February 16 – National Bake for Family Fun Month

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About the Holiday

Whether the weather is cold or whether the weather is warm, the weather is always perfect for the cozy goodness of baking sweet treats or savory dishes with family and friends! Baking cookies—or the perennial favorite mac ‘n’ cheese—together is a fun way to teach cooking skills and a little math while also having meaningful one-on-one time with your kids. Of course, one of the best parts about baking together is eating the delicious meals or treats afterward!

The Day the Mac ‘n’ Cheese Ran Out (The Terrible Trio #2)

Written by Swapna Haddow | Illustrated by Minky Stapelton

 

When we last left our intrepid superheroes, they had found jobs at the Superheroes Café and finally embraced their slightly embarrassing but unexpectedly useful superpowers. Zeb the zebra discovered that his power to blend in with a crosswalk was applicable in at least one other place, Barry the lemur wrote enticing menu signs, and Margarine the penguin was whipping up mac ‘n’ cheese everywhere and from everything like a caped tornado. They were on top of the world! They were heroes! 

Illustration © 2026 by Minky Stapleton. Text © 2026 by Swapna Haddow. Courtesy of Scholastic.

But that was then and this is today, when Zeb came to work only to find a huge crowd outside the Superheroes Café and the doors locked. When Zeb got inside, he was met with a terrible, confusing scene: Marge was crying a waterfall and revealed “ILOSTMYPOWERICANTMAKEMACNCHEESEANYMORE!” Barry supplied the translation. This was BAAAD news! How bad? After causing a very hungry lion to stub his toe, Zeb saved his own skin by promising him an endless supply of mac ‘n’ cheese for his cub’s birthday party. If Marge can’t make mac ‘n’ cheese, they’ll all be eaten.

Illustration © 2026 by Minky Stapleton. Text © 2026 by Swapna Haddow. Courtesy of Scholastic.

Thus begins the madcap search for an antidote to restore Marge’s power.  She tries cooking her own mac ‘n’ cheese from scratch, tasting different cheeses down at the farmers market, and joining a meditation circle at the Mountain Goat Meditation Center, but nothing works. Zeb even gives him an apology card and hypnotizes him, but these things don’t satisfy the lion either, and now he’s so hangry that he ties a garlic-marinated Zeb to a grilling rack and heads for the barbecue. It’s at this very moment (well, soonish, anyway, after some mind-bending, dream memories; the revelation of Margarine’s sister’s name, and a heartfelt declaration of friendship) that the answer to Marge’s lost power becomes clear. But will Marge’s power stir to life? Will Zeb be cooked? Will Barry see the writing on the wall? There’s only one way to find out!

Illustration © 2026 by Minky Stapleton. Text © 2026 by Swapna Haddow. Courtesy of Scholastic.

Swapna Haddow’s second book in her Terrible Trio graphic novel series charms with feel-good silliness that will have kids cackling at the clueless goofiness that makes these best friends so endearing. Zeb’s clever use of his power, which starts the plot rolling, is ingenious. Gentle pokes at a few current trends will also bring giggles. Haddow’s quick-witted dialogue keeps independent readers riveted to the story and also making this series a rollicking read aloud for younger children.

Minky Stapleton’s hilarious illustrations of Marge, Zeb, Barry, and the lion who needs his mac ‘n’ cheese NOW! show off Haddow’s characters at their bewildered, bothered, and bewitched best. The fun she has with each of the characters as they swing from shell-shocked to weeping to drifting into zany asides radiates from the page, making this story a laugh-out-loud gem. The lion’s super-roar power, depicted in all-caps, is especially funny as he fluctuates between the hangries and affability with no moderation in tone.

This smart, comedic The Terrible Trio series, powered by #1: The (Not So) Superheroes, #2: The Day the Mac ‘n’ Cheese Ran Out, and the upcoming #3: The Mystery of the Lost Cape, will excite any young reader or graphic novel fan. With plenty of repeat readability, the books make an exciting gift and will enjoy super-standing on library and home bookshelves.

Ages 7 – 10

Scholastic, 2026 | ISBN 978-1546183020

Swapna Haddow grew up in the UK and wrote her first book at age eight. She wishes she’d kept it, but it seemed like a good idea at the time to trade it for two stickers and a couple of marbles! Her first published book was the hilarious junior novel Dave Pigeon, which grew into a laugh-out-loud, award-winning series. She has since written many funny, colourful, and much-loved picture books as well as further junior fiction series. Swapna loves to write stories filled with boisterous animals causing mayhem, with friendship and humour consistently at the heart of her work. Swapna now lives in Dunedin, New Zealand, with her husband, son, and their dog. Her first homegrown tall tale with Scholastic New Zealand is But Then… the almost true story of an overdue book. Visit her at swapnahaddow.com.

Minky Stapleton is a multi-faceted illustrator with a range of styles, all with a dash of humour. An award-winning Art Director and Creative Director originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Minky gave up advertising to follow her first love, illustration. She now resides in Auckland, New Zealand, where she balances illustration projects with running classes for kids on how to design scary monsters. Minky has illustrated many titles for Scholastic, from hilarious picture books to historical fiction and high-energy, heavily illustrated junior fiction. Visit her at minkystapleton.com.

You can find my review of The (Not So) Superheroes: The Terrible Trio #1 here.

Bake for Family Fun Month Activity

Make Marge’s Mac ‘n’ Cheese

 

What’s your superpower? Making Marge’s mac ‘n’ cheese! With this recipe found on Swapna Haddow’s website, you’ll be taming your child’s roaring hangries in no time! You’ll also find lots of The Terrible Trio drawing, coloring, and activity pages too!

You can purchase The Day the Mac ‘n’ Cheese Ran Out (The Terrible Trio #2) from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

 

February 11 – Formula One Pre-Season Testing Begins & National Inventors’ Day

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About the Holiday

If you’re a fan of Formula One racing, today may be one of your favorite holidays of the year as Formula One Pre-season Testing gets underway in Sakhir, Bahrain! This year teams have six days at the Bahrain International Circuit to watch their new cars prove their mettle on the track and view the competition ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 6. You can read more about this year’s F1 pre-season testing here. To learn more about the 2026 Formula One World Championship season, visit formula1.com.

Today also hosts a holiday that celebrates the innovative individuals behind such sports as Formula One as well as endless other industries, sciences, and arts—National Inventors’ Day! Honoring the birthday of Thomas Edison, the day recognizes the spirit of inventors from all backgrounds and experience who look at life a little differently and not only imagine “what if?” but make it happen. If you have a creative mind, spend some time today tinkering around with your idea! 

Thank you to Phaidon Press for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Formula Fast: Your Ultimate Guide to Formula One Racing!

Written by Matt Ralphs | Illustrated by Dragan Kordić

 

There may be no more thrilling call to play than Formula One racing’s “It’s lights out and away we go!” Bolstering this iconic phrase are the suspense, competition, innovation, pride, and history that define one of the world’s best-loved sports. In their stunning, oversized book, Matt Ralphs and Dragan Kordić take kids to the race track through 26 fast-paced, two-page sections to learn all about Formula One and what makes it such a favorite of spectators of all ages. First up are some basics about the sport, including how the name “Formula One” was devised. 

Illustration © 2026 by Dragan Kordić. Text © 2026 by Matt Ralphs. Courtesy of Phaidon Press.

Then it’s off to a Grand Prix race weekend for a peek at practice, qualifying, sprint races and, finally, Sunday’s race. But what about the cars? Turn the page and kids get to see the inner workings of a race car then view and learn about nine of the most distinctive cars over time from the 1950 Alfa Romeo 158 to the sleek 1977-78 Renault RS0 (“the first Formula One car sporting a turbocharged engine”) to today’s hybrid cars like the Mercedes F1Wo5. Along the way, some truly legendary cars  Young fans then discover seven legendary cars that have broken the mold with their improvements to “create pure racing magic.”

Other sections discuss safety innovations at the race track, inside vehicles, and in the gear drivers wear. Sometimes, it might be said that designers get too creative and produce cars that are just kind of well . . . “weird.” Readers can decide for themselves which of the five cars presented is the strangest, from a car that used an airplane engine to one that rolled on six wheels instead of four! A glimpse into the cockpit leads to a detailed look at the game-controller-like steering wheel, that “can be programmed to do hundreds of jobs.” Kids also learn about Grand Prix tracks and get a primer on the meaning of each flag.

Illustration © 2026 by Dragan Kordić. Text © 2026 by Matt Ralphs. Courtesy of Phaidon Press.

Think the Kentucky Derby at about 2 minutes is fast? That’s nothing compared to a Formula One pit stop! In 2.5 seconds or less, a 20-person pit crew changes tires and makes repairs and gets cars back on the track! Readers will love joining the crew to learn about the specialist mechanics and what they do. Young speedsters will be interested in the career path for Formula One drivers, starting with kart racing as children and transitioning to faster races with more powerful cars as teens.

Another section discusses the positive steps being taken to include women in the sport, including “an all-female annual F1 Academy racing series” begun in 2023 and the F1 Academy championship—a fourteen-race season with fifteen female drivers representing five teams. Readers are then introduced to nine iconic drivers and six famous teams throughout F1’s history. Before the photo finish, fans also discover more about what it takes to put a racing team together and efforts by Formula One to be more inclusive in their hiring across all aspects of the sport. A Glossary follows the text.

Illustration © 2026 by Dragan Kordić. Text © 2026 by Matt Ralphs. Courtesy of Phaidon Press.

Matt Ralphs immerses young readers in Formula One racing from its inception in 1950 through today with captivating and easy-to-understand writing that gives children the feeling of being taken on a personal tour to sit in the cars, cheer from the stands, meet the personalities, and engage in all aspects of F1 racing. Ralphs’ comprehensive overview of the sport soars on his amazing attention to every detail and is presented in well-paced, bite-sized, illustrated paragraphs that reward short or long reading sessions. Educators and students will also find the book a valuable resource with a breadth of topics that can spark interest in and research for a wide range of creative STEM/STEAM projects.

Readers can almost hear the roar of the engines and shouts of the crowds as cars race across pages in a blur of color, power, and speed in Dragan Kordić’s exhilarating illustrations. Each concept is accompanied by one of Kordić’s astonishing, realistic depictions of cars, drivers, and equipment, which allows readers to fully appreciate the complexities, materials, and work involved in Formula One racing. Children will be enthralled with their inside views of a cockpit, race tracks, and garage. Kordić’s portraits of the people involved with F1 from its earliest days to the present will impress readers with the lessons and successes of the past that has led to today’s Formula One popularity.

A must for any Formula One fan—both children and adults—Formula Fast: Your Ultimate Guide to Formula One Racing! will speed to the top of the favorites board in any home, classroom, or library collection. The book would make a much-loved gift for any child who loves F1 racing.

Ages 8 – 12+

Phaidon Press, 2026 | ISBN 978-1837291243

Matt Ralphs is an author and editor. His children’s non-fiction credits include Spooky Celebrations Around the World, Beasts from the Deep, Transported, Automative, and Around the World in 80 Inventions. He has lots of interests, especially Formula One and fast cars and counts himself lucky that he gets to write books about them. Visit him at mattralphswriter.com.

Dragan Kordić is a Croatian illustrator and designer. His work ranges from illustrations for publishing and public spaces to visuals for startups, corporate clients, and advertising. He is inspired by nature, travel, and books. He lives in Rijeka, Croatia, with his wife and daughter. Visit him at dragankordic.com.

Formula One Pre-Season Testing Activities

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-truck-racing-game-wood

Racing Game

 

Here’s a game that kids will race to make and play! With poster board, paper, and chalk or other art supplies, kids can place their track in a stadium, city, the country, the desert, or even in outer space! Once the scene is ready, get out your own toy cars or trucks to play with or use the printable car or truck game pieces included below. Use a traditional playing die or the included printable 8-sided playing die. The first player to the finish line wins—or shake it up a bit and make the last person to the line the winner.

The track can be laid out on the floor and taped in place or created on poster board or paper with the supplies below:

Supplies

  • Black poster board or tri-fold display board. I used a 12-inch by 4-foot section of a tri-fold board in my example. This allows you to fold up the board for easier storing.
  • White paper
  • Chalk, crayons, or colored pencils
  • Glue or tape
  • Scissors
  • Toy trucks or cars
  • Printable Cars Game Pieces | Trucks Game Pieces (optional)
  • Printable 8-sided Playing Die

Directions

  1. Cut 30 4- or 5-inch by 1½-inch strips from the white paper (or more for a longer track)
  2. Have kids lay out a track on the board using the white paper strips (each strip is one space) leaving room in between the rows for scenery
  3. Glue or tape the strips in place
  4. Draw scenery around the track OR cut trees, buildings, landmarks, or other scenery from paper and color. Glue or tape to board. 
  5. Print and assemble 8-sided playing die with tape (optional)
  6. Give each player a toy truck or car. Alternately, print and cut out included Truck Game Pieces. (To make them sturdier, print on heavy paper or glue them to cardboard)
  7. Choose a player to go first
  8. Players take turns rolling the die and moving the appropriate number of spaces
  9. The first (or last) player to the finish line is the winner

Formula One Coloring Pages

 

Race to the finish with these three Formula One coloring pages from Monday Mandala! You can find more at MondayMandala.com! 

Sunny Day F1 Racing | At the Track F1 Racing | Pit Stop! F1 Racing

You can purchase Formula One: Your Ultimate Guide to Formula One Racing! from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

February 8 – National Fly a Kite Day

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About the Holiday

Today’s holiday celebrates an activity enjoyed the world over—kite flying! If you live in an area where it’s warm and are looking for a fun way to spend the day, why not take the opportunity of today’s holiday and set your sights on the sky? Whether you’re steering a simple diamond or a fancy dragon, watching a kite dip and soar through the sky is an exhilarating experience! If it’s too cold or snow’s piled up high where you live, spend some time today creating a homemade kite in preparation of spring!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sharing a copy of this book with me for review!

A Year of Kites: Traditions Around the World

Written by Monisha Bajaj | Illustrated by Amber Ren

 

If you and your kids love the freewheeling excitement of holding a kite string in your hands while your kite dips and soars on the wind, you’re not alone! For more than 3,000 years, families from all over the world have taken to parks, beaches, city squares, and rooftops to celebrate special holidays, festivals, and solemn observances by flying kites. 

Illustration © 2026 by Amber Ren. Text © 2026 by Monisha Bajaj. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Monisha Bajaj and Amber Ren take readers on a tour of twelve countries, beginning in Gujarat, India, where it’s January and the festival of Uttarayan is underway to commemorate the end of winter. Children and adults launch their patang and compete to have the last kite flying. “Asha uses her “super-sharp kite string to cut down other kites.” Later, kites carrying lanterns will light up the nighttime sky.

Kids then travel to Lahore, Pakistan; Athens, Greece; Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan; and Grenville, Grenada to meet other children celebrating a spiritual holiday or ringing in the new year. Winging their way to Weifang, China, readers find themselves at the yearly International Kite Festival. Here, beautiful “wood, silk, paper, and bamboo kites” fill the sky. From a pagoda high on a hill, “Ming guides a dragon kite, which is a symbol of good fortune,” while “Ai flies a kite shaped like a butterfly, which is a symbol of love.”

Illustration © 2026 by Amber Ren. Text © 2026 by Monisha Bajaj. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Next, kids visit Tokyo, Japan on May 5 for their annual Children’s Day celebration, during which koinobori, colorful koi-shaped kites, are the stars of the festivities. Now it’s on to Auckland, New Zealand, where “for hundreds of years, Māori people have made kites out of leaves and tree bark” and send them skyward to connect with their ancestors. Off again, readers touch down in Maui, Hawai’i, mingle with a crowd of 20,000 in Cape Town, South Africa, spend the day with Ixchel at the Día de los Muertos festival in Sumpango, Guatemala, and finish up their world tour with Sarai and her dad in Sukhothai, Thailand during the winter monsoon season.

Back matter includes a Glossary of terms found throughout the story and a fascinating Author’s Note that relates many ways kites have been used throughout history for scientific experiments, navigation, fishing, and sports; how trade between regions helped spread the popularity of kites in the 13th century and even earlier; a list of annual kite festivals around the world; and Monisha Bajaj’s own participation in kite traditions while growing up in South Asia. Instructions on how to make a simple kite are also included.

Illustration © 2026 by Amber Ren. Text © 2026 by Monisha Bajaj. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

With her engaging “Kites fly high . . .” introduction to each section, Monisha Bajaj invites young readers on a whirlwind world tour to meet other children as they participate in festivals where kites offer fun competition, carry wishes for the future, and connect participants to their ancestors. Bajaj’s sprightly storytelling contains surprises and poignancy as she describes the traditions of kite flying in each country, and each child’s pride and excitement are evident. Bajaj ends with uplifting inspiration for all children striving to soar high each day.

Amber Ren’s vibrant and animated illustrations take readers to twilight rooftops, golden fields, and some of the world’s most famous monuments where, on certain festival days, these eye-catching sites become the backdrop to brilliant kites in the welcoming sky. Happy children, picnicking families, and cheering spectators reflect the celebratory atmosphere. Readers will enjoy spending time to view each kite and cultural details.

A Year of Kites: Traditions Around the World makes a unique and intriguing complement to geography and social studies lessons for educators, a high-interest addition to library collections, and an exciting choice for children interested in world cultures and kite flying.

Ages 4 – 8

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1547612246

About the Author

Monisha Bajaj is Professor of International and Multicultural Education at the University of San Francisco, USA and Visiting Professor at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa. She is the author of Schooling for Social Change: The Rise and Impact of Human Rights Education in India (Bloomsbury 2012). Visit her at monishabajaj.net.

About the Illustrator

Amber Ren is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and a visual development artist in the animation industry. She earned her BFA in Character Animation at the California Institute of the Arts. Amber’s work is inspired by her love for folk art, nostalgia, inclusion, and her childhood spent in China. She is the illustrator of Because, Looking for a Jumbie, Night Market Rescue, and more. Visit her at amber-ren.com.

National Kite Flying Day Activity

Flying Kites Coloring Pages

 

Kids can take to the skies with their crayons, pencils, or markers and make each of these kites their own! You can find these and more kite coloring pages on Monday Mandala!

Dragon Kite | Phoenix Kite | Easy Colorful Kite

You can purchase A Year of Kites: Traditions Around the World from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

 

February 4 – World Read Aloud Day

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About the Holiday

World Read Aloud Day, founded in 2010 by global non-profit LitWorld, encourages adults to read aloud to children not only today but every day. Reading aloud to children from birth is one of the best ways to promote language development, improve literacy, and enjoy bonding time together. Millions of people celebrate today’s holiday all across the United States and in more than one hundred countries around the world. Special events are held in schools, libraries, bookstores, homes, and communities, and authors and illustrators hold readings and visit classrooms in person and virtually. To learn more about World Read Aloud Day, visit LitWorld and check out their Activity Hub to find live events, virtual read alouds, downloadable bookmarks, posters, games, and more!

Thank you to Beach Lane Books and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sending me this book for review!

You and I Are Stars and Night

Written by Kate Hosford | Illustrated by Richard Jones

 

In a seaside village cloaked in slumber, a mother and child hear the call of the wind inviting them to abandon bath time and sail away to a whimsical island. Together, as one, they face and leave behind the day’s waves and “every tentacle and tail” that might hamper a peaceful sleep. The mother assures the child: “You and I are boat and sail.”

Illustration © 2026 by Richard Jones. Text © 2026 by Kate Hosford. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books.

On the island the sun is shining and the sea is calm. The pair enjoy a picnic lunch on a solitary dune. Afterwards, they swim, meeting baby mermaids then play in a colorful forest where a family of white tigers looks on and a dove delivers red caps to tiny gnomes. The two dart behind trees, and the mother chimes, “Where did you go? You were just here! / I closed my eyes and didn’t peek. / You and I are hide and seek.” 

Illustration © 2026 by Richard Jones. Text © 2026 by Kate Hosford. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books.

They fly over the island seeing a castle and a windmill high on a frozen rock. The mother challenges her child to “find the trail that leads below / to where the fisherwomen go. / Race me down the mountainside. / You and I are slip and slide.” Here, their sailboat is waiting, and as the child steers and the mother navigates, they make their way home again. Snuggled into bed, they read together before sailing into the world of dreams. The mother says, “I’ll wrap you up and hold you tight . . . / You and I are stars and night.”

Illustration © 2026 by Richard Jones. Text © 2026 by Kate Hosford. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books.

Whenever you cuddle up with your child, you feel it—that perfect fit created from love and understanding, and shared experiences, hopes, and dreams. In her moving story, Kate Hosford expresses this deep and unbreakable connection between mother and child using an easy-flowing rhyme scheme, innovative metaphorical settings, and familiar complementary words and phrases. Whimsy, the concrete, and hints of the future meld together in Hosford’s gorgeous storytelling that may bring a joyful tear to adult’s eyes while assuring children of how much they’re loved.

Richard Jones’ breathtaking acrylic and watercolor illustrations are soft and dreamlike, upending bath time when the tub becomes a sailboat and floats through an almost-invisible window on a wave that also carries a table, and the child’s clothes, shoes, and toys along on an adventure. Wispy dragons, toys come to life, frolicking wildlife, charming seaside scenes, and the comfort of home all combine to create a reading experience children and adults will want to visit again and again. Kids will especially like finding the child’s toys and other images reappearing among the pages. 

A touching and luminescent read aloud that will immediately become a favorite, You and I Are Stars and Night is a must for libraries and any home collection. The book would also make a much-loved gift.

Ages 4 – 8 

Beach Lane Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1665940382

Kate Hosford is the author of seven picture books and two poetry collections, garnering accolades such as being named an American Library Association Notable Book, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, a Junior Library Guild Selection, and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. Her books have been published in eight languages. She is a graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts where she earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults. Kate lives in Brooklyn with her family. Visit her at khosford.com.

Richard Jones has been living and working in Devon, England, for more than twenty years. He spent several years working in a busy children’s library, issuing and shelving other artists’ picture books before one day wondering if it wasn’t about time he had a proper go at creating one or two himself! Richard has written and illustrated many picture books, including Wondering Around by Meg Fleming, The Snow Lion by Jim Helmore, Quiet by Tom Percival, and You and I Are Stars and Night by Kate Hosford. Visit him at paintedmouse.com.

World Read Aloud Day Activity

You and I Are Stars and Night Activity Guide

 

Kids will have fun rhyming, drawing, using their imagination, and making friendship bracelets with this Activity Guide! You can download it from Kate Hosford’s website here!

You can purchase You and I Are Stars and Night from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

 

February 3 – Black History Month

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About the Holiday

Marking 100 years of celebrating Black history, this year’s theme for Black History Month is A Century of Black History Commemorations and looks back to 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a historian and educator, instituted the first week-long celebration, to today’s month-long observance. Throughout this time Woodson’s goal to show that Black history, culture, and accomplishments are all woven into the fabric of America has been championed and embraced by individuals and institutions that recognize the immeasurable contributions of Black thinkers, creators, scientists, educators, entertainers, athletes, military personnel, builders, business owners, workers, and friends.

During this centennial celebration, especially, when displays of Black biographies and contributions are being dismantled and historical records rewritten and erased, it is all the more important to stand up for and support our neighbors, to look around and see the beauty in the vibrant, diversity of our country. To celebrate, look for special events in your local schools, libraries, museums, and other venues.

Everywhere Beauty Is Harlem: The Vision of Photographer Roy DeCarava

Written by Gary Golio | Illustrated by E. B. Lewis

 

Come join Gary Golio and E. B. Lewis on a walk through 1940s Harlem with photographer Roy DeCarava as he captures this neighborhood’s people and spirit through his camera lens. No need to hurry to catch up. It’s just now 5:00, and Roy’s leaving work to begin doing what he loves best. “On the subway, he pulls out a new roll of film, opens the back of his camera, and pops it in. He’s ready.” You are too.

Illustration © 2024 by E.B. Lewis. Text © 2024 by Gary Golio. Courtesy of Calkins Creek.

At the stop, follow Roy onto the street where the air smells delicious, but you’re not stopping to eat. There’s so much to see: a boy drawing with chalk, an artist selling his paintings, and a woman taking a picture of a young boy. “Roy watches the boy, who’s looking at his mother. There’s a lot of love in those eyes.” “Snap! Snap! Snap!” Roy will tell you, “Beauty is not in the camera. Beauty is in the person.”

Everywhere Roy looks, he sees beauty. In hidden crafts of nature, in shy smiles, in the rainbow spray from a fire hydrant dousing boys playing in the street. “Snap!” Do you see it too? Follow Roy’s gaze as he watches people passing on the street, “some happy, some sad. Their eyes are like mirrors. Looking into them, Roy sees Harlem.”

Illustration © 2024 by E.B. Lewis. Text © 2024 by Gary Golio. Courtesy of Calkins Creek.

As the sun fades, there’s time for perhaps one more picture. Roy continues looking. Then, there, in an empty lot appears a young girl in a formal white dress with a flower behind her ear. Roy aims his camera. “Snap!” It’s time to head home, but Roy leaves you with one more thought to contemplate: “We’re looking for truth and truth is living, so we find truth in living.”

Extensive back matter includes an extended biographical look at his life from childhood to early jobs to his dappling in painting before turning to photography, as well as his own words about his work, a portrait, and a timeline from his birth in 1919 to his death in 2009. A bibliography and a list of museums featuring his work are also included.

Illustration © 2024 by E.B. Lewis. Text © 2024 by Gary Golio. Courtesy of Calkins Creek.

In his stirring tribute, Gary Golio invites readers to view Harlem through the mind, eyes, and camera of photographer Roy DeCarava—and by association, to see their own neighborhood and beyond with clarity, appreciation, and love. Golio’s spare, graceful storytelling is all the more absorbing for its simple depictions of the everyday, often fleeting moments that bring surprise and beauty to life and which DeCarava captured so poignantly. Meaningful quotes from DeCarava sprinkled throughout the pages further enhance the feeling of being present on one of DeCarava’s walks to listen to and learn from one of this country’s preeminent artists.

Drawing readers in to Roy DeCarava’s worldview are E. B. Lewis’s astonishing and homey watercolor paintings that recreate scenes DeCarava encountered in his walks through Harlem and memorialized in his black-and-white photographs. Working with light and shadow, subdued-yet-detailed backgrounds, and the constant of movement on the streets, Lewis highlights the subjects of DeCarava’s photos in ways that allow readers to see the beauty Roy saw. Each page invites lingering as you feel the suppressed energy of the little boy posing for his picture, appreciate the charm of a crumpled soda can, and hear the laughs of the boys in the spray of the fire hydrant.

A picture book that rewards repeat reading with new perspectives and appreciation for the large and small aspects of the world around us, Everywhere Beauty is Harlem is a must for all libraries and will enhance any home collection.

Ages 7 – 10

Calkins Creek, 2024 | ISBN 978-1662680557

About the Author

A visual artist, musician, and psychotherapist, Gary Golio is the author of the New York Times–bestselling picture book Jimi: Sounds Like A Rainbow, which received the 2011 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. His other books, most of which profile important artists, include When Bob Met Woody, Strange Fruit, and most recently Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge. Visit him at garygolio.com.

About the Illustrator

The recipient of a Caldecott Honor and an Orbis Pictus Award, along with many others, E. B. Lewis is the illustrator of more than seventy books for children. His Calkins Creek titles include Seeking Freedom by Selene Castrovilla and Lizzie Demands a Seat by Beth Anderson, which won Bank Street College of Education’s Flora Stieglitz Straus Award for excellence in fiction, along with many other honors.

Black History Month Activity

A Slide Show of Roy DeCarava’s Photographs and Family Photo Fun!

 

First, view photographs by Roy DeCarava in this slide show of some of his best-known work presented by NPR. Talk about the subject of each picture and the effect it has on you. Then using a phone or camera, kids and adults can take turns snapping pictures of family, friends, pets, special objects or the neighborhood. Afterward, share your pictures and talk about why you chose certain subjects and what story or feeling you wanted to convey.

You can purchase Everywhere Beauty is Harlem: The Vision of Photographer Roy DeCarava from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

 

January 28 – National Blueberry Pancake Day

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About the Holiday

Are your favorite pancakes loaded with luscious blueberries? Then you’ve landed on the right holiday! Today’s celebration gives you the perfect reason to indulge, so find those blueberries tucked in the freezer or run to the store and whip up a batch of these palate-pleasing pancakes for breakfast or dinner! 

Thank you to Carrie Finison and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Plenty of Pancakes

Written by Carrie Finison | Illustrated by Brianne Farley

 

Topsy the opossum is planning a surprise “Welcome Spring” big pancake breakfast to welcome back her bear friend LouAnn from her winter hibernation. She’s already invited all of their friends and now it’s time to start cooking. What’s on the menu? “They’ll have berries with syrup, and cider to share, and plenty of pancakes, enough for a bear!”

Illustration © 2026 by Brianne Farley. Text © 2026 by Carrie Finison. Courtesy of G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

Topsy measures and pours and fries up five perfect pancakes. Whistling a tune, she walks away for a moment then hears a “clunk!” Turning around, she sees the plate is empty. She attributes the loss to hungry squirrels, and whips up another batch. Soon, she has “five perfect pancakes, hot from the pan. / Tender and crispy, and all for—”

Illustration © 2026 by Brianne Farley. Text © 2026 by Carrie Finison. Courtesy of G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

But in the time it would take to say “LouAnn,” this stack disappears too. Then another and another! At last, Tospy’s relieved to find all of her other guests arriving and ready to help. With so many bakers and a groundhog to guard them, the group gets to work. “Topsy counts pancakes: five, ten, fifteen, twenty. / Twenty’s a lot . . . but she’s not sure it’s PLENTY.” And so . . . they make more.

Just then LouAnn emerges from her cabin with a surprise. She has two new babies to introduce, “. . . but Topsy’s suspicious. / She looks at the cubs and sees there are traces / of pancake all over their sweet fuzzy faces.” Topsy doesn’t let on, though, and just makes a toast “to babies and spring” as the friends all share pancakes aplenty! 

Illustration © 2026 by Brianne Farley. Text © 2026 by Carrie Finison. Courtesy of G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

Carrie Finison’s recipe for a delectable story time contains all the ingredients kids clamor for—humor, drama, endearing characters, and the chance to be in on a secret right from the start. Finison’s rollicking sentences bounce and bound through the story with perfect rhythm and rhyme, and children will eagerly chime in on the funny repeat and clipped-off phrasing “. . . and all for—.” Plenty of Pancakes is a joy to read aloud, fun for kids who like to count, and a book that both children and adults will choose again and again.

Brianne Farley invites readers to this forest feast with her bright, delightful gouache and pencil illustrations that are loaded with personality and clever details (LouAnn’s alarm clock displays only pictographs for spring, summer, fall, and winter). Farley whips up excitement with action-packed pages where whisks spin, pancakes fly, the serving plate clunks, thunks, and crashes, and everyone pitches in to make this “welcome back” breakfast a blast. Kids will especially like spying the two little cubs that escape Topsy’s notice hiding here and there just within reach to gobble up stacks of treats.

Exuberant, warmhearted, and inviting readers’ giggly participation, Plenty of Pancakes makes a perfect gift and will be an immediate favorite in any home, school, or library collection.

Ages 4 – 8

G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2026 | ISBN 978-0593700174

Carrie Finison writes poetry, stories, and books for kids, including the picture books Dozens of Doughnuts; Pigs Dig a Road; Don’t Hug Doug (He Doesn’t Like It); Lulu & Zoey: A Sister Story; and Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School! She lives outside Boston with her husband, their son, their daughter, and two cats who allow her to work in their attic office. Visit her at carriefinison.com.

Brianne Farley is the author of Worm Makes a Sandwich, Secret Tree Fort and Ike’s Incredible Ink. She also illustrated Dozens of Doughnuts by Carrie Finison, the Charlotte the Scientist books by Camille Andros, and No Buddy Like a Book by Allan Wolf. Brianne studied creative writing and art at Macalester College, then received her MFA in illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She lives in Michigan. You can visit Brianne at BrianneFarley.com and follow her @BrianneHFarley.

You’ll also enjoy Dozens of Doughnuts, the first book in this series, which also stars LouAnn and her friends! Read my review here!

National Blueberry Pancakes Day Activity

Plenty of Pancakes Activity Pages

 

Kids will flip for these fun coloring and word search activities inspired by Plenty of Pancakes. You can download them from Carrie Finison’s website, here!

You can purchase Plenty of Pancakes from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

 

January 20 – Penguin Awareness Day

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About the Holiday

I’m excited to be a stop on the blog tour for Zenguin just in time for Penguin Awareness Day! Today’s holiday celebrates these delightfully unique birds, a species in which both females and males share parenting duties, and their tightly knit colonies. The day also raises awareness of the need to protect penguins’ habitats in the face of declining populations. Scientists have found that penguins play a crucial role as indicators of oceanic and polar environmental health and the effects of climate change.

The Penguin Foundation was established on January 20, 2006 in Australia to address ways to support projects that make a positive difference to the environment in general and especially for the penguins and wildlife on and around Phillip Island. In 2020, due to social media attention, Penguin Awareness Day enjoyed a surge in interest. Now the holiday is recognized around the world. To learn more from the World Wildlife Foundation, visit wwf.org.uk. To learn more about Australia’s Penguin Foundation, visit penguinfoundation.org.au.   

Thanks to Danna Smith and Workman Kids Publishing for sending me a copy of Zenguin for review!

Zenguin

Written by Danna Smith | Illustrated by Sydney Hanson

 

Little Penguin had lots of family and friends in his colony and he loved them all, but they were a boisterous bunch—always sledding and splashing and throwing snowballs. Even his little sister, Pip, could be so loud! “All the commotion made Penguin nervous.” His heart would race, and sometimes “he got angry like a fierce Antarctic storm.” 

One day weary of it all, he yelled, “‘QUIET!!'” but the squawking simply continued. If only he could feel peaceful and calm like some of his friends. “They called it zen.” Penguin went in search of friends who could help him. He visited Blue Whale, Seal, and Gull. Each one had a different method for finding peace and staying calm. Penguin tried them all and with each one, he felt more relaxed. He felt zen.

Illustration © 2026 by Sydney Hanson. Text © 2026 by Danna Smith. Courtesy of Workman Kids Publishing.

One day, Penguin heard Pip cry for help. She had gotten tangled in her knitting. She was flailing and squirming, but this just made her predicament worse. Penguin rushed to help. He “took a deep breath in, and slowly let a long breath out.” He taught Pip how to do it too, and when she became calm, Penguin was able to free her. Pip appreciated her big brother so much that she knitted him a sweater, even weaving in a new name—Zenguin! Penguin thought “it was perfect!”

Following the story, readers find four easy mindfulness activities that children can do to recover internal peace when they feel nervous or anxious, or when strong emotions unsettle them.

Illustration © 2026 by Sydney Hanson. Text © 2026 by Danna Smith. Courtesy of Workman Kids Publishing.

Danna Smith engages little ones with simple language and sweet storytelling which acknowledges that even the youngest children feel the pressures and stresses of busy lives and raucous surroundings. While young children may not have the vocabulary to discuss their feelings, with Zenguin Smith gives kids and adults a way to recognize and talk about anxiety, nervousness, anger, and other emotions that interfere with enjoying life to its fullest. Smith then goes further by presenting mindfulness activities that are easy for kids to learn and perform to find inner peace both on the spot or as part of a regular calming routine.

Sydney Hanson’s adorable Penguin, Pip, and all of her other sea creatures invite children to Antarctica where, despite the snow and ice, warm friendships abide. Hanson cleverly fills her lovely, tranquil pages with “squawks” and “pips,” “thwacks” and “thumps,” and “screees” and “wheeees” that young and adult readers can have fun reading aloud to replicate just how loud Penguin’s noisy colony could be. Like Smith’s text, this also gives kids a chance to talk situations that bother them. Little ones will love copying Penguin’s moves as he learns techniques for finding peace and calm, and Penguin and Pip’s loving sibling relationship will endear this pair to all readers.

The length of the book is perfect for pulling off the shelf to calm a child who is experiencing strong emotions. It will also become a favorite recurring read aloud to reassurance children that they can have control over their reactions to situations they may find difficult. Zenguin would make an impactful addition to any home bookshelf and is highly recommended for school and public library collections.

Ages 3 – 6

Workman Kids, 2026 | ISBN 978-1523528660

Penguin Awareness Day Activity

Zenguin Activity Pages

 

Kids will enjoy slowing down and entering the zen zone with these three activity pages that invite them to  color and solve a puzzle with Penguin, Pip, and their friends. You can find a Zenguin and Pip Maze, Zenguin and Friends Coloring Page, Zenguin and Pip Coloring Page, Tips on creating a Personal Zen Space, and defined Zen-Related Words and Concepts on Danna Smith’s website!

You can purchase Zenguin from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review