September 25 – Math Storytelling Day

About the Holiday

National Math Storytelling Day was established in 2009 by Maria Droujkova, founder of The Natural Math Community at Naturalmath.com, and her daughter to encourage people to share the joys of math with children through stories and games. Having fun with math is one of the best ways to get kids excited about learning and working with this most important subject. Celebrate today with math stories that involve patterns, spatial relations, quantities, logic, puzzles, and numbers. You can even sing math songs and tell math jokes! You’ll find lots of resources for Math Storytelling Day and every day on the Natural Math website. Today’s book comes from Charlesbridge, who early on embraced the power of picture books to get children involved with math in everyday life.

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

Sisters All the Time (Steamworks)

Hermanas todo el tiempo (Steamworks) (Spanish Edition)

By Angela Quezada Padron

For Mari Saturday was the best day of the week because her half-sister Luz came over. “They laughed and played all day [and] giggled and acted silly all night.” But when Sunday came and Luz had to leave, Mari felt sad. She never seemed to have enough time with her big sister. On this Sunday, just five minutes before Luz’s mom was scheduled to pick Luz up, she called to say she’d be two hours late. Excited to have extra time together, Mari and Luz planned out which activities they wanted to do. Mari wanted to do all of them, but Luz knew they didn’t have time for that.

They decided to write down all of their favorite activities and estimate how long each took. First up, they wanted to “try to beat [their] record for the longest domino trail ever.” This would take about 40 minutes to set up . . . “and about 5 minutes to watch them all topple.” They had one hour and 45 minutes left to fill. With the trail built and a new world record accomplished, it was time to have a fashion show. Part way through their preps (including making up Papi and doing his hair), pizza arrived. After lunch, they only had 30 minutes left, so they decided to play indoor Olympics.

Luz and Mari had just gotten started when Papi reminded them that their lunch dishes needed cleaning. Then during their trampoline contest, he told them they needed to pick up the dominoes and hang up the fashion show clothes. All of these ate into the time the girls had left. With only five minutes before Luz’s mom was expected, they jumped into a sock race, but “Ding Dong!” time was up. Mari pleaded for more time. She thought that sisters should not “live together SOME of the time,” but ALL the time. Luz took her little sister’s hand and told her, “No matter where I am, you’ll always be my hermanita, 365 days a year.” Throughout the week, the sisters called and planned their “time to smile together, laugh together, and love together.”

Back matter includes an Author’s Note about her own half siblings and a spread titled “Picking Up STEAM” with English time-related words to know, Spanish words that appear in the story, concepts of time management, basic facts about time, hours from 1:00 to 12:00 shown on an analog and digital clock, and ideas for readers to play with and explore time on their own.

Angela Quezada Padron’s warmhearted story of half sisters who love spending time together provides a perfect frame for children learning about time management and tempering expectations of how much can be accomplished in measured amounts of time. The sisters’ enthusiasm and imagination will captivate readers, and the time spans for each activity on their list are realistic and may prompt kids to time themselves doing each one. Quezada Padron’s inclusion of clean-up time will be appreciated by parents and caregivers and is a good reminder about responsibility for children as well. Her vibrant, action-packed illustrations portray the close relationship between the sisters and eye-catching perspectives on the girls’ activities. There are plenty of scenes to make kids giggle too as they minutes tick down on a fun day.

Education wrapped in engaging fun, Sisters All the Time (Steamworks) and Hermanas todo el tiempo (Steamworks) offer an affectionate family story in which concepts of time unfold as naturally as they do at home, in a classroom, or other settings. The book will spark recognition of how time passes and a beginning to better time management of busy days and is a top pick for all libraries, classrooms, and home collections.

Ages 4 – 7

Charlesbridge, 2026 | ISBN 978-1623546779

About the Author

Angela Quezada Padron is a Latina author-illustrator who spent childhood days writing stories and doodling on garage walls of her New Jersey home while enjoying summers visiting family in the Dominican Republic. She writes fiction and nonfiction picture books and novels, and she creates colorful, textured illustrations with diverse characters & heartwarming scenes. Angela won first place in the Portfolio Showcase at the 2023 Florida SCBWI Conference and was chosen as a semi-finalist for the SCBWI Tomie dePaola Award in 2014. Visit her at angelapadron.com.

Hermanas todo el tiempo (Steamworks) (Spanish Edition)

Mari y Luz son un tipo de hermanas especial: ¡medias hermanas! Comparten el mismo papá, pero tienen mamás distintas, por lo que solo pasan los fines de semana juntas. Cuando la mamá de Luz se retrasa un día, las chicas deciden aprovechar su tiempo adicional al máximo, así que planifican sus actividades, estiman cuánto tiempo les llevará cada una y se lanzan a hacerlas. Pero el tiempo se les acaba demasiado rápido, y Mari se siente triste. Luz le recuerda que son hermanas TODO el tiempo, aunque solo puedan estar juntas una parte del tiempo.

Ages 4 – 7

Charlesbridge, 2026 | ISBN 978-1623546779

Math Storytelling Day Activity

Sisters All the Time Activity Page

Kids can have eye-opening fun keeping track of their favorite activities, chores, mealtimes, or other events of the day with this Time and El tiempo y la hora pages from Charlesbridge!

You can purchase Sisters All the Time from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

You can purchase Hermanas todo el tiempo (Steamworks) (Spanish Edition) from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 23 – The Autumn Equinox

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, fall has arrived! If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, welcome to spring! Today, the hours of daytime and nighttime will be equal, ushering in a changing of the seasons. For some that means cooler weather, shorter days, and a slowing down in nature which leads to our being able to enjoy the brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges in the leaves of certain trees, cozy recipes, and fun fall holidays. For others nature is just awakening, with all the beauty that warm weather and new growth bring. Wherever you live, enjoy the activities and events ushered in with the change in season!

Thank you to Greystone Kids for sending me this book for review!

Henri and the Secret Letters

By Fanny Ducassé | Translated by David Warriner

Even before Henri the Badger awoke on the first day of fall (his favorite season), Mr. Mulot, the mail owl, slipped a mysterious letter under Henri’s door. Henri notices it immediately while heading to the kitchen to make cinnamon cookies—”one of his favorite fall treats.” The envelope was sealed with a heart, and the short letter read, “Dear Henri, I love the twinkle in your eye. Signed: A secret sender.” Henri was puzzled. He usually kept himself to himself. He couldn’t imagine who his secret admirer was.

Text and illustration copyright © 2026 by Fanny Ducassé. Translation copyright © 2026 by David Warriner. Published by Greystone Kids copyright © 2026.

After breakfast, he put on his “favorite fall outfit and dug out his cookbook of cozy recipes” before taking a leisurely walk in the woods among the tiny creatures and brilliantly colored foliage. He pondered: “was there really a twinkle in his eye?” Later, Henri was working in his kitchen, when Mimi the skunk knocked on his door. Henri never had many visitors, but he had just made pumpkin cake and hot chocolate, and the two sat in front of the wood stove savoring this special treat. Henri considered: “could she be the secret sender?” They were so different.

When another letter appeared the next day, Henri dismissed his thought about Mimi with a pang of disappointment, because this time the sender said they shared so much in common. Still, the sender included a recipe for potato leek soup and invited Henri to write back with instructions on where to leave his reply as their address was a secret. Henri’s “heart fluttered just a bit” as he drew a picture and enclosed a recipe for creamy mushroom pasta.

The annual Fall Festival was to be held the next week, and everyone was preparing for the big day. “But Henri’s head was in the clouds,” because he’d already received a reply—the most tantalizing letter yet. It relayed an invitation to meet at the Fall Festival and offered a clue as to how Henri could recognize his pen pal. A recipe for Vanilla Pudding was included. On the day of the festival, the animals—all sporting costumes—met in the woods where a long table was set with scrumptious treats. Catching a whiff of the clue he’d been given, Henri soon discovered the secret sender. Happily surprised, Henri now considered everything he and his friend had in common. When it came time to make a wish, Henri wished for “many more letters . . . and delicious dishes to savor” with his new friend.

Get ready to snuggle in for fall and winter with Fanny Ducassé’s heartwarming story of wonder, comfort, and friendship, delightfully blended with cozy recipes that children will love to make with a little help or supervision. In her dulcet storytelling, Ducassé perfectly captures the comforts of solitude, the giddiness of seeing yourself anew through another’s eyes, and the flowering of self-confidence, while gently cautioning against preconceived notions.

Ducassé’s markers-and-pen illustrations of Henri’s woodland home, burnished in spicy golds, forest greens, and molasses browns (not fully represented in the images above) convey Henri’s contemplative nature in dreamy scenes of his pondering the first secret letter, getting dressed, and wandering through the woods in images that play with time and his distracted thoughts. With the introduction of Mimi and Henri’s proclamation that they are “very different,” astute readers may begin noticing the ways they are similar well before Henri does. Ducassé’s immersive illustrations show a beautiful cohesion of colors, textures, and shapes across her pages that allow readers to float along with Henri in his preoccupation, while also appreciating her small details that elevate her homey scenes.

David Warriner’s lovely English translation from Ducassé’s original French encapsulates the cadence of Henri’s solitary musings and gentle jolts of possibility he experiences with each new letter.

Welcoming, whimsical, and thoroughly enchanting, Henri and the Secret Letters will captivate readers of all ages and keep them coming back to try each of the six delicious recipes included. The book would make a much-appreciated gift and a standout addition to any home or library collection.

Ages 4 – 8+

Greystone Kids, 2026 | ISBN 978-1778403644

About the Author

After getting a degree in modern literature, Fanny Ducassé began studying fashion design and model making at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, where she developed an interest in children’s book illustration. Fanny Ducassé lives in Paris. Henri and the Secret Letters is her first book available in English. Follow her on Instagram.

About the Translator

David Warriner grew up in the UK and escaped to Quebec right after graduating from Oxford. A professional translator for more than two decades, David nurtures a healthy passion for reading and has translated a range of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s fiction titles by French and Québécois authors for Canadian and UK publishers. David translated Super Space Weekend and Super Ocean Weekend, also published by Greystone Kids. Visit him at davidwarriner.com.

Autumn Equinox Activity

celebrate-pciture-books-picture-book-review-fall-leaves-matching-puzzle

Falling for Fall Matching Puzzle

These kids are having fun in the leaves. Can you find the matching leaves in this printable Falling for Fall Puzzle?

You can purchase Henri and the Secret Letters from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 22 – Library Card Sign-Up Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Don’t you wish there was somewhere that you could find all the books you’d love to read and then be able to take them home for free? Oh! You’re right! There is such a place—and what’s even more amazing is that there’s one in almost every town. Libraries are one of the most valuable community services, and this month people are encouraged to visit their local library and sign up for a library card. It’s easy and free and pays way more benefits than any of the store cards hanging from your keychain. Kids, especially, are excited to get their own library card that can start them off on a lifetime love of reading. So, if you or your child don’t have a library card, visit your library and make it a special event!

Thank you to Gnome Road Publishing for sending me this book for review!

Stories by the Sea: A Lighthouse Library’s Journey

Written by Jessica Iwanski | Illustrated by Angela C. Hawkins

A ship’s captain of the 1800s sets sail on his mission to deliver “the most precious cargo of all”—a “brass-bound case” filled with books. As he nears a misty coastline, the captain heeds the beam of the lighthouse guiding him “this way . . . this way . . . this way.” Along the railing at the top of the lighthouse, the keeper and her six children watch the ship’s progress with excitement. They shout and wave, “‘The books are here! The books are here!” The polished library box opens like a bookcase to reveal a world of stories, and the children settle in on the rug, the stairs, and the sofa to read by themselves or listen to their mother’s voice. Later, they write in the log book about their favorite stories and to ask for “more historical books in the next case.”

illustration copyright © 2026 by Angela C. Hawkins. Text copyright © 2026 by Jessica Iwanski. Published by Gnome Road Publishing copyright © 2026.

In a few months, the ship returns to take the books on their next journey to another lighthouse. This time the seas are stormy, but the beam of light guides them in. This lighthouse keeper had asked for Shakespeare’s plays. At the end of his time with the library, he jots his notes in the log before sending them on their way. The library arrives at the next lighthouse with a technical manual just in time for a needed repair. Throughout the year, the quarterly visits continue, fulfilling the soulful, imaginative, spiritual, educational, connective, and practical needs of the lighthouse keepers and their families—”Each stop along the way, a story all its own.”

Back matter includes an Author’s Note that offers fascinating information about lighthouses, life as a lighthouse keeper, and the history of lighthouse libraries. In a Did You Know? section, Angela C. Hawkins presents intriguing facts about the construction and internal workings of lighthouses, the work of lighthouse keepers, the cost of building a lighthouse and keepers’ salaries in the 1800s, and even the animals that often called these small, dedicated islands home.

Jessica Iwanski’s enchanting story based on historical fact illuminates both the importance of books and the fascinating life and diverse lighthouse keepers and their families, who kept ships safe from perilous coastlines. Her beautifully lyrical storytelling evokes the mystery and constancy of the sea and the excitement, connection, and discovery the library books provided. Including snippets from the logbook that made the rounds with each delivery may entice kids to keep such a diary of their own reading.

Angela C. Hawkins’ stunning illustrations place young readers onboard a wooden sailing ship as it nears a variety of scenic coastlines, among diverse families and single keepers eagerly awaiting new books, and in the froth of storms as the lighthouses’ beam guides the ships to safety. Young readers will be intrigued by the homey touches inside each lighthouse and want to linger over Hawkins’ captivating details—as well as to spy the little book-loving mouse on each spread! Every page offers gleaming perspectives, and each stop by the ship brings a new, charming lighthouse to explore.

Created with obvious love and care, Stories by the Sea is a gleaming tribute to book lovers, libraries, and the early lighthouse keepers dedicated to safe passage for all ships. This moving book will appeal to all fiction and nonfiction fans as well as history buffs and anyone interested in early maritime life. It is a must for all public and school libraries and will be a read-again favorite on home bookshelves.

Ages 4 – 8

Gnome Road Publishing, 2026 | ISBN 978-1957655703

About the Author

Jessica Iwanski is a lyrical children’s writer with a passion for all things books and reading. She loves drawing inspiration from true stories and enjoys the challenge of bringing new life to overlooked historical and cultural gems. As a second-generation homeschooler, Jessica can often be found planning literature-based learning for her children and their homeschool co-op. In her free time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, baking mediocre sourdough loaves, and trying to find her next favorite read – or else, trying to write it! Jessica lives in Arizona with her husband, three children, and one curly dog (who the family agrees is probably a cat in disguise). Visit her at jessicaiwanski.com.

About the Illustrator

Angela C. Hawkins has been creating since she was as small as her characters. In 2003 she sold her first story to Spider Magazine. Soon after, she plunged into illustration. Practice, two babies, and ten moves later she got paid for that too! In addition to writing and illustrating MousterWorks (Gnome Road Publishing 2025) and illustrating Nancy Bess Had a Dress (Claire Annette Noland, Gnome Road Publishing, Spring 2024), you’ll find Angela’s art in books for Heinemann and Deeds Publishing, a poster for the Brooklyn Public Library, and Babybug/Ladybug/Spider Magazines. She’s won several awards, including the 2017 Don Freeman Grant, the 2017 RMC-SCBWI Portfolio Showcase, and the 2021 SCBWI SW Texas Portfolio Contest. Angela was also a 2023/2024 PBParty Finalist and is currently represented by Mara Cobb (Martin Literary Agency). Find out more about Angela at angelachawkins.com.

Library Card Sign-Up Month Activity

Bookmobile Craft

Bookmobiles are love on wheels! If libraries are some of your favorite places, you’ll like making this bookmobile from a recycled box! You can even use it as a desk organizer!

Supplies

Printable Book Shelves and Sign Template
Cardboard box, 16-oz pasta or other recyclable boxes work well (I used a 5” x 7 ¼ -inch pasta box)
Small wooden spools or wheels
Paint
Scissors
X-acto knife
Strong glue
Paint brush

Directions

1.Gently pull the box apart at the seam and lay it flat with the unprinted side facing up

2. To Make the Awning:

On one of the wide sides of the box, measure a rectangle 1 inch from the top of the box, leaving at least 1 ¼ inches at the bottom of the box and 1 ¼ inches on both sides
With the x-acto knife or scissors cut the sides and bottom of the rectangle, leaving the top uncut
Paint the top and underside of the awning (if you want to make stripes on the awning lay strips of tape side by side across the awning. Remove every other strip of tape. Paint the open stripes one color of paint. When the paint dries replace the tape over the paint and remove the tape from the unpainted stripes. Paint those stripes a different color.)

3. Paint the rest of the box on the unprinted side any way you like, let dry

4. To add the bookshelf, print and cut the Book Shelf template to fit the size of your window opening, leaving at least a ½ inch margin all around (or draw and color your own bookshelves).

5. Tape the book shelf to the inside of the window

6. Reconstruct the box, making the original seam an inside flap

7. Glue the flap and sides together

8. If using small spools for wheels, paint them black. Let dry

9. Glue the wheels to the bottom of the box

10. Print and attach the Bookmobile sign, from the printable template, above the awning

** To Make a Desk Organizer from the Bookmobile, cut an opening in the top of the bookmobile with the x-acto knife or a scissor

You can purchase Stories by the Sea: A Lighthouse Library’s Journey from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 21 – World Gratitude Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

In 1965 an international gathering in Hawaii established World Gratitude Day as a time for people everywhere to formally appreciate and give thanks for all the wonderful things in the world. In 1966 the attendees celebrated World Gratitude Day on this date in their individual countries, beginning a tradition that has grown over time. The benefits of positive thinking have become well documented. The founders of Gratitude Day also recognized that by taking a day to celebrate the amazing parts of our lives we might become happier, more content people.

Thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books for sending me this book for review!

It’s Almost Time for . . . Thanksgiving!

Written by Maisha Oso | Illustrated by Tom Knight

Once October rolls around, the holidays come in quick succession, each with their own particular decorations, activities, food, and fun! How do you keep each one special and distinct for your kids? Maisha Oso has the answer with her It’s Almost Time for . . . series of books for holidays we love to share with our family and friends. Her newest book gets kids excited about transitioning from Halloween to Thanksgiving, as they help a Mom and Dad, big brother and little sister spruce up their farm, replacing skeletons and jack-o-lanterns with hay bales, pumpkins, and festive wreaths as their horses, turkeys, and the boy’s little lamb try to help.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Tom Knight. Text copyright © 2026 by Maisa Oso. Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Then it’s on to planning the menu. Everyone can agree on “mac n’ cheese, potatoes, peas,” and, of course, turkey, but maybe not so much on the doughnuts. Fortunately, the crisp autumn air beckons with an invitation for an impromptu game of football in the yard with the whole family. Soon, the big day arrives, and the kitchen is bustling—kids included. With the turkey finally in the oven, it’s time to relax and watch the grand parade on TV with floats, bands, dancers, and confetti. Next, with delicious aromas wafting through the house and grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends arriving, it’s time for dinner and remembering “why you’re filled with gratitude” on this special day. Yes, “spending time with those you love / makes this a life worth living. / You’re belly’s stuffed? You’ve had enough? / Today must be . . . “

Waiiiit . . . What? That was unexpected! With the turn of the page, Oso upends the story in hilarious fashion. But were there clues all along? Alert kids may have been watching the boy’s constant companion who’s embraced all the traditions of Thanksgiving but interpreted them in his own endearing way. Oso lovingly gets things back on track, though, as the boy explains the holiday to his little friend and the whole crew gather for a picture to commemorate another Thanksgiving!

Maisha Oso’s jaunty, rhyming celebration of Thanksgiving welcomes young readers to join in on all the fun of fall and this family holiday while infusing the preparations and dinner with humor, and surprises. Readers will be delighted to point out their own familiar traditions and are sure to giggle at Lamb’s enthusiasm for a spring holiday. Oso’s final rhyme will have kids and adults happily chiming in.

Tom Knight invites readers to a tidy pink farmhouse where the kids are eager to help, the food is home-grown, and doughnuts are in the pantry but, sadly, not on the menu, as the family prepares for Thanksgiving. Humor abounds in Knight’s depictions of Oso’s puns and the lamb’s contributions to the celebration. Heartwarming images of the family gathered around the table and thinking what they’re grateful for can prompt children to share their thoughts.

A charming and heartening way to introduce Thanksgiving traditions to the youngest children while renewing excitement for the holiday with older kids, It’s Almost Time for . . . Thanksgiving! is a picture book with surprises that will entertain the whole family.

Don’t miss Maisha Oso and Tom Knight’s It’s Almost Time for . . . Christmas!, their upcoming It’s Almost Time for . . . St. Patrick’s Day!, It’s Almost Time for . . . Easter!, and It’s Almost Time for . . . Halloween!

Ages 4 – 8

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2026 | ISBN 979-8347108015

About the Author

Maisha Oso is the author of picture books Buster the Bully, My Hair Is a Book, Before the Ships, and the It’s Almost Time For… series, as well as the Venus Washington chapter book series. She writes stories to empower, entertain, and encourage emotional intelligence in young children. A former strategy and analytics professional from New York City, Maisha is currently working in her most challenging role to date: a stay-at-home mom of three tiny humans. You can visit her at MaishaOso.com and follow her on Instagram.

About the Illustrator

After an enjoyable stint as a graphic designer, Tom Knight is now proud to be using his imagination as a full-time career. Drawing on a long and abiding love of imagery from children’s literature, Tom has worked for a diverse range of publishers, including Little Tiger Press, Templar, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, and Macmillan. He has also turned his hand to authoring his own titles and is the author and illustrator for the Good Knight, Bad Knight chapter book series and picture book Jimmy Finnigan’s Wild Wood Band. He does all this from a poorly temperature-controlled studio in the garden, where he is constantly distracted by the greedy birds that hang out by the feeder outside his window. Follow him on Instagram.

World Gratitude Day Activity

I’m Thankful For . . . Activity Page

Get the kids—or the whole family—together to write or draw what you’re thankful for with this I’m Thankful For . . . Activity Page!

You can purchase It’s Almost Time for . . . Thanksgiving! from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 18 – National Respect Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Today’s holiday was established to help people focus on how they can be more respectful of others—family, friends, and others around us. Showing respect comes in many forms from appreciating and acknowledging others’ and your own abilities, intelligence, talents, and opinions to using good manners, listening to and including others, and recognizing each person’s humanity and gifts. Today’s book speaks to past injustices while offering hope and inspiration for a future where all people are respected.

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

Alice Piper Speaks Up (Fighting for Justice, Volume 3)

Written by Sage Andrew Romero and Loralee Sepsey | Illustrated by Morgan Thompson

Readers meet Alice Piper as a 13 year old helping her mother and sisters prepare tüba (pine nuts) “in the age-old tradition of the Numu (Paiute in English) people.” They then learn about her home, a bit of the history of the Numu people in California, and that Alice Piper was not the name her parents gave her. Instead, it was one assigned to her by the California Census Bureau based on the rancher her father worked for, whose last name was Piper. They’ll also discover that across California the government renamed place names and erased other Native cultural identifiers with the idea that “if indigenous people lost their cultures, they wouldn’t keep fighting for their land and sovereignty.” Alice’s given name is no longer known, but her father’s Numu name was Maw-che (changed to Pike Piper by the government) while her mother’s was Pow-we-we-ni (changed to Annie).

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Morgan Thompson. Published by Heyday copyright © 2026.

A typical school day for Alice starts early—well before the sun is up. She attends the Indian day school nearly 40 miles away, traveling by her father’s horse-drawn wagon. Here, the “children don’t learn much reading, writing, or arithmetic. / Instead, they learn how to become maids, laborers, and live-in helpers,” always using proper English and “forbidden from speaking Numu.” Alice longs to go to the new school being built in town. She imagines herself in class, talking with other students, learning from books, becoming “the best person [she] can be.”

Text copyright © 2026 by Sage Andrew Romero and Loralee Sepsy. Published by Heyday copyright © 2026.

When she asks her parents if she can enroll, they know that “Indian students aren’t welcome in schools built for white children,” but they agree to fight for her. Alice’s struggle to go to public school parallels regional fights over land, access to water, and power in the area, conflicts Alice knew she could assist if she was more educated. At the time, schools were segregated, precluding many Native children from attending. On the first day of the new school year, when Alice and other Numu students ask to enroll, their request is denied.

Alice and her parents don’t stop there. They find support from ministers Frederick G. Collette and Beryl Bishop-Collette and lawyer J. W. Henderson, who sued the School Board of the Big Pine School district. Authors Sage Andrew Romero and Loralee Sepsey chronicle the case, pled in the California Supreme Court between February and June, 1924, relaying the arguments and the judges’ ruling in Alice’s favor that was declared on the same day that “President Calvin Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 into law.” They also describe other pivotal court cases that took on segregated schools in other states and for the country as a whole.

Readers also follow Alice as she attends middle school and high school and, following graduation, works at an Indian boarding school, “caring and watching over the children in the dormitories” and empowering Indian children who were still in the boarding school system.” Today, Alice Piper is celebrated with her own annual day—June 2, commemorating the anniversary of the Alice Piper v. Big Pine School District decision. June 2, 2024 saw the 100th anniversary of her groundbreaking win.

Following Alice’s life story, readers learn how they can speak up for what’s right as well as find acknowledgements, source notes, a bibliography, photo credits, an index, more about the authors and illustrator, and short summaries of two more books in the Fighting for Justice series: Fred Korematsu Speaks Up and Biddy Mason Speaks Up.

Sage Andrew Romero and Loralee Sepsey harness the power of poetry and biography to introduce young readers to Alice Piper and relate her life experiences in ways that touch their hearts and minds. In each chapter’s introductory poem, children are immersed in Alice’s viewpoint and feelings about events throughout her life. These events are then explained in depth through accessible language and using original, primary source photographs, newspaper clippings, and legal documents. Key words are called out in color while their definitions appear in a sidebar. Timelines orient readers to important dates in each chapter. Sprinkled throughout are questions prompting readers to think about their own relationship with important concepts.

Morgan Thompson’s vibrant and evocative illustrations open each chapter, lending this book another exceptional approach into the life of this young trailblazer. Each illustration keenly captures the nature of the Numu way of life, the discrimination Alice felt, and Alice’s unstinting enthusiasm for education. Readers also see images from the court case, inside classrooms, and of Alice working with students at the Indian boarding school.

Young people will come to this book from varied backgrounds but it will be impossible for any reader to be left unaffected by Alice Piper’s life and work and by extension the experiences of Indigenous people across the country. A comprehensive lesson on civil rights and the fight for equality, Alice Piper Speaks Up will dismay and inspire young activists to continue to advocate for justice for all. Alice Piper Speaks Up is a must for all libraries, classrooms, and civic-minded children.

Ages 8 – 12+

Heyday, 2026 | ISBN 978-1597147057

About the Authors

Sage Andrew Romero is from the Tovowahamatu Numu (Big Pine Paiute) and Tuah-Tahi (Taos Pueblo) tribes. The founder and director of the AkaMya Culture Group, a nonprofit dedicated to cultural revitalization, he lives in Big Pine, California. Follow him on Instagram and learn more on the Native American Media Alliance website.

Loralee Sepsey is a writer and a member of the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley. Based in Santa Ana, California, she lives with her husband and their two cats. Visit her at loraleesepsey.com.

About the Illustrator

Morgan Thompson is a Cherokee (Cherokee Nation) artist with a love for Indigenous stories. When she’s not working, she enjoys a bit of stomp dancing or some beading on the side. Visit her at skadoodlin.com.

You can purchase Alice Piper Speaks Up (Fighting for Justice, Volume 3) from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 17 – Constitution Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Constitution Day commemorates the official signing of the United States constitution in 1787 by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention, whose purpose was to forge an agreement between the states which would allow a central government the power to enforce its decisions and allow the new country to stand as an international force, while maintaining a reasonable level of independence within the separate states. This document has formed the basis for the development and running of the United States ever since while periodically being amended to reflect changes over time.

Thank you to Harry N. Abrams for sending me this book for review!

We the People Is All the People

Written by Howard W. Reeves | Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh

Howard W. Reeves opens his and Duncan Tonatiuh’s patriotic tribute with the Preamble to the United States Constitution, inviting readers to contemplate the meaning of this groundbreaking paragraph, and especially its evocative first line—”We the people of the United States.” Reeves and Tonatiuh then encourage children and adults to really look around their town or city, their state, and the country as a whole with a fresh appreciation that “‘We the people’ is all the people.”

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Duncan Tonatiuh. Text copyright © 2026 by Howard W. Reeves. Published by Harry N. Abrams copyright © 2026.

Reeves offers straightforward and thought-provoking prompts urging readers to consider who these people embraced by the Constitution actually are. He begins close by with “people next door,” then branches out to people “down the street, and across the country.” He takes readers to various living situations—houses, apartments, and shelters—and to a variety of places of worship.

He reminds us that the Preamble’s timeline is open-ended, welcoming “people who were here, who arrived later, who still come today.” Reeves then asks readers to ponder the universal experiences of belief, doubt, struggle, and achievement as they apply to the people around them at work, school, the store, passing on the street. He also initiates an appreciation for the diversity of those you cheer for on favorite teams, those who help you achieve your goals; those who teach; and those who help you eat, stay healthy, and remain safe at home and in the world.

In closing, Reeves reminds us with moving clarity that everything this country is built on, has achieved, and continues to achieve is accomplished by us: “people who look different ways, love different ways, and communicate different ways.” We are “children and adults. Family, friends, and strangers. We the people is ALL the people.” Author’s and Artist’s Notes follow the text.

Howard W. Reeves’ lyrically cadenced story gives adults and children a heartfelt opening for discussions on so many topics concerning the United States from historical events—both proud and heartbreaking—to current concerns about our future. Reeves prompts readers to think deeply to view and understand our country’s vast population from various perspectives and with the same consideration they give themselves.

Matching Duncan Tonatiuh’s instantly recognizable artwork with Howard W. Reeves’ text was a stroke of inspiration as his textured, collage-style illustrations immerse readers in landscapes as quiet as pristine mountain terrain and as bustling as a gleaming city. Tonatiuh’s eloquent images make reflective connections across pages, as exemplified by a woman whose hair fans out as a backdrop to rural, suburban, and city life and a woman whose hijab provides a pathway for worshipers attending a church, a mosque, and a synagogue.

In a particularly affecting spread, an indigenous woman stands with arms and braids outspread to support original settlers, enslaved people, and immigrants who built the transcontinental railroad, as well as farm workers and those building new technology now and in our future. Each page shows the diversity and the commonality of our country’s vibrant population, allowing readers to see themselves and their community in the fabric that is America.

We the People Is All the People is a standout must for all library and classroom collections. The book will also inspire compelling and profound discussions for families and homeschoolers.

Ages 4 – 8

Harry N. Abrams, 2026 | ISBN 978-1419776496

About the Author

Howard W. Reeves is an editor of many award-winning picture books and novels for children and adults. His work often focuses on American history, and he is passionate about editing books that celebrate diversity, equality, and inclusion. He was one of the founding instructors for the School of Visual Arts MFA Design Program. Reeves lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

About the Illustrator

Duncan Tonatiuh is a Mexican American award-winning author and illustrator known for children’s books that explore history, identity, and social justice. Born in Mexico City and raised in San Miguel de Allende, he later studied at Parsons School of Design and Eugene Lang College in New York City. Tonatiuh’s books have received numerous honors, including the Pura Belpré Medal, the Robert F. Sibert Award, and multiple New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book selections. Visit him at duncantonatiuh.com.

You can purchase We the People Is All the People from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 16 – Chef Appreciation Week

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Chef Appreciation Week was established in 2013 by Donald and Lisa Crutch to encourage people to offer their appreciation for all the dedication and hard work shown by those who work in the culinary industry as well as home chefs. Every year the week is celebrated with the theme “Great People Inspire Great Food!” Today, the holiday has grown to be the largest global recognition of chefs and culinarians, celebrated across the United States and in more than 30 countries around the world. As today’s book demonstrates, even the youngest chefs can come up with new and creative recipes.

Thanks to Scholastic Press for sending me this book for review!

How Not to Make a Jelly Sandwich

By Ross Burach

As kids open the book to the first page, Frankie immediately welcomes them with a simple, five-step recipe for making a jelly sandwich. Sounds yummy, and the sandwich begins where you might imagine—with two slices of bread. Easy-peasy, right? Well, at the store, Frankie passes up the wrapped-bread and instead recommends buying a traffic cone and two pool accessories as a way to procure your slices. Then it’s just a quick trip to a duck pond, some clever impersonations, and a generous granny with bread to share, and you’re well on your way to that first delicious bite!

Step 2, of course, involves the jelly. As everyone knows “opening a jar of jelly is very straightforward.” All you need to do is find an elephant, lure it to a playground, “kindly ask it to sit on the whirly-go-round and tightly grip the jar” in its trunk while you hang from the monkey bars and hold onto the lid as the elephant spins round and round. Hear that familiar “Pop!”? You’re moving on to Step 3: Applying the Jelly, which, as you know, “is super simple.” In fact, you may even have all the required components in your house already! Got a dog, a bathtub, some bubbly soap? You’re good to go!

With two jellied-up slices of bread, you’re in the home stretch. All you’re going to need is basic coordination. You know, the type needed to “organize a joust” between well-matched knights who can “smush” those slices together in style. Finally, the “least complicated step of all”: cutting your sandwich. Sure, you’ll need a little help—I mean helper—but with a bit of training and the right enticement, you’ll be eating that jelly sandwich in . . . well . . . Just make sure you’ve made plenty for all your new friends.

Following the story, Ross Burach gives readers a glimpse into Frankie’s alternate brainstorm for making a jelly sandwich and then invites them to write their own silly steps.

In his latest book, Ross Burach takes on sequential writing with laugh-out-loud silliness that will spark kids’ creativity while showing them that there are as many ways to complete tasks as there are people to devise of them. As he sets up each step, readers may think they know what’s coming next, but Burach serves up plenty of surprise ingredients that will keep kids and adults giggling. Burach’s hilarious illustrations are full of hijinks and puns, and alert readers will be happy to spy guest appearances from some of his other books.

Sweet fun for delicious read aloud story times, How Not to Make a Jelly Sandwich will quickly become a favorite treat, requested again and again from libraries and home bookshelves.

Ages 4 – 8

Scholastic, 2026 | ISBN 978-1338877090

Ross Burach is the creator of the riotously funny Very Impatient Caterpillar series that includes The Very Impatient Caterpillar; The Little Butterfly That Could; Goodnight, Butterfly; and Make Way for Butterfly. All the books combine humor with curriculum-friendly science topics and relatable social-emotional themes. Ross’s other acclaimed books include the picture book Truck Full of Ducks, the board books I Love My Tutu Too!, Potty All-Star, Hi-Five Farm!, and Hi-Five Animals!, named the best board book of the year by Parents Magazine, and the Acorn early reader series Bumble and Bee. He also illustrated Audrey Perrott’s Moo Hoo and Baa Haa. His most recent title is How NOT to Make a Jelly Sandwich. Ross lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York. You can visit him online at rossburach.com.

Chef Appreciation Week Activity

How Not to Make a Jelly Sandwich Activity Pages

Kids can have fun building their dream sandwich and writing their own sequential list on How Not to Brush Your Teeth with these creative activity pages from Ross Burach and Scholastic!

You can purchase How Not to Make a Jelly Sandwich from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

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Chef Appreciation Week Activity

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