April 17 – National Humor Month

About the Holiday

During April we celebrate one of the most fantastic things about life—humor! Established in 1976 by comedian and author Larry Wilde, National Humor Month promotes all things funny to raise awareness of the benefits of laughter and joy. Whether you’re laughing at a funny joke, your favorite comedian, a comic strip, a silly mistake, or even yourself, a chuckle is good for you! Today, take time to relax and enjoy the small absurdities in life with a few hearty “Ha ha ha’s!” along the way. Today’s book is a perfect place for you and your kids to start!

A big thanks to TOON Books/Astra Publishing for sending me a copy of this book for review!

The Selfish Sister

Written by David Sedaris | Illustrated by Bob Staake

Stop! Before you even open the cover of this book, lock up your valuables, your knick-knacks, your pets! Batten the hatches for the tsunami about to be unleashed. While the girl you’ll meet may look little, she has a BIG appetite for . . . well . . . for everything. Just ask her brother. This girl’s favorite word is “mine, mine, mine” as in hers, hers, hers, NEVER yours, yours, yours. Ready? (If you think there has to be something she won’t want, you’re not ready.) Okay, let’s go.

This “selfish sister” mines the air, the world, the town, her home. Just watch her work: “‘That’s my watch, my witch, my cork / That’s my croc, my tuning fork.'” Just listen to her woebegone brother: “She took my bed, my towel, my chair / my stuffed giraffe, my threadbare hare.”

When she’s on a spree, stand back and hold your breath (or she will no doubt take that too). “Don’t try to ride her bright green trike. / It’s hers alone, the unkind tyke. / It sits un-used, ignored, forsaken / not pedaled yet, no long rides taken.” I know what you’re thinking: surely someone ought to stop her. But when her father said “‘Enough!'” . . . she held fast, and called his bluff.” So as you see, there’s nothing that this girl won’t claim. But cling to this: possession may be nine-tenths of the law, but it isn’t everything—as you will see!

David Sedaris has whipped up a tornado of a tyrant, sweeping readers into his puckish whirlwind of nimble and inventive rhymes that build into a farcical delight that will have kids and adults guffawing even as they absorb Sedaris’s messages about sharing, family, jealousy, and the idea that unkind behavior has consequences. The surprise ending gives kids and adults the impetus to talk about caring relationships.

Bob Staake lends his singular creative vision to The Selfish Sister in an inspired match up with Sedaris’s madcap storytelling. The sister’s greed and pretensions are right there for everyone to see in her green skin and golden crown as she points and picks whatever she wants, whenever she wants it. Staake’s ingenious perspectives, comical facial expressions, clever details, and visual puns will keep readers laughing. The final pages deliver a satisfying comeuppance.

A rollicking read aloud that pairs two comedic geniuses, The Selfish Sister will enjoy enthusiastic circulation at home and for library collections.

Ages 7 – 10

Toon Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1662665769

David Sedaris is the author of Barrel Fever and Holidays on Ice, as well as collections of personal essays, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames. Sedaris’ pieces appear regularly in The New Yorker and have twice been included in “The Best American Essays.” There are over ten million copies of his books in print and they have been translated into 25 languages. Visit him at davidsedarisbooks.com.

Bob Staake has authored/illustrated over 75 children’s books, which have been translated into over 12 languages around the world. One of the nation’s most prolific illustrators, Bob Staake’s clients have included The New Yorker, TIME, McDonald’s, Vanity Fair, Amtrak, Young & Rubicam, American Express, Sony, United Airlines, Nickelodeon, and countless others. Visit him at bobstaake.com.

National Humor Month Activity

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 The Selfish Sister from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | B&N Signed Edition | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

April 10 – National Siblings Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Today we honor the special bond that brothers and sisters share! Whether you’re celebrating with your own siblings or creating a special day for your children to show their appreciation for each other, today is for remembering and making memories to be cherished. Today, take time to reach out to your own siblings and enjoy togetherness at home!

My Sister, Goose

Written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli | Illustrated by Hyewon Yum

When it comes to dressing, Miranda knows her little sister Goose (real name, Graciela Rose) is a free spirit. But a bathing suit at school? Chunky heels at the playground? A tutu in the snow? Goose’s flashy first choices often leave Miranda astonished. But she loves her little sister, and her little sister really, really loooves her clothes. What’s a big sister to do?

Miranda knows! She gently makes suggestions: something to cover the suit? Goose tries on different looks until one is just right and they run off hand-in-hand to the school bus. A different pair of shoes, perhaps? “But I love them . . .” Goose says, doing a little tap dance, but she admits she can climb and “run fast” in her fancy sneakers. Another great choice! Miranda tells her.

All this dressing up points to something else Miranda loves about her sister: her “really big imagination.” Like when they play “Bubble Queen” in the bathtub, complete with frothy crowns for both of them. And when Goose crawls, gallops, and dances in her zebra costume even though bedtime gets delayed and delayed and . . . . Still, Miranda imagines that “Goose had wonderful dreams about zebras that night.”

Sometimes, Goose’s outfits are so perfectly amazing the first time that Miranda asks for fashion advice. She knows, of course, that whatever Goose chooses will be extraordinary—just like her little sister!

There’s so much to love about Alyssa Satin Capucilli’s My Sister, Goose. No sibling rivalry, no tears. Just mutual love, support, and appreciation. Even though Goose’s first inclinations sometimes leave her big sister flabbergasted, Miranda patiently guides her to find her own more practical outfits. Miranda also applauds Goose’s sense of adventure and imagination. While practicality is often appropriate, one of Capucilli’s greatest gifts in this book is Miranda’s openness to embracing her sister’s quirkiness and joining in her free-wheeling, creative, self-expression. Through the sisters’ dialogue, Capucilli models positive language that encourages instead of discouraging individuality among siblings. Capucilli’s first-person storytelling also emphasizes Miranda’s admiration for her little sister.

Hyewon Yum’s charming colored pencil illustrations accentuate the loving relationship between Miranda and Goose with plenty of shared smiles, hand-holding, and hugs at home and away. Miranda’s initial reactions to Goose’s outfits are realistic and humorous, making her patience and thoughtful help all the more authentic. Kids will eagerly anticipate each of Goose’s outfits, which are all adorable and as colorful as she is.

Full of humor and heart, My Sister, Goose is a joyful portrayal of sisterly love that both adults and kids will adore sharing again and again. The book would make a perfect addition to any library collection.

Ages 4 – 8

Hippo Park, 2026 | ISBN 978-1662640995

Alyssa Satin Capucilli is the award-winning creator and author of the Katy Duck series and the bestselling Biscuit series, which has sold over twenty-four million copies. A dancer as well as a writer, she lives with her family in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. Visit her at alyssasatincapucilli.com.

Hyewon Yum is an author and illustrator of many picture books, including Grandpa Across the Ocean and The Twins’ Blanket. Her book Saturday Is Swimming Day was named as a Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor and Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten! received the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator award. She also illustrated Ode to a Bad Day, Not Perfect, Luli and the Language of Tea, and many more. She was born and grew up in Seoul, Korea. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family. Visit her at hyewon-yum.squarespace.com.

Meet Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Spend a moment with author Alyssa Satin Capucilli as she talks about the inspiration behind My Sister, Goose!

National Siblings Day Activity

Dress-Up Craft

With this easy craft you can make a fun sheath dress for playing dress-up. It’s also a great party activity! All you need is a plastic or paper party table cloth, Sharpies, and your imagination!

Supplies

1 plastic party tablecloth (1 cloth will most likely make 4 dresses) or a pillow case
Sharpies or other permanent markers
Ribbon, scarf, crepe paper garland, or other material for a belt
Scissor
Newspaper, old sheeting, or other material to protect the crafting surface

Directions

Fold the table cloth in half. The folded edge will become the dress’s shoulder. Cut a rectangle through both layers the appropriate size for your child
In the middle of the folded edge cut a V-shaped or rounded opening for the child’s head. Begin with a small opening and enlarge it as needed
Lay the dress on newspaper or other material to protect the crafting surface
Draw and color shapes, lines, figures, or other designs on the dress
Add a belt, ribbon, or scarf to complete the look!

You can purchase My Sister Goose from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

January 20 – Penguin Awareness Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

I’m excited to be a stop on the blog tour for Zenguin just in time for Penguin Awareness Day! Today’s holiday celebrates these delightfully unique birds, a species in which both females and males share parenting duties, and their tightly knit colonies. The day also raises awareness of the need to protect penguins’ habitats in the face of declining populations. Scientists have found that penguins play a crucial role as indicators of oceanic and polar environmental health and the effects of climate change.

The Penguin Foundation was established on January 20, 2006 in Australia to address ways to support projects that make a positive difference to the environment in general and especially for the penguins and wildlife on and around Phillip Island. In 2020, due to social media attention, Penguin Awareness Day enjoyed a surge in interest. Now the holiday is recognized around the world. To learn more from the World Wildlife Foundation, visit wwf.org.uk. To learn more about Australia’s Penguin Foundation, visit penguinfoundation.org.au.

Thanks to Danna Smith and Workman Kids Publishing for sending me a copy of Zenguin for review!

Zenguin

Written by Danna Smith | Illustrated by Sydney Hanson

Little Penguin had lots of family and friends in his colony and he loved them all, but they were a boisterous bunch—always sledding and splashing and throwing snowballs. Even his little sister, Pip, could be so loud! “All the commotion made Penguin nervous.” His heart would race, and sometimes “he got angry like a fierce Antarctic storm.”

One day weary of it all, he yelled, “‘QUIET!!'” but the squawking simply continued. If only he could feel peaceful and calm like some of his friends. “They called it zen.” Penguin went in search of friends who could help him. He visited Blue Whale, Seal, and Gull. Each one had a different method for finding peace and staying calm. Penguin tried them all and with each one, he felt more relaxed. He felt zen.

One day, Penguin heard Pip cry for help. She had gotten tangled in her knitting. She was flailing and squirming, but this just made her predicament worse. Penguin rushed to help. He “took a deep breath in, and slowly let a long breath out.” He taught Pip how to do it too, and when she became calm, Penguin was able to free her. Pip appreciated her big brother so much that she knitted him a sweater, even weaving in a new name—Zenguin! Penguin thought “it was perfect!”

Following the story, readers find four easy mindfulness activities that children can do to recover internal peace when they feel nervous or anxious, or when strong emotions unsettle them.

Danna Smith engages little ones with simple language and sweet storytelling which acknowledges that even the youngest children feel the pressures and stresses of busy lives and raucous surroundings. While young children may not have the vocabulary to discuss their feelings, with Zenguin Smith gives kids and adults a way to recognize and talk about anxiety, nervousness, anger, and other emotions that interfere with enjoying life to its fullest. Smith then goes further by presenting mindfulness activities that are easy for kids to learn and perform to find inner peace both on the spot or as part of a regular calming routine.

Sydney Hanson’s adorable Penguin, Pip, and all of her other sea creatures invite children to Antarctica where, despite the snow and ice, warm friendships abide. Hanson cleverly fills her lovely, tranquil pages with “squawks” and “pips,” “thwacks” and “thumps,” and “screees” and “wheeees” that young and adult readers can have fun reading aloud to replicate just how loud Penguin’s noisy colony could be. Like Smith’s text, this also gives kids a chance to talk situations that bother them. Little ones will love copying Penguin’s moves as he learns techniques for finding peace and calm, and Penguin and Pip’s loving sibling relationship will endear this pair to all readers.

The length of the book is perfect for pulling off the shelf to calm a child who is experiencing strong emotions. It will also become a favorite recurring read aloud to reassurance children that they can have control over their reactions to situations they may find difficult. Zenguin would make an impactful addition to any home bookshelf and is highly recommended for school and public library collections.

Ages 3 – 6

Workman Kids, 2026 | ISBN 978-1523528660

Penguin Awareness Day Activity

Zenguin Activity Pages

Kids will enjoy slowing down and entering the zen zone with these three activity pages that invite them to color and solve a puzzle with Penguin, Pip, and their friends. You can find a Zenguin and Pip Maze, Zenguin and Friends Coloring Page, Zenguin and Pip Coloring Page, Tips on creating a Personal Zen Space, and defined Zen-Related Words and Concepts on Danna Smith’s website!

You can purchase Zenguin from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

November 11 – National Young Readers Week

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Established in 1989 by Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, National Young Readers Week centers on raising awareness of the importance of reading. One inspiring statistic about the impact of reading is that children learn between 4,000 and 12,000 words each year just by reading—no matter which kinds of books are their favorites! When families get involved in fostering a love of reading at home, kids grow up with an excitement to learn and an activity they can do anywhere and that will follow them throughout their life.

There are many fantastic ways to help your kids develop an affinity for reading, including taking regular trips to your library, allowing kids to pick out their own books, setting aside special times during the day to read together, and setting up a library in your own home to show how important books are to you. You can also follow your favorite authors and illustrators on social media to connect with special activities to download, tutorials, updates on new books, and lots more.

The Bunny Ballet

Written by Nora Ericson | Illustrated by Elly MacKay

As music swells and lights dim, a rabbit invites a sister and her younger brother through a hidden chink in the trees to a watch a bunny ballet, where “Gossamer and / featherlight, / graceful hares / glide left, slide right.” They leap and whirl, plie, jeté, . . . “arabesque, then frisk away.” They weave together then move apart. In the spotlight appears “a sight you’ll not forget: / a perfect bunny pirouette.”

At intermission the audience queues for a Radish Razzle or a Carrot Cordial. So many delicious treats! Soon, the lights begin to flicker, and the show resumes. “Proud bucks swing in barrel turns” then prima ballerinas on tiptoe dance, balanced weightless on upraised paws. One seems to slip, and gasps ring out—the sister grasps her brother’s hand—but then she’s caught in a graceful dip.

This trick may seem to end the show, yet the grand finale is coming up. With the clash of cymbals, the dancers appear from all corners of the stage. They thump and jump and promenade, “spinning in a bunny haze.” All too soon the curtains close, and the sister and brother twirl towards home, dreaming of practicing what they’ve seen tomorrow. But now they can only bid farewell to the Bunny Ballet.

Nora Ericson’s musical lyricism sweeps readers away and into a dream world of ballet with her beautiful language and phrasing that holds readers spellbound with all the sights and sounds of a dance performance. Ericson’s imaginative intermission snacks will delight kids before the pages return to the ballet and the enthralling graceful whirl of its finale. As the moon rises and twilight paints the sky, Ericson’s hypnotic farewell to the evening’s wonders will send children off to sleep with much to dream of.

Ellie MacKay’s glorious illustrations—created by painting, cutting, layering, and photographing the various elements—blend vintage warmth and charm with fresh highlights and detail. Her lush woodland offers a stunning backdrop to these talented bunnies as they jeté, arabesque, and pirouette across the stage. The relationship between the sister and brother is sweetly loving, and as they head home with the rising moon, readers will drift into slumber, carried on MacKay’s soft, tranquil hues.

Ages 4 – 8

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2025 | ISBN 978-1419776144

About the Author

Nora Ericson studied painting at Yale University and writing for children at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Originally from central New York, she now lives in Portland, Oregon, with two kids, two dogs, and two cats. Besides reading and writing, she loves cooking, tromping in the woods, and whittling spoons while daydreaming of her future miniature donkey farm. She’s also the author of Too Early, Dill & Bizzy: An Odd Duck and a Strange Bird, and Dill & Bizzy: Opposite Day.

About the Illustrator

Elly MacKay is an internationally recognized paper artist and children’s book creator. She is the illustrator of the picture book Too Early and The Enchanted Symphony, written by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton, as well as the author-illustrator of Red Sky at Night, If You Hold a Seed, and Butterfly Park, among others. The distinctive three-dimensional quality in her works is made by setting up layers of painted paper in a miniature theater. She lights the scene and photographs it to create her unique illustrations. MacKay lives in Owen Sound, Ontario, with her family.

You can purchase The Bunny Ballet from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

August 18 – Serendipity Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

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.

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.”

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.

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

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

Printable Colorful Fish Template
Printable Black and White Fish Template
Printable Go Fishing! Playing Die (optional)
A large straw, wooden dowel, or pencil for a fishing pole
String
Two 1-inch round magnets for fishing pole
Paper clips
Scissors
Crayons (optional)
Glue (optional)

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

Directions

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

To Make the Fish

Print the fish templates or have kids draw and color their own fish and cut out
Tape a paper clip to the back of the fish or slip a paperclip on the nose of the fish
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

Tie a length of string to the straw, pencil, or dowel
Sandwich the other end of the string between the two circular magnets
Lay the fish on the plate
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 8 – National Family Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Observed during the five weeks between Mothers Day and Fathers Day, National Family Month was established by KidsPeace, a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping children and families since 1882. Leading into the school vacation season, the holiday encourages families to spend more time working, playing, talking, reading, and just hanging out together. Having fun or tackling projects together builds strong family bonds and can be a meaningful way for kids to develop or learn important life skills. Today’s book highlights that exciting time when a new baby makes a family bigger—and better!

Thank you to Familius for sending me a copy of I’m a Baby! for review.

I’m a Baby!

Written by Terry Pierce | Illustrated by Volha Kaliaha

There may be nothing babies love more than . . . babies! And new parents? They love babies too! Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins? Babies all the way! It’s this same joy and excitement for babies that Terry Pierce and Volha Kaliaha bring to their adorable story in which a baby enthusiastically shares their day with other babies—specifically, the baby on your lap!

The story begins with a bright-eyed tyke ready to greet the morning! “Wake up, world! / Hello, day! / I’m a baby / all the way!” Out of the crib, this curious kid, accompanied by an attentive kitty, gets a clean diaper, shows off how fast they can “scoot” across the floor, has breakfast, and plays a giggly game with mom and dad. Nap time? “No, no, no!” This active baby still wants to “GO, go, goooo. . . .“

Recharged, Baby’s ready for an afternoon with Sis, a messy meal, and cleaning up—”splishy-splashy in the tub!” Tuckered out, this sweet baby is ready to say “Night-night, world. / Goodbye, day. / I’m a baby! / All the . . . ZZZZzz.”

Exuberant, humorous, and full of love, Terry Pierce’s vivacious rhymes will enchant little ones as they recognize highlights of their day with family. Her jaunty vocabulary invites lively readings that will get babies and toddlers giggling. I’m a Baby! is also a fun way to introduce soon-to-be big sisters or brothers to their new sibling, and gives independent readers a perfect book to share with their new baby.

Volha Kaliaha’s cheerful and charming illustrations not only reflect the action in the story but also include plenty of familiar objects to stimulate a baby’s curiosity as adults or older children point them out and name them. Kaliaha’s baby is darling, and the family’s cat hilariously keeps this new creature company while sometimes good-naturedly taking the brunt of the baby’s messes.

A delightful board book for anyone to share with the new baby or toddler in their life, I’m a Baby! is sure to be a quick favorite for adults and older children to share with their beloved baby again and again. I’m a Baby! would make a perfect gift and is a must for any library’s board book collection.

Ages Baby – 3

Familius, 2025 | ISBN 978-1641709507

About the Author

Terry Pierce is the author of twenty-five children’s books and a lifelong advocate of children and reading. She holds a BA in early childhood education, an International AMI Montessori diploma, an MFA in writing for children and young adults, and teaches for the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.

About the Illustrator

Volha Kaliaha, a London-based illustrator, has been illustrating on a professional level for seven years. Her illustrations are inspired by laughter and cuteness—the quirkier, the better.

National Family Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-sensory-board

Child’s Sensory Board

Toys or objects that provide many opportunities for sensory experimentation and observation stimulate a baby and young child to learn while having fun. You can make a sensory board for your own child using household items and that have a variety of textures, sizes, shapes, and movement. When you create your own sensory board, you can personalize it for your child by adding their name, pictures of family members, and other special items. While you play with your child, take time to talk about all of the objects on the board, what they do, and how they work. Count the objects. If you include words or your child’s name, spell them outloud and say them. There are so many ways to use a sensory board. Even if children can’t yet talk, they are listening and soaking in the rich language learning you are providing!

**When making your board always ensure that you use items that are not a choking hazard or can catch tiny fingers. Make sure that items are firmly attached to the board. Never leave a baby unattended while playing.**

Supplies

A board large enough to hold the items you want to attach. Boards that can be used include: those found at hardware stores or craft stores; large cutting boards; shelves; old table tops; etc.

Sample items for your sensory board can be age appropriate and include:

Large swatches of various textured material. (I used fur, a scrubbing sheet, and a piece of carpeting)
Wooden or thick cardboard letters and numbers, painted in a variety of colors. Letters can be used to add a child’s name to the board.
Figures cut from sheets of foam or wooden figures found at craft stores in a variety of numbers that you can count with your child (I used sets of 1, 2, and 3 fish cut from foam to go along with the numbers 1, 2, and 3)
Mirror
Push button light
Chalk board to write on
Castor or other wheel
Door latches
Door knockers
Mop heads
Paint rollers
Cranks
Drawer handles
Hinges (I attached a tennis ball to a hinge that children can push back and forth)
Pulleys
Paint in various bright colors
Paint brushes
Scissors
Screws
Nuts and bolts
Velcro
Super glue

Directions

Assemble your items
Paint wooden or cardboard items
Arrange item on the board so that your baby or child can easily reach or manipulate each one
Attach items with screws, nuts and bolts, or super glue
Push button lights or other objects that take batteries can be attached with strong Velcro. Ensure items attached with Velcro are large and not a choking hazard.
Set up board where you and your baby or child can enjoy playing with it together

You can purchase I’m a Baby 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

Posted by Kath Carroll

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!!!”.

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.

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.

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

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

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About the Holidays

Hazel the Handful

Written by Jamie Michalak | Illustrated by Matt Myers

Baby Day + National Pet Month Activity

Peppy Puppies Match Up Puzzle

Share this: