Icon: Picture Book

Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball

When James Naismith takes over as the new teacher of a rowdy gym class, he quickly realizes that he needs a new strategy to handle the energetic group of boys. Forced to find a game with less physical contact and more skill, Naismith develops his own game with a soccer ball and two peach baskets. Naismith introduces the new game of basketball to the gym class, but he worries that the boys won’t accept it. Will basketball become the next exciting thing or yet another failed sport for Naismith?  

Set in 1891, the story follows James Naismith and his journey to invent the game of basketball. Naismith is portrayed as a thick-skinned, determined protagonist whose many failures to find the right sport for his gym class only push him to continue to try new things. Naismith’s fortitude and willingness to never give are very admirable, and his determination to succeed will inspire others.  

The story presents an enjoyable account of the real-life invention of basketball, and the plot details the creation, the execution, and the impact of basketball in a clear, fluid manner. From the start, the book is filled with energy and excitement, and the progressing storyline only enhances the appeal of basketball for both young and old readers. While the historical accuracy may be overly simplified, the story’s core is its main lesson of never giving up. Even when Naismith “felt like giving up” because of repeated failures, he remained motivated and “stayed up late thinking about the new game.” 

The book highlights the historical components of the story with colorful, page-full illustrations that enhance the plot and keep readers invested with a unique, watercolor art style. Even though Hoop Genius 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 features a short paragraph of text, but the advanced vocabulary will be challenging for younger readers. Nonetheless, older readers will still enjoy the book’s simplicity and illustrations. At the end of the book, an Author’s Note and a historical document about the early rules of basketball also provide an in-depth look at the real-life details of basketball. Overall, Hoop Genius is an entertaining yet informative tale about the creation of basketball that basketball fans won’t want to miss. To learn more fun facts about basketball add Swish!: The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters by Suzanne Slade to your reading list. 

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Sticks and Stones

From renowned author and illustrator, Patricia Polacco, comes a touching true story about her first year in a new elementary school. This was an exciting opportunity for Patricia at the time. She was unpopular at her previous school, and her then-undiagnosed dyslexia made it difficult for her to participate in assigned readings. Patricia hopes that this school will be a needed change.   

However, on the morning of her first day, Patricia wakes up with red rashes all over her face. She is quickly teased by the school’s bullies, who laugh at her and call her “cootie.” Patricia fears that this school will be another disaster until she is greeted by two classmates, Thom and Ravanne. These two are fellow targets of bullying, but they have formed a close and supportive friendship to help them through their conflict. Although this new school has bullies, Patricia finds herself with the two closest friends she has ever made. 

Sticks and Stones is a heartfelt story about the importance of embracing your differences. Although Patricia, Thom, and Ravanne are relentlessly teased for their differences, the trio support and encourage each other’s unique interests and talents. Thom is a gifted ballet dancer, but he keeps his passion a secret. With the support of Patricia and Ravanne, Thom works up the courage to perform a graceful dance at the school talent show, leaving even his fiercest bullies speechless. Likewise, Ravanne possesses an extraordinary talent for textile design. She wows her friends with beautiful kites and Halloween costumes. Although initially shy about her talent, the support of Patricia and Thom encourages Ravanne to find a dressmaking apprenticeship by the end of the school year. 

Polacco brings her story to life with beautiful, hand-drawn illustrations that utilize a wide range of colors. For example, Ravanne’s kites are painted in vibrant, watercolor shades while Thom’s dance is drawn with a completely black background, leaving only Thom standing in the spotlight. While these illustrations help readers navigate the story, the book’s narration is particularly wordy, with some pages featuring up to 20 sentences of small text.  

If your reader is worried about making friends at a new school, Sticks and Stones is a memorable story that shows how being yourself will bring the best and truest friendships. To teach more about bullies, pair Stick and Stones with The Pout-Pout Fish and the Bully-Bully Shark by Deborah Diesen, Clovis Keeps His Cool by Katelyn Aronson, and Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin. 

Sexual Content 

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Violence 

  • The trio’s bully, Billy, pushes Thom to the ground “so hard his glasses flew off.” 

Drugs and Alcohol 

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Language 

  • Patricia, Thom, and Ravanne are called several names throughout the book, including sissy boy, cootie, her ugliness, and priss. 

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The Library Fish

It seemed like an ordinary day until Mr. Hughes the librarian found a fishbowl on the library steps. Mr. Hughes didn’t hesitate. He welcomed the fish into the children’s room, gave her a home in his world of books and stories, and named her Library Fish. 

Then one morning, when a snowstorm closes the library, the Library Fish decides today is the day she will leave her fishbowl and see the library and its stories up close—at last!

The Library Fish’s title doesn’t capture the imagination and fun that is hidden in the pages of this book. From Library Fish’s point of view, young readers are introduced to children enjoying the library. As Mr. Hughes reads to a group of diverse children, Library Fish imagines herself in the pages of books. The illustrations perfectly capture Library Fish meeting a superhero, going to a distant planet, and having other adventures. One page shows that everyone can find a book since there are books about poetry, meerkats, puppies, graphic novels, and even books in Spanish.  

While Library Fish loves it when the library is full of children, a snowstorm allows her to explore the library on her own. But first, Library Fish needs to find a way out of her fishbowl. After several failed attempts, Library Fish uses a story for inspiration and finally is able to “blast off” like a rocket ship. Readers will cheer when Library Fish can explore the library, but the best part is the magic that happens when Library Fish shares a story with a friend. 

Even though The Library Fish 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. While some pages have no words, other pages have up to seven sentences. Most of the words appear in blocks of text, but when someone is speaking the text appears in quote boxes. Most of the story focuses on Library Fish, but the illustrations also showcase a diverse cast of people with different skin tones, and one child is in a wheelchair.  

The Library Fish shows readers the magic that is hidden inside books. The book’s theme highlights the importance of books and the vast range of topics that children can read about. The colorful illustrations are beautiful and full of small details that will captivate readers. If you’re looking for a book that will show readers the wonders that can be found in the library, then The Library Fish is the perfect book for you. Add another imaginative book that revolves around the library by also reading Bunny’s Book Club by Annie Silvestro.  

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Dirt on Their Skirts: The Story of the Young Women who Won the World Championship

You had to be really, really good to play in the 1946 championship game between the Racine Belles and the Rockford Peaches. Sitting in the stands, Margaret thrills to every crack of the bat. Someday she hopes to join her heroes like Sophie “the Flash” Kurys and Betty “Moe” Trezza. As the ball hurtles toward the plate, Margaret can almost feel what it would be like to be in that batter’s position, arms tensed, bat held high. 

As we see this historic game in the annals of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League through the eyes of a fictional young girl, Dirt on Their Skirts is a potent reminder that women athletes have inspired young fans throughout the twentieth century. Based on written accounts and on the memories of the players themselves, this exciting story is for all those sandlot sluggers whose hearts beat a little faster whenever they hear the words, “Play ball!”  

Dirt on Their Skirts is told from the perspective of Margaret, a young girl who loves baseball. Readers will feel Margaret’s excitement when she and her family go to the World Championship baseball game. Readers will learn about some players in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. However, most of the book recounts the exciting World Championship game. Readers will get caught up in the play-by-play action, hold their breath wondering if someone will score, and cheer when the players make a great play.  

The book’s illustrations add to the game’s excitement because they focus on the players in action. The water-color illustrations focus on the baseball game as well as Margaret’s family during the game. This allows readers to see the determination on the players’ faces as well as the excitement of the crowd. Some of the pages are text-heavy and include four to nine sentences. Despite this, readers will get so caught up in the game, that they will want to finish the book in one sitting. However, readers who are unfamiliar with baseball may need help understanding the baseball terminology. 

Even though Dirt on Their Skirts 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. In addition, since Dirt on Their Skirts focuses solely on baseball, readers who are not already familiar with the game may need help understanding some of the baseball lingo. However, the book highlights the accomplishments of women in history and will leave readers believing that they too can achieve their dreams.  

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Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen

For as long as she could remember, Jackie Mitchell’s father had told Jackie she could be good at whatever she wanted, as long as she worked at it. Jackie worked at baseball. She worked hard. And before long, Jackie could outplay anyone in her neighborhood—even the boys.

She had one pitch—a wicked, dropping curve ball. But no seventeen-year-old girl could pitch against Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. It was unthinkable. Then on April 2, 1931, the New York Yankees stopped in Tennessee for an exhibition game against the Chattanooga Lookouts. And on that day Jackie Mitchell made baseball history.  

Take a step back into history to learn more about the only woman to ever pitch in a major league game. Jackie’s story comes to life in full color illustrations as well as engaging text. The illustrations use natural colors and historical details that show Jackie in action. In addition, some of the illustrations show Babe Ruth’s and the crowd’s reactions to Jackie’s pitching—first came sneers and laughter; then came surprise and outrage. Babe Ruth and others thought that women were “too delicate” to play baseball. Babe said, “It would kill them to play ball every day.” Unfortunately, after Jackie’s historic game against the Yankees, the baseball commissioner banned women from playing in the major and minor leagues. While Jackie never realized her dream of playing in the World Series, readers will appreciate her tenacity and her skills. 

Even though Mighty Jackie 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. The book uses complex sentences and difficult vocabulary. However, the text’s dialogue and baseball action break up the historical information allowing the plot to move at a fast pace. When Jackie throws a strike, the words are printed in larger, fun font to highlight her achievement.  

Mighty Jackie’s story will inspire ballplayers as it shines a light on the true story of Jackie Mitchell. The Strike-Out Queen proves that women can achieve any goal if they work hard. Older readers will appreciate Jackie’s bravery and how she refused to let society define her. To learn more about historic women who overcame obstacles to achieve their dreams read She Persisted in Sports by Chelsea Clinton and Miss Mary Reporting by Sue Macy. 

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  • When Jackie played a game for the Chattanooga Lookouts, “a reporter wrote that you might as well have ‘a trained seal behind the plate’ as have a woman standing there.” 
  • When Jackie pitched against Babe Ruth, her first two pitches were balls. “The crowd was hooting and jeering. Babe was snickering with them.”  
  • When Jackie struck out Babe Ruth, he “glared at the umpire and threw the bat down in disgust.”  

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The Kid from Diamond Street: The Extraordinary Story of Baseball Legend Edith Houghton

When Edith Houghton was born, in 1912, girls didn’t play baseball. But Edith grew up watching her big brothers and neighbors play ball in the park across the street, and she joined them whenever she could. They didn’t mind, because she was good. So good that when she was just ten years old, she tried out for a professional baseball team, the Philadelphia Bobbies, and was named starting shortstop. She was the smallest on the field, but soon reporters were talking about “The Kid” and her incredible talent. Her skill and lifelong love of the game led her halfway around the world. Her journey made it clear that baseball is everyone’s sport—boys and girls, young and old—and that hard work and passion can open doors that seem forever closed, even for a kid.  

Reading about Edith’s life is immensely fun not only because she’s inspirational, but also because her life was full of adventure. Edith wasn’t content watching others play baseball. Instead, she was out in the field, playing with the boys, which eventually gave her the skills to try out for the Bobbies.   

The Kid from Diamond Street brings Edith’s story to life and includes quotes that help bring Edith’s personality to life. The book uses chockablock illustrations that take readers back to the 1920s. Young readers will enjoy studying the lively illustrations, which are full of historical details. They include baseball scenes as well as scenes of the Bobbies sailing on a ship, playing a prank, and eating with chopsticks. The book ends with additional historical information, plus sepia pictures of Edith.   

Even though The Kid from Diamond Street is a picture book, it is intended to be read aloud to young readers. Each page has four to six complex sentences that include difficult vocabulary. Because of the text-heavy pages, squirmy young readers may have a difficult time sitting through the entire story.  

Readers young and old will appreciate learning about Edith’s contribution to baseball history. Edith’s love of baseball shines through on every page and her baseball career highlights the importance of living your dream. Readers who want to learn more about women’s contributions to baseball should also read  Players in Pigtails by Shana Corey and Catching the Moon by Crystal Hubbard. To add some fictional fun to young readers’ lists, check out Ellie Steps Up to the Plate by Callie Barkley and Baseball Ballerina by Kathryn Cristaldi. 

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Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!

Tippy, tippy, tippy, Pat! That’s the sound three hungry bunnies make when the sun goes down and the moon comes up and Mr. McGreely’s garden smells yum, yum, yummy. While he’s dreaming of his mouth-watering carrots, the bunnies are diving over fences and swimming in trenches to get the veggies first!  

Hammer, hammer, hammer, Saw! That’s the sound Mr. McGreely makes when the sun comes up and the moon goes down and he sees what those twitch-whiskers have done. . . Nibbled leaves! Empty stalks! Mr. McGreely will build something bigger and better, sure to keep even pesky puff-tails away.  

If you’re looking for a fabulously funny book, hop to the library and check out a copy of Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! Young readers will cheer for the bunnies as they find different ways to outsmart Mr. McGreely, who just wants to enjoy his vegetable garden. Each time the bunnies sneak into the garden, Mr. McGreely comes up with a bigger, and funnier way to keep the bunnies out. In the end, Mr. McGreely gives up and is seen munching a carrot along with the bunnies. 

In order to fully enjoy the story, readers will want to find the bunnies but this will require them to pay close attention to each page’s illustrations. Almost every page shows the bunnies who are often spying on Mr. McGreely. Even though Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! 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. While some of the pages are text heavy with up to six complex sentences, both adults and children will love all of the elements that make the book perfect for reading aloud. Some words are in large text and should be read with emphasis. Fleming also uses sound effects, repetition, rhyming, and funny word choices such as “jiggly, wiggly.” In addition, Mr. McGreely’s creative names for the bunnies such as “twitch-whiskers” will leave readers giggling. 

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! is a classic picture book that children will want to read again and again. If you’re looking for a book that will make readers smile, Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! is the perfect book for you. If you’re hungry for more good books, add Too Many Carrots by Katy Hudson and Snail Crossing by Corey R. Tabor to your reading list. 

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Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way

On April 8, 1974, America watched as Hank Aaron stepped up to the plate and hit home run number 715! With that hit, he surpassed Babe Ruth’s legendary baseball record and realized a lifelong dream. This is the story of how Hank Aaron became a great ballplayer and an inspiration to us all. 

When Hank was born, his mother wanted him to “make a difference in the world.” Meanwhile, his father wanted him to “know the joy of playing baseball in open grassy fields.” While no one knew it at the time, Hank would fulfill both of his parents’ expectations. Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way begins with Hank’s early childhood. The story describes how Hank’s family was poor, but there was still plenty of love and an open field for playing baseball. When Hank was in school, he was inspired by Jackie Robinson. Like Jackie Robinson, Hank faced discrimination because of the color of his skin.  

Before blacks were allowed in the major leagues, Hank was determined to play. When Hank received hate mail, he “decided to fight the best way he could. He swore that each angry letter would add a home run to his record.” The closer Hank got to beating Babe Ruth’s record, the more fans cheered for him and Hank received “almost a million letters to offer him support.” In the end, despite facing many obstacles, Hank did something remarkable—he beat Babe Ruth’s home run record.   

Even though Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way is a picture book, the story will need to be read aloud to a child, rather than for a child to read it independently. Many of the pages are text-heavy with five to thirteen complex sentences. Each two-page spread has one page for the text and one full-page illustration. The realistic illustrations use browns and other primary colors that mostly feature Hank at baseball games. 

Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way is a motivational biography that focuses on Hank’s ability to overcome obstacles. Hank’s remarkable talent and resilience will motivate young readers to reach for their dreams. Since Hank’s story includes examples of discrimination, young readers may need help understanding why people hated Hank because he was black. Readers who want to learn more about Hank Aaron should also read Baseball’s Best: Five True Stories by Andrew Gutelle. For more motivational non-fiction baseball books, readers should also read Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream by Crystal Hubbard and Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki. 

Sexual Content  

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Violence  

  • When Hank Aaron started to play on the Braves’ team, “some people resented Hank’s success because of the color of his skin. He began to get one or two unsigned letters each week filled with insults and nasty names.” 
  • One illustration shows letters in the background. The letters are all negative and one reads “Retire or die!” Another letter says, “Quit or youe [sic] dead.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

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Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content  

  • Hank beat Babe Ruth’s home run record. “That night, when he was alone at last, Hank got down on his knees, closed his eyes, and thanked God for pulling him through.”  

Little Black Boy: Oh, the Things You Will Do!

Fascinated by marine wildlife, a little Black boy dreams of one day swimming in the ocean alongside all the creatures that make it their home. It will take courage to move from the safety of the swimming pool to the vastness of the ocean, but as he begins his journey of discovery, he soon finds there’s nothing he can’t do. He realizes if he cares about the animals in the ocean, he must also care about their home and sets out to preserve the beaches he loves by picking up trash. This little boy is determined not only to reach his dream of becoming a marine biologist but also to make a difference in the world and to share his passion for environmental conservation with everyone. 

The beautiful illustrations will captivate readers as they go on a journey with the little Black boy. Along the way, the text imparts pearls of wisdom such as, “It’s okay If you laugh; it’s okay if you cry. It’s okay if you miss; what counts is you try.” The story also encourages the reader to “savor your youth” and “speak your mind freely.” Since the book has so many important life lessons, adults will want to read the book with their children again and again.  

Even though Little Black Boy 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 four sentences. However, the text does not always align with illustrations. For example, when the boy and his friends are cleaning trash from the beach, two boys stare at them. The text reads, “‘Toughen up,’ you may hear, or ‘Act like a man,’ things you’ll be told that you won’t understand.” Despite this, the motivational tone of the story will encourage readers to “know your own heart.”  

Little Black Boy begins by addressing the little Black boy in the illustrations. However, the book’s message applies to all readers. The book will inspire readers to “educate yourself” and to be a role model to others. Since the book gives a lot of advice, Little Black Boy should be read to older children. The book’s message of self-affirmation makes it a must-read book for anyone who looks to the future and wonders about all the things that they will do. 

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To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights

As Lieutenant Uhura on the iconic prime-time television show Star Trek, Nichelle Nichols played the first Black female astronaut anyone had ever seen on screen. A smart, strong, independent Black woman aboard the starship Enterprise was revolutionary in the 1960s when only white men had traveled to outer space in real life and most Black characters on TV were servants. 

To Boldly Go will inspire readers to learn more about many Black people of importance. Nichelle not only inspired a generation to pursue their dreams, but also opened the door for the real-life, pioneering astronauts Sally Ride, Dr. Mae Jemison, and more. 

This empowering tribute to the trailblazing pop culture icon reminds us of the importance of perseverance and the power of representation in storytelling. You just might be inspired to boldly go where no one like you has ever gone before! 

Before her iconic role as Lieutenant Uhura, Nichelle Nichols knew she wanted to be a performer and she spent time learning ballet and singing for legendary bandleader Duke Ellington. Despite her talent and her role in Star Trek, Nichelle’s confidence took a beating and “Nichelle no longer felt strong and confident.” However, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. helped Nichelle understand the importance of Lieutenant Uhura’s role. Dr. King said, “You have opened a door that must not be allowed to close…Don’t you see that you’re not just a role model for Black children? You’re important for people who don’t look like us. For the first time, the world sees us as we should be seen, as equals, as intelligent people.”  

When Nichelle became discouraged about her limited role in Star Trek, she reminded herself “what her presence meant to the lives of the people who looked like her.” Because of Nichelle’s starring role, other Black people were encouraged to reach for their dreams. However, Nichelle’s influence didn’t stop on the screen. Her role also allowed others to dream about traveling in space and eventually helped recruit potential astronauts for NASA. To Boldly Go will encourage children to learn about other amazing astronauts, which they can do by reading Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker, Apollo 13 by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, and Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer by Traci Sorell. 

Nichelle’s story comes to life with illustrations that use bold colors. Each page includes one to six sentences. However, because of the complexity of the sentences and the advanced vocabulary, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. To Boldly Go includes instances of racism but doesn’t describe the violence in detail, and there are no violent illustrations. Despite the hardships that Nichelle faced, To Boldly Go uses a positive and upbeat tone that will leave children feeling inspired.  

To Boldly Go is an encouraging and engaging picture book that is perfect to add to anyone’s personal library. The book will have wide appeal because of Nichelle’s role in Star Trek. Nichelle’s experiences will encourage children to follow their dreams and show them the importance of perseverance.  

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Violence  

  • The narrator watches the news and sees “real-life suffering the marchers endured because of racism. Attack dogs. Fire hoses. Jail. People watched as this happened to both children and adults, just because of the color of their skin.” 

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Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes

Ernest Barnes was never great at sports. Despite his parents’ encouragement to play football, Ernest loved art. He loved drawing pictures and painting “bright, vivid colors” with “bold, expressive brushstrokes.” However, when his school’s strength coach, Mr. Tucker, helps Ernest succeed in the weight room, Ernest finds his career shifting toward football and away from art. How will Ernest juggle his growing athletic career and his childhood love for art? Can these two elements coexist in his life? 

Ernest, also known as Ernie, is the inspiring protagonist of the story. Told from Ernest’s perspective, the story follows his life from childhood to adulthood, detailing his accomplishments, struggles, and life experiences. Ernest is a charming, lovable character whose determination to pursue his artistic dreams makes him an admirable character. His struggle to balance two prominent aspects of his life–football and art—will be relatable for readers who feel torn between multiple interests. 

Pigskins to Paintbrushes presents a heartwarming tale of the real life of Ernest Barnes, an artist and professional football player for the American Football League. Despite the contrary opinions of others, Ernest discovers that football and art aren’t separate. For him, they were “one and the same” because they reflect who he is as a person. This theme of pursuing one’s dreams and loving oneself permeates throughout the story and culminates with Ernest believing that he “could be anything he wanted to be!” The story ultimately inspires the readers to reflect on their own talents and dreams.  

Despite the encouraging message, Pigskins to Paintbrushes explores some heavier topics, like the effects of segregation and its impact on Ernest’s career. Colorful, full-page illustrations enhance the plot by providing lovely, painted pictures to accompany the story. Overall, Pigskins to Paintbrushes is a beautiful true story about Ernest Barnes discovering who he wanted to be. Although the story can be simple for experienced readers with each page having only two small paragraphs, Pigskins to Paintbrushes will appeal to artists and sports enthusiasts alike because of its use of vivid illustrations and positive themes. 

Sexual Content 

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Violence 

  • Kids bully Ernest at school. The kids “circled him. They shoved Ernest. They snatched away his trombone. Ernest fell and skinned his knee.” 
  • Kids taunt Ernest in junior high, and “one day, someone walloped him over the head with a book!”

Drugs and Alcohol 

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Language 

  • When Ernest tries out for the football team and doesn’t do great, the coach yells, “You never will be nothing!” and “You too pretty to play this game!” 

Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content 

  • When Ernest’s mom tries to decide if her son should play football, she decides “over a prayer and a plate of fried chicken.” 
  • When Ernest was worried about his art exhibit, his mother called him and “offered a prayer.” 

Sugar and Spice and Everything Mice

Like most mice, Mona, Millie, and Marcella saw winter as a time to burrow deep underground away from the cold outdoors. To their friend Lucy, winter is the best season of the year — a season that gives the most reasons for going outside. Winter means snowball fights, snow angels, and her favorite pastime, ice skating.  

Lucy’s love for winter used to confuse Mona, Millie, and Marcella, but once she showed them how to ice skate, they quickly embraced winter. So goes the story of Mice Skating, a short and delightful picture book by Annie Silvestro. Its sequel, Sugar and Spice and Everything Mice, shows the four mice out in the snow, bundled in winter clothes, and gliding across a frozen pond together on their ice skates. Since the last book, the mice have become better skaters, and winter has become each mouse’s favorite time of the year. However, their fun is interrupted when a harsh storm forces the mice to stay underground for the day.  

As Lucy prepares hot chocolate for her friends, she has an idea — this is a perfect opportunity to show her friends how grateful she is that they embraced winter. To give her friends something truly special means Lucy will have to teach herself a new skill — baking. But this skill is more difficult than she expects.  

Sugar and Spice and Everything Mice is a warm and pleasant picture book that perfectly plays off the message of its predecessor. Whereas Mice Skating shows that moments spent alone can help you discover some of your favorite interests, Sugar and Spice and Everything Mice teaches readers that it’s okay to struggle with new activities and it’s smart to ask for help from friends. As Lucy tries and fails to bake a perfect meal for her friends, she repeatedly refuses their offers to help because she’s afraid of being seen as a failure. By the end of the story, she learns that everyone needs help sometimes, and learning to receive it is just as important as knowing how to offer it.  

The book is a brief and easy read for younger readers, with about three to seven short sentences per page. While the writing itself is approachable for younger readers, Christee Curran-Bauer manages to perfectly convey the book’s story through her illustrations. Drawing simple characters and dressing them in several unique outfits to fit each moment of the story. For example, she draws beanies and scarves when they’re skating, blankets when they’re inside, and aprons when they’re baking. The mice are placed in carefully colored backgrounds. The walls of the burrow are covered in pleasant shades of brown, orange, and yellow, while the frozen pond outside is painted black to contrast with the snowy environment. Curran-Bauer visually translates the cozy, fuzzy feeling of Silvestro’s story. 

If you enjoyed Mice Skating, you are sure to find the second adventure of Lucy and her friends just as charming. If this is the first book you will read about the four mice, it is sure to give you the same warm, blissful feeling. If you’re looking for more winter-themed books to snuggle up and read, A Loud Winter’s Nap by Katy Hudson and Fox Versus Winter by Corey R. Tabor are great options.

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Violence  

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Drugs and Alcohol  

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Language  

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Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content  

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Rocket Says Speak Up!

When Rocket finds out that her town’s library is closing, she knows something must be done. Inspired by the activism of Rosa Parks, Rocket rallies support from her peers, and together they lead a peaceful protest that spreads awareness and raises enough money to save their beloved library. 

The story begins with Rocket explaining why she loves the library. She also talks about reading a book about Rosa Parks and gives a brief description of Rosa’s famous protest. Because of Rosa, Rocket decides to help the library by having a peaceful protest. However, Rocket doesn’t act alone. Instead, she gathers students, teachers, parents, and the librarian to all “get prepared and spread the word.”

After the protest, Rocket feels discouraged and wonders “What was the point?” But then the mayor shows up and explains that “people around the world were inspired by our protest, and lots of them have given money to save the library.” While the positive outcome of the protest may feel unrealistic, young readers will learn that their voice matters. 

Even though Rocket Says Speak Up! is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for a child to read it for the first time independently. Most pages contain one to four sentences, and some of the sentences are complex. The picture book’s bright illustrations are full of fun details. Readers will enjoy looking for Rocket’s cat, who appears on many of the pages. Another positive aspect is that scenes of the library and school show a diverse group of children, including one who is in a wheelchair. 

Rocket Says Speak Up! shows the importance of libraries and encourages readers to spend time at their local library. The book also includes many interesting facts about libraries and encourages children to check out different types of books. To further foster a love of learning at the library, Bunny’s Book Club by Annie Silvestro is the perfect book to read after Rocket Says Speak Up! 

Sexual Content  

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Violence  

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Drugs and Alcohol  

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Language  

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Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content  

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Mice Skating

Like most mice, Mona, Millie, and Marcella are no fans of winter. During these cold months, they dig a burrow for themselves deep underground to keep warm until spring. Their friend Lucy is not like most mice. Winter is her favorite time of year. She spends these days outside, making snow angels, snow mice, and catching snowflakes with her tongue. When she returns to the burrow with dripping fur and snow-covered paws, her friends are none too pleased.  

Mona, Millie, and Marcella do not understand the appeal of winter, but this hasn’t stopped Lucy from trying to sway them. She has made snow cones for her friends and gifted them giant icicles from outside. Once, she even brought in heaps of snow for an indoor snowball fight. Hard as Lucy tries, each attempt always ends the same. Her friends stay averse to winter, and Lucy continues to play outside alone.  

One day, after slipping on a patch of ice, Lucy discovers a new activity – ice skating! Crafting a pair of ice skates from pine needles, Lucy commits to the new hobby. No matter how many times she slips or loses balance, she is determined to keep trying until she gets it right. It doesn’t take long for Mona, Millie, and Marcella to notice that Lucy is spending less time pestering them and more time by herself outside. Has Lucy finally given up on convincing them? Or has she found a winter activity that all her friends can enjoy? 

Mice Skating is a fun and cheerful picture book that will show young readers the many ways that they can enjoy winter. The story also shows spending time alone and spending time with friends can be equally rewarding. With one to seven short sentences per page, Mice Skating is an easy read. Teagan White’s illustrations give the book a distinct warmth, placing modern, streamlined characters in desaturated vignette drawings to give the book a nostalgic and timeless feel. These illustrations will be particularly fun for the many detail-oriented readers, who will enjoy the many background gags that White hides in every other page (among these gags, you will find that cases of cheese are hung about the burrow as decorations, while bits of litter serve as the mice’s furniture and kitchen supplies). 

If you are looking for a funny and clever story to entertain young readers this winter season, Mice Skating is the book for you. If you enjoy this book, make sure to check out its sequel, Sugar and Spice and Everything Mice, where a snowstorm forces Lucy to adapt to life indoors. For more ice-skating fun, check out Tallulah’s Ice Skates by Marilyn Singer. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

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Drugs and Alcohol  

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Language  

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Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content  

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Otters Love to Play

On the edge of a river sits a neat pile of sticks, leaves, and grass. Last year, this was a beaver lodge, but now, in spring, it has become the home of a new family of otters! Inside this otter den, a mother otter feeds her three newborn pups (the pups’ father, readers will learn, is chased away by the mother after the pups are born). Readers will follow the mother otter as she shows the pups how to swim, hunt for fish, and perhaps the most important lesson for an otter pup – how to play!  

Written by the author of Froggy and nature-lover Jonathan London, Otters Love to Play is a quick and straightforward book that educates readers on the early lives of otters. While readers may already know that otters live in dens and hunt for fish, they may be surprised to learn that the species’ powerful tails and waterproof fur allow them to swim faster than Olympic swimmers! Each page features the otters learning something new – from walking to swimming. With each new thing the pups learn, the reader also learns a fact about the otters which are at the bottom of every other page. For example, while the story shows how fiercely protective otter mothers are of their pups, a note at the bottom of the page explains how adult otters can run up to eighteen miles an hour on snow, making them intimidating forces to predators.  

Otters Love to Play is brought to life by the illustrations of Meilo So. Throughout the book, readers witness the pups as they experience each season for the first time. So’s beautiful mix of colors gives life and variety to each season. Pages set in spring are painted with beautiful swabs of pink and purple skies, filling the reader with the same wonder felt by the pups, while pages set in winter are made with harsh whites and grays, sharing the idea of brutal climates and perilous conditions endangering the pups. All these illustrations are brightened by So’s adorable drawings of the otters, which are sure to delight readers of all ages. 

Even though Otters Love to Play is intended for younger readers, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. As part of the Read and Wonder Series, Otters Love to Play introduces readers to natural history and fascinating facts that show how wonderful the natural world is. If you are looking for a book that educates young readers on a fascinating species while also providing plenty of fun and cute moments, Otters Love to Play is an excellent choice. Readers who love the ocean should jump in and read Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

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Drugs and Alcohol  

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Language  

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Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content  

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Bulldozer Helps Out

The construction site bustled.
Cement Truck was stirring . . . stirring . . . stirring.
Digger Truck was scooping . . . scooping . . . scooping.
Crane Truck was lifting . . . lifting . . . lifting. 

It’s a busy day at the construction site! Everyone is stirring, scooping, and lifting, and Bulldozer is . . . watching. Bulldozer wants to help, but can he handle a rough, tough job for a rough, tough truck? When Bulldozer gets his chance, the whole team is in for a big surprise.  

Readers will instantly connect with Bulldozer, who just wants to help. However, when Bulldozer offers to help, he gets a variety of answers: “You’ll get hurt,” or, “You’re too little.” Finally, the other trucks give Bulldozer a job. However, at the end of the day when the trucks go to check on Bulldozer, they discover that “he hadn’t done a single thing they’d asked!” The surprise ending will delight young readers and show that Bulldozer is up for a “rough, tough job!” 

Bulldozer Helps Out uses simple illustrations and bold colors that will captivate readers by making Bulldozer and the other trucks seem like friends. Each page has a full-page illustration and three to nine sentences. Despite this, readers will not become bored by the story because many of the sentences use fun elements such as alliteration, dialogue, and truck sounds.  

Bulldozer Helps Out shows readers that sometimes being rough and tough means being caring. The fun story will have wide appeal because Bulldozer is a relatable character with a conflict that young children will empathize with. For more truck-related books, rumble to the library and pick up a copy of Go, Go, Trucks! by Jennifer Liberts 

Sexual Content  

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Violence  

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Drugs and Alcohol  

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Language  

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Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content  

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I (Don’t) Like Snakes

Some families have dogs, some have cats. Some have both. What’s less often heard of is a family with not just one, but several pet snakes! Unfortunately for one girl, this family is her family. While she states that she “really, really, REALLY doesn’t like snakes,” her family doesn’t see what’s not to love. They let their pet snakes rest on their shoulders. The snakes sit beside them on the couch while they watch TV. Their house is covered wall to wall in pictures of their many pet snakes. So, when they learn that a member of their own family can’t stand snakes, they can only ask, “Why?” 

For the girl, there are many reasons she doesn’t like snakes. They slither. They’re slimy. Their eyes are creepy, and their sharp, flickering tongues are just as off-putting! With each reason the girl gives, her family shows the reasons people fear snakes come from simple misconceptions. For example, their “slimy, icky skin” is actually dry. It only looks wet because its outer skin is see-through and naturally shiny. Each fact that the family gives is followed by a page that expands their point in greater detail. 

In these pages, the book’s charming, pencil-drawn illustrations are exchanged for more detailed, photorealistic drawings of snakes, complete with several individual facts about the nature of snakes and their many abilities. One diagram shows that the tail of a rattlesnake is actually leftover skin that creates a rattling sound that frightens predators. As any of the many people scared of snakes would tell you, this trick works! 

Written by zoologist and author Nicola Davies, I (Don’t) Like Snakes is a quick and simple book that is almost guaranteed to ease some of the many snake-related fears held by younger and older readers alike. Luciano Lozano draws the illustrations in a cute and colorful style. Plus, readers will relate to the funny protagonist who narrates. The book manages to be entertaining and educational. While most of I (Don’t) Like Snakes is occupied with informing the reader about the many traits of snakes, Lozano humors the detail-oriented reader with plenty of laughable background gags – a snake reading over the shoulder of the girl’s big brother might be the best one. 

Even though I (Don’t) Like Snakes is intended for younger readers, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. The book features about 1-9 sentences per page. Some pages include fun facts about snakes written in a smaller font. As part of the Read and Wonder Series, I (Don’t) Like Snakes introduces readers to natural history and fascinating facts that show how wonderful the natural world is. If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh while teaching you and your young reader a few things too, I (Don’t) Like Snakes will make for an excellent read. For another educational and humorous book that teaches about animals, slither to the bookshelf and find What If You Had Animal Teeth!? by Sandra Markle.  

Sexual Content  

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Violence  

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Drugs and Alcohol  

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Language  

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Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content  

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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. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

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Drugs and Alcohol  

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Language  

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Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content  

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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.

Sexual Content 

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Violence 

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Drugs and Alcohol 

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Language 

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content 

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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.

Sexual Content 

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Violence 

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Drugs and Alcohol 

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Language 

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content 

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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.  

Sexual Content 

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Violence 

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Drugs and Alcohol 

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Language 

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Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content 

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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! 

Sexual Content

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Violence

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Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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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. 

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol 

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Language 

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content 

  • None

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.

Sexual Content 

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Violence 

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Drugs and Alcohol 

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Language   

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content 

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