HEATHER PIERCE STIGALL
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BOOK REVIEW: HAPPY NATIONAL TRUCKERS DAY!

10/4/2026

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​Kids who love trucks will love this book!
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​TITLE: TOUCH A TRUCK DAY
AUTHOR: Carrie Finison
ILLUSTRATOR: Viola Wang
PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books/2026
OPENING LINES:
HONK HONK! Hooray!
What fun! What luck!
Today’s the day to…
TOUCH A TRUCK!
Choose a truck, and climb inside.
Which one first? You decide!
This board book really is brilliant. It’s got everything a toddler needs and loves: rhyme, tabs and lift-the-flaps, sturdy pages, colorful illustrations, fiction plus non-fiction, and trucks, trucks, trucks! Highly recommend!
 
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BOOK REVIEW: IT’S BLINDNESS AWARENESS MONTH

10/1/2026

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​Today’s beautiful picture book features a main character who is blind and uses her other senses to experience  the world.

​TITLE: I HEAR THE SNOW, I SMELL THE SEA

AUTHOR: Jan Milusich

ILLUSTRATOR: Chris Raschka

PUBLISHER: Anne Schwartz Books

OPENING LINES:
Where I live, seasons change. I know because my fingers and toes, my ears, my mouth and nose all tell me so.
Picture
​This lovely story shares how a blind child uses her senses to experience the seasons changing from winter to spring to summer to fall. She delights in tasting snowflakes as they quietly blanket the earth, smelling hyacinth’s bloom in the garden, feeling the ocean waves crash against the shore, and hearing geese honk as they fly south. Raschka’s Gorgeous illustrations accompany Milusich’s lyrical text to make this an all-around stunning book!
 
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BOOK REVIEW: HAPPY NATIONAL GHOST HUNTING DAY!

9/26/2026

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​If you’re looking for a spooky middle grade book that’s full of mystery, suspense, friends, and ghosts, this is the one for you!
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​TITLE: THE HAUNTING OF BELLINGTON COTTAGE
AUTHOR: Laura Parnum
PUBLISHER: Storytide (Harper Collins)
OPENING LINES:
Bellington Cottage was the perfect place to create a haunted house. Dark. Secluded. Mossy. Its outside walls were made up of rough, aged stone that probably housed all kids of critters for the winter, like spiders and mice. Maybe even bats. The chimney of the towering three-story house poked through the snow-covered roof like a gravestone, and the starkly painted red door was the only shock of color among the skeletal trees and white landscape. It was like something straight out of an old horror movie but with a freshly plowed driveway, thanks to the rental management company.
Iris is looking forward to reuniting with Violet so they can re-create the haunted house they made when they first met. But things do not go as expected. “Vee” has changed – her name, her fashion choices, her personality – and tensions rise between them. To complicate matters, the rental house where they are staying is actually haunted! I loved how the book’s themes of growing up, change, and navigating conflict within friendships were wrapped in mysterious ghost story. Laura Parnum’s story is engaging, entertaining, and will have you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a spooky friendship book for 8–12-year-olds (or older), this is the perfect choice!
 
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BOOK REVIEW: IT’S 911 REMEMBRANCE DAY

9/11/2026

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​It’s a somber day, but so important we never forget. And not only about those we lost, but those who stepped up to help. This picture book does just that:
​TITLE: GANDER: THE TOWN THAT WELCOMED THE WORLD
AUTHOR: Nikki Bergstresser
ILLUSTRATOR: Reilly Fitzgerald
PUBLISHER: Plumleaf Press/2026
OPENING LINES:
Like geese flying over on an autumn day, the planes came to the small Canadian town of Gander.
One by one, they landed on the tarmac.
The skies grew silent. Air travel around the world came to a sudden stop.
Picture
On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four planes and attacked the World Trade Centers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. In order to prevent further attacks, all air travel was grounded in the U.S. But what about the planes already in the sky? Thirty-eight of those planes landed in the Newfoundland town of Gander. The 6,000 passengers may have been stranded in Canada, but they weren’t abandoned. The townspeople gave them shelter, food, and companionship. Nikki Bergstresser’s poignant story is told in a heartfelt but hopeful way that is appropriate for young readers and Reilly Fitzgerald’s acrylic illustrations beautifully depict the kind-hearted community that came together to help those in need. This was a very moving read, especially for someone who remembers 9/11 so clearly, but the general themes of kindness, compassion, and hope will resonate with young readers now and for years to come.
 
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BOOK REVIEW: IT’S WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY

8/26/2026

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While this day commemorates the ratification of the 19th Amendment, securing women’s right to vote in the U.S., lets celebrate by reading a picture book about a child who does his best to make sure everything is “even.”
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​TITLE: EVEN STEVEN
AUTHOR: Carrie Finison
ILLUSTRATOR: Daniel Wiseman
PUBLISHER: G. P. Putnam’s Sons
OPENING LINES:
This is Steven.
Steven loves to make everything even.
Pencils. Pickles. Noodles. Nickels.
“You can’t spell Steven without E-V-E-N!”
Steven likes to share.
He knows the best way to share something is to split it in half.
It’s fun! It’s fair! And it’s EVEN.
Steven likes to make everything EVEN which often means splitting something in half. That seems fair, right? But if Steven has one book, is it best to cut the book in half? Oh, Steven! Not all things that are even are fair and not all things that are fair are even, and Steven and his friends illustrate in a fun, light-hearted way the concepts of fairness and sharing. Finison’s punchy narration and speech-bubble dialogue combined with Wiseman’s cheerful, expressive illustrations make this book a great addition to your SEL-themed books.
 
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BOOK REVIEW: HAPPY NATIONAL AUTHENTICITY DAY!

8/16/2026

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​This holiday is all about staying true to yourself, and this book shares that message with young readers:

​
​TITLE: BARTLEBY

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Matt Phelan

PUBLISHER: Farrar Straus Giroux/2026

OPENING LINES:

Everyone says NO sometimes.
Bartleby says, “I prefer not to.”
He says it a lot.
Picture
Look at that cover! Isn’t Bartleby adorable? If that doesn’t grab you, the story sure will. Bartleby is a bear of few words, and the few words he does speak are, “I prefer not to.” He prefers not to share during sharing time, not to play the xylophone in music class, and to not sing a silly song. Even though Bartleby prefers not to do a lot of things, he still wants to be part of his class community, but in his own way and in his own time. This book has everything I love: an endearing main character, adorable illustrations, secret “undies” (different cover under the dust jacket), and a heartfelt message. I prefer to love Bartleby!
 
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BOOK REVIEW: HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FRIENDSHIP

7/30/2026

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​My book recommendation today is about, let’s just say, an unlikely friendship:
Picture

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​TITLE: STILL FRIENDS

AUTHOR: Troy Wilson

ILLUSTRATOR: Mike Deas

PUBLISHER: Orca Book Publishers

OPENING LINES:

His new friend was off to a rocky start.
She did not throw.
She did not pet. Or walk. Or give treats.
Not like his old friend. Not even close.
This sweet picture book is about a friendship between a dog and a statue of a girl. Their relationship starts off a bit rocky, but eventually the dog comes to appreciate what his new friend has to offer. Troy Wilson’s charming text includes subtle humor and wordplay while Mike Deas’ cheerful illustrations are engaging from cover to interior spreads to end papers. This is a beautiful example of how text and art work together to weave a heartfelt tale that will surely resonate with young readers. Love it!
 
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BOOK REVIEW: IT’S BEATRIX POTTER’S BIRTHDAY!

7/28/2026

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​Beatrix Potter was born on July 28, 1866, so let’s honor this amazing children’s author-illustrator by reading a picture book all about her.
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TITLE: BEATRIX AND HER FRIENDS: CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF BEATRIX POTTER

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Anne Lambelet

PUBLISHER: Margaret Quinlin Books (imprint of Peachtree Publishing)

OPENING LINES:

​Beatrix belonged in nature.
When everything around her was growing and changing, her heart came alive.
If you’re a fan of biographies, nature, animals, children’s books, art, or Beatrix Potter, this book is for you. This lovely story highlights the life of Beatrix Potter and how her love of nature and animals grew into a desire to write and illustrating books for children. I gushed over the gorgeous illustrations (including adorably illustrated endpapers!) that are reflective of Potter’s famous book characters but are done in Lambelet’s iconic style. I love this book from cover to cover!
 
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BOOK REVIEW: HAPPY NATIONAL SWIMMING POOL DAY!

7/11/2026

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​To celebrate this holiday, take a dip in the pool and then read this fun, rhyming picture book (careful not to get the book wet!).

​TITLE
: DON’T SPLASH GRANDPA
AUTHOR: Julie Gonzalez
ILLUSTRATOR: Srinidhi Srinivasan
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky/2026
OPENING LINES:
Goggles on—ready, set!
It’s a pool day. Let’s get wet!
 
Flood your flippers. Drench your fin.
Slosh around or PLOP right in…
 
but don’t splash Grandpa!
Picture
This book perfectly captures a summertime-fun vibe that kids will love. From pool toys and floaties to relay races and cannon balls, readers will relate to the joy that a day at the pool brings. The cautionary refrain, “Don’t splash Grandpa!” will have kids turning the pages to find out if Grandpa is safe from getting drenched or what will happen if he does get splashed. Julie Gonzalez’s spot-on rhyming text combined with Srinidhi Srinivasan’s bright, expressive illustrations make this a splashy read aloud for one or a crowd. All around good summertime (or anytime) fun!
 
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BOOK REVIEW: HAPPY NATIONAL FUDGE DAY!

6/16/2026

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​How about celebrating with double the fudge? Choose a piece (or two) of your favorite flavor fudge to eat while you read a picture book about the creator of the Fudge (and other) books, Judy Blume, in:
Picture


​TITLE
: OTHERWISE KNOWN AS JUDY THE GREAT: A POETIC ODE TO JUDY BLUME
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Selina Alko
PUBLISHER: Christy Ottaviano Books/2026
OPENING LINES:
Judy the Great
Two days away
from Valentine’s Day
in an otherwise quiet town,
a girl who would grow up
to be a great writer is born.
The date is February 12, 1938.
The town in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The girl is Judith Sussman.
            Otherwise known as Judy the Great.
​
Most of the books I read as a tween were authored by Judy Blume, so I had to check out this biography-in-verse when it released. It didn’t disappoint. Each poem serves as a snapshot of different stages and events in Judy Blume’s childhood so the reader can learn how these events shaped her to become a hugely successful author of beloved books for children, teens, and adults. The lyrical text accompanying art (including my favorites – illustrated end papers and surprise “undies”) is captivating and full of nods to Judy Blume’s books. If you’re a fan of Judy Blume, biographies, books-in-verse, or picture books in general, you’re going to love this one!

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    About Heather

    Heather is a busy wife and mom of five rambunctious children and one lovable pup They all provide lots of distractions, but oodles of inspiration.  Sometimes the pictures and ideas in her head turn into her own children's stories, but she always makes time to read other people's books. Sometimes she reviews them here.

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  • Books
    • GILBERT & THE GHOST
    • PAISLEY'S BIG BIRTHDAY
    • PAISLEY'S BIG FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
  • About
    • Meet Heather
    • Press Kit
  • Appearances
    • Author Visits
    • Events & News
  • Resources
    • For Writers
    • For Educators & Readers
  • Ramblings & Reviews
  • Contact