The Home We Dreamed by Anca Sandu Budisan

This book is sending off calming, country vibes with historic warmth...and I thought it'd be fun to open it up and see what's inside. (I'm keeping it short and sweet today.)

So, let's do that!

THE HOME WE DREAMED

by Anca Sandu Budisan

Quill Tree Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

Part Virgina Lee Burton's The Little House, part Yuyi Morales's Dreamers, this heartfelt, lyrical, and expansive story charts the history of a house that becomes the center of one generation, then the next, and then the next, told from the point of view of a grandchild who remembers spending her summers there. 

All my grandparents had left was a small plot of land next to a river.
That’s where they built their home.

From soil to straw to bricks, readers will follow along with a couple, living in Communist Romania, who build their own home, raise a family, and watch—page by page—as the world around them changes. Narrated by the future grandchild of this couple, this story shows multiple generations raised in this home, the environmental and political changes happening around its plot of land, and the continuous love sprouting from its walls.

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Warmth mixes with the difficulties of growing up in Communist Romania to form a heartfilled read which highlights the wonder of perseverance. 

The author bases these pages on her own experiences, making it an autobiography. Still, she sets the illustrations in such a way to add distance and let the listener/reader sink into the moments of the young child's narration. Starting with the building of the house by the grandparents, each brick even formed by their own hands, the main center is formed to give a constant ground while the people in the house come and go, and face the difficulties life brings. While this takes place in historic Romania, it doesn't fall into a detailed naming of events, individuals, or the like. Rather, it presents the movements, emotions, and changes in the family's life. 

The entire book is presented from the view of a child peeking back at a type of memory album filled with photos, memorabilia and other items. This album sits in the center of each two-page spread as if open on a table. The child's arms and hands are visible as if it flips through each page. Everything is illustrated, but it holds a realistic and aged flair to bring this child's look into its relatives' past a sense of authenticity. It's easy to sink into the hard but calming life. While difficult situations arrive, the author delivers the worry and tension but never lets it outweigh the wholesomeness of the family warmth. So, the read never grows overly heavy, either. It does a lovely job at bringing across the life and culture of the past, while ending it in the present, so listeners/readers see that life there has changed like the rest of the modern world. It also brings it back to familiarity to lock in the last part of the journey. The text guides the listener/reader along and follows the child's explanation of the past. 

This works best for single reading sessions or for those readers who are very sure of their words to pick up on their own. I wouldn't recommend it for group settings simply because the details of the illustrations would be difficult from a distance to sink into and see. This would work especially well in classrooms with a fitting theme, since it dives not only into the life of Communist Romania but also presents struggles individuals in other countries have faced. I also see this as a better fit for the upper end of the intended age group. 

It's a lovely read with quite a bit of depth, cultural goodness, broadens empathy and understanding, and shows the strength of family.

And here she is...

Anca Sandu Budisan was born in eastern Romania. At age 2 she was “discovered” by her grandma as a perfect circle “drawer,” and subsequently started a career as the artist of the family. In school, her passion for drawing helped her overcome her introversion. This still works today.
Anca received her master's in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art, in the UK. She is the author-illustrator of Churchill’s Tale of Tails, as well as other books about pigs, good monsters, sheep, gnus and shrews, and funny birds. She now lives in Beaverton, OR, along with her husband and their gray cat, Mango. Anca loves collecting books, perusing estate sales for the next treasure, and cooking fruit.

 

Give Me Back My Bones! by Kim Norman

GIVE ME BACK MY BONES!

by Kim Norman

Illustrated by Bob Kolar

Candlewick Press

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

A stormy night at sea has uncovered some long-buried secrets and surprises. Is that the mast of a shipwreck? A faded pirate hat? And what’s that hiding in the sand? A mandible and a clavicle, phalanges and femurs, a tibia and a fibula — could there be a set of bones scattered across the ocean floor? And who might they belong to? A jaunty rhyme takes readers on an underwater scavenger hunt as a comical skeleton tries to put itself back together piece by piece. Make no bones about it: this rollicking read-aloud will have young ones learning anatomy without even realizing it.

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON      /       PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Shiver-me-timbers takes a skeletal twist with silly rhymes and a bit of anatomy, too.

Deep under the ocean's surface is a shipwreck from long ago. There, the bones of a pirate are strewn across the ocean floor, but this pirate would love to get everything back together. With the help of all sorts of sea creatures, he starts at the top and works his way down as the fish help to find his bones and put him back together.

With a slightly eerie twist, these pages carry tons of silly rhymes as this skeleton tries to get back together again. Each page holds a four-lined rhyme, which weaves fun phrases connecting with pirate life to describe the bone he's looking for. These carry a bit of silliness and almost feel like tongue-twisters, which creates great fun when reading this one aloud. For example: 'my wavy-ahoy-to-land bones'. The last phrase in each set always carries the specific name for the bone to teach readers the terms along the way. 

The illustrations carry a dark-bluish hint to keep the deep-underwater atmosphere going the entire way through. The fish and sea creatures come to life with brighter colors and cheerful expressions. They swim around with glee to keep things exciting as they search. The skeleton's bones are recognizable while still carrying a whimsical direction so as not to let the tale get too dark. Listeners can search for the bones with the fish, although these aren't very well hidden...but it's still fun.

The text fits the age group nicely and will have listeners smiling ear to ear. Some of the phrases might go above some listeners' heads, at first, but with each read-through, it's easier to pick out the meanings. This also makes it fun to revisit, since listeners are sure to pay attention to the phrases differently each time.

It's a cute read with a touch of spooky fun, and the facts surrounding anatomy along add a very clever twist.

And here they are...

Kim Norman is an artist, actress, and singer as well as the author of children’s books such as Puddle Pug and The Bot That Scott Built. Give Me Back My Bones! is her first book with Candlewick Press. She lives in Virginia.

Bob Kolar is the author-illustrator of many books, including Big Kicks. He is also the illustrator of Nothing Like a Puffin by Sue Soltis, the AlphaOops books by Alethea Kontis, and Slickety Quick: Poems about Sharks by Skila Brown. Bob Kolar lives in Missouri.

The Secret to Belonging by Megan E. Freeman

It was the cover, which caught my attention first on this one. It carries a calm atmosphere with a sense of mature acceptance before an awakening. I'm not usually a huge fan of realistic fiction in following a character as it takes on life issues, but I want to give this one a go for two reasons. First, it's written in.  verse, and when done well, I find this form can bring across a world and emotions in a grabbing way. Second, it takes place in a remote town in Norway. I believe this is the first time I've run across a read, which sends an American girl on a trip to find herself in Norway. Plus, Norway has always been on my 'would love to see' list. So, I'm excited to see what this read holds.

Snuggle into that chair because this one might require an entire kettle of tea...meaning it might be one that holds me the entire way through.

THE SECRET TO BELONGING

by Megan E. Freeman

Atheneum Books

YA Contemporary  /  Poetry

336 pages

COMING SEPTEMBER 15th!!!

A neglected teen travels to Norway for a fresh start in this stunning coming-of-age novel in verse about longing, love, and the courage to create joy from the ashes of despair by award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Megan E. Freeman.

You are invisible in your own family. Your parents spend all their care and attention on your brother, who is addicted to drugs. Your dreams don’t matter to anyone but you.

Your only ticket out is a college fund left by your grandfather—until your parents use it to pay for your brother’s drug rehab.

Just when your future seems about to collapse, you are offered a scholarship to become an exchange student in a remote part of Norway. It’s an invitation to begin a new life in a new place with new people…a place where you might finally feel like you belong.

GOODREADS     /      PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Diving deep into a girl's thoughts and difficult situation, these pages show there's always a ray of light to be found.

A girl has watched her family struggle while growing up, mostly trying to cushion every mistake her brother makes. His constant problems drain their attention, resources, and almost everything from her life. Even her college fund. When all hope seems lost, a friend introduces her to the chance to study abroad and the possibility of gaining a scholarship to pay for it. When a carefully crafted essay...a carefully woven lie...wins the money, the girl takes off to Norway for the year, far from her family and her friend. There, everything is different, but it might be exactly what can turn life around.

This book is written in free verse and flows very smoothly to create a meaningful, deep, and quick read. The entire thing feels like a mix between a journal and a tale with a looser plot. The first chapters take time quickly with a general sweep over the girl's life growing up all the way until high school. While various points in life are mentioned, this concentrates on broader problems to give readers an overview with understanding and emotional depth. The entire tale dances back and forth between more direct scenes and a broader time flow. So, it isn't a strict plot with event after event. Rather, it lets the general problems and impressions come across with highlighted moments that really dig in. The girl's cynical views drop in to give her personality a dash of bite, too.

The style allows the emotions to come across clearly and gain a connection with the main character. The other characters float more in the fog, but the problems surrounding them and the impacts the make on the girl are very clear. Good and bad. It's easy to sympathize with the issues surrounding her family life, and it's heart-lifting to accompany her as she experiences the changes in Norway. There is a romance involved with mentions of intimate relations, and this entire thing takes a very wholesome twist at the end to leave hope and satisfaction. But the tale isn't about the romance. Rather, it concentrates on the girl's journey to find a new life and hope.

The author also works in quite a bit of Norwegian facts, culture, life, and even some of the language. For anyone curious about the country, this read dives right in and brings it across with a touch of warmth, community, satisfaction, and more. This weaves nicely in with the rest of the tale and gives it another layer of richness.

And here she is...

Megan E. Freeman attended an elementary school where poets visited her classroom every week, and she has been a writer ever since. She writes middle grade and young adult fiction. Megan is also a Pushcart Prize–nominated poet. An award-winning teacher with decades of classroom experience, Megan taught multiple subjects across the arts and humanities to students of all ages. She divides her time between northern Colorado and the Texas Gulf Coast. Visit her online at MeganEFreeman.com.

Act Like You Love Me by Xuann

Today's read is one I'm not sure about. I mean the cover is cute, and I have a feeling from the title that it's going to be silly and sweet. It's also the first in a series with promises of tons to come. What makes me a little uncertain is the age group. Some places, it's sold as a Teen/Young Adult read, while others (such as on the publisher's page) have it marked as an Adult RomCom. I'm going to give it a chance since I don't have too many romances on here, usually. Plus, I enjoy working in graphic novels for teens, too. If this is completely suitable for teens and works for them...well, then you'll see it below. (Which it, obviously, did!)

So, let's dive into this one with both fingers crossed that it works for teens!

ACT LIKE YOU LOVE ME!

Volume 1

by Xuann

WEBToon Unscrolled

YA Romance    /   Graphic Novel

288 pages

COMING NOVEMBER 3rd!!!

For fans of captivating art and contemporary romances like Chasing Red and A Business Proposal, this debut South Korean graphic novel is perfect for fans of workplace romance and boss romance dynamics.

After Ji-eon finds a doll that can control her celebrity boss Doyun, power dynamics shift—now it’s her turn to be in charge.

After a mix-up at a broadcasting studio she finds herself spending the day as the personal assistant for the famous actor Doyun Nam—and quickly lands herself into even more trouble at work.

Yet another miserable day of taking orders from others only to face ruthless criticism, and Ji-eon is left frustrated by her own passivity. But most of all, she blames Doyun, the stuck-up celebrity who she spent the day waiting on hand and foot.

With a dwindling bank account and loss of dignity to match, she lets out her stress on a plush toy. It isn’t long before she realizes its magical ability: the doll can control Doyun.

With the power now in her hands for the very first time, Ji-eon gets a taste of what it’s like to finally be the boss. But with power comes responsibility—and consequences.

And with a slow-burn romance developing with Doyun, Ji-eon must decide what she truly wants for her future.

This volume collects episodes 1 to 10 of the captivating WEBTOON series Act Like You Love Me!, which has more than 130 million views on the platform.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

A dash of fantasy adds to unpredictable situations to create an adorable, slow-burn romance.

Ji-eon is working every job she can just to get by. Three to be exact, and she's already collapsed from exhaustion a couple times. Still, bills need to be paid. Even her small apartment is a disaster since the 4-5 hours she's there mean sleep. When an old man pays for his beer with a stuffed animal and toy handcuffs from a claw machine, she's sure she'll be fired the next day. But things get worse when her temp job, the next morning, takes her to a studio and they demand a refundable fee for her to even work there. After all, other temps only go there to see the celebrities and don't do their jobs. She's there to work, so it shouldn't be a problem until a huge misunderstanding with a famous actor about her position leaves her kicked out and unpaid. Back at home, she mourns her situation with the stuffed animal from the old man in hand only to have the famous actor appear at her door, profusely apologizing...and trying to lick her toes! While the actor can't remember or control his actions and begins to wonder if he's losing his mind, Ji-eon figures out that the stuffed animal controls him...a bit like a voodoo doll. She has no intention of using this and plans to leave the man alone, but fate has different plans.

This is a very slow burn romance with tons of heart, silly situations, and giggles galore. At the same time, it sinks deep into the problem of trying to work hard to make ends meet. Too hard. And Ji-eon isn't the only character facing this issue. While this is tagged for adults, it works fine for teens as well and not only because it's very clean and sweet. Ji-eon's problems at each of her workplaces are ones many teens will recognize and sympathize with, since these are the types of side jobs high schoolers also do. Ji-eon is hardworking, not happy about her situation but trying her best, and  kind through-and-through. This makes her easy to root for, especially when things seem to grow more difficult as the tale goes on.  

The situation humor is bittersweet, and the famous actor is by no means on her radar. Nor she on his. There are hints at a future love-triangle, but as said, all of this is extremely slow burn, so anything can happen. It's more about beginning friendships or, at least, not disliking an individual completely. So, there's a lot to come in the rest of the series.

The graphics flow well and carry energy while letting the weight of Ji-eon's situation (and that of the actor) also come through. The fantasy angle is there but doesn't steer the plot completely, allowing the run of daily life to shine through. The text is short and sweet, driving the story forward as needed and letting the graphics do the rest. There are a couple pink pages between each section to add a nice break each time, which adds to the enjoyable flow. It's a fun balance for an enjoyable, quick read.

This first volume by no means rounds things off by the end but lays the solid foundation of Ji-eon's personality, issues, and hopes. The other characters are building slowly, letting readers get to know them right along with Ji-eon...although some of the tale is told from other points of view. It will be fun to see where all of this goes because Ji-eon's adventure has just begun. 

Magical Sweet Gula by Johanes Park

The moment I saw this cover, I knew I had to take a peek. The pink reminds of bubble gum and promises over the top girliness, especially when combined with the title. It's the first of a, so far, two book series, and this one was already released in 2024. It's for the middle grade audience, so I'm betting it will be packed with adventure and humor...and an awkward character who is giving her best but can't seem to get things just right? At least, that slightly strained smile on her face is making me think she doesn't have things nearly under as much control as she should have.

But I'm simply ready to lean back and have some fun. So, let's see if this book delivers that!

MAGICAL SWEET GULA

by Joanes Park

Illustrated by Jessica Leman

Difference Engine

Middle Grade Fantasy  /   Graphic Novel

184 pages

Gula Gulali is a magical girl with the power to turn the things around her into cakes and sweets! But she is a Magi living in the non-magical realm of Terra, where her bright pink hair and pointed ears make her stick out like a sore thumb in the regular school she attends.

When another young Magi joins Gula’s school, his weird behaviour draws far too much attention to the Magi who are already facing prejudice from Terrans. Now, Gula has to navigate friendships, suspicious schoolmates, and a series of magical mishaps — all while the success of a school drama production is at stake! Will she find acceptance and belonging, or will she have to give up her magic to fit in?

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Sweet and simple, these pages drawn in with a girl full of heart and adorable magic, while a bit of chaos and blunder dances on the side.

Gula Gulali is a magi living in the Terran world (human). Magic isn't a secret, but magi normally stay in the magical world. Unfortunately, Gula can't seem to find friends and is always the odd one out. Add that, lately, especially one girl in the class is out to get her and life has become very difficult to steer. It doesn't help that Gula's magic sometimes has a mind of its own, and every time she tries to help someone, it ends with a little mishap. Nothing terrible, since all she can do is turn things into desserts, but her classmates seem to misunderstand her. Still, she has a plan to find friends and even joins the school play to prove she is friend worthy. But then, disaster strikes and her mother agrees to let the prince of the magi come and live with them for awhile, so he can experience the Terran world. To say that all of Gula's efforts are about to fall apart is an understatement.

This popping-pink read flows with adorable magic and a wish that almost every middle grader has—to fit in. Gula is a bundle of goodness as she always uses her magic to help those around her. While she almost always pulls this off, no one seems to notice her good intentions and instead, believes her sweet messes are, actually, her way of causing trouble. It's silly, innocent fun which lets humor flow, while carrying a bittersweet sadness that grows and grows. It's easy to understand why Gula is upset, and her plan to fix things, while clearly a little off, is as innocent as can be. She's a lovely character with a huge heart, who simply makes mistakes.

The magic adds a cheerful, fantastical touch...and who wouldn't love to be able to turn things into treats? While there is a magi world and fantasy aspects, the Terran twist adds familiarity to let readers sink into each scene. The bully is mean enough that she's easy to dislike but stays realistic enough to give the tale roots. The magic is present but doesn't overtake the main plot as Gula tries not to use her abilities, and the prince has his locked away. Instead, the tale carries a clear message of being yourself and lets this goodness flow.

The illustrations are enjoyable and light, while letting each moment come across with the emotions needed to let readers sink in. The text balances with the imagery and fits the age group nicely. It's a quick read, which will draw even reluctant readers in. As said, this isn't a difficult weave on the plot end, and that's one of the plus points about this book. It's meaningful, light, and fun to put a smile on the face.