7 Books for October 2023

Happy October everyone. I hope you are enjoying the change of the season and that you don’t have too many aches and pains as the weather gets colder and wetter. Thankfully, I hear that it is supposed to dry for Halloween for the trick-or-treaters! Maybe after the kids have had their fill of candy, you can cuddle up with a good story, maybe it will be one of these 7 Books for October 2023:

The Kindest Red A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali

The Kindest Red by Ibtihaj Muhammad
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story! I didn’t want it to end. The Kindest Red A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad is a story about family and tradition, of kindness and connection. It is a sweat story about a little girl named Faizah and her day of using her kindness super power to make a good day great with the help of everyone around her.

Not only is the story engaging but the art by Hatem Aly are colorful and meaningful. I highly recommend this book.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Kindest Red A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali on Amazon.

~

The Berenstain Bears That’s So Rude by Mike Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears: That’s So Rude! by Mike Berenstain
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Reading The Berenstain Bears That’s So Rude by Mike Berenstain was like going back in time. I grew up with The Berenstain Bears so grabbing this book was very nostalgic for me. The illustrations are bright and fun. The story, however, seemed choppy and not very believable. It did have a good moral and everyone was back to their cheerful happy selves by the end.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of The Berenstain Bears by Mike Berenstain on Amazon.

~

Hoot Owl Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor

Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think this book needs to be read aloud by a comedian. It kind of has a Dana Carvey vibe. Hoot Owl Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor is a somewhat cute book if you aren’t wanting to teach children anything about real owls and you want to show them charming illustrations, such as those by Jean Jullien. Each time I thought the owl was going to do what an actual owl would really do, he put on a ridiculous costume and missed his prey until he finally got his beak on some pizza, which I don’t think is on a real owl’s diet. If you want a silly book, this is your book.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Hoot Owl Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor on Amazon.

~

Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton

Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think many of us can relate to someone bullying us at school or not understanding why we might love something they don’t. The coat that Dolly’s mom made for her, in Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, made her feel warm and special even if the kids at school didn’t like it. Their response still hurt her though. This sweet story is very touching and the illustrations by Brooke Boynton-Hughes are just as precious.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton on Amazon.

~

Green Eyes by A. Birnbaum

By A. Birnbaum – Green Eyes (Family Storytime) (Reprint) (2011-01-26) [Paperback] by Abe Birnbaum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Green Eyes by A. Birnbaum is a Caldecott Honor Book. The book was written in 1953, however I believe it is still a great bed time story. The cadence is perfect for lulling a little one to sleep while telling the story of Green Eyes, the cat in his first year of life, as he describes the seasons while they change on the farm he lives on. The illustrations are simple and the colors are fun. This would be a book that would be easy to talk about animals and colors, seasons and growing, making this a good quiet conversation book before bed.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Green Eyes by A. Birnbaum on Amazon.

~

Big by Vashti Harrison

Big by Vashti Harrison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a fat woman who was once a fat child this book hit home. Big by Vashti Harrison is an important book because some children are different and there is nothing they can do about it but they don’t deserve to be belittled or held back because of their differences. The fact that the child in this book was able to eventually let her feelings out and then give back the labels that people had given her that she didn’t feel fit who she really was is very empowering. No matter what makes us different, if we could learn to drop the negative things people try to put on us and hold onto what we know about ourselves, what a better world we would live in. What a powerful book this is. The illustrations are beautiful and very meaningful.

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Big by Vashti Harrison on Amazon.

~

Free At Last! The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Angela Bull

Free at Last: The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Angela Bull
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Free At Last! The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Angela Bull is not a light read. But it is a pretty good portrayal of history and one that would be a good conversation starter with older children. It has good photographs and illustrations and helpful tidbits of information about what was happening alongside Dr. King’s movement. With 6 chapters, this 47 page book is meant for proficient readers.

View all my reviews

I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Free At Last! The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Angela Bull on Amazon.

~

I hope you are inspired by any of these books. Do you ever think about reading these books with your children or just with yourself? Or maybe pick out your own. Let me know!

~

Feel free to leave your comments below!

My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.

For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.

If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.

If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:

Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.

I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.

I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.