November 11 – National Young Readers Week

About the Holiday

Established in 1989 by Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, National Young Readers Week centers on raising awareness of the importance of reading. One inspiring statistic about the impact of reading is that children learn between 4,000 and 12,000 words each year just by reading—no matter which kinds of books are their favorites! When families get involved in fostering a love of reading at home, kids grow up with an excitement to learn and an activity they can do anywhere and that will follow them throughout their life.

There are many fantastic ways to help your kids develop an affinity for reading, including taking regular trips to your library, allowing kids to pick out their own books, setting aside special times during the day to read together, and setting up a library in your own home to show how important books are to you. You can also follow your favorite authors and illustrators on social media to connect with special activities to download, tutorials, updates on new books, and lots more.

The Bunny Ballet

Written by Nora Ericson | Illustrated by Elly MacKay

As music swells and lights dim, a rabbit invites a sister and her younger brother through a hidden chink in the trees to a watch a bunny ballet, where “Gossamer and / featherlight, / graceful hares / glide left, slide right.” They leap and whirl, plie, jeté, . . . “arabesque, then frisk away.” They weave together then move apart. In the spotlight appears “a sight you’ll not forget: / a perfect bunny pirouette.”

At intermission the audience queues for a Radish Razzle or a Carrot Cordial. So many delicious treats! Soon, the lights begin to flicker, and the show resumes. “Proud bucks swing in barrel turns” then prima ballerinas on tiptoe dance, balanced weightless on upraised paws. One seems to slip, and gasps ring out—the sister grasps her brother’s hand—but then she’s caught in a graceful dip.

This trick may seem to end the show, yet the grand finale is coming up. With the clash of cymbals, the dancers appear from all corners of the stage. They thump and jump and promenade, “spinning in a bunny haze.” All too soon the curtains close, and the sister and brother twirl towards home, dreaming of practicing what they’ve seen tomorrow. But now they can only bid farewell to the Bunny Ballet.

Nora Ericson’s musical lyricism sweeps readers away and into a dream world of ballet with her beautiful language and phrasing that holds readers spellbound with all the sights and sounds of a dance performance. Ericson’s imaginative intermission snacks will delight kids before the pages return to the ballet and the enthralling graceful whirl of its finale. As the moon rises and twilight paints the sky, Ericson’s hypnotic farewell to the evening’s wonders will send children off to sleep with much to dream of.

Ellie MacKay’s glorious illustrations—created by painting, cutting, layering, and photographing the various elements—blend vintage warmth and charm with fresh highlights and detail. Her lush woodland offers a stunning backdrop to these talented bunnies as they jeté, arabesque, and pirouette across the stage. The relationship between the sister and brother is sweetly loving, and as they head home with the rising moon, readers will drift into slumber, carried on MacKay’s soft, tranquil hues.

Ages 4 – 8

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2025 | ISBN 978-1419776144

About the Author

Nora Ericson studied painting at Yale University and writing for children at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Originally from central New York, she now lives in Portland, Oregon, with two kids, two dogs, and two cats. Besides reading and writing, she loves cooking, tromping in the woods, and whittling spoons while daydreaming of her future miniature donkey farm. She’s also the author of Too Early, Dill & Bizzy: An Odd Duck and a Strange Bird, and Dill & Bizzy: Opposite Day.

About the Illustrator

Elly MacKay is an internationally recognized paper artist and children’s book creator. She is the illustrator of the picture book Too Early and The Enchanted Symphony, written by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton, as well as the author-illustrator of Red Sky at Night, If You Hold a Seed, and Butterfly Park, among others. The distinctive three-dimensional quality in her works is made by setting up layers of painted paper in a miniature theater. She lights the scene and photographs it to create her unique illustrations. MacKay lives in Owen Sound, Ontario, with her family.

You can purchase The Bunny Ballet from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

January 21 – National Hugging Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Created in 1986 by Kevin Zaborney, National Hugging Day is a heartwarming holiday that encourages people to express their affection and care for one another through the simple act of giving hugs. Hugs are a universal form of physical affection that can convey love, comfort, and support. This day reminds us of the positive impact of a warm embrace and the importance of human connection. So today give your kids, spouse, parents, siblings, and friends extra hugs. You can even send virtual hugs to loved ones who are far away. To extend National Hugging Day throughout the year, add today’s snuggly hug of a book to your bedtime story collection. It’s sure to become a favorite!

Thanks to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sharing this review copy of Goodnight, Sleepyville with me!

Goodnight, Sleepyville

Written by Blake Liliane Hellman | Illustrated by Steven Henry

“In Sleepyville, the sun is setting, and everyone’s done for the day.” They head home from work or school or running errands. At the Acorn Cafe, the owner is just sweeping up. At the library the last book is being checked out. And as Mr. Bear leaves downtown, he’s reading an interesting article in the newspaper. Where is everyone going? Home! “To simple homes, dome homes, teensy-weensy homes, …and very fancy homes.”

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Image copyright Steven Henry, 2020, text copyright Blake Liliane Hellman, 2020. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

At home it’s time to wash up and enjoy a family supper—with milk and cookies for dessert. Later, in cozy pajamas, it’s time to “snuggle, wiggle, cuddle.” The moon rises and “though some are tucked in, snug as a bug…others need a lullaby. And maybe a bedtime story.” Then each resident of this little hamlet drifts off to sleep in their own way under a sky twinkling with stars and flitting fireflies. Then we say, “Goodnight, Sleepyville” and watch “all the lights go out… except one.”

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Image copyright Steven Henry, 2020, text copyright Blake Liliane Hellman, 2020. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

If you’re looking for a cozy, welcoming place to lay your head at the end of the day, there’s no place like home—or Sleepyville. In Blake Liliane Hellman’s tranquil town where close-set cottages and tree-trunk homes reflect the close-knit community, evening comes with comforting routines and the welcome of family. Hellman’s charming alliteration and gentle rhymes turn each sentence into a lullaby just perfect for bedtime reading. Her final line is sweetly clever, and will lead little ones to try and guess which light remains glowing and why. The answer on the next page is sure to spark requests for another read.

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Image copyright Steven Henry, 2020, text copyright Blake Liliane Hellman, 2020. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Steven Henry’s adorable seaside community enchants with quaint details and a relaxed, happy atmosphere rendered in delicate lines and soft, warm colors. Babies and adults welcome home family members with cheery enthusiasm (you don’t want to miss the two ladybugs rushing to embrace at their toadstool home’s front door or the sprawling Victorian treehouse). Images of the fox family having supper around the table and then doing the dishes together are homey, and kids will giggle at two sleepyheads wearing mixed-up pajamas. After the sun has set, a momma or papa wolf howls a lullaby to three cubs while the bunny clan listens to a story before being tucked in. With the crescent moon shining and the town in slumber, one little light still glimmers. Where does it come from? Turn the page and see!

Goodnight, Sleepyville is dreamy reading for bedtime that families will turn to again and again and would be a welcome addition to home and public library collections. Pair with the first book in this little series, Welcome to Morningtown, to begin and end the day with favorite friends.

Ages Birth – 5

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2020 | ISBN 978-1681198767

Blake Liliane Hellman has degrees in journalism and English from the University of Colorado and a master’s in film production from American University/FAMU, Czech Republic. She is an abstract artist who also works with mixed media and collage and is the author of Goodnight, Sleepyville, Something Smells! and Cuddle Monkey. She lives with her family and cat in Seattle, Washington. Visit Blake Liliane Hellman on Instagram at blakecake8.

Steven Henry is the illustrator of the beloved Ella the Elegant Elephant books (as Steven D’Amico), written by Carmela D’Amico, It’s Raining Bats & Frogs, written by Rebecca Colby, and Hanukkah Hop, written by Erica Silverman. His work has also appeared on PBS Kids, Nick Jr., and the Disney Channel. He lives in Seattle, Washington. Visit him at stevenhenry.net.

You’ll also love the adorable Welcome to Morningtown! Read my review of this sweet readaloud, including an interview with Blake Liliane Hellman and Steven Harvey!

National Hugging Day Activity

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Free Hug Coupons

Everyone needs a hug now and then! With these Free Hug coupons you can extend National Hugging Day to every day of the year and make sure all your favorite people get a sweet hug when they need it most.

Supplies

Printable Free Hug Coupons
Crayons or colored pencils (optional)
Scissors

Directions

Print the Free Hug coupons
Color the coupons and cut apart
Hand out the coupons to your friends and family members and tell them that each coupon is good for one free hug from you.
When someone hands in a ticket to you, give them your best biggest hug!

You can purchase Goodnight, Sleepyville at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop (to support your local independent bookstore)

Picture Book Review

November 29 – National Family Literacy Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

National Family Literacy Month was established in 1994 to encourage parents and other adults to read together with the children in their life. Studies show that children who are read to are better prepared to read on their own and do better in school. Cuddling together before bedtime or during special story times with favorite books instills a love of reading that can last a lifetime. As children begin learning to read, they benefit from reading to family, friends, and even a pet or friendly therapy dog. To celebrate, plan some special reading-related activities and schedule extra reading time, especially with grandparents or other family members who may be visiting for the holidays.

Dogs Love Books, Too

By María Coco

If your family has a dog (or two), you may have noticed that they become extra excited or, perhaps at bedtime, more snuggly when the books come out. As María Coco observes and then wonders, “Dogs love books! But why?” She proposes that it might have something to do with “the smell of the pages.” Or maybe for those dogs who like to take a chomp, the pages taste like fine cuisine.

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Could it be that they like hearing their people read aloud? Do they, too, like to imagine far-off places or drift into magical dreams? It could be one or all of these, but Coco thinks one reason stands above the rest: “I think dogs love books because they make us feel like we are not alone.” But does that feeling apply to dogs only? What do you think?

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María Coco’s short and evocative story, accompanied by engaging illustrations, is a perfect read for so many occasions and readers. With a single sentence written in a non-serif font created by Coco herself on each page or spread, the text invites emergent and new readers to join in on recognized sight words or read the story themselves. Hesitant readers will respond to the confidence-building inherent in the story. Coco also leaves the text open-ended to encourage readers of all ages to talk about why they love to read.

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Coco’s layered and textured illustrations are full of humor, imagination, and—in answer to the question Coco first poses—camaraderie. Images of children and their canine friends are warm and heartfelt, and the final spread, in which five kids from the story gather with their dogs to read, is a true picture of the contentment books can bring.

Dogs Love to Read, Too is a natural choice for bedtime or other home story times as well as for any Read-to-a Dog program at schools, libraries, humane societies, or through other organizations.

Ages 2 – 5

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2024 | ISBN 978-1547613656

About the Author/Illustrator

Maria Coco is a Mexican designer, illustrator, and storyteller. She has a degree in Graphic Design and an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art. Her artwork has earned praise from The Templar Illustration Prize, The Macmillan Prize for Children’s Picture Book Illustration (UK), the Faber Andlyn BAME Prize, and the Salariya/Stratford Literary Festival Children’s Picture Book Prize. Connect with her on Instagram @mariacoco and at her website maria-coco.com.

National Family Literacy Month Activity

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Books to Love, Books to Read Book Bag

True book lovers can’t go anywhere without a book (or two or three) to read along the way. With this easy craft you can turn a cloth bag into a kid-size book bag perfect for the car, the library, or anywhere you read!

Supplies

Printable Templates: Books to Read Template | Books to Love Template
Small cloth bag, available from craft or sewing stores—Recyclable Idea: I used the bag that sheet sets now come in
Cloth trim or strong ribbon, available from craft or sewing stores—Recyclable Idea: I used the cloth handles from shopping bags provided from some clothing stores
Scraps of different colored and patterned cloth. Or use quilting squares, available at craft and sewing stores
Pen or pencil for tracing letters onto cloth
Scissors
Small sharp scissors (or cuticle scissors) for cutting out the center of the letters
Fabric glue
Thread (optional)
Needle (optional)

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Directions

Print the sayings and cut out the letters
Trace letters onto different kinds of cloth
Cut out cloth letters
Iron cloth bag if necessary
Attach words “Books to Read” to one side of bag with fabric glue
Attach words “Books to Love” to other side of bag with fabric glue
Cut cloth trim or ribbon to desired length to create handles
Glue (or sew) handles onto the inside edge of bag

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You can purchase Dogs Love Books, Too at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop (to support your local independent bookstore)

Picture Book Review

November 25 – It’s Sleep Comfort Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

As days grow shorter and nights longer, November calls on us to get snuggly and dedicate time to rest. It is aptly time for Sleep Comfort Month, a holiday designed to raise awareness of the importance of quality rest and sleep. In times of flux and chaos, focus on rest and relaxation is more crucial than ever. This month can serve as a reminder that everyone needs and deserves peaceful rest and recuperation time in order to face the ever-changing, curious planet that is our home.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sharing a copy of Goodnight Sounds with me for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

Review by Dorothy Levine

Goodnight Sounds

Written by Debbie S Miller | Illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan

Goodnight Sounds is a lyrical bedtime story that invites readers to get cozy and listen closely. The story begins with a child whose home is tucked under the looming light of California’s Golden Gate Bridge. Illustrations depict the girl sitting up in bed, teddy bear in hand, observing the bridge and crashing waves beneath from her bedroom window.

The words of the first page set the scene: “In the cool, quiet, night / fingers of fog spill over the hills…I listen and wait for the sound…”. On the next page the “BAA…ROOOOOOM” of a foghorn stretches across the cozy bedroom, the ‘O’ sound flowing through her window like the wisps of fog to help lull her to sleep. The girl then invites readers into the story, asking “what sound helps you fall asleep?”

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Image copyright Michelle Jing Chan, 2024, text copyright Debbie S. Miller, 2024. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

The rest of the story contains follow-up poetic questions, each paired with unique onomatopoeic interpretations of the nighttime sounds: “Is it the trilling of a thousand crickets / wings shivering in the moonlight?” In the corners of this spread, nestled by the crickets are iterations of: “Treeek-treeeek.”

The pages’ settings range from urban to suburban to wilderness, with their accompanying broad range of nighttime sounds—some as large as foghorns and others as tiny as crickets. At the end of the story, Miller returns readers to the first bedtime character, now asleep, with the words: “The sounds of the night are your lullaby.”

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Image copyright Michelle Jing Chan, 2024, text copyright Debbie S. Miller, 2024. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Illustrator Jing Chan depicts a series of serene landscapes, each containing a unique sleeping space (an apartment, a tent, and a camper van, for example). Every picturesque scene also features a unique source of light—a starry sky, a train window, a lamp, string lights, glow-in-the-dark stickers on a wall.

As the nighttime sounds change from outside sources to indoors, so do the illustrations, with a few of the panoramic scenes now taking readers inside a tent (where a grandmother makes a shadow puppet on the wall), a variety of bedrooms (where children fall asleep to the tick-tock of a grandfather clock, the chime of a music box, or the purr of a cat), and other cozy spaces. Along with the richly illustrated array of settings, Jing Chan also shows cultural, racial, and family-structural diversity among the page’s cast of happy sleepers.

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Image copyright Michelle Jing Chan, 2024, text copyright Debbie S. Miller, 2024. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Throughout Goodnight Sounds Debbie S. Miller includes onomatopoeia to her lines, offering opportunities for readers to lend their voices to the sounds and inviting them to listen closer to their own surroundings as they settle in for sleep. Her poetic language adds a peaceful rhythm to the book, almost echoing a lullaby. The illustrations and words of the story evoke a sense of both comfort and wonder for the nocturnal world around us.

A joyful addition to both home and library collections, Goodnight Sounds is sure to put young ones to sleep with new soundscapes and landscapes to dream of fondly.

Ages 2 – 5

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2024 | ISBN 978-168119199

About the Author

Debbie S. Miller is the author of Survival at 40 Below, an NTSA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book; Arctic Lights, Arctic Nights; The Great Serum Race; and Big Alaska. Visit Debbie at debbiemilleralaska.com.

About the Illustrator

Michelle Jing Chan is a queer Chinese American illustrator who grew up in Colorado and lives in the Pacific Northwest. Inspired by nature, cultural folklore, and fantasy, Michelle aspires to illustrate diverse, empowering stories her younger self would have loved. When she’s not drawing, she can be found attempting new recipes, reading, or watching spooky TV shows. Visit Michelle at michellejingchan.com.

Sleep Comfort Month Activities

Reading Goodnight Sounds before bed is a perfect way to celebrate sleep comfort month with children. Other activity ideas include crafting a DIY blanket or pillow together or making up a bedtime song and other creative ideas with the following instructions!

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-sleep-buddy-craft

No-Sew Blanket and Pillow

With this craft you and your child can have fun making a kid-size blanket, a cozy cover for a favorite toy or a soft bed for a pet! Children from ages 5 or 6 and up will enjoy helping to tie the tabs. For younger children, using fabric glue to attach the two pieces of fleece or cutting just one piece of fleece allows them to join in the craft fun.

Supplies

2 pieces of fleece cut to size for your project: a child’s blanket or pillow, a toy’s blanket, or a pet bed
Scissors
Measuring tape
Poly-fil, cushion insert, or pillow (for child’s pillow or pet bed)
Fabric glue (optional)

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-sleep-buddy-craft

Directions

Lay out fleece and measure a size that will make a comfortable blanket for your child, a favorite teddy bear or other sleep buddy, or your pet
Add 3 inches to that measurement on each side for the strips to tie together
Cut 2 pieces of fleece
With the pieces of fleece together, cut 3-inch long by ¾ -inch wide strips all along each side.
At the corners, cut four tabs (or a 3-inch square) off each side

To Make a Blanket

Tie the top and bottom strips together on all sides

To Make a Pillow

Measure two pieces of fleece to fit a pillow or fill with poly-fil
Add 3 inches to that measurement on each side for the strips to tie together
Follow main directions above

To Make a Bed for your Pet

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-cat-bed-craft

Measure two pieces of fleece to fit a pillow or fill with poly-fil
Add 3 inches to that measurement on each side for the strips to tie together
Follow main directions above
Tie strips together on three sides
Insert pillow, cushion insert, or poly-fil
Tie the strips together on the final side

Fun Bedtime Ideas

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For more ideas on how to make bedtime an engaging and peaceful transition, here is a list of some fun and silly switch-ups to bedtime routines from Parents with Confidence, a website dedicated to helping parents raise emotionally healthy children.

50 Bedtime Activities to Calm and Connect

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You can purchase Goodnight Sounds at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop (to support your local independent bookstore)

Picture Book Review

April 17 – International Haiku Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Small things are amazing—and surprising! We all know good things come in small packages, and just look at the wisdom, humor, and capacity for love of children. The same goes for haiku—the smallest form of poetry in size but never in impact. Coming mid-way through National Poetry Month, today’s holiday shines a spotlight on the haiku. The simple 5-7-5 rule that we all learn in school doesn’t begin to define the complexity of these three-line beauties that distill the world into little nuggets that make readers see life in amazing and surprising ways.

Peek-a-Boo Haiku

Written by Danna Smith | Illustrated by Teagan White

In this beautiful board book, little ones are taken through an auditory and visual wonderland from winter through spring, summer, and fall as two mice visit woodland, meadow, garden, and aquatic creatures to play, discover, and celebrate the changing seasons.

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Children will enjoy predicting what animals are hiding behind the log and boulder. Image copyright Teagan White, 2023, text copyright Danna Smith, 2023. Courtesy of Little Simon.

Each of Danna Smith’s haiku verses surprises, sparkling with lovely alliteration and evocative language that invites young readers to anticipate and predict who will appear when the flaps on the facing page are lifted. Smith’s giggly humor and exceptional imagination elevate readers’ experience as she deftly uses games and experiences familiar to children (hide-and-seek, confetti, splashing in water, and lullabies to name a few) in ways that will spark creative thinking and bond them to the natural world. As late fall with its nighttime frost appears in the last spread, Smith’s gentle, sleepy verse welcomes little ones to drift off to dream along with the two snuggled up mice.

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When the rabbits are revealed, Smith’s verse encourages readers to talk about “long ears” and “short ears.” Image copyright Teagan White, 2023, text copyright Danna Smith, 2023. Courtesy of Little Simon.

Any book illustrated by Teagan White is a treasure, and in Peek-a-Boo Haiku, she populates Smith’s various habitats with adorable, yet realistic animals that will charm little readers and adults alike. White’s glorious colors add breathtaking beauty to her gorgeously detailed pages. Each spread is a tiny masterpiece that gives children and adults much to discover and talk about as they move through the seasons. The final spread, washed in somnolent shades of twilight, puts little ones in the mind for sleep, just as the owl snugged into its tree-trunk nest. Kids will enjoy finding the mice (appearing alone or together, allowing the youngest children to engage with the idea of one and/or two) in each spread, and the variety of creatures, plants, and environments provide a wealth of learning, from vocabulary to math to science, for a wide-range of ages and development.

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When the colorful bird is revealed behind stems of flowers, Danna Smith invites readers to talk about what she has in her beak, where it came from, and what she will do with it. Image copyright Teagan White, 2023, text copyright Danna Smith, 2023. Courtesy of Little Simon.

Exquisite in every way, Peek-a-Boo Haiku is a book adults and children will love to share again and again and is a perfect choice as a gift for special occasions, baby showers, new siblings, or simply to add to a child’s bookshelf. This superlative board book also belongs in all preschool and kindergarten classrooms as well as school and library collections.

Ages Birth to 5

Little Simon, 2023 | ISBN 978-1665926461

About the Author

Danna Smith is a poet and award-winning author of numerous books for children, including One Blue Gnu; Rooftop Garden; Wake Up, Freight Train!; and several Little Golden Books. Her nonfiction picture book, The Hawk of the Castle: A Story of Medieval Falconry, received two starred reviews and is a Junior Library Guild Selection and a Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year. Danna currently lives in northern California, where she is hard at work on her next book. For more information about her books and teaching activities, visit her website at DannaSmithBooks.com.

About the Illustrator

Teagan White is an artist and author who creates playful watercolor scenes of the natural world and the friendly creatures who inhabit it. Teagan lives in Oregon, enjoys visiting seagulls at the beach, and has illustrated nine picture books. Find out more at TinyMothStudios.com.

Take a Peek at this Peek-a-Boo Haiku Book Trailer!

National Haiku Day Activities

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Woodland animals love to play hide-and-seek in trees, behind logs and rocks, under bushes, and in all sorts of places. This Peek-a-Boo Haiku Memory Game lets little ones find matching pairs of animals while building observation skills and having lots of fun!

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Young children will enjoy writing their own haiku from what they see in nature with this adorable Write a Haiku Page that gets them thinking and using their imagination.

**You can find Peek-a-Boo Haiku at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 8 – It’s Read a New Book Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Read a New Book Month is a fantastic time to scour your local bookstore and library for books that have recently been published or books that are new to you. Finding a book that you’ve never read before is exciting at any age, and discovering a new book about a favorite topic is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Today’s board book is definitely one that will spark a love for reading and learning in children who are just discovering the wonder of books.

Thanks go to Danna Smith and Little Simon for sharing a digital copy of Wake Up Freight Train! with me for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

Wake Up, Freight Train!

Written by Danna Smith | Illustrated by Jon Andersen

For the townspeople it’s time for sleeping, but down at the train station, things are just getting underway as the freight train prepares for its nighttime run. First things first, however. It’s time to rouse the cars one by one. “Choo-choo! Wake up, steam engine, alone on your track. Let’s hook up the freight cars to the hitch on your back.”

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Image copyright Jon Andersen, 2022, text copyright Danna Smith, 2022. Courtesy of Little Simon.

Second in line is the tender that carries the coal. Behind it are cars three, four, and five with supplies for building and heating. Car six is the hopper then … “Cattle car coming! You’re filled with fresh hay, / hauling some heifers, moooooving this way.” The boxcar follows and finally, “it’s your turn, caboose! / Let’s hook you up fast. / The crew rides in you— / you’re the car that goes last.”

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Image copyright Jon Andersen, 2022, text copyright Danna Smith, 2022. Courtesy of Little Simon.

With all the cars hitched and the coal bin full, the train rolls out of the station. “Toot-toot goes the horn, / blink-blink go the lights, / clang-clang goes the bell, all through the night.” The train chugs over hills and across fields until, with the dawning sun, it arrives at its destination and “our freight train’s long journey has come to an end.”

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Image copyright Jon Andersen, 2022, text copyright Danna Smith, 2022. Courtesy of Little Simon.

Little (and big) train lovers will adore Danna Smith’s rhyming tribute to freight trains that carry goods and animals across states, and sometimes across the country. Smith’s introduction to each type of car is infused with childlike wonder and that special conversational relationship young children have with the world around them. As readers greet each car, they not only learn information about the car’s load and role but hear internal rhymes, alliteration, and even a few puns—all building blocks for early literacy. Smith’s gentle rhythm, paired with the nighttime setting, also makes Wake Up, Freight Train! a perfect read aloud for bedtime.

Jon Andersen’s beautiful, soft blues and greens of a starlit night will put little ones in the mood to be carried into dreamland even as they discover how each different car looks and what it carries. The changing landscape behind each pair of train cars offer interest and continuity while also giving kids an opportunity to talk about how long this train is. Sleepy animals come out to watch as the cars are hitched together, reminding little readers that it might just be bedtime for them too, and the peek of pink on the horizon in the last spread reassures them that tomorrow will come soon.

Wake Up, Freight Train! delightfully captures young children’s fascination with trains and is sure to become a favorite for bedtime (or anytime). The book is highly recommended for home bookshelves; daycare, school, and public library collections; and as a gift for babies and preschoolers.

Ages 2 – 4

Little Simon, 2022 | ISBN 978-1534492516

Discover more about Danna Smith and her books on her website.

To learn more about Jon Andersen and view a portfolio of his art, visit his website.

Read a New Book Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-freight-train-coloring-sheet

Freight Train Coloring Page

Who doesn’t love a train?! With this coloring sheet, kids can make their train as colorful as they want! They may even want to add a few animals and birds to the background!

Freight Train Coloring Page

**You can find Wake Up, Freight Train! at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

December 21 – National Flashlight Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

The founders of Flashlight Day chose the Winter Solstice to shine a little more light on today’s celebrated object. As today is the winter solstice and the shortest of the year, you may find that a flashlight comes in handy during that extra bit of darkness. If you’re wondering about the history of the flashlight, it all goes back to the invention of the dry-cell battery in 1887. These portable power sources inspired new products, such as the flashlight or torch (as it’s called outside of North America), which was invented in 1899. So indispensable is the flashlight, that it is even incorporated into our phones! To celebrate today’s holiday, why not turn off the lights tonight and tell stories, play games, or go exploring illuminated only by your flashlight!

Flashlight Night

Written by Matt Forrest Esenwine | Illustrated by Fred Koehler

Three brave explorers—a boy, a girl, and a little brother—set out from their tree house at night armed only with their flashlight. In the golden beam, the picket fence turns dilapidated and overgrown as it weaves in and out among the gnarled trunks of a dense forest. The children follow “past old post and rail / along a long-forgotten trail / into woods no others dare, / for fear of what is waiting there.” Soon, they find a crawlspace under the deck of their house and venture in. They can hear the sound of rushing water and the yowl of a big cat. Before joining his friend and her little brother, the boy shines his flashlight around the yard, illuminating a wild waterfall and a tiger on the prowl where a tabby had dozed just minutes ago.