Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Books for your Christmas storytime

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

It’s that time: the Christmas storytime! Here are a few good ones to consider.

 

Socks: A Christmas Kid’s Lament, by JD McPherson/Illustrated by Anika Orrock, (Sept. 2024, Walker Books), $15.99, ISBN: 9781536237023

Ages 3-7

Singer-songwriter McPherson’s picture book debut is about a Christmas present kids dread: SOCKS. A young boy creeps down to his Christmas tree early one Christmas morning, fully expecting any number of toys and discovering a dreaded pair of socks. SOCKS! For Christmas! The rhyming story escalates as the boy searches his home and pleads his case: “No ‘Are we there yet?’ in the car! / I ruined no vacations! / A few coins in the swearing jar, / but for impassioned declarations!” Santa flies over towns all over the world as children appear to exclaim the same disdainful refrain in different languages. But is there more to the grand sock distribution? Keep reading, and you’ll notice that other presents do show up, and that Mrs. Claus feels very differently about her socks. A sweet story about appreciating the meaning behind gift-giving, and a chuckle for anyone who’s received a gift they were less than pleased with. Orrock’s retro digital artwork adds a fun sense of play to the story. Scan a QR code to hear McPherson’s song, “Socks” and try out a few lines during storytime.

 

 

Everett Green: The Not-So Christmas Tree, by Freddy Wexler/Illustrated by Fanny Berthiaume, (Oct. 2024, Random House Books for Young Readers), $14.99, ISBN: 9780593567944

Ages 4-8

“Everett Green was a small palm tree with big dreams”. He’s a singing, dancing palm tree that’s tired of being ignored and knows he’s meant for greater things, and then he sees it: the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, featured on the news. With that, Everett’s off to New York! The only problem? Flights are delayed! Everett’s stuck at an airline gate on Christmas Eve! What’s a tree to do? Well… he’s got a captive audience, so Everett seizes the opportunity, grabs a mic, and starts spreading holiday cheer. One by one, the crowd joins in and before anyone knows it, there’s a dancing and a Christmas sing-along, dancing, and good feelings all around. Everett returns to his old digs at The Sandy Straw, where his Christmas act is embraced and lauded. The moral of the story: joy is where you find it, so spread it where you can. It’s a touching and relevant holiday message that carries meaning beyond the holidays. Photoshop illustrations are bold and bright; endpapers feature beribboned pineapples and Christmas ornaments across a bright yellow background. A fun holiday read that has plenty of opportunities for interaction with a group.

 

 

How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Mac Barnett/Illustrated by Jon Klassen, (Sept. 2023, Candlewick Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781536223767

Ages 4-8

Easily one of my favorite kidlit powerhouse combos, Barnett and Klassen just make great books. This time, they examine the classic question: How does Santa go down the chimney? They admit there are no easy answers, but there are suggestions that go from innocent – “Does he cinch up his belt?” – to the laugh-out-loud hilarious: “Does Santa ever get stuck partway down and need one of the reindeer to give him a kick?” Kids and adults alike have pondered these very same questions for years! Klassen’s graphite and ink illustrations pair perfectly with Barnett’s text, showing Santa and his reindeer in the funniest of situations, including a peek at Santa’s underwear as he goes down the chimney backside first. Ending on a sweet note and preserving the mystery, this is a perfect readaloud for holiday season.

How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? has starred reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus, Booklist, and was an Indie Next pick.

 

Santa Yeti, by Matthew Luhn/Illustrated by Luke Flowers, (Oct. 2023, Kane Miller), $15.99, ISBN: 9781684646036

Ages 3-7

What’s more fun than a cute rhyming story? A cute rhyming story about a yeti who’s tired of being cold! Frank is a yeti who dreams to vacationing somewhere warm, like Brazil. He stumbles upon Santa’s toy factory on Christmas Eve, deciding to stow away in a present bound for Brazil, but things go sideways when the box tears and Frank scares Santa right out of the sled! Santa gets dropped into a warm Brazilian pool, and it’s up to Frank to save Christmas. Thankfully, he’s up to the task and gets a nice reward next Christmas: a vacation in Key West. Luke Flowers’s illustrations are adorable, colorful, and filled with fun details. The endpapers feature postcards from warm climates with drawings of Frank taped into the scenery; back endpapers have drawings of Santa, Mrs. Claus, an elf, and a reindeer joining Frank taped into a postcard from… you guessed it, Brazil. The rhyme scheme is bouncy and light, pairing sweetly with the fun illustrations. Perfect for a Christmas read-aloud, this will become a book you’ll reach for every year.

Posted in Graphic Novels, picture books

Indie spotlight!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I haven’t done this in a bit, so let’s shine the indie spotlight on a few books! I’ve been catching up on Mount TBR, and I’ve got a few that may have missed your notice in the last year. Let’s meet some new-to-us, folks, shall we?

Play for Me, Peter, by Carol Selick/Illustrated by Blueberry Illustrations, (July 2023, Carol Selick), $11.99, ISBN: 979-8218190521

Singer, songwriter, and novelist Carol Selick tells a gentle story of love, loss and music in her story about enduring love and the connection we have through music. Peter is a young boy who loves hearing his grandfather play jazz on the piano, but when his grandfather dies and the music stops, Peter is devastated. Slowly, with the help of his grandmother, a kind piano teacher named Mr. Wally, and a final gift from his grandfather, Peter begins to play the piano and to further his grandfather’s legacy. The story touches on the connection we all have to music and one another and is a touching story of love, loss, and moving on.

Visit Carol Selick’s website for more information about her music and writing.

 

 

Captain Baby, by Kaylynn Miller & Nathan Miller, (Feb. 2024, Independently Published), $11.99, ISBN: 979-8872966982

Ages 3-6

Written by a 7-year-old and her father, Captain Baby is a cute story about a pirate who encounters a baby while on his pirate ship. The baby initially attacks the ship – with sharks! – and turns the pirate’s crew against him, marooning him on an island. When the baby is marooned shortly after – pirates don’t change diapers, after all – the grizzly captain discovers that he’s got a soft spot and takes on the mantle of protector. The two have adventures, including fighting off crocodiles and angry, poo-flinging monkeys while questing for gold coconuts. It’s a madcap tale that only a 7-year-old could tell, and the graphic novel format fits the storytelling nicely. The authors encourage readers to read the story in their most pirate-like voice, with little “arrr” puns cropping up in the text. A sweet collaboration between parent and child.

 

 

Would You Rather?, by Anna Avelino, (Jan. 2024, Independently Published), $14.99, ISBN: 979-8871075081

Ages 7-12

Would You Rather presents 350 questions that will provoke giggles as easily as they’ll provoke thought and discussion. We started playing “Would You Rather” when my youngest was 7, coming up with questions like “Would you rather swing on webs like Spider-Man or run like Sonic the Hedgehog?” It was a fun way to start conversations, and it helped me encourage my little guy to elaborate (his English teacher was thrilled). Here, Anna Avelino offers choices like “Would you rather arrive to school or work in a hot air balloon or a horse-drawn carriage?”. Questions are organized into areas like “Feathers, Fangs, and Furry Friends”, “Hilarious and Silly Questions”, and “Around the World”. Fun for circulating and reference collections!

 

Look at the Picture and Write the Name Coloring Book, by Canette Arille, (Dec. 2022, Independently Published), $9, ISBN: 979-8367455830

Ages 2+

A cute hand-drawn collection of images for kids to color. Images are large, black and white, and make for easy coloring by younger learners. Each picture sports a line where kids and write the name of the image. A nice gift idea.

 

Posted in picture books

Holiday Shopping Suggestions!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Over the next few days, I’ll be working on a few holiday shopping ideas. To paraphrase one of the pillars of Library Science, there’s a book for every reader, right? If you need some books for some littles over the next couple of days, I got you.

For the kid who loves being outdoors:

On a Mushroom Day, by Chris Baker & Alexandra Finkeldey, (July 2024, Tundra Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9781774882580

Ages 3-7

Go on a lyrical exploration with a caregiver and child, discovering the different types of fungi. Baker and Finkeldey engage all five senses in this informational story that walks readers through a forest that “springs a little under your footsteps”; listening to birds and mosquitoes through the canopy; smelling delicious aromoas wafting up from the forest floor; seeing the different colors and shapes of various mushrooms – “like the fruit of a fungus, as a tomato that grows on a vine”, and finally, after a long day of exploring and gathering, tasting “something wonderful indeed”. Earthy-colored illustrations pair with fantasy images of mythical forest creatures to create truly delightful images for the readers. Back matter includes species of mushrooms featured in the story, fungi facts, resources for further reading, and tips for having one’s own mushroom day. A sweet and informative book for beginning mycologists and those with an interest in nature.

Have kids who want more mushroom info? You can’t go wrong with Elise Gravel’s Mushroom Fan Club.

 

For the kid who loves the Alphabet Song:

The Dictionary Story, by Oliver Jeffers & Sam Winston, (Aug. 2024, Candlewick Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781536235500

Ages 3-7

Any Oliver Jeffers book is going to offer readers a great adventure. Here, Dictionary longs to create a story like other books, and brings her words to life: it’s cute at first, with Alligator in search of a tasty Donut, but things quickly escalate and things spin out of control! The Moon wonders what beings from the front of the library are doing over in her area; a Ghost appears and frightens everyone; a moody Tornado emerges and threatens to wreck everything! Dictionary is going to need some help from friend Alphabet to get things back in order. The delightful story and masterful illustration includes dictionary pages as the main backdrop; the illustrations run rampant over the dictionary entries, causing the dictionary’s organized layout to bend and snap out of shape under the weight of the characters. It all comes together to create a playful adventure that will easily become a storytime mainstay.

A Dictionary Story has starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness; it was also an Indie Next selection.

 

For the adventurer:

The Spaceman, by Randy Cecil, (May 2024, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536226164

Ages 3-7

A diminutive spaceman arrives on the latest planet on his roster and sets about his usual, if a bit boring, tasks; collecting, labeling, and filing soil samples. This time is different, though: he discovers a beautiful red flower. While he’s gazing at the flower, his ship is stolen and he pursues the bird in question. While in pursuit, he discovers even more incredible sights: “a fantastical array of creatures… Some were wonderfully strange. Some were adorable. Some were beautiful”. He even meets a curious, furry friend to share time with. After spending a day with his new friend and realizing happiness, he has to make a decision: go back to his responsibilities, or… maybe not? With sweet and deadpan humor, Cecil’s storytelling and illustration makes for a story that readers will enjoy for multiple readings.

The Spaceman has starred reviews from BookPage, Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Booklist.

Posted in Teen, Tween Reads, Young Adult/New Adult

Being a Jane Austen Murder Mystery Spin-Off: In Want of a Suspect by Tirzah Price

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

In Want of a Suspect (A Lizzie & Darcy Mystery), by Tirzah Price, (Nov. 2024, HarperCollins), $19.99, ISBN: 9780063278028

Ages 12+

The Jane Austen Murder Mysteries brought some of the author’s favorite characters to cozy mystery life, but author Tirzah Price gives us more in a new spin-off starring Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy! In Want of a Suspect features Lizzie, working as a solicitor in her father’s firm, and Darcy working as a solicitor in his family’s firm, Pemberley. Lizzie’s called in to investigate a suspicious warehouse fire and locate a person of interest seen at the location… which leads Lizzie to a woman Darcy once courted. When the key suspect turns up dead and Lizzie doggedly refuses to give up her investigation, she may be putting her own life on the line next. The interaction between Lizzie and Darcy makes the story. It’s alternately playful and cautious as the two blend their personal and professional lives and navigate expectations of young men and women in Austen’s time. Lizzie’s feelings for Darcy are in direct conflict with the knowledge that she would be expected – not by Darcy, but society – to leave her work and become a homemaker; Darcy feels the pressure to declare his intentions to Lizzie’s parents if he calls on her at home, relying instead on accompanying her on her investigations. The mystery itself is perfectly cozy, with the deaths occuring off-page; plot twists keep the whodunnit moving. You don’t need to have read the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries to jump into In Want of a Suspect, but it will be helpful as Price refers to previous events. Other characters from Austen’s novels make appearances. If you have mystery fans and Austen readers – YA and beyond! – this is a great add to your shelves.

Posted in picture books

Check out The Creative Company’s READ AND PLAY HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Hi all! I haven’t done a big holiday giveaway in a while, so we’re due, don’cha think? The kind and lovely folks over at The Creative Company have goodies for you: read on! There’s a little something for everyone!

The Creative Company is known for its high-quality, visually stunning books that inspire and educate young readers. To celebrate the holiday season, The Creative Company is giving away a festive bundle featuring two beautifully crafted picture books and a set of playful blocks. Perfect for cozy family moments, this set brings the magic of reading and hands-on fun to your home this Christmas. Read on to see how you can enter to win!

NUTCRACKER by E. T. A. Hoffmann, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti

Experience the magic of the Nutcracker like never before with this beautiful edition. Featuring the classic holiday tale paired with stunning illustrations by renowned Italian artist Roberto Innocenti, this enchanting book brings the story of a child and her loyal Nutcracker to life. Perfect for the season, it’s a timeless treasure for readers of all ages.

Nutcracker is 136 pages, recommended for ages 8 and up. Available at TheCreativeCompany.com, Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and independent bookstores.

 What’s Christmas without The Nutcracker? Innocenti’s beautiful illustration makes this a breathtaking gift for book lovers.

 

TOGETHER by Laura Manaresi, illustrated by Giovanni Manna

In a world often divided by perceived differences, this beautifully illustrated picture book serves as a gentle yet powerful reminder of the strength found in unity. Emphasizing our shared commonalities, it inspires readers with the message that collective action can overcome even the greatest challenges. Perfect for readers of all ages, this book is a call to come together to create a better future.

Together is 24 pages, recommended for ages 7-9. Available at TheCreativeCompany.com, Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and independent bookstores.

With a timely message, this is a lovely animal story paired with an easy-to-read narrative.

 

A NUMBER OF ANIMALS NESTING BLOCKS by Kate Greene, illustrated by Lester Wormell

This charming 10-piece wooden set offers hours of stacking fun. Following a little chick’s journey through the farmyard in search of its mother, each block features bold block prints and engaging text. The graduated blocks stack into a tower nearly three feet tall, making this set a wonderful combination of learning and play.

Recommended for ages 3 to 5. Available at TheCreativeCompany.com.

How adorable are these blocks? I have a set going under my tree for a special little one.

Enter this Rafflecopter Giveaway to Win!

** Open to U.S. Residents 18 and over only.

Posted in Graphic Novels, Teen, Young Adult/New Adult

The Murder Next Door examines trauma

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Murder Next Door: A Graphic Memoir, by Hugh D’Andrade, (Feb. 2025, Street Noise Books), $20.99, ISBN: 9781951491352

Ages 14+

In 1978, Hugh discovered his friends crying outside their home in his neighborhood. They had come home from school and discovered their mother lying on the floor, murdered. Forty years later, he’s an adult with a successful career and social life, but he’s also haunted by the murder and experiences anger, anxiety, and panic attacks. Through The Murder Next Door, he examines his trauma and its roots, moving between sessions with his therapist and his memories. Using light blue and black illustration, with red for jarring emphasis, D’Andrade’s art is at once stark and dreamlike; his recall so painful, the reporting at odds with what D’Andrade witnessed, that it all churns in his mind, feeding his anger, his anxiety, his constant feeling of dread. He becomes an adult who baits conspiracy theorists, an adult never quite secure. Writing this memoir, D’Andrade allows readers to sit in on his therapy sessions and see where young Hugh was forced to bear witness to the unthinkable; we see the scars it left, rendered in red ink for readers to witness. A moving portrait of youth lost and of resistant trauma.

Posted in Graphic Novels, Post-apocalyptic/Dystopian, Teen, Young Adult/New Adult

A Plausible Dystopia? You Must Take Part in Revolution

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

You Must Take Part in Revolution, by Melissa Chan & Badiucao, (March 2025, Street Noise Books), $23.99, ISBN: 9781951491291

Ages 16+

Set in 2035 during a war between the U.S. and China, with Taiwan divided between the two, You Must Take Part in Revolution is a stark dystopian graphic novel created by a nactivist artist and an international journalist, both exiled from China for their stances. In Revolution, America is a proto-fascist state, led by a President who gained power through a coup. Maggie, Olivia, and Andy are three young people meet during a protest in Hong Kong and become friends, but their differing methods of freedom fighting carry life-altering changes for each of them. The illustration is powerful, with stark blacks and greys and splashes of red and yellow, sparsely used to devastating effect. Chan’s journalistic prowess shines here; the story reads like a headline and has roots in current and past relations between the U.S., China, and Taiwan; she also captures the human side of the story, developing her characters and making them live off the page and in the reader’s head. They will stay with readers long after the book is finished. An excellent purchase for graphic novel collections.

Melissa Chan is an award-winning journalist who was expelled from China through her work as the China correspondent with Al Jazeera English. You can learn more about her via her website. Badiucao is a Chinese-Australian activist and dissident who has been referred to as “China’s Banksy”. You can learn more about him via his website.

Posted in Early Reader, Realistic Fiction

The Backyard Detectives are on the case!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Mystery on the Sidewalk (Backyard Detectives, Inc. #1), by Ann Biedenharn, (Nov. 2024, Daisy Hill Publishing), $26.15, ISBN: 979-8-9897014-0-7

Ages 5-7

Alec is a young Backyard Detective with a secret partner: a British mouse named Flint, and the two kick off a fun new series when they attempt to solve the mystery of the purple goo that shows up on his grandmother’s sidewalk one morning. Through observation and deduction, the two arrive at a hilarious conclusion that’s sure to get laughs from readers while teaching fun lessons about nature and color. Black and white illustrations include splashes of purple for effect; easy-to-read text makes this a great Easy Reader for kids who may still be a little young to dive into Nate the Great, but are ready to move on from Young Cam Jansen. Back matter includes an author’s note and “Flint’s Investigation Station”, containing discussion questions and a challenge for readers. Mystery on the Sidewalk is the first in a planned series, and currently available through Daisy Hill Publishing’s website, where readers and educators can find additional resources for exploring mysteries in their own backyards and public green spaces. A cute book for burgeoning readers.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Simply Magical: The Boy and the Elephant

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Boy and the Elephant, by Freya Blackwood, (Aug. 2024, Random House Studio), $19.99, ISBN: 6780183707661

Ages 4-8

Kate Greenaway Medalist Blackwood weaves a wordless fantasy that will leave readers breathless. A child lives in a building in a bustling city and appears lost in the shuffle. He drifts through a daily routine of getting dressed, shuffling through crowds to go to school, sitting alone in the playground, and coming home. He takes two bowls out to the seemingly empty yard, and there we see it: in the vacant lot next to his building, an elephant, formed by a group of entwined trees. Their friendship is built to last, as we see the elephant turn red with autumn leaves; white as snow falls on the empty branches, and verdant green. Looking lost in the earlier spreads, it’s here, at the elephant’s feet, we see a smile as the boy looks up toward his friend. But all too soon, a “SOLD” sign goes up in the lot and trees are marked with large white “X”s: the trees will be cut down to make way for construction. The boy takes action, and the result is nothing short of magical. Blackwood’s pencil and oil spreads create the softness of a dream and the warmth of friendship. The elephant is gigantic in scale compared to the boy, but never threatening; the elephant is a constant source of comfort and joy, as shown in the boy’s upward glance and rosy-cheeked smile. Blackwood needs no words to complete this gorgeous story of permanence and, as Publishers Weekly notes, “triumph over destruction”. Pair The Boy and the Elephant with The Blue Giant and The Green Giant by Katie Cottle for a storytime on being better stewards to our home.

The Boy and the Elephant has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist.

“A contemplative look at finding your place in a busy world.” —Kirkus Reviews

Freya Blackwood fell in love with illustrating books as a child while growing up in New South Wales, Australia. She is the illustrator of many acclaimed picture books published throughout the world, including My Two Blankets, Baby Day, and Harry and Hopper for which she won the Kate Greenaway Medal. She lives in New South Wales with her daughter. To learn more, visit her website: freyablackwood.com.au
Posted in Fiction, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Tween Reads

Native American Heritage Month Books Worth Reading: The Flicker

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Flicker, by H.E. Edgmon, (Sept. 2024, Feiwel & Friends), $9.99, ISBN: 9781250873965

Ages 9-12

A year after a solar flare – The Flicker – scorched the Earth and ended life as we know it, step-sisters Millie and Rose are orphaned. Millie, convinced her grandmother – a Seminole elder – is alive, convinces Rose to join her and their baby half-brother, Sammy, on the journey. Rose isn’t sure about how she feels, but joins Millie and Sammy, hoping to find the location of the rumored Sanctuary she hears codes from over the radio. They meet a group of kids called The Lost Boys and their leader, Ben, who was their counselor at theatre camp when the flare hit; Ben agrees to give them a lift to Millie’s grandmother’s home, but the land is full of terrors. Aside from the scorching heat and risk of wildfires, there’s The Hive: a shadowy corporation that militarized during the flare. The Hive’s soldiers hoard supplies so their people can live as if nothing ever happened, and they’ll go to any lengths to keep their people comfortable. Edgmon excels in his middle grade debut, exploring Indigenous identity through Millie and her memories of her grandmother, who has strong ties to the land. Edgmon introduces us to fully realized characters that readers will want to spend time with; Millie, though outwardly strong, is tender and vulnerable, locking all her feelings “deep inside her belly”; Rose wears her feelings on the outside for everyone to see, much to Millie’s aggravation. Sammy unites the two in their determination to protect him. Touching on themes of climate change, gender identity, and survival, The Flicker is unputdownable. An essential for middle grade collections, especially where survival fiction is popular. I loved this book.

The Flicker has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal.