October 11 – Myths and Legends Day

About the Holiday

Myths and legends have been part of human history since the beginning of time. Created to explain natural phenomena, to entertain, or to inspire, myths have been passed down from every culture and now reside in our collective consciousness. Today’s holiday celebrates these stories and their long history. To take part, read about your favorite mythical creatures and legends or discover new ones. Today’s book is a great place to start!

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

The Ultimate Book of Mythical Creatures

Written by Aurore Meyer | Illustrated by Gabrielle Berger

Don’t be surprised if upon opening this beautiful, oversized book you hear the galloping hooves of unicorns or the bewitching song of sirens who can lure sailors to destruction. You may even spy a mermaid in love! How is this possible? It’s easy! You’ve just entered the “Enchanting and Mysterious” world of mythical creatures, who have mesmerized people going back to ancient times. On this first page, a lovely 17-inch-long pop-up transports you to a forest of the Middle Ages, where a blessing of unicorns carries a fair maiden through the trees while Pegasus hides among them.

Ready to turn the page? Look out! It’s the Kraken! Bursting from the roiling sea with a ship in two tentacles, but six more to grab you, this beast from Scandinavian folklore already has you in his yellow-eyed sights! You’re now surrounded by “Monsters of the Deep,” including the Jörmungandr, “a monstrous sea serpent from Norse mythology . . . so big that it encircles Earth and bites its own tail!” Help him do this with the pull of a tab! Here, you’ll also meet a leviathan, Nessie, and several other water monsters.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Gabrielle Berger. Text copyright © 2026 by Aurore Meyer. Published by Twirl Books copyright © 2026.

Next up are “Frightful and Fearsome” creatures. You’ll get to know the Gorgons, the vampirish chupacabra, and “the mischievous tokoloshe, who “likes to destroy homework” (a fun upgrade from the old “the dog ate my homework!”), among others. In “Winged Beings,” keep your eyes to the skies to watch for the immortal phoenix; Minokawa, a “gargantuan dragon-bird from Philippine mythology;” Beelzebub, a demonic fly you’ll never stop with a swatter!; and many more.

All mythical creatures aren’t frightening, though. Meet this collection of “Forest Creatures”: The dryads invite you to dance with them using a wheel that spins around the trunk of a pop-up tree, and if you’re quiet two shy koropokkuru may come out from hiding to say hi! Don’t get too comfy, though! You’re about to meet seven “Extraordinary Dragons” with fearful powers from Greek, Chinese, European, Scandinavian, and Native American legends.

Think mythical creatures can’t get any bigger than dragons? Then you’ve never met the “Gigantic Beasts” who star in legends from around the world. Beware the ogres, who have “incredible strength,” “foul breath” and . . . love to eat “children, well-seasoned and roasted!” You’ll help hatch Pangu from a cosmic egg before meeting a few more oversized baddies. Need a respite? Turn to “Powerful Protectors,” where a spiked Behemoth pops up to greet you! You’ll learn more about seven “mighty guardians of their realms” through interactive elements, including a wheel, a booklet, a flap, and a tab that lets you help Barong, from Balinese mythology, dance!

“Curious Chimeras” closes out this incredible compendium of mythological beings with stories of creatures who are “a mix of different animals—or even part human and part beast!” These powerful creatures are represented throughout global cultures and even influence today’s popular novels.

Accompanied by more than 50 dynamic pop-ups, pull-tabs, flaps, booklets, and more interactive elements, Aurore Meyer’s scintillating descriptions of each mythological creature and the legends behind them will thrill young readers—and adults as well! Meyer’s prose is graceful, evocative, and conversational, inviting children not only to learn about each being but to imagine their power, cleverness, global significance, and to appreciate their influence on our culture still today.

Gabrielle Berger’s abundance of intricate illustrations is nothing short of astounding. Each page immerses readers in animated scenes of mythological beings in their natural habitats, interacting with humans, popping out of hiding, flying, breathing fire, wrecking havoc in numerous ways, and even eating the moon. Each interactive element brings a new and surprising twist or further enlightenment to accompany Aurore Meyer’s text. The six extraordinarily large pop ups are showstoppers—the Kraken rises a menacing ten inches above the spread, each tentacle a separate threatening hook, and the impundulu flies from the page with an astonishing 13-inch wing span.

If you are looking for a gift or a book to add to your own home library, The Ultimate Book of Mythical Creatures checks all the boxes for mythology and animal lovers, history buffs, art lovers, readers of classics and fantasy literature, and anyone who wants to know more about the world’s rich cultural influences. The book would also be a dynamic addition to any classroom or public library collection.

Ages 5+

Twirl Books, 2026 | ISBN 979-1027614561

About the Author

Aurore Meyer is a writer of games, documentaries, and workbooks for children and adults. She works near Bordeaux, France.

About the Illustrator

Gabrielle Berger launched her illustration career in 2018. She lives in Paris, France. Follow her on Instagram.

You can purchase The Ultimate Book of Mythical Creatures from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

June 15 – Get Ready for Juneteenth

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

This week Juneteenth became America’s eleventh federal holiday when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery and celebrates the historical date of June 19, 1865, when Union army general Gordon Granger came to Galveston, Texas to read “General Order #3,” which proclaimed the emancipation of the 250,000 slaves held in Texas. On the one-year anniversary of the proclamation, freedmen in Texas organized the first Jubilee Day, which became an annual event. Celebrations later spread across the south and then nationwide. The day includes parades, festivals, music, readings by prominent African American writers, educational events and barbecues, complete with refreshing strawberry soda. You can learn more about Juneteenth on the website for the Smithsonian Museum’s National Museum of African American History & Culture.

Juneteenth Is

Written by Natasha Tripplett | Illustrated by Daniel O’Brien

Juneteenth starts early for one young girl who’s awakened by the tantalizing aroma of brisket in her father’s smoker. Before the sun is fully risen, she, her family, and the whole neighborhood are heading out to the center of town to find a spot and set their chairs to watch the parade. As a group of young dancers passes by, accompanied by a freedom song on the horns, the girl’s mama calls them a “hope for tomorrow.”

Illustration copyright © 2024 by Daniel O’Brien. Text copyright © 2024 by Natasha Tripplett. Courtesy of Chronicle Books.

Following the parade the girl’s extended family gather at her grandaddy’s house, where black, red, and green flags join hugs, fist bumps, and forehead kisses in welcome. The girl says, “Warmth floods my soul. Juneteenth is being thankful to be together.” Soon the house is full of aunties and uncles, cousins, neighbors, and play-cousins. Music fills the air from the boombox. “Juneteenth is ladies singing in the kitchen.” After sweet watermelon and a pickup game, it’s time for dinner. Everyone circles the table, holding hands. “Juneteenth is prayer.”

But this meal of old family recipes and reminiscences represents more—”Red in the sauce, red in the soda, red in the watermelon, red velvet cake. Red in the suffering.”—and the history of this holiday now takes center stage. As the girl and her young cousins look at the wall of family photographs, Grandaddy explains that Juneteenth is “about the door of opportunity no longer slamming in our faces” and “remembering lives long before our memories. Sweat on our brows. Cotton in our fingers. The straw that broke our mighty back.” The girl feels her history deep in her heart.

Grandaddy then talks about June 19, 1865—The American Day of Freedom, when General Granger came to Galveston, Texas and read the Proclamation that freed slaves. The day two years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. It was a freedom that looked into a future forged by leaders like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Barack Obama and demonstrated with the first Juneteenth parade in 1866 and fought for and defended with marches ever since.

As the day ends, the girl’s family congregates in the yard for a final photograph. “Juneteenth is all of us,” she says. “We are America.”

Natasha Tripplett’s beautifully composed multigenerational story wraps readers in the camaraderie and loving support of one girl’s extended family and friends as they come together to celebrate Juneteenth. As Tripplett reveals the traditions of Juneteenth and the hope for the future the holiday is built on and continues to represent, her seamless transitions superbly echo the rhythms of such poignant family get togethers. Readers can smell the brisket, hear the joyful parade, and feel the tight hugs among family members. Likewise, children will experience a tug of sadness as Grandaddy explains the history of the holiday. Tripplett’s warmhearted storytelling will resonate with children, making this an excellent book to introduce Juneteenth to young readers as well as a springboard for further discussion or research.

Daniel O’Brien’s stunning illustrations dynamically depict the community and fellowship of this family’s Juneteenth celebration. The characters’ facial expressions and movements light up the parade and pre-dinner scenes, while the girl’s, cousins’, and grandfather’s somber looks during his recitation of history reveal the deep meaning of the holiday. A common bond between Granddaddy and the young narrator is reflected in the cameras both carry, a symbol, also, of history being passed down through the generations.

Encompassing the warmth of family as well as the historical and emotional significance of this important holiday, Juneteenth Is is a must for any library and school collection and a book that families will embrace.

Ages 5 – 8

Chronicle Books, 2024 | ISBN 978-1797216805

About the Author

Natasha Tripplett lives in Northern California, where she writes from a tree house perched in a sycamore. She is a Jamaican Jewish American author who is passionate about cultural representation in children’s literature. You can visit her at natashabooks.com.

About the Illustrator

Daniel J. O’Brien is a Trinidadian-born author and illustrator. He holds a BFA in illustration from the School of Visual Arts. He currently lives in New York with his fantastic partner and loyal dog. You can visit him at danielostudios.com.

You can purchase Juneteenth Is from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

June 2 – National Zoo and Aquarium Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

This month’s observance pays tribute to the role of zoos and aquariums and the work they do for education, conservation, and research to protect the world’s animals. Through interactive and hands-on programs, zoos and aquariums provide visitors with up-close experiences in which they can learn about the environments and science of each amazing creature. These institutions are also reaching out with personal and online visits to schools by zoologists and other experts, increasing the interest in biology and animal science to students. To celebrate, plan a visit to your local zoo or aquarium—or make it a “must see” of any vacation!

Thanks to Chronicle Books and Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy of this beautiful book for review!

The Secrets of the Jellies: Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents

Written by Karen Jameson | Illustrated by Marie Hermansson

It’s impossible not to be fascinated by jellyfish. We’re captivated by their beauty and grace and can’t help but admire their defensive subterfuge—as long as we’re not on the receiving end! In her lyrical nonfiction picture book, Karen Jameson reveals intriguing facts about these dazzling underwater creatures that can be found in every ocean zone, from the shallows to the deepest recesses. She celebrates “see-through jellies, bright ones, too—colors in each shade and hue! / And in the darkness, down below, they radiate a blue-green glow!”

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Marie Hermansson. Text copyright © 2026 by Karen Jameson. Courtesy of Chronicle Books.

Jellies bioluminescence is only part of their charm, however. We marvel as we watch jellyfish seemingly glide effortlessly through the water, wondering, “how do they do that?” Jameson has the answer, not only to how they propel themselves, but also to how “jellies live without a brain,” how they reproduce, how they satisfy their hunger, and even how other sea creatures befriend jellies for their own survival.

You might think that by just bobbing along, jellyfish would be easy prey, but Jameson reassures readers that “jellies hide, jellies dodge with super-sneaky camouflage! / In the depths or close to shores, they stay away from predators!” With such smarts and agility, it’s no wonder the sea blooms with “jellies here, jellies there—hundreds, thousands everywhere!” or that “we’ll study them for years to come, these stars of the aquarium!”

Extensive back matter follows the story, with a section on Jellyfish Facts that explains more about the number of “true jellies” around the world, information on the smallest and largest jellyfish, their bioluminescent properties, how they move, how they “think,” their life cycle, diet, predators, groupies, and jellyfish blooms. Readers also learn about how aquariums care for their jellyfish, their role in the ocean’s ecosystem, how they sting, and how climate change affects them. In a paragraph on current jellyfish research, children are invited to become citizen scientists and track jellyfish through a provided website link. Children are next introduced to 22 types of jellyfish that they will then enjoy finding throughout the book.

Readers will happily glide along with the incredible jellyfish Karen Jameson introduces through her perfectly rhyming and rhythmic storytelling that educates while also providing the fun of an interactive read-aloud. Excitement builds as the verses flow toward the final rhyming word, which kids will be eager to call out as they engage with Jameson’s clever learning experience. In her conversational back matter, Jameson explains jellyfish facts and features in clear terms, using examples and vocabulary that resonates with her young audience. Each paragraph offers fascinating information to spur further research for classroom or homeschool cross-curricular assignments.

Marie Hermansson’s vibrant lifelike digital illustrations float and swirl with the motion of jellies, transporting readers under the ocean to witness the variety of shapes, colors, and sizes of these aquatic marvels. Scientific concepts, such as jellies’ propulsion and nerve net, are clearly portrayed to enhance understanding. The endpapers give kids a glimpse of the Monterey Aquarium, whose jellyfish exhibits inspired this book.

Shimmering with the magic and mystery of jellyfish, The Secrets of the Jellies: Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents is scintillating nonfiction at its best. The book is a must for any public, school, or classroom library collection and an exciting addition to home bookshelves for any child fascinated with the ocean or marine biology.

Ages 5 – 8+

Chronicle Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1797221977

About the Author

Karen Jameson is a children’s author, poet, teacher, and literacy advocate. Her picture books include Woodland Dreams and Wake Up, Woodlands, illustrated by Marc Boutavant; Farm Lullaby, illustrated by Wednesday Kirwan; and Where the Wee Ones Go, illustrated by Zosienka. She lives and works in Southern California. Visit her at karenjameson.com.

About the Illustrator

Marie Hermansson has a deep appreciation for the natural world, with a love of illustrating animals, plants, landscapes, and the ecosystems they exist in. She has illustrated numerous picture books, including Tera Kelley’s award-winning Listen to the Language of the Trees. When she’s not working, she enjoys traveling, hiking, beachcombing, and reading. Marie currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and two children. Visit her at mariehermanssonillustration.com.

National Zoo and Aquarium Month Activity

Marine Animal Coloring Pages

Kids can bring a bit of the ocean or aquarium to their room with these marine animal coloring pages!

You can purchase The Secrets of the Jellies: Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

April 27 – Month of the Young Child

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Month of the Young Child highlights the importance of early learning, creativity, and the role the arts play in helping young people explore ideas, express themselves, and build confidence, happiness, and wellbeing. Getting kids excited about learning and experiencing new things, getting to know their community, engaging in healthy habits are important components of a happy life. Earlier this month, families, schools, and caregivers celebrated the Week of the Young Child with special activities encouraged each day of the week. Of course, families can enjoy these activities anytime of the year. To learn more about how you can incorporate Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Family Friday into your schedule visit the website of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Thank you to Chronicle Books for sending me this book for review!

Touch a Truck Day: A Lift-the-Flap Book

Written by Carrie Finison | Illustrated by Viola Wang

HONK HONK! Hooray! / What fun! What luck! / Today’s the day to / TOUCH A TRUCK!”

Bring home all the excitement of a Touch-A-Truck event with this interactive board book that lets kids climb aboard eight amazing vehicles to get an inside look at the controls and equipment and meet the drivers. In her jaunty rhymes, Carrie Finison’s invites young truck enthusiasts to drive a fire truck, raise the shovel on a loader, watch a street sweeper suck dirt inside its bin, check the supplies on an ambulance, deliver the mail, and more.

On each two-page spread, Finison channels the awe and wonder that big—and bigger!—trucks inspire in little ones by revealing the purpose of the featured vehicle as well as the surprising ways it accomplishes its mission. Children will happily agree to her call to “make a siren sound,” pull the air horn cord on the garbage trunk, and “Bump, bump, bump” along with the loader. In the end there’s a sweet treat waiting at perhaps everyone’s favorite truck!

Viola Wang’s vibrant illustrations of the trucks on bold backgrounds give readers a close-up view of each vehicle’s exterior to inspect before peeking inside. Opening the doors and raising the flaps, children find levers, dials, and buttons as well as the arrangements of seats, computers, consoles, mirrors, and other important equipment. Kids will love pretending to pull the hose from the fire truck, deliver packages, talk into the radio on the ambulance, and help out on every job. Each truck has six to eight labeled elements, color coded for exterior or interior use. Workers and families make an appearance, demonstrating the personal way these vehicles connect with their community.

Thoughtfully designed to replicate the experience of a Touch-a-Truck event, the book sports eight tabs on top that allow children to pick which vehicle they’d like to visit first (or to easily take them back again and again to their favorite!). To preserve the thrill of seeing the vehicles for the first time on the pages, the tabs give clues to each vehicle’s identity, which can spark a fun, pre-reading guessing game.

An exciting and clever interactive board book that vehicle lovers will want to take for a spin often, Touch a Truck Day is an ideal read aloud and take-along book for young children. It’s guaranteed the book will not stay parked on library or home bookshelves for long.

Ages Baby – 4

Chronicle Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1797214153

About the Author

Carrie Finison began her literary career at the age of seven with an idea, a box of markers, and her father’s typewriter. She has been writing off and on ever since, though she has (somewhat regretfully) traded in the typewriter for a laptop. Today, she writes children’s books with lots of humor and heart. She lives outside Boston with her husband, son, daughter, and two cats who permit her to write in their cozy attic office. Find her online at carriefinison.com or follow her on social media @CarrieFinison.

About the Illustrator

Viola Wang is a children’s book author and illustrator. Born in China, Viola graduated from Tsinghua University with a major in oil painting. She then moved to London and completed a master’s in animation and illustration while working as a graphic designer. Viola is also a graduate of the Children’s Book Illustration MA at Cambridge School of Art and a winner of the Sebastian Walker Award. Growing up in a family of printers, Viola developed a profound interest in printmaking, which has been a significant influence on her own practice. She lives in London with her family. Find her online at violawangstudio.com or follow her on social media @violawangstudio.

Month of the Young Child Activity

Vehicle Activity Pages

Keep on truckin’ with these coloring pages and mazes!

Digger Coloring Page | Crane Coloring Page | Fire Truck Maze | Ambulance Maze

You can purchase Touch a Truck Day from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

November 24 – Picture Book Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

We’re still celebrating one of the best months of the year—Picture Book Month! If you’re starting your holiday shopping, don’t forget to add picture books to your list for the kids in your life. With so many picture books to choose from on all kinds of topics, there’s sure to be a perfect book for each child. You know what they say—and it’s really true: A book is a gift you can open again and again, and today’s book is loaded with interactive elements that will keep kids coming back again and again!

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

The Ultimate Book of the Human Body

Written by Anne-Sophie Baumann | Illustrated by Vanessa Robidou

If you’re raising or know a child who’s a future medical professional or one who’s simply interested in learning all about health and anatomy, they’ll be enthralled with The Ultimate Book of the Human Body. Teachers and other educators will also find this book an impactful introduction to how the body works that students will love exploring.

Offering an astonishing amount of information on every page, this oversized book is an interactive marvel that engages children through short and detailed, yet easily understood paragraphs that analyze all parts of the body from the tiniest mole to the largest organ: the skin. More than 60 flaps, pull tabs, and tiny booklets take kids under the skin and inside the body with illustrations worthy of a medical textbook. There’s even an articulated skeleton that demonstrates how our joints work.

The book is broken into these eleven sections:

The Skeleton: Bones and More in which children learn about bone shapes; the makeup of bones; how bones heal; and information on the skull, spine, and joints. They can interact with a full-size hand that reveals all 27 bones that allow the fingers and wrists to move the way they do.

Skin and Muscles introduces kids to the layers of skin; how the skin heals and reacts to various types of bug bites; how impulses flow from our fingers to the brain; what a pimple and a mole are; what tanning is, and more. Children also get a full view of the muscles and how they work to show different emotions.

Lungs reveals why we need oxygen, why we cough, what asthma is, how our diaphragm works when we inhale and exhale, and how the voice is produced.

Heart and Blood covers the circulatory system, our pulse and blood pressure, how the heart works, all about blood, and even the fact that “an adult’s heart is about the size of a large apple.”

Seeing and Hearing contains information on the parts and working of the eyeball, vision issues, eye color, and more. The hearing section gives kids a look into the inner ear while also learning about sound frequency, earaches, balance, and hearing issues.

Smelling and Tasting talks about the mechanisms of smell, the inner nose, sneezing, the connection between the ear and the nose, the tongue, tasting, ear pain, and sore throats.

Biting and Chewing shows the development of teeth through various ages, and talks about parts of a tooth, cavities, braces, and caring for our teeth.

Eating and Drinking contains a wide range of topics and includes interactive elements that expose the workings of the urinary and digestive systems. Other topics include vitamins, foods, constipation, and appendicitis.

The Brain and the Nervous System is a comprehensive section that goes in-depth on how these intricate systems work and provides detailed illustrations on how the nerves run through the body as well as a pop-up, multilayered depiction of the brain that shows where in the brain our senses, memory, speech, and muscle control originate. You’ll find information on mysteries of the brain, brain disorders, and more.

Birth and Growing Up provides adults and children with a wealth of knowledge about the reproductive organs, how babies are made, how a sperm fertilizes an egg, the major stages of development from embryo to fetus by month, how twins develop, what a cell is, DNA, and highlights of growth and development from birth to adulthood.

Living Well discusses ways people can take care of themselves throughout their lives as well as disabilities, diabetes, Down syndrome, and the role of medical professionals, medications, inventions, and procedures that can help people live a better life.

Anne-Sophie Baumann engages her target audience of children ages 8 through 12 with intelligent writing that uses scientific terminology always followed up with an easily understood definition. She addresses her readers directly, drawing them into this extensive education on anatomy and physiology through discussions about the body’s makeup as well as by spotlighting particular issues of interest for her young readers, such as pimples and skin issues, changing voices, braces, and stages of growth and development.

Accompanying Baumann’s text are Vanessa Robidou‘s incredibly detailed, and in some cases life-sized illustrations. Through the wealth of interactive elements, Robidou invites children to peer inside bones; the ear, eye, and mouth; the skin; and the organs as well as to follow breath, food, blood, and even tears through their dedicated systems. Colorful and expressive, these illustration will wow kids as they support Baumann’s text in exciting ways that reinforce learning.

If you’re looking for a hands-on book about the workings of the human body to share with your child or student, The Ultimate Book of the Human Body is highly recommended and would make a fantastic gift for children interested in topics about anatomy and health.

Ages 8 – 12

Twirl, 2025 | ISBN 979-1027613649

About the Author

Anne-Sophie Baumann studied science and literature before becoming an editor and author. She lives hear Paris, France. You can find her on Instagram.

About the Illustrator

Vanessa Robidou‘s illustrations can be found in various media and in many children’s books. She lives in Rennes, France. You can see more of her work on Instagram.

Picture Book Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-x-ray-craft-dog-paw

Dog Paw and Human Hand X-Ray Craft

X-rays are cool to look at, but they always stay at the doctor’s office! With this craft you can simulate X-rays of a dog’s paw and a human hand!

Supplies

Printable skeleton templates: Human Hand Template | Dog Paw Template
Black chalkboard drawing paper, 8 ½ inches by 11 inches
White colored pencil
White chalk
Clear Plastic Report Sheet Protectors

Directions

Print the Human Hand and Dog Paw Templates (you may want to print two—one to cut and one to follow when transferring the bones to the black paper)
Cut the bones apart
Lay the bones on the black chalkboard paper
Trace the bones with the white colored pencil
Color in the bones with the white chalk
Slip the black paper into the plastic report sheet protector

You can purchase The Ultimate Book of the Human Body from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

November 22 – It’s National Farm City Week

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Celebrated during the week leading up to Thanksgiving, National Farm City Week recognizes the partnership between farms and towns and cities where produce, meat, wool, and other products are prepared, marketed, retailed, and consumed. Ensuring that farming remains an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable way of life for future generations is also an important aspect of this week-long observance because only through the hard work of farmers and their enterprises—both large and small—that the country’s health and well-being are maintained.

Construction Site: Farming Strong All Year Long

Written by Sherri Duskey Rinker | Illustrated AG Ford

The warmer days of spring have arrived and “six tough trucks rise with the sun.” They’re headed for a farm in the distance, where there’s lots of work to do. Before they even get to the farm, they come upon a section of the road where dirt from a “springtime washout” blocks their way. With Bulldozer and Dump Truck’s help, the road is quickly cleared, and the trucks are on their way.

First, the fields must be plowed and Big Tractor knows just what to do. “She churns the soil, rips up weeds— / prepares the ground for planting seeds!” Then “Little Tractor plants the crop / She rolls along as big seeds drop.” But the animals need tending too, and Little Skid Steer is right there to clean up and get the pens ready for the cows and horses, the lambs, chickens, and pigs.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-farming-strong-all-year-long-busy-farm

Image copyright Sherri Duskey Rinker, 2022, text copyright AG Ford, 2022. Courtesy of Chronicle Books.

As summer comes, each truck has its job to ensure the crops grow and the animals are well taken care of. But there’s an even bigger job to do, and Excavator, Bulldozer, Skid Steer, Crane Truck, Dump Truck, Cement Mixer, and Flatbed Truck all work together to build a new barn, just in time for the cooler weather of fall.

Now it’s Combine’s turn to shine. “She rolls on hills and through the fields, / harvesting what each row yields.” But she can’t do it alone: “The Tractor pulls grain carts behind. / She rolls with Combine, all aligned.” As they drive side-by-side, Auger, collects and pours the grain into the carts. Then it’s on to the pumpkin patch to gather everyone’s favorite autumn treat.

There may be no crops to plant and pick as winter settles in, but the farm trucks are still busy clearing snow, making repairs, and making sure the animals have warm hay and plenty of food for the long, cold months. Before the “hardworking farming teams” take to their garage bays for a well-deserved sleep, they give thanks for the “friends they have and work they do” and another good year.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-farming-strong-all-year-long-barn-done

Image copyright Sherri Duskey Rinker, 2022, text copyright AG Ford, 2022. Courtesy of Chronicle Books.

Sherri Duskey Rinker’s well-known rhymes and dynamic rhythm carry this story of ten vehicles working together throughout the year to keep a farm from planting season to buttoning up for the winter. Rinker’s inclusion of extra equipment and attachments in addition to the ten vehicles will wow kids while teaching them how one machine is able to handle many types of jobs and how different types of machinery complement each other to do complex tasks. As the story ends and the vehicles give thanks for a good year, children can also join in by adding what they’re thankful for and ways their day was good. The final spread welcomes bedtime with lulling rhythms of “good night” and “sweet dreams.”

AG Ford’s lovely and vibrant illustrations brim with the beauty and always changing weather, atmosphere, and duties of a farm. Ford’s use of varying perspectives gives kids an idea of just how big a farm can be, and his saturated colors show readers the richness of the soil, a sun-drenched summer, and the mellower temperatures of spring and fall. But front and center are his realistic settings that depict how each vehicle works and all the different jobs they do. The machinery’s eager expressions as well as images of the various farm animals will charm kids, and when bedtime comes, Ford’s deep somnolent dusk blue sky and drowsy vehicles will soothe and welcome kids to sleep.

Whether your child loves cars, trucks, and big machinery; anything to do with farming; or just a story well-told, they’ll enthusiastically embrace Construction Site: Farming Strong All Year Long. This is a book that will enjoy “favorite” status at home and in classrooms and be in constant rotation in school and public library collections.

Ages 2 – 4

Chronicle Books, 2022 | ISBN 978-1797213873

Discover more about Sherri Duskey Rinker and her books, book events, and how to order signed books on her website.

To learn more about AG Ford, his books, and his art, visit his website.

Farm City Week Activities

Build a Tractor Jigsaw Puzzle

With this printable jigsaw puzzle, you can color and build a tractor of your own! Just print the Tractor Template, color, cut, and have fun putting it together!

Supplies

Printable Tractor Template
To print garden plot and vegetables, see links in game below.
Card stock paper, poster board, or cardboard (optional)
Colored pencils or crayons
Scissors
Glue (optional)
Tape (optional)

Directions

Print the Tractor Template. For a sturdier puzzle, print on card stock or glue the pieces to poster board or cardboard before cutting.
Color and cut out the pieces
Put the tractor together

Grow a Vegetable Garden Board Game

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-garden-board-game-1

With this fun game you and your family and friends can grow gardens inside! Roll the dice to see whose garden will fully ripen first!

Supplies

Printable Garden Plot Game Board
Printable Vegetable Playing Cards: Page 1 | Page 2
Printable Vegetable Playing Die
Black or brown crayon (optional)
Card stock or heavy paper for printing (optional)
Tape
Scissors

Directions

Object: The object of the game is for each player to fill their garden rows with vegetables. Depending on the ages of the players, the required winning number of rows to fill and the number of vegetables to “plant” in each row can be adjusted.

Print one Game Board for each player
Print one set of Playing Cards for each player (for sturdier playing items, print on card stock)
Print one Vegetable Playing Die and assemble it (for a sturdier die, print on card stock)
Cut the vegetables into their individual playing cards
Color the “dirt” on the Garden Plot with the crayon (optional)
Choose a player to go first
The player rolls the die and then “plants” the facing vegetable in a row on the game board
Play moves to the person on the right
Players continue rolling the die and “planting” vegetables until each of the number of determined rows have been filled with the determined number of vegetables.
The first person to “grow” all of their veggies wins!

**You can find Construction Site: Farming Strong All Year Long at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

May 18 – It’s National Mystery Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Have you felt something odd, eerie, or just plain puzzling in the air lately? That’s to be expected as May is all about mysteries! Established in 2009 by Booklist, which is part of the American Library Association, Mystery Month highlights all things mysterious and offers webinars, articles, awards, recommendations, and more! Mysteries, with their unusual situations, puzzling clues, usual suspects, and plenty of unexplained phenomena, are great for getting kids—even reluctant readers—to fall in love with books. With so many classic and new mysteries to investigate, this month’s celebration may just last all summer! And if you like your mysteries fun and educational, you’ll love today’s book!

Thanks to Chronicle Books for sending me a copy of Sleuth & Solve History for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

Sleuth & Solve History: 20+ Mind-Twisting Mysteries

By Victor Escandell

Historical fiction allows us to revisit real-life events in the past through characters and stories that resonate with today’s readers. The mysteries presented in this clever book do just that! Inspired by actual civilizations, people, inventions, and circumstances, each mystery asks you to tackle a perplexing or thought-provoking question and come up with an answer. The puzzlers are divided into two types: those that require a bit of logical thinking, and those that prompt you to use your imagination. They’re also graded on a point system from very easy to very difficult to give your brain a good workout. Each difficulty level is worth a different number of points from 10 to 60.

You can read this book or use it in various ways too, from solving each puzzle by yourself or making a game out of it for family fun night or in teams with friends or in a classroom. You’ll find mysteries old and new from Prehistoric times (200,000 – 4000 B.C.), the Old Ages (4000 B.C. – A.D. 476), the Middle Ages (A.D. 500 – 1400), the Modern Era (A.D. 1400 – 1800), and the Contemporary Era (1800 – Today).

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Each two-page mystery is introduced with a snippet of nonfiction information about a tradition, event, person, ideology, or innovation. The problem to be solved is then told as a story in numbered steps that contain clues and are easy to follow. The mysteries are also accompanied by Victor Escandell’s humorous cartoon illustrations that readers will want to study carefully, because they also contain cunning hints that will help readers find the answer. Have you read the historical paragraph? Digested the story? Scoured the illustrations? Devised an answer? Then it’s time to divulge your thoughts and see if you’re right! Each answer is revealed under a pull-down flap on the second page.

Younger kids will enjoy solving the Stone Age case of the missing meat, discovering the Mona Lisa’s real name, and showing off their good sense of direction by helping out Robin Hood’s band of Merry Men. Older kids and adults will want to match wits with an Egyptian pharaoh, the great Athenian statesman Pericles, and even Sherlock Holmes. They can also decipher a secret code from World War II and discover a Space Station astronauts new password.

Future detectives can mull over the trickiest conundrums that occur during a Mesolithic Era hunting expedition, a Babylonian bargaining, a Barbarian chase, and a Parisian jewel robbery. They can even conjure up solutions to challenges from Thomas Edison and Harry Houdini.

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Victor Escandell’s easy-going storytelling will spark kids’ interest in learning more about long-ago times which still influence our lives today. Sleuth & Solve History would be a fun and engaging way to start off classroom or homeschool lessons in history, science, and logic. The book’s appeal to a wide age range of readers, makes it a perfect addition to home, school, and public library bookshelves. You’ll also want to check out the original Sleuth & Solve: 20+ Mind-Twisting Mysteries for more fun!

Ages 8 – 12 and up

Chronicle Books, 2020 | ISBN 978-1452180076

Discover more about Victor Escandell, his books, and his art on his website.

Mystery Month Activity

Mysterious Mystery Word Search Puzzle

Do a little sleuthing to find the twenty mystery-related words in this printable Mysterious Mystery Word Search Puzzle! Here’s the Solution!

You can find Sleuth & Solve History at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

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Construction Site: Farming Strong All Year Long

Written by Sherri Duskey Rinker | Illustrated AG Ford

Farm City Week Activities

Build a Tractor Jigsaw Puzzle

Grow a Vegetable Garden Board Game

You can find Construction Site: Farming Strong All Year Long at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Share this:

About the Holiday

Sleuth & Solve History: 20+ Mind-Twisting Mysteries

By Victor Escandell

Mystery Month Activity

Mysterious Mystery Word Search Puzzle

You can find Sleuth & Solve History at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Share this:

**You can find Construction Site: Farming Strong All Year Long at these booksellers**