Hello, friends! Our book today is The One and Only Sparkella Makes a Plan, written by Channing Tatum and illustrated by Kim Barnes (Kim’s Illustrations), second in the duo’s Sparkella series.

With two hours to go until Ella – better known as Sparkella – is having her new friend Tam over for a sleepover, it’s time to make sure all the activities, snacks, and tea party supplies are in place. And most importantly, a castle “fit for two royal highnesses” must be quickly constructed. Reaching out to Dad for help and showing him her ambitious blueprints, the two begin construction… but Sparkella is initially disappointed with the progress. Limited to construction materials like cardboard and tape, nothing about the castle looks or works like it did in her imagination. How can she make a princess-worthy palace in time?

Fluffy fun with a few helpful lessons. While the plot itself is a fairly light, slice-of-life story about problem-solving, Tatum’s text and Barnes’s artwork also neatly weave in a few very nice messages on creative thinking, managing emotions, and even father-daughter relationships. The latter theme is a particular favorite, as it shows Sparkella’s father gleefully engaging in and supporting his daughter’s “girly” activities, which is always awesome to see. Barnes’s artwork is a colorful delight that accessory-obsessed little ones will love, the length was great for a storytime, and JJ liked this one a lot. Overall, a fun read, especially for fans of the previous installment. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)