Written by: Bridget Kleinert Illustrated by: Alisa Horowitz This book is so beautifully written by an independent author. It has such a soothing, peaceful feel to it and would be a wonderful book to read at bedtime. It was such a sweet story, and it made me think about all of the simple, beautiful things […]

Written by: Lucille Colandro Illustrated by: Jared Lee It’s finally Shark Week, and of course I have a book for that! This one is part of the There Was an Old Lady series, and what a fun way to introduce sharks to children while sneaking in a little learning along the way. These books are always so […]

Written by: Kim Ntiappiah This sweet little board book is by an independent author, and it is absolutely adorable. I love board books for little ones—they’re sturdy, easy for little hands to hold, and can even survive those sometimes sticky fingers! The story begins when sweet little Mani comes home from the hospital and meets […]

by: Cameron Marasco I always love finding books that make learning fun, and this one definitely does. Even though it was written by an independent author, it was such a great educational read. The story is written in rhyme, which keeps it engaging while covering so many important moments in American history. It takes readers […]

By: Roald Dahl I have always loved Danny the Champion of the World. My dad used to read it to his fifth and sixth grade classes, so this story has always had a special place in my heart. Reading it again as an adult brought back so many memories, and it was every bit as wonderful […]

Written by: Adrienne Christin Illustrated by: Kat Powell This engaging chapter book by an independent author is a wonderful choice for readers ages 7–11. Young readers will love that it feels like they’re reading a “grown-up” chapter book while still being perfectly suited for their age. In this adventure, the Axolotl Agency team is on […]

By: Ged Adamson I really enjoyed this delightful and funny book. It had me laughing from beginning to end! The combination of the hilarious illustrations and the playful storyline was absolutely perfect. One of my favorite moments was when Douglas, the nearsighted dog, accidentally ended up at the wrong home because he couldn’t see where […]

By: Mary Jantz Illustrated by: Mel Schroeder Some books just stay with you long after you finish them, and this was one of those books for me. I think it touched me so deeply because I recently lost my parents, and so much of this story felt personal and comforting at the same time. The […]

An Anna Dewdney Book I’ve always loved the Llama Llama series, so I was so sad when I learned that Anna Dewdney passed away from brain cancer in 2016. She created such a special series that so many children and parents connected with. Thankfully, other authors and illustrators have continued Llama’s stories in such a sweet and […]

By: Cozy A. Cabrera This book was absolutely beautiful and it’s easy to see why it won the Coretta Scott King Award and received a Caldecott Honor. It tells such a sweet story about the love between a mother and daughter in the most simple and meaningful ways. I really loved how the book focused on everyday moments […]