Family

January 6 – National Cuddle Up Day

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About the Holiday

As the icy days of January settle in, National Cuddle Up Day reminds us that snuggling up with someone you love warms you, warms your heart, and builds strong relationships. Children especially love the comfort and security that hugs bring. And what would bedtime be without snuggling in with a good book like today’s sweet sure-to-be favorite?

Thank you to Cartwheel Books/Scholastic for sharing a digital copy of You’re Eggstraordinary! with me for review!

You’re Eggstraordinary!

By Sandra Magsamen

 

It’s all here—everything you want to tell your child whenever you see or think about them and your heart swells to bursting. Through her bright, adorable board book, Sandra Magsamen lets parents, grandparents, caregivers, and even older siblings express how much they love and admire the little one in their life.

Text and illustration © 2025 by Sandra Magsamen. Courtesy of Cartwheel Books.

Magsamen’s punny verses and cute-as-a-button chick brim with enthusiasm that will excite and charm young children as they soak up all the praise about how they make wishes come true, show kindness, are amazing, are the best cuddle buddies, and are simply, well . . . eggstraordinary! The delightful puff of feathers atop the book add soft, tickly fun sure to elicit plenty of giggles.

Short and sweet, You’re Eggstraordinary! is the perfect book to share with little ones whenever you want to remind them of how much they’re loved (i.e. all the time!). This book makes a terrific gift and is a fantastic choice for story time, bedtime, whenever a child needs comforting, and even as a take-along book to the park, playground, or wherever waiting is anticipated. 

Ages Baby – 5

Cartwheel Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1546140122

Sandra Magsamen is the author and illustrator of many books for young children, including the picture book When I Grow Up I Want to Be Me, as well as a number of bestselling novelty titles, including Everybody Goes Nighty-Night, named a Best Board Book of 2018 by The Children’s Book Review; Baby Love; I Love You, Little Pumpkin; and Peek-a-Boo, I Love You. As an artist, an art therapist, and a mom, she uses her creativity to remind people to express themselves and connect with others. Her lifestyle brands, products, and books are sold worldwide. Visit her at sandramagsamen.com.

National Cuddle Up Day Activity

Cuddle Chick Craft

 

Like the little chick in today’s book, kids love to cuddle! With this craft, kids can made a cute chick cuddle buddy for playtime, story time, or bedtime! Kids can personalize their chick as to size, color, fabric, and facial expression and whether it has a comb or feathers. Just remember—while all chicks are different, they all love a hug!

Supplies

  • Fleece, gingham, or other fabric for the body large enough for the back and front. The size of fabric depends on the size of the chick to be made. 
  • Fleece or other fabric for a comb; feathers for a fluffy top. 
  • Small piece of fleece or other material for wings
  • Small scraps of fleece or other material for the eyes and beak. Kids can have fun trying different eyes to make facial expressions and may enjoy attaching velcro to the body and backs of eyes to be able to change them.
  • Poly Fill
  • Thread and sewing needle OR hot glue
  • Scissors

Directions

To Make the Body

  1. Cut two circles from the fabric in your choice of size. (I used a pot lid to outline my circles)
  2. If sewing, place the right sides of the fabric together and sew around the edges, leaving two or three inches open. If using hot glue, glue around the edges of the right side of fabric of each circle and put together, leaving two or three inches open.
  3. Turn the fabric inside out
  4. Stuff with poly fill

To Add the Comb 

  1. Cut a piece of fleece or other fabric 2 or 3 inches wide as your buddy and about 6 inches long
  2. Fold the fleece lengthwise
  3. Insert both ends of the fleece into the opening at the top of the body
  4. Sew or glue the opening shut, securing the comb
  5. Cut strips about ¼-inch wide from the top of the fabric to close to the body

To Add Feathers

  1. Gather feathers and place them into the opening at the top of the body
  2. Glue or sew them in place

To Make Wings

  1. Cut 2 teardrop-shaped pieces of fabric to pit the body 
  2. Sew or glue them to each side of the buddy, folding them around the side so half shows on the front and the back

To Make the Face

  1. Cut eyes and beak from fabric 
  2. Sew or glue the face to the buddy

You can purchase You’re Eggstraordinary! from these book sellers

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Picture Book Review

December 3 – Get Ready for Dōngzhì

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About the Holiday

The Dōngzhì Festival, or Winter Solstice is considered to be one of the most important Chinese festivals of the year and is a time for families to get together, worship their ancestors, and enjoy traditional delicacies. Celebrated for over 2,000 years, the festival sees families come together to make and eat tāng yuán, which symbolizes reunion and prosperity. While the celebration of the winter solstice is only one day (this year on December 21), the Dōngzhì Festival lasts 15 days.

This Winter Solstice festival originates from the Chinese concept of yin and yang, an ancient symbol of harmony and balance. In Chinese culture, there is a belief that when the days are short, there is insufficient Yang energy, thus people consume foods that are more yang (warm) in nature to counteract the yin (cold) of winter, such as tāng yuán, as seen in today’s book. To learn more about the holiday, visit mandarianmatrix.org. 

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

Weiwei’s Winter Solstice: A Dōngzhì Story

By Michelle Jing Chan

 

Today is Dōngzhì, the Chinese winter solstice—one of Weiwei’s favorite holidays. But instead of celebrating it by splashing in sprinklers amongst hummingbirds and palm trees at her former home, she’s bundled up in a sweater and blanket as snow covers the ground. For Weiwei Dōngzhì just doesn’t feel the same. Her family—Mama, Baba, her younger brother Didi, and Yeye, her grandfather—are ready for a walk and to play in the snow, but Weiwei can only scowl.

Text and image © 2025 by Michelle Jing Chan. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Yet once outside, Weiwei watches her breath cloud in the cold air, catches snowflakes on her tongue, and listens to the snow crunch as they walk. Then, suddenly, Weiwei gasps and points to a tree covered in red flowers. “‘Those are méihuā, plum blossoms!'” Yeye tells her. “. . . No matter how cold and dark it is, they still bloom.'” Weiwei begins to see other signs of life and beauty, but as the sun begins to set, it’s time for the family to go back home. Time for Weiwei’s favorite part of Dōngzhì.

Text and image © 2025 by Michelle Jing Chan. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Back home everyone chips in to make tāng yuán. Mama and Didi stir “ground black sesame, sugar, and softened butter into a paste” while Yeye and Weiwei make rice flour dough and Baba makes ginger broth. Then Didi and Weiwei pat the dough into small pancakes, add a bit of black sesame paste, and roll them into balls. The balls simmer in the ginger broth until they float to the top.

Text and image © 2025 by Michelle Jing Chan. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Before Weiwei and her family eat, they serve their ancestors. They “offer tāng yuán for togetherness, oranges for luck, apples for peace, and cups of tea for respect.” Then they eat! To Weiwei, the warm broth feels like a “sip of sunlight,” and Yeye reminds her that warmer days are coming. He tells her he knows it’s hard moving to a new home, “‘but anywhere can feel like home when we celebrate together.'” Weiwei listens to her grandfather and looks around at her cozy home and the people she loves. She knows spring is on its way with new memories to make, and decides that she will “bloom like the méihuā” and savor winter.

An Author’s Note describing the Dōngzhì holiday and how it is celebrated in various Asian countries as well as a recipe for Black Sesame Tāng Yuán follow the story.

Text and image © 2025 by Michelle Jing Chan. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Michelle Jing Chan’s warmhearted story of a young girl feeling adrift and disappointed when it comes time to celebrate Dōngzhì in a new home touches on feelings of loss, rediscovery, and the stabilizing comfort of traditions. As Weiwei and her family take a walk through snowy woods instead of the sunny backyard she’s known, she glimpses aspects of familiarity that are further strengthened as she helps prepare and enjoy their customary dish. She recognizes that the Dōngzhì celebration she cherishes as well as her family unit have not changed, allowing her to embrace her new home and look forward to the future.

Chan’s expressive illustrations glow with the togetherness that tāng yuán represents. Even her lovely snowy scenes are lit with peach and gold, as the sun breaks through the winter clouds. Inside, soothing colors highlight the family’s close ties and the comforting flavors of home.

Weiwei’s Winter Solstice: A Dōngzhì Story offers heartening inspiration for readers in the midst of change as well as the comfort of family love and traditions for all. Pair with making the included recipe as a group to create an eventful story time.

Ages 3 – 6

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1547614844

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. You can visit her at michellejingchan.com.

Listen to Michelle Jing Chan talk about how her family traditions and a trip to Colorado inspired her to write Weiwei’s Winter Solstice: A Dōngzhì Story below!

You can purchase Weiwei’s Winter Solstice: A Dōngzhì Story from these booksellers

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Picture Book Review

November 19 – Family Stories Month

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About the Holiday

Familiar stories are part of the glue that keep families together. The months of November and December, when homes can be full of family and friends for the holidays, are perfect for sharing those stories with the youngest members as a way to pass down traditions, funny or poignant memories, and even historical touchstones. Telling these stories can be especially meaningful for children experiencing the loss of a beloved family member and the activities they shared. Today’s book speaks to such loss, recovery, and rediscovering happiness. 

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

Bread Days

By Hannah Chung

 

For Nara, Bread Days with her father were special. She would wake up early, greet Papa—who was already in the kitchen—and then say “‘Good morning!'” to Paolo, their sourdough starter, before feeding it with flour and water. “One bubble. Two bubbles. Soon, Paolo filled his jar with bubbles.” Nara and Papa loved spending the whole day together, mixing the dough, shaping it into a round loaf, watching it rise, and scoring the top with a design Nara had drawn. Then they sat together and watched the bread bake in the oven.

Text and illustration © 2025 by Hannah Chung. Courtesy of Astra Young Readers.

“On Bread Days, the kitchen was warm and cozy,” and Nara’s heart felt light as she and Mama and Papa enjoyed the “crunchy crust and pillowy bites.” She couldn’t wait for the next Bread Day. But one week when that day came around, Mama told her that Papa couldn’t do it. Disappointed, Nara put Paolo in the refrigerator to wait for the next time. She waited and waited, but there were no more Bread Days. “Papa was gone.” Soon, even the way Papa kept the kitchen began to change.  Nara “missed Papa more than ever.”

Text and illustration © 2025 by Hannah Chung. Courtesy of Astra Young Readers.

One night, while Mama was sleeping, Nara crept into the kitchen, put up all of Papa’s bread-making notes, got out the equipment, and opened the refrigerator to get Paolo. But Paolo didn’t look right. He was sticky, and floating on top was a brown liquid. Nara was crushed. She thought Paolo was gone too, that Bread Days were over. But Mama was up, and she reassured Nara that Paolo would be fine. As Mama worked with Paolo, the bubbles returned. “Paolo was back,” and for Nara it felt like Papa was there with them too.

Text and illustration © 2025 by Hannah Chung. Courtesy of Astra Young Readers.

Now Nara and Mama held Bread Days, and although the loaves looked different than the ones Nara had made with Papa, they were just as tasty. Bread Days were still the best days!

Following the story, Hannah Chung includes an Author’s Note about her father, who turned hobby baking into a weekly ritual for the whole family, and how she has continued his tradition after he passed away

Text and illustration © 2025 by Hannah Chung. Courtesy of Astra Young Readers.

In her moving tribute to her own father, Hannah Chung draws a sweet story of the love between a father and daughter. As Nara feeds the sourdough starter and Paolo bubbles, Nara and Papa shape and score the loaf, and they watch the loaf bake together, the bread symbolizes their love and bonding over this weekly tradition. Papa’s passing may seem sudden to young readers and may need explanation by an adult, but such life-changing events can often feel abrupt and confusing to children.

With changes in the kitchen and Paolo’s development of an unfamiliar layer of hooch, Chung touches on Nara’s sadness and fear that this important connection with her father is gone too. But as Nara and her mother recreate Bread Days and Nara feels the spirit of her father there, Chung reassures readers that, as she says, “love endures in memory, rituals hold us steady, and starting anew takes quiet courage.” 

A touching story about loss and resilience, Bread Days offers comfort to any child grieving the loss of a beloved family member and affirms that their memories and continued traditions provide happiness as life continues on. 

Ages 4 – 8

Astra Young Readers, 2025 | ISBN 978-1662621017

Hannah Chung is an award-winning designer and entrepreneur in health care design for young patients. She is a frequent guest lecturer at universities and has presented at numerous conferences including TEDx and SXSW. She is the also the author/illustrator of The Most Perfect Persimmon. Hannah spends her time both in Providence, Rhode Island, and Seoul, South Korea. Visit her at hannahchung.com.

Family Stories Month Activity

Text and illustration © 2025 by Hannah Chung. Courtesy of Astra Young Readers.

Bread Days Activity Kit from Astra Young Readers

 

With this Bread Days Activity Kit from Astra Young Readers, kids can enjoy their own Bread Day! Five activities, including drawing their own bread design, a crossword puzzle, pages for writing about a special day they had and what makes them happy, and a puzzle prompting them to put the steps of bread making in order. You can download it here!

You can purchase Bread Days from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

August 18 – Serendipity Day

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About the Holiday

The word “serendipitous” was first coined in 1754 by Horace Walpole in a letter to a friend as he described a Persian fairy tale known in English as The Three Princes of Serendip. In the story three young men, having been banished from the kingdom of Serendip (commonly known as Sri Lanka) to prove their worth, travel the world continuously enjoying surprising good luck—or serendipity—along the way. In 2001 author Madeleine Kay founded Serendipity Day to encourage people “to live your life . . . with the belief that at any moment, something wonderful is about to happen.” Let today’s holiday inspire you to pay closer attention to those moments of serendipitous magic that occur each day. They’re all around us as long as we recognize and embrace them!

The Strangest Fish

Written by Katherine Arden | Illustrated by Zahra Marwan

 

Daisy lives in a colorful house on the edge of a lake with water like “blue glass.” She loves the month of October for its golden trees, pumpkins, cider, and, especially, the county fair. After riding the teacups and munching popcorn, Daisy “fished for prizes from the go-fish booth.” She came away with her own, real, strange fish. Despite the fish’s extra fins, leaf-like scales, and big head, Daisy loved him and vowed to take care of him. At home she placed him in the nicest bowl and named him October.

Illustration ©2024 by Zahra Marwan, text ©2024 by Katherine Arden. Courtesy of Astra Young Readers.

In the morning, October had outgrown his bowl, so Daisy gave him a bigger one. The same thing happened the next morning, and the next, even though Daisy had transferred him to the bathtub. October looked like a pile of leaves. Daisy’s brother proclaimed him “so weird.” Daisy, though, thought “October was the best fish,” and when “she petted his scales, she was sure his blue eye winked at her.”

Illustration ©2024 by Zahra Marwan, text ©2024 by Katherine Arden. Courtesy of Astra Young Readers.

The next morning Daisy knew she had to move October again. But where? He “blinked his lake-blue eyes,” and she knew. She rolled October to the lake in her wagon then worried and worried about him all night. In the morning she ran to the lake but saw only a small ripple. Then a snout and a head broke the surface of the water, and Daisy was gazing into the lake-blue eyes of a water dragon. She cried “‘I knew you weren’t a fish!’” and happily climbed on his back for a magical trip around the lake.

Illustration ©2024 by Zahra Marwan, text ©2024 by Katherine Arden. Courtesy of Astra Young Readers.

Katherine Arden’s The Strangest Fish radiates charm and the type of serendipity children make happen every day with their open hearts. Daisy is a dear, and in one masterful scene that is both touching and candid, Arden reveals the depths of Daisy’s kindness: While carrying her unusual new pet from the car to the house, Daisy feels a pang of jealousy for the cute and more conventional stuffed koala bear her sister has won, but, not wanting to hurt the fish’s feelings, she keeps it to herself. “Friends didn’t hurt friends’ feelings,” she knows. Instead, Daisy tells her fish that she will give him “the nicest bowl.” Arden extends such perception to each family member, as well, through lyrical descriptions and dialog peppered with honest sibling and parental banter and Daisy’s loving reassurances to October that make her story a read aloud with poignancy for all ages.

Fanciful and shimmering with breathtaking color, Zahra Marwan’s watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations invite readers to enjoy a nostalgic autumn fair before welcoming them into Daisy’s close-knit family life. The siblings’ love for each other shows up in heart-patterned clothing and the way Daisy and her sister and brother huddle under one blanket as they worry about October together. Marwan’s singular fish is part punk aesthetic, part balloon, and completely adorable, stealing readers’ hearts from their first glimpse of him. The details Marwan sprinkles throughout her pages are both evocative and quirky, and she even adds a bit of foreshadowing (but I won’t tell you where). October’s final incarnation will delight kids and adults alike.

Enchanting, unforgettable, and with an ending that fulfills all of a child’s heartfelt wishes, The Strangest Fish is a story that kids will want to hear again and again and is a must addition to home, classroom, and all library collections. 

Ages 4 – 8

Astra Young Readers, 2024 | ISBN 978-1662620782

About the Author

Katherine Arden is the NYT-bestselling author of the Winternight Trilogy and the middle-grade series Small Spaces. She won the 2020 Vermont Golden Dome Book Award and was a finalist for the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Series. She graduated from Middlebury College in 2011, where she obtained her degree in Russian and French.

About the Illustrator

Zahra Marwan is a children’s book author-illustrator and the 2022 recipient of the Dilys Evans Founder’s Award. Her first picture book, Where Butterflies Fill the Sky, was named one of NPR’s Best Books of 2022 and a NYT Best Illustrated Children’s Book. Originally from Kuwait, Zahra now lives in New Mexico.

Serendipity Day Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-go-fishing-game-4

Go Fishing Game

 

Kids can engage in their own serendipitous adventure with this Go Fishing Game! With a paper plate pond, some printable fish, and a few other supplies, kids will be catching a whole lot of fun in no time!

Supplies

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-go-fishing-game-1

Directions

  1. Color the paper plate blue
  2. Print the Go Fishing! Game Playing Die (optional)

To Make the Fish

  1. Print the fish templates or have kids draw and color their own fish and cut out
  2. Tape a paper clip to the back of the fish or slip a paperclip on the nose of the fish
  3. If using back-to-back templates, cut fish out, put a paper clip between the sides and glue or tape the two sides together

To Make the Fishing Pole

  1. Tie a length of string to the straw, pencil, or dowel
  2. Sandwich the other end of the string between the two circular magnets
  3. Lay the fish on the plate
  4. Go fishing!

Optional Game: Kids can roll the die to determine which fish to catch.

You can purchase The Strangest Fish from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

May 13 – Get Ready for International Museum Day on May 18

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About the Holiday

International Museum day was created in 1977 by the International Council of Museums to raise awareness that “museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.” The theme for this year is “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.” Museums are not just repositories of the past. They are vital and active members of the communities they serve and as such can be leaders in tackling some of society’s biggest issues. This year’s theme focuses on “how museums can navigate and contribute to a world undergoing profound social, technological, and environmental shifts” and addresses three main points:

  • Support for local economies by creating employment opportunities and offering educational programs 
  • Driving innovation and enhancing accessibility by fostering creativity and embracing technological advancements
  • Contributing to sustainable urban development by acting as cultural hubs that promote inclusion, resilience, and heritage preservation 

To celebrate International Museum Day, visit a museum near you—and don’t forget to print and take along the activity sheet found below!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sending me a copy of Sakina and the Uninvited Guests!

Sakina and the Uninvited Guests

By Zahra Marwan

 

When a sandstorm turns “the city orange—the sun like a tangerine, the waves like clementine peels,” Sakina’s mother drives past the beach, where Sakina had hoped to spend the day, and goes to the museum. Inside, Sakina gazes with boredom at the statues of a crocodile holding papers and a blue jaguar guarding the first laws ever written. She nearly trips over one of the many, many winged lions. She can’t believe there had once been so many flying lions in her city. But as they move from exhibit to exhibit, Sakina sees that her mama’s eyes, keep “filling with tears” as they come upon likenesses of her mom and her uncle, a ring she used to have, and other familiarities. 

Sakina can’t understand her mother’s affection for “. . . all of these old, boring, boring things.” But then Sakina stumbles and another winged lion seems to be watching her. In fact . . . “Did he just . . . wink at her? Sakina was absolutely sure.” Suddenly, it’s time to leave, and while Sakina’s backpack feels heavier, she feels lighter, hopeful she will soon be playing by the sea.

Text and Illustration © 2025 by Zahra Marwan. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

At home, it’s nap time, and while everyone else sleeps, Sakina cannot. Suddenly, she hears strange noises and follows them to find the crocodile, jaguar, and winking winged lion crawling from her backpack. Sakina is nonplussed and worried the noise will wake the household. Sakina tries to catch them, but they run through the house, toppling furniture and knick-knacks, knocking pictures off the walls.

As she picks up a photograph of her grandmother, though, she notices how her eyes “were full of life and water, like the sea. Like the people in the museum.” Sakina then helps the crocodile pick up his scattered papers and realizes they are poems. She reads a line: “‘I hope they will remember me.'” Suddenly, Sakina understands. She feels the “thousands and thousands of years, in that little crocodile. Thousands and thousands of years, in little Sakina.” 

Text and Illustration © 2025 by Zahra Marwan. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

With the lifting of the sandstorm and her promise to remember them, Sakina’s guests depart just as her mother appears with a gift from the museum shop—a set of small familiar porcelain figurines. At last Sakina gets her wish, but as she and Mama walk to the sea, she can’t wait to return to the museum and tell its inhabitants “‘I remember you.'”

Back matter includes an Author’s Note in which Zahra Marwin explains the significance of the crocodile sculpture in her story and how people have had and will always have the same feelings—from the times of ancient history into the future. She also touches on the other sculptures she has depicted here and asks readers to consider what kind of art people were making thousands of years ago in the area where they live now as well as the kind of art their ancestors would have been familiar with. In another note, Marwan discusses several particular parts of the book, including the origins of distinct words and phrases, the value placed on education in the Middle East, and her inclusion of two recreated modern paintings.

Text and Illustration © 2025 by Zahra Marwan. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Whimsical and profound, Zahra Marwan’s story of a trip to a museum reaches deep into the heart and invites readers to join the collective memory of their own family as well as that of the world at large. Marwan reminds us that, just as the sea that Sakina longs to visit, museums and even history itself is always alive with the past, the present, and what’s to come.

Children will be charmed by Sakina who, despite her disappointment about not visiting the sea and some boredom, wanders the museum with an open mind and curiosity. Her alertness to her mother’s emotions shows empathy and a close bond. Sakina is also attuned to her mother’s eyes and the eyes of the paintings and sculptures. Children will notice that Marwan has also drawn Sakina with her “mother’s eyes” when the winged lion, crocodile, and jaguar hitch a ride in her backpack and again when they emerge from it at her house, spurring her to a deeper understanding of what she has seen. 

Marwan’s lyrical language, carried on gentle waves of consonance and assonance, beautifully adds texture and imagery to the pages, each of which are washed in gorgeous colors and exquisite recreations of paintings and sculptures that will intrigue readers and spark an interest in visiting museums in their own area.

Infused with depth and enchantment, Sakina and the Uninvited Guests is sure to become a favorite read aloud and a captivating spark for discussions about family heritage at home as well as for classroom genealogical projects. The book is highly recommended for home bookshelves and is a must for all school and library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1547613427

Zahra Marwan grew up in two deserts: one close to the sea in Kuwait, the other close to the mountains in New Mexico. She is a fine artist who exhibits extensively and has won international awards and fellowships, including a New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book, NPR Best Books of 2022, an Ezra Jack Keats Honor for Illustration, a Dilys Evans Founders Award from the Society of Illustrators, and more. She studied the visual arts in France and currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she keeps a small studio at the Harwood Art Center. Visit her at zahramarwan.com.

International Museum Day Activity

Museum Visit Activity Sheets

 

Interact with your museum visit on International Museum Day or any time you go with this activity sheet that gets you thinking, feeling, and remembering your favorite parts of your trip!

International Museum Day Activity Sheet

My Trip to the Museum Activity Sheet

Open Dyslexic Font International Museum Day Activity Sheet

Open Dyslexic Font My Trip to the Museum Activity Sheet 

You can purchase Sakina and the Uninvited Guests from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

May 2 – Baby Day + National Pet Month

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About the Holidays

For today’s book, I’m celebrating two holidays—Baby Day and National Pet Month! Baby Day was established to showcase the importance of a child’s first three years of life and the special bond babies share with their parents, siblings, and the other people in their life. National Pet Month encourages pet owners to ensure that their pets have everything they need to live a long and healthy life. Whether a baby, a pet, or both have found a place in your heart, celebrate today by spending extra time with them and showing them how they make your life and family better.

Thanks to Jamie Michalak for sharing a copy of Hazel the Handful with me!

Hazel the Handful

Written by Jamie Michalak | Illustrated by Matt Myers

 

Right on the title page a seemingly tiny dog calls “Yoo-hooooo! Up here!” from a second story window, inviting readers to come inside and see her true stature. In the living room Hazel, tail thumping, and dwarfed by the sofa, the throw pillow, and even the chewed-on TV remote, proudly says, “In my home, I look big, no?” This pint-sized pup with a BIG personality is eager to show off her home. She points out her favorite toys, her stroller “ride,” and Bea, her “girl!!!”.

Illustration © 2025 by Matt Myers, text © 2025 by Jamie Michalak. Courtesy of Candlewick.

Hazel and Bea like to dance together, and when Bea’s mom declares her daughter “a handful” after crashing into an end table, sending the lamp and mug flying, Hazel adopts this cool moniker herself. Yes, “together, me and Bea are sensational,” she says. Next, Hazel outlines a “sensational day with Bea”—from outdoor adventures like going on a business trip (behind the fire hydrant) to scaring off the big dogs, to showing passersby that she is NOT a cutie patootie but a “Very Important Business Dog.” The rest of the day is spent napping . . . and doing fun things with Bea . . . and napping. Hazel loves Bea and can’t wait for each new day.

Illustration © 2025 by Matt Myers, text © 2025 by Jamie Michalak. Courtesy of Candlewick.

That was sensational day before “the baby moved in, with its “loud noises . . . and stinkity stink stinks.” Now there are no games, no stroller rides, and no “cutie patootie” compliments (those go to the baby), and sometimes Hazel even wonders if Bea still loves her. On a particularly non-sensational day, when Hazel inadvertently crashes into the end table, sending things airborne, and gets a scolding from Mom—”‘Oh, Hazel! You are a handful'”—she hides under her blanket in the one room no one checks. Miserable, Hazel falls asleep, but wakes to hear Bea shouting her name and crying.

Hazel runs to Bea, getting a tight hug. For the first time, Hazel recognizes how like a puppy the baby is and appreciates the pets he gives and the crumbs he leaves for Hazel to snack on later. Hazel’s thinking “maybe the baby isn’t so bad” after all.

Illustration © 2025 by Matt Myers, text © 2025 by Jamie Michalak. Courtesy of Candlewick.

Jamie Michalak has packed her story of a spirited doggie wrestling with sibling rivalry, with humor, heart, and lots of laughs. Kids will instantly fall in love with teeny-tiny Hazel as she confidently introduces herself, suffers the incredulity of feeling second-best when the baby comes, and happily learns that she’s still loved by Bea. Hazel’s eventual embrace of the baby is comically true to her personality while showing a new perspective and generosity.

Matt Myers’ adorable and exuberant watercolor and ink illustrations capture all the sweetness and self-assurance of tiny Hazel’s larger-than-life personality. As Hazel takes readers on a tour of her home, kids will quickly catch onto the event that will soon change her life and be charmed by Hazel’s love for Bea and all that goes into their special bond. The two spreads showing before- and after-baby photos of Hazel are particularly humorous, as is her ice-skating-worthy slide into the table that sets up her realization that there’s room for both the new baby and her in this loving family.

A funny and endearing read aloud kids will want to share again and again, Hazel the Handful will enjoy continuous rotation at school and public libraries and be a quick favorite on home bookshelves. 

Ages 4 – 8

Candlewick, 2025 | ISBN 978-1536231199

Jamie Michalak is the author of the Dakota Crumb books, illustrated by Kelly Murphy; the Frank and Bean books, illustrated by Bob Kolar; the Joe and Sparky series, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz; and many other acclaimed titles for young readers. She lives in Rhode Island. Visit Jamie at jamiemichalakbooks.com.

Matt Myers is the illustrator of the Infamous Ratsos chapter book series by Kara LaReau, Lily Leads the Way by Margi Preus, and E-I-E-I-O: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm (with a Little Help from a Hen) by Judy Sierra, as well as many other books for young readers. Matt Myers lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. Visit Matt at myerspaints.com.

Baby Day + National Pet Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-Peppy-Puppies-Match-Up-Puzzle

Peppy Puppies Match Up Puzzle

 

These puppies want to find a friend. Can you match the ones that go together in this printable puzzle? There may be more than one right answer! How many matches can you find?

Peppy Puppies Match Up Puzzle

You can purchase Hazel the Handful from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

April 30 – National Month of Hope

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About the Holiday

Founded in 1991, National Month of Hope encourages people to bring hope to those in need both emotionally and physically. Reaching out to let a family member or friend know you’re there for them no matter what they need, volunteering to help out in the community or on a personal level, and simply sharing a smile with those around you are all ways to show others you care. 

Thanks to Harry N. Abrams for sharing a copy of this book with me!

Old Blue Is My Home

By Lita Judge

 

The young narrator introduces readers to Old Blue, her family’s faded and rusty-in-spots van, as they wait in traffic, stating that this beloved vehicle reliably transports them wherever they need to go, from town to the mountains and especially to out-of-the-way places where her family can “sit under the stars and eat warm soup before going to sleep.” Tucked in all together, the girl reveals, “Old Blue is my home.”

In the morning, Dad cooks breakfast on their camp stove, while she takes a shower courtesy of a plastic bag full of water hung from a tree. Inside Old Blue, there are nooks and crannies for all that they need, including a “cozy library” full of her “favorite books.” Rain or shine, she says, “Old Blue is my home.” Still, there are times when she yearns for permanence and community. “Sometimes,” she says, “living in Old Blue makes me feel like I’m from everywhere and belong nowhere.”

Text and illustration © 2025 by Lita Judge. Courtesy of Harry N. Abrams.

Going to school is especially difficult as kids shun her unconventional living conditions and don’t include her. When she feels this sadness, she finds comfort and assurance cuddling with her mom and peace in nature. While the family hopes for a “forever home,” the girl appreciates everything Old Blue provides. Old Blue is her home.

Following the story, Lita Judge talks about her own childhood experience living a “nomadic existence in Alaska, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, California, and Wisconsin” as her family moved frequently, following her “father’s work in remote areas” that “led to housing insecurity.” She also describes the “rich relationship with nature” her upbringing fostered as well as the toll it took on her feelings of security, serenity, and community. Judge finally reveals how her imagination helped her cope while also fueling her desire to connect through her creative talents. Judge includes a discussion adults can share with their children that defines various types of Housing Insecurity and its risks, and encourages readers to offer help through their local organizations.

Text and illustration © 2025 by Lita Judge. Courtesy of Harry N. Abrams.

While sharing her personal experience while growing up, Lita Judge’s moving tribute to her beloved non-traditional home connects all children through their common feelings, dreams, and close family ties. The narrator’s honest storytelling is compelling and heartfelt and will draw readers in, inspiring empathy and a better understanding of what many children face every day. Her repetition of “Old Blue is my home” can spark thoughtful consideration of what qualities actually make any dwelling a “home” rather than just a place to live in. 

Judge’s rich watercolor and colored pencil illustrations are infused with warmth, love, and togetherness. Children will relish the realistic portrayals of the family’s lifestyle and their facial expressions as well as the meticulous images of the van’s interior spaces that embrace the family’s necessary supplies, childhood comforts, and cherished pets.

Offering empathy and understanding for those experiencing housing insecurity as well as a touching look at family bonds, Old Blue Is My Home is a must addition to school and public libraries and home collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Harry N. Abrams, 2025 | ISBN 978-1419771521

About the Author/Illustrator

Lita Judge is the award-winning author-illustrator of many children’s books, including Dogs: A History of Our Best Friends, The Wisdom of Trees, Born in the Wild, Flight School, Red Sled, and her illustrated young adult novel, Mary’s Monster, as well as the illustrator of Forty Winks: A Bedtime Adventure, written by Kelly DiPucchio. She lives with her husband, three cats, and a parrot in New Hampshire.

You can purchase Old Blue Is My Home from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review