Andrea Beaty

Nothing less than utterly delightful! "Happy Birthday, Madame Chapeau" is deliciously drawn, full of charming details and artwork that is so pleasing to look at. I love the little details, like the mouse wearing a hat made from a thimble, and the recurring presence of the young knitting girl who shows up throughout the book. I don't always love children's books that have a really firmly set rhyme scheme but this one is cutely clever and I think kids will have a blast reading it. Finally, it was really refreshing to see that the ending is more female friendship based, with girls sharing their passions with each other, and not a story that is solved by a romance. Loved it!… (more)

The latest book in the Questioneer series centers an African American boy, Aaron Slater, who has dyslexia. Aaron Slater loves listening to stories and dreams of one day writing them himself. But when it comes to reading, the letters just look like squiggles to him, and it soon becomes clear he struggles more than his peers.

Published in a font designed for dyslexic readers, this story celebrates finding your voice and shows how frustrating learning to read can be for some students. I like the author's note that explains learning disabilities.… (more)