Tag: new baby

Posted in Uncategorized

Picture books about siblings

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Siblings come in all shapes, sizes, and species! Here are couple of picture books that celebrate our sibs.

 

Hazel the Handful, by Jamie Michalak/Illustrated by Matt Myers, (Apr. 2025, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536231199

Ages 4-8

Hazel is a small dog with a big personality! She lives a very satisfying life surrounded by her toys and her family, especially Bea, the family’s daughter. But if you look at the illustrations early on, you’ll notice that someone else is joining the family: a baby! Seemingly overnight, Hazel’s world is turned upside down. The stinky baby makes loud noises and gets all of the attention, especially Bea’s. What’s a pup to do? Trying to get back into the spotlight, Hazel causes a bit of chaos and is branded “a handful”. Hiding in a blanket away from everyone, she hears her family looking for her and realizes that she’s still very much part of the family and that just maybe she can find space in her heart – and her toy box – to let the baby in. Narrated by Hazel, this sweet look at new babies and the disruption they can bring to the family pet is humorous and relatable. Hazel is a great stand-in for a child experiencing the mixed emotions surrounding a new baby in the family and communicates in a manner that kids will appreciate. On a family walk, someone who normally gushes over Hazel now says, “Oh, what a cutie patootie baby!” to which Hazel responds, “What? Is it not clear? I am the patootie”; she wonders if Bea still loves her; she feels left out of the family photo. The family is bi-racial; Bea and her brother are light brown-skinned, while Bea’s mother and Nana appear white. A charming readaloud and selection for animal fans and families with a new baby in the home.

 

 

First There Was Me, Then There Was You, by Yvonne Sewankambo/Illustrated by Aurore McLeod, (Feb. 2025, Candlewick Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781536239003

Ages 3-7

A brother is excited to welcome his baby sister into the world in this heartfelt ode to siblings everywhere. Told from the brother’s point of view, he goes through the ups and downs (but mostly ups) of having a younger sibling, from the first time she curls her fingers around his to “showing her the ropes”. They play together, disagree sometimes, and explore, always together, because “I love you (trust me, I do!), there is no me without you”. Both siblings are brown-skinned. The digital illustrations use warm colors to communicate shared affection and love; McLeod uses warm yellows and oranges and creates soft lighting to soften backgrounds and keep the light source focused on brother and sister, who feature together in every spread. In two spreads touching on disagreements, the sister is by herself on the left side, joined by her brother on the right side to show their ability to overcome the tough times. A moving celebration of siblings, this is an excellent storytime choice and addition to picture book collections.

 

Posted in Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Baby and Toddler reads!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I’ve got such a cute collection of baby and toddler books, most tested with my storytime kids and/or my little grandgirl. The grand is only a couple of months old, so the best reaction is the big eyes and kickie feet, but that means the world to me. Without further ado, here we are, new books for lapsits.

Animals Everywhere: A Lift, Look, and Find Book, by Stéphanie Babin/Illustrated by Robert Barborini, Marie Caudry, Jessica Das, & Marie Kyprianou, (Aug 2025, Twirl Books), $16.99, ISBN: 9791036381454

Ages 3mos-5

Twirl is on my short-list of go-to baby and toddler reads. They put out such fun and interactive stories, and they’re nice and durable, standing up to multiple reads. Animals Everywhere is so much fun, because it’s got lift the flips AND gatefold pages, really laying out a fun experience for emerging readers and lapsitters. The book takes readers to six areas where animals abound: In the Country, On the Ice, In the Forest, On the Farm, In the Rainforest, and In the Backyard. There are seek and find challenges on each spread, inviting readers to look for different animals. There are lift the flaps that give readers a peek at who’s sleeping or playing in each area, and gatefold spreads open, showing readers the full area where people and animals interact together. Brief text provides a little bit of information on each area the animal inhabitants. Pages are sturdy, but if you’re putting this into circulation, buy two; the gatefolds are going to take some abuse. Absolutely adorable for board book collections!

Want to print some seek and find coloring pages for post-storytime activities? You can’t go wrong by visiting Highlights, the grandma/grandpa of seek and find!

 

The Greatest Gift by Emma Dodd, (May 2025, Candlewick Press, $17.99, ISBN: 9781536241174

Ages 2-6

Emma Dodd’s parent-and-child/caregiver-and-child books are just beautiful. Her verse is heartfelt, the interaction between adult and child animals is so gentle and loving, and the foil-accented pages bring a touch of magic to every read. Here, an adult zebra frolics with their child and speaks about all that they wish they could give: “I would give the world to you, / if I only could. / I’d give you the sun, the moon, / and everything that’s good”; “I’d give you the mountains / and the glittering stars up high / shining far above us / in the dark night sky”. The savanna stretches out before them as they cross streams, run through fields, and snuggle together. The adult concludes their verse by stating that the greatest gift they can give the gift of love. It’s a comforting sentiment and statement about love and the desire to give our kids everything, but the knowledge that we will always give them love. I always recommend Emma Dodd’s books because she always manages to figure out a new way to tell children what’s in their parents’ and caregivers’ hearts.

 

 

Our Gorgeous Baby, by Smriti Prasadam-Halls/Illustrated by Eve Coy, (March 2025, Candlewick Press), $8.99, ISBN: 9781536239324

Ages Birth-3 years

Narrated by an elder sister, Our Gorgeous Baby is a sweetly amusing celebration of a new baby: “Our baby’s eyes are not brighter than the sun. / And no, she’s not as light as a feather. She weighs a ton!” Sister is always with her baby sister as she makes messes, acts silly, wakes everyone up at night, and has the stinkiest diapers! Our Gorgeous Baby is a humorous warts-and-all look at the truths of having a new baby in the house: and how we adore every second of them. The rhyming verse makes for an easy readaloud and the mixed media illustrations are warm. A good addition to board book and new baby collections.

 

 

Maisy Big, Maisy Small: A Book of Rhyming Opposites, by Lucy Cousins, (Jan. 2025, Candlewick Press), $15.99, ISBN: 9781536236293

Ages 2-5

I love a good concept book, and who doesn’t love Maisy? Maisy Big, Maisy Small is a rhyming book of opposites that will be a winner on shelves. The bright colors and bold outlines are a beacon to young readers, and the big, bold black lettering is so easy to read. There are tons of sight words in this book that will add to readers’ burgeoning vocabularies. Cousins gets joyfully creative with her interpretations: “Maisy Stripes” and “Maisy Spots” show Maisy covered in stripes and spots; “Maisy One” shows a singular Maisy on the page against a bright yellow background; “Maisy Lots” show a cheerful plethora of Maisies across a bright blue background; “Maisy Round” features Maisy with a round belly and legs, “Maisy Square” shows Maisy as she may look on a Minecraft screen. The book is just fun, and that’s the point of learning. An excellent choice for concept collections.

Need more Maisy? Visit Maisy’s Fun Club for coloring sheets and activities.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Bubbeleh, you have to read Sweet Babe! by Robin Rosenthal!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Sweet Babe! A Jewish Grandma Kvells, by Robin Rosenthal, (Feb. 2025, Tundra Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9781774884324

Ages 2-5

This adorable book packs the excited punch of an over-the-moon Bubbe (that’s grandma, in Yiddish) into every page. Bubbe is so happy to be with her grandchild! The story gives a view into grandma time, as Bubbe plays with and exclaims over the wonder that is her adorable grandchild: she nibbles on fingers and toes, delights over cheeks, and marvels at the obvious brilliance that baby displays. Boldly outlined and colorful, with huge, easy to read fonts to communicate Bubbe’s euphoria on each page, this is a book that you’ll want to read again and again to any and every baby you see. Sweet Babe! is so relatable and so enjoyable that you’ll want to read it just to feel good. Need help navigating the Yiddish terms? There’s a glossary at the end. An absolute must-add to picture book and storytime collections.

 

Posted in Toddler Reads

A baby lays it all out in I’m a Baby!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I’m a Baby!, by Terry Pierce/Illustrated by Volha Kaliaha, (May 2025, Familius), $9.99, ISBN: 9781641709507

Ages Birth-3

An adorable baby takes readers through their day, from wakeup to bedtime, with key moments like the diaper change, a walk, the dreaded nap, bath time, and bedtime. The family cat shows up on spreads to give readers an extra chuckle is the cat’s expressions let readers know what they think. Readers will get belly laughs out of the baby fighting off a nap (the cat has no such issues), splish-splashing in the tub as the wet cat dashes to safety, and wearing a bowl of food (the cat isn’t thrilled). The short rhyming text is playful and easy to read; bold orange lettering over the light backgrounds make this a great lapsit read. Cartoony characters with expressive faces will grab a little one’s interest for sure. Fun for lapsit storytime, sibling storytime, or anytime! Learn more about Terry Pierce and her books at her author website.

For a fun lapsit storytime, pair I’m a Baby! with This Baby, That Baby by Cari Best and Rashin Kheiriyeh, or Mem Fox’s classic, Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes. I posted a successful Baby Storytime I held in June, if you want some more ideas.

 

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 Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

New sibling kit: Just One Me

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Just One Me: A Big Sibling Kit, by M.H. Clark/Illustrated by Chelsea Bianchini, (June 2023, Compendium), $36.95, ISBN: 9781957891019

Ages 3-7

This is an adorable gift idea for new big siblings. A cuddly koala is the star of the show in Just One Me, a sweet baby book for older siblings to record thoughts, hopes, and notes about themselves and their new sibling. Gentle illustrations of the little koala and prompts run throughout the book, with spaces for recording notes about what the two siblings can share and what the older sibling may want to keep for themselves; ways big sibling can help parents; and brag space for the big sibling to write about the things they can already do and what they loves as babies. It’s a sweet keepsake and a way for the older sibling to share their feelings about the new baby, encouraging them to claim their own space. It is a sweet way to celebrate an elder child’s accomplishments while welcoming a new little. A soft plush koala comes with the set.

 

Posted in Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Board books make great stocking stuffers!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

They’re portable, they’re sturdy, they fit in a stocking as easily as they do a purse or a toddler’s hands: board books are great gifts!

The Sun Shines on the Sea, by Michael Slack, (Sept. 2021, Candlewick Press), $9.99, ISBN: 9781536215694

Ages 3-5

The gentlest way to introduce the concept of the food chain to preschoolers, The Sun Shines on the Sea is a lift-the-flap board book that lets the flaps do the talking. While the sun shines on the sea, phytoplankton grow, and hungry krill snack on the phytoplankton as they soak up the sun, and that’s where the flaps take over: the story makes reference to a predator moving, swirling, and gliding past, and flaps reveal what’s in their bellies: “A shoal of fish swirls around the krill”, and a flap reveals a krill in a fish’s tummy. The story is factual, easy to understand, and begins and ends with the sun shining on the sea. The digital artwork is colorful, the sea life are kid-friendly, and the flaps are sturdy.

If you’re using this in an underwater story time, this is a great time to sing “Slippery Fish” and use some flannels. I really like this recycled cardboard aquarium craft, and you can easily make it a grab and go. Don’t have a cheese box? Trim some cardboard from cereal boxes, glue into a circle, and back it with construction paper.

 

Where’s Brian’s Bottom? A Veeeerrrry Long Fold-Out Book, by Rob Jones, (Oct. 2021, Pavilion), $9.95, ISBN: 9781843654667

Ages 0-3

Weiner dog fans will love this hilarious fold-out book. Brian is a dachshund who can’t find his bottom! Readers can help him as they unfold the book to search through five rooms, meeting a variety of Brian’s acquaintances to help with the search. The concertina book folds out into over 6 feet of Brian, and takes readers through different rooms of the house, his body streeeeetching along the way. Kids can identify different rooms, animals, and sounds, and repetitive questions invites readers to chime in. The endpaper at the front of the book features a wall of framed photos – Brian, naturally, takes up two frames – with animals that readers will meet during the course of the story. Each side that folds out tells a different story: one takes place during the day, one at night, with different events that you can invite readers to tell you about. The bold, cartoon artwork is eye-catching, and readers will love discovering something new with every turn of the flap. Absolute fun.

Where is Brian’s Bottom? is the first in a board book concertina series from Pavilion; I’ll be keeping an eye out for more.

 

 

 

Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth, by Emily Haynes & Sanjay Patel, (Aug. 2021, Chronicle Books), $8.99, ISBN: 9781797212524

Ages 3-5

I was so excited to see a board book release for one of my favorite picture books, Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth! The story of how Hindu god Ganesha and the poet Vyasa create the great epic, The Mahabharata, translates beautifully to board book. The illustrations are colorful, vibrant, and eye-catching; the storytelling pace works in this format, and the author’s note at the end explains the story behind the story: how Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth isn’t a literal retelling of the classic legend, but more of a kid-friendly reimagining that kids can relate to, like breaking a tooth on a jawbreaker sweet and learning to channel a meltdown into something more productive.

Publisher Chronicle has a Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth activity kit, with a coloring sheet and fill-in-the-blank epic poem.

 

 

Dog’s First Baby, by Natalie Nelson, (Oct. 2021, Quirk Books), $9.99, ISBN: 9781683692799

Ages 2-5

Told from a dog’s point of view, Dog’s First Baby is a board book with a fun spin on things as a family dog discovers someone new joining the household: a baby. Dog isn’t sure whether or not to be thrilled with this latest development, as baby’s front paws pull his ears and hurt; with time, though Dog sees that maybe the two aren’t so different after all: they both howl; they both like to play tug-of-war; they both enjoy a good stretch, and baby sure likes to share food, and, as Dog says, “I admire this”. A great book for new parents who may be getting ready or are in the early stages of introducing a new baby and a dog, Dog’s First Baby embraces the chaos of those early months: Baby dropping food all over the floor (which Dog happily cleans up); Baby and Dog howling and wailing together; Baby attempting to ride Dog; Baby and Dog making messes together. The book also captures those moments that are worth every mess: Baby asleep on Dog’s flank; the two sitting in a chair together, and Dog’s quiet presence whenever Baby is near, whether they’re walking together or sleeping in the same room. Deep, rich colors and textured lighter colors make this a beautiful book to look through.

Quirk and Natalie Nelson have a companion book, Cat’s First Baby, coming in March 2022. I can’t wait! In the meantime, this is a perfect storytime book and gift book. There’s a free, downloadable activity kit available, too.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

More Mother’s Day Wishes!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I’ve got more Mother’s Day books for the big day, but first, Everything Is Mama Activity Pages from Jimmy Fallon’s publisher, Macmillan! Enjoy three pages of activities and coloring with the kiddos!

What the Road Said, by Cleo Wade/Illustrated by Lucie de Moyencourt, (March 2021, Feiwel & Friends), $18.99, ISBN: 9781250269492

Ages 6-10

If loving advice for living a good life could be summed up in verse, What the Road Said is it. Poet, activist, and one of Marie Claire’s 50 Most Influential Women in America Cleo Wade reminds young and grown readers alike to pay attention to the journey, not the destination. Sometimes, you may think you’re on the wrong path: keep going; “sometimes we go the wrong way on the way to the right way”. You may not always move forward, and you may need help on the way or feel alone. Keep going, the poem urges. Lead with kindness and love, even when met with hate, and just keep going. Illustrator Lucie de Moyencourt’s watercolor and ink artwork begins with an urban landscape, with nature scenes painted on buildings; a child watches them as they walk, and the city streets give way to lush, green pastures, beaches, dark forests, mountains, even outer space, the child following paths up mountains and through the woods; standing triumphant on the top of the world, and meditating on the growth from a caterpillar to a butterfly. Together, Cleo Wade and Lucie de Moyencourt encourage readers to reach for the stars on their journey through life. These comforting, inspiring words and artwork are the perfect story to pass to your little ones and they’re the words we parents need sometimes, because, as Cleo Wade states in her author’s note, “Being a grownup is hard and the Road  reminds me to take it one day at a time”.

 

I Love You, Baby Burrito, by Angela Dominguez, (January 12, 2021, Roaring Brook Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781250231093
Ages 2-5
This book is ADORABLE. A set of new parents greet their new baby – swaddled like a burrito – in this bilingual book of pure joy. Tender images of parents and baby pair with images of a new bird family in a nest outside the family’s window. The parents gaze, hold, and swaddle their little one, marveling at their new bundle, taking such care with every moment. Spanish words are in bright green, and English prose repeats the phrase, helping emphasize terms in both languages. A glossary at the end provides phonetic pronounciation. Mixed media illustrations are soft, gently colored, giving a real feeling of those quiet moments when baby and parents are still getting to know one another. I can’t wait to read this to my library families. An excellent Mother’s Day gift or baby shower gift, too; consider pairing with Hayley Barrett and Juana Martinez-Neal’s Babymoon.
Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit! is all about the siblings

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit!, by Loran Scobie, (Feb. 2021, Henry Holt & Co. Books for Young Readers), $18.99, ISBN: 9781250760746

Ages 3-6

Rabbit loves being an only child. There’s so much space, so many carrots, it’s all about Rabbit and for Rabbit… until Rabbit’s parents have some news. A new baby joins the family, and baby wants to be everywhere Rabbit is! As more.. and more… and MORE siblings join the family, Rabbit seeks the advice of Fox, who happily agrees to watch the siblings for while and give Rabbit some space. But wait! FOX has the baby siblings? This sweet, funny story about siblings has an adorable twist ending that readers will love, and moments that everyone with younger siblings will recognize: lack of space, broken possessions, and being followed everywhere, to name a few. Even the title calls to mind the many, many times a sibling can expect a younger sibling to call their name. Inks, watercolor, and pencils come together to create bright, fun illustrations with expressive characters and gentle, colorful nature backdrops. One- and two-sentence spreads make this a great choice for emerging readers, and bold, black text on bright white backgrounds make for easy reading and storytime use. Too much fun for young readers, and a good opportunity to get readers to talk about what makes little brothers and sisters fun.

Posted in Early Reader, Fiction, picture books, Preschool Reads

Indie author/publisher spotlight!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I’m back with more independently published authors! You’ve seen them here before: both Lois Wickstrom and Riya Aarini have been kind enough to share their books with me in the past, and I’m happy to feature more of their books today. Let’s see what Carefree Ollie and Alex the Inventory are up to, and meet some new friends along the way.

How to Make a Flying Carpet, by Lois Wickstrom/Illustrated by Janet King, (November 2020, Independently Published),  $24.99, ISBN: 978-0916176778

Ages 7-11

Alex is a girl who likes science and likes repurposing broken things, so when a frog magnet falls from her refrigerator and breaks, she sees opportunity. Taking the magnet, she discovers that she can rescue her father’s key from the heating vent where it fell, and she can make paper clips dance. She begins experimenting with the magnets to find out what else she can do, and when she discovers a cache of magnets in the garage, she gets an idea… can she use the repelling powers of magnets to make a real flying carpet? Filled with fun and easily creatable experiment with magnets, How to Make a Flying Carpet is a fun STEM/STEAM story that will work really well with a science club/Discovery Club. The illustrations help kids visualize how to work with magnets, especially in a household setting: super-helpful these days, when finding things around the house is the best way to keep kids busy during remote and blended learning days! Alex’s interest in learning and in expanding the scope of her experiments will motivate kids to dig deeper and embrace the fun in learning. If you’re interested in more magnet experiments, Babble Dabble Do has four easy magnet experiments that you can easily do with household items or with a quick trip to the 99-cent store.

Visit author Lois Wickstrom’s website, Look Under Rocks, for more information about her books, including What Do the Plants Say?, her first Alex the Inventor story.

 

Ollie’s Garden (Carefree Ollie #3), by Riya Aarini/Illustrated by Virvalle Caravallo, (Nov. 2020, Independently Published), $15.99, ISBN: 978-1735347325

Ages 6-10

Carefree Ollie has to negotiate between bickering groups of animals in his garden kingdom in his latest adventure. The orange ladybugs won’t let the red ladybugs near the daisies; frogs are chasing toads away from the water because they “ribbit” while toads “croak”; chipmunks and squirrels are quarreling over their tails. With Ollie’s garden kingdom in chaos, it’s up to him to stop the fighting and help bring peace, tolerance, and understanding to the kingdom once more.  A sweet parable on equity, diversity, and inclusion, Ollie’s Garden is a good way to approach embracing our differences and how those differences make us wonderful. Digital artwork is kid-friendly and colorful, and the storytelling is a good starting point for your own discussions about how diversity makes us stronger.

Education.com has some great activities on diversity, including a Kindergarten lesson plan on Appreciating Diversity, a second grade lesson plan on Appreciating Diversity and Differences, and a Welcome All activity for Kindergarten and first graders that helps develop an appreciation for differences and building social awareness.

 

Sam and Sophie, by Kerry Olitzky/Illustrated by Jen Hernandez, (March 2021, Higher Ground Books & Media), $12.99, ISBN: 978-1949798838

Ages 3-7

Sam has just become a big brother to baby sister Sophie, but he’s frustrated. There doesn’t seem to be much time or energy left over for him, and he’s not happy with all the attention baby Sophie is getting. But when Baby Sophie gets sick, Sam finds himself worrying and trying to make her happy and feel better. A moving story that grows from the Jewish tradition of planting a tree when a new child is born, Sam and Sophie includes back matter on the tradition and on trees, people, and their relationship to God. Mixed media artwork has a manga influence. Sam and Sophie is a good book to begin a talk on sibling jealousy and how to navigate complicated feelings that arise when a new baby arrives.