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Clover the Bee here, a lively, roving reader hot on the hunt for great children’s books. I’m happy to be your new bestie, an in-sect intersecting in your life to bring you fab stories that’ll blow you away like fall seeds in the wind.
Book Buddy is a book suggestion column for young readers. Each month yours truly selects and reviews a trio of books chosen to appeal to kids in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Good books that parents, grandparents, caretakers, teachers and everyone else will enjoy too.
Follow along with Clover each month as she tips her antennae toward great new books for children, brought to you by the Community Literacy Foundation, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the reading public.
Healing Waters
Hot weather hits and pools, lakes and oceans beckon with promises to come. Take the plunge but don’t forget to pack a book in your bag...
Clover
Jun 1
The Nature of Things
Clover loves the scenes on display in May. Her appreciation of “The Nature of Things” is to be expected—she’s a honeybee, and blossoms...
Clover
Apr 30
Honey Bunnies
With spring bursting at the seams, dressed in gorgeous green, Clover’s buzzed to share stories of cottontails with velvet noses and fur...
Clover
Mar 30
Bee-ing a Good Buddy
We need our people, friends we can trust and have fun with, loyal pals to cheer us up on bad days and celebrate our achievements on good...
Clover
Mar 3
Sweet on Reading
In this month of hugs, kisses and kindness, Clover’s happy to suggest books with a “Sweet on Reading” theme. The hive’s exhilarating...
Clover
Feb 2
Stories of Hope and Humor
Here it is, laid out before us, a brand, spanking New Year. What’s in store for 2025—sweet honey days or sour, thorny times that dampen...
Clover
Jan 27
Gift of a Good Book
Twas’ the night before Christmas and all through the hive, not a bitty bee was buzzing, not one, sake’s alive. The swarm was all...
Clover
Dec 3, 2024
Tail Wagging Reads
Clover kicks off November with three brilliant “Tail Wagging Reads,” darling, daring books about doggies. Hearts melt when our special...
Clover
Nov 18, 2024
Unique Books to Keep You Guessing
Get ready for some pleasing, peculiar picks—not shiver-me-timbers scary reads, but a trio of “Unique Books to Keep You Guessing.” There’s...
Clover
Oct 6, 2024
Our Wonderful World
Change is in the air—Clover feels it, sure you do too. In the blink of an eye summer gives way to fall, pastel blossoms fade, replaced by...
Clover
Sep 12, 2024
Cool School Picks
Clover is all over her “Cool School Picks” -- books guaranteed to make the grade as we kick off another year of reading, writing and...
Clover
Aug 2, 2024
Friends the World Over
Clover’s excited to share her newest picks, books that celebrate “Friends the World Over.” Though we’re familiar with our buddies in the...
Clover
Jul 22, 2024
Love's in the Air
Clover is one lucky bee. On her flyovers, this ardent observer frequently sees families and friends gathering to mark wonderous...
Clover
Jun 6, 2024
Animal Friends, Tried and True
Clover has a confession. While your bee bud loves stories about lots of subjects, she has a soft spot in her heart for books about...
Clover
May 6, 2024
Word Up
In April, we find nature blossoming and bursting to brilliant new life, inspiring writers to create poetry that moves us with thoughtful...
Clover
Apr 9, 2024
Uniquely You
We are all special in our own way—some of us do well in math and science, others of us enjoy English. Maybe you admire the way your buddy...
Clover
Mar 10, 2024
Celebrating Our Connections
February is close to Clover’s heart. It’s a special month set aside to not only celebrate Valentine’s Day but to observe Black History,...
Clover
Feb 7, 2024
Forging New Paths
Score in ’24—reading opens doors and offers great pleasures. No idea what titles to choose? Start right here with Book Buddy Picks, this...
Clover
Jan 3, 2024
Gift of a Good Book
Clover loves bringing the best of the best to young readers. This December her “Gift of a Good Book” theme shines as bright as a star,...
Clover
Dec 5, 2023
Thankful For… November Picks
There’s more to Turkey Day than turkey and pumpkin pie. There’s us! Each individual on the face of this Earth is a unique contributor to...
Clover
Nov 13, 2023
Barely Scary Picks
Clover has a confession to make. Your bee buddy is chicken-hearted—a “Halloweenie.” While she does love candy corn, a two-toned honey...
Clover
Oct 5, 2023
Can Do Attitude!
Clover offers a tip of her wings to the characters in her stupendous September Picks — all have a “Can Do Attitude” despite facing...
Clover
Sep 3, 2023
Ready, Set, Smart!
School bells beckon, the joys of summer morphed into fond memories tucked in the recesses of our brain. With “Ready, Set, Smart” as our...
Clover
Jul 31, 2023
July's Triple-Dip Picks
July holds a bevy of bee-lights that make the good ol’ summertime memorable—set the scorching sizzles aside with cannonballs into a pool,...
Clover
Jul 6, 2023
June Picks - All Together Now
On a recent flyover, Clover heard some super news while hovering over the library, where there’s lots of buzz about the summer reading...
Clover
Jun 11, 2023
Bouquet of May Picks - Blooming Good Reads
With spring full to bursting, Clover is eager to introduce young readers to her Bouquet of May Picks. While every batch of honeys Clover...
Clover
May 20, 2023
Our Big Wonderful World
Clover knows about problems that arise when we turn our backs on “Our Big Wonderful World.” While we’ve made some efforts in bettering...
Clover
Apr 5, 2023
Big Feelings
With spring on the doorstep, you’d think the mood at the hive would be joyous, but some of the drones are dismal, even though nature is...
Clover
Mar 10, 2023
Bee-Loved Books
Here are some feel-good books you’ll “heart” in a month that finds Clover totally in the pink. Her “Bee-Loved Books” have themes of love...
Clover
Feb 6, 2023
Survivors, All
A new year offers the opportunity to think on serious subjects and challenge ourselves to improve in all sorts of ways. The characters in...
Clover
Jan 12, 2023
The Gift of a Good Book
As 2022 comes to a close, Clover caps off the year with “The Gift of a Good Book” suggesting three reads that are sure to please. This...
Clover
Dec 1, 2022
Thankful for ...
Though it might sound redundant, the phrase rings true—gratitude paves the way to happiness, making us better bees and human-bee-ings....
Clover
Nov 9, 2022
Frightfully Good Reads
In October’s Book Buddy Books, thrills and chills await, with nary a spook lurking in the wings. Instead, there’s wonder and fun in...
Clover
Oct 23, 2022
Map Your Way with Great Books
Off we sail into a brand new school year complete with its treasure chest of opportunities. To accompany you on your scholarly journey,...
Clover
Sep 7, 2022
August Must Reads
Clover’s “August Must Reads” are spot on. Their focus isn’t on stories about polka dots, or the spots on a cheetah’s fur, but on places...
Clover
Aug 11, 2022
Sights, Scents and Sounds
Sometimes humans take too much for granted in our wide, wonderful world—things in nature we bees pay attention to in our daily flyovers....
Clover
Jul 6, 2022
On the Move
With summer in full swing, kids will be “On the Move,” heading off for camp or vacation fun with family and friends. To commemorate this...
Clover
Jun 30, 2022
Feelings Come and Go
Emotions can be as varied as the weather—sometimes we’re sunny and bright and other times storm clouds gather and we feel out of sorts....
Clover
May 9, 2022
Oh Yeah! Earth Day!
It’s easy for Clover to laud her favorite date—your bee buddy gets gushy-buzzy on April 22. To pay homage to the day, Clover announces...
Clover
Mar 29, 2022
Mad About March Picks
Basketball might be center stage in March, but Clover scores high marks for a trio of books sure to keep students glued to the page. Plan...
Clover
Mar 7, 2022
Bee-Loved Books
If you’re craving a break from winter’s monotony, February delivers. This festive month offers us a bright break from the ordinary with a...
Clover
Jan 27, 2022
Right on Cue - Books for 2022
With the flip of a calendar page, we welcome a New Year, and “Right on Cue,” your bee buddy Clover announces “Books for 2022,” a trio of...
Clover
Jan 3, 2022
The Gift of a Good Book
Stories gift us with unforgettable characters and plots that entertain and amaze, often keeping us on the edge of our seat as the pages...
Clover
Dec 17, 2021
Thankful For ... Picks
Clover is especially “Thankful For …” being with loved ones this Thanksgiving. After a glum holiday in 2020, your buddy is grateful to be...
Clover
Nov 6, 2021
Awesome Autumn Picks
It’s officially fall—why not leaf through some pages with your Book Buddy Clover? She’s keen on great books and suggests priming your...
Clover
Oct 21, 2021
One Step at a Time
In our nation and world dark times occur that shake us to the core. Yet in the end hope prevails as we muddle through our pain and loss...
Clover
Sep 1, 2021
Circle These Books
Give them a check, a thumbs up, or grab a pencil and “Circle These Books” as top picks in Clover’s book bag. With the start of another...
Clover
Aug 4, 2021
Cool Reads for Hot Days
Smack in the middle of summer, Clover’s got some “Cool Reads for Hot Days.” While away the afternoon lost in story as you lounge on a...
Clover
Jul 10, 2021
Rising to the Challenge
With summer on our doorstep, Clover and the hive-fivers give thanks last year is past us, when “Rising to the Challenge” became...
Clover
Jun 8, 2021
Magnificent Must-Reads
May’s a double-winner for Clover—the month’s abloom with blossoms and “Magnificent Must-Reads” your Bee Buddy is happy to introduce you...
Clover
May 4, 2021
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