Night Chef by Mika Song – Book Recommendation

November 5, 2025October 16, 2025 | Tasha

Night Chef by Mika Song

Publisher: Random House Graphic

Publication Date: October 28, 2025

Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley

ISBN: 9780593303153

A raccoon has grown up living in the wall of a human restaurant where she emerges at night and cooks. She must make do with ingredients she finds on the window sill and in people’s lockers. When she tries to make ramen, she needs an egg. But just as she finally gets it in her hands, it hatches. She sets off to find the nest that the tiny baby crow came from. On the journey, they find Mole’s Hole, a restaurant for all sorts of animals that serves a variety of things made from worms. They make new friends, including a posse of other raccoons and a major enemy in an owl. Night Chef must find a way to save her little crow friend and that means figuring out where her own life is taking her.

This is Song’s first foray out of beginning readers and picture books and it’s a marvelous one. Her art is welcoming to young readers who will find colorful and friendly new characters on the pages. There is plenty of richly written action to carry the story forward and a quest worthy of our little heroine. The writing is deft and clever, funny at times but also full of heart.

A delicious new recipe for an elementary-aged graphic novel. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Jazzy the Witch in Broom Doom by Jessixa Bagley – Book Recommendation

October 30, 2025August 27, 2025 | Tasha

Jazzy the Witch in Broom Doom by Jessixa Bagley (9781665922326)

Jazzy comes from a long line of witches who make the brooms that all of them ride. But Jazzy is different. She’s not excited about learning magic spells or about learning to ride a broom. It’s not until Jazzy sees her first bicycle that she finds her passion. Soon she is zipping around secretly on a bicycle that she made with the help of her best friend and Fiona, her pet bat. As Jazzy gets more and more focused on cycling, her friendship starts to fall apart along with her school work. When a broom riding performance is announced, Jazzy must find a way not to embarrass her entire family since she can’t ride a broom yet.

Bagley has created a marvelous witchy world in this graphic novel for elementary-aged readers. The diverse characters, include Jazzy’s family of Black queer women. With the focus on witch traditions vs. human bicycles, readers get to explore what being different from your family and community feels like and how telling the truth is a way to move forward and find acceptance. The art is funny, action-filled and fully depicts the community of witches.

A non-scary witch book that’s worth a ride. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Reviewed from library copy.

Night Light by Michael Emberley – Book Recommendation

October 21, 2025October 15, 2025 | Tasha

Night Light by Michael Emberley

Publisher: Holiday House

Publication Date: April 15, 2025

Reviewed from library copy.

ISBN: 9780823458165

In this graphic novel for beginning readers, two of the author’s recurring characters get caught in a blackout. It’s too dark to read bedtime stories, but one of them gets an idea. Grabbing a long ladder, they climb up into the sky with a big bag and gather up all of the stars. Released from the bag into the bedroom, it is suddenly too bright to read without wearing sunglasses. But someone else misses the stars in the sky. Perhaps giving them back is the right thing to do after all?

Written with a wry sense of humor and a delight in making a normal circumstance magical, this comic for new readers is a grand bedtime read. Done entirely in speech bubbles, the book is nicely paced. The illustrations are joyous and full of action, sharing the loving dynamic between the two characters.

A great pick for new readers looking for a graphic novel. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki – Book Recommendation

October 16, 2025October 15, 2025 | Tasha

This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki and Nicole Goux

Publisher: Abrams Fanfare

Publication Date: August 19, 2025

Reviewed from library copy.

ISBN: 9781419768460

Abby is a new transfer student at Wilberton Academy, a high school boarding school for girls. She’s struggled to make friends, especially seeming to antagonize her roommate no matter what she does. In a time before cell phones, Abby spends her time listening to her walkman as she walks the crowded halls. When she sits with one of the theater girls after a school party, she picks up the script that the girl leaves behind. The next morning, that girl is found dead in the woods near the school. Abby refuses to accept that she committed suicide, becoming a target herself for others to accuse.

A murder mystery nests with a boarding school tale nests with an ode to the 80s nests with a critical look at what being a lesbian meant in that time. This graphic novel deeply explores loneliness, queerness and abuse. It is a layered book, accomplishing so much thanks to the skill used in the graphic format, using the limitations of the time period to create isolation, and a strong main character that readers will adore.

A masterpiece of a teen graphic novel. Appropriate for ages 13-18.

2025 Harvey Award Winners

October 13, 2025October 13, 2025 | Tasha

The winners of the 2025 Harvey Awards have been announced at New York Comic Con. The awards are given for the best of comic books and graphic novels. You can find the complete list of winners at The Daily Cartoonist. Here are the winners and nominees for the youth categories:

BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK

WINNER

The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud

NOMINEES

Chickenpox by Remy Lai

Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner

Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia and Brittney Williams

Song for You and I by Kay O’Neil

Weirdo by Tony Weaver Jr., Jess Wibowo, & Cin Wibowo

BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK

WINNER

Raised by Ghosts by Briana Loewinsohn

NOMINEES

Ash’s Cabin by Jen Wang

How It All Ends by Emma Hunsinger

Navigating with You by Jeremy Whitley, Cassio Ribeiro & Nikki Foxrobot

Strange Bedfellows by Ariel Slamet Ries

2 Joy-filled New Graphic Novels for Kids

October 2, 2025September 11, 2025 | Tasha

Cabin Head and Tree Head by Scott Campbell (9781774885055)

Enter the weird and wonderful world of the Head friends in this graphic novel for elementary-age readers. Cabin Head and Tree Head are good friends and spend a lot of time together. They spend one day saying hello to all the other Heads and then realize the impact their surprise hellos are having on some of the more volatile Heads. In another story, Cabin Head starts doing portraits, first of a taco and then of other Heads who request it, but Tree Head thinks the taco portrait is too delicious to leave alone. There are adventures with holes and treasure maps, and another with the perfect hiding space that fits far too many. The book ends with byes, stories, drawing and a final pool party.

I just can’t express how delightful this graphic novel is. The concept is bizarre and immensely charming, creating a childlike playfulness that is enticing and great fun. I particularly enjoyed the riff on Jack and the Beanstalk as well as the interaction between the various Heads to solve problems and have fun.

Laugh-out-loud funny and joyful, this is a must-read for those who enjoy silliness. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Tundra Books.

The Faraway Forest: Wally’s Route by Debbie Fong, colors by Kayla Catanzaro (9781797230412)

Wally is the mail carrier for Faraway Forest. He and his rabbit friend Bo deliver mail all over the woods. There are tiny envelopes and big heavy packages to deliver. The last house on the route is Mr. Sternbill’s and he’s quite grumpy. But Wally knows that you never know what is weighing on someone’s mind. In four chapters, readers get a tour of Wally’s route, see how a day can become surprisingly long by helping neighbors, see how a big storm impacts Wally’s job, and finally end the book with Wally getting sick and seeing how appreciated he is by his friends, including Mr. Sternbill.

This friendly and cozy graphic novel for elementary age is like a hug. Wally and Bo’s helpfulness shows the impact that someone can have on others in their community. The stories are fast paced and still make time for Wally and Bo to enjoy tea and lunch along the way. The illustrations are large, colorful, and friendly, making the reading more accessible and friendly for newer readers. The book begins with a seek and find for each chapter and ends with tips on how to draw Wally and Bo.

A welcome cozy delivery for young graphic novel enthusiasts. Appropriate for ages 5-8.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Edelweiss & Chronicle Books.

2 New Awesome Early Readers – Book Recommendations

September 25, 2025September 5, 2025 | Tasha

I Like Cheese! By Salina Yoon (9781547612420)

The first in a new graphic novel easy reader series, this book explores the friendship of Kat and Mouse. The two meet each day for lunch together. Kat is always inventing new sandwiches and explaining them to Mouse with great excitement. In contrast, Mouse prefers to have the same lunch every day. Cheese! Once the two friends realize how different they are, they decide to not have lunch together any longer. Mouse is saddened by the decision, thinking he is far too dull for exciting Kat. When Kat finds that she misses Mouse, it is Mouse who has the great idea of a compromise.

Wonderfully inviting and readable, this graphic novel easy reader uses speech bubbles, comic frames and bright colors to create something fresh and new. The interaction of the characters is remarkably impactful given the limited vocabulary and word count.

Readers will look forward to the next Kat & Mouse book. Appropriate for ages 5-7.

Reviewed from ARC provided by Bloomsbury.

The Tunneler Tunnels in the Tunnel by Michael Rex (9781665962100)

A penguin starts his long tunnel, the tunneler tunnels in the tunnel. Along the way, he pops up into various other locations. In the garden, the gardener in gardening. On the farm, the farmer is farming. The tunneler visits a mine, a building, camp, and even a baseball field as he tunnels around. In each spot, he hands out an invitation to something. It’s not revealed until the end what the tunneler has been doing with his tunneling tunnels.

Filled with wordplay, this beginning reader is a lot of fun both to share aloud or for new readers to read on their own. The illustrations are crisp and clever with touches that keep the book and the repeating words from getting stale.

The reader should be reading this reader. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Edelweiss & Simon Spotlight.

I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This by Eugene Yelchin – Book Recommendation

September 15, 2025August 27, 2025 | Tasha

I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This by Eugene Yelchin (9781536215533)

This incredible sequel to The Genius Under the Table continues Yelchin’s biographical story in graphic format. Yevgeny is living in Leningrad with his mother and grandmother in the same tiny apartment. He is now older, working on his art and doing scenery and design for theater. At an illegal art show, he first meets Lizzy, an American college student working on social justice issues. As the war in Afghanistan begins, Yevgeny is threatened with being drafted, escaping only by heading to Siberia to do theater design there. But there he finds himself institutionalized and abused.

A grim look at Soviet Russia with a first-hand account of the atrocities that happened at the hands of the KGB and in the name of Mother Russia. Yelchin’s black and white graphic format focuses on faces and characters while Russia forms an often blurred background. It gives the feeling of an old TV with a tightly focused camera. The effect is incredibly personal and offers no way for readers to look away.

One of the best graphic memoirs for teens, this is a must read and can be read as a stand alone. Appropriate for ages 13-18.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Candlewick.

2025 Harvey Award Nominees

August 14, 2025 | Tasha

The nominees for the 2025 Harvey Awards have been announced. These awards recognize the best in comics in the previous year in a variety of categories. Here are the nominees in the juvenile categories:

BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK