What Do You Do With A Problem?

What do you do with a problem? Especially one that follows you around and doesn’t seem to be going away? Do you worry about it? Ignore it? Do you run and hide from it?

This is the story of a persistent problem and the child who isn’t so sure what to make of it. The longer the problem is avoided, the bigger it seems to get. But when the child finally musters up the courage to face it, the problem turns out to be something quite different than expected.

This picture book gives a problem the form of a black cloud that grows larger and stormier as the story progresses. The beginning of the book uses dark shades that are predominantly dark and gloomy. The unnamed boy’s worry is apparent because of his facial expression and body language. At one point, the boy wonders, “What if it takes away all of my things?” The illustration shows the boy trying to protect his toys and stuffed animals.

Everyone can relate to the boy, who tries to run from a problem. What Do You Do With A Problem shows the importance of tackling problems by coming up with a plan to overcome them. Eventually, the boy jumps into the dark cloud and discovers that the problem “had something beautiful inside. My problem held an opportunity! It was an opportunity for me to learn and to grow. To be brave. To do something.”

While What Do You Do With A Problem has a positive message about overcoming obstacles, the problem and the solution are vague and illustrated with abstract ideas that show the boy’s emotion, rather than an actual solution. Despite this, the story would make an excellent conversation starter about different ways to approach a problem.

Even though What Do You Do With A Problem 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 two-page spread has 1 to 4 sentences. Detailed, interesting illustrations and a conflict that everyone can relate to make What Do You Do With A Problem a wonderful book to read with children. The story’s conclusion leaves the reader with this thought: “Every problem has an opportunity for something good. You just have to look for it.”

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She Persisted in Sports

Throughout history, in every sport and at all levels of play, women athletes have been told they were never going to be fast enough, strong enough, or good enough. This book introduces readers to women athletes who have excelled in their sports because of their passion, their skills, and their persistence.

She Persisted in Sports begins with Margaret Ives Abbot, who was the first American woman to become an Olympic champion in the 1800s, and ends with Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux, who helped the U.S. Women’s Hockey team win their first gold medal in twenty years. The book introduces 16 women athletes across a 200-year time span. The women are of different races and abilities, including one woman who raced in a wheelchair.

She Persisted in Sports has a positive message that women can do anything with persistence. The can-do attitude of the women’s profiles is inspiring. The book covers women who overcame many obstacles including sexism, a club foot, loss of hearing, and other hardships. Each athlete is introduced in a two-page spread. One page includes a short introduction of the athlete and the other page has a beautiful watercolor illustration with a motivational quote. Throughout the book, the words “she persisted” appear in colored ink, highlighting the theme.

Even though She Persisted in Sports is a picture book, it uses advanced vocabulary and sentence structure. In addition, the text-heavy pages make the book better suited for elementary students. While She Persisted in Sports is an inspirational book, each profile is short and does not tell how the athletes overcame their circumstances. While many of the athletes competed in individual sports, many of the women, such as Mia Hamm of the 1996 Olympic soccer team, were able to help propel their teams to victory.

She Persisted in Sports would be an excellent conversation starter about persistence and overcoming obstacles. It will also springboard some reader’s interest in athletes, which will lead them to learn more about the women featured in the book. The wide variety of sports, the diverse women, and the unique obstacles make She Persisted in Sports an inspiring book for girls to read.

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I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home

I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home uses cows and other animals to show that love has no bounds. However, the cows are not normal farm animals. Instead, these amazing cows take a “trip to Mars through skies unknown in a rocket ship made of glass and stone.” The story includes yaks, sheep, frogs, and other animals. Each refrain reminds readers that, “I’ll love you until . . .” and then refers to the animal in the picture.

Using hyperbole and humor, I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home wonderfully captures the idea that love knows no boundaries. Beautiful illustrations in muted natural colors depict whimsical animals. Young readers will enjoy looking at all of the pictures’ details. For example, one page shows four frogs “riding on big-wheeled bikes going superfast in a circus of sea horses, shrimp, and bass.” The dancing sea horses and shrimp in top hats will leave readers giggling. Even though the illustrations are silly, readers will easily understand the book’s message: love never ends.

Even though I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home is a picture book, it will resonate with readers of all ages. If you’re at a loss for words and don’t know how to express your love, then this picture book would make the perfect gift. After all, what better way to express your love than to say, “I’ll love you till the ants march in wearing tiny hats and tiny ant grins and birthday cake crumbs on their tiny ant chins. I will love you till the ants march in.”

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The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin

When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk. Some people told Temple’s mother that, “Her brain’s not quite right. You must send her away.” But Temple’s mother never gave up on her. A special teacher helped Temple learn to speak and encouraged her by saying that Temple was “different, not less.”

School was difficult for Temple, and her mother sent her to live on her aunt’s ranch. Temple loved the animals and finally felt like she was fitting in. “Fitting in on a farm was less stress since the pigs didn’t care if your hair was a mess.” Temple loved cows and she wanted to make farms better.

While many believed that Temple would “never be normal,” others saw Temple’s potential. One of her teachers told her, “When you find what your good at, like science—you’ll soar.” Because of the encouragement of others, Temple was able to go to college and became one of the most powerful voices in modern science.

Temple’s inspiring life story shows how Temple’s autism helped her connect with animals and find her life’s work. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures explains autism in a kid-friendly manner and shows how Temple’s thinking allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms around the globe. The book ends with a biography, fun facts, a timeline, and even a note from Temple herself.

Each page of the picture book has 2 to 4 rhyming lines. Some of the words have added emphasis and they appear in all capitals. Each page uses colorful illustrations that bring Temple’s world to life. In addition, some of the pictures contain thought bubbles so readers can understand Temple’s thinking process and her inventions. Even though The Girl Who Thought in Pictures 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 Girl Who Thought in Pictures should be read by every child because it will help them become more empathetic towards others. For those who feel different, the story will help them realize that they are not alone and that they too can accomplish great things. In addition, the story will help children understand the behaviors of autistic children. But best of all, Temple’s story reinforces the idea that the things that make people different are the things that make them unique. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures shows that with hard work and dedication, everyone can make a positive impact on the world.

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Violence

  • At school, “Kids taunted and chased her [Temple] all over the yard.” Then one day, Temple “snapped” and “threw a book at a kid and was kicked out of school!”

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Grumpy Monkey

Jim Panzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends just can’t understand it—how can he be in a bad mood when it’s such a beautiful day?

They encourage him to stop hunching, to smile, and to do things that make him happy. But Jim can’t take all the advice. . . and has a bit of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy?

Grumpy Monkey tackles the problem of having a down day with humor. His friends just don’t seem to understand why Jim is grumpy, and their advice leads to some silly situations. For example, when Jim puts on a smile, it doesn’t look happy. Instead, his smile looks more like a grimace. Soon the whole forest—a snake, a lemur, a frog, zebras, peacocks, birds, and even a lion—is talking about Jim’s grumpy mood.

The animals are illustrated using the muted browns and greens of the jungle. A gorilla named Norman appears in all of the illustrations as a fun contrast to Jim. The animals’ expressions add to the story’s humor and younger readers may enjoy counting all of the hidden insects and critters that appear on each page.

Anyone who has ever had a bad day will relate to Jim. The ending is endearing and humorous because Norman dances with Porcupine and gets a butt full of quills. The last page shows Norman and Jim sitting on a tree branch, and they both agree that “It’s a wonderful day to be grumpy.” The Band-Aids on Norman’s behind will have little readers giggling.

Each page of the picture book has 1 to 7 sentences. Even though the story is a picture book, the story is intended to be read to a child instead of a child reading it independently.

While Jim stays grumpy through the entire story, Grumpy Monkey will have readers giggling. Whether you are in a bad mood or a good mood, Grumpy Monkey will put a smile on your face. Readers who would like to meet another moody character should check out the Pout-Pout Fish Adventures by Deborah Diesen.

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The Doctor With An Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath

When Patricia Bath was little, she loved playing with boys and doing everything her big brother did. A girl coming of age during the Civil Rights Movement, Patricia, who was African American, was determined to be a doctor even though most were men. The only nearby high school was only for white kids, but this didn’t stop Patricia from graduating high school and going on to college.

While at college, Patricia meets unfair restrictions, but she is determined to help blind people. During her time as a doctor, she teaches others about the eye and starts an eye doctor training program. Patricia eventually develops a laser probe that “fixed the eyeballs of patients all over the globe.”

Patricia didn’t let racism, sexism, or poverty get in the way of her goal. Her story will inspire readers to reach for their dreams. The story ends with this thought: “So, if helping the world seems too hard, you are wrong. If some say you can’t do it, don’t listen. Be STRONG. Like Patricia, stay FOCUSED. Push FORWARD. Shine BRIGHT. . . And you’ll find all your dreams will be well within SIGHT!”

Each page of the picture book has 2 to 4 rhyming lines. Some of the words have added emphasis and appear in all caps. Each page uses colorful illustrations to bring Patricia’s world to life. Some illustrations show how Patricia faced discrimination. Even though The Doctor With An Eye for Eyes 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 Doctor With An Eye for Eyes should be read by every child because it will help them understand the importance of perseverance and education. The story shows how Patricia used her knowledge to teach others and make a positive impact on the world. Because of Patricia, “those without sight for years (like fifteen or twenty or THIRTY more years), they could finally SEE!”

The Doctor With An Eye for Eyes shows how Patricia overcame many obstacles before she reached her goal. However, one of Patricia’s greatest accomplishments was to open the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness. “She CREATED a place. . . A place to bring HOPE to the whole human race. Its motto is this: Rich or poor, black or white, healthy vision’s important. It’s everyone’s right.”

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When Your Llama Needs a Haircut

It’s picture day and a boy’s llama needs a haircut. Before the llama has a haircut, however, his hair needs to be washed and brushed. Once that’s done, the boy decides what style of haircut to give the llama. Once that’s decided, the boy gives the llama “a simple trim from nose to tail.” The llama is wiggly and the boy accidentally cuts too much hair. To make sure they have matching haircuts, the boy cuts his own hair too.

When Your Llama Needs a Haircut will engage readers as it uses humorous illustrations to show the boy’s conflict. Young readers will laugh at the llama’s different hairstyles, which range from a bowl cut to a green mohawk. When the boy and his llama finally get their picture taken, they have very little hair left.

Even though When Your Llama Needs a Haircut 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 1 to 2 lines of text. The simple vocabulary and short sentences make the story a quick read. The story’s simple plot and funny illustrations will engage young readers and leave them with a smile.

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The Dinosaur Expert

Mr. Tiffin and his students are back in another picture book; this time the focus is on dinosaur-loving Kimmy. During a field trip to the natural history museum, Kimmy is thrilled to share what she knows about the Stegosaurus, the Archaeopteryx, and even the ginormous Titanosaurus. But that all changes when one of her classmates questions whether girls can be paleontologists, and Kimmy starts to feel shy. What if girls can’t be paleontologists? What if no one wants to hear what she has to say? It will take some help from Mr. Tiffin—and from a famous scientist—for Kimmy to find her voice again.

The Dinosaur Expert has many positive aspects, including Mr. Tiffin, who encourages Kimmy to share her dinosaur knowledge. Mr. Tiffin shows her an exhibit of Dr. Brandoni de Gasparini’s hunting fossils. Seeing a woman paleontologist gives Kimmy the courage to tell her classmates about dinosaurs. The end of the book includes a short biography of seven of Kimmy’s favorite women paleontologists.

Every dinosaur-loving kid should read The Dinosaur Expert, which has many fascinating facts as well as detailed illustrations of dinosaurs. Readers will enjoy seeing Kimmy’s character grow from a timid girl who doesn’t want to talk, to a confident girl who shares her knowledge.

Each page has large illustrations that show a diverse group of children. Almost every page shows an illustration of a dinosaur as well as many dinosaur facts. Each page has 1 to 5 sentences. However, readers will need help with some of the dinosaur names and advanced vocabulary.

Young readers will enjoy going on a field trip with Mr. Tiffin’s class and will relate to Kimmy’s fear of speaking up. The story blends Kimmy’s conflict and dinosaur facts, which will keep readers interested in the story. Plus, girls will love seeing real women scientists who have made contributions to the study of dinosaurs. One of the best parts of The Dinosaur Expert is that it shows that anyone can become a scientist. Readers who can’t get enough of dinosaurs should add The Dino Files Series by Stacy McAnulty to their reading list.

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Cece Loves Science and Adventure

Cece and her Adventure Girl group are going on a camping trip. Cece has packed everything including the marshmallows. Her friends, Caroline and Daisy, help set up a tent. Once that is complete, Cece’s mom and the three friends go on a nature hike. They see all sorts of interesting things like a twisty oak tree and a fork in the path. Cece uses her camera to take lots of pictures.

A sudden rainstorm surprises the girls, but they’re prepared. They make a shelter out of their rain ponchos. When Cece’s mom loses her cellphone signal, the girls use the pictures that Cece took to make a map. Soon they are back at camp! The Adventure Girls are excited that they earned their camping pin.

Cece wants to make sure she is extra prepared for the camping trip, so she uses two lists—Adventure Girls Camping Checklist and Cece’s Camping Checklist. As the girls go on their adventure, they also use a list to make sure they are able to earn their camping pin. While on the camping trip, the girls have fun and have to use math to build a tent, figure out how far away a storm is, and find out how far they are from their camp.

Several times, Cece thinks about what her teacher, Ms. Curie, has taught her in class. While the story has some scientific facts, the lessons seem rushed and have little detail. For example, when a storm approaches, Cece thinks about the different types of clouds, which are identified in a thought bubble. The story quickly moves on, without teaching more about clouds. In addition, Cece and her friends are able to use pictures to create a map back to their campsite, which is unrealistic.

While the story’s plot is not as well developed as the first book in the series, younger readers will enjoy seeing Cece and her friends work together to solve problems. While the science is kid-friendly, younger readers will need help reading the text-heavy pages because of the complex sentence structure and difficult vocabulary such as Mississippi, cumulus, and gnome.

Cece Loves Science and Adventure uses an easy-to-understand format and brightly colored, full-page illustrations to engage students. Several of the illustrations show the math problems that the girls are trying to figure out. The illustrations highlight the characters’ facial expressions which helps readers understand their emotions. The story ends with a STEM Pin Worksheet that shows how the camping trip meet the requirements to earn a STEM Adventure Girl pin. A two-page glossary appears at the back of the book.

The Cece Loves Science Series introduces young readers to science in a fun and educational way. Each story makes science fun and shows the importance of working together. With supportive adults, a diverse group of characters, and an adorable dog, Cece Loves Science and Adventure will entertain and educate readers.

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The Garden That We Grew

Two kids decide to plant a garden. They have everything that they need: a patch of soil, a bunch of seeds, and a warm sunny sky. They make sure their plants can grow by watering and weeding. As the days go by, their plants peek out of the soil and eventually turn into large pumpkins. The kids harvest the pumpkins and use them to make pie and cookies. They also make jack-o-lanterns! The kids have so much fun that they decide to save the seeds so they can grow pumpkins next year.

The Garden That We Grow is perfect for early readers. Each page has large, cartoon-like illustrations that show the kids working in their garden. Most of the pages have one simple sentence that uses rhyming, familiar words, and visual clues to help readers. Almost every page begins with “these are the. . .” The repetition will help young readers feel confident in their ability to read.

With a simple plot and colorful illustrations, The Garden That We Grow will entertain readers as well as teach them the steps of growing a garden. After reading the story, readers will want to plant a garden of their own. More advanced readers will be bored by the story’s repetition and simple sentences. Young readers who want to learn more about gardening should add We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines to their reading list.

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Mortimer’s First Garden

Winter is just ending, the sky is gray, and the ground is brown. Little Mortimer Mouse munches on sunflower seeds and longs to see some green.

Upon overhearing the story of how springtime rain and sunshine nurtures little seeds to grow into great big green plants, Mortimer is skeptical, but decides to plant one of his seeds just to see if such a miracle really can happen. Mortimer finds a perfect spot to plant the seed, and then. . . he waits. And waits. And waits.

Impatient, Mortimer thinks nothing is ever going to happen to the little seed. But then something does happen. Something wonderful. Something divine. Something green! Mortimer discovers the miracle of springtime.

Mortimer’s First Garden is a wonderful story about discovering the wonders of gardening. As he waits for his sunflower to appear, Mortimer weeds, waters and cares for his growing plant. Through Mortimer’s experiences, readers will discover the joy of planting and caring for seeds and the excitement of growing a garden.

Mortimer’s environment comes to life in colorful, full-page illustrations. The illustrations are colored with muted spring colors and show the beauty of spring. Readers will fall in love with the little mouse, as he waits for his flower to grow. Readers will relate to Mortimer’s impatience, and smile when Mortimer tells God, “I wouldn’t mind a friend to help me eat these [seeds].” Just when Mortimer needs it, a friendly spider appears and the two friends snuggle down to sleep. Some readers may wonder why a spider would make a good friend for Mortimer. However, this would be an excellent opportunity to discuss the beneficial qualities of spiders.

Each page of Mortimer’s First Garden has 1-6 simple sentences that use repetition, onomatopoeia, and alliteration. The simple story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Both the text and the pictures combine into an engaging story that highlights the miracle of a seed. Parents who are looking for more books that encourage children to plant a garden should also read We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines.

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Spiritual Content

  • Mortimer hears a voice whisper, “Wait.” At first, Mortimer doesn’t know who spoke. But then, “Mortimer felt warm and protected. Then Mortimer knew the voice. Mortimer bowed his head. ‘I will wait, God. But please, make my seed grow.’”
  • When Mortimer’s seed begins to grow, he says, “Thank you, God!”
  • When Mortimer sees the sunflower, he says, “It is a miracle! Thank you, God!”
  • After all the seeds have been harvested, Mortimer prays, “And please, God, I wouldn’t mind a friend to help me eat these.”

Newton’s Rainbow: The Revolutionary Discoveries of a Young Scientist

Famed for his supposed encounter with a falling apple that inspired his theory of gravity, Isaac Newton (1642–1727) grew from a quiet and curious boy into one of the most influential scientists of all time. Newton’s Rainbow tells the story of young Isaac—always reading, questioning, observing, and inventing—and how he eventually made his way to Cambridge University, where he studied the work of earlier scientists and began building on their accomplishments.

When a bubonic plague outbreak interrupted his formal schooling in 1665, he made discoveries that illuminated the mysteries of gravity, motion, and even rainbows—giving mankind a new understanding of the natural world that changed science forever.

While most people recognize Isaac Newton’s name, they do not know how extraordinary his discoveries were. Newton’s Rainbow details many of Newton’s experiments, including when he made a mouse-powered mill. “Isaac attached a string to a mouse’s tail and put the mouse on a treadmill. When he tugged on the string, the mouse ran.” Readers who love science will be intrigued by Newton’s experiments.

Newton studied many great men who came before him including Aristotle, Plato, Johannes Kepler, and Galileo Galilei. The book includes a one-paragraph biography of both Galileo and Kepler. As Newton studied these great men, he also conducted experiments to prove or disprove a hypothesis. While the story of an apple falling on Newton’s head was not true, Newton was able to develop the theory of gravitation. He also developed calculus and his theories became the basics for modern physics.

Newton’s Rainbow is a picture book that has large full-colored illustrations that show Newton’s activities and experiments. However, the book will need to be read by an adult because of the text-heavy pages and the difficult vocabulary. Some difficult words, such as philosophy and chamber pot, are defined in the text. While the book does an excellent job of explaining Newton’s impact on today’s world, Newton’s Rainbow may not appeal to young readers. However, the book would be an excellent resource for a research paper.

Newton’s Rainbow will help readers understand Newton’s contributions to math and science. Readers who love science should add Newton’s Rainbow to their must-read list. However, highly active children may find it difficult to sit through a reading of the book. To introduce young readers to science, parents should read these books to their children: Questioneers Collection by Andrea Beaty and the Zoey and Sassafras series by Asia Citro.

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  • At school, Newton was often bullied. But then, “he beat up the school bully in a fight—even though the bully was much bigger.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • Newton lived with an apothecary, who made medicines. “One required the patient to drink a mixture of mint, the bitter herb wormwood, and three hundred headless millipedes ‘well beaten with ale.’”
  • While at Cambridge, Isaac’s first roommate “liked to go to pubs and parties throughout the night.”

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City Dog, Country Frog

In spring, when City Dog runs free in the country for the first time, he spots Country Frog sitting on a rock, waiting for a friend. “You’ll do,” Frog says, and together they play Country Frog games. In summer, they meet again and play City Dog games. Through the seasons, whenever City Dog visits the country he runs straight for Country Frog’s rock. In winter, things change for City Dog and Country Frog. Come spring, friendship blooms again, a little different this time.

 City Dog, Country Frog explores the beautiful concept of friendship by focusing on two unexpected friends. When City Dog meets Country Frog, the two teach each other games. Their friendship is beautifully portrayed through watercolor illustrations that use muted colors. The illustrations enhance the concept of friendship by showing the two spending time together. For example, one illustration shows the two friends relaxing; Country Dog is floating in a pond and Country Frog is sitting on the dog’s head. Another illustration shows the wise frog protecting Country Dog from a summer shower by holding a large leaf over Country Dog’s head.

The story goes through the four seasons. But in winter, Country Frog is missing from the scenes. The story implies that the frog has died, and City Dog’s sadness is evident. However, when spring arrives City Dog meets a chipmunk. At this point, City Dog repeats Country Frog’s words: He says he is “waiting for a friend, but you’ll do.” And then City Dog “smiled a froggy smile.”

Even though City Dog, Country Frog is a picture book, the story intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Each page has 1 to 3 sentences and some of the sentences are complex. City Dog, Country Frog is a touching story that both young and older readers will enjoy. It’s a perfect book to put in your reading library because children will begin to understand the underlying themes as they grow.

The story has several underlying themes such as the rhythm of the seasons, the loss of a friend, and learning from each other. While younger readers may not understand the deeper themes, they will still fall in love with the two unusual friends. The captivating illustrations perfectly blend with the text’s words to create a lovely vision of friendship.

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Cece Loves Science

Cece loves to ask questions which is one reason she is so excited when her teacher, Ms. Curie, assigns a science project. Cece and her best friend Isaac both love zoology, so they decide to find out if dogs eat vegetables, and Cece’s dog Einstein will be the perfect test subject.

Cece and Isaac give Einstein different vegetables, but he refuses to eat them, even when they are covered with ketchup and bacon. Then Cece gets a great idea! Einstein loves bananas. Would Einstein eat vegetables if she made a vegetable and banana smoothie?

Both Cece’s parents and teacher encourage Cece to ask questions and then investigate to discover the answer. While in school, Ms. Curie introduces four famous scientists as well as different types of science. When Ms. Curie assigns the science project, Cece and Isaac use the scientific method which includes brainstorming, observing, and experimenting with different variables. The two friends use Ms. Curie’s Science Project Worksheet to document their experiment. The project worksheet appears throughout the story, which helps readers understand Cece and Isaac’s process.

Cece Loves Science introduces young readers to the scientific method in an easy-to-understand format. The brightly colored, full-page illustrations show Cece and Isaac in action. The illustrations highlight the characters’ facial expressions which helps readers understand their emotions. Readers will laugh at Einstein’s antics as he tries to avoid eating vegetables. The story’s text and illustrations expertly combine into an engaging format that will capture readers’ attention.

Even though Cece Loves Science is educational, the information is integrated into the story’s plot and never feels like a school lesson. While the science is kid-friendly, younger readers will need help reading the text-heavy pages because of the complex sentence structure and difficult vocabulary such as interpret, investigate and guarantee. Even though Cece Loves Science has more text than the average picture book, the fun science project will keep readers interested until the very end.

The supportive adults, diverse characters, and fun experiments make Cece Loves Science a must-read book. A two-page glossary appears at the back of the book. The glossary explains the scientists introduced in the story as well as defines science words. Cece’s curiosity is contagious, and her story will spark readers’ interest in science. After reading Cece Loves Science readers will be eager to try an experiment of their own. For more science fun, readers should check out the Ada Twist Series by Andrea Beaty, which includes both picture books and chapter books.

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Brown: The Many Shades of Love

The narrator, an unnamed boy, describes the varied skin tones of his immediate and extended family. The boy starts with his mama whose brown “is chocolate. It’s clear, dark, and sweet.” The book ends with the boy explaining that “I love to paint our shades of skin, and give each one a name. I love my family.”

Each page has two short lines. The lines describe a family member’s skin. For example, “Sister’s brown like polished pine—fragrant, tall and strong.” The boy describes eleven members of his family and uses nature and food to describe each person’s skin tone. Even though each person is a different shade of brown, the boy acknowledges, “We’re different and the same.”

The picture book’s illustrations look similar to watercolors. One side of the page is shaded brown, like the person’s skin. The illustrations celebrate the unique skin color of each person. For example, “Uncle’s brown like coffee beans, a dark and fragrant blend.”

Brown: The Many Shades of Love uses child-friendly language to show how each person in a family looks different, but they all share one thing—love. Even though Brown: The Many Shades of Love 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. The poem uses easy vocabulary and each page has two lines of text. Readers who enjoy Brown: The Many Shades of Love, should also read Love by Matt De La Peña which also shows the importance of a family’s love.

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Mango Moon

One day Maricela’s father doesn’t come home. With her father in a detention center awaiting deportation, Maricela’s whole life changes. Her mother has to work two jobs, her family had to move in with Maricela’s aunt, and she has to change schools.

Maricela misses her father so much that it makes her stomach hurt. And everywhere she looks, she’s reminded that her father is gone. She misses him pushing her on the swings. She misses him coaching her soccer team. And she misses him whenever she sees the moon, the bright orange moon that is just like the mango Maricela was eating the last time she and her father looked at the night sky together from their porch.

Mango Moon tackles the difficult topic of deportation by focusing on one girl’s struggle. Maricela and her brother were born in the United States, and her mother has a visa. But Maricela doesn’t understand how her father can be sent to a dangerous county because “Papi never did anything wrong; he just didn’t have papers.”

Beautiful illustrations show Maricela’s range of emotions—confusion, loneliness, fear, and sadness. Her father’s absence is felt in every picture. On one page, Maricela hugs her father’s picture, and on another, she reads her father’s letters. The most touching picture is when both Maricela and her father are looking up at the same moon, but Maricela is in her backyard and her father is in a detention center. In the illustration, her father is holding a card that Maricela made for him. The illustrations highlight Maricela’s emotions, which often contrast with the bright illustrations. Most of the illustrations have mango color, which helps remind the reader of Maricela’s last night with her father.

While Mango Moon doesn’t talk about the political aspect of immigration, the story does show the devastating effects of families being separated. Unlike many stories, Mango Moon doesn’t end on a happy note. Instead, Maricela expects her father to be sent to another country, alone. Like many children of undocumented immigrants, Maricela is teased at school which only adds to her worries. Maricela’s story is heartbreaking because it shows how Maricela’s life is shattered.

Any parent who wants to broach the subject of immigration should read Mango Moon with their child. Even though the story is a picture book, young readers will need help understanding the difficult subject. De Anda writes about immigration’s hardships in a child-friendly manner that shows it is “all right for us to cry.” Many children may face similar hardships to Maricela, and Mango Moon can help them process the confusing emotions of having a parent deported. Even if you are not in a similar situation, Mango Moon can help kids grow empathy and understand the pain of losing a parent.

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All Are Welcome

Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms no matter their race, religion, or background. The picture book begins with families being welcomed to school. The story shows events that happen during a typical school day such as playing at recess, making music, having lunch, and presenting science projects. Each page repeats the refrain, “All are welcome here.”

The end of the book transitions to the children’s home life. Two pages show some of the kids sleeping, but in their dreams, they are playing with a special friend. Even though everyone is different, “we’re part of a community. Our strength is our diversity. A shelter from adversity. All are welcome here.” The picture book shows the importance of accepting others despite differences.

The picture book’s illustrations are bursting with colorful details. The book includes a diverse group of children including a girl in a wheelchair and a blind boy. One page includes a Muslim girl praying. The children’s clothes are bright, colorful, and full of patterns. Parents may want to point out the two girls who seem to be special friends and are playing in most of the pictures. The children’s hair is messy, and many of them have missing teeth which adds charm to the pictures.

All Are Welcome is a quick read since each two-page spread contains 2 to 4 rhyming lines of text. The end of the book has folded pages that can be removed and used as a poster. Both the words and the illustrations celebrate a group of diverse people that make up a community. A world map appears in several of the pictures which reinforces the idea that “No matter how you start your day. What you wear when you play. Or if you come from far away. All are welcome here.”

All Are Welcome would be a wonderful read-aloud book that will introduce readers to the concept of being accepting of everyone despite their differences. In a world filled with division, All Are Welcome will help young readers understand the importance of being kind, inclusive, and accepting others. Angus All Aglow by Heather Smith is another wonderful book about accepting people’s differences.

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Funny Valentine

It’s Valentine’s Day and Splat and his friends want to give Mrs. Wimplydimple something special. Follow Splat the Cat and his friends as they create the perfect Valentine’s Day card. On each page, readers will need to lift the flap to find what’s hidden behind.

Splat the Cat Funny Valentine will get young readers ready to grab the glitter and glue to create their own cards. When making the card, Splat and his friends use everyday objects like rubber bands, construction paper, and paper clips. Large, full-color illustrations bring the story to life and add humor as well. The illustrations have fun details like the rat flying in a paper airplane. Readers will also enjoy looking for the rat that appears in many of the pictures.

Each page has 2 to 3 short sentences that contain onomatopoeias and alliteration, which makes Splat the Cat Funny Valentine a fun story to read out loud. The story is perfect for beginning readers. The story is designed for readers who can read on their own but may still need a little help. The cute pictures and the low word count make Splat the Cat Funny Valentine a fun story. Younger readers who want to create crafts of their own will love Splat the Cat Funny Valentine. For more Valentine’s Day fun check out The Mystery Valentine by A.I. Newton.

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I Will Rejoice

Based on Psalm 118:24, I Will Rejoice teaches how to find joy in each day God has made. We can appreciate the simple, everyday things we do, from a “warm, cozy lap,” to being glad “in the evening light.” There are lots of reasons to rejoice. The story follows one little girl’s day as she plays with a friend, takes a nap, and wrestles.

Beautiful pictures in muted colors illustrate one girl as she goes through her day. The illustration highlights the many people (and the teddy bear) that love the girl. The story focuses on small delights such as being able to play, snuggle, and listen to a story. I Will Rejoice will help young readers appreciate the many simple blessings they receive each day.

Each page has a rhyming couplet and most pages begin with, “I will rejoice. . .” The repetition and rhyming that appear in each short sentence, make I Will Rejoice the perfect book to read aloud. Each page contains 1-4 sentences. Even though I Will Rejoice 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.

I Will Rejoice combines beautiful pictures and poetry to create a picture of all of God’s blessings.

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  • I Will Rejoice focuses on celebrating Psalm 118: “This is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Golden Threads

When a storm sweeps Emi’s beloved stuffed fox away from their mountain home, he ends up tattered and alone on a distant shore. A kind old man finds the fox and gives it to his granddaughter, Kiko. As she recovers from an injury of her own, Kiko mends the fox lovingly with golden thread.

As the seasons pass, Kiko cares for the fox as her own. While the fox is with his new friend, Kiko sews him with golden thread. After discovering his origins, she sets out with her grandfather’s help to bring the fox back to its original home. Once together, Emi and Kiko piece together the fox’s journey and find delight in their newly forged connections.

Told from the stuffed fox’s point of view, readers will relate to the fox who is lost and misses his friend, Emi. The fox worries that because of his “tattered paws and matted fur” that Emi will no longer want him. The illustrations depict Kiki’s injury and imply that both Kiki and the fox will be better than before after they heal. The story shows how the fox brings Emi and Kiki together and helps them form a friendship.

Golden Threads is inspired by the Japanese art form of kintsugi, or golden joinery, where broken pottery is repaired with resin painted gold. Kintsugi values repairing, rather than replacing, believing that the cracks give the broken item its story. This book is also a warm celebration of wabi-sabi, the Japanese idea that there is beauty in things that may be incomplete or imperfect.

Any child who has a favorite stuffed animal will love Golden Threads and understand the themes of getting lost, healing, and coming home. The sweet story has beautiful paper-cut illustrations with depth and warmth. Even though Golden Threads 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 alliterations and descriptions make the story fun to read aloud. However, younger readers may have difficulty with the complex sentence structure and the vocabulary. Each page has 1-4 sentences, which makes Golden Threads perfect to read aloud. Golden Threads beautifully conveys the message that people and stuffed animals do not need to be perfect in order to be loved.

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A is for Astronaut: Blasting Through the Alphabet

Retired astronaut Clayton Anderson takes readers on an A to Z flight through the alphabet from astronaut and blastoff to spacewalk and Zulu Time. Topics cover science, the history of NASA, and practical aspects of being an astronaut. In addition, A is for Astronaut has other astronaut facts that books usually overlook—such as how astronauts take out the trash while in space!

Even though younger readers may not understand all of the scientific information in A is for Astronaut, this picture book will captivate readers of all ages. Each letter has a fun poem paired with longer expository text. The main text appears in the form of a rhyming poem. Most pages have a sidebar that explains more about each topic. These sidebars have 2-3 paragraphs that use some difficult vocabulary. For younger readers, the poem will give enough information without reading the sidebars, while older readers will enjoy the additional tidbits in the sidebars.

The illustrations in A is for Astronaut are so beautiful that they would make gorgeous pictures to hang on the wall! The full-page illustrations use a kaleidoscope of color to show the beauty of space and the wonder of space travel. For example, one picture shows a child’s face, clearly captivated by a space shuttle launch which is reflected in the child’s sunglasses. Each illustration has beautiful details that show different aspects of space flight such as the planets, the astronauts, and the people on earth. While most illustrations focus on planets and astronauts in space suits, the pictures include a diverse group of men and women which will allow all readers to picture themselves in a space-related career.

Every child should read A is for Astronaut because the text and illustrations combine to show the wonder of space flight. For those who do not already love science or space, A is for Astronaut will provide a basic understanding of space flight. But more importantly, the book might just spark readers’ interest in space flight, the planets, or a career in science.

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Bear’s Loose Tooth

Bear and his friends are munching on their lunch when all of a sudden Bear feels something wiggling and wobbling in his mouth. It’s Bear’s first loose tooth. Bear’s friends ease his concern about his tooth and help him understand that losing a baby tooth is perfectly natural. Bear puts his tooth on a plate and the tooth fairy replaces the tooth with fresh berries for the bear to munch.

Everyone, whether they have lost their first tooth or not, will fall in love with Bear and his forest friends. Bear’s friends want to help him by pulling out the tooth. First, the little wren tries, then the owl. All of his friends try to remove the tooth, which doesn’t come out until Bear uses his tongue to nudge and wiggle the tooth. The cute ending will both surprise and delight readers.

Bright, colorful illustrations chronicle the process of Bear losing his first tooth. The full-page illustrations are adorably sweet and have just a bit of humor. Readers will giggle as all of Bear’s friends look into his mouth as the rabbit wiggles the tooth. All of the animals’ faces are expressive and show emotion, but the story focuses mainly on Bear’s emotions which allows the reader to see his sadness and his joy.

Bear’s Loose Tooth is perfect for younger readers. Each two-page spread has 1-6 sentences that contain alliteration and some rhyming words, which makes the story fun to read aloud. The picture book is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Bear’s Loose Tooth is a fun story that will help younger readers understand why their teeth become wiggly and fall out.

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I Wanna Be A Cowgirl

A young girl dreams of going out west where “the warm winds blow. The grass grows high, the sun hangs low.” Using her imagination, the girl saddles her stick pony and heads to the back yard to “check in on my chicken coops, take a bath in the creek, and milk the cows.” Her trusty dog and cat go on the adventure too. Finally, she moseys in to “rest my head. I’ll get some grub, unroll my bed. I’ll be tired, but warm and fed.”

The book’s illustrations have a vintage feel and use two main colors—red and green. Anything that is associated with being a cowgirl appears in red, in contrast to the green of nature. Each illustration shows the girl’s imagination at work. For example, when she pretends to shear the sheep, the illustration shows her brushing her dog. When the girl takes a bath in the creek, she’s really jumping into a wading pool. The illustrations are warm and whimsical and will immediately capture readers’ attention.

Even though the text uses simple sentences, the picture book 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 1 to 3 sentences that would make a fun book to read aloud because of the rhyming text and the country twang. For example, “I’ll check in on my chicken coops./ I’ll make my rope do loop-de-loops—/ a lasso spinnin’, makin’ hoops.”

I Wanna Be A Cowgirl has adorable pictures that bring the girl’s imagination to life. Young readers will enjoy the adventure and have fun imagining the life of a cowgirl. The girl’s trusty pup makes an appearance on almost every page which adds even more fun to the illustrations. The story’s plot is easy to understand, and the book would be an excellent (and short) bedtime story. If you’re looking for another picture book with a country feel, check out I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home by Kathryn Cristaldi.

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There Was An Old Astronaut Who Swallowed the Moon!

In this space-themed Old Lady Book, an old astronaut takes off into space and “swallowed the moon. I don’t know why she swallowed the moon, it happened at noon.” In between the old lady swallowing different space objects, two characters ask and answer space questions. For example, a girl asks, “How does the moon stay in the sky?” Her friend answers, “Gravity’s force keeps it up high.”

The only positive aspect of the story is that it teaches some space facts. The end of the book has two pages of space facts and the illustrations contain hidden objects. Unlike The Old Lady Who Swallowed the Fly, There Was An Old Astronaut Who Swallowed the Moon doesn’t have the same silly rhyme scheme that gives the words a fun flow. While the space facts are interesting, they are oddly placed and they break up the rhyme and repetition.

The story is illustrated with bright colors on top of space’s blackness. The illustrations have the same grainy aspect as a chalkboard. Some of the illustrations are funny, but others leave the reader wondering how the old astronaut swallows a comet, a rocket, and still has room for a satellite. In the end, the reader finds out that the old astronaut is actually in a planetarium and was only pretending to swallow the space objects. However, instead of being humorous, the ending falls flat.

There Was An Old Astronaut Who Swallowed the Moon is a picture book with 1 to 2 sentences per page. However, the story is not intended for children to read it for the first time independently. Younger readers may enjoy the story’s silliness, but parents may want to leave this Old Woman Book on the shelf. Unfortunately, the lack of rhyming, the odd illustrations, and the space facts do not blend well together.

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