Review: Look! A Bear! by Elise Kleven

 

This is such a cute picture book. All Remy the rabbit wants to do is make friends and play. The illustrations are super cute and has a pencil crayon vibe that I love. 

Most picture books have some lesson to teach and I think Look! A Bear! has one but not for kids. It's a lesson for parents to careful not to impose their issues and fears onto their children. Remy wanted to make a new friend and play with Bella the bear yet her parents were pointing out that Bella was different and bears and rabbits can't be friends. Bella and Remy did not see any difference. All they saw was that there was an opportunity to make a new friend and have some friend.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author and illustrator Elise Kleven and The Collective Book Studio | Tiny Torch Books for a digital copy (ebook) of #LookABear in exchange for my honest opinion.#LookABear is out tomorrow, September 29, 2026. 

REVIEW: Search for a Mysterious Mushroom Amy Seto Forrester and Andy Chou Musser

 

Search for a Mysterious Mushroom is a lively and imaginative pick-your-path adventure that turns reading and learning into a fun quest. Designed for young readers, the book invites kids to choose their research team, gear, and expedition as they hunt for the elusive Amparoina spinosissima mushroom. Along the way, each choice leads to new habitats and discoveries, that blend real science - an introduction to mycology - with an engaging cast and a fun narrative.

This book would be perfect for an end of the week class or science club activity, with props of course. Even a weekend adventure club or a sleep over etc. The artwork is simple and conveys exactly what the authors want.

The bright comic book/graphic novel style approach makes the information feel interactive, and even if one route doesn’t find the mushroom, readers will still learn a lot. the publisher describes this book as perfect for young adventurers who are into STEM, nature and will enjoy hands-on storytelling.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the authors Amy Seto Forrester and Andy Chou Musser and Chronicle Books for a digital copy (ebook) of #SearchforaMysteriousMushroom  in exchange for my honest opinion. Search for a Mysterious Mushroom will be published on May 5, 2026.