March 26 – National Science Appreciation Day

About the Holiday

Launched in 2022 by Todd Stiefel, the founder and chair of ScienceSaves, Science Appreciation Day celebrates the power of science and scientific achievements. The holiday also raises awareness for the importance of critical thinking, thanks workers in the fields of science and medicine, and promotes the inclusion of science in public policy throughout the United States—and maybe even all over the world.” An appreciation for science begins early in life as children learn about their world and Earth’s long history through books like today’s stunning look at prehistoric times. To learn more about ScienceSaves and find resources for teachers and other educators from kindergarten through high school, visit ScienceSaves.org.

Our Prehistoric Planet: Dinosaurs and Other Creatures of the Past

Written by Sue Lowell Gallion | Illustrated by Lisk Feng

If you’re already a fan of Sue Lowell Gallion and Lisk Feng’s Our World collection of astounding books, you’re going to be excited about their newest one. If you’re new to this series of books, get ready to be amazed! Our Prehistoric Planet: Dinosaurs and Other Creatures of the Past not only takes us to a world we never knew yet are endlessly fascinated with, but opens to create a free-standing globe!

With this invitation: “Let’s tour the world of long ago, / so different from the Earth we know,” kids are transported through the chronological changes our planet has undergone from it’s “wet and squishy” beginnings billions of years ago to today. Transformations include the appearance of land animals and insects, including a “dragonfly-like bug the size of a chicken” and the rise of Rauisuchians—giant ancestors of our crocodiles that “were almost as big as a bus” and snacked on “the first dinosaurs, which were little!”

Kids will learn how these bite-sized dinos evolved into the monstrous-sized Stegosaurus, Triceratops, and T-Rex as well as the heavy-weight Patagotitan. Following the end of the age of dinosaurs, readers meet the first mammals and discover how different animals are now from their ancestors. Along the way children witness the cataclysmic events that ushered in each new era of evolution, resulting in the astounding changes in the types of animals, birds, and plants that populated Earth in prehistoric ages. A final page talks about fossils and provides a world map that shows where certain dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures lived.

On each two-page spread, Sue Lowell Gallion first captures readers attention with a short, rhyming verse that distills the scientific concepts into one easily grasped sentence. She then provides more information about the creatures’ traits, diet and size, the climate, scientists’ theories on extinction events, fossils, and more in a paragraph that combines detailed facts, kid-tantalizing language, pronunciation guides, and thought-provoking prompts.

Young readers get awe-inspiring views of our prehistoric past in Lisk Feng’s spectacular illustrations that provide realistic depictions of the animals, birds, insects, plants, and overall environments that thrived for millions of years. You can almost hear the buzz of enormous insects’ wings and feel the heat of bubbling lava. Children will love studying every fascinating page.

Open and display Our Prehistoric Planet: Dinosaurs and Other Creatures of the Past and watch kids gather ’round with exclamations of “Wow!” and eager excitement to learn. This book is a must addition to all classroom, school, and public library collections and would be a treasured favorite on home bookshelves for for dinosaur and prehistory buffs.

Ages 2+

Phaidon, 2026 | ISBN 978-1837290390

You can find an in-depth cross-curricular Our Prehistoric Planet Educator’s Guide on Sue Lowell Gallion’s website here.

About the Author

Sue Lowell Gallion is an award-winning children’s book author based in Kansas City. She is the author of Phaidon’s Our World: A First Book of Geography, Our Seasons: The World in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn, Our Underwater World: A First Dive into Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers and Our Galaxy: A First Adventure in Space among others. Visit her at suegallion.com.

About the Illustrator

Lisk Feng is an award-winning illustrator from China. She graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2014 with an MFA in Illustration and has since worked as a commercial illustrator for clients such as the New Yorker, New York Times, and Chanel. Follow her on Instagram.

National Science Appreciation Day Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-dinosaur-eggs-craft-nest

Hatch Your Own Dinosaur Eggs

Think there are no more dinosaur eggs to be found? Think again! You can make your own with this easy craft that will have you hatching some T.-rex-size fun! All you need are a few simple ingredients!

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-dinosaur-eggs-craft-open-eggs

Supplies

Old clothes or apron
Large box of baking soda (makes between 6 and 8 eggs)
Food coloring
Water
Plastic dinosaur toys
Bowl
Fork
Spoon
Wax paper
Baking sheet
Foil
Vinegar
Spray bottle (optional)
Plastic or metal spoon, stick, popsicle stick, or other implement to chisel with

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-dinosaur-eggs-craft-vinegar-egg-open-darker

Spray the egg with vinegar to hatch your dinosaur

Directions

Wear old clothes or an apron
Cover work surface with wax paper, parchment paper, newspaper, or other protection. Food coloring can stain some surfaces
Pour baking soda into the bowl
Add drops of food coloring in whatever color you’d like your eggs to be. The eggs will darken when baked.
Mix in the food coloring with the fork. You may want to use your hands, too
When the baking soda is the color you want it, begin adding water a little at a time
Add water until the baking soda holds together when you squeeze it in your hand
When the baking soda is the right consistency, spoon some out into your hand or onto wax paper
Push one plastic dinosaur into the middle
Cover the dinosaur with more of the baking soda mixture
Carefully form it into an egg shape
Repeat with other dinosaurs

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-dinosaur-eggs-craft-chiseled -darker

Chisel the egg open to hatch your dinosaur

To Bake the Eggs

Set the oven or toaster oven to 200 to 225 degrees
Set the eggs on a baking sheet lined with foil
Bake the eggs for 15 minutes, check
Turn the eggs over and bake for 10 to 15 more minutes
Remove from oven and let cool

To Hatch the Eggs

Eggs can be hatched by chiseling them with a spoon, stick, or other implement
Eggs can also be hatched by spraying or sprinkling them with vinegar

You can purchase Our Prehistoric Planet: Dinosaurs and Other Creatures of the Past from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

March 13 – World Sleep Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Are you feeling a little sleep deprived after the time change? Me too! Today, I’m celebrating World Sleep Day as part of Sleep Awareness Week, which was established in 1998. This year’s theme is “Sleep Better, Live Better.” Studies show that most people do not get the sleep they need to stay healthy and function as well as they could. This might be due to work hours, insomnia, or other sleep disturbances.

Many children also do not get enough sleep for a variety of reasons. To raise awareness of this common problem and encourage people to think about their sleep patterns and habits, the National Sleep Foundation established National Sleep Awareness Week in 1998. Coinciding with the Daylight Saving Time change, this year Sleep Awareness Week runs from March 8 to March 14. For more information on Sleep Awareness Week and children’s sleep issues in particular, visit the National Sleep Foundation website.

Thanks to Flamingo Books for sharing a digital copy of this book with me for review.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Sheepy: A Sleepy Sheepy Story

Written by Lucy Ruth Cummins | Illustrated by Pete Oswald

The beloved Sleepy Sheepy’s bedtime antics aren’t just for the big kids anymore! Now that adorable lamb with the heavy lids but boundless energy can send little loves to bed with a giggle or two too! The stars are twinkling, but Little Sheepy is still boing, boing, boinging on the pogo stick in the driveway when Ma and Pa say it’s time for bed. Boing, boing, boing Little Sheepy bounces upstairs and into bed with a smile. So easy!

As soon as the coast is clear, though, this wide-awake sheep is pogo-ing through the living room, disrupting Ma and Pa’s TV watching and sending popcorn flying. They send their little one back to bed. Ah! At last; all tucked in and snoozing. So adorable! But what’s this? Instead of dreaming “some sheepy dreams” and “rest[ing] in moony beams,” that little sheep is reading? Under the covers? With a flashlight? And in the next moment Ma and Pa get another fright. Then more popcorn goes flying, and Pa’s soon wearing the bowl as a hat.

They let their wild and wooly lamb stay up a bit, but with the first “. . . great big yawn” and “. . . favorite pjs on,” it’s back to bed. As Ma and Pa pull up a cozy blanket, they lovingly say good night—again—”Twinkle, twinkle, sleepy sheep. / Now it’s time to go to sleep. // Time to close your sheepy eyes. / Little sheep goes beddy-bye.” So sweet! But the moment Pa and Ma are out of the room . . . . What’s that shadow crossing the floor? This time, though, Pa and Ma are ready with the perfect, twinkly solution to send their little one to dreamland. Whew!

Lucy Ruth Cummins’ rib-tickling Sleepy Sheepy board book story—which can be read or sung to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star—will set the youngest dreamers laughing as rambunctious little Sheepy bounces from bed as soon as the light goes out and the rhyme is cleverly cut off. Each time Ma and Pa return their little one to bed (twinsies in tow), kids will wait with giddy anticipation for Sheepy’s next move and how beleaguered Pa and Ma will react. Cummins’ sweet ending is snuggly and sure to settle any little one into snoozy slumber.

Pete Oswald infuses his sleepy time pages with lots of humor and heart that will endear Little Sheepy to the youngest readers. We’re all familiar with droopy eyelids that refuse to close and energy that never seems to wane, but the tiny smile—both knowing and adorable—says it all. Kids will giggle at the expertly executed pogo-stick jumping, undercover subterfuge, flying popcorn, and the twinsies strapped to Ma and Pa. They’ll also adore the ending that shows just how much Ma and Pa love their little one. Fans of Cummins’ and Oswald’s other Sleepy Sheepy books will enjoy spotting references to those books throughout the pages, and Pa’s final “Shhhh” will have both adults and kids laughing.

Ages Baby – 3

Flamingo Books, 2026 | ISBN 979-8217041008

About the Author

Lucy Ruth Cummins is an author and illustrator who made her critically acclaimed author-illustrator debut in 2016 with her picture book A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals. She is also the illustrator of This Is Not a Valentine, Truman, The Love Letter, and Little Freddie Two Pants. When she’s not writing or illustrating books, Lucy is an executive art director of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. She grew up in Cortland, New York, and she now lives with her little family in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her at lucyruthcummins.squarespace.com.

About the Illustrator

Pete Oswald is a #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator and an Annie Award-nominated animation production designer best known for the Angry Birds Movie film franchise and Oscar-nominated ParaNorman, in addition to multiple animated studio films. He is also a children’s book author and illustrator and a painter. Pete is the illustrator the New York Times bestselling Food Group series written by Jory John, and Cranky written by Phuc Tran. Pete lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and three sons. Visit him at peteoswald.com.

World Sleep Day Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-sleep-buddy-craft

Fleecy Blanket or Pet Bed

Fleecy blankets feel so cozy and warm! With this craft kids can make a blanket for themselves or for a favorite stuffed animal. They can also make a comfy bed for a pet! Children from ages 5 or 6 and up will enjoy helping to tie the tabs. For younger children, using fabric glue to attach the two pieces of fleece or cutting just one piece of fleece allows them to join in the craft fun.

Supplies

2 pieces of fleece, solid, patterned, or a mix of both
Scissors
Measuring tape
Fluff or pillow (optional for pet bed)
Fabric glue (optional)

Directions

Lay out one piece of fleece and measure a size that will make a comfortable blanket for the stuffed animal or is large enough for your pet to lie on
Add 3 inches to that measurement on each side for the tie tabs
Cut the fleece
Lay out the second piece of fleece and cut it to the same size as the first piece
With both pieces of fleece together cut three-inch long by ½ – ¾ – inch wide tabs all along each side. (If using fabric glue omit this step.)
At the corners, four tabs will be cut off on each side

To Make a Blanket

Tie the top and bottom tabs together on all sides

To Make a Pet Bed

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-cat-bed-craft

Tie the tabs together on three sides
Add the fluff or pillow insert
Tie the tabs on the final side

You can purchase Twinkle, Twinkle, Sleepy Sheepy from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

March 12 – National Plant a Flower Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Spring is right around the corner and with it the beautiful blooms that color our yards, neighborhoods, and communities. In some places the flowers are already blossoming, while in others, people are eagerly waiting for the snow to melt. Whether you’re already planting or still looking forward to gardening, today’s book puts a creative and clever spin on nature that everyone in your family (or classroom) will really dig!

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

Big Brain Puzzles: Plant Pandemonium

By Camille Pichon

Kids can grow potted flowers, plant a garden, help worms wiggle and hide, and engage with other colorful flora and fauna with this one-0f-a-kind puzzle book! Children who love brain teasers, mazes, creating patterns, manipulating objects, and feeling the pride and satisfaction of completing a challenge will be awed by this beautifully illustrated book.

Each of the five plant-themed puzzles (Water Lily Carousel; Flutter, Flutter, Butterfly; Underground Paths; Plant Pandemonium; and Vegetable Jumble) are divided into three levels of difficulty and nine illustrated challenges to follow, resulting in 45 total games. Beyond these, kids can even devise new challenges for themselves or their friends to complete.

These hands-on puzzles will wow kids with their interactive elements that include wheels, moveable strips, sliding tiles, flaps that lift in multiple directions, and tokens that slide up, down, left, and right. While children work away on the possibilities, they’re continuously charmed by Camille Pichon’s bright, surprising, and quirky illustrations, in which adorable insects, snails, worms, and other creatures also appear to say “hi” along the way.

Far removed from one-and-done puzzles, Plant Pandemonium is a marvel of art and engineering that offers plenty of repeat play while immersing children in a rich environment that exercises their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, observation skills, fine motor dexterity, patience, and even memory.

Big Brain Puzzles: Plant Pandemonium will captivate puzzle lovers of all ages and would be a favorite go-to book on any home or classroom bookshelf. It would make a fantastic take-along book for car trips, outings, or anywhere waiting is expected. The book also makes a perfect gift for any puzzle lover.

Ages 6+

Twirl, 2026 | ISBN 978-2408061814

Camille Pichon is a graphic designer and paper engineer who specializes in children’s books. She lives in Paris, France. Visit her at camillepichon.com.

National Plant a Flower Day Activity

Flower Garden Stakes

It’s fun to start a garden from seeds, but how do you remember what you’ve planted where? With these easy to make garden stakes, you can mark your pots with style!

Supplies

Wide craft sticks
Chalkboard paint in various colors
Colorful chalk
Paint brush

Directions

Paint the stakes with the chalkboard paint, let dry
With the chalk, write the name of the different flowers or plants
After planting your seeds, stick the stake in the pot
Wait for your seeds to grow!

You can purchase Big Brain Puzzles: Plant Pandemonium from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 8 – International Literacy Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

In 1966 UNESCO (United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture) established International Literacy Day on this date to “actively mobilize the international community to promote literacy as an instrument to empower individuals, communities, and societies.” This year, the theme is “Promoting literacy in the digital era” and focuses on the way digitization has changed and is changing the way people learn, live, work and socialize—both positively and negatively.

Today’s observance also shines a light on the importance of engaging children in reading from their earliest ages. It is well-documented that children who are read to from birth develop better reading and communication skills, which leads to better across-the-board performance in school and beyond. While reading together, parents, adults, and caregivers and their children also develop strong bonds that last a lifetime. Today’s two books offer young readers the joy and excitement of reading in interactive formats that adults will love sharing with their kids. To learn more about International Literacy Day, visit unesco.org.

Thank you to Twirl Books and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for send me copies of these books for review!

Animals Everywhere: A Lift, Look, and Find Book

Written by Stéphanie Babin

Illustrated by Sophie Ledesma, Robert Barborini, Marie Caudry, Jessica Das, Marie Kyprianou, and Charlotte Roederer

Take your little ones on an around-the-world tour to six diverse environments in the enchanting Animals Everywhere, a vibrant and fun seek-and-find book that includes flaps for even more surprising discovery. Habitats featured are a rural countryside, a polar region, a forest in autumn, a farm, the rainforest, and a wildlife-welcoming backyard. Each of these habitats are presented with either one or two gatefold pages that open to reveal a panoramic view of beauty and delightful details that invite children to find either 12 or 16 creatures.

Running along the bottom of each page spread, a banner includes a short, easy-to-understand description of the environment as well as small circles containing images of the creatures to be found and their name. To help the youngest readers, each creature is depicted in the exact way and orientation as in the large picture.

This well-conceived book goes far beyond a simple search-and-find concept. Each spread is loaded with action and interactions, animals, people, vegetation, vehicles, objects, and weather events for kids and adults to talk about, point out, and use to create their own seek-and-find fun. These fully realized landscapes make for exciting and challenging searches that kids can enjoy again and again and that will engage children over a wide age range.

Stéphanie Babin’s charming text is enthusiastic and evocative as she welcomes young readers to each habitat and shares a sprinkling of facts just right for little learners. These can lead to discussions about pollinators, camouflage, where we get our food, and even to trips to the backyard or nearby park to search for creatures and plants there.

Each environment is gorgeously illustrated by a different artist, giving the book the feel of walking through an art museum and encountering a stimulating variety of styles. Kids will be transfixed with the bright colors, adorable animals, and all there is to see and do.

Sure to quickly become any young child’s story time favorite, Animals Everywhere: A Lift, Look, and Find Book is a must for home bookshelves and library collections. The book would also make a much-appreciated gift.

Ages 2 – 4+

Twirl, 2025 | ISBN 979-1036381454

About the Author

Stéphanie Babin is an author of books for young children, particularly nonfiction and interactive titles. She lives in Paris, France.

You can purchase Animals Everywhere: A Lift, Look, and Find Book from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

My Animal Sounds (Baby Basics™)

By Xavier Deneux

Babies love books! Babies love animals! How can you combine these two favorites in one fun activity? With the interactive board book My Animal Sounds! Created for the youngest learners, My Animal Sounds combines high-contrast illustrations of ten adorable animals with sound chips that bring the pages to life. High-contrast books engage babies from birth and as their vision develops during their first year by featuring bold, black-and-white images that are easier for them to focus on and see clearly.

Spots of color add cheery notes to each of Xavier Deneux’s charming scenes, as a curious cat roams a rooftop, a bird stops by on an early spring day, a rabbit uncovers a carrot, and a sheep and dog meet on a twilit evening, among other sweet images. And who can resist the endearing giggles that will bubble up from hearing the frog croak and chirp, the rabbit chitter and crunch, and the pig snuffle and snort. Kids will continue to enjoy this book well into toddlerhood as well.

Cuddling with your baby or toddler and My Animal Sounds will become a favorite way to spend quality time together. The book makes a perfect take-along for parents, grandparents, and caregivers, a smart choice for any daycare setting, and a fun addition to a babysitter’s or nanny’s pack. The book would also be terrific new-baby gift.

Ages Baby – 3

Twirl, 2025 | ISBN 979-1036382086

About the Author/Illustrator

Xavier Deneux‘s chic, bold style and insightful grasp of what makes younger children think, connect, and smile has resulted in more than 100 critically lauded books. After graduating from ESAG (École Supérieure d’art graphique) Penninghen, he worked in advertising before becoming a full-time children’s book illustrator. He is the creator of the TouchThinkLearn series. He lives in Paris, France.

You can purchase My Animal Sounds (Baby Basics™) from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

July 15 – Wild about Wildlife Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Wild about Wildlife Month celebrates the wonderful diversity of our planet’s wildlife while reinforcing the importance of all animals to our ecosystem and even to our survival! The holiday also focuses on conservation, recycling, and education about how humans’ actions affect crucial habitats and the health of flora and fauna populations. While July is designated as Wild about Wildlife Month, the holiday’s significance is something to be mindful of all year around. To participate, explore the wildlife in your area while learning about the creatures on the other side of the world and everywhere in between. Today’s book will get you and your youngest nature-lovers started!

Thanks go to Phaidon Press for sending me a copy of The Secret Powers of Animals for review!

The Secret Powers of Animals

Written by Soledad Romero Mariño | Illustrated by Sonia Pulido

It’s no secret that kids of all ages are fascinated by animals. Little ones stand on tiptoe gazing up up up in awe at elephants and giraffes, fold themselves into pint-sized scientists to inspect bugs on the sidewalk, and are endlessly entertained by family pets. And when they learn interesting facts about their favorites, they love sharing their knowledge.

How do you replicate the excitement of witnessing an animal in person at home or in the classroom? With The Secret Powers of Animals, a lift-the-flap board book that combines jaunty introductory rhyming verses, three amazing secret powers, and the fun of interactive learning for 10 distinct creatures of the land, sea, and air.

Among this menagerie, kids meet a brainy octopus, who tells them “I’m a master of disguise— / I’m cunning and I’m wise. / Through swirling seas I glide / with my many ways to hide.” Indeed, the octopus’s superpowers back this up! Just one of the three amazing talents this eight-armed beauty reveals to readers is the ability to change “my shape or skin tone to look like something else.”

Little learners will love trying to guess each creature’s super powers as they discover which animal has the best sense of smell, who has a tusk that works like a thermometer, who can chomp harder than a shark, who can detach its tail to throw predators off its track, and so many more ingenious animal traits!

Soledad Romero Mariño brings each animal to life with witty and spirited vocabulary that not only describes the creature’s physical attributes but evokes a sense of their personality and place in the natural kingdom. The elephant “swishes” its tale and “flaps” its ears, the owl “swoops about,” the lizard “scuttles” and “darts,” and the cheetah “inches” and “creeps” before “. . . [giving] chase / in a big, bursting leap.” Romero Mariño explains each secret power in simple language that even the youngest reader will understand and remember. Her flowing verses are a joy to read aloud and are perfect sparks for pretend play at home, in preschool and kindergarten classrooms, and for library story times.

Sonia Pulido’s realistic, museum-quality illustrations transport children to the savanna to meet an elephant face to face; under the sea, where a strikingly beautiful octopus levitates amid colorful coral and a family of narwals floats in the deep-blue water; to desert sands and rocky paths; and to sun-drenched grasslands among other locales. On the facing page, Romero Mariño’s text is bordered by lovely and thoughtful details that reflect the animal’s natural habitat. Both kids and adults enjoy lingering over each spread to talk about the animals. On each tab, Pulido includes an icon that depicts the secret power—for instance, the image of an eye with the words “Amazing eyes” for super vision—which becomes familiar to readers as it is repeated throughout the book.

The Secret Powers of Animals, a stunning, sturdy board book that adults will be excited to share with young children, is a must for all nature-loving families, early educators, and library collections. The book also makes a terrific gift for any young animal lover.

Ages 2 – 5

Phaidon Press, 2025 | ISBN 978-1838669522

About the Author

Author Soledad Romero Mariño is an experienced children’s non-fiction author who specializes in ‘best of’ round-up style books. Her works include Superpowered Animals: Meet The World’s Strongest, Smartest, and Swiftest Creatures (also published by Phaidon), Awesome Accidents: 19 Discoveries that Changed the World and Famous Robberies: The World’s Most Spectacular Heists.

About the Illustrator

Sonia Pulido’s illustrations have appeared in publications globally, including The New Yorker and The New York Times. In 2020 Pulido won the Spanish National Illustration Award and she is the illustrator of Phaidon’s bestselling What a Shell Can Tell. Visit her at soniapulido.com.

You’ll find my review of the stunning Super Powered Plants for older readers here.

Wild about Wildlife Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-hand-print-elephants-craft

Handprint Elephants

This easy craft is fun for siblings to do together and can make a nice decoration for a child’s room or a gift for mom, dad, or other family members.

Supplies

Craft paint in two colors of the children’s choice
Yellow craft paint
Black fin-tip marker
Crayons, markers, or colored pencils to make a background
Paper
Paint brush

Directions

Paint one child’s hand and press it on the paper. The thumb is the truck and the fingers the legs.
Paint the second child’s hand and press it on the paper near the other “elephant.” A couple of examples are: the elephants standing trunk to trunk or trunk to tail
After the paint has dried, draw on ears and an eye
Add a sun with the yellow paint
Add grass, trees, or other background features

You can purchase The Secret Powers of Animals from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

May 27 – Get Caught Reading Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

When you love to read, you want to share all the excitement that books contain. The Get Caught Reading campaign was initiated in 1999 by the Association of American Publishers with the idea to promote literacy and language development through reading to children and spurring them to read on their own. All month long, people are encouraged to pass along their love of literature—from board books to Shakespeare and everything in between—by taking pictures of themselves reading and sharing them on social media. Movie and TV celebrities, sports figures, authors, illustrators, teachers, moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, and kids of all ages take part in this favorite annual event. Why don’t you?! For more information, visit the Get Caught Reading website.

Thank you to Scholastic for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Little Heroes of Color: I’m a Little Hero

By David Heredia

If you’re looking for a book to inspire your little one while introducing them to people of color throughout history who overcame obstacles and broke barriers on their way to becoming an influential leader, inventor, adventurer, artist, scientist, or sports figure, David Heredia’s I’m a Little Hero board book presents ten such role models.

Through short rhymes, kids meet the first Black woman pilot, the first indigenous American to win an Olympic gold medal, an astronaut, an architect, and other inspirational figures from a diverse range of professions. Along with each profile, children receive affirmation that they, too, can be a hero who is just through everyday actions, such as learning new things, helping friends or family, trying their best, and using their imagination.

The most impactful feature of this interactive board book is the included mirror, which folds out so that children can see themselves next to each of these super achievers as an adult reads to them. Such recognition will spark their self-confidence and self-esteem and assure them that they, too, can be and do anything they put their mind to.

Thoughtfully adapted from the hardcover edition of Little Heroes of Color for older children, David Heredia’s engaging verses and bright, eye-catching illustrations will captivate little ones. Simple details allow them to quickly understand the profession of each of these historical figures of color and how they made the world a better place.

Little Heroes of Color: I’m a Little Hero is a cheerful and emboldening book that would enhance any home or library collection for the youngest readers.

Ages Baby – 5

Cartwheel Books/Scholastic, 2025 | ISBN 978-1546180364

About the Author/Illustrator

David Heredia has worked for Walt Disney Animation, Warner Bros. Animation, and DC Collectibles. His six-time award-winning education video series “Heroes of Color” has been featured in the New York Times, on NPR, and on PBS Online. He lives in Santa Clarita, California, with his wife and three children. For more information, visit David at heroesofcolor.com.

Get Caught Reading Month Activity

Bessie Coleman Coloring Page

Little ones will feel inspired to be a brave hero like Bessie Colman while coloring this page! Get it here!

You can purchase Little Heroes of Color: I’m a Little Hero from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

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)

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I’m a Baby!

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Child’s Sensory Board

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