​Often authors are asked, “Where do you get your ideas?” Most will answer, “Everywhere!” which, in my case, is true. But if you’re wondering where I got the idea for my debut picture book, PAISLEY’S BIG BIRTHDAY, the answer is simple—a birthday. More specifically, the fifth birthday for this little guy:

​On a special day in 2014, I dropped my smiling birthday boy at preschool with homemade treats, wished him a happy birthday, and watched him hop through the front door. A few hours later, that same boy, now wearing a glittery birthday crown and a slight frown, walked toward the car. As he climbed into his car seat, the conversation went something like this:

​Birthday Boy:     “When is my birthday?”
Me:                       “Today!”
Birthday Boy:     (shakes his head) “No.”
 
I did a quick assessment: Birthday crown? Check. Empty birthday treat container? Check. Hmm…

Me:                       “Did everyone sing happy birthday to you?
Birthday Boy:     “Yes”
Me:                       “And you got birthday treats? And a crown? And you were line leader?"
Birthday Boy:     “Yes”
Me:                       “Because today is your birthday!”
Birthday Boy:     (pause)
                              “No.”
                              (another pause)
                              “When is my real birthday?”
Me:                       “Today!”
\Birthday Boy:     (longer pause)     
                              "It doesn’t feel like it.”

​My mind began to spin. Why didn’t he feel like it was his birthday? Did something happen at school? Did something not happen? What would it take for him to feel like it was his “real” birthday? A few questions later, I realized he believed that on his birthday he would instantly “feel” older; he would magically be able to do things he wasn’t able to do the day before. But I kept the conversation going during the ride home, through lunch, and for some time after that. I asked lots of questions and listened as he shared evidence for why it was most definitely not his birthday. I was enamored with his reasoning and determination, while underneath it all, I felt his disappointment that this day, one that was supposed to be special, didn’t meet his expectations. 

​Take your poet to work? Sure! Poetry is for everyone, everywhere, so get your poetry on!

Beautifully written and illustrated, this book is an ode to a poem inside you. Katey Howes uses the metaphor of a seed as the dormant poem waiting to be watered, grow roots, sprout, blossom, and be shared—if you dare. Heather Brockman Lee’s bright, expressive illustrations depict a diverse group of children surrounded by nature and are the perfect complement to Howes’ lyrical, rhyming text. This emotional, meaningful, and masterfully told and illustrated book is a must have for your bookshelf!
 
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​For a pet parent, losing a pet is devastating. This month do your part to prevent losing your pet! But I do sometimes wonder what an “escaped” pet thinks and feels when they wander away from home. Are they looking for adventure? Today’s recommended picture book is about a kitty who gets lost on her adventure in:  

This book is so much fun! Poopsie is a pampered kitty, and after observing her boring routine, the narrator dares her to go on an adventure. Poopsie takes the dare and encounters a bit more than she anticipated. As the story progresses, the kitty looks less and less pampered and more and more distrustful of the narrator (rightfully so). How does Poopsie fare in the end? Well, you’ll have to read to find out, but let’s just say that she shows the narrator a thing or two about adventure. This laugh-out-loud story with adorable, expressive illustrations will surely tickle your funny bone!
 
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​How can we show others we care? One way is to utter the greeting, “Namaste.”

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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​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:

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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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:

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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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:  

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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​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:

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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​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: 

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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​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:  

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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