August 27 – National Just Because Day

About the Holiday

Doesn’t today’s holiday sound relaxing? A whole day devoted to doing things “just because.” As the school year starts up again and the less structured days of summer fade, it’s fun to contemplate what you can do just because you feel like it, because it makes you happy, or because it’s something nice you want to do for someone else. With no expectations, no directions, and no nagging deadlines, today’s holiday lets you be the captain of your own actions and fate! So get out there and do that thing! You might surprise yourself and others—just like the little girl in today’s book!

Thank you to Abrams Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book for review!

A Very Good Parade

By Eleanor Davis

When Gabby, with her cape, crown, Tudor ruff-esque tutu, and exclamation-point topknot, waved her spatula and declared “It’s time for a parade!” she was initially met with reluctance. Miguel told her he didn’t “know how to do anything,” including playing the tuba sitting next to him. Gabby reassured him that the “horn is so good, you don’t even have to play it.” If that was the case, Miguel was ready to sign up and blew a weak breath—“pffsssfffssssss”—into the mouthpiece.

They continued down the block, Gabby inviting everyone to join the parade with “whatever you’ve got.” Hugo has lots of questions about who and what will be in the parade before demonstrating his talent for singing “Stayin’ Alive.” All Anthony has are his auntie’s oversized cowboy boots, but Gabby says to wear them and come along. Across the street they meet up with two girls who don’t want to miss snack time, so Gabby hands them three tubes of string cheese and wants to know what they’ll do in the parade.

As Gabby leads her growing parade to the park, she picks up drummers, acrobats, even a wild animal who all fulfill Hugo’s list, while deftly dispatching two bullies with a definitive “No, you aren’t” when they say they’re going to join the parade. When Gabby finally yells, “STOP! Now we will all perform!” the street erupts with roars and crash-bangs and singing and clomping and “pffsssfffssssss” from Miguel’s tuba. The parade ends with an unexpected flourish that makes the watching crowd go “wild” and Gabby’s pronouncement, “Now it is time for dinner!” that sends everyone home. Back at Gramma’s, Gabby proclaims her parade “‘was the best parade in the history of the whole entire universe.’ And it was. Gabby said so.”

When Eleanor Davis’s spunky and aptly named Gabby announces herself and her intentions to lead a parade on the first page, readers will find their lips curling into a smile that only becomes wider and never fades as the story progresses to its pitch-perfect ending. Focused and self-assured, Gabby marches out into the street where she spreads compliments, confidence, and acceptance (except for one very welcome rebuke of bullies) in her wake. Hilarious touches in the dialogue and illustrations will prompt laughs and a heartwarming embrace for this close neighborhood. Kids are sure to be charmed and inspired by the variety of talents this parade presents.

Davis’s warm, matte color palette is striking and fresh, highlighting the children while they also blend in as an integral part of the community. Her illustrations are fully realized with city scenes and humorous details, and readers will love to linger over all of the action as the kids make their way to the park. A Special Note about the book’s jacket and cover: the flip side of the jacket folds out to a full-length image of the parade performance, while the cover shows the neighborhood in quiet repose.

A Very Good Parade is a joyful celebration of childhood, individual personalities, and community that will be a favorite for “read it again!” story times. The book is a must for all public and school libraries as well as home bookshelves. If you are looking for a gift, A Very Good Parade will be much appreciated and loved.

Ages 4 – 8

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2026 | ISBN 978-1419785733

About the Author

Eleanor Davis is an award-winning cartoonist making books for children and adults. Her recent graphic novel The Hard Tomorrow won the LA Times Book Prize for Best Graphic novel, and her early reader Stinky was celebrated with a Geisel Honor, among many other accolades. She is the illustrator of Traci N. Todd’s Make a Pretty Sound. A Very Good Parade is Eleanor’s author-illustrator picture book debut. She lives in Athens, Georgia, with her husband, fellow cartoonist Drew Weing, and their noisy and righteous child. Visit her at doing-fine.com.

National Just Because Day Activity

It’s Instrumental! Game

Play this fun game to gather all the instruments you need to create a music group or a parade! The first person to collect all 6 instrument cards is the winner!

Supplies

Printable Paper Cube Template
Printable Musical Instruments Cards—print one page for each player
Scissors
Tape

Directions

Print the Paper Cube Template, cut it out and assemble the cube die.
Print the Musical Instruments cards, cut out cards, and separate the instruments into piles
Players take turns rolling the die cube to collect musical instrument cards
The first player to collect all 6 instrument cards is the winner

You can purchase A Very Good Parade from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

November 13 – World Kindness Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

World Kindness Day began with a conference in 1997 in which organizations from across the globe met in Japan for the purpose of uplifting and recognizing kindness on a global scale. From this meeting they created a “Declaration of Kindness” and, later, a nonprofit called the World Kindness Movement was formed to support and honor community-scale kindness initiatives. Kindness on any scale, on any day, is important to celebrate. Today’s story shows the impact that one kind gesture can have.

Thank you to Eerdmans Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book for review! All opinions are my own.

Late Today

Written by Jungyoon Huh | Illustrated by Myungae Lee | Translated by Aerin Park

It’s 8:15 A.M.—rush hour in Seoul—and traffic is backed up bumper-to-bumper. No one wants to be late. Amidst the gridlock “a kitten, barely two weeks old, was crossing the bridge.” She darted back and forth, in front of wheels, over wheels, underneath cars and trucks.

Everyone saw her. Some worried about her, some wondered how she’d gotten there, some just looked away. “It was the kind of thing where no one can point a finger and call ‘coward,’ even when someone ignores what’s happening and just passes by.”

But one woman in one car lost sight of the kitten and pulled over, screeching to a halt. Through the earsplitting honks and the sudden downpour, the woman and her child tried to hear the kitten’s cry. Then—there!—they heard it. The woman hurried from her car, cradled the shaking kitten in her hands, and brought it into the car with her. On the bridge everyone sighed with relief. They would all be late, but that was okay. “Today was a good day to be late.”

In Jungyoon Huh’s simply stated, yet powerfully thought-provoking story—translated from Korean by Aerin Park—she places readers in the middle of a traffic jam and invites each of us to reflect on what we would do in the circumstances. We all want to be the person who would decide to rescue the kitten, but are we? Taking time to stop during our day or putting ourselves in an uncomfortable or dangerous spot to lend a hand to an animal, another person, or a group can seem daunting or even ineffective. But Lee reminds us that even the smallest kindness or action is noticed by those around us, does make an impact on breaking paralyzing gridlock of action or thought, and can uplift us all and clear the way forward.

Myungae Lee’s colored pencil and oil pastel illustrations grip readers from the first page, where not even an inch separates the cars hemmed in on the bridge. You can feel the urgency of the commuters as your eye flits from Lee’s soft neutral hues to the neon yellows of headlights, concrete barriers, and a bus. Turning the page, a smudge of a kitten, alone amidst the gray of exhaust and cloud, rivets your eye. With every page turn, your perspective alters as you dart among the wheels with the kitten and are introduced to various onlookers. When the kitten disappears from sight (although eagle-eyed kids may spy him) and the woman pulls over to listen, Lee imbues two full-page spreads with maximum emotion and suspense until the cat is seen and rescued and the commuters exhale a communal sigh of relief.

Late Today is an absorbing story and conversation starter that’s sure to stir your heart. It will become a much-loved addition to home bookshelves and is a must for library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025 | ISBN 978-0802856494

About the Author

Jungyoon Huh studied child development and education in college and graduate school, and she now works as a picture book author, animation director, and university professor in South Korea. Her books have been selected for the White Ravens catalog and for the BRAW Amazing Bookshelf. Late Today is her English-language debut.

About the Illustrator

Myungae Lee is a South Korean picture book author and illustrator who has twice been selected as illustrator of the year at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Her work has received honors including the Nami Concours Green Island Award, the BIB Golden Plaque Award, and the BIB Golden Apple Award. In 2020, Lee was shortlisted for the AOI World Illustration Awards. Late Today is her English-language debut. Lee lives near the Seogang Bridge in Seoul, South Korea, and she often meets stray cats while walking to her studio. Follow Lee on Instagram @myungaelee.

About the Translator

Aerin Park is a Korean and English translator whose projects include the Korean-to-English translations of Okchundang Candy and The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower (both Levine Querido). She has also translated Korean source materials for Paula Yoo’s Rising from the Ashes (Norton) and served as an interpreter and cultural consultant for theatrical productions. Park lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she enjoys reading Korean history with her children. Visit her website at aerinpark.com.

World Kindness Day Activity

Wandering Kitty Maze

Can you help this kitten find his way back home in this Wandering Kitty Maze?

You can purchase Late Today from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

November 6 – Children’s Book Week

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy program in the United States, going back to 1913, when Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, proposed the holiday. The date of the celebration has bounced around a bit, from November to May and then quickly becoming a twice-a-year event in November and May in 2018. Organized by Every Child a Reader, Children Book Week’s theme for 2025 is “An Ocean of Stories.” This theme celebrates the “vast, collective ocean populated by the stories we read, share, and tell.” To learn more about this literary holiday, visit Every Child a Reader to find out more about the week and discover lots of resources, including bookmarks and activities to download.

Thank you to Beach Lane Books and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy of this book for review!

The Elevator on 74th Street

Written by Laura Gehl | Illustrated by Yas Imamura

Ellie the elevator loved all of the tenants in her building and treated each person with special care, for instance she played “her music louder for Mrs. Sanchez who was deaf in one ear,” and held the doors open extra long for Mr. Chen who used a cane. She did, however, have a “soft spot for Thea,” whose first day home from the hospital as a baby was Ellie’s first day in the building.

Ellie had watched Thea grow up, so when her best friend had to move away, Ellie wanted to make her feel better. She tried playing her favorite song over and over and “lit up her buttons to form a T.” While these kind gestures helped, Thea was still sad. Then one day a new family moved in with a girl Thea’s age named Claire. Ellie hoped they would connect, but it never happened.

When Thea found Claire’s favorite hat in the lobby, Ellie took her to the right floor to return it. That started them talking. In only a few weeks, they were practicing dance moves together, wearing the same outfit, telling jokes, and sharing good news and bad. Ellie was excited to see their burgeoning friendship, even if they didn’t notice her part in it.

But they did. In fact, Thea and Claire decided to throw a party for Ellie. They decorated her interior and her doorway, and the tenants gathered in the lobby to listen to music, dance, and celebrate. Ellie couldn’t help but love her job even more.

Laura Gehl’s delightful story is made all the more enchanting for its unique setting and sweet, caring main character. Gehl captures the vibe of a diverse apartment-building community as Ellie notices the needs of each tenant and loves everyone who steps inside her doors. Her special bond with Thea will charm readers as they watch her find a new friend and celebrate Ellie’s part in it. Children who live in apartment-style buildings or condos will love the representation here, and those who just love elevators (what child doesn’t love pushing the buttons?) will also find much to enjoy in Gehl’s book.

Yas Imamura populates her art deco apartment building with a pleasing array of personalities and ages. Kids will have fun catching sight of various tenants multiple times throughout the story and watching Thea and Claire’s friendship blossom from not noticing each other to besties. The star of the show, though, is Ellie, and she’s a dear with her sprightly blue edifice, filigree button cover, expressive eyes, and row of floor numbers that curve into a smile when she’s especially happy. Readers may even enjoy making up stories for all of the building’s tenants!

An adorable book about kindness and making friends amongst the flair of city living, The Elevator on 74th Street should be going up on your picture book shelves!

Ages 4 – 8

Beach Lane Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1665905077

About the Author

Laura Gehl is the author of One Big Pair of Underwear, Cat Has a Plan, Goat Wants to Eat, Pig Makes Art, Dog Can Hide, Cat Sees Snow, Frog Can Hop, Snow Is…, You’re the Sprinkles on My Ice Cream, You’re the Pumpkin in My Pie, and The Elevator on 74th Street. She lives with her husband and their four kids in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Visit her online at LauraGehl.com.

About the Illustrator

Yas Imamura is an Asian American illustrator living in Portland, Oregon. Her works include collaborations with Anthropologie and Sanrio, as well as her growing list of children’s books such as Can You Imagine? by Lisa Tolin and The Elevator on 74th Street by Laura Gehl. Her preferred materials are gouache and watercolor and she often finds herself drawn to projects that are playful, mysterious, and a little offbeat.

Children’s Book Week Activity

Children’s Book Week Coloring Page

Download and print this An Ocean of Stories coloring page of the official 2025 Children’s Book Week poster by author Julie Flett. You can find more coloring pages as well as bookmarks to print from Every Child a Reader here.

You can purchase The Elevator on 74th Street from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

June 13 – National Pigeon Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

When you see pigeons gathering around park benches or scuttling along urban outdoor areas looking for crumbs or lining up on electrical wires, you may not think much about them. They just seem part of the landscape. Learning more about National Pigeon Day, however, may change your ideas about these unassuming birds forever. The holiday was established by President Woodrow Wilson in acknowledgement of the historical and cultural significance of pigeons, particularly their contributions during World War I. Today, the holiday celebrates the important role they played in both world wars.

As the website BirdTipper explains, pigeons were used during both World Wars as “reliable and efficient messengers, providing a vital link between troops on the front lines and command centers. Their speed and homing ability made them indispensable for conveying important messages, often flying through dangerous conditions to deliver vital information. Numerous pigeons were awarded medals and honors for their service, highlighting their bravery and significance in wartime efforts.”

Today’s date was selected as National Pigeon Day to commemorate the death of one of the most famous World War I pigeons, Cher Ami. To read more about this incredible bird, including its role in saving nearly 200 soldiers despite being grievously injured, and more about how pigeons helped the war efforts, visit BirdTipper.

Thanks to Candlewick and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy of Seven: A Most Remarkable Pigeon!

Seven: A Most Remarkable Pigeon

Written by Sandra Nickel | Illustrated by Aimée Sicuro

The little pigeon was different right from the start—when he was still in the egg, even. Usually “pigeons arrive in twos . . . . But this time, there was only one.” The flock whispered and whispered. When the tiny bird hatched, his parents named him Seven in honor of “seven thousand miles . . . the farthest any pigeon has flown to get back home.” It “is considered a very lucky name.”

As Seven waited for his eyes to open and his feathers to sprout, he relished all the lovely scents that wafted to his nest. When he could finally fly, Seven soared to the flower shop to enjoy the aromas, and he picked up petals to fill his nest instead of twigs. On the way to the park with the flock, he veered off, distracted by the fragrant smell of rice. His mother scolded: “‘We stay with the flock. We stay with the flock.'” The flock whispered.

Seven’s father decided it was time to teach his son how to “home.” They left the city and headed into the country. Here, Seven was so captivated by all of the new scents that he didn’t listen to his father’s lesson to memorize the roads below. The flock was scandalized; his mother gave him another scolding. So Seven began toeing the line, but now he “didn’t feel dreamy or cozy or light as a feather.” And the flock? They continued to whisper.

Finally, it came time for The Big Flight, the annual commemoration of the famous 7,000-mile journey. Instead of 7,000 miles, though, the flock rode the train 700 miles away and would fly home. But soon the fog rolled in, thick and impenetrable. Without being able to see the road map below, the pigeons all flew in different directions. How would they find their way home?

But Seven knew just where to go, led on by the scents he loved so well. The flock fell into formation behind him and followed him home. There “Seven’s parents puffed out their feathers and added rose petals to their nest.” The rest of the flock added 700 more in celebration, and Seven’s parents wrapped their wings around him and held him close.

A discussion about pigeons, their behaviors, the different (and similar) ways the mother and father care for their young, and various theories on how pigeons home follows the story.

You will absolutely fall in love with Seven as he stays true to his distinct and savvy preference for scents despite the speculations of his flock in Sandra Nickel’s heartwarming tale. Nickel blends her talent for fiction and nonfiction in her depiction of pigeons’ nesting, flocking, and homing behaviors as well as highlighting the 7,000-mile flight undertaken by one adventurous pigeon. Nickel’s story is built on deeper underpinnings that these, however, as she spotlights the joy and comfort to be found in celebrating individual differences that make each person’s unique contributions to their family, friends, and community invaluable. Kids will cheer Seven on as he forges his own way.

Aimée Sicuro’s watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations transport readers to lovely French cityscapes and countryside while embedding them with a lively flock of pigeons all aflutter over their newest member. Amplifying Nickel’s focus on individuality, Sicuro has given each pigeon its own markings and coloring, and their facial expressions leave no doubt about their feelings. Seven is especially expressive, from basking in delectable scents to dejectedly enduring scoldings and doubtful glances to leading the flock home with happy certainty and finally soaking up cozy hugs from his parents.

Seven: A Remarkable Pigeon is a gently told story full of love that celebrates individuality and builds self-esteem. The book is one that kids will want to hear again and again and is a must for home, classroom, and all library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Candlewick, 2025 | ISBN 978-1536235197

Connect with Candlewick on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter/X |

About the Author

Sandra Nickel is a former lawyer who is now a dedicated children’s book author with many picture books under her belt, including The Stuff Between the Stars, Nacho’s Nachos, Big Bear and Little Fish, and Making Light Bloom. She is honored to be the winner of a Christopher Award, the winner of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Crystal Kite Award, a finalist for the Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction for Younger Readers, a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection honoree, and a Charlotte Huck Award Recommended author. She has presented workshops on writing for children and young adults throughout Europe and the United States. She lives with her family in Switzerland. Visit her at sandranickel.com and on Bluesky | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter/X.

About the Illustrator

Aimée Sicuro is a creator of many picture books for kids. She is the author and illustrator of If You Spot a Shell, and If You Find a Leaf, which was nominated for the Ezra Jacks Keats Award.. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Parents magazine, and many other publications. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children. Visit her at aimeesicuro.com and on Instagram.

You can learn more about Blue Slip Media on Bluesky | Facebook | Instagram and on Twitter/X here and here.

National Pigeon Day Activity

Seven: A Most Remarkable Pigeon Activity Pages

Download a fun and thoughtful Seven: A Most Remarkable Pigeon Classroom Guide with discussion questions and activities for use by educators as well as readers at home.

You can purchase Seven: A Most Remarkable Pigeon from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

March 19 – It’s National Let’s Laugh Day, National Poultry Day, and International Read to Me Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holidays

It’s not often you get to celebrate three national holidays with one book, but Chickens on the Loose ticks all the boxes for National Let’s Laugh Day, National Poultry Day, and International Read to Me Day. So whether you just need a good laugh, love everything about our larger feathered friends, or always make time for joy in every day by reading to your children, today’s book is an eggs-ellent choice!

Thanks go to West Margin Press and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sharing a copy of Chickens on the Loose for review.

Review by Dorothy Levine

Chickens on the Loose

By Jane Kurtz | Illustrated by John Joseph

Oh no! The backyard gate is open and there are “chickens breaking loose. / Chickens on the lam. / Zipping from the yard, / as quickly as they can.” It’s a wild chicken chase, with humans trailing behind, trying and failing to stop the loose chickens. The chickens zoom and do not stop; they peek in windows, take items from shops. They do some yoga at a local studio, before grabbing some snacks at an outdoor food court fest. What a crazy, hilarious, chicken-filled mess!

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-chickens-on-the-loose-yoga-studio

Illustration © by John Joseph, 2021, text © by Jane Kurtz, 2021. Courtesy of West Margin Press.

As the chickens “hitch a ride on skateboards / to rest their aching feet,” paint walls, and take a trip through the pet store (where they share their love of freedom with the penned-up animals), an ever-growing crowd of people race behind to try and stop them in their tracks. Throughout the story, each new member of the crowd yells, “STOP!” but the chickens pay no heed. When the chickens reach the local pet store, “‘STOP!’ shouts everybody. But the chickens will not stop. / ‘No way!” they say, “We will not stay.” It sounds like BOC BOC BOC.”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-chickens-on-the-loose-food-truck

Image © by John Joseph, 2021, text © by Jane Kurtz, 2021. Courtesy of West Margin Press.

When the chasers and escapees finally collide with a giant “SPLAAAT!!!,” the chickens know it’s time to head back home. They take their tired legs and waddle through raindrops and puddles with heads hung low. When they are back at the coop, they close their eyes and take a rest. One bathes their feet, another dozes under a snazzy polka dot eye mask. They take a snooze until, “Oops! Yikes! That old mood strikes…” and the chickens are on the loose once more!

Backmatter includes information on keeping urban chickens and general chicken facts.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-chickens-on-the-loose-pet-store

Image © by John Joseph, 2021, text © by Jane Kurtz, 2021. Courtesy of West Margin Press.

Author Jane Kurtz wows us again with another read-out-loud tale perfect for youngsters. Her infectious rhymes and zippy rhythm propel the story with wit as quick as those runaway chickens. Kurtz’s vivacious vocabulary adds to the fun, and her repeated phrasing will have kids vocally joining the chase. In her bio following the story, she explains that her inspiration for the book stemmed from childhood experiences raising chickens with her family while living in Ethiopia. She aims to engage readers in a fun tale while teaching that chickens can happily live in cities and urban areas too.

John Joseph’s colorful, comedic drawings feature a diverse cast of city residents of different races, religions, ethnicities, and abilities. The girl whose chickens got loose in the first place is seen throughout the pages, leading the crowd down the streets. Joseph illustrates the neighborhood with colorful storefronts, homes, bustling crowds, and the silliest of chickens. The exaggerated body language and expressiveness of the humans and chickens throughout the book tell a story in and of themselves—from happy chickens with sandwiches and pizzas in beak to people gleefully and nervously chasing after the flock, the facial expressions add a great deal of humor to the story.

Chickens on the Loose is a perfect edition to home collections, classrooms, and libraries. One that is sure to make readers laugh out loud, and maybe even inspire a round of the Chicken Dance!

Ages 4 – 8

West Margin Press, 2021 | ISBN 978-1513267241

About the Author

Jane Kurtz is an award-winning children’s book author, speaker, educator, and she is on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Children’s and YA Literature. She is a co-founder of the nonprofit Ethiopia Reads, an organization that brings books and literacy to the children in Ethiopia, where Jane grew up. She also heads the creative team of Ready Set Go Books, a project of Open Hearts Big Dreams to create fun, colorful, local language books for people in Ethiopia. She is the author of many books for children, including River Friendly River Wild, winner of the SCBWI Golden Kite award for picture book text, and What Do They Do With All That Poo?, a finalist to the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Excellence in Science Books list; it has also been named to several state reading lists, voted on by children. To learn more, visit Jane at janekurtz.com and on Instagram and Twitter.

About the Illustrator

John Joseph is an artist, illustrator, elementary school teacher, avid gardener, and community leader. He earned a degree in visual arts from Colorado State University and a Masters from Lesley University, and has won the ACP Excellence in Publishing Award for Best Picture Book. He lives in Colorado with his wife, two sons, and a German shepherd. You can visit John at johnjosephillustration and on Instagram.

National Let’s Laugh Day Activity

West-Margin-Press-chickens-on-the-loose-activity-kit

Chickens on the Loose Activity Kit

Download this Chickens on the Loose Story Time Kit to make chicken puppets, complete a chicken maze, do chicken yoga, and more!

**You can purchase Chickens on the Loose at these booksellers**

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

Picture Book Review

February 14 – Read to Your Child Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Today’s holiday is one one of the best days of the year for kids and adults who love to read together. Reading to children has many benefits from helping with language development to instilling in children a love of books and learning to building bonds that last a lifetime. Today, as it happens, is also Valentine’s Day, and there’s no better way to say “I Love You” than by spending time together with a grrrreat book like today’s! For neat ideas on how to make the most of Read to Your Child Day, visit Days of the Year.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sharing a copy of Little Lion Girl with me!

Review by Dorothy Levine

Little Lion Girl

Written by Olivia Hope | Illustrated by Fiona Woodcock

It’s time to line up for a copy of Little Lion Girl, a vibrant tale of mother and daughter taking on the roaring city.

When Leonie spots the orange lights of the train coming to take her to the big city, she knows it’s time for an adventure. On the ride she notices unique characters around her and decides she too will meet the city with extravagance. With the help of a few accessories, Leonie cleverly transforms herself into a lion. When “the city roared like a jungle,” Leonie “roared back at the city. / She shook her mane and swished her tail. / She was lion girl.”

Lion girl spends the day stalking through bustling colorful streets, “through legs like trees between squawks, grunts, and shrieks” finding lions inside and out of a museum as she goes. In a cafe families sit in their “prides;” in the park she declares she is the king of the city.

All is going lion-tastically when a butterfly—a real wild thing—causes her to wander a bit further from her mother. Without her mama lion, the city jungle starts to feel bigger, and lion girl curls up in fear. Just as she starts to lose her roar, her mother calls to her, and they reunite with a hug and a purr.

Olivia Hope’s upbeat tale will excite wild children and their animal-loving hearts. From barking engines to city bustle grunts and shrieks, Hope’s story is jam-packed with animal-based vocabulary to set the scene. As Leonie and her mother explore the city, the reader’s confidence will grow along with lion girl as she explores the feelings that come with each step of her journey. A sweet story that inspires children to venture out with bravery, while also offering a gentle reminder that staying close to the pack is important too. Little Lion Girl shows kids that it’s okay to feel scared sometimes and to receive comfort from adults.

Fiona Woodcock’s illustrations light up the city in soft primary color hues. Leonie’s cat ears and scarf-tail form an exciting shadow of a real lion as she prowls through the streets. Woodcock illustrates a wonderfully diverse range of characters, including two train passengers dressed to resemble a zebra and giraffe—one of whom is spotted again later at the park. Leonie’s detailed facial expressions reflect her awe, excitement, fear and ultimately comfort when she snuggles up against her mom.

Little Lion Girl would make a lovely addition to home and library collections. It’s the perfect read-aloud to take with you on a train ride or to read while gearing up for an adventure!

Ages 3 – 6

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1547616688

About the Author

Olivia Hope is an Irish writer with a special love for fiction about wild children. Before becoming an author, she was a teacher, creative arts facilitator and even an international athlete. She currently lives in the wilds of Southwest Ireland with her family.

About the Illustrator

Fiona Woodcock is an illustrator and picture book author. She studied Graphic Communication at Glasgow School of Art and for many years worked in animation. Her debut book Hiding Heidi was nominated for the 2017 Kate Greenaway award. Look was the winner of the AOI World Illustration Awards 2019, and A Dot In The Snow by Corrinne Averiss was selected as one of ‘The Times Children’s Books of the Year 2016’ and nominated for the Kate Greenaway Award 2018. Fiona lives in London.

Read to Your Child Day Activity

Image courtesy of Hello Wonderful

Paper Tube Lion

Kids can make and display this cute Paper Tube Lion from Hello Wonderful to remind themselves that they are as brave and confident as a lion.

You can purchase Little Lion Girl at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

March 10 – It’s Sing with Your Child Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Sing with Your Child Month was established 15 years ago by Music Together LLC and its founder Kenneth K. Guilmartin. The organization chose March and its ushering in of Spring and rebirth as a reminder of our most precious resource: our children. When parents, grandparents, teachers, and other caregivers sing and make music together with children, they form everlasting bonds, helping children to feel secure and putting them on the road to success. Research shows that early music education and participation has a large impact not only on musical growth but also on academic skill development and achievement. Singing with children boosts their language development and their reading and math learning.

But engaging in singing together isn’t all about education. It provides for times of fun and much-needed relaxation too! You don’t have to be a great vocalist to sing with kids, either! Just share favorite songs, silly songs, those old campfire songs, and songs kids learn in school and discover a whole new way to enjoy time together. Today’s book with its story and singalong audio and video included is a terrific place to start! To learn more about the benefits of singing with children, visit the National Association for the Education of Young Children website.

Thanks to Barefoot Books and Danna Smith for sharing a digital copy of Rooftop Garden with me for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

Rooftop Garden

Written by Danna Smith | Illustrated by Pati Aguilera | Sung by Holly Turton

On a spacious apartment building rooftop, tenants, adults and kids alike, are busy building raised planting beds, bringing up pots and tools and watering cans, opening bags of dirt, and installing a sturdy work bench. A group of kids is even hanging a banner to celebrate their new community garden. One bed is all ready for planting, and a cadre of neighbors have gathered around, knowing just what to do: “Dig a hole and in they go. / Sow the seeds with a shovel and hoe. / Plant them, pat them, row by row. / Dig a hole and in they go.” And when all the rows are full, everyone joins in with a chant of encouragement: “Grow, garden! Grow, garden! Grow, garden! Grow, grow, grow!”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-rooftop-garden-friends

Image copyright Pati Aguilera, 2022, text copyright Danna Smith, 2022. Courtesy of Barefoot Books.

Signs go in to mark where the lettuce, carrots, mint, and sage are planted, and then the waiting begins. Regular watering, sun, and shade spur those seeds to sprout and send tiny shoots reaching for the sun. But that’s not all these tender plants need because in among them hide “pesky weeds” that keep the neighbors working to pick them and pull them before they grow back. The plants are thriving, climbing trestles, crowding pots and garden beds all due to the diligence of the birds, butterflies, and bees who “…fly to and fro, / Spreading pollen as they go— / Dust that helps the veggies grow.” At last it’s time to harvest the “rooftop crop. / Pick and pull and twist—don’t stop! / Fill the baskets to the top.”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-rooftop-garden-pollinators

Image copyright Pati Aguilera, 2022, text copyright Danna Smith, 2022. Courtesy of Barefoot Books.

And what is the reward for the spring and summer’s attentive work? “A garden feast,” of course! Now, on that same rooftop where the food was grown, all the neighbors sit around a long table and while talking, laughing and, congratulating each other, enjoy a delicious homegrown meal. “A garden feast! Oh, what a treat. Yum, garden! Yum, garden! Yum, garden! Yum, yum, yum!”

Back matter includes a graphic depicting Eight Steps for Growing a Garden, an illustrated guide to Six Stages of Plant Growth, and the musical score to the Rooftop Garden song. The book also includes a QR code that lets readers access a toe-tapping singalong audio with Holly Turton and vibrant video animation of the story.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-rooftop-garden-feast

Image copyright Pati Aguilera, 2022, text copyright Danna Smith, 2022. Courtesy of Barefoot Books.

Danna Smith plants bountiful seeds of joy for gardening, friends, neighbors, and community in her jaunty story. Through her lively and rhythmically vivacious quatrains, in which the first line repeats as the last line, Smith takes kids through a complete growing season, highlighting the preparatory stage, planting, watering, weeding, encouraging pollinators and discouraging pests, harvesting, and finally enjoying a garden feast. The refrain cheering the garden on to grow, grow, grow will be a favorite for kids to chime in on, and the final celebration after a successful season of farming is sure to spur kids to try some gardening of their own. Yum! Yum! Yum!

Kids will love the vivid colors, easy smiles, and action-packed details in Pati Aguilera’s fresh and fabulous illustrations of this singular apartment building. Along with following the progress of the rooftop garden, children will enjoy lingering over the pages to find kids having fun spritzing each other with misting bottles, see bees and butterflies visiting blossoms, watch little ones getting wheelbarrow rides, and name the fruit and vegetables that have grown in the planting beds and pots. Camaraderie, crops, and caring for the earth all on a rooftop—what could be better?!

The rollicking, “follow-the-ball” singalong with Holly Turton, who lends country charm to her enthusiastic rendition, and delightful animation of the story will entertain kids and adults alike, and both will eagerly put this enchanting song on repeat.

Rooftop Garden is a wonderfully conceived book, singalong, and video collaboration that will entertain all ages and is a top pick for home, classroom, school, and public library collections. The book would also make a favorite choice for extracurricular club and group meetings or outings.

Ages 3 – 7

Barefoot Books, 2022 | ISBN 978-1646864966

Raise your voice and tap your toes with this irresistibly catchy singalong version of Rooftop Garden!

About the Author

Danna Smith is a poet and an award-winning author of numerous books for children. Her nonfiction picture book, The Hawk of the Castle: A Story of Medieval Falconry, received two starred reviews, is a Junior Library Guild Selection, and the recipient of Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the year. Danna is currently living and writing in northern California. For more information about her books, upcoming releases, and teaching activities, visit her website at dannasmithbooks.com.

About the Illustrator

When Pati Aguilera was a child, she liked to do all kinds of crafts, draw, and spend a lot of time sorting and looking at her pencils. She is Chilean, and has lived a large part of her life in the city of Santiago, where she studied design and became a book illustrator. Today she lives in the countryside with her partner and two daughters, and is building her biggest craft project of her life: her own house! Pati creates her artwork digitally so she can change the composition and palette until she achieves the desired balance and harmony. To view a portfolio of her work, visit her website at patiaguilera.com.

About Holly Turton

Holly Turton is a British vocalist with roots in blues, funk and soul music. When she’s not recording, teaching, singing in schools, or performing live, you can find Holly in her garden potting plants and vegetables for the upcoming season. She currently lives on the beautiful Cornish coast of England. You can visit her at hollyturton.co.uk.

Sing with Your Child Month Activities

Rooftop Garden Seed Spheres Activity

Kids can get ready to grow their own fabulous garden with this fun activity that makes it easy to plant seeds just where you want them. These Seed Spheres make gifts for garden-loving friends and family members, too!

Seed Spheres Activity

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Rooftop Garden Mini Folding Booklet Activity

Here’s a little book of fun activities kids can fold and tuck away in a purse, bag, or pocket to take all the fun of gardening along to the park, the farmers market, or anywhere they’ll have waiting time or down time.

Mini Folding Booklet Activity

**You can find Rooftop Garden at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from Bookshop.

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Rooftop Garden Mini Folding Booklet Activity

You can find Rooftop Garden at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from Bookshop.

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**You can find Rooftop Garden at these booksellers**