December 13 – It’s Gift-Giving Season

About the Holiday

It’s that time of year when we delight in sharing our love for family members and friends with gifts. Books are, of course, perfect gifts. Not only do readers enjoy them again and again, but books can give you a whole world of adventure and surprise and introduce you to characters who are courageous, empathetic, surprising, and funny and who can become like friends—especially when you dig into a series.

Thank you to Scholastic for gifting me a copy of this book for review!

The (Not So) Superheroes: The Terrible Trio #1

Written by Swapna Haddow | Illustrated by Minky Stapleton

When every animal in the world is invited to receive a superpower, Zeb the zebra, Barry the lemur, and Margarine the penguin (full name: Margarine on Toast, Marge for short) find themselves last in a very, very, very long line. As the line slowly moves, Zeb dreams of the riches and acclaim he’ll soon be enjoying. When Zeb, Barry, and Marge reach the front of the line, though, the superpower manager is all out of powers to give.

Turns out, the manager has a smidgen of empathy and quickly makes up three more. Marge receives the power to make mac ‘n’ cheese, Barry gets nice handwriting, and Zeb? He now has “the power to blend in at a crosswalk!” Barry and Marge are thrilled with their superpowers, but Zeb? Not so much. Suddenly, Marge remembers that the Superheroes Cafe is looking for help and thinks they’d be perfect candidates.

The restaurant manager is all in on Marge as a macaroni-and-cheese-making chef and Barry as a menu writer. But Zeb? Barry suggests he can fold napkins. They’re hired and get right to work. Soon a new menu emerges (Mac ‘N’ Cheese for breakfast, Mac ‘N’ Cheese Salad (without the salad) for lunch, and Double Mac ‘N’ Cheese for dinner) while crumpled napkins pile up at Zeb’s station (to be fair, he is working with hooves, not hands).

The cafe fills with customers, and Zeb can’t help but overhear the rumors about the “worthless” power he got, which “ranged from ‘the power of no power’ to ‘the power of having quite sharp toenails on a Sunday.'” Zeb decides he and his friends need to complete a mission to prove they are “awesome superheroes” worth better powers. He even overhears the chicken who was given superstrength reveal that a supervillain crocodile is planning to escape from prison that very night. He plans to help.

With a mac-and-cheese ruse, they get into the prison to stop the breakout, but once inside they hear “Prisoner Break Out!” and are trapped in the kitchen as prisoners and the evil crocodile appear. Just about now, you’re probably on the edge of your seat wondering: Can Zeb use his superpower to save the day? Will Zeb ever learn to fold napkins? Is there a dessert mac ‘n’ cheese waiting in the wings? You’ll just have to tuck into The (Not So) Superheroes to find out!

Swapna Haddow and Minky Stapleton’s new graphic novel series is joyful, silly, laugh-out-loud fun as the last three animals in an endless line of superpower hopefuls become fast friends, bonding over their less-than bestowments while using them to fulfill their remarkable destinies. Haddow’s spirited characters engage in hilarious banter and witty observations that will keep kids giggling as the trio accept (or in Zeb’s case, reject) their powers, squabbling and supporting each other the way good friends do. Her fast-paced plot, twists and turns, and amusing cast of secondary characters provide laughs and suspense on every page, keeping kids riveted to the story.

Minky Stapleton captures all the zany antics, fluctuating emotions, and high-stakes adventure of these newly branded superheroes in her comical illustrations that are jam-packed with humorous details, endearing facial expressions, and dynamic typography that has fun with superhero tropes. Readers can’t help but be charmed by Zeb, Barry, and Marge and become invested in their lives as superheroes.

Introducing the well-conceived The Terrible Trio series (mac ‘n’ cheese as a superpower? Inspired perfection!), The (Not So) Superheroes is freewheeling comedic fun that will captivate kids, including reluctant readers, from the first page and offers plenty of repeat reading rewards. Book Two in the series: The Day the Mac ‘n’ Cheese Ran Out releases on February 3, 2026.

Ages 7 – 10

Scholastic, 2025 | ISBN 978-1546182986

About the Author

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, colorful, 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. You can visit her at swapnahaddow.com.

About the Illustrator

Minky Stapleton is a multi-faceted illustrator with a range of styles, all with a dash of humor. 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.

Gift-Giving Season Activity

The (Not So) Superheroes: The Terrible Trio Activity Sheets

Kids can whip up lots of fun with the The (Not So) Superheroes activity sheets on author Swapna Haddow’s website. They’ll find sheets for discovering their superpower animal, character-drawing, coloring, and even Marge’s mac ‘n’ cheese recipe. Visit Swapna Haddow’s Fun Stuff page to download the activity pages!

You can purchase The (Not So) Superheroes: The Terrible Trio #1 from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

October 15 – Get Ready for Christmas with Author Robin Currie

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

There may be no better way to usher in the spirit of Christmas with little ones than by sharing holiday stories both old and new. Books about Christmas offer inspiration, tradition, humor, and new perspectives on this favorite holiday. Stuff your stockings with pre-Christmas reads, and don’t forget that books make the perfect present for all ages!

Just Enough Room for Christmas

Written by Robin Currie | Illustrated by Estelle Corke

Old Hannah, a gentle brown milk cow had just settled in to sleep in her cozy room-for-one Bethlehem barn when there was a knock on the door. She heard a young traveler calling out to her: “‘Old Hannah, Old Hannah, let my horse in, please! / Your barn is so warm, and out here he will freeze.'” Hannah opened the door. While the barn was small, there was just enough room for one more. Grateful, the young girl brought in her horse, giving him one admonition: “‘Do not stomp.'”

Soon, Old Hannah and the horse heard another knock. Answering it, they found a goatherd asking for shelter for his cold goat. The cow and the horse made room for one more. The goatherd left her with a pat and a caution: “‘Do not bump.'”

The night was particularly cold, and one after another, travelers stopped by the barn asking for Old Hannah to offer refuge for their animal. Each time, Old Hannah and the other visitors made room for the newcomer, and each time the thankful owners bade their animal to mind its manners. The animals crowded in until, at last, there was only room enough for one more tiny creature to join them.

Under the door crept a little mouse, who scampered across the hay with a “SQUEAK.” Hearing the squeak, the other animals forgot their manners and stomped and bumped and baaa-ed, causing quite a din. Then suddenly they stopped. Was that a knock at the door? On the threshold stood a man and a woman. They said, “‘Old Hannah, Old Hannah, may we come in, please? / Your barn is so warm and out here, we will freeze.'”

Even though the barn was small and already crowded, the animals made room for the tired couple then settled themselves to sleep. All was quiet in the barn, until later when a newborn baby’s cry broke the silence. “Later angels would sing and a new star would shine” for this special baby. Later shepherds and men bringing gifts visited Him. But first, Old Hannah and the other animals welcomed this family into their “small barn with just enough room for a newborn King.”

Robin Currie’s sweet story of a kind group of animals who make room for each other and—on that first Christmas night—Mary, Joseph, and newborn baby Jesus combines heart, humor, and generosity in a read-aloud children will want to hear again and again. Little ones will be charmed by the repeat phrasing that will have them reading along in no time. They’ll especially enjoy acting out the stomps, bumps, bleats, squeaks, and other sounds as the story progresses.

Estelle Corke’s adorable and expressive illustrations will enchant children and adults alike as each animal and human pair appear at the barn door and the animals are invited in. Mary and Joseph are devoted to each other and their new baby as they also find solace in the barn. Corke’s rich color palette of blues and golds with touches of purple, pink, and green illuminates each page, depicting the frigid winter weather while enveloping readers in the warmth of the Christmas story.

Uplifting and joyful, Just Enough Room for Christmas is a delightful and meaningful read-aloud that is sure to become a family Christmas tradition. The book would make a beautiful and much-loved gift.

Ages 4 – 7

Good Books/SkyHorse Publishing, 2025 | ISBN 978-1680999730

About the Author

Robin Currie is a preschool chaplain, ordained minister, and librarian. She volunteers annually to teach reading and literacy in developing countries and has taught English in far-flung places such as China, Tanzania, and India. Her family includes four grown children and five grandchildren. She lives near Wheaton, Illinois. Visit her on Substack | Bluesky | Facebook | Instagram.

About the Illustrator

Estelle Corke is a freelance illustrator who has worked as an artist for more than thirty years. Her first love is children’s publishing, with animals and children her favorite subjects. Estelle’s art has appeared in Guideposts and Highlights. She lives in Bath in the United Kingdom. Visit her at estellecorke.com | Facebook | Instagram.

Meet Robin Currie

Despite her incessant need to wiggle, Robin Currie earned a Master’s Degree in Library Science and spent her library career in children’s departments where she could baa, moo, and honk without getting shushed. Robin has traditionally published more than 45 picture books. She writes stories to read and read again!

I’m excited to host Robin Currie as part of her Just Enough Room for Christmas book tour! Today she talks about how her sweet story went from a brainstorming session idea to bookstore shelves with bumps and cheers along the way.

The Tale of the Cow

In 2023 for Storystorm (a 30-day idea brainstorming group put together by author Tara Lazar every January), my idea #5 was “stable is just a shed for travelers’ horses and donkeys, the inn keepers’ cow and a few mice – Nothing Happens in a Stable.”

Talking to my agent later that spring, he suggested I write 10 pieces about Christmas and see if he could sell some. That produced some winners like “Did the Holy Family Drive a Truck?” and “Why the Kings were Late to Bethlehem.” And one called “Old Hannah.”

The premise of “Old Hannah” was along the lines of “always room for one more,” where the stable gets more and more crowded as more animals escape the cold. That way, I incorporated my fluent second language: cow (with a passable knowledge of goat, cat, and dog). The twist on the original Christmas story is that the last to arrive is a tired couple about to have a baby. The animals quiet down to make room for the newborn king.

I had that outlined early on with the animals asking Old Hannah to let them in, and the cow replying.

BLAAT! Buzzer sound – foul!

The agent told me that in the religious market today, animals don’t talk. (And despite the fact that I could name lots of books where animals DID talk—plus the whole “Gift of the talking animals on Christmas Eve” thing—he said it had a better chance of selling if the cattle did not chatter.)

And the title should be changed to something about Christmas. OK: “Christmas in the Barn.”

Time for the critique groups—live and online. They pinpointed some little stuff, but basically gave lots of good feedback. And another title change to “Just Enough Room for Christmas.”

I sent the story off to a critique service, where it scored a once-in-a-lifetime “1”! Then I sent it to my agent, pen poised for offers…

Crickets. Churrip-churrip!

So, I sent it to a couple of contests, mostly for some outside feedback. The manuscript got an honorable mention in the Cascade Writers 2024 and won Silver for Royal Palm Literary Awards 2024 from Florida Writers Association. You have to believe in a Blue Ribbon Cow!

In an Above the Slush Pile opportunity, I sent it to Good Books/Skyhorse Publishing (noting the story was already an award winner and the animals did NOT talk!) and got an immediate response. Not only YES—but YES in 2025!

You know the cow that jumped over the moon? I was on its back! Mooooo!

Thanks, Robin, for sharing so much about your journey with Just Enough Room for Christmas! I wish you all the best with your book. I know readers are going to love it!

You can purchase Just Enough Room for Christmas from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 8 – International Literacy Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

In 1966 UNESCO (United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture) established International Literacy Day on this date to “actively mobilize the international community to promote literacy as an instrument to empower individuals, communities, and societies.” This year, the theme is “Promoting literacy in the digital era” and focuses on the way digitization has changed and is changing the way people learn, live, work and socialize—both positively and negatively.

Today’s observance also shines a light on the importance of engaging children in reading from their earliest ages. It is well-documented that children who are read to from birth develop better reading and communication skills, which leads to better across-the-board performance in school and beyond. While reading together, parents, adults, and caregivers and their children also develop strong bonds that last a lifetime. Today’s two books offer young readers the joy and excitement of reading in interactive formats that adults will love sharing with their kids. To learn more about International Literacy Day, visit unesco.org.

Thank you to Twirl Books and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for send me copies of these books for review!

Animals Everywhere: A Lift, Look, and Find Book

Written by Stéphanie Babin

Illustrated by Sophie Ledesma, Robert Barborini, Marie Caudry, Jessica Das, Marie Kyprianou, and Charlotte Roederer

Take your little ones on an around-the-world tour to six diverse environments in the enchanting Animals Everywhere, a vibrant and fun seek-and-find book that includes flaps for even more surprising discovery. Habitats featured are a rural countryside, a polar region, a forest in autumn, a farm, the rainforest, and a wildlife-welcoming backyard. Each of these habitats are presented with either one or two gatefold pages that open to reveal a panoramic view of beauty and delightful details that invite children to find either 12 or 16 creatures.

Running along the bottom of each page spread, a banner includes a short, easy-to-understand description of the environment as well as small circles containing images of the creatures to be found and their name. To help the youngest readers, each creature is depicted in the exact way and orientation as in the large picture.

This well-conceived book goes far beyond a simple search-and-find concept. Each spread is loaded with action and interactions, animals, people, vegetation, vehicles, objects, and weather events for kids and adults to talk about, point out, and use to create their own seek-and-find fun. These fully realized landscapes make for exciting and challenging searches that kids can enjoy again and again and that will engage children over a wide age range.

Stéphanie Babin’s charming text is enthusiastic and evocative as she welcomes young readers to each habitat and shares a sprinkling of facts just right for little learners. These can lead to discussions about pollinators, camouflage, where we get our food, and even to trips to the backyard or nearby park to search for creatures and plants there.

Each environment is gorgeously illustrated by a different artist, giving the book the feel of walking through an art museum and encountering a stimulating variety of styles. Kids will be transfixed with the bright colors, adorable animals, and all there is to see and do.

Sure to quickly become any young child’s story time favorite, Animals Everywhere: A Lift, Look, and Find Book is a must for home bookshelves and library collections. The book would also make a much-appreciated gift.

Ages 2 – 4+

Twirl, 2025 | ISBN 979-1036381454

About the Author

Stéphanie Babin is an author of books for young children, particularly nonfiction and interactive titles. She lives in Paris, France.

You can purchase Animals Everywhere: A Lift, Look, and Find Book from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

My Animal Sounds (Baby Basics™)

By Xavier Deneux

Babies love books! Babies love animals! How can you combine these two favorites in one fun activity? With the interactive board book My Animal Sounds! Created for the youngest learners, My Animal Sounds combines high-contrast illustrations of ten adorable animals with sound chips that bring the pages to life. High-contrast books engage babies from birth and as their vision develops during their first year by featuring bold, black-and-white images that are easier for them to focus on and see clearly.

Spots of color add cheery notes to each of Xavier Deneux’s charming scenes, as a curious cat roams a rooftop, a bird stops by on an early spring day, a rabbit uncovers a carrot, and a sheep and dog meet on a twilit evening, among other sweet images. And who can resist the endearing giggles that will bubble up from hearing the frog croak and chirp, the rabbit chitter and crunch, and the pig snuffle and snort. Kids will continue to enjoy this book well into toddlerhood as well.

Cuddling with your baby or toddler and My Animal Sounds will become a favorite way to spend quality time together. The book makes a perfect take-along for parents, grandparents, and caregivers, a smart choice for any daycare setting, and a fun addition to a babysitter’s or nanny’s pack. The book would also be terrific new-baby gift.

Ages Baby – 3

Twirl, 2025 | ISBN 979-1036382086

About the Author/Illustrator

Xavier Deneux‘s chic, bold style and insightful grasp of what makes younger children think, connect, and smile has resulted in more than 100 critically lauded books. After graduating from ESAG (École Supérieure d’art graphique) Penninghen, he worked in advertising before becoming a full-time children’s book illustrator. He is the creator of the TouchThinkLearn series. He lives in Paris, France.

You can purchase My Animal Sounds (Baby Basics™) from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 4 – National Wildlife Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

National Wildlife Day was established in 2005 by author and pet lifestyle expert Colleen Paige to promote awareness of endangered species as well as preservation and conservation efforts around the world. Globally, there is increased pressure on many animals due to pollution, habitat destruction, and other environmental issues. This day (as well as February 22, in honor of renowned conservationist Steve Irwin) encourages people to learn more about the species in their area, work toward creating hospitable habitats in their own yard or community, and implement environment-friendly choices in their homes. One of the animals featured in today’s book is the pangolin, a species whose members range in endangered status from vulnerable to critically endangered.

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

Who Would Win? Porcupine vs. Pangolin

Written by Jerry Pallotta | Illustrated by Rob Bolster

Welcome to Jerry Pallotta’s and Rob Bolster’s nocturnal showdown in the latest addition to the Who Would Win? series! On the left hand page: a porcupine; on the right: a pangolin. To help readers decide which animal would emerge victorious in a fight, Pallotta provides side-by-side dossiers that reveal pertinent facts about porcupines’ and pangolins’ bodies, skills, and defenses.

Examining these profiles, kids learn that a porcupine is “a mammal with sharp, pointed quills . . . that looks like a spiky fur ball.” They also get to know the pangolin, a mammal that resembles a reptile due to its scales that make it look like a “walking pine cone.” Pallotta—his text supported with photographs and Bolster’s realistic illustrations—presents clear and snappy descriptions of the competitor’s quills vs. scales, fur vs. hair, faces and feet, weapons and defenses, and the scientific group each animal belongs to.

The pages are also sprinkled with kid-pleasing visual elements that call out a wide range of facts, from “ouch facts” about quills to “hair facts” about naked mole rats and elephants to “name facts” that reveal alternate monikers for each contestant. There’s humor here too, and even a poem about a pangolin! Pallotta is also tuned into children’s boundless curiosity, revealing the various types of porcupines and pangolins; a lineup of animals with spikes as well as those that can roll into a ball like the pangolin; and a fascinating look at how other animals would fare against these two warriors.

As the sun sets, however, it’s time for the main attraction as the porcupine, searching for dinner, comes upon the pangolin slurping ants from a log. It’s time to RUMBLE! Who will win?

If you’re a parent, librarian, teacher, or caregiver with a child or children who are familiar with the Who Will Win? series, then you know what a phenomenon these books are. Who Will Win? Porcupine vs. Pangolin is a worthy entrant into the field, providing educational and entertaining depth to the scientific study of these two unusual mammals. Children come away from reading (and excitedly rereading) this book not only with knowledge about porcupines and pangolins, but with bits about 21 other animals as well, making it an energizing spark for expanded learning.

Information-packed and high-interest, Who Will Win? Porcupine vs. Pangolin will appeal to emergent and independent readers and makes a perfect read aloud for adults to share with their animal-loving kids. This book, as well as the rest of the series, is a must for any library collection and highly recommended for home bookshelves.

Ages 6 – 8

Scholastic, 2025 | ISBN 978-1339000961

About the Author

Jerry Pallotta is an award-winning author of children’s books, including What I Saw in the Teachers’ Lounge, Dinosaur Christmas, Who Will Guide My Sleigh Tonight?, Apple Fractions, and The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Multiplication Book. His combination of interesting facts, detailed research, humor, and realistic illustrations has mesmerized countless children across the United States. You can visit him at jerrypallotta.com.

About the Illustrator

Rob Bolster is both a fine artist and a professional illustrator. His work has appeared in newspaper and magazine advertisements, and he has illustrated many books for young readers, including the bestselling Who Would Win? series. Rob lives and works near Boston, Massachusetts.

National Wildlife Day Activity

Pangolin and Porcupine Coloring Pages

Celebrate the diversity of wildlife with these coloring pages of a pangolin and her pup and a porcupine!

Pangolin and Pup (by Rachel L Shaw) | Porcupine (courtesy of Karen Watson of The Graphics Fairy)

You can purchase Who Would Win? Porcupine vs. Pangolin from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

August 22 – First Day of Autumn

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 preparation in nature for the long winter, which leads to our seeing the brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges in the leaves of certain trees. Watching the leaves fall, swirl in the breeze, and pile up in backyards can only mean that a favorite autumn activity is just a leap away!

The Wishing Leaf

Written by Kallie George | Illustrated by Paola Zakimi

From his window, little Bear could see the very last leaf in the forest clinging to the old maple tree. He wanted to be sure to watch the leaf fall because he wanted to make a wish. When his mama told him it was time to go to sleep, Bear protested, and Mama relented with a kindly sigh.

Bear joined his friends, who were standing or sitting under the maple tree, gazing up. Some had brought snacks, Porcupine had binoculars, and Raccoon had brought a camera. “The leaf was bright and golden like a star.” Bear sat on a blanket with Hedgehog and Chipmunk and started to wait. He passed the time thinking about what he should wish for.

Soon, the air turned cold and while the leaf fluttered in the breeze, it still did not fall. Some shivering animals went home. When the sky darkened, more animals packed up and left. Snowflakes even began to fall and stick. Little by little the rest of the animals went home, even Chipmunk and Hedgehog, who wondered what she would have wished for if only she’d been able to see the leaf fall.

Only Bear was left, and he was growing sleepy too. He thought he might hear Mama calling him. “Bear yawned—a big, little bear yawn.” And just then “the leaf twisted . . . and tumbled, falling down, down, down, like a shooting star.” Bear “knew just what to wish for,” and his heart swelled as he imagined his wish coming true throughout the forest. When he turned to go home, Mama was there with a lantern and a snuggly hug. Back in his room, Bear was tucked into bed and drifted off to sleep.

Kallie George is a master at writing endearing children’s stories that remain always within your heart. Her characters are always adorable, caring, and imbued with childhood wonder. In The Wishing Leaf, George amplifies the feelings of giving that define fall and early winter with her story of a young bear whose first thoughts are for his friends. Readers will be charmed by little Bear’s wishEquating the golden leaf to a shooting star is a touching reminder that the magical can be found wherever you look. George’s sweet phrasing and charming dialog create a cozy read aloud that adults and children will want to share time and time again.

Paola Zakimi’s darling characters inhabit a lovely countryside, in which white smoke drifts from the chimneys of snug cottages, the hills and flowing river speak to the peaceful community, and the large, old maple tree stands waiting as patiently for its final leaf to fall as does little Bear sitting on his window seat, gazing out. Zakimi’s soft pencil and watercolor illustrations are adorably expressive, and her renderings of the warm relationship between Mama and little Bear as well as images of community members will inspire plenty of “Awwws.”

A perfect book for snuggly story times that also would make a much-loved gift, The Wishing Leaf is a must for home and library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2025 | ISBN 978-1419772467

About the Author

Kallie George is an author, editor, and creative writing teacher living in Vancouver, British Columbia. She has written acclaimed books for children, including The Lost Gift; Secrets I Know; Duck, Duck, Dinosaur, and The Melancholic Mermaid, as well as The Magical Animal Adoption Agency series and The Heartwood Hotel series. She has also taught writing workshops for children and adults across Canada, as well as in South Korea, and she currently teaches at Emily Carr University. Visit her at kalliegeorge.com.

About the Illustrator

Paola Zakimi spent her childhood in cold Patagonia, Argentina. She studied arts and graphic design in Buenos Aires before moving to Villa Giardino, Cordoba, where she resides today. She is the illustrator of Estelle Laure’s Before the World Wakes, Meg Fleming’s Here Comes Ocean, Jacqueline Veissid’s Ruby’s Sword, as well as Newbery Medalist Cynthia Voigt’s Teddy & Co., among other picture books. Visit her at paolazakimi.com.

First Day of Autumn 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 The Wishing Leaf from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

July 22 – Wild about Wildlife Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Wild about Wildlife Month may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy all that nature has to offer the rest of the summer and all year long. Exploring parks, woodlands, grassy fields, or the shores of lakes, rivers, or the ocean is a fun and educational family activity that’s different each time you visit. Whether you and your kids like plants, animals, insects, or the rocks that hold everything together, a nature walk provides something for everyone. The best way to enjoy the outdoors is with a relaxed pace that lets you decompress, take it all in, and say “Ahhh!”

Thank you to G. P. Putnam’s Sons for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Polecat Has a Superpower

Written by Jill Esbaum | Illustrated by Bob Shea

A spotted skunk, aka Polecat, sits front and center, backlit by a sunset glow, promising to reveal his “DOOZY of a superpower”—but only after divulging all the other relevant information about himself. Things like why he chooses to live in a very particular place while being not that particular about where he lives; when polecats hunt for food, and how they’re “always, always alert for hungry predators.” It’s at this moment when the word “predators” hangs ominously in the air that Porcupine “SPROINGS” into view, frightened by the prospect of being eaten, and mistakes Polecat for a baby skunk.

Polecat is not too pleased and goes on to show just how many things spotted skunks can do that their striped cousins can’t. Things like climbing quickly and sporting camouflaging spots. Porcupine is just warming up to this unusual interloper when Polecat chomps down a cricket, goes on to provide a full menu of foods that would satisfy its munchies, and then demonstrates how he prepares a caterpillar for “yumminny-yum-yum” fine dining. Trying hard not to be sick, Porcupine pleads, “Tell me that isn’t your superpower.”

Reassured that it is not, Porcupine hints at knowing what Polecat’s superpower is. “Bet you don’t,” Polecat answers. The two creep farther into the woods where they spy a gathering of predators attending a program titled “How to Eat a Polecat” while enjoying a variety of snacks. Polecat is just about to disclose his “great trick to discourage enemies” when Porcupine blurts it out. Upset, Polecat blurts out what he thinks Porcupine’s defense is, but instead ends up getting an education about his spiky friend.

Finally, Polecat is ready to demonstrate his real superpower—”something nobody else does, not even my stripy cousins.” Porcupine happily volunteers to assist in the show only to run away screaming when he gets the surprise of his life. Polecat’s glad his superpower is so powerful, but he was hoping he and Porcupine could be friends. Porcupine’s ready to “hug it out”—but Polecat? Maybe a high five will do just as well.

A True or False? quiz about spotted skunks, with answers and explanations, follows the story.

Polecat Has a Superpower, Jill Esbaum’s third book in this entertaining and educational series, sparkles with humor and smart repartee that keeps kids on the edge of their seats for the big reveal. Along the way, readers learn about the unusual spotted skunk and a few surprising tidbits about porcupines, while getting a grasp on some scientific terms as well.

Bob Shea realistically recreates the appearance of a spotted skunk and porcupine while infusing each with personalities that will hook kids. Porcupine’s facial expressions will endear him to young readers, who are also eager to know what Polecat’s secret is. Shea’s nighttime conclave of predators will have kids giggling, and the disclosure of Polecat’s superpower is sure to have them screaming along with Porcupine (but in delight, not fear).

Polecat Has a Superpower is a high-interest book that will be a much-asked-for addition to any home, classroom, and library collection.

Ages 5 – 8

G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2025 | ISBN 978-0593699997

Check out the other books in the series!

About the Author

Jill Esbaum has written many books for children, including How to Grow a Dinosaur, Frankenbunny, and If a T. Rex Crashes Your Birthday Party. Several of her books have been nominated for state awards, and I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo! won SCBWI’s Crystal Kite Award. She also enjoys writing kooky beginning reader stories like Thunder and Cluck, as well as a variety of nonfiction books. Visit her at jillesbaum.com and follow her on Twitter/X @JEsbaum.

About the Illustrator

Bob Shea is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books, including the popular Ballet Cat series, the Dinosaur Vs. series, and the runaway smash hit Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great. He is an Eisner Award nominee and has worked with Comedy Central, PBS Kids, Playhouse Disney, Nick Jr., Google, and other clients. Visit him at bobshea.com and follow him on Instagram @BobSheaBooks.

Wild about Wildlife Month Activity

Eastern Spotted Skunk Coloring Page

If you’re kids are wild about wildlife, they’ll be wild about this Eastern Spotted Skunk Coloring Page! You can find many more educational Critter Sheets and Coloring Pages on the Florida State Parks website.

You can purchase Polecat Has a Superpower at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

July 15 – Wild about Wildlife Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Wild about Wildlife Month celebrates the wonderful diversity of our planet’s wildlife while reinforcing the importance of all animals to our ecosystem and even to our survival! The holiday also focuses on conservation, recycling, and education about how humans’ actions affect crucial habitats and the health of flora and fauna populations. While July is designated as Wild about Wildlife Month, the holiday’s significance is something to be mindful of all year around. To participate, explore the wildlife in your area while learning about the creatures on the other side of the world and everywhere in between. Today’s book will get you and your youngest nature-lovers started!

Thanks go to Phaidon Press for sending me a copy of The Secret Powers of Animals for review!

The Secret Powers of Animals

Written by Soledad Romero Mariño | Illustrated by Sonia Pulido

It’s no secret that kids of all ages are fascinated by animals. Little ones stand on tiptoe gazing up up up in awe at elephants and giraffes, fold themselves into pint-sized scientists to inspect bugs on the sidewalk, and are endlessly entertained by family pets. And when they learn interesting facts about their favorites, they love sharing their knowledge.

How do you replicate the excitement of witnessing an animal in person at home or in the classroom? With The Secret Powers of Animals, a lift-the-flap board book that combines jaunty introductory rhyming verses, three amazing secret powers, and the fun of interactive learning for 10 distinct creatures of the land, sea, and air.

Among this menagerie, kids meet a brainy octopus, who tells them “I’m a master of disguise— / I’m cunning and I’m wise. / Through swirling seas I glide / with my many ways to hide.” Indeed, the octopus’s superpowers back this up! Just one of the three amazing talents this eight-armed beauty reveals to readers is the ability to change “my shape or skin tone to look like something else.”

Little learners will love trying to guess each creature’s super powers as they discover which animal has the best sense of smell, who has a tusk that works like a thermometer, who can chomp harder than a shark, who can detach its tail to throw predators off its track, and so many more ingenious animal traits!

Soledad Romero Mariño brings each animal to life with witty and spirited vocabulary that not only describes the creature’s physical attributes but evokes a sense of their personality and place in the natural kingdom. The elephant “swishes” its tale and “flaps” its ears, the owl “swoops about,” the lizard “scuttles” and “darts,” and the cheetah “inches” and “creeps” before “. . . [giving] chase / in a big, bursting leap.” Romero Mariño explains each secret power in simple language that even the youngest reader will understand and remember. Her flowing verses are a joy to read aloud and are perfect sparks for pretend play at home, in preschool and kindergarten classrooms, and for library story times.

Sonia Pulido’s realistic, museum-quality illustrations transport children to the savanna to meet an elephant face to face; under the sea, where a strikingly beautiful octopus levitates amid colorful coral and a family of narwals floats in the deep-blue water; to desert sands and rocky paths; and to sun-drenched grasslands among other locales. On the facing page, Romero Mariño’s text is bordered by lovely and thoughtful details that reflect the animal’s natural habitat. Both kids and adults enjoy lingering over each spread to talk about the animals. On each tab, Pulido includes an icon that depicts the secret power—for instance, the image of an eye with the words “Amazing eyes” for super vision—which becomes familiar to readers as it is repeated throughout the book.

The Secret Powers of Animals, a stunning, sturdy board book that adults will be excited to share with young children, is a must for all nature-loving families, early educators, and library collections. The book also makes a terrific gift for any young animal lover.

Ages 2 – 5

Phaidon Press, 2025 | ISBN 978-1838669522

About the Author

Author Soledad Romero Mariño is an experienced children’s non-fiction author who specializes in ‘best of’ round-up style books. Her works include Superpowered Animals: Meet The World’s Strongest, Smartest, and Swiftest Creatures (also published by Phaidon), Awesome Accidents: 19 Discoveries that Changed the World and Famous Robberies: The World’s Most Spectacular Heists.

About the Illustrator

Sonia Pulido’s illustrations have appeared in publications globally, including The New Yorker and The New York Times. In 2020 Pulido won the Spanish National Illustration Award and she is the illustrator of Phaidon’s bestselling What a Shell Can Tell. Visit her at soniapulido.com.

You’ll find my review of the stunning Super Powered Plants for older readers here.

Wild about Wildlife Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-hand-print-elephants-craft

Handprint Elephants

This easy craft is fun for siblings to do together and can make a nice decoration for a child’s room or a gift for mom, dad, or other family members.

Supplies

Craft paint in two colors of the children’s choice
Yellow craft paint
Black fin-tip marker
Crayons, markers, or colored pencils to make a background
Paper
Paint brush

Directions

Paint one child’s hand and press it on the paper. The thumb is the truck and the fingers the legs.
Paint the second child’s hand and press it on the paper near the other “elephant.” A couple of examples are: the elephants standing trunk to trunk or trunk to tail
After the paint has dried, draw on ears and an eye
Add a sun with the yellow paint
Add grass, trees, or other background features

You can purchase The Secret Powers of Animals from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

About the Holiday

The (Not So) Superheroes: The Terrible Trio #1

Written by Swapna Haddow | Illustrated by Minky Stapleton

Gift-Giving Season Activity

The (Not So) Superheroes: The Terrible Trio Activity Sheets

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About the Holiday

Just Enough Room for Christmas

Written by Robin Currie | Illustrated by Estelle Corke

Meet Robin Currie

The Tale of the Cow

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About the Holiday

Animals Everywhere: A Lift, Look, and Find Book

Written by Stéphanie Babin

Illustrated by Sophie Ledesma, Robert Barborini, Marie Caudry, Jessica Das, Marie Kyprianou, and Charlotte Roederer

My Animal Sounds (Baby Basics™)

By Xavier Deneux

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About the Holiday

Who Would Win? Porcupine vs. Pangolin

Written by Jerry Pallotta | Illustrated by Rob Bolster

National Wildlife Day Activity

Pangolin and Porcupine Coloring Pages

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About the Holiday

The Wishing Leaf

Written by Kallie George | Illustrated by Paola Zakimi

First Day of Autumn Activity

Falling for Fall Matching Puzzle

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About the Holiday

Polecat Has a Superpower

Written by Jill Esbaum | Illustrated by Bob Shea

Wild about Wildlife Month Activity

Eastern Spotted Skunk Coloring Page

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About the Holiday

The Secret Powers of Animals

Written by Soledad Romero Mariño | Illustrated by Sonia Pulido

Wild about Wildlife Month Activity

Handprint Elephants

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