May 20 – Get Caught Reading Month

About the Holiday

Reading is great all the time, but this month we celebrate actually being seen with a book in hand laughing at a funny line, shivering over a suspenseful scene or maybe even tearing up over an unexpected plot twist. Throughout the month, authors, illustrators, actors and actresses, athletes, business people, teachers, and students all upload pictures of themselves reading to encourage others to discover the joys of this fun and important pastime. To learn more about the holiday and find resources to download or order, visit the Get Caught Reading website.

The Underwearwolf

Written by Gideon Sterer | Illustrated by Charles Santoso

What do you give a kid who collects underwear? Underwear, of course! But not just any pair of underwear, I mean, this boy’s already got skull underwear, stars underwear, shark underwear, and even train underwear. So, if you want your gift to stand out, this underwear has to be something special! And that’s just what Uncle Larry gave his nephew: one pair of “different,” “strange,” and made-of-some-unusual-material underwear. There was just one caveat: “Do not under any circumstances or for any reason wear these underwear during the full moon.”

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Charles Santoso. Text copyright © 2026 by Gideon Sterer. Courtesy of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

So our young connoisseur took a look at the moon, deemed it not too full, and slipped on his new acquisition. Too late to go back now! Those underwear had taken control of his whole body. His “eyes turned yellow,” his “hands became claws, and he “was hairier than a hundred hamsters!” It was undeniable. He “had become the Underwearwolf.”

Lured by the moon, he escaped his room and rampaged through town. Along the way he had inklings about what he could do, but they all presented the same problem: he would have been left “BUTT NAKED” in the most compromising places. Soon he heard the pack calling him, and he ran until they all came together on the top of a mountain to howl, “AWOOOOOOO!” at the full moon. As dawn began to break, our hairy protagonist knew it was time to head home before he was missed. In the safety of his own room, he could finally remove those transformational undies that he determined to never wear again, until . . . .

Gideon Sterer’s madcap monster romp will have kids howling from the extraordinary gift’s unwrapping to the story’s butt-naked wrap up. In between, The Underwearwolf is loaded with fast-paced uproarious mischief that invites plenty of “Awoooooos” and makes this book a perfect choice for rollicking read-alouds as well as playful bedtime story times.

Charles Santoso translates Gideon Sterer’s hilarious flip on the “clothing as gifts gaffe” with gusto as he presents a boy bored with the usual favorite toys but over the moon with a gifted pair of underwear. In his exuberant illustrations, Santoso delivers a hairy, bug-eyed imp caught in uncontrollable goofiness that readers will envy while laughing themselves silly.

Ages 4 – 8

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026 | ISBN 978-1665955584

Gideon Sterer is the New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Owl, I Will Read to You, From Ed’s to Ned’s, Not Your Nest!, The Night Knights, and The Midnight Fair, among others. Gideon grew up in upstate New York, where his parents owned a little zoo in which he would run around after hours and let the animals out. He now lives in the Hudson Valley and invites you to visit him online at GideonSterer.com.

Charles Santoso loves drawing little things in his little journal. He gathers inspiration from his childhood memories and curiosities he discovers in his everyday travels. He has illustrated several picture books, including The Snurtch, I Don’t Like Koala, Finding Muchness, and Ida, Always. Charles also works as a visual development artist, creating illustrations for feature film projects. He lives and works in Singapore. You can visit him at CharlesSantoso.com.

Get Caught Reading Month Activity

The Underwearwolf Activity Kit

Get howling with this wolfishly wonderful The Underwearwolf Activity Kit from Simon & Schuster that lets kids set their wild imaginations free! The kit includes a coloring page, a page to list the nighttime adventures of readers-turned-underwearwolf, and finger puppets to act out their hijinks.

You can purchase The Underwearwolf from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

May 19 – National Plant Something Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

As Spring really takes hold and gets ready to pass the seasonal baton to summer, today’s holiday encourages people to get into the garden or grab a pot and plant whatever makes you happy, whether that’s veggies, herbs, berries, flowers, or maybe even just a small cactus for your windowsill. Taking care of and watching plants grow and produce food or flowers is a fun and rewarding experience for the whole family!

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog: The Terrifying Turnip Takeover! (Volume 2)

Written by Lydia Lukidis | Illustrated by Tara J. Hannon

When Lord Turnip, the leader of planet Jupi-TURD lands his gigantic, very purple, turnip-shaped spaceship on the Island of Zoo York’s Critter Park and tells the citizens of Critter Creek that he plans on taking over the world, Groucho, a “grumpy, lazy, and sarcastic” groundhog has just one thing to say: “I don’t care!” He has a full day of eating pancakes and reading comics planned and there’s nothing his self-proclaimed bestie, half-pig, half-unicorn Blork, can do to change his mind.

Illustration copyright © 2026. by Tara J. Hannon. Text copyright © 2026 by Lydia Lukidis. Courtesy of Andrews McMeel Publishing.

When the “WAYOOOOO WAYEEEE,” of the landing turnip interrupts Groucho’s TV watching, though, he heads out to complain. They learn that Lord Turnip has arrived in Critter Creek bent on using his Slime-a-tron 3000 to slime everything in town, turning it all into poop fertilizer to mix with the soil and create an enormous turnip farm to feed the citizens of Jupi-TURD, which has dried up after 50 years of no rain. Not only are the denizens of Critter Creek going to lose their homes, Lord Turnip is going to use his Heinous Hypnotizer to turn them all into zombie farmers.

Groucho isn’t a natural superhero, though. Instead, as Lord Turnip begins putting his plan into action, Groucho, with a worried Blork in tow, returns home to get back to more important things—namely, pancakes and his fave TV show, “Pancakes with Pam.” When Lord Turnip slimes Groucho’s house, however, Groucho and Blork speed to adjoining Carrot County and Commander Hare E. Bun Bun’s evil lair to enlist help.

After the Commander’s Carrot of Chaos fails to destroy the turnip spacecraft and a fierce “Uh-huh! Nuh-uh! Uh-huh! Nuh-uh!” battle of (nit) wits over whether the Commander or Lord Turnip coined the evil laugh “MWAHAHAHA,” Lord Turnip hypnotizes the Commander so he speaks only in rhyme and turns his sidekick Ding Dong into a monkey. Things are looking pretty hopeless in Critter Creek! Can Groucho find a way to give Lord Turnip a taste of his own medicine? Can the Commander and Ding Dong help Critter Creek return to its pre-slimed glory? Turn-ip at your favorite bookstore to find out!

Versatile author Lydia Lukidis channels her talent for humor in Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog: The Terrifying Turnip Takeover, the second book in her new graphic novel series. Leading off with profiles of the main characters that will have kids giggling from the get-go, this dastardly plot unfurls with goofiness, plenty of clever wordplay, a touch of potty humor, and lots of MWAHAHAHAs for readers to join in on. At the story’s heart, are themes of friendship and cooperation as cantankerous Groucho and cheerful-yet-comically-clueless Blork work together to defeat Lord Turnip, even teaming up with their one-time nemesis Commander Hare E. Bun Bun. Lukidis’s fast-paced storytelling is full of action and adventure that kids will have on repeat.

Tara J. Hannon’s vivid, action-packed illustrations maximize all the silliness in this other-worldly story, from Groucho’s grumpy side to Blork’s endearing innocence to all the slimy destruction of Lord Turnip’s visit to Critter Creek. Each panel advances the story with funny imagery, exaggerated facial expressions, signs, sound effects, and other details tucked away to delight readers.

Ages 6 – 8

Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2026 | ISBN 979-8881605612

If you haven’t read the first book in this hilarious series, check out Groucho the Grouchy Hedgehog and catch up on all the fun!

When Groucho and Blork learn that the evil Commander Hare E. Bun Bun has stolen all of the pancakes of Critter Creek, along with the secret recipe, Groucho and Blork dash to save the day and become an unlikely pair of crime fighters!

About the Author

Lydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of 50+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024) and DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was a Crystal Kite winner, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, and Cybils Award nominee. Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program. Lydia is represented by literary agent Miranda Paul from the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. For more information, please visit lydialukidis.com.

About the Illustrator

Tara J. Hannon lives in a house on a hill near the Chesapeake Bay. She writes and illustrates from her home studio, alongside her husband, two daughters, and one overly excited dog. When not creating, she can be found enjoying the bay with her family, jogging at a slow and friendly pace, or drinking coffee. Visit her at tarajhannon.com.

Plant Something Day Activity

Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog Activity Guide

Kids will love spending time in Critter Creek with the incomparable Groucho, Blork, Hare E. Bun Bun and the rest of the gang with this Activity Guide full of character cards, puzzles, coloring pages, drawing pages, discussion questions, and more that are perfect for teachers, families, and all Groucho fans! You’ll find the Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog Activity Guide on Lydia Lukidis’s website!

You can purchase Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog: The Terrifying Turnip Takeover! from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

March 30 – National Take a Walk in the Park Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Take a Walk in the Park Day is as easy as it sounds, but getting outside and enjoying nature can make a profound impact on your emotional and physical wellbeing. Walking, whether on a paved path or testing your stamina on a rugged trail, provides many health benefits, and immersing yourself in the sounds and often surprising sights of wildlife going about their busy and playful lives brings joy and offers new perspectives and appreciation for the world around us. To celebrate today, visit a favorite or new local or state park with your family!

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

Forest en Familia / El bosque en familia

Written by/Escrito por Cynthia Harmony | Illustrated by/ Ilustrado por Renata Galindo

While Emilia’s family waits for Abue Tita to arrive, Emilia and Papi finish packing up their lunch, including sweet and spicy tamarind treats, and Abuelo Beto’s treasured compass. Emilia and her family are going to forest en familia day at the big state park, and while her brother, Nico, is rarin’ to go, Emilia feels timid about being out in the wild. But soon—¡vámonos!—they’re off!

At the park gate, the friendly ranger hands Abue Tita a map. Emilia is captivated by the fresh scent of the pine trees. On the trail, their grandmother encourages them to “‘keep ears, eyes, and hearts open to sorpresas.” Emilia is ready! She loves surprises! And just then, a fluttery sorpresa finds her! Nico, running and leaping, discovers a little salamander on a mossy log. Then they all find more surprises everywhere they look.

After enjoying lunch under Abuelo Beto’s “favorite kind of tree,” they clean up “every wrapper and stray crumb. Then—¡Arriba!—climbing higher and higher on the trail, they come to the “biggest forest en famila sorpresa” of all. With “hearts wide open,” they gaze at the glorious panorama spread out in front of them. Back home, Emilia’s heart is full of the forest and all she’s seen.

This bilingual book presents the story in both English and Spanish side-by-side. Back matter includes a glossary, a prompt to find all the creatures in the illustrations and the answer key, and tips on making the most of a visit to public lands.

Cynthia Harmony’s lyrical and enchanting bilingual story will touch the hearts of all readers with its invitation to discover the surprises nature has waiting as well as its embrace of family traditions, culture, and remembrances. Through Emilia and Nico, Harmony positively recognizes that children embrace new experiences at their own pace, a welcome character arc in this inclusive story. Equally strong are the family connections, shown in Emilia’s packing both her and her brother’s favorite treats, the children’s close relationship with their grandmother, and the use of their abuelo’s keepsake compass along the trail.

Renata Galindo’s charming illustrations combine realistic depictions of the forest with whimsical touches that sweep the family and readers up into the wonder of nature and its waiting surprises. Children will find joy in Galindo’s images of the family together—marveling over the wildlife they see, child and parent walking hand-in-hand, Nico nudging Emilia so she doesn’t miss seeing a hawk, a relaxing lunch break, and reliving the excitement of the day back home.

Joyous and uplifting, Forest en Familia/El bosque en familia is the perfect book to introduce visits to public lands; local parks, trails and playgrounds; and even to spark nature discovery hunts in your own backyard. The close-knit family dynamics also makes this a warm and homey read for any story time occasion. The book is a must for all library collections, especially to accompany circulating nature backpacks or other such materials, and would be a favorite on home bookshelves as well.

Ages 4 – 8

Yosemite Conservancy, 2026 | ISBN 978-1951179397

About the Author

Cynthia Harmony is a bilingual children’s author and educational psychologist, originally from Mexico City. Her titles include Mi Ciudad Sings and Mi Ciudad Canta, Our World: Mexico, and the Charlotte Huck Honor-winner, A Flicker of Hope and Un Aleteo de Esperanza, which was selected as one of the best children’s books of the year by Kirkus and the American Library Association. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, with her family. Visit her at cynthiaharmony.com.

About the Illustrator

Renata Galindo is an art director, illustrator, writer. She is the author of three children’s books: The Cherry Thief, My New Mom and Me, and A Casa en Tres Idiomas, which have been translated into more than ten languages. Renata’s illustrations have been featured in exhibitions in Mexico, the U.S., and Italy, and she has created concept art, storyboard art, and layout design for animation, film, and television. She lives in Mexico City. Visit her at renatagalindo.com.

Take a Walk in the Park Day Activity

Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt

While you’re out walking, look for the wildlife and other things in nature on this Scavenger Hunt or use the page without pictures to create your own list!

Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt with Pictures | Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt without Pictures

You can purchase Forest en Familia / El Bosque en Familia from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

February 19 – Skate Shop Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Today’s holiday rolled onto the calendar in 2020, sparked by Chris Nieratko, a skate journalist and shop owner, and Scotty Coats, whose career was in music. They wanted to help skate shop owners survive the winter downturn in sales. Inspired by Record Store Day, which takes place on the third Saturday in April each year, the pair designed the holiday to draw attention to skate shops. They invited skateboarding brands to create unique decks, wheels, and shirts that could only be found in local shops to sell on that day. Skate shops aren’t just places to find gear, though. They’re warm, welcoming spaces where friendships are made over shared stories and tricks, local shopkeepers are supported, and community built. To celebrate today, visit your local skate shop, gear up for warmer weather, and feel the love!

Thank you to Scholastic for sharing a digital copy of this book with me for review!

Selena the Sunflower Dragon (Dragon Girls #19)

By Maddy Mara

One sunny day while Selena and her friends Charlotte and Layla were at the skate park, Selena noticed a patch of beautiful sunflowers growing nearby even though it was winter. She then smelled a fragrant aroma of flowers all around her and heard a faint sound of singing: “Magic Forest, Magic Forest, come explore . . . .” She paid little attention as she was excited to begin skating. As she sped through the half-pipe, though, she didn’t change direction at the top but was magically transported to a forest full of flowers. The silent air smelled like warm hot chocolate. And Selena herself had become a Dragon Girl with powerful yellow wings and sharp talons!

Selena had hardly taken this in when she met a beautiful bug named Dottie who told her that she was Selena’s Questie and would be helping Selena on her quest. Dottie also revealed Selena had transformed into a Sunflower Dragon Girl. Dottie led Selena to the garden of the Tree Queen. Here, Selena discovered that Charlotte had become a Rose Dragon and Layla a Water Lily Dragon.

The Tree Queen revealed that the Fury Queen was using Pufferbugs to put everything in the Magic Forest to sleep with her chocolate-scented potion so that she could take over. The Flower Dragons are the forest’s only hope, the Tree Queen said. To break the Fury Queen’s spell, the Dragon Girls must find the right wake-up scent, a special liquid to dissolve it in, and a bottle to hold the potion.

The Tree Queen pointed them in the right direction, and when Selena, Layla, and Charlotte discovered that they could skate the air currents, allowing them to fly at top speed, they were off on an adventure! They met Fearcats, restored pollen-making power to moonflowers, and flew into a thunderstorm all while dodging Pufferbugs and finding creative ways to use their skateboarding skills and their friendship to make the perfect potion. But can the three best friends stay awake long enough to save the forest?

A sneak peek at Dragon Girls: Charlotte the Rose Dragon, #20 in the Dragon Girls series follows the story.

A new Dragon Girls book by Maddy Mara is always highly anticipated, and their latest story rewards the wait with the series’ signature combination of magical adventures, friendship, humor, and girl power that makes the series so popular. Lightly illustrated, the story invites readers to imagine the details of the Magic Forest and its inhabitants as well as Selena’s, Charlotte’s, and Layla’s transformations as dragons. Needing to solve problems to complete their mission, the three friends also model positive cooperation and critical-thinking skills. Of course, it’s all wrapped in the fun, fast-paced storytelling that delights fans and keeps them wanting more.

Ages 7 – 10

Scholastic, 2026 | ISBN 979-8225018344

About the Authors

Maddy Mara is the pen name of Australian creative duo Hilary Rogers and Meredith Badger. Hilary is a writer and former publisher; Meredith is a writer and teaches English as a second language. Together they have written or created many bestselling series for kids, including Dragon Girls, Dragon Games, and Forever Fairies. Dragon Girls has over 1.5 million copies in print and is available in multiple countries and languages. They live on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Bunurong people in Melbourne, Australia. You can visit them at maddymara.com.

Skate Shop Day Activity

Design Your Own Skateboard Coloring Pages

Your skateboard can be as unique as you are with these skateboard top and bottom coloring pages!

Skateboard Top without border | Skateboard Top with Border | Skateboard Bottom without border | Skateboard Bottom with Border

You can purchase Selena the Sunflower Dragon from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

February 16 – National Bake for Family Fun Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

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!

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.

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!

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 4 – World Read Aloud Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

Version 1.0.0

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.”

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.”

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.”

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

January 1 – Global Family Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

A desire for world peace is an idea that most people can agree on and that many around the globe are working toward. One way to bring this about on a direct and personal scale is to build and strengthen families and communities. Which brings us to today’s holiday and what Global Family Day is all about. Today’s holiday has its underpinnings in the United Nations General Assembly’s January 1, 2000 launch of the International Decade for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, which revolved around the idea that some day, in the future, there could be a time when there is no more war on the planet. Because the launch was so successful, the United Nations decided to make it an annual event called Global Family Day. Today’s book, which brings families together through 30 international cultural tales contains the seed for more understanding and peace among individuals and communities.

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

Super Great Kids’ Stories: From Storytellers Around the World

Stories curated by Kim Normanton

Would you like to take your kids on a global adventure this year? How about taking that trip without ever leaving home? You can do it with Super Great Kids’ Stories, a new companion book to the popular Super Great Kids’ Stories podcast. Through the thirty tales in this collection, families can travel through North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Oceania while enjoying glimpses into the culture and traditions of a wide range of countries.

Young readers will gain a sense of camaraderie with their peers around the world as they read or listen to stories with familiar characters and themes that just undergo a tweak here and a name change there. For example, kids who know the Cinderella story will be excited to recognize similar aspects in “Keeya and the Purple Fish,” an intriguing tale from Eswatini, a country in southern Africa.

For kids who can’t make up their mind between hearing a ghost story or a funny story, there’s “The Ghost of the Bloody Finger,” a tale from the United States retold by Tiernan Douieb, which if read with the spookiest and most dramatic voice, will have them shaking . . . with laughter! Children will also travel to South America to discover “How Snakes Got Their Poison,” a story of a sly trade from the Indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest retold by Tuup, and two other stories.

Visiting Asia, readers find six stories, including “Inch Boy,” a story from Japan, retold by Masako Carey that offers a thrilling twist on a tale many may recognize as “Thumbelina.” They’ll also marvel at “The Boy Who Used His Head,” a story from South Korea retold by Pamela Marr. Wending their way to Europe, children will be engaged by “Molly and the Leprechaun,” an Irish story perfect for Saint Patrick’s Day retold by Kate Corkery. They’ll also love “Little Half Chick,” a story from Spain retold by Rebecca Lemaire that they’ll remember whenever the wind changes, plus four more delightful tales.

Leaving Europe kids land in Oceania, where they learn two First Nations stories from Australia retold by Warren Foster, one about Bungoo the flying fox who jumps from friend to friend, and the next about how the Lyrebird got its voice. Two Māori stories from New Zealand retold by Emmy Bidois follow—the first about the trickster demigod Māui, and the second a legend about how the kiwi lost its wings.

To enhance listeners’ experience each story is visited by the Story Owl, who offers interesting tips on how the story can be made interactive with sounds or motions and provides facts about an aspect of the story. Back matter includes short biographies of the book’s storytellers and illustrators as well as quotes from each storyteller about where they first heard the story they tell here.

You can’t help but be pulled into the intrigue, twists, and surprises of the tales curated by Kim Normanton in this beautiful book. Each story sings with the unique voice of the storyteller and stunning illustrations that bring the action and characters to life. Super Great Kids’ Stories provides a perfect way for families to spend rainy or snowy days together, send kids off to dreamland, or spark a child’s imagination. Teachers, homeschoolers, and other educators or group leaders will find the stories in this book to be a high-interest way to introduce world cultures to students or to inspire meaningful writing or presentation projects.

Ages 5 – 7

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1547619283

Kim Normanton is the curator of this collection and presenter of the podcast Super Great Kids’ Stories. She has been telling traditional stories in schools and museums around the world for 20 years. Kim uses rhymes and singing and has a wide repertoire, from African fables to Indian fairytales. She also produces social documentaries for BBC Radio. To learn more visit www.supergreatkidsstories.com.

Stories retold by

Sheila Arnold, Emmy Bidois, Masako Carey, Kate Corkery, Peter Chand, Tiernan Douieb, Amy Douglas, Warren Foster, Wangari Grace, Emily Hennessey, Rebecca Lemaire, Juliana Marin, Pamela Marre, Daniel Morden, Kim Normanton, Winston Nzinga, Baden Prince Junior, Gayle Ross, Simone Shüemmelfeder, Wendy Shearer, and Tuup.

Stories illustrated by

Sally Agar, Camila Carrosine, Tinuke Fagborun, Melissa Greenwood, Kaley McKean, and Terri Po.

Global Family Day Activity

Draw Your Family Coloring Page

Kids can celebrate Global Family Day by drawing their family in this snow globe.

Global Family Day Coloring Page in Blue | Global Family Day Coloring Page in Black and White

You can purchase Super Great Kids’ Stories from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

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