#Bookreview of The Journey to You

By: Payton Lynch

Illustrated by: Siski Kalla

Publisher: Poppy Oak Press

Publication Date: May 1, 2025

ISBN: 979-8987586693

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: May 1, 2025

The Journey to You is a charming, calm, and beautiful children's picture book by Payton Lynch that features not just a sweet children's story but a deeply emotional, poetic reflection on what it means to become a parent—the hope, the longing, the struggle, and the overwhelming love that comes when a child is finally in her parent's arms.

It isn’t a typical picture book with a plot and characters. It reads more like a lyrical promise, a quiet but powerful declaration of love from a parent to a child. Every page is a metaphor for the journey to parenthood—“I’d climb a mountain with bare feet,” “I’d cross the hottest desert sand,” “I’d search for you forevermore.” It’s not about literal places or challenges but rather the feeling of waiting, wishing and enduring, all for the chance to hold the eagerly anticipated bundle of joy.

Readers will love how universal it feels. Whether their child came through birth, adoption, surrogacy, or something else, the message remains the same: “I would have done anything to get to you.” And that’s a sentiment that hits deep, especially for parents who didn’t take the easy road to get there. The writing is gentle and soothing—perfect for reading aloud, even to the youngest babies. It flows like a lullaby, and you can feel the love in every line. But it’s the kind of book that might leave you, the parent, more teary-eyed than your child. And that’s okay. Some stories are for both of you, even if the little one doesn’t fully grasp it yet.

Siski Kalla’s illustrations are breathtaking. Soft colors, dreamy landscapes, and beautifully emotive scenes that match the emotional tone of the text perfectly. Kalla ably makes one feel like they are stepping into a dream where every page brings them closer to the heart of the story—and to the child at the center of it all.

Quill says: The Journey to You is one of those books families can read over and over. It’s also a perfect gift for new parents, especially those who have experienced loss, long waits, or an unconventional path to parenthood. It isn’t just for kids, but also for the grown-ups who fought to become parents, who held onto hope through hard seasons, and who now look at their child and think, “You were worth every step.”

 #Bookreview of The Pesky Problem

By: Cristina Garcia

Illustrated by: Lenka Knoetze & Amy De Vries

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: March 25, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891325272

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: May 1, 2025

The Pesky Problem by Cristina Garcia is the story of an issue that has been bothering a pumpkin and gourd patch daily. Everyday, pesky crows want to feed on the various pumpkins and gourds in this patch located in the colorful countryside, leading to the flock of crows pecking them incessantly.

The pumpkins and gourds try thinking of a way to stop the mean crows from being a nuisance. One pumpkin, Warty Goblin, who is the oldest and wisest of the patch, comes up with the idea of borrowing the local corn field’s scarecrow. He has watched the field for days, and noticed the crows have left the corn fields alone once the scarecrow was put in place. That may very well be the solution for the pumpkins and gourds. But when they go to talk to the ears of corn and present their dilemma, the ears of corn laugh at them for even thinking they would lend them their scarecrow. Defeated, the pumpkins and gourds return to their patch and come up with another plan. Does Warty Goblin’s new plan work this time for them? Do the crows finally leave the pumpkin patch alone?

This was such an adorable story for readers of any age to enjoy. First, it was so entertaining to read about pumpkins, gourds, and ears of corn that were alive and talking. Each had their own personality, which made developing feelings for them extremely easy for the readers right from the start. The manner in which this dilemma was presented to the readers will teach young children that if at first you don’t succeed, try again. When Warty Goblin came up with a back-up plan, readers can’t help but cheer him on and hope his plan will work to protect his patch from the crows.

The illustrations provided by both Lenka Knoetze and Amy De Vries were not only a delight to look at, but were found on every single page of this adorable children’s book. The colors were vivid and eye-catching, and the illustrations perfectly complemented the written word from the author.

Quill says: The Pesky Problem by Cristina Garcia not only teaches children a valuable lesson about teamwork, but will also entertain readers of all ages with the whimsical story and eye-catching illustrations.

For more information about The Pesky Problem, please visit the publisher's website at: www.atmospherepress.com/books/the-pesky-problem-by-cristina-garcia.