First declared by the United Nations in 1999, World Space Week has grown to be the largest public space-related event in the world. The week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. This year’s theme is the Rocket Revolution and “celebrates how launch innovation has stimulated the rapidly-growing space economy and enabled new uses of space to help the world.” A stellar international line up of events is planned to commemorate this initiative in 100 countries. The week includes space education and outreach events held by space agencies, aerospace companies, schools, planetaria, museums, and astronomy clubs around the world. To learn more about the week, visit worldspaceweek.org.
Thanks to Twirl for sending me a copy of this book for review!
Lost in Space! (Flip and Find)
By Ben Newman
Young space adventurers are about to blast into a galaxy of fun with Lost in Space! (Flip and Find), an interactive puzzle in a book! Assigned five missions comprising three phases each, kids are asked to put their skills of observation, critical thinking, and problem solving to the test. To get started, they need only to open the cover and pick up all the gear they’ll need—a die-cut card attached just inside. The card’s three windows provide an astonishingly varied view of the stars, planets, meteors, rockets, and even space beings they’ll encounter on their journey.
Children will have to use their smarts, coordination, powers of deduction, and just plain love of discovery to place the card on each game board, then flip and turn it this way and that until they match the visual challenges and complete each assignment: Cosmic Wonders, Hello, Space Beings!, So Many Stars!, Rocket Ruckus, and Mission Marvels.
Ben Newman’s stylized meteors, planets, stars, and other cosmic phenomenon as well as the silly space creatures who long to be sorted into teams and the rockets that need reconstructing will entice kids to enlist their inner aerospace engineer for entertaining and skill-building play.
With games in varying levels of difficulty and engaging graphics, Lost in Space! (Flip and Find) is a sturdy board book for kids of all ages. Even adults will enjoy trying their hand at these intriguing puzzles. There’s plenty of repeat play in each mission to make this book a favorite go-to at home, in the classroom, or at daycare centers. Lost in Space! (Flip and Find) is also a reliable take-along book for outings or any time waiting is expected.
Ages 3+
Twirl, 2026 | ISBN 978-2408061821
About the Author
Ben Newman is a freelance illustrator and lecturer who created the Professor Astro Cat children’s books. He lives in Hastings, UK. Visit him at bennewman.co.uk.
You can purchase Lost in Space! (Flip and Find) from these booksellers
Pumpkins are everywhere right now, and rightly so! With Halloween fast approaching and Thanksgiving right around the corner, pumpkins are enjoying their time in the limelight. Pumpkins also contain a secret inside—tasty seeds! Today’s holiday celebrates these seeds, known as a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals, and other nutritional value. Pumpkin seeds, roasted and salted, provide a delicious snack on their own or a creative topping or ingredient for many dishes and baked treats. So while you’re carving a Jack-o-lantern for Halloween or making a pie for Thanksgiving, don’t forget to save some seeds for a fun family baking project and some to plant in next spring’s garden!
Thank you to Orchard Books for sending me this book for review!
Millie Fleur’s Pumpkin Problem
By Christy Mandin
As autumn comes to Garden Glen with its wilted flowers and dull colors, “the townsfolk’s joy seemed to wither.” But for Millie Fleur La Fae, fall is the best season of the year. This year she had a plan to reenergize Garden Glen with pumpkins. She ordered pumpkin seeds of all kinds and carefully planted one seed from each packet then “stored the extra seeds away” in Shed until next year. But while Millie Fleur was watering her seeds, Shed took off through the open gate and ran “scratching and strutting” through town.
While Ms. Prissypants chased Shed with her rake, his door opened and pumpkin seeds began spilling out. “As Shed bumbled and bumped his way through the town’s gardens, he left behind a trail of pumpkin seeds and Millie Fleur’s magic soil.” Soon, trailing vines began growing all over town, in yards, on roofs, even climbing down chimneys. And soon after that Garden Glen was covered in pumpkins of every size, shape, and color. The townspeople started cooking every recipe they knew, but the pumpkins kept coming.
Then Millie Fleur had the idea to open Garden Glen’s Ginormous Pumpkin Patch and hold a party. People came from all over to pick pumpkins and find all of the townspeople’s delicious treats. Every visitor even left with a free pumpkin. The day turned to night, and under the twinkling lights families were still stocking up on pumpkin treasures. And what about all those pumpkin vines? They became compost to help Garden Glen’s flowers blossom “brighter than ever” in the spring.
Christy Mandin ushers in the delights of the autumn season with her adorably quirky Millie Fleur La Fae whose plans to return color and vibrancy to Garden Glen runs amok thanks to Shed’s impromptu walkabout. As the town rallies to use the bounty of pumpkins and then embraces Millie Fleur’s idea for a region-wide party, readers feel a sense of camaraderie that charms and comforts like a warm pumpkin muffin. Mandin’s enchanting storytelling will captivate readers, and her descriptions of the variety of pumpkins will have kids searching for them at their local pumpkin patch or farm store.
Christy Mandin’s cozy illustrations are a balm for busy days. Kids will relish snuggling up to enjoy time with Millie as she plans her garden, giggling at Shed as he runs about on long chicken legs, and joining Garden Glen neighbors as they cook, can, and plan their pumpkin patch party. Mandin’s glimmering twilit farmers market welcomes leisurely looking, and children will be thrilled with the included stickers that will send them back through the pages to find each image.
Whether you’re already a Millie Fleur La Fae fan or just getting to know her, Millie Fleur’s Pumpkin Problem would be a much-loved addition to any library or home collection.
Ages 4 – 8
Orchard Books, 2026 | ISBN 979-8225041335
About the Author
Christy Mandin is the author and illustrator of multiple picture books, including Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden, Millie Fleur Saves the Night, and Millie Fleur’s Worst Day Ever (October 6, 2026). She’s grown many interesting plants in her garden over the years but, so far, none with teeth or tentacles. She currently lives in Georgia with her husband and four children. Visit Christy online at christymandin.com.
National Pumpkin Seed Day Activity
Acorn Pumpkins and Jack-O’-Lanterns
With acorns falling tap, tap, tap all around, and other delicious nuts readily available in grocery stores and farmers markets, autumn is the perfect time for this craft that turns nuts into pumpkins!
Supplies
Acorns or walnuts
Orange multi-surface acrylic craft paint or spray paint
Hold the acorn with the flat side down. The little tip will serve as the pumpkin’s stem.
Paint the acorn, leaving the just the tip brown, let dry
With the flat side down, draw a face on your “pumpkin.” Let dry
Use your little pumpkin in decorations around your house or make a tiny pumpkin patch in a box or jar lid with paper, sticks, leaves or other material
For Walnutsor Other Store-Bought Nuts
If you live in an area where there are no oak trees, you can use walnuts or other nuts available in grocery stores or elsewhere. These do not need to be baked before using.
Paint and decorate according to the above directions
You can purchase Millie Fleur’s Pumpkin Problem from these booksellers
We love animals, but do we take care of them the way we should? Today’s holiday came about as an expansion of World Animal Day, which is celebrated on October 4 every year and was established in 1925. The goal of World Animal Month is to promote global awareness of animals and the issues surrounding their welfare. From pets to domesticated animals to wild creatures, humans must protect and advocate for their companions and fellow travelers on this earth. Issues such as pollution, habitat destruction, and poaching threaten the world’s wide variety of species, while closer to home spaying and neutering controls the population of feral animals that often suffer from a lack of resources. The wildlife kingdom is majestic and awe-inspiring. There are many ways to celebrate the world’s animals this month: take a trip to a zoo, aquarium, or animal preserve, consider adopting a shelter animal, or donate your time or talents to your favorite animal cause.
Thanks to Eerdmans Books for Young Readers for sending me this book!
This Is How to Spot Animals!
By Aline Portman | Translated by Laura Watkinson
As soon as story opens, Bear puts the kibosh on making any sound as he searches through his binoculars for a red-breasted goose. He’s perched on a rock, thermos by his side, overlooking four smaller rocks. As Bear keeps his laser focus on the view ahead of him, though, behind him a bird swoops into view, and a squirrel scampers around the rock. Below him one of those small “rocks” has begun to move. Oblivious, Bear says, “But today we’re out of luck. There’s nothing to see here.” Kids will want to shout, “Look behind you!” But they’ve already been shushed, so . . .
Still, it’ll be impossible for them to stifle the giggles as Bear assures kids that while “spotting animals isn’t easy, [he’s] very, very good at it.” Because at the same time, the squirrel is carrying away Bear’s thermos, the bird takes its place and a rabbit pops up from its hole to see what’s happening. Even the snail has reached higher heights. Here, Bear begins a primer on “how it’s done.” Now those giggles will erupt into uncontainable laughter as a boar, a fox, and more birds join the fray, while Bear opines, “Never lose focus! If you do, you might miss something” while taking a quick snooze.
And when Bear does wake up? As the life-list red-breasted goose (indeed, an entire flock!) fly directly overhead, he’s spying something on the ground. When they come to earth, Bear’s looking skyward; and so it goes in the spirit of hilarious farce that young readers will howl at. These escalating antics are punctuated with Bear’s repeated refrain, “But today we’re out of luck. There’s nothing to see here.” Bear’s final piece of advice—to “use a good pair of binoculars”—leads to the ultimate irony that will elicit one last shout of help (and a laugh) from readers.
A game of “Did you spot these animals?” throughout the pages follows the story.
Starting off by adding the emphatic “This is” to the title (and even usurping author Aline Portman’s name on the cover), Bear takes authoritative possession of the action even as his obliviousness contradicts his claim of superior skill. Portman’s sly story employs clever text and hilarious illustrations that work in tandem while sporting surprises as well. Kids will gleefully accept Portman’s invitation to take lingering looks at every page and exuberantly refute Bear’s erroneous refrain.
A delightfully original story that invites uninhibited interaction and plenty of laughter, This Is How to Spot Animals! is a must for all library collections and will be an often-asked-for read aloud at home, in classrooms, and for any story time.
Ages 3 – 7
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2026 | ISBN 978-0802856616
About the Author
Aline Portmanstarted writing this book on the tram, where she was surrounded by people looking at their phones and missing out on the world around them. She developed the idea into This Is How to Spot Animals! and illustrated it with pencils, soft pastels, and markers. This book is Aline’s English-language debut. She lives in Ghent, Belgium. Follow her on Instagram @alineportman.
About the Translator
Laura Watkinsontranslates books for children and adults from Dutch, German, and Italian. Her translations have received numerous honors, including three Mildred L. Batchelder Awards, two Mildred L. Batchelder Honors, and the Vondel Translation Prize. She is the founder of the Dutch chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SBCWI). Laura lives in Amsterdam. Visit her website at laurawatkinson.com.
You can purchase This Is How to Spot Animals! from these booksellers
October may be book lovers’ favorite month of the year! Why? It’s National Book Month! This holiday was established to get everyone excited about reading. As the weather turns cooler and more indoor activities take center stage, reading together becomes a wonderful way to spend time having fun and making memories. Children of all ages love being read to, and when older siblings read to younger brothers and sisters, they can bond over favorite stories and make each story time an event. Whether you’re reading board books, picture books, or novels with your kids, you’re making memories that will last a lifetime!
Thank you to Star Bright Books for sending me a copy of this book for review!
Flutter, Flap, Fly!
Written by Ellen Mayer | Illustrated by Estelle Corke
As Teo arrives at the playground, riding on his father’s shoulders, he spots two birds flying nearby. One is “‘. . . soaring. See how it is flying straight up into the sky?’ says Papi.” The other is “‘swooping . . . straight down very fast.'” Teo thinks it would be fun to soar and swoop too. Near the playground equipment, Teo and Papi watch a bird bathing in a puddle, and Teo giggles while imitating it. An older girl and boy in a tower on the play system notice and invite Teo to play with them, pretending to be birds in a tree. “‘Come fly with us. Flap, Flap!'”
Teo feels too small to climb high, so he perches on a lower level, where the girl and boy invite him to be their baby bird and peck for seeds. Soon Teo’s ready to hop up higher to their nest. Papi says, “‘Look at you three snuggling together. Snuggle! Snuggle! Snuggle!'” When Teo’s other father arrives, it’s time to go to the grocery store. Now, after playing with the older kids, Teo is ready to “‘leave the nest'” and “‘Flap [his] wings and fly. Teo is proud to show how he can “‘soar'” up the steps and “‘swoop'” down the slide!'”
A Note for Parents, Grandparents, and Caregivers by Dr. Kori Bardige, an Early Education Specialist, follows the text and coveys the positive effects that engaging children in frequent conversations, creative activities, and pretend play has on vocabulary growth and language skills. A You Can Do This Too! paragraph gives adults specific ways they can use this book as a springboard for play and learning as well as encouragement for “becoming a partner in learning” with their child.
Ellen Mayer’s cheerful and lively storytelling always brings a smile as her characters encourage and support each other to branch out of their comfort zone in their own time while engaging in playful activities that foster camaraderie and self-confidence. In her series of Small Talk Books®, Mayer’s dialogue-rich text models the types of conversations that adults can have with children to promote natural language learning and understanding. Her inclusion of the two older children demonstrates the important impact that older siblings and friend groups as well as adult caregivers can have on the socialization and language development of younger children.
Estelle Corke’s bright and expressive illustrations will captivate kids as they watch adorable Teo at the playground having fun pretending to be a bird with two new friends. Corke’s animated images of Teo and the other children fluttering, soaring, and swooping will inspire young readers to join in with their own pretend play. Kids will enjoy keeping an eye out for the birds flying, perching, and nesting throughout the pages.
Bursting with imagination and animated conversations that will pique kids’ inquisitive nature while nurturing their language development, Flutter, Flap, Fly! will enhance any library collection and would be a favorite for repeat reading at home and in the classroom.
Ages 3 – 6
Star Bright Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1649091000
About the Author
Ellen Mayer is an award-winning children’s author who has worked as an education researcher and early literacy home visitor. Her Small Talk Books® series with Star Bright Books features diverse families in engaging stories that highlight two aspects of early childhood education with engaging stories: early language development and early math development. Titles in the series that focus on language development include board books Twinkle, Twinkle, Diaper You!, Red Socks, and A Fish to Feed, as well as picture books Cake Day and Rosa’s Very Big Job. See https://ellenmayerbooks.com/books/. Flutter, Flap, Fly! is her eleventh book with Star Bright Books. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband and their dog, Ellie. Visit her at ellenmayerbooks.com.
About the Illustrator
Estelle Corke spent much of her childhood drawing. Her passion for drawing led her to study graphic design in college and eventually found her way to children’s books. She enjoys traditional watercolor and gouache painting and regularly teaches watercolor classes to adult beginners. She lives in Wiltshire, England with her husband and Poppy, a little black and white dog. Visit her at estellecorke.com.
National Book Month Activity
Soar and Swoop! Wings Craft
Kids (and adults!) can set their imagination soaring while they flutter, flap, and . . . fly with this easy craft designed by young creator Elise B.! What kind of bird will you be?!
Supplies
Poster Board in any color
Twine, string, or ribbon
Feathers, leaves, flower petals, paper, markers or crayons, glitter, or other items to decorate wings
Streamers
Measuring tape
Pencil
Scissors
Hole Punch (optional)
Glue and tape
Directions
Measure child’s arm from finger tips to elbow and use this measurement for the long, top side of the wing
On the poster board, draw two wing shapes: use your child’s arm measurement for the long, top edge of the wing. From the right (or left) end of this line, draw a perpendicular line about 4 or 5 inches long. Then draw a curving, scalloped line from the bottom of the perpendicular line to the other end of the long, top edge of the wing.
Cut out two wings
Decorate the tops of the wings with markers or crayons or by gluing items to them
Attach streamers to the scalloped edge with glue or tape
With the hole punch or scissors, make two holes vertically along the short side, about 3 inches apart
With the hole punch or scissor, make two holes vertically near the tip of the wing, about 1 inch apart
Thread the twine, string, or ribbon through each sets of holes so that the two ends hang from the underside of the wing
To play, tie wings to arms and wrists with scalloped edge facing backwards
About Elise B.
Elise is 10 years old. She has two cats. When she’s not designing crafts for her grandmother’s books, she enjoys playing hockey, acting, and dancing. Her favorite birds are blue jays.
You can purchase Flutter, Flap, Fly! from these booksellers
