In this adorable children's story of never giving up, independence, and practice, Maverick, a young hockey player, struggles with tying his hockey skates—about as relatable a problem as can be imagined. Frustrated about his dilemma, he receives encouragement from his parents and help from his brother's hockey coach, whose efforts help Maverick succeed in learning how to tie up his skates. Engaging and relatable, Maverick's story of practice and perseverance highlights the joys of facing a challenge, accomplishing a task, and helping others.

Maverick's is a heartwarming story full of family, community and friendships as everyone rallies around Maverick—even Maverick himself, who through determination to succeed through practice, keeps trying until he achieves success. Throughout this interactive story, the Usufzys (authors of Alex the Goalie and other entries in the Adventures of Alex the Maverick Hockey Player series) encourage reflection and include teachable moments by pausing to ask young readers how they would respond if they were in Maverick's situation or how they would feel if they were in Maverick's shoes. Drawing parallels to practicing something that is a passion or dream, such as hockey, to something that may cause frustration, such as learning to tie your shoes, the authors juxtapose the lessons of allowing others to help with building confidence through effort.

Jason Velazquez’s simple but vivid illustrations emphasize faces and feelings, drawing a compelling contrast between Maverick’s expression of frustration and his subsequent delight at his achievement, an emotion communicated by a wide edge of smile and a jauntily stuck-out tongue. This is an empowering and endearing story of a young boy determined to master a tricky task, imparting its positive message to young readers in a straightforward and constructive manner, touching on matters deeper than skates: it is okay to receive help, to never stop trying, and to pass on the lesson to others in need.

Takeaway: Relatable children's story of a boy determined to learn a new life skill

Comparable Titles: Mac Barnett’s Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, Tom Percival's Ruby's Worry.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-

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Workplace-set comedy tends to emphasize foibles and dysfunction, petty gripes and legitimate grievances. Turetsky’s upbeat HR Data Doodles series, now in its third volume, goes against that grain, showcasing a diverse and engaging cast of human resources professionals who work together to face challenges, adapt to change, and flourish both as a company and as individuals. That approach still feels novel, three books in, even as the cast and the software company at which they work demonstrate how to handle growth and change with aplomb. This volume finds the team at OUPM, post acquisition, handling recruitment, retirement, and other urgent human resources concerns as the company begins an ambitious new project developing next-gen VR … and an HR Artificial Intelligence who eventually will be named Charlie.

As in the second volume of the series, Turetsky’s approach is to favor storytelling over punchlines, though the jokes that are here (including some about gamer focus groups) land with a new consistency. When Teddy, the office’s eccentric comic foil, asks Charlie, the new AI, to tell a joke about dinosaurs, Charlie snaps back “I could, but the jokes are extinct.” The depiction of Teddy as an affable fellow whom colleagues celebrate as “a hoot” exemplifies the spirit of Turetsky’s project: rather than make fun of each other, as in other office narratives, his HR crew has fun with each other, while planning ahead, meeting the needs of all stakeholders, and giving OUPM the tools for success. A new recruiter, brought on to hire the VR team, makes sure to pin down the company’s precise needs before starting her search, noting “We cannot just hire people thinking that we need to do some work for an artificial deadline.”

Diverse, driven, and always listening to each other, the HR Data Doodles series demonstrate all that readers may wish companies could be. Turetsky’s vibrant character design, appealing faces, smart workplace dialogue, and insights into what a fully empowered, ready-to-adapt HR team can accomplish all will please readers looking for positive examples of office teams taking on the future.

Takeaway: Inspiring comics of HR pros facing and shaping the future.

Comparable Titles: Karen Beaven’s Strategic Human Resource Management, Thomas H. Davenport and Steven M. Miller’s Working with AI.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about HR Data Doodles: Season 3D - Into the HR Metaverse

In this action-packed middle grade sci-fi adventure from Speakes (author of the Keeper series), rogue AI manifests as the video game character Razer and traps the minds of children gamers within the program. As a result, kids are stuck in gaming comas with no hope of release. To fight the nefarious AI, the government recruits the best young gamers and hackers with hopes of finding a savior capable of shutting down the dangerous program from within the game. Could Oliver “Oli” Turner be the hero the world is searching for? A 13-year-old struggling to come to terms with the disappearance of his father, Oli must find the confidence to join the battle and protect humanity from the out-of-control AI before mankind is lost to the machine.

Oli’s insecurities get tested in multiple high-intensity battles. Speakes wastes no time setting up the nail-biting action and inviting readers into the unique story world. The virtual game mirrors reality with cityscapes that riff on our own but adds a funky comedic undertone with silly road names (“Fishin’ is Squishin’) and Razer’s unique speech style—the villain calls himself “Big Daddy Razer” and refers to Oli and his friends as “all my brothers from all those cute little fleshy mothers.” Rockets, cyborgs, and drones pose threats as Oli and his friends navigate the simulation, and while some may find the fight sequences a tad repetitive at times, the overall tension and mystery surrounding the AI’s origins keep readers engaged.

While Oli’s bravery helps him learn the valuable lesson of sacrificing for the greater good, his hacker friend Sparky shines bright in the spotlight. Sparky’s intelligence and quick thinking play pivotal roles in saving the day and keeping Oli safe. Her tenacity solidifies her as a strong young female role model many readers will connect with. Within the cautionary tale of putting too much trust in AI, the two develop a tight bond that exemplifies the importance of teamwork and friendship. Young readers interested in video games, AI, and sci-fi will plug into this thrilling adventure.

Takeaway: Thrilling middle grade sci-fi with rogue AI, cyborgs, and memorable characters.

Comparable Titles: James Dashner’s The Eye of Minds, Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller’s Otherworld.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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The first novel in the Brides of Biltmore series from Patterson (author of Broken Butterfly) infuses a sweet classic romance with a compelling story of personal evolution. Abigail Dupree despairs of her parents’ choice for her future husband: William Arendell, a boorish lout many years her senior. But a scandal in Abigail’s past brought shame upon her and her family, limiting her options for marriage in early 1900s North Carolina high society. When Abigail slips away from the house to avoid a social engagement that will force her to interact with her terrible suitor, she finds herself in a precarious situation. Fortunately, she encounters Garrett Barringer, her father’s handsome and gentlemanly new employee who escorts her back to safety.

Abigail chafes at Garrett’s continued overprotective interference in her life and the complications he creates as she plans to salvage her tarnished reputation, but his presence forces her to look at things in a new way. Abigail’s journey of self-discovery has many twists and turns as she struggles to know her mind and follow her heart while still honoring God and her family. Her lack of self-awareness, while occasionally frustrating, lends authenticity to her character. Readers who are patient with the pace of her growth will be rewarded with an inspiring journey towards greater maturity and self-knowledge.

Though Abigail strives to be “grown up” and independent, she must navigate the many restrictive social conventions of the Gilded Age, which affect everything from her forbidden friendship with her maid Rose to the social graces at parties, including those she attends at the wealthy Vanderbilt family’s new Biltmore Mansion (keep an eye out for a charming cameo by the bold Alice Roosevelt, daughter of Theodore). Abigail’s strong Christian values also affect her thoughts and actions, offering crucial touchstones as she struggles with control, guilt, and forgiveness. Readers who enjoy Regency romance will find all its traditional components here, along with deeper, spiritual reflection on love.

Takeaway: Gentle, slow-burn romance with a convincing heroine at a crossroads.

Comparable Titles: Jen Turano’s Behind the Scenes series; M.A. Nichols’s The Kingsleys series.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

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Making the case that the "the most important goal of all education,” especially at the earliest levels, is “to preserve and enhance curiosity and a love of learning,” psychotherapist Pieper (Smart Love) shares a nurturing and positive alternative to the education of what preschool can be. She presents the S.M.A.R.T program, an initiative whose somewhat tricky acronym reveals its empathetic ethos and approach: "Stay positive, Model kindness, Acknowledge and accept feelings, loving Regulation, and Time with.” Through the testimony of teachers and hard-won first-hand knowledge, The Happiest Preschool provides guidance for the nourishment of preschoolers with an inviting, play-based teaching method that focuses on learning through play and authentic experiences in the classroom.

Pieper reports the heartening results that the S.M.A.R.T. program has achieved at the Natalie G. Heineman Smart Love Preschool. The program removes the standard "rules," such as forcing children to clean up or to participate, instead reinforcing the concept of choice and creating an opportunity for children to understand the "natural consequence of playing." Pieper explores the reasoning behind and impact of this approach, noting that children thrive within it and take behavioral cues from the “respectful, happy, calm, and healthy” classroom, even “when frustrations and conflicts arise.” Throughout, Pieper introduces creative ways for teachers to teach young children respect for themselves and others, group and solitary play, and healthy avenues to express their emotions through modeled behavior and gentle guidance.

Perfect for readers who interact or work with young children, The Happiest Preschool is a positive, persuasive resource guide filled with practical advice, big-picture thinking, and helpful scenarios demonstrating how early education teachers and parents can implement the S.M.A.R.T. principles to not only help the students but also to gain valuable experience and practice themselves for calm, productive classrooms for years to come.

Takeaway: Practical guide to inviting, play-based learning for the youngest students.

Comparable Titles: Mitchel Resnick's Lifelong Kindergarten, Allie Ticktin's Play to Progress.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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Woodman’s fifth collection in the Scapes series, following Artscapes, offers an impassioned set of poems which strive toward mysteries of the spiritual realm with a joyful, nondenominational approach. At times, the poet writes from a neo-pagan perspective, as in “A Child Asks.” Woodman writes, “What is God? // I think, not darkly, // God is death,” but informing that line is the poet’s clear conviction that death is not so much an end as it is a transformation. In Soulscapes, the grave is a bed and also a womb where the expired are “beckoned by life-to-be” to bloom anew.

“Benjamin” and “Past Life” also explore life, death, and spirit, contemplating the conjuring of deceased souls and children who remember past existences, while other entries, like “Postcards Way Over the Edge,” in which the speaker receives a postcard from her father in heaven, and “Grasping for Faith, a Ballad” which touches on the trinity, grapple with a distinctly Christian faith. In Woodman’s collection, all of these incarnations of the spiritual are valid channels through which people can access the divine, while poetry itself is a spiritual rite that uses language as a conduit for godliness.

Soulscapes is an entry point; not every poem will resonate with the convictions of all readers, but those seeking an open-hearted, spiritual collection with a welcoming attitude will find comfort in Woodman’s verses. “Fifty Senses,” in particular, summarizes the collection’s devotion to plurality in its declaration that humanity’s senses far exceed five. “I believe sensations beyond my limbs,” Woodman writes, “I experience joy of silent // songs in my sleep—unheard shouts within nightmares. // I swim in space,” and each of these extra-sensory experiences is a connection, however small, to the energy of the universe. The key, this searching collection suggests, is to be open to them all.

Takeaway: Spiritually panoramic poems that celebrate myriad ways humanity seeks the divine.

Comparable Titles: Robinson Jeffers’s “The Treasure,” Brenda Hillman’s “Little Furnace”

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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Rising eighth-grader Cameron Poole (introduced in Facing the Beast Within) returns to Camp Pontchartrain for another harrowing clash with monsters sent from a parallel world. A year has passed since he and his friends bravely defeated Malphas, the Demon Lord of Agartha and ruler of monsters, sending the demon to the dark recesses of the Void. Now, a new foe emerges, forcing reluctant Cameron back into battle. With both old and new friends by his side, Cameron once again must wrestle self-doubt and immobilizing anxiety to save the world from evil.

Middle grade series veteran Cheverton, as always, ensures that readers jumping into a new entry will be brought up to speed on pivotal moments from earlier books, and Cameron’s previous heroics are here recapped with wit and vigor. Returning readers will appreciate catching up with this quite-relatable hero, a camper distinguished by his wavering self-esteem and the crippling anxiety that he calls his “Beast.” Cheverton’s passion for accurate and encouraging depictions of mental health concerns in young people again sets this series apart, and amid the adventures Cheverton provides parents and readers with practical methods for addressing anxiety and stress. This is showcased through Cameron’s various therapeutic techniques as well as a list of valuable mental health resources.

But what matters most to readers, of course, is the brisk plotting and the dire dangers Cameron faces, in this case the “sharp teeth and pointed claws” of wraiths from a parallel world, a thinning boundary between realities, and the “buzzing insects” of anxiety inside his head. Readers of middle grade monster mashes won’t be surprised by the outcome, here, though the life lessons (like “the true version of yourself can give you the strength to overcome your greatest fear”) are healthy and important, demonstrated through storytelling approaches to facing self-confidence, friendship, and overcoming dread.

Takeaway: An encouraging middle-grade fantasy for children facing extreme anxiety.

Comparable Titles: Annalise Meriwether’s The Spinner of Dreams, Susan Tan’s Ghosts, Toast, and Other Hazards.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

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Struggling New York PI Hazel Cho lands a big case: demanding client Madeline Hemsley offers a huge fee to Hazel if she can find her young goddaughter, who recently disappeared from an upstate orphanage. But Hazel quickly finds she won't earn her fee easily. Not only is her new client secretive, but she's given Hazel a short deadline. Hazel jumps into the case, which includes the quirky orphanage staff and a strangely reticent local police department. Meanwhile, she fights her own uncertainties, as she copes with her traditional Korean family—and a case that soon becomes very twisty.

Miller (author of The Tree of Knowledge series) has created a delightful new PI with Hazel, who is smart and savvy—and yet human and emotional in a refreshing change from the usual hardboiled shamus. She has a weakness for handsome men and even though she's brave, she almost falls apart trying to buy a new dress. It's fascinating to watch Hazel gradually figure out that one missing girl may be the tip of the iceberg in a ghastly conspiracy. In fact, readers should be warned that the crimes are horrific, going at times almost over the top. Hazel may be sweet, but the story edges toward the gothic.

Still, as the plot unfolds, it will be hard for readers who are open to that darkness to put down the book, as Miller is an expert in ratcheting up the tension and deftly scattering red herrings. He's also given Hazel an equally interesting cast of supporting characters, such as her ditzy but loyal roommate Kenny. Perfectly well-limned is Hazel's increasingly difficult client Madeline: although she starts as a stock character, Hazel shrewdly digs deep, and when she finds the truth about her client, it's heartbreaking. Miller ties together all the loose ends, leaving readers hoping to meet Hazel in a future adventure, so they can cheer her on to another success.

Takeaway: Chilling, deftly plotted mystery series kickoff.

Comparable Titles: Helen Fields, Sam Holland.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about The Orphanage By The Lake: A Captivating Psychological Crime Thriller With A Twist

Blending literary suspense, travelogue, and a spirit of uneasy eroticism, D'Stair (author of One Year of Desire) plumbs the heart and needs of a bored academic, Helen Bonaparte, on a restless tour of Italy she's undertaken to get out of her rut at home. But Helen can't stand the giggling girls and impassioned teachers on the tour and is fully prepared to mope her way through until she meets the tour guide, Marieke. Helen immediately forms an obsessive, strange, and poetic attachment to the beautiful young woman, an attachment whose unsettling qualities are echoed in the novel’s references to suspense master Patricia Highsmith, as Helen imagines an Italy “infused with Highsmith's pulse” and the rich details of the author’s world: “a hand resting on a hotel door, a pulled trigger,” and more.

The evocatively named Helen is still mostly sullen on the trip, except with a vivacious man named Richard, who becomes her travel buddy. Wrapped up in her own narrative, Helen continues to fixate on the details of Marieke's beauty, even as she's reminded of her partner, Marcel, and children at home. As she plunges deeper into fantasy, the narrative alternates between first- and third-person, suggesting a protagonist getting swept away. Soon, after a charged scene before Michelango's David, Helen surreptitiously takes a bite of food with Marieke's fork, just to have a "chance to feel her tongue." Things get increasingly weird as Helen takes advantage of being in Marieke's room to put her toothbrush in her mouth as well as leave her scent—a scene that jolts.

Helen Bonaparte brings poetic vigor to Helen’s imaginings and occasional pushing of boundaries, deftly mingling desire, tension, and the feeling that things could go very wrong. This is a full-bodied, sumptuously written, always perceptive study of yearning for something more, as Helen works through a moment of existential crisis, eager for connection. D'Stair’s prose startles, dazzles, informs, and pleases.

Takeaway: An academic’s obsession plunges her Italian tour into charged erotic suspense.

Comparable Titles: Ottessa Moshfegh’s Eileen, Madeline Stevens’s Devotion.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-

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This collection from young adult horror author Bratton, the start of a series called Urban Legends, abounds with nods to classic horror and campfire lore, with tales touching on Bloody Mary and “the witching hour,” victims who look almost exactly the same, creepy intersections between the waking and dream worlds, and that feeling that “It’s been so cold in the house, as if there was something there.” Bratton spices these quartet of stories with elements from distant cultures and entwines the narratives with care, crafting a one-book metaverse of interwoven horrors that manages to feel fresh and modern, despite its comforting—or is that chilling?— familiarity.

Each story is a disquieting bite, but the book is an eerie and satisfying feast. Young readers will quickly come to sympathize and identify with the characters, as the narratives unfold with the shivery urgency of stories whispered by kids at slumber parties: shortly after their graduation, Jamie Patterson and her high school sweetheart Mark, the protagonists of the previously published first entry, have a jolting encounter with what might be the ghost of missing freshman Mary Montgomery—a possible visitation that definitely causes an all-too-real car crash that left Jamie in a walking boot. Stuck missing a family vacation to Hawaii, Jamie seems to see the ghost again on her doorbell camera.

Another character, Alex, is lonely and reeling after the loss of her father and a sudden divorce. She finds the perfect man at last…buried in the same mausoleum building as her dad. But she can see him in her dreams, which become an unsafe hunting ground for a demon who causes parasomnia, flickering still-life images that can be captured with new technology. These brisk, chatty stories strike a perfect balance between the serious and scary with welcome moments of levity. Age appropriate yet always compelling, this collection will allow young readers to cut their teeth on horror stories.

Takeaway: These memorable YA horror stories stir real shivers.

Comparable Titles: Calvin Demmer’s Dark Celebrations, Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories You Can Tell in the Dark.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about JC Bratton's Things That Go Bump in the Night, Volume One: Urban Legends

Physician-scientist Riordan, writing under a pen name, explores the complexities of quantum mechanics while recounting stories of the scientific silos he experienced in the realm of his professional cancer research. In the process, he lays out possibilities for alternatives to the mainstream quantum mechanical theory—both “shadow waves,” which he considers as merely something “to have some fun and encourage you to keep asking questions,” and “pilot wave theory,” which he terms a “serious and legitimate competitor to quantum mechanics.” Overall, Riordan sees the current interpretation of quantum mechanics as “ugly” and encourages readers to consider other options for explaining how our world works.

Riordan (author of Destined to Recover) defines complex concepts simply, using a minimum of math aided by several diagrams, making his material more accessible for those readers without advanced scientific backgrounds. His skepticism about traditional quantum mechanics is evident throughout, as he urges readers “to address the complexity and ugliness of quantum mechanics head on, but then to look for the hidden beauty underneath, the waves” and cautions against traditional viewpoints that paint the Copenhagen Interpretation as unified and complete. When exploring alternatives, Riordan expertly delves into how silos have created problems and barriers in his own field of cancer research, though he advises at the same time to “not lose sight of the essential value of silo-based research.”

Riordan covers a great deal of ground in a relatively short amount of space, addressing the aesthetic appeal of straightforward physical models in graspable terms and raising interesting questions about how to judge conventional physics theories, all while highlighting the social dynamics and principles that guide scientific research. Though Riordan’s writing structure can feel disjointed at times, his passion for the field is apparent. The abundance of further reading material included at the end of each chapter rounds out this provocative guide.

Takeaway: Provocative guide examining the mysteries of quantum mechanics.

Comparable Titles: Lee Smolin’s Einstein's Unfinished Revolution, Leonard Susskind and Art Friedman’s Quantum Mechanics.

Production grades
Cover: C+
Design and typography: B+
Illustrations: A
Editing: B-
Marketing copy: B

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Zang and Knudsen’s spellbinding and unsettling paranormal mystery, set in the enigmatic small town of Lost Grove, opens with a classic jolt: a lifeless body, in this case that of college student Sarah Elizabeth Graham, casting a shadow of unease over the tight-knit community. Sergeant Seth Wolfe, a seasoned homicide detective returning to his hometown to care for his ailing father, takes the reins of the case, navigating the twists and turns of an investigation that gets deeply under the skin. The narrative shifts between Wolfe’s shocking discoveries and the fervor within the local school, where gossip and conspiracy theories run rampant among students, especially young Nettie, who believes she’s seen a monster she calls the “Green Man” and whose missing brother’s surprise return proves not to be a cause of celebration. Nettie’s suspicions point toward the town’s “renowned” and mysterious Orbriallis Institute.

Zang and Knudsen infuse the investigation with intrigue by crafting diverse characters with idiosyncrasies, secrets, and mysterious pasts. Wolfe's intimate knowledge of the townsfolk aids his interrogations, yet his detachment prompts him to even consider Sarah's parents as possible suspects. Within the confines of the small town, the narrative achieves an expansive feel, prompting readers to wonder whether it's the town shaping its inhabitants or the people’s natures shaping the town itself. Surprises abound: Story Palmer, the town librarian, is also a witch, while Mary has an eating disorder that compels her to consume blood, and the Graff twins may be telepathic.

The authors deftly cultivate a sense of claustrophobia as they suggest the residents' concealed truths. Dialogue is crisp, though some descriptive passages edge toward wordy. As the first in a duology, this entry leaves readers with more questions than answers, but it’s the many tantalizing portents, clues, and seeming impossibility that makes Lost Grove shine. Balancing the central story and a myriad of characters with finesse, the authors expertly set the stage for a gripping conclusion.

Takeaway: Unsettling and surprising paranormal mystery in an enigmatic small town.

Comparable Titles: Marion Myles’s No Time for Goodbye, Mary Stone’s Shadow’s Hostage.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about Lost Grove

Apollo provides practical yet satisfying steps to accessing spirit guides in this approachable debut. She begins with common myths related to working with spirit guides, such as needing special equipment (incense, singing bowls, etc.) or requiring a quiet place with uninterrupted time, encouraging readers to use their imaginations “to create a relationship with your guides that allows you to ask for and receive guidance.” Her writing is all-embracing, emphasizing the love that comes from spirit guides, and she urges readers to recognize their own worth as the first step in a journey to “[tap] into the wisdom that is literally standing right next to us.”

To demystify the concept of spirit guides, Apollo begins by answering some of the common questions she’s received from clients and students throughout her professional experience. Those questions range from how to physically sense spirit guides to understanding their counsel—all elements that Apollo cautions “[take] time, energy, intention, and focus... the same with any deep friendship or relationship.” The instruction starts with basic strategies, including the importance of deep breathing, how to create a safe space, and more, and Apollo incorporates handy tools like scripts and a rundown of “good spiritual manners” to kickstart the process. In the end, she weaves the guide’s nuggets of wisdom into a template that readers can customize to fit their own spiritual journeys.

For those struggling with self-doubt, Apollo encourages that “working with your guides should feel normal and comforting, not make you nervous,” reassuring followers that “your guides are never mean, insulting, or cross with you.” Though the scripts and hands-on techniques are particularly helpful, Apollo also addresses broader topics, including dreams, grief and loss, and strategies for cultivating a better world. The approach is versatile, aimed at helping readers experience a deeper life and “the confidence and clarity to detach more quickly from whatever holds you back.”

Takeaway: A gentle, practical approach to accessing spirit guides.

Comparable Titles: Liliane Fortna’s Winks from Above, Sonia Choquette’s Ask Your Guides.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Spirit Guides on Speed Dial

An unconventional bear nurtures extraordinary dreams in this fanciful children’s debut by Keyes. Finn is not your ordinary bear; he may sound and smell like one, but, unlike his peers, he prefers very un-bear-like activities. While his friends fish, eat honey, and pick berries, Finn spends his time devouring chocolate bars and painting dazzling pictures with berry juice. And, when his school teacher asks what he wants to be when he grows up, Finn’s answer is decidedly offbeat: “I want to be the Easter Bunny” he declares. After all, he would rather hide fish than eat them, and his painting skills are out of this world—all very important talents for an Easter bunny.

Of course, Finn’s dream nets him some nasty feedback from his friends, who are convinced he’ll never make it: “Bears can’t be the Easter Bunny. It just isn’t done” they tease. But Finn won’t be deterred, and, with the loving support of his parents, he sets about honing his hare skills so he can pass the daunting Easter Bunny Exam. Given his towering physique compared to other Easter bunnies, Finn has his work cut out for him—and spends his winter practicing essential Easter bunny abilities, like basket weaving and dainty hopping. Where he truly shines, though, is in his eye-popping Easter egg designs, when he transforms “plain, boring eggs into something magical.”

Maris evokes the perfect whimsy with delicate watercolor illustrations that showcase the animals’ expressive eyes and the story’s intricate backgrounds—especially Finn’s splendorous renderings of colorful Easter eggs. Younger readers will be entertained by the smaller, humorous details, like Finn’s creative new jellybean flavor, Honey-Salmon Surprise. The ending is satisfyingly happy, allowing Finn his moment in the spotlight while recreating the Easter bunny standard in a fun, engaging way. This is a delightful holiday treat with a noteworthy message.

Takeaway: An unusual bear chases big dreams in this charming Easter tale.

Comparable Titles: Lily Jacobs’s The Littlest Bunny in North Carolina, Jacqueline Woodson’s The Day You Begin.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Easter Bear

Hardy (author of A Doula to Die For) kicks off her Lily Rock series with this charming cozy mystery. Between jobs and fresh off of a painful breakup with her rock-star boyfriend, Olivia Greer accepts her high school friend Marla Osbourne’s invitation to stay with her in charming Lily Rock, California, a few hours from Los Angeles. From the start, the trip seems ill-fated: Olivia nearly loses her life on a hairpin mountain road (and is saved by local architect Michael Bellemare, who, it could be argued, almost pushed her car over the cliff). When she gets to Marla’s home, she finds her friend dead in her garden of anaphylactic shock—with an EpiPen that has been tossed into the bushes by the presumed murderer.

Hardy’s small mountain town seems uber charming on the surface, and the milieu and dialogue both are vividly realized, but a dark undercurrent courses beneath Olivia’s interactions with nearly all the townspeople—making it almost impossible for her to know who to trust, except for the darling Mayor Maguire, an intuitive Labradoodle, who steals every scene he’s in. Hardy deftly keeps readers guessing, with sparkling characterization and teasingly plausible possible motives: is the lecherous Dr. May the culprit? Michael, the architect who designed Marla’s house? Librarian Meadow, who Olivia overhears admitting she drugged Olivia? Or even Meadow’s daughter, with whom Olivia feels an immediate connection?

Hardy does a masterful job of drawing red herrings throughout, skillfully keeping readers uncertain until the final page is turned—with a particularly surprising twist that ties Olivia to the town and bodes well for the series to follow. A few editing mistakes distract, but readers will forgive Hardy based on the strengths of her plotting and excellent cast of characters. Fans of cozy mysteries will want to return to Lily Rock and its eccentric but mostly harmless group of residents often.

Takeaway: This cozy mystery will reel readers in for a rollicking ride.

Comparable Titles: Jana DeLeon, Mary Higgins Clark.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

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Guitarists Levy (author of Play the Right Stuff) and Sherman (whose upcoming 2024 instrumental bluegrass album Passages sounds as warm as it is dazzling) share a wealth of practical tips, musical challenges, and wise reflections for guitarists eager to grow in their art. Writing with the inviting tones of skilled coaches who happen to be fans themselves, the authors offer inspiring guidance about what makes a guitarist “good” in the first place (“a good guitarist makes real music, reliably”), practical first principles of technique (“Every aspect … should be in the service of your musical goals”), general tips for how to grow musically (one clarifying section: “Four Ways to Play Outside, Inside”), and technical pointers like why it’s helpful to “map the fretboard using the circle of 4ths.”

Key to the book’s utility: its continual freshness and its applicability to serious guitar players of varying skill levels over time. Levy and Sherman understand that even the most accomplished musicians must continually learn, grow, and experiment, so each of the tips and challenges collected here (from “Be Your Own Jam Buddy” to “Play Nicely in a Trio” and beyond) have been crafted to be revisited over days, weeks, and years. The lessons blend the technical, practical, and conceptual with bigger-picture advice (“Learn what you love, until you get sick of it. Then learn something else you love”), recommendations of well-selected recordings and books, and on-point insights picked up from the authors’ mentors.

While there’s much here to expand the horizons of beginners, the authors assume their readers are already dedicated to guitar—don’t expect introductory lessons. Instead, String Theories offers a wealth of hard-won knowledge about practicing, transcribing, memorizing tunes, playing professionally, and more. Anecdotes from recording sessions—including the time Levy had to record a trio album twice in one day—fascinate. With heart and originality, this compact volume shares two the fruits of lifetimes’ worth of artistry.

Takeaway: Fresh, wise, practical guidance for playing guitar over a lifetime.

Comparable Titles: Mick Goodrick’s The Advancing Guitarist, Ted Greene’s Chord Chemistry.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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