Love, Laughter, and Life

Adventures With a Book Lover


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Book Review: The Planet We Call Home, written by Aimee Isaac, illustrated by Jaime Kim

The Planet We Call Home

Written by Aimee Isaac

Illustrated by Jaime Kim

Philomel, 2023

Wow! Thanks to Aimee Isaac and Susanna Hill, I was gifted a copy of The Planet We Call Home. Just in time for the birthday of my youngest grand who will turn 7 very soon. She will love opening her very own autographed copy! Thank you, Aimee and Susanna!

The Planet We Call Home is beautiful! Written in a cumulative style, each phrase is added to the next, so by the end of the story, lines have been repeated and the story internalized. I love this format! The lyrical text is hope-filled and based on nature and conversation of our precious planet Earth. Lovely illustrations complement and extend the story. Back matter provides resources for further reading and ways to help our planet. Well done, Aimee and Jaime!

With Earth Day coming up soon, The Planet We Call Home is just right! It’s also the birthday party day, so I know one 7-year-old who will be reading it on Earth Day.


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Haiku Moment: survey my catdom

thinking kitty thoughts

lo! who goes there? it’s all mine;

be gone, trespasser

survey my catdom

fleece regalia is just right,

the queen on her throne

survey my catdom by Angie Quantrell

cat model Monet


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Haiku Moment: hope sprouts

look! bursts of purple

shout joyfully, spring arrives!

hope sprouts from its rest

hope sprouts by Angie Quantrell

photos by Angie Quantrell

model flashback of my grand, Autumn


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Joyful Moment

photo by Angie Quantrell

Anacortes, WA


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Joyful Moment

Photo by Angie Quantrell

Yakima Valley


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Merry Christmas!

Sending joy and peace to you and your family.


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Haiku Moment: breathe

dark broken by light

snow day, but no sleeping in

time to wander, breathe

breathe by Angie Quantrell

Yakima Valley


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Haiku Moment: poofs

leading trail of poofs

struggle to escape mealtime

final resting place

poofs by Angie Quantrell

life (and death) in the pasture, Yakima Valley


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Sunday Inspiration

Photo by Angie Quantrell

Yakima Valley


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Book Review: Reach for the Stars by Emily Calandrelli and Honee Jang

Reach for the Stars

Written by Emily Calandrelli

Illustrated by Honee Jang

Godwin Books, Henry Holt and Company, 2022

Thank you, Kathy Temean at Writing and Illustrating, author Emily Calandrelli, and illustrator Honee Jang for sharing this beautiful book, Reach for the Stars! Thank you for sending me a copy to read and share. Congratulations!

A heartwarming picture book, Reach for the Stars shares the wonder and amazement of the natural world and all that is in it. Calandrelli leads readers through the growing up and exploring years in the life of a young girl, all the while encouraging readers to be amazed and to dream the big dreams about life. Jang perfectly captured the beauty and imagination of the story. Reach for the Stars is a lovely book to read to inspire, inform, and enjoy.

Why I Love This Book:

~ beautiful illustrations, dreamy and imaginative

~ the wonder and awe about the natural world the author and illustrator share throughout the story

~ the fun of reading the story in rhyme

~ the natural world is amazing, and that appreciation and respect for learning about and exploring more is front and center in this book

~ science! STEM. Girls in science!

~ the encouragement to readers to dream big, explore, and follow your dreams

Amazon Blurb:

From Emmy-nominated science TV star and host of Netflix’s hit series Emily’s Wonder Lab Emily Calandrelli comes an inspirational message of love and positivity.

From the moment we are born, we reach out. We reach out for our loved ones, for new knowledge and experiences, and for our dreams!

Whether celebrating life’s joyous milestones, sharing words of encouragement, or observing the wonder of the world around us, this uplifting book will inspire readers of every age. A celebration of love and shared discovery, this book will encourage readers to reach for the stars!