From Colosseum by Sarah Arvio "and all the beauty and the blasphemy. Petals, petals, scattering from the stands where only vestals were allowed to sit, having tended the flame for all of us. Here, I knew, was the empire of my soul showing on my face as I turned to you." 
Return of the Wild 20 of Nature's Greatest Success Stories by Helen Scales, is an inspiring collection of 20 single page stories with a companion illustrated page. Each entry is a success story regarding animals and plants previously thought to be extinct or close to it. A welcoming sense of hopefulness is the charm of these narratives along with biographical details of the people responsible for these monumental achievements. ~ Reviewed by Jessica Wood
Gustav Is Missing A Tale of Friendship and Bravery by Andrea Zuill. Plenty of quirky details comprise this tale of bravery and perilous adventure. Little Red Cap is a homebody, but when his companion goes missing he steps out of his comfort zone to go on the great search for Gustave. Trekking the unknown inspires a newfound and welcome confidence for Little Red Cap along with the desired outcome in reuniting with Gustave who was just out for a stroll. ~ Reviewed by Jessica Wood
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney, by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen. Barnett & Klassen are the dream team of children's book writers & illustrators, this latest entry is among their best. A humorous and refreshing take on the age-old question is perfectly captured by Barnett's tone which speculates on the subject just as a child might. This is the perfect set up to ask a little one their thoughts on the subject. ~ Reviewed by Jessica Wood
The Lost Library, by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass is one of my favorites of the year and the best middle grade novel I've read in quite some time. It is a highly entertaining mystery with many charming elements, not the least of which is a newly erected free library guarded by a large orange cat. A wonderful cast of characters propel the story along quickly but there is much to linger over. At its core it is very much a love letter to books, libraries and librarians. ~ Reviewed by Jessica Wood
Our Little Library by Tabitha Paige is a lovely set of 5 books that is a rare find among the plentiful choices for this age group. Durable bindings and pages coupled with sweet hand-painted images featuring first words proven to build vocabulary in the very young. Each book ends with an activity to help a child continue their language development journey. ~ Reviewed by Jessica Wood
