April 2 – International Children’s Book Day

About the Holiday

Each year since 1967 Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday has served as the date for Children’s Book Day. The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), a non-profit organization founded in Zurich, sponsors the day to promote a love of reading. Seventy-five National Sections around the world alternate in hosting the event. The host for 2025 is The Netherlands, and this year’s theme is “The Freedom of Imagination.” Each year a prominent author and illustrator from the sponsoring country prepare materials used to raise awareness of books and reading. Rian Visser wrote this year’s message and the poster was designed by Janneke Ipenburg. To learn more about the initiative, download digital materials, and learn about how children can enter the international drawing competition, visit the IBBY website. Today’s story that tells the tale of a young girl writing a story is a perfect example of the eternal power and influence of children’s books.

Written and Drawn by Henrietta

By Liniers

Henrietta’s mom gives her a new box of colored pencils, which Henrietta says is “as close as you can get to owning a piece of the rainbow.” She sits down to draw her own book and titles it “The Monster with Three Heads and Two Hats.” She begins with an illustration of a little girl, Emily, in bed at night. “I’m scaring myself…,” she thinks. Her thought is played out in her next page which shows Emily asking her stuffed rabbit if it will sleep with her because she’s scared of an unexplained Creak, Creak.

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“Hmm…What’s that noise?” ponders the young writer. Her fears make it to the page—Creeak…Creeak…Thump…Crash…Boom. What are those noises, my favorite? Emily asks, her eyes now wide. The Noises! They’re getting closer!!

Henrietta knows that in a good story something always happens “suddenly,” and so she draws a mysterious hand and a mysterious foot emerging from Emily’s wardrobe. The plot thickens and finally the full terrifying monster with three heads pops out of the wardrobe.

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They acquire names from Henrietta’s imagination—Huey, Dewey, and Louie Bluie. . She is stuck for a bit as to how to go on, then gives Emily a question: What were you doing inside my wardrobe? The monster answers that it is looking for a hat. Emily joins them in their search, entering her wardrobe. She’s aghast to find that it is full of…clothes! (The wardrobe had been made in Narnia, the well-read Henrietta tells her cat, Fellini).

When the monster and Emily wonder which way to go, they meet a direction-giving mouse, and the story takes off—even Henrietta can’t wait to see what happens. She draws a huge pile of hats (she’s learned about “hat-o-logy” from the encyclopedia—the printed version!). The creature’s two heads with hats begs the third head to choose a hat before “the monster” shows up. Emily is terrified again—Another monster? What has Henrietta concocted this time? A monster with one head and three hats! This horrible beast suddenly appears and chases the crew through the wardrobe. Everyone is shouting Aaaaaaaaaaa—even the author.

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Emily and the first monster lose the tremendous beast, ask the direction-giving mouse how to escape, and burst out of the wardrobe just in time. Henrietta thinks the story should have a happy ending, and before the monster with three heads and now three hats flies out the window, they give Emily a present. What could it be? Henrietta is so curious! It’s a wonderful hat, of course!

The End

“Now,” Henrietta says, “to find a publisher!”

This classic Toon Book by Liniers is a wonder as it reveals the inner-workings of children’s imaginations and the spontaneous nature of their brilliant creativity. Henrietta’s thought process as she conjures up her story is shown in neat comic-style panels with speech bubbles, while her story is depicted in colorful kid-like drawings and dialogue written in all capital letters. This interplay between the young artist/writer and her work enhances the fun, suspense, and surprise of this story-within-a-story.

Ages 5 and up

TOON Books, an imprint of RAW Junior, LLC, 2015 | ISBN 978-1935179900

International Children’s Book Day Activity

CPB - Comic Panel

Create Your Own Story

It’s so much fun to let your imagination fly! Use this printable Comic Style Page to create a story as unique as you are!

You can purchase Written and Drawn by Henrietta from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

April 1 – Reading Is Funny Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Funny stuff abounds on April 1st, so why not share funny books too? Books that elicit giggles are not only entertaining but contribute to a lifelong love of reading and help kids see the world in a new, positive, and even quirky way. To celebrate today, read some laugh-out-loud books with your kids and find new ones to add to your home, classroom, or library shelves. Today’s featured book is a perfect place to start!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sending me a copy of We Are the Wibbly!: A Tadpole’s Tail for review.

We Are the Wibbly!: A Tadpole’s Tail

Written by Sarah Tagholm | Illustrated by Jane McGuinness

A sweet, pink-cheeked frog egg heartily addresses whoever is gazing down upon the frogspawn with a warm welcome: “We are eggs.” Then they add a little: “We are egg friends.” They become loquacious: “We float and are all very relaxing. It is niceable.” You can feel it, right? Bobbing along within the pond grass? But suddenly confusion reigns. Our little egg watches the other eggs become “longish,” and then—”What! What! What!”—they become longish. And it’s not even a minute later that—”OH MY CRIKEYS!” everyone is “bursting out of the Wibbly” except them.

They try to call the others back, but it’s too late. Despite not wanting to, they break out of the wibbly too only to find that there’s so much more room now and, instead of relaxing, their friends are “water-flying.” They begin waggling their tale the same as everyone else and jet off too, only not as fast. Perhaps harkening back a moment or so to their younger self, they sharply regret the loss of doing relaxing: “We are too OLD for relaxing.” But they don’t have time for such reminiscences since a “hunger-muncher” is on the prowl. The extra impetus speeds up this little tadpole’s water-flying, and they’re happy to feel at last that “we are the same!”

Always exceedingly alert if but a bit behind, the excitable tadpole suffers and then exults as the group and finally they themselves grow legs and arms. They become smug as they watch the others lose their tails “because now, I am the fasterest and my tail is not doing a shrinking!” They dart away, not realizing that they are also becoming a frog.

When a passing water beetle points the baby frog to “the Up” during their search for their friends, they break the surface of the water only to . . . “OH MY CRIKEYS! The Up is BAD!” . . . come face to face with a “furry danger-monster.” But this intrepid frog musters all their courage to “do a water-flying to get away” and discovers “air-swimming,” much to the astonishment of their friends who are watching nearby. The friends are all so impressed that they want to “do air-swimming” and beg to be taught. Leading the way, our newly minted, rosy-cheeked frog proudly proclaims, “Now we ARE the same! WE ARE FROGS!”

A factual account of the four steps of the frog life cycle follows the story.

Who knew kids and frogs have so much in common? Sarah Tagholm, that’s who! As Tagholm taps into the idiosyncrasies of a frog’s metamorphosis, she also reassures human youngsters that everyone grows and develops at their own pace while encouraging them to accept challenges and embrace new experiences. Tagholm’s quirky and playful language bounces and zips from one unexpected development to the next, compressing time into hilarious juxtapositions as the little egg/tadpole/frog tries to keep up. Both kids and adults will laugh out loud at this young hero’s endearing pronouncements and cheer their eventual full assimilation into the group.

Adorable, expressive, and comical, Jane McGuinness’s lovely mixed-media illustrations, punctuated by her dynamic typography, buoyantly captures all the silly fun of Sarah Tagholm’s story while also clearly and empathetically depicting the emotions of the lovable narrator. Readers will have a blast diving into each frothy page to witness the transformation of these little tadpoles along with the snails and other creatures that call the pond home.

A tremendously joyful and rewarding read aloud that will instantly become an often-requested favorite, We Are the Wibbly! A Tadpole’s Tail is combined entertainment and learning at its best and a must for all home, classroom, and library collections.

Ages 2 – 6

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1547615742

Reading is Funny Day Activity

Hop Along Matching Game

Hop along now and help these frogs! Each of these fantastic frogs has a twin, but they’ve gotten separated. Can you spot the identical pairs? Print out the Hop Along Matching Game and draw a line between the pairs.

You can purchase We Are the Wibbly!: A Tadpole’s Tail from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

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

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holidays

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

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

Review by Dorothy Levine

Chickens on the Loose

By Jane Kurtz | Illustrated by John Joseph

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

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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.”

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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 18 – National Awkward Moments Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

If you have kids or have ever been a kid, you know that awkward moments abound, especially when you least expect—or want—them. Things like pratfalls, forgetting someone’s name, and falling for practical jokes may make us feel like sinking into the floor, but today’s holiday actually celebrates all of those moments. Why? Because cringe-worthy faux pas happen to everyone; they’re just part of being human. So today, celebrate and even share those small embarrassments—and enjoy a laugh.

Thank you to Orchard Books for sharing a digital copy of this book with me!

That’s Not Funny, David!

By David Shannon

David (and without even looking at the cover above, I bet you know who I’m talking about) is back! He may be 5 books older, but the years have not mellowed his rambunctious nature. Whether he’s blowing a volcano of bubbles in his drink at a restaurant or grocery cart surfing into the mountainous fruit display, David just can’t quell his mischievous impulses.

The adults aren’t laughing. In fact, they’re telling him, “Not funny, David,” and in response to a drawing on the classroom whiteboard: “We are not amused, David.” But the kids? They’re very amused. And even though he ends up in the principal’s office, at home he’s still got enough . . . shall we call it . . .spunk? . . . to be tip-toe tempted by the fully decorated birthday cake on the counter and to need a peanut extracted from his nose (“How on earth did this happen?”).

As the day progresses, his parents have to stay on their guard. But when one last silly bedtime antic finally brings a laugh instead of a scolding, hearts soften, and there’s just one thing left to say: “What am I going to do with you?”

Fans of young David’s hijinks will find lots to giggle at in David Shannon’s latest foray into David’s madcap misadventures. In his bright, rollicking illustrations, Shannon’s monster-toothed hero (except when he’s trying to look innocent) sends pool water splashing, fruit airborne, and popcorn flying. David’s expressive face tells readers all they need to know about David’s feelings and the impact he wants to make, even if it’s not the reaction he gets.

A worthy addition to a series that’s a proven winner for silly story times, when relaxing and laughing together are just what’s needed, That’s Not Funny, David! is sure to tickle funny bones of all ages.

Ages 4 – 8

Orchard Books/Scholastic, 2025 | ISBN 978-1546123187

About the Author/Illustrator

David Shannon is the internationally acclaimed creator of more than 40 picture books, including No, David!, a Caldecott Honor Book, and his second New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, and four more David picture books. Shannon’s bestsellers include A Bad Case of Stripes, Duck on a Bike, and Too Many Toys. He lives in Southern California with his family and Roy, their West Highland white terrier.

National Awkward Moments Day Activity

That’s Not Funny, David! Activities

Go ahead and have some fun with David and these book-inspired That’s Not Funny David! Activities!

You can purchase That’s Not Funny, David! at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

March 7 – National Cereal Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Did you know that breakfast in a bowl actually began with an experiment that went wrong? Or just maybe it was right! John Harvey Kellogg and his brother Will Keith Kellogg were experimenting with boiled wheat in 1877 when they left some out overnight. In the morning the wheat was stale. The brothers decided to roll it out instead of throwing it away, and they found that each wheat berry created a flake. Boiled corn worked the same way, and from this process the Kellogg brothers invented Corn Flakes, the first dry cereal!

Today’s holiday celebrates all the varieties of your favorite cereal—whether it’s made of corn, wheat, bran, rice, or a mixture of flakes, fruit, and nuts. So pour yourself a big bowlful and enjoy!

There’s a Lion in my Cornflakes

Written by Michelle Robinson | Illustrated by Jim Field

Who could resist clipping coupons to receive a free lion? Nobody, that’s who! I mean, it would be so cool, right? A lion to take on walks, ride to school, and open tin cans—awesome! So a little boy and his brother Dan take a year’s worth of their allowance, make “a million” trips to the grocery store, and start cutting.

But all those boxes of cereal squeeze out the other food on the pantry shelves, so Mom says the boys have to eat cornflakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner until it’s gone—and, oh yeah, they don’t get an allowance until then either. It’s all worth it, though, because they’re going to get a real live lion.

There’s just one hitch—every other kid in town has the same idea, and while the brothers wait for their lion to arrive, everyone else is out playing with their new pet. Finally, the delivery truck pulls up in front of the house, and out walks . . . a grizzly bear?! That’s not right, and it’s even delivered to the wrong house. Well, the bear’s not too crazy about the situation either.

A letter of complaint to the cereal company brings resolution in the form of . . . a crocodile?! The crocodile spends all its time in the bathroom, and the grizzly bear is still causing havoc. Dad calls the cereal company and to make up for their mistake they send . . . a gorilla?! The gorilla stomps on Dad’s car and rips the door off. Still, the whole crew piles in so Dad can “give those cereal people a piece of my mind.”

The cereal people sure are sorry for the mix-up. They make amends by letting the family keep the grizzly bear, the crocodile, and the gorilla, AND the company gives them…a lifetime’s supply of cornflakes! But really, what good are cornflakes? The boys can’t walk them or ride them or even open cans with them.

You know what, though? Mom’s discovered the crocodile has some pretty sharp, can-opening chompers. The grizzly bear can walk forever and even wear a fanny pack. And the gorilla makes a very cool chauffeur. Why bother having a lion when everyone else has one?

But what are those cereal people offering now—a free tiger?! Hmmm . . . .

Michelle Robinson has taken the lure of free stuff to its ridiculous best. With comical flair she aptly portrays the consternation on all sides, from the earnest kids to the flummoxed parents, that grounds this story in the recognizable while also providing hilarious suspense. The silly, over-the-top scenario of There’s a Lion in My Cornflakes serves up the benefits of individuality and drawbacks of consumerism that will have kids laughing at every page and escalation of the brothers’ problem.

Jim Field’s bold, vibrant illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to this boisterous tale. The boxes of cornflakes and clipped coupons are piled high, the boys are excited, nonplussed, shocked, and finally accepting as day after day brings new and unexpected results of their actions, and the parents are perfectly perplexed. Kids will love the funny details on every page that highlight the story.

Ages 3 – 7

Bloomsbury Children’s, 2015 | ISBN 978-0802738363

About the Author

Michelle Robinson’s many picture books include bestsellers, The World Made a Rainbow and the Goodnight Tractor series. Her books are popular in homes and classrooms all over the world, and include Ten Fat Sausages, winner of the Laugh Out Loud Book Awards, and There’s a Lion in my Cornflakes, winner of the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Award.

Her YouTube channel, MICHELLE ROBINSON – CHILDREN’S AUTHOR, is full of ideas to encourage young children to read, write and have fun. You can also download free teacher’s notes and activity sheets at: www.michellerobinson.co.uk.

About the Illustrator

Jim Field is an illustrator, character designer and animation director. He has won multiple awards for the children’s books he has illustrated; including the Lollies, The Roald Dahl Funny Prize, The Evening Standards Oscars Prize and The Sainsbury’s Award. He was the 4th bestselling children’s book illustrator of 2021. Jim now lives in Paris with his wife, daughter and a small grumpy cat. Visit him at jimfield.me.

There’s a Book Trailer in this Review!

National Cereal Day Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-wooden-spoon-lion-craft

Spoon Lion Puppet

Spoons are just the thing for eating cereal! But with this craft you can make a ROARingly cute lion puppet!

Supplies

Wooden mixing spoon
Yellow Fleece
Brown felt
Colorful Fleece or felt
Fabric glue
Light brown marker
Dark brown marker
Hot glue gun or super glue

CPB - Spoon Lion with stuff

Directions

To make the lion’s face

Draw a nose, mouth, and eyes on the front/bowl of the spoon

To make the mane

Measure the rim of the spoon from one side of the handle to the other
Cut a strip of yellow fleece as long as rim measurement and 4 inches wide
Fold the piece of fleece in half long-ways
Glue the open edges of the fleece together
Along the folded side cut a fringe, leaving the loops intact

To make the ears

Cut round ears from the brown felt.

Assembling the lion

Glue the ears to the back of the spoon
Glue the mane to the back of the spoon

To make the bow

Cut a 3-inch x 1 ½-inch piece of colorful fleece or felt
Cut a long thin strip of fleece or felt
Pinch the bow in the middle and tie with the longer piece of cloth. Trim as necessary
Glue the bow to the handle

To make the tail

Cut three thin 4-inch-long strips of yellow fleece
With fabric glue, glue the tops of the strips together
Braid the strips
At the bottom, glue the strips together, leaving the ends free
Fold the top of the tail and push it into the hole in the handle of the spoon

You can purchase There’s a Lion in My Cornflakes at Amazon Picture Book ReviewPicture 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 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)

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Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends

Written by Ame Dyckman | Illustrated by Tim Miller

National Laugh Friendly Month Activity

Silly Balloons

Goofy Faces

Crazy Hair

Bend Water

Volleyballoon

Share this:

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