Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Distributor
First Published: March 6th, 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
Recommended Age: 10+
Pacing: Normal
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Friendship, Introspection

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When a tornado rips through town, twelve-year-old Ivy Aberdeen’s house is destroyed and her family of five is displaced. Ivy feels invisible and ignored in the aftermath of the storm–and what’s worse, her notebook filled with secret drawings of girls holding hands has gone missing. Mysteriously, Ivy’s drawings begin to reappear in her locker with notes from someone telling her to open up about her identity. Ivy thinks–and hopes–that this someone might be her classmate, another girl for whom Ivy has begun to develop a crush. Will Ivy find the strength and courage to follow her true feelings?

Toby and the Ice Giants – Joe Lillington

Toby and the Ice Giants by Joe Lillington

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Received: Publishers Group Canada
Publication Date: September 1st, 2015
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Genres & Themes: Picture Book, Animals, Ice Age, Educational

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Join Toby the Bison in this fact-filled adventure as he explores the Ice Age Tundra and meets some of the giants that roamed its icy surface. Ten-thousand years ago, the Earth was in the grips of what Paleontologists call the Last Glacial Period, but what you and I have come to know as the Ice Age…

The Dinner That Cooked Itself – J.C. Hsyu

The Dinner That Cooked Itself by J.C. Hsyu

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: Publishers Group Canada
Publication Date: 2014
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Genres & Themes: Picture Book, Folklore, Food, Superstition, Fantasy, Marriage

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Long, long ago, in a small town in ancient China, there lived an honest and respectful man called Tuan. Tuan was lonely and looked hard for a wife, but even the matchmaker couldn’t help him. One night, however, Tuan’s luck changed. And so begins the story of Tuan, White Wave, and the Dinner that Cooked Itself. This beautiful and enchanting Chinese fairytale will captivate the imagination with the perfect blend of magic and realism!

The Land of Nod – Robert Louis Stevenson

The Land of Nod by Robert Louis Stevenson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Publishers Group Canada
Publication Date: October 1st, 2016
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Genres & Themes: Picture Book, Poetry, Introspection

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Ever wondered about the mysterious place we all visit when we fall asleep? Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic children’s poem about dreamland is given new life in this wonderfully illustrated book. Accompanied by Robert Hunter’s bold and beautiful illustrations, this picture book will bring the beloved Scottish author’s work to a whole new generation of young readers.

The Journey by Francesca Sanna

The Journey by Francesca Sanna

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Received: Publishers Group Canada
Publication Date: September 1st, 2016
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Genres & Themes: Picture Book, Family, Immigration

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With haunting echoes of the current refugee crisis this beautifully illustrated book explores the unimaginable decisions made as a family leave their home and everything they know to escape the turmoil and tragedy brought by war. This book will stay with you long after the last page is turned.

The Summer of Jordi Perez – Amy Spalding

The Summer of Jordi Perez by Amy Spalding

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: Distributor
First Published: April 3rd, 2018
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Recommended Age: 12+
Pacing: Normal
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Romance, LGBT, Fashion, Friendship, Summer, Family Relationships, Food, Work

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Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives has always been content playing the sidekick in other people’s lives. While her friends and sister have plunged headfirst into the world of dating and romances, Abby has stayed focused on her plus-size style blog and her dreams of taking the fashion industry by storm. When she lands a prized internship at her favorite local boutique, she’s thrilled to take her first step into her dream career. She doesn’t expect to fall for her fellow intern, Jordi Perez. Abby knows it’s a big no-no to fall for a colleague. She also knows that Jordi documents her whole life in photographs, while Abby would prefer to stay behind the scenes. Then again, nothing is going as expected this summer. She’s competing against the girl she’s kissing to win a paid job at the boutique. She’s somehow managed to befriend Jax, a lacrosse-playing bro type who needs help in a project that involves eating burgers across L.A.’s eastside. Suddenly, she doesn’t feel like a sidekick. Is it possible Abby’s finally in her own story?