Entertaining books for readers of all ages

‘The Racc Pack’

• Stephanie Cooke, illustrated by Whitney Gardner
• Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• 2024, 178 pages
• ISBN: 9781665914932
• ages 7+

“The Racc Pack” is an entertaining graphic novel set in Toronto that introduces the Bins family — a trio of raccoons (although one looks a lot like an opossum.) Dusty is known for his brains, ReRe her strength and Scraps for his inventions and gadgets. The majority of their time is spent going through garbage bins in search of their next meal.

When they discover a new grocery store is discarding good, but ugly, food such as curvy carrots and lumpy lemons they decide to steal the garbage bin full of food. But it will be a difficult heist as the owner of the store has installed a high-tech security system that includes an electric fence and cameras. It seems like a big challenge, but when JB, a cat, joins them, their task may be achievable — and with all of the food they wouldn’t need to scavenge for a while.

A good graphic novel can entice even the most reluctant of readers to enjoy books and “The Racc Pack” with its colourful illustrations and fun story is a good graphic novel. And a second book — “The Racc Pack: Prince and the Pawper” — will soon be available!

‘Hemlock Island’

• Kelley Armstrong
• St. Martin’s Griffin
• 2023, 295 pages
• ISBN: 9781250353443

“Hemlock Island” is a very good horror thriller. It starts off with lots of suspense which builds throughout the story and finishes with a satisfyingly horrific ending!

The novel is set on an island in Lake Superior. Laney Kilpatrick owns the island and the luxury home on it — a nice vacation home she received from her divorce with Kit. But keeping the island isn’t something that Laney can afford without renting it out. When she is contacted about frightening things occurring on the island — including blood and scratches inside a closet in the house — Laney takes her teenage niece, Madison, and goes to investigate. Also turning up to help is Kit and his sister Jayla who is Laney’s former best friend as well as Laney’s high school friend, Sadie, and Sadie’s brother.

The meeting of former friends soon turns into an awkward and tense situation resulting in someone leaving the island with Laney’s boat effectively stranding the others. But this is a minor inconvenience compared to what is about to happen!

“Hemlock Island” is one of the best horror stories that I’ve read and is filled with suspense from beginning to end.

‘A Place for Frogs’

• Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Higgins Bond
• Peachtree Publishing
• 2024, 32 pages
• ISBN: 9781682637449
• ages 3+

As the author points out in this beautiful picture book, “Frogs have lived on Earth for more than 200 million years.” But frogs are being harmed by our species and children’s science writer Melissa Stewart effectively conveys not only how we are harming frogs, but also how we can help them. Some of the frog species featured in the book include Northern Leopard Frog, Harlequin Frog and Wood Frog. Complementing the informative text in this new and revised edition are exceptional illustrations by Higgins Bond.

‘My Bright Shining Star’

• Fatima Whitbread, illustrated by Rhian Wright
• words & pictures
• 2024, 32 pages
• ISBN: 9780711296244
• ages 4+

Little Fatima goes to live in a big house with other children when her mom can’t look after her. And while the little girl is sad, she is looked after by an adult — Aunty Rae — who shows her the North Star which can help lost people find their way. Aunty Rae also sings to Little Fatima, comforts her, plays with her and tells her that there is a family out there waiting for her. They get along so well together that when Little Fatima meets and spends time with three families, she decides they aren’t quite right for her and she stays with Aunty Rae.

At the end of the story about children waiting to be adopted is My Story about the author’s experience in the foster care system for 14 years.

This post was originally published on here