BUNGO STRAY DOGS by Kafka Asagiri. Illustrated by Sango Harukawa I have read my first Manga book. I don't feel that by reading one book I have suddenly become knowledgeable about this genre, especially since it is a genre that is very near and dear to some kids' hearts, but I am willing to share some thoughts. How did I end up reading a Manga book when it is way outside my typical genre trenches? I have a high school lit class I teach. 3 days a week I give the students reading assignments, 1 day a week we gather together for discussion, and 1 day I give them a free read day. When we gather together we share what we've read on our free read day, and Manga was something that was popping up often. Manga is not something that I naturally gravitate too, but I do love reading alongside kids and having discussions with them. I asked for a recommendation, and Bungo Stray Dogs was it. So let's talk for a minute about my preconceived notions about Manga. Hearing others talk about it, I gathered it was dark, full of sexual situations, language, etc. I assume that this varies from series to series. Manga takes a little bit of getting used to. After all you read it back to front, right to left, and honestly as I read through this book I would lose the story line from time to time. I'm sure part of that has to do with not having a good understanding of Asian culture. In spite of all of this, I was able to grasp the jist of the story It's easy to see why some kids gravitate to Manga. The art form is very appealing to certain kids, but past that, in Bungo Stray Dogs, we are dealing with super powers and an undercover detective agency - two very attractive elements to kids. So specifically in Bungo Stray Dogs what are my concerns? First of all, there is a character that is obsessed with suicide. I understand that in the Asian culture suicide is looked on differently than how it is in the US, but as a Christian we are taught that life is precious and valuable. It is difficult to see it treated so flippantly. Second, the antagonist of the book has a super power that is a black spirit type thing that eats anything and everything in its space. I can't really tell you if the black spirit is an "evil spirit" or not. The book doesn't really explain it. My guess is that as the series continues we would be given more information. Third, there is a bit of language. So what's my recommendation on Manga? Read it with your child/teen until you feel like you have a good handle on the series they are interested in. Make sure it fits what you are trying to allow in your home.

CUPIG by Claire Tattersfield. Illustrated by Rob Sayegh, Jr. Cupig: The Valentine's Day pig by Claire Tattersfield is about as adorable as they come! Cupig is the sweetest little Cupid you can imagine. She loves spreading love around, but sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate. Sometimes her arrows end up being blown off course which can cause a little bit of havoc. After one such day peanut butter and jelly are no longer a pair. Salt and Pepper have broken up. Needle and Thread have gone their separate ways. Cupig has got to make things right! Told in rhyming verse, this lovely book will have you giggling and cheering when things get put back to right!

A CUP OF LOVE by Michael Todd. Illustrated by Joel Santana This book is not necessarily a Valentine book, but it does talk about relationships, and it does talk about love. When Daddy and Mommy are going out on a date night, one of their kids is sad because she can't go. Daddy sits her down and with a neat demonstration, begins to show his daughter the importance of having relationships in order. That order includes his relationship with Christ first and next the relationship between him and mom. This book helps us remember that "I love you" is much more than a series of words. It is a valuing of people and our actions should show that! This is one of my 2024 TOP PICKS, because rarely do we see books that celebrate the dad and mom working on keeping their relationship special. This is so important!

CHINESE MENU: THE HISTORY, MYTHS, AND LEGENDS BEHIND YOUR FAVORITE FOODS by Grace Lin When visiting my local bookstore (local in the country type of meaning ), I found this gem of a book in time for the Chinese New Year. Now, I can't recommend it officially yet, because I haven't read it. However, this book looks absolutely delightful and the New Year is around the corner! Author Grace Lin takes us on a journey of Chinese food and legends in her book, Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods. This book is 270 pages of Chinese foods that you may be familiar with and some not so much and the stories of how or why these popular meals came into existence. The stories include dragons, emperors, mountains, gold, and many other intriguing elements. If you are interested in the Chinese New Year, food is a big part of that, or if you have children that are interested in tales from other cultures, this book will satisfy either! Grace Lin, the author and illustrator, has received both a Caldecott and Newberry Honor Award for previous books. She is quite a distinguished individual!

ROSES ARE PINK, YOUR FEET REALLY STINK by Diane deGroat Do you need a humorous book for Valentine's Day that still slides in a bit of a lesson for each of us? Check out Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diana deGroat. This book will remind you of the original Arthur books by Marc Brown if you are familiar with those. Gilbert's class is preparing for Valentine's Day and each student is supposed to make their own valentines for their classmates. Gilbert has no problem writing up most of the valentines topped off with a poem he personalized for each friend. However, there are two students in the class that he really doesn't like, so he creates poems that are not very nice and signs them with someone else's name. What happens next can only be marked with "uh-oh!" The title may cause each of us to grin a little, but the heart of this story really is that our words matter. This is a lesson that each of us needs to hear probably on a daily basis!

VALENTINE'S FOR ALL by Nancy Churnin. Illustrated by Monika Roza Wisniewska Want to know how Valentine cards became popular in the United States? Then you'll want to check out this great picture book read about Esther Howland entitled Valentines for All: Esther Howland captures America's Heart by Nancy Churnin. What this woman did was nothing short of amazing and for all of us who enjoy receiving these beautiful cards on America's love holiday, we owe our thanks to Esther's persistent nature! This is a great read!

THE BLACK PEARL by Scott O' Dell Black pearls are mysterious. Rarer than white pearls and found only in saltwater, these midnight colored orbs are the subject of legends and myths. Scott O'Dell's Newberry Honor winner, The Black Pearl, is one such story. Ramon Salazar wants to learn the secrets of diving for pearls. After all, he is convinced that the fabled Pearl of Heaven, a black pearl of unbelievable size, lies beneath the waves waiting to be discovered. But if the fabled Pearl is real, does that mean that the fabled monster of the sea, the Manta Diablo, that mothers use to threaten their misbehaving children is also real? What begins as a search for the ultimate treasure turns into an unexpected adventure with more than one life at stake.

AURORA BOREALIS PICTURE BOOKS Aurora Borealis - even the way the words roll off your tongue is awe-inspiring. I find this phenomenon (as I'm sure many of you do as well) absolutely magical, mysterious, and breath taking - a miraculous creation of our amazing God. One night, about a year ago, we had friends over who live in Alaska. It was wonderful hearing their first hand experience of witnessing this marvel. I was amazed that the colors aren't stationary. They move like flowing water. If you are looking to share this beautiful happening with your kids here are some resources. The Lights that Dance in the Night shares how the Northern Lights happen. The artwork is gorgeous! Cozy doesn't talk about the Northern Lights, but Jan Brett allows some of their beauty to shine through in the illustrations of her classic musk ox tale. Want to see some of the awesomeness of Aurora Borealis in real time? Check out the following link : https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DN-TV_6eIDxw&ved=2ahUKEwji0vOurI2EAxWGl4kEHSymArUQwqsBegQIEBAF&usg=AOvVaw00VKGRWuyU-4GstxbSIDGQ  . The first few minutes you'll hear the Scandinavian videographer speak, but then she goes silent and the beauty of the colors shines through. How about an art project to do? Check out https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DZgxmD2KmRz8&ved=2ahUKEwjgxMXtrI2EAxUlF1kFHRskBtsQwqsBegQIDRAF&usg=AOvVaw2oc5pcol1sCc6SUTUr_ods for an amazing rendition. Happy reading!

DUST by Kara Swanson First of all, don't you love a green light on a YA book?! Yay!! Second, I'm going to be finding glitter forever after I sprinkled it all around this book! My 10-year-old may have grabbed a pinch and put it in her forehead and on my nose! Good thing I am one of the ones that loves glitter and don't care if I find a few shimmers for the next year! What if Neverland was on the brink of destruction? What if Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Tiger Lily, and The Lost Boys had to leave and now were in London? What if the current state of Neverland was Peter Pan's fault and the Lost Boys teamed up with Hook who might actually be good? Is that possible? What if we are past the days of Wendy, her daughter Jane, and now we meet a girl named Claire who has some type of strange skin disease where flakes flutter off of her at the most inconvenient and embarrassing times, yet she is hunted by Hook and Pan. What if, what if, what if? Dust by Kara Swanson is the first of a two book series retelling the story of Peter Pan in a "slightly" different light. It embodies elements of mystery, adventure, and romance to form a perfect combination YA book. The cherry on top of the whipped cream? The book is squeaky clean! No language, no sex, no cringe-worthy issues! This book will leave you hanging, and all I can say is my copy is on order!

CHINESE NEW YEAR BOOKS Chinese New Year is coming quickly! This year it is February 10th (you don't have to celebrate it on the 10th. Do it when it works for you!), and this year is the year of the DRAGON. If you enjoy visiting other cultures' holidays and customs then we've got a few suggestions for you! In the picture above are a few books you can read about the New Year. Celebrate Chinese New Year by Carolyn Otto especially goes into the details of the holiday. Friends are Friends Forever by Diane Liu 8s the story of a little girl who leaves China and her best friend. Some of their last memories together are of celebrating the New Year. In America, she struggles to make friends until the New Year comes around again. Chinese New Year Colors by Rich Lo is a simple book of colors and objects used in the celebration. In the back descriptions of the items are given and their importance in the holiday. Playing With Lanterns by Wang Yage tells the story of children and their love for the lanterns. The Author's Notes at the end tell the history of this recognized Chinese symbol. So how do you make this a family celebration? For simple decorations check out the back of Celebrate Chinese New Year where they give directions on making easy lanterns to hang. How about food? Follow this link for some simple recipes for Chinese food to serve! https://www.allrecipes.com/gallery/easy-chinese-recipes/

DOUBLE TROUBLE GROUNDHOG DAY by Bethany Roberts. Illustrated by Lorinda Bryan CAULEY Groundhog Day is right around the corner! In fact it is this Friday, February 2! I love the fun of hearing about whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not, and this book, Double Trouble Groundhog Day by Bethany Roberts Is a fun book to pair with the event Grandpa Groundhog decides that it is time to retire from his "shadow" job and pass the reins onto one of his twin grandchildren. The question is which one will it be? ( If you have more than one child you know what kind of skirmishes can arise with a decision like this! ) This delightful little story tells about what it means if the groundhog sees or doesn't see his shadow and also the importance of our siblings.

BIOGRAPHY OF YOUR CHOICE - INTRO It's time to introduce our first Book Club pick of 2024! This one comes with a twist! We're doing a biography or autobiography of your choice. That's right! Each person gets to pick the book they want to read. Each week I will give a question or two to help you evaluate the person, their life, and what you can take away from the book. for you to share what If you want to do the same book that I am, I will announce it in a day or two (I haven't picked mine yet! ) You can do anything from sports star to royal to historical figure to movie star, etc. I just ask that when you share you keep your wording PG out of respect for everyone! This week pick and get your book. I will put the first question up on Jan. 11. You can answer it at any time. Last question will be posted on Feb. 15.