May 12 – National Share a Story Month

About the Holiday

This month is all about sharing stories! Whether you’re regaling listeners with an anecdote from your own life or reading a picture book to kids, sharing stories is one of the best ways to connect with others, pass down experiences, and spark imaginations. The emotions shared while laughing or commiserating together while telling or listening, create bonds that uplift, teach, and lead to unforgettable memories. Today’s books offer moments of pure interactive delight shared with your youngest family members!

Thank you to Twirl and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy of these books for review!

Clickety Clack: Clack-Clack, Little Crab!

By Amy Blay

“Swish, swosh, swish, swosh . . . .” It’s a sleepy day at the ocean, but Little Crab is finished with its nap and wants to play. First Little Crab crosses the sand to find Little Snail. With a “clack-clack!” of its claws, Little Crab wakes up Snail, who’s happy to see its friend! Next—”splish, splash, splish . . . Little Crab scuttles across the tidepools to say hello to Little Starfish. Clack-Clack!” Star Fish opens its eyes and is surprised to see Little Crab! Little Crab is having so much fun! Who can Little Crab wake up next?

The youngest readers will love accompanying Little Crab as it visits friends to wake them up for playtime. By pulling the sturdy handle tab, kids help Little Crab clack-clack his claws and watch a variety of sea creatures open their eyes to greet their enthusiastic friend. On the final page—with a tug and an audible “wheeeeeee!”—readers join those friends and more in a game of hide-and-seek behind a giant coral.

Children will giggle in delight as they pull the tabs made just for them. Amy Blay’s bright colors, cheerful characters, and inviting ocean scenery will beckon kids to return to the beach over and over. Surprising sounds and the thrill of watching the pages change with just a tug make Clack-Clack, Little Crab! a perfect board book to share for quick read-aloud story times, tuck away in a take-along bag, or gift to young children for any occasion.

Ages: Baby – 4

Twirl, 2026 | ISBN 978-2408061807

About the Illustrator

Amy Blay has illustrated for design companies, toy manufacturers, publishers, and giftware companies. She lives in London, England. Visit her at amyblay.com and follow her on Instagram.

You can purchase Clickety Clack: Clack-Clack, Little Crab! from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Ultimate Discovery: T. Rex

By Raphaële Glaux | Illustrated by Amélie Falière

Take your youngest reader back to prehistoric times to meet a T. Rex, who’s proud to introduce the features that make it such a fierce dinosaur. This isn’t just a walk in the (Jurassic) park, though! Little ones get to interact with this favorite beast, even helping a baby T. Rex hatch from its egg with the pull of a tab!

Young readers learn about the T. Rex’s size, “skin covered with smooth, hard scales,” and his “huge jaw full of sharp teeth. ROAAARR!” Kids will be excited to open that enormous mouth and let out their own gigantic ROAAARR—and maybe another one, just for fun! The T. Rex also reveals that it is a carnivore and admits that “other dinosaurs are afraid of me!” Which ones are hiding from T. Rex now? A quick lift of the tab exposes them—then hides them again!

But watch out, T. Rex! A fearless Triceratops is charging your way, guided by a dino-loving reader! This Triceratops is sure to back up and charge again . . . back up and charge again! “The large frill on the head of the Triceratops makes it hard for me to bite it!” T. Rex explains. Who will win this battle?

Raphaële Glaux’s text, in which T. Rex speaks directly to readers, will charm young children while teaching them basic facts about this favorite dinosaur and its environment, comparing specifics like height and length to common objects that make it easy for children to visualize. Kids learn scientific terms as well as the names of several dinosaurs and other creatures from the period. Glaux’s final question will have little ones replaying the battle between T. Rex and Triceratops again and again.

Each page of this exciting dinosaur discovery book provides drama and education as a variety of identified dinosaurs, plant life, and volcanos appear in Amélie Falière’s vibrant illustrations. Kids will “Aww” over the baby T. Rex as they help it hatch from its egg. Later, as they look into the eyes of the full-grown T. Rex and feel it’s teeth, they’ll wonder how such a small dino could grow so large. The final encounter between T. Rex and Triceratops offers exciting action.

Ultimate Discovery: T. Rex is a sturdy, high-impact board book that will enchant the youngest readers and that adults will enjoy sharing with their children at home and away.

Ages: Baby – 4

Twirl, 2026 | ISBN 979-1027613885

About the Author

Raphaële Glaux writes and designs books for children and adults. A long-time editor who has many published titles, she lives in Nantes, France. Follow her on Instagram.

About the Illustrator

Amélie Falière grew up in the countryside of France, and has always been fascinated with nature and animals. Her colorful illustrations can be seen in many children’s publications. She lives in Paris, France. Follow her on Instagram.

You can purchase Ultimate Discovery: T. Rex from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

March 26 – National Science Appreciation Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

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

February 1 – Get Ready for Valentine’s Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Love is in the air! Love for family, friends, and our special valentines. Begun as a religious feast day, Valentine’s Day became a day of romance with the bloom of courtly love during the 14^th century. In England during the 18^th century, those in love began showing their affections by giving flowers and candy and making valentine’s cards. Now, Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest holidays on the calendar and a favorite of adults and kids alike.

Tiny T. Rex and the Perfect Valentine

Written by Jonathan Stutzman | Illustrated by Jay Fleck

Anyone who knows Tiny T. Rex knows that his best friend is Pointy. And if you know that Pointy is Tiny’s best friend, then you know how much Tiny likes to show his affection for him. So you can imagine that for Valentine’s Day, Tiny wants to make Pointy a perfect card. In his mind, Tiny pictures a big shiny heart with four heart balloons on top. On the front there will be a bow and two hearts that will pop out on springs. Fireworks will also shoot into the sky. “It is going to be perfect,” Tiny thinks. He wheels a big can of red paint over to where his huge white paper heart lies on the floor. But “Oh dear,” the wagon overturns spilling the paint on Tiny, but nowhere near the heart.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-tiny-t-rex-and-the-perfect-valentine-snipped

Image copyright Jay Fleck, 2020, text copyright Jonathan Stutzman, 2020. Courtesy of Chronicle Books.

At least, Tiny thinks, he can “make it extra fancy” with some glitter. He climbs to the top of a ladder and tips the jar to get some glitter. But “Oh my,” Tiny and the tall jar tumble, and Tiny gets covered in gold, red, and pink flakes. “It will take many tries to make this perfect,” says Tiny. Next, he tries to make the smaller hearts, but the scissors are so unwieldy, and the hearts turn out not quite perfect. Then when he writes Pointy’s name on the Valentine, it doesn’t look quite right.

Tiny tries again “and again and again,” but something always goes awry, and Tiny becomes festooned with hearts. Finally, all Tiny has “…for Pointy is a very big, very messy…mess.” When Pointy arrives, Tiny has to apologize for not having a Valentine for him. But Pointy says that’s okay because he already has the perfect Valentine. Can you guess who?

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-tiny-t-rex-and-the-perfect-valentine-pointy

Image copyright Jay Fleck, 2020, text copyright Jonathan Stutzman, 2020. Courtesy of Chronicle Books.

Jonathan Stutzman’s endearing dinos are back with a message about love and friendship in this adorable Valentine’s Day board book. As Tiny T. Rex suffers little mishaps while making Pointy’s Valentines, little ones will “Oh no” and “Oh my” along with him, but also find themselves giggling as Tiny becomes covered in paint, glitter, and hearts. Tiny’s declarative statements echo the way children think and speak, and with each unexpected tip or snip, kids will eagerly want to see what happens next. Stutzman’s sweet ending provides the snuggly reassurance that every Valentine wants on this special day.

Jay Fleck’s beloved itty-bitty green dinosaur and his red friend, Pointy are as cute as ever. Tiny’s chalk drawing is, like many children’s imagined projects, elaborate but full of love. Images of Tiny falling into the paint and glitter, cutting up the small hearts, and misspelling Pointy’s name will make readers’ heart’s swell. Tiny’s determination to try again and again is charming, and kids on the upper range of the target audience may like to predict what will happen in the end. Pointy’s heartfelt assurance that Tiny is the perfect Valentine turns his disappointment into a warm grin.

Heartwarming and adorable, Tiny T. Rex and the Perfect Valentine will make any little one’s holiday perfect. For fans of these dino best friends or newcomers to the three-book series, the book will make an often-asked-for addition to home bookshelves and libraries.

Ages 2 – 4

Chronicle Books, 2020 | ISBN 978-1452184890

Discover more about Jonathan Stutzman and his books on his website.

To learn more about Jay Fleck, his books, and his art, visit his website.

Get Ready for Valentine’s Day Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-entangled-hearts-matching-puzzle

Entangled Hearts Matching Puzzle

These friends are collecting valentines! Can you help them follow the paths to find more in this printable puzzle?

Entangled Hearts Matching Puzzle

**You can find Tiny T. Rex and the Perfect Valentine at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

About the Holiday

Clickety Clack: Clack-Clack, Little Crab!

By Amy Blay

Ultimate Discovery: T. Rex

By Raphaële Glaux | Illustrated by Amélie Falière

Share this:

About the Holiday

Our Prehistoric Planet: Dinosaurs and Other Creatures of the Past

Written by Sue Lowell Gallion | Illustrated by Lisk Feng

National Science Appreciation Day Activity

Hatch Your Own Dinosaur Eggs

Share this:

About the Holiday

Tiny T. Rex and the Perfect Valentine

Written by Jonathan Stutzman | Illustrated by Jay Fleck

Get Ready for Valentine’s Day Activity

Entangled Hearts Matching Puzzle

You can find Tiny T. Rex and the Perfect Valentine at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Share this:

**You can find Tiny T. Rex and the Perfect Valentine at these booksellers**