Pages of Parenting | Favorite Books From Year 7

The world of children's books continues to surprise and delight me! Here are some of the titles we discovered and enjoyed this year — the ones I want others to know about.

Favorite New Author: Lu Fraser

Mavis the Bravest by Lu Fraser

The Witchling's Wish by Lu Fraser

The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser

Favorite Series

Ruffles by David Melling

Playful Fiction

There's No Such Thing as a Dragon by Jack Kent

Every Night at Midnight by Peter Cheong

The Welcome Home by Amy June Bates

The Cow Who Climbed a Tree by Gemma Merino

Star Fishing by Sang-Keun Kim

Everyone Gets a Turn by Marianne Dubuc

Cat Ladies by Susi Schaefer

The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle

A Bold Pumpkin Plan by Katy Hudson

Negative Cat by Sophie Blackall

Best of the Best

Poopsie Gets Lost by Hannah E. Harrison

Poetic

One Boy Watching by Grant Snider

Owls Are Good at Keeping Secrets by Sara O'Leary

At the Poles by David Elliott

If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall

Best of the Best

How Do You Become Friends With the Moon? by Ghazaleh Bigdelou

Rhyming
What Can a Mess Make by Bee Johnson

Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles

The Cook and the King by Julia Donaldson

A Spider Named Itsy by Steve Light

Ten on the Sled by Kim Norman

Group Hug by Jean Reidy

Best of the Best

The Hound from the Pound by Jessica Swaim

Family Favorites

The Worm Family Has its Picture Taken by Jennifer Frank

The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage

Everybunny Dream! by Ellie Sandall

The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins

The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water by Gemma Merino

Audiobook

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl (Audiobook)

My Pick of the Year

Need a House? Call Ms. Mouse! by George Mendoza

Mr. Fleece's Pick of the Year 

Monsters in the Briny by Lynn Becker

NLW's Pick of the Year

The Giraffe, and the Pelly, and Me by Roald Dahl

EDW's Pick of the Year
The Mermaid Moon by Briony May Smith

CCW's Pick of the Year

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

Library visits a plenty, 

-SJW

Previous favorites below:

2024 -- Favorite Books from Year 6

2023 -- Favorite Books from Year 5

2022 -- Favorite Books From Year 4
2021 -- Favorite Books From Year 3

Birthday Book Chatter | 2025

Somehow I enticed over 20 friends of mine to participate in read-alongs as a birthday celebration. Here's the original invitation -- will be posting reflections and reviews next!

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To celebrate my birthday this year, I'm asking my favorite people for my favorite thing —  mini book clubs! I’ve chosen four books to re-read in October, and I’d love for you to read-along.

Pick one to read and share your thoughts with me. We can find time for a phone call, a walk or coffee date, or simply email me your thoughts/reflections on October 30 — if there's one thing I love more than book club, it's emailing friends :) 

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (Contemporary Fiction)
Sharp novel about race, privilege, and messy relationships.
320 pages | ~10 hrs audio

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (Nonfiction / Epistolary)
Delightful letters between a writer and a bookseller.
112 pages | ~2 hrs audio

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (Children’s Fantasy / Classic)
A 4th grade throwback(!) about the price of immortality.
144 pages | ~4 hrs audio

The Library Book by Susan Orlean (Nonfiction / History)
A blend of true crime, history, and love letter to libraries
317 pages | ~12 hrs audio

A few notes:
1. If you are unable or unwilling to participate, I promise not to judge (you’ll likely be in good company with my very own husband, haha!). If you do join me, I’ll be simply delighted!

2. I’ve only recently embraced re-reading, and I’m excited to do it more often — maybe even annually. For one thing, it guarantees I’ll have a great birthday month of reading if I'm picking up past favorites. 

3. If you’ve already read all of these and are firmly against re-reading, let me know and I’ll give you a personalized assignment. <3

Birthdays are for doing things you love, 

- SJW

Bookmark Binge | Seattle Book Bingo 2025

I told friends I'm dabbling in Seattle Book Bingo, but the truth is, I've been gunning for blackout! I've been an absolute nut -- zipping through audiobooks and flying through pages. Although this was my first year to participate, I've essentially been playing my own Book Bingo with my self-assigned monthly reading categories. I enjoy matching books to various prompts, and this summer I found ways to read books that have been on my TBR for a while. Similar to a book club, it also led me to pick up several titles I wouldn't have normally selected. Of the 23 books I read, here were my all-stars (half of which were re-reads!):

I love the diversity in this collection -- length, genre, content, style, authors, publishing year, and also my enjoyment...haha! I'm sharing quick thoughts and a letter grade (taken from podcaster Erica Ladd's book review system) to make it easy to scan. 

A = Amazing! Awesome! Above and Beyond!
B = Buzz-worthy! Book I'd recommend
C = Could have been better...could have been worse
D = Disappointing
F = F*** this book

Suggested by a Library Worker | The Favorites by Layne Fargo (B-)

(2025; 437 pages) // Contemporary Fiction

This book is a Wuthering Heights retelling in the world of ice dance, and I found the drama-filled story fun...it made me want to go ice skating and watch the Winter Olympics :) A little too long but overall a page turner and can see why it was a popular book. 

SAL Speaker (Past or Present) | Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (B)

(2015; 152 pages) // Nonfiction
Glad I finally read this (albeit too quickly)! It was more lyrical and poetic than I was expecting and he meanders a bit, but his main themes and ideas are striking and important!

Grief | Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (B+)

(2025; 298 pages) // Thriller
I picked this up on the recommendation of Mr. Fleece's cousin and really enjoyed it! Beautifully written and interesting plot and themes. Would love to pick up more climate-related novels and explore more of McConaghy's backlist. 

PNW Nature | Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (C)

(2022; 368 pages) // Contemporary Fiction🎧
I saw this book everywhere and wanted to know what it was about. Glad I did it on audio -- my favorite chapters were voiced by Marcellus. I liked the characters more than the plot, and wasn't blown away by the writing. 

Censorship | The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (D+)

(1951; 277 pages) // Classic YA
As one of the most banned books of all time, I thought this prompt was a great excuse to pick up this classic I had never read. Too cynical, negative, and stream-of-consciousness for my taste and didn't like being in his head or following his nighttime escapades. My two favorite parts were when you understand the title and the bittersweet carousel scene/paragraph with his sister. 

Author from Another Continent | Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl (A+)

(1970; 96 pages) // Children's Literature🎧
By today's standards, there are lots of reasons why this story isn't great for children -- guns! starvation! Some of the language...But gosh, NLW and I really love this one! The audiobook narrator Chris O'Dowd (same voiceover as Puffin Rock) completely makes the experience!

Suggested by an Independent Bookseller | Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put by Annie B. Jones (C)

(2025; 240 pages) // Essays
I listen to From the Front Porch podcast on occasion, so was intrigued enough to read her book. The reflections on daily life, community, and faith were pleasant, but nothing really stuck with me two months later. Probably would have liked it better on audio...

Flower on the Cover/In Title | Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (A)

(2019; 368 pages) // Historical Fiction
I just love the way the story unfolds and how real it feels. Camila Dunne's love for her husband is just wonderful! I read on the page this time, but would recommend on audio. The TV show is great too <3

Intergenerational Friendship | The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa (C+)

(2005; 180 pages) // Fiction🎧
I had heard about this title from a few different places and thought the premise sounded interesting: a housekeeper who cares for a professor whose memory resets every 80 minutes. It was a little bit too slow, quiet, and sweet for my taste, but glad to have included a book in translation on my list!

New-to-You Format | Missed Connections: Love, Lost & Found by Sophie Blackall (B)
(2011; 129 pages) // Nonfiction
We often rotate library books that we can display on our coffee table and this one was a delight! I originally discovered Blackall through the world of picture books but in this collection she illustrates online confessions from strangers that range from silly and quirky to endearing and sweet. 

Dystopia | The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (B+)

(2008; 374 pages) // YA 
I really wanted to finish Station Eleven by Emily St. James, but I just wasn't engaged with the story. So instead, I went with a tried and true page-turner -- I love the balance of familiar scenes and it's-been-so-long-that-I've-forgotten combo that comes through on a re-read. 

Found Family | Agatha of Little Neon by Claire Luchette (A-)

(2021; 273 pages) // Literary Fiction
I picked this up on recommendation from Annie B. Jones (author of Ordinary Time...see above!) and loved my reading experience. It's similar in a lot of ways to The Housekeeper and the Professor (see above!) in that they are both quiet books with unusual premises that are ultimately about connection, but I enjoyed the writing and storytelling of this one a lot more, probably because it explored the topics of faith and finding yourself.

Resistance | One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad (A)

(2025; 208 pages) // Nonfiction🎧
Another book I read too quickly --  and would honestly pair well with Between the World and Me. Nevertheless, I appreciated his main argument and thought audio was a great first-time exposure as he narrates it himself. This would be a good one to read again, and ideally with someone to discuss!

Humor | The Noble Hustle: Poker, Beef Jerky, and Death by Colson Whitehead (C)

(2014; 234 pages) // Memoir🎧
I almost never reach for the "humor" section and wasn't sure what to pick up for this category. I originally planned on reading Whitehead for the BIPOC historical fiction, but instead stumbled upon this niche portion of his life in which he enters a World Series of Poker competition. Parts were funny and I enjoyed the Texas Hold ’em nostalgia, but overall this was a little too sarcastic/obscure for my taste. 

Disability | Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann (B)

(2020; 232 pages) // Nonfiction

Wonderful book to read if you're interested in learning about the activism and disability rights movement -- something I was quite ignorant about! Glad to have some more context and learn about one of the key leaders on this part of our country's history.

Great Escapes | A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst (C)

(2024; 256 pages) // Biography🎧
What a wild true story! Their personalities, unique decisions and circumstances, and immediate fame that resulted were all so intense. Still not sure what I think about this one. 

Monsters | Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes (B)

(2022; 373 pages) // Mythology

This was no Circe or The Song of Achilles, but a fun mythology retelling nonetheless. An empathetic, feminist view of Medusa.

Read in Public | Robot Dreams by Sara Varon (C)

(2007; 208 pages) // Graphic Novel 
I stumbled across this book when putting books on hold for NLW. I liked the idea and themes, but wasn't crazy about the artwork itself. Read it quickly at a park while my kids were on the playground. 

BIPOC Historical Fiction/Nonfiction | The Buddha in the Attic by  Julie Otsuka (A+)

(2011; 144 pages) // Historical Fiction
I needed something short as I was nearing the end of the challenge, and am so glad I picked this up! It's unusually told from a first-person plural "we" group of women. The sentence structure was often repetitive, but ultimately really effective. I absolutely loved considering this time in history from the perspective of these women -- following Japanese "picture brides" all the way to their forced internment after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Otsuka's final chapter is so smart in that it flips the voice and we hear from the white American neighbors in the community. I think this would be a great book club selection!

One Big Book | Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (A+)

(1936; 959 pages) // Historical Fiction🎧
This is an epic novel with such vivid characters. I love the dialogue, the descriptive writing, and the foils between Rhett, Ashley, Melanie, and Scarlett. So good! 

Hope | Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (B)

(2021; 476 pages) // Science Fiction
I finally picked this up while on vacation because I wanted to know what all the hype was. It's not what I'd normally pick up, but overall I still liked it and thought it was a perfect fit for the "Hope" square. Glad I read it so close to the movie coming out and will be fun to compare. 

Gender Bender | A Girlhood: A Letter to My Transgender Daughter by Carolyn Hays (C)

(2022; 282 pages) // Nonfiction🎧
I appreciated the chance to consider the trans experience through the perspective of a parent. The reflections are heartfelt, though the book sometimes wandered into tangents. Overall it deepened my empathy toward families navigating similar journeys as the author.

Buddy Read | Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (D)

(2025; 352 pages) // Romance
Read this with my West Seattle Book Club and found it slow, with most of the conflict taking place in the main character's head -- not my favorite. I'd recommend watching the documentary Sally instead. 

Any book can be a beach read,

-SJW

Fourth of July Reflections | 2025

For years now, I've wanted to attend the annual Fourth of July Naturalization Ceremony at the Seattle Center—and this year, we made it happen! I wasn't sure what to expect or how my children would fare, but it felt important, especially in a year marked by tumultuous politics and Donald Trump’s hostile leadership.

I haven’t attended any marches or protests in recent years, but in a way, this ceremony almost felt like one. Watching 501 individuals from 79 countries get sworn in as new citizens was uplifting—and a powerful reminder of the constitutional rights I have as a U.S. citizen. It’s amazing that people from across the globe, each with their own stories, cultures, and languages, can obtain those same rights. What a meaningful way to celebrate Independence Day!

I still love all the summery aspects of the holiday—watermelon, water play, grilling with friends, country music, red, white, and blue, fireworks, etc.—but I also appreciated the opportunity to reflect on my country and find a renewed sense of gratitude. Alongside attending the ceremony, a few things in recent weeks have helped me think more deeply about patriotism, identity, and the American experience:

• Loved this Let's Talk About Patriotism epsiode from The Girl Next Door podcast. 
• Currently re-reading one of the "Great American Novels" and looking forward to the book club discussion to follow. 
• Building up my references to better understand U.S. news and politics: Wake Up to Politics and The Preamble and @amandasmildtakes 
• Have been listening to Benson Boone's American Heart album on repeat (see American flag cover art controversy here). 
  
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg remarks at a Naturalization Ceremony in 2018. 

"...By limiting government, specifying rights, and empowering the people, the founders of the United States of America proclaimed that the heart of America would be its citizens not its rulers..."

Oh say, can you see?

– SJW

Around the Corner & On My List | Summer 2025

NLW has just three days left of Kindergarten, and then we'll officially be shifting into summer. Similar to last year, we have some bigger trips, so I’m mentally organizing the season into three phases:

Phase I: Ten days in Missouri to visit my family and enjoy life on the farm
Phase II: Summer camps + nanny E. We'll have about 4 hours of care most weekdays which feels supportive and wonderful
Phase III: Ten days in Connecticut to visit family and enjoy life on the East coast

With Fourth of July fun, a weekend trip to Port Angeles, and friends and family visiting in between, it’s shaping up to be more structured than I initially expected—and, the structure is welcome.

Around the Corner
- Celebrating the first day of summer at Jack Block Park
- Staying with our friends K&C in St. Louis
- Visiting the Rabbit Hole in Kansas City 
- 4th of July bike parade

Essentials
Outside of blueberry picking, I don’t feel the need to schedule much more. I know we’ll naturally weave in these activities that make summer feel like summer for our family:

- Spray parks
- Wading pools
- Beach play
- Blackberry picking
- Blueberry picking
- Playdates and park meet-ups
- Ice cream, watermelon, cherries 
- Playing at Schmitz Preserve Park
- Lounging in our hammocks

Bucket List
I'd love to make it to the four major bodies of water in our area: Elliott Bay, Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Green Lake. We bought a paddle board for Mr. Fleece's birthday—maybe that’ll be the push we need to get out there more often. Some other water spots on my radar (no expectation to check all of these off!):

- Flowing Lake
- Chism Beach Park 
- Newcastle Beach Park
- Angle Lake Park
- Beaver Pond 

We’re skipping the big festivals, concerts, and outdoor movies this year. I’m more interested in exploring new places, spending time with friends, being in nature, and maintaining helpful family rhythms. The one true bucket list item? Biking with the kids along Myrtle Edwards.

Reading List
Currently reading (audio): The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa
Currently reading (physical): Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Most excited to pack for vacation: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
My Seattle Book Club's summer classic: Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (need to decide if I'll commit to re-reading)
I'm hoping to dive into some historical fiction and pick up something by Ann Patchett or Kristin Hannah

Summer sun, something's begun

- SJW

Bits & Pieces | Spring 2025 Collection

Watching | Wonka
I enjoy Timothée Chalamet's acting and was curious to see his portrayal and interpretation of the well-loved Willy Wonka. I thought he did a great job and made the role his own. The entire movie was visually appealing and fun! A Complete Unknown is up next!

Reading | Emma by Jane Austen
2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, which created an extra incentive to finally read Emma. It wasn't as propulsive as I had hoped, but I'm glad to know the storyline and to have encountered more of Austen's work. I liked Emma more than Sense and Sensibility, but less than Pride & Prejudice. This movie adaptation was very true to the book!

Listening | Good Mood
An effective way to get me or the kids into a good mood, this song gets a lot of airtime :) It's one of CCW's favorites!

Eating | Blue cheese
Blue cheese has been making its way into all my salads. I've always loved a wedge or Cobb salad, and it's likely because of this showstopping cheese :) My recent easy go-to has been kale + apples + pecans + blue cheese + balsamic vinegar + extra virgin olive oil. Scrumptious!

You must be the best judge of your own happiness,

–SJW

Bookmark Binge | Emma, Empathy, and Everything In Between

This spring’s roundup reveals just how varied my reading life has been lately. With only two book club picks among the mix, the rest are personal selections—chosen on a whim, sparked by a recommendation, or driven by pure curiosity. Below, I’m sharing what drew me in and how each book landed.

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (2018; 467 pages) // Fantasy🎧

I first heard of the Nevermoor series from Fiction Matters. It's a fun and whimsical middle grade novel with wonderful world-building. This one is the second in the series and it will scratch that Harry Potter itch! 

Trust by Hernan Diaz (2022; 402 pages) // Historical Fiction🎧
On lots of "best of" lists, plus heard it was great on audio. Impeccable writing and I love how it all unfolds...it won the Pulitzer for a reason!

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (2024; 597 pages) // Mystery+Thriller
This book was on my college roommate's favorites list for 2024, which was reason enough to pick this up. In short, I hated the content warnings component of this book (which are essential to the plot) but couldn't help but love the cast of characters and story-telling. It helped me realize how much I love closing a book on a chunky, character-driven saga. A hard one for me to recommend, yet so good!

Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz (2024; 303 pages) // Memoir🎧
I had seen this cover but wouldn't have picked it up if it weren't for my Seattle Book Club. While it was hard to hear all that happened to her, it was a quick listen and compelling story. The end made the book for me, when she compares being in a cult to being in an abusive relationship...and how it can happen to smart ambitious women. I love when a book helps me cultivate empathy—this one certainly did!

Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks (2025; 224 pages) // Memoir
I'm always intrigued when a novelist publishes a nonfiction book (a la John Green...see below!) especially when it explores one of my niche topics: grief. This is the account of a wife remembering and mourning her husband's unexpected death, told in dual timelines—a favorite format of mine. It is lovely and sweet and reminds you of the "big things" in life. Similar to The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, but I preferred this one.

Emma by Jane Austen (1815; 474 pages) // Classic🎧
This book has been on my list for years now! A few things pushed me to finally pick it up: covered on Novel Pairings, earmarked it as a "massive" book to read in March-May, and a friend of mine also picked it up around the same time. And 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth! It wasn't as propulsive as I had hoped, but I'm glad to know the storyline and to have encountered more of Austen's work. I liked Emma more than Sense & Sensibility, but less than Pride & Prejudice. This movie adaptation was very true to the book!

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green (2025; 208 pages) // Nonfiction

I loved The Anthropocene Reviewed, so when I saw John Green published another work of nonfiction, I was ready to dive in! I grabbed this off Seattle’s ‘Peak Picks’ shelf and finished this in a few sittings. I love how he touches on the beauty and pain in this world while also teaching you something. One of my favorite kinds of reading experiences. I thought this was wonderful! 

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout (2024; 326 pages) // Fiction🎧

I've enjoyed Strout's other fiction with its emphasis on everyday relationships, vivid descriptions, voicy characters, and peculiar plot points. So when I heard this novel combined her two most famous protagonists, Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge, I was intrigued! Overall though, this fell flat and I just wasn't as engaged with the story or happenings. There's a lot of dialogue and the legal case "mystery" didn't drive the story enough for me to care all that much. It was fine—I could have skipped this one.

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (1985; 184pages) // Dystopia🎧

I had never even heard of this until my UT Book Club selected it for our spring read. I wanted to re-read the first pages again after I finished, which I think is a sign of a good book! Not a stand-out favorite, but the storytelling is unique and thought-provoking—it certainly touches on the age-old question: ‘What does it mean to be human?’ Excited to discuss this one with friends! 

The Measure by Nikki Erlick (2022; 353 pages) // Science Fiction🎧

Not quite sure where I first heard of this, but I'm a sucker for anything "thought-provoking" and was intrigued by the "what-if" premise. Appreciated the interconnected stories, but most of all, I loved that this one surprised me—both in the direction the story took and by surpassing my expectations! The audiobook is narrated by the all-star Julia Whelan <3

Always reading, 

- SJW