Category: picture books

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?

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Explore anxiety and feelings with Babette: Baa Haa

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Baa Haa, by Audrey Perrott/Illustrated by Ross Burach, (March 2025, Scholastic Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781546134039

Ages 4-8

Babette is a sheep who loves to laugh: so much that her friends have nicknamed her “Baa Haa”. But while it looks like Babette finds everything funny, she’s really covering up some big feelings, and it’s giving her a bellyache. Her friends discover her crying one day and gently let her know that “It’s okay if you’re not okay”, and that they love her for who she is. Filled with fun sheepy puns, Baa Haa examines anxiety and stress and the pressure many of us feel to cover up those feelings, whether it’s to make others feel better or to laugh off our own worries. Babette feels better after her friends support her and bolster her, and the image of the tightly wound ball of yarn in her belly immediately unravels, forming words like “icky”, “sad”, and “grumbly” – and isn’t that the best description of how it feels to embrace one’s true self? Pencil, crayon, and paint illustrations give a hand-drawn feeling to the story and the details are incredible; readers will love seeing Milton (from 2024’s Moo Hoo!) reading a copy of CosMOOpolitan Magazine, or a coffee mug in the principal’s office – Principal Lily Pad – that says, “Coffee makes me hoppy“. Baa Haa delivers a feast for the eyes and a supportive message for young readers. Download free activity sheets for a storytime extension.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Duckie and Snaps meet can they be friends?

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Duckie and Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends!, by Ame Dyckman/Illustrated by Tim Miller, (Feb. 2025, Orchard Books), $14.99, ISBN: 9781338837872

Ages 2-6

The unlikeliest of friendships begins when one egg rolls into another’s nest. Duckie, a bright yellow duckling with a pink bow on her head, boisterously greets a more reserved crocodile and names him Snaps. As she’s describing all of the adventures the two new friends will have her, an adult crocodile shows up on the scene to inform the two hatchlings that they CANNOT be friends, because Snaps’s folks eat Duckies! This doesn’t sit well with either Duckie or Snaps, who just started getting used to his new friend, but when Snaps’s tummy starts a-rumbling, Duckie has to do some fast thinking. Dyckman’s hilarious back-and-forth dialogue, paired with Miller’s expressive facial expressions and body language, makes for a laugh-out-loud tale of friendship against all odds. Illustrations are organized into graphic novel-type panels, with dialogue taking place via word bubbles. The message is clear: friendship (and bananas) wins all. A great add to collections; I can’t wait to see what Duckie and Snaps will do on their next adventure.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Kids will love The Most Boring Book Ever

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Most Boring Book Ever, by Brandon Sanderson/Illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi, (Sept. 2024, Roaring Brook Press), $19.99, ISBN: 9781250843661

Ages 4-8

“A boy sat in a chair”: so begins the boring story of a boy, a chair, and thoughts of laundry and math homework. Or is it? Sanderson pairs with Amulet creator Kibuishi to wink at readers as they take them through an incredible steampunk journey with sky pirates and dragons, soaring through clouds and crashing through clotheslines. Sanderson’s story never veers from the straightforward “boring” storytelling, allowing Kibuishi’s illustrations to run wild. It’s exciting, fun, and will have readers giggling through this not-boring-at-all adventure. The boy, light-skinned and red-haired, dressed in a blue shirt, suspenders, and brown pants, never leaves his chair (mostly) as he careens through the sky dodging airships and explosions. A red, scaly dragon emerges from the clouds and creates further excitement as the boy falls through the sky, quickly doing math to calculate his landing. The Most Boring Book Ever will for sure be a repeat readaloud. Download free activity sheets to share!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

You’re Not Invited! A new garden adventure

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

You’re Not Invited! (An Ooey Gooeys Adventure), by Sylvia Rouss & David Titcher/Illustrations by Rick Penn Kraus, (Jan. 2025, Brandyland Publishers), $15.95, ISBN: 978-1962416672

Ages 3-7

There’s going to be a party in the garden, but Queen Bea doesn’t want any “ooey gooeys” at her party, leaving Shelly Snail, Willy Worm, and Speedy Centipede on the other side of the velvet rope. Things change, though, when a Bigfoot charges through their area wielding a giant monster, and the Ooeys are there to save Bea and the other garden denizens. They watch the seeming destruction of their home together, but realize that the human – you didn’t really think he was a Bigfoot, did you? – is actually creating a paradise: he’s planting beautiful flowers for them to enjoy! Rescheduling their party to enjoy the new digs, Bea invites the Ooey Gooeys to be part of the fun as the guests of honor. You’re Not Invited! is an upbeat story of friendship and acceptance; of a bully who realizes her mistake, and a maligned group that’s courageous and generous enough to forgive. Colorful illustrations show the garden bugs in close-up, cartoon detail; the Bigfoot is actually a human, and the monster is a lawn mower. Plenty of fun for readers, with positive messages about being a friend. I look forward to more life lessons with the Ooey Gooeys!

Visit Sylvia Rouss’s website for more about her books, including her awesome Sammy Spider series!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Aisha’s Colors teach joy

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Aisha’s Colors, by Nabila Adani, (Sept. 2024, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536235401

Ages 3-7

A young girl living in Jakarta wishes her family would go on a vacation somewhere different, somewhere exciting, like her friends do. Her family takes the same trip every year: they drive to her Grandma’s village in the countryside. As her family sets out on their trip, Aisha thinks of the colors her friends have seen: the white snow her friend Jennie sees; the blue water and sky glimpsed by her frien Dimas. But as the trip progresses, Aisha discovers beautiful colors, too: the white of her favorite treat, for instance. As she sees the most beautiful sight of all – her grandmother – Aisha reflects on the colors her friends have seen, compares them with the colors she sees, and decides that “I’m going to stop worrying about what other people’s vacations are like”. Adani brings home the joy of seeing family, the beauty of what we have around us, and the importance of celebrating and appreciating what we have without worrying about what others have or do. Mixed media illustrations are bright and cheerful, depicting warm family relationships. Mom and Grandma wear hijabs and colorful tunics; Aisha is in overalls and a t-shirt. A cheerful story that readers will enjoy again and again.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

It’s hard to share our favorites: Mauntie and Me

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Mauntie and Me, by Rajani LaRocca/Illustrated by Nadia Alam, (Nov. 2024, Candlewick Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781536229417

Ages 3-7

It can be really difficult to share our favorite family members: in Mauntie and Me, Priya is the youngest of her cousins and feels left behind when the family gathers on weekends. But it’s okay, because she has her mom’s youngest sister, who she calls Mauntie: short for My Auntie. Together, Priya and Mauntie play games, share riddles, and have the best time together, but a new cousin, Aditi, arrives on the scene. Only a year older than Priya, Aditi also loves spending time with Mauntie, which doesn’t sit right with Priya. When Priya gets upset, Mauntie gives her an important riddle to consider: “What grows when you share it?” As Priya mulls over the riddle, she also finds herself missing Aditi. The answer dawns on her – love – and she realizes that Mauntie doesn’t halve her attention or her love when Aditi’s around; she doubles it. LaRocca captures the emotion and stress of sharing a loved one’s time and brings Priya on a journey to understanding. She creates a gentle and loving story about familial relationships and the friendships we form within them. Alam’s digital and pencil illustrations captures warm and loving family relationships. The opening spread where Priya and Mauntie greet one another across a crowd of family speaks volumes.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Pavlo Gets the Grumps – we all know it, don’t we?

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Pavlo Gets the Grumps, by Natalia Shaloshvili, (Sept. 2024, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536235548

Ages 3-7

Pavlo is not in a great mood today. Mama has all sorts of great ideas, but Pavlo doesn’t want to do any of them: “The swings are too swingy, the sandbox is too sandy, and… the slide is too SLIDEY!” Pavlo adamantly refuses to admit it: he’s got the Grumps, and Mama gets him out the door anyway, where he discovers the best cure for the Grumps: a hug from a friend. Preschoolers (and their grownups!) will easily identify with Pavlo; we all know when the Grumps strike. Shaloshvili expertly captures a child’s grumpy day in her narration, and her mixed media illustrations make for an adorably cranky kitten and a patient parent. Moody darker colors make up the backgrounds until Pavlo gets a hug from his friend Mila; the greens of the park become lighter and the outside becomes brighter as Pavlo’s mood lightens. A great story to cheer the Grumps away.

Pavlo Gets the Grumps has a starred review from Booklist.