Our Hymn Writers and Their Hymns by Faith Cook*

 I only read the chapter on William Cowper (researching for our monthly poetry treat at lunch). It, however,  will be a book I return to if I want to learn extensively about a hymn writer. Ms. Cook offers a comprehensive biography in a narrative form. She also includes (at least in Cowper's chapter) other biographers' conclusions that may not be accurate and refutes them. The first chapter and the last two chapters include shorter blurbs about many hymn writers. Chapters two through fourteen focus on one writer (Isacc Watts, Philip Doddridge, Charles Wesley, William Williams, Joseph Hart, Augustus M. Toplady, John Newton, William Cowper, James Montgomery, Henry Francis Lyte, Horatius Bonar, Francis Ridley Havergal,and Franny J. Crosby).

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from my church library.

Bat, Cat & Rat #1-The Cozy Home by Ame Dyckman illustrated by Mark Teague*

 Bat, Cat, & Rat move into a home. As they settled into sharing life together, they enjoy teasing each other and, of course, reading together.

A perfect series for beginning readers.

It looks like book #3, The Beach Day, will be published on April 29, 2025, and #4, A Great Fall, will be published on July 15, 2025.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Wildflower Emily by Lydia Corry**

A Story About Young Emily Dickinson

A graphic novel 

RAR recently added this title to one of their lists. 

I loved this book. Ms. Corry integrates facts, Emily Dickinson's poems, and a narrative seamlessly. Before the book begins, she explains what artistic liberties she took. At the end, she shares additional information about Emily and her dog Carlo. This book focuses on Emily's love for botany and flowers.

**Highly, highly recommend. It is a title I may buy.

-Borrowed from the library.

Go Forth and Tell by Breanna J. McDaniel illustrated by April Harrison

The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller 

Award winner-King Illustrator Honor Book-2025

A biography about a Black children's librarian determined to share books featuring Blacks in positive light. She influenced a lot of well-known authors-James Baldwin, John Steptoe, Virginia Hamilton, Walter Dean Myers

I still see a need for books featuring Blacks in a honorable, respectable manner. It seems so many books with them as characters focus on race and issues. I read on Redeemed Reader about a recently published book that lists fun books, fantasty books, and book about regular families with Black protagonists. This book is very much needed-Soul School: Taking Kids on a Joy-Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Culture. Amber O’Neal Johnston. Tarcher Perigree, 2025. 304 pages.

Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar

 One of the Newbery Honor winners & a Sydney Taylor Book Award-Silver Medalist-2025

Ms. Behar bases aspects of this novel on her own Jewish grandmother's journey from Turkey to Cuba.

Readers will learn the history of Shephardic Jews from four different female viewpoints during four different time periods-Benvendia, 1492 (Spain to Turkey),  Reina, 1923 (from Turkey to Cuba), Alegria, 1961 (Cuba to Miami), and then Paloma, 2003 (twho ties all three ancestors together by visiting Spain and learning more about their story).

I really enjoyed learning the history of these specific Jews during the time periods. The author researched extensively and relayed the facts well. The characters are not well-developed. Their stories end abruptly, but I wasn't upset because I did not connect to them. I felt like the book was more didactic than a captivating story. The purpose of this book seems more informational than a well-crafted story. I also felt like in part 4 all of the stories meshed together a bit too perfectly. This book would have been a great informational book, not a novel. The characters regarded their Jewish faith more as a superstition than a relationship.

-Borrowed from the library.

Up,Up, Ever Up Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains by Anita Yasuda illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

A Caldecott Honor book for 2025 

This picture book biography relates Junko's life-long love for the mountains and for climbing, even when women were not accepted into climbing clubs/organizations. 

I enjoyed the illustrations.

-Borrowed from the library.

Beyond Mulberry Glen by Millie Florence illustrated by Astrid Sheckels*

 Lydia Green loves residing in Mulberry Glen with a unique family- a philosopher, a fairy, and twins, Zamilla and Zale. In town she overhears a man share the story of the Darkness that pervades the area.  When she relates the legend  and how to destroy the Darkness to the twins, the rambunctious pair, known as the Zs, leaves the Glen, thinking they can shatter it. Knowing that they will listen to her, Lydia pursues them before the Darkness can Take them. Along the way, Lydia befriends admirable individuals and learns that growing up can be a wonderful aspect to life!

I loved the characters and the setting-both were well-developed. The plot reminded me a bit of Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. 

*Highly recomemnd.

-Borrowed from the library.