HarperCollins

December 1 – Christmas Book Day

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About the Holiday

As the month of December begins, we’re celebrating Christmas Books Day! Begun by author Jill Roman Lord in 2021, the holiday encourages people to share, buy, and gift books about Christmas that can be shared throughout the month and beyond. There’s no better way for adults and kids to engage with all the fun and meaning of the holiday than through favorite books read year after year as well as newly discovered stories. So grab mugs of hot cocoa, a plate of cookies, and all the Christmas books you love. You’ll want add today’s book to your stack too. It’s sure to become one of your favorite Christmas classics!

The Big Cheese Presents: Have Yourself a Cheesy Little Christmas

Written by Jory John | Illustrated by Pete Oswald

 

Can you feel it!? Christmas is coming! You might be getting out the door wreath, hanging a few festive decorations, and thinking about getting a tree. And, of course, there will be shopping. Sounds nice, right? But is it Big? And I mean BIG? The Big Cheese is here to tell you that “Christmas isn’t Christmas unless it’s a BIIIIIIIGGGGGG Christmas!” That means lights on every window, tree, and pathway; “extreme” decor inside and out; and a party presided over by the Big Cheese, who with great modesty claims the mantle of “stellar host” with the “sparkliest” conversation, “funniest” jokes, “tallest” tree, “tastiest” snacks . . . well, you get it.

Illustration © 2025 by Pete Oswald. Text © 2025 by Jory John. Courtesy of HarperCollins

And gifts? The Big Cheese is the best giver and getter of presents on the planet! Yep, the Big Cheese always wins Christmas. But that was then, and this is now—like right now in the midst of preps for his biiiigggg Christmas party. The electricity has gone kerflooey, stopping everything in their wet and messy tracks.

The Big Cheese calls up his gouda friend Wedge Wedgeman who, after hearing about the disaster, offers to hold the party at his place. Swallowing his pride, the Big Cheese agrees then calls his guests and relays the change in plans. At Wedge’s house, he finds a warm welcome, simple decorations and snacks, and a cozy atmosphere. “There was no balloon drop, no rock band, no snow machine, no bullhorns, no spectacle.” Instead, there was a convivial group laughing and talking together. 

Illustration © 2025 by Pete Oswald. Text © 2025 by Jory John. Courtesy of HarperCollins

At first the Big Cheese is taken aback by not being the center of attention, but then feels contentment. They took a group picture, and Wedge had personalized cards for everyone. The Big Cheese had to admit it was a wonderful party and told Wedge so. They even agreed to work together on next year’s party. With a high-five and a hug, the Big Cheese headed home with a changed heart about the meaning of Christmas. Of course, a BIG Christmas might still be in the cards for the future. Hey, you didn’t think the Big Cheese’s “personality totally changed in one day,” did you?

A tear-sheet of 12 Christmas cards for kids to share is included.

Illustration © 2025 by Pete Oswald. Text © 2025 by Jory John. Courtesy of HarperCollins

Jory John infuses his story with BIG laughs as the Big Cheese does Christmas in inimitable style. Through the Big Cheese’s penchant for excess, John has good-natured fun with the escalation of decorations, gifts, food, and even party favors that can—”Bam!”—come to define Christmas. When the electricity fails, ruining any prospect of a party, though, we learn that inside this wheel of braggadocio beats a heart whose first thought was, unselfishly, for the guests. Wedge’s simple celebration spurs the Big Cheese to more self-reflection, which imparts a thoughtful message on the true meaning of the holiday for children. John’s ending is pitch-perfect characterization, leaving readers with a final chuckle with the endearing Big Cheese.

Pete Oswald transports readers into a hilarious, eye-popping wonderland of Christmas glitz, gifts, and gadgets galore, the sheer number of which will delight kids who love to count. When the washer floods the house, kids will laugh out loud at the mayhem and the Big Cheese’s reactions. In contrast, Wedge’s cozy cottage glows with the warmth of a crackling fire and friendship, leaving kids filled with holiday spirit and as content as the Big Cheese.

Hilarious, heartwarming, and a fantastic read aloud that the whole family will love sharing again and again, The Big Cheese Presents: Have Yourself a Cheesy Little Christmas is a book you’ll want to pick up now to enjoy throughout the season.

Ages 4 – 8

HarperCollins, 2025 | ISBN 978-0063494480

About the Author

Jory John is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and two-time E. B. White Read Aloud Honor recipient. Jory’s work includes the award-winning Goodnight Already! series; the bestselling Food Group series, including The Bad Seed, The Good Egg, and more; the national bestseller All My Friends Are Dead; and many more popular picture books. You can visit him online at joryjohn.com.

About the Illustrator

Pete Oswald is an artist, picture book creator, and production designer. Pete is the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Food Group series by Jory John and the Cranky series by Phuc Tran as well as many other picture books. When Pete is not working on books, he is helping to uplift many of the most successful animated franchises as a character designer, concept artist, and production designer. Pete lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and three sons. Visit him at peteoswald.com.

Christmas Book Day Activity

Make Have Yourself a Cheesy Little Christmas Ornaments

 

Wouldn’t your tree look festive adorned with Have Yourself a Cheesy Little Christmas ornaments? You bet it would! With this coloring Activity Sheet from HarperCollins, you can add the Big Cheese, Wedge, and a puppy to your Christmas decor! Ta Da! (And don’t forget to add some sparkle!)

Have Yourself a Cheesy Little Christmas 

You can purchase The Big Cheese Presents: Have Yourself a Cheesy Little Christmas from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

November 20 — It’s Family Stories Month

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About the Holiday

Do you have a favorite family story to tell or tradition to share? Then this month is for you! No matter if your stories are funny or poignant tales of a family member or they’re tied to a special recipe or heirloom, everyone—especially children—benefits by these reminiscences. Family Stories Month encourages people to gather together and engage in the tradition of oral storytelling, which has been part of people’s lives and cultures since ancient times. It’s a wonderful way to stay connected to your own family heritage and build bonds that last forever. 

Thank you to HarperCollins and Barbara Fisch at BlueSlip Media for sharing a copy of Still there was Bread with me for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

Still there was Bread

Written by Lisl H. Detlefsen | Illustrated by David Soman

 

Nana comes to visit her daughter’s family and to teach her grandson—her “Little Pickle”—how to bake the family’s traditional pull-apart “Nana rolls.” Nana and Little Pickle gather the ingredients and turn on the oven while Nana talks about how “her nana had to collect eggs from the chicken coop and milk a cow to get what she needed” and stoke a woodburning stove to bake the rolls.

Nana and Little Pickle move on to combining the ingredients and easily mixing the dough in a stand mixer, a modern contrast to the child narrator’s great-great-grandmother using a wooden spoon. They knead the dough and put it in a bowl to rise in a sunny spot—no different from how it was done all those years ago.

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Image copyright David Soman, 2024, text copyright Lisl H. Detlefsen, 2024. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

While they wait for the dough to rise, Little Pickle asks Nana to tell stories about the rolls they’re making, and she readily reveals how important their homemade bread was through lean times—like during the Great Depression, when “Nana’s mama was a girl and her family had so little money that she owned just one dress and no shoes. But still there was bread, thanks to the chickens and cows on their farm.” Or when Nana, herself, was a baby and “the whole house was quarantined because she and her daddy had something called polio,” but eggs and milk were delivered. This leads Nana to connect it to a recent quarantine, when people rediscovered the comforts of homemade bread.

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Image copyright David Soman, 2024, text copyright Lisl H. Detlefsen, 2024. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

During the second rise of the dough, Nana and Little Pickle talk about the different kinds of bread people make with the “same simple ingredients” for “times they can be together, and times they can’t.” At last the dough is ready to pinch off and shape and put in pans. One more rising allows Nana to tell stories of how she baked bread for Little Pickle’s mom and aunt, and how she “‘paid a pretty penny'” to mail bread to a homesick cousin who was far away. 

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Image copyright David Soman, 2024, text copyright Lisl H. Detlefsen, 2024. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

Little Pickle asks Nana how many times she’s made the rolls, and she replies, “‘Who could say?'” She’s made them for sick neighbors and as gifts for a whole list of occasions. “‘All of them were kneaded. And needed,” she says. The rolls are finally ready to pop into the oven, and as they bake, their “toasty smell brings the rest of the family to the kitchen.” When the rolls are ready, everyone gathers around and “the kitchen becomes a blur of butter and honey and jam and laughter.” Little Pickle is happy and satisfied knowing that years from now “I will share our recipe and the stories that go with it with my kids or grandkids,” but for now whenever someone “needs a warm, fresh-baked hug, I’ll know just what to do.”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-still-there-was-bread-vignettes

Image copyright David Soman, 2024, text copyright Lisl H. Detlefsen, 2024. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

Filled with warmth, family love, and connectedness, Lisl H. Detlefsen’s Still there was Bread, is a heartening read aloud that will foster a child’s curiosity about the past as well as their own family history and long-held traditions while also being grounded in today. Deftly combining lyrical storytelling with the young narrator’s voice, Detlefsen has created a tale that appeals across generations. The rhythm and easy cadence of the text is as comforting as the homemade rolls depicted. 

David Soman’s pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations shine for their realistic portrayals of home, the baking process, and especially the expressive faces and shared looks between family members, from Nana and Little Pickle to their ancestors. Soman’s soft textures and glowing lighting bring to life Nana’s stories about her grandmother, the Great Depression, and Nana’s early life. His use of vignettes coupled with full-page illustrations creates a rich tapestry from page to page, not unlike a family photo album. The final image of the family gathered around the dinner table, with Little Pickle, roll in hand and looking out from the page invites readers to join in on the “warm, fresh-baked hug” offered here. 

Still there was Bread would be a welcome addition to family gatherings, especially at holidays and family reunions, and is highly recommended for home, public library, and school library bookshelves.

Ages 4 – 8+

HarperCollins, 2024 | ISBN 978-0063216556

About the Author

Lisl H. Detlefsen is the author of a growing number of picture books, including Farm Boots, illustrated by Renée Kurilla, and At the End of the Day, illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao. She lives with her husband and two sons in a restored farmhouse on a family-owned cranberry marsh in Wisconsin. You can visit her online at lislhdbooks.com.

About the Illustrator

David Soman has illustrated many beautiful picture books, including The Impossible Mountain and the New York Times bestselling Ladybug Girl series, which he cocreated with his wife, Jacky Davis. He is an instructor at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and lives with his family in Upstate New York. Visit him at davidsoman.com.

Family Stories Month Activities

Celebrate Picture Books Family Story Starters 2

Family Story Starters

 

Getting together with family and/or friends over the holidays, for regular visits, or for other events? Have fun and get to know each other better with these story starters that can lead to fascinating memories and discoveries that build bonds. Use these Family Story Starters to prompt conversations or even play charades. Just print, cut, and place in a bowl or basket then have family members or friends randomly choose among them to get the fun going!

StoryCorps Logo

Connect with Others through Family Stories on StoryCorps

StoryCorps was established on the idea that everyone has an important story to tell and that listening to others’ stories helps us “believe in each other by illuminating the humanity and possibility in us all.” Since their founding in 2003, nearly 700,000 people across the country have recorded short recollections about their lives. Each story is accompanied by animation that helps listeners, and children especially, visualize the narrative. The stories are accessible on the StoryCorps website and in the U.S. Library of Congress. The StoryCorp online archive is “now the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered.”

A perfect way to celebrate Family Stories Month, to share our common bonds, and to introduce children to the wonders of storytelling, listen to some of the incredible stories on StoryCorps. You can also get involved in the project by recording your own family stories! Visit StoryCorps to learn more. 

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-still-there-was-bread-cover

You can purchase Still there was Bread at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

March 14 – Celebrating the Book Birthday of Just a Worm

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Just a Worm

By Marie Boyd

Worm is inching along on a beautiful summer day singing a happy little ditty: “La la la la… Slop, slip, wiggle. / I’m taking a little twirl. / Dop, dip, squiggle. / I’m off to see the world.” And so he was! But on his way he passed two kids who just didn’t see worm the way he saw himself and made him wonder…. Worm bolstered his self-confidence, telling himself that there were a lot of things he could do. 

Just then he wiggled up to a row of brilliant purple flowers, where caterpillars, a chrysalis, and a butterfly were hanging out. Just out of curiosity, worm asked one of the caterpillars what she could do, and—Wow!—when he learned about making a chrysalis and metamorphosis, and becoming a butterfly, he was impressed. And maybe a bit intimidated.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-just-a-worm-ew-reaction

Copyright Marie Boyd, 2023, courtesy of Greenwillow Books.

Butterfly also seemed to have multiple talents as did Spider and Dragonfly, who informed worm that he’d never be able to fly because he was “‘just a worm.'” Worm seemed resigned to his fate when he came upon ladybug and asked what she could do. Ladybug said, “‘I protect plants by eating insects, like aphids.'” This reminded worm that he did have a talent. “‘I eat dead animals and plants and keep the garden clean,'” he said with growing confidence.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-just-a-worm-butterfly

Copyright Marie Boyd, 2023, courtesy of Greenwillow Books.

By the time worm meets bee, he’s ready to advocate for his own contribution to the garden. Then when snail crawls by and tells worm about the slime that protects him, worm realizes he’s found a friend he can relate to because worm makes slime too! Snail thinks that’s pretty cool, and worm agrees! In fact, worm understands that he can do a lot of things and that many of them benefit the garden. He even lists them all for snail, and as he looks around at the beautiful flowers and luscious berries, he takes some credit for growing “all of this” and proudly states “I’m a WORM!”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-just-a-worm-ladybug

Copyright Marie Boyd, 2023, courtesy of Greenwillow Books.

Marie Boyd’s clever story combines salient information about a variety of insects with worm’s confidence-boosting journey from feeling inferior to the other garden dwellers to realizing his own role and importance in the plants’ growth and vibrancy. From page to page, readers can sense worm’s developing appreciation for his talents, and when he shakes off his misgivings and gives ladybug a small list of his accomplishments, kids will be right there to cheer him on. Readers may be surprised to discover just how much worms do contribute to a healthy garden ecosystem even as they come to understand that there is no such thing as “just a worm” in nature. Worm’s personal growth will also resonate with children, who are trying out new things and beginning to find their place in the world. 

Boyd’s beautiful and original illustrations, created with intricate paper quilling are wonderfully detailed, textured, and expressive of the uniqueness and interconnectivity of nature. She also weaves in metaphorical clouds, which at worm’s lowest point, turn grey and black as they build overhead. But with his newfound confidence, they dissipate to be replaced with white, fluffy clouds that also blow away to reveal a clear, blue sky.

A multilayered story that delivers two important life lessons in a unique and charming way, Just a Worm will become a quick favorite for home, school, and public library story times. The book would be especially fun to pair with home gardening or planting activities for classrooms, libraries, and extracurricular organizations.

Ages 4 – 8

Greenwillow Books, 2023 | ISBN 978-0063212565

About Marie Boyd

Marie Boyd is a law professor, author, illustrator, and self-taught quilling artist. Her author and illustrator debut, Just a Worm (Greenwillow Books 2023), follows worm through the garden as he learns about his neighbors and how he helps keep the garden healthy. Originally from Salt Lake City, Marie lives in Columbia, South Carolina with her husband and two young children. You can find her at marieboyd.com and on Instagram.

Just a Worm Book Birthday Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-just-a-worm-quilled-snail-craft

Make a Quilled Snail

Author/illustrator Marie Boyd built worm’s gorgeous garden world with quilled paper, and now you can make worm’s friend snail for yourself with this tutorial on her website!

Quilled Snail Craft

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-just-a-worm-cover

You can find Just a Worm at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

May 23 – National Turtle Day

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About the Holiday

Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson, who founded American Tortoise Rescue in 1990, established World Turtle Day to raise awareness and respect for turtles and tortoises and to promote conservation to help them survive. Celebrations take many forms, from fun activities where participants dress as turtles to educational programs that teach about this fascinating creature and how people can help turtles in danger. To learn more about World Turtle Day and American Tortoise Rescue – and to meet some of their adorable residents – visit worldturtleday.org.

Turtle and Tortoise Are Not Friends

Written by Mike Reiss | Illustrated by Ashley Spires

 

Upon beginning the story, children learn that “far, far away” two eggs shared the same pen at a zoo. Eventually, the eggs hatched: first a turtle and then a tortoise. The two babies took to each other right away, excited about all the fun they would have together. “People will call us the terrible Turtle Twins!” the little turtle says. But the tortoise is not receptive to this idea and launches into a mirror-image description about the differences between a turtle, a “horrid beast” and a tortoise who is a “handsome creature.” Following this, they go their separate ways to separate parts of the pen.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-turtle-and-tortoise-are-not-friends-hatching

Image copyright Ashley Spires, 2019, text copyright Mike Reiss, 2019. Courtesy of Harper Collins.

Soon, the zookeeper, leading a school field trip, stops by and during his spiel reveals that turtles and tortoises can live 100 years. The little turtle and tortoise are surprised and impressed by this information, but they go on with their individual lives – for 14 years. The turtle finds – and eats – a worm that “looked just like Winston Churchill.” The tortoise was picked up by one eagle and returned by another. They endured nature’s worst weather and saw old years go and new years come. They could have commiserated and celebrated together, but they didn’t.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-turtle-and-tortoise-are-not-friends-lost-ball

Image copyright Ashley Spires, 2019, text copyright Mike Reiss, 2019. Courtesy of Harper Collins.

Then one day, a red ball came bouncing into their pen. Both the turtle and the tortoise rushed to catch it. “The turtle got there first…seven years later.” Once he had it, he wasn’t sure what it was or what to do with it. At last, he climbed on top of it and felt like “the king of the zoo” until he rolled off and landed on his back. Seeing an opportunity, the tortoise hurried over. Two years later he reached the ball. Passing the struggling turtle, he gave a snide laugh and claimed it for himself, with predictable results. 

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Image copyright Ashley Spires, 2019, text copyright Mike Reiss, 2019. Courtesy of Harper Collins.

Both the turtle and the tortoise spent the days and months and years on their backs, staring up at the sky and at each other. Time passed – a lot of time. Eventually, a new zookeeper guiding a new group of children related some new information that changed the whole Turtle-Tortoise dynamic. The tortoise suddenly had an idea on how they might regain their footing, and not so suddenly the turtle agreed to try it. Managing it took some time – a lot of time – but they finally found themselves face-to-face again, and, with a different attitude and appreciation for their new “fast” friendship, they wandered off to enjoy some lettuce leaves together.

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Image copyright Ashley Spires, 2019, text copyright Mike Reiss, 2019. Courtesy of Harper Collins.

Funny, thought-provoking, purposeful, and poignant, Mike Reiss’s story is at once an entertaining tale of two stubborn creatures wasting decades of a could-be friendship and a gentle prompting to really look at the senseless prejudice, lack of communication, and missed opportunities that keep our human race divided. A careful reading of the tortoise’s comparison of a turtle and a tortoise provides a humorous yet serious jumping off point for discussions about prejudice as well as the effect of not questioning such pronouncements. Reiss even cleverly inserts a nod to scientific advancements and other societal changes that if embraced can lead to better understanding, friendship, and community. His early introduction of a turtle’s life span likewise frames the story in human terms. As the years pass by in the blink of an eye (or three or four words), Reiss encourages readers to count up how many years it takes the tortoise and turtle to become friends and ponder how that might relate to their own lives.

How far, far away is this unnamed zoo? Taking a good look at Ashley Spire’s ingenious cityscape, kids will discover that, no matter where they live, it is closer than they might think. Spires goes on to make the turtle and the tortoise distinct individuals but with many similarities, an idea that adults may want to explore with children while reading the book together. The turtle and the tortoise are adorable, and kids will be rooting for them to put aside their misconceptions and become friends. The passage of time is charmingly represented by the clothing and demeanor of the two groups of children that visit the zoo.

Turtle and Tortoise Are Not Friends is an enchanting and multilayered story that kids will want to hear again and again for its humor and thoughtful treatment of friendship. 

Ages 4 – 8

HarperCollins, 2019 | ISBN 978-0060740313

You can connect with Mike Reiss on Twitter.

To learn more about Ashley Spires, her books, and her art, visit her website.

National Turtle Day Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-turtle-shell-game

Follow the Turtles! Game

 

You can make this fun game from recycled materials and a little creativity! When you’re finished making the turtle shells, have fun guessing where the marble, bead or bean is hiding!

Supplies

  • Cardboard egg carton
  • Green tissue paper in different hues
  • Green construction or craft paper
  • A marble, bead, or bean
  • Glue
  • Scissors

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Directions

  1. Cut the egg carton apart into individual cups. You will need 3 cups for each game made.
  2. Cut the rims of the cups so they sit flat on a table.
  3. If the cups have open sides, fit two cups inside one another to fill the gaps
  4. Cut the tissue paper into small shapes
  5. Brush glue on a cup (I used a paper towel to apply glue)
  6. Cover the egg cup with pieces of tissue paper. Repeat with other cups.
  7. Let dry
  8. Cut a head and feet from the green craft paper
  9. Tape or glue the edges of head and feet to the inside of the cups
  10. Add a face to the head

To play the game:

  1. Line up the cups on a table
  2. Put a bead, bean, or marble under one of the cups
  3. Show the other player which cup the object is under
  4. Quickly move the cups around each other several times
  5. Ask the other player which cup they think the object is under
  6. Take turns playing

Extra Game: Make three more and play turtle tic-tac-toe! 

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You can find Turtle and Tortoise Are Not Friends at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

January 18 – World Day of the Snowman

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About the Holiday

Today we celebrate snowmen, those winter sculptures that roll to a stop on front lawns, welcome customers to friendly business, and enjoy a day or two (or more if the weather cooperates) in parks and town greens wherever snow falls. Why today? Because the clever founder of the holiday looked at the 18 and decided it looked enough like the rounded body of a snowman and requisite handle of a broomstick to honor our winter friends. Speaking of friends, did you know that tomorrow is one of the three times during the year that we celebrate New Friends Day? The other two dates are October 19 and July 19! If you’re looking for a story to share for both World Day of the Snowman and New Friends Day, you’ll want to pick up today’s book!

Making a Friend

Written by Tammi Sauer | Illustrated by Alison Friend

 

“Beaver was good at making lots of things.” He could build, he could knit, and he knew a bit about engineering. But he was not so good at making friends. He tried hard to do nice things, but something always seemed to go wrong. Then, one day, the snowflakes falling from the sky gave Beaver an idea. “Hmm! Maybe this is what I need to make a friend,” he thought.

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Image copyright Alison Friend, 2018, text copyright Tammi Sauer, 2018. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

He began rolling a huge snowball. While he was working, Raccoon came by to watch. When Beaver told him that he was making a friend, Raccoon said that it “takes two to make a friend.” Beaver was a bit disappointed until Raccoon did some math and showed him that Raccoon plus Beaver made two.

Working together Beaver and Raccoon made a cute snow friend. They added eyes, a nose, a smile, and two stick arms. But something was still missing. Raccoon said that thing was “pizzazz.” So they added a hat, a boa, some socks, and even a swim mask until their friend looked just right. But their friend just stared back at them. “This friend was not much of a friend at all. In fact, he seemed rather cold.”

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Image copyright Alison Friend, 2018, text copyright Tammi Sauer, 2018. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

Then Beaver and Raccoon looked at each other. They talked about what fun they’d had building the snow friend together. And they realized that they had become friends. Now they make lots of things to share, but they agree—“the best thing they made was a friend.”

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Image copyright Alison Friend, 2018, courtesy of HarperCollins

Tammi Sauer unlocks the secret to friendship in her clever story in which making a friend leads to making a true friend. While Beaver tries to extend the hand of friendship and do nice things for others in the forest, his efforts miss the mark. But when he meets Raccoon, their personalities, talents, and ideas of fun click and they build a real friendship. Young readers will understand Beaver’s feelings of disappointment and confusion when his overtures of friendship are not reciprocated and see that collaborating with someone—either in play or toward a common goal—often brings friends together naturally.

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Image copyright Alison Friend, 2018, courtesy of HarperCollins.

Little readers will fall in love with Alison Friend’s adorable Beaver who’s so good at creating a playhouse complete with water slide but has trouble making friends. Cheerful and enthusiastic, Beaver is a sweetheart as he begins rolling the snow into a ball. When Raccoon comes by, Beaver quickly shares the fun. Kids will enjoy seeing and learn from the images of companionship and give-and-take as Beaver learns a little math and a new word from Raccoon and Raccoon discovers that he likes the raisons Beaver offers him on their way to creating their snowman.  Full of color, smiles, and endearing moments, Friend’s pages are sure to delight kids.

Making a Friend is a charming read aloud, a celebration of creativity, and a gentle lesson on friendship all rolled into one. To share with children learning to navigate new friendships and those who love doing everything with their best buddy, the book makes a sweet addition to home, classroom, and public library bookshelves.

Ages 4 – 8

HarperCollins, 2018 | ISBN 978-0062278937

Discover more about Tammi Sauer and her books on her website.

You can connect with Alison Friend on Instagram.

World Day of the Snowman Activity

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Snow Buddies

 

This is a great craft for kids to share with a friend. Grab a pair of socks and have fun making these snow buddies! 

Supplies

  • White dress ankle socks
  • Polyester Fiber Fill
  • Tiny buttons
  • Fleece or ribbon, enough for a little scarf
  • Toothpicks
  • Twigs
  • Orange craft paint
  • Cardboard
  • White rubber bands, one or two depending on the size of the snowman
  • Fabric or craft glue
  • Small hair band (optional)

Directions

To Make the Snowman

  1. Cut a circle from the cardboard about 2 inches in diameter for the base
  2. Place the cardboard circle in the bottom of the sock
  3. Fill the sock with fiber fill about ¾ full or to where the ribbed ankle cuff begins. Pack tightly while making a sausage shape. You can make your snowman different shapes with the amount of fill you use.
  4. Stretch out the cuff of the sock and tie it off near the top of the fill either with a loop knot or with the hairband.
  5. Fold the cuff down around the top of the filled sock to make the hat.
  6. Wrap a rubber band around the middle of the sock to make a two-snowball snowman. For a three-snowball snowman, use two rubber bands. Adjust the rubber bands to make the “snowballs” different sizes.

To Make the Scarf

  1. Cut a strip of fleece or ribbon 8 to 10 inches long by ½ inch wide
  2. Tie the fleece or ribbon around the neck of the snowman
  3. To Make the Nose
  4. Dip one end of the toothpick into orange paint, let dry
  5. Cut the toothpick in half
  6. Stick the toothpick into the head or top portion of the snowman

To Make the Arms

  1. Insert small twigs into each side of the body of the snowman
  2. You can also use wire or cardboard to make the arms
  3. Attach two mini-buttons to the face for eyes with the fabric or craft glue
  4. Display your Snow Buddy

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You can find Making a Friend at these booksellers

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Picture Book Review

October 25 – It’s Middle Grade Monday

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Review by Jakki Licare

From the Desk of Zoe Washington

By Janae Marks

 

Synopsis

This synopsis contains spoilers

Zoe, an aspiring baker, receives a letter on her 12th birthday from her biological father, Marcus, who is incarcerated for murder. She’s sure her mother won’t let her read his letter so she secretly hides it. She isn’t sure if she should write back because her bio dad must be a monster to have murdered someone. But he sounds so nice in the letter that Zoe decides to write back just this once to see if she can get some answers. As she’s trying to write back to her dad, her ex-best friend and next-door neighbor, Trevor, tries to hang out with her. After making it clear that they aren’t friends anymore, Zoe finishes her letter and mails it.

Zoe discovers that the Food Network is auditioning kids for a children’s baking show, and she begs her mom and step dad to let her audition. They aren’t sure if she’s ready, but they agree to think about it and even get her an internship at a local bakery. Over the next couple of weeks, Zoe sneaks out letters as she writes back and forth with Marcus. Zoe tells Marcus about her job at the bakery and how she wants to make her own recipe. Marcus tells her about his life in prison and how he’s going to college online. He suggests she tries to make a cereal cupcake.

After some prodding from Zoe, Marcus confesses that he’s innocent of his crime, but had a bad lawyer and ended up wrongly convicted. Zoe wants to continue writing to Marcus, but doesn’t like hiding it from her mom, so she asks her mom if she can write to Marcus. Her mother absolutely refuses, and Zoe decides she must keep lying.

Zoe is sickened by the idea that her dad is innocent and stuck in jail, but what if he’s just lying to her? Zoe decides to do some research at the library. Trevor finds her reading books about incarceration, and he listens as she explains that she wants to find out if her dad is really innocent. He helps her research and they start to talk. Zoe confesses she heard him bad mouth her to his basketball friends. Trevor apologizes and they decide to work things out.

Zoe decides she must find Marcus’s alibi witness and find out if Marcus is telling the truth or not. She begs Marcus for the name of his alibi witness and sets off trying to find the lady he met at a tag sale. She hits a lot of dead ends, but with Trevor’s help she stumbles across the person who fits the description Marcus gave her.

Unable to reach the woman by email, Zoe and Trevor sneak off to Harvard, where she teaches. When they find her, she says she doesn’t remember Marcus. Zoe is devastated that she trusted Marcus. She thinks that he must have been lying to her and that he did kill someone. Zoe and Trevor get back late, and their parents are furious that they ran off. While Zoe is waiting for her mom to get home, she gets a text from the professor saying she does remember Marcus and to call her back.

Zoe’s mom is furious when she finds out why Zoe went to Harvard on her own and absolutely livid to discover that she’s been secretly writing to Marcus. She takes away Zoe’s phone before she can call the professor back. Several days later Zoe’s mom and step dad tell her they’ve been in contact with the professor and that she did have an alibi for Marcus.

Over the next several weeks, a friend of her stepdad who is a lawyer and lawyers from the Innocence Project work together to assemble a case to appeal Marcus’s verdict. When they take it to trial, Marcus and his attorneys win. At the end, Zoe’s mom admits that she was wrong about Marcus and shouldn’t have thrown out Zoe’s letters. Zoe is still grounded for lying and running off to Harvard, but she uses the time to reconnect with her family. On his next birthday, Marcus gets to celebrate with his family at home. And while Zoe never realizes her dream to audition for the Food Network show, she does create a cupcake based on her dad’s suggestion, and the bakery where she’s interning adds it to their menu. She’s proud to take this as a success.

Review

 

Janae Marks’ uplifting and timely contemporary novel takes you on a quest for justice that is filled with memorable characters and strong friendships. From the Desk of Zoe Washington is a compelling introduction for kids to the problem of racism in our justice system and will open up a lot of meaningful discussions.

Zoe is a spunky, upbeat, and determined twelve-year-old middle-class twelve-year-old. It’s her determination that ultimately brings about Marcus’s appeal, but we also see Zoe’s determination through multiple facets of her life. I love how she’s willing to prove to her parents she’s ready to audition for the Food Network. I like how she gives herself her own challenges too. No one asks her to come up with her own recipe, but she tackles that task and the problems involved in creating her own recipe herself. She doesn’t give up after the first batch of cupcakes comes out too sweet, but instead spends her time problem solving. She creates a system of small batches of cupcakes with different amounts of sugar until she finds the perfect recipe.  

Marks tackles the incredibly complex issue of wrongful incarceration with beautiful sensitivity. This is highlighted in the way Marks slowly changes commonly held views of prisoners. Zoe starts off reading her father’s letter and being surprised that he sounds nice instead of like a scary villain from a tv show. Marks also debunks the idea that only guilty people go to jail, a concept that many young readers may not understand. She introduces statistics on how black men are more likely to go to jail than white men and shows that an indifferent lawyer can lead to wrongful conviction.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington never feels depressing because Marks balances Zoe’s ambition of becoming a pastry chef along with her father’s storyline. Marks even manages to tie the two together by having Marcus make a suggestion in his letter to make a cereal cupcake. Forgiveness is a strong theme in From the Desk of Zoe Washington. In the beginning, Zoe is not speaking to her best friend Trevor, and he has no clue why. It isn’t until almost halfway through the book that we learn she heard Trevor dissing her to his teammates.

Marks does a superb job in showing how awkward it is to discuss hurt feelings but also how necessary it is to talk them through so there’s a chance for understanding and forgiveness. Here’s how Zoe describes her impressions of their conversation: “But it was like when you drew something in pencil and then tried to erase it—the pencil lines would mostly go away, but sometimes the indent would still be there, so you could still sort of see what had been erased. That’s how Trevor’s apology felt….”

Zoe’s mom also has her own issues with talking through problems. She’s so devastated by Marcus’s arrest that she closes off her heart and is unwilling to let Marcus hurt her baby. Zoe’s mom apologizes at the end, but Marks gives us enough of the scenario to see why Zoe’s Mom felt so betrayed. I think kids can relate to and learn a lot from these story lines leading to an understanding of how to open up to others.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington is an outstanding middle-grade read for those interested in social justice and the intricacies of family relationships and friendship. If your kids enjoy Joan Bauer’s Close to Famous or Kelly Yang’s Front Desk, then From the Desk of Zoe Washington is a must read. 

Parental Considerations: racism, racial slurs, and talk of murder.

Ages 8-12

Katherine Tegen Books, HarperCollins, 2020 | ISBN 978-0062875853

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Picture Book Review

May 6 – It’s Teacher Appreciation Week

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About the Holiday

Every May as schools begin to wind down for the year, students, parents, and school systems across the country celebrate the role teachers play in providing quality education from preschool through college and beyond. Established in 1984 by the National PTA, this week-long holiday also inspires a wide range of businesses to honor teachers with freebies and discounts. As Teacher Appreciation Week comes to a close, don’t forget to thank your teacher! To learn more about Teacher Appreciation Week and how you can show your gratitude this week and all through the year, visit the PTA website.

Thank you to HarperCollins for providing a digital copy of Dear Teacher, A Celebration of People Who Inspire Us for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

Dear Teacher, A Celebration of People Who Inspire Us

Written by Paris Rosenthal | Illustrated by Holly Hatam

 

As the school year winds down, kids in schools everywhere are beginning to wonder, How do I tell my teacher how much I love them? And parents, grandparents, or other caregivers are thinking, How can I truly express my gratitude for all the care, concern, understanding, education, and inspiration my child’s or children’s teachers show every day? The answer comes in Dear Teacher, A Celebration of People Who Inspire Us, a beautiful picture book letter to school teachers, music teachers, coaches, instructors, and anyone who helps kids discover who they are and encourage them to become their best selves.

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Image copyright Holly Hatam, 2021, text copyright Paris Rosenthal, 2021. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

Paris Rosenthal begins each two-page spread with “Dear Teacher,” and then focuses on one action, inspiration, or lesson that teachers of all kinds use to engage their students. Some of these show appreciation for lessons that carry kids into the future, such as encouraging them to “dream big,” explore many paths, “think outside the box,” and be a team player. For this last lesson, Holly Hatam depicts a child throwing the basketball to her teammate in a wheelchair as the coach stands on the sidelines, saying “Pass the ball.” The letter reads, “Dear Teacher, You taught me to pass the ball, even when I think I have the shot.”

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Image copyright Holly Hatam, 2021, text copyright Paris Rosenthal, 2021. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

Other letters reveal a moment that sparks concrete, at-the-moment feelings of self-confidence that can make all the difference. In one spread, a music teacher conducts a small orchestra in which all the children except one are wearing black and playing string or wind instruments. The standout is dressed in yellow and plays the triangle. The accompanying text reads, “Dear Teacher, You make me feel like I matter. no matter what.”

Other letters express their appreciation to their teacher for always “lifting me up,” “being there wherever I land,” and most especially for “sending me on my way!” The book ends with a final tribute to that steadfast teacher you’d like to thank: “You are a gift that keeps on giving and this book is my gift to you.” Inside the front cover there is an opportunity for the child to inscribe the book to their teacher: “TO ______ who I admire. FROM ______ who you inspire.”

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Image copyright Holly Hatam, 2021, text copyright Paris Rosenthal, 2021. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

With charm, sincerity, and enthusiasm Paris Rosenthal gives children the words to express their thoughts in ways that are sweet, conversational, and sound like kids and which will touch teachers’ hearts. The various types of teachers portrayed in Holly Hatam’s illustrations make this a wonderfully universal gift for any teacher, coach or instructor in your child’s life.

Holly Hatam’s vibrant and enchanting illustrations show children engaged in a wide variety of activities in clever and meaningful ways that reflect realistic experiences inside and outside of the classroom, on the court, at the gym and the pool, and while kids are playing together and using what their teachers have taught them. Hatam’s diverse children are happy, curious, proud, creative, and ready to face the future with confidence all because of the support and help their teachers give.

Dear Teacher, A Celebration of People Who Inspire Us would make a poignant, joyful, and much-appreciated gift for any teacher. The book would also be a terrific addition to home and public library bookshelves for families to share feelings of gratitude for teachers throughout the year.

Ages 4 – 8 

HarperCollins, 2021 | ISBN 978-0063012745

Discover more about Paris Rosenthal and her books on her website.

You can connect with Holly Hatam on Twitter.

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You can find Dear Teacher, A Celebration of People Who Inspire Us at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review