Abrams Appleseed

April 30 – National Stress Awareness Month and Interview with Julie Koon

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About the Holiday

Stress Awareness Month has been held every April since 1992, when it was founded by the Health Resource Network. The holiday aims to help people identify the stress factors in their own life as well as to assess how all members of their family are handling various pressures. The goal is for everyone—either individually or together—to look for ways to manage their feelings while adding positive changes to their life. Even the youngest members of a family can feel stressed and out of sorts. Talking about pressures with kids and doing simple activities with them can often help lessen the load. Sharing today’s book is a wonderful place to start!

Breathe a Rainbow: A Breathe-Along Book

By Julie Koon

 

Little ones can have big feelings but not always the words to describe them. Without a verbal way to communicate anger, fear,  frustration, and other emotions, those big feelings can be channeled into actions or tears or anxiety. This can be stressful for both the child and the adults who love them.

On each two-page spread of her expressive and accessible board book, Julie Koon provides a concrete, yet nuanced example of concepts like sadness or uncertainty that can seem abstract to young children. For example she offers: “If you feel like a thundercloud” and “If your worries whirl and swirl.” Koon’s prompts can help adults and children talk about emotions in ways that make sense to little ones and even allow for degrees of emotion, for instance, comparing a child’s feelings to a thunderstorm or a rainy day. 

Text and illustration copyright © 2026 by Julie Koon. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

On the facing page she then invites the child to engage in mindful deep-breathing while tracing a uniquely textured calming strip that’s incorporated into a familiar figure that offers comfort, hope, encouragement, and a sense of freedom, among others. These shapes include the petals of a cheerful flower and the wings of a friendly butterfly. Arrows guide children on the path around the shape, while prompting when to “breathe in” and “breathe out.”

The final page reveals the most comforting reassurance of all as a happy ladybug sits with her four little bugs who are all experiencing a different emotion. The ladybug assures: “No matter how you feel, you are always loved.” 

Text and illustration copyright © 2026 by Julie Koon. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Julie Koon’s vibrant, oversized board book provides parents, teachers, and other caretakers with an exceptional reading experience and impactful resource to for helping young children understand and soothe big emotions. As a calming intervention when feelings are high or a go-to that kids can rely on whenever needed, Breathe a Rainbow, with strips that can be cleaned, is a must for any home or children’s library.

Ages 2 – 4

Abrams Appleseed, 2026 | ISBN 978-1419780431

Meet Julie Koon

Julie Koon is a children’s book author and illustrator who loves making sweet and silly books for kids. As a preschool teacher and former school counselor, Koon brings playfulness and heartfelt warmth to each page. She loves helping kids learn positive strategies to cope with big feelings. Koon lives in Massachusetts with her husband, three kids, and two guinea pigs. You can visit her at juliepkoon.com.

Hi Julie! I’m really excited to be chatting with you today! Can you talk a little about your background and work and what prompted you to create Breathe a Rainbow?

I was an elementary school counselor and now work as a preschool teacher. I love working with young children, watching them explore and learn about the world, and emotions are a big part of that! I believe that this early work in emotional regulation will have positive effects on children’s mental health for their lifetime. I’ve always loved doing mindful breathing exercises with kids. It’s something simple that can be done anywhere, anytime, to help calm your nervous system. Having a simple shape to trace while breathing is a great way to slow breathing down and make it more fun. I had the idea to turn these exercises into a book that children could use independently or with someone else, and I knew I wanted to pursue it.

With adorable, vibrant illustrations and different textured paths to trace, Breathe a Rainbow is unique among mindfulness books for kids. How did this board book come together from your original concept to bookstore shelves?

After thinking through the idea, I made a big list of shapes that would be simple to trace while breathing. I noticed a nature theme emerging, and decided that would be a good theme for the book. I wanted the text to be simple as well as versatile, and a little bit open-ended, because kids could be reading the book with all sorts of different emotions. I wanted them all to feel seen and supported. After writing the words, I made a book dummy with sketches and a few pieces of colored art. My agent Teresa sent it to my editor Meredith at Abrams. I’m so thankful that they both believed in the book, and I’ve had the best time working with the team at Abrams Appleseed to bring the book to life.  

In Breathe a Rainbow, you equate different emotions to evocative occurrences in nature or the feeling that an emotion creates without labeling the feeling. For instance “If you feel like a thundercloud” instead of, possibly, “If you feel angry.” As a preschool teacher and former school counselor, can you give parents and caregivers a couple of tips on how they can talk with their kids about their emotions in a way that is validating and meaningful to them?

  • Practice what to do with big feelings during calm moments first. Once someone is already emotionally dysregulated (kids or adults) it’s difficult to try something new or listen to advice. Practicing things like deep breathing during calm moments will make it easier for kids to use those tools in difficult moments.
  • Modeling is such an amazing tool for teaching young children something new. Seeing the adults in their life name what they are feeling and use positive coping strategies is a great way to normalize feelings of all kinds and help children understand what to do with them. Simply saying, “I’m feeling frustrated that I can’t open this jar so I’m going to take a break and use the breathing book. Then I’ll try again.” Kids bank these moments in their brain to understand what to do when they are in a similar situation.

What do you love best about writing for children? What do you love best about being a preschool teacher? What is something similar that you bring to each of these vocations?

I feel so honored and overjoyed that I get to make books for kids! I love the whole process of making books, from creating lists of potential ideas, problem-solving plots, to designing the characters. It’s all so fun! This is probably obvious, but my favorite thing about being a preschool teacher is the kids. I absolutely love getting to know each of them, their personalities, and their interests. I am daily blown away by their creativity and the amazing things they make and do, and the beautiful ways they interact with each other. I think I bring a curiosity and openness to both roles. You never know what the day will bring in bookmaking or teaching, and I feel that I can adapt and be flexible in the moment.

You say that sharing your books with children in person is the best part about being a writer and illustrator. Is there an event or interaction that stands out for you? What made it special?

Every time I get to read my books to kids is so special to me, and I will truly cherish those moments all the days of my life! Some of my favorite memories are reading my books to my own students. Because I’m their teacher and they know me so well, they ask the coolest and most interesting questions! They still talk to me often about making books, and say cute things like, “did you make every book in the whole school?” It’s such a fun experience to see both parts of my work come together.

What’s up next for you?

I have several books coming out over the next few years that I’m so excited about! There will be a second breathe-along book that I’m starting to work on, as well as a few picture books. Dad’s Beard Disappeared (Spring 2027) is about a toddler who becomes distraught when her dad shaves his beard, so they make new beards out of all kinds of silly and fun things. Yarn the Farm (Spring 2027) is about a group of yarn-bombing sheep making mischief on their farm. I’m so excited to share these books with the world soon!

It’s been wonderful meeting you, Julie! Your joy and enthusiasm are infectious! Readers will love this book, and I wish you all the best with it!

You can purchase Breathe a Rainbow from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

November 3 – It’s Family Literacy Month

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About the Holiday

National Family Literacy Month was designed to encourage parents and other adults to read together with the children in their life. Studies show that children who are read to are better prepared to read on their own and do better in school. Cuddling together before bedtime or during special story times with favorite books instills a love of reading that can last a lifetime. To celebrate, plan some special reading-related activities: take a trip to a local bookstore and let your child pick a book; if your child is old enough, visit the library to sign up for a library card; and schedule extra reading time, especially with grandparents or other family members who may be visiting for the holidays. A fun and educational board book like today’s book is a perfect way to get little ones enthusiastic about reading as they grow older!

Thank you to Abrams Appleseed and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sharing Odd Beasts: Meet Nature’s Weirdest Animals with me for review consideration. All opinions about the book are my own.

Odd Beasts: Meet Nature’s Weirdest Animals

Written by Laura Gehl | Illustrated by Gareth Lucas

 

From their earliest years, kids are attracted to animals, whether for their fluffy coats, enthusiastic “kisses,” or silly antics. They love visiting the zoo and the aquarium to see – and maybe even touch – animals and sea creatures from around the world. And they’re always excited to meet new animals through the books they read. Through an age-appropriate short, charming poem played out over eight boldly illustrated pages, Laura Gehl does just that, introducing kids to a few of the earth’s most unusual animals. 

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Image copyright Gareth Lucas, 2021, text copyright Laura Gehl, 2021. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Gehl begins with an animal from Asia and Africa that at first glance might appear like an unlikely combination of an anteater and a fish – the pangolin! Turning the page, readers do meet a fish – and what a fish! “This sunfish weighs a ton.” Another ocean dweller is introduced two pages later: “This angler sees no sun.” Readers will be equally charmed by a turtle whose “neck is long,” and a clever camouflaged insect whose “jumps are strong.”

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Image copyright Gareth Lucas, 2021, text copyright Laura Gehl, 2021. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

In addition to these three quirky creatures, kids get to know a glass frog, a long-horned orb-weaver spider, and a bush baby. Then Gehl tickles kids’ funny bone with a surprising perspective about how beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. Following her lyrical pages, Gehl presents readers with a factual paragraph about each critter that reveals more about the trait that makes them so unusual and where they live. These descriptions are accompanied by a full-color photograph of the animal so kids can get a close-up view of nature’s amazing adaptations.

For young nature-lovers in the making, Odd Beasts: Meet Nature’s Weirdest Animals is an engaging way to introduce them to a few creatures from around the world that will whet their appetite for more discovery. The book would be a much-read addition to home, classroom, and school and public library bookshelves.

Ages 2 – 4

Abrams Appleseed, 2021 | ISBN 978-1419742224

Discover more about Laura Gehl and her books on her website.

You can connect with Gareth Lucas on Instagram and Twitter. 

Family Literacy Day Activity

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Odd Beasts Coloring Pages

 

These odd beasts could use some color! Download and print these three coloring sheets from Laura Gehl’s website!

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You can find Odd Beasts: Meet Nature’s Weirdest Animals at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

 

October 19 – Celebrating the Book Birthday of One Sheep, Two Sheep

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About the Holiday

Is there anything better than celebrating the birthday of a book for the youngest readers? Little ones bring unbridled excitement to finding new stories to love for bedtime or anytime. Smiles, giggles, and requests for “again!” make family reading time the best time of the day! Today’s book addition to those sleepy time snuggles.

One Sheep, Two Sheep

Written by Tammi Sauer | Illustrated by Troy Cummings

 

The moon and stars are shining and it’s time for Rooster to go to sleep. As he climbs the ramp to his coop, he says goodnight to all of his “wonderful farm friends.” Snuggled under the covers, Rooster drowsily gazes out the window where he’s happy to see the flock of sheep gathering in a field on the other side of the fence. “I must count sheep,” he says.

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Image copyright Troy Cummings, 2021, text copyright Tammi Sauer, 2021. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

“One sheep. Two sheep. Three sheep.” The sheep are happy to oblige, each clearing the fence in their own creative way. But then… a chicken hops the fence. Rooster bolts upright in bed. “EEP!” He sticks his head out the window and gives the chicken a little piece of his mind. “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! A CHICKEN?! I’m sorry, but this is a serious bedtime business.” Then he lets the chicken know that he is a sheep-exclusive counter.

Back in cozy sleep mode, with his stuffed corn cob toy in wing, Rooster goes back to counting three more sheep until… “EEP!” Pig leaps over the fence. This time Rooster’s a little more lenient, but he wants his sheep back. And so he gets them. Sheep seven, eight, and nine jump, soar, and dive over the fence. But… “EEP!” Who’s this? Cow? In a tutu? Doing a jeté?! “Cock-a-doodle-DO WE NEED TO REVIEW?” Rooster says. He reminds them that he needs to count SHEEP and they “don’t look the slightest bit sheepish.” (But of course they do after this scolding.)

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Image copyright Troy Cummings, 2021, text copyright Tammi Sauer, 2021. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Back in bed, Rooster recaps where he is in the lineup. It’s time for number ten. Ahhh… can sleep be far behind? Well, the chicks want to have their turn too, so all seven let loose with “Cheep! Cheep! Cheep! Cheep! Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!” Rooster’s had enough. He comes to the door of his coop and tells each animal what they are. Each answers with a questioning “BAAA?” But Rooster sets them straight. Finally, Rooster is ready to roost, but the sheep—now all on this side of the fence—are ready to enjoy the pond, and with a leap and a “QUACK!” one cannonball’s in! What’s Rooster to do? He’s off to dreamland with his farmyard friends cloaked in fluffy white costumes.

Sure to make kids giggle, count along, and, especially, shout out “EEP!” Tammi Sauer’s One Sheep, Two Sheep is bedtime or story time fun at its best. For readers on the younger side of the target audience, it’s also an ingenious concept book that have little ones counting to ten and learning the names of farm animals in no time. Lots of puns, befuddled animals, and an unexpected ending all add up to a book kids will want to read again and again.

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Image copyright Troy Cummings, 2021, text copyright Tammi Sauer, 2021. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Troy Cummings can always be counted on to accentuate the humor in Sauer’s stories (see their Not Now, Cow!, Abrams Appleseed, 2021  and Caring For Your Lion, Sterling, 2017). Here, the nimble farm animals, Rooster’s frantic facial expressions, silly costumes, and clever coop details will have readers laughing from page to page. Cummings’ simple, bold images and typography invite kids to join in on reading and also work as prompts for little ones to proudly share their knowledge of counting one to ten and the sounds sheep, pigs, chickens, cows, and chicks make.

A terrific addition to any child’s home library, One Sheep, Two Sheep is also a winner for preschool and kindergarten classrooms as well as school and public libraries.

Ages 3 – 6

Abrams Appleseed, 2021 | ISBN 978-1419746307

Discover more about Tammi Sauer and her books on her website.

To learn more about Troy Cummings, his books, and his art, visit his website.

One Sheep, Two Sheep Book Birthday Activities

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Sheep Coloring Pages and Dot-to-Dot

 

Little ones can enjoy coloring and counting with these three printable activity sheets.

Sheep Friends Coloring Page | Cute Ram Coloring Page | Sheep Dot-to-Dot

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You can find One Sheep, Two Sheep at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

May 25 – Celebrating the Book Birthday of Whose Big Rig?

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About the Holiday

It’s Get Caught Reading Month – a perfect time to celebrate the book birthday of Whose Big Rig? the fourth book in Toni Buzzeo’s best-selling series for little ones who can’t get enough of learning about tools and vehicles of all kinds. For readers, as summer grows closer, thoughts turn to which new books will be discovered, get tucked away in beach bags or suitcases, and be read again and again. This fun and educational board book is sure to find its way onto all those lists for your youngest readers. 

Thanks to Abrams Appleseed for sharing a copy of Whose Big Rig? with me for review consideration. All opinions about the book are my own.

Review by Dorothy Levine

Whose Big Rig?

Written by Toni Buzzeo | Illustrated by Ramon Olivera

All aboard readers? Get ready to join a friendly construction crew in learning about how to build a light-rail system with all of the tools, trucks, and rigs needed to assemble the tracks. Six big rigs are ready to roll in another stunning, rhyming, information-packed board book by Toni Buzzeo in her WHOSE? series.

Ever stuck in traffic and feeling a bit cranky? Trains can help with car jams by transporting many people at once. So, let’s get to building one! But where to start? With a BIG special piece of machinery that looks like a tube and has a disc cutter, cutterhead, gripper shoe, propel cylinders, and a rear support leg to “build a light-rail by starting down low.” Each part of a light-rail system has a different construction team. So, “Whose Big Rig Is This? Do you know?” It belongs to the tunnel borer team who drill through rocks to make tunnels for underground tracks.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-whose-big-rig-bulldozer

Image copyright Ramon Olivera, 2021, text copyright Toni Buzzeo, 2021. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Next up a team of workers “dig the channels so water can flow. WHOSE BIG RIG IS THIS? Do you know?” The excavator is labeled with all its main parts, and in the foldout the driver explains, “I dig culverts to drain water away from the tracks.” Further along, the bulldozer driver flattens crushed rock to make the ground smooth, the tie dragon crew places ties on top of the crushed stone, the track maintenance specialists make sure the tracks are level. Then the electricians install the wires that will power the trains.

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Image copyright Ramon Olivera, 2021, text copyright Toni Buzzeo, 2021. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

At last, the light-rail is almost finished, but not quite. “Who’s come to help? It’s YOU. I know!” Two children join in with on the fun, playing with toy miniatures of each rig now learned. They build and zoom and use all the fancy tools, engaging readers to join in with their own creative toys and enthusiasm.

Each page features a new step along the way to building a light-rail system. On the left-hand side signs supply a simple explanation for what the machine does and the question, “Whose big rig is this?” to get kids thinking. On the right-hand side, kids see a labeled illustration of the rig. That page then folds out to reveal the answer of who uses the rig and shows the machine at work.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-whose-big-rig-excavator-open

Image copyright Ramon Olivera, 2021, text copyright Toni Buzzeo, 2021. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Toni Buzzeo has dedicated this book “all those dedicated to building light-rail lines that move us quickly, safely, and responsibly from place to place.” She creates yet another fun, informative and well-crafted book explaining large concepts to small children in an absorbable manner. A diverse cast of construction workers explain their positions to readers in an engaging speech bubble format. A sequel board book to Whose Tools?, Whose Truck?, and Whose Boat? that follows the fun, read-aloud worthy, guessing game text.

Ramon Olivera “lays the tracks” with durable pages and detailed, colorful up-close rigs. Buzzeo’s text is bordered by construction-site stripes, the introductory information is presented on roadside signage, and funky details (birds, cats, dinosaur bones and more!) are interspersed through the fold-out spreads. The thick board book pages pop with greens, oranges and yellows as well as visually pleasing rig-in-action scenes. Diagrams of each rig are the perfect balance of simple and detailed for the targeted audience as the parts and their functions are visually easy to comprehend and will add to a child’s intuition on how moving parts can work together.

Whose Big Rig? is a perfect addition to any machine-enthused child’s collection, for road trips, libraries, and most of all—train rides!

Ages 2 – 4

Abrams Appleseed, 2021 | ISBN 978-1419742200

Discover more about Toni Buzzeo and her books on her website.

To learn more about Ramon Olivera, his books, and his art on his website.

Whose Big Rig? Book Birthday Activities

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Let’s Ride the Light-Rail Train! Maze

 

This class is taking a field trip! Can you help them find their way to the light-rail train station in this printable puzzle? Then color the kids and their teacher.

Light-Rail Train Maze Easy Puzzle | Light-Rail Train Maze Easy Solution

Light-Rail Train Maze Hard Puzzle | Light-Rail Train Maze Hard Solution

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You can find Whose Big Rig? at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

April 9 – It’s National Humor Month

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About the Holiday

During April we celebrate one of the most fantastic things about life—humor! 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—and give a few hearty “Ha ha ha’s!” along the way. Today’s book is a perfect place for you and your kids to start.

Not Now, Cow

Written by Tammi Sauer | Illustrated by Troy Cummings

 

Even before the story properly begins, an alert rooster notices some small green leaves on the old tree and announces, “Spring is almost here!” He hightail-feathers it off to tell his farmyard friends. Duck is ready with her garden, Sheep is flying a kite, and Goat is enjoying a rainy-day galoshes dance. And Cow? Cow is bundled up in her knitted hat, scarf, and gloves. Rooster gives an eyeroll and says, “Oh, Cow. Not now.”

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Image copyright Troy Cummings, 2021, text copyright Tammi Sauer, 2021. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Summer comes and Chick, Goat, and Pig are at the beach. Chick dives in. “Feathers flail.” Goat needs a snack. He “chomps a pail.” With an ice cream cone piled high, “Pig is ready. Leaves a trail.” And Cow? She’s all decked out for… sledding. Rooster says, “Oh, Cow. Not now.”

In Fall, Horse knows raking is to be done. Chick munches on an apple. And Sheep is ready with a jack-o-lantern. And Cow? Snuggled into a purple puffy coat, she’s sporting earmuffs and skis, and holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate—with marshmallows. Rooster is flummoxed. “Oh, Cow. Just…wow.”

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Image copyright Troy Cummings, 2021, text copyright Tammi Sauer, 2021. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Finally, it’s Winter! Pig has fashioned a snowy friend. On his sled, “Horse rounds the bend.” And Duck is gliding on the pond. It’s Cow’s big moment. Is she ready? Well…yes…. For Summer! And as Cow sits on her blanket with her swim fins, swim goggles, and swimming cap on, munching a sandwich from her picnic basket, the farm animals gather round. “We need to talk,” Rooster says.

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Image copyright Troy Cummings, 2021, text copyright Tammi Sauer, 2021. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Little ones will giggle with delight, eager to see what Cow is wearing next in Tammi Sauer’s joyously silly story about a cow who likes to celebrate the seasons her way—or is she just a bit mixed up? Either way, preschool– and kindergarten-age kids will love enthusiastically chiming in every time Rooster says, “Oh, Cow. Not Now.” Sauer’s simple structure, short sentences, and engaging triple rhymes make it easy for little ones to join in on subsequent readings.

Troy Cummings brings all the sweetness and fun of the farm animals’ seasonal activities to life in his lively illustrations. To open each sequence, the limbs from the tree where Rooster first notices spring blossoming are set against appropriately colored backgrounds and show signs of the transitions to summer, fall, and winter. Throughout Cummings’ candy-hued spring, sunny summer, fiery fall, and icy winter landscapes, Duck, Sheep, Goat, Horse, Chick, and Pig enjoy traditional fun. And then comes Cow, with her progressively bundled-up attire that bamboozles increasingly exasperated Rooster. The final, hilarious payoff comes when winter hits and Cow shows up in her bathing suit, floaties, and other swimming aids, with a picnic basket to boot. Kids may notice that no matter what the season or what she’s wearing, Cow looks perfectly happy.

Perfect zany fun that little ones will want to hear again and again, Not Now, Cow is a must addition to all young children’s bookshelves at home, school, and public libraries.

Ages 3 – 5 

Abrams Appleseed, 2021 | ISBN 978-1419746291

Discover more about Tammi Sauer and her books on her website.

To learn more about Troy Cummings, his books, and his art, visit his website.

National Humor Month Activity

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Share a Laugh! Word Search Puzzle

 

Sharing a laugh with friends makes a day better. Can you find the fifteen words about laughter in this puzzle?

Share a Laugh! Word Search Puzzle | Share a Laugh! Word Search Solution

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You can find Not Now, Cow at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

October 10 – National I Love Yarn Day

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About the Holiday

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, National I Love Yarn Day was established for knitters, crocheters, and other yarn enthusiasts to share their art and what they love about yarn crafting. Knitting and crocheting not only creates cozy wearables and distinctive decor, but provides an activity that can be relaxing and calming during periods when you just need some down time. To learn more about the holiday, find free patterns, enter giveaways, and learn how you can share your love of yarn, visit the Craft Yarn Council website.

Where Is My Pink Sweater?

By Nicola Slater

 

One morning when Rudy woke up, his beloved pink sweater was gone. Sure, “it was a bit too small and showed his belly button. But it was his favorite.” He went to look for it in his tall wardrobe, but all he found was “TEN tumbling cats.” They provided a clue that went like this: “Follow the trail / follow the string / to find your favorite / wooly thing!” Rudy looked down and saw a long strand of pink yarn running along the floor and down the stairs.

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Copyright Nicola Slater, 2019, courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Downstairs, Rudy spied “NINE jiving llamas in fancy-pants pajamas.” They were so busy eating and sipping and dancing under the disco ball, that they never even saw Rudy. But Rudy noticed the string of yarn and followed it. In the kitchen, “EIGHT prima pigerinas” were pirouetting and having tea. They poured Rudy a cup, and while he was enjoying it, he heard a creak.

He took a quick peek in the basement and saw “SEVEN ski-dogs slaloming on the stairs.” They were all wearing something pink, but not his sweater. Back upstairs in the bathroom, Rudy called out to the “SIX soapy blackbirds.” They answered with same clue the cats had given him, so he followed the string out the window…and into a wading pool, where no one wore a sweater bathing suit. The string continued into the sewer, around a worm, past a little bug, and through the house of “FOUR muttering mice” who offered him cheese and a bit of advice. It led him to a croc-cupied outhouse “but no sweater.”

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Copyright Nicola Slater, 2019, courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Here the string ended. Rudy was sad that he hadn’t found his favorite sweater. He couldn’t imagine who would have wanted it. He was pondering this question when out of the bushes popped “Trudy! His number ONE sister.” She was wearing his sweater and it fit just right. It was true that “Rudy loved his sweater, but he loved Trudy more.” And just then he knew he was ready for the pink surprise his friends had brought. 

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Copyright Nicola Slater, 2019, courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Nicola Slater’s charming mystery for the littlest readers entices them to follow the pink string to solve this adorable whodunit. Along the way they discover a decreasing number of suspects behind flaps and cut outs on Slater’s vibrant and action-packed pages. Adults will enjoy the nods to mystery tropes, including a fantastical wardrobe, a creaky basement door, and a steamy bathroom, while kids will just love all the lively shenanigans going on in Rudy’s house and neighborhood.

Slater’s lyrical storytelling includes jaunty alliteration, humor, and well-paced, gentle suspense that will keep readers guessing while they practice their counting. The sweet solution to the mystery is family- and sibling-relationship affirming. Rudy’s love for his little sister and hers for Rudy shine and will make readers both young and older smile.

An enchanting read aloud board book for little readers and especially for family story times, Where Is My Pink Sweater? would make a wonderful gift and a favorite addition to home, school, and public library bookshelves.

Ages 2 – 5 

Abrams Appleseed, 2019 | ISBN 978-1419736797

To see a portfolio of work by Nicola Slater visit Good Illustration

National Knit a Sweater Month Activity

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Design Your Own Sweater

 

If you could design your own sweater, what would it look like? Would it have stripes? Polka dots? A picture of a puppy, kitten, train, truck, or the logo of your favorite sports team? Use this printable Design Your Own Sweater template and have a bit of fashionable fun!

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You can find Where Is My Pink Sweater? at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

May 26 – It’s National Bike Month

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About the Holiday

Established in 1956 and sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, National Bike Month celebrates all the fun and benefits of cycling. In years past, communities around the country have celebrated with special events, tours, and safety lessons. The month also hosts Bike to School and Bike to Work days to encourage people to leave their cars at home, get fresh air and exercise, and have fun at the same time. While National Bike Month is peddling down, there’s still a whole summer in which to take part in this wonderful activity.

Two Dogs on a Trike

Written by Gabi Snyder | Illustrated by Robin Rosenthal

 

You know that when you open the cover of a book, little ones are counting on hearing something special. That’s just what awaits them with Two Dogs on a Trike. As the story opens “One dog stands alone” behind a wall. But the gate is open and he eyes with interest the tricycle that’s just about to pass out of sight. Someone else—turbaned in a towel and enjoying a steaming mug of coffee—is watching too. As the dog jumps on the back of the tricycle and joins a poodle, the watcher trades the robe, slippers, and coffee  for shorts, sneakers, and a headband and takes off after the “two dogs on a trike.”

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Image copyright Robin Rosenthal, 2020, text copyright Gabi Snyder, 2020. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Along the way the dogs pick up another friend and abandon the trike in favor of a scooter as the follower dons a helmet and roller skates. With the addition of a dachshund wearing a cone and the acquisition of a tandem bicycle outfitted for four, the dogs are speeding downhill while their sunglasses-wearing tag-along sips a cool drink while balanced on a skateboard.

Going uphill, those dogs decide on a new mode of transportation. Ding, ding! Now there are “five dogs on a trolley.” And you-know-who? Yep—zipping right behind them in a sporty racecar. It’s lunchtime and there’s no better way to enjoy a slice of pizza in style then on a train with a shaggy sheepdog conductor. Surely, that follower can’t still be…following. Well, yes and no—and how was that pizza delivered on the roof? From pizza on a train to a dance party on a ferry?! These dogs know how to have fun! Do you think they know they’re being spied on from a submarine? Next they all take to the sky and then into outer space where “ten dogs…WAIT! That watcher, follower, tag-along finally catches up with them and…”THAT’S NOT A DOG!”

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Image copyright Robin Rosenthal, 2020, text copyright Gabi Snyder, 2020. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Now there are “Nine fleeing dogs on a hot-air balloon!” Then “Eight dogs on a plane!” They hurry, hurry on the ferry and speed back on the train! But still that cat is after them on a Segway, on a unicycle, and on a very low, cool bike. Behind the wall and the now-locked gate, “one dog stands alone.” Next door, a towel-turbaned mouse peeks out a little door and spies someone wheeling into view. As it rolls by, the cat jumps on, and they’re followed by…guess who!

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Image copyright Robin Rosenthal, 2020, text copyright Gabi Snyder, 2020. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Learning to count to ten and back should always be this much madcap fun! Gabi Snyder and Robin Rosenthal’s superbly devised and executed concept book offers jaunty rhymes and non-stop laughs to entertain kids while they engage with early math, addition, subtraction and even literacy. Along the way, they’re also introduced to different vehicles and wheels of all kinds. Snyder’s short sentences pop with rhythm, making them easy to remember, and little ones are sure to excitedly join in on subsequent readings. When readers reach the count of ten, Snyder’s clever line break, which, besides turning the story on its head and sending it zooming in reverse, invites kids to supply the missing rhyming word. In this second half, exclamation points replace periods, demanding a dramatic reading that will have kids giggling all the way to one. As the cat hops on the back of a trike with the little mouse in tow, children will eagerly want to turn to the first page again and replace those dogs for cats. Children a little older may like to keep the story going by next putting the mouse on the trike and thinking up their own new follower.

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Image copyright Robin Rosenthal, 2020, text copyright Gabi Snyder, 2020. Courtesy of Abrams Appleseed.

Robin Snyder’s vibrant digital artwork is crisp and fresh and layered with details that invite giggles, prediction, and lots of engagement. As each spread includes one more (or one less) dog and introduces a new mode of transportation, children and adults will find many concepts to discuss as well as many opportunities to count—from the number of trees on a hill to the stars on a dog’s pants to the windows in a city scape and the stars in the sky. Little ones will want to linger over each page to examine the pack of dogs and see which one is added or subtracted. The dogs’ facial expressions—especially as they discover the cat in their midst—is comic gold, and the cat’s nonchalant surveillance heightens the humor and the suspense.

Sure to unleash a joy for learning and to become a favorite read aloud, Two Dogs on a Trike is a must for  at home, in the classroom, and for public libraries.

Ages Baby – 5

Abrams Appleseed, 2020 | ISBN 978-1419738913

Discover more about Gabi Snyder and her books on her website.

To learn more about Robin Rosenthal, her books, and her art, visit her website

National Bike Month Activity

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Dog on a Bike Coloring Page

       

Is this dog riding in the city? In the country? Outside your house? Inside your house? Draw a background and then color this printable page.

Dog on a Bike Coloring Page

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You can find Two Dogs on a Trike at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million 

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review