Children’s Shout Out!

This Week:

Buffalo Fluffalo has had Enuffalo! This is a fantastic story about learning to be vulnerable, written by Bess Kalb with illustrations by Erin Kraan. We start our story learning about our rough and tough buffalo character – anytime a friend comes by to offer him friendship, he repeats a rhyming mantra that scares them away. Kalb’s rhymes are comedic and enticing for kids to hear and read. At the crux of our story, a rain shower comes by to drench Buffalo Fluffalo’s “puffalo,”and the animals see that he’s actually a small little guy. The friends, who saw through his big tough act, circle him with comfort and assure him, “you’re great how you are, no matter your size!”

A great message for all children, but especially for boys who are often bombarded with masculine ideals. Highly recommended for reading together, since the rhyming and repetition is so engaging!

Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino

Baby llama learns that not everyone has a llama for a mama, and the other animals are quite different. Prolific author/illustrator Steven Kellogg depicts each adorable animal in soft colors and the habit in which they live. For 25 years, this has been a beloved read aloud for parents, teachers, librarians, and children! The rhyming text encourages children to solve riddles, practice rhyming, and participate in the storytelling. In addition, it’s a fun way to learn about animal babies and their moms!

Hoops is a graphic novel by Matt Tavares about the 1975 Wilkins Regional High School girls’ basketball team. It’s a well-illustrated and fun sports read about women breaking the mold in small town in Indiana.

Simple prose that communicates complicated family and friend relationships, it’s a good read for middle schoolers who like sports, family dynamics, and friendship!

National Geographic kids Guide to genealogy by: T.J. Resler October is Family History Month! T.J. Resler’s Guide to Genealogy provides resources and expert tips for anyone who wants to dig into family history. I recommended it as an addition to our collection a few years ago because it offers so much on a topic I love. The resources in this book include some of the best and most well-known websites, as well as many other resource types. There’s even a list of some living history museums!

This inclusive guide teaches how to find evidence, evaluate it, and organize it. Information is provided on how to tackle trickier situations, and there are case files and activities (including how to interview relatives, make a board game, and create a family cookbook!). Includes a glossary, descriptions and examples of various types of records, and suggestions on where to look for them.

Perfect for middle grade (and older) youth who are interested in family history or social history.

“It ‘ll turn you into a genealogy detective…You’ll learn how to interview witnesses and where to find clues.”

The Elephant and the Sea by Ed Vere is a simple, but beautiful, story about overcoming barriers and making room for those who are different. We start the story with Gabriel the Elephant who is now old and wrinkled, reminiscing about his time when he was a young elephant by the sea. He would run down to the beach and watch the lifeboat crew practice their rescues. Gabriel wanted to join in, but, “You’re a bit young, my boy. Come back when you’re older. Come back when you’re stronger.”

After dedicating himself to practicing, he comes back to the lifeboat crew where he discovers that he’s grown too large for their lifeboat. Gabriel knows that there’s only one thing he wants to do, so he collects driftwood and makes a plan to make his own boat. When the fishing boats and the lifeboat crew are caught in one of the biggest storms, there is a strong Elephant who comes to rescue them all. It’s Gabriel! And now Gabriel sits by the sea, an old elephant. “Not everyone knows how brave he’s been, but we do.”

With beautiful illustrations, and simple, but poetic, prose, Gabriel’s story is a lovely lesson on grit and gumption and going for what you desire in life. The author’s note at the back describes a memory on the shore of Cornwall where Vere lived for a bit that inspired the setting, Gabriel’s character, and his story on the wild waves. A five star bedtime story for ages 3-6.

What! Cried Granny: An Almost Bedtime Story by Kate Lum

This ALSC Notable Children’s Book Winner was always a favorite at my Bedtime Storytime , I loved to read it, and the kids loved to hear it! The repetitive text makes it a great choice for an interactive read. Though the somewhat frantic story line does not make for a soothing bedtime story, it does make for a very fun read! The first time Patrick goes to his Granny’s house for a sleepover, he finds out she is not quite prepared….fortunately Granny is exceptionally resourceful and possesses boundless energy. The illustrations pop with bright colors that fill the entire page, and the childlike drawings add to the silliness of the story.

The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud

Bank robber Scarlett McCain decides against her better judgement to help the hapless Albert Browne. What a mistake. The two must navigate their way through a futuristic England avoiding horrible monsters and uncovering the secrets of their pasts. Dystopian? Check! Snarky preteens? Check! Bloody battles? Check! Bank robberies and fast-paced, run-away-from-the-bad guys chase scenes keep this dystopian, middle grade novel moving, both literally and figuratively .

Dog vs Strawberry by Nelly Buchet is a book about a dog “racing” a strawberry around the house. I especially love that it reads like a NASCAR race narrator, Adults will recognize the tone of a NASCAR event while the kids will enjoy a story of a dog and his strawberry. Andrea Zuill’s illustrations give Dog a range of fun expressions and movements as he eagerly barrels through the house trying to outwit the strawberry. Caregivers will have as much fun reading to kids as the kids will have listening to it. Anyone who likes silly fun, strawberries, dogs, and races will enjoy this hilarious book.

“Welcome to the Greatest Race of All Time! It’s Dog vs Strawberry!

Any unicorn fans out there? I have a great picture book to add to your check-out list: The Yawnicorn by Emily Hamilton! I love this one because it depicts a girl who is having trouble falling asleep — so many kids can relate to this! “But there’s someone to help you drift off until morn. It’s high time you called on…the Yawnicorn!” The Yawnicorn is a special sleep-including unicorn that flies into the girl’s room and helps her think of magical dream worlds until she falls asleep. The illustrations are simply gorgeous. We even have a special stuffed animal unicorn that we call The Yawnicorn that is the ultimate snuggly friend to accompany the book!

This week I’m shouting out a magical Maine book titled, The Stone Wall Dragon by Rochelle Draper. Our main character is a boy who’s looking for treasures in an old antique dump pile behind his family’s barn when he falls and bumps his head near the stone wall. When he comes-to he notices an eye in the stone wall and realizes the stone wall is a dragon! The dragon says, “I wind around the foothills, down to the rocky coast, where I dip my tail into the sea.” The boy holds onto the stone dragon through lupine fields, hidden lakes, fiddlehead forests, blueberry barrens, tidy little clapboard homes, and down to the beach. This book is for the kids who find the “extraordinary in the ordinary!”

Have you browsed our VOX book selection yet? VOX books are audiobooks that live within an actual printed picture book! On the inside cover is a permanently attached speaker that can read the book to you and your little one.

I particularly love these books and their multimedia experience for learning. This week I wanted to shout-out one from our collection that you can sing along to: Moon River with illustrations by Tim Hopgood. This book will include all the music and lyrics to the lulling melody of “Moon River”–the song by Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini made famous by Audrey Hepburn singing it in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. My children love this song and it’s the perfect night time singalong to help kids drift off to sleep.

I have a recommendation for a picture book that gently explores the feeling of having to wait for something. This is truly one of the hardest lessons for toddlers and young children to learn; even many adults struggle with having patience. The book is titled, When You Have to Wait by Melanie Conklin with pictures by Leah Hong. The book explains that sometimes you have to wait in line for a dip in cold water on a hot day, or wait for your mother to get home from work, or for your feet to reach the pedals on a bike.

The book acknowledges that these feelings can be frustrating! But the mantra throughout the book, “Sometimes, we have to wait,” is a soothing reminder that everyone experiences having to exercise patience. I really love the colors and the art of Hong’s illustrations, especially when we get to the end of the story to see how the patience has paid off.

One of the wonderful benefits of reading picture books is that it’s a deeply immersive way to experience someone else’s point of view. That’s especially the case in my shout-out this week, They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel. This Caldecott Honor book does such an amazing job of combining Wenzel’s talents of brilliant artistry, rhythmic prose, and scientific facts. The book starts with, “The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws…” and on each page we see how different animals view the cat. It gives examples of how a dog sees the cat, how the worm sees the cat, and the mouse sees the cat. At the end of the book, the cat comes to the water, “and imagine what it saw?” This was a much requested book at bedtime, and in my opinion, a modern classic!

After seeing the incredible trailer for the movie, The Wild Robot, based on Peter Brown’s middle grade novel by the same name, I felt inspired to read more of Brown’s picture book backlist. In doing so, we discovered The Curious Garden by Peter Brown. It’s a beautiful story of a boy who grows up in a dreary, industrial city. The boy finds an abandoned railway and finds wildflowers growing along them. He took his watering can back the next day to give the thirsty plants some water and began to weed and prune. By taking the time to take care of the green space on the railway, neighbors notice and start helping as well! Soon, the whole city has pockets of greenery and the place comes to life! It’s inspired by a true story of an abandoned railway on the west side of Manhattan that has now burst into a beautiful garden. It’s easy to see Peter Brown’s love for nature through his earliest publications and how it evolved to The Wild Robot series.

This week I am shouting out a picture book by New Yorker cartoonist, Liana Finck, who wrote my newest favorite: You Broke It! This book is both humorous and validating for children who are just being exactly that: children! On each page we see a mother and baby animal with just a classic parental nag like, “Keep your voice down,” to a baby coyote howling at the moon. Or a frog cautioning, “Careful! You’ll get wet!” to her baby frog.
The School Library Journal writes,”Kids are seen and validated for being at the receiving end of sometimes ridiculous demands from their adults; adults are comically reminded to let kids be kids.” I highly recommend this simple but powerful book.

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to own a pig? Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter tell the true story of how they thought they’d be adopting a “micro-pig” named Esther, but were shocked to realize that she was going to keep growing. The True Adventures of Esther the Wonder Pig is the humorous story of how Steve and Derek fell in love and dedicated their lives to raising their 650 pound pig in their small home. She grew to be so big, that they decided to move to the country and buy a farm! We loved reading about Esther and looking up the real pictures and videos of her at estherthewonderpig.com. We also loved seeing the LGBTQ+ representation for Pride month! With adorable illustrations and hilarious pig antics, this story is perfect for fans of Mercy Watson, or animals in general!

This week I’m shouting out a Caldecott Winning classic called Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman. From the author and illustrator of Good Night, Gorilla, we discovered this other work of Rathman’s that has quickly become the most requested book at bedtime.

Officer Buckle’s safety talks at the local school are usually boring, but after including his new police dog partner, Gloria, the kids sit up and listen. Humorous illustrations let readers know what Buckle does not realize: that Gloria is performing the children’s socks off while he reads his speech. 

This is a silly story about teamwork that sneakily incorporates safety suggestions for kids into the book through Gloria’s acting. Scholastic says, “Older readers will have their interest piqued by the many safety tips found on the endpapers, all hilariously illustrated with Gloria’s antics.”

This shout-out selection was brought to me from the Cream of the Crop list from the Maine State Library Book Review. The book, Stickler Loves the World by Lane Smith is such a joyous story celebrating childlike curiosity and wonder. At first glance, I found the “stickler” creature odd with his ever-changing eyes and bristly little monster body. However, as we read on, my kids and I learned to adore this little creature who cannot hold in his enthusiasm about rocks, puffballs, waves, maple seeds, fish, and so much more.

It’s reminiscent of what it’s like to experience the natural world with a toddler, which is why this is such a poignant story to read together with kids. I know my son has been quoting it when we go on walks saying, “Behold! The joy of rocks!” with a big grin on his face. A perfect springtime read. 

This week I’m inspired by Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and I want to celebrate the book, The Truth about Dragons by Julie Leung with illustrations by Hanna Cha.

This is a fantastic choice for early fantasy and dragon lovers. Our biracial protagonist has two grandmothers who are represented as dragons; each showing how Eastern and Western mythologies coexist and enrich each other in this warm celebration of mixed cultural identity. It’s a Caldecott Honor Winner and also won the Asian Pacific American Award for Literature.

This week’s shout-out is a book that some call “Beatrix Potter meets I Spy.” The Mouse Mansion is a fantastic picture book with photographs of Dutch Author Karina Schaapman’s amazing mouse dollhouse that she created herself and the adventures within it. Sam and Julia are two little mouse friends that encounter secret hiding places, a salty captain, learning to make pancakes, and maybe even a rat! My children absolutely adored these stories. We would read one or two a night and they really looked forward to knowing what Sam and Julia would do next. If you’re a fan of Brambly Hedge or early chapter books this one’s for you!

This week we’re shouting out a classic, but an essential read for Earth Day (I think!). We’re shouting out The Lorax by Dr. Suess. I say “we” because this book has been on rotation both for bedtime and watching on DVD for weeks now in our house. We are singing about Truffula Trees and Barbaloot Suits and protecting the trees and planting seeds. I was never a huge Dr. Suess fan when I was little, but I can’t help but love the message that The Lorax gives to the Once-ler about protecting our ecosystems. Because, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

I fully embrace April as Poetry Month every year because so many picture books read as poetry to me. I particularly love it when an illustrator takes a famous poem or song and creates art to go along with it in picture book form. That’s why this week I’m shouting out, The Moon, by Robert Louis Stevenson with illustrations by Tracey Campbell Pearson. 

This beautiful story shows a father and son as they sleepily pack up their coats and life jackets and hop into a boat to appreciate the full moon at night. The poem also acts as a lullaby and is a perfect bedtime murmuration to say out loud as you explore the illustrations together. It’s a great one to explore after so much of New England traveled to appreciate the Solar Eclipse. I love Tracey Campbell Pearson’s illustrations, especially since the coastline looks a lot like Maine.

Here is the poem: 

The moon has a face like the clock in the hall;

She shines on thieves on the garden wall,
On streets and fields and harbour quays,
And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.

The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse,
The howling dog by the door of the house,
The bat that lies in bed at noon,
All love to be out by the light of the moon.

But all of the things that belong to the day
Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way;
And flowers and children close their eyes
Till up in the morning the sun shall arise.

This week I’m bringing a picture book with a very positive message about starting over again. It’s called, Tomorrow is a Brand-New Day by Davina Bell with illustrations by Allison Colpoys. The story follows two girls throughout the story who have several ups and downs that culminate into an argument. 

This clever story brilliantly captures life’s frustrations that can cause us to not be our best selves and weaves in a message of hope and forgiveness; stating that children will be loved no matter what. With beautiful illustrations, rhyming text, and inclusiveness in the book with a biracial two dad home, this book is a wonderful one to have on hand when your little one is having a hard day. 

This week I have a really unique picture book to share with you all. It’s called The Brother’s Zzli by Alex Cousseau with illustrations by Anne-Lise Boutin and translated from French by Vineet Lal. This book really caught my eye from the moment it landed on the “new” picture book shelf. The illustrations have a vintage style to them with really vibrant colors that remind me of Goodnight Moon. The gorgeous illustrations and writing style are really interesting alone, but as I read on I realized how much of a powerful story this is. The three brothers Zzli are three bears who are refugees in a new land and are looking for somewhere to live. A little girl welcomes them inside and tries to integrate them into her community.

The copy reads, “With charming, delightful illustrations reminiscent of vintage children’s classics, The Brothers Zzli invites readers to join a bear family’s search for belonging in a world that views them with suspicion. This poignant story will spark lasting conversations about the impact of prejudice, the struggles of refugees, and the responsibility we have to our neighbors—especially the new ones.” Our family loved this story and it brought up some great discussion at bedtime.

I discovered such a great book while I was shelving the other day. The title is Charlotte the Scientist is Squished by Camille Andros with illustrations by Brianne Farley. Our protagonist is a bunny named Charlotte who is trying to conduct her scientific experiments, but her family of many siblings are getting in the way. She uses the Scientific Method to solve her problems, and finds a solution! I loved the adorable illustrations in this one, and it really breaks down the Scientific Method for young readers. Charlotte is in a sequel as well called Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure. A great choice for those who love a bunny story in the springtime and also want to celebrate Women’s History Month!

I have a fantastic retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears that I want to shout out that is in the spirit of Women’s History Month and Women in STEM: it’s called Goldilocks and the Three Engineers by Sue Fliess with pictures by Petros Bouloubasis. 

Our Goldilocks is a clever inventor in this story, and loves creating gadgets that can help around the house. However, she hits an “inventor’s block” and decides to take a walk. Three bear engineers discover the house by chance, and assist with her latest inventions!  Can they help make the inventions just right? The book is written in rhyme and has adorable illustrations!

This week I’m shouting out one of the most magical books I’ve ever read! If you need a visual feast for the eyes to inspire you for spring, I highly recommend checking out, Through the Fairy Door with photographs by Lars van de Goor, artwork by Giulia Tomai and writing by Gabby Dawnay. This is such a unique art style with illustrations on photographs. The effect is an enchanting story of a girl named Willow who is called by a bird to open a door into a spectacular fairy world and experience every season in the forest. The rhyming couplets are very poetic on each page, perfect for every time of year, but especially as we enter spring!

Ahoy! This week I’m suggesting a swashbuckling story about a grandfather recounting his pirate days with his grandchildren. It’s called, When I Was a Pirate, by Tom Silson with illustrations by Ewa Poklewska-Koziello. 

These illustrations capture the ocean and the colors of the Caribbean so beautifully! The whole book has a sing-songy rhyme throughout with passages like: “I’ve seen the sea glowing, emerald and bright. Our wake snaked behind as a radiant tail. Like floating through fireflies — oh, what a sight! Back when I was a pirate, before I was frail.”

I highly recommend this book for anyone, but especially for grandfathers reading with their grandkids. I think it’s such a beautiful book to connect over with rhyme, playfulness, and beautiful illustrations!

This week I want to shout out, Parker Looks Up by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry with illustrations by Brittany Jackson. This is a beautiful story of what it’s like to be inspired by leaders who have come before us. The story starts with a young Parker with her best friend named Gia visiting the National Portrait Museum. As Parker comes to the Michelle Obama painting, she stops and stands with awe.

The description reads, “Parker saw the possibility and promise, the hopes and dreams of herself in this powerful painting of Michelle Obama. An everyday moment became an extraordinary one…that continues to resonate its power, inspiration, and indelible impact. Because, as Jessica Curry said, “anything is possible regardless of race, class, or gender.”

This book is so powerful because it’s based on a real-life moment when 2-year-old Parker Curry saw the Michelle Obama portrait for the first time.The illustrations in this book are really eye-catching and would appeal to a wide variety of ages.

Have you ever assumed something wrong about somebody? This week I am shouting out, Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña with illustrations by Christian Robinson. I always feel emotional when I read this one together with my kids.

As Milo rides the subway, he looks around at the people riding with them and he draws what he imagines their life might be like on his coloring pad. When he arrives with his sister where they’re going, he learns that people are not always what they seem.

This book does a beautiful job of showing the world through the lens of a creative Black boy and how we can all learn from his drawings and his creative mind. This book always gives us an opportunity to talk about important topics surrounding race, class, and stereotyping. The illustrations mirror the crayon designs of early childhood drawings, which makes it engaging for kids to look at and relate to! 

This week I’m so excited to shout out the work of Valerie Bolling and Kaylani Juanita in Together We Ride and Together We Swim. I am a huge fan of Kaylani Juanita’s illustrations in everything she has had published. Combined with Valerie Bolling’s simple and profound writing these books are absolute gold for kids ages 2-5.

In Together We Ride, a young girl learns to ride a bike, with the help of her father. In Together We Swim, a young boy learns to swim in a pool with the example and encouragement of his family. The love and beauty of togetherness in these books is such a beautiful thing. Learning to swim and learning to ride a bike are two big rites of passage for kids and ones to celebrate!

I grew up hearing weather folklore like, “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight!” and this week I’m going to shout out a picture book full of these expressions paired with stunning illustrations. It’s titled Red Sky at Night by Elly McKay. I love Elly McKay’s unique paper artistry in this book; it gives the pages a 3-D quality. These weather sayings come from a time before weather reports, when people had to carefully watch the sky and the behavior of animals to predict approaching storms. In the back pages of the book, you can read about the history of each saying and if they are scientifically true! This is such a great book to share and remember phrases with kids. I think it’s the perfect combination of poetry and science. It ends with, “Now that you know a saying or two, can you predict what the weather will do?”

“The sea snail slithered all over the rock, and gazed at the sea and the ships in the dock. And as she gazed, she sniffed and sighed. ‘The sea is deep and the world is wide! How I long to sail!’ said the tiny snail.” This is the opening to The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson with pictures by Axel Scheffler. This is such a sweet story about a snail who befriends a whale and their journey together around the world. The vastness of the world makes the snail feel very small until she’s able to help in her own special way when the whale finds himself in trouble. We adore this story and all of Julia Donaldson’s stories including: A Gold Star for Zog, Stick Man, The Gruffalo, The Highway Rat, Room on the Broom, and The Smeds and the Smoos. Her unique stories and amazing talent for rhyming has made her our very favorite author. These are all great paired with the animated mini-movies that accompany them!

This week I am revisiting a favorite author and illustrator and three time Caldecott Winner, David Wiesner. Wiesner is one of the most highly acclaimed picture book artists in the world, and is known for being able to tell highly imaginative stories without many words at all. One of my favorite books of his is Hurricane. This is a beautiful story of a storm that comes to to David and George’s house and how the family stays warm together as it’s waged outside. When they walk outside, there is evidence of destruction everywhere, but the boys are able to use their imaginations as they play in their yard amongst the large tree that fell down. Though this book was released in 1990, it is just as beautiful and powerful to read today. This would be a great book to read with kids who might be feeling anxious about the latest storm destruction on the coast of Maine.

This weekend I’m bringing you a picture book exploring the ways that we can better support those with disabilities! It’s called, We Move Together by Kelly Fritsch and Anne McGuire with illustrations by Eduardo Trejos. I love this book because it creates an opportunity for discussions about how we all can benefit from disability justice. My son’s favorite page was how a young woman in a wheelchair was visibly sad because the ice cream parlor had no accessibility ramp. It really affected him to see just a step be in the way of someone being able to enter the ice cream parlor. The book says, “When all the fun and the flavors of ice cream are just one step out of reach…We notice when things are unfair and it helps us get creative. We can make plans. We solve problems.” This book really helped our family see from the perspective of many disabilities and get motivated to participate in making our world a more accessible place!

This week, I know many are feeling under the weather and I suggest coping by reading a wonderful, award-winning book called, Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora. The words of this book are as comforting as the big bowl of thick, red, stew that Omu makes in her tiny apartment. As her pot simmers, and the smell of delicious stew wafts through the neighborhood, she has many visitors “knock, knock, knock!” on her door. The collage style illustration and city setting reminds me of an Ezra Jack Keats classic. It also inspires the feeling of gathering together and showing gratitude for our neighbors by eating together. Check this one out for a great, feel-good bedtime story.

I’m excited to be bringing you all a classic that may have slipped your mind during the holiday season. It’s a beautiful wordless picture book called The Snowman written and illustrated by Raymond Briggs. I really love the power of wordless picture books lately because it encourages great connection opportunities between parent and child.  Just by turning the page you can ask, “What do you see that’s happening here?” The plot in this story is very simple but really effective in bringing magic into the winter season. 

A little boy creates a snowman during the day and decides to check on him in the middle of the night. In the evening, the Snowman has come to life! What ensues is the Snowman’s comical exploration of the little boy’s house and the human world. The Snowman takes the boy’s hand and they fly in the sky through the night. They land and say goodnight. In the morning, it is warm and sunny and the Snowman is a puddle and the magic is gone. The 1982 animated short film adaptation of The Snowman is really special, too. We look forward to it every year!

I am so excited that we have the book, Ballet Kids by Holly Sterling in our picture book collection! I love this book and am shouting it out this week because it’s from the perspective of a little boy heading to his ballet class on a snowy day. They are practicing for the Nutcracker Ballet! They are trying on all kinds of costumes and trying out all the different kinds of ballet positions. Our main character, Thomas, loves being a sugar plum fairy. The book ends with everyone performing in front of an audience — what a magical night!

I love this book because so many picture books about ballet are geared towards girls and this one is from the perspective of a boy, so my son requests it often for bedtime. Happy to see all experiences being validated in this book!

It’s time to get comfy with one of the coziest picture books around: Winter is the Warmest Season written and illustrated by Lauren Stringer. I love this book because it really romanticizes the items we use to stay warm in the winter.

It starts with, “Winter is the warmest season. Most people think it’s summer, with its long steamy days. But not me. My world is warmest in winter.”

The illustrations show us big puffy coats, mittens, hats, and furry boots. Steaming grilled cheeses, hot cocoa, and pies. You can hear and see the radiators banging and hissing like miniature house dragons. I love the roaring fireplaces and fleece footie pajamas after hot bubble baths.

It really engages the five senses and for that reason my family loves snuggling up with it in the wintertime.

I’m shouting out the sweetest series this week. The first in the seriesis Pip and Posy and The Bedtime Frog by Axel Scheffler. The Pip and Posy series cover a variety of 2-6 year old conflicts that may happen between friends on playdates or sleepovers. This author/illustrator is a favorite of ours because he often works together with Julia Donaldson on books like The Gruffalo, and Stick Man. So, his illustration style is one that my children recognize and love.

In Pip and Posy and the Bedtime Frog, they’re having a sleepover at Pip’s house when Posy realizes she forgot something very important: her Froggy! She needs her bedtime frog stuffed animal to be able to sleep. Will Pip be able to comfort her with a special stuffed animal of his very own? If you enjoy this one, look for Pip and Posy and the Snowy Day and Pip and Posy and the Little Puddle which are also in our collection.

I’m starting to feel winter coming this week and that means checking out one of my favorite cold weather picture books, Almost a Full Moon by Hawksley Workman with illustrations by Jensine Eckwall. Workman is a musician whose lyrics of his song Almost a Full Moon have been adapted into this picture book. I love it when I can sing along to picture books with my kids because it makes for a multimedia experience and therefore really memorable for everyone in the family.

The combination of the repetition of the words, “Let’s make some soup ’cause the weather’s turning cold,” alongside the beautiful illustrations is such a soothing experience. It’s definitely one to pick up during these cold dark evenings and it inspired us to make some soup for dinnertime.

In my family we really love cars and trucks. As a parent, I really love it when I can find picture books that start with a common theme of preschooler interests and then it branches into learning about other cultures. My shout-out this week is called A Letter for Bob by Kim Rogers with illustrations by Jonathan Nelson. This is a story about a beloved childhood family car named Bob that carries Katie through her most meaningful childhood moments.

Katie happens to be part of Wichita and Cherokee tribes and so the book touches on universal experiences related to childhood cars while also introducing specific memories related to the indigenous family’s tribal traditions and travels in the American West. This book was a huge hit in our family’s bedtime story rotation and it’s a great choice for Native American Heritage Month!

My recommendation this week is a book called After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat. I love this book. It takes a sweet rhyme and story that we all know so well and helps us understand how to carry on and face our fears after an incident. Our main character, Humpty Dumpty, loved sitting up on the wall and spending time with the birds until he fell down one day. Although he was patched up, there was a part inside him that also needed healing. Though it took time, and Humpty Dumpty was terrified, he was able to climb the ladder again.

I find this to be a comforting book for both children and adults who struggle to re-acclimate after a tough few days for us in Maine.

This week’s book is one that was recommended to me by a patron and I’m so glad I found it! I love when we hear about our littlest patron’s favorite picture books that were asked to be read over and over again. It’s called Margaret’s Unicorn by Briony May Smith.

This sweet tale is about a young girl named Margaret who moved to the countryside in the mountains to live with her grandmother. While exploring the hills, she comes across a baby unicorn! Margaret’s grandmother tells her all about the flying unicorns who come to flock in the hills once a year. The baby unicorn and Margaret become close friends for a whole year until the day comes for the baby to return to its mother and the flock. 

My kids and I were enchanted by this sweet and simple story and the beautiful illustrations both by Briony May Smith.

I recently attended a conference with a workshop on wordless picture books that was really inspiring! In the workshop I was introduced to the book, Chalk by Bill Thomson.

It was fascinating to learn how adults and children can “read” a wordless picture book and how the art within the pages can be really impactful. This one in particular is a visual feast with Thomson’s rich and evocative illustrations about three children who encounter magic chalk on a rainy day.

What will they draw? What type of images will come to life? My kids absolutely loved exploring each page of this book and it can be a great time to connect with kids without the pressure of reading words.

This week I am shouting out my newest favorite picture book of all time (and I know I’m late to the party!). It’s called Little Witch Hazel by Phoebe Wahl. Phoebe Wahl’s illustrations alone give her books a visual feast to look upon, but the stories and writing are sweet and gentle and really engaging for young readers.

This one in particular is a four-season volume of stories whose characters intertwine. Little Witch Hazel is a tiny witch who lives in the forest, helping creatures big and small. She’s a midwife, an intrepid explorer, a hard worker, and a kind friend.

I particularly love the Autumn story titled, “The Haunted Stump,” which would be perfect for this time of year as we near Halloween.

Check this one out and some of our other Phoebe Wahl books in our collection such as Sonya’s Chickens, and The Blue House.

This week, I want to shout-out one of our very favorite Dahlov Ipcar books: Hard Scrabble Harvest! As someone who grew up on a vegetable farm, I can relate to this wonderful book which playfully describes the joys and challenges of growing and harvesting food in New England. 

One of my favorite pages reads, “Grapes on the arbor. Apples on the trees. Gather the tomatoes before they freeze. Bring in the apples. It’s cider-making time. Fatten up the turkey. Fatten up the swine.” It’s just really wonderful and relatable rhyming text paired with the marvelous Ipcar illustrations. Definitely find a copy of this one to pick up before Thanksgiving, if that’s a holiday you celebrate!

I’m bringing you a very bright and colorful author and illustrator this week by the name of Ruth Heller. We have a few Ruth Heller books in our collection and they are from the early 90’s. However, their age does not detract from the absolute amazing illustrations that Heller creates. My favorite of this collection is called  Color, Color, Color, Color by Ruth Heller. This fantastic book explains how different color inks are used to print color onto paper and how it’s done! 

“From pencils and markers and crayons and chalks…from paints in a tube…or a jar or a box… come colors delicious delectable lush… applied by ten fingers, two hands or a brush.”

This is a rhyming book that’s incredibly color-rich and full of humor as well.

My kids particularly love the 4-page printer’s proof that is bound right into the book. This unique and eye-catching book is guaranteed to delight your kids as much as it delights mine!

This week I’m shouting out your next favorite bedtime story. It’s called The Girl and the Dinosaur by Hollie Hughes with absolutely gorgeous, dreamlike illustrations by Sarah Massini. 

This story starts with Marianne, a little girl who loves digging for dinosaur bones on the beach. This lyrical, rhyming story shows us how the fisherfolk worry about Marianne who is unconcerned with making friends and would rather dig by herself. However, when she uncovers a complete dinosaur who she names “Bony,” her wish for him to exist becomes real! And thus, a friendship begins, and brings to her other children who have similar passions to her. 

For all the dinosaur and mythical beast lovers out there, pick this one up!

This week’s shout out is for all the monster truck lovers out there! I’m bringing you Elbow Grease by John Cena with illustrations by Howard McWilliam. Here’s the description: “Meet Elbow Grease, a little monster truck with a big problem! He’s smaller than his four brothers, but wants to prove that he has the guts and the grit to do big things. He decides that entering the Demolition Derby is the perfect way to show everyone that what he lacks in horsepower he makes up for in gumption.”

This book is beloved by many of our vehicle-obsessed patrons. Little Elbow Grease and his gumption gives us an inspiring story with humor and great illustrations. If this one is a hit, we also have the second story, Elbow Grease Vs. Motozilla, another huge hit!

This week I’m shouting out a little-known gem that I think will get your kids shrieking with laughter. It’s called, Sakes Alive! A Cattle Drive by Karma Wilson with illustrations by Karla Firehammer. This story in rhyme is so fantastic. 

Mabel and Molly are two cows on a farm who sneakily steal the farmer’s keys and go on a “cattle drive” in the farmer’s truck. They can’t read stop signs, have never heard a police siren, and don’t know what flashing lights mean or where to find the brake pedal. Chickens and hay bales fly, police give chase, and the mayor shakes his fists in frustration.When the cows finally stop the car, the townspeople are cheering in delight over the cows’ “parade.”

The humor in the book is unparalleled and it’s what I believe to be Karma Wilson’s greatest picture book. I always look forward to reading this one at bedtime and I know my kids do too!

This week I am shouting out one of my favorite books by Maine Author and Illustrator Cathryn Falwell who will be joining us in the library park for the Bath Book Bash in September. The book is titled, Shape Capers and is perfect for kids who are mastering the names of different shapes and are using them creatively.

I particularly like this book because of the rhythmic and repetitive text that accompanies Falwell’s illustrations. “Shake, shake, shake! Shake the shapes–what will they be? Here’s a square, just for me!” Squares, circles, rectangles, semi-circles, triangles are all on each page making up all kinds of different creatures, boats, and buildings!

This is such a great book and there’s so much to talk about with kids about the illustrations inside of it. There are family activities and craft ideas that accompany the book for inspiration. I also love that Falwell always includes children and adults of many different skin tones and cultures.

This week I’m shouting out a NEW book that has been a real crowd pleaser in my house over the past few weeks; it’s called: The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage. While this book is fictional, there are many non-fictional elements about what it’s like to be aboard a research vessel. Our main character, Dr. Morley, is a scientist whose dream has been to find the fabled Giant Arctic Jellyfish. We, as readers, are able to see the painstaking work it takes to suit up and face the elements all the while… the jellyfish lurks nearby. 

My kids always exclaim, “He’s right over there, Dr. Morley!” or “Look on the other side of the algae, Dr. Morley!” They encounter lots of interesting Arctic creatures such as narwhals, beluga whales, the Northern Lights, and a polar bear… all the while there’s a tentacle just out of sight. The scientists become cold and weary and consider packing up the whole ship and heading back when Dr. Morley spots something in the water. 

I love Chloe Savage’s watercolor and ink illustrations! She’s a debut author/illustrator with a ton of talent and the perfect amount of humor in her writing and illustrations. I can’t wait to see what comes next from her.

With one look at Britta Teckentrup’s books, it’s obvious that she has a real talent for engaging readers with her illustrations! This week I’m recommending Bee: A Peek Through Picture Book and more of her peek-through books in the series. On each page the honeycomb shape cut-outs grow larger as we watch the honeybee buzz from flower to flower.

Her use of bright beautiful colors are incredibly eye-catching and evoke joy. I also love her rhyming verse that educates the reader about a bee’s work in a day. “As the bees fly on through buds and burs, a tiny miracle occurs: So many plants and flowers you see, were given life by one small bee.”  This book is a great one for a variety of ages! Including the very young (because of the colors and cut-outs) through elementary (because of the honeybee education).

This week I’m shouting out a book that I think has an important message. It’s called Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O’Neill with illustrations by Brizida Magro. 

Here’s the summary, “Molly and her mom don’t always have enough food, so one Saturday they visit their local food pantry. Molly’s happy to get food to eat until she sees her classmate Caitlin, who’s embarrassed to be at the food pantry. Can Molly help Caitlin realize that everyone needs help sometimes?”

It’s such a great story that handles feelings like hunger, shame around needing help, community, and creativity. The illustrations are one of my favorite aspects of the book, with really cute characters and colors. The overall message is that, “everyone needs help sometimes,” and there are places in our community that can help nourish our bodies! I really like the important message in the back for parents and adults as well.

This week I am recommending a book full of optical illusions! The artwork of Rob Gonsalves has become some of my kids’ favorite book illustrations. The book is called, Imagine a Day by Sarah L. Thompson with illustrations by Rob Gonsalves. He is a master of magical realism as the book asks us to imagine a day where you can bike up to the treetops, or balance on a fence to skyscrapers, or even create a pond of mirrors. My son kept saying, “another trick of the eye!” for each page.

This is the perfect book to take home and spend some time with in a hammock as you contemplate the symbolism and the art of Gonsalves. If you like Imagine a Day, we also have the counterpart, Imagine a Night by the same author & illustrator.

This week has been all about dinosaurs in my house. My shout out this week is Here We Go Digging for Dinosaur Bones by Susan Lendroth with illustrations by Bob Kolar.

It’s a great one because it can appeal to kids who are tiny babies to kindergartners and beyond! It incorporates song, repetition, and rhyme (going to the tune of “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush”) but it also includes facts on every single page of each step paleontologists take when excavating dinosaur bones and putting them in a museum. For a family of multiple ages, it’s a great book for everyone to read all together. And at the end of the book, they give you a list of animals to seek and find in the pages, so it doubles as an “I Spy” book as well.

This week I have a book that takes age-old stories about our sky’s constellations and makes the stories approachable for young kids to enjoy. It’s called Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations by Jacqueline Mitton with pictures by Christina Balit. What really stands out about this book is the sparkling and captivating illustrations that bring the animal constellations to life. From bears to scorpions and dogs to dragons, there is so much to enjoy in this glittering book from 1998! It’s found in the non-fiction section, but I tend to snuggle up and read this as a bedtime book with my kids as a storybook.

This would be a perfect accompaniment for a camping trip, as the end pages show where the animals are located in the sky. It’s a book that captivates kids of all ages, but I know it could definitely spark an interest in the stars and ancient mythology for the very young. Happy stargazing!

I discovered a really beautiful book in the stacks while pulling books for a display for Father’s Day back in June. It’s been a really popular one in our house ever since! It’s called Brick by Brick by Heidi Woodward Sheffield. Papi is a bricklayer, and he works hard every day to help build the city, brick by brick. His son, Luis, works hard too–in school, book by book. 

Papi climbs scaffolds, makes mortar, and shovels sand. Luis climbs on the playground and molds clay into tiny bricks to make buildings, just like Papi. I love this book because the illustrations are a really unique style of collaging which is an art form I’m really drawn to.

The pages show side by side how the main character’s father works while the little boy plays doing a similar action. There’s a lot of really fun noises to make in this book which I know my kids find really engaging while we read. 

Also, it’s a book written in English with lots of Spanish phrases sprinkled in! The father and son dream big for their family as they imagine their own house with a garden someday — and then one day Papi surprises them with a place he built by himself. Brick by brick! This is a wonderful heart-warming story.

I discovered a little gem of a story while I was checking in piles of books, as I often do! This one is called, This Plus That by Amy Krouse Rosenthal with illustrations by Jen Corace. I find this to be the sweetest little introduction to math equations in a storybook format. I’m always looking for ways to incorporate math into storytelling for my kids and this is a really fun one! It has equations like, “barefoot + screen door + popsicles = summer.” and “cozy + smell of pancakes – alarm clock = weekend.” I particularly like that this book could be used for a wide variety of ages, starting from 1 year old to 9 year olds in terms of math creativity and creating life equations of your own! 

I’m excited to shout out a book from one of my very favorite picture book series, Katie and the Mona Lisa! In the Katie series, a curious young girl walks around museum galleries while her grandmother rests on the nearby bench. Katie is able to step in and out of famous paintings and interact with the subjects in them. In Katie and the Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa needs cheering up to bring back her famous smile. Katie and the Mona Lisa go traipsing throughout the museum visiting other paintings, such as St George and the Dragon by Raphael, Primavera by Sandro Botticelli, The Lion of St Mark by Vittore Carpaccio and An Angel in Red with a Lute by Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis.

These stories are the best way to combine storytelling with art education to keep kids engaged and exposed to fine art! Have you visited any museums lately or taken advantage of our free and discounted museum passes? Perhaps one of these books could inspire a visit! 

As we watch all our plants sprout up around us, we’ve been relishing picture books about nature!

One of our favorite picture books is The Golden Glow by Benjamin Flouw.

Fox is our main character who loves paging through nature specimen books, and comes across a mysterious flower that’s rare called the Golden Glow. Fox sets off with a detailed list of things to bring with him to find the elusive Golden Glow.

With a little help along the way, Fox finally finds the very *sparkly* flower (this page produced a gasp from my kids) and makes a surprising decision with it. These illustrations and story style remind me a bit of Wes Anderson or Jon Klassen and Marc Barnett. I definitely recommend checking this one out as well as the other one in its series, Constellation of the Deep. Perhaps they might inspire you to check out one of our Nature Backpacks to identify the nature specimens around you!

Have you ever walked by a Little Free Library? This is a book about how a reluctant reader chose to make a difference in his community, and build a Little Free Library for his school. Jake has trouble reading books and doesn’t feel as excited about Library Day as much as his classmates. The new librarian helps Jake find a book about something he’s interested in — carpentry! Jake takes his time, and very slowly reads the book and learns how to use the tools in his grandfather’s garage. The new librarian helps Jake find more books related to carpentry at school as well. By this time, the end of the school year is nigh and the school library will be closed until fall. So Jake works hard to build a Little Free Library for his school!

This is a great story for kids who have trouble feeling excited about books or would like to do something important for their community. I particularly love that the new librarian is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns!

This week I am shouting out a book I would describe as absolutely adorable. It’s called, Gaston by Kelly Dipucchio with illustrations by Christian Robinson.

Here is the description: A bulldog and a poodle learn that family is about love, not appearances in this sweet doggy tale.This is the story of four puppies: Fi-Fi, Foo-Foo, Ooh-La-La, and Gaston. Gaston works the hardest at his lessons on how to be a proper pooch. But a chance encounter with a bulldog family in the park—Rocky, Ricky, Bruno, and Antoinette—reveals there’s been a mix-up, and so Gaston and Antoinette switch places.

The new families look right…but they don’t feel right. Can these puppies follow their noses—and their hearts—to find where they belong?

My kids love the story of Gaston and Antoinette. I would recommend it to any reader!

This week I’m excited to shout out Trashy Town by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha with illustrations by Dan Yaccarino. This title always makes me giggle, but this book is a classic in our house! Meet Mr. Gilly. He cleans up Trashy Town. There’s trash at the pizza parlor, trash at the school, and trash at every house. It’s a big job, but Mr. Gilly does it with a big truck, a big smile, and loads of style.

Trashy Town features a rhythmic, repeatable refrain that will have your kids asking for repeat readings. After a big day, Mr. Gilly heads home for a big dinner and a bubble bath, something your kids might relate to! If you love this one, you can read its counterpart book, Smashy Town, as well.

Up in the garden, I stand and plan–my hands full of seeds and my head full of dreams.

This is the first line of Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner with art by Christopher Silas Neal. I check this one out every spring with my kids because it’s the perfect mix of non-fiction education with a storytime book feel and illustrations.

We’re able to follow a young girl and her grandmother as they plan, plant, and harvest in their garden and learn what is happening underneath the ground. In the dirt is a bustling ecosystem that helps make the girl and grandmother’s gardening dreams come true. This is my favorite in Messner’s Over and Under picture book series!

Feeling hungry? This week we’re shouting out, Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao, written by Kat Zhang and illustrated by Charlene Chua. This wonderful story is based on the author’s real childhood experience of making bao buns with her family. Her character, Amy Wu, is a smart and sassy girl who is determined to make the perfect bao after feeling frustrated by a series of others that didn’t turn out so well. It seems like no matter how hard she tries, they turn out too big or too small. Sometimes they have too much filling, or not enough. Her mother, father, and grandmother make beautiful bao for the steamer, but her bao still doesn’t look as perfect as theirs.

As you read on, she discovers all by herself what she can do to improve her technique. This is such a great story on how to move through a frustrating task through a different cultural lens. It inspired my kids to try some of the great local Asian-American dishes we had for take-out as well. There’s even a recipe for how to make your own bao in the back of the book! 

This week I’m shouting out a series of picture books by Sebastien Braun with the character Meeow! This series is so great for kids ages 1-4 because it introduces the concept of using your imagination with ordinary household items.

In Meeow and the Little Chairs, Meeow and his friends work together using little chairs to create a train. In Meeow and the Big Box, Meeow paints a big box red and uses a mug and a chair to create a firetruck. In Meeow and the Pots and Pans, Meeow and his friends find items in the kitchen cupboards to create a marching band.

The bright colors and high contrast text are eye-catching for young kids and the repetition helps build vocabulary!

Calling all fire truck fans! This one is a fantastic new addition to our collection of books on firetrucks and firefighters. It’s titled, Fire Chief Fran by Linda Ashman with illustrations by Nancy Carpenter.

Featuring a strong female role model, a huge fire truck, and an action-packed story, this read-aloud is a dynamic introduction to a day in the life of a firefighter. I particularly like the rhythmic and rhyming quality of the text that will keep your child’s attention all the way through. The book shows the variety of tasks a fire chief and their team do throughout the year to help their community! We loved this one this week and I’m sure your family will too!

While we are feeling grateful for the added sunlight in a day, it’s been tricky convincing my kids to go to sleep when it’s not as dark out! Introducing: Goodnight Veggies by Diana Murray and Zachariah Ohora. This is a bedtime classic for spring and summer that I pull out every year. The book starts out with, “Sunset in the garden. Robins in their nest. Tossing, turning veggies need to get some rest.” and at the end, “Every veggie’s snoozing, beneath the moon so bright, for nothing’s more exhausting than growing day and night.” This is such a relaxing book for bedtime reading and it makes my kids excited about all the veggies we’ll soon see popping up from the seedling kits we planted.

Nothing says “spring” quite like baby farm animals do! Today I’m recommending a sweet book that I’ve read every evening this week. It’s called, Just Like Floss by Kim Lewis. I remember Kim Lewis’s books from when I was a little girl, so it’s a treat to be able to read them with my kids.

Floss, the Border collie in Lewis’s previous book of that title, now has puppies, and her young owners are allowed to keep only one of them. The children watch the five litter-mates as they grow and play, trying to find the one that will be just like Floss. All of the pups enjoy playing except Sam, the littlest, who always keeps close to his mother. When he encounters the family’s flock of sheep, however, he stands his ground, stares them down, and reveals his natural talent for herding.

This is a great series of books to read in the spring, I know we love to read Lewis’s books this time of year to be educated on what farm life looks like!

I have a book that appreciates and wonders at the Earth to shout out today! It’s called Here We Are: Notes For Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers.

This is a book I’ve loved since my oldest was a baby. It’s Jeffers’ guide to living on Earth; he wrote it when he welcomed his own baby son to the world. I particularly wanted to bring this book to attention as we get closer to Earth Day. This book seems to cover it all from the landscapes of the planet, the diversity of humans and animals, the infinite feeling of the cosmos, and the love we share between those we love in our own home. It celebrates the act of asking questions and wondering about all the things to wonder about. As the book ends, Jeffers reminds us that, “You can always ask someone else. You’re never alone on Earth!” 

Are you fascinated by the stars at night? Do you love the Maine coast? If so, I’m pressing the book Ada and the Galaxies into your hands.

Ada lives in NYC but visits her grandparents on an island on the coast of Maine every summer. She can’t wait for night to fall so she can see how bright the stars twinkle in the night sky off the Maine coast.

This book is a story of this excitement and passing the time on the island and learning about the galaxies with her grandparents. The illustrations are some of my favorites, with lots of seaweed and Maine coast detail and texture. Ada makes fairy houses and looks at books and watches the tide to see when night will fall so that she can see the beloved stars shine down on her.

At the end we are reminded that we are all a part of the galaxies and little bits of stardust ourselves!

This week I am shouting out a sweet story about bunny friends who collect things in jars. It’s called: In a Jar by Deborah Marcero. Here’s the description: “Llewellyn, a little rabbit, is a collector. He gathers things in jars–ordinary things like buttercups, feathers, and heart-shaped stones. Then he meets another rabbit, Evelyn, and together they begin to collect extraordinary things–like rainbows, the sound of the ocean, and the wind just before snow falls. But one day, Evelyn has sad news: Her family is moving away. How can the two friends continue their magical collection–and their special friendship–from afar?”

My family and I like to take nature walks and collect treasures to put in jars and alongside our window panes. Maybe this book can inspire you to enjoy some spring walks and bond over little treasures you might find along the way!

We have a new important board book I wanted to shout out this week! It’s called Yes! No! A First Conversation about Consent by Meghan Madison, Jessica Ralli, and Isabel Roxas. My kids are really enjoying this book about consent and permission to kiss and touch. As explained in the premise, “This topic-driven book offers clear, concrete language and imagery to introduce the concept of consent. This book serves to normalize and celebrate the experience of asking for and being asked for permission to do something involving one’s body. It centers on respect for bodily autonomy, and reviews the many ways that one can say or indicate ‘No.'” This book gave my kids self esteem and a feeling of pride and power over their bodies! I can’t recommend it enough.

I have a delightfully fun shout-out this week to keep you and your little ones giggling: The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish by Lil Miss Hot Mess with illustrations by Olga de Dios. Readers can sing and dance along to this flamboyant rendition of “The Wheels on the Bus” and learn about the costumes of drag queens. With bright color illustrations and catchy lyrics, I know my kiddos have asked me to read it many times. Also check out the second book in the series--If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It.

This week we are really enjoying different shapes! Our new interest is based particularly on The Shape Trilogy by Marc Barnett with illustrations by Jon Klassen.

In the book, Circle, (our favorite one) Triangle breaks a rule during hide and seek and discovers something interesting behind the waterfall.

In the book, Square, Square works on a project for his friend and finds it more difficult than he expected, she loves it anyways.

In the book, Triangle, Triangle plays a sneaky trick on his friend Square.

The classic Jon Klassen illustrations with Marc Barnett’s wry humor are such a treat for bedtime reading. If you’re looking for picture books that are quirky and unique, these are for you. These are great fictional STEM reads that inspired the new Shape Island TV show and have us giggling and pondering new things about the world.

After the snowfall this week, my son is finding comfort in reading and re-reading a Passamaquoddy tale called, Thanks to the Animals by Allen Sockabasin with illustrations by Rebekah Raye. During the Passamaquoddy winter migration in Maine, Baby Zoo Sap falls off the family bobsled and the forest animals hearing his cries, gather to protect him until his father returns to find him. 

My son found this story so comforting and loved the gathering of the animals around the crying baby in the woods. Each night since, he’s been piling animals stuffies around in his bed pretending to be like little Zoo Sap falling asleep in the woods. This is a beautiful story for all ages that celebrates Maine Native American storytelling. 

This week I’m shouting out a picture book for all the kids who love cars and trucks! It’s called Rapido’s Next Stop by Jean-Luc Fromental and pictures by Joëlle Jolivet. This oversize picture book is fantastic for many reasons. The story follows Rapido the messenger and his van throughout the city as he delivers packages. Clever flaps on every page give hints into people’s lives and clues as to what he’s delivering, and where. The objects that Rapido delivers are represented as symbols, which readers can decipher from the setting and the rhyme. Not to mention, the unique illustrations are really fun with lots to look at on each page. If you’re looking for a great interactive picture book, this one will be a hit!

This week as we near Valentine’s Day, I’m shouting out a lovey-dovey book with beautiful illustrations. It’s called, A Hug is for Holding Me by Lisa Wheeler with illustrations by Lisk Feng. This is a sweet and cozy book that invites us to think of all the ways we see hugs in nature. A cocoon can be a sweet hug to the butterfly inside, a shell hugs the mollusk inside, an egg hugs the bird about to hatch.

The illustrations are my favorite part of this book, with rich colors and lots of florals and ocean blues. This is a great book to cuddle up with at the end of the day! Because the best hugs come from family and friends. 

This week we’re celebrating Black History Month! And so, I’m so excited to shout out Change Sings by Amanda Gorman. The description reads, “In this stirring, much-anticipated picture book by presidential inaugural poet and activist Amanda Gorman, anything is possible when our voices join together. As a young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes—big or small—in the world, in their communities, and most importantly, in themselves.”

This book inspires children and adults alike, and is such a beautiful depiction of what can happen when we come together to make a change in our communities. Gorman’s words are truly amazing, as usual, and really shine when put together with Loren Long’s illustrations. This book is a fantastic introduction to Black History month for a wide range of readers.

This week we’re having a lot of fun with a very silly book called Belinda in Paris by Amy Young. This backlist picture book was written in 2005, but it is so cute! I had to make sure that kids were still reading it.

The story centers on Belinda the Ballerina who has just flown into Paris, but has lost her ballet slippers in luggage. Unfortunately for her, her feet are so large that it is very difficult to find replacements right before her big show. So Belinda and her friend must find the materials to make shoes right before her performance. They run into all kinds of calamity along the way!

Will Belinda make it to the show? You’ll have to read it to find out. If you’re a parent who likes to use a silly French accent, this one is definitely for you. 

With all the unpredictable weather lately, we’ve been breaking out paintbrushes, paper and glue, fort-making materials, and more! It’s a good time of year to get creative. With that in mind, I’m shouting out, I Have an Idea! by Hervé Tullet.

From the creator of the bestselling Press Here picture book, Tullet brings an inspirational story of how an idea can appear and what to do once you’ve experienced it.

“Oh! There it is: an idea. It’s new. It’s different. There’s nothing like it. It’s a little like finding a seed, which grows and grows and grows…!”

Sparkling with visual wit and bubbling with imagination, I Have an Idea! is a richly emotional exploration of the creative process: from an initial tentative inkling, to the frustration of chasing the wrong notion, to finally the exhilaration of capturing—and nurturing—just the right idea. I Have an Idea! is a scrumptious cloth-spined package of color and inspiration.

Perhaps this fun and abstract adventure-book can spark something in your family’s brain when some of the January weather keeps one cooped up!

This week I’m shouting out Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall (A two-time Caldecott Medalist!). Our new Children’s Librarian, Mary Randall, included this book in her first order for the children’s room and it is a book that speaks to my house-fixing, vintage-loving soul.

Here is the blurb about the story, “Step inside the dollhouse-like interior of Farmhouse and relish in the daily life of the family that lives there, rendered in impeccable, thrilling detail. Based on a real family and an actual farmhouse where Sophie salvaged facts and artifacts for the making of this spectacular work, page after page bursts with luminous detail and joy. Join the award-winning, best-selling Sophie Blackall as she takes readers on an enchanting visit to a farmhouse across time, to a place that echoes with stories”

My children love the illustrations in this book and the story of the family who lives in the old farmhouse. Give this book a look and check out some of our other new and freshly cataloged books!

This week I’m shouting out: Seaside Stroll by Charles Trevino with pictures by Maribel Lechuga. With the warm winds we’ve been experiencing, I’ve been taking some winter beach trips with my kids to get some fresh salty air in our lungs. This picture book gorgeously illustrates the beach during wintertime and the delights to be found. So, bundle up! It’s time for a sandy, snowy beach walk where every word starts with the letter S. A mother and her daughter stroll down to watch the sunset when, oops! The girl drops her doll into the tide pool. After a sudsy steam in the bath, they snuggle up for a bedtime story. This one’s a splendid addition to your bedtime story rotation and might inspire you to see what’s happening at the beach in the off-season.

Time to cozy up with a sweet and snowy holiday book this week. I’m shouting out, Snow Globe Wishes by Erin Dealey with pictures by Claire Shorrock. I love this book because it illustrates Maine’s wild and unpredictable weather forecasts. The lyrical rhymes are also a strong point as we flow with the story from when the power goes out during a big storm, throughout the night, and into the beautiful snowy morning.

The family eats Chinese takeout on the floor next to their candles and roaring fireplace and makes a blanket fort to keep cozy. “Snow globe wishes, Close your eyes. Snowplows rumble lullabies,” is one of my favorite lines from the story. “Magic sparkles, beckons, swirls– Come outside dear boys and girls!” Families shake their busy lives and play in the winter wonderland. The illustrations show a small town joining hands around a snowy tree with a star on top that’s reminiscent of the Whos from Whoville in the Grinch who Stole Christmas. The last few pages call for Peace on Earth for all throughout the year! This is one I’ll try to read every holiday season.

The magic of the first snowfall has inspired me to shout-out this book this week: The Reader by Amy Hest with illustrations by Lauren Castillo. This is a sweet and simple story about a small boy who’s on a mission to bundle up in the snow with his suitcase and his dog and climb the hill in his backyard.

Up and up they climb with the little boy’s red sled while the wind blows in his heavy boots. They make it to the top and have all kinds of snow fun together; the boy and his dog. “It is shivery-cold at the top of the world. But there are warm drinks and crunchy toast for two.” Then they sit on the sled and they read a book together. Then they pack up their things, wrap themselves up tight and slide down the hill!

This week I’m getting into the holiday spirit! I want to shout out, Last Stop on the Reindeer Express by Maudie Powell-Tuck with pictures by Karl James Mountford. This is a magical book about Mia, a young girl missing her grandfather at Christmas, so she writes him a special card on Christmas Eve.

Her mother says, “Christmas is nearly here, I’m afraid it won’t reach him in time.” While they shop the winter market, Mia discovers a magical letterbox that twists to reveal a secret door that leads to the Reindeer Express. As Mia flies through the air on her reindeer to deliver the letter to her grandfather, she waves hello to the people below in cities decked in holiday decorations. Will she reach her grandfather in time?

My family loves this book because of the magical elements in this story, but also because the illustrations really add to the sparkle of it all. There are cutouts on the cover and on each page to reveal little doors and pockets of beauty. There are little flaps where we can read the letter to her grandfather or open a window to see the reindeer waiting outside.

I highly recommend this enchanting book during the holiday season, particularly if you’re missing someone who lives far away.

As we make our way into December, the weather is shifting to wintertime temperatures! Brrr! We’ve been having conversations about the shift to the winter season with the book, Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak. Pak is one of my favorite modern illustrators, and he’s a wonderful writer too.

At the start of the book, a brother and sister watch the leaves fall to the ground and notice how the evenings grow longer with long shadows stretching across the street. Slowly as the pages turn, the lights show up in the town and the stars shine bright in the cold wintery evenings. The snow starts to fall, and we say, “Goodbye autumn, hello winter!”

I’ve been struggling to teach my son the act of “being thankful” this year. But with the book, All of Me! A Book of Thanks by Molly Bang, it’s been more tangible for his little 4 year old brain. In this book, a child is thankful for the things that are most immediate to a youngster–including hands, feet, eyes, and ears. It introduces the wonder of our body’s functions and how amazing it is that we’re able to do what we like to do. Our feet can hold us up when we stand, walk and jump. Our hands can grip and throw and hold. Our arms can hug and bend. Our heart pumps life through our body. How amazing!

In the last few pages, the boy in the story recaps his day, saying, “Today I did so many things. Today I felt so many feelings. I felt curious, and excited, and angry, and brave, and sad, and scared, and thankful, and calm. Today I feel loving–loving and perfectly safe. And right now I also know that I am part of this whole world–this universe! All this is my home. I am ALIVE.”

This week I have a powerful read in honor of our Native American Heritage Month’s display in the children’s room. The title is We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom with illustrations by Michaela Goade. Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption.

“Water is the first medicine, Nokomis told me. We come from water. It nourished us inside our mother’s body. As it nourishes us here on Mother Earth. Water is sacred, she said…. We are Water Protectors! We Stand!”

The illustrations in this book are some of the most beautiful I’ve even seen. It’s a great book to introduce to your family as we have conversations about Native American tradition for Thanksgiving. It may inspire us all to feel grateful for the clean water coming out of our faucets and how important it is to protect our natural resources.

The book we want to shout out this week is, “The More We Get Together,” written by Celeste Cortright, illustrated by Betania Zacarias, with an accompanying CD sung by Audra Mariel and Kena Anae.

This book is a terrific adaptation of the classic, “The More We Get Together,” song that adds in an age-appropriate introduction to recycling, activism, community gardens, teamwork and more. We’re particularly focusing on gratitude this week as Thanksgiving plans are being made across the country.

The song goes, “Let’s gather round the table, whenever we’re able. Let’s gather ’round the table with all of our friends.And with every plateful, we’ll feel ever grateful. Let’s gather ’round the table with all of our friends. ‘Cause your meal is my meal, and my meal is your meal.”

I love the books that integrate text, music, and illustration for a more complex experience. This book even has a Youtube animation of the story as well!

Hope this wonderful book & music can inspire some togetherness with your friends and/or family! 

This week I’m shouting out a book that is really, really cute and so applicable to kids and adults alike! It’s called Noodle and the No Bones Day by Jonathan Graziano and illustrated by Dan Tavis. Noodle is a pug who’s human is named Jonathan. They like to do all kinds of fun sightseeing together, and walking and saying hi to their neighbors and friends. But one day, Noodle does not want to go on a walk with Jonathan. He tries to pick Noodle up and he flops back on his bed like he has no bones. 

“But what about all our favorite activities? Jonathan asks. Noodle just stares at him. “Would you rather snuggle instead?” The pug sneezes, “Yes!” The two of them enjoy a relaxing, no bones day together eating snacks on the couch. Most days thereafter were mostly bones days, and other days were no bones days–“Great days for staying in bed, snuggling with a blanket, and getting lots of belly rubs. Bones or no bones, they are all good days.” This is such a great message for kids that rest and connection with family is important! 

This week I’m shouting out a favorite spooky read from my childhood that I adored, and now my kids adore too! It’s called, The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree by Stan and Jan Berenstain. This is such a fun and interactive book to read with kids. There’s something very rhythmic about the text that makes this one so enjoyable. The book will ask, “Do the bears dare go into that spooky old tree?” or “Do they dare go up that twisty old stair?” or “Do they dare go into that spooky old hall?” answering each time with a resounding, “Yes! They dare!” By the end of the book the bears all have the shivers and run back home to their parents’ house, “Home again. Safe at last.” This is a great one for Halloween! I know the secret doors, twisty stairs, and spooky animals delight my family this time of year!

This week’s shoutout is Brown is Beautiful with words by Supriya Kelkar and pictures by Noor Sofi. This book is astoundingly beautiful. For all children who have brown skin, I can speak for myself when I admit that I grew up feeling not represented in the media that I saw in books and on TV. That often made me feel as if my skin and eye color and hair was less beautiful than others around me.

This book takes place on an autumn day on a hike with her grandparents. In it, a young Indian-American girl makes note of all the things in nature that are brown, too. From a nurturing mother bear, to the steadiness of deep twisting roots, to the beauty of a wild mustang, brown is everywhere! On her way, the girl collects the beautiful brown things she encounters as mementos for a scrapbook.

“Brown is stable. Twisted roots tunneling deep. Through wind and rain, the tree will keep. Brown is nurturing. Kindling logs fueling a hungry fire. Dark soil helping plants grow higher.”

It’s a perfect autumn-inspired read to introduce the idea of different skin colors with your children. Enjoy!

This week I’m shouting out a very simple, but endearing board book by Elise Gravel called I am Scary. In this little book, a monster jumps from behind a tree and says, “Raaaarh!” to try and scare a little girl and her dog while walking in the woods.

“Look at me!” he says, “I am veeerry scary!” and he points to his pointy teeth and claws. He tries various growls and Grrrrs! to try and scare the girl, but she says, “I don’t think you’re scary. I think you’re cute.” and she walks over to the monster and hugs him. He first looks upset, but then looks happy and content after trying so hard to be scary. That’s it! That’s the whole book.

I really love Elise Gravel’s illustrations and writing. This sweet and simple book has become a huge favorite in our house. For all the kids who feel unsure around Halloween and Day of the Dead festivities, this is a great one to assure all the feelings and to encourage hugs and giggles.

This week we are giggling A LOT. We’ve discovered my absolute favorite Mo Willams book, Nanette’s Baguette. The beloved author of the Pigeon books and Gerald and Piggie, has this fantastic rhyming gem of a picture book as well. I’m so glad I found it, because it’s a hilarious story.

Our main character, Nanette, is a frog who has been entrusted to retrieve the baguette from the bakery for her mother. But the bread looks so delicious, she can’t help herself to take a bite. And then the whole thing! “There is no more baguette! Nanette begins to fret. Will mom be upset? Will mom regret she let Nanette get the baguette? Nanette is beset with regret!“

All’s well that ends well, and maybe Mom herself will not be able to resist the deliciousness of a fresh baked baguette! What a super fun story. Maybe it will even inspire some bread baking.

We had such an amazing time at the Bath Book Bash this year! I left with my arms full of children’s books and my heart full of new connections with local authors. This week I’m shouting out a book that is beloved in my house, Hip, Hip… Beret! written by Melanie Ellsworth with pictures by Morena Forza. I was able to talk with Melanie on the gazebo about her writing process and her love of language play. It’s absolutely apparent in this book which plays a lot with rhyming!

The description reads, “A playful and humorous picture book about what happens to Bella’s beret when the wind sweeps it away!

Grand-père gifts Bella the hat she’d always wanted – a beret! But just as she places it on her head, a gust of wind whisks it away. When the beret lands in a chef’s pan . . . hip, hip, soufflé! When it lands on the head of a dancer . . . hip, hip, ballet! The wind continues to sweep the hat farther and farther away. Will Bella ever get back her beloved beret?”

I might mention that the hat in the book has a fuzzy texture which is always engaging for our sensory loving readers. The pages are also very thick and durable which is something I always appreciate for some peace-of-mind reading with our littles. It was a wonderful experience chatting with all the authors from the Book Bash and I look forward to shouting out more of their work. We love our local authors!

This time of year gives me a “let’s-get-stuff-done” attitude that I think is inspired by the back-to-school weeks when kids start rolling up their sleeves and back into classrooms. The book I’m shouting out this week has that same spirit! It’s called, Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler and Loren Long. The book description is written like this, “This is an eye-opening exploration of the many types of work that go into building our world–from the making of a bridge to a wind farm, an amusement park, and even the very picture book that you are reading.

An architect may dream up the plans for a house, but someone has to actually work the saws and pound the nails. This book is a thank-you to the skilled women and men who work tirelessly to see our dreams brought to life.”

I particularly love this book because it shows how many people it takes to build a dream.

“All across this great big world, jobs are getting done

by many hands in many lands. It takes much more than ONE.“

This team building energy is infectious and inspiring as you read through the book and admire the gorgeous illustrations. There is incredible representation throughout the pages for gender, disability, and skin color. It’s a great one for kids who love construction vehicles! Definitely check this one out next time you’re in. 

Happy September! I love this month. This week I’m recommending a book that celebrates the joys of a wild rainstorm. It’s called Blue on Blue by Dianne White with illustrations by Caldecott Medal winner Beth Krommes. 

I particularly love Beth Krommes’ illustrations. This picturesque book starts with a farming family enjoying a beautiful day, when dark clouds start to roll in. 

“Singing, swinging, outdoor play. White on blue on sunny day. Clouds swell. Winds blow bolder. Weather changes. Air grows colder. Gray on gray. Dark and glooming. Black on black. Storm is looming!” 

The children in the story hurry inside with their mother, while the father guides the farm animals into their pens and barn. The rain pours down onto the seaside farm. They wait for the last few drops and then are able to enjoy the “muddy, muddy everywhere!” Bathtime and bedtime ensues after the crazy energies of the day. This is a simple, but beautiful story to share with your littles. 

Hey all! Are you feeling the back-to-school vibes? Whether you’re homeschooling or sending kiddos onto the bus, this book has us all feeling very chill. That’s because I’m shouting out: Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes. 

If you haven’t yet discovered the groovy Pete the Cat series — I would highly recommend them! In this story, Pete the Cat has his new red shoes on for his first day of school. He’s got his backpack and his lunch and he’s singing his song, “I’m rocking in my school shoes, I’m rocking in my school shoes, I’m rocking in my school shoes!”

Pete has never been to the library before. But does he worry? Goodness No! He finds his favorite book and reads in his school shoes. This is a great one to put the nerves and jitters at ease for that day’s transition and on. “Because it’s alllll good!” It also comes with a link to a song for even more Pete the Cat entertainment and reassurance. Happy reading!

This week I am shouting out a beautiful treasure of a book written and illustrated by Astrid Sheckels called Nic and Nellie. In Nic and Nellie, Nic has been looking forward to spending a whole summer away with her grandparents on their island in Maine. But when it’s time for her to leave, she cries tears of homesickness. This one is a “heartwarming story of a girl and her beloved dog, Nellie, who slowly learn that new places really aren’t so scary, and that often friends can be found around every corner, even in old row boats, tidal ponds, and stinky mud flats.“

Sheckels’ illustrations are some of my favorite of all time. She captures the Down East feeling of Maine in a modern but timeless way. Definitely check this one out for a sweet story but also because the art is something to really marvel at! It’s a great end-of-the-summer recap book to share with your littles.

This week I am shouting out a fantastic book by Raúl the Third called ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market. This book is so much fun! It’s a different format than a usual bedtime storybook; which is good for switching things up. My son really loves this Little Lobo series because it’s very similar to the format of a Richard Scarry book where there are lots of things to see and parallel storylines happening all through the book. The main plot follows Mexican American Little Lobo and his dog Benabé as they head off to the market to deliver their goods to various shops. This is a book to read alone, to read together, to read in pairs, to read with someone who only speaks Spanish, or someone who only speaks English, the enjoyment and possibilities are endless! We particularly loved reading this one as a Wonderbook since it had fun music and Spanish accents to accompany the text and illustrations. 

If you like this one, Raúl the Third has many other Little Lobo books to explore like  ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat and ¡Vamos! Let’s Cross the Bridge. You’ll love the retro illustrations and Mexican American culture all through this book. Happy Reading!

Hey readers! This week I’ve been reflecting on this summer and how amazing it is to be able to go to the beach and gather with family once again. It’s something I will not again take for granted! 

I’m shouting out a really special book called, All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon with illustrations by Marla Frazee. 

This book feels a lot like poetry. It’s full of beauty, and joy, and reflection. It starts by showing a family gathering shells at the beach. It celebrates the goodness of harvesting your crop of vegetables, but also the disappointment of stumbling and falling and spilling your things in the rain. There’s a lot of push and pull in the words that explain that days can be great! But also hard. At the end of the day, we can always gather with family and/or friends to make things better. I wish I could quote the whole book, because all of the words feel really meaningful. But here are a few lines that I love: 

“Nanas, papas, cousins, kin. Piano, harp, and violin. Babies passed from neck to knee. All the world is you and me. Hope and Peace and Love and Trust. All of the world, is all of us.“

I challenge you to read this one out loud without shedding a tear! It really is a powerful one.

This week I am shouting out an inspirational, pick-me-up type of book. It’s called The Magical Yet by Angela Diterlizzi with art by Lorena Alvarez. This is one of my absolute favorites and it’s new to the PFL Children’s room, so I’m so excited to shout it out.

Our story starts with a girl who is frustrated because she has fallen off her bike, once again. She feels like quitting because it’s so hard! But then the book says, “Don’t give up now! There’s a magic game changer– a most amazing thought rearrange-er! Someone to show you how good you can get: Now introducing… The Magical Yet!” The illustrations in this book are absolutely gorgeous. The “magical yet” is a little characterized cartoon that hovers nearby many of the kids in the book who are trying to learn different things. The rhyming language in this book is inspirational (for all ages!) and I’ll admit to shedding a tear or two while reading it with my son.

“So no matter how big (or old) you may get, you’ll never outgrow–you’ll never forget–you can always believe in the magic of Yet.”

This week we are tuning into summer with our ears. We are loving the book, A Lullaby of Summer Things by Natalie Ziarnik and Madeline Valentine. This book evokes all the senses of summer, but especially all the wonderful sounds that accompany a day of being with family at the beach. This is the perfect book to read before bed after a long, hot day. The words read like poetry, and are beautiful and lulling. 

“A screen door sings, a lullaby of summer things: 

Buckets tumbling. Shovels jumbling. Bare feet skipping. Wet towels dripping. And you remember the beach that day–the sea so cool, the waves at play. A clock chimes eight. Dad shuts the gate. Old floorboards rattle, then stair steps tattle.” 

The book shows how it can be hard to leave the beach after having so much fun with friends and family. The illustrations show a beautiful mixed race family with the father wearing a baby carrier and being an involved parent, which is something I always appreciate seeing pictured! “A cricket strums. Downstairs, Mama hums. In the dusky evening light a sleepy house says, goodnight.” This is the perfect summery book to end your evenings! Happy reading! 

This week we’re shouting out a classic! It’s called Jamberry by Bruce Degen. This is my favorite picture book to accompany the hot, hot berry picking days of summer! This picture book is beloved because of its joyful illustrations and fun wordplay with all kinds of different berries.

A boy and a berry-picking bear go romping through a fantastic world of berries in search of making jam. “Quickberry! Quackbarry! Pick me a blackberry! Trainberry, Trackberry, Clickety-Clackberry. Rumble and ramble in blackberry bramble. Billions of berries for blackberry jamble.”

As you can imagine, this kind of wordplay elicits all kinds of giggles at bedtime. Can you imagine being buried in berries in a jam jamboree? How fun! Definitely check this one in its classic form, or as a board book for our youngest readers!

Have you built any sandcastles lately? This week I’m shouting out, The Sandcastle That Lola Built by Megan Maynor and pictures by Kate Berube. This is a fun, summery spin on the classic “The House That Jack Built.” 

This book is a great build-up story that centers on Lola building a sand castle at the beach. She ends up recruiting new beach friends to add their own special parts to a massive sand castle. There are accidents, set-backs, and cooperation between new friends which makes the book both fun to read and also realistic. 

As the castle grows bigger and beautiful, we read, “These are the shells — that lead to the moat — that surrounds the wall — that protects the castle — that holds the seaglass — that signals the mermaids — from the tall, tall tower — of the sandcastle that Lola and Frisbee Dude and Little Guy and Minnesota Girl built.” 

My son and I have great fun reading this story, talking about the feelings that come with watching something you’ve spent time building come crashing down and then building it up again. There are also adorable illustrations and an I-Spy element of looking for the mermaids in the water and in the clouds. Since reading this book, my son is particularly keen on collecting shells and seaglass for castles and mermaids. Ahh! Summer magic. 

Wowee! What a Fourth of July weekend!

This week we’re shouting out one of my favorite summery books that has beautiful illustrations of family gatherings. It’s called, Pie is for Sharing by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard with illustrations by Jason Chin. 

This book is full of berry pie, fireworks, family fun, beach days, and sparklers. Maybe you’ve experienced some of those things lately! It has a beautiful message and illustrations of all the things in life that are best shared. The tastiest one being, of course, pie. 

“Hideouts and treasures, these are good to share…a boat, a stream, your towel warmed by the sun. Cousins, sticks, stones from your pocket…These are for sharing. Just like pie.”

There’s a wide range of skin colors represented in the drawings which I always appreciate. There’s also acknowledgement that sharing is not always easy, which I find is important to talk about with children. 

This is one of my favorite books to pick up around the Fourth of July to celebrate summer togetherness!

This week my family and I are feeling inspired to speak out for social justice! We’re shouting out, Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds. When the world feels heavy, I try to encourage our kids to find ways to help.

This book shows all the different ways we can be inspired to speak up with what we have to say. Whether it be, poetry, art, fashion, planting a seed, making signs, whispering really small, or shouting really loud! This book points out that there are many ways to make a difference.

Reynolds writes, “The world needs your voice. Mine? Yes, yours. Go Ahead… it doesn’t need to be perfect, as long as it’s from your heart… So when you’re ready… SAY SOMETHING!”

Peter H. Reynolds’ illustrations and messages in his books are beautiful and full of hope. His messages are soothing for kids and adults alike!

We have arrived to summer in Maine, hooray! This is a very simple book–particularly great for those nights where you need a quick read for bedtime. Nikki McClure is the author and illustrator of this book, and her high contrast illustrations are very eye-catching for kids and adults alike. 

As early spring shows signs of life poking through the snow, the boy in the book asks, “Mama is it summer yet?” and the mother answers, “Not yet, little one…Soon warmer winds will blow.” The boy asks the same question for many pages until the end when the mother exclaims, 

“Yes! Oh yes, my little one! The honeybees are in the flowers. The sun is warm on your round belly. The berries are juicy and sweet. My little one, it is summer now!” If you are celebrating the beginning of summer like we are, this is a perfect book to incorporate into your days and nights.

Happy Summer Reading, friends! At the Patten Free Library there are oceans of possibilities for reading material, but this week I am keeping it local to the bathtub. I am shouting out, Off to See the Sea, by Nikki Grimes and pictures by Elizabeth Zunon. This book is such a beautiful depiction of an evening bath time together with family. It’s a magical journey from the first whisper of “bath time,” to watching the water swirl down the drain. 

There is treasure hunting and waterfalls and dueling tugboats in our magical tubtime sea. The illustrations and poetry of the language in this book make it really stand out from other bathtime books. I can imagine it being a real inspiration for children to take a bath when they might not be feeling motivated to do so! 

Hello Readers! Did you know our summer reading program is starts June 17th? There are OCEANS of possibilities, but I wanted to shout out, Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love to get you started. Here is the book’s description:

This beautiful picture book centers on Julian who is riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, when he notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. 

But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes — and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself?

This book is one of our favorites for June and is such a beautiful representation of individuality and expressing your true self. 

It’s Pride Month! And with that means lots of books on love and acceptance and celebrating LGBTQ+ voices. Not to mention all the wonderful illustrations that come in a rainbow of colors! This week we’re shouting out a wonderful ABC book called, Pride Puppy, by Robin Stevenson and Julie McLaughlin.

When the book starts, a family with non-binary parents are getting ready for their local Pride Parade and bring their pup with them to celebrate. They’re having a great time eating ice cream and celebrating with the crowd when–oh no! The puppy gets lost in the parade.

Definitely check out this lively, rhyming book with the opportunity to find all the items that start with “A” and “B” on each alphabet page. Happy Reading!

I am so excited to be shouting out one of my very favorite Maine authors and illustrators, Chris Van Dusen’s, NEW children’s book, Big Truck Little Island.This sweet story is based off of a true happening on Vinalhaven Island off the coast of Maine. 

In Van Dusen’s classic style, he has fantastic rhymes and gorgeous, colorful illustrations of a village on the coast of Maine. In this story, a large truck and trailer are being towed across the sea. When it tries to venture down the twisty little roads on the island, it gets stuck! All the islanders trying to drive on either side of the truck have some big problem solving to do to make sure they can get to where they need to be. “Barry said, ‘Listen, Let’s all exchange cars. We’ll borrow yours and then you’ll borrow ours!‘” This book is such a delight.It’s a great companion to our other Van Dusen favorite, The Circus Ship, which is also based on a true story from Vinalhaven Island. We love our Maine books and authors!

This week I’m shouting out one of my very favorite classic picture books, Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans. It has been such a wonderful experience to read this classic with my son that I enjoyed so much at his age. There is something so comforting about the first few rhyming pages, 

In an old house in Paris, 

That was covered in vines

Lived twelve little girls 

In two straight lines.

Madeline is our endearing, courageous heroine who cannot be frightened by tigers or mice and overcomes her stay at the hospital. The rhymes in this classic are still beloved even after 75 years. We’ve been working our way through the whole Madeline series by Bemelmans and watching the wonderful TV show adaptations narrated by Christopher Plummer which closely follow the books and the rhymes. It’s opened up lots of discussion about French customs and what it would be like to grow up in an orphanage. Do you have any favorite classic picture books?  It’s been really fun to relive the joy of reading these classics together as a family. Happy Reading! 

As we near Mother’s Day weekend, I’ve been turning to some more of my favorite, fuzzy feelings books that are full of love and appreciation for our family. The title I’m shouting out this week is, Under the Love Umbrella, by Davina Bell with illustrations by Allison Colpoys. 

The illustrations in this book are absolutely stunning. Colpoys uses really unique colors in this book. There are a lot of neon oranges, pinks, and lavenders that make this picture book really pop!

 Not only are the pictures really special, the message in this book is really heartwarming. We’re meant to imagine ourselves safe under a love “umbrella” that shelters us from the things that can make life really challenging for a child. “Whatever you fear, come close, my dear. You’re tucked in safe for always here. And I will never not be near, holding our love umbrella. In every weather it’s us together. My love for you goes on forever. Be still, breathe deep, wherever you sleep. You’re under my love umbrella.”

There is great skin color representation in this book, as well as parents of all genders. I’ve been using my umbrella often the past few weeks to my son’s delight. If you’re looking for a spring inspired bed-time book that helps you bond at the end of the day, this is a great one to request. Not to mention, the author instructs to try and find all the umbrellas hidden throughout the book — so it doubles as an “I Spy!”

This week we are really starting to see things sprout into spring! We are having a lot of fun with Todd Parr’s The Spring Book. Parr uses so much color in his books that are so delightful for kids and adults alike. It especially works for this colorful time of year. On each page he writes and illustrates some of the many wonderful holidays and activities that happen in the spring.

He writes, “Spring is a time to dance in the rain. Celebrate traditions with family and friends. Play hide and seek. And love the Earth!… Now go roll down some hills! Happy Spring!” Todd Parr is an author and illustrator we always reach for because of his silliness and bright illustrations. His books always evoke feelings of kindness, acceptance, love, and excitement.

This week I’m shouting out a series of board books by Jessica Spanyol that we’re really loving. These are simple books about playing together with friends with the characters Clive and Rosa. I particularly love this series because they are, “gentle affectionate books, celebrating diversity and challenging gender stereotypes.” Rosa loves to play with cars just as much as Clive does, and Clive loves to play with baby dolls as much as Rosa does.

 In Rosa Plays with Cars, “Rosa helps Mustafa pack up the camper. ‘We are going to the beach,’ says Rosa.”  In Clive and His Art, “Clive and Jeffrey thread beads,” and “Clive looks at pictures in his big art book. ‘Beautiful!’ says Clive.” My son really gravitated towards this series and Clive’s cat named Moshi, especially. It was fun to read Clive is a Librarian with him since he loves the library, and there’s a new series out with Rosa with STEM activities, such as Rosa’s Big Sunflower Experiment. As a parent, it’s exciting to find books that aren’t so gender stereotyped. Not to mention the board pages are wonderfully durable!

How have you been coping with the April rain showers? In our house we’ve been reading and singing, Singing in the Rain! based on the Broadway song by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown with pictures by Tim Hopgood. This cheery book brings all the smiles to our family on dreary days. There are lots of beautiful spring illustrations with colorful umbrellas and rain boots. I think this book is a wonderful introduction to such a classic song and I always check it out this time of year. I always imagine Gene Kelly smiling and stomping through puddles while we sing it together as the rain pours down outside. “Come on with the rain! There’s a smile on my face. I walk down the lane, with a happy refrain, and I’m singin’… singin’ in the rain!” Happy Spring reading!

This week we are excited about spring blooms! Is there anything more delightful than watching sprouts and crocuses pop through the soil? We’re shouting out, Make it Grow, by Debbie Powell.  This lift-a-flap book has the most beautiful illustrations and demonstrates the way that flowers bloom. Not only does it include flowers, but also fruit, seaweed, mushrooms, and butterflies in all their different colors! I think that’s what makes this spring-themed book different from some of the others this time of year. 

The rhyming also helps the flow of the story as you go from page to page seeing nature grow in all its forms. It goes, “In the backyard rain comes down, making all the creatures frown, but thirsty flowers start to show… Lift the flaps to make them grow!” When you reach the end, there’s a big rainbow to flip up and talk about all the colors you just named on all the other pages! This one was great to take along on a stroller walk while pointing out all the other colors coming up in our neighbors’ gardens.

Happy Poetry Month! This week I was looking through the children’s room stacks and found a wonderful rhyming picture book from 1994 that is bringing us a lot of delight. It’s titled A House by the Sea by Joanne Ryder and is illustrated by Melissa Sweet. As the temperatures grow warmer, we are feeling called to enjoy a more tepid beach excursion in the coming weeks. This book is the perfect companion!

This book depicts a boy and a girl describing what it would be like to live in a house by the sea with carefree seals, an octopus neighbor, and friendly crab friends who play games with them. It goes, “If I could live in a little house, I’d live in a house by the sea. And I’d whisper at night when the moon was bright, ‘Would you please give a wish to me?’ Then I’d land on a whale with a black and white tail who would rock me fast asleep, and she’d carry me home on a crest of foam over the waters deep.” 

The rhyming poetry is where this book really shines. It has a perfect lulling rhythm with a nautical touch that is just giving us all the comfort feels this week. Not to mention, it is silly and fun, too! Do you have some favorite, lesser-known picture books from your childhood? It’s fun to find them still available in the stacks! Happy Reading!

This week we are shouting out a very fun book called, Doing Business, by Shawn Harris. If you have kids who are particularly fond of bathroom humor, this book is for you. This book feels like an updated version of the classic, “Everyone Poops,” by Tarō Gomi. In this book, we see a variety of different animals and ages of people and how they use the bathroom. My favorite part is that they’re all wearing business coats. When some “bad business” appears on the living room carpet, the readers wonder, “Who’s business is this?”

These bright colorful illustrations and silly expressions are a delight for kids and a great resource for transitions from diapers to the potty. Definitely check this one out (new to our collection!) for guaranteed giggles.

This week we’re sharing a cute and silly book about Escargot the French snail. We absolutely loved this adorable snail character who wonders, “Why isn’t your favorite animal the snail?” We loved snuggling up to read this book in bed with all the fun French expressions.

This book is also engaging because it’s an interactive book; Escargot asks us to make a fierce face, to make a loud roar, and blow kisses. Escargot feels very strongly against carrots in his salad at the end of the book, however, after trying one bite of the carrot, he discovers they are magnifique! Have fun with this book, we certainly did while trying to master a French accent!

A few weeks back we were teased with some 60 degree weather and it had our family missing green grass picnics and tropical temperatures. Maybe you and your family are feeling ready for spring (or a warm vacation). Today we’re shouting out a favorite title, Tropical Terry, by Jarvis.

This book has the most beautiful and colorful illustrations alone, but the storyline is super fun, too.

Terry is a sweet little fish living in the tropical coral reef, who wants nothing more than to fit in with the flashing, dashing tropical fish that shimmer and swish around in circles together. When Terry gathers up some shimmery seaweed and becomes as popular as he imagines, he discovers that being so eye-catching isn’t the best idea when Eddie the hungry eel comes to town.

This story is beautiful, engaging, silly, and teaches a great little moral lesson. Definitely give this a request if you’re looking to brighten up your week!

This week is all things TRAINS! We have been reading the book, The Littlest Train by Chris Gall, over and over again. We had a wonderful ride on the Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington train on Saturday and then had a great time watching the Maine3Railers model trains on Wednesday in the Patten Free Library’s children’s room! 

This story is a wonderful adventure with a little toy train who falls off his train table and decides to discover the world beyond. He’s able to meet the largest trains he’s ever known and learn about what makes them different from each other. After traveling with Mighty Max, Sara Speedster, and Chloe Cogs, he’s ready to return to his little village on the train table. But, how will he find his way home? 

As I mentioned before, this book has been a major hit in our house and the illustrations give you something new to notice each time you read. It’s been a fun week learning about all things locomotive!

Have you ever jumped off a diving board? This week we’re shouting out, Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall. We’re anticipating swim lessons at the YMCA and this book has been critical to helping overcome some nervous feelings about getting in the water. Featuring a beautiful Black family, Jabari, his sister, and his Dad are going to the community pool for a swim. Jabari is excited to jump off the diving board, but when he gets to the ladder, he starts to feel apprehensive.

“It’s ok to feel scared,” said his dad. “Sometimes when I feel scared I take a deep breath and tell myself I am ready. And you know what? Sometimes it stops feeling scary and feels a little like a surprise.” Will we get to see Jabari jump? You’ll have to check it out to experience the joy!

Today we’re shouting out the book, “Bodies Are Cool,” by Tyler Feder. I absolutely LOVE this book for it’s wonderful inclusive message about all the different kinds of bodies we see here in the world. They point out different skin colors, disabilities, hair types, and body sizes.
As a parent, it’s important to me to be able to share this message and normalize bodies in a way that’s really engaging to kids. My son kept pointing out what makes each body different and beautiful and saying, “bodies are cool!” which is the joyful refrain on every page. Not to mention the illustrations are really beautiful and eye catching.“My body, your body, every different kind of body! All of them are good bodies! BODIES ARE COOL!” 

Grab your pillows and blankets! This week we’re shouting out, “Fort Building Time” written by Megan Wagner Lloyd and illustrated by Abigail Halpin. We just LOVE building living room forts the past few weeks and I think this book may have been what’s inspired them! This book takes us through the seasons of different kinds of fort building. In the winter, you can build snow forts, in the summer it’s driftwood beach huts, in the spring you’re exploring the forest, etc. The writing in this book is *so* inspirational and has you diving into each season with all five of your senses. Winter is described as a, “snowball-throwing, scarf-wrapping, sled-pulling, ice-sliding…dog-snuggling, cocoa-drinking, snowman-making, fort-building time!” The illustrations had me nostalgic for my own fort-building childhood. Definitely request this one for some cozy reading and building fun.

This week we are shouting out We All Play by Julie Flett. My son really connected with this book this week. It’s gorgeous Earth tones in the illustrations made it easy on the eyes for me to read, too! Author/illustrator Julie Flett connects children and their playful behavior to the natural world in this one.

Flett incorporates the Indingenous Cree language (with pronunciation guide), adding a cultural layer to this pre-K perfect read-aloud. It’s really fun to see the similarities of how a bear tumbles and plays in the snow and then illustrations of how, “we play too!” as kids and adults. I highly recommend this short and sweet one for snuggles and play time. 

This week we are talking a lot about the months of the year! It can be tough for young ones to conceptualize the twelve months in each year, so we like looking at this really interesting counting book which involves counting up to twelve. At the same time, each page counts up from January to December. The first page is a blank wintery landscape with the number zero, and for the next page, it counts up to one and beyond.

There are no words; which makes it a great book for discussing and counting what we see on each page. There’s a new building added to the village on each page, and lots of other fun things to notice and count. Sheets of laundry on the line, dragonflies in the air, children playing in the river, etc. 

If you want to start off the new year with a great book for counting months and discussing the seasons, this is a great place to start!

Hello Readers! This week we are shouting out Flannel Kisses by Linda Crotta Brennan and illustrated by Mari Takabayashi. This is such a beautiful and simple book. With everything that’s going on in the world, sometimes beautiful and simple is just what the doctor ordered; especially before bedtime for kids (and adults, too.)

This book really evokes the five senses of wintertime living for families, which I think makes it so powerful for such a short book. It starts off with, “Flannel sheets, Cold floor, Hot oatmeal, Out the door! Slippery snowsuit, Sticky snow. Pack a snowball, make it grow.”

My son loves receiving “flannel kisses” from his Daddy after reading this book, which I find really heartwarming. Maybe you’ll find it heartwarming, too. Happy reading!

Hello Readers! Our shout out this week is a beautiful, wintery tale of Coco and Bear trying to bring kindness to others in the forest. The title is Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light, by Apryl Stott. Bear feels sad because his large size frightens many of the other animals. Coco suggests that he should show others kindness in order to build friendships with them.

Coco says, “ My grandmother always says: ‘When life gets dark as winter’s night, share some kindness. Bring some light.’” They get to work baking cookies and making lanterns. Will they succeed? You’ll have to request this book to find out! It’s a heartwarming story with gorgeous illustrations. There are some children’s books that bring delight and inspiration to me as an adult and this is one of them. Stay warm & cozy, and happy reading!

This week we’ve been listening to the music of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Ballet to get into the holiday spirit, and watching the beautiful ballet dancing. Zeke loves dancing and singing to holiday music so I thought we’d read more about male dancers, since we see them represented less often than ballerinas; and still have so much to offer to the stage! 
He absolutely loves this book, with the fun illustrations and rhyming text. There are beautiful examples of real-life male ballet dancers with the words, “Let these leading men inspire as you practice and perspire. Growing stronger day by day, dream of parts that you might play…Princes, pirates, villains, too. Slay the Mouse King in a coup!” I love that this book encourages boys to express themselves through dancing and that, “with dancing skills you’re sure to soar in sports, at school, and so much more!” This book is great for girls and boys, alike!

If your kids love vehicles like Zeke does, then you’ll LOVE the book, Big Rig, by Jamie Swenson and Pictures by Ned Young. This is a new book to the Patten Free Library collection, and I knew Zeke would love it. This is a really fun conversational read with lots of great sounds to make and cheeky phrases and rhyming. Frankie the semi-truck is excited to take you along for the ride to deliver his goods to Dinosaur Land.

He says, “Rain clouds? Not a problem. Wipers—do your job—SCHWAAT, SCHWAAT, SCHWAAT. Lights on–can’t miss me, I’m like a Christmas tree. Looks like blue skies on the horizon!” With all the long holiday stories to read at bedtime, we also like to take a break, and indulge in some of our other comfort reads. It certainly has us appreciating all those who deliver goods around this time of the year!

This week we are enjoying a classic, The Mitten, by Jan Brett. As soon as the snow falls and we start bringing out the knitted items, I know it’s time to indulge in some Jan Brett illustrations. My son is really loving this one this year. Brett is so good at adding another dimension to her stories by including the additional illustrations on the side of the page that show us what animal is coming next.

When Nicki drops his snow-white mitten in the snow, and all the animals in the forest start snuggling in, Zeke is excited to exclaim, “The Badger is coming next!” Though she has many wonderful stories, and we love to read them all, this classic is our favorite one of all.

The book we want to shout out this week is, “The More We Get Together,” written by Celeste Cortright, illustrated by Betania Zacarias, with an accompanying CD sung by Audra Mariel and Kena Anae.

This book is a terrific adaptation of the classic, “The More We Get Together,” song that adds in an age-appropriate introduction to recycling, activism, community gardens, teamwork and more. We’re particularly focusing on gratitude this week as Thanksgiving plans are being made across the country.

The song goes, “Let’s gather round the table, whenever we’re able. Let’s gather ’round the table with all of our friends.And with every plateful, we’ll feel ever grateful. Let’s gather ’round the table with all of our friends. ‘Cause your meal is my meal, and my meal is your meal.”

I love the books that integrate text, music, and illustration for a more complex experience. This book even has a Youtube animation of the story as well!

Hope this wonderful book & music can inspire some togetherness with your friends and/or family!

Our book this week is Day of the Dead inspired! It’s titled, Gustavo the Shy Ghost written and illustrated by Flavia Z. Drago.

Our story is about a ghost who’s very shy, but wants nothing more than to have some friends. The sweet illustrations show Gustavo being a shy little ghostie and being invisible watching the other little monsters play. Gustavo is a very talented violinist though, and finds joy in playing music. Gustavo builds up the courage to write the monsters a letter to invite them to a violin concert in the cemetery.

We love this sweet book about making friendships. It’s great for reading any time of the year, but this week especially! We also requested this through Minerva as a Wonderbook copy so we could listen along to the narrator and the violin music it provides! It made for a wonderful experience.

This week we’re feeling the chill of winter approaching in the wind! We’ve been shopping for new outerwear to prepare for Maine’s cold temps as we bid the 70 degree days farewell. We had a lot of fun reading Bella’s Fall Coat by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by Susan Gal. One afternoon, Bella’s grandmother keeps trying to remind Bella that her coat is much too small and that it’s time for a new one. But, Bella LOVES her coat, and loves doing all the wonderful things fall has to offer in her coat.

 After falling asleep and dreaming of more, “bright orange leaves, crisp, juicy apples, and soft white feathers,” she wakes up to a big surprise the next morning. We loved reading about Bella’s fall adventures and the way she always “Whooshed!” out the door. Do you ever feel sad about saying goodbye to a coat you’ve outgrown? Bella gives us a good idea on what to do with it after it’s seen better days.

This week as we lead up to Halloween, (or maybe you celebrate Día de los Muertos!) We’ve really enjoyed many evenings of reading Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht and illustrated by Jarvis. This book really highlights the delight of picking a pumpkin and the creative enjoyment of making it into a jack-o’-lantern. Toht shows us how fun it can be to form a pumpkin carving crew and to how to get elbows deep into the guts and seeds of a pumpkin. 

The illustrations by Jarvis are super, spooky fun without being actually frightening, in case you have some sensitive readers. The rhyming text is also really quality writing and never got old to me, even though we read this many times!

“Lift your pumpkin up with pride. March it to a place outside. Set it safely on the ground, and call the crew to gather round. Ask someone to strike a match. Watch! The candle’s wick will catch. See it glow outside your door. LOOK! It’s not a pumpkin anymore. It’s a… Jack-o’-lantern!” When you turn the page and see the beautifully illustrated jack-o’-lantern, we smiled with glee each time. This book is great Halloween fun, I hope you enjoy it! 

This week, Zeke and I want to shout-out one of our very favorite Dahlov Ipcar books: Hard Scrabble Harvest! As someone who grew up on a vegetable farm, I can relate to this wonderful book which playfully describes the joys and challenges of growing and harvesting food in New England. 

One of my favorite pages reads, “Grapes on the arbor. Apples on the trees. Gather the tomatoes before they freeze. Bring in the apples. It’s cider-making time. Fatten up the turkey. Fatten up the swine.” It’s just really wonderful and relatable rhyming text paired with the marvelous Ipcar illustrations. Definitely find a copy of this one to pick up before Thanksgiving, if that’s a holiday you celebrate! And then stop by and admire the other Ipcar books we have on display near the children’s room.

 

My shout out this week is a really fun interactive book called Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson. Since the trees outside are changing their colors, it’s a great opportunity to talk with children about the cycle of seasons and how trees change throughout the year. It’s a great book to read at bedtime or outside on a nice autumn day. The book encourages us to “Pat the leaves—be gentle, please. Aha! Now blow a whooshing breeze!” And with each turn of the page, we’ve magically helped the tree along on its way throughout the seasons. There’s rhyming text as well, which always helps children know what word may come next. We like to read this one in the Fall and Plant the Tiny Seed by Matheson in the spring. Happy Leaf Peeping, Readers!

The book we want to spotlight this week is Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee. With all the fairs happening all over the state, our little ones may be feeling excited or anxious about the wild rides one buys tickets to for enjoyment. Frazee gives us readers such a fun ride with this book! We follow the characters in the line of the roller coaster as tension builds to board the ride. Zeke loved the “clickity, clackity, clickity, clackity. Up. Up. Up!” and then the “Whoosh!” of the ride that truly makes us feel like we’re on it.

We read this every night until it was due, and we spotted something new on each page every time. Marla Frazee has become one of our new favorite authors and illustrators in the way she’s able to tell such a great story with just a few lines and imaginative illustration. Maybe it could inspire our young readers to be brave and give the rides a try!

I love reading this book written and illustrated by Kenard Pak as we transition from summer to autumn. We read it every year and we always try to read it outside! We follow a girl as she walks through the woods and her downtown observing the changes in the weather.

He writes about how the animals busy themselves getting ready for winter, how the cool wind asks us to “bring out your thick sweaters and scarves,” and how “the sun sets earlier and earlier now that summer is coming to an end.” I think he does a great job of capturing the happiness, but also the moodiness, of autumn in such a great way for kids. This book and the others in Pak’s season series is how my son learned the changing of our Maine seasons. His illustrations are really simple, yet beautiful!