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

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!

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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.

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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

March 6 – It’s Read Across America Week

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Today’s holiday, established by the National Education Association in 1997, encourages children across the country to celebrate reading and all of its joys and benefits. A love of reading is one of life’s greatest pleasures and begun early can be a powerful force for future success. Celebrate today by reading with a child or on your own. There are fabulous worlds and stories waiting to be discovered!

Baa Haa

Written by Audrey Perrott | Illustrated by Ross Burach

Babette was a happy sheep. Anyone on the farm and beyond could tell you, since “her laughter could be heard across the pasture for miles.” In fact, Babette’s friends all called her “Baa Haa” because she made them hee hee and ha ha, and even guffaw with all of her jokes and antics.

Yes, Babette loved to laugh, and her bubbly personality burst out no matter what she was doing or feeling. When she was surprised, she laughed. When she was “glaaaaad,” she laughed. She even laughed when things didn’t quite go her way. Wait a minute . . . really?

Really. Babette didn’t like feeling nervous or scared or disappointed, so whenever she felt “baaaaad,” the giggles let her escape. But all this laughter and hiding her real feelings was “tangling her insides into a knot,” and the problem was getting worse. Nothing she tried helped her to feel better. Then one day she couldn’t keep her tears from welling up and spilling out. She tried putting “on a big fake smile” for her friends, but she couldn’t keep the tears from falling.

The other animals assured her that “It’s okay if you’re not okay,” and that she should feel free to show her real feelings. “‘We love ewe for ewe,'” her friend Wanda said. Babette began to feel better and was even able to acknowledge that sometimes she did feel sad or mad or nervous. From then on, Babette “let all her feelings show” and shared them with her friends. “Because that’s what true friends do.”

Audrey Perrott’s follow up to Moo Hoo gently and with plenty of humor reassures children that they don’t have to be happy all the time, and that expressing their true emotions is better than bottling them up. Filled with puns, jokes, and word play, Perrott’s story will have kids giggling as they embrace her message that everyone shares the same feelings and that showing them can bring support, understanding, and quicker recovery.

Kids will love Ross Burach’s goofy and kind-hearted farmyard animals. His animated illustrations effectively demonstrate the disconnect between Babette’s mirthful reactions and disappointing or nerve-wracking events. As Babette’s true emotions begin to emerge, Burach’s characters clearly show their empathy and understanding. Throughout the story, readers will have fun finding all of the visual puns Burach has added to his illustrations.

An engaging read aloud with an essential, heartening message, Baa Haa is highly recommended for home and library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Scholastic Press, 2025 | ISBN 978-1546134039

About the Author

Audrey Perrott is the author of Moo Hoo, her debut picture book, as well as nine nonfiction and board book projects with Tangerine Press/Scholastic, including her most recent, Five Buzzy Bees, and A Hat for House with Putnam. An SCBWI Rising Kite Honorable Mention recipient, she lives with her family in North Carolina. You can visit her online at audreyperrott.com.

About the Illustrator

Ross Burach is the creator of the riotously funny Very Impatient Caterpillar series that includes The Very Impatient Caterpillar; The Little Butterfly That Could; Goodnight, Butterfly; and Make Way for Butterfly. All the books combine humor with curriculum-friendly science topics and relatable social-emotional themes. Ross’s other acclaimed books include the picture book Truck Full of Ducks, the board books I Love My Tutu Too!, Potty All-Star, Hi-Five Farm!, and Hi-Five Animals!—named the best board book of the year by Parents Magazine—and the Acorn early reader series Bumble and Bee. He also illustrated Audrey Perrott’s Moo Hoo and Baa Haa. Ross lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York. You can visit him online at rossburach.com.

Read Across America Week Activity

Baa Haa Fun Sheets

Kids will have fun giggling through these Baa Haa Make a Joke and Word Search Activity Sheets!

You can purchase Baa Haa at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

February 20 – National Love Your Pet Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Whether you have a dog or cat, hamster or fish, parakeet, iguana, or alpaca, your pet is one of the most beloved parts of your family. Sharing your life with a furry friend and their funny antics, eager personalities, and unconditional love simply makes things better. Today’s holiday encourages people to spend more time with their pet or pets by taking a longer walk, extending playtime, and giving special treats that show your them how much they mean to you. If you don’t have a pet, but have been considering getting one, maybe today’s the day!

Thank you to Beach Lane Books and Barb Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sharing a copy of Alpacas Here, Alpacas There with me!

Alpacas Here, Alpacas There

Written by Carrie Tillotson | Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri

Alpaca lovers here, alpaca lovers there, alpaca lovers everywhere will be charmed by these oh-so-soft-coated animals brought to life through Carrie Tillotson’s lyrical verses that introduce fact-packed text and Elisa Chavarri’s vibrant illustrations. As readers visit alpaca farms in the animals’ native South America and comparatively recent homes in North America (Tillotson reveals that alpacas were domesticated 6,000 years ago by Indigenous peoples in South America and developed finer fleece under Incan advanced breeding programs but were first brought to North America only in the 1980s), they learn similarities and differences in the animals’ lifestyles—and even how they’re a bit like humans!

Just like human moms sing to their babies, mother alpacas and their newborn crias hum to each other as a way to bond and also find each other in the midst of the herd. In describing how South American alpacas survive the snowy mountains by developing thick coats and North American alpacas find relief during hot summers by lounging in cool wading pools, Tillotson writes: “While winter brings its crystal shawl, / in summer’s blaze they laze and sprawl.”

And kids who are wary of haircuts may be envious of an alpaca’s grooming schedule: “Their fleece grows long. Then, once a year, / the farmers gather . . . time to shear!” While South American farmers follow traditional methods “to trim their alpacas’ fleece with hand shears or a knife, . . . in North America, farmers usually use electric shears.” And what happens to all that cut fleece? “Assorted colors flurry, whirl! / From fleece to yarn, they spin and twirl.” Alpacas fleece is so diverse that in South America “alpaca fleece is often categorized into twenty-two colors . . . and sixteen colors in North America.”

While people everywhere love the soft warmth of alpaca fleece clothing, they’re also smitten by the playful way alpaca’s “pronk and prance,” springing into the air with “all four feet off the ground at once with stiff, straight legs,” a “bounding dance” they often perform at sunset. Having learned so much about these captivating creatures, readers of all ages will agree “they warm the hearts and heads and hands of everyone across the lands.”

Extensive back matter includes an Author’s Note; an Artist’s Note; a look at the history of alpacas in South America and North America; Alpaca-raising Practices; a description of the four types of camelids found in South America; a Glossary; and a list of Selected Sources.

Carrie Tillotson’s enthusiasm for her subject spills over into her delightful verses that will enchant young readers and her fascinating supporting text that will captivate nonfiction lovers. Tillotson introduces facts and new vocabulary with a natural flow that makes it easy for readers to grasp concepts and definitions, enhancing their appreciation for these gentle, endearing animals and the soft, warm, fleecy products they provide.

Elisa Chavarri’s vivid illustrations of alpaca farming in South and North America will bring plenty of “Awww!”s from young readers (and not a few adults, too!) as they meet baby alpacas snuggling with their moms, beating the heat in an inflatable wading pool, and most especially pronking close to home as the sun sets. It’s impossible to resist these alpaca’s tender eyes as they gaze directly at readers, inviting them to join in the fun.

Alpacas Here, Alpaca’s There is a wonderful compendium of facts and lore about these treasured animals. The poetic story is perfect for bedtime or story time, while the in-depth facts make the book a valuable resource for social studies lessons or school reports. The book would make a charming addition to home collections and an exciting choice for school and public library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Beach Lane Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1665942027

About the Author

Carrie Tillotson is the author of children’s books including Alpacas Here, Alpacas There and Counting to Bananas. After getting a master’s degree in public health, Carrie worked as a biostatistician for more than ten years and now sculpts her interests in science into playful picture books. Carrie lives in Oregon with her husband and son, two dogs, and two chickens. Visit her at CarrieTillotson.com. You can also find Carrie on Instagram and Bluesky.

About the Illustrator

Elisa Chavarri is an illustrator and artist working from Alpena, Michigan where she lives with her husband, daughter, and pets. Elisa attended Savannah College of Art and Design where she earned a degree in Animation. She is a native of Lima, Peru. You can visit her at ElisaChavarri.com and on Instagram.

National Love Your Pet Day Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-paw-print-magnet-smaller

Paw Print Magnet

A print of your pet’s paw makes a cute magnet for your locker to give you a paw…er, hand… holding those important messages and pictures. Here’s how to do this easy craft with your dog or cat.

Supplies

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/4 cup water
Cookie cutter (optional)
Bowl
Wax paper
Strong multi-surface glue or hot glue gun
Strong magnet, available at craft stores or ribbon
Paint (optional)

Directions

Mix the flour and salt in the bowl
Slowly add the water and mix the dough, kneading it until it is smooth and soft. Add more water if necessary.
Roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 – 1/2 inch thick
Place the dough on the wax paper
Carefully press your pet’s paw into the dough.
Place the cookie cutter over the print and cut out. If not using a cookie cutter, cut a shape about 1/4-inch around the paw print.
Bake the dough at 250 degrees for 1 to 2 hours depending on thickness of dough
When it’s cool, you may like to paint your paw print
Glue the magnet to the back or make a loop hanger with ribbon and glue to back

You can purchase Alpacas Here, Alpacas There at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

June 12 – It’s Great Outdoors Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Kids of all ages benefit from being outdoors whether they’re playing, helping out with home projects, gardening, or traveling. Simple pleasures and even time to be “bored” spark the imagination and creativity and can help kids learn patience and self-sufficiency. To celebrate Great Outdoors Month, plan an outing with your kids. It may turn into an adventure you never expected!

Thanks to Two Lions and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sharing a copy of Turkey’s Sandtastic Beach Day with me for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

Turkey’s Sandtastic Beach Day (Turkey Trouble)

Written by Wendi Silvano | Illustrated by Lee Harper

It’s the Summer Children’s Festival on the boardwalk, and Farmer Jake has brought Turkey and all his friends to meet the kids. They’re all happy to be there, except . . . Turkey really wants to be on the beach to feel the soft sand and play in the waves, and he’s determined to sneak down there “‘Just for a few minutes.'” He even knows how he’ll do it—by disguising himself as a crab. When Turkey asks for help, Pig immediately pipes up, “‘I’m shore I can figure something out.”

One life preserver, two beachballs, and two shovel “claws” later, Turkey makes his way to the sand. Pig stands by as a lookout for Farmer Jake and reminds Turkey to walk sideways. Turkey is just settling into his crab-costume-turned-beach-chair and dipping his feet in the water when the lifeguard discovers the ruse and rushes to roust Turkey back to the boardwalk’s petting zoo.

Undeterred, Turkey devises a way to disguise himself as a shell, and although he makes it back to the sand for a little ‘”sea-esta,'” he soon finds himself on the boardwalk again. He’s pretty impressed by the surfers, and with Cow’s encouragement decides to infiltrate a group of surfers with a clever get-up using beach trunks and a seaweed wig for that mop-top look. He paddles out, stands up, and is riding the crest of a monster wave until . . . he isn’t.

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Image copyright Lee Harper, 2023, text copyright Wendi Silvano, 2023. Courtesy of Two Lions.

Turkey’s about to give up on his dream of enjoying the beach when Horse comes up with another way Turkey can disguise himself and do a little snorkeling—easily accomplished with the fin from the surfboard and a set of false teeth. And it works, for awhile, until a swimmer shouts “‘SHARK!'” and “everyone bolted from the water, including Turkey.”

Farmer Jake is not happy and scoops Turkey into a fishing net, telling him “. . . you’re fin-ished! Get back to the petting zoo.” Farmer Jake keeps careful tabs on his animals now . . . until he falls asleep, and the animals see their chance to join the sandcastle-building contest. Rooster works the crane, Horse carries an array of buckets, shovels, and sifters, Cow and Pig dig even more sand, and Turkey and Sheep pack and mold.

When Farmer Jake wakes up, he can’t find his animals behind the mounds of sand. But when “Turkey Town” is declared the winner of the contest, he’s as proud as can be. And the prize? They all cheer when the judge announces they’ve won “‘. . . a free stay at a house on your own private beach!'” And they know just how to celebrate. They invite everyone at the festival to come along too. “It was the most sandtastic beach day ever!”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-turkey's-sandtastic-beach-day-crab-costume

Image copyright Lee Harper, 2023, text copyright Wendi Silvano, 2023. Courtesy of Two Lions.

What could be better that spending the summer with Turkey and his friends? Wendi Silvano’s beloved poultry pal is sure to delight fans with another adventure full of clever hijinks and lots of laughs on every page. Silvano’s nimble dialogue is not only stuffed with puns that will keep kids giggling and groaning but highlights the camaraderie among the animals and their quick-thinking creativity. Of course, friendship is the theme of all the books in the Turkey Trouble series, and here—in addition to readers—Farmer Jake, the animals, and all the visitors to the Summer Children’s Festival are the beneficiaries of Turkey’s generosity.

Spending time with Lee Harper’s farmyard friends is always a treat, and the seaside setting has inspired some of the goofiest disguises yet as well as that show-stopping winning sand castle that proves this is one talented group of animals. Harper is a master at depicting good-natured mayhem and laugh-inducing facial expressions all backed by the beautiful ocean and scenic boardwalk. Kids will spy lots of humorous shenanigans on the boardwalk and even a nod to the book’s placement in the series on the license plate for Farmer Jake’s wagon.

Whether your kids are fans of Farmer Jake, Turkey, and the crew or just discovering tight-knit group of friends, you’ll want to add Turkey’s Sandtastic Beach Day to your home bookshelves for sunny, laugh-out-loud story times all year round. The book is also a must addition to school and public library collections.

Ages 3 – 7

Two Lions, 2023 | ISBN 978-1662508356

About the Author

Wendi Silvano was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has lived in Oregon, Colorado, and Peru. The author of the Turkey Trouble series, she has a BA in early childhood education and taught preschool and elementary school for eleven years. She is the mother of five children and the owner of an assortment of odd pets that are not nearly as clever as Turkey. She now writes from her home in Colorado, where she enjoys hiking, reading, and playing the piano. Visit her online at http://www.wendisilvano.com.

About the Illustrator

Lee Harper is the author-illustrator of the books Coyote, The Emperor’s Cool Clothes, and Snow! Snow! Snow! In addition to the Turkey Trouble series, Lee is also the illustrator of Looking for the Easy Life by Walter Dean Myers and the Woolbur books by Leslie Helakoski. Lee has four children, a German shepherd, two barn cats, two pigs, eleven chickens, and four sheep…but still no turkeys. Yet. He lives with his wife in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Visit him online at http://www.leeharperart.com.

National Great Outdoors Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-bringing-the-outside-in-painted-pails-craft

Personalized Painted Pail

A trip to the beach or park isn’t complete without a pail to collect shells, seaweed, sea glass, pebbles, sticks, nuts, or other things in. But why should all the cool stuff be on the inside? With this craft you can decorate your pail to show your unique personality!

Supplies

Plastic or metal pail
Craft paint in various colors
Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating, for multi-surface use
Paint brush

Directions

Paint designs on the pail
When paint is dry spray with acrylic coating to set paint
Let dry

You can find Turkey’s Sandtastic Beach Day at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop

Picture Book Review

January 24 – Global Belly Laugh Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Laughter is a powerful uniter. Sharing jokes, funny videos, and, laugh-out-loud books is the perfect way to bring a group or family together. Not only is a hearty belly laugh fun, it’s good for your soul and your health! Today’s holiday encourages us to smile, laugh, and engage in all the things that bring us joy. It’s also a day to think about and thank those who share their funny stories, fun times, and laughter with us whether they’re professional comedians or your own family members. So celebrate today by spending time with friends, telling jokes, watching a funny movie, and, of course, reading hilarious books—like today’s!

Turkey’s Valentine Surprise

Written by Wendi Silvano | Illustrated by Lee Harper

On a snowy February 14th at Farmer Jake’s farm, Turkey, Pig, Cow, Horse, the Sheep, and Rooster and the Chickens were exchanging Valentine’s Day cards and candy. One of Turkey’s cards made his wattle wiggle with laughter. “Dear Turkey, You are like no otter! From a Secret Admirer” it read. Turkey loved the valentine so much that he wanted to make one for each of his friends. He decided he would write clever messages and deliver his cards in disguise so his friends would never know who their secret admirer was.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-turkey's-valentine-surprise-cards

Image copyright Lee Harper, 2022, text copyright Wendi Silvano, 2022. Courtesy of Two Lions.

But how to get started? The chicks helped him find the “purr-fect” pun, and as Turkey designed his card with a smiling cat on it for Rooster, he came up with a costume that was sure to fool his friend. Hidden (almost) in a barrel sporting wooden ears, button-and-straw whiskers, and a rope tail, Turkey crept to Rooster’s mailbox. No sooner had Turkey slipped the valentine into Rooster’s box than Rooster picked it up and read it.

He took one look at the “cat” who had delivered it, and said, “‘I have a feline that you’re not a cat . . . you’re Turkey!'” Then he added, “‘But what a clever valentine!'” Turkey was disappointed that he’d been discovered, but with Rooster’s help made another valentine and disguise to try to surprise Horse. But Horse turned out to be just as perceptive as Rooster. “‘Oh, gobble, gobble,’ groaned Turkey. ‘I wanted it to be a secret surprise.'”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-turkey's-valentine-surprise-cat-disguise

Image copyright Lee Harper, 2022, text copyright Wendi Silvano, 2022. Courtesy of Two Lions.

Cow’s “toad-ally awesome” valentine went awry too, and so did Turkey’s plans for Sheep’s and Pig’s. Still, everyone thought Turkey’s punny valentines were wonderful. Turkey went home to cheer himself up with his own valentines. That’s when he saw a candy “heart that gave him one last idea.” With only two hours before the Valentine’s Dance, Turkey hurried to prepare his surprise. Before anyone had arrived at the barn, Turkey set up his surprise.

Turkey watched as his friends enjoyed his special delicious treat — complete with a witty message to show how much their “secret admirer” loved them. Then he sat down among them and enjoyed some of it himself, excited that “‘No one will ever know it was me!'” But did they?

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-turkey's-valentine-surprise-dog-disguise

Image copyright Lee Harper, 2022, text copyright Wendi Silvano, 2022. Courtesy of Two Lions.

Everyone’s favorite Turkey and all the animals on Farmer Jake’s farm are back for the most loving holiday of them all, and Wendi Silvano gives kids plenty to love in her sweet and funny story. Fans of the series know how much the farm animals care for each other, and their feelings are on endearing display here as each animal has a box or bucket overflowing with valentines. When Turkey gets a punny valentine from a secret admirer, he’s excited and determined to give his friends the same thrill.

This idea gives Silvano carte blanche to sprinkle in as many puns as the pages will hold. Turns out the other animals are just as adept at puns as Turkey, giving kids lots to laugh about and, perhaps, even some inspiration for their own valentines. Kids will also be delighted to see Turkey return with his signature disguises. But in his last attempt, does Turkey really bamboozle his friends as their secret admirer? It’s up to readers to say yes or no. A few scattered clues may help them decide. The animals’ obvious delight in their Valentine’s Day cards – apart from the dramatic deliveries – shows their sensitivity to Turkey’s feelings as well as their own affection for their friend.

Lee Harper’s vibrant illustrations put Turkey and the other farm animals front and center as the punny valentines and candy hearts are prominently displayed to set kids giggling. Each of Turkey’s silly disguises will have kids laughing and talking about what he made them from. Turkey’s indomitable spirit is one of the most charming parts of the series, and here his desire to surprise his friends surpasses all of his disappointments in being recognized and keeps him going with infectious glee.

Turkey’s Valentine Surprise is a laugh-out-loud, feel-great story that makes a terrific read for the run-up to Valentine’s Day or any time of the year as well as a fantastic gift for that special someone. Fans of the series as well as those new to Turkey’s antics will want to bring Turkey’s Valentine Surprise home to roost. The book is also a must for school and public library collections.

Ages 3 – 7

Two Lions, 2022 | ISBN 978-1542023665

About the Author

About the Illustrator

Lee Harper is the author-illustrator of the books Coyote, The Emperor’s Cool Clothes, and Snow! Snow! Snow! Lee is also the illustrator of the Turkey Trouble series by Wendi Silvano as well as the Woolbur series, written by Leslie Helakoski. Lee has four children, a German shepherd, two barn cats, eleven chickens, and four sheep…but still no turkeys. Yet. He lives with his wife in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Visit him at leeharperart.com.

Global Belly Laugh Day Valentine Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-entangled-hearts-matching-puzzle

Entangled Hearts Matching Puzzle

These friends are collecting valentines! Can you help them follow the paths to find more in this printable puzzle?

Entangled Hearts Matching Puzzle

**You can find Turkey’s Valentine Surprise at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

February 1 – Wishing a Hoppy Book Birthday to Every Bunny Dance Now!

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

I’m excited to be celebrating the book birthday of Joan Holub’s and Allison Black’s newest seasonal board book for enthusiastic little readers. With touch-and-feel surprises and lively rhymes and rhythms to get kids engaged with every page, this is one spring charmer you’ll want on your child’s library shelf.

Thanks to Joan Holub for sharing a digital copy of Every Bunny Dance Now! with me for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

Every Bunny Dance Now!

Written by Joan Holub | Illustrated by Allison Black

If your kids always have the joys of spring in their heart and a jaunty spring in their step, then they’ll love hoppin’ and boppin’ along with the bundle of bunnies, lambs, ducks, pigs, squirrels, and cows who can’t stop mooovin’ to the groove. Even a skunk and some butterflies join in the fun.

Ready to get started? Then “give your fuzzy tail a wiggle. Twitch your bunny nose and giggle. Skip through flowers in your jammies. Boogie-woogie with the lambies.” Think your kids can resist that invitation? Me neither!

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-every-bunny-dance-now-party

Image copyright Allison Black, 2022, text copyright Joan Holub, 2022. Courtesy of Scholastic.

Joan Holub’s infectious rhymes will have little ones jumping and laughing, twirling and peeping – and even doing the chicken dance – as they visit a pond, a mud puddle, a patch of clover, and a colorful field of wildflowers. When all the wiggles are out, kids will find more to love with the touch-and-feel elements on each page that make this a terrific lap-time book as well. However you share this book, you and your kids will want to cheer, “What a great day, bright and sunny. Happy springtime, little bunny!”

Joan Holub’s enchanting romp is the perfect way for kids to celebrate the season of spring as well as to enjoy the wiggly, giggly fun of movement all year around. Holub’s short sentences, punctuated with invitations to join in on the ducks’ “quack-quack,” the pigs’ “oink-oink,” and the cows’ “mooovin’,” will have kids excited to read along. Those who like a little learning during story time will like pointing out or naming and counting the different animals.

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Image copyright Allison Black, 2022, text copyright Joan Holub, 2022. Courtesy of Scholastic.

Allison Black infuses every page with loads of color and vivacious, smiling animals enthusiastic to spend time with their friends. As the bunnies come topside to start the party, Black sprinkles her vibrant backgrounds with music notes and surrounds the animals with charming flowers, clover, and butterflies. Kids will love spying the adorable bespectacled moles who pop up to attend the celebration too.

An exhilarating and charm-filled way to spend time with little ones and get them excited about reading, Every Bunny Dance Now! will become a quick favorite for active and snuggly story times. The board book makes a fantastic addition to Easter baskets or gift for springtime celebrations.

Ages 2 – 5

Cartwheel Books, 2022 | ISBN 978-1338795004

Discover more about Joan Holub and her books on her website.

To learn more about Allison Black, her books, and her art, visit her website.

**You can find Every Bunny Dance Now! at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

November 23 – It’s Adopt a Turkey Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Established in 1986 with the founding of Farm Sanctuary, a refuge for farm animals and advocate for institutional farming practices and plant-based living, Adopt a Turkey Day inspires people to think of turkeys differently and encourages them to symbolically adopt one of the Sanctuaries rescued “spokesturkeys” to help with its care. Operating sanctuaries in Watkins Glen, NY and Los Angeles, CA, Farm Sanctuaries provides homes for chickens, cows, pigs, sheep, and goats, in addition to turkeys. They also connect animals with loving forever homes, where they can live with plenty of space and care. If you’d like to learn more about Farm Sanctuary, visit their website. To celebrate, give the generous turkey and his friends in Cold Turkey a forever home on your bookshelf!

Cold Turkey

Written by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Kirsti Call | Illustrated by Chad Otis

A frigid blizzard blast swirls through the coop, and “turkey woke up c-c-cold. / He wheezed, ‘It’s ten degrees! / I need to b-b-bundle up / before I f-f-freeze!'” Turkey pulls on a turtleneck sweater and overalls, a scarf, hat, and mittens and heads out into the snow. When he comes to Sheep’s shed, he finds his friend “s-s-shivering” and gives him his hat, tying it on nice and tight.

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Image copyright Chad Otis, 2021, text copyright Corey Rosen Schwartz and Kirsti Call, 2021. Courtesy of Little Brown Books for Young Readers.

Further down the path, Turkey finds Chick “all alone.” She tells him that her “‘beak is ch-ch-chattering. / I’m chilled right to the bone.'” Turkey wants to help and stuffs Chick’s crown and tail feathers into his two oversized mittens. Continuing on, Turkey finds Horse, who’s having trouble neighing through his frozen lips, and provides just the warmth he needs by wrapping his muzzle in his long, long scarf.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-cold-turkey-horse

Image copyright Chad Otis, 2021, text copyright Corey Rosen Schwartz and Kirsti Call, 2021. Courtesy of Little Brown Books for Young Readers.

Turkey then discovers poor cow “qu-qu-quivering” and totally miserable. What can Turkey do? He find that his sweater makes an utterly warming udder warmer, and he’s on his way again. In the sty Turkey spies a “polar Pig” with icicles on his snout peeking from the straw. He says, “‘My body’s numb from snout to bum. / I don’t know when I’ll thaw.'” Turkey has just the thing to warm Pig’s cold behind. In a minute Pig is wearing Turkey’s overalls – even if they are a little snug.

Now Turkey “had loaned out all his loot. / He wobbled homeward, cold and bare, / in just his birthday suit!” Although he now was freezing, he thought “‘At least my heart feels warm.'” But his friends were very thankful and they built a roaring fire. They sat around it toasty warm – Turkey in his feathers and the rest in his attire.

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Image copyright Chad Otis, 2021, text copyright Corey Rosen Schwartz and Kirsti Call, 2021. Courtesy of Little Brown Books for Young Readers.

If you and your kids love to laugh during story time and are looking for a new book to share this winter, you’ll want to trot out to your bookstore and pick up a copy of Corey Rosen Schwartz and Kirsti Call’s hilarious story. A perfect read aloud that will get all kids ch-ch-chiming in on every teeth-ch-ch-chattering line, Cold Turkey is fast-paced, full of puns, and loaded with charm and empathy. Turkey’s generosity and the farm animals’ reciprocation adds a layer of sweetness and friendship that will enchant kids. Rosen Schwartz and Call’s impeccable rhyming and rhythm creates a cold-weather giggle fest that readers will want to return to again and again.

Chad Otis amplifies the humor with his adorably chunky animals and their goggle-eyed acceptance of Turkey’s largesse. Cowering, quivering, and complaining, the farm animals look laugh-out-loud funny stuffed into the bits and bobs of Turkey’s winter clothes. Otis’s clever choices and frozen landscape create active, dynamic scenes that flawlessly carry the story to its warm conclusion.

A quirky, hilarious romp in which kindness shines, Cold Turkey would be a quick favorite on home, classroom, and public library shelves. The book is highly recommended for winter story times and all throughout the year.

Ages 4 – 8

Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2021 | ISBN 978-0316430111

Discover more about Corey Rosen Schwartz and her books on her website.

To learn more about Kirsti Call and her books, visit her website.

You can find out more about Chad Otis and view a portfolio of his work on his website.

Adopt a Turkey Month Activity

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Dress Your Own Turkey Activity Sheet

If you’re cr-cr-creative and love to c-c-color, then this printable Cold Turkey activity sheet is for you! Color and cut out Turkey and his clothes then get him all bundled up for the winter. You can even make Turkey some clothes for the other seasons as well!

Dress Your Own Turkey Activity Sheet

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**You can find Cold Turkey at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

About the Holidays

Review by Dorothy Levine

Chickens on the Loose

By Jane Kurtz | Illustrated by John Joseph

National Let’s Laugh Day Activity

Chickens on the Loose Activity Kit

You can purchase Chickens on the Loose at these booksellers

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About the Holiday

Baa Haa

Written by Audrey Perrott | Illustrated by Ross Burach

Read Across America Week Activity

Baa Haa Fun Sheets

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About the Holiday

Alpacas Here, Alpacas There

Written by Carrie Tillotson | Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri

National Love Your Pet Day Activity

Paw Print Magnet

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About the Holiday

Turkey’s Sandtastic Beach Day (Turkey Trouble)

Written by Wendi Silvano | Illustrated by Lee Harper

National Great Outdoors Month Activity

Personalized Painted Pail

You can find Turkey’s Sandtastic Beach Day at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

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About the Holiday

Turkey’s Valentine Surprise

Written by Wendi Silvano | Illustrated by Lee Harper

Global Belly Laugh Day Valentine Activity

Entangled Hearts Matching Puzzle

You can find Turkey’s Valentine Surprise at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

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About the Holiday

Every Bunny Dance Now!

Written by Joan Holub | Illustrated by Allison Black

You can find Every Bunny Dance Now! at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Share this:

About the Holiday

Cold Turkey

Written by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Kirsti Call | Illustrated by Chad Otis

Adopt a Turkey Month Activity

Dress Your Own Turkey Activity Sheet

You can find Cold Turkey at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Share this:

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

**You can find Turkey’s Valentine Surprise at these booksellers**

**You can find Every Bunny Dance Now! at these booksellers**

**You can find Cold Turkey at these booksellers**