April 9 – National Unicorn Day

About the Holiday

There may be no more beloved magical creature than the unicorn. Unicorns have been part of legend since ancient times, undergoing changes from an image of fierceness and power to a representation of strength and true love to today’s more glittery superstar. To celebrate today, learn more about the history of these mystical animals and check out the latest addition to the wildly popular unicorn-tastic Unicorn Diaries series!

Thank you to Scholastic for sharing a copy of The Secret of the Lost Gold with me.

The Secret of the Lost Gold (Unicorn Diaries #11)

By Rebecca Elliott

As the latest story in the Unicorn Diaries begin, Rainbow Tinseltail (Bo, for short) reveals that dark clouds and lightening foretell a storm, and over night winds, rain, and unipod-shaking thunder do sweep through Sparklegrove Forest, where the unicorns, gnomes, and other magical creatures live. In the morning, everyone wakes to find “a very big mess all across the forest.” It’s then that Mr. Rumptwinkle, the unicorn’s teacher at the Sparklegrove School for Unicorns (S.S.U.), cancels class for the day, instead sending his students out into the forest to see who needs help.

They find that no one—from the fairies to the gnomes to the mermaids, dragons, and trolls—has escaped the storm unscathed. “But the great news was that no one was hurt.” The unicorns bring some friends home for hot tea and buttermoon biscuits as they all talk about how they can help rebuild. Edna Gnome remembers an “old Rebuild and Repair spell” from “long ago” that could restore the entire forest at once, but she needs “special ancient gold nuggets” to make it work.

The next day, the unicorns head out for Queen Juniper’s castle to learn where to get the ancient gold only to discover that the castle has been damaged too. From Princess Greta, the unicorns learn that the gold has always been stored in a cave in the Dark Woods and is protected by a griffin named Edgar and from their werewolf friend Barry, they discover where the cave is: in the most dangerous part of the Dark Woods.

Undaunted (well, maybe a little) and brave, the unicorns continue their quest. Along the way they use their individual powers to outsmart a giant, calm upset night sprites, and cheer up “grumpy talking trees.” When they got to the cave, the unicorns were even able to befriend the griffin and retrieve the gold they needed.

Back at Queen Juniper’s castle, Edna makes the magic rainbow-colored dust and, as Bo writes, “Everyone worked together to rebuild our forest.” Queen Juniper held a royal ball with “scrumptious food, lots of desserts, and golden glitter fireworks” to celebrate. She even honored Edgar with a “majestic golden necklace as a special thank-you for protecting the forest’s gold.” And the unicorns? They earned their Treasure Hunt patches and made a new friend in Edgar!

It’s easy to see why Rebecca Elliot’s Unicorn Diaries is so beloved by early and newly independent readers. Each book in the series is warm and welcoming, beginning with its first chapter, which introduces new readers to the unicorns and world of Sparklegrove Forest with an illustrated map; a fun-facts description of the book’s new featured magical being (the griffin, in this book); surprising details about unicorns (for instance, that their horn is perfect for carrying cotton candy and can be used as a flashlight and that a swish of their tail enacts their secret power); and information about their school.

The Secret of the Lost Gold, the 11th book in the series, is a perfect addition to Elliot’s unicorn lore. Full of imagination; friendship; high-stakes, yet solvable challenges; magic; and humor, the story will captivate readers with its positivity, gentle suspense, and underlying message that they have the power to be brave and to take action to give back to their communities. The diary format of the book allows Elliot to combine larger-size, easy-to-read text with colorful illustrations that provide a natural, confidence-building bridge from picture books to text-only chapter books.

Whether your child is a fan of the Unicorn Diaries series or just discovering this magical world of reading, The Secret of the Lost Gold is a book you’ll want to add to your child’s home bookshelves. For classrooms, school, and public libraries, this latest trip to Sparklegrove Forest is a must.

Ages 5 – 7

Scholastic, 2025 | ISBN 978-1546127161

About the Author/Illustrator

Rebecca Elliott has illustrated many children’s books, including Kiss, Kiss Good Night. She wrote and illustrated the New York Times bestselling Owl Diaries series, the Unicorn Diaries series, Just Because, and Zoo Girl, which was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal. She lives with her family in the countryside of Suffolk, England.

National Unicorn Day Activity

Unicorn Coloring Pages

Kids’ll have fun grabbing some crayons and glitter and making magical moments with these Unicorn Coloring pages!

Happy Unicorn Coloring Page | Unicorn Leaping Over Rainbow | Unicorn Reading a Book

You can purchase The Secret of the Lost Gold from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop (discounted books and support for your local independent bookstore)

Picture Book Review

April 3 – Find a Rainbow Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

As the old proverb goes, “April showers bring May flowers,” but all that rain brings something else—rainbows! The science behind rainbows was first discovered in 1693, when scientists realized that this phenomenon is caused by light from the sun being refracted through raindrops and causing a dazzling show. Today, I wish you a rainy day and happy rainbow hunting! A perfect place to find rainbows every day and in amazing places beyond the sky is in today’s book!

A Universe of Rainbows: Multicolored Poems for a Multicolored World

By Matt Forrest Esenwine | Illustrated by Jamey Christoph

Rainbows are a universally loved natural phenomenon. The excitement of seeing a rainbow arcing across the sky never goes away no matter how old you get. And a double rainbow? For some people, seeing one of those can be like glimpsing a celebrity. In the 22 poems that make up A Universe of Rainbows, Matt Forrest Esenwine and 19 other poets reveal that you don’t always have to wait for rain to be awed by the brilliance of this spectrum of colors as they abound in nature: on land, in waters, on plants and animals, and even in the depths of space.

Nikki Grimes leads off this lyrical odyssey that invites readers to travel around the world and beyond to discover rainbows in many forms. In Grimes’ “Rainbows of Light,” she channels the disappointment of a child facing a rainy day with “. . . No hopscotch. / No soccer. / No softball / no skip rope. . . .” The child “. . . curse[s] the rain” until they “catch the storm’s apology: / sun-drenched strips of color / arch across the sky— / A rainbow! / Oh! My!”

You might think that rainbows occur in nature only during the day, but Joyce Sidman, reveals otherwise in her intricate and arresting pantoum “Along the Zambezi.” Sidman animates a moonbow, entreating readers to take a moment to look as “This dancer will not leap for long / over the span of Victoria Falls,” where “. . . a full moon crowns the darkened hill” while “. . . Mist swirls up in silver shawls, / bending moonlight’s slanting spill.”

Rainbow seekers do not always need to look toward the sky to find the glorious hues of rainbows. In his rhythmic “Reflections on the Pool,” David L. Harrison nimbly combines assonance and consonance to introduce kids to the surprising Morning Glory Pool in Yellowstone National Park. Harrison describes how this hot spring—a “miracle of nature . . . / Blessed with bacteria tinted blue”—once appeared as vividly blue, but now, because of human interference, is developing a “rainbow of colors” as other types of bacteria take over. Together the poem and sidebar provide a concrete example of the value of conservation and a gripping entry into further study or research.

Readers also learn about a uniquely dressed tree, Rebecca Kai Dotlich’s “skirted pinwheel” of a flower, two varieties of birds, and incredible creatures of the sea and land that shimmer and glimmer with the colors of a rainbow. In “Elegant Danger,” Matt Forrest Esenwine exposes the “captivating beauty / with radiant appeal” of the peacock mantis shrimp that has “An appetite of titans. / Attitude of steel.” into space to float within the Rainbow Nebula with poet Georgia Heard.

Each poem is accompanied by a short and fascinating side bar offering more information about the natural phenomena that inspired the work.

Back matter includes a list of recommended books and websites where readers can find more information about the rainbows described in each poem as well as a glossary.

For the twenty award-winning writers who’ve contributed to Matt Forrest Esenwine’s debut poetry anthology, unique rainbows occurring in nature have inspired a wide range of contemplation and poetic form. Some are awe-struck, others hold a touch of humor, and still others are conversational. One thing they all have in common is an ability to transport readers to another place or just the right moment to witness one of life’s most astonishing sights. Through each poem, readers learn facts but they also discover how to observe with curiosity, appreciate the miraculous, and commit to preserving our natural wonders.

Jamey Christoph’s multi-media illustrations mesmerize with brilliant color that tantalizes like a magic spell, slipping through ice crystals, hiding in plain sight, turning pools of water and majestic trees into artists’ palettes, and clothing creatures of the air, sea, and land. You might be tempted to think that these natural phenomenon can’t possibly be so vivid in real life, but take a look (these poems encourage further research) and you’ll find that Christoph’s full-spread images mirror their inspirations. Beautiful and stirring, each page welcomes you to linger awhile.

Encompassing riveting writing by award-winning poets, spellbinding illustrations of natural phenomena, and nearly endless applications for science, writing, and art study and discovery, A Universe of Rainbows: Multicolored Poems for a Multicolored World is a must for school and public library collections as well as for any reader who loves inspired writing and nature.

Ages 6 – 10

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025 | ISBN 978-0802855718

About the Author

Matt Forrest Esenwine is a children’s author and poet whose books include The Thing to Remember about Stargazing (Tilbury House), Once Upon Another Time (Beaming), and A Beginner’s Guide to Being Human (Beaming). His work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and featured in numerous anthologies. Also a voiceover actor and commercial copywriter, Matt lives in Warner, New Hampshire, with his family. Visit his website at mattforrest.com.

About the Illustrator

Jamey Christoph has illustrated over twenty books, including The Great Lakes (Knopf), Stonewall (Random House), and Outside My Window (Eerdmans). His books have been named to many best-of-the-year list, including from the CBC and NYPL. Jamey lives in New Hampshire with his husband and their crazy dogs. Visit Jamey’s website at jameychristoph.com and follow him on Instagram @jameychristoph.

National Find a Rainbow Day Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-rainbow-magnet-craft

Mini Rainbow Magnet

If you’re stuck on rainbows, you can make this mini rainbow to stick on your fridge or locker!

Supplies

7 mini popsicle sticks (or cut regular popsicle sticks in half)
Paint in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, Indigo, violet (ROYGBIV)
Adhesive magnet
A little bit of polyfill
Paint brush
Glue or hot glue gun

Directions

Paint one popsicle stick in each color, let dry
Glue the popsicle sticks together side by side in the ROYGBIV order, let dry
Roll a bit of polyfill into a cloud shape and glue to the top of the row of popsicle sticks
Attach the magnet to the back of the rainbow

You can purchase A Universe of Rainbows from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop (discounted books and support for your local independent bookstore)

Picture Book Review

April 2 – International Children’s Book Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Each year since 1967 Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday has served as the date for Children’s Book Day. The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), a non-profit organization founded in Zurich, sponsors the day to promote a love of reading. Seventy-five National Sections around the world alternate in hosting the event. The host for 2025 is The Netherlands, and this year’s theme is “The Freedom of Imagination.” Each year a prominent author and illustrator from the sponsoring country prepare materials used to raise awareness of books and reading. Rian Visser wrote this year’s message and the poster was designed by Janneke Ipenburg. To learn more about the initiative, download digital materials, and learn about how children can enter the international drawing competition, visit the IBBY website. Today’s story that tells the tale of a young girl writing a story is a perfect example of the eternal power and influence of children’s books.

Written and Drawn by Henrietta

By Liniers

Henrietta’s mom gives her a new box of colored pencils, which Henrietta says is “as close as you can get to owning a piece of the rainbow.” She sits down to draw her own book and titles it “The Monster with Three Heads and Two Hats.” She begins with an illustration of a little girl, Emily, in bed at night. “I’m scaring myself…,” she thinks. Her thought is played out in her next page which shows Emily asking her stuffed rabbit if it will sleep with her because she’s scared of an unexplained Creak, Creak.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-written-and-drawn-by-henrietta-three-headed-monster

“Hmm…What’s that noise?” ponders the young writer. Her fears make it to the page—Creeak…Creeak…Thump…Crash…Boom. What are those noises, my favorite? Emily asks, her eyes now wide. The Noises! They’re getting closer!!

Henrietta knows that in a good story something always happens “suddenly,” and so she draws a mysterious hand and a mysterious foot emerging from Emily’s wardrobe. The plot thickens and finally the full terrifying monster with three heads pops out of the wardrobe.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-written-and-drawn-by-henrietta-in-bed

They acquire names from Henrietta’s imagination—Huey, Dewey, and Louie Bluie. . She is stuck for a bit as to how to go on, then gives Emily a question: What were you doing inside my wardrobe? The monster answers that it is looking for a hat. Emily joins them in their search, entering her wardrobe. She’s aghast to find that it is full of…clothes! (The wardrobe had been made in Narnia, the well-read Henrietta tells her cat, Fellini).

When the monster and Emily wonder which way to go, they meet a direction-giving mouse, and the story takes off—even Henrietta can’t wait to see what happens. She draws a huge pile of hats (she’s learned about “hat-o-logy” from the encyclopedia—the printed version!). The creature’s two heads with hats begs the third head to choose a hat before “the monster” shows up. Emily is terrified again—Another monster? What has Henrietta concocted this time? A monster with one head and three hats! This horrible beast suddenly appears and chases the crew through the wardrobe. Everyone is shouting Aaaaaaaaaaa—even the author.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-written-and-drawn-by-henrietta-wardrobe

Emily and the first monster lose the tremendous beast, ask the direction-giving mouse how to escape, and burst out of the wardrobe just in time. Henrietta thinks the story should have a happy ending, and before the monster with three heads and now three hats flies out the window, they give Emily a present. What could it be? Henrietta is so curious! It’s a wonderful hat, of course!

The End

“Now,” Henrietta says, “to find a publisher!”

This classic Toon Book by Liniers is a wonder as it reveals the inner-workings of children’s imaginations and the spontaneous nature of their brilliant creativity. Henrietta’s thought process as she conjures up her story is shown in neat comic-style panels with speech bubbles, while her story is depicted in colorful kid-like drawings and dialogue written in all capital letters. This interplay between the young artist/writer and her work enhances the fun, suspense, and surprise of this story-within-a-story.

Ages 5 and up

TOON Books, an imprint of RAW Junior, LLC, 2015 | ISBN 978-1935179900

International Children’s Book Day Activity

CPB - Comic Panel

Create Your Own Story

It’s so much fun to let your imagination fly! Use this printable Comic Style Page to create a story as unique as you are!

You can purchase Written and Drawn by Henrietta from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop (discounted books and support for your local independent bookstore)

Picture Book Review

April 1 – Reading Is Funny Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Funny stuff abounds on April 1st, so why not share funny books too? Books that elicit giggles are not only entertaining but contribute to a lifelong love of reading and help kids see the world in a new, positive, and even quirky way. To celebrate today, read some laugh-out-loud books with your kids and find new ones to add to your home, classroom, or library shelves. Today’s featured book is a perfect place to start!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sending me a copy of We Are the Wibbly!: A Tadpole’s Tail for review.

We Are the Wibbly!: A Tadpole’s Tail

Written by Sarah Tagholm | Illustrated by Jane McGuinness

A sweet, pink-cheeked frog egg heartily addresses whoever is gazing down upon the frogspawn with a warm welcome: “We are eggs.” Then they add a little: “We are egg friends.” They become loquacious: “We float and are all very relaxing. It is niceable.” You can feel it, right? Bobbing along within the pond grass? But suddenly confusion reigns. Our little egg watches the other eggs become “longish,” and then—”What! What! What!”—they become longish. And it’s not even a minute later that—”OH MY CRIKEYS!” everyone is “bursting out of the Wibbly” except them.

They try to call the others back, but it’s too late. Despite not wanting to, they break out of the wibbly too only to find that there’s so much more room now and, instead of relaxing, their friends are “water-flying.” They begin waggling their tale the same as everyone else and jet off too, only not as fast. Perhaps harkening back a moment or so to their younger self, they sharply regret the loss of doing relaxing: “We are too OLD for relaxing.” But they don’t have time for such reminiscences since a “hunger-muncher” is on the prowl. The extra impetus speeds up this little tadpole’s water-flying, and they’re happy to feel at last that “we are the same!”

Always exceedingly alert if but a bit behind, the excitable tadpole suffers and then exults as the group and finally they themselves grow legs and arms. They become smug as they watch the others lose their tails “because now, I am the fasterest and my tail is not doing a shrinking!” They dart away, not realizing that they are also becoming a frog.

When a passing water beetle points the baby frog to “the Up” during their search for their friends, they break the surface of the water only to . . . “OH MY CRIKEYS! The Up is BAD!” . . . come face to face with a “furry danger-monster.” But this intrepid frog musters all their courage to “do a water-flying to get away” and discovers “air-swimming,” much to the astonishment of their friends who are watching nearby. The friends are all so impressed that they want to “do air-swimming” and beg to be taught. Leading the way, our newly minted, rosy-cheeked frog proudly proclaims, “Now we ARE the same! WE ARE FROGS!”

A factual account of the four steps of the frog life cycle follows the story.

Who knew kids and frogs have so much in common? Sarah Tagholm, that’s who! As Tagholm taps into the idiosyncrasies of a frog’s metamorphosis, she also reassures human youngsters that everyone grows and develops at their own pace while encouraging them to accept challenges and embrace new experiences. Tagholm’s quirky and playful language bounces and zips from one unexpected development to the next, compressing time into hilarious juxtapositions as the little egg/tadpole/frog tries to keep up. Both kids and adults will laugh out loud at this young hero’s endearing pronouncements and cheer their eventual full assimilation into the group.

Adorable, expressive, and comical, Jane McGuinness’s lovely mixed-media illustrations, punctuated by her dynamic typography, buoyantly captures all the silly fun of Sarah Tagholm’s story while also clearly and empathetically depicting the emotions of the lovable narrator. Readers will have a blast diving into each frothy page to witness the transformation of these little tadpoles along with the snails and other creatures that call the pond home.

A tremendously joyful and rewarding read aloud that will instantly become an often-requested favorite, We Are the Wibbly! A Tadpole’s Tail is combined entertainment and learning at its best and a must for all home, classroom, and library collections.

Ages 2 – 6

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1547615742

Reading is Funny Day Activity

Hop Along Matching Game

Hop along now and help these frogs! Each of these fantastic frogs has a twin, but they’ve gotten separated. Can you spot the identical pairs? Print out the Hop Along Matching Game and draw a line between the pairs.

You can purchase We Are the Wibbly!: A Tadpole’s Tail from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop (discounted books and support for your local independent bookstore)

Picture Book Review

About the Holiday

The Secret of the Lost Gold (Unicorn Diaries #11)

By Rebecca Elliott

National Unicorn Day Activity

Unicorn Coloring Pages

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About the Holiday

A Universe of Rainbows: Multicolored Poems for a Multicolored World

By Matt Forrest Esenwine | Illustrated by Jamey Christoph

National Find a Rainbow Day Activity

Mini Rainbow Magnet

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About the Holiday

Written and Drawn by Henrietta

By Liniers

International Children’s Book Day Activity

Create Your Own Story

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About the Holiday

We Are the Wibbly!: A Tadpole’s Tail

Written by Sarah Tagholm | Illustrated by Jane McGuinness

Reading is Funny Day Activity

Hop Along Matching Game

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