Genre: Picture Book

My Diwali Light

Devi loves the Diwali season. It’s a time to wear her favorite red dindi and eat samosas until she bursts! Make mithai and design rangoli with her papa. And paint diyas with her nani—a reminder to shine her light brightly all year long.

The story, with vibrant collage illustrations, follows one girl’s Diwali traditions as her family celebrates their favorite holiday with the ones they love. The illustrations are full of interesting details that feature Devi’s clothing, her family, and her neighborhood. The pictures’ brilliant, bright colors give the book a joyous, festive tone. Each page has one to five sentences. However, both the complex sentence structure and the frequent use of Hindi words will require the book to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Since the book doesn’t contain a glossary, My Diwali Light will not help children from other cultures to understand the customs associated with Diwali. 

Devi’s activities show a strong sense of family and the importance of learning from your elders. For example, “Nani says when we clean our home, we remember to keep our hearts clean, too.” During the holiday preparations, Devi’s family strings marigolds and twinkling lights and also paints diyas. While they are preparing for the holiday, Nani says “the flame is a reminder for all of us to shine our lights brightly, to be kind, helpful, and loving.” 

While readers unfamiliar with the holiday may have difficulty understanding some of the book’s language, the general concept of allowing your kindness to shine will be understood by all readers. My Diwali Light revolves around Devi’s family, who show kindness to each other as well as others. 

While all of Devi’s family celebrates the season, they all celebrate differently, which allows readers to understand that the holiday is about sharing the Diwali light and sparkle. 

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content 

  • As part of the holiday tradition, Devi’s Papa gets the thali ready and Devi “sprinkle[s] the rice and the water and help[s] shower the statures in the mandir with milk, yogurt, honey, ghee, and sugar. We offer flowers and mithai. I shake the coins. Mama sings the aarti, and I ring my bell loudly.”
  • Devi’s family prays “our own prayers, quietly whispering words of hope from deep in our hearts.” The family prays for health, happiness, peace, and that “we are always together on Diwali.” 

Bunny’s Book Club

Bunny loves to sit outside the library with the kids and listen to summer story time. But when the weather gets cold and everyone moves inside, his daily dose of joy is gone. Desperate, Bunny refuses to miss out on any more reading time and devises a plan to sneak into the library at night . . . through the library’s book drop! 

Soon, Bunny hatches a plan for a great adventure—one that brings the joy of reading to all his forest friends. 

Bunny’s Book Club will introduce children to the magic of reading as they learn about Bunny and his forest friends, who love reading books and who have a wide range of interests. Bunny loves sharks and swashbucklers, while porcupine is interested in caterpillars and cocoons. Mouse wants to read about ghosts, and Mole wants to learn about volcanoes. Young readers will fall in love with Bunny and his friend who find delight in curling up with a good book. Readers’ hearts will speed up when the librarian shows up and catches the inquisitive creatures. The book ends with a sweet conclusion that will leave readers smiling. 

Bunny’s Book Club is a delightful story with an engaging plot and adorably cute pictures that add to the book’s charm. The large, full-colored illustrations are whimsical and each animal shows their love of books in a unique way. Bunny sneaks a stack of “his treasures through the book slot.” Porcupine hugs a book about hedgehogs. Throughout the story, one thing is clear: Books are full of wonder and the library is full of adventure.  

Even though Bunny’s Book Club is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Each page has two to eight sentences that include a lot of dialogue. The story is full of onomatopoeias, alliteration, and dialogue which makes Bunny’s Book Club perfect for reading aloud.  

 Bring the magic of reading into a child’s life by introducing them to Bunny and his woodland friends. Readers will be so captivated by both the story and the illustrations that they will want to read Bunny’s Book Club again and again. The story gives many examples of how a book can take readers on wonderful adventures, so be prepared for a trip to the library. Since Bunny often has cupcakes and tea while reading, Bunny’s Book Club is best served with a sweet treat. Young readers can go on another adventure with a bunny by reading Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure by Camille Andros and Too Many Carrots by Katy Hudson. 

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Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color

Simone, a young biracial girl looks around her world for her color. She asks her parents and her classmates, “What color am I?” All of them have a different answer. The girl compares herself to different colors—the black of a tire, the color of chocolate, and finally her coloring pencils. By studying her parents, she finally chooses her own color, and creates a new word for herself―honeysmoke. 

Honeysmoke shows one young girl’s struggle to understand herself. Because she doesn’t look like the other kids at school, she tries to find the right word to describe her skin color. “Simone wants a color, one that shows who she is on the inside and the outside.” In the end, Simone realizes that she is a mix of both her mother and her father and she comes up with a word — honeysmoke — that reflects both of them. The last page of the story reads, “Colors are words. Words are colors. Discover your color word.” The page shows different colors and describes them with creative names such as bronze leaf, copper storm, sugar coal, etc.  

While many readers may not relate to Simone’s conflict, they will recognize the need to understand who they are and how they fit into this world. Honeysmoke encourages readers to embrace each person’s differences including their own. The story would be the perfect conversation starter about heredity as well as loving yourself. 

The illustrations have beautiful and vibrant colors that jump off the page. The students at Simone’s school are diverse and show how each student is unique. In addition, Simone’s skin tone is contrasted with everyday objects that young readers will be familiar with such as glue, teddy bears, and colored pencils. Each page has one to six sentences that use simple vocabulary that makes the message shine. 

Honeysmoke is a beautiful story that highlights the importance of accepting yourself. In addition, the story shows the importance of words and encourages readers to creatively play with words. Adults who are looking for a picture book with a positive message will find Honeysmoke an excellent addition to their library. If you’re looking for another picture book that encourages readers to love their differences, add Angus All Aglow by Heather Smith, Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim, and I Am Enough by Grace Byers to your reading list. 

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Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer

Mary Golda Ross designed classified airplanes and spacecrafts as Lockheed Aircraft Corporation’s first female engineer. Find out how her passion for math and the Cherokee values she was raised with shaped her life and work.

Cherokee author Traci Sorell and Métis illustrator Natasha Donovan trace Ross’s journey from being the only girl in a high school math class to becoming a teacher to pursuing an engineering degree, joining the top-secret Skunk Works division of Lockheed, and being a mentor for Native Americans and young women interested in engineering. 

Mary Golda Ross’s amazing life will encourage readers of all ages to pursue their passions by working hard. When Mary attended a state teacher’s college, the boys refused to work with her which motivated Mary to “get better grades than they did.” In her early career, Mary shared her love of math as a teacher. However, when World War II started, Mary went to work at the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, where she helped design fast-flying planes. Later, she worked on spacecrafts that “helped the Apollo space program send astronauts to the moon!” Even though Mary never received public acclaim, that didn’t bother her. Throughout her life, Mary continued to work hard and encourage young women to study math and science.

As the first female engineer for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Mary “modeled the Cherokee value of working together in mind and heart.” Mary also wasn’t afraid to ask questions. Even though Mary was the only female, she proved herself a capable engineer. “Her male colleagues respected her intellect, her drive to solve problems, and how she worked in the team.” These qualities allowed Mary to make a positive impact in the world. 

Mary’s experiences come to life in realistic illustrations that use muted colors. One of the best aspects of the illustrations is their ability to incorporate math and science. For example, one picture shows a series of images of teenage Mary using a microscope, helping with a science experiment, and performing another task; around these pictures are math equations. Pictures of planes and drafting pages are incorporated into many of the illustrations.

Even though The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Each page has one to four complex sentences that will be difficult for beginning readers to tackle on their own. In addition, the book contains some advanced vocabulary such as colleagues, orbiting satellites, concepts, and classified. Even though some readers will not understand all the book’s concepts during the first read, The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross is still an excellent book to share with young readers.

The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer is an American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award Honor Picture Book; this award to given to stories that represent Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity. This picture book is a must-read not only because it introduces a woman of importance, but also because “the narrative highlights Cherokee values including education, working cooperatively, remaining humble, and helping ensure equal opportunity and education for all.” To learn more about women who made notable contributions in engineering, read Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker and Mae Among The Stars by Roda Ahmed.

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What If You Had Animal Hair!?

If you could have any animal’s hair, whose would you choose? If you chose a polar bear’s double coat, you would never have to wear a hat when playing in the snow. If you had a reindeer’s hair, it would help you stay afloat in water. And if you had a porcupine’s hair, no bully would ever bother you again! The animal kingdom has lots of awesome types of hair, but yours is pretty great, too!

If you love animals and want to learn more about their hair, then you must read What If You Had Animal Hair!? The simple, entertaining format uses a two-page spread that features a photographic image of the animal and its hair on the left and an illustration of a child with that animal’s hair on the right. The large pictures of children with animal hair are so humorous they will cause giggles.

While What If You Had Animal Hair!? is intended for younger readers, it will appeal to older readers because of the interesting facts and fun illustrations. Each two-page spread has seven to eight complex sentences that beginning readers will need an adult to read aloud to them. Despite this, the story is a quick read that is informative as well as entertaining. Readers will not only learn about familiar animals such as a lion and a zebra but also less familiar animals such as a pangolin and a star-nosed mole.

Introduce a child to non-fiction text by reading What If You Had Animal Hair!? The fun format, silly photos, and engaging text will entertain as it teaches children about animal hair. For more fun facts, fly over to the library and grab a copy of 13 Ways to Eat a Fly by Sue Heavenrich.

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Palace of Books

From prolific author, Patricia Polacco, comes a retelling of her first experience with books. Polacco was not always a reader. Growing up, she preferred to spend time on her farm with her grandfather, admiring the birds and absorbing her grandfather’s knowledge of each bird’s species.

When her family moved to California, Polacco had to adjust to life beyond the farm. Fortunately for her, her new teacher, Miss Bice, regularly took her class on nature hikes. One these hikes, Polacco would admire the birds and try to share her knowledge with her classmates. However, her classmates did not share her passion, and they were not interested in the many owl pellets Polacco found on the forest floor. 

To make matters worse, Polacco’s new classroom rewarded reading, something that had always been challenging for her. Although she would eventually come to realize that she had dyslexia, Polacco spent much of her childhood unable to explain her struggle with reading. All she knew was that books were difficult to approach. This perspective changed when Polacco stumbled upon the giant library of her new town. Here, she was greeted by the excited librarian, Mrs. Creavy, who showed her that not all books require words. In fact, this library possessed rare art collections from John James Audubon, an artist renowned for his beautiful paintings of birds. These books introduced Polacco to the wonderful world of illustration and encouraged her own drawings of birds. Though she did not know it, this discovery was the first step in her success as a student and artist.

Palace of Books is a touching and heartfelt true story that will show young readers that everything has an outlet to express themselves, so long as they look for it. The story of art’s power is assisted by beautiful illustrations that fill entire pages. Detailed and lively, these illustrations show how far Polacco has come as an illustrator. It is worth noting that the book’s narration is particularly wordy, with some pages featuring up to 36 sentences of text. This can be a welcome and rewarding challenge to advanced readers, but younger readers may need help navigating the long narration. If you are looking for another story that teaches the importance of individuality and creativity, Palace of Books is the book for you.

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Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?

Skunk opens the cookie jar to find that all his cookies are missing. He follows the cookie crumb trail and asks each of his animal friends – Mouse, Raven, Squirrel, Rabbit, Turtle, Raccoon, Snake, Beaver, and Frog – who took the cookie from the cookie jar? Along the way, readers will discover what each animal’s favorite snack is. 

Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar will delight young readers. As Skunk talks to each of his friends, they follow him and discover the surprising cookie thief. Using the colors of the desert, the picture book puts a spotlight on Skunk as he follows the clues — a cactus with teeth marks, paw prints, and cookie crumbs. 

Even though Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar is a simple story, young readers will want to read it again and again. Following Skunk as he looks for the cookie thief is a lot of fun, even if you’ve read the book before. The story’s cadence, repetition, and animal dialogue make this picture book perfect for reading aloud. Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar? is a cute story that reinforces the importance of sharing and can be paired with the picture book The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat.

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Juniper Kai: Super Spy

Juniper Kai was born to be a spy. She’s well-versed in all forms of codebreaking, lockpicking, and disguising. She is always equipped with a fake mustache, a spy camera, and a code-breaker wheel in case of emergency. With her vast list of skills, there’s nothing Juniper can’t solve. Except, of course, one thing. Juniper is the only kid in her neighborhood, which means she has no one to play I Spy or Spy-And-Go-Seek with. Usually, Juniper has her mom and dad for such things, but lately, both her parents have been too busy and too tired to play. 

Juniper understands that spies don’t play, least of all with their parents, but where some may see playtime, Juniper sees missions! And it seems she has just found her next one – uncovering what’s making her parents so busy. 

Fast-paced, brightly colored, and cleverly written, Juniper Kai: Super Spy is a delightful picture book for all young readers with an imagination as thrilling and vivid as Juniper’s. While her gadgets help her in certain areas, it is her creative interpretation of the events around her that make her story an exciting one. The book’s dynamic narrative is matched with colorful, detailed illustrations, and a second read will allow viewers to spot all the hints sprinkled throughout the pages that reveal the book’s big twist. The font is relatively small, but the more exciting words and phrases like “Spy-o-Scope,” “investigate,” and “James Bond,” etc. are bolded and colored for emphasis. 

By reading Juniper Kai: Super Spy, young readers will be encouraged to embrace their creative side just as Juniper does. The book will be particularly helpful to children with a younger sibling on the way, as Juniper’s investigation eventually leads her to discover that her parents are expecting a second child. Rather than reacting with jealousy or fear that her little brother will distract her parents, even more, Juniper delights in the news, seeing her incoming sibling (who she fittingly names “James” after her favorite spy) as a good co-agent, something no true spy can be without. And, after all, Juniper Kai was born to be a spy.  

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by Luke McClain

The Secret Rhino Society

Hudson is a hippopotamus. Fran is a worm. And Jean is a floating, living lightbulb. While these friends might not be the same in terms of size, species, or basic anatomy, they are united by a mutual love of rhinoceroses. After seeing a movie with a rhinoceros as the leading role, the three friends form a rhino fan club. During their meetings, they discuss what they each love about rhinos. They make paper horns and blissfully imagine what life could be like if they were rhinos. 

One day, the club receives a delivery from Ivy, a real-life rhinoceros! Ivy is not the rhinoceros from the movie. Instead of charging forward, she gets around in her delivery van. Instead of sharpening her horn in her free time, she likes to garden. While Ivy might not be the rhinoceros the three were expecting, her friendship will send the club in a completely new direction. 

With a charming sense of humor and cinematic, mixed-media art, The Secret Rhino Society is an all-around enjoyable read. Hudson, Fran, and Jean are likable leads, and their curiosity and passion are sure to endear younger readers to them. Through the introduction of Ivy, readers will learn the importance of individuality and the positive effect your unique talents can have on others.

The Secret Rhino Society is brought to life through incredible illustrations by Samantha Cotterill. Paper cutouts of characters and set pieces are placed in hand-drawn, studio-lit backgrounds, merging two-dimensional illustration with photography. This cinematic feeling is heightened by a great command of color. As the story progresses through each season, readers will be treated with autumn browns and yellows, spring greens, winter grays, and summers with multicolored flowers, each created with clear care by Cotterill. The book’s simple vocabulary and one-seven sentences per page make this an easy story for younger readers to navigate.

If you are looking for a sweet and heartfelt story that can be read and enjoyed in one sitting, The Secret Rhino Society is sure to satisfy your young reader. The book’s characters might encourage them to find their own special talents, and they may love the book so much that they start a Secret Rhino Society of their own! 

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What If You Had Animal Teeth!?

If you could have any animal’s front teeth, whose would you choose?

What If You Had Animal Teeth?! takes children on a fun, informative, and imaginative journey as they explore what it would be like if their own front teeth were replaced by those of a different animal. Featuring a dozen animals, including a beaver, a great white shark, a narwhal, an elephant, a rattlesnake, and more, this book explores how different teeth are specially adapted for an animal’s survival. And at the end of the book, children will discover why their own teeth are just right for them. They’ll also get a friendly reminder to take good care of their teeth because they are the only teeth they’ll ever have.

If you love animals and want to learn more about their teeth, then you must read What If You Had Animal Teeth?! The simple, entertaining format uses a two-page spread that features a photographic image of the animal and its teeth on the left paired with an illustration of a child with that animal’s teeth on the right. The large pictures of children with animal teeth are so humorous they will cause giggles.

While What If You Had Animal Teeth?! is intended for younger readers, it will appeal to older readers because of the interesting facts and fun illustrations. Each two-page spread has seven to eight complex sentences that beginning readers will need an adult to read aloud to them. Despite this, the story is a quick read that is informative as well as entertaining. 

One of the best aspects of the book is the fun facts that appear for each animal. For example, readers will learn that hippo teeth were used for dentures and were even worn by President George Washington. What If You Had Animal Teeth?! is both entertaining and educational. While many children aren’t interested in learning about teeth, What If You Had Animal Teeth?! is such a fun book that kids will be eager to read it as well as other books in the series. 

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Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors

With breathtaking illustrations and informative text, Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns magnificently capture the world of Islam, celebrating its beauty and traditions for even the youngest readers. Sure to inspire questions and observations about world religions and cultures, this entrancing volume is equally at home in the classroom as it is being read to a child on a parent’s lap.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns uses vibrant colors that beautifully illustrate different aspects of the Muslim religion. Each two-page spread focuses on one color. For example, “Red is the rug Dad kneels on to pray, facing toward Mecca, five times a day.” Each sentence uses a large font to display both the color and the Muslim word that is being explained. Even though Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Adults who are unfamiliar with the Muslim faith but want to introduce young readers to the religion will find a one-page glossary at the back of the book. 

The picture book shows many different people; however, it focuses on an unnamed girl and her family. The illustrations portray the girl’s family in a positive light and the beautifully colored images enhance the beauty of the religion. Several illustrations display the Quran as well as the architecture of a mosque. Adults who want to teach children about Muslim traditions will find the simple story format and the detailed illustrations delightful. Yo Soy Muslim: A Father’s Letter to His Daughter by Mark Gonzales also highlights the beautiful traditions of a Muslim family and would make an excellent addition to your reading library.

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  • Each page shows one way the girl’s family celebrates being Muslim such as wearing a hijab or a kufi as well as showing other important events such as Eid and Ramadan.

Wake Up, Crabby!

It’s bedtime for Plankton and Crabby! Crabby just wants to go to sleep, but Plankton has other ideas. Plankton wants Crabby to take a bath. Plankton wants Crabby to tell a bedtime story. Will Crabby ever get to sleep? With comic speech bubbles and full-color artwork throughout, this Geisel Award Honoree early reader series is sure to be a hit with new readers.

Young readers who are learning to read will love Wake Up, Crabby. Each short story is 10 to 11 pages which makes it perfect for readers who tend to get squirmy quickly. Plus, Wake Up, Crabby will appeal to readers because of the uncluttered pages that have brightly colored panels featuring Crabby and his friend, Plankton. The cranky crab is contrasted with Plankton’s enthusiasm, which leads to some surprising and funny situations.

While some of Wake Up, Crabby’s pages tell the story only through pictures, other pages have up to six simple sentences. The text uses simple sentences and easy vocabulary, and the speech bubbles are color-coded to distinguish each speaker. Each page contains five or fewer sentences, which makes the story accessible to new readers. 

Wake Up, Crabby is full of humor and each story’s ending has a silly surprise. With easy-to-read text, a comic-story format, and full-color artwork on every page, the book will boost reading confidence and fluency. Readers will laugh their way through the book and will be eager for another Crabby story. Beginning readers will fall in love with Plankton and Crabby and will want to read more about the two friends’ adventures. 

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Hair Twins

Every morning Papa combs through his daughter’s waves like he does his own—parting it down the middle, using coconut oil to get all the tangles out.

Some days he braids her hair in two twists down the side of her face. Other days he weaves it into one long braid hanging down her back, just like a unicorn tail. But her favorite style is when he combs her hair in a tight bun on the top of her head, just like the joora he wears every day under his turban. They call this their hair twin look!

Hair Twins celebrates a Sikh father and daughter who have a special hair routine that celebrates the Sikh tradition of not cutting your hair. Papa’s love is clearly displayed when he takes the time to care for his daughter’s hair and style it in all sorts of fun ways such as when he makes “twists down the side of my face. They remind me of the long snowy-white braid my dadi wears to parties.” After the girl’s hair is styled, she becomes Papa’s “hair assistant” and soon they are both ready to greet the day!

The whimsical illustrations focus on Papa and his daughter and include some silly elements, such as when Papa brushes the girl’s hair “down the middle, like a river separating two enchanted forests.” The illustrator creates a picture that turns the girl’s hair into water with jumping fish. While not all of the pictures are fanciful, the brightly colored pictures clearly show the family’s love. Little readers will enjoy seeing the different hairstyles and their comparisons. 

This heartwarming story shows the incredible bond between a father and daughter, and it also gives readers a glimpse into their culture. The author’s note at the end of the book reveals more about Raakhee’s inspiration for writing the book. She also explains that she wanted others to be “inspired to proudly share their own tradition with the world.” For more inspiration, read Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, which is another picture book that shows how hair can be a form of self-expression. 

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Here Comes the Tooth Fairy Cat

When Cat loses a tooth, the Tooth Fairy delivers a wholly unwanted sidekick: a mouse. Together, Cat and Mouse are tasked with running a few Tooth Fairy-related errands—which poses a challenge, since Mouse is just as competitive, mischievous, and hilariously self-involved as Cat. The stakes rise and so does the deadpan humor, culminating in a satisfying surprise that will leave readers eager for yet another delightfully devious Cat adventure.

Little readers with a wiggly tooth will fall in love with Cat, who is disappointed when the Tooth Fairy leaves him a coin. Cat really wants to meet the Tooth Fairy, so he tries to trick her by placing a tooth of a comb under his pillow. However, Cat’s plan doesn’t turn out as he hoped.

The story is told by an unseen narrator. Instead of Cat explaining his thoughts, the narrator reveals Cat’s emotions through her words. At first, the unique narration style is a little odd, but readers will soon be so engaged in Cat’s conflict that the narrator falls into the background. Since Cat doesn’t talk, he uses signs to explain his ideas and Cat’s facial expressions make his feelings clear.

Here Comes the Tooth Fairy Cat uses a simple but effective format. Each two-page spread has a picture of Cat (and eventually Mouse too) on one side. The other side has one to three short, simple sentences in oversized text. A few pages also tell the story with no words at all. The simple format allows Cat’s emotions –devious, doubtful, and delighted – to shine, and his varying emotions are one of the best aspects of the story. 

Any child who’s curious about the Tooth Fairy will be delighted by Here Comes the Tooth Fairy Cat. The creative story highlights the importance of working together. The conclusion holds a suspenseful surprise that will leave readers giggling. While Here Comes the Tooth Fairy Cat is longer than most picture books, the fast-paced story will engage wiggly readers and have them wishing for a tooth to put under their pillow. Readers about to lose a tooth should grab a pillow, a blanket, and a copy of these books as well: Tooth Fairy’s Night by Candice Ransom and Bear’s Loose Tooth by Karma Wilson.

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The Cookie Fiasco

Four friends. Three cookies. One problem.

Hippo, Croc, and the Squirrels are determined to have equal cookies for all! But how? There are only three cookies . . . and four of them! They need to act fast before a nervous Hippo breaks all the cookies into crumbs!

For a fun-filled afternoon, grab cookies, milk, and The Cookie Fiasco! Young readers will giggle their way through the book as they learn a little about math and friendship. When Hippo and his friends argue over who will get to eat the cookies, they debate ways to fairly divide them. Hippo is so nervous that he keeps breaking the cookies and soon, his friends know they need to “solve this problem fast! Our friendship depends on it!” 

The brightly colored animal friends pop off the page and the hilarious dialogue between the friends is wonderfully silly, as are the animal’s facial expressions. Each animal’s quote boxes are drawn in different colors that match the animal; this makes it easy to distinguish which animal is talking. Some pages tell the story with only pictures while other pages have up to four short, simple sentences. Adults should get their animal voices ready because The Cookie Fiasco! is the perfect book to read aloud. 

If you’re looking for a fun book that teaches the importance of sharing, then The Cookie Fiasco! is the book for you! The lovable characters, silly banter, and relatable conflict will make The Cookie Fiasco! a book that young readers will want to read again and again. However, this book is best served with cookies and milk! Too Many Carrots by Katy Hudson is another humorous book that highlights the importance of sharing that young readers will love. 

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Tallulah’s Tutu

Tallulah just knows she could be a great ballerina—if only she had a tutu. She signs up for ballet class with great anticipation, only to be disappointed when tutus aren’t handed out. When she learns that one must earn a tutu in dance class, she quits in a huff. But everywhere Tallulah goes, things keep reminding her of ballet. Her neighbor’s basset hound always stands in second position, and Tallulah always does a plié when patting him. And she can’t pass a store window without doing a beautiful finish, or hear music over the grocery store intercom without performing. In the end, Tallulah returns to dance lessons because she can’t stay away, and, after working hard all year . . . she gets her tutu.  

Even though Tallulah’s Tutu focuses on ballet, any child who is learning a new skill can benefit from reading Tallulah’s Tutu. Tallulah clearly loves dance and she practices at class and at home. Her little brother, Beckett, is adorably cute and often copies Tallulah’s dance poses. Readers will relate to Tallulah’s desire to earn her tutu quickly. At the end of each dance class, Tallulah imagines all the reasons that she hasn’t been given her tutu. For example, Tallulah thinks, “her tutu must be coming from Paris. They would fly it in next week.” In order to help readers understand Tallulah’s thoughts, an illustration shows a plane flying away from the Eiffel Tower.

Tallulah’s Tutu will appeal to readers who are interested in dance; in class, Tallulah learns different types of positions that are illustrated in the front and back of the book. In order to help readers distinguish the narration from Tallulah’s thoughts, her thoughts are written in large, bold letters. Since each page has two to seven sentences, parents will need to read the picture book to their little ones rather than children reading it on their own.

Tallulah’s conflict is relatable and comes to life in beautiful, pastel pictures that are adorably cute. The other students in Tallulah’s ballet class have different skin tones and one student is a boy. There is a lot to like about Tallulah’s Tutu, including a kind ballet teacher. Plus, Tallulah’s mother allows Tallulah to quit ballet and start back up when she is ready. Since Tallulah must work hard to earn her Tutu, readers will understand Tallulah’s pride when she finally wears her beautiful tutu. Readers will also love the sweet moment when Becket gives Tallulah flowers that perfectly match her tutu. To learn more about ballet, readers should pirouette to the library and also checkout Parker Shines On by Parker & Jessica Curry and A Girl Named Misty by Kelly Starling Lyons.

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Drugs and Alcohol 

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Supernatural

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The Longest Storm

Like many children’s book authors, Dan Yaccarino uses exaggerated characters and situations to show a problem that most young readers can relate to. His story Morris Mole uses a mole in a nice suit to teach readers the importance of embracing their uniqueness. His story Boy + Bot focuses on a boy’s unexpected bond with a robot to show the value of accepting and embracing differences in friendships. In The Longest Storm, Yaccarino uses a violent, persistent storm to educate today’s young readers on an issue unique to their generation – the COVID-19 lockdown. 

Short, heartfelt, and relatable, The Longest Storm follows a nameless family learning to coexist with one another after a sudden storm forces them to stay in their house for an indefinite amount of time. At first, their time inside makes them hopelessly bored. As the storm continues, and the family repeatedly gets in each other’s way, the boredom shifts to irritation.  After the family’s patience with each other finally snaps, each member of the family has a deep desire to be away from one another despite having nowhere to go. In The Longest Storm, readers will find a thoughtful lesson about navigating and communicating their feelings to loved ones at times when words fail, and emotions overwhelm them. 

The book is narrated by an unspecified family member, using simple vocabulary that is easily accessible to new readers. Each page is carefully composed, combining several individual illustrations to show the family’s growing division, and using double-page spreads when the family has finally come to an understanding. The narration is short and concise, using only one to four sentences on each page and relying just as much on the illustrations to tell the story. As the family becomes more and more annoyed with each other, the pages are drawn in progressively brighter shades of red. As the family isolates themselves in their rooms, they are each portrayed in dark, lonely blue hues. 

If you are looking for a book to help your young reader understand the complicated and continuing issue of the pandemic, or if you are simply looking for a book that shows healthy communication, The Longest Storm should satisfy. It is a thinly disguised allegory that will connect with older and younger readers alike and will undoubtedly serve as a helpful lesson to anyone who picks it up.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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Drugs and Alcohol

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Supernatural

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After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again

Readers of all ages know about Humpty Dumpty, the tragic figure of a very simple and deeply unsettling four-line nursery rhyme. Since it was published over a century ago, the “Humpty Dumpty” story has been retold countless times, each retelling mixing in some new details along the way. From the original, undetailed Humpty Dumpty has come an optimistic—if fatefully naïve—character who also happens to be an anthropomorphic egg and who can sometimes be found visiting Wonderland. Despite these changes, Humpty’s story has always ended with the same Great Fall. Now, author and illustrator Dan Santat delivers today’s young readers something that previous generations have rarely seen from Humpty’s story – a happy ending.

After the Fall, is a truly delightful read. Santat takes children’s literature’s most famous failure to teach readers that failure is not something to define themselves by, and that their ability to accept and eventually overcome failure is the best path to finding who they really are. In doing so, the picture book gives readers an entirely different view of the age-old character of Humpty Dumpty. 

After the Fall twists the final line of “Humpty Dumpty” to reveal that all the king’s horses and all the king’s men were in fact able to put our poor egg together again. Santat begins his story with Humpty emerging from the hospital. He’s all patched up, without a crack left on him, and by looking at him you would never know he suffered a terrible accident in the first place. 

However, the fall left other marks on Humpty that cannot be seen from the outside. While he has no cracks on his shell, Humpty finds a new, possibly bigger danger to worry about: a horrible fear of heights. Climbing tall heights used to be a part of Humpty’s everyday life. He used to visit his grocery store and climb to the highest shelf of the cereal aisle, where his favorite brand sits. He used to spend his free time climbing to the top of the tallest wall in town, where he would sit and watch the birds fly by. But now, Humpty can’t imagine climbing such heights and feels he must settle for the bland, flavorless cereal located on the lower shelves. Now, he watches birds from the ground, which gives a much less exciting view. Readers will join Humpty as he learns to navigate life after the Great Fall. With Humpty, they will learn not to define themselves by failures or tragedies, but by their courage and perseverance.

Alongside its thoughtful writing, the story is strengthened by its illustrations. Since the story takes place over the course of a year, the book features several double-page drawings of each season, with beautiful mixes of fall colors, winter grays, and sunlit springs and summers. Through its clear illustrations and brief one to seven sentences of narration on each page, After the Fall is a relatively quick and easy read. It is also a thoughtful, uplifting, and emotionally resonant read that will undoubtedly satisfy any reader who picks it up. 

If you’re looking for more books that encourage readers not to let failure conquer them, pick up a copy of Splat the Cat with a Bang and a Clang by Rob Scotton.  

Sexual Content 

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Drugs and Alcohol 

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Supernatural

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The Day War Came

The day started with a young girl having breakfast with her family. Afterwards, she heads to school, where she and her classmates learn about volcanoes and the life cycle of frogs. Then just after lunch, war came, and the school was brought down around the girl. All the people she had been with that day, from her teacher to her classmates to her family, were taken away from her. What follows is a moving story that is equally heart-wrenching and thought-provoking, as the girl flees her country and is faced with the possibility that the war may follow her wherever she goes.

The Day War Came uses simple vocabulary and childlike illustrations to introduce young readers to the real-life issues of war and child refugees. The illustrations are drawn to mimic a child’s drawings, making the story more accessible to young readers while also placing them in the perspective of the book’s child protagonist. The book does not specify which war it describes and does not show the resulting violence in its illustrations. Still, the presence of the war and its impact on the protagonist can be felt on nearly every page. 

The arrival of the war is indicated by tall clouds of dark smoke, along with a destroyed skyline of buildings. These drawings, along with the narrator’s description of the attacks, portray the confusion and chaos without directly showing its violence. For example, the narrator describes, “at first, just like a spattering of hail, a voice of thunder. . . then all smoke and fire and noise that I didn’t understand.” The book does not shy away from the reality of war and the struggles faced by war refugees, as the narrator travels across mountains, roads, and seas before arriving in a town where people shun her. 

The story ends with a message of hope, as the children of the town come together to give the narrator a seat in their classroom. On the last page of the book is a note from the author, Nicola Davies. Davies explains that she wrote the book after hearing a story about a child refugee who had been rejected by a school because there wasn’t a chair for her to sit in. Davies hopes that through this story, young readers will be taught the importance of these issues and will be inspired to act for a better future. If you are looking for a book to help your child understand the serious and continuing issue of war and child refugees, The Day War Came is an honest and straightforward guide.

Sexual Content

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Violence

  • Although no violence is explicitly shown, the narrator says that the war “came across the playground. It came into my teacher’s face. It brought the roof down and turned my town to rubble.”
  • After the first attack, the narrator describes herself as “ragged, bloody,” although no blood is shown in the illustrations.

Drugs and Alcohol

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Supernatural

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Luke McClain

She Persisted in Science: Brilliant Women Who Made a Difference

Throughout history, women have been told that science isn’t for them. They’ve been told they are not smart enough, or that their brains just aren’t able to handle it. In this book, Chelsea Clinton introduces readers to women scientists who didn’t listen to those who told them “no” and who used their smarts, skills, and persistence to discover, invent, and create.

She Persisted in Science is for everyone who’s ever had questions about the world around them or the way things work—the kind of people who won’t give up until they find their answers.

She Persisted in Science shows how many women from different backgrounds made groundbreaking contributions to science. This book features Florence Nightingale, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Ynes Enriquetta Julietta Mexia, Grace Hopper, Rosalind Franklin, Gladys West, Jane Goodall, Flossie Wong-Staal, Temple Grandin, Zaha Hadid, Ellen Ochoa, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Mari Copeny, Autumn Peltier, Greta Thunberg, and Wanjiru Wathuti.

Each person is introduced in a two-page spread. One page includes a short introduction of the woman. Both pages have a beautiful picture that highlights each woman’s passion. While most of the women are adults, the book also includes teenager Mari Copeny, who helped bring Flint, Michigan’s water situation into the public’s light. Her story shows that “You’re never too young or too small to change the world.” 

Because of the advanced vocabulary, She Persisted in Science will need to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it independently. However, the book is an excellent way to introduce a wide variety of women who overcame obstacles and made their dreams come true. Many of the biographies explain how these women from the past are still impacting today’s world. For example, Rosalind Franklin studied DNA and her work “is still being used today by scientists investigating many viruses, including the virus that caused COVID-19.”  

She Persisted in Science will encourage readers to reach for their dreams and explore the world around them. While many of the women featured in the book needed higher education to pursue their careers, other women impacted the world through activism. In the end, these diverse women and their amazing accomplishments highlight that “the world. . . should be full of people raising their voices, using their power and presence, standing up for what is right.”

Sexual Content 

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Violence 

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Drugs and Alcohol 

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Supernatural

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Swish!: The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters

In this book you will find one-finger ball-spinning, rapid-fire mini-dribbling, and a ricochet head shot! You will find skilled athletes, expert players, and electrifying performers — all rolled into one! You will find nonstop, give-it-all-you’ve-got, out-to-win-it, sky’s-the-limit BASKETBALL!

You will find The Harlem Globetrotters, who played the most groundbreaking, breathtaking ball the world had ever seen. With rhythmic writing and dynamic illustrations, Swish! is a celebration of the greatness, goodness, and grit of this remarkable team.

Swish! uses a fun format to show how The Harlem Globetrotters’ accomplishments shaped basketball history. Each full-page illustration has bright colors and many of them contain humorous elements. The book also includes the racial segregation of the time and explains how it affected the players. Even though the Globetrotters’ games often sold out, “as soon as the game ended, the cheers stopped. The tired, hungry players weren’t always welcome in hotels or restaurants. They couldn’t use most gas station restrooms or phones.” 

Even though the Globetrotters were amazing athletes, people thought they should not be allowed to play in the MBA because only white players were allowed. That started to change when the Globetrotters challenged the Minnesota Lakers to a game—and won! Many thought the Globetrotters’ win was a fluke until they played the Lakers again—and won! NBA team owners finally realized that “their ‘whites only’ rule seemed ridiculous.” 

Not only did the Globetrotters open the door to the MBA for black players, but they also traveled the world with amazing crowds, and “they also made thousands of new friends, met popes, princesses, and presidents, and even sipped tea with the queen of England!” 

Slam! is a fun and educational book that shows the power of persistence. The text not only brings the Globetrotters’ story to life, but it’s also fun to read aloud. The text uses alliteration, oversized color font, and other elements that give the story added pizzazz. Slam! is sure to please basketball fans as well as readers who aren’t into sports. Plus, the book will encourage readers to dream big as well as to use their skills to make the world a better place. Basketball fans who want to bounce into the realm of fiction should check out the series STAT: Standing Tall and Talented by Amar’e Stoudemire.

Sexual Content 

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Violence 

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Drugs and Alcohol 

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Supernatural

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A Walk in the Words

When Hudson Talbott was a little boy, he loved drawing, and it came naturally to him. But reading? No way! One at a time, words weren’t a problem, but long sentences were a struggle. As his friends moved on to thicker books, he kept his slow reading a secret. But that got harder every year. He felt alone, lost, and afraid in a world of too many words.

Fortunately, his love of stories wouldn’t let him give up. He started giving himself permission to read at his own pace, using the words he knew as stepping-stones to help draw him into a story. And he found he wasn’t so alone—in fact, lots of brilliant people were slow readers, too. Learning to accept the fact that everyone does things in their own unique way and that is okay, freed him up and ultimately helped Hudson thrive and become the fabulous storyteller he is today.

A Walk in the Words is a must read for any child who struggles with understanding words. Hudson shows how learning new words can be a little scary. When he first started reading books with more text, “It was a reign of terror. My drawing pad was my safe place.” The accompanying illustrations show Hudson hiding underneath a notebook while words rain from the sky. Hudson worried that others would realize he couldn’t read as quickly as them, which caused him to feel shame. However, Hudson learns that he’s not the only person who struggles with words. To reinforce this, he includes a list of famous people—William Shakespeare, Albert Einstein, and Babe Ruth—who were all slow readers. 

Even though reading was difficult for Hudson, he didn’t give up. Hudson gives advice on how to make reading easier such as, “I took time to look for words that I knew. There they were! Like stepping-stones leading me onward.” Hudson also explains how he used drawing to cope with his difficulties. Throughout the story, Hudson uses his own experiences to encourage others to keep reading—at their own pace.

Besides the message, the book beautifully uses illustrations to help bring the story and words alive. For example, one picture shows Hudson in a dark, foreboding forest; white words are written on the tree trunks and limbs. The words include equipoise, aspiration, and trepidation. In another scene, a group of books greets Hudson and one book says, “We come in peace.” Each page has two to five sentences, but because of the story’s difficult vocabulary, the story will need to be read aloud to a child, rather than the child reading it themselves independently.

A Walk in the Words encourages struggling readers to keep trying. The story shows that many people are slow readers and that if you keep trying, you will become a better reader. Young readers will love the inspiring message as well as the amazing illustrations that have many fun elements. To introduce more ways that words can be fun, check out The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds and Stacey’s Extraordinary Words by Stacey Abrams.

Sexual Content 

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Drugs and Alcohol 

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Supernatural

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Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson

Sharon Robinson, the daughter of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, has crafted a heartwarming, true story about growing up with her father.

When Jackie Robinson retires from baseball and moves his family to Connecticut, the beautiful lake on their property is the center of everyone’s fun. The neighborhood children join the Robinson kids for swimming and boating. But oddly, Jackie never goes near the water. In a dramatic episode that first winter, the children beg to go ice skating on the lake. Jackie says they can go—but only after he tests the ice to make sure it’s safe. The children prod and push to get Jackie outside, until hesitantly, he finally goes. Like a blind man with a stick, Jackie makes sure the ice is safe to play on. 

Testing the Ice is a metaphor for Jackie Robinson’s legendary breaking of the color barrier in Major League Baseball. While the book introduces Jackie by discussing his role in Major League Baseball, the story focuses on his family’s move to Connecticut and Jackie’s refusal to go into the water. While the two events show Jackie’s bravery, younger readers will need help connecting the two events and understanding the story’s deeper meaning. 

Even though Testing the Ice is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Unlike most picture books, Testing the Ice uses some difficult vocabulary and complex sentences that make it more appropriate for older readers. Many of the pages are text heavy and have up to 16 sentences on the page. The realistic illustrations often feature Jackie’s family as well as the neighbor’s children, which makes Jackie more relatable. 

Sharon Robinson’s childhood experience will allow readers to see Jackie Robinson’s bravery through new eyes. Sharon’s love and pride in her father is evident, and readers will come to understand why Sharon believed that, “My dad is the bravest man alive.” Readers who are interested in learning more about Jackie Robinson and sports history should also read Miss Mary Reporting by Sue Macy.

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Supernatural

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Play Ball, Jackie!

Batter up! April 15, 1947 is a big day for ten-year-old Matty Romano. His dad is taking him to see his favorite team—the Brooklyn Dodgers—on opening day!

It’s also a big day for the Dodgers’ new first baseman, Jackie Robinson. Today is Jackie Robinson’s very first game in the major leagues. Many white fans don’t like the fact that an African American is playing in the major leagues. By putting Jackie on the team, the Dodgers are breaking the color barrier. How will Jackie respond to the pressure? Is he the player who can finally help the Dodgers make it back to the World Series?   

Play Ball, Jackie! is told from the unique perspective of two Dodgers fans, Matty Romano and his father, who attended Jackie Robinson’s first game. The father and son discuss some of the discrimination Jackie faced because “he was a black man.” While at the game, Matty explains some of the discrimination that African Americans faced during the 1940s. Even though the story is set at Dodger’s Stadium, the story focuses on Matty’s experience at the game instead of Jackie Robinson’s achievements. However, baseball fans will still enjoy some of the play-by-play action as well as learn more about Jackie Robinson.  

Even though Play Ball, Jackie! is a picture book, the story will need to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it independently. Many of the pages are text-heavy with five to nine complex sentences. The illustrations have an old-fashioned feel with blue tinting. All of the characters are shaded in black and some of them have oversized facial expressions that emphasize the person’s emotions. However, some of the facial expressions are a little odd, especially the ones of angry fans. 

Play Ball, Jackie! is packed full of information about discrimination during Jackie Robinson’s time. Instead of having a typical story plot, Play Ball, Jackie! is mostly expository as it explains segregation by using several different examples. The educational book ends with a list of books and websites readers can check out to learn more about Jackie Robinson.  

Play Ball, Jackie! is an excellent book to introduce young readers to big ideas such as segregation, discrimination, and the civil rights movement. Plus, the book shows how Matty is brave enough to speak up in defense of Jackie Robinson; this part of the book is an excellent conversation starter about how to kindly stand up for others. For more history-related baseball stories, you’ll hit a home run by reading the picture books Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki and Catching the Moon by Crystal Hubbard. 

Sexual Content  

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Violence 

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Drugs and Alcohol  

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Language    

  • When Jackie strikes out, someone yells, “You stink, Robinson! Go back to where you belong.”  
  • While in line at the hotdog stand, Matty sees a boy with an “I’m for Jackie” button. Another boy says, “Negros should stick to their own kind. They’ll never make it in the big leagues.” Matty defends Jackie by saying, “If some of the best players are black, they’re the ones who can help us get to the World Series. That’s what we all want, isn’t it?”

Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content  

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