A moving, beautifully illustrated true story for children ages 6 to 9 about growing up in Japanese American incarceration camps during World War II—from the iconic Star Trek actor, activist, and author of the New York Times bestselling graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy.
The Law of Birthdays is a very smart book about free will and the importance of respecting other people’s choices. Using a simple example of a cake, Brenna Jeanneret illustrates how other people feel when their choice is taken away from them. It is a funny and tender story and the illustrations are truly beautiful.
Neat Nick’s Big Mess is an adorable picture book focusing on OCD and anxiety.
Chad Otis’ illustrations and story are charming and warm. I just fell in love with this friendly big dog. It is a wonderful story full of love and friendship that young readers, especially dog lovers, will adore !
Young dragon lovers will love this extraordinary tale about courage, determination and the power to stay true to ourselves despite the circumstances.
Strong is an inspiring story with beautiful illustrations. I loved the sweet atmosphere and the strong will of the main character. It is a great read to remind young ones how special they are.
Join a child and their animal friends as they learn the importance of trying new things in this heartfelt story from the creators of How to Help a Friend.
Champ is an incredible picture book about being yourself despite family pressure. Translated from Iranien, Champ is truly a treasure. The illustrations are very unique and I really love the main character who decides to stay unique and different. Despite all the difficulties, he really tries to please his family, but things don’t go as expected.
We are Parrots is an interesting picture book sharing lots of interesting facts about parrots. Young children will enjoy discovering the different types of birds and their specifications.
This simple book is perfect for early readers and young bird owners who wish to know more about this colorful animal.
How to make a sandwich is a heartwarming story about family, love, and food ! Rae is a sweet character who loves to discover new things, and today, she is a cook and is going to make a sandwich ! Making a sandwich is really easy, and the little girl knows exactly how to do it ! But things become a little out of control when the main ingredients disappear one after another !
Umbrella is a beautiful and poetic picture book about empathy and community. As young Clara is bored in the park, with no friend to play with, she finds an old and abandoned umbrella. Little does she imagine that it is everything, but ordinary. « Look inside me » whispers the black shelter. And as she complies, magic happens.
This beautiful picture book is the perfect nonfiction read before bedtime ! Uncovering the mysteries of the sea, young readers explore the bedtime routine of majestic creatures such as dolphins, whales, parrotfishes or turtles.
Five stars: Little Boy with a Big Horn by Jack Bechdolt and Aurelius Battaglia (Illustrator) (1953) is one of those foundational books of my childhood. It's a story that has stuck with me even though I am not particularly musically inclined. For me, it was how Bechdolt's story was interpreted visually by Aurelius Battaglia and how I misread / misremembered one key piece.
Five stars: Andrew Henry's Meadow by Doris Burn (1965) is a picture book about a boy with a drive to build and how he helps the oddball children of his community find a place of their own. The titular character is a boy who will build things anywhere he can, at the annoyance of his family. For example: a helicopter in the kitchen, pulleys in the bedroom, a merry-go-round in the laundry room. Fed up one day he sets out to find his own place.
Delighted to announce the three winners of the #Writing Magazine Children's Book Prize - #PictureBook Category!
Congratulations to Sue Rawlings, Rebecca Loveday and Hannah King for writing such brilliant, winning entries!
And a big thank you to judges Julia Churchill at A.M. Heath Literary Agency and Tina Jackson at Writing Magazine for all your time and effort.
More about the winning #writers and their stories in an upcoming issue of Writing Magazine!
Five stars: Love Is My Favorite Color by Nina Laden and Melissa Castrillón (Illustrator) (2024) is their fourth collaboration on a picture book. This one, based around a poem Laden wrote in 2018, is brightly optimistic both in tone and hue.
Five stars: Oh No, the Aunts Are Here by Adam Rex and Lian Cho (Illustrator) (2023) is a picture book about aunts descending upon a girl's family unexpected. She enjoys their company but is also somewhat overwhelmed by their enthusiasm.
Once again Ralphy and his friend Jackson Johnson team up to help children understand their feelings. Today is the first day of school and some of the students do not feel good : some are scared, anxious or sad. The dogs do their best to help the children feel better, offering them advice to feel better.
Five stars: How Spider Saved Halloween by Robert Kraus (1973) was published the year I was born. I think I had it read to me way back when. I came across it again via social media — Instagram, I think. As it was coming up on Halloween, I though it was a good time to read or re-read it.
Five stars: Yellow Kayak by Nina Laden and Melissa Castrillón (Illustrator) (2018) is the tale of a child, their friend and a trip in a kayak through calm and rough waters. The story is conveyed through minimalist poetry and luscious illustrations by an English-Colombian artist.
You’re truly One of the Kind is an adorable picture book about diversity and cherishing our individuality. It shares a sweet message of confidence, love and friendship. I love how Sonali Patodia uses Indian mythology and culture to explore all these concepts.
With Boban, young readers will rediscover the wonders of the world, taking them on a fun, colorful and visual journey. It is a simple story, but it shares a warm message of encouragement about opening our eyes, looking at the world around us and appreciating everything, even the tiniest ones.