June 12 – National Pet Appreciation Week

About the Holiday

Pets give us so much love and joy that we often want to do something special for our furry friends in return. The first full week of June gives us the opportunity to show our pets how much we appreciate them! Why not spend a little extra time walking or cuddling with your pet? This week is a great time to pamper them with a few extra treat or a new toy. Another way to show how much our pets mean to us is to make sure they’re up-to-date on their annual check-ups and vaccinations. However you celebrate, you know your pet will appreciate it!

A Wickedly Evil Pet: A Branches Book (Super Villains in Training #2)

Written by Kailei Pew | Illustrated by Estrela Lourenço

Vicky von Evil loves going to school at SVT—Super Villains in Training—even though the work may be harder for her than for most of the students. You see, her “parents and little brother, Henry, aren’t wicked at all.” Still, they support her because her “extended family is full of baddies!” In fact, her Granny Dina-mite has come for a visit to give Vicky some tips on becoming evil.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Estrela Lourenço. Text copyright © 2026 by Kailei Pew. Courtesy of Scholastic.

One reason Vicky loves SVT is her teacher. Today, Miss Chiff announces that for the next week her students will be practicing on STV’s Crooked Course to learn new evil skills. On Friday each student will be graded on how well they show accuracy and speed in overcoming four obstacles. Those who finish within 30 minutes will be awarded a villain medal of chaos. Miss Chiff also says that they can bring a villain pet as a sidekick. Vicky wants to earn a medal, but without any special powers or a pet she knows it’s going to be tough.

Granny takes Vicky to Purely Evil Pet Rescue. Vicky meets all the different animals, but none of them feel right for her. That is until she sees the very last pet—a bunny. Vicky feels an immediate spark and can see in his adorable eyes that he has “villain potential.” She names him Captain von Evil and can’t wait to show her class. Instead of being awed, though, the students just laugh.

When it comes time to practice on the Crooked Course, Vicky expects to show Captain the ropes, but as soon as they begin, Captain is way ahead of her. He swings! He tunnels! He jumps! He even scurries through the mud pit while Vicky gets hopelessly stuck. Everyone loves Captain and gives Vicky no notice. She feels deflated. How is her “new pet already a better villain” than she is?

After more dismal results, Vicky is ready to take Captain back to the Pet Rescue. On the way there, however, she thinks about Granny’s advice to really watch what Captain is doing while they practice, and when her bike gets caught in a mud puddle and she sees Captain digging her out, she has a revelation. Now Vicky’s excited for Friday’s competition. But will her new strategy earn her a medal of chaos and prove that she is a true villain?

Kailei Pew’s second book in her Super Villains in Training early chapter book series offers young readers fast-paced and hilarious action as Vicky tries to live up to her family’s talent for evil despite having no special powers and parents and a brother who are kind, always upbeat, and sweet. Pew’s story is delightfully relatable for readers navigating early elementary school grades, and her themes of friendship, family support, trusting others, self-confidence, and cooperation are smoothly woven throughout her appealing storytelling.

From the SVT campus to the pet shop to the obstacle course, young readers will love accompanying Vicky through Estrela Lourenço’s expressive and detailed illustrations. Lourenço brings out all of the humor in Pew’s story while also eliciting empathy from readers as Vicky struggles to prove herself. Emerging and newly independent readers will appreciate the bold text and dialogue enclosed in speech bubbles that are clearly linked to the speaker. Lourenço’s vivid snapshots and full-page images add to the depth of the Super Villains in Training series.

With a well-developed and enticing story, appealing characters, humor, and a high-interest setting, A Wickedly Evil Pet (Super Villains in Training #2) is a must for any fan of the series. Children new to the series will want to catch up with the first book: The Fantastic Freeze Ray before Project Slime, book #3 comes along in November.

About Branches Books

Super Villains in Training is part of Scholastic’s early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

Ages 5 – 7

Scholastic, 2026 | ISBN 978-1546162148

Kailei Pew is a wife, mother, and children’s book author. She loves to write books that help kids see they can do anything they set their minds to. When she isn’t writing or reading, you can find her jogging through the Arizona desert, playing a mean game of Candy Land with her kids and husband, or baking anything with extra chocolate. Super Villains in Training is her first early chapter book series. Visit her and join the Wickedly Awesome Summer Reading Challenge at kaileipewbooks.com.

Estrela Lourenço is a full-time children’s book writer and illustrator with years of experience working in animation for shows like The Amazing World of Gumball for Cartoon Network and Wander Over Yonder for Disney. Estrela is originally from Portugal, but has been living in Ireland since 2009. Visit her at estrelalourenco.com.

National Pet Appreciation Day Activity

Super Villains in Training Activity Pages

Kids can join Vicky von Evil and her friends in their training at SVT with these Super Villains in Training Activity Pages from Scholastic!

You can purchase Super Villains in Training: A Wickedly Evil Pet from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

June 11 – National Making Life Beautiful Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Today’s holiday was established by Apriori Beauty in 2015 to recognize all those people who make life more fun, meaningful, and joyful—more beautiful—for someone else. This can be done in so many ways, from spending time talking with someone to let them know you care to sharing your talent for baking, art, music, gardening, home repair, or any skill with a friend, family member, or coworker. These acts of kindness bring joy to them and to you. Even just giving a smile to those you meet can brighten someone’s day. Making someone else feel good will make life more beautiful for you too! Today’s two books are delightful reminders that spending time with friends, making new friends, and enjoying shared experiences can make life feel new and exciting.

Thank you to Tundra Books for sending me these books for review!

The Funjeepups: A Beautiful Song

By Michael Slack

Part acorn, part long-eared puppy, and all around adorable, the three Funjeepup best friends—Dot, Button, and Dollop—love exploring their magical forest. On this sunlit morning, they settle on an inviting bolder to enjoy “big juicy berries,” only to attract an uninvited guest. As the bluebird swoops in, Dot runs and hides, afraid the bird wants to eat their snack, but Dollop reassures her that she just wants to sing.

Indeed, a “beautiful song” soon wafts on the breeze. The Funjeepups are so delighted that they’re inspired to create their own song. They hurry home for their instruments. Dot brings a drum, Button pulls a piano, and Dollop carries a flute—and more berries! Each of the friends plays their favorite kind of song, but this only creates noise. Dollop urges them to try again, saying that their first attempt was simply a “not-YET song.”

Their second try isn’t much better than the first, so bird decides to help. On Dot’s drum she taps out a pleasant beat with her feet. Dot catches on quickly. “I am playing the drum!” she proudly announces. Next, the bird lands on Button’s piano and pecks out individual keys. Button begins to understand and is soon plinking a tune. Dollop, who’s been playing the flute through his nose, gets a correction as well as a lesson on creating different notes.

Now, Dot, Button, and Dollop put their newfound talents together and play a beautiful song! Bird listens happily then flies away, leaving a gift behind. The Funjeepups are so grateful for the bird’s help that they leave a gift too. Bird sings her thanks then takes her gifts home to decorate her nest.

Michael Slack’s endearing forest friends are sweet companions on this musical adventure that turns into a day of musical discovery and confidence building. Slack’s Funjeepups are darling, and his lovely woodland setting will enchant little readers. Young children are sure to giggle knowingly as Dollop plays the flute through his nose, happy to be in on this visual joke until Bird sets him straight.

Slack’s minimal, simply stated text printed in bold type contains many building blocks for early word recognition and reading, such as repeated words, short sentences, and musical onomatopoeia that’s fun to say or play on an instrument. In addition to introducing young readers to the graphic novel format, his panels focus readers’ attention on each sentence and its accompanying illustrated facial expressions and emotions as well as incremental changes in the plot.

A charming book that both kids and adults will love to share over and over, The Funjeepups: A Beautiful Song is fresh and eye-catching in an easy-to-hold 6 1/4″ x 9 1/4″ size. It is sure to be a cherished addition to home and library collections. Pair with Funjeepups: A Star Wish to create a much-loved gift.

Ages 3 – 7

Tundra Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1774887004

Michael Slack is the author and illustrator of many books for young readers, including Kitties on Dinosaurs, Bunny Built, Shorty & Clem and Elecopter. His art and character design has been featured in books, television and games. He lives with his family in the Bay Area of California. Visit him at slackart.com.

You can purchase The Funjeepups: A Beautiful Song from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

The Funjeepups: A Star Wish

By Michael Slack

The Funjeepups are camping out, sheltered in a fallen log, the darkness dispelled with an acorn lantern and a small fire to keep the chill at bay. Dot, Button, and Dollop are ready to stay out all night. They want to “. . . see stars. And make a wish.” But clouds blow in, obscuring the stars and ruining their plans to make wishes. But then stars seem to appear on the horizon. Dollop runs toward them and catches one in his hands. When he shows Dot his star, she imparts bad news: “That’s a bug.” Since it shines, Dollop is undeterred and tells her to “make a bug wish.” The firefly lands on Dot’s nose as she closes her eyes to wish.

The clouds don’t dim all of their enjoyment, though, and Dollop suggests a night hike. Taking their trusty lantern and new friend along, they head into the woods. Soon, they’re running back to camp after hearing “Hoo Hoo” and encountering a frog. All is forgotten as Dollop brings out marshmallows for gooey fun, and the campfire is perfect for shadow play. Following a game of Stick, Stone, Stack, Dot, Button and Dollop send the firefly home and drift off to sleep.

During the night, they’re awakened by a moonbeam, and Dot’s excited to see that her “bug wish came true.” The sky has cleared! They make their star wishes then drift back to sleep. In the morning, they’re proud to have spent the entire night outside. Dot hurries home to see if her bug wish came true.

Just as in Funjeepups: A Beautiful Song, Dot, Button, and Dollop embark on an adventure in the woods with curiosity and enthusiasm. When their planned activity becomes impossible, instead of moping the three friends take advantage of other forest delights and make a new friend in the process. Their clever pivot from stars to fireflies will enchant little readers. Michael Slack’s gentle woodland fright will bring giggles instead of gasps, and his playful games may inspire similar fun at home. Slack’s signature storytelling, encompassing short sentences, repeated words, and visual clues, encourages young children to become proficient and avid readers.

Funjeepups: A Star Wish sparkles with humor and friendship and is a heartwarming story to inspire nighttime adventures at home or outdoors. The book is sure to enjoy continual requests for cozy read aloud story times. Pair with Funjeepups: A Beautiful Song for a gift any young child will treasure.

Ages 3 – 7

Tundra Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1774887028

You can purchase The Funjeepups: A Star Wish from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

September 19 – Friendship Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Do you have friends you haven’t seen or talked to in a while? Is there someone new at work or school who could use a friend to show them the ropes or eat lunch with? If so, this month’s holiday gives you the opportunity to reach out and say hi. The holiday was instituted by the Oddfellows (shortened from The Grand United Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society (GUOOFS)), an international fraternity that dates back to 1730s England, with the hope of encouraging people to make friends. Friendship Month is a super time to show kindness to those friends you know and those you don’t—yet!

Kat & Mouse: I Like Cheese

By Salina Yoon

Every day Kat and Mouse meet for lunch. Every day Mouse brings “the BEST food there is: “CHEESE!,” while Kat mixes it up with a new kind of “delicious” or “spectacular” or “MEOW-velous” sandwich that she introduces with dramatic flair. Each day, Kat offers to let Mouse try some of her sandwich, but Mouse always declines, assuring her that he likes cheese.

One day, while lounging in the wading pool Kat has brought along to their noon-time meet-up, she asks Mouse, “Don’t you ever get bored with your lunch?” Mouse reminds her that he likes cheese, and then wonders: “But Kat, do you ever get bored with me?” After all, he reflects, “I always eat the same lunch, packed in my same lunchbox, and sit on the same log.”

Thinking about it, Kat decides that they “really are different” and suggests they eat separately the next day. With sadness they go their own ways. The next day finds Mouse on his log with a hunk of blue cheese. Kat has chosen to eat a hotdog under an umbrella attached to a rocking horse.

The day after that, Mouse and Kat meet and ask each other how their lunches were. Kat admits that eating lunch alone was “Awful.” Mouse concurs, revealing that his lunch was “gloomy and blue. Even my blue cheese tasted bluer than usual.” Kat regrets recommending the separation, apologizes, and declares that “some things should not change—like our friendship!”

Mouse is happy to resume their usual lunches, but acknowledges that “it’s ok to try new things, too.” Kat perks up. Did Mouse bring a NEW lunch? Indeed he did! In fact, he brought something they will both like. What does he call it? Join them for lunch and find out!

Salina Yoon’s latest early reader series introduces kids to a new besties duo that will steal young readers’ hearts. Sweet and funny, Yoon’s story plays out in dialogue, the back and forth indicated through pink speech bubbles for Kat and green bubbles for Mouse. Their straightforward conversations are humorously punctuated by cinematic-worthy full-page spreads that pop with superhero bursts, bright lights, and bold signage.

Repeated words and phrasing (including some of the ingredients to Kat’s sandwiches) flow smoothly and naturally throughout the story, giving emerging and new readers confidence and pleasure in reading independently. Kat and Mouse’s appreciation and love for each other is infectious, and small moments between them hint at the charming personality traits kids have to look forward to in future series titles.

Kicking off an endearing and enchanting new graphic early reader series, Kat & Mouse: I Like Cheese is sure to be a favorite on any young reader’s bookshelf and enjoy constant circulation at any library.

Ages 5 – 7

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1547612420

About the Author/Illustrator

Salina Yoon is an award-winning author-illustrator of nearly two hundred books for children, including Duck, Duck, Porcupine!, the Penguin series, the Bear and Floppy series, and Be a Friend. She studied art and design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and now lives in San Diego with her family. Visit her at salinayoon.com.

Friendship Day Activity

Give Me Your Hand! Puzzle

In this Give Me Your Hand! Puzzle, everyone is welcomed with a handshake. Offering friendship to all, the interchangeable pieces can be mixed and matched as the animals become buddies with one another.

Supplies

Printable colored Give Me Your Hand! Puzzle
Printable blank Give Me Your Hand! Puzzle
Colored pencils or crayons
Scissors
Heavy Stock paper (optional)
Poster board (optional)
Glue (optional)

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-UN-day-puzzle

Directions

Print the puzzle: to make the puzzle sturdier: Print on heavy stock paper or glue the page to poster board
Color the pictures with colored pencils or crayons
Cut the pieces apart
Switch the pieces around to make many alternate pictures

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-UN-day-puzzle

You can purchase Kat & Mouse: I Like Cheese! from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

April 9 – National Unicorn Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

There may be no more beloved magical creature than the unicorn. Unicorns have been part of legend since ancient times, undergoing changes from an image of fierceness and power to a representation of strength and true love to today’s more glittery superstar. To celebrate today, learn more about the history of these mystical animals and check out the latest addition to the wildly popular unicorn-tastic Unicorn Diaries series!

Thank you to Scholastic for sharing a copy of The Secret of the Lost Gold with me.

The Secret of the Lost Gold (Unicorn Diaries #11)

By Rebecca Elliott

As the latest story in the Unicorn Diaries begin, Rainbow Tinseltail (Bo, for short) reveals that dark clouds and lightening foretell a storm, and over night winds, rain, and unipod-shaking thunder do sweep through Sparklegrove Forest, where the unicorns, gnomes, and other magical creatures live. In the morning, everyone wakes to find “a very big mess all across the forest.” It’s then that Mr. Rumptwinkle, the unicorn’s teacher at the Sparklegrove School for Unicorns (S.S.U.), cancels class for the day, instead sending his students out into the forest to see who needs help.

They find that no one—from the fairies to the gnomes to the mermaids, dragons, and trolls—has escaped the storm unscathed. “But the great news was that no one was hurt.” The unicorns bring some friends home for hot tea and buttermoon biscuits as they all talk about how they can help rebuild. Edna Gnome remembers an “old Rebuild and Repair spell” from “long ago” that could restore the entire forest at once, but she needs “special ancient gold nuggets” to make it work.

The next day, the unicorns head out for Queen Juniper’s castle to learn where to get the ancient gold only to discover that the castle has been damaged too. From Princess Greta, the unicorns learn that the gold has always been stored in a cave in the Dark Woods and is protected by a griffin named Edgar and from their werewolf friend Barry, they discover where the cave is: in the most dangerous part of the Dark Woods.

Undaunted (well, maybe a little) and brave, the unicorns continue their quest. Along the way they use their individual powers to outsmart a giant, calm upset night sprites, and cheer up “grumpy talking trees.” When they got to the cave, the unicorns were even able to befriend the griffin and retrieve the gold they needed.

Back at Queen Juniper’s castle, Edna makes the magic rainbow-colored dust and, as Bo writes, “Everyone worked together to rebuild our forest.” Queen Juniper held a royal ball with “scrumptious food, lots of desserts, and golden glitter fireworks” to celebrate. She even honored Edgar with a “majestic golden necklace as a special thank-you for protecting the forest’s gold.” And the unicorns? They earned their Treasure Hunt patches and made a new friend in Edgar!

It’s easy to see why Rebecca Elliot’s Unicorn Diaries is so beloved by early and newly independent readers. Each book in the series is warm and welcoming, beginning with its first chapter, which introduces new readers to the unicorns and world of Sparklegrove Forest with an illustrated map; a fun-facts description of the book’s new featured magical being (the griffin, in this book); surprising details about unicorns (for instance, that their horn is perfect for carrying cotton candy and can be used as a flashlight and that a swish of their tail enacts their secret power); and information about their school.

The Secret of the Lost Gold, the 11th book in the series, is a perfect addition to Elliot’s unicorn lore. Full of imagination; friendship; high-stakes, yet solvable challenges; magic; and humor, the story will captivate readers with its positivity, gentle suspense, and underlying message that they have the power to be brave and to take action to give back to their communities. The diary format of the book allows Elliot to combine larger-size, easy-to-read text with colorful illustrations that provide a natural, confidence-building bridge from picture books to text-only chapter books.

Whether your child is a fan of the Unicorn Diaries series or just discovering this magical world of reading, The Secret of the Lost Gold is a book you’ll want to add to your child’s home bookshelves. For classrooms, school, and public libraries, this latest trip to Sparklegrove Forest is a must.

Ages 5 – 7

Scholastic, 2025 | ISBN 978-1546127161

About the Author/Illustrator

Rebecca Elliott has illustrated many children’s books, including Kiss, Kiss Good Night. She wrote and illustrated the New York Times bestselling Owl Diaries series, the Unicorn Diaries series, Just Because, and Zoo Girl, which was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal. She lives with her family in the countryside of Suffolk, England.

National Unicorn Day Activity

Unicorn Coloring Pages

Kids’ll have fun grabbing some crayons and glitter and making magical moments with these Unicorn Coloring pages!

Happy Unicorn Coloring Page | Unicorn Leaping Over Rainbow | Unicorn Reading a Book

You can purchase The Secret of the Lost Gold from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

February 27 – It’s National Laugh-Friendly Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

National Laugh-Friendly Month began in 2008 as a way to focus on friendly, positive humor that lifts your spirit and brings smiles. Humor is a universal language that helps people connect, understand each other, and improve our daily life. To celebrate this month and all year round share friendly jokes, watch funny movies and comedy shows , and read hilarious stories like today’s featured book!

Thanks to Orchard Books/Scholastic for sharing a digital copy of Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends with me!

Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends

Written by Ame Dyckman | Illustrated by Tim Miller

Even before kids get into the story, from somewhere over the mountains, an egg bounces boing-boing-boing from banana treetop to banana treetop and lands on a boulder where another egg is just cracking open. Out of the newcomer egg pops a duck, fully coifed with a pink bow, and a decisive “I’m HERE!” The other egg shakes a bit before a crocodile pops out. “And YOU’RE here!” Duckie exclaims. It’s all coming together for Duckie that the two are “here TOGETHER!”

Brushing off remnant eggshells, the crocodile is ready to say goodbye, but Duckie pulls him back, calls him Snaps, and imagines all the fun they’re going to have being friends. Snaps’ dad, however, has a bold truth to deliver, one that dissolves Duckie into a puddle of tears. Snaps can’t believe crocodiles eat duckies. Duckie can’t believe she is a duckie. “Nobody told me!” she says. But Snaps’ dad lists off a menu: Fried duckie, duckie smoothy, duckie pie. Fortunately, Snaps’ dad isn’t ready to eat just then.

Unfortunately, Duckie has to put a big NO on all her imagined fun, and she flounces off only to be caught up by Snaps, who declares he doesn’t want to eat her and never will. In fact, when his dad returns with all the supplies for a duckie roast, Snaps lets him and a couple of innocent bystanders know that “nobody is eating Duckie!”

At last, Duckie and Snaps CAN be friends. “We ARE friends!” Snaps assures her. But what is that growl? Snaps is hungry! And suddenly little-yellow-TASTY Duckie sounds pretty enticing. Just then Duckie has an idea, but will Snaps accept her appealing alternative to Duckie Pie?

Loaded with laugh-out-loud dialogue and turn-the-tables antics, Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends will have kids giggling and in suspense with every page turn. Ame Dyckman’s natural talent for humor and acceptance infuses her story with sweetness and gentle lessons in getting along with others and sticking up for friends. Her dialogue-driven storytelling dishes up a perfect read aloud that adults and kids will have a blast sharing as well as a rewarding experience for beginning and independent readers.

Tim Miller’s goofy cartoon illustrations are equal parts droll and action-packed. His minimalist backgrounds paired with slapstick-type zaniness amplifies the humor, and strategically placed details may allow alert readers to be in on the final, funny resolution.

Featuring good-natured hijinks and embraceable characters, Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends is a vivacious early reader book with plenty of read-again appeal and is a top choice for family, school, and library story times.

Ages 4 – 8

Orchard Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1338837872

About the Author

Ame Dyckman is an award-winning author of many bestselling picture books, including Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends, illustrated by Tim Miller; Don’t Blow Your Top!, illustrated by Abhi Alwar; Wolfie the Bunny, illustrated by Zachariah OHora; and the Misunderstood Shark series, illustrated by Scott Magoon. Ame lives in beautiful central New Jersey with her husband and daughter. For book news and fun, follow Ame on Twitter: @AmeDyckman.

About the Illustrator

Tim Miller is the author-illustrator of Moo Moo in a Tutu, What’s Cooking, Moo Moo?, and Izzy Paints. He is also the illustrator of The Chronicles of Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness, Horse Meets Dog by Elliott Kalan, and other books including the middle-grade series Hamstersaurus Rex by Tom O’Donnell. Tim lives in New Jersey with his wife and three rescue cats. Visit Tim at timmillerillustration.com.

National Laugh Friendly Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-silly-balloons

Silly Balloons

You can have lots of silly fun with balloons! Try some of these ideas—they’re sure to make you laugh!

Goofy Faces

Blow up a balloon and draw a funny face on it. Rub the balloon on your shirt or a blanket and stick it to the wall, your shirt, or even your mom or dad!

Crazy Hair

Rub a blown-up balloon on your shirt or a blanket (fleece works well) then hold it near your hair and watch it go a little crazy!

Bend Water

This bit of balloon magic will amaze you! Rub a blown-up balloon on a blanket (fleece works well). Turn on a faucet to a thin stream of water. Hold the balloon near the stream of water and watch it bend toward the balloon.

Volleyballoon

This is a fun game for two or more people played like volleyball—but with balloons! All you need is a balloon and a line on the floor. Players form teams and bat the balloon back and forth over the line, keeping it in the air.as long as possible. A team wins a point when the opposing team can’t return the balloon.

You can purchase Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends 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.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-dogs-love-books-too-why-do-they

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?

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-dogs-love-books-too-tasty-pictures

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.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-dogs-love-books-too-final-page

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

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-book-bag-craft

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)

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-books-bag-craft

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

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-dogs-love-books-too-cover

You can purchase Dogs Love Books, Too at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

November 2 – It’s Picture Book Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Today’s picture books are amazing! Offering inspiration, characters that really speak to kids, moments to laugh out loud or reflect, glimpses into history, revelations in science, and much of the best art currently being produced, picture books defy their slim appearance with content that can change young lives. Reading a wide variety of books to children from birth on up is one of the most rewarding activities you can do. Make choosing the books to read a family affair! Kids love picking out their own books and sharing cozy and fun story times with you!

I’d like to thank Hippo Park and Astra Publishing House along with Deborah Sloan for sharing a copy of A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree with me for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree

Written by Daniel Bernstrom | Illustrated by Brandon James Scott

A bear in his den and a bee in his hive are waking up on a sunny morning. The bee is a “busy bee, a honey bee,” darting back and forth from a flower to the honey tree. The bear is “a hungry bear, a honey bear,” and he knows just where to find some breakfast. The bear’s rummaging through the branches does not go unnoticed by the bee, so the hungry bear becomes “a sneaky busy honey bear.” And when his paw breaks into the golden hive, the “fretful bee” becomes “a very angry fuzzy bee.”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-a-bear-a-bee-and-a-honey-tree-morning

Image copyright Brandon James Scott, 2022, text copyright Daniel Bernstrom, 2022. Courtesy of Hippo Park Books.

The bear and bee face off, but what is that new rumbling sound? He should know bees never live alone, and soon the bear is on the run from “a million fuzzy buzzing bees.” The swarming bees search everywhere, but they cannot find the “hiding bear.” As the sun goes down, the bees return to their hive, while “a hungry grumbly honey bear” waits out the night in his den, already planning tomorrow morning’s breakfast run.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-a-bear-a-bee-and-a-honey-tree-climbing

Image copyright Brandon James Scott, 2022, text copyright Daniel Bernstrom, 2022. Courtesy of Hippo Park Books.

Like a twirling, whirling dance that starts with one measured step…and then another…and another until it bursts into a freewheeling, rollicking reel, Daniel Bernstrom’s story is an exhilarating romp. Suspense mounts page by page with wonderfully rhythmic rhymes that flow unencumbered by punctuation that would slow or stop the brilliantly escalating action. With just thirty-five words, Bernstrom has also created a story that pre-readers can chime in on as adults point to the bee, bear, tree, and other illustrations while beginning readers will find that the rhyming clues, repetition, alliteration, and sight words that carry the story give them confidence in their growing skills.

Brandon James Scott’s dynamic illustrations fling kids into the action as a happy bee makes its winding way from honey tree to flower to flower and back while a bear – tongue out, eyes glued to the prize – scrambles into the tree’s canopy to raid the hive. Who to root for will bring on plenty of giggles as the bee’s and the bear’s expressive faces tell kids all they need to know about these two rivals. The beehive glows like the gold it is to each of these characters, and the swarm is a densely packed storm cloud of protection. As the disappointed bear trudges back to his den, kids’ allegiance may shift, but his next-morning covert operations reveal he really hasn’t learned his lesson. Young readers will love ferreting out the bear among the tree branches and tall grasses and will laugh out loud as he tries to hurry away through a deep wildflower field.

A Bear, A Bee, and a Honey Tree will be all the buzz for home story times both for adults – who will have a rollicking good time reading aloud – and kids – who will want to hear it again and again. The book will be a hit for classroom reading and would make a terrific addition to public library preschool programs. A Bear, A Bee, and a Honey Tree is a must for any children’s book collection.

Ages 3 – 7

Hippo Park, 2022 | ISBN 978-1662640087

Want a laugh? Hippo Park has you covered with this cover animation!

About the Author

Daniel Bernstrom is a poet and the author of 6 picture books, including One Day in teh Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree and Big Papa and the Time Machine, a Minnesota Book Award winner. Daniel lives in Worthington, Minnesota, with his wife and 5 adorable children. You can learn more about him and his books at danielbernstrom.com.

About the Illustrator

By day Brandon is a Creative Director working in animation and by night he illustrates picture books. For over a decade Brandon has worked on a range of hit animated entertainment including his own creation, the award-winning series, Justin Time. He loves to make art that brings adventure, levity, heart, and curiosity for the fantastic and whimsical world around us and in our dreams. A born and raised Canadian, he currently lives with his family in Toronto. You can view a gallery of Brandon’s artwork, animation, books, and more on his website.

Picture Book Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-a-bear-a-bee-and-a-honey-tree-activity-sheet

A Bear, A Bee, and A Honey Tree Activity Booklet

Hippo Park has designed a fantastic 4-page activity booklet that kids will have fun with while learning about letter sounds, adjectives, and nouns with a little drawing creativity thrown in. You can download it from the Hippo Park website and here:

A Bear, A Bee, and A Honey Tree Activity Booklet

**You can find A Bear, A Bee, and a Honey Tree at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

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A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree

Written by Daniel Bernstrom | Illustrated by Brandon James Scott

Picture Book Month Activity

A Bear, A Bee, and A Honey Tree Activity Booklet

You can find A Bear, A Bee, and a Honey Tree at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Share this:

**You can find A Bear, A Bee, and a Honey Tree at these booksellers**