Hey all, it may not feel like it (in my neck of the woods) but the holidays are almost here. That means it is time for the annual Holiday Card Swap.

This is a just about cards. All (or none) religions are recognized as there are multiple holidays being celebrated in the coming weeks.

Sign ups are easy and located here: https://forms.gle/VVscwD8z3ANjvFd97

Please tag and share. #cardswap #litsycardswap #holidaycardswap

@OriginalCyn620 I‘m #deadlyaerious that I didn‘t keep track of my bingos and could have kept better time on readathon a but I had been a crazy month. So my points are 5425. Could have been more but it would take me a week to get to all that.

4.5 ⭐ This is the sequel to the Witch Boy, but it would be possible to read it out of order. There might be some catch-up, but not enough to really affect the story. This is a story about friendship. About how people from different walks of life can be friends. How sometimes friends see the danger before the person experiencing it does. This book is about family. It‘s about love acceptance and everything else that made book number one so fantastic

3 ⭐ This manga was alright. Apparently, it was a light novel first. My biggest issue with this book is it feels like snippets of a longer story. Where you‘re just seeing one scene after another with nothing to connect them. We start with Elana as a child determining that they‘re going to be a witch. Then move onto her being a witch and getting her own apprentice who turns out was just lonely.

5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Bunnicula is a classic for a reason. The story is timeless and is still fresh every time you read it. The newest version is in graphic novel, and the perfect illustrators were picked to take this classic and make it modern for a new generation. There‘s nothing to tell about the story itself as it stands on its own decades after it was published. But it took skilled artists to make that medium visual in a way that‘s entertaining to kids

3 ⭐this graphic novel/manga is hard to get into and at times hard to follow. It feels like the words are reading in the wrong direction at times. A woman inherits a creepy house and finds out there is a strange cat that lives in there. This isn‘t any cat, it‘s a monster cat. it can grow and shrink. It can multiply. It could destroy the world if allowed. You also have the local police officer who has the hots for the girl

4 ⭐This was a wonderfully cute book. Some slightly magical dogs are taken to a shelter, and each find a home. However, Hocus and Pocus want to go to a home together. But to do that, they must create mischief to get adopted by the perfect person. They might even have to steal away to a witch home to prove that they belong. This is a full color early chapter book, and it was magical. You‘ll love the characters you‘ll love the pets.

4 ⭐This was a wonderfully cute book. Some slightly magical dogs are taken to a shelter, and each find a home. However, Hocus and Pocus want to go to a home together. But to do that, they must create mischief to get adopted by the perfect person. They might even have to steal away to a witch home to prove that they belong. This is a full color early chapter book, and it was magical. You‘ll love the characters you‘ll love the pets.

3 ⭐ This book is about being yourself and how there is no one exactly like you. Each page takes a concept and talks about how you as a human match that concept whether it‘s being animal whether it‘s being water whether it‘s being unique and different. All in all the book and has to match.

3 ⭐ This picture book is interesting. The illustrations are the standout in this book. They‘re bright they‘re colorful and they really bring the joy to the words on the pages. This isn‘t bad and it seems like it wants to have a cadence but the cadence frequently changes which causes stutters as reading aloud. Overall, the story and the message are nice but the book is just ehh.

4 ⭐This was an interesting nonfiction book. It‘s not a graphic novel, but leans heavily on graphic novel coloring and art. It is set up as a nonfiction book and while the information is fun and important, it feels very redundant with how things are laid out. Having said that, I know kids will check this book out repetitively if you put it on shelves.

4 ⭐ This book was adorable. It set up as a picture book, but I think would work much better in the US market as a board book. The adorable illustrations are of a kiwi with a horn. This book is a question and recall. The front page is a list of attributes, and the back page then says that the Kiwicorn is exactly that. This book will sell well for the illustrations and for the story and will want to be checked out over and over again.

2 ⭐This is a DNF. I‘m 10% in and it‘s all about two idiots making meth, wanting to move to Cincinnati and getting interrupted by something landing from space. This is a galley and it‘s kind of fuzzy, which makes it hard to read, and I just don‘t care to try and struggle through. Even if the meth heads are only part of this for the first few pages it‘s not worth getting to the end.

2 ⭐This book seems OK. Kids might enjoy it. I shall be DNF thing as I just find it annoying. It feels like every single character is constantly anxious and no one can be calm and we haven‘t even really gotten into a lot of the ghosts yet.

3 ⭐A preacher wrestles with his faith when tragedy occurs. The family structure was already starting to crumble before the car accident but now that he and his remaining daughter can see ghosts. Life has gotten crazy. They now have this ability to not just see ghosts, but help them find their end. However, the line between ghost and demon is not strict and sometimes the entity wants more than just to be told they‘re free. This book is odd.

3 ⭐ The second book by S. A. Barnes introduces us to Dr. Ophelia Bray. Her specialty is asleep. When people don‘t get enough sleep on spaceships and visiting other planets it could cause them to become self-harm inflicting murderous tyrants. Ophelia wants to make sure this never happens to anyone else again. As the only psychologist who was just embedded on a ship that had recently lost a member, her travel is not going to be easy.

3 ⭐Sometimes a staycation is just as horrifying as a vacation. Three kids and their neighborhood prankster learn this when they decide to camp in the backyard. Scratches on the wall aren‘t scratches. It‘s monster tentacles out to get them. The kids get into a tree, and then cant they come down, how come nobody can hear them? Oh my goodness what just happened to their parents. If you want to know this and find out what the tentacles belong to, the

4 ⭐ This is another fun book in the monster series from Happy Yak books. It was just like all the other ones. It‘s a cute singsong rhyme with great illustrations that kids are going to want to read again and again.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐5 ⭐
This book was wonderful. However, it needs a different cover. The cover is kind of boring and looks self-published, but the illustrations found within the pages are amazing. Kids will want to read and see this book once you give them something to draw them in.

4.5 🌟While the cover of this book clearly indicates it takes place in October this book could be read at any time. A little boy meets Griselda, who is opening a brand-new bookstore. He doesn‘t like to read, but with Griselda‘s help he‘s going to find a book just for him. But first they must have a little fun and magic in the bookshop. This book was lovely, and the illustrations are adorable.

2 ⭐This book from imagination press is about making choices. Sometimes you can fear the idea of making a choice, but you need to do it anyway or else things could turn out badly. I like that this didn‘t follow the standard educational material format but at the same time, I don‘t think the book did a good job imparting its lesson. I do think the illustrations are fun and there will be people who like this book but overall it‘s long and boring.

3 ⭐ What the heck did I just read? A boy, because that‘s all I can think of him as, summons the great Duke of Hell to help him get the girl of his dreams that works at a restaurant. He makes friends with another guy that seems scared of everything and tells the great Duke of Hell he can go back to hell. His sister goes missing because she realizes there‘s a demon in the house and I‘m going to must kill him. And something is off with the girl who

4 ⭐ This book makes me think of a stereotypical Jewish grandma who is very excited to see their grandbaby. There are words in here the give reason for the glossary in the back, which is part of what makes me think Jewish grandma. This was just fun. That baby talk, happy to see them, their tummy, type of book. The illustrations are really fun. The catalog page tells how the book was illustrated, probably to stave off any idea this might be AI.

4 ⭐This picture book is about a boisterous little girl who has a larger-than-life personality until those around her tell her to calm down. Quiet yourself and be more meek, be more mild. She does as they tell her to, but she loses herself along the way. It‘s grandma who says it‘s OK to be who you are, and you should be who you are. That advice running through her brains she finds herself again and vows never go back to being small.

4 ⭐This is a seasonally appropriate book. Our main character has just a little bit of baking magic. She can bake her feelings and make her treats share those feelings with others. Her aunt is a master at this, but this book takes a sharp turn when the Aunt passes away unexpectedly. Back to our main character who has to find a new normal as she learns why you don‘t bake when you‘re feeling bad. This book is sad but still lovely.

4 ⭐In a world where you play video games while you sleep, sometimes if you die in the game, you die in life. This book was interesting and I‘m not 100% sure I understood the end of volume one. So I would be interested in checking out volume two. We start with the brother and his sister and who they are in this game. You wear this game at night while you sleep. The older brother is withdrawn and kind of going crazy and gets stuck in the game,

4.5 ⭐This is the first book in a middle grade school series that is sure to get kids thinking of science and fantasy. This special high school is full of smart kids and the big project is the science fair. However, Newton is so new he doesn‘t remember anything. He doesn‘t know how he got to the high school or where he came from. But he knows he‘s supposed to be there and now hast to not only fit in figure out if he can be as mad scientist

4 ⭐This was a fun Halloween story. A little pumpkin is very excited to go out trick-or-treating. They learn they have to go with mom or dad, and they can‘t go on their own. They have a little temper tantrum and being sent the corner leads to an adventure in a haunted house, where our little pumpkin will meet all sorts of friendly monsters. This book was fun, and kids are really going to like it. the illustrations make up for the length

3 ⭐These books are always interesting. It‘s like the best 80s camp movies that were incredibly stupid are turned into a similar style graphic novel. Throw in a little Captain Underpants humor and you get the agents of suits books. Kids love them and they should. Their wild mystery adventures that don‘t always make sense Until everything is wrapped up in the end. But kids love them from beginning to end and this will be no different.

2 ⭐I am sad to say but Hovergirls is a DNF. The main character Kim is so annoying. I cannot take it anymore. Kim and her best friend are moving to the city. Kim is very bubbly a bit of an airhead and very much into fashion and boys and not caring about anything else. Her best friend is more standoffish and socially awkward. But can they make themselves into superheroes and get the publicity Kim wants. The reason this book is a DNF is because

3 ⭐This is a sequel to a book I loved. Nell Gumbling is about the small town of Gumbling and the inhabitants within. In the first book Nell and her friends were trying to save their town. In the second book they‘re going away for a weeklong summer camping camp. The winners get these amazing jackets. But first Nell and her friends are going to have to handle changes in their friendship and how people can change as they grow up.

3.5 ⭐It may seem odd to read a Christmas book in October, but this book actually starts in September so it‘s perfect read. Pizza and taco need to get ready for Christmas if they want to get there super long list ready. They must remember to be good and help others with the hope of possibly getting anything on their lists. This of course is an early reader‘s chapter book. It‘s quite a lovely and fun read that kids are going to enjoy.

3.75 ⭐ I have to say this is one of the most unique fantasy books I have read. This takes place in the 90s, so it feels like going back to my teenage years. Between the hair metal bands, the Pantera shirts, I swam in this world gleefully. This is a story about a boy who‘s been away for the last few years because his father was in rehab. When he gets to move back in with his family it‘s a bit strange and his first stop is to a bookstore.

I‘m doubly spoiled with an #ahrs24 box from @KT1432

I love it all and will probably read Gatekeeper tonight.

Thank you thank you thank you @MaleficentBookDragon

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFtyyJfg/

I have been spoiled @BookwormAHN this was an amazing package. Now to find time to read all of these!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!
#hhs24 @wanderinglynn

Oh and I forgot to get a pick of the awesome 3d card!!!

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTFGnWusY/

The post man always rings 2 times. One package is from Slaughter (I can‘t remember the screen name to match the address currently boo to me. ) and from @KT1432

@wanderinglynn @MaleficentBookDragon #hhs24 and #ahrs2024. Can‘t wait to open.

Two packages out today.

#hauntedhallowsswap @wanderinglynn

#allhallowsreadswap @MaleficentBookDragon

4⭐Lila Grier is afraid of the “what if”. But teacher helps her through this in the kindest way possible and leads to her becoming a teacher later in life. This book rhymes throughout and it‘s very well done. The illustrations are fun but a bit old-fashioned. The historical times you expect to be but when Lila becomes a teacher the pencil skirt and heels seems a little old-fashioned, but I love it. this is a great book to add to this series

3 ⭐This book is cute. A little boy is out for the day with his father and think things are not fair. It is his constant bratty refrain. Dad is trying to show that things are fair you just don‘t perceive them that way. Overall I like the book I just wish there was a reason or that dad could explain why things appear unfair instead of just leaving it that you‘re the kid, I‘m the adult. The book does work, but I think it could be better.

4 ⭐This book is adorable and would be great fun as a read aloud. An apple is about to fall from a tree and each animal takes a moment to think that is going to be mine. The way the author rhymes the story when she needs to and uses sound words like plop, fizz, etc. in other parts of the story makes this such a fun read. It a great ending. Also have to give it up to Eric Rothman, who did all the fantastic illustrations.

4 ⭐In this, we have a boy who‘s good at sports and another team member who‘s good at a different sport. And the boy who‘s not so good at football tells the boy that is good at football that I don‘t like you yelling at me to catch the ball. It makes me feel bad. The good at sports boy is like you‘re right. I don‘t like that when coach does that to me, and he has the same conversation with coach

3 ⭐This cookbook makes me hungry. I can‘t give a bigger compliment than that. I would like to see this in a printed version because on my iPad it seems really small. My other observation is all the food looks fantastic and looks ready to eat. It also makes me think of my grandmother is 1960s and 70s cookbook. I think this cookbook is fantastic, but those flipping in a bookstore might give it a pass.

2 ⭐I cannot tell where this book is going. What I do know is four years ago friends got together and one friend didn‘t come back. Is this friend dead are they in a hell dimension we don‘t quite know. Four years later, the ex-friends all gather together even though they‘re not supposed to have anything to do with each other to go to this house. They are all told to finish playing the game.

2⭐What is it with circuses lately. Everybody‘s afraid of clowns, but everybody loves the circus. The circus just happens to be a lesbian time traveling one. Our ringmaster comes from a previous circus where things were not so good and were bad in a mythical type of way. We the reader don‘t know why but honestly, I don‘t care. The whole time traveling and going back-and-forth between , 1919 and just after or even during the war just was not working

2 ⭐ This started out interesting. Two people who are getting ready to direct a horror movie go off into the woods and meet a neighbor to warn them that the screams won‘t be real. Then we switch to a former soap opera star from Ireland, who moved to LA to reinvigorate her lott childhood acting career. then we switched to three months later with a different set of movie crew doing something. This book is choppy.

4 ⭐I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I‘m one of those people who grew not like the church. However, in this youth group their trained to be demon hunters. The idea that every religion has a sect of demon hunters whether they call it l that or not, just works. Their powers mixes with the story quite well and all over this is a fun. Think it‘d be great in any library collection.

2 ⭐I had hopes for this book. There‘s something about the fat girl, knowing she‘s fat, being worried about it in high school and how she fares on rides that really gets to me. Talk about a lived experience. The idea of her and her best friend getting lost in a corn maze rather than going on the school field trip should be up my alley. However, it feels like the reader is dropped in the center of a story that‘s already started.

3 ⭐I don‘t like this title. And it‘s just the title. I don‘t think Trump is a word that should be used in modern society for a woman. This is a story about a female character who had an inappropriate touching instance happened to her. And it‘s left a mental block to where she can‘t be with men. It‘s a physical bad reaction anytime she holds hands, etc. But there‘s this model, this model that makes her wonder - Hey maybe I‘m not straight.

2 ⭐This is a book about the young high school student who must remain the chaste. No physical contact, no kissing, no handholding, nothing. It is because he‘s born to a political family, and it is the rules within their family that between the ages of 12 and 18, there is to be no physical intimacy. The main character has a girlfriend, and she would at least like to kiss. The title makes you think it might be even more and part of it does seem like

2 ⭐There are far too many words in this book. This is because this book is extremely repetitive. It feels as if the author took an online course on how to write a formulaic picture book. State your problem. Give examples of the problem. Give a solution. Repeat the solution with a nonmonic device that kids can remember. End story. This book skips the pneumonic device and gives you a lesson in counting. The lesson is nice, but it takes so long