Lots of children’s books this month and this was a good reading month overall.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans with Jane Oppenheimer (Narrator), Peter Ganim (Narrator), Jade Wheeler (Narrator), Chris Andrew Ciulla (Narrator), David Pittu (Narrator), Cerris Morgan-Moyer (Narrator), Carly Robins (Narrator), Robert Petkoff (Narrator), Petrea Burchard (Narrator), Kimberly Farr (Narrator), Maggi-Meg Reed (Narrator), Jeff Ebner (Narrator), Mark Bramhall (Narrator)

My first real 5 stars of 2026. I loved this audiobook epistolary novel. Normally, I would have read this in print but the audiobook came highly recommended from a friend since it was a full cast. It was beautifully written and narrated. I cried at the end. It reminded me again how epistolary novels are really part of my wheelhouse. When they are done well, I tend to adore them. This was definitely the kind of novel I would pick up from a used book sale in the future since there will be lots of copies.

February 24-March 1, 2026.

Anne of the Island (Anne of Green Gables #3) by L.M. Montgomery, Susan O’Malley (narrator)

I like Lucy Maud Montgomery’s writing style. It was lighthearted, easy going, and had wonderful female characters. I found this novel easy to read but took me awhile to finish. Anne spent the whole book in denial about her feelings about Gilbert. I was impatient. Davy was still annoying. I listened to about 15% of it on audiobook mostly at the end. I am feeling less optimistic about this series as I progress through it. I know Montgomery had a lot of mental health issues through her life which affected her fiction writing. The first Anne of Green Gables book was great but with each subsequent edition, I am not as enthusiastic. I am hoping that I like the next couple a bit more than this one.

February 20-March 1, 2026.

Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

I found a substack entry of cozy country picture books so some of these are from that list so I had a lot of picture books. You cannot go wrong with a Blackall book as the art is done well. This one was done with a lot more layering and featured an abandoned farm house near her home. I liked the nostalgia and reflective nature of this picture book which felt more mature.

March 6, 2026.

Adventures with Barefoot Critters by Teagan White

I do not remember much from this one other than it was cute.

March 6, 2026.

Le Faon et le Soleil by Joanna McInerney with Quang &. Lien (Illustrator)

French picture book about a deer who looks for the sun. Illustrations were very vintage and interesting.

March 6, 2026.

Mice Skating by Annie Silvestro

This was so adorable. Probably too twee for some people but I loved the mice skating and the cheese puns.

March 7, 2026.

If You Go Down to the Woods Today by Rachel Piercey with Freya Hartas (Illustrator)

This was a picture book which asks you to look for things so it was cutely illustrated and that’s it.

March 8, 2026.