The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

Deesha Philyaw read part of “Peach Cobbler” at an event I attended not long ago and I was hooked from the first line: “My mother’s peach cobbler was so good, it made God himself cheat on his wife.”

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this collection, and once I got it I was torn between racing to finish it and wanting to drag it out so I’d have longer with these multi-layered characters. I can’t pick a favorite from this collection because they’re all that. damn. good. I’ve been recommending it to everyone I know, and that includes you. It’s the perfect mix of gossip, drama, and breathtaking storytelling you need in your life.

I usually try to not re-read a book until a year after my last reading, but this is one I’ll be coming back to more often than that. I can’t stop thinking about it and I want more.

Beverly Cleary Author Study: The Hullabaloo ABC

 Illustrations by Ted Rand

This might be a picture book, but the kids definitely have the same vibe as the kids in Henry Huggins' neighborhood. The book is more engaging than ABC books that just list words or show pictures of items starting with that letter. Instead, The Hullabaloo ABC takes a loud, fun walk around the farm, meeting animals and making noise.

There are a lot of fun things to see in Ted Rand's illustrations, which look like classic paintings with a lot of motion to engage young viewers.