The Solarball Slip-Up by Bryan Patrick Avery

Have any of you heard about or seen the 1960's cartoon The Jetsons? I've seen a few episodes over the years and always have enjoyed their glimpse into the future. When I read the blurb on today's read, it reminded me a bit of this earlier cartoon. Today's read jets into the future and appears to be the first in a new series for beginning readers. It should center around the members of a family, so I'm expecting lots of sibling and friendship goodness. I am a bit surprised to see it holds only 32 pages...and that's by no means a bad thing, especially for reluctant readers. I'm hoping for some imagination, humor, and family heart.

So, let's open it up and see what it's about!

THE SOLARBALL SLIP-UP

by Bryan Patrick Avery

Illustrated by Vincent Batignole

Picture Window Books

Children's Science Fiction

Beginning Reader

32 pages

ages 5 to 8

COMING AUGUST 1st!!!

When his dad forgets his CubeKey at home, Charlie Cosmos sets out to deliver it to him at work. Along the way, Charlie tests out a new solarball with his friends and loses track of his dad’s device. Will Charlie find the CubeKey in time or will his solarball slip-up land him in hot water? Young readers will find out in this fun and funny sci-fi adventure! With easy-to-read text and art that pops off the page, every early chapter book in The Cosmos Family series takes readers on a joyous journey into the future.

GOODREADS     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Life in the future might hold high-tech gadgets and even some surprises, but family and friendship never change.

Charlie Cosmos' father has forgotten his CubeKey at home but desperately needs it for a big meeting within the next hour. Charlie promises him mother to get it to his father but runs into a friend along the way, who wants him to try out a new solarball. Of course, Charlie doesn't want to let his father down, so he makes sure he plays for only a few minutes. Although Charlie reaches his father's office with a little time to spare, he realizes the CubeKey is no longer in his pocket and must have gotten lost during the short game.

This is a bright and bold book with tons of energy. The illustrations pop on each page and bring this futuristic world to life while letting Charlie, his family, and his friends gain visual personality. This works very well to balance with the text, especially for beginning readers. The text is very fitting for those readers, who are mostly sure of their words but need more practice. The font and spacing are on the larger side for easy reading. There are several, short chapters to help breakdown things and keep it light. Add the short page length, and it's a read even reluctant readers can enjoy.

There's never a boring moment in Charlie's adventure, and readers will have no problem connecting with him, since the problem is a very familiar one that can happen to anyone. His desire to play with his friend is understandable, and the trouble it causes isn't overly surprising yet still grabs. There's enough tension to have readers wondering if he'll get things worked out, and the ending rounds everything off nicely. With such a short page length, the plot flies by very quick, and some readers might find this a bit too fast since the entire world is new. To help buffer this, the author includes a quick description of unfamiliar terms at the beginning of the book. These are brief and leave a lot of room to the imagination.

At the end of the book, there are several questions to open up to discussion and check reading comprehension. Classrooms and homeschoolers will appreciate this aspect as well.

And here he is...

Bryan Patrick Avery discovered his love of reading and writing at an early age when he received his first Bobbsey Twins Mystery. He writes picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and graphic novels. His middle grade story, “The Magic Day Mystery,” was published in 2020 in Super Puzzletastic Mysteries, an anthology from Harpercollins and the Mystery Writers of America. His debut picture book, The Freeman Field Photograph was published in 2020. Bryan lives in northern California with his family.

Dear Math, We're Not Friends by Lina Chopra Haldar

I saw the title, and the answer was clear—I had to read this book. My kids were not math fans...well, except for my youngest son who seemed to thrive on math for many years. Now, he is more into it as a means to achieve his end goal (still in college). The other three kids have never been thrilled by numbers, functions, and calculations and see them as an irritating subject they can't avoid.

That's why today's read seems to be one that might connect well with many, many readers and listeners. I'm hoping for some humor and tons of fun. Maybe, there will be something that helps kids realize that math isn't super awful? We'll just have to open it and find out. So, let's do that now!

 

DEAR MATH, WE'RE NOT FRIENDS

by Lina Chopra Haldar

Illustrated by Teresa Martinez

Beaming Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 5 to 8

COMING AUGUST 11th!!!

For kids who think they hate math, this math picture book uses humor to find the fun in the subject.

Nikhil is an Indian American boy who does not like math! Math gives him a tummy ache, and making mistakes scares him. His teacher encourages him to write letters to math to explore his feelings.

Soon, Nikhil is surprised to learn that not only are drawing, counting, and measuring all a part of math, but math will actually help him when he grows up--whether he pursues his dream of becoming an astronaut or an artist.

Told through his humorous letters to math over a school year, readers observe Nikhil go from feeling uneasy even thinking about math, to embracing how universal and even FUN math is in all its various forms. Dear Math, We're Not Friends makes an excellent gift for math teachers, librarians, and parents who want to help kids find the joy in math and develop a positive relationship with it.

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

This is an ode to math...or rather, to those kids who would rather it didn't exist but might realize how woven it is into life in good ways.

These pages take two things and weave them together: a story and math. Nikhil is a kid, who wishes math would disappear, especially when his teacher gives him the assignment to write a letter to math every few days (or so). Each of his letters is presented, one after the other, and over time, his original dislike turns into something else as he's lead to realize that math isn't necessarily an awful thing.

The entire story is told through Nikhil's letters with one on each two-page spread. These meld into the illustrations to create a relaxed and more personal feel. Thanks to this personal direction, listeners/readers can easily feel as if they are getting to know Nikhil. Many will connect with his dislike for math, and at the same time, feel like he's someone they might be friends with. The illustrations around each letter are packed with energy and motion. Nikhil is an active boy, who obviously enjoys playing and life. While these scenes will come across with familiarity, math is also playfully worked into each scene. For example, his homework sheets show what 1/4 or 1/2 looks like or have leopard spots shedding to the ground, each with a number on them for counting purposes...yep, a leopard loosing its spots. Because these pages also pack tons of humor.

Listeners/readers accompany Nikhil as he learns to see math in a silly and, other times, important light, which can help open the door to allow them to look at math from a different perspective. But this book holds more. It encourages teachers, parents, and caretakers to present math differently, especially to those students who aren't fans of the subject. At the end of the book, there's also a note to these adult readers with tips and hints on how to guide students to see math more positively. This message to adults is just as present as Nikhil's journey. So, this isn't a book aimed just at young readers, but for adults teaching or tutoring math as well. 

My overall thoughts: it holds some good tips for adult teachers and encourages them to think a little out-of-the-box and not let math come across as dry numbers alone. I do see Nikhil's journey as encouraging to some readers, especially thanks to the good dose of silliness. The author does keep it light and lively to guarantee fun. 

Meet the illustrator...

Teresa Martinez is a Mexican illustrator based in Puerto Vallarta. She's the illustrator for dozens of picture books including Duck, Duck, Taco Truck, written by Laura Lavoie, Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma, written by Johanna Ho, and The Last Tamale, written by Orlando Mendiola, among many others. 

Beatrice and the Dirty Diggers by Rosemary Zibart

I'm always on the lookout for an unique historical tale, especially in the kidlit realm. The second I ran across this book, I knew I had to take a look. It has something to do with a girl's camp either during WW II or shortly thereafter (I'm not sure on that end, yet). But what makes this one really intriguing is that it takes an archaeological twist. Maybe a bit of mystery too? Honestly, this could go in several directions.

Let's dig in and see what we discover!

BEATRICE AND THE DIRTY DIGGERS

by Rosemary Zibart

Kinkajou Press

Middle Grade Historical Fiction

153 pages

ages 8 to 12

Beatrice Sims can hardly wait to join the Dirty Diggers at a summer camp for teen girls interested in unearthing the secrets of ancient ruins. Beatrice dreams of finding mysteries from the past while she yearns to make new friends. Instead, the WWII refugee from England is seen as an outsider by the other girls and when a precious artifact goes missing, Beatrice is suspected of being the thief. Yet when a violent storm threatens the camp, Beatrice discovers something even more valuable — the courage to face danger and compassion to help others.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

It's time to dig deep with archaeological and historical goodness...and learn to build friendships as well.

Set during WWII, this tale follows a young girl named Beatrice Sims. She's extremely excited to have the chance to join the Dirty Diggers, a group of young women who have been raising their experience in the realm of archaeology, and can't wait to follow her dream of discovering the past. While she's already accustom to adventures and has spent the last two years settling in the U.S. as a refugee from England, this latest escapade might be the toughest she's ever faced. The Dirty Diggers are already a tight knit group, and her sudden appearance doesn't sit right with all of them, especially since she's missing some skills they've long mastered. Somehow, Beatrice is going to have to find a way to step-up to the challenge and learn how to deal with the situation as it comes.

This is the fourth book in the series, and while I didn't read the other three first, it was no problem to dive right into this tale. Beatrice immediately comes across as a character with personality and a heart of gold. This makes it easy to feel for her as she's slightly bullied by some of the girls in the Dirty Diggers' group. The problems she faces ring true for middle grade to young teen readers as does her desire to fit in. There are some messages on this front, which slide in nicely with the characters and plot.

While Beatrice steers the social end of things, this book also takes a look at the realm of archaeology. Several skills and aspects are mentioned and explained to broaden readers' horizons on this front. All of this weaves smoothly into the tale. The pacing keeps the pages turning as social dynamics swirl with just a touch of tension to make things interesting. The shorter length makes sure that the read never grows boring as well. It's a read that's sure to interest more than just historical fiction fans.

My Busy Tool Box! by Design Eye

When I saw today's read, I had to take a peek at it. Not only does it have flaps and tabs to make things move, but it's about tools! I do enjoy my tools, since there are always tons of projects on our farm. My son finds it funny that I get excited when entering a Harbor Freight. Anyway, I only got my hands on a digital copy (so sad), but I still was excited to see how this book introduces the youngest listeners/readers out there to basic tools.

So, let's open it up and get to work!

MY BUSY TOOL BOX!

A Playful Tool Book With Pages to Bang,

Twist, and Scratch!

Illustrated by Sara Nicely

Design Eye

Board Book

12 pages

ages 2 to 5

COMING JULY 21st!!!

My Busy Tool Box! is a playful, interactive book that encourages preschoolers to learn by doing. Mimicking real tools, it promotes imaginative role-play while developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. With fun language and hands-on activities like tracing and counting, it inspires kids to build, fix, and explore. 

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

All sorts of common tools greet these pages, inviting readers to try them out and discover their purposes along the way.

This is a short but entertaining board book to introduce the youngest readers out there to the world of tools. Screwdrivers, pliers, saws and more are quickly presented in action as each one is shown doing a task. There's a sense of playfulness in the text to keep things light and fun, while each tool's general purpose is displayed, and listeners are invited to try many themselves thanks to tabs, pop-ups and the like.

I didn't receive a physical copy but a digital one instead. So, I can't comment on the quality of the tabs and their movements. From what I did see, it looks adorable, and the movements look well done. For example, the pliers is center around the head of a bolt with a handle to make it seem as if the bolt is being tightened by the pliers. The illustrations do a lovely job at making each tool not only identifiable, but the purpose is clear. The colors are bright and the lines are kept simple enough to work well with the age group. 

It's short and sweet, and does a fun job at introducing young readers to tools.

The Seasons of Little Tree by Dr. Nahal Delpassand

Happy Sunday! Today's read sprouts and blooms in nature, and should hold all sorts of wisdom about growing and changing with life. At least, that's what I'm getting from the blurb. I enjoyed the cheerful and natural cover with the gentle hint of seasons in the background.

Is this a read to snuggle up with? Let's find out!

THE SEASONS OF LITTLE TREE

by Dr. Nahal Delpassand

Illustrated by Aram Amini

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

The Seasons of Little Tree is a story about growth, change, and the quiet strength that lives within us all. Through the shifting seasons, Little Tree learns that her roots are strong even though her branches are bent. She learns that true belonging comes from within. With gentle prose and timeless imagery, this story invites readers of all ages to honor their own seasons of becoming.

PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With a sense of beauty and patience, these page open up the change of seasons with meaning and heart.

This is a poetic dive which follows a little tree as it grows and develops with the stronger, larger trees around it. While each season is presented with care and broadens listeners look at the gentle and obvious changes, these pages also touch upon the process of growth. The tree tends to doubt her own strength and feels left out from the large trees around her. This is brought across with lovely imagery and calmness to let the message swing in the lyrical flow.

The illustrations bring across the moments nicely and allow listeners to clearly see what is happening. The images are as gentle as the text to create a calming atmosphere. The text rhymes mostly smoothly to create a nice read-aloud. More impatient listeners might drift away but for others, it creates a wholesome, soothing read. The message is clear and comes across without ever feeling preachy. The little tree is easy to identify with. While it leans toward a lack of confidence, it's never sad but rather, opens up nicely to the growth. The ending wraps everything up with warmth and a few last, lovely illustrations.

And here she is...

Dr. Nahal Delpassand is a licensed psychologist, writer, and speaker whose work explores what it means to live authentically, resiliently, and with self-compassion in an increasingly complex world. Based in Austin, Texas, and licensed to provide telehealth across 40 states as a PSYPACT provider, she has spent nearly a decade guiding individuals through the intersections of identity, emotional health, and personal growth. Her clinical expertise and public voice have positioned her as a trusted commentator on mental health, modern relationships, and the psychology of resilience.
Dr. Delpassand’s practice centers on helping clients deepen their self-awareness, navigate life transitions, and find meaning in adversity. Living with cerebral palsy, experiencing divorce, and navigating her own IVF journey have profoundly shaped her understanding of resilience and emotional healing. These experiences allow her to sit with others’ pain from a place of deep empathy and lived truth, knowing firsthand that strength often coexists with vulnerability. She has extensive expertise in working with individuals managing chronic illness, disability, and the psychological impact of infertility. She also works with individuals and couples navigating fertility challenges and the emotional complexity of IVF treatment, helping them build resilience and connection through each stage of the process. Her clinical approach and lived experience combine empathy with evidence-based practice, focusing on sustainable change that helps people pause, reflect, and reconnect.
Drawing from her multicultural upbringing as the daughter of Iranian immigrants, Dr. Delpassand’s perspective is shaped by themes of belonging, humility, and perseverance. Her parents’ journey – leaving their home country after the Iranian Revolution to rebuild their lives in the United States – instilled in her the values that now define her work: courage in transition, dignity in the face of challenge, and pride in her identity. These values form the foundation of her signature philosophy, Rooted in Self, an integrative framework that encourages individuals to ground themselves in their values, emotions, and truth rather than external expectations.
As a writer and speaker, Dr. Delpassand extends her message beyond the therapy room through commentary and workshops that explore subjects such as modern dating and self-worth, multicultural identity, fertility and womanhood, sustainable self-care, and leadership through empathy. A sought-after writer and speaker Dr. Delpassand has collaborated with the Austin Business Journal, Soho House Austin, Tribeza, and the Young Women's Alliance of Austin to lead conversations around modern dating and self-worth, multicultural identity, fertility and womanhood, sustainable self-care, and leadership through empathy, drawing from her clinical expertise and lived experiences..
Her debut children’s book, The Seasons of Little Tree (May 2026), expands her philosophy to a new generation through the story of a small tree learning to embrace change and belonging. Dr. Delpassand offers a universal message about resilience and self-acceptance, one that mirrors the lessons she teaches adults every day. 
Throughout her work, Dr. Delpassand’s message remains the same: healing begins when we root ourselves in who we truly are.

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