Category: picture books

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

The Quiet One: Still waters run deep

Posted on 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.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

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

Posted on 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!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Three books for your next lapsit

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

These three books are adorable and perfect for a cuddly lapsit. Some fun fingerplay and song suggestions follow at the end.

Already All the Love, by Diana Farid/Illustrated by Shar Tuiasoa, (Dec. 2024, Little Bee Books), $12.99, ISBN: 9781499815658

Ages Birth-3

We already know that Diana Farid excels at writing in verse; lose yourself in her latest work, a board book that celebrates the love between parent and child. A parent holds their child, imagining what their futures may hold, only to be brought back to the present by the wonder of their baby: “You are already the bloom, the glimmer, and the rise… You are the full moon, a constellation, a shooting star that heard my wish.” Mother holds baby as the two witness the world around them while she also dreams of what wonders may come. Earth-toned illustration has brilliant moments of color that create playful landscapes that include a friendly-faced sun and moon, round, vibrant flowers, and pulsing music. Mother’s body becomes the land: we see her arms in the grass that embraces the two; her body is as strong as a mountain range as she bends over her child; she defines a place in the universe as she gestures toward the cosmos. Farid uses economy of language to make the verse spare and deeplly felt. A beautiful book that parents and caregivers will reach for time and again. Recommended for board book collections.

Readalike: We Sang You Home by Richard VanCamp

 

 

Follow Your Heart, by Emma Dodd, (Dec. 2024, Templar), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536234930

Ages 2-5

Emma Dodd’s books provide some of the coziest readalouds. Dodd’s omniscient narrator stands in for parents and caregivers who want their littles to follow their hearts and find joy while wondering where their decisions will take them: “Will you follow the crowd / and join in the fun, / leaping and laughing / as you play in the sun? / Will you be by yourself / and go it alone, / taking some time / to explore on your own?” As a dolphin parent and child swim through foil-enhanced waters, they encounter rough waters and warm sunlight; the parent dolphin also assuages any fears by letting them know they can always stay by their side if the world feels too big for them. It’s a story about letting go and seeing baby take first steps; letting go and seeing your bigger kid ride their first two wheeler; letting go and seeing your children growing up, while always letting them know you’re there for them. A very sweet addition to storytime collections; children will enjoy Dodd’s animal parent and baby dolphin, and the foil enhancements on spreads and the cover add interest.

 

I See Me! A Guess How Much I Love You Mirror Book, by Sam McBratney/Illustrated by Anita Jeram, (Jan. 2025, Candlewick Press), $8.99, ISBN: 9781536203882

Ages Birth-3

Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare go exploring in this short and sweet Guess How Much I Love You story. Little Nutbrown Hare spies a butterfly; Big Nutbrown Hare discovers a bird in a nest. They head to the pond, where Big Nutbrown Hare encourages Little Nutbrown Hare to look in the pond. What does he see? A mirror at the end of the book lets readers, along with Little Nutbrown Hare, exclaim, “I can see… ME!” A sweet addition to the original Guess How Much I Love You story and a delightful introduction for younger readers.

 

 

I’m a big fan of Jbrary when it comes to lapsits. These two Canadian librarians have videos, written out song lyrics, and fingerplay walkthroughs that got me through my first couple of years of children’s librarianship. I still pull their website up when I’m about to do a lapsit – they’re just that good.

A Hippopotamus Got on a City Bus is one of my favorite silly rhymes at storytime; the Jbrarians turn it into an adorable lapsit.

Eyes, Nose, Cheeky Cheeky Chin is too much fun for toddlers and great for babies, if you don’t feel comfortable bouncing.

I like to incorporate some classic nursery rhymes in my lapsits. Row, Row, Row Your Boat is a great one; parents can hold their littles in their lap and “row” around them or with them, rocking the little one on their thighs:

Row, row, row your boat,

Gently down the stream,

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Life is but a dream!

Row, row, row your boat,

Gently down the stream,

If you see a crocodile,

Don’t forget to scream-EEK! (you can cuddle your little one here)

Then, it’s time for “spider fingers”, and that’s the time to get ready for Itsy Bitsy Spider. Parents can do spider fingers on baby’s belly, or have toddlers do spider fingers along with them. Caitie’s Classroom has a fun walkthrough.

From “spider fingers” to “twinkle fingers”, it’s time for Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. I have parents and kids open and close their hands, like stars twinkling, through the song:

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

How I wonder what you are,

Up above the world so high,

Like a diamond in the sky, (here, I have the families make diamonds with their thumbs and index fingers)

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, (back to twinkle fingers)

How I wonder what you are.

I’d love to hear some of your favorites!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Books for your Lunar New Year storytime and collection

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Lunar New Year is coming! Are you ready? Here are some new books to add to your storytime!

I Love Lunar New Year, by Eva Wong Nava/Illustrated by Xin Li, (Nov. 2024, Scholastic Press), $7.99, ISBN: 9781546144649

Ages 4-6

A family comes together to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Narrated by Mai-Anne, a young girl who helps her family prepare their home for the New Year and serves as the readers’ guide to Chinese traditions, the story includes Nai Nai, Mai-Anne’s grandmother, who arrives in time for the festivities, and her Uncle Eric, who arrives from Canada to spend the holiday with the family. There are cultural traditions throughout the book, including decoration (red lanterns for happiness, green bamboo and cherry blossoms for health), food (noodles for long life, fish for good luck), and storytelling, as Nai Nai relates the story of the Great Race, the folktale that explains each animal’s representation in the Chinese Zodiac. Facts about Lunar New Year and the Dragon Dance make up the back matter. A great introduction to the holiday, this beautifully illustrates the folkloric with the familiar. I Love Lunar New Year has a starred review from School Library Journal.

Want to introduce a dragon craft like the one on the cover? Super Simple has a craft for you. My Creative Life has another fun one, geared toward a slightly older audience.

 

Let’s Celebrate Korean New Year!, by Michelle W. Park/Illustrated by Hyewon Yum, (Dec. 2024, Random House Books for Young Readers), $14.99, ISBN: 9780593567302

Ages 4-8

Sisters Madeleine and Eloise have so much to do before the family arrives for the Lunar New Year Party! Madeleine rushes around the house pulling Eloise behind her as they don their colorful hanboks make the tasty dumplings, also called mandoo, and set up the game they play, yutnori. It’s exhausting watching Eloise try to keep up with Madeleine, but the two sisters sit down together to write a poem to share with their family, and that’s when the magic happens: working together, the two girls are happy and able to celebrate family, the real heart of the holiday. Explanations and culture references run throughout the story and the pencil illustrations are cozy, inviting readers to stop and spend a while with Madeleine, Eloise, and their family. Back matter includes a Seollal – Korean New Year – activity, recipe, and a glossary of terms. Endpapers feature mandoo of different shapes across a field of blue, including ones that appear to have been made by Eloise, sharp-eyed readers will see. An interesting and playful story about Korean celebrations for Lunar New Year, this is another solid choice for collections. There are some fun crafts, including a make-your-own yutnori board, at this Chalk Academy webpage.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Books for Valentine’s Day snuggles

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Getting Ready for Valentine’s Day, by Vera Ahiyya/Illustrated by Debby Rahmalia, (Dec. 2024, Random House Books for Young Readers), $10.99, ISBN: 9780593810002

Ages 3-7

Kai and their family are busily preparing for Valentine’s Day! They make valentines and decorate; Mom makes cookies. The next morning, after a special Valentine’s Day breakfast and photos, Kai heads to school, where their teacher encourages students to contribute things they love to her list. Kai worries about not receiving any valentines, but the teacher has asked everyone to make cards for everyone so no one feels left out. Kai receives cards and best friend Chelsea loves hers. Getting Ready for Valentine’s Day is a cheerful book with family and friends showing love to one another. Author Ahiyya, also known as the “Tutu Teacher”, is a Kindergarten teacher who knows her audience and takes care to model positive, inclusive behavior and gives Kai the role of first-person narrator to give readers a child’s point of view; Ahiyya concentrates on enthusiastic wording to communicate Kai’s feelings: “I can’t wait to celebrate with my friends and family”; “My heart feels extra big, knowing how happy everyone is going to be when they open [the valentines]!” A fun and inclusive look at Valentine’s Day for younger readers.

 

I Lava You!, Illustrated by Liv Wan, (Dec. 2024, Cartwheel Books), $7.99, ISBN: 9781546138402

Ages Birth-3

The plush lava on this cartoony volcano welcomes little hands to this adorable ode unconditional love. Seven spreads filled with rhyming phrases make for a snuggle time every time: “I lava you, I really do! No one warms my heart like you”. From volcanoes to diamonds, sunshine and rain to rainbows, to the planets and stars, each spread is filled with bright colors and cheery faces. Readers will visit this book all year ’round.

Visit Liv Wan’s website to see more of her illustrations.

 

Be My Yummy ABC, by Joyce Wan, (Jan. 2025, Hippo Park), $14.99, ISBN: 9781662640766

Ages 2-5

The cutest ABCedary you’ll have in your hands this month! Joyce Wan is one of my favorite children’s illustrators because her artwork is just SO CUTE. She’s all about the bright colors and the bold outlines and her rhymes are the sweetest. With Be My Yummy ABC, Wan creates “a bite of love on every page”, highlighting tasty treats from all over the world: “The cutest GYOZA of my heart. My sticky HONEY BUTTER TART”. Wan’s wide-eyed, smiling food illustrations will delight every reader. Letters of the alphabet are large and puffy, looking like letter balloons and easy to read. Let this be the yummiest book on your shelf. Back matter includes pronunciation of each food, plus a note on each food’s country of origin; the book jacket unfolds into a poster. Endpapers show a variety of foods with heart shapes and rainbows. A feast for the eyes and a lovely look a foods of different cultures. Do not miss.

Visit Joyce Wan’s webpage for Be My Yummy downloadables (and downloadables from her other works)!

 

 

Posted in picture books

You Are a Star, Martin Luther King Jr.!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

You Are a Star, Martin Luther King Jr.!, by Dean Robbins/Illustrated by Anastasia Magloire Williams, (Jan. 2025, Scholastic Press), $8.99, ISBN: 9781338895100

Ages 5-7

Combine a first-person narrative with informative facts, add comic panels that provide additional information about Dr. King’s life, and you have the newest entry in the You Are a Star! series. Robbins brings Dr. King’s mission to younger readers in King’s own voice, using first-person storytelling to inform and inspire readers. Robbins looks at key moments in King’s life, from the first time he encountered discrimination through to the March on Washington; smaller side panels provide further context to those moments, and comic strips on each spread go into even smaller defining moments within those larger events. Williams’ comic book illustrations beautifully organize a wealth of information to capture the reader’s attention and feature a diverse and inclusive group of individuals supporting Dr. King’s dream. A stellar addition to picture book biographies.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Taking on big feelings: There’s a Robot in My Socks!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

There’s a Robot in My Socks!, by Meredith Rusu/Illustrated by Martín Morón (Sept. 2024, Loyola Press & 4U2B Books & Media), $19.99, ISBN: 9780829457094

Ages 4-6

This rhyming tale helps readers process big feelings about change, led by a girl whose robot socks give life to her secret buddy: a robot who “makes things go just right”, and gets thing “done her way from morning until night”. The girl’s mom is familiar with the robot and gets things done just the way the girl – I mean, the robot – likes them, but a day trip to grandma’s throws a bit of a wrench in the works. Storytime? No, that’s not until bedtime! A nap without a snuggly? Impossible! After a trip to the beach goes south, Grandma sits down with the girl and explains that she has a robot, too: and that robot likes when everything is perfect in her home. It’s all about how to work with your robot. Rusu tells a relatable story in rhyme that will spark conversations as Rusu and Morón shine a light on individuals who may have been seen as “difficult”; providing insight into what drives these actions makes a lot more folks visible. Readers of all ages will see themselves in this story and be inspired to talk about their “robots”. There’s a Robot in My Socks is the second book in the Mighty Moods series; There’s a Yeti in My Tummy (2023)  looks at big feelings about keeping strong feelings in all day. Illustrations are playful and colorful, making the robot an accomplice rather than a villain. A good addition to SEL collections.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Tales from the TBR: Hedgehog and the Log

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Hedgehog and the Log, by Pam Fong, (Jan. 2024, Union Square Kids), $18.99, ISBN: 9781454948537

Ages 4-8

Hedgehog outgrows his old home, and finds the perfect spot to build his new one – but his home is destroyed once he’s finished! He’s devastated; he cries, he rages, he feels sorry for himself… but once he changes how he views the situation, he is able to change his circumstances. The artwork is the star here; this story is beautiful, with a minimalist color palette and soft touches that you can almost feel under your fingers. Fong writes a story of resilience with a character that readers will relate to and be inspired by. An easily-read storytime selection, this one will work well in picture book and SEL collections.

Posted in picture books

Tales from the TBR: Don’t Be Mean to 13!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Don’t Be Mean to 13, by Douglas Harris/Illustrated by Robyn E. Blumner, (Oct. 2023, Label Free Publishing LLC), $12.95, ISBN: 978-1952843136

Ages 4-8

I’ve always gotten a kick out of Friday the 13th, but I get that it’s a real phobia for some people. Harris and Blumner mean to help folks get past that fear with this informative and fun book that dives into triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number 13. Our narrator is a kid who introduces us to their friend, 13, illustrated as an adorable black fluff with googly eyes and a big smile. They’re cuddly and affectionate, and seem to be pretty horrified that folks would be afraid of them… or their buddy, Friday, shown as a bright red sphere with a “FRI” headband. The narrator discusses triskaidekaphobia and friggatriskaidekaphobia, the fear of 13’s friend, Friday and works on quelling fear through education: some think the fear of the 13th comes from Norse mythology; others, from ancient cultures. A conversational tone paired with sweet illustrations of a friendly fluff who wouldn’t hurt a fly ease readers into confronting fears, but Harris leaves room for growth by acknowledging that just one book may not be enough. A good addition to consider for collections.

Posted in picture books, Toddler Reads

Color Our World with stories!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Are you thinking of Summer Reading yet? I am, because we’re working with the theme that the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) has for this year – Color Our World – and I’m enjoying the different books I can fit into this. We’ve got destination books; we have concepts; we have stories of people from all over the world. Naturally, I’ve got some new books that fit the bill. Let’s take a look!

Our World: Cuba, by Terry Catasús Jennings/Illustrated by Marla Cruz Linares, (Oct. 2024, Barefoot Books), $9.99, ISBN: 9798888592304

Ages 2-3

Any time I get a book from Terry Catasús Jennings, it’s a good time; pair that with Barefoot Books’ Our World board book series, and you can’t go wrong. The series is a hit here at my library, thanks to kid-friendly illustrations, a day in the life story, and vocabulary from different languages. Each author draws on their personal cultural experiences to communicate to their readers, which really makes this a unique series. Jennings invites readers to enjoy breakfast and a day full of activity at the park and the beach. Led by a young narrator, readers enjoy toast and café con leche at home; a ride to the beach on the guagua, and a game of los escondidos in the park. The child narrator spends a happy with parents, who are free with affection and a sense of play. Words in Spanish are also spelled phonetically on the page, allowing for easier pronounciation. Back matter provides deeper context to day-to-day life in Cuba. It’s an invitation to a day in Cuba, with warm illustrations and a joyful story. A great add to your board book collections – get some literary stamps in your passports with this book and this series.

 

Many Things at Once, by Veera Hiranandani/Illustrated by Nadia Alam, (Jan. 2025, Random House Studio), $18.99, ISBN: 9780593643907

Ages 4-8

A biracial girl reflects on her Jewish-Indian heritage, ruminating on her parents’ stories: her mother’s mother, a seamstress in Brooklyn, New York; her father’s mother cooking daal on a coal stove in India. The memories go deeper, exploring struggles on both sides of her family; her paternal grandparents separated during the Partition of India, and her maternal grandfather’s escape from the pogroms in Poland. Her families came to America for safety and a new beginning. Her parents tell her that she’s lucky to be “both Jewish and Hindu, to be part of many things at once”, but she sometimes feels neither “Jewish enough” or “Hindu enough” for her parents. Seeing a butterfly, the girl remembers a teacher telling her no two butterflies are the same, and she reflects on this and the roots anchoring the flowers from which the butterfly draws nectar. It all comes together: “I think of all the journeys I’m connected to and grow from”. Hiranandani tells an emotional story of struggle and love and the journey of self-discovery that biracial children travel, inspired by her own family background. An author’s note gives further texture. Pencil and digital illustrations show a diverse family and historical context: the girl views family photos from different decades and she imagines the struggles endured by her grandparents. Relating her cultural heritage to a butterfly will lift hearts. An excellent choice for collections.

 

I LOVE Blueberries!, by Shannon Anderson/Illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett, (April 2025, Feeding Minds Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781948898195

Ages 4-8

Jolie from I LOVE Strawberries! (2022) is back and this time, she has a friend! Jolie, who still loves growing strawberries, learned how to germinate blueberry seeds thanks to a local farmer. While showing her germinated seed and sprout in class, she meets new neighbor Margot, a homesick girl who’s just moved from Maine. The two hit it off – Margot’s love of blueberries is a delightful catalyst – and become interested in their teacher’s hydroponic gardening setup, which would let them grow blueberries even quicker. The teacher, who happens to be married to the friendly blueberry farmer, explains hydroponic gardening; the girls are inspired and proceed to hold a local blueberry festival and fundraiser to raise the necessary monies needed to invest in hydroponic equipment. I LOVE Blueberries! is a great story encompassing many areas that will interest readers: friendship, innovation and entrepreneurship, hydroponic gardening, and food farming. The way the community rallies around the two friends to support their ideas is gratifying and inspiring. The illustrations are filled with journals, as with I LOVE Strawberries: Jolie’s journals are joined by Margot’s this time, allowing us some insight into both characters in addition to illustrating the scientific method. Blue endpapers feature line illustrations of blueberries, and back matter includes a note on hydroponics, gardening, and blueberries as a superfood, A great choice for STEM/STEAM collections.

That’s a good start – what Summer Reading titles are you considering?