March 14 – National Learn about Butterflies Day

About the Holiday

Spring has sprung – or is right around the corner – so today’s holiday reminds us to watch out for butterflies in your area. With more than 20,000 species of butterflies around the world, these delicate beauties are one of the most recognized and beloved natural wonders. Beyond their wow factor, butterflies are an important part of our ecosystem, but habitat destruction and climate change are decreasing their numbers by alarming amounts. You can help! By planting milkweed and other plants as well as nectar-producing flowers in your yard or community, you can create an area where butterflies can find shelter, food, and a place to lay their eggs. To learn more about saving monarch butterflies, visit Save Our Monarchs.

Thanks to Beach Lane Books and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sending me this book for review!

Monarch and Mourning Cloak: A Butterfly Journal

By Melissa Stewart and Sarah S. Brannen

It’s impossible not to be captivated by the creative process. When we read, see, or hear something amazing, we want to ask the artist: How did you do that? The same can be said of metamorphoses in nature. Melissa Stewart and Sarah S. Brannen understand this fascination. In Monarch and Mourning Cloak, Melissa and Sarah give readers an immersive look not only into the lives of monarch and mourning cloak butterflies, but into their very own journal pages full of the research, notes, sketches, and multiple drafts of poems that became this stunning book. Images of papers stacked and taped together simulate the changes Melissa’s poems underwent while Sarah’s painted and rough-sketch images stand side-by-side along strips of watercolor tests and samples of flowers and leaves she used for reference.

Illustration copyright @ 2026 by Sarah S. Brannen. Text copyright @ 2026 by Melissa Stewart. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books.

With each page—many inscribed with the date, time, and wildlife sanctuary or garden where observations took place—young nature-lovers receive an incredibly in-depth look at the very different lifecycles of monarch and mourning cloak butterflies through factual information that accompanies Sarah’s glorious illustrations and is sweetened with Melissa’s evocative verses. Particularly stunning are the pages dedicated to the metamorphosis of both monarch and mourning cloak butterflies.

Illustration copyright @ 2026 by Sarah S. Brannen. Text copyright @ 2026 by Melissa Stewart. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books.

Young naturalists first meet Monarch perched on a purple coneflower at Davis Field on June 12 at 1:15 p.m. Mourning Cloak makes its first appearance on a white oak tree in Harvard Forest at 6:15 p.m. on June 15. While these two butterflies are similar in size and share many traits, their lives diverge in many ways. Readers learn all about these similarities and differences by following each throughout the year as they float, feed, hibernate, mate, and fly away leaving their progeny behind. But leaving their readers wondering is not Melissa and Sarah’s style. Through their enlightening words and images, they show children the eggs’ day-by-day transitions from tiny shell to larvae to caterpillar to chrysalis until the fully transformed butterflies emerge and soar into the sky.

Illustration copyright @ 2026 by Sarah S. Brannen. Text copyright @ 2026 by Melissa Stewart. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books.

After the butterflies take wing, this well-conceived book expands with a section that includes illustrated tips by Melissa Stewart on keeping a journal and Sarah S. Brannen on creating a sketchbook; extensive information that elaborates on each of Melissa’s poems with fascinating information about each butterfly’s defenses, food choices, migration paths (including map), surviving winter, egg deposits and survival rates, caterpillar growth and metamorphosis, and its final preparations before flying. Even the endpapers and title page provide enticing facts.

Illustration copyright @ 2026 by Sarah S. Brannen. Text copyright @ 2026 by Melissa Stewart. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books.

For young butterfly and entomology enthusiasts, as well as for nature lovers, writers, and illustrators, Monarch and Mourning Cloak: A Butterfly Journal is an absolute must. Inspirational and educational, this radiant nonfiction title will be a go-to resource throughout the year and a standout addition to all library collections.

Ages 4 – 8+

Beach Lane Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1665962711

About the Author

Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 150 science books for children, including the celebrated Meet the Mini Mammals, illustrated by Brian Lies, and Can an Aardvark Bark? and Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme, both illustrated by Steve Jenkins. After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Union College and a master’s degree in science journalism from New York University, Melissa worked as a children’s book editor for nine years before becoming a full-time writer. While gathering information for her books, she has explored tropical rain forests in Costa Rica, gone on safari in East Africa, and swum with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands. She lives in Acton, Massachusetts. Visit her at melissa-stewart.com.

About the Illustrator

Sarah S. Brannen is an award-winning author and illustrator of more than twenty books for children. Her authored works include the groundbreaking Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, illustrated by Lucia Soto, and her illustrated works include Melissa Stewart’s Sibert Honor book Summertime Sleepers. Sarah lives in Massachusetts. Visit her at sarahbrannen.com.

National Learn about Butterflies Day Activity

Chrysalis to Butterfly Craft

Make your own chrysalis and watch your butterflies emerge! Color your own butterflies and fold them into their own chrysalises. Once placed in the water, the butterflies will transform.

Supplies

Printable Butterfly Template
Paper
Markers/Crayons
Scissors
Shallow pan filled with water

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-the-very-impatient-caterpillar-craft-2

Directions

Print the butterfly template
Color butterflies
Cut butterflies out. Be sure to snip in between the wings
Gently fold butterflies. Do not fold hard or crease them, otherwise they will not unfold
Place in the shallow pan in water. Butterflies will open up on their own!

You can purchase Monarch and Mourning Cloak: A Butterfly Journal from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

March 6 – National Women’s History Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Women have been inventing, discovering, questioning, challenging, and changing the world just as long as men have—but often without recognition, the ability to take jobs in their fields of expertise, or equal (or even any) pay. Established by the United States Congress in 1987, National Women’s History Month serves to educate people on the amazing women who have blazed trails in the past and those who are continuing that tradition today.

This year’s theme is Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future and encompasses a wide understanding of sustainability, including climate change, economic and financial sustainability, community resilience, healthcare disparities, leadership succession, intergenerational equity, and threats to democratic participation. In all these areas, women are at the forefront of sustainable transformation that will carry us into a supportive future for all. To learn more visit the National Women’s History Alliance website.

Thanks to Beach Lane Books and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sending me this book!

Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery

Written by Jane Kurtz | Illustrated by Giselle Potter

In the early 1800s, when Mary Morland was a child, girls were seen as “dainty, delicate decorations” who embroidered, arranged flowers, and played with dolls. Mary Morland had other ideas. From the first page, Jane Kurtz allies readers with the spirited Mary through cleverly posed questions that contrast the stifling conventions of her time with the freedoms of today: “Did [Mary] perch on her chair like a prim little miss?” Kurtz posits. “Well what would you do if the whole world was waiting outside? Mary tromped around, exploring. Wouldn’t you?”

“Of course!” kids will say, and off they go, following Mary as, following the death of her mother, her father sends her to live with family friends who encourage her curiosity and teach her to study nature and fossils. From there readers view her drawings of “everything that fascinated her,” and discover that instead of calling herself a “cork-brain” and spending mannerly afternoons sipping tea in a fancy hat, Mary tooled around in her donkey-pulled carriage to “collect shells and fossils.”

Did teenage Mary keep her discoveries to herself? No! She corresponded with Georges Cuvier, a famous French scientist, impressing him with the drawings and specimens she sent. And instead of trying to find a husband, Mary spent her time with old fossils, labeling and mending them. Then one day, she did meet the man she would marry: William Buckland, England’s best fossilist. In fact, it was he who had theorized that a collection of bones had come from a “giant land reptile,” named it Megalosaurus (before the word dinosaur was even created), and asked Mary to draw them for an important meeting of England’s geologists.

After Mary and William were married, did she give up drawing and studying to keep a tidy house? Not at all! She kept exploring, writing, and drawing. She helped William turn his work into books—with her illustrations—and served as a curator for his collections of fossils. And, oh yes! She raised and taught their nine children and welcomed a menagerie of creatures—including a pony her the kids rode around the dining room—into their home! You might wonder: after all this, “did William say, ‘I am so fortunate that my wife is not a cork-brain?'” or acknowledge her contributions on his papers? Well, this was a time when women could not vote, own property, or go to college. So, what do you think? But that didn’t stop Mary from learning and using her gifts wherever she could throughout her life.

Back matter includes an Author’s Note highlighting other women intrinsic to the discovery and understanding of dinosaurs as well as how scientists came to accept that dinosaurs once existed, further resources for young readers, and a selection of resources.

Jane Kurtz combines pluck, humor, and illuminating cultural mores of the past to weave an absorbing biography of Mary Morland, a brilliant paleontologist, writer, and illustrator with whom children will immediately connect. Mary’s personality and intelligence shine from each page, drawing children not only into her life, but into this incredible time of scientific discovery. Readers will be inspired by Mary’s example of self-confidence to set their own path, buck the norm, and prevail over obstacles on their way to success.

Giselle Potter’s illustrations are always a delight, and here she perfectly captures Mary Morland’s singular affinity for exploration, scientific thought, and illustration. In her folk art, watercolor paintings, Potter recreates the fashions, transportation, and traditions of the 1800s as well as Morland’s and her husband’s work. Readers will envy Mary’s children when they get a glimpse of the rambunctious Buckland home. In several instances, Mary’s and William’s facial expressions eloquently (and comically) reveal their innermost thoughts.

Biographical storytelling at its best, Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery will captivate children with its verve and beauty. The book is a must for classroom, school, and public libraries and will become a favorite on home bookshelves as well.

Ages 4 – 8

Beach Lane Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1665955546

Jane Kurtz was born in Portland, Oregon, but spent most of her childhood in Ethiopia. Jane speaks about being an author at schools and conferences and helped start Ethiopia Reads (EthiopiaReads.org), a nonprofit that has opened the first libraries for children in Ethiopia. She is the author of many books for children, including The Bone Wars, illustrated by Alexander Vidal; What Do They Do with All that Poo?, illustrated by Allison Black; Do Kangaroos Wear Seat Belts?, illustrated by Jane Manning; Anna Was Here; Clara the Triumphant Rhinoceros, illustrated by Claire Messer; and the American Girl book Lanie. You can visit her to learn more at janekurtz.com.

Giselle Potter has illustrated many books, including Once Upon a Fairy Tale House by Mary Lyn Ray, Try It! by Mara Rockliff, All by Himself? by Elana K. Arnold, and Kate and the Beanstalk by Mary Pope Osborne, as well as her own Tell Me What to Dream About, This Is My Dollhouse, and The Year I Didn’t Go to School, about traveling through Italy with her parents’ puppet troupe when she was eight. She lives in Rosendale, New York, with her husband and two daughters. Visit her at gisellepotter.com.

National Women’s History Month Activity

Women’s History Month Coloring Page

Celebrate Women’s History Month with this coloring page! In the letters write the names of women from history and today that you admire!

Women’s History Month Coloring Page

You can purchase Mary Morland in the Time of Dinosaur Discovery from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

February 4 – World Read Aloud Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

Version 1.0.0

About the Holiday

World Read Aloud Day, founded in 2010 by global non-profit LitWorld, encourages adults to read aloud to children not only today but every day. Reading aloud to children from birth is one of the best ways to promote language development, improve literacy, and enjoy bonding time together. Millions of people celebrate today’s holiday all across the United States and in more than one hundred countries around the world. Special events are held in schools, libraries, bookstores, homes, and communities, and authors and illustrators hold readings and visit classrooms in person and virtually. To learn more about World Read Aloud Day, visit LitWorld and check out their Activity Hub to find live events, virtual read alouds, downloadable bookmarks, posters, games, and more!

Thank you to Beach Lane Books and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sending me this book for review!

You and I Are Stars and Night

Written by Kate Hosford | Illustrated by Richard Jones

In a seaside village cloaked in slumber, a mother and child hear the call of the wind inviting them to abandon bath time and sail away to a whimsical island. Together, as one, they face and leave behind the day’s waves and “every tentacle and tail” that might hamper a peaceful sleep. The mother assures the child: “You and I are boat and sail.”

On the island the sun is shining and the sea is calm. The pair enjoy a picnic lunch on a solitary dune. Afterwards, they swim, meeting baby mermaids then play in a colorful forest where a family of white tigers looks on and a dove delivers red caps to tiny gnomes. The two dart behind trees, and the mother chimes, “Where did you go? You were just here! / I closed my eyes and didn’t peek. / You and I are hide and seek.”

They fly over the island seeing a castle and a windmill high on a frozen rock. The mother challenges her child to “find the trail that leads below / to where the fisherwomen go. / Race me down the mountainside. / You and I are slip and slide.” Here, their sailboat is waiting, and as the child steers and the mother navigates, they make their way home again. Snuggled into bed, they read together before sailing into the world of dreams. The mother says, “I’ll wrap you up and hold you tight . . . / You and I are stars and night.”

Whenever you cuddle up with your child, you feel it—that perfect fit created from love and understanding, and shared experiences, hopes, and dreams. In her moving story, Kate Hosford expresses this deep and unbreakable connection between mother and child using an easy-flowing rhyme scheme, innovative metaphorical settings, and familiar complementary words and phrases. Whimsy, the concrete, and hints of the future meld together in Hosford’s gorgeous storytelling that may bring a joyful tear to adult’s eyes while assuring children of how much they’re loved.

Richard Jones’ breathtaking acrylic and watercolor illustrations are soft and dreamlike, upending bath time when the tub becomes a sailboat and floats through an almost-invisible window on a wave that also carries a table, and the child’s clothes, shoes, and toys along on an adventure. Wispy dragons, toys come to life, frolicking wildlife, charming seaside scenes, and the comfort of home all combine to create a reading experience children and adults will want to visit again and again. Kids will especially like finding the child’s toys and other images reappearing among the pages.

A touching and luminescent read aloud that will immediately become a favorite, You and I Are Stars and Night is a must for libraries and any home collection. The book would also make a much-loved gift.

Ages 4 – 8

Beach Lane Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1665940382

Kate Hosford is the author of seven picture books and two poetry collections, garnering accolades such as being named an American Library Association Notable Book, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, a Junior Library Guild Selection, and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. Her books have been published in eight languages. She is a graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts where she earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults. Kate lives in Brooklyn with her family. Visit her at khosford.com.

Richard Jones has been living and working in Devon, England, for more than twenty years. He spent several years working in a busy children’s library, issuing and shelving other artists’ picture books before one day wondering if it wasn’t about time he had a proper go at creating one or two himself! Richard has written and illustrated many picture books, including Wondering Around by Meg Fleming, The Snow Lion by Jim Helmore, Quiet by Tom Percival, and You and I Are Stars and Night by Kate Hosford. Visit him at paintedmouse.com.

World Read Aloud Day Activity

You and I Are Stars and Night Activity Guide

Kids will have fun rhyming, drawing, using their imagination, and making friendship bracelets with this Activity Guide! You can download it from Kate Hosford’s website here!

You can purchase You and I Are Stars and Night from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

November 6 – Children’s Book Week

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy program in the United States, going back to 1913, when Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, proposed the holiday. The date of the celebration has bounced around a bit, from November to May and then quickly becoming a twice-a-year event in November and May in 2018. Organized by Every Child a Reader, Children Book Week’s theme for 2025 is “An Ocean of Stories.” This theme celebrates the “vast, collective ocean populated by the stories we read, share, and tell.” To learn more about this literary holiday, visit Every Child a Reader to find out more about the week and discover lots of resources, including bookmarks and activities to download.

Thank you to Beach Lane Books and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy of this book for review!

The Elevator on 74th Street

Written by Laura Gehl | Illustrated by Yas Imamura

Ellie the elevator loved all of the tenants in her building and treated each person with special care, for instance she played “her music louder for Mrs. Sanchez who was deaf in one ear,” and held the doors open extra long for Mr. Chen who used a cane. She did, however, have a “soft spot for Thea,” whose first day home from the hospital as a baby was Ellie’s first day in the building.

Ellie had watched Thea grow up, so when her best friend had to move away, Ellie wanted to make her feel better. She tried playing her favorite song over and over and “lit up her buttons to form a T.” While these kind gestures helped, Thea was still sad. Then one day a new family moved in with a girl Thea’s age named Claire. Ellie hoped they would connect, but it never happened.

When Thea found Claire’s favorite hat in the lobby, Ellie took her to the right floor to return it. That started them talking. In only a few weeks, they were practicing dance moves together, wearing the same outfit, telling jokes, and sharing good news and bad. Ellie was excited to see their burgeoning friendship, even if they didn’t notice her part in it.

But they did. In fact, Thea and Claire decided to throw a party for Ellie. They decorated her interior and her doorway, and the tenants gathered in the lobby to listen to music, dance, and celebrate. Ellie couldn’t help but love her job even more.

Laura Gehl’s delightful story is made all the more enchanting for its unique setting and sweet, caring main character. Gehl captures the vibe of a diverse apartment-building community as Ellie notices the needs of each tenant and loves everyone who steps inside her doors. Her special bond with Thea will charm readers as they watch her find a new friend and celebrate Ellie’s part in it. Children who live in apartment-style buildings or condos will love the representation here, and those who just love elevators (what child doesn’t love pushing the buttons?) will also find much to enjoy in Gehl’s book.

Yas Imamura populates her art deco apartment building with a pleasing array of personalities and ages. Kids will have fun catching sight of various tenants multiple times throughout the story and watching Thea and Claire’s friendship blossom from not noticing each other to besties. The star of the show, though, is Ellie, and she’s a dear with her sprightly blue edifice, filigree button cover, expressive eyes, and row of floor numbers that curve into a smile when she’s especially happy. Readers may even enjoy making up stories for all of the building’s tenants!

An adorable book about kindness and making friends amongst the flair of city living, The Elevator on 74th Street should be going up on your picture book shelves!

Ages 4 – 8

Beach Lane Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1665905077

About the Author

Laura Gehl is the author of One Big Pair of Underwear, Cat Has a Plan, Goat Wants to Eat, Pig Makes Art, Dog Can Hide, Cat Sees Snow, Frog Can Hop, Snow Is…, You’re the Sprinkles on My Ice Cream, You’re the Pumpkin in My Pie, and The Elevator on 74th Street. She lives with her husband and their four kids in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Visit her online at LauraGehl.com.

About the Illustrator

Yas Imamura is an Asian American illustrator living in Portland, Oregon. Her works include collaborations with Anthropologie and Sanrio, as well as her growing list of children’s books such as Can You Imagine? by Lisa Tolin and The Elevator on 74th Street by Laura Gehl. Her preferred materials are gouache and watercolor and she often finds herself drawn to projects that are playful, mysterious, and a little offbeat.

Children’s Book Week Activity

Children’s Book Week Coloring Page

Download and print this An Ocean of Stories coloring page of the official 2025 Children’s Book Week poster by author Julie Flett. You can find more coloring pages as well as bookmarks to print from Every Child a Reader here.

You can purchase The Elevator on 74th Street from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

August 29 – Happiness Happens Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Happiness Happens Month reminds us that happiness doesn’t have to be something we plan for or spend money on. In fact paying attention to those little moments during each day, going on spontaneous outings with friends or family, or taking time to do a favorite activity may be all you need to feel happier every day! With summer coming to a close and school starting again, it’s a great time to reflect on the fun you’ve had over the past months and all the memories that are about to be made as another year of activities, education, new friendships, and excitement unfolds. Happiness really does come to you if you look for it and let it happen!

An Abundance of Light: a Story of Matisse in Morocco

By Lauren Stringer

As Paris endured a cold and rainy season, Henri Matisse suffered. How could he paint light and colors when he was surrounded by gray? His friend Albert Marquet suggested he visit Tangier, Morocco, “where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea.” There, he said, “the sunlight was abundant!” Henri packed up all of his supplies and made the trip. But it seemed Henri had brought the rainy weather with him. He tried to paint colorful irises and a basket of oranges and lemons, but he still felt gloomy and trapped.

Then one night while Henri slept, the rain stopped. In the morning he woke to ” . . . an abundance of light. A luminous light. A dazzling light.” Henri took his sketchbook and hurried into town, where color shimmered from the pink mosque to the vibrant Grand Socco market to the Casbah gateway to old Medina. Everywhere he looked he saw the vividness of life. Brightly patterned rugs and painted pottery reminded him of the art his grandparents and mother created in their drab town. “Henri felt a glimmer in the cloudy and dark.”

Henri found a large garden to paint in and began painting the lavender branches, green acanthus, blue periwinkles and “pink-tomato sky” he saw. Despite his “bright and bold” colors, he still felt something cloudy and dark. Then one day, following the music of fiddles, flutes, and drums that filled the air. Henri found a cafe, “where men in long robes gazed at goldfish in round bowls.” Henri was mesmerized by the reds and golds of the fish as well.

When Henri left the cafe, “he saw an abundance of shadows.” In fact, the dark shadows accentuated the light. Finally, he understood that light and color and dark could work together. In his new paintings he surrounded his colorful subjects with colorful shadows. He interpreted light itself into brilliant color. And in a painting completed from his hotel window, Henri painted shadows of such a dark blue that he realized “he could paint light and color, even in the dark.” At home when Henri displayed his paintings in a gallery in Paris, they were a sensation. Now, whenever the skies turned gloomy and rainy, Henri remembered the abundance of light in Morocco and painted.

Back matter includes a short biography about Henri Matisse’s childhood, a discussion of Matisse and his time in Tangier, and a note from the Lauren Stringer about her trip to Tangier that inspired her story. She also includes an illustrated glossary of terms found in the book.

Celebrated author, picture book illustrator, and painter Lauren Stringer immerses young children in a particular time in Henri Matisse’s life and reveals how he overcame obstacles to create some of this best-known paintings. His struggles and search for enlightenment are simply and honestly portrayed, lending to his eureka moment deep joy and surprise. The enthusiastic reception for these paintings, Matisse’s newly discovered ability to find light and color even during dark days, and the lessons his artistic parents demonstrated are all reminders that light shines from within.

Stringer’s striking pastel, charcoal, gouache, and digital media illustrations entice readers to join Henri Matisse on his journeys both internal and artistic. Her realistic depictions of Matisse’s circle of famous friends, and the sights of Tangier will entice readers to learn more. As Henri breaks out of his artist’s block, Stringer portrays him with a sprightliness of step, a perceptive eye, and a deft touch with the brush. Readers will be especially fascinated by the side-by-side models and paintings that reveal how Matisse transposed reality to canvas.

An Abundance of Light is a must addition to school and public libraries collections and is highly recommended for art-loving and artistic children. The book would also make an impactful resource for art classrooms and creative projects.

Ages 4 – 8

Beach Lane Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1534493629

About the Author/Illustrator

Lauren Stringer has illustrated many celebrated picture books, including Deer Dancer by Mary Lyn Ray; The Princess and Her Panther by Wendy Orr; Scarecrow and Snow, both written by Cynthia Rylant; as well as her own Winter Is the Warmest Season, When Stravinsky Met Nijinsky, The Dark Was Done, and An Abundance of Light. She lives with her family in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Visit her at LaurenStringer.com.

Happiness Happens Month Activity

CPB - Happiness typography

Happiness Is… Game

Happiness is all around you! Grab one or more friends to play a game that reveals what things make you happy.

Like the “Geography” game: the first player names something that makes them happy, the next player must think of something that starts with the last letter of the word the previous player said. The game continues with each player continuing the pattern. Players drop out as they cannot think of a word. The last player left is the winner.

You can purchase An Abundance of Light from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

April 25 – Disability Book Week

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Disability Book Week encourages individuals all over the world to become more inclusive with what they read by reading a book that features characters with disabilities. It’s easy to participate! Individuals and families can pick up a disability-inclusive book to read. Libraries, schools, and bookstores can create a display of inclusive books. Hosting an author, illustrator, or disabled community member to do a reading is also a great idea. Other ways to help are to leave a review of books you’ve read and to talk about disability inclusion with your family or others. These ideas can all go a long way in raising awareness of how we think about disabilities and interact with people who are disabled.

To learn more about Disability Book Week and find lists of books for kids, teens, and adults as well as resources such as display signs to download, visit disabilitybookweek.org.

Thanks go to Beach Lane Books and Barb Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sharing a copy of this book with me.

Maybe Just Ask Me!

By Katie Mazeika

Mazie was starting at a new school, so she “put on her favorite scarf and wore her prettiest eye patch.” As she waved goodbye to her mom and walked into the building with other students, she was happy she’d be able to make new friends. But when she stood in front of her class to introduce herself, the kids’ questioning faces sent her hurrying back to her seat.

During a science lesson outside, the wind caught Mazie’s scarf and sent it flying, exposing her bald head. While she tied it back on, she heard two of her classmates concocting a fantastical story as to how she’d lost her hair involving a circus and a fire-breathing performer. Before Mazie could say hi, they ran off. Mazie remembered that her dad “had said it might take a few tries.”

So while in line to wash her hands, Mazie tried again, but the boys in front of her were excitedly discussing the possibility that maybe Mazie had joined a “‘pirate crew, and that’s why she wears an eye patch.'” When they finally saw Mazie, they were embarrassed and wouldn’t look at her. At lunch, Mazie felt intimidated to break into the already-established group, especially because they were debating the pirate and circus ideas while creating yet another outlandish story. In fact, everyone had their own theories about what had happened to Mazie.

Mazie began to think that no one would ever talk to her, but then she “remembered what she had learned last year” about being brave and not losing hope. So when the class went to the gym for P.E., she talked to the teacher then blew her whistle. When the kids all stopped to look, Mazie took to the bleachers to announce that she’d heard their stories and while she was “as daring as any circus girl” and “fiercer than a pirate,” if they really wanted to know the truth then “‘Maybe just ask me!'”

And the kids did want to know. They sat around her on the bleachers as she told them she’d been sick but that they had “‘never lost hope.'” Her classmates listened and realized that while their ideas had been way off, their new friend Mazie was “pretty brave. And a very good storyteller, too.”

Back matter includes Katie Mazeika’s own story of her experience with cancer at age three, during which she lost her right eye, as well as a discussion encouraging people to ask questions and engage in conversations with those with disabilities that show interest, concern, and kindness. Mazeika says, “. . . when we pretend not to see people with disabilities, we make them feel invisible” and “curiosity, with kindness, should always be allowed.” She also includes a list of how people can be supportive of those with disabilities.

In her heartfelt autobiographical story about her childhood experience with cancer, Katie Mazeika reveals to readers that not only is it okay to ask someone about their disability, it is welcomed. As Mazie’s classmates in her new school make up elaborate scenarios to explain her bald head and eye patch instead of asking what happened, they unwittingly isolate her from the group. When Mazie is finally able to make her voice heard, however, both Mazie and the class discover that honest dialogue paves the way to long-lasting friendships.

Mazeika’s colorful, textured illustrations are infused with emotion, imagination, and gentle humor that make the story immediately accessible to children. Young readers will feel empathy for Mazie as she bravely walks into a new school, knowing most eyes are on her, and becomes flustered at the front of the puzzled class. Mazeika depicts the kids’ theories in vibrantly detailed scenes, while also showing the impact they have on Mazie. When Mazie gets the chance to tell the real story, her battle with cancer is portrayed in a simple but powerful illustration of her and her doctor facing and dispelling a fire-breathing dragon. The final spread of Mazie surrounded by her new friends is uplifting.

Emphasizing hope, bravery, and empathy Maybe Just Ask Me! is a unique story and a must addition to all school and public library collections, pediatrician offices, and hospital gift shops.

Ages 4 – 8

Beach Lane Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1665949897

Katie Mazeika is an author and illustrator with a BFA from the Columbus College of Art and Design. When she isn’t in the studio, she likes to spend time at the theater, in her garden, or getting lost in a good book. She is the creator of picture book biographies including Annette Feels Free and Beulah Has a Hunch!. She lives in Ohio with her family and two dogs. To learn more, and download a free curriculum guide, visit her website at katiemazeika.com. You can also find her on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky.

Disability Book Week Activity

Maybe Just Ask Me! Favorite Thing Activity

This Curriculum Guide for Maybe Just Ask Me! is full of ideas and activities for teachers, librarians and families to interact with the book and engage in some thoughtful drawing and writing about their own lives as well.

You can connect with Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster Kids on Facebook and on their website @simonkids

You can find Blue Slip Media on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. To learn more visit their website @blue_slip_media

You can purchase Maybe Just Ask Me! from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

February 20 – National Love Your Pet Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

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

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

Alpacas Here, Alpacas There

Written by Carrie Tillotson | Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ages 4 – 8

Beach Lane Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1665942027

About the Author

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

About the Illustrator

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

National Love Your Pet Day Activity

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Paw Print Magnet

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

Supplies

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

Directions

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

You can purchase Alpacas Here, Alpacas There at these booksellers

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

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Alpacas Here, Alpacas There

Written by Carrie Tillotson | Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri

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Paw Print Magnet

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