Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

When Bear meets Goldilocks, a big mess ensues!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Bear and the Three Goldilocks, by Patrick Horne/Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, (July 2025, Holiday House), $18.99, ISBN: 9780823455522

Ages 4-8

This flipped fairy tale serves as a cautionary tale when going camping. The Goldilocks family – Mr. Goldilock, Mrs. Goldilock, and Goldie Goldilock – head to the campground for a family trip, but sharp-eyed readers will see that the family is being watched by a curious bear, who wanders to their camp when the family goes for a hike. He samples their s’mores – too gooey, too chocolatey, juuuust right – and finishes the rest of the food, too; after all, “that’s how bears roll”. Bear tries out the family’s instruments, and finally, makes himself at home in Goldie’s tent, where he falls asleep. Baby Bear’s family arrives on the scene as the Goldilocks family discovers the mess, but as the family doesn’t understand bear language, Mr. and Mrs. Bear’s apologies and an invitation to come to their house for some porridge doesn’t go over well. The moral of the story: put your food in bear-proof containers when camping! Yaccarino’s illustrations are wonderful and have little details to enjoy, from Bear peeking out of the trees as the family arrives to a wolf confronting a young girl with a red hood at the story’s close. Horne’s storytelling makes for a funny, casual readaloud that will keep readers giggling. Pick this one up for your storytime collections.

Terry Pierce’s board book, Eat Up, Bear! is another fun story about campground safety; my interview with Terry also includes links to keeping campers and bears safe.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Zombees invade just in time for Halloween!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Zombees, by Justin Colón/Illustrated by Kaly Quarles, (July 2025, Simon & Schuster), $19.99, ISBN: 9781665922500

Ages 4-8

It’s Halloween, and something creepy is buzzing around the graveyard… can it be? Oh no! The ZOMBEES are here! This rhyming tale is sure to be a hit at Halloween read-alouds (or for good, old-fashioned spooky tales storytimes). The Zombees invade a quiet town on Halloween night, but what are they planning? “Are they hunting for a snack? Do they like the taste of veins? Have they come to eat your brains?” Nothing so gruesome: they want to share their special Halloween honey! But are the Zombees all they’re cracked up to be? Keep reading for a fun twist. The buzzing spooks sport colorful capes and goofy, tongue-askew expressions as they do their best midair shamble-flying; they decorate their antennae with eyeballs and spiders. Playful rhyme and adorable digital illustrations set off against bright white or murky green backgrounds set the tone for a Halloween read that kids will demand any time of the year. Download a free educator guide and activity sheets from author Colón’s webpage (and he’s got educator guides and activity sheets for his other books, too!)

Zombees has a starred review from School Library Journal.

Posted in Horror, Teen, Young Adult/New Adult

Cosmic horror lets loose in the Hamptons?! You’ve Awoken Her

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

You’ve Awoken Her, by Ann Dávila Cardinal, (June 2025, HarperCollins), $19.99, ISBN: 9780063299559

Ages 12+

HOLY COW, folks, you are going to love this book. I’ve been on a bit of a spooky kick for a little bit, and this tale was everything I needed between two tidy covers. Gabriel – Gabi to his friends – is a kid living in Astoria, Queens. His best friend, Ruthie, has moved away and is living the posh life in the Hamptons, and he’s on his way to spend some time with her, despite a warning from a complete stranger on the train platform that “they’ve awoken her”. It’s New York, he figures it’s nonsense – despite that creepy feeling in his gut – and heads to the Hamptons, where he sees Ruthie is a party girl and so different from the girl he knew. And he’s not thrilled with her smug rich-boy boyfriend, Frost, either. When a woman drowns by the water at one of Frost’s parties, AND he sees what looks suspiciously like a tentacle near the drowning woman – he starts digging into the town’s secrets. When more residents start dying, Gabi knows that his discomfort is about so much more than Hamptons society: he’s sure Frost is behind this somehow. Now, he just has to convince Ruthie that he’s not jealous of her new boyfriend or new lifestyle. Cardinal hooks readers from page one and doesn’t let up, introducing exciting characters and creepy scenarios. She also takes on Lovecraft by reframing cosmic horror in an inclusive, diverse lens: Gabi is Puerto Rican; there are LGBTQ+ characters in the story. More importantly, Cardinal addresses Lovecraft’s shortcomings within the story while creating a new way of reading and enjoying works influenced by his ideas. Don’t miss this book – it’s a good one.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Two books for a stormy day

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Island Storm, by Brian Floca/Illustrated by Sydney Smith, (July 2025, Neal Porter Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9780823456475

Ages 4-8

A pair of siblings ventures out of their island home to “see the sea before the storm” in Caldecott Medalist Floca’s new picture book. They feel the storm germinating as they stroll: the wind blowing, the waves crashing against the rocks at the shore; they pass neighbors who encourage them to get home to safety and they see the streets empty. They urge each other on, wanting to see just a bit more, until the storm arrives with its full fury and sends them running back to home and safety. Filled with sensory verses, readers can imagine themselves walking along a shore, feeling the spray of water and hearing the branches sway in the wind. Repetitive phrases like “is this enough, or do we try for more” and “you pull on me, I pull on you” invites readers to be a silent companion on the adventure. Smith’s watercolor and gouache illustrations capture a storm’s progression from beginning to end, and Floca places readers in the middle of the hurried preparation: “We pass the island grocery store where neighbors have been stocking up. We pass places built for summer crowds, parks and docks and the ice cream parlor, where now there’s hardly a person in sight. Our town is eerie and empty – a stage without its show”.  A beautifully crafted book that will get return readers finding something new each time they dive in.

Island Storm has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Horn Book, Kirkus, The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Shelf Awareness, and is an Indie Next selection.

 

Hurricane, by Jason Chin, (May 2025, Neal Porter Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9780823458493

Ages 4-8

Caldecott and Sibert Medalist Chin places readers on Hatteras Island, North Carolina during hurricane season. Alternating between the science of hurricanes and the day-to-day life of people in the hurricane’s path, Chin creates a fascinating look at the life cycle of a storm and how it affects the lives of those affected by one. Chin’s research is spot-on and he shines in communicating weather and climate science to a younger audience. By inserting readers into the lives of the Hatteras Island community, he creates a textured experience that engenders empathy and understanding beyond the meteorologists and technology. There are callout boxes with greater detail and detailed maps throughout; Chin uses the maps to chart the storm and stoke interest and anticipation of the moment the storm arrives. Readers can follow along as the community weathers and recovers from the storm, relying on one another to “get through it together”. Generous back matter includes detailed illustrations and information on hurricane season, structure, the hurricane naming process, and climate change’s role in hurricanes. An excellent pick for nonfiction collections.

Hurricane has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Horn Book, Shelf Awareness, and BookPage.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

My Left Right Book is a concept adventure

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

My Left and Right Book, by Siirsel Tas/Illustrated by Gökçe Akgül, (June 2025, Schiffer Kids), $14.99, ISBN: 9780764369322

Ages 2-6

Learning left and right is a fun-filled romp with this handy picture book that takes readers on an adventure while teaching them their left from their right. From the bold, large text to the fun, bright illustrations, readers will pick this book up for multiple reads. Starting with illustrations of smiley hands on left and right pages to allow readers to match their hands to the ones in the book, the story progresses to the need to know one from the other in case the reader gets lost in a forest and has to ask directions from a bear, withstanding wind and rain, and finally, the silliest challenges to test your left and right knowledge. The interactivity makes this a great readaloud choice. Back matter includes handy cut-out bracelets, but PLEASE scan and print them to (hopefully) save your book in circulation or keep the bracelet printouts on hand to distribute during storytimes and keep a copy in storytime reference. All in all, a fun book that takes on a concept that can sometimes frustrate new learners.

Posted in Fiction, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Tween Reads

The Worst Bot Ever is more than meets the eye

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Transformers: Worst Bot Ever – Meet Ballpoint, by Brian “Smitty” Smith/Illustrated by Marz Jr., (July 2025, Image Comics), $12.99, ISBN: 9781534327993

Ages 7+

The Decepticons have a new bot with big dreams in this younger reader-friendly graphic novel series. Ballpoint is a little bit of a guy, but he’s a legend in his own mind. He’s got plans to take down Optimus Prime and his Autobots (to whom he snarkily refers to as ‘Autobutts”) and win Megatron over, if only he could get it together. No matter how hard he tries, Ballpoint manages to mess things up, to the amusement of the other Decepticons. When he messes up one time too many, Megatron banishes him for good. Unbowed, Ballpoint heads to Autobots territory, set on taking them out solo and getting back in Megatron’s good graces: until Optimus Prime shows him kindness and builds his confidence. This is a fun Transformers story that lets itself be silly, with well-paced dialogue and action to keep readers interested. The artwork features familiar Transformers characters, including Bumblebee, Frenzy, and Jazz. A reading guide at the back of the book includes discussion questions and a how-to-draw feature. Get this one for your graphic novel collections if you have Transformers fans and robot readers.

Posted in Uncategorized

Thank you!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Hi everyone! Thank you all so much for sticking with me as I navigate some of life’s chaos. I’m healthy and getting better, and navigating a big move (10 years in one home makes for a LOT of chaos), but I’m finally able to get back to blogging. I’m going to be going through my TBR as quickly as I can; if you’ve sent me something to read and review, I’ll get there, I promise.

Now, for reading and writing. Watch this space.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

To Catch a Ghost… or make a friend?

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

To Catch a Ghost, by Rachel Michelle Wilson, (July 2025, Orchard Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9781339031958

Ages 3-7

“Bringing nothing to show-and-tell is like wearing shoes without socks. It stinks.” Sam is the new kid, which is hard. Being the new kid AND having show-and-tell coming up is even harder. Written from Sam’s perspective, To Catch a Ghost reads like a manual; Sam lays out the steps and drops some knowledge for prospective ghost-catchers: how to find one, how to observe one, and how to catch one. But when it comes right down to it, does Sam want to capture a potential friend? Luckily, there’s a solution that works for all in this upbeat, playful story about making friends. Acrylic and pastel illustration gives bold linework and soft color, giving a fun, retro feel to the piece. A cheerful story about friendship and unexpected surprises, To Catch a Ghost is a nice addition to storytime and picture book collections.

To Catch a Ghost has a starred review from School Library Journal. Sign up for Rachel Michelle Wilson’s newsletter at her website.

 

Posted in Uncategorized

Little blog break

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Hi all, just a word to apologize profusely but I’ll need to take a little bit of a break from the blog. I’m hoping it’s just for a couple of weeks, but it may be a bit longer. I’m dealing with some health issues, and I’ll need a little bit to come back. If I’ve gotten books to review, I will get to them; it’s just taking me a bit longer to get to. Thanks, and I hope I’ll be back to posting soon.

Posted in Intermediate, Non-Fiction, picture books

Making Light Bloom sheds light on the Tiffany Lamps provenance

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Making Light Bloom: Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Lamps, by Sandra Nickel/Illustrated by Julie Paschkis, (June 2025, Peachtree Publishing), $18.99, ISBN: 9781682636091

Most folks know what a Tiffany Lamp looks like: bold, black outlines, luminous colors that bring incredible flora and fauna to life. Did you know that Tiffany wasn’t the creator of the Tiffany Lamp? I sure didn’t until I read Making Light Bloom and learned that a woman named Clara Driscoll and her “Tiffany Girls” were the creators of the lamps – and that no one knew about this until after both Driscoll’s and Tiffany’s deaths. Born in Ohio in 1861, Driscoll grew up surrounded by nature and sketched her surroundings. When she moved to New York City to “turn her talent for drawing into a skill that could help” her family, she was taken aback by the crowds and towering buildings, but she was in the right place at the right time. Securing a job with Louis C. Tiffany, she joined a team of artists that created pictures and shapes for stained glass windows. Eventually, her talent got her promoted to leading a team of women in her own workshop. Driscoll, receiving inspiration from flowers and butterflies sent from home, worked with the Tiffany Girls to create a stunning lampshade that won a bronze medal at the World’s Fair. Despite sexism from the male craftsmen, Tiffany continued having Driscoll make lamps, but they were referred to as “Tiffany Lamps”: people believed Louis C. Tiffany made them. Clara Driscoll went unnoticed and uncredited until her last sister passed away and letters from Clara were discovered, shedding light on the true architect of the Tiffany Lamp. Ink and gouache illustration created in the style of a Tiffany Lamp adds a breathtaking beauty to this picture book biography. An excellent STEM/STEAM addition to collections, with a bibliography and notes on the Tiffany Lamp and Driscoll’s letters.

Now you need to know more about Clara Driscoll, don’t you? Visit the New York Historical Society’s webpage for Tiffany Lamp coloring pages, where Clara Driscoll receives her due credit as the maker. The Georgia Museum of Art has some coloring sheets made from photos from their collection, too.

★“Alongside delicate, design-oriented text by Nickel, Paschkis combines black outlines and luminous colors to make the pages glow like stained-glass itself.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 
★“The illustrations, drawn with india ink and then painted with gouache, marvelously mimic the motifs, shapes, and heavy black outlines of the stained glass. A terrific blend of art and social history set in an absorbing biography about an unacknowledged genius.” —Booklist (starred review)
 
Sandra Nickel is an award-winning author of picture books and has two new books coming out in Spring 2025: Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon, an uplifting tale that celebrates differences, and Making Light Bloom, Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Lamps, where Sandra continues her mission to celebrate extraordinary individuals who have been nearly forgotten by history.
Sandra holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults and has presented workshops throughout Europe and the United States. She is honored to be the winner of a Christopher Award, the winner of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Crystal Kite Award, a finalist for the Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction for Younger Readers, a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection honoree, and a Charlotte Huck Award Recommended author. To learn more about Sandra, and to download free curriculum materials and activity sheets, visit sandranickel.com.
 
Julie Paschkis is an award-winning illustrator of more than 25 books for children. A graduate of Cornell University and the School for American Craftsmen at RIT, she taught art to grade school children for a number of years before turning her full attention to painting, textile design, and creating illustrations for her books.