Arab Heritage Month is celebrated during the month of April in the US and Canada
It celebrates the Arab heritage and culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans and Arab Canadians.
The Arab League Consists of 22 countries: Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
In honor of this month I wanted to share some books we’ve read and enjoyed.
Most the books are kids lit, I also added some that are on my own TBR, I need more adult books to add to it
Books we’ve read and enjoyed
Books on my TBR
Did you pick any books for Arab Heritage Month? Have you read any books you can recommend?
Hello lovelies and welcome to my first Recipe and a review for this new year. And what better way to kick things off than celebrating the pub day of this fantastic novel. Congrats to author Lydia San Andres and many thanks to Primero Sueño Press for the gifted ARC of this book!
Mariel is a struggling writer, trying o to work on her screenplay as her bank account shrinks more and more. Her writing is constantly interrupted by daydreaming of the Duke orlf Harding, Regency era rogue who likes his vicarious adventures in her dreams. That is until the fateful night she runs into Dash, Dashwood, the charming and handsome model/content creator who happens to be cosplaying in Times square.
Soon they’re teaming up to bring the character to life and to the public on his Only Fans account. But pesky things such as undeniable attraction and feelings start getting in the way.
I hope you enjoy this delicious dinner inspired by one the Duke, I mean Dash himself made for Mariel!
Summary:
After being fired from her day job, unceremoniously ghosted, and facing a bad case of writer’s block, twenty-six-year-old aspiring screenwriter Mariel Rivera is one spilled coffee away from crying on the subway. When she’s rescued from a Times Square kerfuffle by a very handsome model dressed in regency costume, Mariel has no idea her life is about to change.
Dashwood Bennet has been modeling for years, though recently, his current portfolio includes some more risqué shots. However, he never imagined that after his encounter with Mariel, he’d be putting on his regency breeches just to take them off again…in front of the camera.
Dash is the answer to Mariel’s prayers in more ways than one. First, he saved her from an unruly mob. Second, he’s the perfect person to play the Duke of Harding, a character she’s created that captured her attention and won’t let go. Third, he’s more than game to be the face of her spicy historical shorts. And last but not least, he’s her perfect partner both in business and in the bedroom. But being work-partners-with-benefits can complicate things. Will their partnership survive or are Mariel and Dash doomed to not have their happily ever
“…I think it’s safe to say that whatever hope we had of keeping this platonic has pretty much flown out the window. So it you’re up for seeing where this takes us, then so am I. I don’t think we were meant to be a slow burn, Mariel.”
If you make it or share it please tag me 🤩
Ingredients
My thoughts:
This was absolute perfection. Mariel and Dash were the perfect opposites-attract, friends with benefits, match made in romcom heaven. Their attraction is evident from the start, even as they attempt to keep things professional. Each bring previous relationship trauma to the table and that complicates things and makes it hard for each to just ask for what they really want. I loved how she included the scenes they were shooting for his Only fans, though I would have loved me some spicy ones too. And speaking of spice, the steam was A+, I love how the author manages to make them so open to each other in the intimate moments. The secondary characters didn’t feel like props and I love how much support they brought to the story. Also I loved how the city itself felt like a character. It’s really evident how the author loves NYC! I’m glad Mariel took her time to work on herself and her traumas and how she figured out what she wanted and worked for it. Overall this was such a fun read and I hope y’all jump on it and love it as much as I did!
Are there any new releases you’ve been looking forward to that come out today?
Every year in January I join the outstanding humans at @readyourworld for the Multicultural Children’s book day celebrations
This is my 6th year participating as a reviewer and I was assigned 2 lovely picture books I’m excited to share with y’all today!
🦜 La gran sorpresa de Pésaj / The Passover Pet Surprise by Ana María Shua and illustrated by Angeles Ruiz
This book embodies the multicultural theme as it’s author, an argentinian and Spanish illustrator bring to life the story of Jordanita, whose family travels from Miami to Argentina to celebrate Passover with their relatives.
It celebrates jewish and argentinian heritage through a story about freedom, family love and love of the little animals that are part of our families.
The illustrations were beautiful and brought the story to life.
This one comes out March 6!
🧚 Fairy Walk Written and Illustrated by Gaia Cornwall
This is such a cute story of a group of children that enjoy the woods around their home as they search for fairies.
It was lovely seeing how the children explored their surroundings, with the fairies hiding just beyond their reach.
This one is available now!
Thanks to @northsouthbooks and author @gaiacornwall and Read Your World for the gifted e-ARCs for these books.
All opinions are my own.
Read Your World 2026 (1/29/26) is in its 14th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.
Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission and history HERE.
Read Your World is honored to be Supported by these Medallion:
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr (Audreypress.com)
🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media
🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 60 Languages and Jeanne Walker Harvey
🏅 Gold Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight
🏅 Silver Sponsors: Red Comet Press
🏅 Silver Corporate Sponsor: Kathy Choi
🏅 Bronze Sponsors: Fabled Films Press
🏅 Corporate Sponsor: Crayola Education
Read Your World is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!
Authors: Audrey Barbakoff, Federico Erebia, Teddi Ahrens, Stephanie M. Wildman, Maritza M. Mejia, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C., Eugenia Chu, Dorktales Storytime Podcast, Josh Funk,
Frances Díaz Evans, Gaia Cornwall, Eric Clock, Maria Wen Adcock, Diana Huang, Gwen
Jackson, Gea Meijering, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Ismee Williams, Karin Fisher-Golton,
Join us on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 8 pm EST celebrating 14 years of Read Your World Day Virtual Party! Register here.
This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.
We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants are welcome. **
Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 29, 2026, at our virtual party!
I finished my last book of the year today, and I know I won’t get to finish another one tomorrow, so now I can wrap up my years stats. Here are my books in numbers for 2025 🎉
📚 Books read: 100
I’m really surprised with this number, it completely exceeded my expectations. I surpassed my original goal of 72, and since I have surpassed my goal each year the past 3 years, I think I’m brave enough to increase my next years goal.
📝 Nonfiction: I read 11, my goal was 12, so much better than last year, almost there!
✍️ Fiction: I read 89 books.
✨Top Genres:
I read 12 Fantasy, including contemporary, historical, Adult, YA, MG and GN.
Romantasy reigned with 25. 23 Romance (including contemporary and historical).
11 contemporary fiction, 4 historical fiction, 4 Mystery/Thriller, 3 horror, 3 Poetry/novels in verse, 2 dystopian, 1 short story collection.
🆕 New to me authors: 48 where new to me authors and for several I read more than one of their books.
⬆️ Top read authors:
Adrienne Young: 4 books (2 rereads)
Ali Hazelwood: 3 books + 1 short story
Katee Robert: 3 books + 1 short story
Rebecca Yarros: 3 books (2 rereads)
Callie Hart: 2 books + 1 novella
📏 Longest Book: 📖 770 pgs Born of Blood and Ash (Flesh and fire 4) / 🎧 24 h 30 min Brimstone (Fae and Alchemy 2)
⇣Shortest Book: 📱 112 pgs Make Magic / 🎧 2 h 15 min Quicksilver bonus scenes
🔝Most reads in a month: 11 in November
📉Least reads in a month: 5 in December
🤓 Reading streak: 1780 consecutive reading days
📖 Physical books: 18 (18%)
📱E-books: 5 (5%)
🎧Audiobooks: 63 (63%)
💥Graphic Novels: 14 (14%)
Borrowed:
Library books 29
Owned
Bought: 10
Gifted: 59
Won: 1
LFL find: 1
How did your reading go this year?
Did you have any goals for this new year that you achieved or didn’t?
Here is my annual compilation of books we’ve enjoyed throughout the year and would make great holiday gifts.
I love giving books as gifts for all occasions specially around the holidays as they are a great way to promote love of reading from a young age. This list was compiled with the help of the kids.
So in no particular order:
Los viernes comemos churros/ Fridays are for churros by Jenny Alvarado
2. Why we celebrate Earth day by Kelly Anne McLellan
3. Barnaby Unboxed by The Fan Brothers
4. The man who didn’t like animals by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
5. How to make a Shark laugh and How to make a Robot laugh by Chris Cate
6. Ellie has a secret by Amelia Bothe
7. Bud finds her gift by Robin Wall Kimmerer, illustrated by Naoko Stoop
8. The bestest big brother, ever by Ben Mantle
9. How to grow a family tree by Bea Birdsong, illustrated by Jasu Hu
10. The City of jasmine by Nadine Presley, illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee
Most of these books are appropriate for ages 3 and above and can be read to them by adults or by young readers who are learning to read on their own. They also reflect our emphasis on reading diverse books throughout the year.
I have reviewed most of them in previous IG posts. You can also check out my recommendations from previous years here and also on IG.
Have you read any of these with your kids? Do you like to gift books?
As many lot of us prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving next week, the sentiment behind the celebration remains a treasured and important one, but I think it’s important to research and learn about the real story behind the frequently told tale of the first Thanksgiving and acknowledge the wrong that was done to all the Native tribes through the colonization and since then.
Today I’m sharing some of the books by Native authors and native stories that we have read (or are currently reading) and have enjoyed in the last couple of years as we diversify our reading and learn more about the beautiful culture and communities.
Picture Books:
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Illustrated by Michaela Goede
Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard and Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
Remember by Joy Harjo and Illustrated by Michaela Goede
Be a good ancestor by Leona and Gabrielle Prince and Illustrated by Carla Joseph
Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior by Carole Lindstrom and Illustrated by Bridget George
Being Home by Traci Sorell and Illustrated by Michaela Goede
What’s in a bead? by Kelsey Borgford and Illustrated by Tessa Pizzale -It’s Powwow Time! By Martha Troian and Illustrated by Hawlii Pichette -Bud finds her gift by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Illustrated by Naoko Stoop
Middle Grade:
The Second chance of Benjamin Waterfalls by James Bird
Ancestor Approved edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith
We still belong by Christine Day
Red Bird danced by Dawn Quigley
Two Tribes by Emily Bowen Cohen
On a wing and a tear by Cynthia Leitich Smith
YA:
Fire Keeper’s Daughter; Warrior girl unearthed; and Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley @angelineboulley
Horror Anthology:
Never whistle at night, Edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
Romance:
The truth according to Ember; & Love is a war song by Danica Nava @danica_nava
Non-fiction:
An Indegenous People’s History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz -The Paranormal Ranger by Stanley Milford Jr.
Did you pick any books for Native American Heritage Month? Have you read any books you can recommend?
Here is my fourth and final list of book recs. I think this is the most extensive one, as I do read mostly adult books. I’m excited to share a good variety of genres for all preferences and I also added a little bonus with flags from the authors heritage 😊
Featured books:
Magical Realism:
⁃ The Storyteller’s death & We need no wings by Ann Davila Cardinal
– The Cemetery of untold stories by Julia Alvarez
– The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
⁃ The Volcano daughters by Gina Maria Balibrera
⁃ Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
⁃ A Touch of moonlightby Yaffa S. Santos
Romance:
— Historical:
⁃ A Caribean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera
⁃ Compromised into a scandalous marriage & Unexpectedly wed to the heir by Lydia San Andres
— Contemporary:
⁃ A Vega family love story series: A Proposal they can’t refuse; A dish best served hot & Sleeping with the frenemy by Natalie Caña
⁃ Raiders of the lost heart & Temple of swoon by Jo Segura
Contemporary & Historical fiction:
⁃ Olga dies dreaming & Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
⁃ Dominicana & How not to drown in a glass of water by Angie Cruz
⁃ Neruda on the park & The Grand Paloma resort (CR) by Cleyvis Natera
Horror:
⁃ Mexican Gothic & The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
⁃ The Hacienda; Vampires of el Norte & The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas
⁃ Our Shadows have claws – Anthology (multiple authors)
⁃ The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro
– Bochica by Carolina Flores-Cerchiaro
Fantasy:
– The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero Lacruz
– Quislaona – Anthology (multiple authors)
Poetry:
– Plantains and our becoming by Melania Luisa Marte
– The House on Mango street by Sandra Cisneros
Non-fiction:
Memoir:
– Solito by Javier Zamora
History/Politics:
– Latinoland by Marie Aranas (CR)
Have you read or seen any of these before?
Have you read any Latinx/ Hispanic authors this month?
This week I’m sharing me third, admittedly short, list of book recs. I’m working on reading more YA as my oldest is now in this age group, and have added a couple of new ones since last year, so I call that a win!
Enjoy these wonderful books:
– The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
– With the fire on high by Elizabeth Acevedo
– Clap when you land by Elizabeth Acevedo
– The girl, the ring and the baseball bat by Camille Gomera Tavarez
– Twin Flames by Olivia Abtahi
– Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass by Meg Medina
– Guava and Grudges by Alexis Castellanos
– A tall dark trouble by Vanessa Montalban
– Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
– Aristotle and Dante dive into the waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Do you ever read books “not for your age group“?
I don’t think books have limits on age to be able to appreciate and enjoy them. Because I have kids of different ages, I do read books geared for many different groups more often.
Have you read or seen any of these before? What are your favorite YA books or series?
This week I’m sharing the second list of book recs. Middle grade books can be surprisingly profound in the topics they deal with, and at the same time, have an uplifting message.
With my kids, we’ve picked some of our favorites. For this one I added some info about book genre and also adding little flags from the authors heritage if known 😊
Featured books:
Standalones:
– 🇨🇺 Graciela in the abyss by Meg Medina
– 🇵🇷 Iveliz explains it all/ Iveliz lo explica todo; Something like home / Casino, casino un hogar & It’s all or nothing Vale / Todo o nada, Valentina by Andrea Beatriz Arango
– 🇧🇷🇵🇷Lola Reyes is so not worried by Cindy L. Rodriguez
– 🇲🇽 The last cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
– 🇲🇽 The Pecan sheller by Lupe Ruiz-Flores
– 🇲🇽 Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan
– 🇩🇴 The extraordinary orbit of Alex Ramirez by Jasminne Paulino
– 🇩🇴 Ghost squad by Claribel Ortega
Series:
– 🇨🇺 Sal & Gabi by Carlos Hernandez
– 🇲🇽 The Storm runner by JC Cervantes
– 🇩🇴 Witchlings series by Claribel Ortega
Graphic Novels:
– 🇩🇴 ¡Manu! By Kelly Fernandez
– 🇩🇴 Frizzy / Rizos by Claribel Ortega and illustrated by Rose Bousamra
– 🇩🇴 Doodles from the Boggiedown by Stephanie Rodriguez
– 🇨🇺🇨🇴 Home & Speak up, Santiago! by Julio Anta
– 🇨🇺 How to say goodbye in Cuban by Alexis Castellanos
For the love of Libros 