🎄10 Last Minute Picture Book Gift Suggestions 🕎

My young readers and I were going through some of the books we've read and loved this year, many of which have been included in previous picture book roundups. The books I'm including in this roundup have all been read and loved and we all agreed they would make great gifts for your young readers (and so would any of the books included in a roundup).

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper,

illustrated by Carson Ellis

Candlewick Press, 2019, 32 pages

The poem "The Shortest Day" was originally written in 1977 for The Christmas Revels, performed every year to celebrate the Winter Solstice and welcoming in the Yule season. Now, this iconic poem has been put into book form and what a book it is! Beginning with a two page wordless spread of bright sun in the sky, and shadowy figures, a page turn reveals a sinking sun, and people gathering wood. More page turns begin "So the shortest day came/ and the year died,/And everywhere down the centuries/ of the snow-white world/ Came people singing, dancing,/ To drive the dark away." The subtle but powerful, truly atmospheric gouache illustrations harmonizing with the words of the poem brings the readers from what appears to be the early days of pagan rituals (reminding me of Stonehenge) to modern day celebrations of caroling, feasting, giving thanks and spending time with dear friends, and a sincere hope for peace. "The Shortest Day" has always been a favorite poem of mine, and one I used often in school, and this book only makes it better thanks to the illustrations. And because of it, there are two new items on my bucket list, 1- to go to Stonehenge for Winter Solstice, and 2- to go to Massachusetts for The Christmas Revels. For now, I'll just have to be happy sharing this book with my young readers.

Small in the City

written and illustrated by Sydney Smith

Neal Porter Books, 2019, 40 pages

Follow along on a cold winter day as a young boy rides a streetcar into the center of a city, disembarks, and begins walking through the streets.  Dwarfed by the tall buildings and traffic on all sides, the child begins "I know what it's like to be small in the city." Continuing through the streets, at first it feels as though the child is speaking about himself, and that perhaps it is about his own experience, but as the story progresses, readers realizes that he is thinking about his lost cat. His suggestions of how the cat could find safe spaces, under a mulberry bush or up a walnut tree, ways to avoid dangerous spots, biting dogs, dark alleys, or warm up in from of a dryer vent until it can find its way home are a reflection of his hope for the survival of his missing kitty. As the story progresses, so does the falling snow until at last it is quite heavy and the young child returns home, knowing that ultimately the cat will be all right. This is a very emotionally charged story, especially if you have ever had to search for a missing loved pet (I have, 2 of my 5 readers have, too). The text is rather spare, confined to the narrator's thoughts, but much of the story is told wordlessly in a series of small graphic frames, all of which seem to stress the child's being alone in such a big, busy city, and the aloneness the missing cat may be experiencing. The illustrations, done in ink, watercolor and "a bit of gouache" are beautiful, poignant, and yes, even heartbreaking, but ultimately also hopeful.    

Stormy: A Story About Finding a Forever Home

written and illustrated by Guojing

Schwartz & Wade, 2019, 34 pages

This wordless picture book begins with a series of frames showing a small dog with curly red fur sleeping under a bench in a park when a woman comes along and notices it. She leaves, but the next day she returns, this time offering a ball in the hope of luring the dog over to her, but it still keeps its distance. Returning again, the little dog begins to warm up to her and one day follows her as she goes home. From her window, she notices the puppy sitting in front of her building, but when it being to rain, the dog leaves to find shelter, hiding in a cardboard box by a garbage pail. Noticing the dog gone, the woman runs out to the park bench to look for him. Disappointed, she returns home, drenched after her umbrella breaks in the wind, when she notices the ball she had given the dog lying in the street, and then finds the dog in the box. Naturally, she brings the dog home, dries it off, and feeds it, gives it some cuddling, and the two head to bed, with the dog on a pillow at the foot of the woman's bed. My young readers loved this story, probably because of the heartwarming ending. But they had fun narrating the story based on the illustrations, and this scruffy little puppy had a different name every time we read this book. The back of the dust jacket says this is "a story about patience, kindness, and trust" and this generated some interesting conversations about how these qualities played out in the story and how they can be important in real life. I love the endpapers - in the front, there is the bench, a tree next to it, and the dog under the bench sleeping under a very overcast sky; at the back is the same scene but without the dog and with a blue sky. And isn't Stormy just a perfect name for this sweet little stray who finds a forever home.       

Odd Dog Out

written and illustrated by Rob Biddulph

HarperCollins, 2019, 32 pages

On a busy city street, dachshunds are busy going about their day - some in business suits, others driving in cars, still more in stripped jersey's playing soccer. Turn the page and there are more dachshunds involved in more activities. What's the most noticeable thing about them? Members of each group look exactly alike. And then there is one who's different: "Someone on this/ busy street/ is dancing to a/ different beat." Dressed in colorful stripes, matching hat, and headphone she not only stands out, she also feels lonely and left out. So, she sets off looking for a place to belong. And finds Doggywood, where everyone looks just like her. Well, almost everyone: "Somebody this/ afternoon/ is whistling a/ different tune." But this is a dog who loves being different, and so should our Odd Dog, he tells her. Suddenly she realizes "That dog is right/ It's plain to see/ there's nothing wrong/ with being me." Odd Dog immediately heads home and is welcomed back with open arms - it seems she was missed in her absence. And best of all, they are all dancing to a different beat now. too. Teaching kids to have the courage to be who they are isn't an easy task in the face of some much pressure to conform. This is a book that tackles this problem head on even while distancing the issue by using dogs instead of kids and all done in catchy light verse, that harmonize perfectly with the brightly humorous illustrations. My kids love this book and we've read it many times over this last week. I suspect we'll be reading it many more times.

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story

by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

Roaring Brook Press, 2019, 42 pages

Fry bread is the story of family, friends, and food - specifically fry bread, a Native American tradition and a culinary delight. Told in short, simple free verse, the book begins with a group of diverse kids gathering around the kitchen table where their Nana is starting to prepare some fry bread. Each two page spread begins with the words "Fry Bread is..." describing not just the ingredients but also the shape, the sound, the color. But fry bread is also time spent with family and friends, and importantly, it is history, a new post-colonial bread created with what was made available: "Fry bread is history/ The long walk, the stolen land/ Strangers in our own world/ With unknown food/ We made new recipes/ From what we had." Maillard has written a modern story for today's Native Americans that stresses the importance of community, strength, and survival and all centered on a bread that is shared by indigenous people across the country: "Fry bread is us/ We are still here/ Elder and young/ Friend and neighbor/ We strengthen each other/ To learn, change, and survive." Maillard has included a family recipe for making fry bread, which sounds delicious, and an Author's Note that goes into more depth about fry bread and it's place in the lives of Native Americans. None of my young readers have ever had fry bread, but they could still relate to its importance because of traditional favorite foods in their own families. 

Roly Poly by Mem Fox,

illustrated by Jane Dyer

Beach Lane Books, 2019, 40 pages

Roly Poly is an only child and he thinks that is just fine. Everything - his parents, his bed, his favorite walrus tooth - are all his and his alone. Until one morning when Roly Poly wakes up to a little stranger in his bed. It's his new little brother and Roly Poly isn't very happy about it, telling his mom: "But I never asked for a little brother and I don't want one now." Monty keeps trying to play with Roly Poly, who just walks away or pretends he isn't there, repeating what he told his mom. When Monty takes his favorite walrus tooth, and then the fish Roly Poly has just caught, he's had enough and tells Monty to get lost just as the ice beneath his little brother begins to crack and drift away. Pretending not to hear Monty's cries for help, Roly Poly finally gives in, diving into the icy water and swimming out to the ice floe to save his little brother. From then on. Roly Poly and Monty "...lived happily ever after. Well...mostly." Told in spare text, Mem Fox has really captured the feelings and common reaction of an only child getting a younger sibling and suddenly having to share everything. It's really a simple enough story, with lots of white space for young readers to muse on their own experience of getting a new sibling. The illustrations are simply charming. The polar bear family is made of felted wool, and place in scenes giving the story a real 3-D feeling. Did my young readers like Roly Poly's story? Well, yes, but most of them are not first borns, so they related more to Monty and had their own stories to tell about being the Monty in their family (for the record, I'm a Monty, too). 

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o,

illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Simon & Schuster BFUR, 2019, 48 pages

Colorism isn't usually an issue you would expect to see in a picture book, but actress Lupita Nyong'o does just has done just that and has done it well. "Sulwe was born the color of midnight" in a family of lighter skin parents and sister. While everyone at school plays with her sister, five-year-old Sulwe hides by herself to avoid being made fun of. She tries all kinds of things in the hope of lightening her skin, even praying, but no matter what she tries, nothing works. Then, Sulwe, whose name means star, is visited one night by a shooting star that takes her on a journey, and as they go, the star tells her the story of sisters Night and Day, who loved each other very much. Everyone else loved Day but Night, not so much, so Night decided to leave. Now, it was Day all the time and people loved it, until they began to miss Night. It turned out people needed Night as much as they needed Day. Sulwe faces the next day with a completely different attitude: "There would be no hiding anymore. She belonged out in the world! Dark and beautiful, bright and strong!" If you read the Author's Note, you'll learn that this story came out of the Nyong'o's personal experience of being treated the way Sulwe is in the story, as are so many kids are in their own lives. Nyong'o doesn't skirt the issue of colorism and low self-esteem nor does she try to sugar coat them, recognizing the importance of addressing them head on for the very young. Vashti Harrison's artwork is particularly beautiful and completely compliments the text. 

The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh

by Supriya Kelkar, illustrated by Alea Marley

Sterling Children's Books, 2019, 28 pages

Harpreet Singh, a young Sikh, loves colors and uses them to express his feelings. In fact, he has a color for everything: yellow for when he feels sunny, pink for celebrating, red for a boost of courage. And he takes special care of his colorful patkas (the head covering worn by Sikh boys). But when his parents announce that the family will be moving, all the bright, happy colors go out of Harpreet's life, replaced by blue when he feels nervous, gray when he feels sad, and white when he feels shy and doesn't want to be seen. Harpreet wears white all the time in his new school, where he sits alone, not making any friends. His parents try to convince him to wear his old favorite colors, but Harpreet wants none of it. One day, however, when he finds a lost hat, and returns it to a girl in his class, it looks like the beginning of a new colorful, fun friendship. This is an interesting story. How often do you find a picture book with a character who is Sikh. Not wanting to move away from what is familiar and comfortable, though, is a common problem for kids, but when cultural and religious differences come into play, it makes the move that much harder for them. The text is brief and straightforward, but it is in Marley's colorful illustrations that readers will notice Harpreet's challenges - the odd looks he gets  because of his lunch of chapati and dal her, the difficulty at spelling his name on class party invitations. Be sure to read the back matter which includes A Note From Simran Jeet Singh, a scholar of Sikhism, on the importance of Sikh men covering their heads as part of their religion.

Mr. Posey's New Glasses by Ted Kooser,

illustrated by Daniel Duncan

Candlewick Press, 2019, 40 pages

Most people have routines and their lives begin to take on the feeling of sameness. That's OK, but sometimes people need to look at their lives through new eyes. That's the premise of this book, but as one of my young readers pointed out it's also about friends. It begins when Mr. Posey wakes up one morning and decides his dull, boring life needs a new pair of glasses. And so he invites his young friend and neighbor Andy along on a trip to the Cheer Up Thrift Shop to see if they can find a pair of glasses through which Mr. Posey can get a different perspective of his world. After rejecting pair after pair, Mr. Posey puts his old glasses on, just as Andy asks him if he could buy him a wheel. But when Mr. Posey can't see what Andy has, his friend tells him to clean his glasses, and voila! clean glasses are just the thing needed to make Mr. Posey's life less dull and boring. They buy the wheel instead of glasses, and have lots of fun with it on their way home. I liked this story on so many levels. First there's the intergenerational aspect and the way Andy and elderly Mr. Posey get along so well. Then there's the fact that Mr. Posey is white and Andy appears to be African American and it's just a fact of who they are. And third, I liked the idea that we all have the power within ourselves to look at life differently. The digitally created illustrations are fun and very expressive, especially when the two friends are trying on glasses.

Fly!

written and illustrated by Mark Teague

Beach Lane Books, 2019, 40 pages

Mama bird has been bringing juicy worms to her fledgling long enough and now it's time for her baby bird to learn to fly and find his own worms. After a bit of a temper tantrum, the little bird gives flying a try but falls to the ground. Mama bird is determined her chick will learn to fly, while baby adamantly refuses to give flying another chance and instead comes up with all kinds of ideas that will get him airborne without his having to do any work. It's clear that mama isn't buying any of those ideas. Next, she tells him that when autumn comes, they need to fly south to Florida, and again baby comes up with ideas to get him there without flying. Mama warns him about hungry dogs and cats who might find a baby bird a fun toy or a tasty treat, but it's the threat of an owl that finally gets him out of the nest and flapping his wings. Next thing baby bird knows, he's finally airborne on his own and can fly. There is finally peace in the nest, and Mama and baby are happily together again. This is a wordless picture book that uses pictures in the speech bubbles in place of words and it works beautifully. My kids each took a turn telling the story using just the illustrations and had so much fun doing it. The message is clear, and the acrylic illustrations are just lovely. This is a book my young readers want to return to again and again.

🎄Nonfiction Suggestions for Holiday Gift Giving 🕎

Here are some gift suggestions for fact loving readers of all ages on your holiday list! 

Don't Let Them Disappear: 12 Endangered Species Across the Globe

by Chelsea Clinton, illustrated by Gianna Marino

Philomel Books, 2019, 40 pages

As more creatures begin to disappear from the earth forever, this book looks at 12 familiar species from around the world that are getting closer and closer to becoming extinct themselves if nothing is done to try to save them. Giraffes, gorillas, blue whales, rhinoceroses, giant pandas, whale sharks, polar bears, lions, sea otters, orangutans, tigers, and elephants are all introduced with interesting facts and information about their individual characteristics. Included is how and where they live, the causes for us to be concerned about their dwindling numbers as well as their endangered status and, most importantly, which of them are at risk of disappearing, each one ending with the plea "Don't let them disappear!" Each species gets a two page spread accompanied by very appealing, colorful and emotional gouache illustrations. In addition to information about these creatures, Clinton includes a useful key defining the different levels of risk, ranging from not endangered to extinct. And back matter consists of reasons species are endangered, as well as a list of proactive suggestions that young people and their families can do. This is an excellent book to start a needed conversation with young people.

You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks

written and illustrated by Evan Turk

Atheneum BFYR, 2019, 56 pages

It's a terrible possibility to think about, but our national parks may start disappearing one of these days. However, until that happens, they are here and they are wonderful. In this book, using simple free verse sentences, just a few lines on each two page spread, Turk repeats the titular phrase You Are Home throughout, as he paints a breathtakingly beautiful picture of life in each of 23 out of our 60 different National Parks, from the chipmunk sleeping in her burrow in Shenandoah and prowling bobcats in Yosemite to the ancient rock carvings in Mesa Verde National Park and "the child whose ancestors/ lived on these lands before/ the stars and stripes/ took them as their own: YOU ARE STILL HOME." In fact, poem and pictures instill in the reader that same sense of belonging regardless of who you are and where you live. Readers are reminded that there is "a sense of belonging/ sung by the streams,/ from valleys to peaks,/ through millions of hearts." Back matter includes A Note From the Author, a Map showing the location of all 60 National Parks and More About the Parks And Animals In This Book. This book is too sophisticated for my young readers, but I spent a lot of time myself reading the text and exploring the stunningly textured illustrations done with pastel on black paper. I can guarantee, you will, too.

Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Stuff 

by Stephanie Warren Drimmer

National Geographic Kids, 2019, 256 pages

I'm known among friends as the Duck Tape Queen because I truly believe a roll of this wonderful silver tape can be used to fix everything, so naturally I had to known the original of it. It is a miracle tape that was developed during WWII and it even saved the lives of three Apollo 13 astronauts in 1970. And this is just one of the fact you will find in this chockablock books of fascinating origin stories. From peanuts butter to jeans to holidays and traditions, this book has it all. This small 7'x7' book is divided by category into 10 chapters, each with the beginnings of 10 related items. There are plenty of full color photographs and sidebars with additional information throughout. This is the kind of book I would have loved as a young reader, and would have enjoyed reading it them as much as I have. It is an ideal gift idea that can provide hours of fun for the whole family, at home or on a trip (in fact, my Kiddo asked if she could have it to read on her plane trip back to China and to use in her classes over there). 

Your Amazing Digestion From Mouth Through Intestine

by Joanne Settel, PhD, illustrated by Steve Björkman

Atheneum BFYR, 2019, 112 pages

This may look like an odd book to include on a holiday gift suggestion list, but I suspect there is more than one kid out there who has questions about what happens to the food we eat after it is swallowed.  Well, here are the answers, all in kid friendly terms. The book is divided into five parts, written in iambic couplets (no easy task for a nonfiction book), with "Cool Facts" prose sidebars giving even more information. Beginning with nutrition, Settel explains what is in the food we eat, the carbs, the proteins, the fats, the vitamins and minerals. From there, she goes through each part of the digestive process from tasting to swallowing to what happens in your stomach to waste, looking at a variety of issues related to each step, issues like why chili makes you sweat, why milk comes out of your nose when you laugh, why your stomach gurgles, and why poop can smell so bad. These are important things, things kids wonder and sometimes laugh about. So naturally, Settel uses humor in her text, and Björkman's watercolor, pen, and ink spot illustrations reflect both the humor and the serious side of what is being said. Back matter includes an extensive Glossary, suggestions For More Information, References and Additional Reading and an Index. 

Suffragette: The Battle for Equality 

written and illustrated by David Roberts

Walker Books, 2019, 128 pages

One of the things we've learned in recent elections is that women and their vote can make a big difference. In this compelling history of the women who endeavored to get the right to vote, young readers will discover the roots to that struggle in both the United Kingdom and the United States and meet the women who made it finally happen. Roberts begins his history by defining just what suffrage is, then beginning in 1832, he traces the fight for the right to vote chronically, focusing in the many different women suffragettes on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as some of the men who vehemently did not want women to have a franchise. The writing is straightforward and Roberts makes a complex topic quite understandable for young readers. His watercolor, ink and pencil illustrations done in a soft pastel palette are just exquisitely rendered - there is a certain delicacy together with a strength of determination that is unmistakable. This is a book that is so chockablock with information that it will require more than one reading to take it all in. This is a wonderful gift for anyone, but especially a young girl who is just beginning to take a greater interest in the world around her and who will be voting someday soon. Personally, every time I stand on line waiting to cast my vote, I think about those brave women who came before me. And now I have an even clearer picture of The Battle for Equality.

Leading the Way: Women in Power

by Janet Howell and Teresa Howell.

illustrated by Kylie Akia and Alexandra Bye

Candlewick Press, 2019, 144 pages

Meet the fifty women whom Janet Howell has chosen to honor in this anthology, which has been published in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote. Included are women politicians, like feminist Bella Abzug, Tammy Duckworth, who was a Lieutenant Colonel in the army before she was a Congresswoman and later a Senator from Illinois. Also represented are people like Madeleine Albright, US ambassador to the UN, and US Secretary of State under President Clinton; activist and journalist Ida B. Wells-Barnett (yeah, I didn't who she was either, but I do now), Supreme Court Justice and Nancy Drew fan Sonia Sotomayor and her fellow Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Young readers will meet women mayors and governors, gutsy ladies like Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Jordan - all leaders, all trailblazers who made a difference in some way for today's young people. Back matter includes A Take Action Guide, and More Leaders to Discover. Each luminary is highlighted with a digitally rendered illustration and colorful circular Power Symbols that represent their specific character qualities, such as Integrity, Persistence, and Courage among others (there is a key at the beginning of this book). Pair this with Suffragette: The Battle for Equality for a well-rounded history of women and the fight for equality.

Encyclopedia of American Indian History & Culture:

Stories, Timelines, Maps, and More

by Cynthia O'Brien

National Geographic Society, 2019, 304 pages

As our awareness of this country's indigenous peoples comes more and more to the fore, I think we often realize how little non-Natives know about the history and culture of these very diverse people beyond the usual stereotypes we've been given. Now, here is a book that can help  change that. It is an encyclopedic introduction to more than 160 federally recognized tribes, and is divided into eight geographical regions - the Arctic and Subarctic, the Northeast, The Southeast, the Plains, the Southwest, the Great Basin and Plateau, the Northwest Coast, and California. There is a guide that explains how to use this book, followed by an Introduction, and a wonderful full-color map that shows where the eight different regions are. Readers will discover the stories, the history, the religion, culture, and more about the Native Americans in each region, and how their way of life had adapted to the different conditions in each one. As you would expect from a National Geographic publication, there are copious color and black and white photographs, as well as maps and timelines. Back matter includes a Glossary and a list of all the Federally Recognized Tribes. My kids are a little young for this book, but we've read most of the stories that are included and they really enjoyed them, which led to conversations about Native Americans, including the stereotypes they are already familiar with. I've also lent this book to older kids who used it for school during Native American Heritage Month (November), and their response to it was really positive. While it is not a in-depth look at each tribe included, it is a good stepping stone for more detailed information.It's a big, heavy book, but I keep it on the coffee table for people to pick up and go through.

🎄A Christmas Picture Book Roundup🎄

Christmas is coming and here are some wonderful picture books to make your holidays even merrier and brighter than usual. 

The Bear and the Star by Lola M. Schaefer,

illustrated by Bethanne Anderson

Greenwillow Books, 2019, 40 pages

On December morning, Bear wakes up from his winter nap and saw a new, just barely visible star in the sky. He then began a search for a strong, tall tree "a tree that would be the center/of all to come." Finding that, Bear let out a mighty roar East, West, North, and South that echoes throughout the land, letting animals and people know it is time and summoning them to the tree he found. They come from everywhere, people put down their tools and stop what they are doing, "Then they gathered/mask and drum/ scroll and shawl/ candle and copper/ flower and oil." As the star rises in the sky, animals, birds, and people gather round the tree in celebration, "because it was time.../for peace." When I first read this book, I thought it would be another typical Christmas story but with breathtaking, richly textured oil painted illustrations so I was so pleasantly surprised at the ending. It is a Christmas story of sorts, with the star rising in the sky, the tall evergreen tree, and all creatures celebrating, but the call with the message "it is time" is about peace, not the birth of Jesus. But, lets face it, what better time is there to celebrate the idea of peace than during the season of "Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards all people!"

Wintercake written and illustrated by Lynne Rae Perkins

Greenwillow Books, 2019, 48 pages

It seems that Thomas, a roly-poly bear-like creature, has misplaced his basket of dried apples, berries, plums, apricots, grapes, and cherries, after fetching them from his special fruit-drying spot. Lucy, an large indeterminate  yellow and red bird, helps him look for his basket, but with no luck. Now Thomas won't be able to make his special wintercake for Winter's Eve. When a winter storm hits, Lucy decides to go home, but the storm is so bad, she stops at a lovely warm tea room where she over hears a large brown furry creature talking about finding a basket of dried fruit, perfect for a wintercake. When the fellow leaves with the baskets, Lucy follows him to Thomas's home, where the guy she has quickly thought quickly decided was a "scoundrel: instead returns the basket to Thomas. Touched by his kindness, Thomas and Lucy decide to make a wintercake and share it with this stranger, whose name we learn is Tobin. But, finding the stranger's home is further away then they had anticipated and fraught with obstacles. Will they be able to find this good Samaritan and celebrate Winter's Eve together? What a charming winter story full of whimsey, twists and turns, snap judgements, new friendships and traditions. The illustrations emanate warmth when the animals are inside and winter cold what they are outside, but always work in harmony with the text, both so richly textured. I worried that the longer length of this book might not work with my young readers, but they loved it, making this book an unalloyed delight for the holiday season.

Bird Count by Susan Edwards Richmond,

illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

Peachtree Publishing Company, 2019, 32 pages

Every year, the National Audubon Society conducts its annual Christmas bird count and once again, Ava and her mother will be participating in it. Together with Big Al, they will drive and walk through the same route they follow every year: fields, woods, wetlands, neighborhoods, even the center of town. This year, after Big Al goes over the rules with Ava again, she is given a really important job: keep the tally of all the birds they spot during their day of bird counting. Richmond has cleverly woven in the details of how the bird count is done, as well as a brief description of what the different birds look like that Ava's team sees throughout the day, and illustrator Coleman is equally as clever at placing the birds in various places on the page for readers to find, as well as a sidebar tally of the birds spotted. This is an excellent book for introducing young readers to the fun of bird watching and counting, something Richmond is has done for years herself. Back matter includes information about each of the birds featured in Bird Count, an Author's Note, and resources for finding more information about birds and bird counts.

The Most Wonderful Gift in the World

by Mark Sperring, illustrated by Lucy Fleming

Tiger Tales, 2019, 32 pages

It's Christmas morning and Esme and bear have finished opening all their presents save one. But the tag says the gift is for Little Bunny Boo-Boo. The friends decide to find Little Bunny Boo-Boo and make sure she gets her gift. But how do you find someone you don't know? Follow the signs that direct them to Little Bunny Boo-Boo, of course, even if they do say things like 'Treacherous Path' 'Howling Gale' and 'Deep, Deep Snow Drifts, Warning: They Really Are Deep!' Perseverance pays off when the finally arrive at Little Bunny Boo-Boo's front door. What a surprise for Esme and Bear when she opens her gift, the box is empty except for a note from Santa. But Little Bunny Boo-Boo, who has just moved into her little cabin, has gotten just what she asked for - two new honest and true friends. What a happy Christmas all around! Christmas is about family, friends, and the joy of giving and sharing, but it's not a fun time to be alone, and this is a good story for reminding young readers to think of others. After all, people enrich our lives so much at the holidays, and all year long. As much as they liked this story, at first, my young readers had kind of a hard time grasping the fact that not everyone has family and friends to celebrate the holidays with. They did agree that being part of a family or being a good friend can be the most wonderful gift in the world and is not something to be taken for granted. I think we will revisit this story again before the holidays are over. 

Dasher 
written and illustrated by Matt Tavares
Candlewick Press, 2019, 40 pages

Have you ever wonder how Santa got his team of reindeer? In this atmospheric origin story, readers meet Dasher and his reindeer family, part of J.P. Finnegan's Traveling Circus and Menagerie. It's not a pleasant life, but young Dasher's mother tells stories about living in a cold, snowy place "free to roam under the glow of the North Star." One night, Dasher escapes and following that star , she eventually runs into Santa Claus and his horse Silverbell. It's Christmas Even and there are toys to be delivered, but the sleigh is too heavy for Silverbell, so Dasher volunteers to help. It works out so well, but Dasher misses her family, wishing they could escape the circus and join her. Naturally, Santa grants her deepest wish, and off they go to rescue Dasher's family. The next Christmas, Santa and his sleigh are pulled by none other than Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. This is a fun backstory, and Tavares ends it at just the right point for pairing it with The Night Before Christmas, which I did with my young readers and they loved it. The watercolor, gouache, pencil and pastel illustrations capture the hot pen the reindeer are kept in and the cool snowy place that becomes their new home. Tavares light play in the illustrations give the story a magical feeling, suitable for a magical season. This will definitely be a classic, at least with my young readers.

The Great Santa Stakeout by Betsy Bird,
illustrated by Dan Santat
Arthur A. Levine Books, 2019, 40 pages

The thing that makes Santa Claus so mysterious is that no one ever sees him. But Freddy Melcher is Santa's #1 fan and this year, he is determined to get a self with his idol to add to his very vast collection of Santa memorabilia. Naturally, he's a boy with a plan. First, string cans across the roof so Santa can't land undetected. Next, add a few well-place motion-sensitive cameras around the Christmas tree, followed by a pressure-sensitive plate of cookies, and finally, practice staying up late. What could possibly go wrong? After all, Freddy is convinced he has hidden his plans from Santa so well, he wouldn't suspect a thing. Or does he? Yes, Freddy doesn't get a selfie with Santa, but he gets something almost as good - a handwritten note from Santa that reads "NICE TRY, FREDDY! SANTA" Oh well, there's always next year for a selfie. Santat's whimsical and very colorful ink and watercolor illustrations include fun objects detailing Freddy's Santa obsession and are the perfect compliment to Bird's humorous text. But, in point of fact, even my young readers know that you can't fool Santa - he knows all, he sees all.

Tomie dePaola's Christmas Tree Book
written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Holiday House, 2019, 32 pages

As a family heads out to by a Christmas tree, the kids wonder about how the tradition of decorating a fir tree at Christmas began. Luckily, their parents have ready answers, beginning in the Middle Ages when December 24th was called Adam and Eve Day, and a tree was made of evergreen branches and decorated with apples to represent the Tree of Paradise. The development of more customs and traditions are discussed and how the evergreen branch progressed to the indoor Christmas tree. There's lots of interesting information presented as the family buys, brings home and decorates their own Christmas tree. Different families have different traditions, an idea that is echoed at the end of the book: "The main thing is that every family's Christmas tree is very special to that family." This is an sweet book with lots of facts about Christmas, all done using dePaola's signature colorful illustrations. At the end of the book, there is a template and instructions for printing, coloring, and putting an angel together to put on top of a tree, or to just hang on the tree. Perhaps the beginning or addition of a family homemade ornament tradition.

The Crayons' Christmas written by Drew Daywalt,
illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Penguin Workshop, 2019, 52 pages

This is the third book in the Crayons series, and it's just as funny as the first two books, and this time it's interactive. This time, Duncan takes a back seat to the crayons, who have a life of their own, right down to the six envelopes with removable content.  The first letter, addressed to Peach, is from her parents living in Florida. In their envelop, is a card and some much needed clothing in paper doll form. Next, is a box of decorations for the crayons' Christmas tree, followed by a recipe from Beige's dad for gluten free Christmas cookies and hot cocoa. a Hanukkah card and dreidel from Gray, a gift that's a game for all the Crayons and followed by an envelop containing a map of Esteban and Neon Red's travel about the world. Lastly, is a pop-up Christmas tree, a gift from the Crayons to Duncan. It's a fun book, but a risky one. It would be easy to lose the contents of each envelope. Luckily, most kids have there own crayons, paper and imagination and could make replacements as the originals get lost or ruined, making this an even more interactive book. It's a lot of fun and like an animated movie for kids, there is plenty of humor that will appeal to adults reading this to their kids.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt: 
Christmas Activity Book
Candlewick Entertainment, 2018, 32 pages

 If you are looking for a Christmas activity book, look no further than this one. It is chockablock with stickers some of which kids can use on different pages in the book and others that can be used for the different craft projects. For example, there are snowflake stickers to add onto the homemake paper garland that can be hung on the tree or in the window. There are instructions for making a wreath using leaves, twigs, and pinecones. In addition, there are recipes and instructions so kids can make a Christmas cake for birds, tree decorations, even Christmas cookies using puff pastry, with some adult supervision. And there are games and jokes scattered throughout. As part of the Bear Hunt books, the main focus of all the activities is nature and the outdoors, including exploring outside to see what creatures can be spotted right at home. There is something for everyone in this slender book that is packed with holiday fun. 

A Halloween Picture Book Roundup

Halloween is right around the corner and my young readers and I have been reading and re-reading some new favorites that we would like to share with you. We hope you enjoy them as much as we are. 

Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round by Rosanna Battigelli, 

illustrated by Tara Anderson

Pajama Press, 2019, 24 pages

Told in two word rhyming lines, each one beginning with the word pumpkin, cat parents and their four kittens are off to the pumpkin patch to find just the right pumpkins for making Halloween Jack-o-Lanterns: "Pumpkin orange,/pumpkin round,/pumpkin hiding.../pumpkin found!" Getting their pumpkins home, mom and dad carve the pumpkins while the kids watch. then it time for them to get dressed in their Halloween costumes and head out with the neighbors for some trick-or-treating. Finally, it's time to go home, eat dinner, and enjoy a nice pumpkin bedtime story. My kids really liked this story. The kitties are sweet and happy, it's a loving family celebrating Halloween together and sharing it with friends and neighbors. The gentle pencil and acrylic illustrations are all done in a palette of Halloween oranges, greens and purples. The rhyme is fun but one caveat is that without the pictures, it doesn't hold up on its own. But the rhyme and the illustrations harmonize nicely and result in a simply, but merry Halloween story.

Snowmen at Halloween by Caralyn Buehner, 

illustrated by Mark Buehner

Dial Books, 2019, 32 pages

Personally, I love all the Snowmen books, and so do my kids. In this latest adventure, an early snowfall means a snowy Halloween. But before all the treat-or-treating festivities, a sister and brother build a some snowman and of course, they dress them up for Halloween. Later that night, on their way home, one of the kids thinks he sees a snowman wink. That sets off his imagination, wondering what these scary looking snowman do for Halloween. In his imagination, the snowmen first set off on a Halloween parade, down to the village square, decorated with lights and lanterns. Then, there's pumpkin carving, games, face painting, apple-bobbing and gooey caramel treats, followed by fortune telling and a finding their way out of a maze, spooky stories and trick-or-treating before heading home. But, alas, the next morning the snow has melted and so have the snowmen. What they really do at night remains a secret, but they do leave behind a Happy Halloween message for the kids. Told in a rhyme, this is a fun book and one that will certainly set readers imaginations going. The richly oil and acrylic painted illustrations are a nice mixture of merry and sinister, and readers will like scouring each page to discover the hidden rabbit, cat or T-rex. The snowmen are always a hit and my young readers are delighted to have yet another one to add to the library.

Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht, 

illustrated by Jarvis

Candlewick Press, 2019, 34 pages 

It seems kids can't wait for Halloween and have been known to start thinking about costumes as early as September. It's just one of those high-anticipation holidays that is seeped in tradition, and one of those is a family trip into the country to pick out the perfect pumpkins to transform into a Jack-o-Lantern. At home, a space is cleared in the garage for the actual carving, just the right tools are choses, and friends are invited to come and carve their pumpkins, too. Carving is followed by decorating the house inside and out, and finally, dressed in costumes, it's time to light the Jack-o-Lantern: "its red-hot eyes/ will gaze/ and flicker/ Its fiery grin/will blaze and snicker,/to guard your house/while you have fun." Just like its Christmas predecessor, Pick a Pine Tree, this is also told in a four stanza rhyme describing each step taken to end up with a wonderful Jack-o-Lantern, and ending with a two page spread of decorated houses and costumed children and adults trick-or-treating with plenty of brightly lit pumpkins all around and a witch on her broom in the moonlight. Jarvis' pencil, chalk, and paint illustrations are done in a warm autumnal palette of oranges, reds, and yellows, and include diverse character throughout. This is a nice companion to Pick a Pine Tree and I suspect both will become favorites especially given the pleasing rhyme.

I Spy Spooky Night: A book of Picture Riddles by Jean Marzollo, 

photographs by Walter Wick

Cartwheel Books, 2019, 40 pages 

This is an updated version of the original 1996 I Spy Spooky Night with new challenges for sharp readers. Set in a haunted house that is really a victorian dollhouse, each page challenged readers to find the hidden, creepy objects an unseen narrator has already spied. Objects can be found in the different rooms, the hallway, the stairs, the library, even a secret cupboard, the creepy graveyard and the ghoulish garden. How many of the listed objects can you find on each page? None? Some? All? The book photographs are cleverly done for dramatic effect, and it is all described in the back matter. Be careful, Riddlers, you might be fooled by a rebus or a palindrome where you least expect it. What are they? Find the answer to that in plain sight. This book was a little old for my young readers, who are 4-5 years-old, although they did give it a good shot and did pretty well all things considered, but some of what is included is a little too sophisticated for them. I would age this for 6+

5 Very Little Pumpkins by Holly Wearne, 

illustrated by Ivana Forgo

Flowerpot Press, 2019, 20 pages

Some of my four-year-old young readers still like a good board book, and this has become one of their favorites. Five young animals - a turtle, a kitten, a puppy, an elephant, and a goat - are all dressed up as pumpkins for Halloween. As they give trick-or-treating from house to house, the little pumpkins collect so much candy, they just want to keep going: "They are getting so EXCITED/that they never want to stop/'til their bags have SO MUCH CANDY/it is spilling out the top!" This story is definitely a kid's dream Halloween and a parent's nightmare. The illustrations are as sweet as the candy in each Halloween bag. It's actually a nice book for introducing skittish kids to what could feel like a very scary evening, even when accompanies by a parent. Actually, one of my young readers did point out that the little pumpkins were out in the evening with no parent around and that they would never be allowed to eat as much candy as they wanted. That took some explaining to convince her that it was okay, we just didn't see the parent and the kids probably got tired before they ate as much as she thought. Despite that, she still loved this book. 

  

🌞A Roundup of Picture Books for a Hot Summer Day

It's been a pretty hot summer for most of us so far, and it's only half over, so the real dog days of summer still loom. What better way to cool off than spending some time reading a few favorite summer related books at the beach, or the park, the lake, or even inside at home or the library. My young readers and I like to read in one of the many New York Public Libraries, which are also cooling centers for people who don't have their own AC. We cooled off while we read some good books and even made some new friends. 

Camp Tiger by Susan Choi, 

illustrated by John Rocco

2019, G.P. Putnam's Sons BFYR, 40 pages

At the end of summer, just before beginning first grade, a young boy, our unnamed narrator, his older brother and their parents go on their annual camping trip in a beautiful, remote area. It's clear our narrator doesn't want to go on to first grade, kindergarten was so much better because it was so familiar and comfortable. While setting up camp, a tiger suddenly steps out of the woods. It's not a great big tiger, only about the size of a German shepherd, but the boy isn't afraid. The tiger asks him if there's an extra tent to sleep in, and while the family sets it us, the tiger grooms itself. That night our narrator curls up and sleeps with the tiger. The tiger stays all weekend, hiking and fishing with the family. On the last night, boy and tiger take a canoe and go star gazing together on the lake, and to his surprise, the boy is about to finally steer the canoe. It is a weekend of growth for the young narrator, and by the end of the story, he is ready to face first grade and the unknown, even as he quietly bonds with his brother. The end of the weekend marks transitions - summer into fall, dependence into independence, fear into courage. This is such a lovely coming-of-age story. The language is so lyrical and John Rocco's watercolor and wash-pencil are just stunning, some even breathtaking. Sometimes an imaginary friend is just what a kid needs to help them over the hard stuff.

Summer by Cao Wenxuan, 

illustrated by Yu Rong

2019, Imprint, 48 pages

It's a pretty hot day on the parched grasslands and the seven animals living there are desperate to find some shade under which to cool off just a little. Suddenly, a jackal spots a tree in the distance and he, along with an elephant, a rhino, a brown bear, a leopard, a lynx, and a mouse race to find relief in the shade of that tree. And even though the tree is barely alive and has few leaves in the hot summer, all the animals fight over who reached the tree first. Because of his size, greedy elephant wins the fight, but as the angry animals creep away, they all start to laugh. There is no shade under the elephant's tree, so no one really gets to cool off. When a boy and his father walk by, the animals stop laughing and notice how the boy walks in the shadow of his father to keep cool. Yu Rong has cleverly depicted how the animals provide shade for each other, and as they stand over each other in size place, the pages go from 3 1/2 inches and the lynx shading the mouse to 10 inches and the elephant shading them all. The animals are all rewarded for learning to share and showing kindness towards one another in the form of a big gray cloud that cools them all off. Cao Wenxuan is quickly becoming one of our favorite writers. He is genius at telling a story in such melodious language that his fables are fun and so easy to enjoy that the moral is just received as if through osmosis. Artist Yu Rong's cut paper and pencil illustrations really capture the hot grasslands with a big yellow beating down, and making her whimsical animals so uncomfortable. This is a story that is sure to be read again and again.     

Hum and Swish 

written and illustrated by Matt Myers

2019, Neal Porter Books, 40 pages

On a warm, breezy, sunny summer day, humming while the waves swish, Jaime begins to build something right near the ocean's edge. "What are you making there?" asks a couple walking by with a dog. "I don't know," Jaime says. As she works, more people pass her by - an older man, a lady, a little boy, two tween girls in bikinis, her dad bringing her more sunscreen, her mom bringing her a juice box - all receive the same vague answer when looking at what she is working on and asking about it. Finally, along come a lady, with easel, paints, and canvas. She sets it up and begins working while Jaime watches. "What are you making?" Jaime asks. "I don't know yet." the lady answers. Satisfied, Jaime and the lady quietly work side by side until both decide they are finished with their projects. And what these two artists create is the surprise ending, sure to make you at least smile. With just one line of simple text on each page, Myers' lets his beautifully detailed acrylic and oil painted illustrations tell most of the story. The sea is done in a palette ranging from deep blue to white, so realistic you can almost feel and smell the ebb and flow of the ocean's waves, while the beach is rendered in a palette of golds, browns and grays. I love how Myers captured the wind in Jaime's blowing hair. This is a lovely story about the importance of quiet time to play, imagine and create - for both children and adults.  

Sea Glass Summer by Michelle Houts,

illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

2019, Candlewick Press, 32 pages

Thomas is spending a summer at his grandmother's island cottage. One morning, she gives him a magnifying glass that had been his grandfathers, and pretty soon, Thomas is looking at all the shoreline has to offer through it. When his grandmother shows him a beautiful piece of glass, worn smooth by the sea, Thomas then begins to collect pieces of sea glass that appeal to him. His grandfather had believed every piece of sea glass had a story and Thomas begins to dream what their stories might have been. Night after night, he dreams a new story for each new piece of glass, until his visit was over and it was time to head home. When the ferry suddenly lurches in the trip to the mainland, Thomas drops his grandfather's magnifying glass on the boat's deck and it shatters into pieces, which he than throws into the sea. Years later, a young girl named Annie finds a bit of sea glass along the shore, and brings it to show her Paw Paw Tom, who thinks it looks strangely familiar. "Just imagine what tale this glass could tell," he says to her and she does, that very night. Guess what her dream is about. There is something very satisfying about this story and how Houts connects past and present to the three generations in this book. Ibatoulline's detailed realistic watercolor illustrations depict Thomas and Annie's world in full color reminiscent of Maine's rocky shorelines, and the dream sequences in a grays and white. The story is a bit magically tinged, but will get your young readers imagining stories behind other found objects. There is an Author's Note reminding readers to recycle rather than dumping trash in the ocean. It might make for fewer pieces of sea glass, but nowadays almost everything is plastic anyway, and that is very bad for our seas.  

Waiting for Chicken Smith 

written and illustrated by David Mackintosh

2019, Candlewick Press, 32 pages

A young unnamed boy and his family have arrived at the beach for their summer vacation. But while the boy's younger sister Mary Ann goes off to the beach and has fun, he stays behind awaiting the arrival of his vacation friend Chicken Smith. While waiting, the boy recalls all the things Chicken Smith can do so well, and all the activities they've shared. Mary Ann keeps interrupting these memories of Chicken Smith, urging her brother to come and have some fun, but he is just too busy waiting. This year, he has brought Chicken Smith a special shell, but even though his sister collects shells, shells aren't as good as whales, and he and his friend have always gone whale watching at the lighthouse, searching for one using Chicken's binoculars. But this year things at the beach are different, and the For Rent sign where Chicken stays never comes down. Suddenly, Mary Ann is calling, "Just hurry up!" Following her to the lighthouse, they see a whale, watching it until it gets dark. Maybe summer vacation with his sister can be fun after all, even without Chicken Smith. This book does two things and does them so well. First, it tackles dealing with change and moving forward. As the young narrator notes, the beach feels different this year, and it's not just Chicken Smith's non-arrival. The boy's inability to move forward is subtly represented by his standing in from of their rental house, waiting and unable to move. His decision to finally go to the beach is his first step in moving on. Second, it addresses a problem a lot of kids have - taking a backseat to another child they've idealized. Our narrator learns he can have fun with or without Chicken. Mackintosh's stylized mix-media illustrations are perfect for putting a little distance between reader and story, and getting his carpe diem message across.

1, 2, 3, Jump! written by Lisl H. Detlefsen,

illustrated by Madeline Valentine

2019, Roaring Brook Press, 40 pages

In this picture book about that first scary swimming lesson, an off-page narrator tries to encourage a very reluctant young girl to take that first plunge. After getting suited up, the girl stands at the pool's edge with her swim class while the swim teacher begins by teach pool safety and etiquette. Then it's time to jump into the water, but our protagonist remains behind, afraid the cold water will turn her into a kidsicle, not liking the smell of the chlorine, afraid of the pool's filter - what if it's really a creature? The narrator gently explains away all these fears, while the swim teacher allows the girl time to conquer each one. So she sits at the pool's edge and practices blowing bubbles and kicking while the other kids learn to do this in the pool. What finally gets our girl to jump into the pool? Reassurance that her teachers will catch her, and the promise of trying out some flippers. Patience and humor win the day in this sweet story about overcoming fear. The playful cartoon-like pool illustrations are done in shades of chlorine blues surrounded by white tiles against the colorful bathing suits of all the swimmers, including the supportive older women doing water aerobics. Pair this with Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall and Saturday is Swimming Day by Hyewom Yum for a nice collection of learning to swim/conquering fear books.

Summer Days and Nights 

written and illustrated by Wong Herbert Yee

2012, Henry Holt and Co., 32 pages

It's a warm summer day, and as the sun lights up her room, a young girl gets up, gets dressed, takes her butterfly net and sets off to explore the day. Creeping through a meadow of daisies, sitting under an oak tree, drinking lemonade to cool off, she wonders what else can keep her cool on a hot summer day. How about an afternoon splash in her backyard pool, watching the insects busy in the flowers. Late in the evening, there is a picnic in the park with mom and dad. A game of hide and seek with dad, and a visit to the playground, followed by dinner on a blanket in the grass, Back home, it's too hot to sleep, so she and dad go exploring the world at night - finding a tiny mouse, a hooting owl, a shiny moon, lots of fireflies, and even a croaking frog. It's been a busy summer day, but now it's time to sleep. This is a sweet book, told in gentle rhyme. The soft focus illustrations are done in Pismacolors and in a palette of summery pastels, and rhyme and images really invoke a summer day. If this young girl looks familiar to your young readers, it's because we've met her before in Who Likes Rain? and Tracks in the Snow. These three books are real favorites with my young readers.

Blackout

written and illustrated by John Rocco

2011, Disney-Hyperion, 40 pages

This has always been one of my favorite summertime books and I love sharing it with young readers. Set in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, it's "a normal summer night." It's loud and it's hot and inside one apartment, a family is busy doing their own solitary thing and no one has any inclination to play a game with the young boy in this family of four. So he heads upstairs with his dog and plays a video game. I love the picture of Thomas Edison giving side-eye as the kid plays his solitary game. It's like he's thinking "this isn't what I had in mind for electricity." Ironically, in the next image, the lights suddenly go out - all over the city. With nothing working, the family is thrown together, and decide to go up to the roof to cool off. And to their surprise, there were people having a blackout block party up there, under a sky full of stars. Downstairs on the street, the same thing is happening - the fire hydrant is turned by the FDNY, there is free ice cream and people are enjoying each others company. The young boy and his family sit on the stoop, eating ice cream, and enjoying each other's company. Blackouts don't always bring out the best in people, but in this blackout, in this neighborhood, it certainly does. But then, just as suddenly as they went off, the light come back on. Is this then end of family time? Not if our young protagonist has his way, and it turns out to be a simple matter of turning off the lights. The language in the story is simple and extraordinarily sparse, relying on the illustrations to really carry the events along. And the rich, full color illustrations are done in good-sized graphic novel panels, ranging from small to full page images. This is an important book that reminds us to sometimes put down our devices, and enjoy each others company.

What are your favorite summer book and where do you like to read them?