​If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction issues and are in need of a children’s book that addresses the topic in a heartfelt, honest, and approachable way, I highly recommend:

This heartfelt story of addiction is told from the point of view of a young girl, Fiona, as she notices changes in her older brother, Dylan. Changes she struggles to understand. Changes she doesn’t like. Changes that make it difficult to be around the brother who was once her hero. Diane O’Neill’s text tackles a difficult subject with honesty, emotion, and in an approachable way for children to understand a very complex topic. Her author’s note to the reader provides more explanation about addiction and mental illness as well as a number to contact for help. Further, she reassures the reader that if they have a family member with an addiction, they are not alone, and it is not their fault. Anastasiya Kanavaliuk’s expressive illustrations convey all the emotions Fiona faces throughout the book, from disappointment, fear, uncertainty, sadness, guilt, and hopefulness. With so many families dealing with addiction and mental illness, this book is a valuable resource to help explain and open the door for further discussion.
 
Read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Did you read and like this book?
One of the best ways to support authors and illustrators is to post reviews for their books. Support an author/illustrator today by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon!

​How appropriate that a pig holiday falls in the same month as a fair holiday, because today’s picture book recommendation is about a group of pigs who are building a road to reach the Hamshire County Fair:

This book has so much to appeal to young audiences and their grown-up readers! Children will pour over every detail of the pigs, other animals, and construction vehicles, adorably illustrated in Brian Biggs’ signature style. Grown-ups will appreciate the story’s themes of cooperation, perseverance, and resiliency. And everyone will love hearing the wordplay and rollicking rhyme pulled off with perfection by Carrie Finison. This great read aloud will have kids cheering on Rosie, Curly, Pinky, and Stinky, and begging you to read their story again and again.
 
Read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Did you read and like this book?
One of the best ways to support authors and illustrators is to post reviews for their books. Support an author/illustrator today by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon!

​Let’s celebrate World Elephant Day by reading a book about a worldly elephant named Arnold in:

This book is pure fun! The story of an elephant’s shipwreck begins even before the text does. When the reader opens to the title page, they will see Arnold paddling his boat with an expression that can only be described as pure panic. Turn to the first page and you see the aftermath of the “boisterous wave” that sank his boat. Luckily, Arnold finds a “tiny island” which is basically a rock about the size of his feet. In the following pages, Arnold continues to have mishaps, but he manages to salvage his situation, eventually expanding his “island” to accommodate all the friends he makes along the way. If you like tongue-and-cheek humor, cut-paper collage illustrations, expressive characters (it’s all in the eyes!), and stories about the high seas, shipwrecks, friendships, creativity, imagination, perseverance, resilience, and kindness, then this is the book for you!
 
Read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Did you read and like this book?
One of the best ways to support authors and illustrators is to post reviews for their books. Support an author/illustrator today by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon!

​What’s better than sprinkles? Read this book and you’ll find out:

This adorable picture book about friendship has so much to love. Linda Skeers narrates from the point of view of one child who defines friendship in kid-relatable ways such as, “A friend lets you be the knight when you play knights and dragons. Even though you were the knight last time. And the time before that.” But this is more than a concept book all about what makes a friend. It conveys a story about how sometimes friends do something to cause a rift in a friendship, how that feels, and how they can repair the friendship. Heather Fox’s bright, cheerful illustrations are the perfect match for a story with sprinkles, unicorns, knights, dragons, glitter, birthday cakes, and party hats. Bonus: She includes one of my favorite elements in a picture books – a surprise cover under the dust jacket. I loved this one from cover to cover!
 
Read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Did you read and like this book?
One of the best ways to support authors and illustrators is to post reviews for their books. Support an author/illustrator today by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon!

​Did you know that ladybugs have traveled in space? Neither did I, until I read a picture book inspired by the true story about how some Chilean high school girls convinced NASA to send ladybugs in space.

This book parallels two stories – one of a chinita (ladybug) who dreams of going to space, and the other of a chica (girl) who dreams of becoming a scientist. Both dreams seem impossible. Who ever heard of a ladybug space explorer? And no one in Natalia’s family had ever attended a university. But both characters make their dreams a reality with perseverance, experimentation, hard work, and a positive mindset. Although the story is fictionalized, the author’s note explains how these two dreams really did come true. On July 23, 1999, four chinitas, named John, Paul, Ringo, and George, traveled to space on the space shuttle Columbia after a class of Chilean girls convinced NASA that their ladybug experiment was worthy of space travel. Manuela Montoya’s bright, cheerful illustrations elevate Melissa Trempe and Dr. Natalia Ojeda fascinating tale that will inspire young readers and keep them turning the pages to the end where they will find supplemental back matter complete with authors note, glossary, and additional resources. This book is full of STEM, girl power, ladybugs and an all-around great read!
 
Read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Did you read and like this book?
One of the best ways to support authors and illustrators is to post reviews for their books. Support an author/illustrator today by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon!

Lots of wildlife creatures visit our yard: Birds, bunnies, foxes, squirrels, racoons, an occasional coyote or skunk, and lots and lots of deer. In honor of this month’s holiday, and as a tribute to a dear author friend who recently passed away suddenly, I highly recommend her newest book:

As a picture book writer and someone who always liked math, this is one of those stories I read and thought, “Why didn’t I think of that?” But only Katey Howes could pull off taking this brilliant idea, write a story about math concepts like prime numbers and remainders, combine it with themes of friendship, cooperation, and inclusion, add relatable back matter, and then do it in perfect rhyme! Combine that with Marie Hermansson’s sweet illustrations that capture the dreamy quality of a dewy woodland morning and the heartfelt expressions of the thirteen reindeer students, and you have a perfect picture book! Brilliant!
 
Read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Did you read and like this book? 
One of the best ways to support authors and illustrators is to post reviews for their books. Support an author/illustrator today by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon!

When I think about lightning, I think about a storm with thunder and rain and wind. But what about a brainstorm? That’s what today’s book recommendation is about:

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? That’s the problem the MC of this picture book faces when it’s time to write in class. But, before she knows it, words and pictures start drip-dropping from the sky. Phrases, nouns, adverbs, adjectives, and more make it a real brainstorm! This clever book, told in rhyme, illustrated beautifully, and complete with supporting back matter, is a perfect read aloud for the classroom!
 
Read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Did you read and like this book?
One of the best ways to support authors and illustrators is to post reviews for their books. Support an author/illustrator today by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon!

​What do you find in zoos and aquariums? Animals! And they come in surprising shades, as today’s book recommendation will highlight:

Colorful creatures, indeed! This lovely poetry collection introduces readers to many fascinating animals as well as several poetic forms, all vibrantly illustrated. Susan Johnston Taylor’s lyrical poetry is supplemented with side-bar facts about animals, explanations of poetry forms ,and a glossary of terms. If that wasn’t enough, Annie Bakst’s cheerful and engaging art will take your breath away.  Make a place for this book on your bookshelf!
 
Read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Did you read and like this book? 
One of the best ways to support authors and illustrators is to post reviews for their books. Support an author/illustrator today by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon!

​There are some adorable otters in today’s picture book recommendation:

This picture book tugs at all the heartstrings. Two otters are always together—playing, swimming, exploring—“Together times are the best times.” But, one day, they are not together. The simple line, “Until we are not,” and the illustration of one otter sitting on a rock alone, packs an enormous punch. The story continues as the otter carries on “alone” while processing feelings of loss and grief, but has an uplifting, hopeful message at its resolution. Kreiser doesn’t specify why the otters are no longer together, which I love because it leaves that connection up to the reader. A child who has experienced any kind of loss—death, divorce, move, deployment, etc.—will be able to relate to this adorably illustrated, spare-of-text picture book. This is the kind of book you want to take your time to pause with each line, linger over each illustration, and, when you finish, give a big hug.
 
Read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Did you read and like this book? 
One of the best ways to support authors and illustrators is to post reviews for their books. Support an author/illustrator today by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon!

Today’s picture book recommendation is for a story that will publish on October 1, 2024. It’s about a nervous goat and his turkey friend. If you like the sound of it, mark it as “to read” on Goodreads account or, better yet, pre-order it!

This early reader in picture book format introduces children to friends Goat and Turkey. Goat wears earmuffs to avoid hearing scary loud noises because loud noises make him faint. As you can imagine, wearing earmuffs all the time can create some situations that lead to misunderstandings and mishaps and a lot of fainting! GOAT’S BOAT WON’T FLOAT will appeal to young readers for its colorful and expressive illustrations by Gozde Eyce and its digestible, engaging, and humorous text by Kim Larson. I think kids will love this Goat & Turkey story and will be looking for the next adventure soon after!
 
Read this review on Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.
Did you read and like this book? 
One of the best ways to support authors and illustrators is to post reviews for their books. Support an author/illustrator today by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon!