Lila Danisa

Inspirational book for the little ones!

This book presented the glaring fact that indeed the kids are the future. To make a better future, the kids need to be proud, kind, and united. This book delivered those messages well. I especially loved how the vast diversity displayed in this book. So inclined with the messages this book try to implement.

I read this book to my 5 years old son and he loved it. He easily understood the words because they were simple ones. He also loved the illustrations because he said they looked realistic and full of colors.

Thank you to C.M. Harris, Purple Diamond Press Inc, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Fortunately my son already potty trained since 2 years ago, but he sometimes still wants to read books about potty training.

This book was so light. I also used this book for my son to learn how to read since the words used in this book were so simple and familiar to him. I think almost 90% of the book he could read himself without my help.

For me, the illustrations were kinda awkward tho. Especially the illustration of the boy.

Thank you to Liz Swenson, Familius, and NetGalley for the ARC.

That was so good! I think this book is perfect cozy-ish fantasy for young readers aka middle-graders. Otto and his (monster) friends were middle-graders too and I think their friendship dynamic is the same like real life middle-grade kids friendship.

I have yet read the first book from this Otto Normal's Monsterton series and honestly I was confused at the beginning of the book. There were so many characters since Otto's cycle was big. Then what made me even confused was they were all in different kind of monsters forms. I was glad this book was semi illustration book, so there were illustrations for the characters and they helped me a lot to put the faces to the names. I think I am in the age of too lazy to let my mind go crazy to imagine the vast range of monster-hood presented by this book. All hail illustrations!

The story was layering with plots I didn't expect. It was actually blowing my mind. I also loved that I got many POV from different characters, not only from Otto Normal. Each POV also fit perfectly with the characters mannerisms and how they think.

Though this book doesn't end with the cliffhanger, they were many mysteries still unsolved. I definitely will read the first book where (maybe) everything started and the next book(s) where Otto and his (monster) friends continue their adventures.

Thank you to Danielle McKechnie, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Second chance romance is not my cup of tea. But I needed to read this one because Quinn and Taran intrigued me from the book 1. I really curious on how the author would deliver their story.

And damn I cried so hard for Taran. My heart broke for her. I hated Quinn. I don't think he redeemed himself enough. I don't care he practically kiss the ground for Taran, for me it's not enough. It's really my personal preference as, again, I am not a fan of second chance romance.

However, I can't blindfold myself on how good the author woven the story together. The romance plots, the characters growth, the supporting characters, and the suspense plots were chef's kiss. I easily finished this 300++ pages book in one night because how good everything was. This book gripped my attention from the very first pages. I cried, I laughed, and my anxiety was sky high because of this book. This book was perfect book of 30 minutes read before bed turned into not sleeping at all to finish it.

Thank you to Samantha Young and House of Hearts Lit for the ARC.

"I need more books. I just can't get enough."

Oh boy, how true that statement is!!!

This book was so cute. Encouraging too for kids to write their own stories.

While I read this book to my son, he said the boy looks like me with my so many books. My son loved the story because there was dragon included. He understood that the book machine was only the metaphor of you need to write your own story.

My son might be only 5 years old but he (and I) regularly write our journal of the day. Sometimes he also makes me write his imagination stories. Again, this book has encouraged my son to bravely and confidently tell me his stories, no matter imagination or based on real life events.

My son and I loved the illustrations so much. They also elaborated the story well.

Thank you to Laurie Duersch, Familius, and NetGalley for the ARC.

That was so heartwarmingly beautiful 🥹🥹

I cried many times and somehow I felt the grief Rosalie had. As a mother myself, one of the strong messages I got from this book was that mothers are still need their mothers.

I loved how mature Cameron and Rosalie were. They made it so easy to love them as a couple and as a character. Their relationship was fast but not rushed at all. In short time they could build a strong relationship because they were good in communication. They talked and understood each other easily. I loved reading their kind of healthy relationship.

The found-family trope was so strong and I loved it so much. I already have idea who gonna be the next couple and I hope I am right. Can't wait to be back to Windhaven.

Thank you to K.H. Oakes and The Author Agency for the ARC.

I think I found my favorite poetess. For me, Amanda Lovelace's poems, so far, were so easy to read and to understand. The fact that some of the poems are relatable to me and what happened (and still happening) is the point plus.

I felt many things while reading this book of poems. I felt sad for the poet and whoever had the same experience(s). I also felt empowered by some of the poems. I think for some, these poems could also be wake up calls.

The continuity of Something is Killing the Children from issue #3 saved this issue. I don't care if I am bias, but if there is Erica Slaughter and/or SIKTC related stuff, the issue would be good, or better. Still no real usual action from Erica, but at least I saw her again.

Like other issues, this issue had very confusing and nonsolid stories, except SIKTC story and The War because I already read both of them. I was so mad with Shutter because it was actually really good but there was no detail explanations on why or how (and what) the story went like that.

One decent story (except SIKTC and The War) for me was The Search. It actually had solid story.

I think so far, this issue was the worse one. The stories were so random and confusing. No solid storylines and the endings were horrible.

The horror and/or dark was still the main themes but for me this issue had the worse interpretation of them.

There was one story that intrigued me enough, In Bloom. I think I could read the full volume(s) of it.

As I write this review, our city (in Indonesia) has not stopped the raining season. Everyday in the evening mostly, the (hard) rain comes. This weird (?) weather which the morning and mid-day are so sunny (and hot) but raining so hard in the evening makes the plants and flowers bloom beautifully in our neighborhood. This book is so perfect for my son now. We mostly (re)read this book before our morning walks. This book is like our reminder of why the flowers bloom and not to forget to look for them in our morning walks. Through this book, I also encouraged my son to pay attention on the plants and flowers. How they look different from the last time we saw them. How they completely bloom the next day. Stuff like that.

My son (and I) loved the illustrations too. Fit the flowers bloom theme with their vibrant and lively colors.

Thank you to Mélina Mangal, Free Spirit Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Ah that was so good! Simple yet so educational about Tourette Syndrome.

To be honest, I got this book for myself. I knew so little about Tourette Syndrome and I came across this book on NetGalley, of course I requested this book so fast. I read this book for myself first then when I truly understood the book, I also read this to my 5 years old son.

My son also knew so little about Tourette Syndrome. He watched me watching videos about it and I explained to him a little bit. And just that. Fortunately this book explained more about Tourette Syndrome in simple and so easy to understand ways. This book smoothly enlightened me and my son.

The illustrations were also so good. Vibrant with colors without making it overwhelmed.

Thank you to Alicia Meyers, Free Spirit Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC.