How to be a Supervillain: Born to be Good by Michael Fry
 
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
 
This follow-on tale to How To Be A Supervillain is just as quirky, hilarious, and absurd. From the tickling super skill of the narrator, Victor, to the diverse secondary characters, including The Smear, Moldy Dave, and Anvil Head!
 
Even abstracting from the humor of the superhero’s names and traits, the plot will ensure readers continue to turn pages— who wouldn’t want to know the outcome of a battle between a whole bunch of Supervillains and the alien Commodore who trapped them to use as galaxy entertainment. Oh, and if that’s not enough, the narrator wants to give up his supervillain life to become a civilian librarian and no one’s pleased about that either.
 
A great middle grade read, either as a stand-alone title or follow on from book one. The large number of illustrations provide another layer of entertainment and will be a great help for reluctant and struggling readers.

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Door By JiHyeon Lee

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
 
From the moment your eyes take in the cover of this wordless picture book you will be enticed inside its magical pages. A boy finds a key and follows a flying bug through the human world to a door. Inside, he finds a new land and unique creatures. He plays, picnics, swings, climbs trees, and even attends a wedding with his new friends. And discovers that there are many doors and many unique communities still to be explored.
 
Language and appearance are not barriers to making friends here, everyone is welcoming and accepting. A perfect message for an exquisitely illustrated book. This is a work of art to keep forever.
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Marwan’s Journey by Patricia de Arias (Illustrations by Laura Borràs)
 
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
 
This powerful picture book follows the journey of a young boy, Marwan, a refugee seeking a new home. The writing conjures beautiful images and is relatable to anyone on a journey to find a new home. Despite his situation, Marwan’s voice is filled with hope for a brighter future.
 
This is an ideal picture book for explaining the plight of refugees and an ideal mirror for those on such a journey themselves. The beautiful illustrations are a perfect complement to the wonderfully crafted text.

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Hazelnut Days by Emmanuel Bourdier (Illustrations by Zaü)
 
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
 
Hazelnut Days depicts a difficult, underrepresented situation— being a child with a parent in prison. The text is honest and contemplative, and the characters are well developed.

The length of the text and the way the story is told make it more suited to older readers.

​It is heart-warming that despite his father’s faults, this young boy is able to find things he admires in his dad. The illustrations pair well with the seriousness of the text. 

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Where The Watermelons Grow By Cindy Baldwin 
 
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Where The Watermelons Grow takes us on a journey with twelve-year-old, North Carolina girl, Della Kelly who tiptoes from her bed one steamy summer night only to discover her mother hearing voices that aren’t there. As the days progress, Della watches her Mama fall deeper under the veil of an acute episode of schizophrenia. Initially it’s just small things like her mother fearing watermelon seeds are toxic and air conditioners are bad for your health. But these irrational concerns and non existent voices become stronger until Della can no longer recognize her mother in the body of the woman who stands before her. 

Desperate to prevent her mother’s downward spiral, which has previously ended in a hospitalization, Della takes it upon herself to shoulder an increasing amount of responsibility - from household chores to caring for her eighteen month old sister, and helping her daddy on the struggling, drought-ridden farm. And when that doesn’t work, she seeks some medicinal honey from the legendary, local Bee Lady- who, much to Della’s despair, advises Della to heal her own aching heart and let the medical professionals care for her mother.

Throughout the book, Della’s journey continues to be heart achingly sad but Cindy Baldwin’s beautiful writing gently wraps around your heart and mesmerizes, compelling you to read on like only a master storyteller can. And Baldwin’s secondary characters are just as rich and alive as her heroine. Especially Della’s exhausted but loving father, her loyal best friend, Arden, and new neighbor, Miss Lorena.

Where The Watermelons Grow is a must-read story full of love and hope despite the seriousness of the mental illness portrayed. Grab an ice cold plate of watermelon, a patch of summer sun, a box of tissues, and get ready to walk in Della’s shoes. It’s an experience not to be missed.