May 13 – Get Ready for International Museum Day on May 18

About the Holiday

International Museum day was created in 1977 by the International Council of Museums to raise awareness that “museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.” The theme for this year is “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.” Museums are not just repositories of the past. They are vital and active members of the communities they serve and as such can be leaders in tackling some of society’s biggest issues. This year’s theme focuses on “how museums can navigate and contribute to a world undergoing profound social, technological, and environmental shifts” and addresses three main points:

Support for local economies by creating employment opportunities and offering educational programs
Driving innovation and enhancing accessibility by fostering creativity and embracing technological advancements
Contributing to sustainable urban development by acting as cultural hubs that promote inclusion, resilience, and heritage preservation

To celebrate International Museum Day, visit a museum near you—and don’t forget to print and take along the activity sheet found below!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sending me a copy of Sakina and the Uninvited Guests!

Sakina and the Uninvited Guests

By Zahra Marwan

When a sandstorm turns “the city orange—the sun like a tangerine, the waves like clementine peels,” Sakina’s mother drives past the beach, where Sakina had hoped to spend the day, and goes to the museum. Inside, Sakina gazes with boredom at the statues of a crocodile holding papers and a blue jaguar guarding the first laws ever written. She nearly trips over one of the many, many winged lions. She can’t believe there had once been so many flying lions in her city. But as they move from exhibit to exhibit, Sakina sees that her mama’s eyes, keep “filling with tears” as they come upon likenesses of her mom and her uncle, a ring she used to have, and other familiarities.

Sakina can’t understand her mother’s affection for “. . . all of these old, boring, boring things.” But then Sakina stumbles and another winged lion seems to be watching her. In fact . . . “Did he just . . . wink at her? Sakina was absolutely sure.” Suddenly, it’s time to leave, and while Sakina’s backpack feels heavier, she feels lighter, hopeful she will soon be playing by the sea.

At home, it’s nap time, and while everyone else sleeps, Sakina cannot. Suddenly, she hears strange noises and follows them to find the crocodile, jaguar, and winking winged lion crawling from her backpack. Sakina is nonplussed and worried the noise will wake the household. Sakina tries to catch them, but they run through the house, toppling furniture and knick-knacks, knocking pictures off the walls.

As she picks up a photograph of her grandmother, though, she notices how her eyes “were full of life and water, like the sea. Like the people in the museum.” Sakina then helps the crocodile pick up his scattered papers and realizes they are poems. She reads a line: “‘I hope they will remember me.'” Suddenly, Sakina understands. She feels the “thousands and thousands of years, in that little crocodile. Thousands and thousands of years, in little Sakina.”

With the lifting of the sandstorm and her promise to remember them, Sakina’s guests depart just as her mother appears with a gift from the museum shop—a set of small familiar porcelain figurines. At last Sakina gets her wish, but as she and Mama walk to the sea, she can’t wait to return to the museum and tell its inhabitants “‘I remember you.'”

Back matter includes an Author’s Note in which Zahra Marwin explains the significance of the crocodile sculpture in her story and how people have had and will always have the same feelings—from the times of ancient history into the future. She also touches on the other sculptures she has depicted here and asks readers to consider what kind of art people were making thousands of years ago in the area where they live now as well as the kind of art their ancestors would have been familiar with. In another note, Marwan discusses several particular parts of the book, including the origins of distinct words and phrases, the value placed on education in the Middle East, and her inclusion of two recreated modern paintings.

Whimsical and profound, Zahra Marwan’s story of a trip to a museum reaches deep into the heart and invites readers to join the collective memory of their own family as well as that of the world at large. Marwan reminds us that, just as the sea that Sakina longs to visit, museums and even history itself is always alive with the past, the present, and what’s to come.

Children will be charmed by Sakina who, despite her disappointment about not visiting the sea and some boredom, wanders the museum with an open mind and curiosity. Her alertness to her mother’s emotions shows empathy and a close bond. Sakina is also attuned to her mother’s eyes and the eyes of the paintings and sculptures. Children will notice that Marwan has also drawn Sakina with her “mother’s eyes” when the winged lion, crocodile, and jaguar hitch a ride in her backpack and again when they emerge from it at her house, spurring her to a deeper understanding of what she has seen.

Marwan’s lyrical language, carried on gentle waves of consonance and assonance, beautifully adds texture and imagery to the pages, each of which are washed in gorgeous colors and exquisite recreations of paintings and sculptures that will intrigue readers and spark an interest in visiting museums in their own area.

Infused with depth and enchantment, Sakina and the Uninvited Guests is sure to become a favorite read aloud and a captivating spark for discussions about family heritage at home as well as for classroom genealogical projects. The book is highly recommended for home bookshelves and is a must for all school and library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1547613427

Zahra Marwan grew up in two deserts: one close to the sea in Kuwait, the other close to the mountains in New Mexico. She is a fine artist who exhibits extensively and has won international awards and fellowships, including a New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book, NPR Best Books of 2022, an Ezra Jack Keats Honor for Illustration, a Dilys Evans Founders Award from the Society of Illustrators, and more. She studied the visual arts in France and currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she keeps a small studio at the Harwood Art Center. Visit her at zahramarwan.com.

International Museum Day Activity

Museum Visit Activity Sheets

Interact with your museum visit on International Museum Day or any time you go with this activity sheet that gets you thinking, feeling, and remembering your favorite parts of your trip!

International Museum Day Activity Sheet

My Trip to the Museum Activity Sheet

Open Dyslexic Font International Museum Day Activity Sheet

Open Dyslexic Font My Trip to the Museum Activity Sheet

You can purchase Sakina and the Uninvited Guests from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

September 27 – It’s Read a New Book Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Even though we’re saying goodbye to Read a New Book Month, families don’t have to stop seeking out new books at their local bookstore or library. In fact, fall and the lead-in to the holidays is one of the busiest times of the year for publishers as they release wonderful books that share traditions and take readers through the winter in thoughtful, funny, and always surprising ways. Maybe that’s why December is also tagged as Read a New Book Month! Really, there’s never a time when you don’t want to celebrate new books—like today’s!

Thanks go to Albert Whitman & Company for sharing a digital copy of Gracie Brings Back Bubbe’s Smile with me for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

Gracie Brings Back Bubbe’s Smile

Written by Jane Sutton | Illustrated by Debby Rahmalia

Gracie always loves when Bubbe comes to visit, but this time Bubbe was too sad to do the things she and Gracie usually did together because her husband had died. She didn’t feel like doing yoga or making jokes. “She hardly even smiled.” Gracie missed all the things she used to do with Zayde too—talks about science and sharing inside jokes.

Gracie tried different things to make Bubbe happy again. She asked if she’d like to sing while Gracie played the guitar, if she’d like to come to her soccer game, or help her draw a picture. But each time, Bubbe just said “‘No thank you, Bubala.'” This answer got Gracie thinking. “She knew bubbe meant ‘grandma’ in Yiddish. And zayde meant ‘grandpa.'” But she didn’t know what bubala meant. When Gracie asked Bubbe, she explained that “‘it means “little grandmother. …But you call someone you love “bubala.”‘”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-gracie-brings-back-bubbe's-smile-running

Image copyright Debby Rahmalia, 2022, text copyright Jane Sutton, 2022. Courtesy of Albert Whitman & Company.

Then Bubbe sighed and told Gracie how much she and Zayde “‘loved using Yiddish words together.'” Gracie wanted to learn Yiddish words too, and asked Bubbe to teach her. They went into the kitchen, and while Bubbe cut up an apple, she taught Gracie the word nosh. “‘It means “eat a snack.”‘” As Gracie noshed on her apple, she thought she saw Bubbe smile just a little.

That night Bubbe taught Gracie how to say “good night” in Yiddish, and the next day when Gracie came home from school she wanted to walk around the neighborhood like they used to, but Bubbe said she didn’t feel like it. Gracie persisted, pulling on her hand and telling her how beautiful it was outside. Bubbe had to admit that it was sheyn. Gracie was excited to understand this Yiddish word for “beautiful” because Zayde often called her sheyna meidala or “pretty girl.” Bubbe conceded and put on her sneakers.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-gracie-brings-back-bubbe's-smile-soccer

Image copyright Debby Rahmalia, 2022, text copyright Jane Sutton, 2022. Courtesy of Albert Whitman & Company.

Once outside, Bubbe even started jogging a little and taught Gracie another Yiddish word when Gracie asked her to slow down. As the week went on, Gracie and Bubbe began talking about their memories of Zayde. Bubbe even decided to go to Gracie’s next soccer game. At the game Bubbe smiled and even cheered when Gracie scored a goal, and back home they laughed together when Bubbe told Gracie her socks were “‘… so farshtunken, my nose might explode!'”

“‘Bubbe! You’re laughing!'” Gracie cried. And Bubbe had to agree and told Gracie it was for a very special reason. “‘Because you give me naches. That means ‘joy.'”

Back matter includes a short Author’s Note about the Yiddish language as well as a glossary of Yiddish words that includes and expands on the words found in the story, their meaning in English, and a pronunciation for each of them.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-gracie-brings-back-bubbe's-smile-laughing

Image copyright Debby Rahmalia, 2022, text copyright Jane Sutton, 2022. Courtesy of Albert Whitman & Company.

Jane Sutton’s poignant story will touch readers’ hearts on many levels, from a child and grandmother overcoming grief to the passing on of family heritage to the way children bring a healing kind of joy through their exuberance, empathy, and love. Sutton’s storytelling hits all the right notes as she depicts Bubbe’s transition from mourning to joy over superbly paced scenes and seamlessly introduces Yiddish words through Gracie and Bubbe’s authentic conversations while also demonstrating the family’s strong bond of love and trust. Dialogue rich, the story makes a perfect read aloud that will excite kids about learning the Yiddish words along with Gracie and prompt families to talk about their own history.

In her vibrant illustrations, Debby Rahmalia lets young readers see through Gracie’s viewpoint how Bubbe’s sadness affects her and how much she wants to help her grandmother find happiness again. As Gracie does yoga while Bubbe stands by and shares a silent dinner with her usually talkative grandmother, Gracie’s expressions register concern and disappointment. In Gracie’s attempts to enlist Bubbe in doing their usual activities, Rahmalia portrays not only Gracie’s strong connection with Bubbe, but also a realistic look at how loss can affect emotions and physical energy. When Gracie hits on learning Yiddish as a way to interact with Bubbe, Rahmalia effectively shows how Bubbe’s smile, enthusiasm, and laughter return as she and Gracie share the language and memories of Zayde.

Touching, reassuring, and joyful, Gracie Brings Back Bubbe’s Smile comforts and restores while celebrating family love and generational ties. The book would be a meaningful addition to home bookshelves for all families and one school and public librarians will want in their picture book or family issues collection.

Ages 4 – 7

Albert Whitman & Company, 2022 | ISBN 978-0807510230

You can discover more about Jane Sutton and her books on her website and connect with her on Instagram.

You can view a portfolio of work by Debby Rahmalia here and connect with her on Instagram and Twitter.

Read a New Book Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-gracie-brings-back-bubbe's-smile-matching-puzzle

Gracie Brings Back Bubbe’s Smile Matching Puzzle

Gracie loved learning Yiddish words from Bubbe! With this puzzle you can learn the Yiddish words from the book too. Just print the puzzle and match each word with its definition to get started using these words yourself!

Gracie Brings Back Bubbe’s Smile Matching Puzzle

**You can find Gracie Brings Back Bubbe’s Smile at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

January 11 – Heritage Treasures Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Heritage Treasures Day is an initiative established in the United Kingdom by the Heritage Lottery Fund in 1994 to preserve important parts of human history. Since that time nearly eight billion pounds raised through the national lottery have been dispersed to support more than 40,000 projects. Multiple funds have been created to support various types of programs. For example, “Sharing Heritage” provides money for local heritage sites ranging from personal memories to the conservation of an area’s wildlife, while “Our Heritage” is used to preserve archaeological sites, endangered wildlife, and museum collections. Heritage Grants are given to large projects such as the preservation and restoration of Stonehenge. Today’s holiday celebrates these efforts and raises global awareness of the importance of protecting and passing on our shared history. To celebrate on a smaller scale, take an opportunity to talk about your family’s stories, history, and legacy with your kids.

Maud and Grand-Maud

Written by Sara O’Leary | Illustrated by Kenard Pak

On certain Saturdays Maud gets to sleep over at Grand-Maud’s house. She sleeps in a special nightgown that Grand-Maud made for her. “The nightgown goes all the way to the floor, and is made out of plaid flannel, and is softer than anything.” Grand-Maud even made herself one to match. Once dressed, they have breakfast for dinner eaten on trays in front of the TV, where they watch old black and white movies. Maud thinks everything was black and white when Grand-Maud was a child.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-maud-and-grand-maud-dinner

Image copyrigh Kenard Pak, 2020, text copyright Sara O’Leary, 2020. Courtesy of Random House.

At bedtime, Maud snuggles into the extra twin bed in Grand-Maud’s room. In this bed Maud always has good dreams, and under the bed hides a wooden chest in which “there is always something new for Maud placed inside, even when Grand-Maud doesn’t know she will be visiting.” Sometimes the thing is something bought new for Maud to use or play with. Other times Grand-Maud has made something for Maud, like “…a pair of mittens, or some cookies to take home so the time between visits is sweeter.”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-maud-and-grand-maud-chest-treasures

Image copyrigh Kenard Pak, 2020, text copyright Sara O’Leary, 2020. Courtesy of Random House.

But the best times are when the chest holds “something from when Grand-Maud was a little girl herself.” Once Maud found a heart-shaped stone that Grand-Maud had carried in her pocket for a whole year. Now Maud carries it in hers. This time, Maud pulls out a book of fairy tales that Grand-Maud had written her name in. Maud was happy to see her own name in it.

That night, with the lights dimmed, Grand-Maud and Maud talked about the future. Maud said she wants to be a writer and have at least seven children. She imagines living in “‘…a very tall house so that the children can have bunk beds that go up and up and up.’” Grand-Maud says that later Maud will have her own granddaughter. The thought makes Maud smile. In her dream she lives in an apartment just like Grand-Maud’s and is standing at the doorstep to welcome Maud for a special visit.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-maud-and-grand-maud-bunkbeds

Image copyrigh Kenard Pak, 2020, text copyright Sara O’Leary, 2020. Courtesy of Random House.

Sara O’Leary’s story about the connection between a grandmother and her granddaughter who share the same name is sweet and endearing. With homey details—a homemade nightgown, breakfast for dinner, and especially the wooden chest that always holds a surprise, O’Leary perfectly captures the comforting love and sense of adventure children feel when spending time with their grandparents. The old movies Maud and Grand-Maud watch together, the treasures Grand-Maud passes down to Maud, and the interest Grand-Maud shows in her granddaughter’s future all demonstrate simple but meaningful ways for older and younger generations to share their experiences and build understanding and strong bonds. O’Leary’s straightforward and lovely storytelling, highlighted with realistic dialogue, makes for rich and cuddly story times that can lead to discussions between kids and adults about their own family heritage. Her moving ending charms with a look toward a future of continued family ties.

Kenard Pak’s soft illustrations in warm browns, reds, and blues will enchant readers as they are invited into Grand-Maud’s cozy brownstone apartment to share a sleepover with Maud. Pak alternates between images of the close-knit grandmother and granddaughter, happy to be sitting side by side while sharing meals, memories, and talks of the future, with pages that give children a closer look at their breakfast supper, the enticing wooden chest and past items it has contained, and Maud’s imaginings, including the stories she’ll write, her future children’s bunkbeds, and that childlike idea that the world in the era of black-and-white movies was also black and white.

As snug and as full of love as a hug, Maud and Grand-Maud is a tender book for grandparents and grandkids to read together or for parents and children to cuddle up with whenever they’re missing Grandma. The book would make a favorite read to spark conversations about family history and family stories. Maud and Grand-Maud is highly recommended for home, school, and public library collections.

Ages 3 – 8

Random House / Penguin Random House Canada, 2020 | ISBN 978-0399554582

Discover more about Sara O’Leary and her books on her website

To learn more about Kenard Pak, his books, and his art, visit his website.

Heritage Treasures Day Activity

CPB - Cookie Jar Museum (2)

Create a Family Story Exhibit

Every item has a story. A fun and educational way for kids to learn family stories and interact with their own history is for family members to each create an exhibit of favorite or meaningful objects in your home. Tags can tell how each item was obtained, any funny or interesting story that is attached to it, and what it means to the owner. Displaying and talking about the exhibits can be a fun way to spend time together while seeing common objects in a whole new light.

Supplies

A number of household
Paper or index cards
Marker, pen, or pencil
A table, shelf, or other area for display

Directions

To get started help children gather a number of items from around the house to be the subjects of their exhibit. An exhibit can have a theme, such as Travel Souvenirs, or it can contain random items of your child’s choice, like toys, plants, tools, or artwork.
Using the paper or cards, children can create labels for their exhibit items. Older children can write the labels themselves; younger children may need adult help.
Spend a little time relating the story behind each object: where it came from, how long you’ve had it, and when and how it was used in the past. Include any funny or touching memories attached to the item. Or let your child’s imagination run free, and let them create histories for the objects.
When the labels are finished, arrange the items on a table, shelf, or in a room, and let your child lead family members on a tour. You can even share the exhibit with family and friends on FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, or other app.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-maud-and-grand-maud-cover

**You can find Maud and Grand-Maud at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookseller, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

December 23 – Roots Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Roots Day was established to inspire us to look into our family background and learn about our heritage. It’s fascinating to discover facts about our ancestors’s lives and the stories that have come down from generation to generation. If you will be with family this weekend, talk about your collective history and get to know each other in a whole new way!

Mango, Abuela, and Me

Written by Meg Medina | Illustrated by Angel Dominguez

During the winter Mia’s Abuela moves from her house far away to live with her family. Mia feels shy around her unfamiliar grandmother, but quickly adapts, sharing her room and her drawer space. The one thing they cannot share is language. Abuela “can’t unlock the English words” in Mia’s book, and Mia knows only a little Spanish.