Back by popular demand, five-word reviews! If this abbreviated format isn’t your teensy cup of tea, no worries! We’ll get back to our usual robust 2‑person reviews (one handling the text review, one handling the art review) in February.
Most of the books on this list are new, but a few are simply those that took a while to come across my radar.
Happy 2025 to everyone!
Into the Mighty Sea
Author: Arlene Abundis
Illustrator: Cynthia Alonso
HarperCollins
4 June 2024
40 pages
Ryan’s five-word review: Colorful chaos mirrors heartfelt journey.
4.25 out of 5 colorful tides
Snow Is…
Author: Laura Gehl
Illustrator: Sonia Sánchez
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
29 October 2024
32 pages
Ryan’s five-word review: Lush illustrations spark cozy nostalgia.
4 out of 5 cozy snowflakes
Springtime Storks: A Migration Love Story
Author: Carol Joy Munro
Illustrator: Chelsea O’Byrne
Minerva
10 December 2024
40 pages
Ryan’s five-word review: Chalk pastel dreams take flight.
4.5 out of 5 soaring wings
Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love
Author: Joseph Coelho
Illustrator: 21 Artist Friends
Candlewick
3 December 2024
56 pages
Ryan’s five-word review: Compact tales, vast imaginative worlds.
4.25 out of 5 tiny treasures
Wonder & Awe
Author: Annie Herzig
Illustrator: Annie Herzig
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
15 October 2024
40 pages
Ryan’s five-word review: Nature’s wonder heals and inspires.
4.25 out of 5 snowy friendships