Alana's Reviews

I love all of Britta Teckentrup’s peek-through picture books, but this one is my favorite. Her art has almost a collage quality to it that is very unique and the peek-through parts make the book more engaging for little ones. Great for teaching about the phases of the moon or simply for kids who love the night sky. If you enjoy this book, make sure to check out her other ones! -Alana

The sweetest step-by-step guide for befriending ghosts that ever was! This book has all the information you will need for identifying, finding, befriending, and caring for your new ghost friend. This book is so sweet and funny and I absolutely love Rebecca Green’s art style. After reading this, I wanted to go out and find my very own ghost friend—and you will, too! - Alana

I was transfixed by both the art and story in this beautifully unique graphic novel. Sandy spends every night turning the nightlights in her room into drawings, but things take a turn when a strange new girl shows up at school with an intense and sinister interest in them… With gorgeous art and a spine-chilling story, this graphic novel has stuck with me long after I finished it. - Alana

We Are Okay tells the story of 18 year-old Marin who, months after enduring a tragic loss, must confront the life she ran away from when her best friend comes to visit her. Nina LaCour’s sincere and beautiful prose captures the grief, heartbreak, and hope of the story, reminding us all to fight hard for the people we care most about. One of the most cathartic cries I’ve had from reading, I adore this book. - Alana

The Raven Cycle vibes meets Derry Girls humor, with its own unique twist. After Maeve Chambers finds a tarot deck and starts giving readings, weird things start happening all over town, including her ex-best friend going missing, an extremist group showing up, and awful nightmares she can’t shake… With a great cast of characters, funny and witty dialogue, bisexual representation, and an engaging storyline, this book became one of my top favorites very quickly.

One of my absolute favorite picture books! I adore Phoebe Wahl’s illustrations and the loving amount of detail that she puts into each page. The story is told in four short chapters- one for each season- and follows Little Witch Hazel as she goes about her daily life in the forest. This is a book you can reread over and over again and every time it feels like revisiting old friends in the forest. -Alana

Lily’s worst fears manifest when sinister creatures posing as her parents infest her home on the night her new baby sibling is expected. Accompanied by pen-and-ink illustrations, the book is filled with talking animal friends, exciting twists, and plenty of creepy moments, while also focusing on Lily coming to terms with a chronic illness and a fear of being replaced. I especially loved the drawings with their balance of spookiness and silliness. 

—Alana

Sophia, whose father was lost at sea five years ago, befriends a group of sea creatures operating an old deep-sea diving suit on an expedition to Aqualand, her uncle’s marine theme park. This strange new friendship helps Sophia navigate the hardships of loss, find ways to help those in need, and remember the importance of family. Action-packed and beautifully illustrated, The Aquanaut is perfect for lovers of marine life, future researchers, and explorers! 
—Alana