The Bird and the Blade – Megan Bannen

The Bird and the Blade by Megan Bannen

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Published: June 5th, 2018
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Recommended Age: 13+
Pacing: Normal
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Fantasy, Forbidden Love, Adventure, Dynasties, Retelling

---

BLURB:

As a slave in the Kipchak Khanate, Jinghua has lost everything: her home, her family, her freedom … until she finds herself an unlikely conspirator in the escape of Prince Khalaf and his irascible father as they flee from their enemies across the vast Mongol Empire. On the run, with adversaries on all sides and an endless journey ahead, Jinghua hatches a scheme to use the Kipchaks’ exile to return home, a plan that becomes increasingly fraught as her feelings for Khalaf evolve into a hopeless love. Jinghua’s already dicey prospects take a downward turn when Khalaf seeks to restore his kingdom by forging a marriage alliance with Turandokht, the daughter of the Great Khan. As beautiful as she is cunning, Turandokht requires all potential suitors to solve three impossible riddles to win her hand—and if they fail, they die. Jinghua has kept her own counsel well, but with Khalaf’s kingdom—and his very life—on the line, she must reconcile the hard truth of her past with her love for a boy who has no idea what she’s capable of … even if it means losing him to the girl who’d sooner take his life than his heart.

A Child of Books – Oliver Jeffers

A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers

My rating: 6 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Published: September 6th, 2016
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Genres & Themes: Picture Book, Books about Books, Friendship, Imagination

---

BLURB:

A little girl sails her raft across a sea of words, arriving at the house of a small boy. She invites him to go away with her on an adventure into the world of stories… where, with only a little imaginaton, anything at all can happen.

A Greyhound, A Groundhog

A Greyhound, A Groundhog by Emily Jenkins

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Published: 2017
Publisher: Random House
Genres & Themes: Picture Book, Friendship, Tongue Twister, Storytime, Animals

---

BLURB:

When a greyhound meets a groundhog, wordplay and crazy antics ensue. The two animals, much like kids, work themselves into a frenzy as they whirl around and around one another. (Around, round hound. Around, groundhog!) The pace picks up (Around and around and astound and astound!), until they ultimately wear themselves out.

The Rabbit Listened – Cori Doerrfeld

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Published: February 20th, 2018
Publisher: Dial Books
Genres & Themes: Picture Book, Empathy, Friendship

---

BLURB:

When something terrible happens, Taylor doesn’t know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn’t feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that’s not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to process this loss, and one by one they fail. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen, which is just what Taylor needs.