moved to New York. While his wife was an aspiring socialite, he was a homebody. Garrett tries to convince himself he's too old for Brynn because she's 30 and he's in his early 40s. But really he's just reluctant to change and opening himself up to the possibility of love again. Meanwhile Brynn has messed with some rodeo dudes in the past and that has turned her off from love. Especially after she discovered her last ex was two timing her and had multiple baby mamas.

This is a sweet small town romance set around Thanksgiving time. There's just enough conflict to keep readers interested with a little bit of family mixed in.

2023 Bookish Holiday Gift Guide Part 4

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Welcome to part 4 of my Bookish Holiday Gift Guide. Make sure to check out part 1, part 2, and part 3. So last but not least I have a variety of young adult and adult options. This year I've really been in my romance and fantasy bag so expect to see some good options there.

Sign of the Slayer

This one is like Full Metal Alchemist meets a Black Buffy as readers follow Raven, an 18 year old high school senior who discovers she's a slayer after a tragic accident that uproots her life. She's then sucked into the world of a secret society of vampire slaying agents and is desperate for revenge.

Somebody That I Used to Know

This is a story about a young Julliard bound violin player named Dylan reunites with one of her old best friends who has now become a superstar. After some reckless behavior landed Legendary under conservatorship he's trying to convince his mother to let him go on a world tour by showing her he's still the same old Legend.

Neverwraith

This well paced YA urban fantasy follows a boy named Yasir who has recently moved from Atlanta to a smaller town where he has to deal with the most popular kid at school challenging him. As if fitting in wasn't hard enough he's noticing all these weird changes to his body and he's intensely drawn to a girl at school. 

Sing Me to Sleep 

Saoirse is a siren who must keep her identity hidden. By day she's a soldier in training but at night she's a paid assassin. She agrees to work for the royals she hates after being blackmailed by someone threatening to expose her and her sister. 

Ghost Roast

This one doesn't come out until January 2nd. So just in time for Orthodox Christmas and Three Kings Day. Ghost Roast is about Chelsea who is forced to work for her father's ghost hunting company during the summer after a night out with friends goes wrong. At first she's not into it until she discovers she has the ability to communicate with the ghosts of a house they're attempting to exorcize. 

The Scourge Between Stars

This is a sci-fi horror about the crew responsible for keeping humanity alive taking the long journey to earth after a failed colonization of another planet. Jacklyn and her team must hunt down an intruder on the ship that is attempting to destroy their mission. 

The God of Good Looks

Bianca Bridge finds herself ostracized by Trinidadian society after being exposed for having an affair with a married government official. Her only hope for a job is with the self proclaimed God of Good Looks Obadiah Courtland. 

Plantains and Our Becoming: Poems

This unique poetry collection is part memoir/part reflection of Caribbean culture and colonialism.  Melania Luisa Marte reflects on growing up between NYC, Texas, and the Dominican Republic. What does it mean to her to be a Afro Latina and a Black Woman in America.

The Thing About Home

Casey Black is an influencer who was supposed to have the dream vow renewal ceremony. But when they're at the church her husband calls it off and announces he wants a divorce. After an embarrassing viral video she decides to lay low and finally get to know her father's family in South Carolina lowcountry.

  

Don't Go Baking My Heart

Devon is uptight and needs to show his boss he can have fun and Reba is a free spirit who could use a little reigning in. When Devon is in need of help with a baking crisis he reaches out to Reba who knows just how to get under his skin. 

Neverwraith by Shakir Rashaan

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Neverwraith is book I only heard about the month it was being released but from the synopsis I knew it had the making of everything I love in a YA urban fantasy. Thank you Entangled Publishing for a finished copy.

Neverwraith is fantasy about a boy named Yasir who has to move from Atlanta where he's spent his entire life living with his grandmother to stay with his uncle in Oakwood Grove. Yasir is just trying to fit in but becomes an easy target at school for the popular rich boy who has something to prove. He was advised by his grandma to keep a low profile and he's not sure why his eyes are changing colors, why he feels heat under his skin, and why he's so drawn to this girl named Zahra at his new school. 

Shakir Rashaan offers readers a well-paced fantasy with a voice we usually don't see as the focus. There aren't a lot of fantasies featuring Black boys as the main character on the bookstore shelves. And it was refreshing to see a Black boy with a voice that's not toned down to make white readers feel more comfortable.

It's very easy to get sucked into this story right from the beginning. I appreciated the lively cast and believable relationship dynamics.  The balance between Yasir attempting to fit in at his new school while still maintaining ties with his old crew is very relatable. Yasir and Zahra's relationship develops pretty quickly but they have an easy going chemistry that makes it work while hints about why their connection is so strong are dropped along the way. There's a unique magic world that unfolds as we get further into the story instead of being dumped on readers all at once. There's lots of details so a glossary would've been helpful but it nothing is overly complicated or confusing. Comic books fans will love this new kind of superhero. And the authentic voice will appeal to teen readers especially Black teens. 

With ancient magical societies, superhero type powers, and so many secrets to uncover it's a fantasy that truly stands out among a sea of similar stories.

Thieves' Gambit by by Kayvion Lewis

Welcome Back, Booklovers! So I heard about Thieves' Gambit when the rights were acquired for adaptation. There's so many books they go to auction. There's so many books that have their rights acquired and it's announced prior to publication. And I always wonder what is it about this book that is generating so much buzz in advance. And the majority of time when I read the book I'm left disappointed. So I was hesitantly curious about this book since these contemporary thrillers tend to be a big miss for me.

Ross Quest is a seventeen year old from a family of well known thieves living in the Bahamas. But she plans to leave the family business by dipping out on her mother after their latest job. When her mother is captured and held for ransom she has to join the Thieves' Gambit, an international heist competition and compete against some of the world's greatest young thieves for the grand prize. One of those competitor's includes Ross' sworn enemy. 

Finally a heist story with actually heists! This is a fast-paced YA thriller which was refreshing with how many books lately are so slow. Even though these high stakes competition or trials stories are very popular right now this manages to stand out on it's own. The bold characters, fun locations, and twists make it easy to see why this one was scooped up for adaptation. 

It ends on a cliffhanger that leaves plenty of room for a solid story in the sequel. And it feels like a book actually written with it's teen readers in mind with readable prose and the right balance of character and plot.

2023 Bookish Holiday Gift Guide Part 3

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm back with part 3 of my Bookish Holiday Gift Guide and this part will be focusing on gifts for elementary and middle school readers. 

Abby in Orbit: Blast Off

It's the first day of third grade, and Abby Baxter is determined not to make any mistakes. It's a little trickier than it was last year, though, because Abby is starting school on the OASIS International Space Station, where her parents are scientists. Abby is so focused on getting used to microgravity, watching her little brother, Nico, and meeting her new classmates that she almost messes up Mami’s big experiment. Can she figure out how to make things right, or is she destined to be sent back to Earth?

Frankie and Friends: Breaking News

Frankie’s mama is leaving to cover a breaking news story. Frankie, Papa, and Frankie’s teenage sister, Raven, are all proud of Mama, even though they miss her when she’s away. But Frankie has a great idea: she can make her own news show! After all, Mama has told her that news is happening around her all the time. With a little assistance from her friends—including her doll Farrah, Robert the toy robot, and her tabby cat, Nina Simone—Frankie prepares for her first “broadcast.” And when she hears someone crying in the house, she knows that’s the developing story she must cover. With humor, empathy, and imagination, Frankie gets the scoop—and learns that even mature older sisters can miss Mama sometimes. With sweet illustrations throughout, this engaging new series embraces communication and compassion and is a refreshing portrayal of Black women in journalism. Young reporters will learn the terms of the trade, which are clearly presented in the text and reinforced in a glossary at the end of the book.

Jalen's Big City Life: Baking Buddies

J.C. is craving cupcakes and so is Pop-Pop! But when baby Maya won't go down for her nap, J.C. and Pop-Pop have to get creative. Can they handle baking and babysitting at the same time?

Alijah's Garden (Mr. Grizley's Class)

Alijah has planted a pea plant in an abandoned field behind the school. The only problem is the rest of the field is a mess with weeds and trash everywhere. Principal Bueno agrees that if Mr. Grizley's class can clean up the field, Alijah can save his plant and maybe even start a garden. How will the class tackle this huge project? Readers of this social-emotional-learning-focused book can enjoy a related activity at the end of the story.

Welcome to the Island

Welcome to the adventurous island of Sol! For eight-year-old Isla Verde, Sol is the perfect place to live. The sun shines bright, the markets brim with delicious food and music, there are animal friends around every corner, and her best gecko buddy, Fitz, is up for almost every adventure!

Yes, Isla’s best friend is a gecko. In fact, that’s part of her big secret…she can speak to animals—and they speak right back! No one else knows about her special talent, not even Mama, Abuelo, or Abuela! But when new girl Tora moves in next door, Isla starts finding it harder to keep her secret under wraps.

Curlfriends: New in Town

Charlie has a foolproof plan for the first day at her new middle school. Even though she's used to starting over as the new kid—thanks to her military family's constant moving—making friends has never been easy for her. But this time, her first impression needs to last, since this is where her family plans to settle for good.

So she's hiding any interests that may seem “babyish,” updating her look, and doing her best to leave her shyness behind her...but is erasing the real Charlie the best way to make friends?

When not everything goes exactly to plan—like, AT ALL—Charlie is ready to give up on making new friendships. Then she meets the Curlfriends, a group of Black girls who couldn't be more different from each other, and learns that maybe there is a place for Charlie to be her true self after all.

Crocodile Rescue! 

Twelve-year-old Adrianna Villalobos and her older brother Feye travel the globe with their parents, the hosts of a suspenseful nature show called "Wild Survival!" The show features daring animal rescues and the work the family does at their animal sanctuary. They've recently gotten an offer to take the show from YouTube to a TV network, and Adrianna is thrilled. So far, she's always been behind the scenes, but now she gets to join the rest of her family onscreen. She can't wait to bring her passion for animals to a wide audience. Their first stop is the lush mangrove forests of Cuba, where they're going to help rescue an injured crocodile. But things get off to a rocky start when Feye is injured in an accident partially caused by Adrianna. The status of the show is in jeopardy, and Adrianna's parents want her back behind the scenes, or maybe even back at home. Adrianna is determined to prove herself, and save the show-whatever it takes. Even if that means confronting the legendary Mega Croc of Cuba that's rumored to inhabit the murky waters around their base camp. Based on the author's real-life wildlife encounters, this middle-grade series will include real animal facts, light illustration of the creatures mentioned in each book, and an Author's Note from Melissa.

Josephine Against the Sea

Eleven-year-old Josephine knows that no one is good enough for her daddy. That's why she makes a habit of scaring his new girlfriends away. She's desperate to make it onto her school's cricket team because she'll get to play her favorite sport AND use the cricket matches to distract Daddy from dating.

But when Coach Broomes announces that girls can't try out for the team, the frustrated Josephine cuts into a powerful silk cotton tree and accidentally summons a bigger problem into her life . . .

The next day, Daddy brings home a new catch, a beautiful woman named Mariss. And unlike the other girlfriends, this one doesn't scare easily. Josephine knows there's something fishy about Mariss but she never expected her to be a vengeful sea creature eager to take her place as her father's first love! Can Josephine convince her friends to help her and use her cricket skills to save Daddy from Mariss's clutches before it's too late?

Finch House

Eleven-year-old Micah has no interest in moving out of her grandfather’s house. She loves living with Poppop and their shared hobby of driving around rich neighborhoods to find treasures in others’ trash. To avoid packing, Micah goes for a bike ride and ends up at Finch House, the decrepit Victorian that Poppop says is Off Limits. Except when she gets there, it’s all fixed up and there’s a boy named Theo in the front yard. Surely that means Finch House isn’t Off Limits anymore? But when Poppop finds her there, Micah is only met with his disappointment.

By the next day, Poppop is nowhere to be found. After searching everywhere, Micah’s instincts lead her back to Finch House. But once Theo invites her inside, Micah realizes she can’t leave. And that, with its strange whispers and deep-dark shadows, Finch House isn’t just a house…it’s alive.

Can Micah find a way to convince the house to let her go? Or will she be forced to stay in Finch House forever?

Zo and the Forest of Secrets

When Zo decides to run away from home, she isn't scared; after all, she knows the island like the back of her hand. But, as she journeys through the once-familiar forest, terrifying creatures and warped visions begin to emerge. With a beast on her heels and a lost boy thrown into her path, could a mysterious abandoned facility hold answers?

Zo must unravel the secrets of the forest before she is lost in them forever...

Sincerely Sicily

Sicily Jordan’s worst nightmare has come true! She’s been enrolled in a new school, with zero of her friends and stuck wearing a fashion catastrophe of a uniform. But however bad Sicily thought sixth grade was going to be, it only gets worse when she does her class presentation.

While all her classmates breezed through theirs, Sicily is bombarded with questions on how she can be both Black and Panamanian. She wants people to understand, but it doesn’t feel like anyone is ready to listen—first at school and then at home. Because when her abuela starts talking mess about her braids, Sicily’s the only one whose heart is being crumpled for a second time.

Staying quiet may no longer be an option, but that doesn’t mean Sicily has the words to show the world just what it means to be a proud Black Panamanian either. Even though she hasn’t written in her journal since her abuelo passed, it’s time to pick up her pen again—but will it be enough to prove to herself and everyone else exactly who she is?

The Princess of Thornwood Drive by Khalia Moreau

Welcome Back, Booklovers! This was one of the books I went in not really knowing what to expect. I think it was the mention of Trinidadian lore that initially put this on my radar awhile back.

A year ago an accident killed Laine's parents and left her younger sister paralyzed and non verbal. Since then Laine has been struggling with expenses, taking care of her sister, and trying to balance work and school. It's a relief to her when she's able to put her in Lake Forest Adult Day Center. 

Alyssa meanwhile is coping with her reality in a different way. In her mind she and her family are apart of the royal family of Mirendal and while she was cursed, her parents were kidnapped. Now she's navigating through this magical land with mermaids and fairies trying to adjust to her new life.

The Princess of Thornwood Drive is an interesting genre blend that is one part hard hitting contemporary and another party fantasy that stands out among other recent reads. There's an open dialogue in this book about abuse within the healthcare profession as well as tackling grief from parental death, sexual assault (off page), and mental health issues. It doesn't shy away from the burdens of being a caretaker and the pain that comes from it.

While there were some mentions of Jumbies I wouldn't go in expecting a ton of Trinidadian lore. Don't go in expecting a fantasy in the way you would approach an epic fantasy. But the fantasy in this world is an interesting contrast to the real world issues. This book is emotional without feeling too heavy and has good pacing. 

When Trying to do the Most Catches Up with You

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Today's post is a little bit different than my norm. As someone who to see books by BIPOC authors highlighted I've crafted my space here to talk about the books I wasn't seeing enough people talk about. I wanted a place where I could share my thoughts but also introduce people to the books they aren't seeing promoted. I love that I have new people reading here every day. The past few months I've seen a spike in readership with my highest month boasting 14.5k visitors! Which is amazing! It feels great to know people are liking what I put out. 

Being a book content creator consists of a lot of free labor. And it's something you really do because you're passionate. And there's been multiple times during this hectic year where I felt like I was doing the most trying to keep a balancing act going of running multiple book related platforms and still having somewhat of a life outside of the house now that we're post pandemic.

It takes time to read the books needed to make consistent content. I work a full time job so most of my reading is done outside of work hours. While I try to read at least a few pages every day sometimes I start reading later than other nights depending on my mood. I used to write a review for every book I read. But when you read over 100 books a year you sometimes read books that you don't have strong feelings about. It's not that the book was bad, but it wasn't very memorable. I don't ever want to post a review on here I feel like doesn't really tell readers anything.  I was starting to feel like I was falling out of love with reading.

This year I've jumped back into writing beyond just blog posts and reviews. And I've settled on a story I'm passionate about. After months I've finally found my group of writers who motivate me to keep going and have settled on a consistent writing routine of writing every night for about an hour and a half starting at 9pm. 

So I've had to make decisions about where I want to cut back. And I realized that filming long form videos was taking up the majority of my time but I was less passionate about being in that space than some of my other spaces. Sitting down and filming a 10 to 20 minute (sometimes longer) video is work. There's the planning of what I'm going to say, making sure my hair and makeup looks good, working around the right lighting all before even sitting to film. Just like it's work to go in an edit it, insert book covers, create a thumbnail, and then schedule it. And then there's the trends. Reading sprints and other live shows are the way to bring in viewers. But that also takes a lot of time out of the day. And focusing so much on making sure I get 1-2 videos out a week and pre-film content was taking time away from this blog and I felt like I was using most of my content ideas there. 

Part of realizing that I cannot do it all also meant realizing I need to cut back on how many new releases I request. It was getting to the point where I had an arc with a release date of almost every Tuesday. And I'd be racing to finish the books to get my review up and post something about it during release week. And then if I had a physical version of the book I'd try and take pictures of it in advance, always thinking of different places to stage them and how to get them to look just right so I could post them a long with my review.

So here's to embracing not having to do it all and finding a healthy balance in 2024! 

2023 Bookish Holiday Gift Guide Part 2

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I'm back with part 2 of my Bookish Holiday Gift Guide and this part will be focusing on gifts for young readers. I have some great picture book suggestions so continue reading.

Delphine Denise and the Mardi Gras Prize

Every year, Delphine Denise Debreaux and her friends ride their bikes together in the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade. But this year, there's a shiny prize for best float--and Delphine Denise just has to win it. How can her friends remind Delphine Denise what the parade is really all about?

This joyful picture book, inspired by the author's own experience celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans as a child, explores the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the holiday. Full of vibrant and festive illustrations, this story reminds readers that winning isn't everything, and the best way to let the good times roll is in the company of friends.

Esperanza Caramelo, the Star of Nochebuena

On the night before Christmas, a spark of magic lights up Lita's Pastelería, and Esperanza Caramelo blinks open her eyes. Esperanza is a spun-sugar ornament, meant to sit atop the Nochebuena cake—but tonight she whirls through the bakery, singing and dancing, throwing a fiesta with all the other ornaments until . . . disaster strikes!

Can the cake be saved in time for Christmas? The clock is ticking, but on Nochebuena, anything is possible—and Esperanza never gives up hope.

Countdown for Nochebuena

This charming, bouncy text that alternates between English and Spanish and counts holiday elements like dancers, singers, and special foods up to twelve—to midnight, when Christmas Eve turns to Christmas and presents are opened!—and back down again, pairs perfectly with its illustrative context clues. In this story, family members young and old are excited to gather in their best festive clothes to celebrate Nochebuena, a Christmas Eve celebration for Latine people around the world. Simple yet lyrical text inspired by the author-illustrator's Cuban American heritage combines with a warm art style perfect for celebrating the holiday.

Brown Sugar Baby 

"Brown sugar baby, dark eyes spark bright with glee...Pie of my eye, stay right here with me." This lyrical first book in the Brown Sugar Baby series is a celebration of the powerful love and protective, comforting instincts of a mother for her child. Its soothing rhythm and tender rhymes are highlighted by whimsical and charming illustrations that are perfect for storytime.

Shhh! The Baby's Asleep

Baby is finally asleep. But everyone is much too loud! Can Mom, Daddy, Grammy, Pop Pop, Shae, Dante, Rover the dog, and even the neighbor keep quiet? Just when they think they can rest—oh no. The baby's awake. One savvy little narrator knows just the way to make his baby sister fall back asleep: by reading her a good book!

A hilarious cast of characters will keep readers laughing throughout this amusing celebration of early literacy and intergenerational family relationships.

Together We Swim

Jumping into the water can be more than a little scary! But with Mom’s steady arms there’s no fear of sinking. With a kick, a splash, and his family’s cheers of encouragement, one determined boy finds his groove, making waves in this fun-filled day at the pool.

Embrace the feeling of accomplishment in this joyous, reassuring story about perseverance and new experiences. With lyrical rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, Together We Swim is destined to become a family read-aloud favorite!

The Coolest Beard

Isaac wants to grow a beard, just like his dad, who always seems to be the coolest guy in the barbershop. Isaac uses Dad’s beard oil every day for weeks, but nothing happens. Next time it’s barbershop day, Isaac doesn’t even want to go back―but maybe there is still a way for him to grow the coolest beard.

All Good in the Hood

Today is June 19th, Juneteenth’s what they say and for my family, it’s a very special day.

But sometimes the hood feels scary when we’re walking around. I wish I could stay home where it’s safe and sound. Where the dogs aren’t BARKING, and the cars aren’t HONKING, and the streetlights aren’t FLICKERING.

But when Big Bro tells me it will all be okay, I know the noises can’t hurt me and ruin my day.

It's Diwali!

Count up to ten and back down again to the tune of “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” while learning about the traditions that make Diwali a fun-filled festival! Celebrated during autumn harvest, Diwali symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. From sweet treats to intricate henna designs to exciting firework displays, kids will delight in this vibrant glimpse into the Festival of Lights.

Fried Rice and Marinara

Birthday parties are so much fun: the friends, the family, the games, the gifts, and, of course, the food! But what type of food do you serve at a birthday party when your family is from two different cultures? Young Mikey Yam is having a hard time choosing between the Italian food of his mother's side and the Chinese cuisine of his dad's. So, he turns to his grannies, Bahboo and Nonna, for advice.

"Ravioli or Dumplings? Linguine or Lo Mein? All of these options were hurting his brain."

Join Young Mikey as he decides which type of food to have for his birthday party, and the important life lesson he learns along the way.

Twelve Dinging Doorbells

Every holiday, aunties, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and neighbors come over to eat, sing, and celebrate life. But all our main character can think about is the sweet potato pie Granny makes just for her. As tables fill with baked macaroni and cheese, chitlins, and other sides a-steaming, she and Granny move the pie to keep it intact. The task becomes tricker as the room grows with dancing and card games and pie cravings. Just when all seems lost and there’s no more pie, Granny pulls out a sweet surprise. 

Big Kids Don't Get Butterflies 

The little kid rides only go 'round and 'round, but the big kid rides take you up to the skies! Is there any reason to be afraid? No! Big kids DON'T get butterflies. Or do they? A child learns that growing up doesn't mean giving up the things you love. Enjoy this fun themed, coming-of-age story for all of your child's milestones.