Title: How Lumi Learned to Fly: The Little Butterfly that Learned to Believe in Herself Author: David Michael Illustratior: Raees Asma Publication: August 24, 2026 Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Self-Esteem/Personal Growth Find it on: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon BE Rating: 4/5★
How Lumi Learned to Fly
Lumi has always dreamed of flying.
But when the time comes to spread her wings, Lumi discovers that learning to fly isn’t as easy as she imagined. With a little courage, determination, and encouragement from those who believe in her, Lumi begins to discover that sometimes the hardest part of reaching your dreams is simply believing you can.
Join Lumi on a sweet and inspiring adventure as she learns to face her fears, keep trying when things don’t go as planned, and discover the confidence that was inside her all along.
How Lumi Learned to Fly is a heartwarming story about courage, perseverance, self-confidence, and believing in yourself. Young readers will love following Lumi’s journey as she learns that mistakes and challenges are simply part of growing and learning.
A wonderful read for parents, teachers, and caregivers looking for a gentle story that encourages children to:
Believe in themselves
Try again when something feels difficult
Face new challenges with courage
Learn from mistakes
Discover their own unique strengths
Sometimes, you don't need to know how to fly before you spread your wings. You just need to be brave enough to try.
Let Lumi show you that anything is possible when you believe in yourself!
"It wasn't fear anymore—it was something lighter. Something brave."
How Lumi Learned to Fly is a short, sweet and heartwarming story about believing in yourself and never giving up. I almost never read children’s books like this one but I ended up enjoying it nontheless, especially because of its lovely message.
I also really loved the beautiful illustrations (made by Raees Asmar), which brought the story to life. Lumi is such a cute butterfly! I’m more than sure that small kids will be drawn to pictures as well. I can totally see this book finding a beloved spot in libraries alongside other books about animals, self-esteem and growing and learning.
Overall, How Lumi Learned to Fly: The Little Butterfly that Learned to Believe in Herself by David Michael is a sweet and inspiring story that leaves young readers with a wonderful reminder to believe in themselves.
About the author:
David Michael, the pen name of Mike Dreyfuss, is a pediatric occupational therapist with more than 10 years of experience helping children with special needs build confidence, independence, and essential life skills. Inspired by the children and families he works with each day, he began writing children’s books that encourage important virtues such as courage, patience, kindness, and perseverance. Through heartfelt stories and memorable characters, David hopes to inspire every child—especially those who struggle with self-confidence—to believe in themselves, face their fears, and discover the strength they already have inside.
David lives in Texas with his wife and their two young children, who continue to inspire his stories and remind him of the magic found in everyday moments.
Amazon | Facebook | Instagram
Title: Castle in the Air Author: Diana Wynne Jones Series: Howl's Moving Castle #2 Publication: August 7th 2001 by Greenwillow Books (first published 1990) Genre: Fantasy Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo Cover Rating: 3/5 Overall Rating: 5/5
In which a humble young carpet merchant wins, then loses, the princess of his dreams.
Far to the south of the land of Ingary, in the Sultanates of Rashpuht, there lived in the city of Zanzib a young and not very prosperous carpet dealer named Abdullah who loved to spend his time daydreaming. He was content with his life and his daydreams until, one day, a stranger sold him a magic carpet.
That very night, the carpet flew him to an enchanted garden. There, he met and fell in love with the beauteous princess Flower-in-the-Night, only to have her snatched away, right under his very nose, by a wicked djinn. With only his magic carpet and his wits to help him, Abdullah sets off to rescue his princess...
Reading Castle in the Air was a spur in the moment decision for me. I hadn't given the book much thought every since I bought (which was a while ago) because I doubted it would be as good as Howl's Moving Castle. Ha! I was so wrong. It wasn't better than its predecessor but I enjoyed it just as much. I am really impressed by the imagination of the author (bless her soul). This book was such an aventure that I jumped in right away and let it take me away to the lands of Rashpuht, Ingary and the castle in the air. It was fantastic. I really liked the main character, Abdullah, who was a humble but funny and smart carpet merchant. And also liked Flower-in-the-Night and how she wasn't just another princess. She was actually strong-minded and had her own intellectual ideas. I even liked "the soldier" even though he was quite selfish and tricky. Really, this book was full of diverse and unique characters that you can't help but like. Even the djinns! I loved the Arabic feel of the book with the genie, djinns, magic carpet and everything else in between. I haven't quite read a book like it before (aside maybe from Howl's Moving Castle). And of course it was absolutely amazing to be back in Kingsbury and meet all the familiar characters over again like Lettie, Suliman, Calcifer and of course let's not forget Sophie and Howl! I don't want to give away too much but I was almost giving up hope of seeing Howl again in this book but let me tell you: nothing is as it seems! And gods... how I loved it! It was really nice to see what Sophie and Howl's life is like now. I missed them. Overall, Castle in the Air is a magnificent sequel to Howl's Moving Castle. It might feature other characters in the lead but they're just as amazing and unique. I would recommend this book to everyone who has read Howl's Moving Castle and even if you haven't read that book yet, get on it and read the sequel too because it's full of amazingness!
Favorite Quotes:
“I am a believer in free will. If my dog chooses to hate the whole human race except myself, it must be free to do so.”
“I can't abide people who go soft over animals and then cheat every human they come across!”
“Tell me of this wizard Howl of yours."
Sophie's teeth chattered, but she said proudly, "He's the best wizard in Ingary or anywhere else. If he'd only had time, he would have defeated that djinn. And he's sly and selfish and vain as a peacock and cowardly, and you can't pin him down to do anything."
"Indeed?" asked Abdullah. "Strange that you should speak so proudly such a list of vices, most loving of ladies."
"What do you mean, vices?" Sophie asked angrily. "I was just describing Howl!”
About the Author:
August 16, 1934 - March 26, 2011
Diana Wynne Jones was the author of more than thirty critically acclaimed fantasy stories, including the Chrestomanci series and the novels Howl's Moving Castle and Dark Lord of Derkholm.
For Diana Wynne Jones's official autobiography, please see http://www.leemac.freeserve.co.uk/autobiog.htm
Title: The Reluctant Assassin Author: Eoin Colfer Series: W.A.R.P. #1 Publication: April 11th 2013 by Puffin Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade ~ Science Fiction Format: Hardcover, 321 pages Cover Rating: 5/5 Overall Rating: 5/5
Riley, a teen orphan boy living in Victorian London, has had the misfortune of being apprenticed to Albert Garrick, an illusionist who has fallen on difficult times and now uses his unique conjuring skills to gain access to victims' dwellings. On one such escapade, Garrick brings his reluctant apprentice along and urges him to commit his first killing. Riley is saved from having to commit the grisly act when the intended victim turns out to be a scientist from the future, part of the FBI's Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (WARP) Riley is unwittingly transported via wormhole to modern day London, followed closely by Garrick. In modern London, Riley is helped by Chevron Savano, a seventeen-year-old FBI agent sent to London as punishment after a disastrous undercover, anti-terrorist operation in Los Angeles. Together Riley and Chevie must evade Garrick, who has been fundamentally altered by his trip through the wormhole. Garrick is now not only evil, but he also possesses all of the scientist's knowledge. He is determined to track Riley down and use the timekey in Chevie's possession to make his way back to Victorian London where he can literally change the world.
~My thoughts: I have been a fan of Eoin Colfer's books for years. Especially his Artemis Fowl books (duh. no explanation needed there). There is no doubt he is my favorite author. Ever. Which he once again proves with The Reluctant Assassin. With this new start of this new series, Colfer didn't let me down one bit. I was so nervous I wasn't going to like it or god forbid hate it but I should've know it was going to brilliant like everything he writes. The Reluctant Assassin takes us to the year 1898 in London, which to me is a reason alone to start freaking out like a fangirl. We meet Riley, a 14 year-old orphan boy who's taken in under the wings of the evil illusionist Albert Garrick who can be hired as an assassin. When Garrick forces Riley to commit his first murder, luckily he is saved from the act when the victim turns out to be part of the FBI's Witness Anonymous Relocation Program otherwise knows as WARP from the future. By accident Riley gets transported to modern day London with Garrick on his trail. Meanwhile in modern day London 17 year-old FBI agent Chevron Savano (Chevie) has been send to London as part of punishment and needing to lay low after an operation gone awry in Los Angeles. It's there that she helps Riley flee from Garrick, who's been altered by the wormhole, making him an scientific expert and more dangerous than ever if he'd find a way back to Victorion London where he could literally take over the world with his knowledge. Even after all the Colfer books I have read I am still dazzled by how good his writing is. I mean, seriously, it's top-notch. I love how ingenious it all was and how well he described Victorian London. It was as I was there and could pretty much see and smell everything that was going on there. I've never been much of a fan of time travel stories but I should have know that when Eoin Colfer takes on the subject he would make it brilliant and that's just what he did. I loved the idea of the Witness Anonymous Relocation Program and being transported via wormholes. It just mades the sci-fi nerd in my all giddy! My favorite things in this whole book were the characters. Every single one of them were interesting in their own way. Naturally I liked our three main characters, Riley, Chevie and Garrick the best. Yes, even the bad guy. I love to read about the baddies and how crazy they are. And let me tell ya, Garrick is one of the craziest I have ever read about and that why Eoin Colfer writes the best evil characters I've read about. I must say, though, that Riley was my favorite character. I loved the way he talked. I could hear his accent in my voice almost and other than that he's pretty smart and very witty. Speaking of witty, that brings us to Chevie. She was awesome and kick-ass. She could handle her own and yet wasn't scared to admit how it all became too much at some point. Like she herself said, she's only 17 years old and wasn't meant to be caught up in all the time travel business. But she never did gave up, even when things seemed at their worst. There were a lot of other great characters. Colfer really does have a knack to write some really remarkable people with a lot of wit that will always stay with me. The whole story itself was really good worked out in my opinion. Slowly, but surely everything comes together and we all learn more about our three leads. How Riley became an orphan, what really happened there, what made Garrick how he is and what happened to Chevie in L.A. Though this book is considered a Childrens/Middle Grade book it might be aimed more at a little older audience, maybe. And I must say it never got boring. I don't think it's possible to get bored with a Colfer book. Never. The ending was really well done, as always. No surprise there either. I was sad to see Chevie and Riley part ways but that's how it's gotta go, man. That's how it's gotta go. I'm pretty sure they'll meet again if I have learned something about Eoin Colfer's books is that there's always something that's going to happen again where the characters will once again meet and there is always a third or fourth or fifth party involved. Mark my words!
So, people, Artemis Fowl may be over, but Eoin Colfer is back! The Reluctant Assassin was a brilliant start to what I know will be a brilliant series. The writing, the characters, the time travel, the exploding action all wraps up another great Colfer book that I enjoyed immensely. And, though, not as good as Artemis Fowl, I have nothing but praise for The Reluctant Assassin and of course for Eoin Colfer himself. Still my #1 favorite author and I can't wait to read more of his work.
~Favorite Quote:
“No alcohol, Riley." She nodded at the screen. "How are you liking the twenty-first century?" Riley burped. "The Take That are most melodic. And God bless Harry Potter is all I can say. If not for him, all of London would have been consumed by the dark arts.”
~About the author:
Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) was born in Wexford on the South-East coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four brothers were brought up by his father and mother, who were both educators. He received his degree from Dublin University and began teaching primary school in Wexford. He has lived and worked all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. After the publication of the Artemis Fowl novels, Eoin retired from teaching and now writes full time. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children.
I'm Stephanie, a 34 y/o book reviewer from Belgium who loves exploring both fiction + nonfiction and connecting with fellow bookworms. I also love listening to various podcasts, visiting museums and walking with my dog Cleo.
