Picture books

Animals in the snow

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Igloo by Ann Kim Ha (Greenwillow Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). The first big snow is coming, and Chickadee is out in the cold. A gaggle of geese pass by and form a huddle around the bird to keep it warm. As snow starts to fall, a fox and a bear wrap themselves around the birds to form a tight, warm ball. A gust of wind sweeps them away and down a hill, encasing them in a giant snowball when they finally land. The geese pop out through the top, and the bear and fox dig their way through one of the sides, leaving Chickadee inside a snug igloo home.

This reminded me of Larissa Theule’s The Sweater from earlier this year. Read the two books together for a cozy wintertime story hour with a theme of animals helping each other and the importance of home and community.

Bathtime for Snow Monkeys by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, illustrated by Yas Imamura (Candlewick, 32 pages, ages 4-8). In the snowy mountains of Nagano, Japan, a group of nihonzaru, also known as snow monkeys or Japanese macaques, gather to enjoy the hot springs. One of the babies wants to splash and play, but the others calm him down, grooming him, then helping him gently drift off to sleep. The others relax in the hot water, blissfully unaware of the snow falling on them. Includes an author’s note about the Jigokudani monkey park and the hot springs that were created for the macaques after ski chalets crowded them out of their natural habitat.

Written in a series of haiku poems, this beautifully illustrated book induces a Zen-like tranquility that will get you through any snowstorm this winter. I wish there had been a note somewhere about haiku, but this would be a great way to introduce the poetry form to kids.

Books with a Thanksgiving vibe

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Family Found: A Queer Friendsgiving Celebration by Joanna McClintick, illustrated by Keisha Morris (Candlewick, 40 pages, ages 4-8). The narrator asks different people at their annual Friendsgiving celebration how the tradition of having dinner together every year got started. No one can quite remember, but each person shares a little bit of LGBTQ+ history. After the feast has been prepared, one of the older participants stands up and recites a short poem offering gratitude for this found family that offers each member love and acceptance. Includes additional information about some of the history mentioned in the text.

A lovely celebration of found family and the LGBTQ+ community whose members may not always be welcome to join their families of origin at the holiday. I wish there had been a little more to the story which felt like a vehicle for sharing history, but it’s a welcome addition to the Thansgiving bookshelf.

The Thing About Pie by Amy Hest, illustrated by Christopher Thornock (Neal Porter Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). “The thing about pie is waking up early to make it.” The boy in the story, which is told in the second person, has gotten up early to roll out pie crust, mix up blueberries, and top it all with a latticework crust while his dog looks on. He wraps the pie in towels, puts it in his bike basket, and heads off. There’s a tense moment when the pie bounces out of the basket, but happily, it lands right back in the basket again. And finally, boy, dog, and pie arrive at their destination; Grampa’s house, and the boy and his grampa share a piece of pie together. Glorious.

Okay, I’ll admit there’s no mention of a November holiday, but any story about pie, kind actions, and time spent with family is a Thanksgiving book in my opinion. The text and illustrations work together perfectly to tell a simple story that is also extremely satisfying, showing a selfless deed and concluding with a happy shared memory.

Fun books from Caldecott medalists

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Cow and Sow by Matthew Farina, illustrated by Doug Salati (Tundra Books, 48 pages, ages 3-7). Cabin fever hits Cow and Sow as winter drags on, so one day they decide to head outside for a walk to the pond. When Cow slips and winds up on the ice, the two friends discover the fun of gliding on the pond. The next day they bring some friends, and soon everyone is enjoying some winter fun until Cow and Sow get into an argument about who invented a special jump. As the other animals join in the debate, the ice gives way, and Cow plunges into the water. After rescuing her, the friends agree that it was a silly argument and decide to name the jump after both of them, the Sow-Cow.

While Doug Salati won his Caldecott for a book that celebrates summer, this one extols the joys of winter. The story is perfect for preschoolers whether you’re focusing on winter, friendship, or what’s most important in life. You can wrap it up by showing a video of a skater performing a Salchow jump, which I’m pretty sure was the inspiration for the Sow-Cow.

I Wonder If I’m Growing by Raffi, illustrated by Jon Klassen (Tundra Books, 44 pages, ages 3-7). 50 years after its first release, Raffi’s song is given new life with Jon Klassen’s illustrated version. For the first half of the book, readers only see the narrator’s eyes as he peers over the top of the table, bathtub, bathroom mirror, and car window. When his mom tells him to wash his hands in the second half, he realizes he can reach the tap, and his surprised mouth is visible in the mirror. We then get to see him smiling in the car, in the tub, and finally, in bed.

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a Raffi song (we were a Wee Sing family), but I went back and listened to this one after reading the book. It’s a brief, gentle tune that kids will relate to, and it would be fun to listen to while enjoying Klassen’s illustrations. He does a masterful job of conveying a whole series of emotions through the narrator’s eyes only, and in the second half, his surprised mouth and smile.

Poetry that teaches some history

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La Bandera: Poems of Resistance and Pride by Anika Aldumuy Denise, illustrated by Ericka Lugo (HarperCollins, 48 pages, grades 3-up). Fourteen poems share the history of Puerto Rico beginning in 1868 when Mariana Bracetti created the Puerto Rican flag as a symbol of the revolution against Spain. That freedom was won in 1898…for a little over a week until the United States invaded, as described in the poem “Eight Days.” The collection moves through the twentieth century, to the final poem where the author describes how a visit to the island with her family helped her reconnect with her Puerto Rican heritage. She concludes with an author’s note giving more information about Puerto Rico and her family’s culture. There are also notes giving more information about each poem as well as a preface that gives a brief introduction to the history.

I learned so much about the history of Puerto Rico from this book, a sad commentary on how lacking we are in the history of this island that’s a part of our country and the ancestral home of more than six million people living in the U.S. I was wishing for more information about each of the poems, but I soon realized that there aren’t many children’s books to provide that. Enjoy this beautiful book of poems and illustrations that connect the flag–la bandera–to different events in Puerto Rican history.

A Poem for Dudley Randall: Poet and Publisher of the Black Arts Movement by Don Tate, illustrated by Laura Freeman (Harry N. Abrams, 48 pages, grades K-4). Born to two poetry lovers in 1914, Dudley Randall wrote poems all his life. In high school his poem “Twilight” won first prize in a contest for young poets in the Detroit Free Press. After graduation Dudley took jobs in a foundry at the Ford Motor Company, as a postal worker, a soldier, and finally, in 1955, a librarian. He continued writing, and his “Ballad of Birmingham” expressed his horror at the 1963 bombing of an African American church. It achieved popularity as a broadside, leading Dudley to start a printing company, the Broadside Press, which published some of the most famous Black poets of the time, including Gwendolyn Brooks, Sonia Sanchez, and Nikki Giovanni. The story includes four of Dudley Randall’s poems, and there’s also a list of the artists portrayed in the book, an afterword with additional information about Randall, a list of his poetry collections and anthologies, an author’s note, a bibliography, and additional information about historical events in the text such as the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement.

This is a fascinating picture book biography about a man I had never heard of, but who was a powerhouse in getting the works of Black poets and authors into the world and a gifted poet in his own right. Not only the story, but the beautiful illustrations, the poems, and the lessons in Black history make this a standout, and with four starred reviews, it’s likely to be considered for some awards.

These may come in handy this week

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Three Little Witches and the Spooky Old House by Peggy Archer, illustrated by Gaia Bordicchia (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 3-6). An abandoned house sits at the end of a long, dark road, all alone until three witches make their way to the front door carrying a broom, a sack, and a pot. Inside, they get to work cleaning up the house, building a fire, and casting mysterious spells. Mice, bugs, and ghosts emerge from the shadows and watch them work. Finally, there’s a knock on the door, and the witches greet their friends: an ogre, a mummy, and a goblin. Everyone sits down at the table to enjoy a fall treat of popcorn and cider inside the cozy–and now happy–house.

I had kind of mixed feelings about this book. I really liked all the onomatopoeia and the repetition, both of which would make it a good choice for preschool kids, but the text was written in verses that felt like they should rhyme. My other objection was the traditional gender roles, with the girl witches cleaning, cooking, and serving the food to their male-presenting monster friends. I did love the illustrations, and if you’re looking for a non-scary Halloween book that includes witches, haunted houses, and monsters, this definitely fits the bill.

The Broom of Doom by Becky Davies, illustrated by Thomas Elliott (Union Square Kids, 40 pages, ages 4-8). “This is a story about justice…It is not a story about jealousy at all,” begins the narrator, who turns out to be a witch’s broom. The broom is tired of being in the background all the time, and when it gets its hand on the witch’s wish potion, it’s time to turn the tables. The broom wishes first to be a star and gets turned into a literal star, only to feel invisible again in the sky with so many other stars. Its second wish is to be as famous as the witch, but this turns out to be a burden when the public expects the same level of spells that the witch can provide. Finally, the broom wishes to go back to the old way of being a witch’s broom and is relieved when it turns into a regular broom again. There’s a funny twist on the last couple pages that will leave the reader questioning if it really is the end of the story.

Here’s another non-scary Halloween choice with a cluelessly funny narrator and a classic three wishes sequence that could be used as a compare and contrast with other stories. The comic-style illustrations will appeal to fans of Dan Santat and Pete Oswald. I missed the first book by this team, but if you enjoy this, you can also check out The Mushroom of Doom.

Building communities

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This Is a Library Book by Joyce Grant, illustrated by Chanelle Nibbelink (Kids Can Press, 48 pages, grades 3-6). This love letter to libraries looks at all kinds of libraries, from early ones to ancient Greece to ones that have served as beacons in such places as Auschwitz and war-torn Syria, to cutting edge institutions that only have digital books or that lend out unusual non-book items (including people!). There are little free libraries that have made banned books available to everyone and a camel library that brings books to kids in Pakistan. And libraries in places like prisons and hospitals bring light to those living through a dark time. Includes a list of libraries mentioned in the book with their websites, a glossary, a bibliography, and and an index.

Reading this book made me proud to be a librarian and really expanded my definition of the library! I loved the illustrations and the fascinating stories of libraries past, present, and future, although I found the text a bit too small and dense (I wish the creators had continued the first pages’ comic book style throughout). But thank goodness the stereotype of the sensibly-shod gray-haired librarian shushing people is being replaced by cool freedom fighters who bring joy and innovation around the world!

The Little Stone Buddha by Grace Lin (Alvina Ling Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). “The Little Stone Buddha had been lost. He was not supposed to be there.” Surrounded by trash on a city street, the Little Stone Buddha smiles up at the sky, day and night. One day a little girl and her mother walk by. Although her mother tells her not to touch the garbage, the girl pulls out the Buddha and sets him up on a box. Other people see him and start picking up some of the trash around him. A woman brings him flowers; a couple puts an umbrella over him. Little by little, people clean up the area around the Buddha and add plants a mural, and a bench until the dirty garbage dump has been transformed into a beautiful community park. Includes an author’s note and photos about the inspirations for this book: The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton and the Oakland Buddha, a real stone Buddha that helped transform a dumping ground in Oakland, CA.

I found this story delightful and enjoyed the inspiring messages both about a community coming together almost by accident to create something beautiful in their midst and the Little Stone Buddha who smiled at his circumstances whether he was abandoned in a pile of trash or surrounded by flowers and friendly people in a park. I loved how the illustrations gradually transformed from grays and browns to a riot of color.

A couple of unconventional holiday books

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This Is Not a Christmas Book* *This Is a Book About Rocks by Jory John, illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 40 pages, ages 4-8). The lizard narrator is insistent: this is NOT a Christmas book, it’s a book about rocks. He stands in front of a field of rocks to prove it…but sharp-eyed readers will notice a few Christmas-y shapes among the rocks. And is that an elf wrapping presents at the far corner of the field? Every time the lizard returns to his lecture, another holiday figure appears: a reindeer’s antlers, a snowman, and finally, Santa himself, who gives the lizard a present. A lump of coal! It’s just what the geologically-minded reptile has been wishing for! And finally, he fully embraces the season as the field of rocks is taken over with festive cheer. There’s a gatefold spread of Santa flying through the sky to finish things off.

Kids will definitely get a laugh out of this serious lizard who’s determined to keep Christmas out of his rock lesson. They’ll have fun finding the holiday people, animals, and objects that appear with increasing frequency on each page. This is billed as a “This Is Not a Holidays book,” and, given John Jory’s popularity, I would be surprised if there aren’t a bunch of spin-offs for other holidays.

Midnight Manor: A Backwards Bedtime Book by Sid Sharp (Annick Press, 36 pages, ages 4-8). Naturally, the residents of Midnight Manor wake up as the sun is going down and get ready for a busy night. All kinds of monsters are introduced: goblins, banshees, poltergeists, gargoyles, and more. Everyone goes about their business, ordinary except for some ghoulish details. For instance, when the basketball players discover their ball’s deflated, Hector removes his head to keep the game going. The monsters all gather in the garden for a ghostly dance until the sun starts to rise. Then it’s back home for baths (with sharks) and bedtime stories, and a series of goodnights that include a nod to Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight, Moon.

If you’re trying to find a Halloweenish book that doesn’t actually mention the holiday, look no further than the front door of Midnight Manor. Kids will love seeing all the monsters that are just the right mix of creepy and funny, and those familiar with Goodnight, Moon will get a kick out of the illustration inspired by it.

A couple of slippery subjects

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A Riddle of Eels by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Corey R. Tabor (Random House Studio, 48 pages, grades 1-5). In this nonfiction book about eels…or, wait a minute, is this a nonfiction book about eels? Eels are, to quote Winston Churchill (although he didn’t say it about eels), “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” For instance, did you know that no one has ever been able to figure out how eels reproduce? While scientist Johannes Schmidt discovered that eels spawn in the Sargasso Sea, to this day, no one has ever found a full-grown eel there. “We know so much about our world,” Day tells readers. “But sometimes there’s a crack in our wall of knowledge. And through it, we can catch a glimpse of the vast, wonderous world that’s still unknown to us.” So is this book about eels? Kind of. But it’s also about that world of wonder and all the unknowns that those slippery eels point to. Includes an author’s note about the disappearance of eels around the world and the importance of learning more about them to preserve them; also, a list of sources.

When you pick up a Nicholas Day book, the only certainty is that you can expect the unexpected. While readers will learn some things about eels by reading this book, they’ll also get their minds blown a little bit and their eyes opened to how much we still don’t know about the world we live in. I love that Corey R. Tabor did the illustrations, which add just the right amount of humor to complement Day’s slightly tongue-in-cheek writing style.

Goodbye, Koi by Jack Wong (Orchard Books 48 pages, ages 4-8). The narrator describes taking his koi to their new home in a pond at the park. He wonders if they’ll be happy there, just like he’s wondering about himself as he and his dad get ready to move to a new place. When he thinks about the fish getting cold in the winter, the illustrations show him shopping for a new winter jacket. When he hopes that they’ll get along with the other fish, readers see him interacting with family at a farewell party. His dad reminds him that they’ll have each other to share memories, and the boy decides that he’s ready for his new home. Includes an author’s note about his own journey from Hong Kong to Canada at the age of 6, how he learned Chinese brush painting to create this book, and how the story is really about the uncertainties that come from making big changes in life. Also includes additional information about koi fish.

As someone who recently made a transition (I’ve changed jobs from a big urban elementary school to a small, rural junior/senior high school), this story really resonated with me and reminded me that uncertainty is a part of any new journey. The illustrations are gorgeous, and I’m sure it’s only Jack Wong’s Canadian residence that will keep this from being considered for a Caldecott.

Based on the author’s life

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The Dream Team (Mae & Malibu book 1) by Anna Elyse Johnson, illustrated by Anuki López (little bee books, 112 pages, grades 1-4). Mae is excited to get a service dog named Malibu to help her with her epilepsy. Although Malibu has been well-trained, he has to prove himself a good fit with Mae and to go through training for seizure alert and response. Mae loves Malibu and wants to do everything she can to help him become part of the family. She also hopes having a service dog to help her will make her mom a little less overprotective. When Mae has a seizure at her friend’s house, Malibu proves himself more than capable, and not only does he get officially adopted, but Mae is allowed to go to the town’s big music festival for the first time ever.

The author’s bio reveals that she also has epilepsy and a service dog named Hamilton, who is listed as a co-author. Fans of animal stories will fall in love with the endearing and well-trained Malibu and will learn a fair amount about epilepsy and what it takes to become a service dog. Book 2 just came out a few weeks ago.

More Us by Elizabeth Withey, illustrated by Ellen Rooney (Orca Book Publishers, 32 pages, grades K-3). The narrator tells about his Uncle Gray, who’s moving in with him and his mom after several years of being homeless. The boy describes how he and his mom used to drive around the city looking for his uncle, and how one time they found him in a tent on a cold winter’s night. While it’s clear that Uncle Gray is still dealing with some of the issues that led to being unhoused, Mom thinks he’s ready for a home with them now. “Do you think he’s better now? Happy?” asks the boy. “Why not go ask him yourself?” she replies, and the last illustration shows him playing checkers with his uncle. An author’s note tells how she based this book and her 2020 picture book, The One with the Scraggly Beard on her experiences with her own younger brother.

This touching story shows the reality of a loved one being homeless and embraces the idea of “one day at a time” in recovery. The fact that it’s based on the author’s own life (with the book dedicated to her brother) makes it even more poignant.

The right stuff

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The Gallaudet Eleven: The Story of NASA’s Deaf Bioastronauts by Kerry O’Malley Cerra, illustrated by Kristina Gehrmann (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 48 pages, grades 1-4). As the Space Race heated up, a researcher at NASA needed to figure out how to help astronauts with motion sickness as they traveled into space. Knowing that motion sickness originates in the inner ear, he decided to study a group with vestibular systems don’t work–which is some people who are deaf. He recruited eleven men from Gallaudet University and spent the next ten years studying them in all sorts of environments that had them spinning, floating, and traveling on a ship through stormy seas. The team saw it as a way to serve their country, and the experiments led to the creation of medicines, space suits, and other devices that eased motion sickness for the hearing astronauts. Includes a note from the author (who is deaf but now hears with a cochlear implant) with additional information about the bioastronauts and the creation of the book, a timeline, and a list of selected sources.

This was such a fascinating story, and one that is sure to grab the attention of a wide range of readers. The Gallaudet’s enthusiasm and willingness to put themselves through a variety of challenging experiments really shines through, despite their isolation from scientists and hearing astronauts who didn’t know how to communicate with them.

Casting April by Wendy Lu (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 288 pages, grades 4-7). April loves the theater and secretly hopes to try out for her middle school play. Having a tracheostomy tube makes her nervous about performing onstage, and her mom’s worries don’t help her confidence. When her best friend Ruby urges her to try out, April nails her audition and eagerly awaits the cast list. Much to her surprise and disappointment, she’s given a backstage role. She decides to give it a try, hoping to unseat new girl Zahra from the lead role. After overhearing the director Ms. Rooney telling other teachers that she was afraid to give April a part because of her trach tube, April becomes more determined than ever to prove her wrong. The play turns out to be full of surprises, and April’s discoveries about Zahra and Ms. Rooney cause her to reevaluate everything. When it looks like the performance might get cancelled, April puts aside her own ambitions and works with her family and friends to prove once and for all that the show must go on.

At first glance, this may seem like another middle school theater story, but there’s a lot more packed into it, including interesting insights into living with a disability. April proves herself capable of handling just about anything related to her health, proving those around her wrong about her limitations. At the same time, she wants to be treated like other kids. She also gets a lesson about invisible disabilities with her discoveries about Ms. Rooney. An engaging and inspiring story by an author who also lives with a tracheostomy tube.