BEHIND THE BADGE: ANSWERING THE CALL TO SERVE ON AMERICA'S HOMEFRONT by Johnny Joey Jones Johnny Joey Jones takes us behind the scenes to get an understanding about what it means to be a first responder in today's world. Exposing us to a wide variety of jobs in the emergency response field, we get to hear first hand from the men and women about what brought them into the job roles they have chosen and what life looks like day in and day out while on the clock. The good things, the bad things, the immense stresses, the rewards: all are opened up and exposed. Some of the jobs represented in the book are firefighter, game warden, deputy, police sergeant, swat sniper, border patrol, sheriff and more. Reading these stories helps to reinforce a respect for the men and women that are committed each day to going out to serve and protect. HEADS UP- I did GREEN LIGHT this book with CAUTION. There are several parts that are not easy to read about with what these men and women deal with. The stories are not overly gruesome with detail but situations are tough and death is harsh. There are a couple of stories with language. Two contain f-bombs. One story is rough with language. However, most of the stories are profanity free.

THE WINTER ROSE by Melanie Dobson The Winter Rose is a gorgeously written Christian historical fiction story following two points in history. The first thread is set in 1943 where American Grace Tonquin is desperately trying to rescue Jewish children from the Nazis and get them out of France. The second thread is set in Oregon in 2003. Addie Hoult is trying to find members of the Tonquin family to help a man, Charlie, who has become a father figure to her. He urgently needs a bone marrow transplant to save his life from a genetic disease that is destroying his body. The problem is Charlie won't tell Addie anything about his past. There are secrets and guilt there that he would rather take to his grave than reveal. Addie refuses to accept this and sets out to find the answers and hopefully healing for the man that was once a teenager that made his way across the mountains of France in an attempt to begin a new life. HEADS UP- There is a point in the story that you find out that adultery happened in a relationship. There are no details given to the relationship. It just brings understanding to why one of the main characters is dealing with a lot of pain in their life. There is also a point where you think a rape may occur, but it is stopped.

USBORNE'S ILLUSTRATED STORIES FROM CHINA Retold by Rosie Dickins and ANDREW Prentice. Illustrated by Li Weiding I have often talked about how in my upper elementary years I really loved to read tales from other countries. There was a series that our local library had, and I often would have one of the books in my pile to take home. I loved getting a taste of other cultures this way. Understanding how that culture lived, what they valued, a bit of family relationships, what they ate, experiencing their folktales, being exposed to geographical elements from the land are all pieces that show up in these stories. Illustrated Tales From China is no different. This particular edition features 13 stories from all over China. The introduction in the book explains that these stories were told sometimes with the purpose of entertainment, sometimes to teach a lesson or impart a bit of wisdom, sometimes to honor a Chinese holiday, etc. Each story is paired with beautiful illustrations created by Li Weiding who was a well known Chinese artist and professor. They are rich in color done in the traditional Chinese watercolor style. Overall, this is a great edition. HEADS UP- As would be expected, there is magic in some of the stories. There are also references to religious aspects/beliefs of the Chinese people. One story in particular, The Monkey King, mentions some interactions with demons.

LIGHT AND AIR by Mindy Nichols Wendell  This was a very clear choice to add to my TOP PICKS of 2026 collection! LIGHT AND AIR is a beautifully written historical fiction book about a family who deals with the effects of tuberculosis during a time when there was very little to fight against it. The moving story is set in 1935 against the backdrop of rural western New York at a sanatorium called J.N. Adam Tuberculosis Hospital which really existed. Very little was known about how to fight the disease that attacked the lungs and caused a harsh cough that often produced blood. What was known was that lots of time spent in the sunshine along with cool air to breathe made a difference for many suffering from the illness. Both Halle and her mother are diagnosed with the dreaded disease. They are both quickly sent off to J.N. Adam Tuberculosis Hospital to try and recover from the physically wasting disease that steals the breath and strength of those afflicted by it. Separated at the hospital, Halle is put in a building that houses children while her mother is placed in a building designed for the care of adults. Daily subjected to the bright sunshine and cool air temperatures, Halle slowly begins to recover, but for some reason her mother does not. Halle thinks she might know the reason why and begins to formulate a plan to help her out. HEADS UP- This story is extremely heartwarming, but there is a lot of sadness as well. I don't want to spoil anything, but tuberculosis at this time in history was not an easy disease to beat.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, LITTLE CRITTER by Mercer Mayer My kids all grew up reading the hilarious Little Critter books. We spent hours laughing over the funny things he got himself into but recognizing the reality of some of them! They are great! This year, I added the Valentine's Day book to our collection. As soon as my 7th grade daughter saw it in the book order box I received, she scooped it up and it went to bed with her to read before falling asleep. There is such a sweet innocence with this little guy who tries his hardest to do his best, and you just have to love the humorous results! Be sure and look on the pages for the spider and mouse that accompany him everywhere! We love spotting them in the pictures!

THE VALENTINE BEARS by Eve Bunting. Illustrated by Jan Brett Today's book is an "oldie but a goodie" that I didn't have in our collection. I am so glad I remedied that by adding this super sweet classic! Mr. and Mrs.Bear are in the middle of hibernation. However, Mrs. Bear does not want to miss Valentine's Day this year, so she prepares a few favorite things for Mr. Bear in secret and sets an alarm. The beauty of this book is two-fold. One, the clear picture of caring for someone else and trying to do something special for them. Two, the obvious close relationship that Mr. and Mrs. Bear have. In today's world, a majority of books deal with fractured or silly/self-centered relationships. What a joy it is to see the tenderness of a committed relationship played out even if it's between bears. The Valentine BEARS is a good example of putting some thoughtfulness into how we show our appreciation to someone that means something to us. In our fast-paced world, we as adults can take a lesson from this great picture book as well! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book!

SOY SAUCE by Laura G. Lee Wow, is Soy Sauce a super fun read which is why I am adding it to my TOP PICKS list! With the Chinese New Year right around the corner , Soy Sauce is a great read to incorporate. Who would have known soy sauce could be such an interesting topic? Author Laura G. Lee takes readers through the process of making soy sauce and tucks into the pages references to the many different variations of soy sauce based on various Asian cultures. She concludes the book with a nod to the fact that no matter where Asian children go or who shares their food with them, they take a piece of their heritage with them when they use soy sauce. While not exactly rhyming, the book is lyrical and flows as smoothly as the soy sauce it talks about. Be sure and check Lee's author's notes at the end of the book. They are well worth it! I have to praise Lee's artwork in Soy Sauce. The illustrations are delightful. Full of action and life, they are created with watercolors, colored pencils, and soy sauce! How cool is that?! While not specifically dealing with Chinese New Year, I am including it in the booklist because of it's window into the Asian culture. ALONGSIDE ACTIVITIES- It's been a while since I've added this element to a book here, but Soy Sauce is too prime a candidate to miss! -Locate China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Indonesia on the map. Spend a little time learning about each of the cultures. - This would be a bit of an expensive endeavor, but see if you can get your hands on the different variations of soy sauce. Cook up a simple Asian stir fry dish. Divide the dish and use the different soy sauces. Vote on your favorite variation. -Discuss fermentation. Name other fermented foods and the countries the foods come from. - Cook up some Asian food. We love Chinese and Thai food at our house! (We're not as familiar with Japanese or Korean, but I'm sure we would love it as well!) I am including one of our family's favorite recipes using soy sauce. https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/teriyaki-chicken/

EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS by Joanna Ho. Illustrated by Dung Ho. Eyes That Kiss in the Corners is Joanna Ho's tribute to the beauty and strength of the Asian girl. Her eyes may not be framed with lots of lashes and sparkling "lagoon" colored irises, but they are brown like "warm tea." Her eyes mirror her mother's and her grandmother's eyes. Both are people who love her and who are strong individuals. Her eyes rise to challenges when others give up and her lashes "curve like the swords of warriors." This picture book is filled with delightful imagery portraying vocabulary that is a joy to read! It showcases the strength of the bond between women in a family. While not specifically about The Chinese New Year, I am including it in the list, because of the look into the culture it provides. HEADS UP- There is a nod to Asian religion on one page.

I LOVE YOU ALWAYS by Rachel Piercey. Illusrated by Freya Hartas This heart-warming book is going to kick off my Valentine's picks for this year. When my kids were little this is exactly the type of book I would buy. It would have been read over and over, and I'll tell you why! This book has 100 hearts to find within the lovely illustrations. There are 5 scenes with 20 hearts hidden in each scene. It is glorious! The scenes are filled with lots of woodland creatures and insects, so why stop with just finding the hearts? How about finding and counting the lady bugs on each page or pileated woodpeckers, owls, chipmunks, etc? I did this over and over with so many books when my kids were young. It helped to add a new element every time we read the same book over and over! Actually, when I sat down to read this for the first time, I grabbed my youngest, who is a 7th grader, to read it with me. We found the hearts and then we immediately started finding the other animals. Old habits die hard. It was so much fun! If you have littles I highly recommend getting your hands on this book! I'll include a sneak peek in the comments so you can see how cute this book really is!

ORRIS AND TIMBLE: THE BEGINNING by Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Carmen Mok. Kate DiCamillo has hit it spot on again with her fantastic writing in the beautiful early chapter book, Orris and Timble. This wonderful story is a twist on the classic fable, The Lion and the Mouse. Just like the original story, an unlikely friendship emerges between predator and prey when a rescue occurs. This time, the friendship is between a rat and an owl. The story covers some great themes such as making the "good and noble choice," courage, friendship, and more which create excellent opportunities for deep discussions. This book is easily going on to my TOP PICKS OF 2026 list! ALONGSIDE ACTIVITIES - After reading Orris and Timble, you have to read The Lion and the Mouse. Compare the two. How are they alike? How are they different? Need a writing prompt? Have your child write their own version of The Lion and the Mouse with their choice of animal characters!

LITTLE CHRISTMAS CAROL based on the book by Charles Dickens. Envisioned and illustrated by Joe Sutphin I love Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The illumination that occurs as the light of realization shines into the bleakest of hearts when confronted with the error of one's ways is glorious. The dawning of understanding that breaks when one knows that not a single mourner will gather when they are gone. Their vapor of life, when snuffed out, will dissipate into the air of indifference never to be thought of again unless a change occurs. A Christmas Carol teaches readers there are two choices in life: be a blessing or be a burden to those around you. As Scrooge learns, we each hold within ourselves, thanks to the grace of God, the ability to be a blessing to others. It may come about in monetary donations, time given freely in help, a smile bestowed on another as we walk along, or uplifting words spoken from our lips to someone hurting. We hold the power to lighten the loads of those around us every day. We also hold the power to add hardship to loads: to knock others down with words and actions, to turn away when we see needs that we have the ability to relieve, to press in with force when we can lift up and strengthen instead. Two choices. And as such, Scrooge learns and changes. Hopefully, so do we. Little Christmas Carol is beautifully written. It doesn't shy away from the depth of its parentage. Vocabulary and phrasing are challenging yet manageable. The text comes alive with the most wonderful illustrations that will capture the reader's attention. Predominately rabbits with a few other delightful creatures, there is a warmth and coziness that draws young readers or listeners in. Little Christmas Carol is a read worthy of being a family read aloud.

MS. PENNYPICKLE'S PUZZLE QUEST by Chris Grabenstein It's clear that Chris Grabenstein has a thing for puzzle quests. After all, he is the author of the well known series, Mr. Lemoncello's Library. Now he's back with a new book and "puzzle quest" is in its title. MS. PENNYPICKLE'S PUZZLE QUEST is a story about two very different brothers. The oldest, Ethan, is good looking, athletic, and graduating from high school. The youngest, Benji, is 12 and doesn't have an athletic bone in his body. Ethan and Benji don't really get along very well as Ethan considers Benji to be pretty annoying. As a last ditch attempt to strengthen their brotherly bond before Ethan leaves home, their parents send them together on a crosscountry trip to the Grand Canyon. Not too far into the trip, an opportunity arises to join a puzzle quest happening along Route 66 where the prize is a million dollars. Who can pass that possibility up? Not these brothers! It's hard to imagine that there might just be something even greater than money that comes out of this quest, and the twist at the end? Brilliant! HEADS UP- One reference to millions of years