HEATHER PIERCE STIGALL
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REVIEW: IT’S WORLD CARING DAY!

6/7/2023

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​How can we show others we care? One way is to utter the greeting, “Namaste.”
Cover of Namaste is a Greeting
​
TITLE: NAMASTE IS A GREETING

AUTHOR: Suma Subramaniam

ILLUSTRATOR: Sandhya Prabhat

PUBLISHER: Candlewick/2022

​OPENING LINES:
 
Namaste is a greeting.
A smile. A friendship. A celebration.
The words of this story introduce readers to the many meanings of Namaste—it’s “a greeting. A smile. A friendship.” And so much more. The art shows the story of a girl interacting with others as she experiences the meaning and power of namaste in her own life. Lyrical, meaningful text combined with expressive, detailed, colorful illustrations make this an engaging and sweet story for all children and grownups to appreciate and enjoy.
 
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REVIEW: HAPPY NATIONAL OCEANS MONTH!

6/1/2023

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​This month celebrates our world’s oceans—bodies of water that are vital to our survival. But the main character in this book is not very appreciative of the ocean:
​
​TITLE:           THE SEA IN THE WAY
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Sophie Gilmore
PUBLISHER: Greenwillow Books/2022
OPENING LINES:
 
Badger lived far from Bear, 
with the sea in the way.
 
The sea stretched so far that when nighttime fell for Badger, 
the sun rose for Bear. 
Badger wished Bear could tuck her in.
 
But the sea was in the way.
Cover of The Sea in the Way
Badger is distraught—the sea stands in the way of her friend, Bear. So, she confronts her enemy, and the sea replies with a deal: Badger must bring some things, and then it will let her cross. In the process of searching for something nice, something unusual, and something loud, Badger begins to appreciate the things around her and (spoiler alert) even warms to the idea of making a new friend. This heartwarming, beautifully illustrated story conveys themes of sorrow, anger, comfort, friendship, acceptance, and hope. The muted color palette pairs perfectly with Badger’s mood and the book’s overall tone. This is the kind of book you’ll want to give a big hug! I hugged my copy all the way home.
 
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REVIEW: HAPPY NATIONAL LUCKY PENNY DAY!

5/23/2023

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You know the old saying, “Find a penny, pick it up, and all day you’ll have good luck.” I feel lucky for discovering today’s picture book about a penny wo wants to prove her worth in:
Cover of A Penny's Worth smiling penny with arms and legs
​
TITLE:           A PENNY’S WORTH

AUTHOR:     Kimberly Wilson

ILLUSTRATOR: Mark Hoffmann

PUBLISHER: Page Street Kids/2022

​OPENING LINES:
STAMP!
Hot off the minting press, Penny sparkled.
“I feel like a million bucks!”
But day after day, Penny watched other money come and go, while she was ignored, forgotten, and stuck in a sticky situation.
This is non-cents! she thought.
When poor Penny begins to feel worthless, she sets off to prove she’s “worth a pretty penny” in this this multi-layered picture book. Readers will learn about a penny’s worth in both a literal and figurative “cents,” but they won’t feel like they’re being taught, thanks to Kimberly Wilson’s clever use of wordplay, humor, endearing characters, and creative storytelling and Mark Hoffmann’s expressive, animated, fun illustrations. The story artfully conveys themes of acceptance, self-worth, resiliency, and perseverance, and includes both STEM and history components in the main text and back matter. A PENNY’S WORTH is well worth place on your bookshelf!
 
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REVIEW: HAPPY PLANT SOMETHING DAY!

5/19/2023

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Because it’s Plant Something Day, and because I have an affinity for trees (I loved to climb them when I was a child), this picture book seems like a very appropriate one to recommend:  
TITLE: NELL PLANTS A TREE

AUTHOR: Anne Wynter

ILLUSTRATOR: Daniel Miyares

PUBLISHER: Balzer + Bray/2023

​OPENING LINES: 
 
Before a grip on a branch
and a fall to the ground
and a scrape
and a leap
and a reach for the top,
 
before anyone finds out how high they can climb,
Nell picks up a seed.
Cover of Nell Plants a Tree child reading in the branch of a tree with house in the background
How do I describe this glorious book? It’s about little everyday miracles that happened yesterday to create memories for years to come. It’s about growth, discovery, play, comfort, traditions, and family connections. It’s a poem that connects past and present, and it’s a piece of art to be admired and cherished. Do yourself a favor and read NELL PLANTS A TREE (maybe even read it under the shade of a tree). And then read it again. And again. And again. 
 
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REVIEW: IT’S MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH!

5/16/2023

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​This month, American’s are encouraged to recognize the sacrifices made by our military personnel. Today’s picture book tells the story of a sacrifice one military family makes that is one I never thought about before, and I bet many others aren’t aware of either:
Cover of Sometimes Love dad, mom, child, dog embracing
​TITLE:           SOMETIMES LOVE

​AUTHOR:     Katrina Moore

ILLUSTRATOR: Joy Hwang Ruiz

PUBLISHER: Dial Books/2022

OPENING LINES:
 
Wobbly ears,
fuzz that’s thick,
love is sometimes at first lick.
 
It’s turning howls into a song,
a snuggle lasting all night long.
A bounce, a pounce, a tail that wiggles,
love is grass that’s rolled in giggles.
This heartwarming story will have you on an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end. The book features a military family who must part with their pet when they are deployed overseas (don’t worry—there is a happy ending!), but themes of moving away, letting go, heartache, reunion, and joy give this book universal appeal. Sweet text, lovely illustrations, and a puppy-the makings of a perfect picture book!
 
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REVIEW: IT’S NATIONAL MOVING MONTH

5/9/2023

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​May is National Moving Month—the busiest moving season of the year. And when best friends are separated by a move, it can be particularly difficult. That’s what the little koala and cheeta experience in: 

​​TITLE: THE LONG RIDE HOME

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Stephanie Graegin

PUBLISHER: Random House Studio/2022

OPENING LINES: 
 
On the long ride home, so much makes me think of you.
 
The music shop reminds me of when I met you.
You were playing a kazoo and I knew right away we would be best friends.
cover of The Long Ride Home koalas in van
In this sweet picture book by Stephanie Graegin, readers will follow Koala on her journey home as she passes familiar places that remind her of her best friend, Cheeta. Graegin’s touching, heartfelt text captures a child-like perspective on friendship and longing. Graegin’s soft, muted illustrations have a dream-like quality that complement the story beautifully. If you’re looking for a book about friendship, memories, moving away, journeys, koalas, cheetas, or all of the above, this is the one for you.
 
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REVIEW: IT’S NATIONAL PHOTO MONTH!

5/1/2023

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​School picture day is a day a lot of children are familiar with. Some kids get all dressed up, some have their hair specially styled or cut, but some would rather not have their photo taken at all. That’s the case for Lola in:  
cover of A Picture Day to Remember children posing for class picture with child in large red hat
​TITLE: A PICTURE DAY TO REMEMBER
AUTHOR: Natalia Paruzel-Gibson
ILLUSTRATOR: Nynke Boelens
PUBLISHER: Clavis Publishing/2023
OPENING LINES: 
 Splish, splash. Splish, splash. On her way to school, Lola jumped into the middle of every puddle to avoid seeing her reflection. Lola’s route to her classroom could easily be tracked by the pools of water she left behind in the school hallway. Dripping like a frog that just leaped out of a pond, Lola showed up to class in her favorite red hat.
Every day, Lola wears a huge red hat to school. It’s so big, she even has trouble fitting through doors and bumps into things, but it’s worth all the trouble because it helps her hide from her classmates to “avoid any embarrassment.” When Lola realizes it’s picture day, she does everything she can to avoid showing her face. This sweet story about an insecure child who, with the help of a friend, comes up with a solution to ease her worries, is eloquently told by Natalia Paruzel-Gibson. Readers will feel every one of Lola’s emotions as she struggles with her self-confidence, puts her trust in a helpful friend, and then overcomes her struggle. The heartfelt text, accompanied by Nynke Boelens’ expressive illustrations, will also keep readers in suspense about why Lola is so insecure about the way she looks, and about Lola and her friend’s creative picture day plan. If you’re looking for a picture book with lovely language and illustrations, a diverse cast of characters, a little mystery, and a story about how a child finds a way to overcome her insecurity, this is a great one to add to your bookshelf!
 
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REVIEW: IT’S NATIONAL SUPERHERO DAY!

4/28/2023

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What better way to celebrate National Superhero Day than read a book about the origin of Wonder Woman in:  
​
​TITLE: A TRUE WONDER: THE COMIC BOOK HERO WHO CHANGED EVERYTHING
AUTHOR: Kirsten W. Larson
ILLUSTRATOR: Katy Wu
PUBLISHER: Clarion Books/2021
OPENING LINES: 
 
“As lovely as Aphrodite—as wise as Athena—with the speed of Mercury and the strength of Hercules—she is known only as Wonder Woman, but who she is, or whence she came, nobody knows!”
 
Until now!
Picture
This picture book about the origin of Wonder Woman is fabulous! Kirsten Larson tells the journey of how Wonder Woman came to be, how she was received by fans, how her character influenced the comic book industry, and how she became an inspiration for so many. Complementing Larson’s suspenseful text full of POW and WOW, are Katy Wu’s bright, bold illustrations done in comic book style. I think you’ll agree this book is truly wonderful!
 
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REVIEW: HAPPY NATIONAL GARDENING DAY!

4/14/2023

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​Do you like to garden? Elliott Michener didn’t care much about it when he became a prisoner at Alcatraz in 1941. All he cared about was escaping. But a funny thing happened to him when he was given the job of tending to Alcatraz Island’s gardens. You can read all about it in: 
Picture
​TITLE:           THE GARDENER OF ALCATRAZ: A TRUE STORY
AUTHOR:     Emma Bland Smith
ILLUSTRATOR: Jenn Ely
PUBLISHER: Charlesbridge/2022
OPENING LINES: 
 The boat chugged out of San Francisco and into the bay. Sound nice? It wasn’t. This was no pleasure outing, let me tell you.
 
Gulls squawked. A foghorn moaned. And Elliott Michener, prisoner #AZ-578, stared into the fierce wind. Ahead loomed an island topped with a concrete fortress, watchtowers, and barbed wire.
I have been fortunate enough to have visited Alcatraz a few times. I have always found it fascinating, but I never thought much about the gardens there. That is, until I read this book. THE GARDENER OF ALCATRAZ tells the true story of Elliott Michener, who was a prisoner at Alcatraz from 1941 to 1950. At first, all Elliot thought about was escaping back to a life of crime, but when he was entrusted with the job of tending to the island’s gardens, “a funny thing happened.” While learning more and more about the art and skill of gardening, his outlook on life changed. Jenn Ely skillfully tells the true tale of a former prisoner who, while transforming Alcatraz island’s gardens, transforms himself. She includes supplemental backmatter complete with a timeline, what happened to Elliott after he left Alcatraz, and history of Alcatraz and its gardens. Jenn Ely’s illustrations reflect the transformation of both prisoner and grounds as they move from dull and drab to bright and hopeful. I found this book fascinating and I think you will too!
 
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REVIEW: IT'S GLOBAL ASTRONOMY MONTH!

4/4/2023

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​April is for stargazers, and have I got a dazzling picture book for all you stargazers:
TITLE: THE STUFF BETWEEN THE STARS: HOW VERA RUBIN DISCOVERED MOST OF THE UNIVERSE
AUTHOR: Sandra Nickel
ILLUSTRATOR: Aimée Sicuro
PUBLISHER: Abrams Books for Young Readers/2021
OPENING LINES: 
​Vera always liked looking at the night sky. But when she was eleven, she moved to a new house, with a bedroom so small the only place to look was up through her window. As she lay in bed, a star slipped into sight, slowly snuck across the pane, and disappeared,
 
Others followed.
 
The stars were stirring, and something bright stirred in Vera too.
Picture
Wow! The stuff you can learn in a picture book! If you (and your young readers) like space, stars, and smart and resilient women, this book is for you. Sandra Nickel brilliantly weaves the story of how astronomer, Vera Rubin, overcame barriers to help prove the existence of dark matter. Aimée Sicuro's watercolor, ink, and charcoal pencil illustrations weave a story all their own (and include bonuses I love, illustrated end papers and a surprise under the dust jacket!). Wonderful book! 
 
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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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