Mari

This is maybe the coziest picture book...ever? Lately I have been nostalgic for the classic Golden Book of my childhood, "The Biggest, Most Beautiful Christmas Tree," which features animal residents of a great fir tree in a thick forest cozily anticipating Christmas. This is the updated version featuring a cast of characters living in Acorn Village, with a more generalized, inclusive holiday celebration. This book is a sensory experience of sights, sounds, smells and the overall feeling of coziness as the animals partake in cozy activities such as cooking, reading, crafts, and playing in the snow. The rhyming pages and colorful animals with patterned pastel clothes and detailed, cozy homes complete with Pyrex dishware, softly lit candles, and built-in bookshelves in their snug animal dwellings is a wonderful feast for little eyes as they enjoy this story read aloud--preferably in a lap with a fuzzy blanket and hot drink. -Mari

Anyone who has been, was, is or is considering being pregnant will learn from and enjoy reading this graphic novel memoir. There are many, many books out there one can read to learn more about the do’s and don’ts when expecting, but I found this graphic novel to have a little bit of everything. It has a graphic history of female reproductive health and obstetrics, an honest and deeply moving portrayal of the 40-week journey into motherhood, in additional to a brilliant narrative with excellent illustrations. Knisley’s experiences through fertility/pregnancy/childbirth were not without issues, so I found this exploration of the most harrowing, primeval experience a human can go through to be a powerful read. Lucy Knisley is one of my favorite comic artists, and this is my favorite one by her so far. I am considering buying this one so my husband can read it when he has time! -Mari

I love, love, love Raul's illustrations, and this is a great way to combine and explain the two holidays in both English and Spanish! -Mari

This book was actually a very appropriate read for Spooky Season, with the plot revolving around a house on the cliffs that is haunted by it's past. I quite enjoyed this book for the variety of story lines intertwining a house and its occupants over the years, from the past and the present and across cultures including the Shakers, Indigenous People who lived in the northern portion of Maine, and a women healing from family trauma and struggling with alcoholism. The research done by the author for this book was very satisfying for me, and the story is driven by a mystery rooted in the history which is solved through mysticism, spiritualism, and research and an acknowledgement that the future is affected by the heritage of its people and the land they occupy. -Mari

"We are all just trying to find a place to call our own." A beautiful, poetic and visually stunning memoir by artist Theo Parish as they discover their true identity as trans and nonbinary. The analogy of feeling at home in your body is an eloquent explanation for all ages to better understand the way it might feel to not feel like the gender assigned at birth... ‘They say that ‘your body is a temple,’’ Theo writes, ‘but mine has felt more like a rental.’ The flow of the story of Theo's life is seamless, and I devoured this uplifting memoir in one short sitting...but don't forget to admire the lovely drawings in all their calming hues of purple! -Mari

I happened upon this giant book on a cart to be shelved, and was drawn in by its bold colors and the word "garden," which has quickly become an obsessive hobby of mine. I leisurely read through the gardening tips and fruit, vegetable and flower vocabulary, particularly tickled by the cute lift-the-flap moments revealing the secret, inside petals or what a seed will look like as it grows into fruition. Every once in a while I have an older kid at the children's desk asking for a lift-the-flap book, and this nonfiction, yet whimsical, read is the perfect answer. -Mari

Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham are some of best in the business when it comes to graphic novels and illustrations in the children's lit world, so I was excited to see a graphic romance novel for (young) adults! I thought the love story was interesting and was blown away by the illustrations. I love a thick graphic novel, and this story has a lot of cool elements--memorable characters, deep family secrets, celebration of Chinese and Korean culture, and of course a long-game romance with a romantic comedy of the 90's-type ending! Would be a great winter read around Valentine's Day and Lunar New Year of course, but a fun summer romance too! -Mari

I follow the author's online presence "Brown Paper Bag," which is a curated appreciation of artists. We seem to have similar tastes when it comes to fiber arts, particularly, and I really enjoyed this anthology of unique embroidery artists. Usually I just flip through the photos in art books, but I really enjoyed reading the artist profiles as well in this one. All of the thread styles are so different from each other, sewers and stitchers will truly appreciate the variety of art showcased in this book. -Mari

Another truly engaging story from the master of graphic horror, Emily Carroll. Gorgeous, creepy illustrations will keep you quickly turning the pages, and the twist at the end will have you wondering "what did I just read?" Fans of "Rebecca" and "The Yellow Wallpaper" will enjoy this gothic, gruesome ghost story. -Mari

I came across this graphic novel on the bookmobile shelf and was interested to see a book with a neurodivergent character navigating life with, at times, overwhelming OCD symptoms. I found the bees buzzing in your ear with intrusive thoughts to be a very good analogy and the way that Isaac interacts in social situations and his family dynamic to be a relatable depiction. It's wonderful for kids to see mirrors in the books they read, especially a graphic novel that will appeal to many! -Mari

This is a gorgeous eye-catching book for the semi-seasoned embroiderer who wants to step up their texture game and get inspired by some stunning landscape patterns. It's a great book to borrow from the library before ultimately deciding it might be a great reference book to own! I maxed out my renewals because I wanted to keep referencing the beautiful stitch styles! -Mari

I thought this a better-than-average serial killer story that has some realistic characterizations of secrets and insecurities of young adult girls. I love that it's set in Iowa City, and you can tell that the author actually experienced college at the University of Iowa. -Mari

What can I say other than I'm a sucker for a Nutcracker adaptation already, and then there's a scruffy black and white dog doing chassés, pas de bourrées, and jetés? I'm in! I enjoyed this intro-to-ballet picture book with a heartwarming dog protagonist, and so will kids and parents who look forward to seeing or reading "The Nutcracker" each December! -Mari

This book was an expired hold on the bookmobile, so I ended up "leafing" through it during a slower stop, their loss my gain! I was obsessed with the illustrations! The oversized pages offer several wonderful field guides for different types of trees, roots, seeds, endemic species, and more. I enjoyed the concise and gorgeous exploration of the use of trees as building materials throughout history. The book dives deep in the cultural significance to native trees around the world and examines religion and folklore surrounding trees. I loved the book so much I decided to buy a used copy online to enjoy again later. -Mari

A ghost, a witch, and a troll compete to see who is the baddest and can scare a little girl away from her hanky. A light Halloween read with moments of giggle, and the delightful flowing rhyme of Julia Donaldson (of Room on the Broom and The Gruffalo fame) and the familiar bold, and sometimes silly illustrations of Axel Scheffler will draw little ones right into this story! -Mari

Kids, and Millennials in their 30s :), will love this portrayal of junior high, and for me the fact that it was written by one of my favorite bands of my teens and 20s makes it even better! Tillie Walden is such a wonderful comic artist, and the semi-autobiographical story of twins Tegan and Sara as 7th graders in a new school quickly had me invested. The feelings and experiences felt authentic, and as a twin I could relate to a lot their relationship as sisters and best friends in the same class at school. Over the course of a year of pretty typical teenager moments including a lot of self-discovery, the story also loosely depicts their beginnings as a band. A must read for fans of Raina Telgemeier, Shannon Hale, Hope Larson and Jennifer Holm. -Mari

I love graphic memoirs, and Julia Wertz is just too good at drawing her life. Come for an honest graphic memoir about the journey of recovery from a drinking problem, stay for the immature but witty observations on life, beautiful drawings of New York architecture, and the fart jokes. Lots of fart jokes. -Mari

A beautifully tender family drama with echoes of the classic Little Women, primarily set in Chicago. Each character is tragic in their own way, and each one must face living their own truth even as it tears the family apart. A complex story that will resonate with you long after finishing. -Mari

The "parachute kid" phenomenon dates back to the 1980s. This term refers students who are sent to live and study in the United States,in this case from Taiwan, without their parents, at probably too young an age. I didn't know what the title meant before reading the graphic and TBH I didn't read the synopsis, so it was very shocking in the story when the three sibling protagonists end up living alone in America, and even more surprising to find out there is a generation of kids with this experience. I can't imagine going through what the siblings go through, not to mention how hard it would be living without parents in a country that doesn't speak your primary language. It's illuminating to read about the hardships the protagonists go through and to see just a small window into the adversity kids must face being immigrants in America alone. -Mari

Equal parts hilarious and horrifying. I would love to see this turned into a campy movie! -Mari

A coming of adulthood story about three best friends, all three Asian-American women in their 20s, navigating entry level publishing jobs and sharing an small Brooklyn apartment. I enjoyed this wonderfully detailed graphic slice of life story, and particularly identified with their hilarious and pop culture-heavy dialogue, as well as their frequent celebrations of good food and drink. Read this if you want to feel like you are part of this strong friendship of smart women, and/or want to peek into the not exactly glamorous publishing world of New York City. -Mari

I read the prequel to this graphic novel, "Stepping Stones" immediately before diving into "Apple Crush," and I enjoyed them both very much. I have read several of Knisley's adult graphic novels, and am always really drawn towards her illustration style. Both of these stories are semi-autobiographical, and I think a lot of children who have gone through their parents divorce will relate to her experience. "Stepping Stones" is about Jen learning how to live and work on a farm, while "Apple Crush" is more about her adjusting to a new school and the social pressures that come with middle school. Jen gets her first job on a pumpkin patch, and I think most readers will feel a longing for crisp, fall weather, hot cider, and trick-or-treating no matter what season it is currently. I can't wait to find out what the next season holds for Peapod Farm! -Mari

A zen, poetic rendition of the "House that Jack Built" featuring soothing colored pencil imagery of beavers, geese, moose and more. If you can't be in the middle of the calm on a lake in the woods, reading this beautiful nonfiction picture book might be the next best thing. -Mari

I recently read a graphic novel by Soontornvat that I enjoyed about cheerleading, and though its a very different genre, I enjoyed both. This is a great adventure story with an element of fantasy and a strong female protagonist! -Mari

My last read of 2022, and possibly my favorite! An interesting character-driven story that illuminates the importance of sign language education. I loved the added history of deaf people and their civil right battles between chapters, and the current issues within the community, such as cochlear implants, the difference between ASL and BASL, and how some parents and schools don’t allow kids to learn ASL in an effort to mainstream them. I love a story about education, and this was great one for the underrepresented deaf community. -Mari

This book has a beautifully illustrate two-page spread for each popular from around the world, including a craft or activity and an easy recipe for a family to create together. I love the contributor for each holiday is a chef, artist or designer who share their favorite traditions, and that the book provides so many opportunities for kids to do hands-on activities to learn about that holiday! -Mari

Do I play the Pokémon trading card game? Nope! Have I played the videogames? Nope! Do I watch the show? Not in 25 years or so! Do I love this cookbook? YUP! The first recipe is a Pokémon Poke Bowl, which is both clever and delicious. I found the recipes in this book both irresistibly adorable and delicious, and I think some of the Pokémon are so cute! Look out for an entire week of Pokémon programming the first week of 2023!! -Mari

Hope Larson can do no wrong really, but even so I loved this unique and intriguing fairytale, and didn't put it down until it was done! -Mari

I love picture books about cats and dogs, they always have such a relatable point of view, depending on whether you're a cat person or a dog person. I'm a dog person, but I still appreciate Olivia the cat's perspective and appreciation of her home. It has short simple sentences and beautiful and colorful illustrations that I was really taken with. And I learned that the author has another book with a heart-melting look into the lives of pets starring a dog protagonist called " Such a Good Boy," that will be a great find for me next! -Mari

An imaginative and colorful story set in a idyllic little neighborhood by the sea. I loved the bright color of the Octopus and the rhyming is well-done and easy to read aloud. It gives cozy vibes as Octopus celebrates holidays and enjoys the seasons changing on top of the house The small community mutually benefit from the Octopus, who helps beautify the neighborhood by painting fences and raking leaves, and it in turn loves to play with the children. This book will spark imagination for young readers and wish they also had a giant octopus on the roof of their house! -Mari

I am always drawn to books with goat characters because they are my favorite animal. This is a cozy quick read set in a bookstore with delightful illustrations and calming pastel colors. A love letter to the books, libraries and bookstores set in a world where goats can learn to turn pages instead of eating them, and dress like and live among humans. A world I wanna be in! -Mari

This was my spooky read for the season. While the eeriness stems mostly from a couple that struggles to be honest with each other, the twists and turns in the plot will leave any reader unsettled. The characters are haunted by bad memories, the expectations they set upon themselves, and the constant feeling of disconnection from each other, but is someone or something haunting the church they are spending the weekend in? -Mari

I love reading survival stories, and this children's fiction book was particularly intriguing with an eerie science fiction element. An "imminent" but unknown threat forces the entire western United States to evacuate, leaving behind a 13-year-old girl in the confusion of sharing homes with divorced parents. I also love novels written in verse, and this story keeps you hooked with this unique storytelling style and the constants threats she encounters as she learns how to live in a completely abandoned town with little survival experience and no way to contact the outside world. -Mari

A patron told me this is his favorite book so I had to see if it measured up to my expectations...and it did! I loved how the protagonist learned to blend her Taiwanese culture with her new American identity, and the illustration style and pacing were just perfect. I love to see a story about kids taking interests and finding passion in their hobbies, in this story, cooking and art. Fans of Master Chef Junior will love this high intensity cooking contest comic! -Mari

I love both of the sing-along picture books by Lil Miss Hot Mess! They are so fun to act out and sing and the illustrations are colorful and so fun to look at! This one was an absolute hit sung and performed by local drag queen Valencia, especially her dramatic twirling of her dress! This book is a staple for Drag Storytimes and an absolute blast to read at any time! -Mari

This book was added to the collection just in time for a Pizza-riffic storytime with preschoolers this week! Greg Pizzoli's bold-colored (and only the colors of pizza, I might add) and adorable illustration accompany pretty much all of the information about pizza anyone could want or imagine knowing, including the history of the ingredients, the different styles of pizza across the world and factoids like we eat 350 slices of pizza every second in the US. I got so hungry flipping through the pages! -Mari