Rosemary Kiladitis

Sticker Jigsaw brings a new spin to classics

Posted on March 11, 2025March 10, 2025 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Sticker Jigsaw: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, based on the novel by L. Frank Baum/Illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova, (Feb. 2025, Odd Dot), $18.99, ISBN: 9781250908339

Ages 8+

Did The Wizard of Oz ever go out of style? Not likely, but Wicked is absolutely making the beloved classic “Popular” all over again. Sticker Jigsaw is just what it says on the cover: there are 15 sticker jigsaw puzzles inside, all set to scenes inspired by Baum’s classic story. Each spread includes an excerpt from the story and a cheerful illustrations, with one area blurred out and overlaid with jigsaw lines. A sticker section notes which areas belong to which spreads, and readers can peel and place the puzzle pieces to complete the artwork. The stickers are removable, so there are no worries about mistakes. The sticker pages are perforated to make for easy removal, but the main pages are not – if you plan to purchase these for program use, take apart the book before the program begins so you can hand out spreads with no fuss. Readers can choose from memorable moments like The Council with the Munchkins, The Gates of Oz, and The Search for the Wicked Witch. It’s a fun gift and it’s a fun idea for programs: if you have a small program, it’s less than $20 for one book. If you’re planning on a Wicked screening (or The Wizard of Oz), this makes for a good trivia prize or a fun extension activity.

Alpacas Here, Alpacas There… so much fun to read and share!

Posted on March 8, 2025March 7, 2025 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Alpacas Here, Alpacas There, by Carrie Tillotson/Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri, (Feb. 2025, Beach Lane Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9781665942027

Ages 3-8

This delightful illustrated rhyming book went over very well at storytime yesterday! These adorable big-eyed, lushly lashed animals have their moment in this fun and informative rhyming story loaded with alpaca facts. The story begins with alpacas’ domestication thousands of years ago in the Andes Mountains, when the people living among them used their fleece to keep warm in the cold mountain climate. From there, Tillotson provides a glimpse into alpaca life and behavior, with rhyming text making for an engaging storytime and informative paragraphs on each spread, providing deeper context and more information. Tilloton weaves beautiful imagery with her verse; paired with Chavarri’s charming and textured illustration, engaging moments abound: “While winter brings its crystal shawl, / In summer’s blaze / they laze and sprawl” shows alpacas steadfastly standing on the mountains as the winds whip around them, then enjoying a warm afternoon in a wading pool. Alpacas Here, Alpacas There is a cheerful and enlightening introduction to the smiling and fluffy animals. Endpapers feature a bevy of colorful alpacas across a stark white page. An excellent addition to storytime and picture book collections. Back matter includes an notes from the author and the artist, a glossary, and additional sources. Find some fun coloring pages to hand out after storytime here at Coloring.ws.

picture books, Preschool Reads

Ramon Fellini… a detective who isn’t what he seems

Posted on March 4, 2025March 3, 2025 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Ramon Fellini: The Dog Detective, by Guilherme Karsten, (Feb. 2025, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers), $18.99, ISBN: 9780802856364

Ages 4-8

CRASH! A boy’s fish bowl is attacked! As soon as the boy gets his fish safely into a temporary bowl, a visitor appears: “Ramon Fellini, the Dog Detective, at your service”. Readers will be as confused as the boy, because Ramon looks suspiciously like a cat. But Ramon is a smooth talker, and easily talks his way into the gullible boy’s house, where he proceeds to ask strange questions, like “Are there any more fish in this house?”; he’s got some strange investigative methods, too: what kind of detective licks the fish’s shelter to discover clues? Readers will be shrieking at the boy, who really should be more critical of Ramon’s methods. A darkly funny mystery that readers who enjoyed Jon Klassen’s This is Not My Hat and I Want My Hat Back, Ramon Fellini: Dog Detective is also a great way to introduce readers to critical questioning and observation. Digital illustrations carry an amusing noir feel, with nighttime lighting and an expressive, distressed main character. Ramon’s facial expressions and body language telegraph his ulterior motives, making it easy for readers to figure out what he’s really up to. A good purchase for collections.

picture books, Preschool Reads

Taste the rainbow with How Do You Eat Color?

Posted on February 27, 2025February 26, 2025 by Rosemary Kiladitis

How Do You Eat Color?, by Mabi David/Illustrated by Yas Doctor/Translated by Karen Llagas, (March 2025, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers), $18.99, ISBN: 9780802856388

Ages 4-8

Spend a day eating color: wake up and “sample sunshine in yellow, in a bite of pineapple”; by noon, brown like a banana. Enjoy and orange sunset as you see a melon moon rise, and tuck yourself in like a yam. Two kids and their chameleon wander through a rainbow of color, sampling food and enjoying their day. A nice twist on the “eat the rainbow” concept, David talks textures in a way that will bring a smile to readers and listeners: “Do you know how red tastes? / Does it tickle the tongue? / Is green sweet and cold like your / favorite sorbet?” As someone who grew up associating the flavor “green” with my favorite ice pop, I greatly appreciated this. Doctor deftly incorporates food into the landscapes, letting the group frolic among leafy greens and walk past carrot heads casting a shadow at dusk. Back matter includes some notes on additional colorful foods, why eating the rainbow is important, and tips on getting families to eat more colors together. Originally published in the Philippines, How Do You Eat Color is a good purchase to picture book collections and food storytimes. It will work really well with the Color Our World Summer Reading Theme (if you’re part of CSLP).

The Whole Kids Foundation has Eating the Rainbow printables available to share with families.

Toddler Reads

A baby lays it all out in I’m a Baby!

Posted on February 17, 2025November 25, 2024 by Rosemary Kiladitis

I’m a Baby!, by Terry Pierce/Illustrated by Volha Kaliaha, (May 2025, Familius), $9.99, ISBN: 9781641709507

Ages Birth-3

An adorable baby takes readers through their day, from wakeup to bedtime, with key moments like the diaper change, a walk, the dreaded nap, bath time, and bedtime. The family cat shows up on spreads to give readers an extra chuckle is the cat’s expressions let readers know what they think. Readers will get belly laughs out of the baby fighting off a nap (the cat has no such issues), splish-splashing in the tub as the wet cat dashes to safety, and wearing a bowl of food (the cat isn’t thrilled). The short rhyming text is playful and easy to read; bold orange lettering over the light backgrounds make this a great lapsit read. Cartoony characters with expressive faces will grab a little one’s interest for sure. Fun for lapsit storytime, sibling storytime, or anytime! Learn more about Terry Pierce and her books at her author website.

For a fun lapsit storytime, pair I’m a Baby! with This Baby, That Baby by Cari Best and Rashin Kheiriyeh, or Mem Fox’s classic, Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes. I posted a successful Baby Storytime I held in June, if you want some more ideas.

picture books, Preschool Reads

That’s Not Funny, David! – actually, it is

Posted on February 14, 2025February 13, 2025 by Rosemary Kiladitis

That’s Not Funny, David!, by David Shannon, (March 2025, Orchard Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9781546123187

Ages 3-7

That mischievous preschooler, David, is back and he’s still in trouble! That’s Not Funny, David! shows David just trying to have a little fun: but not everyone appreciates his sense of humor. David rams a shopping cart into a fruit bin; does a cannonball into the pool, soaking everyone around him; goofs off during class, and somehow – in what may be the most hilarious spread in the book – wedges a peanut firmly in his nose. The narrator’s exasperated voice starts with “Not funny, David!”, which becomes, “That’s disgusting!”, “We are not amused, David”, and “What were you thinking?” Kids and grownups alike will recognize both sides of the story; they’ll also recognize the moment David’s parent gives in and admits, “Okay, that’s pretty funny”. Show me a grownup who hasn’t had to hide a smirk or a chuckle at some behavior or other they should be curbing, right? As with all David stories, after an exhausting day of hearing “No, David!”, the story ends on an affectionate note where David’s parent expresses love for the lovable goofball, and David has a smile that stretches from ear to ear. All my David books go out on the regular, and I expect I’ll need a couple of copies of this newest one to keep up with demand. That’s Not Funny, David! is another fun addition to the series and to picture book collections. That’s Not Funny, David! is an Indie Next pick. Download some free activity sheets from Scholastic!

picture books, Preschool Reads

Special Days: Wash Day with Mama

Posted on February 6, 2025February 5, 2025 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Wash Day with Mama, by Monia Mikai, (Jan. 2025, Crown Books for Young Readers), $18.99, ISBN: 9780593810644

Ages 4-8

It’s Sunday, and it’s the best day of the week for the little girl at the heart of Wash Day with Mama: it’s wash day! The story takes a wonderful look at the process of caring for Black hair by turning it into a girls’ spa day. Mama asks her daughter what hair style she wants for the coming week, and the girl helps prep by fetching all the supplies her mom will need – except for the deep conditioner, which her mom makes in the kitchen. The story takes readers step-by-step through the wash day routine and focuses on the relationship-building and self-care aspects. Mama empowers her daughter by relating the dual purposes served by the conditioner’s ingredients, telling her it contains “all the things you’ll also need in life… honey for some smoothing, for when life gets tough… tea tree oil for soothing, for the discomfort that can come with growth… coconut milk and avocado for strength, so you can keep on going”. The digital illustrations are warm and full of comfort and love and show a legacy of care as we see Mama’s mother taking her through the same ritual when she was a child. Mama reminds her daughter that wash day may take some time, but prioritizes self care, noting that “it’s an act of loving yourself, inside and out”. This story is pure joy and is a great addition to collections.

Monica Mikai is an author and illustrator of books for children. She is passionate about creating thoughtful stories and illustrations that inspire the reader to see life from a new perspective. Monica is the illustrator of the picture books Build a House, Thank a Farmer, The Proudest Color, My Name is a Story, and The Blue Pickup, among others. When not writing or illustrating, she can be found practicing yoga and pranayama, hiking, or propagating her many house plants. She lives in coastal Virginia with her husband and two sons.

Instagram

Monica Mikai: @monicamikai

Random House Children’s Books: @randomhousekids

Blue Slip Media: @blue_slip_media

Facebook:

Monica Mikai: N/A

Random House Children’s Books: Random House Children’s Books

Blue Slip Media: @blue-slip-media

Twitter/X:

Monica Mikai: N/A

Random House Children’s Books: @randomhousekids

Blue Slip Media: @blueslipper & @barbfisch

Read and display with:

Hair Love, by Matthew A. Cherry/Illustrated by Vashti Harrison, (May 2019, Kokila), $17.99, ISBN: 9780525553366

Stella’s Stellar Hair, by Yesenia Moises, (Jan. 2021, Imprint), $18.99, ISBN: 9781250261779

My Hair, by Hannah Lee/Illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan, (Sept. 2019, Faber & Faber), $16.95, ISBN: 9780571346868

picture books, Preschool Reads

I Am Jack: A Story of Imagination

Posted on February 5, 2025February 4, 2025 by Rosemary Kiladitis

I Am Jack: A Story of Imagination, by Paige Duncan/Illustrated by Julia Moroko, (Oct. 2024, Front Porch Collective), $24.99, ISBN: 9798218537722

Ages 3-6

A little boy and his mom play outside together; as he dons different outfits, Jack’s mom wonders aloud what he is. He proudly proclaims, “I am Jack!” every time. The book’s structure is set in a question-and-answer format, with Mom guessing at Jack’s identity with each new costume: a dinosaur; an astronaut; a shark, or a monster truck? “I am Jack”. The costume changes are fun and creative: he sports a basket on his back when Mom asks if he is a “trash truck”; a construction worker when he wears a box on his head (with a drawing of a construction worker on the front). The box becomes airplane wings when Mom asks if he is a plane, and they use chalk to draw train tracks on the ground while he sits in a box with wheels as Mom asks if he is a train. It’s a fun and inventive story that Moroko’s colorful and playful illustration brings to life. The repetition of question-and-answer will inspire readers to chime in during a readaloud. I Am Jack is a fun story about a playful day between a child and his mother.

picture books, Preschool Reads

The Quiet One: Still waters run deep

Posted on February 5, 2025February 4, 2025 by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Quiet One, by Yiting Lee, (March 2025, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers), $18.99, ISBN: 9780802856418

Ages 4-8

In a busy, noisy classroom, Milly is the quiet one, not sure if she “[had nothing to say] or just didn’t know how to say it”. She’s dreading the upcoming Show & Tell, so she stays in her hideout where she constructs a robot from people’s forgotten castoffs. Milly connects with Arnold, the robot, who gives her space to speak and the courage to speak at Show & Tell. When she freezes up, Arnold is there to support her and her passion for tinkering and talking about Arnold gets Milly past her fear of talking and makes her Show & Tell a hit! Milly, glad to be seen and heard, is part of the class and so is Arnold. The story gently addresses social anxiety and being an introvert in a sea of extroverts. Small illustrative details give readers clues: Milly sits in her classroom library, an open umbrella shielding her from her class; her secret place is “filled with things that people had forgotten”, as if Milly wishes to disappear from view, left among the overlooked toys, equipment, and… stuff. But it’s from this forgotten stuff that Milly creates, tinkering and playing, “making good use” of what she finds to make a ferris wheel for mice and a roller skate train. A diverse and inclusive group of kids make up the class. Watercolor and pencil illustration make for soft colors; endpapers are littered with a plethora of goodies one may find in Milly’s secret hideout. A good storytime read that will pair well with Ashley Spires’s The Most Magnificent Thing.

picture books, Preschool Reads

I Wish I Had a Dragon with Marshmallows! (Don’t you?)

Posted on February 4, 2025February 3, 2025 by Rosemary Kiladitis

I Wish I Had a Dragon with Marshmallows, by Diane Alber, (March 2025, Cartwheel Books), $14.99, ISBN: 9781546109921

Ages 4-8

A boy discovers a really cool lizard in his backyard… it kind of looks like a dragon! Hey, he wishes, it would be so cool to have a dragon with marshmallows: and just like that, there’s a dragon, colored just like the lizard, holding a bag of marshmallows. But the dragon looks so sad, and can’t summon a flame to toast the marshmallows. Maybe only a happy dragon can make flame? Trying to cheer the dragon up, the boy comes up with a series of wacky ideas, from puppet shows to games of tag, until the two new friends fall asleep, exhausted. When the boy wakes, the dragon’s gone, but the cool lizard is back… and there’s a surprise waiting for the boy. A funny and sweet story about friendship and magic, the story blends black and white line illustration with bold, bright color; both Dragon and boy have expressive faces with big, exaggerated eyes. Back matter includes fun step-by-step instructions to make your own sock dragon and some thought-provoking questions for discussion. A fun storytime choice with a built-in extension activity; this will make a fun addition to collections. Download some fun activity sheets to hand out!