Hi there! I just got back from a brief hiatus. I needed to take a few days up to catch up on posts after an absolutely crazy final two weeks of April (and first two days of May). These weeks were wild in the best of ways. I got my second vaccine (and had the side effects), started dating again, and got to go to my friend’s wedding where I reunited with so many people – best friends I hadn’t seen in anywhere from quite a few months to almost two years due to the pandemic, and old friends I hadn’t seen in three or four years. April was an absolutely amazing month, but blogging understandably got put on the back burner for the last few days. I needed some time to play catch up, but between an updated post yesterday and a new post today, I’m back now!
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you click on and/or purchase from some links, I make a portion of the sale. This helps keep Bitch Bookshelf running.
Books I Read
I’m a children’s librarian, so I read books for kids and for grown-ups. This month, I read 21 picture/early reader books and 13 “big” books, including audiobooks, adult novels, and chapter books for children. My average rating this month was 4.3 stars.
Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Silly and fun – great for read aloud.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Silly and fun… Pigeon is a classic for a good reason. Not my favorite in the series.
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the first time since I was the target audience that a middle grade fantasy novel completely enthralled me. Fabulous characters – not just Amari, but the side characters too – and gorgeous world-building, not to mention excellent themes. I love that the author does not shy away from the real-world metaphors like others in this genre do. Amari recognizes the similarities between situations.
The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. by David Levithan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I liked the writing style though it did lack emotion for me. Positive LGBTQ+ representation, solid metaphorical story kids can grasp.
Look out for my full review on January 29, 2022.
Bartali’s Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy’s Secret Hero by Megan Hoyt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Love the illustrations and the story – and the message. “Good is something you do, not something you talk about.”
Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston by Alicia D. Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loved the art, loved the style of the text.
Unsolved Case Files: Escape at 10,000 Feet: D.B. Cooper and the Missing Money by Tom Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The first in what promises to be a fun true crime series for kids. Bordering on a graphic novel. Informative, great illustrations and use of diagrams.
Dinosaurs in Love by Fenn Rosenthal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Five stars for Fenn. How could I rate this any less? Hannah Jacobs does a great job of bringing Fenn’s song to life with cure and emotional illustrations. I love the letter from her father and interview at the end.
Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
My favorite read of 2021 (for “children” at least) so far. However, I think this emotional masterpiece of a book, though about children, is better suited for a YA audience who will have the nuance and background knowledge.
Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A playful book featuring a tree going through the seasons. Text and illustrations show all the things trees do for various animals.
Slow Snail by Mary Murphy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A cute book with some sensory fun. Snail leaves a pretty shimmery trail children can trace with their fingers.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a hilarious and short picture books that kids will love interacting with. The illustrations are so fun and can inspire kids to make crayon drawings of their own!
Good Night, Sweet Butterflies: A Color Dreamland by Dawn Bentley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Apparently the copy I have was recalled because the tactile portions can be popped out. Assuming that was fixed, I love how tactile and pretty this book is. Because of the issue, I use it for read-alouds to groups where I am the one controlling the book.
This is a great, gentle story for teaching colors and animals. The images are so vibrant and fun!
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Much-loved for a reason.
Too Small Tola by Atinuke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A small selection of stories about Tola, her family, and her community. Tola is a little girl growing up in Lagos. A solid young reader, cute illustrations.
Look out for my full review on January 27, 2022.
Maryam’s Magic: The Story of Mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani by Megan Reid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Colorful illustrations, always here for a woman in STEM book! Love the positive representation of math. I wish it went into more detail about what some of her discoveries actually where and would’ve enjoyed more backmatter.
Together We March: 25 Protest Movements That Marched into History by Leah Henderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Solid backmatter, could do with a table of contents. Good information but I wish it had been in a chapter book vs. picture book format. There’s a LOT of text and a chapter book could have added even more nuance.
Allergic: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book has some serious Telgemeier vibes but is its own unique story. Love the characters, including the diverse background cast. Deals with things many kids can relate to: siblings, wanting a pet, new baby, allergies, new school, anxiety.
Look out for my full review on January 28, 2022.
The Last Straw: Kids vs. Plastics by Susan Hood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I like that this nonfiction information is shaded in poetry form. I read a digital ARC and would love to see a physical copy – it might make it easier for me to read. Solid back matter. There were some facts included that could have been expanded.
Brightly Woven: The Graphic Novel by Alexandra Bracken
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a fun one but I felt like so much was missing. It’s a chapter book adaptation and a ton got lost in translation – I’ve never read the original. Needed exposition.
Look out for my full review on January 31, 2022.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Loved this one, and I’m surprised how long it took me to read now that the dates are in my face. Stella is such a memorable character. Michael drove me a little nutty towards the end, but I’m so happy this deserving couple got their HEA.
How to Talk to a Tiger . . . And Other Animals: How Critters Communicate in the Wild by Jason Bittell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genuinely loved this book and learned so much from it. Awesome illustrations. Could use backwater but then again the book itself is dense.
Hear the Wind Blow by Doe Boyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Backmatter shines in this one and really gives the poems meaning.
Dear Treefrog by Joyce Sidman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Love the art and that each page has a poem and fact – and often labeling. Surprised how emotional the poems made me. Backmatter is concise but thorough.
A Boy Named Isamu: A Story of Isamu Noguchi by James Yang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Loved the illustrations and the message. “You think about how you were alone but not lonely.” But this could have been about any child – doesn’t feel like a biography to me.
Soul Lanterns by Shaw Kuzki
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
WOW, what a powerful book with strong anti-war sentiments. Though this is middle grade, some of the scenes are very graphic and traumatic and I would not recommend for everyone. Nonetheless, this is a very important, emotionally impactful book by a second-generation atomic-bomb survivor.
Look out for my full review on May 8.
13 Ways to Eat a Fly by Sue Heavenrich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fun and funny illustrations – I LOVED the “fly death list” (as I’m calling it) modeling subtraction on each page. Backmatter is so funny and provides a good bibliography.
Saving American Beach: The Biography of African American Environmentalist Mavynee Betsch by Heidi Tyline King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Love Ekua Holmes’s art as always. A good introduction, though I wish some of the backmatter had been included in the story.
The Water Lady: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo Nation by Alice B. McGinty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“While almost every other American will use around a hundred gallons of water today, many on the Navajo reservation will use only seven.”
Thank You, Dr. Salk!: The Scientist Who Beat Polio and Healed the World by Dean Robbins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a timely one!
Welcome To Your Period by Yumi Stynes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A solid, feminist, thorough, inclusive introduction to periods. I love this one.
Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites by Jamie Michalak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What an awesome story. Nice art. I learned so much about Niki from each “bite” in this book.
Jukebox by Nidhi Chanani
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Such a fun concept and I love the diversity and representation. Would’ve loved for this to have gone more in depth, either as a series, with more scenes, or through backmatter.
Big Apple Diaries by Alyssa Bermudez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As someone around Alyssa’s age, I really vibed with this book. Lots of early 2000s references. I loved how much Alyssa matured post-9/11.
Look out for my full review.
Additionally, I DNF’ed two books. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson was just meh for me. I had to DNF it pretty early on. I listened to the audiobook… And while I’m usually okay with self-help by folks who aren’t psychologists or anything like that, I just kept feeling like the opinions he had were being asserted as facts. As a woman listening to a man, I felt condescended to. I know I’m going into this with my own biases and may revisit this one in a text format later on, but for now it just didn’t work for me. Pahua and the Soul Stealer by Lori Lee looks amazing, but the format of my ARC really took me out of it. Usually I can push through, but that wasn’t the case this time. The story just wasn’t enough for me to punish myself with the weirdly formatted text.
Ugh I’m not DNFing this poorly formatted ARC but I’m taking a break from it. 🙃
— winebrarian (@bitchbookshelf) April 30, 2021
Narrator: She did, in fact, DNF this poorly formatted ARC.
A Peek Into My Planner
I’ve been trying to fill out my planner each day to keep myself organized and to use the plethora of planner supplies and stickers I possess. (I use The Happy Planner.) In July 2020, I started a brand new planner, which I hope to use through 2021. Here are my weekly spreads for February.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
I’ve been keeping track of my moods to keep an eye on my depression and anxiety. In March, I felt:
- Good – 11 days
- Okay – 6 days
- Productive – 4 days
- Relaxed – 3 days
- Anxious – 1 day
- Depressed – 1 day
- Emotional – 1 day
- Great – 1 day
- Sick – 1 day
- Tired – 1 day
View this post on Instagram
More Stuff I Did
On TikTok, I’ve been posting myself making every Animal Crossing: New Horizons villager on The Sims 4.
@btchbkshlfI am back! Who should I make next? ##acnh ##animalcrossing ##ts4 ##sims ##sims4 ##thesims4 ##newhorizons♬ bubblegum k.k. ~ animal crossing lofi – Closed on Sunday
I also watched some movies, including rewatching Joker and watching The King of Staten Island, Midsommar, and Brave for the first time.
View this post on Instagram
Because I’ve been blogging about more than just book reviews, I wanted to share some of our “other” posts from this month:
Other Bookish Posts
- 30 Books to Read Before You Turn 30
- #BookishAstrology – Books We Chose for #Aries Season
- 4 Fan Favorite Characters I Hate
- 5 Controversial Characters I Love
- Sunday Funday: Current Reads #2
- 5 Tips for Finding Your Next Read
- My Favorite Romance Trope
- Sunday Funday: Current Reads #1
Blog Hops, Memes, and Challenges
- Top Ten Tuesday: Animals From Books
- WWW Wednesday: April 21, 2021
- Top Ten Tuesday: Colorful Book Covers
Looking Ahead: May
May has already been a great month and I am looking forward to more of that!
