December 12 – International Sound Check Day

About the Holiday

Today’s holiday began with a bit of serendipity in 2012, when some people online noticed a connection with the abbreviated date notation 12/12/12 with the well-known phrase “check one two, one two” that musicians, speakers, and sound engineers use when testing microphones before a live event. This recognition grew over time to celebrate not only the suspense inherent in those momentary sound checks, but the importance of this preparation to performers and audiences alike as well as to all the creative professionals behind this technology. Likewise, today’s book sweeps readers away on a wave of sound.

Thank you to Eerdmans Books for Young Readers for sharing this book with me for review!

Sound: Discovering the Vibrations We Hear

By Olga Fadeeva | Translated by Lena Traer

If you have a child who loves sound—making it and listening to it—and who often asks, “Didja hear that?” then they’re sure to love today’s book. Olga Fadeeva begins her fascinating deep dive into sound with a quick discussion that pings from the most simple definition (sound is “what we perceive with our ears”) to how physics describes it as a “wave that creates a vibration that passes from molecule to molecule through almost any medium,” to a visual representation using the way a stone dropped into water creates waves, plus a couple of other interesting tidbits to boot.

Fadeeva addresses how humans produce sounds and how we hear them, reveals what an echo and echolocation are (as well as the longest recorded echo), and swoops into the world of birds to break down the “two different types of birdsong: songs and calls.” She talks about how birds learn their particular songs and how they adapt to humans’ noise so they can be heard. Fadeeva then wings her way from birds to the sounds that animals and undersea creatures make.

Next, Fadeeva touches on the 7,000 world languages as well as sign language and hearing aids before taking readers on a marvelous time-traveling odyssey. With the turn of a page, children find themselves in the prehistoric world, listening for “the hack of a stone ace, the murmur of the wind, the crackling of a fire, the distant roar of wild animals.” Fadeeva imagines how these sounds and the peoples’ natural clapping, stomping, and vocalizations became music accompanied by the first percussion instruments—”drums, mallets, and rattles made from dried gourds filled with seeds or stones”—and wind instruments—”pipes and flutes made from reeds, bones, animal horns, and seashells.”

From prehistoric times, readers move on to the Ancient World with its innovation and astounding amphitheaters and actors’ face masks, both created to amplify sound from dramatic performances in an age well before microphones. Kids also drop into the Middle Ages; the early Modern Period of the 16th to 19th centuries, during which the “‘hoot’ of a steamboat whistle, the puffing of a steam train . . . [and] the sounds of a piano” first filled the air; and today’s Modern Age, where so many disparate sounds meet our ears while the music scene has exploded with innovation and experimentation.

Fadeeva’s coda to her absorbing work includes information on musical notation, orchestras, and various recording devices. Young readers will also be entranced by the different ways people interpret animal sounds around the world and how music can affect how we feel. Even the endpapers offer trivia and experiments to try. Sprinkled throughout the pages are fun “Try It!” activities that engage readers in experimentation.

Fadeeva’s text is dynamically accompanied by her enthralling acrylic-and-water illustrations that bring sound, history, the animal kingdom, cities, and the world of music vibrantly alive for young readers.

Lena Traer’s smooth and captivating translation of the text from Russian creates an engrossing and rewarding reading experience. She has also translated Olga Fadeeva’s Water: Discovering the Precious Resource All Around Us (2024) and Wind: Discovering Air in Motion (2023).

Part of the Spectacular STEAM for Curious Readers series, Olga Fadeeva’s scintillating Sound: Discovering the Vibrations We Hear synthesizes all types of aural experiences and devices, inviting young readers to engage their sense of hearing and imagination as she introduces them to the mechanics, history, and impact of sound. The book is a must addition to any library collection as well as for media specialists and teachers looking for an exciting cross-curricular way to engage their students, music educators, and children who respond to sound or have music flowing through their veins.

Ages 8 – 14

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025 | ISBN 978-0802856487

Olga Fadeeva is the author and illustrator of Water: Discovering the Precious Resource All Around Us, Wind: Discovering Air in Motion (Eerdmans), and many other books for children. Wind earned a starred reviews from Kirkus and was named a USSBY Outstanding International Book, and Water earned starred reviews from Booklist and School Library Journal. Olga’s art has been honored in Italy, China, and her home country of Russia. Follow Olga on Instagram @olgafadeeva_illustrations.

Lena Traer is a Russian- and English-language translator with a focus on books for children and young adults. She has translated Wind: Discovering Air in Motion, Water: Discovering the Precious Resource All Around Us, and On the Edge of the World (all Eerdmans) into English and has also translated a variety of picture books and scientific materials into Russian. Born and raised in Siberia, Russia, Lena now lives in San Francisco.

International Sound Check Day Activity

It’s Instrumental! Game

Roll the dice in this fun game to gather all the instruments you need to create a music group. The first person to collect all 6 instrument cards is the winner!

Supplies

Printable Paper Cube Template
Printable Musical Instruments Cards—print one page for each player
Scissors
Tape

Directions

Print the Paper Cube Template, cut it out and assemble the cube die.
Print the Musical Instruments cards, cut out cards, and separate the instruments into piles
Players take turns rolling the die cube to collect musical instrument cards
The first player to collect all 6 instrument cards is the winner

You can purchase Sound: Discovering the Vibrations We Hear from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

December 3 – Get Ready for Dōngzhì

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

The Dōngzhì Festival, or Winter Solstice is considered to be one of the most important Chinese festivals of the year and is a time for families to get together, worship their ancestors, and enjoy traditional delicacies. Celebrated for over 2,000 years, the festival sees families come together to make and eat tāng yuán, which symbolizes reunion and prosperity. While the celebration of the winter solstice is only one day (this year on December 21), the Dōngzhì Festival lasts 15 days.

This Winter Solstice festival originates from the Chinese concept of yin and yang, an ancient symbol of harmony and balance. In Chinese culture, there is a belief that when the days are short, there is insufficient Yang energy, thus people consume foods that are more yang (warm) in nature to counteract the yin (cold) of winter, such as tāng yuán, as seen in today’s book. To learn more about the holiday, visit mandarianmatrix.org.

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

Weiwei’s Winter Solstice: A Dōngzhì Story

By Michelle Jing Chan

Today is Dōngzhì, the Chinese winter solstice—one of Weiwei’s favorite holidays. But instead of celebrating it by splashing in sprinklers amongst hummingbirds and palm trees at her former home, she’s bundled up in a sweater and blanket as snow covers the ground. For Weiwei Dōngzhì just doesn’t feel the same. Her family—Mama, Baba, her younger brother Didi, and Yeye, her grandfather—are ready for a walk and to play in the snow, but Weiwei can only scowl.

Yet once outside, Weiwei watches her breath cloud in the cold air, catches snowflakes on her tongue, and listens to the snow crunch as they walk. Then, suddenly, Weiwei gasps and points to a tree covered in red flowers. “‘Those are méihuā, plum blossoms!'” Yeye tells her. “. . . No matter how cold and dark it is, they still bloom.'” Weiwei begins to see other signs of life and beauty, but as the sun begins to set, it’s time for the family to go back home. Time for Weiwei’s favorite part of Dōngzhì.

Back home everyone chips in to make tāng yuán. Mama and Didi stir “ground black sesame, sugar, and softened butter into a paste” while Yeye and Weiwei make rice flour dough and Baba makes ginger broth. Then Didi and Weiwei pat the dough into small pancakes, add a bit of black sesame paste, and roll them into balls. The balls simmer in the ginger broth until they float to the top.

Before Weiwei and her family eat, they serve their ancestors. They “offer tāng yuán for togetherness, oranges for luck, apples for peace, and cups of tea for respect.” Then they eat! To Weiwei, the warm broth feels like a “sip of sunlight,” and Yeye reminds her that warmer days are coming. He tells her he knows it’s hard moving to a new home, “‘but anywhere can feel like home when we celebrate together.'” Weiwei listens to her grandfather and looks around at her cozy home and the people she loves. She knows spring is on its way with new memories to make, and decides that she will “bloom like the méihuā” and savor winter.

An Author’s Note describing the Dōngzhì holiday and how it is celebrated in various Asian countries as well as a recipe for Black Sesame Tāng Yuán follow the story.

Michelle Jing Chan’s warmhearted story of a young girl feeling adrift and disappointed when it comes time to celebrate Dōngzhì in a new home touches on feelings of loss, rediscovery, and the stabilizing comfort of traditions. As Weiwei and her family take a walk through snowy woods instead of the sunny backyard she’s known, she glimpses aspects of familiarity that are further strengthened as she helps prepare and enjoy their customary dish. She recognizes that the Dōngzhì celebration she cherishes as well as her family unit have not changed, allowing her to embrace her new home and look forward to the future.

Chan’s expressive illustrations glow with the togetherness that tāng yuán represents. Even her lovely snowy scenes are lit with peach and gold, as the sun breaks through the winter clouds. Inside, soothing colors highlight the family’s close ties and the comforting flavors of home.

Weiwei’s Winter Solstice: A Dōngzhì Story offers heartening inspiration for readers in the midst of change as well as the comfort of family love and traditions for all. Pair with making the included recipe as a group to create an eventful story time.

Ages 3 – 6

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1547614844

Michelle Jing Chan is a queer Chinese American illustrator who grew up in Colorado and lives in the Pacific Northwest. Inspired by nature, cultural folklore, and fantasy, Michelle aspires to illustrate diverse, empowering stories her younger self would have loved. When she’s not drawing, she can be found attempting new recipes, reading, or watching spooky TV shows. You can visit her at michellejingchan.com.

Listen to Michelle Jing Chan talk about how her family traditions and a trip to Colorado inspired her to write Weiwei’s Winter Solstice: A Dōngzhì Story below!

You can purchase Weiwei’s Winter Solstice: A Dōngzhì Story from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

December 1 – Christmas Book Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

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.

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.

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.

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 24 – Picture Book Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

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

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

The Ultimate Book of the Human Body

Written by Anne-Sophie Baumann | Illustrated by Vanessa Robidou

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

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

The book is broken into these eleven sections:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ages 8 – 12

Twirl, 2025 | ISBN 979-1027613649

About the Author

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

About the Illustrator

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

Picture Book Month Activity

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

Dog Paw and Human Hand X-Ray Craft

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

Supplies

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

Directions

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

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

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

November 21 – Get Ready for Christmas

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Christmastime is perfect when it’s shared with best friends! There are so many festivities to do together. From singing to baking to crafting and more, Christmas is a time for togetherness, whether you and your friends have different favorite ways to celebrate or agree on everything—like the kitty-corns in today’s book!

Holly Jolly Kitty-Corn

Written by Shannon Hale | Illustrated by LeUyen Pham

“Kitty adores Christmastime,” and it turns out that Unicorn does too! They’re excited to celebrate their first Christmas together, especially since they always agree. Unicorn offers that their “favorite part of Christmas is the music.” While Kitty politely agrees, she likes more snazz than snooze in her music, and soon she’s snoring so loudly that Unicorn can’t hear his favorite part.

When Kitty reminds Unicorn that their real favorite part is making gingerbread houses, Unicorn is game to try. After several hours, Kitty has created a beautifully decorated village. She’s jazzed to put her village together with Unicorn’s, but he’s only made one “ramshackle shack.” When he tries to place his house next to one of Kitty’s, it sends them all tumbling like dominoes. Kitty and Unicorn squabble over the mishap, while Gecko and Parakeet pipe up with a song about it.

Kitty’s not going to let those two have the last note, so when Unicorn suggests that the tree is their favorite part of Christmas, she agrees. At the lot, Unicorn asks if Kitty likes a particularly small one. Kitty loves it, but asks if it’s big enough for Unicorn. Misunderstanding, Unicorn shows her bigger trees, where Kitty chooses the biggest tree in the place, hoping to make her bestie happy.

Back home, their box of ornaments is no match for the enormous tree, so they make more. Still, the tree looks empty. Kitty calls for more stuff. Finally, as Kitty places the tiny star on top, the tree tips . . . timbers . . . crashes to the ground. Unicorn sympathizes with Kitty over the fate of her “perfect tree.” Confused, Kitty counters: “‘That wasn’t my perfect tree. It was yours.'” Unicorn is flummoxed. They banter until they realize that they both prefer “itty-bitty trees.” They stare at each other until both explode in laughter, proving that despite the mayhem, Christmas really is “the merriest day of the year.” The kitty-corns end the day with tasty gingerbread and cocoa. Turns out, Unicorn’s music is perfect for falling asleep on a starry night.

A giggle-inducing Kitty-Corn Carol, worthy of Gecko and Parakeet and set to the music of Deck the Halls, follows the story.

Funny and as sweet as Christmas treats, Shannon Hale’s and LeUyen Pham’s newest addition to their Kitty-Corn series will enchant readers, whether they’re fans of the books or just discovering them. Kitty and Unicorn’s tender and feisty friendship is challenged as the two try to blend their favorite holiday traditions or guess what the other likes best, but it emerges as tight-knit as ever. Hale’s dialogue-rich storytelling, sprinkled with rhymes, creates a delightful read aloud. Kids will laugh over the list of “ornaments” the pair use to decorate their enormous tree and sing along with Gecko and Parakeet’s musical interludes.

LeUyen Pham’s spirited illustrations offer stockings-full of laughs, charm, and cuteness as the characters’ facial expressions clearly demonstrate their emotions. Kids will want to linger over Kitty’s gingerbread houses to pick up ideas for their own as well as the Kitty-Corns’ fully stocked tree to point out each silly decoration.

Ages 4 – 8

Harry N. Abrams, 2025 | ISBN 978-1419768798

LeUyen Pham and Shannon Hale are the team behind the bestselling picture books Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn, Pretty Perfect Kitty-Corn, Party Hearty Kitty-Corn, and Bubbly Beautiful Kitty-Corn, as well as the Kitty-Corn Club board books; the bestselling graphic novels Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever; and, with Dean Hale, the early chapter book series The Princess in Black. They have made a bunch of other books too. They are both moms of cat-loving kids, wives to book-creating husbands, honor award winners (Caldecott and Newbery), and believers in unicorns. Pham lives in Los Angeles, Hale lives in Utah, and together they know they can be—and make—anything. Visit Shannon Hale at shannonhale.com. You can find LeUyen Pham on Instagram.

Get Ready for Christmas Activity

Colorful Ornaments

These plastic ornaments swirled with colors make the perfect decorations for your tree, whether it’s itty-bitty or enormous! This is a fun activity to do with friends or to give away too!

Supplies

Plastic ornaments, available at craft stores
Nail polish in various colors
Plastic bowl or container, deep enough to dip the ornament into the water
Drying stand – I used a clear, plastic egg carton. You can also hang ornaments to dry

Directions

Fill the plastic container with warm to hot water

Using two or three colors, gently “paint” the water inn dots and swirls with the nail polish, using the nail brush or a toothpick.
Slowly dip the plastic ornament into the water and turn it to pick up the nail polish floating on the top of the water.
To dry, place the ornament on a stand or hang over a paper plate, wax paper, or other paper to catch drips.

You can purchase Holly Jolly Kitty Corn from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

November 19 – Family Stories Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Familiar stories are part of the glue that keep families together. The months of November and December, when homes can be full of family and friends for the holidays, are perfect for sharing those stories with the youngest members as a way to pass down traditions, funny or poignant memories, and even historical touchstones. Telling these stories can be especially meaningful for children experiencing the loss of a beloved family member and the activities they shared. Today’s book speaks to such loss, recovery, and rediscovering happiness.

Thank you to Astra Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Bread Days

By Hannah Chung

For Nara, Bread Days with her father were special. She would wake up early, greet Papa—who was already in the kitchen—and then say “‘Good morning!'” to Paolo, their sourdough starter, before feeding it with flour and water. “One bubble. Two bubbles. Soon, Paolo filled his jar with bubbles.” Nara and Papa loved spending the whole day together, mixing the dough, shaping it into a round loaf, watching it rise, and scoring the top with a design Nara had drawn. Then they sat together and watched the bread bake in the oven.

“On Bread Days, the kitchen was warm and cozy,” and Nara’s heart felt light as she and Mama and Papa enjoyed the “crunchy crust and pillowy bites.” She couldn’t wait for the next Bread Day. But one week when that day came around, Mama told her that Papa couldn’t do it. Disappointed, Nara put Paolo in the refrigerator to wait for the next time. She waited and waited, but there were no more Bread Days. “Papa was gone.” Soon, even the way Papa kept the kitchen began to change. Nara “missed Papa more than ever.”

One night, while Mama was sleeping, Nara crept into the kitchen, put up all of Papa’s bread-making notes, got out the equipment, and opened the refrigerator to get Paolo. But Paolo didn’t look right. He was sticky, and floating on top was a brown liquid. Nara was crushed. She thought Paolo was gone too, that Bread Days were over. But Mama was up, and she reassured Nara that Paolo would be fine. As Mama worked with Paolo, the bubbles returned. “Paolo was back,” and for Nara it felt like Papa was there with them too.

Now Nara and Mama held Bread Days, and although the loaves looked different than the ones Nara had made with Papa, they were just as tasty. Bread Days were still the best days!

Following the story, Hannah Chung includes an Author’s Note about her father, who turned hobby baking into a weekly ritual for the whole family, and how she has continued his tradition after he passed away

In her moving tribute to her own father, Hannah Chung draws a sweet story of the love between a father and daughter. As Nara feeds the sourdough starter and Paolo bubbles, Nara and Papa shape and score the loaf, and they watch the loaf bake together, the bread symbolizes their love and bonding over this weekly tradition. Papa’s passing may seem sudden to young readers and may need explanation by an adult, but such life-changing events can often feel abrupt and confusing to children.

With changes in the kitchen and Paolo’s development of an unfamiliar layer of hooch, Chung touches on Nara’s sadness and fear that this important connection with her father is gone too. But as Nara and her mother recreate Bread Days and Nara feels the spirit of her father there, Chung reassures readers that, as she says, “love endures in memory, rituals hold us steady, and starting anew takes quiet courage.”

A touching story about loss and resilience, Bread Days offers comfort to any child grieving the loss of a beloved family member and affirms that their memories and continued traditions provide happiness as life continues on.

Ages 4 – 8

Astra Young Readers, 2025 | ISBN 978-1662621017

Hannah Chung is an award-winning designer and entrepreneur in health care design for young patients. She is a frequent guest lecturer at universities and has presented at numerous conferences including TEDx and SXSW. She is the also the author/illustrator of The Most Perfect Persimmon. Hannah spends her time both in Providence, Rhode Island, and Seoul, South Korea. Visit her at hannahchung.com.

Family Stories Month Activity

Bread Days Activity Kit from Astra Young Readers

With this Bread Days Activity Kit from Astra Young Readers, kids can enjoy their own Bread Day! Five activities, including drawing their own bread design, a crossword puzzle, pages for writing about a special day they had and what makes them happy, and a puzzle prompting them to put the steps of bread making in order. You can download it here!

You can purchase Bread Days from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

November 17 – Get Ready for Hanukkah

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

For children, preparations for Hanukkah are full of magic and wonder, and finding books that mirror their excitement can make the holiday even more special. Today’s book sparkles with an imaginative spin on the eight nights of Hanukkah and its the traditions of light, remembrance, and giving.

Thank you to Orchard Books for sharing a digital copy of this book with me for review!

A Dragon for Hanukkah

Written by Sarah Mlynowski | Illustrated by Ariel Landy

A girl, excited to be celebrating Hanukkah with her family, invites readers along as she receives gifts on nights one through seven. On the first night of Hanukkah, her parents give her a baby dragon, whom she calls Nerry and allows to sleep on her bed. On the second night, her Bubbie gives her a rainbow that sweeps her from her room and down the stairs, through the kitchen and out the door, where Nerry catches her before she slides away.

She receives a treasure chest full of gold and gems, a merry-go-round from her best friend, and a time machine from her cousin that transports them “back two thousand years” to meet the Maccabees. On the sixth night, her Zaidie gives her rocket boots, and on the seventh night, her younger brother presents her with her very own unicorn. Actually it was three energetic unicorns, including a baby that liked to eat socks.

But it’s the eighth night that the girl has been looking forward to the most. On that night, it’s her turn to give gifts, and she’s cooking up a tasty treat. All finished in the kitchen, she heeds her mother’s call to clean up her room. She places her new stuffed dragon on her bed for nap time, returns a rainbow of crayons to their box, spins her dreidel one more time before placing it next to a bowlful of gelt, slides “The Story of Hanukkah” back onto the bookshelf, stuffs her starry socks in the drawer, and hangs up the unicorn pictures from her brother. Then “because it’s a time for giving,” she fills a Tzedakah donation box with toys and books.

Soon it’s time for dinner and her family and friends gather around the table to “sing songs, play dreidel, and eat latkes, the tasty treat [she] made.” And, she says’ it is doing these things “which makes this last night, the eighth night, the most magical night of Hanukkah.”

Following the story, the girl and Nerry engage in a dialogue about the history of Hanukkah, how to play dreidel, giving gifts, traditional Hanukkah foods, and even where the dragon’s name comes from.

Sarah Mlynowski blends imagination and tradition in her clever and enchanting story that immerses children in the joy, meaning, and excitement of Hanukkah. While readers logically know that a living dragon, full merry-go-round, or unicorn can’t really be a gift, Mlynowski’s twist when the girl begins cleaning her room comes as a delightful surprise. Her inclusion of a tzedakah box extends the idea of giving past the holiday in a way that resonates with children.

Ariel Landy’s exuberant illustrations sweep kids into the story and keep them riveted to see each new gift, from sweet Nerry to those rambunctious unicorns as well as the real gifts that so charm the little girl. Landy’s vibrant colors, warm tones, and wealth of details will keep children lingering over the pages as they celebrate Hanukkah with the young girl who is excitedly taking part in and contributing to the holiday. On subsequent readings, kids may enjoy pointing out clues to the true nature of some of the imaginative gifts.

A Dragon for Hanukkah is sure to be a favorite for those who celebrate Hanukkah, have family or friends who do, or who want to learn more about the holiday. This book would make a much-loved gift and addition to home and library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Orchard Books, 2024 | ISBN 978-1338897524

About the Author

Sarah Mlynowski is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and coauthor of over fifty books for teens, tweens, kids, and adults, including the Whatever After series, the Best Wishes series, and the Upside-Down Magic series, which was adapted into a Disney Channel movie. Originally from Montreal, Sarah now lives in Los Angeles with her family. Visit her online at sarahm.com.

About the Illustrator

Ariel Landy has been illustrating her whole life, starting with crayon portraits of her cats, dogs, and hamsters. She is the illustrator of the Good Dog series and picture books such as Gitty and Kvetch. Originally from Boston, she currently lives in the south of France with her family. Her favorite Hanukkah song is “I Have a Little Dreidel”. Visit her at ariellandy.com.

Get Ready for Hanukkah Activities

A Dragon for Hanukkah Coloring Page and Puzzle

Children can enjoy these fun activities from Orchard Books/Scholastic while they look forward to celebrating Hanukkah!

A Dragon for Hanukkah Coloring Page | A Dragon for Hanukkah Word Search

You can purchase A Dragon for Hanukkah from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

About the Holiday

Sound: Discovering the Vibrations We Hear

By Olga Fadeeva | Translated by Lena Traer

International Sound Check Day Activity

It’s Instrumental! Game

Share this:

About the Holiday

Weiwei’s Winter Solstice: A Dōngzhì Story

By Michelle Jing Chan

Share this:

About the Holiday

The Big Cheese Presents: Have Yourself a Cheesy Little Christmas

Written by Jory John | Illustrated by Pete Oswald

Christmas Book Day Activity

Make Have Yourself a Cheesy Little Christmas Ornaments

Share this:

About the Holiday

The Ultimate Book of the Human Body

Written by Anne-Sophie Baumann | Illustrated by Vanessa Robidou

Picture Book Month Activity

Dog Paw and Human Hand X-Ray Craft

Share this:

About the Holiday

Holly Jolly Kitty-Corn

Written by Shannon Hale | Illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Get Ready for Christmas Activity

Colorful Ornaments

Share this:

About the Holiday

Bread Days

By Hannah Chung

Family Stories Month Activity

Bread Days Activity Kit from Astra Young Readers

Share this:

About the Holiday

A Dragon for Hanukkah

Written by Sarah Mlynowski | Illustrated by Ariel Landy

Get Ready for Hanukkah Activities

A Dragon for Hanukkah Coloring Page and Puzzle

Share this: