Short books I’ve read in March & April – Reviews

A review collection of books I’ve read in March and April (2025). Short stories whose reviews are just as short, and, in my opinion, too scarce for their own posts. They’re sorted by read date:

• Sunflowers
• When you’re a boy
• The Sun (The Solar System and Beyond)
• Woah, what a bicycle?! (Boah, was für ein Fahrrad?!)
• Milo and the Germ Adventure
• Sydney, Bean, and the Missing Gloves
• Nite Nite, Piggies: Buenas noches, cerditos
• Sib Squad
• I am a forest girl (Ich bin ein Waldmädchen)
• The Pug Who Didn’t Belong
• Turtles Are Not Boring
• You’re not a real dog owner until…

(The links are anchor links and will lead you directly to the paragraph.)

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Sunflowers – Keezy Young

Bipolar and borderline disorder have really interested me for a while, thus I’m glad I found this graphic novel, especially that’s it’s free to read on the publisher’s website.

It’s short, but relatively informative.

Wonderful art, which gives a good insight in how Keezy feels and lives with her disorder. Not that much new info for me, but was still a perspective worth reading.

-08.03.25

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When you’re a boy – Blake Nuto

A short picture book with a cute, simple-ish but calming artstyle and tender messages. All start with “When you’re a boy, [this is what society expects]” and end with “but I’ve learned [something better]”. 

Definitely recommended to kids, though every age could learn something from it.

Thank you to Jolly Fish Press for an e-ARC.

Note: The text was sometimes very difficult to read (blue font color on dark background), but I’m hoping that’s because it’s an ARC (advanced review copy) and will be changed by the release date November 18, 2025.

-13.03.25

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The Sun (The Solar System and Beyond) – Gemma McCullen

Very short, but also very informative for the beginning. Easy to read, simple language suited for kids. 

A good introduction to the sun, wanting for more.

The photos are bright and saturated, pulling the attention of the reader. Nice to look at as well.

Some text was (visually) hard to read though, because of the color chosen (grey text on dark blue background). I’m hoping that’s just the review/digital copy.

Thank you to North Star Editions for an e-RC. The book was released on January 1, 2025.

-14.03.25

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Woah, what a bicycle?! – Engstfeld Caspar David (aka Krashkid)

A newly released German book (Boah, was für ein Fahrrad!?) by the Ankerwechsel publisher, which, so far, only is available in German. I’ve received an e-RC through Netgalley. (Thank you!)

Now I want to expand my own bike! I’ve actually been planning to do that for a while, so this was perfect inspiration to finally do so. But also, the colorful drawing style boosted my creativity; it reminded me that I should open my sketchbook again…

I really like how creative all the bikes are. I especially love the nature bike! And I’m wondering – is the book a little memoir, did Engstfeld actually meet all these people and their bikes, or are they completely made up? It would be pretty neat if the UFF-Club really existed. ^^

The book is essentially a zine – at least in terms of style, subject, format, and length – with the difference that it was published traditionally by a publisher and printed in hardback. Nevertheless, it’s recommended for all zine fans, but also for picture book and comic fans in general. And of course, all DIY and bike/bicycle fans. 😀

-08.04.2025

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Milo and the Germ Adventure – Shea Peterson, Monika Wnek

A short picture book for children around kindergarten age, to learn about germs and how quickly they spread.

The art is cute and colorful and will surely draw in kids and parents/caretakers alike.

My only criticism:

1. High heels / outdoor shoes inside. I know it’s an american thing, but why? Talking about germs, that would be the perfect opportunity to explain why you shouldn’t wear your outdoor shoes inside.
   • And if they were house-shoes: why high heels? No sane woman/human wears high heels 24/7. Especially not when working with little children.
2. Flour instead of glitter could’ve been used. (It does look like flour actually.)

But hey, I loved the variety of skin colors – both for the children and adults.

Thank you to the BooksGoSocial for an e-RC.

-10.04.25

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Sydney, Bean, and the Missing Gloves – Janice E. Collins, ArtSoluki

A heartwarming little story about two adoptive age-gap sisters growing on each other through an adventure.

Accompanied by lovely art with a cozy style, both the cover and the illustrations in each chapter.

I only found it too stereotypical at times:

• Cats are the enemies of dogs, especially stray cats.
• An unnecessary remark about black cats bringing bad luck.
• Labradors are meant to be brave.
• A German Shepard who’s a retired police dog.
• Rottweilers are aggressive.

But hey, on a positive note, some disability rep:

• One dog has a guide/service animal (a ferret) because of his aggression problems. (Well, he’s not showed to be aggressive, only says that his owners think so.)
• Sydney has an intense fear of thunder and lightning, which goes as far as her needing to stim whenever it’s about to rain – in dog’s manner that’s digging up holes and burying objects.

Thank you to Atmosphere Press for an e-RC.

-10.04.25

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Nite Nite, Piggies: Buenas noches, cerditos (Nite Nite #3) – Jane E. Ruth, Yassibel Duque

(It’s my first book of the series, but I believe they’re episodic and can be read on their own.)

Very cute!

I love that It’s bilingual. Wonderful for me, who’s learning Spanish at the moment, but also anyone else learning Spanish or English. 

The illustrations are sooo sweet, I‘m in love with the style! Toddlers with no interest in the text will definitely be lured by it – and it can also be understood without the text (which is scarce anyways).

I also loved the summary of all the pigs races featured at the end. Didn’t even know there were so many different races. 

A little unnecessary was the addition of religion – well, particularly human religion. And the sentences got too repetitive (that comes from someone who didn’t like those repetitions as a child already).
Also, I hope it’s a vegan/vegetarian farm, otherwise that would make for a traumatic revelation growing up.

Overall recommended.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial for an e-RC.

-10.04.25

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Sib Squad #1 – Steve Breen

Didn’t expect there to be magic and sci-fi. Not that it’s bad, but was very random. 

Would’ve given it 5 stars, if the laser storyline had been properly resolved. Dude just cuts off a tree, potentially killed a beehive and several bird eggs, and goes home as if the tree was just taking a nap? What? Not even a “sorry didn’t want to destroy nature”? 

Other than that it is cute. Something different from the typical children’s fiction adventures for sure. 

I love the pigeons and Lucy (the genius). 

Looking forward to volume 2. 

Thank you to Worthy Publishing for an e-RC. Was released on April 1, 2025. 

-23.04.25 

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I am a forest girl – Nadia Al Omari, Richolly Rosazza

(original title: Siamo foresta io e te), translated into german (Ich bin ein Waldmädchen) by Cornelia Panzacchi)

“We are the forest, me and you.”

A sad, emotional beginning. But the twist in the middle was a sigh of relief, and the ending was beautiful.

Definitely great artwork by Richolly Rosazza – I think it’s drawn with colored pencils on paper? Definitely very detailed with lush green/natural colors that remind us what a paradise Earth really is.

Plus, a gentle, slightly poetic writing style. I especially liked the last page.

(Since I read the German translation and don’t understand Italian, I can’t confirm whether Nadia Al Omari’s style was fully adopted. In some places, it sounded a bit too ‘translated’ – at least that’s what I noticed as an adult; children certainly won’t mind.)

Thank you to the Thienemann-Esslinger publisher on Netgalley for a digital review copy. The book was published on April 24, 2025.

-28.04.25

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The Pug Who Didn’t Belong – Janina Kelly, Tommy Hardman

Very cute. I loved the poetry/rhyming writing.

I only found it a bit too fast-paced. I would’ve expected a more ‘outsider-ish’ plot, based on the title and the quite ‘lonely’ cover. While the happy end comes with no surprise (it is a kids book, after all), and I’m glad about that, there just wasn’t that much about “not belonging”. 

(The german title, Mopsmäßig Mutig (“pug-like brave”), fits more.)

It’s still very sweet, with lovely art by Tommy Hardman. The watercolor-like style definitely looks amazing, gives it a traditional vibe.

Thank you to BookSirens for a digital review copy. The book was released on March 25, 2025.

-28.04.25

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Turtles Are Not Boring – Ardila Zufir, Safitri Yusuf

Very cute art.

As for the writing, I like the subtle rhyming – didn’t notice it until a few pages in.

The only page I’m not a fan of is the baking scene – animal torture shouldn’t be promoted in children’s books. Even if the possibility exists that those are artificial ingredients or have been taken with consent from the animal. (I know turtles like to eat those, but there’s a huge difference between “turtles in our world getting it fed by humans” and “anthropomorphic turtles living like humans in the forest and feeding themselves”.)

Also, they’re technically tortoises. Unless it plays in a fantasy/different world …

Other than that, recommended. It’s inspiring me to go on an adventure myself.

Thank you to BookSirens for a digital review copy. The book was released on March 2, 2025.

-29.04.25

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You’re Not a Real Dog Owner Until… – Jason Chatfield, Scott Dooley

My dog’s my best friend, so obviously I had to check this out when it popped up in my home feed. 

I commented on every page/observation and reflected whether I can relate to with my Amy, and there were quite a few insights among them. A lot of these are very stereotypical and I don’t agree with all, but overall very fun. Would make a good gift for any dog parent. 

As for the art style, the dogs are really cute, whereas the humans have a very heavy newspaper-caricature style. But it’s not that big of a deal. Still amazing how there are 119 drawings. Quite diverse, too. 

Also, the adoption story of a rescue dog in-between (like a show break) was really sweet. 

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing on Netgalley for a digital review copy. The book was released on April 29, 2025. 

-30.04.25