Kara recommends "Good Night, Body: Finding Calm from Head to Toe"

It can be hard for little ones to settle themselves for bedtime. This story helps children, and their adults, with the mindfulness practice of body scan meditation to help children let go of any worry, stress and excitement as they dance their fingers like wind chimes, reach their arms like a telescope and stretch their legs like giraffes to relax their bodies and minds into sleep.

My daughters LOVE this book, and reading it nightly has helped them calm down and transition from play time to bedtime on the days when they are overtired or overstimulated.

This book is great for children ages 3 and up.

 

 

Katie recommends "The Soulmate"

 

"Get ready for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal, and the secrets that push us to the edge in Sally Hepworth's The Soulmate. There's a cottage on a cliff. Gabe and Pippa's dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Night after night Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge. Until he doesn't. When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral...Did the victim jump? Was she pushed? And would Gabe, the love of Pippa's life, her soulmate...lie? As the perfect facade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel"

I read a lot of suspenseful thrillers, and this one was absolutely delightful. I finished it all in one evening, it was that enthralling. I’d been in a reading slump and this was just what I needed to pull me out of it. Although I wish a certain someone didn’t get the redemption arc they did…

This is a book for adults.  

Catherine recommends "In Between"

 

People, animals, plants – all are constantly growing and changing. We all know the story of the caterpillar who becomes a beautiful butterfly, or the acorn that becomes a mighty oak. But there is a lot that happens in between those stages, and those in between moments can be awkward. April Pulley Sayre’s beautiful photographic picture book, In Between, takes a look at all the ways different creatures can find themselves in between: whether in between day and night, calm and frenzy, or young and grown. Filled with gorgeous photos and with a simple, calm story, this book will make you take a closer look at all that is around you – people, animals, and plants. A perfect shared read for young children and their grown-ups, particularly at this time of year when so much is changing in the world outside. Read this and then take a walk to see what in betweens you might discover!

 

Recommended for children

 

Justine recommends "The Faygo Book" by Joe Grimm

The Faygo Book by Joe Grimm is a quick, short history about the local pop maker, and they emphasize it's called "pop," not "soda!"

The book covers Faygo's origins in the late 19th/early 20th century, their rise to prominence in the Detroit area, and their continuing dedication to the city of Detroit.  Highlights include the many pictures of advertisements and promotional material, a complete list of their past and present flavors, and lively discussions about the triumphs and challenges the brand has faced.  Whether you're just a fan of Redpop or an avid Insane Clown Posse fan, there's something here for you.