Archives for May 2024

Home Sweet Rome! is a coming-of-age comedy series about Lucy, a 13-year-old girl who moves from California to Rome with her father, an archaeologist, and stepmother, an Italian popstar. Lucy must adjust to her new city, school, and life with her famous stepmother, while also dealing with the challenges of being a 13-year-old girl and her best friend, Kyla, who is 6,000 miles away. The series features original music, relatable mishaps, heartwarming connections, and stunning Italian vistas.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Avalon N. comments, “Home Sweet Rome! is an incredible TV series with some very important messages as Lucy adjusts to living in Rome when she is forced to move away from her home and her best friend. A lot of teens and tweens have experienced similar events in their lives and this show can help them feel less alone.” Ari P. adds, “Home Sweet Rome! is a fun coming-of-age comedy series set in Italy’s capital, with breathtaking views, funny scenes, and heartwarming moments.”

See their full reviews below.

Home Sweet Rome!

By Avalon N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15

Home Sweet Rome! is an incredible TV series with some very important messages. It ties together a lot of different components that make the series unique.

The plot of this series is that of 13-year-old Lucy (Kensington Tallman) moves from the US to Rome because her father (Darrin Rose) marries an Italian popstar, Francesca (Eleonora Facchini). The series follows her life as she learns to live and go to school in Rome without knowing any Italian. Along the way she meets many good people and learns to appreciate the life she’s been given.

There are many incredible parts of this series. One of the main ones is how very relatable it is to teens and tweens alike. Lucy is forced to move away from her home and her best friend, Kyla (Ava Ro). Her dad marries new woman and she doesn’t want to forget her mom. A lot of teens and tweens have experienced similar events in their lives and this show can help them feel less alone.

Another fantastic thing about this show is the location. It is set in Rome! And, it was filmed entirely on location in Rome rather than in a studio with green screens, which makes it very authentic. The cast and crew flew to Rome about four months to film the show and shot all of it in and in front of actual buildings all around the city. Another interesting thing to note is that, other than a few background actors, most of the tourists in the background of outdoor shots are real tourists just enjoying their vacations.

The message of this series is to always be true and genuine to yourself because that’s ultimately the most important thing.

I give Home Sweet Rome! 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. You can watch this series on Max starting May 16, 2024.

Home Sweet Rome!

By Ari P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14

Welcome to Rome! Home Sweet Rome! is a fun coming-of-age comedy series set in Italy’s capital, with breathtaking views, funny scenes, and heartwarming moments. 

This show takes place in Rome, where 13-year-old Lucy (Kensington Tallman) moves to after her dad Will (Darrin Rose) marries Italian popstar Francesa Fortuna (Eleonora Facchini). As Lucy tries to find her place in her new school, she embarrasses herself a lot, which leads to her struggling to make new friends, other than a boy named Nico (Christian Monaldi), and her long-distance best friend Kyla (Ava Ro). And while Lucy goes through this tough change, Francesca and Will try to help her through it, as they both know what it’s like to face life-changing events. 

The scenery in this show is absolutely incredible — all of it, from the fountains, to the bridges, to even the interior of Lucy’s apartment. One example is when Lucy and her dad are talking by the hotdog stand, and in the background, there is an amazing view of the city. Another part I adore is the choice in fashion. The clothes are stunning, especially with their unique patterns, color combinations, and style. I love how the fashion choices for Francesca’s character match her so well, since they show that she is a popstar, but also has an incredible taste in clothing, in general. My favorite characters are Kyla and Francesca. I love Kyla, because of how supportive she is of Lucy and how she always knows what to say when Lucy is upset. For example, when Lucy is upset and crying, Kyla sings a song they created together and tells her to talk to her dad. I also love Francesca because although she is a famous singer in Italy, she shows that she cares about Lucy and wants her to live the best life she can. An example of this is when Lucy wants to make her late mom’s famous mac-and-cheese for Thanksgiving, and Francesca decides to take Lucy to the market to try and find the necessary ingredients. 

The message of this show is it is always important to be close with your family and friends. When Lucy goes through the normal ups and downs of moving to a new place, she learns that she has people around her that love and care for her, and will always help her when she needs it the most. 

I give Home Sweet Rome! 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. This series will be released on Max and other streaming platforms on May 16, 2024. 

If you’ve always wished you could draw, but have no idea where to start, this guide is the place—offering progressive art activities that develop skill and confidence.

Start Here: Draw gives you exciting prompts for kickstarting an artistic practice centered on drawing. By exploring how simple motifs, such as lines or circles, can be repeated to draw more intricate images and patterns, Start Here: Draw builds up your understanding of shape, color, and technique without the usual intimidating jargon or theory.
 

• Start Here. Daily mark-making ideas, from the simplest single line to turning curves, dots, and scribbles into cute motifs designed to be drawn in 30 minutes to an hour.
• Get a Sketchbook. Guidance on how you can get the most out of your sketchbook and inspiration to help you keep it up.
• Practice Makes Perfect. Using these prompts as an inspiring starting point, have fun experimenting with different techniques and developing your own style.
• Make It Your Own. From patternmaking with stylized motifs to more realistic sketches, this section helps you develop your own creative approach by interpreting the prompts in your own way or by copying them using a different medium.
• Stuff. Here are a few essential pieces of equipment you’ll need, or what you could add to your kit. Includes plenty of ideas of what to do with your finished work, from making T-shirts and mugs to curating your own “pin it” library of pieces you’re proud of.

With Start Here: Draw as your bright and beautiful creative companion, you’ll learn how to draw and never want to stop.

What I really liked about this book is that it made drawing seem simple! I can not draw well but this book made drawing fun!

Boss Beauty: Inspiration to Be Everything You Want

by Lisa Mayer

March 2024; The Collective Book Studio; $24.95

The first book of its kind, Boss Beauty combines unique portraits of diverse inspirational women—curated from a coveted collection of digital collectibles—with affirmations, words of wisdom, and real-world advice from the founder of Boss Beauties, along with her mentors and role models, to encourage women and girls to pursue their dreams. I loved this book!

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Most have thought about this question at least once, but what few consider is what happens to that tree after it falls. In Log Life, Amy Hevron takes readers on a thousand-year journey as a fallen tree turns into a nurse-log—a unique ecosystem that supports hundreds of rare and important plants, creatures, and fungi.  They provide nutrients for tree seedlings, hideaways for animals, shelters in the winter, and protection from the elements. With snappy text and lush illustrations, this book invites curious readers to step into a tiny ecosystem that’s truly like no other. Such a delightful book for younger children!

The Magical Girl’s Self-Care Coloring Book: Color Your World and Embrace Your Inner Power
by Jacque Aye
July 2023; Ulysses Press; $15.95
Calling all Sailor Moon fans, Cardcaptor Sakura fans, Tokyo Mew Mew fans, and all magical girls to color in a self-love, self-esteem-boosting adventure with this unique coloring book for adults! I love that this one is for adults!

 Alycat and the Sunday Scaries

Author: Alysson Foti Bourque

Publication Date: March 18th, 2024

Publisher: Pelican Publishing

ISBN: 978-1455627790

Genre: Children’s Fiction

Age Range: 6 – 8 years

Description: It’s Sunday, the day before the school week begins, and Alycat is nervous. She just knows that Monday is going to be the Mondayest Monday ever! On the playground, Alycat realizes she isn’t the only one suffering from the Sunday Scaries. It’s hard to ride a bike. What if Kit falls? The treehouse is so high. Will Spotty make it safely back down? The kittens band together to overcome their fears, but can they turn the Sunday Scaries into a Sunday Funday? The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. Fans of Alycat and her friends will enjoy spotting references to the kittens’ daily adventures within these pages. Tips for a successful lemonade stand are included!

For fans of Emily in Paris and The Black Swan this thrilling and addictive new young adult novel brings readers into the world of glitzy Parisian feather boutiques, high-stakes competition, and dreamy love triangles. IF I PROMISE YOU WINGS is a lyrical novel about one young woman’s journey through the Paris fashion scene as she chases promises, overcomes grief, and falls in love.

Seventeen-year-old Alix has lived a quiet life in Paris, dreaming of becoming a renowned feather artist, creating statement pieces for the most glamorous, high fashion feather boutiques in the city. When her best friend Jeanne dies suddenly in a tragic accident, Alix is seized with the determination to live as Jeanne would, and against all odds secures an internship at Paris’s premier feather boutique. Soon she finds herself amidst a love triangle, and taking risks like never before, until she’s risked her very dream itself.

IF I PROMISE YOU WINGS is the next YA romance sensation from beloved author A.K. Small. The author of BRIGHT BURNING STARS (now the major motion picture BIRDS OF PARADISE), Small is known for bringing her French roots and love of ballet to stunning, sparkling YA tales of fashion, ballet, and love.

About the Author:

A.K. SMALL is a French-American writer. She was born in Paris, France, fell in love with ballet at a young age, and grew up in the 9th arrondissement, in Toulouse Lautrec’s old loft. She moved to Richmond, Virginia at age fifteen and has lived in various American cities. She’s a graduate of The College of William and Mary and has an MFA in fiction from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She’s attended literary events such as Bread Loaf and The One Story workshop. She was the 2016 YA Aspen Summer Words Fellow and was a scholar at Writers-In-Paradise, 2017. Her fiction has appeared in various journals such as So To Speak, PIF, Identity Theory, Bellevue Literary Review, and Barrelhouse. When she’s not writing, she spends time with her husband, her daughters, and her dog. Her first novel, Bright Burning Stars, was published by AlgonquinYR in May 2019 and adapted to film by Amazon Prime (Birds of Paradise) in September 2021.

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to facilitate this featured book post. Cover images were also provided.

A powerful new middle grade series about a Korean-American girl navigating family dynamics, teamwork, and friendship.

Meet Jiyoung “Gigi” Shin: the plucky protagonist of a new middle grade book series who starts a business with her best friends to support her artistic dreams, giving a fresh take on The Baby-Sitters Club. Gigi tackles the everyday experience of millions of kids with tenacity and heart. Full of friendship, first crushes and one big idea, readers will cheer for Gigi and this brand-new launch from author Lyla Lee.

Stories that are centered around the Asian-American experience are continuing to get recognition and popularity. It’s clear that these stories are both wanted and needed, for readers of all ages. This powerful middle-grade book series about a Korean-American girl learning how to navigate family dynamics, teamwork, and friendship speaks directly to Korean-American kids who have never seen themselves on the page before. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lyla Lee is the bestselling author of young adult novels like I’ll Be the One and Flip the Script. She also writes the Mindy Kim series for younger readers and the Gigi Shin books for the middle school crowd. Her books have been translated into multiple languages around the world. Born in South Korea, she’s since then lived in various cities throughout the United States. Inspired by her English teacher, she started writing her own stories in fourth grade and finished her first novel at the age of fourteen. After working various jobs in Hollywood and studying Psychology and Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California, she now lives in Dallas, Texas. Visit Lyla at LylaLeeBooks.com or on social media under @LiteraryLyla.

Critically acclaimed author Barbara Dee, who is best known for her voice in the “tough stuff” middle grade arena is back with her fourteenth novel that explores writer’s block, anxiety, and middle school. UNSTUCK , which has drawn comparisons to DEAR MR. HENSHAW by Beverly Cleary, follows the hardships of 7^th grader Lyla, who is struggling with anxiety and writer’s block. When she enters her town’s writing contest, Lyla begins to experience panic and can’t seem to get her words down on paper. Not only is she panicking about meeting the deadline, but she is anxious about impressing her teacher and friends with her writing.

UNSTUCK focuses on the relationships between Lyla and her old friends, new friends, and most importantly, her relationship with her older sister. This relationship ultimately helps Lyla realize that she is not alone in feeling academic stress, and the highs and lows of the creative process, as her sister is struggling with the pressures of apply to colleges.

Fellow authors have been buzzing about UNSTUCK, calling Lyla’s journey “relatable and inspiring,” and that the novel is “entertaining” “heartfelt,” and “honest.” I’m including blurbs from authors in the attached praise sheet.

Author Bio

Barbara Dee is the author of fourteen middle grade novels including Unstuck, Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet, Violets Are Blue, My Life in the Fish Tank, Maybe He Just Likes You, Everything I Know About You, Halfway Normal, and Star-Crossed. Her books have earned several starred reviews and have been named to many best-of lists, including The Washington Post’s Best Children’s Books, the ALA Notable Children’s Books, the ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, the NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, and the ALA Rainbow List Top Ten. Barbara lives with her family, including a naughty cat named Luna and a sweet rescue hound named Ripley, in Westchester County, New York.

In YOU ARE LOVED (Onsale 5/7/24; Ages 4-8)   by Sujean Rim, a young child learns all the ways they are loved by nature and, most of all, by the person reading to them in this gentle and lyrical picture book reminiscent of Alison McGee’s Someday.

A little tyke wanders through a welcoming world of sun, grass, and flowers, dancing to bird chirps, spying new friends in the clouds, and waving to waves. After hello-ing stars and giving a hello-there to the moon, the explorer finally returns to someone who loves them as deeply as all the world.

This book will have kids running through the grass, tipping their faces to the sunlight, searching the clouds, and staring at the stars—soaking in the big, big world with a newfound appreciation. Sweet but never saccharine, Sujean’s lyrical, soothingly repetitive refrain is the comforting reminder that all children need: you are loved.

The perfect gift for a new baby, baby shower, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, You’re-Feeling-Blue-Today Day, and every day!

About the Author:

Sujean Rim is the author and illustrator of Take a Breath, Take a Chance, Birdie’s Big-Girl Shoes, Birdie’s Big-Girl Dress, Birdie’s Big-Girl Hair, Zoogie Boogie Fever!, Chee-Kee: A Panda in Bear land, and more. She has illustrated for clients including Tiffany & Co., Target, and the website DailyCandy. Sujean lives in New York with her favorite artist and husband Bob, and their son, Charlie. Find her online at SujeanRim.com.

From the bestselling creator of Stumpkin and Vampenguin comes a whimsical picture book about the unexpected friendship that blooms between a boy and a dog of intergalactic origins.

A visitor from outer space comes to Stephen’s yard one night. It may look like a Dalmatian, but it certainly doesn’t act like one. At first, Stephen and the visitor get off on the wrong paw. They quibble over kibble, debate sleeping arrangements, and must abandon earth dogs’ approach to bathroom breaks altogether to keep the peace. Is a shared love of bacon a strong enough foundation for this ordinary earth boy and extraordinary out-of-this-world canine to learn to live in harmony?

Filled with punny and out-of-this-world humor, this is a text that begs to be read aloud, and will have everyone bursting with laughter. At its core, Dalmartian is about finding your place, choosing your friends and your family, and being with the people you love! This is the perfect book for dog lovers and pet owners, especially those who will immediately identify with everything that Dalmartian cannot wrap his head around – eating from the floor? Dog runs? Picking up dog poo?!?

This is an entertaining book and so fun to read!

About the Author:

Lucy Ruth Cummins is an author, illustrator, and art director of children’s books. She was happily paired with Jean Reidy for both Truman, which was named a New York Times Best Children’s Book of 2019, and Sylvie. She is also the author-illustrator of Stumpkin, Vampenguin, Dalmartian: A Mars Rover’s Story, Our Pool, and A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals.

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to feature. Cover images were also provided.

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire is a six-episode journey into the fearsome Galactic Empire through the eyes of two warriors on divergent paths, set during different eras. After losing everything, young Morgan Elsbeth navigates the expanding Imperial world toward a path of vengeance, while former Jedi Barriss Offee does what she must to survive a rapidly changing galaxy. The choices they make will define their destinies.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Daniel S. comments, “Star Wars: Tales of the Empire is perfect for lifelong fans, but also an entertaining watch for new viewers. Its stunning animation and characters make it an amazing entry into the Star Wars franchise. The animation style is in the vein of Star Wars’ beloved animated series The Clone Wars, and is absolutely stunning.” See his full review below.

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire
By Daniel S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire is an enjoyable series that I loved with its great animation and captivating characters.

The animated series consists of six short episodes andis split into two parallel stories – the first three episodes follow Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) who we were introduced to in 2023’s Ashoka, and these episodes act as a sort of prequel for the Ashoka character. We witness Morgan’s rise to power through vengeance, following the destruction of her home as a child. The last three episodes follow Barriss Offee (Meredith Salenger), a recurring character from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. These episodes show Barriss navigating an ever changing galaxy, and include stories from throughout her life.

Star Wars: Tales of the Empire is perfect for lifelong fans, but also an entertaining watch for new viewers. Its stunning animation and characters make it an amazing entry into the Star Wars franchise. The animation style is in the vein of Star Wars’ beloved animated series The Clone Wars, and is absolutely stunning. We are introduced to many characters, some familiar to fans, and some brand new; every character design is unique and lifelike. The episodes travel to many different planets in the Star Wars galaxy and the landscapes are distinct and beautiful. Absolutely everything in this series, snow, wind, or fire, is all so detailed and stylistic. Some of the most stunning animation in this series comes in the form of action. Tales of the Empire perfectly depicts the essence of the lightsaber in animation, and they have captured the same thrill of lightsaber combat that is so prominent in the live action films.  The two characters at the forefront of Tales of the Empire, Morgan and Barriss, are both wonderfully nuanced and fascinating. The series juggles complex themes, which make the characters and their stories very rich and grounded. Morgan Elsbeth is a character forged through tragedy and is on a path of vengeance. She needs to choose whether she will rise above, or be corrupted by the very evil that took everything from her. Barriss Offee is a former Jedi, who is forced to traverse a world of conflicting good and evil, and ultimately choose her side. The characters are surprisingly multilayered and interesting.

The biggest constraint in Tales of the Empire’s short format is its limited runtime, which means that the pacing is way too fast. Each episode spans just over ten minutes and the story moves along so quickly that we are unable to get a clear picture of the characters. The episodes have to hurry to their resolution so some scenes feel rushed, which lessens the emotional impact of the stories. Additionally, each episode features a different point in the character’s life, so we feel like we are missing so much in the gaps between stories. Granted, the stories are very entertaining, but the lightning fast pace doesn’t allow enough time to fully grasp them.

I give Star Wars: Tales of the Empire 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 through 18, plus adults. It releases on Disney Plus on May 4th, 2024. Trailer: