September 23 – The Autumn Equinox

About the Holiday

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, fall has arrived! If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, welcome to spring! Today, the hours of daytime and nighttime will be equal, ushering in a changing of the seasons. For some that means cooler weather, shorter days, and a slowing down in nature which leads to our being able to enjoy the brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges in the leaves of certain trees, cozy recipes, and fun fall holidays. For others nature is just awakening, with all the beauty that warm weather and new growth bring. Wherever you live, enjoy the activities and events ushered in with the change in season!

Thank you to Greystone Kids for sending me this book for review!

Henri and the Secret Letters

By Fanny Ducassé | Translated by David Warriner

Even before Henri the Badger awoke on the first day of fall (his favorite season), Mr. Mulot, the mail owl, slipped a mysterious letter under Henri’s door. Henri notices it immediately while heading to the kitchen to make cinnamon cookies—”one of his favorite fall treats.” The envelope was sealed with a heart, and the short letter read, “Dear Henri, I love the twinkle in your eye. Signed: A secret sender.” Henri was puzzled. He usually kept himself to himself. He couldn’t imagine who his secret admirer was.

Text and illustration copyright © 2026 by Fanny Ducassé. Translation copyright © 2026 by David Warriner. Published by Greystone Kids copyright © 2026.

After breakfast, he put on his “favorite fall outfit and dug out his cookbook of cozy recipes” before taking a leisurely walk in the woods among the tiny creatures and brilliantly colored foliage. He pondered: “was there really a twinkle in his eye?” Later, Henri was working in his kitchen, when Mimi the skunk knocked on his door. Henri never had many visitors, but he had just made pumpkin cake and hot chocolate, and the two sat in front of the wood stove savoring this special treat. Henri considered: “could she be the secret sender?” They were so different.

When another letter appeared the next day, Henri dismissed his thought about Mimi with a pang of disappointment, because this time the sender said they shared so much in common. Still, the sender included a recipe for potato leek soup and invited Henri to write back with instructions on where to leave his reply as their address was a secret. Henri’s “heart fluttered just a bit” as he drew a picture and enclosed a recipe for creamy mushroom pasta.

The annual Fall Festival was to be held the next week, and everyone was preparing for the big day. “But Henri’s head was in the clouds,” because he’d already received a reply—the most tantalizing letter yet. It relayed an invitation to meet at the Fall Festival and offered a clue as to how Henri could recognize his pen pal. A recipe for Vanilla Pudding was included. On the day of the festival, the animals—all sporting costumes—met in the woods where a long table was set with scrumptious treats. Catching a whiff of the clue he’d been given, Henri soon discovered the secret sender. Happily surprised, Henri now considered everything he and his friend had in common. When it came time to make a wish, Henri wished for “many more letters . . . and delicious dishes to savor” with his new friend.

Get ready to snuggle in for fall and winter with Fanny Ducassé’s heartwarming story of wonder, comfort, and friendship, delightfully blended with cozy recipes that children will love to make with a little help or supervision. In her dulcet storytelling, Ducassé perfectly captures the comforts of solitude, the giddiness of seeing yourself anew through another’s eyes, and the flowering of self-confidence, while gently cautioning against preconceived notions.

Ducassé’s markers-and-pen illustrations of Henri’s woodland home, burnished in spicy golds, forest greens, and molasses browns (not fully represented in the images above) convey Henri’s contemplative nature in dreamy scenes of his pondering the first secret letter, getting dressed, and wandering through the woods in images that play with time and his distracted thoughts. With the introduction of Mimi and Henri’s proclamation that they are “very different,” astute readers may begin noticing the ways they are similar well before Henri does. Ducassé’s immersive illustrations show a beautiful cohesion of colors, textures, and shapes across her pages that allow readers to float along with Henri in his preoccupation, while also appreciating her small details that elevate her homey scenes.

David Warriner’s lovely English translation from Ducassé’s original French encapsulates the cadence of Henri’s solitary musings and gentle jolts of possibility he experiences with each new letter.

Welcoming, whimsical, and thoroughly enchanting, Henri and the Secret Letters will captivate readers of all ages and keep them coming back to try each of the six delicious recipes included. The book would make a much-appreciated gift and a standout addition to any home or library collection.

Ages 4 – 8+

Greystone Kids, 2026 | ISBN 978-1778403644

About the Author

After getting a degree in modern literature, Fanny Ducassé began studying fashion design and model making at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, where she developed an interest in children’s book illustration. Fanny Ducassé lives in Paris. Henri and the Secret Letters is her first book available in English. Follow her on Instagram.

About the Translator

David Warriner grew up in the UK and escaped to Quebec right after graduating from Oxford. A professional translator for more than two decades, David nurtures a healthy passion for reading and has translated a range of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s fiction titles by French and Québécois authors for Canadian and UK publishers. David translated Super Space Weekend and Super Ocean Weekend, also published by Greystone Kids. Visit him at davidwarriner.com.

Autumn Equinox Activity

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Falling for Fall Matching Puzzle

These kids are having fun in the leaves. Can you find the matching leaves in this printable Falling for Fall Puzzle?

You can purchase Henri and the Secret Letters 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

February 24 – It’s Bake for Family Fun Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

This time of year is perfect for gathering with family and friends and spending those cold, indoor days making sweet treats and savory dishes! Baking together is a great way to teach valuable cooking skills and a little math. Talking with kids while baking is fun too! Tell old family stories, talk about favorite recipes, and share funny or memorable culinary experiences. Of course, the best part of baking together is eating the delicious meals or treats afterward!

10 Gulub Jamuns: Counting with an Indian Sweet Treat

Written by Sandhya Acharya | Illustrated by Vanessa Alexandre

Idu and his little brother Adu were excited to help their mom get ready for their friends Dia and Mia and their parents who would be coming later that evening for dinner. The delicious aroma of spices Mamma’s cooking already perfumed the house. At last it was time for Mamma to make the dessert: gulab jamuns! Idu and Adu tried to imagine what gulab jamuns were. “‘They are little round sweets that look like doughnuts,'” their mother explained. “‘They are soaked in sugary syrup so when you bite into one, they melt in your mouth.'” Idu and Adu thought they sounded yummy.

After the treats were finished, Idu counted them in the bowl. “‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. 10 gulab jamuns!'” Adu echoed his big brother: “’10 gulab jamuns!'” Mamma sent the boys off to play, but the bowl of sweets was too enticing. Adu climbed onto the table and ate one. Then he stuffed his cheeks with two more.

Idu thought his brother was funny until Mamma caught them. She asked Idu to tell her how many gulab jamuns she had made and then count how many were left. “‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 7 gulab jamuns,'” he answered. “‘Swa gua amoons,’ Adu repeated” through his full mouth. When Mamma asked what had happened to the other three, Idu told her. Then she wanted to know how it had happened.

Idu obliged, exactly imitating Adu’s actions. Adu then turned and gave Mamma a big sweet-treat smile. Mamma laughed, then grabbed one gulab jamun for herself and handed one each to her sons. That left just one more for . . . Daddy, who was just coming home from work. But what would they serve their special guests for dessert now? Idu and Adu enthusiastically offered to help their mother make more. Later, after dinner, Idu and Adu helped pass out the gulab jamuns, but there were two left over. Why? Idu’s and Adu’s bellies were already full of their new favorite dessert!

A recipe for gulab jamuns follows the story.

Sandhya Acharya’s humorous counting story is the recipe for an entertaining read aloud the whole family will enjoy. Adu and Idu’s sibling shenanigans will have young readers giggling, and the naturally occurring opportunities for kids to count the gulab jamuns offer a fun way for them to engage with math. The exercise can even be extended at home or in classrooms as children add or subtract treats or other foods from their own plates. A multilayered story, 10 Gulab Jamuns also contains gentle lessons in honesty, taking responsibility, and making amends for one’s behavior,

Vanessa Alexandre’s vivid and expressive illustrations bring out all the comical fun as Adu and Idu sneak the sweet treats, get caught, and ultimately help their mother make more. Children will especially like images of the brothers’ playful mischief-making, the bright kitchen and table laden with delicious Indian foods, and the cheerful depictions of a traditional Indian home and clothing.

A heartwarming, dialogue-rich story you can count on to become a favorite, 10 Gulab Jamuns would be a delightful addition to home, classroom, and library collections.

Ages 2 – 7

Sandhya Acharya, 2022 | ISBN 979-8985609516

About the Author

Sandhya Acharya grew up in Mumbai, India and now lives in the Bay Area. She is a mother to two young boys from whom she often draws inspiration for her writing. She worked in corporate finance and is a dance enthusiast as well. She hopes her readers have as much fun as she did with this story.

Bake for Family Fun Month Activity

Let’s Bake Together Coloring Page

It’s fun for friends or siblings to create new recipes or just cook up some favorite treats! Have fun with this sweet coloring page!

You can purchase 10 Gulab Jamuns at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

November 20 — It’s Family Stories Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

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

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

July 15 – It’s National Culinary Arts Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

There’s a true art in putting together a delicious meal from seemingly disparate parts, and this month’s holiday honors those with a talent for combining tastes, flavors, and textures. With fresh ingredients available from farm stores, farmers markets, grocery stores, and maybe even your own garden, July is a great month for celebrating the culinary arts. This month, spend time with your kids in the kitchen. It’s a terrific way for them to learn cooking skills and even practice practical math while creating experimental or favorite recipes. And, of course, be sure to remember to make a few treats! Today’s book should get you off to a delicious start!

Thanks to Oni Press for sharing a digital copy of This Is a Birthday Cake with me for review consideration. All opinions about the book are my own.

This is a Birthday Cake

Written by Andrew Cangelose | Illustrated by Josh Shipley

Andrew Cangelose’s two-layered story about making a cake and the history of cake is by turns hilarious and informative. First, kids meet Shelly, a turtle and the forest’s official baker, and Bucky, a rabbit and baker-in-training. Shelly explains that she is “teaching Bucky how to make a birthday cake.” Bucky is rarin’ to go because as soon as the cake is baked, “the party will start.”

But wait! A narrator breaks in on the very next page to reveal that “cake was first used to celebrate birthdays in the Roman Empire two thousand years ago,” but “only became widely popular about two hundred years ago during the Industrial Revolution.” Bucky isn’t too keen on the delay this history lesson has caused, and even less patient with Ms. Shelly’s directive to “visualize out beautiful cake in our minds.”

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Image copyright Josh Shipley, 2022, text copyright Andrew Cangelose, 2022. Courtesy of Oni Press.

But wait! The narrator has another interesting point to make, during which Bucky takes to sticking birthday candles up his nose and in his ears. Finally, Shelly says it’s time to get the recipe and all of the ingredients. Bucky, it seems, is already those steps ahead of Ms. Shelly and hot-foots it out the door, giving her a podcast-worthy “Byeeeee!”

As Bucky speeds into the forest, the recipe tightly gripped in his hand, he imagines his success and the accolades that will follow. At home, Shelly is slowly and methodically making the batter. Bucky takes a moment to reflect on the results of his soon-to-be triumph: “another party just to celebrate [his] accomplishment” and the sad fact that he will most likely be asked to be the new official forest baker.

But what about the ingredients, Bucky? The narrator begins to outline the necessary elements to a good cake. Hmmm… seems Bucky has forgotten to bring these along. No worries, though. Garbage, the ground hog tells Bucky that dirt is delicious: “a little sweet. A little sour. A lot of worms.” Bucky adds it to his pot. Still, he needs a sweetener and a liquid as the narrator describes.

Now, with her cake in the oven, Shelly is relaxing with a hot cup of tea with honey, while Bucky is hightailing it away from a swarm of angry bees. A champion-spitting frog is happy to help out with the liquid. At last, it’s time for the mixing. Ignoring the narrator’s warning about overmixing, Bucky goes at it like a tornado. With no oven to bake his cake in, Bucky comes up with an… ingenious?… solution.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-this-is-a-birthday-cake-roman-empire

Image copyright Josh Shipley, 2022, text copyright Andrew Cangelose, 2022. Courtesy of Oni Press.

What’s a birthday cake without decoration, though? To get things moving along quicker, Bucky elicits the help of his forest friends, and in no time, it’s finished. What about Shelly? She’s still carefully drizzling colorful icing on the layers. It’s a good thing Bucky’s cake is ready. The forest animals line up for big pieces, excited to party.

But while Bucky’s congratulating himself and extolling his speed, the animals are coming to a grim realization. It doesn’t take long for Bucky to understand that maybe his cake is a disaster. Fortunately, Shelly is on her way with another cake. The animals watch her coming closer, and closer, and closer… until ta da! “The birthday cake has arrived!”

With two cakes on offer, Shelly wonders about the voracious response to hers, and Bucky reveals his unique recipe. He even admits that he went to fast and that he needs to slow down when he’s excited. Shelly is understanding and promises they can try again tomorrow—if only they can get home before morning.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-this-is-a-birthday-cake-bucky

Image copyright Josh Shipley, 2022, text copyright Andrew Cangelose, 2022. Courtesy of Oni Press.

Wonderfully paced and with funny, realistic dialogue, Andrew Cangelose’s fourth book in his This is a Taco series will have kids and adults laughing out loud as they read it together. Suspense builds as Bucky runs out to bake his own cake with only the recipe to follow. Wanting to discover what substitutions he makes for each ingredient will have readers whipping through the pages as fast as Bucky stirs the batter. And his self-confidence throughout adds another layer of amusing storytelling. Cangelose’s intermittent inclusions of information on the history of cake and a typical recipe is a genius device that not only informs but amplifies Shelly’s slow, careful process that drives Bucky crazy. Bucky’s admission that he worked too fast and Shelly’s patient and understanding response to his failed cake serve up just the right message, sweetened with love.

Josh Shipley’s hilarious illustrations perfectly convey Bucky’s impatience as well as his confidence in his baking prowess. As Bucky’s forest friends help him create his cake, their roles are all the more comical for Shipley’s understated depictions. Clever juxtapositions and well-loved cartoon tropes add to the fun. As the animals—all except one—reject (and eject) the cake, kids will laugh but also empathize with Bucky’s now-sheepish and disappointed expression.

A masterful collaboration between story and art, This Is a Birthday Cake is a humorous and heartfelt must for fans of the series and newbies alike. The book will become a quick favorite on home, school, and public library bookshelves.

Ages 4 – 8

Oni Press, 2022 | ISBN 978-1637150450

You can connect with Andrew Cangelose and Josh Shipley on Twitter.

You can read my review of This Is a Flying Rat here.

National Culinary Arts Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-whisk-bookmark

Don’t Whisk Losing Your Page Bookmark

The author’s of your favorite books have cooked up such fantastic stories that you don’t want to risk missing a word! To make sure that doesn’t happen, use this culinary-themed bookmark!

Supplies

Printable Don’t Whisk Losing Your Page Bookmark
Poster board
Glue

Directions

Print your bookmark
Glue it to the poster board
Cut out the bookmark
Slip it into the book you’re reading now!

**You can find This Is a Birthday Cake at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

November 23 – It’s Sweet Potato Awareness Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Sweet potatoes are yummy and satisfying—and they’re healthy! Full of vitamins A and C, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties, sweet potatoes make delicious side dishes for almost any meal. Sweet potato fries, muffins, pies, and—of course—casserole are just a few of the ways you can enjoy this natural treat. To celebrate today’s holiday, cook up your favorite recipe and discover some new ones!

Little Chef

Written by Matt Stine & Elisabeth Weinberg | Illustrated by Paige Keiser

Lizzie is a little girl who has always loved to cook. In fact, her mom and dad call her “their Little Chef.” She has her own chef’s uniform, complete with hat, and doesn’t mind the long hours a chef has to keep. Today, Lizzie is extra excited because “Grandmas is coming over for dinner!” Lizzie has learned all of her cooking skills from her Grandma, and tonight she is going to prepare a special dinner just for her.

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Image copyright Paige Keiser, 2018, text copyright Elisabeth Weinberg and Matt Stine, 2018. Courtesy of Feiwel & Friends.

Lizzie knows she’ll need extra energy today, so she’s starting off by making her “famous scrambled eggs.” She whips eggs in a bowl with a fork and adds salt and pepper. After breakfast, Lizzie and her mom get ready to go to the farmers’ market to buy the ingredients for “Grandma’s Super Special Smashed Sweet Potatoes.” Lizzie wants Grandma to see that she “can cook just like her.” At the farmers’ market, Lizzie picks out the freshest sweet potatoes she can find. Back home, Mom and Dad peel and chop the potatoes and help Lizzie put them into the big pot of boiling water. When the potatoes are soft, it’s time for “the best part about making Smashed Sweet Potatoes. Smashing them!”

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Image copyright Paige Keiser, 2018, text copyright Elisabeth Weinberg and Matt Stine, 2018. Courtesy of Feiwel & Friends.

Then “it’s time to add the secret ingredient! Grandma says every great recipe has one. It makes a chef’s food taste extra special and delicious.” But when Lizzie consults the recipe, no secret ingredient is listed. Lizzie decides she will just have to add one of her own. She looks in the spice cabinet and after going through bottle after bottle, she finds the perfect one. Lizzie gives her finished Smashed Sweet Potatoes a taste and waits for Grandma. Finally, Grandma arrives and everyone sits down to dinner. When Daddy tastes the sweet potatoes, he says, “‘Mmm!’” Mommy says, “‘ Mmmm!’” too.

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Image copyright Paige Keiser, 2018, text copyright Elisabeth Weinberg and Matt Stine, 2018. Courtesy of Feiwel & Friends.

But what will Grandma say? Grandma takes a bite and exclaims, “‘These are even BETTER than my own Super Special Smashed Sweet Potatoes.’” Then Grandma wants to know what Lizzie’s secret ingredient is. But of course Lizzie can’t tell her that! Grandma picks up Lizzie and gives her a big hug. “‘…being with you is the best ingredient of all,’” she says. And as Lizzie lies in bed later that night, reading her cookbook by flashlight, she wonders what she’ll cook tomorrow.

A recipe for Chef Lizzie’s (Grandma’s) Super Special Smashed Sweet Potatoes that encourages young chefs to experiment with their own secret ingredient follows the story.

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Image copyright Paige Keiser, 2018, text copyright Elisabeth Weinberg and Matt Stine, 2018. Courtesy of Feiwel & Friends.

Kids who love to cook or help out in the kitchen will be delighted by Matt Stine and Elisabeth Weinberg’s story of a little girl who wants to impress the grandmother who inspires her. Lizzie’s enthusiasm for cooking and her confidence in her skills make this an uplifting tale for children of all talents. Lizzie’s special bond with her grandmother adds a tender family element to the story and her big-hearted nature makes her a sweet companion for little readers. The recipe included in the back of the book invites children to make Lizzie’s Smashed Sweet Potato recipe and find their own secret ingredient—an invitation few will be able to resist.

Adorable little Lizzie, with her wild frizz of hair is energetic, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and a free spirit. With dashes of humor, Paige Keiser follows her through a day of creating the perfect dinner for Grandma. Dressed in her chef’s uniform, Lizzie splashes her dog with egg, sends him sneezing in a cloud of pepper, and turns him orange as she whacks away at the soft chunks of sweet potatoes. Images of Mom and Dad happily encouraging and supporting Lizzie in her cooking are heartwarming, and Grandma’s big hug is as sweet as it gets.

A charming and inspiring story, Little Chef is a fun read for culinary kids and any child experimenting with their talent and striving to do their best. The book would be a welcome addition to home, classroom, and public libraries and a great gift for grandmothers and grandkids to share.

Ages 2 – 6

Feiwel & Friends, 2018 | ISBN 978-1250091697

Discover more about Elisabeth Weinberg, executive chef and owner of Miss Elisabeth’s Catering in New York and a Food Network “Chopped” Champion, on her website.

Find out more about Matt Stine and his work as a music producer and composer for Broadway and Off-Broadway on his website.

To view a portfolio of artwork by Paige Keiser, visit her website.

Sweet Potato Awareness Month Activity

We Love to Cook! Coloring Pages

Add your secret ingredient and get cooking on these printable coloring pages!

Baking with Grandma | Cooking with Dad

**You can find Little Chef at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

July 16 – It’s National Blueberry Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Farmers’ Markets are bursting with fresh produce during the summer months, and that is especially true for blueberries, those little round morsels of sweetness. The United States Department of Agriculture recognized July as National Blueberry Month in 2003, and it’s been delicious eating ever since! Blueberries are the perfect accompaniment to muffins, pancakes, bread, fruit salads, and of course they’re delectable just on their own! So visit a farmers’ market today and pick up a peck.

Blueberry Cake

By Sarah Dillard

A little bear comes into the kitchen and tugs at his mother’s apron strings. When she turns her head, her cub asks shyly, “Blueberry cake?” Mama looks thoughtfully at her little one and sends him outside with a bucket. The cub dashes through the back yard and into the forest. Playfully, he wears the bucket like a hat and then does cartwheels until he comes to the edge of the woods. Peeking through the trees, the cub exclaims, “Oh!”

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What meets his eye is a wide-open field, a sea of blueberries. The little one sits down in the middle of a patch of delicious berries and begins filling the bucket with a concentrated, “Blueberries.” But it’s just so hard not to take a taste. Maybe just a handful. “Blueberries!” he exclaims. Then something else catches the little bear’s attention. It’s a butterfly – a monarch wanting to play chase. The cub runs after the butterfly, swinging the bucket and spilling the blueberries little by little along the way.

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The game brings the cub to another field – this one dotted with black-eyed Susans and queen Anne’s lace. They’re so pretty that the cub can’t help but pick some. Into the bucket they go. At home, the little bear holds the bucket out for Mama and asks, “Blueberry cake?” Mama looks at the offering and asks, “Blueberries?” The cub offers the flowers, but Mama still wonders where the blueberries are. The little bear inspects the bucket and quietly says, “No blueberries.” Mama crosses her arms and delivers the bad news: “No blueberry cake.”

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That night in bed, the cub dreams of what might have been and just as the sun begins rising over the horizon, he’s ready to try again. The cub dashes back to the blueberry field and fills the bucket until it’s brimming with delicious berries. The sun is still dawning when he gets home and puts the bucket on the kitchen counter and returns to his room. When Mama gets up, she’s surprised to find the blueberries. When the little bear comes downstairs again, he skips into the kitchen, his eyes alight, and he exclaims, “Blueberry cake!” The flowers, arranged in the bucket, decorate the middle of the table, and Mama lays out a placemat and plate for her little cub. He eagerly watches his mama cut a slice of cake and serve it. He gazes at the cake, and has just one thing to say: “Applesauce?”

A recipe for blueberry cake that’s easy enough for “little cubs and other small people” to make with some help “from a mama or papa bear” follows the story.

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With just six words, a darling cub, and a loving mother, Sarah Dillard creates a story that will charm kids. Dillard’s sunny illustrations are infused with poignant moments of childhood that are fanciful, disappointing, surprising, humorous, and always full of love. An expressive reading of the simple dialogue brings out all the feeling of the gentle ups and downs of the story and can also serve as a lesson in recognizing emotions for young readers. Kids will also have a blast joining in and reading along.

Ages 3 – 8

Aladdin, 2021 | ISBN 978-1534451346

Discover more about Sarah Dillard, her books, and her art on her website.

National Blueberry Month Activity

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A Bounty of Blueberries Maze

Can you help pick blueberries to make some delicious treats in this printable puzzle?

A Bounty of Blueberries Maze | A Bounty of Blueberries Maze Solution

**You can find Blueberry Cake at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

About the Holiday

Henri and the Secret Letters

By Fanny Ducassé | Translated by David Warriner

Autumn Equinox Activity

Falling for Fall Matching Puzzle

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About the Holiday

Bread Days

By Hannah Chung

Family Stories Month Activity

Bread Days Activity Kit from Astra Young Readers

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About the Holiday

10 Gulub Jamuns: Counting with an Indian Sweet Treat

Written by Sandhya Acharya | Illustrated by Vanessa Alexandre

Bake for Family Fun Month Activity

Let’s Bake Together Coloring Page

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About the Holiday

Still there was Bread

Written by Lisl H. Detlefsen | Illustrated by David Soman

Family Stories Month Activities

Family Story Starters

Connect with Others through Family Stories on StoryCorps

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About the Holiday

This is a Birthday Cake

Written by Andrew Cangelose | Illustrated by Josh Shipley

National Culinary Arts Month Activity

Don’t Whisk Losing Your Page Bookmark

You can find This Is a Birthday Cake at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

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About the Holiday

Little Chef

Written by Matt Stine & Elisabeth Weinberg | Illustrated by Paige Keiser

Sweet Potato Awareness Month Activity

We Love to Cook! Coloring Pages

You can find Little Chef at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Share this:

About the Holiday

Blueberry Cake

By Sarah Dillard

National Blueberry Month Activity

A Bounty of Blueberries Maze

You can find Blueberry Cake at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Share this:

**You can find This Is a Birthday Cake at these booksellers**

**You can find Little Chef at these booksellers**

**You can find Blueberry Cake at these booksellers**