Humorous Picture Books

January 5 – National Skating Month

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celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-the-three-canadian-pigs-cover

About the Holiday

National Skating Month is sponsored by U.S. Figure Skating and as a week-long celebration in March 2002 following the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Now co-sponsored by Learn to Skate U.S.A. and celebrated during the entire month of January, the holiday gives ice-skating rinks, clubs, and programs an opportunity to invite new families to the ice by offering free lessons and skating demonstrations. If figure skating isn’t your thing, you might like to take your skills to the hockey rink or just to a local pond for some free-style skating. However you choose to enjoy the ice, skating is fun and for everyone! To learn more about ice-skating programs in your area, visit usfigureskating.org and learntoskateusa. 

The Three Canadian Pigs: A Hockey Story

Written by Jocelyn Watkinson | Illustrated by Marcus Cutler

 

Three pigs were just finishing their hockey scrimmage when a wolf sprang from behind some bushes, fangs sharp and claws at the ready to satisfy his hunger since they looked so delicious. But as they quickly took off their skates and packed up their gear, they said, “‘I’m soorry there, Wolf, you are soorely mistaken—'” To which the wolf replied, “‘Oh no! But I’m not! You’re Canadian bacon!'” The pigs jumped on their snowmobile and hurried home to their snow fort in town. 

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Image copyright Marcus Cutler, 2022, text copyright Jocelyn Watkinson, 2022. Courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press.

It didn’t take long for the wolf to catch up with them, and from outside their door, he shouted, “‘Little pigs! Little pigs! Let me come in!'” But they just replied, “‘Not by the pads on our shinny-shin-shins!'” The wolf threatened to blow the fort down, but this was no flimsy home built of sticks or straw. In fact, they told him, “‘there’s not one single flaw!'” The wolf wasn’t going to give up easily and he collected Moose and Bear to help him break in.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-the-three-canadian-pigs-snow-fort

Image copyright Marcus Cutler, 2022, text copyright Jocelyn Watkinson, 2022. Courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press.

When the three pigs had just enough of the wolf’s team’s attack, they came out and challenged them to “‘settle this fight the Canadian way'” with “‘a hockey game showdown.'” With a Canada goose as a ref, they took to the ice, attracting a crowd of spectators. The wolf and his team thought they’d win with ease, but the pigs “deked and they cut: / the pigs couldn’t be caught,” and when they scored, the wolf took to underhanded measures to stop them. 

But the pigs were too quick and too nimble, and they ran up the score. When the ref blew her whistle ending the game, the pigs celebrated saving their home, but the wolf “… full of frustration and hunger and spite, / … threw down his gloves and dove in for a bite.” It looked like the pigs were goners for sure, but Bear and Moose called him out on his poor sportsmanship. Wolf dropped the three pigs, feeling ashamed but still hungry. 

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-the-three-canadian-pigs-wolf

Image copyright Marcus Cutler, 2022, text copyright Jocelyn Watkinson, 2022. Courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press.

Dragging his stick and hanging his head, the wolf trudged off the ice, but one pig called out to him, inviting him to join them in a feast back at the fort. When the wolf saw their spread of poutine, tourtière, beaver tails, butter tarts, and so many other mouthwatering delicacies, he apologized: “‘Pigs, I’m so sorry that I was a brute.'” / “‘There’s nothing for you to be soorry a-boot.'” a pig graciously told him. The pigs, Wolf, Bear, and Moose all made amends and piled up their plates. Then they settled in to watch a game on TV. And as “they put up their feet,” the wolf had to agree that “‘being friends with Canadian bacon is sweet!'”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-the-three-canadian-pigs-hockey-game

Image copyright Marcus Cutler, 2022, text copyright Jocelyn Watkinson, 2022. Courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press.

Full of clever rhymes, puns, valuable lessons, and dialogue that winks at Canadian pronunciations, Jocelyn Watkinson’s story flows as smoothly as a hockey puck on ice. Her regional take on the traditional Three Little Pigs story is fast-paced and suspenseful while touching on themes of sportsmanship, remorse and forgiveness, and friendship all framed with high-energy hockey action and plenty of humor. Especially welcome is Watkinson’s depiction of Bear and Moose confronting Wolf when he reneges on his agreement to let the pigs go if they win the game. Standing up to a friend or for what’s right can be hard, but Watkinson shows readers that having the courage of your convictions is honorable, honest, and can often turn a negative situation into a positive experience.

Marcus Cutler scores with his funny, emotion-packed illustrations that will have kids laughing and cheering for the pigs from page to page. Winter sports fans will love all the hockey action and will want to linger over the pigs’ hard-won trophy, on which Cutler had fun hamming it up with the names of some of hockey’s greats, The spread of favorite Canadian foods is sure to inspire game-night treat feasts. Cutler also highlights the important role of Bear and Moose, who ultimately appeal to Wolf’s better nature.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-the-three-canadian-pigs-snow-mobile

Image copyright Marcus Cutler, 2022. Courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press.

In a humorous and foreshadowing scene, Bear halfheartedly scratches at the pigs’ snow fort with one paw while holding a steaming mug in the other as Wolf exhorts his friends to “ram and claw and maul” their way inside. When Bear and Moose finally challenge Wolf to live up to his deal, their disapproval is clearly visible to readers. Wolf’s resulting feelings, as well as their cause, are also evident, giving kids and adults openings for meaningful discussions on behavior.

Whether your kids wait all year for hockey season, are fans of fractured fairy tales, or simply love a great story, The Three Canadian Pigs is a funny and impactful read aloud that’s sure to become a story time favorite all year long and a book you’ll be glad you added to your home, classroom, school, or public library.

Ages 4 – 7

Sleeping Bear Press, 2022  ISBN 978-1534111608

Jocelyn Watkinson is a children’s picture book author and ex-pat Canadian living in California, with her husband, son, and golden retriever. Visit her at jocelynwatkinson.com.

Marcus Cutler is the author/illustrator of I Do Not Eat Children and the illustrator of You Might Be Special!, The Three Canadian Pigs, and Travel Guide for Monsters Part Deux: A Canadian Adventure, among others. Visit him marcuscutler.com.

National Skating Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-the-three-canadian-pigs-maze

The Three Canadian Pigs Activity Kit

 

The game’s on with the two puzzles and two coloring pages inspired by today’s book! Just download and print them from the Sleeping Bear Press site here:

The Three Canadian Pigs Activity Kit

You can purchase The Three Canadian Pigs: A Hockey Story from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop 

Picture Book Review

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 10 – Get Ready for Christmas

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About the Holiday

The Christmas season is a time of joy and sharing with friends and family, and if your family includes a pet or pets, you know that they too, of course, are included in the festivities. Special Christmas treats, gifts of new toys, extra hugs, and even silly hats or fancy outfits are all ways we show how much our pets mean to us. Another fun way to celebrate the holidays with your best furry buddy is to include them in story time! Today’s book is a purr-fect choice for laptime with kitties and kiddies. Pups will enjoy it too!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sending me a copy of this book for review! All opinions on the book are my own.

Cat’s Christmas

By Alison Murray

 

Cat likes many things. He likes feeling snug. He likes his favorite chair. He likes feeling snug in his favorite chair with his favorite person. But Cat has a special feeling for Christmas, and it is—to say the least—not positive. Is there anything Cat does like about the holiday? Well, “he hates the fancy decorations,” the sticky, sugary food, and even the presents. And visitors of a dachshund variety really makes his fur stand on end.

Cat tries to tell his people why he’s so displeased, but his method of communication is just not appreciated. And when the Christmas tree comes crashing down, he’s ordered out. Out Cat goes into the snow. Up on a high branch, “Cat yowls and howls and meow-wow-wows into the quiet night.”

Illustration and text © 2025 by Alison Murray. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

The cloudy night seems to hear his cries, and briefly the clouds part. “Cat LOVES to see the moon and stars in the clear night sky, and he marvels at the beauty of the world.” But Cat’s wonder is short-lived as rain begins to fall, dripping “from his whiskers into his eyes” and . . . making his “fur stick to his skin” and . . . the branch “slippery under his paws.” Cat is ready to go home.

He passes by all the leftover Christmas trappings and jumps into his favorite chair with his favorite person, who is so happy to see him. She wraps him in a towel and cuddles him then gives him his very own present—which turns out to be—despite the silly bowtie—just perfect.

Illustration and text © 2025 by Alison Murray. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Hilarious and heartfelt, Alison Murray’s Cat’s Christmas is a gift to all feline lovers. Through her fast-paced storytelling and expressive illustrations, Murray perfectly captures the inquisitive and opinionated personality of cats as well as their singular style of making themselves seen and heard. Turning the page from all the clatter of Christmas and Cat’s yowling to his glimpse of the beautiful night sky is wondrously stirring as Murray fills the darkness with colorful orbs of shimmering light. As the sudden rainfall sends Cat back inside, readers will be wrapped in the cozy, homey feeling that Christmas brings.

Sure to be opened again and again, Cat’s Christmas is a sweet, funny, and cozy holiday delight for all cat and pet lovers.

Ages Baby – 5

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1547617593

Alison Murray is a Glasgow based author and illustrator. She studied Textile Design at Glasgow School of Art, and Design for Interactive Media at Middlesex University, London. Her first book Apple Pie ABC was shortlisted for the Scottish Children’s Book Award and in the United States won the 2012 Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book award for outstanding writing in a picture book. Her books have been shortlisted and longlisted for the Bookbug Picture Book Prize, the Scottish Children’s Book Awards, and the UK Literary Association Award. 

You can purchase Cat’s Christmas from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

September 30 – National Pet Tricks Day

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About the Holiday

National Pet Tricks Day was established in 2020 by professional dog trainer Joe Nutkins of Ardleigh, Essex, in the UK. Nutkins loves connecting with dogs and other animals by spending time with them teaching them tricks. Nutkins has enjoyed success and and even a bit of celebrity—appearing on Britain’s Got Talent in 2029 and 2023—with her expertly trained pets, including dogs, cats, hamsters, parrots, and even ducks and chickens. To celebrate today, why not begin spending some encouraging and fun one-on-one time each day to teach your pet a special art. And, of course, don’t forget the treats!

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

Henry Is an Artist

By Justin Worsley

 

Many dogs know tricks, but Henry has a calling. “Henry is an artist.” Each day when he goes for a walk, Henry admires the street art he passes, “but sculpture is his real passion.” Henry is no stranger to the creative impulse, every day producing a new, unique sculpture of his own. Even though Henry “is proud of his work,” it is not universally embraced. In fact, its public impact is fleeting and usually trashed.

Text and Illustration © 2025 by Justin Worsley. Courtesy of Flamingo Books.

One day, however, in a moment of distraction, Henry’s creation is left behind. Left behind, but not disregarded. “Someone has fallen in love with his artwork.” The tiny bug flies off to “tell all their friends.” The news travels fast, and soon “Henry’s sculpture is a sensation!”

Henry’s sculpture is so valued, in fact, that the bugs carefully transport it to a place of honor. Henry is invited to view its new home: “the grand lobby of the Bug Hotel!” He’s hailed as a celebrity, and returns home a very happy pup, indeed.

Text and Illustration © 2025 by Justin Worsley. Courtesy of Flamingo Books.

Funny, thought-provoking, and an ode to all the unsung creatives among us, Justin Worsley’s story makes readers laugh while encouraging them to find inspiration in the most unlikely places.

Worsley’s delightfully smart and inventive illustrations endear Henry to kids as he walks through the park admiring the public sculptures and trying to install his own. Henry’s facial expressions as he interacts with his owner, the reactions of other dogs, and the appreciative reception of an observant toddler and bug community all add depth to the story.

Henry Is an Artist would be a fun and often-requested addition to home, classroom, and public libraries. Its short sentences make it a perfect choice for new and beginning readers to read or grow with on their own.

Ages 4 – 8

Flamingo Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-0593695043

About the Author/Illustrator

Justin Worsley is an illustrator, author, and toy designer. After nearly thirty years of designing toys, he decided it was time for a change and followed his long-held dream of becoming a children’s book illustrator and graduated from Cambridge School of Art in 2023. When he’s not working, he’s usually riding his bike or walking his dog, Percy.

National Pet Tricks Day Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-paw-print-magnet-smaller

Paw Print Magnet

 

Your pet’s paw print makes a cute magnet for your fridge or locker to give you a paw…I mean hand… holding those important messages and pictures. Here’s how to do this easy craft with your dog or cat.

Supplies

  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 1/4 cup water
  • Cookie cutter (optional)
  • Bowl
  • Wax paper
  • Strong multi-surface glue or hot glue gun
  • Strong magnet, available at craft stores
  • Paint (optional)

Directions

  1. Mix the flour and salt in the bowl
  2. Slowly add the water and mix the dough, kneading it until it is smooth and soft. Add more water if necessary.
  3. Roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 – 1/2 inch thick
  4. Place the dough on the wax paper
  5. Carefully press your pet’s paw into the dough. 
  6. Place the cookie cutter over the print and cut out 
  7. Bake the paw print at 250 degrees for 1 to 2 hours depending on thickness of dough
  8. If desired, paint the print, the background, or both
  9. Attach the magnet with the glue
  10. Display your magnet

You can purchase Henry Is an Artist from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

September 25 – National Open the Magic Day

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About the Holiday

Created in 2021 by Courtney Hinshaw, a book lover, former teacher, and founder of Ramona Recommends, National Open The Magic Day honors the magic of reading aloud—especially reading picture books. As a child, Courtney faced struggles with dyslexia and auditory processing disorder, and while reading didn’t come easily, picture books gave her much joy and comfort. By establishing this holiday, her goal is to help more children feel confident with books, especially those who find reading hard.

Picture books aren’t just for the youngest readers, either! With their mix of story and illustrations, this creative masterpieces can open new worlds and a world of reading for children of any age—and even adults! To celebrate today, share picture books you loved as a child and your kids’s faves too! To learn more about the holiday and Courtney Hinshaw’s work with reading and literacy, visit Ramona Recommends and check out her blog post for National Open the Magic Day.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for gifting me a copy of this book for review!

Zombie and Brain Are Friends

Written by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic | Illustrated by Laan Cham

 

Zeb’s “family raised brains. Grain-fed, free-range brains.” In fact, anyone who bought their brains at the farmers market would tell you they were “the best brains in the entire county.” One Saturday, while Zeb worked among the crop, a baby brain snapped off its stem and bounced right into his hands. Zeb was smitten by how pink and squishy and adorable it was. Zeb decided to call him Brian and promised he’d take care of him. Brian snuggled close and “buzzed with delight.”

Illustration © 2025 by Laan Cham. Text © 2025 by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Zeb’s parents were much less enthusiastic and reminded Zeb: “‘Brains are food, NOT pets.'” Over the next few days Zeb and Brian did everything they could to change his parents’ minds. Finally they relented. Zeb was a fabulous caretaker, providing Brian with the best brain food, the most puzzling exercises, and always ensuring he never suffered brain freeze on chilly nights.

Illustration © 2025 by Laan Cham. Text © 2025 by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

When Zeb woke one night to find Brian gone then spied him on the kitchen table and heard his dad say he was “going to make him a midnight snack,” Zeb was terrified. He snuck into the kitchen, grabbed Brian, and ran as fast as he could to a faraway field where brains roamed wild. After a tearful farewell, Zeb returned home, but it just felt empty. When his parents asked where Brian was and Zeb told them, he learned that his dad had been making a snack for Brian, not out of Brian.

The family scoured the neighborhood, but Brian was nowhere to be found. Then one morning as Zeb did his chores, he felt Brian at his heel. He had found his way home himself! Now their home—and their hearts—were full once more.

Illustration © 2025 by Laan Cham. Text © 2025 by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

With its inspired take on E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, surprising friendship, and sweet tug on the heart, Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic’s Zombie and Brain Are Friends is a picture book for the whole family to read together. Loaded with delicious puns, wordplay, laugh-out-loud moments (as when Zeb tries a favorite pet owner’s ploy to entice Brian home), and even a couple of tear-jerking scenes, this heartwarming story is one kids and adults will want to share again and again.

Whether they’re shepherding their flock of brains on a hillside, selling their wares at a farmers market, or adjusting to a new pet in the house, Laan Cham’s delightful zombie family is relatable and loving. Pink, squishy Brian is a dear, and watching his and Zeb’s friendship blossom over fish dinners, puzzles, and outdoor play will squeeze your heart. Cham paints Zeb’s selfless act to save Brian with a broad brush of suspense and emotion, making the ending all the sweeter.

Full of heart, soul, and brains, Zombie and Brain Are Friends will appeal to all readers. It would be a well-loved addition to any home bookshelf and is a must for all library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1547613625

About the Author

Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic is the author of The End of Something Wonderful; Hello, Star; The League of Picky Eaters; What is Hope; and Hummingbird Season. She writes books in the San Francisco Bay Area surrounded by a few kids, a few cats, and one husband. Visit her at stephanielucianovic.com and on Instagram @grubreport.

About the Illustrator

Laan Cham is a wandering dreamer with a BIG imagination who enjoys all things cute, random, and a little bit strange. (Because the best things in life are kind of out there.) She aims to spread joy through her stories and illustrations by encapsulating all the things she loves. Laan’s picture books include Somewhere in Between and Mao Mao’s Perfectly Imperfect Day. Visit her at laancham.com and on Instagram @laan.cham.

National Open the Magic Day Activity

Reading is Magic! Puzzle

 

Reading every day makes life magical! Print this Reading is Magic! puzzle to help these kids find a book they’ll love!

You can purchase Zombie and Brain Are Friends from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

September 10 – Get Ready for Halloween

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About the Holiday

With summer weather beginning to cool and fall on the horizon, kids’ thoughts naturally turn to the thrills and chills of Halloween! Whether your kids like spine-chillers, ghost stories, or stories that make them giggle, Halloween-themed books are a rib-tickling way to enjoy the season. Digging into today’s book is a perfect way to unearth your Halloween spirit!

The Zombees

Written by Justin Colón | Illustrated by Kaly Quarles

 

A witch-y trick-or-treater passing by the graveyard gate is startled by a “creepy buzzing sound” as “fuzzy legs” emerge from tombs “spewing funky, fetid fumes.” As these undead zombees rise into the sky and toward the town, the freaked-out trick-or-treater worries: “Are they hunting for a snack?/Do they like the taste of veins?/Have they come to EAT YOUR BRAINS?!”

Illustration © 2025 by Kaly Quarles. Text © 2025 by Justin Colón. Courtesy of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

She runs for safety into the library, where the librarian frantically phones for help. In their beekeeper’s suits and armed with smokers, the rescuers arrive . . .. But wait! Hacking through the noxious fog, the zombees declare “‘We mean no harm—we come in peace.'” In fact, since no one ever rings their bell on Halloween, the bees have come to town to deliver a very special treat. 

After enjoying the festivities, it’s time for the bees to buzz back home. There, as they wipe away makeup with “Boo Gone” and take off their costumes, they relive all the fun they had. And though their “ghoulish work is done” for this year, they’re already planning for next Halloween! 

Illustration © 2025 by Kaly Quarles. Text © 2025 by Justin Colón. Courtesy of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Kids will be buzzing to hear Justin Colón’s bee-riff-ic mashup of zombie lore and the scary delights of Halloween again and again. Colón’s free-flowing rhymes are perfect for dramatic, spooky-voiced read alouds during the Halloween season and beyond.

Kaly Quarles concocts an atmospheric brew of foggy graveyards, ghostly creepers, and moldering zombees that will give kids giddy shivers. The clever costumes her trick-or-treaters wear as they fan out across town may inspire readers’ Halloween looks. Kids will also want to keep their eyes out for the visual puns, allusions to bees and honey, and the humorous shenanigans of the witch’s cat.

Shivery Halloween fun is in the bag with The Zombees, an inventive romp that will find plenty of life in any library collection.

Ages 4 – 8

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025 | ISBN 978-1665922500

About the Author

Justin Colón is a professional actor and children’s book author. His previous picture books include The Quacken (illustrated by Pablo Pino) and Impossible Possums (illustrated by James Rey Sanchez). A lover of Halloween and zombie movies, Justin is also a backyard beekeeper. Though his bees sometimes frighten the neighbors, they’ve never tried to eat their brains—something Justin takes great pride in. He lives in New York, but you can visit him at JustinColonBooks.com.

About the Illustrator

Kaly Quarles studied interior design and worked in architecture before landing in illustration. Her love for historic shopfronts, Victoriana, and vintage ephemera runs deep. When Kaly isn’t drawing with a cat in her lap, she’s hunting for obscure antiques, watching or reading historical fiction, or hosting one-woman pastry-eating contests. Visit her on kalyquarles.com.

Get Ready for Halloween Activity

 

The Zombees Activity Pages

 

Kids will have lots of Halloween fun with The Zombees and seven spooktacular activity sheets—including coloring pages and puzzles—from Justin Colón and Kaly Quarles. Educators also will have a blast sharing this book with the fantastic Educator Guide that includes ELA, Math, Science, and Art Extension Activities! They’re all found on Justin Colón’s website!  

The Zombees Activity Pages | The Zombees Educator Guide

You can purchase Zombees from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

August 26 – National Dog Day

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About the Holiday

In 2004 Pet and Family Lifestyle Expert and Animal Advocate Colleen Paige established National Dog Day to remind people – especially those who may be looking for a new pet – of all the dogs in shelters that need forever homes. The day also celebrates dogs of all breeds and honors the work of these faithful friends, whether they are family pets or specially trained as service dogs, police dogs, or search-and-rescue dogs. If you’re thinking of adding a new family member of the furry kind, or if you’d just like to make a difference to animals in shelter care, call or visit your local humane society, other shelter, or rescue organization.

Hello Dog / Hello Human (Flip Book): Two Stories in One!

Written by Sara Levine | Illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman

 

With their curly hair or sleek coats, sweet faces, and eager natures, dogs are natural kid magnets. But that doesn’t mean they’re always ready to be pet or played with. In Hello Dog / Hello Human, Sara Levine cleverly teaches children and adults how to recognize the traits of a receptive dog and how exactly to approach and engage with a dog you haven’t met yet.

Illustration © 2025 by Suzanne Kaufman. Text © 2025 by Sara Levine. Courtesy of Roaring Brook Press.

It’s easy enough to ask a dog’s human for permission to pet their dog, but getting the dog’s permission can be a bit trickier. Behind the Hello Dog cover, Levine shows kids how to read a dog’s body language, an important skill as “dogs speak with their bodies.” Once a child has determined that the dog isn’t too busy, too shy, or too distracted, Levine goes on to reveal the human behaviors dogs consider rude and the ones they find to be polite. If a person gets a signal that their initial overtures are accepted, only then should they put out their hand to pet that furry coat.

Illustration © 2025 by Suzanne Kaufman. Text © 2025 by Sara Levine. Courtesy of Roaring Brook Press.

But turn-about is fair play, and by just flipping the book over, that’s what readers find! Open the Hello Human cover, and dogs get a primer on meeting kids (with a dollop of humor, readers may also interpret these tips as courteous ways for meeting new people as well). So how does today’s discerning dog go about choosing the right human to make friends with? Well, they can read the body language. Turns out, people say a lot with their gestures and expressions too. They also use words, and it benefits both dog and human if they’re on the same page with some simple terms, especially “Sit.” While some canines may find it incredible, people tend to prefer a quiet, stationary, even non-slobbery greeting. Levine expands on these and other steps and shows what kind of welcome leads to that scratch behind the ears that, for any pup, is so rewarding.

Illustration © 2025 by Suzanne Kaufman. Text © 2025 by Sara Levine. Courtesy of Roaring Brook Press.

Working perfectly in synch, author and veterinarian Sara Levine and illustrator Suzanne Kaufman have created a clever book that children and adults will find helpful whether they’re adopting a new dog or learning how to interact with dogs they meet at friends’ homes or while out in the park or neighborhood. 

Levine’s straightforward and easy-to-understand steps are punctuated by Kaufman’s humorous depictions of expressive dogs of various breeds engaging in natural, madcap doggy behavior. These energetic pups appear in both stories along with a sweet child and an adorable, well-mannered pooch who’s ready to make a friend. A comical subplot involving a squirrel chase also ties the two sections together.

Educational and entertaining, Hello Dog / Hello Human is an exciting, multi-interest nonfiction story for home bookshelves that kids will want to hear often and even chime in on. The text is especially welcoming to new and emerging readers. Librarians will love displaying the book and recommending it to a wide range of patrons.

Ages 4 – 8

Roaring Brook Press, 2025 | ISBN 978-1250797025

About the Author

Sara Levine is an award-winning picture book author, veterinarian, and science educator. Her books which include Bone by Bone, Tooth by Tooth, Flower Talk, Sensitive, and The Animals Would Not Sleep! have received the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize, Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, Beehive Book Award, Cook Prize, and the Mathical Book Prize. She loves doing school and library programs. Visit her at saralevinebooks.com.

About the Illustrator

Suzanne Kaufman is the illustrator of Samanthasaurus Rex, written by B. B. Mandell; Naughty Claudine Christmas, written by Patrick Jennings; 100 Bugs!, written by Kate Narita; and the author and illustrator of I Love Monkey and It’s Confiscated. She lives in Seattle with her family. Visit her at suzannekaufman.com.

National Dog Day Activity

Find a Friend Matching Puzzle

 

Dogs and their humans often have personalities or even their appearance in common. Can you match up these sweet pups with their new best friend in this Find a Friend Matching Puzzle?

Find a Friend Matching Puzzle with Light Green Border | Find a Friend Matching Puzzle with No Border

You can purchase Hello Dog / Hello Human from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review