Get the ReadSquared

Easily log your activity using the READsquared app. The app is free for both Android and iOS mobile devices.

Download the ReadSquared App:

Login
Don't have an account? Register now
Did you forget your password? Get it by email
Popular Books
book cover That's Not My Dinosaur
by: Fiona Watt
ISBN: 9780746041918

book cover Goodnight moon
by: Margaret Wise Brown
ISBN: 9780060275044

book cover 101 Bible Stories for Toddlers
by: Carolyn Larsen
ISBN: 9781869209278

book cover That's Not My Donkey
by: Fiona Watt
ISBN: 9781409523048

book cover You’re my little Cookie Monster
Book Reviews
Search All Book Reviews
Rad Girls Can Stories Of Bold, Brave, And Brilliant Young Women
by Kate Schatz
View in Library Catalog
book cover


Good read, short but lots of information. A nice mix of more and less well known ladies. I like their summaries of other women they wanted to include in the back, and that they do have a research and resources page, though I really wish it had a bibliography. (And better art, I really don't like the art style.)

Through The Window Views Of Marc Chagall's Life And Art
by Barb Rosenstock
View in Library Catalog
book cover


Attractive enough, but so vague as to be nearly useless. More a stilted but dreamy picture book than anything actually informative. (And as much as I like the idea of nods to the artists style, seriously, can we have some actual examples of his art, more than two small photos in the end material?! I'm really not digging this narrative nonfiction trend where bios of artists don't actually include much of the artists work.)

The Jumbies
by Tracey Baptiste
View in Library Catalog
book cover


Moves at a good pace, some really great visuals, for me it was a fun introduction to mythology I knew nothing about. It felt like it suddenly hit the breaks at the end and slowed up suddenly, but curious to see where she'll go with the next one.

Girls With Sharp Sticks
by Suzanne Young
View in Library Catalog
book cover


Depressingly timely. I liked the way the author illustrated different ways in which older men tend to manipulate young women. It added a degree of nuance and extra claustrophobia to the environment. I get that it was trying for a slow build of tightness and fear, but think its length detracted from the acceleration a little.

Persepolis
by Marjane Satrapi
View in Library Catalog
book cover


Really good, it flips quickly between funny and heartbreaking. Took me awhile to get used to the art, but then moved at an amazing pace. A glimpse at a history and point of view I know embarrassingly little about. (read for the graphic memoir component)

Framed
by James Ponti
View in Library Catalog
book cover


Fast paced, clever, mystery that's as much about friendship as the adventure without slowing down.

Seashells More Than A Home
by Melissa Stewart
View in Library Catalog
book cover


Just finished the Seashells more than a Home book. I kind of wish she defined mollusk at the beginning of the book since she uses the word throughout, but it's a beautiful book. It gives solid and easy to understand examples, the main font is clearly differentiated from the notes, but both are large and legible. It's also always fun to get to learn new things from a picture book. I have an abalone shell, but never knew what the holes were for! Or why cockle shells are so fragile looking. And there's a partial bibliography both for the author and the illustrator, huzzah!

Smash! Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe with the Large Hadron Collider
by Sara Latta
View in Library Catalog
book cover


Graphic format is good for this, but I think given how slim the story framework was I think a straight up comic with more visuals on the concepts and not bothering with the comic book inspiration parts might have worked better. (Also should I worry that I don't really get subatomic physics even when it's in a comic format and aimed at teens?)

Rescue And Jessica
by Jessica Kensky
View in Library Catalog
book cover


Torn on this one. It's very sweet, but despite being based on her life, I feel like it really shouldn't be in non-fiction. Even in kid's books I'm not big on non-fiction books putting specific thoughts in people's heads unless those people have written or spoken along those lines. So I'm suuuuper not big on non-fiction books showing animals thinking like people. I'm also iffy on how she turned herself into a tween/teen and glossed entirely over her injuries. It's lovely to have a thoughtful and positive portrayal, and first hand, view, I just wish it had emphasized more on the training and working together and less on an imaginary dog's POV and a quasi-fictional view on her. Two separate books-maybe a more real non-fiction and then a picture book might have been more appropriate here?

Dragons And Marshmallows Zoey And Sassafras
by Asia Citro
View in Library Catalog
book cover


Very cute. I enjoyed the fact that it uses magical creatures to teach science. Yay for a good example of changing one variable at a time. I always have trouble convincing kids on that one in my programs! I also liked addressing the anxiety of her mom being away for the first time and the worries of sudden responsibilities. Even if touched on lightly, this seemed pretty honest about feeling different types of worry, and a little bit on thinking about what you can control is a nice touch. (And even if it wasn't subtle, did stick in what something wants to eat vs what it SHOULD eat, I'd have gone for the marshmallows too.)
Copyright (c) 2013-2026    ReadSquared