{ Let's Read About ... } Books with "summer" in the title

This week on my blog, I'm highlighting books about summer!

Today I'm getting literal and sharing books with the word "summer" in the title! Here are some summery books I've discovered, and some booklists I've found around the web to lead you to more great books about summer for all ages!

{ Board Books } 

{ Picture Books }

{ Middle Grade Books }

{ Young Adult Books }

And be sure to check out these booklists for more great books about summer:

• This list from Brightly of "summery board books for babies and toddlers."
• This list from We Are Teachers of 17 picture books about summer.
• This list from B&N Kids Blog of 5 "wacky" books about summer break.
• This list from Epic Reads of new YA books released for summer 2019.

Review: Check, Please!: #Hockey, Vol. 1 by Ngozi Ukazu

Check, Please!: #Hockey, Vol. 1
by Ngozi Ukazu

Available as: hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 288
Publisher: First Second
Publication date: September 18, 2018
Suggested tags: young adult, graphic novel, LGBTQ, sports



Volume 1 in the Check, Please! series. From Goodreads:

"Helloooo, Internet Land. Bitty here!

Y’all... I might not be ready for this. I may be a former junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and very talented amateur pâtissier, but being a freshman on the Samwell University hockey team is a whole new challenge. It’s nothing like co-ed club hockey back in Georgia! First of all? There’s checking. And then, there is Jack—our very attractive but moody captain.

A collection of the first half of the megapopular webcomic series of the same name, Check, Please!: #Hockey is the first book of a hilarious and stirring two-volume coming-of-age story about hockey, bros, and trying to find yourself during the best four years of your life."

BITTYYYYY!!! All the heart eyes for you, my precious little lamb!! Omg I fell in love with this book SO HARD. It follows Bitty (aka: Eric Bittle) as a freshman on his college hockey team, moving up year by year, slowly gaining more confidence in his hockey abilities and in himself. And Bitty is just such a sweet little ball of love!! He bakes pies for his hockey bros. He named the oven. I can't, y'all.

I liked that we got to see a lot of his hockey life, both in practice and in games - and I was really surprised that I actually was able to follow along despite knowing next to nothing about hockey... and I was even more surprised that I actually *liked* reading the hockey parts, despite not really liking hockey (sorry please don't hurt me). We also get to see a lot of his college life, living with his teammates in essentially a frat house, going to parties, awkwardly dating, studying for classes... It really, really made me miss college. Like, a lot. I wasn't a big partier and I wasn't in the Greek life scene, and sports? me? AHAHAHA... But still... It brought back that feeling of college life for me in a really great way.

This one is probably best suited for more mature YA readers, meaning those who don't mind foul language and college situations (i.e., parties, drinking, etc.). It's also full of a great story, amazing friendships, surprise kisses, and delicious pies. Volume 2 is due out in April 2020 and I CANNOT WAIT to get my hands on it!! You can also read the webcomic here!



Final verdict: I'm obsessed with it! I thought this book was amazing! It's now officially one of my favorite books! I shall be shouting about it from the rooftops for days and I am currently recommending it to everyone I come in contact with!

{ My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

{ Let's Read About ... } Summer!

This week on my blog, let's celebrate summer!

Recently, it was the longest day of the year, which means it is officially fully summer. Long days, with lots of time to play and go and do ... and of course, read! So let's read some books about summer - summer break, summer camp, summer jobs, all that good stuff!

Here are some Goodreads lists to get you started:

• Best Children's Books about Summer
• Picture Books About Summer Outdoor Activities
• Middle Grade Summer Themed Books
• Middle Grade Summer Adventure Stories
• YA Easy Summer Reads
• Summer Themed YA

See you this week for summery goodness!

{ Let's Read About ... } Celebrations around the world

This week on my blog, I'm highlighting books about cultures around the world!

Today I'm sharing some books at all different levels about celebrations around the world! Here are some books I've discovered, and some booklists I've found around the web to lead you to more great books about celebrations and holidays from around the world!

{ Board Books } 

{ Picture Books }

{ Middle Grade Books }

And be sure to check out these booklists for more great books about the world's celebrations:

• This list from This Reading Mama of books about holidays around the world for readers in grades K-2, organized by holiday.
• This list from the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Blog of multicultural winter holiday books.
• This list from Scary Mommy of 15 books about winter holidays, including Winter Solstice, St. Lucia Day, and Lunar New Year.

{ Let's Read About ... } Cultures and people from around the world

This week on my blog, I'm going to be highlighting books about cultures around the world!

Let's get started by reading some books at all different levels about people and cultures from around the world. I love reading about and learning about cultures that are different from my own. Here are some books I've discovered, and some booklists I've found around the web to lead you to more great books about world cultures!


{ Board Books } 

{ Picture Books }

{ Middle Grade Books }

And be sure to check out these booklists for more great books about world cultures:

• This list from Kid World Citizen of over 60 multicultural board books about "world cultures, geography, and famous places around the world," organized by culture/region.
• This list from Colours of Us of 25 multicultural books about kids around the world and how they "may live very different lives yet love doing many similar things," organized by age group.
• This list from Chronicle Books Blog of 6 books that teach kids to be global citizens, with the idea that "identity transcends borders and that our most important responsibility is to humanity and this pale blue dot we share."