I just turned forty, and as my birthday came nearer I actually got nervous about it. I usually don’t care about getting older but for some reason forty seemed like a big birthday to me.

 I know in my head that forty isn’t that old, I still have many years ahead of me, God willing. I just have so many ambitions that seem hard to realize. I had to take a step back and not look at what I haven’t done, instead look at what I have done in my forty years.

 I’m thankful for my family, my friends, and all the blessings I have in my life. I’ve gotten to travel, and start my own business, and I’m publishing my own book with my own publishing company! I’m a mom of two amazing kids and have gotten to love on several other foster kids as well. I get to love on kids every week and teach them about Jesus as a storyteller at church. I have done so much, and have a balanced and enjoyable life. What a blessing!

 Here’s a photo from my birthday party, with the three other ladies who were having birthdays around the same time.

My friend, Jami; Myself; and my sisters Ariel and Priscilla.

Books:

Picture Book

Little Bot and Sparrow

Written and Illustrated by Jake Parker

When Little Bot is thrown out with the garbage, he finds himself in a strange new world. Fortunately, Sparrow is there to take him under her wing. Together, they explore the forest, share adventures, and learn what it means to be forever friends.

My Take: A sweet story of friendship sharing the same theme as my middle grade pick: what would happen if a robot learned from the natural world instead of humans? For kids too young for The Wild Robot, this book will be a great hit.

Middle Grade:

The Wild Robot

Written and Illustrated by Peter Brown

Can a robot survive in the wilderness?

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is–but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island’s unwelcoming animal inhabitants.

As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home–until, one day, the robot’s mysterious past comes back to haunt her.

My Take: This was my second time to read this book. I read it aloud to my kids to get ready for the movie coming out in September. (Here’s an amazing preview). This is a heart-warming story, with all the emotions and it is so interesting to imagine what a robot would be like if instead of learning from humans it learned from animals and the natural world. I loved it both times I read it, and I need to read the rest of the series now, too.

Adult:

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Written by Shelby Van Pelt

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors–until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

My Take: My book club pick was a winner this month. This is a great book and I loved the friendships, the personalities, and, of course, hearing the perspective of an octopus. I was emotionally invested in this one and it was nice to be so pulled into a story of real-life situations instead of always having the stakes be life and death (I read too many dystopian fantasy books). 

Until next time,

Charlotte Glaze