Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

That’s Not Funny, David! – actually, it is

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

That’s Not Funny, David!, by David Shannon, (March 2025, Orchard Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9781546123187

Ages 3-7

That mischievous preschooler, David, is back and he’s still in trouble! That’s Not Funny, David! shows David just trying to have a little fun: but not everyone appreciates his sense of humor. David rams a shopping cart into a fruit bin; does a cannonball into the pool, soaking everyone around him; goofs off during class, and somehow – in what may be the most hilarious spread in the book – wedges a peanut firmly in his nose. The narrator’s exasperated voice starts with “Not funny, David!”, which becomes, “That’s disgusting!”, “We are not amused, David”, and “What were you thinking?” Kids and grownups alike will recognize both sides of the story; they’ll also recognize the moment David’s parent gives in and admits, “Okay, that’s pretty funny”. Show me a grownup who hasn’t had to hide a smirk or a chuckle at some behavior or other they should be curbing, right? As with all David stories, after an exhausting day of hearing “No, David!”, the story ends on an affectionate note where David’s parent expresses love for the lovable goofball, and David has a smile that stretches from ear to ear. All my David books go out on the regular, and I expect I’ll need a couple of copies of this newest one to keep up with demand. That’s Not Funny, David! is another fun addition to the series and to picture book collections. That’s Not Funny, David! is an Indie Next pick. Download some free activity sheets from Scholastic!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Special Days: Wash Day with Mama

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Wash Day with Mama, by Monia Mikai, (Jan. 2025, Crown Books for Young Readers), $18.99, ISBN: 9780593810644

Ages 4-8

It’s Sunday, and it’s the best day of the week for the little girl at the heart of Wash Day with Mama: it’s wash day! The story takes a wonderful look at the process of caring for Black hair by turning it into a girls’ spa day. Mama asks her daughter what hair style she wants for the coming week, and the girl helps prep by fetching all the supplies her mom will need – except for the deep conditioner, which her mom makes in the kitchen. The story takes readers step-by-step through the wash day routine and focuses on the relationship-building and self-care aspects. Mama empowers her daughter by relating the dual purposes served by the conditioner’s ingredients, telling her it contains “all the things you’ll also need in life… honey for some smoothing, for when life gets tough… tea tree oil for soothing, for the discomfort that can come with growth… coconut milk and avocado for strength, so you can keep on going”. The digital illustrations are warm and full of comfort and love and show a legacy of care as we see Mama’s mother taking her through the same ritual when she was a child. Mama reminds her daughter that wash day may take some time, but prioritizes self care, noting that “it’s an act of loving yourself, inside and out”. This story is pure joy and is a great addition to collections.

Monica Mikai is an author and illustrator of books for children. She is passionate about creating thoughtful stories and illustrations that inspire the reader to see life from a new perspective. Monica is the illustrator of the picture books Build a House, Thank a Farmer, The Proudest Color, My Name is a Story, and The Blue Pickup, among others. When not writing or illustrating, she can be found practicing yoga and pranayama, hiking, or propagating her many house plants. She lives in coastal Virginia with her husband and two sons.
Instagram
Monica Mikai: @monicamikai
Random House Children’s Books: @randomhousekids
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Facebook:
Monica Mikai: N/A
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Read and display with:

Hair Love  Hair Love, by Matthew A. Cherry/Illustrated by Vashti Harrison, (May 2019, Kokila), $17.99, ISBN: 9780525553366

Stella’s Stellar Hair, by Yesenia Moises, (Jan. 2021, Imprint), $18.99, ISBN: 9781250261779

 

My Hair, by Hannah Lee/Illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan, (Sept. 2019, Faber & Faber), $16.95, ISBN: 9780571346868

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

I Am Jack: A Story of Imagination

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

 I Am Jack: A Story of Imagination, by Paige Duncan/Illustrated by Julia Moroko, (Oct. 2024, Front Porch Collective), $24.99, ISBN: 9798218537722

Ages 3-6

A little boy and his mom play outside together; as he dons different outfits, Jack’s mom wonders aloud what he is. He proudly proclaims, “I am Jack!” every time. The book’s structure is set in a question-and-answer format, with Mom guessing at Jack’s identity with each new costume: a dinosaur; an astronaut; a shark, or a monster truck? “I am Jack”. The costume changes are fun and creative: he sports a basket on his back when Mom asks if he is a “trash truck”; a construction worker when he wears a box on his head (with a drawing of a construction worker on the front). The box becomes airplane wings when Mom asks if he is a plane, and they use chalk to draw train tracks on the ground while he sits in a box with wheels as Mom asks if he is a train. It’s a fun and inventive story that Moroko’s colorful and playful illustration brings to life. The repetition of question-and-answer will inspire readers to chime in during a readaloud. I Am Jack is a fun story about a playful day between a child and his mother.

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 Toddler Reads

A Pair of Board Books for Sleepy Readers

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Don’t let a stuffed animal sleepover program go by without some cute books on hand! Here are a couple I’ve been enjoying.

Oh So Sleepy  Head to Toe, Illustrated by Maria Gabriela Gama, (Jan. 2025, Cartwheel Books), $8.99, ISBN: 9781546139409

Ages Birth-3

A group of sleepy animals are tucked in and ready for bed. Readers can smooth Little Pup’s blanket; pat Little Bunny’s velvety ears, and give Little Chick a kiss goodnight as they prepare fto go to sleep. Each spread features a young animal getting ready to sleep, with a patch of textile that lets readers touch and soothe themselves as part of a bedtime routine. Each spread lets readers join in wishing the animals good night: “Goodnight, Bunny! Goodnight, Pup!” Colorful illustrations show drowsy animals comfortable in cozy bedding. Short and sweet, with easy-to-read text, this is a heartwarming way to bring the day to a close. The soft textures help soothe young readers as they head off to sleep. A very cute addition to board book collections; you may want a Storytime Reference copy for yourself.

 

Can I Sleep Here? Baby Monkey, by Ella Bailey, (Jan. 2025, Flying Eye Books), $9.99, ISBN: 9781838742218

Ages Birth-3

The sun is setting and it’s time for Baby Monkey to go to sleep. Where to go, though? Baby Monkey stops at a bushy branch, a leafy plant, and a nesting hole, but there’s always another family sleeping there. Will Baby Monkey find a place to bed down for the night? Flaps reveal different animals in the potential sleeping areas; the story follows a question-and-answer pattern on each spread, with Baby Monkey’s repeated question, “Can I sleep here?” acting as the nudge for readers to lift the flap and discover who’s sleeping in the spot. The latest in a new board book series, Can I Sleep Here? Baby Monkey is the companion to Can I Sleep Here? Baby Dolphin (2024). Animals have expressive faces and the flaps are sturdy and will hold up to multiple reads. A fun new animal series for board book collections.

Posted in Fantasy, Teen, Young Adult/New Adult

Divining the Leaves is magical

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Divining the Leaves, by Shveta Thakrar, (March 2025, HarperCollins), $19.99, ISBN: 9780063255265

Ages 13+

Ridhi is a 17-year-old young woman deeply connected to nature: she blends flora into delectable scents, wears flower crowns, and feels the trees as if they speak to her, and she wants desperately for the nature spirits – yakshas – to allow her entry into the enchanted forest. Nilesh is a young man who used to be her friend but has veered away from the “weird girl” with flowers in her hair. Nilesh’s world falls apart when he discovers that not only are his parents divorcing, but that their marriage has been an illusion for years. He gets suspended from school and sent to live with Ridhi’s family while his parents sort themselves out. While staying with Ridhi’s family, Nilesh encounters Kamini, part of the Yaksha court. He’s smitten, but Kamini’s affections may not be all they seem to be. Meanwhile, Ridhi has made connections of her own in the Yaksha world, striking up a deal with one of the noblewomen of the Yaksha court. The nobles are playing the mortals like chess pieces, but the mortals have their own agendas. Rich with Hindu and Buddhist mythology, Thakrar allows Divining the Leaves readers to get lost in the beauty of the writing. She creates a story that invites readers – like her main characters – to escape from the frustrations of daily living to get lost in the magical beauty of the enchanted forest and the Yaksha court and Night Market. Invite readers to create their own flower crowns and nature-inspired art projects to extend an activity for this beautifully woven story. Invite your fantasy readers to get lost in this world.

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)!