Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Essential reading: Dear Muslim Child

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Dear Muslim Child, by Rahma Rodaah/Illustrated by Aya Ghanameh, (Feb. 2024, Balzer + Bray), $19.99, ISBN: 9780063091993

Ages 4-8

Rodaah, the author of Dear Black Child (2022), creates a lyrical ode to inspire Muslim children everywhere. Rodaah reveals the miracle of their birth “Before Allah spoke the universe into existence, He wrote and nestled your name between ours” and shares the beauty of the Islamic faith, encouraging children to live in and invite the peace of their faith into all areas of their lives. Softly illustrated digital artwork shows a diverse group of children and adults, some in hijab, reading, learning, and caring for one another. Rodaah emphasizes the history of the Muslim faith and their ancestors, and touches on the prejudice that Muslims experience, advising them to “let go out any hurt and resentment” and “fill yourself with hope, forgiveness, and resilience”. A warm story about a peaceful religion, with attention on tradition, family, and history. A gentle and affirming love letter to Muslim children everywhere, and an important book for all children to read and gain understanding.

 

Rahma Rodaah was born and raised in Hargeisa, Somaliland. At the age of eight, her family immigrated to Canada where she still resides today. She is a mother of four children and enjoys reading and coming up with silly bedtime stories. She is also the author of two self-published picture books and firmly believes that children need to be able to identify themselves in the books they read. You can visit her online at rahmarodaah.com.

Aya Ghanameh is a Palestinian illustrator, writer, and designer from Amman, Jordan. She received her BFA in Illustration from Rhode Island School of Design with a concentration in literary arts, and completed a yearlong Children’s Books & Gifts Design Fellowship at Chronicle Books. You can visit her online at ayaghanameh.com.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

STEM Books to Explore

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I’m back with some new books to explore fun STEM concepts. I really miss having a Discovery Club at my library… maybe I’ll use these as a way to gauge some interest again.

Tree Spirits (2nd Ed., Revised), by Louise Wannier/Illustrated by April Tatiana Jackson, (Sept. 2023, True Roses Books), $24.95, ISBN: 9780990997658

Ages 3-8

This book was published in September of last year, but I’ve just seen a copy and wanted to include it here. Incorporating nature and art, Wannier creates fun rhymes that encourage readers to think and wonder at different photos of trees. The repeated questions invite readers to look at each photo, considering the swirls and bumps, shapes and bends of the featured trees. The author offers her point of view, and Jackson, with a turn of the page, offers an overlaid illustration of an animal in the tree. Color photos are crisp, with texture and detail. The rhyming text incorporates different emotions, making this a helpful inclusion in social-emotional collections as well as nature science and STEM/STEAM collections. A nice additional purchase.

 

Tree Spirits is an interactive picture book that encourages creativity, social-emotional intelligence, and seeing the world with fresh eyes. With 25 color photographs of trees, the rhyming text asks, “What do you see when you look up at this tree?” inviting a child to use their imagination. Turning the page reveals an illustrated overlay of a charming animal inspired by the lines and shapes of the tree bark. Each animal introduces a different emotion, helping children understand their inner spirit and feelings.

All About Color, by Elizabeth Rusch/Illustrated by Elizabeth Goss, (March 2024, Charlesbridge Publishing), $17.99, ISBN: 9781623543532

Ages -8

Rusch gets into deep stuff in this exploration of color, telling readers right off the bat that “Color doesn’t exist. The sky is not blue”, giving a few additional examples before explaining that we perceive color when light sends messages to our brains. Rusch discusses how color helps us in our day-to-day lives: they can describe emotions, like “seeing red” and “feeling blue”; they can warn us, as illustrated by the bright red triangle on a black widow spider; they can let us know when to stop and go, as with a traffic light. Goss’s boldly outlined illustration offers bright color washes to communicate Rusch’s succint explanations. Rusch uses simple sentences to allow emerging readers to enjoy this book on their own or as part of a readaloud. A good introduction to the science of color. All About Color is the companion title to All About Nothing (2023), an introduction to negative space.

 

 

Hands on Science: Motion, by Lola M. Schaefer/Illustrated by Druscilla Santiago, (Feb. 2024, Charlesbridge Publishing), $16.99, ISBN: 9781623542450

Ages 4-8

This introduction to the science of motion is too much fun! Enter the Physics Lab and let the narrator take you on an interactive journey where you can poke, tilt, and push the book to learn about gravity and friction: poke a dollop of whipped cream to discover how your finger’s force can change its shape, and guide a marble through a series of inclines to see how it changes its path. Scientific terms are bolded for easy reference, and colorful illustrations keep readers engaged. Caregivers and educators will love these easy experiments: no muss, no fuss! If you have a Science Club, you may even want to set up similar experiments to guide scientists through during a readaloud. Schaefer includes examples of journaling observations and predictions; back matter includes additional ways we use forces every day, and an experiment for readers (and their grownups!) to conduct at home. This is the third entry in the Hands-On Science series by Schaefer and Santiago. A very good addition to STEM collections for emerging readers. Download the free Hands-On Science activity kit at the Charlesbridge Publishing website.

 

 

 

Posted in Non-Fiction, picture books, Preschool Reads

Funky Flamingos? But of course!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis
Flamingos are Pretty Funky: A (Not So) Serious Guide, by Abi Cushman, (June 2024, Greenwillow Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9780063234444

Ages 4-8

Abi Cushman has a companion book to Wombats are Pretty Weird (2023), and it’s all about flamingos. Friendly Joey the Snake is back as our guide through the world of flamingos, with more amusing commentary (we find out who he was named for this time). Cushman fills Flamingos with fun facts and entertaining dialogue from the birds themselves, especially the “Lesser Flamingo” who is not really thrilled with their name. You may have heard that flamingos get their pink pigmentation from their food, but did you know that during mating season, a gland near their tail provides an oil that they can use as DIY makeup? Or that their nests look like little volcanoes? You may also not want to wade out in water to catch a better look at a flamingo: they can withstand water that’s boiling hot or corrosive chemicals. Yikes! Side-bars and cartoon art, speech balloons and labeled pictures all facilitate learning, and informational backmatter, including glossary, make this a good addition to your animal collections. Visit Abi Cushman’s author webpage for some free downloadable resources!

Want a fun extension activity? This flamingo craft from Simple Mom Project is easy to print and assemble.

 

Posted in Non-Fiction, picture books

Jackie and the Books She Loved – a different look at Jackie after JFK

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Jackie and the Books She Loved, by Ronni Diamondstein/Illustrated by Bats Langley , (Nov. 2023, Sky Pony), $19.99, ISBN: 9781510776425

Ages 4-8

While most remember Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis as President John F. Kennedy’s wife and JFK Jr.’s mother, she had a storied career in publishing. Diamondstein and Langley bring that Jackie to younger readers, beginning with her book-loving childhood and accomplishments, her career as a journalist, and her key role in helping her husband win the Presidency, thanks to her newspaper columns. Diamondstein concentrates on Kennedy Onassis’s post-JFK life in New York as an editor, her interest in helping young women writers, and her commitment to putting the author first. Langley’s illustrations keeps Jackie in the center of the action and includes her trademark scarves and sunglasses. Back matter includes a timeline of Jackie’s life, an author’s note, and a sampling of the many titles she edited. A solid addition to picture book biography collections, Diamondstein treats her subject with respect and affection, making Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis much more than a former First Lady.

Posted in picture books

MCBD24 continues: What the Bread Says

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

What the Bread Says: Baking with Love, History, and Papan, by Vanessa Garcia/Illustrated by Tim Palin, (Oct. 2022, Cardinal Rule Press), $17.95, ISBN: 9781735345185

Ages 5-7

Every Saturday, Vanessa’s mom heads to yoga after dropping Vanessa off at her grandfather’s. The two “meditate another way”: they bake all sorts of breads together, and Papan – a combination of “papa” and “pan”, the Spanish word for bread – provides history lessons for each loaf.  Papan tells Vanessa about the baguettes he ate in France and the breads he ate in Cuba, when he and his brother left France during World War II; he talks about leaving Cuba to come to America. As the two weave the strands of a challah together, he talks about the symbols for each strand of the bread, and Vanessa ponders the patience that goes into making bread. A warm story of family and history, What the Bread Says is a good intergenerational story with points for discussion. Download a free readers guide and coloring pages at Cardinal Press’s website.

 

 

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2024 (1/25/24) is in its 11th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission and history HERE.

Read Your World celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day and is honored to be Supported by these Medallion and Ruby Sponsors!

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr (Audreypress.com)

🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media

🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight, Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Lerner Publishing Group, Children’s Book Council

🏅 Gold Sponsors:  Barefoot Books, Astra Books for Young Readers

🏅 Silver Sponsors: Red Comet Press, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Lee and Low Books, Cardinal Rule Press

🏅 Bronze Sponsors: CK Malone, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Anita Crawford Clark, Star Bright Books, Blue Dot Kids Press, Brunella Costagliola, Red Fin, Fabled Films 

Ruby Sponsor: Crayola 

Poster Artist:  Rebecca Burgess 

Classroom Kit Poster: Barefoot Books 

MCBD 2024 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Gwen Jackson, Josh Funk, Eugenia Chu, Sivan Hong, Marta Magellan, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Angela H. Dale, Maritza M Mejia, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Charnaie Gordon,  Alva Sachs, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Lisa Chong, Diana Huang, Martha Seif Simpson, DARIA (WORLD MUSIC WITH DARIA) Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Gea Meijering, Stephanie M. Wildman, Tracey Kyle, Afsaneh Moradian, Kim C. Lee, Rochelle Melander, Beth Ruffin, Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Alina Chau, Michael Genhart, Sally J. Pla, Ajuan Mance, Kimberly Marcus, Lindsey Rowe Parker

MCBD 2024 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!

MCBD 2023 is Honored to be Supported by our Partner Organizations! 

Check out MCBD’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!

📌 FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day

📌 Register for the MCBD Read Your World Virtual Party

Join us on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 9 pm EST celebrating more than 10 years of  Multicultural Children’s Book Day Read Your World Virtual Party! Register here. 

This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.

We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 25, 2024, at our virtual party!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

It’s Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Celebrate with Chocolate Milk, Por Favor!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Happy Multicultural Children’s Book Day! I love being part of this initiative and bringing you books from different cultures and cultural points of view. This year, I’ve got two great ones, starting with this book on empathy and kindness.

Chocolate Milk, Por Favor: Celebrating Diversity with Empathy, Maria Dismondy/Illustrated by Donna Farrell, (Sept. 2020, Cardinal Rule Press), $15.95, ISBN: 9781733035965

Ages 4-8

Johnny is a boy who is put off by a new kid in school. It’s Gabe’s first day in an American school, and he doesn’t speak English. He’s scared and alone, and cries as his mother tries soothing him with his favorite drink, chocolate milk. As Johnny goes through his school day he is put off by Gabe’s inability to communicate, but he’s also jealous: Gabe can do incredible soccer moves, and everyone else is so nice to him! Why are they helping this crybaby? It takes an act of kindness of Gabe’s part is an a-ha moment for Johnny: Gabe helps him figure out a complicated soccer move, and Johnny realizes Gabe must have felt a similar kind of frustration and stress by being in a new environment. Having reached understanding, Johnny finally becomes a friend to Gabe, bringing him chocolate milk, understanding that “to have a friend is first to be a friend”. Themes of diversity, empathy, and inclusivity run through the story and illustration, using chocolate milk as a centering point to communicate warmth, love, and comfort. Back matter includes a note on the true-life inspiration for the story and ways to help welcome English Language Learners. More important than ever, Chocolate Milk, Por Favor is a relatable story that drives home the importance of understanding. Download a free readers guide and coloring pages at Cardinal Press’s website.

 

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2024 (1/25/24) is in its 11th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission and history HERE.

Read Your World celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day and is honored to be Supported by these Medallion and Ruby Sponsors!

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Pragmaticmom) and Valarie Budayr (Audreypress.com)

🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media

🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight, Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Lerner Publishing Group, Children’s Book Council

🏅 Gold Sponsors:  Barefoot Books, Astra Books for Young Readers

🏅 Silver Sponsors: Red Comet Press, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, Lee and Low Books, Cardinal Rule Press

🏅 Bronze Sponsors: CK Malone, Tonya Duncan Ellis, Anita Crawford Clark, Star Bright Books, Blue Dot Kids Press, Brunella Costagliola, Red Fin, Fabled Films 

Ruby Sponsor: Crayola 

Poster Artist:  Rebecca Burgess 

Classroom Kit Poster: Barefoot Books 

MCBD 2024 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Authors: Gwen Jackson, Josh Funk, Eugenia Chu, Sivan Hong, Marta Magellan, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Angela H. Dale, Maritza M Mejia, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Charnaie Gordon,  Alva Sachs, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Lisa Chong, Diana Huang, Martha Seif Simpson, DARIA (WORLD MUSIC WITH DARIA) Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Gea Meijering, Stephanie M. Wildman, Tracey Kyle, Afsaneh Moradian, Kim C. Lee, Rochelle Melander, Beth Ruffin, Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Alina Chau, Michael Genhart, Sally J. Pla, Ajuan Mance, Kimberly Marcus, Lindsey Rowe Parker

MCBD 2024 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!

MCBD 2023 is Honored to be Supported by our Partner Organizations! 

Check out MCBD’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!

📌 FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day

📌 Register for the MCBD Read Your World Virtual Party

Join us on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 9 pm EST celebrating more than 10 years of  Multicultural Children’s Book Day Read Your World Virtual Party! Register here. 

This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.

We will be giving away a 10-Book Bundle during the virtual party plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **

Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, and connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. We look forward to seeing you all on January 25, 2024, at our virtual party!

Posted in Early Reader, Fiction, Preschool Reads

Tow on the Go!: A fun Easy Reader series to watch

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

It’s always a good day when I get to review Easy Readers! They’re so much fun, I can still read (most of) them at storytime, and I hardly get to review them. This new series, Tow on the Go!, is part of the Ready-to-Read series, and is all about vehicles – which, as I’ve said in the past, is an insta-win with my Corona Kids.

Tow on the Go! The Mambo Rescue!, by Patricia Lakin/Illustrated by Chiara Galletti, (Aug. 2023, Simon Spotlight), $4.99, ISBN: 9781665920063

Ages 4-6

Tow Truck Mo is a happy yellow tow truck who’s ready to pull his friends out of a jam – just give him a sec to play mambo music, because mambo makes Mo go! In this first Tow on the Go! adventure, Mo zooms through the snow to help 10 cars who have gotten stuck. How does he do it? Mambo, baby! Once he gets his friends grooving to the mambo beat, they’re able to get moving… right out of the snow. Adorable rhymes make this a great readaloud, with lines like “Mambo music does the trick. / It will free you super quick!” This is a great excuse to get the kidlings up and moving during storytime, too. Happy anthropomorphic trucks sport bright colors and big expressions; Mo is a happy tow truck ready to help. Large font helps emerging readers get the hang of reading and recognizing loads of sight words.

 

 

Tow on the Go! The Splish-Splash Puddle Dance!, by Patricia Lakin/Illustrated by Chiara Galletti, (Dec. 2023, Simon Spotlight), $4.99, ISBN: 9781665920094

Ages 4-6

The more recent Tow on the Go! book has a new character: Race Car Ro is having a great time splish-splashing in puddles after the rain, but he accidentally gets stuck in a hole and needs some help: it’s Mo to the rescue once again! What happens when Ro is too ticklish for Mo’s hook and his lasso won’t catch? Time to mambo free! This sweet series is all about looking on the bright side, and finding new solutions: “Can you mambo just like me? Dancing just might set you free!” Friendly-faced, bright cars and rhyme make these a delight to read out loud and gets kids – and grownups – moving. I hope readers get to meet more cars and trucks as Mo dances a mambo through more books.

 

 

Posted in Fantasy, Teen, Young Adult/New Adult

YA Dark Fantasy meets Fairy Tale: The Byways by Mary Pascual

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Byways, by Mary Pascual, (June 2023, SparkPress), $17.95, ISBN: 9781684631902

Ages 13+

Cece is a neurodivergent high school student who doesn’t feel like she fits anywhere: when she defends herself against her tormenters, she ends up in the principal’s office. When she’s overwhelmed by the noise and chaos of school, her teachers single her out and try to shame her. The final betrayal comes when her best friend insinuates that her other friends may think Cece is behind some missing money for a school fundraiser; Cece takes off and finds herself in the Byways, a world of the forgotten, full of alleys that change and confuse, with magic and dark figures with dark purposes. Desperate to find her way home, Cece meets some people who want to help her, and some who want to keep her for their own uses. A dark, urban reimagining of Alice in Wonderland, The Byways is full of familiar characters, but with a new spin. Themes of political unrest, bullying, homelessness, and drug abuse run throughout. A good additional purchase for collections where YA fairy tale reimaginings are popular.

Posted in Middle Grade, Non-fiction

Our Story Media Group introduces overlooked historical figures

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

It is galling that so many people who have made incredible contributions go overlooked. Our Story Media Group is working on changing that. Debuting last June, the Our Story book series “introduces young readers to influential historical figures, many of whom are overlooked in Western curriculums”. The publisher also includes a partnership with the educational nonprofit CAMFED, which supports empowering and education young women. The first two bios are available. Let’s take a look.

Mansa Musa: The Richest Man in History, by Our Story Media/Illustrated by Emanuel Colban, (June 2023, Our Story Media), $11.49, ISBN: 979-8399082608

Ages 8-10

The richest person in the history was Mansa Musa, an Emperor of Mali between 1312 and 1337. The book covers his Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah and the riches he brought with him, and the people he met along the way. Upon returning to Mali, Musa commissioned the construction of mosques and educational institutions – schools and libraries – to educate and improve the lives of his people. Colorful and textured illustrations and vibrant, bright pages with text hold a reader’s interest. Bolded words in the text are defined in a glossary of terms at the end, and a pronunciation guide helps readers sound words out. There are thought-provoking questions for discussion and an easy-to-make African Fabric Collage craft in the back matter. An interesting look at an historical figure in African history and worth an additional purchase for biography collections.

 

 

Fatima Al-Fihri: Founder of the World’s Oldest University, by Our Story Media/Illustrated by Emanuel Colban, (June 2023, Our Story Media), $11.99, ISBN: 979-8387041402

Ages 8-10

Born around 800 CE in Tunisia, Fatima Al-Fihri was the daughter of a wealthy merchant who imbued his daughters with a strong sense of community. Al-Fihri and her family migrated to the city of Fes; a thriving community, but a community that needed a larger mosque. Many refugees fled to Fes to escape conflict in their home lands, and Al-Fihri and her sister, with the riches inherited from their father, built mosques in several cities and ultimately founded The University of Al-Qarawiyyin. She assured that education would be without cost and attracted scholars from all faiths and backgrounds, including the Jewish philosopher and physician Maimonides and the Muslim historian Ibn Khaldun. The artwork here is lovely; similar to Mansa Musa, the illustrations appear to be mixed media. Back matter here also includes thought-provoking questions and an exercise; a glossary and pronounciation guide, and a Moroccan lantern craft. Well worth a look and purchase for biography collections.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Space Pirate Bears to the rescue!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Hi, all! I know I said I was back, but then I gave myself a panic attack by seeing the giant TBR I’ve accumulated. I’m just jumping in, so please forgive the delay and get ready to get caught up. Here we go!

Space Pirate Bears, by Alastair Chisholm/Illustrated by Jez Tuya, (Dec. 2023, Kane Miller), $14.99, ISBN: 9781684647361

Ages 4-7

The storytelling family from The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bears and The Tale of the Valiant Ninja Frog are back! In this latest installment, Dad is working from home on a rainy day and siblings Jamie and Abby are BORED. Luckily, it’s not too difficult to tear Dad away for a quick story! This time, the awful Doktor Drab is using his horrible Boron Beam to make the whole universe as dull as he is. What to do when the usual heroes fall victim to the beam? Call in the Space Pirate Bears! There’s one problem, though: Jamie and Abby can’t agree on whether the Space Pirate Bears are unicorn doctors, secret agents, or ninjas, and the whole universe hangs in the balance! This fun adventure is all about compromise and teamwork, and makes for a fun read-aloud. Colorful illustrations are eye-catching, with fun details for readers: the siblings’ toys are characters in the story, and readers familiar with the previous entries will recognize some familiar faces. Endpapers show the space pirate bears in a variety of action poses. A fun additional purchase for storytime collections.