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Alohamoraopenabook

Alohamoraopenabook

Joined May 2016

Librarian 📚 Harry Potter Fan ⚡️Blogger 💻
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Alohamoraopenabook
Gone Girl | Gillian Flynn
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Just finished listening to this one. First, I don't like Amy. She gives women a bad name. Second, the story does keep you interested. Third, there's a lot of language. Fourth, I wish the villain didn't win in the end. That's depressing. Well written story, but I'm not a fan of it. What did you think?

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Alohamoraopenabook
The Lion Inside | Rachel Bright
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There's a lion 🦁 and a mouse 🐭 inside us all.
📚
I love this book, The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright.
1. Fun read aloud
2. Great message
3. Perspective
4. Would make a great gift for toddlers to 3rd grade, boys and girls alike. #giveabook
5. Illustrations 👍

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Alohamoraopenabook
10 Fat Turkeys | Tony Johnston, Rich Deas
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Who's already pulled the tree out? 🌲Who's listening to Christmas music? (I totally snuck a few holiday songs in yesterday) 🎶

Even if you are ready for Christmas, you can still check out some of these awesome Thanksgiving books.
📚🦃
Great reads for a great holiday. #i❤️thanksgiving

Book list w full detail is on the blog
📚🦃
http://alohamoraopenabook.blogspot.com/2014/11/11-terrific-thanksgiving-children....

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Alohamoraopenabook
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Fletcher is fantastic. I love this book! The pictures are gorgeous, with the snow tree page all glittery (who doesn't like glitter?!). Fletcher and the Falling Leaves is a great read aloud.
Any teachers or school librarians out there? I have an awesome syllables lesson (geared to K-1st) 🆓 on my blog, and it includes a Smartboard notebook file. #easypeasy http://alohamoraopenabook.blogspot.com/2014/09/kindergarten-free-lesson-plan-for...

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Alohamoraopenabook
Fall Mixed Up | Bob Raczka
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We all get mixed up sometimes, but this fun, interactive, and silly picture books has the season Fall ?? all confused.
???
Fall Mixed Up is a great book to read and enjoy w your child (preschool to 2nd grade) in a small group or one-on-one setting. After reading it once, go back and find all of the "mistakes."
???
Kiddos that like "Seek and Find" books will enjoy this interactive Fall read.

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Alohamoraopenabook
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Mehso-so

Russian folklore is bizarre & weird, but fascinating at the same time. The latest #owlcrate Box came w this urbanized Fairytale retelling of one, and I liked it.

Vassa in the Night gets 3.5/5 ⭐️ Stars in my book review. Full review of the book on the blog.
Just a few aspects:
Magical & Feisty Dolls
Convenient Store
Beheadings
Accomplishing the Impossible

http://alohamoraopenabook.blogspot.com/2016/11/vassa-in-night-gets-35-stars-ya-l...

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Alohamoraopenabook
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1. I felt this was a fitting book for today. The green lizards and the red rectangles are at war until they learn how they can live together by working together.

2. I really like Steve Antony. We ❤️ his panda 🐼 books. #PleaseMrPanda and #IllWaitMrPanda

The fun and simple picture book gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 in my review Its short enough for squirmy toddlers to enjoy, but has depth for older kids. Great read aloud.

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Alohamoraopenabook
Big Pumpkin | Erica Silverman
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I was reading 🎃 Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman to my classes today.
📚
I love that book, such good repetition and fun ways to get the audience involved w the book. In the picture book the witch makes pumpkin pie from the Big Pumpkin she grew, but if she had this recipe she'd make these cupcakes.
🎃

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Alohamoraopenabook
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Repetition. Rhyming. Humor.
🐧🐮🐤🐷🐔
Tacky the Penguin and Farmer Brown's animals make for some fun Halloween reads.
🎃👻🕸
What are you reading?
These #kidlit books are great for Toddlers up to 2nd grade, or anyone (like me) who likes a good read.
📚
Your teacher librarian lesson for you today...
The familiar characters are good for print motivation, and the repetition and rhyming is good for beginning readers.

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Alohamoraopenabook
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Mehso-so

A Spool of Blue Thread was good. I thought the writing was great. The writing style reminded me of Guernsey Literary and the Potato Peel Pie Society.

I enjoyed the story. However, I felt I was reading someone's journal rather than a novel. There was no huge conflict or character growth.

I was expecting something more from this hyped up book. 4/5 stars

It is a reminder that families are complex and we all have our own kind of issues. 😂

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Alohamoraopenabook
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You NEED these Monster books! They're obviously fun this time of year🕸👻🎃, but they are great reads year round.
📚
Basically this funny story is about Monsters under a kid's bed, and they actually help the kid sleep better bc you stay in the bed. Both of these books are great read alouds toddlers and up will enjoy.
📚
Hey, That's My Monster is the follow up book that just came out this year, and it's a fun sequel book.
📚

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Alohamoraopenabook
Slinky, Scaly Snakes! | Jennifer A Dussling
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Learned a lot about snakes 🐍 while waiting for my 2yr old's well check visit.
📚
These DK Readers books are great. The layout and reading level are spot on.
I don't love the over crowded pages on the big DK books (there are far better nonfiction books out there), but DK is doing it right w these early reader versions.
📚 🎁
If you have a 1st-3rd grader who loves nonfiction (a lot of boys love NF) then think about these for a gift.

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Alohamoraopenabook
Dorothy Must Die | Danielle Paige
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Mehso-so

"The "Wicked" is Good, and the "Good" is Wicked." That's the best way to describe this Dark version of the Wizard of Oz or a Dorthy Returns to Oz.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars for Dorthy Must Die by Danielle Paige

The writing isn't stellar, and it was drug out to be a series, when the story really would've been better more concise.

All in all, fun read w an interesting and unique story idea. #yalit #alohamoraopenabook

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Alohamoraopenabook
Arsenic with Austen: A Mystery | Katherine Bolger Hyde
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Mystery 📚. Jane Austen. Oregon. Fast Read. Touch of Love. Fun. Slightly Predictable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars for Arsenic w Austen by Katherine Bolger Hyde

Fun light read w a touch of love and mystery. It's a little predictable, but still enjoyable.

Journalismchik I'm a sucker for anything having to do with Jane Austen! 8y
Alohamoraopenabook Me too @Journalismchik We have so much in common; we were destined to be friends. 8y
1 like1 stack add2 comments
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Alohamoraopenabook
Three Dark Crowns | Kendare Blake
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Dark. Fantasy. Plot Twists. Series. Action Thriller. YA Lit.
//
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for The Three Dark Crowns. It had an almost painfully slow beginning, but it picks up to become a great story.
//
September's OwlCrate book 📚 was a good one; plus, it brought back the fun of the paper fortune teller. Remember those?
//
Full review on the blog.
http://alohamoraopenabook.blogspot.com/2016/10/three-dark-crowns-gets-4-stars-ya...

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Alohamoraopenabook
Larf | Ashley Spires
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Book costumes are my favorite Halloween 🎃 costumes! Larf, a lonely Sasquatch, could make a fun costume. 😂
Plus it's a fun picture book and read aloud for 2nd -4th grade about a Sasquatch... #win
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 starts for this lonely Sasquatch who realizes friendship is what's important.

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Alohamoraopenabook
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Happy October aka the month of 🎃 👻 and fun!
If your looking for a horror book to read that's just a scary as #StephenKing then check this one out. 4.5/5 stars for this scary, slightly disturbing read.

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Alohamoraopenabook
Carry On | Rainbow Rowell
Bailedbailed

I keep trying, but I'm just not a huge Rainbow Rowell fan. I thought this may be fun bc it connected w Fan Girl, about Simon Snow aka Harry Potter like. Tho, I don't think the writing is superb.

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Alohamoraopenabook
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Inspiring
Enlightening
Sad
Surprising
Courage
Perseverance
Education
Emotional
Shocking
Just some of my thoughts of this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 star nonfiction book about the girl that got shot in the face. I listened to it, and I'm sure glad I did with all of those Pakistan locations and Arabic names. Well written, and a valuable perspective shared about a part of the world I don't know enough about.
Definitely worth a check out.

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Alohamoraopenabook
A Whale in the Bathtub | Kylie Westaway
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Book mail ? is hands down the best kind of mail. Thanks for the fun picture book, signed by the author, @houghtonmifflinharcourt We did have a "Whale of a time" ?reading it.
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This fun book is a great relatable read aloud. It would also make a great book to teach inference for kiddos Kindergarten through 3rd grade.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for this great book!

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Alohamoraopenabook
Cloudette | Tom Lichtenheld
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It's cloudy 🌥 here in AZ 🌵, which is a big deal for us. It's only fitting I share a couple cute cloud books 📚 w you. Go check them out!

Cloudette is pretty much the cutest book about a little cloud☁️ that learns he can do big things too. It'll be an inspiring and fun read for you and your little one.

Perfect read aloud or story for toddlers up to 3rd grade.

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Alohamoraopenabook
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Books like these #elephantandpiggie 🐘🐷 books are great for kiddos becoming more fluent in their reading and want to practice reading chapter books. These, and other Early Readers, have tons of pictures and a larger font. However, they look more like a chapter book than a picture book. They are also a great books for parents to read aloud to toddlers/preschoolers when wanting to make the transition to reading chapter books w them.

angrylilasian And they're fun to read! My kids think these are hilarious. 😄 8y
AliBG Love these funny books. My kids adore them still, even having out-aged them. 8y
Alohamoraopenabook Yes fun to read! That's the most important aspect @angrylilasian @AliBG 8y
3 likes3 comments
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Alohamoraopenabook
The Wonderful Things You Will Be | Emily Winfield Martin
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I was thinking about this book today as I am looking to have my oldest start kindergarten this week. ?
This book tugs at my mom heartstrings. ? I love how it goes through "wondering" what amazing things your child will do and who your child will be. It's a touching read ?, and a great book for a new mom or any parent.

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Alohamoraopenabook
Thunder Boy Jr. | Sherman Alexie
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Mehso-so

Thunder,🌩 Lightning, colorful pictures, and finding out who you are can all be found in this picture book, Thunder Boy Jr., by an award winning author.

Teachers could use this book in a lesson on Native Americans as well as a Who Am I unit. Lots of options.

AliBG Why so-so? (Just curious) 8y
Alohamoraopenabook I liked the message of finding yourself and connecting it to a name, but the writing was meh. I feel the most exciting aspect of the book was the colorful pictures @AliBG You? What did you think of it? 8y
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Alohamoraopenabook
I Like Myself! | Karen Beaumont, David Catrow
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Be You and Like It!🙂 That's what this fun, colorful, and all around great read aloud for preschoolers through elementary school students is about.... And sometimes I have to remind myself that I Like Me!

I love this message, and let's be honest, I love so many Karen Beaumont books. She's great! 👍

Go check this book out if you know someone needing a little more I'm great attitude!

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Alohamoraopenabook
Normal Norman | Tara Lazar
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What is Normal? "It's impossible to define." "So, be yourself- like being your normal self."

Oh how I love the fun animals ??? doing crazy fun things in this book that has such a valuable message for kids...okay we all need to remember that.

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Alohamoraopenabook
Roller Coaster | Marla Frazee
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Roller Coaster ? ...what summers are made of. I love how the text follows the roller coaster ride throughout the book.
This is a fun one to read aloud to a class, and fun to read snuggled w your little ones. Check it out.
I love Marla Frazee, the author and illustrator of this one?. I think her illustrations are realistic but still fun, and her story is a great read for all ages. I mean, who doesn't love saying "Wheeeeeeeeeeee!"?

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Alohamoraopenabook
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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child⚡️📖 didn't score a perfect 5/5 stars ⭐️ but it got close.

I don't think the characters were consistent w how they were in the original 7 books.

Did you read it? What did you think of the HP continuation read?

Check for the full review, spoiler free, #ontheblog http://alohamoraopenabook.blogspot.com/2016/08/harry-potter-and-cursed-child-get...

Booksbooksbooks I agree with this review. I found that this Ginny was more similar to movie Ginny than book Ginny 8y
Alohamoraopenabook Agreed @booksbooksbooks I didn't think movie Ginny, but that totally fits! 8y
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Alohamoraopenabook
An Ember in the Ashes | Sabaa Tahir
Mehso-so

An ember in the ashes

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 stars out of five

OK kind of wordy and the pace was a little slower than I liked.

The book definitely ended on a cliffhanger.

Thought it was kind of cheesy and silly that all the boys were just falling in love with the main character girl.

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Alohamoraopenabook
An Ember in the Ashes | Sabaa Tahir
Mehso-so

An ember in the ashes

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 stars out of five

OK kind of wordy and the pace was a little slower than I liked.

The book definitely ended on a cliffhanger.

Thought it was kind of cheesy and silly that all the boys were just falling in love with the main character girl.

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Alohamoraopenabook
Echo | Pam Munoz Ryan
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Another WWII historical fiction ? for you, but this one I'm insisting you listen to the #audiobook. This Newbery Honor book has a musical ? aspect, and the audiobook makes it even more awesome. If you have a reluctant reader or kid who struggles w/ reading have them listen to an audiobook & "read" along.This takes the struggle out of reading & lets them enjoy the story.
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for this middle grade fiction

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Alohamoraopenabook
Farmer Boy | Laura Ingalls Wilder
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Farmer Boy was a good one, with lots of yummy foods described. We give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars.
It was good, but quite long and tad wordy. Tho the adventures and fun Almanzo had was exciting, but not as exciting as frontier life that Laura experienced.

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Fangirl: A Novel | Rainbow Rowell
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. It's a cute story w quirky well developed characters. I love realistic fiction and Harry Potter so this was up my alley. Tho, I felt this book missed some substance w the plot. The book ended and I just feel blah about it even tho I enjoyed the pace and story throughout. It was good, but it had potential to be great.

As far as content, mostly language and underage drinking. Holler if you want more details.

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Real Poop on Pigeons | Kevin McCloskey
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I love when authors and illustrators (in this case the same person) puts details in the front cover. 💕 The drawn pictures in this non-fiction beginning readers comic book are awesome. The Real Poop on Pigeons gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 in my book review; check the blog to find out why.
#linkinprofile

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Alohamoraopenabook
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Mehso-so

You looking for some fun this weekend? Check out this read where grapes can be firecrackers 💥 and M&Ms are part of a science experiment. Toddlers through middle schoolers can have fun w this book 📖 where the ingredients may already be in your pantry. #win
#bookreview 3.5/5 stars #ontheblog

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Flawed: A Novel | Cecelia Ahern
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"I've learned that to be courageous is to feel fear within, every step of the way. Courage does not take over, it fights and struggles through every word you say and every step you take. It's a battle...to let it pervade. It takes courage to overcome, but it takes extreme fear to be courageous."

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The Selection | Kiera Cass
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⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 stars. This book, and really the entire series, is the perfect "beach read." It's light and enjoyable as well as quick and easy. It reminds me of Meg Cabot books, and that's a compliment. It may be ridiculously predictable, but it's still an enjoyable read.

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On the Banks of Plum Creek | Laura Ingalls Wilder
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We just finished On the Banks of Plum Creek. This Newbery Honor book gets 4.5/5 stars⭐️ in my book review. It's a great book and a fun read aloud. Plus, it doesn't have a sad ending which is always nice. I have no qualms w the book, and my kids are absolutely loving the series.

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Alohamoraopenabook
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Bailedbailed

I bailed on this #PrintzHonor book and therefore give it ⭐️/5 in my book review. I have loved the weirdness and amazing storytelling of Marcus Sedgwick's previous books 📚, but this one I just couldn't get into no matter how hard I tried. It isn't worth the check-out.

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Alohamoraopenabook
Please, Mr. Panda | Steve Antony
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Such a fun book about 🍩 and manners. Please, Mr. Panda is just fun. Simple enough for toddlers, but even 2nd graders will enjoy this #picturebook bc they'll have to infer and predict aka use those higher level reading skills. Parents, teachers, and librarians will love using this book.

4 likes2 stack adds
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Alohamoraopenabook
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for this fractured fairytale mystery book series. Girls in 3rd-5th will enjoy these, but a younger student who reads at a high level will ❤️ these books 📚 too. I enjoyed all the fairytale characters portrayed, & the storyline & characters I liked enough. Not amazing but enjoyable

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Alohamoraopenabook
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"Sometimes when you are surrounded by dirt, CJ, you are a better witness for what is beautiful." 4.5/5 ⭐️ for this #Caldecott Honor AND #NewberyMedal Winner. ? Great picture book! It makes for a great read aloud as well as it allows for a great discussion. Toddlers to 4th grade may enjoy this ?.

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Alohamoraopenabook
Roller Girl | Victoria Jamieson
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5/5 Stars for this #Newbery Honor winner. This #graphic novel is colorful, fun, and relatable. This is a perfect book for a 4th-7th grade girl as it talks about friendship and finding yourself. Reluctant readers alike will fly through this fast read. Great book!

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Bone Gap | Laura Ruby
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4.5/5 stars. This YA Lit book is well written w a complex twisting unpredictable storyline. It is an all around interesting, creative, unique, and deserving of the Printz Medal. Tho it didn't wow me so it lost .5 stars. As far as content, there is some language but no sex or drugs. #yalit #printz