Witchycakes #1: Sweet Magic

October 6, 2025

Witchycakes #1: Sweet Magic by Ariane Moreira, Kara LaReau
Published by Random House on August 5, 2025
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Sweet Magic, the first book in the Witchycakes series, is a sweet early chapter book about a young witch learning magic from their mother. Blue, and their familiar Gully, a sea gull, deliver baked goods from Blue’s mom’s bakery, to customers all over their coastal town of Shellville. Blue has a kind heart and wants to help people they encounter, but the magic doesn’t always work as planned. Blue doesn’t give up though, and is able to come up with creative solutions to help those in need.

This book is divided into short chapters and is full of bright colorful illustrations, perfect for young readers transitioning into reading or listening to chapter books. There are also fun sound effects throughout the book that are in color. The characters in this book are diverse, with the main character Blue using “they/their” pronouns and the cafe they deliver to is run by a married gay couple. The illustrations of the characters also show readers a variety of ethnicities and cultural backgrounds that aren’t mentioned in the text. The book as a whole also has an important message that is summarized at the end which will resonate with readers. Blue realizes that when things went wrong and they used their imagination, they came up with much better solutions, no magic required! This book is highly recommended for school and public libraries serving new readers.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

My Abuela is a Bruja

October 3, 2025

My Abuela Is a Bruja by Lorena Alvarez Gomez, Mayra Cuevas
ISBN: 0593480635
Genres: Cultural / Latin America, Family, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

An homage to the Native Peoples of Puerto Rico; My Abuela is a Bruja paints a beautiful portrait of what it’s like to be connected to a line of women who practice the art of being a “bruja.” The qualities of being an Island bruja include walks along the island and getting to know the lush flora and fauna, dancing, gardening, cooking, and feeling the magic of her ancestors inside her. The magic of abuela is illustrated beautifully and vibrantly on each page by Lorena Alvarez Gómez who’s known for books such as The Magical Yet, and The Curious Why. The back pages explain in an Author’s Note that the book is based on the author’s own experiences with her abuela and the history of her people, the Borikén. There’s also a Glossary of Abuela’s Spanish Words included in the book and recipes to make Abuela’s Sofrito and Flan. Children of all backgrounds will enjoy getting to know Puerto Rico’s culture a bit better after exploring this book. It’s published simultaneously in Spanish. Recommended for ages 4-9.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

Maisy Big, Maisy Small

October 3, 2025October 3, 2025

Maisy Big, Maisy Small: A Book of Rhyming Opposites by Lucy Cousins
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536236292
Genres: Babies/Infants
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Maisy Big, Maisy Small is a re-release in Lucy Cousins’ beloved Maisy series. It now features a new, updated cover different from its release in 2007. Cousins does a wonderful job covering the opposites for children to learn in an entertaining and colorful way. Each page uses the primary colors in Cousins’ classic style. This is the type of book that gets read over and over again in early childhood education, and for good reason. The rhymes are incredibly engaging and Maisy is an irresistible character for kids. Perfect for read-alouds or laptime, this new version is delightful. Recommended for ages 2-5.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath.

The Dragon’s Apprentice

October 2, 2025

The Dragon's Apprentice by James Riley
Series: Dragon's Apprentice #1
Published by Labyrinth Road on April 1, 2025
ISBN: 0593813170
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

12 year old Ciara is on the run from an evil Warden who discovers she secretly found an ancient journal with magic spells. She uses magic and accidentally summons a Dragon named Scorch. Ciara is determined to learn magic in order to save her mom who is imprisoned in a dungeon and sick with Skael Cough, but Scorch is hesitant to teach her. Scorch eventually relents and teaches Ciara some basic magic, even though he gets frustrated because she breaks his rules time and again. Ciara shows great bravery, and a little recklessness, when she uses her limited magical abilities to rescue her mother by tricking the warden.

Upper elementary/middle grade readers will enjoy this novel. Scorch and Ciara have an interesting relationship and their banter back and forth adds some humor to this story. There is also strong character development and readers will enjoy witnessing how Ciara and Scorch’s relationship grows. This novel is fast-paced, leading to the pivotal confrontation between Ciara and the Warden. While this book reaches a satisfying conclusion, the epilogue points to a sequel! This is a fun fantasy that many readers will enjoy.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

Lady’s Knight

September 24, 2025

Lady’s Knight by Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner
Published by Harper Collins / STORYTIDE on June 3, 2025
ISBN: 0062893394
Pages: 416
Genres: LGBTQ+, Romance, Historical Fiction
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Gwen has always wanted to be a knight but, aside from the fact that she’s a woman and only men can be knights, she was forced to become a blacksmith when grief over her mother’s death left her father unable to work (technically she wasn’t supposed to do that either, but townspeople turned their heads, because a smithy is, after all, a village necessity). That said, she just might have fashioned herself some armor and be planning to compete in the first round of eliminations at the Dragonslayer Tournament, simply to experience jousting once in her life. She’ll wear her helmet, and nobody will know.

Castle-dwelling Lady Isobelle, on the other hand, is used to having the freedoms bestowed upon the wealthy. Until her dowry and hand in marriage are offered up as the grand prize in the Tournament. For the first time, she can’t power her way through a problem by sheer force of will.

When Isobelle discovers Gwen’s secret, she enlists her – disguised as Sir Gawain – to be her champion. Winning could mean Isobelle’s freedom, and Gwen’s triumph – but being found out would spell disaster for them both.

A fabulous, irreverent, feminist sapphic romance in mostly-medieval-but-sometimes-not setting where there might just be dragons left to fight after all – and not just metaphorical ones. A fun and engaging read with two terrific main characters and distinct, three-dimensional secondary characters. Fans of Tamora Pierce and Lex Croucher will love this epic tale of daring, bravery, betrayal, heartbreak and – maybe, because no spoilers here! – a happy ending.

5 stars/cream

– Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

Murder at the Museum

September 24, 2025

Murder at the Museum (Montgomery Bonbon #1) by Alasdair Beckett-King, Claire Powell
Series: Montgomery Bonbon #1
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536241660
Genres: Humor, Mystery
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Bonnie Montgomery is a perfectly ordinary 10-year-old girl.

Montgomery Bonbon is a world-famous French-accented detective notable for his surprisingly short stature, enormous moustache, and face-shading beret.

Keen readers will immediately deduce that they are never seen at the same place at the same time.

This debut middle grade mystery featuring the mysterious Montgomery Bonbon takes place in Bonnie’s hometown of Widdlington, England, where a locked-room murder and theft has just occurred at the Hornville Museum of Natural History and Suchlike. Alasdair Beckett-King uses his comedic background to create a mad caper of a mystery full of zany characters, outrageous plot twists, and silly side quests. Eventually Bonbon nabs the villain (moustaches still, if barely, remaining affixed).

A Nate-the-Great quirkiness for young readers meets Hercule Poirot’s dignified continental bearing for discerning mystery lovers mashup, this is a fun, fast paced mystery that young middle grade readers will surely enjoy. An easy addition to any library collection.

5 stars

Note: this book was first released in England in 2023, with the first US edition in 2025. Two sequels were released in the US nearly simultaneously, and are also available.

– Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta ME

Cats in Construction Hats

September 23, 2025September 23, 2025

Cats in Construction Hats (Cats in Hats) by Leeza Hernandez, Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
Published by Random House on April 8, 2025
ISBN: 0593706846
Genres: Animals, Vehicles
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Reminiscent of both Dr. Seuss’s One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and Richard Scarry books. Cats in Construction Hats features colorful cats in colorful hard hats building a cat house. “Yellow cat. Green hat. Dig this. Clear that. Green cat. Orange hat. Mix this. Pour that.” Every four lines is a rhythmic, rhyming quatrain ending with “at”. Except when their carelessness results in a spectacular accident, “BOOM! CRASH! SPLAT!” and an exclamation,“RATS!”. Personally, I am not a big fan of rats but observant readers will be able to spot them on every page. (Cats and rats getting along and working together.) They will also delight in seeing bulldozer, dump truck, cement mixer, forklift, and hydraulic crane. This book could be used for story time but probably a better lap book. Overall, it is a bouncy, fun book that preschoolers will have fun scrutinizing and discussing the illustrations. I imagine an extension sorting activity where children match the cats to their colorful construction hats, perhaps placing them in a cubicle in the cat house. By the way, I love the plentiful scratching posts incorporated in the house design. (A feature I missed until about the fourth reading. This is why this book needs to be read again and again! I started out giving it 3 stars and then went back and changed my rating to 4 stars as I recognized its genius!)

Book 2 – Cats in Conductor Hats: A Train Adventure is schedule to be published in June, 2026.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

The Lonely Goose

September 23, 2025September 23, 2025

The Lonely Goose by Anne Hunter, Lela Nargi
Published by Random House Studio on March 11, 2025
ISBN: 0593647556
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Emotions & Feelings, Nature, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

A male Canada goose courts a female. The two become inseparable, making a nest, raising goslings, migrating with their flock, and returning to the same spot to raise their young over the years. But one day, the male goose dies. His mate remains behind, alone, when the rest of the flock flies south for the winter. As the seasons pass, she slowly starts to engage with the world again and finds a new, different mate.

Gorgeous realistic illustrations and simple text ground the information about the habits and behavior of Canada geese. Never anthropomorphizing or becoming overly sentimental. While the death of the male is understated, this book is probably best shared one-on-one with a child, perhaps one who is also experiencing grief. You can also take your time to discuss the geese’s behavior and savor the illustrations. The back matter contains further information on Canada geese. Ages 6-9.

Pair with other books about Canada geese, such as Honk, Honk, Goose! : Canada Geese Start a Family by Sayre, April Pulley (2009) and Goose’s Story by Best, Cari (2002).

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Little Blue Truck and Racer Red

September 23, 2025September 23, 2025

Little Blue Truck and Racer Red by Alice Schertle, Jill McElmurry
Series: Little Blue Truck #11
Published by Clarion on March 25, 2025
ISBN: 0063387840
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Farm Life, Humor, Vehicles
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This spin-off from the Little Blue Truck series is probably my favorite yet. The usual characters are back with the addition of a sporty red race car. Little Blue and Toad are out for a drive when Racer Red challenges Blue to a race. It’s a neck-and-neck race, with Blue giving it his best, but Racer Red crosses the finish line first. Blue is a gracious loser, happy to know that win or lose, it’s fun to try.

Fans of Little Blue will love this book. Who doesn’t love a good race?! The rhyming is succinct and not forced. The illustrations are adorable. There is solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share that will make this a popular choice for story time.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library