I'm realizing that, with the number of books I'm reading (over 50 already in 2025), listing every single one, along with its author and star rating, is going to take up more time than I really want to spend on a blog post. So starting this month, I'm just going to highlight a few favorites, and the rest will be on Goodreads if you'd like to see them. I will continue to share what my family is reading in its entirety (they read a lot less than I do!) At the end of this post, I've also added brief thoughts on a bunch of picture books I've received for review from publishers over the past few months.
February Favorites
An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon
I really enjoyed this romance in which the main character is a match-making librarian who has alopecia, and the hero is her co-worker's cousin. I had to suspend my disbelief a bit when the story was talking about patron check-out records because librarians don't keep those, and definitely couldn't share them or use them for anything if they did. But the writing is impeccable, and so was the audiobook narrations.
Back After This by Linda Holmes
Linda Holmes's writing never fails to engage me. I was hooked on this book from the first word to the last and could not stop laughing at so many clever lines. There are some spicy scenes, but none were so explicit that I had to skip them.
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
I love Anne Tyler's amazing ability to make everyday people and their lives interesting. The socially-awkward 60-something main character of her latest novel was someone I related to very strongly, and I actually cheered at the end of the book. I will probably read this again before too long.
I was looking for a romance involving magical realism for a romance reading challenge, and Jennifer from @sweet.cleanreads on Instagram recommended this one. It was so good! There was the right amount of magic for my non-fantasy brain, and there were some every bittersweet moments. There is a Hallmark movie based on this, and I want to watch it now!
Valentine on Palmar Island by Suzanne Ash
Jennifer also recommended this author, and I was so impressed by the atmospheric writing. She writes a lot of short romance, and I plan to binge-read more of her books this spring.
Between the Pages by Jamie Kleinkauf
Looking up Suzanne Ash led me to this romance involving a letter and a bookstore. Again, I was totally impressed by the writing, and I can't wait to read more!
Lethal White by Robert Galbraith
I love this series so much. I was originally not worried about catching up in time to read the new one when it's published this September, but then I found a podcast that spoils all the books that I really want to listen to, so now I'm binging the books I have left so I can get going on that.
The Rival by Emma Lord
I loved the writing in this YA college romance. I don't always love the content in this author's books, but I always learn something as a writer when I read her work.
Betrayal by Harold Pinter
My favorite actor, Robert Sean Leonard (Wilson on House, MD) is acting in this play right now and I listened to him talk about it on a podcast and he made it sound so interesting, I read the ebook on Everand. It's one of those plays where it feels like not much happens, but then it sticks with you for days.
Read-Alouds
- The Drum Goes Dead by Bess Streeter Aldrich
We read this Christmas story very late, but I really loved the writing style and the message. The kids enjoyed it. - The Open Gate by Kate Seredy
This was a re-read for me, but the first time reading it aloud. The girls laughed a lot at the grandmother in the story, and they were interested in the impact of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on ordinary Americans. - The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye
I loved this clever, fun little fairy tale based on the rhyme "Lavender's Blue." C. (age 9) clapped when the couple fell in love, which was very cute.
Family Reading Lists
M. (girl, 11 years, 3 months)
- Bowman of Crecy by Ronald Welch
- The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
- The View From Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg
- Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
- The Second Mrs. Giaconda by E. L. Konigsburg
- Henry Reed, Inc. by Keith Robertson
C. (girl, 9 years, 5 months)
- Caterpillar Hall by Ann Barrett
- Katie's War by Aubrey Flegg
- Katie Parker and the House That Cried by Margaret Mulligan
- Doodlebug Summer by Alison Prince
- The Story of D-Day by Bruce Bliven
- 26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie dePaola
- Here We All Are by Tomie dePaola
- On My Way by Tomie dePaola
- What a Year! by Tomie dePaola
- Things Will Never be the Same by Tomie dePaola
- I'm Still Scared by Tomie dePaola
- Why? by Tomie dePaola
- For the Duration by Tomie dePaola
- Twenty and Ten by Claire Huchet Bishop
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
- The Ballet Family by Jean Estoril
- The Lost Umbrella of Kim Chu by Eleanor Estes
- The House of Sixty Fathers by Meindert de Jong
E. (girl, 7 years, 4 months)
- Mossflower by Brian Jacques
- Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey
- The Finches' Fabulous Furnace by Roger Wolcott Drury
- The Apple and the Arrow by Conrad and Mary Buff
- Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum
R. (boy, 4 years, 11 months)
- Meet Thomas Jefferson by Marvin Barrett
- Jenny and the Cat Club by Esther Averill
- The School for Cats by Esther Averill
- Jenny's Moonlight Adventure by Esther Averill
- Jenny's Birthday Book by Esther Averill
- Dan Frontier, Sheriff by Willam Hurley
- Dan Frontier Goes Exploring by William Hurley
A. (girl, 4 years, 11 months)
- Ann's Hat
- Pop Fox
- The Fog
- Pom Pom
- The Big Log
- Tub Fun
- Dog Bug
- Mutt and Pup
- Pig Fun
- Mittens by Lola M. Schaefer
- Follow Me, Mittens Lola M. Schaefer
Picture Book Review Copies
Structured as a tour through a natural history museum led by a ferret, this informational book highlights the world's ten tiniest mammals, showing them at actual size and depicting them in their natural habitats. The twins - and especially my son, R. - really enjoyed this.
L is for Love by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank
This is the latest in a series from this author/illustrator duo starring the same family. In this book, focused on the letter L, they travel from their home to Lagos, where they shop and spend the day. A. enjoyed this one because she could read many of the words, and because there is a baby in the pictures.
Cold by Tim McCanna, illustrated by Ramona Kaultizki
This rhyming book describes the cold and the reaction of different animals to wintry conditions. It's not especially memorable, and it ends with a long lecture on climate change that doesn't feel appropriate for a children's book. (I didn't read that part aloud when I read it to A.) We probably won't keep this one.
The Keeper of Stories by Caroline Kusin Pritchard, illustrated by Selina Alko
I read this historical picture book about the 1966 fire at the Jewish Theological Seminary Library in New York to myself. It was a solid story showing how the community surrounding this library came together to save its stories. I liked the pictures, and as a librarian, I related to the sadness and difficulty surrounding such a disaster. It didn't feel necessary to read this to my kids, and they didn't select it from the pile, so I didn't push.
Follow Your Heart by Emma Dodd
We have had several Emma Dodd books over the years, and they're all essentially the same. They highlight the relationship between parent and child using animals and their behaviors. I requested this one because my son loves ocean animals, and both R. and A. enjoyed it.
Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love by Joseph Coelho and 21 Artist Friends
I loved Ten-Word Tiny Tales, in which each of a bunch of children's illustrators lent their styles to stories told in just ten words. This is the love-themed edition of that same concept. I didn't think these were quite as good, but I loved the general idea and would read more if they do more of these.
Bouncing Bunnies by Fiz Osborne, illustrated by Tim Budgen
When I used to do story time for 100+ toddlers and nannies, I always looked for books included opportuinities for physical movement. This one is perfect for that. It goes back and forth between bunnies doing calm, quiet things and those same bunnies raucously jumping, leaping, bouncing, etc, all actions that kids can imitate. I don't love it as a book for one-on-one reading, but for those large groups, it's excellent.
Rocket Puppies by William Joyce
I usually try to request books by well-known favorite children's authors, which is how I ended up with this weird one. It's really weird, and oddly political in at least one spot, and it basically says that all the world needs to stop being sad is a lot of puppies to fall out of the sky. Not my cup of tea. But this author's The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is very good.
Snow Is... by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Sonia Sanchez
This is a long litany of metaphors describing snow. Most of them didn't work for me. I did like the illustrations, but I wish there had been a story to go with them rather than vague poetry.
Eat Like a Bear by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins
I like this author and illustrator and they were a good match for this book. It follows a bear through various activities, including eating, drinking, hunting, and fishing, giving little kids a lot of interesting information about bears. My son is a fan of bears, and I requested this for him.
Vulture View by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins
This book is by that same pair, and it's a Geisel Honor book. It's a bit different because the text is very simple and intended to be read by an emerging reader, but the pictures are great, and they give a good sense of what vultures are like. We see a lot of vultures in our neighborhood, so this was the perfect opportunity to learn more about them.
The Last Zookeeper by Aaron Becker
I love this author's wordless picture book trilogy (Journey, Quest, and Return), and this is another wordless title from him. In a futuristic world, a robot called NOA must save the animals from a flood. This book gave me a weird feeling, and I just didn't care for it. I don't think it will stay on our shelves.
