October 29 – Bat Appreciation Week & Month

About the Holiday

It makes sense that October—with its focus on all things spooky and nocturnal—hosts Bat Appreciation Week and Bat Appreciation Month. We don’t celebrate bats this month just because they fit Halloween themes, though. Bats are cool every day of the year! Why? Scientists estimate there are 1,300 species of bats, most of which are beneficial for the areas where they live. Some bats are awesome at keeping the insect population under control. Fruit bats help distribute seeds, and other bats eat pollen, helping to pollinate foods, including bananas, guava, and agave. This month learn more about these fascinating creatures and enjoy a newest adventure of Bitsy Bat in this third book in the series!

Thank you to Beach Lane for sending me this book for review!

Bitsy Bat, Snow Star (The Bitsy Bat Series)

By Kaz Windness

Bitsy Bat’s family woke up to an unusual surprise. Winter snow had come early—even before she, mama, papa, and baby bat could begin hibernating. Mama took this as a sign that the long winter snooze should begin, but Bitsy wanted to go to school. When Bitsy’s friends, Benjamin and Winnie, stopped by to pick her up (even bringing her a “cute snow outfit”), Mama relented.

At school, to celebrate the early snow, Bitsy’s teacher Mr. Nibbles announced that instead of lessons, they’d “all enjoy the snow together.” Everyone wanted to make snow angels, and Bitsy was eager to learn how. But after she plopped into the snow and moved her wings up and down, she shivered and hoped the other activities would be more fun. But Bitsy didn’t enjoy sledding, making a snowman, or the snowball fight afterwards, either. She didn’t like being wet and cold. In fact, Bitsy decided she didn’t like snow at all. As he flew back to the classroom, she worried that she’d lose her friends if they found out.

Noticing how miserable Bitsy seemed, Mr. Nibbles took her to the reading nook to warm up. There, she found Mo and Enzo. When Bitsy asked if they didn’t like snow either, they both said they loved the snow. Bitsy was confused. Then she discovered that Mo and Enzo liked watching the snow while being warm and cozy and reading inside. She understood then that it was okay to like different things, and when Mr. Nibbles offered hot chocolate, she politely declined while asking for a bugmallow treat instead.

When the snow started falling, Bitsy had the idea to make paper snowflakes, and when the rest of the class came inside, they joined in too. When Mr. Nibbles suggested each student write their favorite snow activity on their flake, Bitsy bravely admitted that she hadn’t liked any of the outdoor activities, and was assured that that was okay. Back home, Bitsy hung her paper snowflakes then prepared with her family for their long winter hibernation.

Back matter includes a detailed discussion about autism that defines and explains important terms as well as an Author’s Note by Kaz Windness, who is herself autistic.

It’s easy to see why Kas Windness’s Bitsy Bat series—including Bitsy Bat, School Star and Bitsy Bat, Team Star—is such a beloved part of any child’s library. Told from an autistic perspective, the stories celebrate each student’s differences, and welcome readers as a friend. In Bitsy Bat, Snow Star, Bitsy steps out of her comfort zone to try a new experience. Windness invites children along to witness Bitsy proudly becoming a “snow bat” in winter clothing but also discovering that her sensory differences make the outdoor activities uncomfortable. As Bitsy’s school day progresses, Windness incorporates responses such as stimming, fawning, and autistic masking into the story.

Once inside, Bitsy demonstrates her creativity and imagination by making paper snowflakes as an alternative to real snow. Through Enzo’s, Mo’s, and Bitsy’s preference to watch the snow from the window, Windness also emphasizes that people can enjoy the same activities in different ways. Readers will find Bitsy’s bravery, worries, disappointments, and empathy relatable and her undimmable spirit inspiring.

Windness’s dialogue-rich storytelling is accompanied by her adorable and expressive illustrations that envelope readers in Bitsy’s companionable classroom, where students accept and support each other and their teacher is understanding. Other students use a wheelchair (and snow wheelchair for sledding), noise-reducing headphones, light-filtering glasses, a communication tablet, and glasses.

Whether you’re already a fan of Bitsy Bat or just getting to know her, Bitsy Bat, Snow Star would be a favorite read aloud on any home bookshelf. The book is a must for any public and school library.

Ages 4 – 8

Beach Lane, 2026 | ISBN 978-1665963664

About the Author

Kaz Windness is the author-illustrator of picture books Swim, Jim!; Bitsy Bat, School Star; Bitsy Bat, Team Star; and Bitsy Bat, Snow Star. She created the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Level 1 Ready-to-Read Graphics book Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends, and its sequel, Worm and Butterfly Are Friends, Always; the Star Chapter Book Time Traveling Chickens series; and the Level 1 Ready-to-Reads Cat vs. Vac; Go! Go! Dino!; Squid in Pants; and Speeder Spider. Kaz is also the illustrator of Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea by Andrew Hacket and the author of When You Love a Book, illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee. Kaz lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, two children, and Boston terrier. Visit her at WindnessBooks.com.

National Bat Awareness Week and Month Activity

Bitsy Bat Series Media Kit

You can find a wide range of materials for the Bitsy Bat Series for educators, parents, and other caregivers, from lesson plans to animated read-alouds, to detailed hands-on activities and instructions in Kaz Windness’s Bitsy Bat Media Kit on her website.

You can purchase Bitsy Bat, Snow Star from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 30 – National Friendship Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Do you have friends you haven’t seen or talked to in a while? Is there a new person in your office or a new classmate at school who could use a friend to show them the ropes or eat lunch with? If so, this month’s holiday gives you the opportunity to reach out, say hello, and learn a bit about The holiday was instituted by the Oddfellows (shortened from The Grand United Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society (GUOOFS)), an international fraternity that dates back to 1730s England, with the hope of encouraging people to make friends. Friendship Month is a super time to show kindness to those friends you know and those you don’t—yet!

Thank you to Salaam Reads for sharing a digital copy of this book with me for review!

Our Favorite Day of the Week

Written by Ashley Franklin | Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell

It’s Monday morning and Musa has just tied his shoes by himself for the first time. He’s excited to share the news with Zohra, his classmate and next door neighbor. Up until now, she was the only one in their class who could tie her shoes. But when they meet on the sidewalk, Musa can tell Zohra is distracted. She’s already thinking about tomorrow. Tuesday is her favorite day of the week because she always gets to wave at the sanitation workers, Mr. Joey and Mr. Brown, who call her a “‘superstar recycling sorter,'” but tonight she and her family are leaving on a trip.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Rahele Jomepour Bell. Text copyright © 2026 by Ashley Franklin. Published by Salaam Reads copyright © 2026.

Musa is empathetic. He says, “‘I’d feel sad if I missed my favorite day too.'” His favorite day is Wednesday, when his father takes him and his brother to swim class. After the lesson is over, “‘they always had the best of times splashing together.'” As Musa and Zohra continue through the neighborhood, they meet more of their classmates, who are excited to share stories about their favorite days. Zadie can’t wait for Grandma Day on Thursday. Every Thursday her grandmother picked her up from school and they did crafts—sewing, movie making, art projects—together all afternoon. In her room, everywhere she looked “‘she was reminded of all the fun they had had.'”

Mo wished every day could be Friday because “‘Shabbat dinner was the best of all dinners—of all meals, even!'” He recounts going to synagogue with his family, lighting candles, and having challah—”‘the best of all breads!'” “Everyone could see why Friday was Mo’s favorite.” When Zadie prompts Luna to tell them about her favorite day, she reveals that she looks forward to Saturday when she goes to the Chinese cultural center to learn Mandarin and about her culture. She offers to teach her classmates Chinese words at recess.

When the group arrives at school, they meet up with Moisés. The kids share their conversation, and Moisés offers that Sunday is his favorite day because after going to church, he goes to the park with his family and watches them play fútbol against other families. He can’t wait until he’s old enough to play soccer too. Soon, it’s time to enter the classroom and sit on the rug for circle time. Ms. Gupta starts off with the day of the week and a surprising admission that Monday is her favorite day of the week because she feels happy to see all her students again—a feeling that means she’s “‘doing something [she] loves with the people [she cares] about.'”

Back matter includes an interesting discussion on which day is considered the first day of the week around the world and information on which Roman or Norse god the days are named for.

Ashley Franklin’s charming story captures the sweet and serious cadence of conversations with and between young children. Her endearing cast of characters, each with their own distinct personality, shows pride and enthusiasm for family activities that make a certain day of the week their favorite. Franklin’s inclusion of the repeated refrain revealing that “everyone could see why” a particular day is a favorite for each friend, builds camaraderie among children and an awareness of their community. Readers will eagerly look forward to hearing each child’s story and sharing which day of the week is their favorite and why.

Rahele Jomepour Bell’s warm-toned illustrations immediately invite readers into this enchanting group of friends. Her delightful depictions of each child’s favorite activity immerse kids in the sights, sounds, and feelings generated in each place through realistic details that can inspire conversations at home or in the classroom.

Ages 4 – 8

Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026 | ISBN 978-1665935678

About the Author

Ashley Franklin is the author of Not Quite Snow White; “Creative Fixes” from the anthology Once Upon an Eid; “Situationally Broke” from the anthology What We Didn’t Expect; Better Together, Cinderella; The Masjid Kamal Loves; and more. Ashley received her master’s degree in English literature from the University of Delaware. She is an adjunct college instructor and proud mom. Ashley currently resides in Arkansas with her family. Visit her at ashleyfranklinwrites.com.

About the Illustrator

Rahele Jomepour Bell is an illustrator of several picture books, including Our Favorite Day of the Year by A. E. Ali on the Salaam Reads list. Rahele came to the United States from Iran in 2011 and pursued her dream of studying art at Iowa State University where she received her MFA in integrated visual arts. She believes all people share a common home in planet Earth, but may differ in their skin color, way of life, and their thinking. She loves these differences and believes this is what makes the world a beautiful place to live. Visit her at RaheleStudio.com.

You can purchase Our Favorite Day of the Week from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

September 17 – Constitution Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Constitution Day commemorates the official signing of the United States constitution in 1787 by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention, whose purpose was to forge an agreement between the states which would allow a central government the power to enforce its decisions and allow the new country to stand as an international force, while maintaining a reasonable level of independence within the separate states. This document has formed the basis for the development and running of the United States ever since while periodically being amended to reflect changes over time.

Thank you to Harry N. Abrams for sending me this book for review!

We the People Is All the People

Written by Howard W. Reeves | Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh

Howard W. Reeves opens his and Duncan Tonatiuh’s patriotic tribute with the Preamble to the United States Constitution, inviting readers to contemplate the meaning of this groundbreaking paragraph, and especially its evocative first line—”We the people of the United States.” Reeves and Tonatiuh then encourage children and adults to really look around their town or city, their state, and the country as a whole with a fresh appreciation that “‘We the people’ is all the people.”

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Duncan Tonatiuh. Text copyright © 2026 by Howard W. Reeves. Published by Harry N. Abrams copyright © 2026.

Reeves offers straightforward and thought-provoking prompts urging readers to consider who these people embraced by the Constitution actually are. He begins close by with “people next door,” then branches out to people “down the street, and across the country.” He takes readers to various living situations—houses, apartments, and shelters—and to a variety of places of worship.

He reminds us that the Preamble’s timeline is open-ended, welcoming “people who were here, who arrived later, who still come today.” Reeves then asks readers to ponder the universal experiences of belief, doubt, struggle, and achievement as they apply to the people around them at work, school, the store, passing on the street. He also initiates an appreciation for the diversity of those you cheer for on favorite teams, those who help you achieve your goals; those who teach; and those who help you eat, stay healthy, and remain safe at home and in the world.

In closing, Reeves reminds us with moving clarity that everything this country is built on, has achieved, and continues to achieve is accomplished by us: “people who look different ways, love different ways, and communicate different ways.” We are “children and adults. Family, friends, and strangers. We the people is ALL the people.” Author’s and Artist’s Notes follow the text.

Howard W. Reeves’ lyrically cadenced story gives adults and children a heartfelt opening for discussions on so many topics concerning the United States from historical events—both proud and heartbreaking—to current concerns about our future. Reeves prompts readers to think deeply to view and understand our country’s vast population from various perspectives and with the same consideration they give themselves.

Matching Duncan Tonatiuh’s instantly recognizable artwork with Howard W. Reeves’ text was a stroke of inspiration as his textured, collage-style illustrations immerse readers in landscapes as quiet as pristine mountain terrain and as bustling as a gleaming city. Tonatiuh’s eloquent images make reflective connections across pages, as exemplified by a woman whose hair fans out as a backdrop to rural, suburban, and city life and a woman whose hijab provides a pathway for worshipers attending a church, a mosque, and a synagogue.

In a particularly affecting spread, an indigenous woman stands with arms and braids outspread to support original settlers, enslaved people, and immigrants who built the transcontinental railroad, as well as farm workers and those building new technology now and in our future. Each page shows the diversity and the commonality of our country’s vibrant population, allowing readers to see themselves and their community in the fabric that is America.

We the People Is All the People is a standout must for all library and classroom collections. The book will also inspire compelling and profound discussions for families and homeschoolers.

Ages 4 – 8

Harry N. Abrams, 2026 | ISBN 978-1419776496

About the Author

Howard W. Reeves is an editor of many award-winning picture books and novels for children and adults. His work often focuses on American history, and he is passionate about editing books that celebrate diversity, equality, and inclusion. He was one of the founding instructors for the School of Visual Arts MFA Design Program. Reeves lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

About the Illustrator

Duncan Tonatiuh is a Mexican American award-winning author and illustrator known for children’s books that explore history, identity, and social justice. Born in Mexico City and raised in San Miguel de Allende, he later studied at Parsons School of Design and Eugene Lang College in New York City. Tonatiuh’s books have received numerous honors, including the Pura Belpré Medal, the Robert F. Sibert Award, and multiple New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book selections. Visit him at duncantonatiuh.com.

You can purchase We the People Is All the People from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

April 8 – National All Is Ours Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

National All is Ours Day is a joy-filled holiday that encourages us to pause, look around, and really think about the beauty and abundance in our lives and the world around us. Our family and friends, neighbors, teachers, and colleagues—and who can forget our pets?—add so much richness to every day. Exploring your immediate surroundings or taking a trip to new locales and taking pleasure in the beauty you see can open up new perspectives and gratitude for the gifts we all share in common. Today, celebrate our interconnectedness with others, extend kindness, and embrace the idea that the best experiences in life are shared.

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

Others: A Story for All of Us

Written by Kobi Yamada | Illustrated by Charles Santoso

Kobi Yamada’s story starts simply enough. Two boys on one side of a hedge are having a discussion about the people on the other side of the hedge. One boy wonders what “the other people” are thinking about. The second boy is confused and asks, “Are there different kinds of people? How are they different?” His friend thinks it’s obvious: the way they look, talk, everything. The second boy then begins asking some pointed questions about exactly how they are different. “Do they have heads and bodies?” Of course. Do they have wings or tails or maybe “sticky tentacles” or even wheels? The boy thinks these attributes would be helpful, but “No” the first boy answers, the people “are humans.”

Once that’s established, Yamada’s story takes a deeper dive into the internal lives of these “other people.” The second boy is trying to wrap his head around the issue and inquires if the other people “have hearts and brains.” “Yes, of course,” comes the quick answer. Now the manner of the boy’s questions take a subtle change. He wonders if his friend thinks that these people “think and feel,” get lonely, scared, or hurt feelings. He confesses that he, himself, experiences these emotions. Does his friend think they love their family and do things together? His friend takes time to answer. He says he’s never really considered such things before, but imagines they do. Still, they are from “over there” and “not from here.”

The boys begin to debate the meaning of “here” and “there” as the one with all the questions climbs the hedge and drops into the yard on the other side, where’s he’s offered a glass of lemonade. The two get closer and closer to their respective sides of the hedge—one here, one there; or is it one there, one here? They climb, and when they meet at the top, they agree that wherever they are, they feel like they are “here.”

Turning the page, the boys are unseen, but somewhere within a panoramic view of a city, the ocean, and mountains in the distance. Turn the page again and the image pans out even further, their conversation about there and here, them and us loosed from their mooring to become universal.

Others: A Story for All of Us is a perfect pairing of Kobi Yamada’s powerful text and Charles Santoso’s perceptive and layered illustrations. As the story opens, Santoso sets the scene with nuanced imagery: The hedge spans both pages, but is leafless on the facing end, showing the trunk and branches that give it structure—a reminder of family trees and the tree of mankind. On one side are the two boys—one in a striped shirt, the less open-minded child wearing a green shirt and dark pants that mirror the hedge. Rising from the other side is a blue and green cloud dotted with amorphous bodies that loosely create Earth’s continents.

Yamada then channels the literal-mindedness of children to challenge the idea of otherness. Santoso’s accompanying illustrations will bring giggles but also deep thinking. As the rest of the story plays out, Yamada engages readers’ hearts through the boy’s thought-provoking prompts that poignantly reveal the commonalities that connect us all while Santoso reinforces this message with vignettes of families, friends, children, neighbors and pets all playing, talking, celebrating, and relaxing together.

Others: A Story for All of Us is a book with a light touch but a lasting impact to show us the way forward to a meeting of minds and hearts through understanding, kindness, and acceptance. Others is a must for all library and home collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Ten Speed Young Readers, 2026 | ISBN 978-0593839676

About the Author

Kobi Yamada is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Do You Do with an Idea?, Finding Muchness, Because I Had a Teacher, and many other bestselling, award-winning books. In addition to being the creator of inspiring books and products, he is also the president of Compendium. He lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest. Follow him on Instagram.

About the Illustrator

Charles Santoso is the creator of Happy Hippo and has illustrated many books, including Finding Muchness by Kobi Yamada and the New York Times bestseller Odder. He lives in Singapore. Visit him at charlessantoso.com.

You can purchase Others: A Story for All of Us from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

February 17 – Random Acts of Kindness Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

It’s Random Acts of Kindness Day! Coming mid-way through Random Acts of Kindness Week, today’s holiday offers the perfect time to begin or reconfirm your commitment to doing nice things for those around you. Simple gestures of kindness—like sharing a smile, giving a compliment, or helping out when you see someone struggling—make anyone feel better and create a bond that brings a community closer. To keep the good feelings flowing throughout the year, look for opportunities to help out and share books that encourage kindness, such as today’s book!

Thank you to Orchard Books/Scholastic for sharing a copy of Hop Helps Out with me!

Hop Helps Out

By Marc Brown, Tolon Brown and Peter Hirsch

One morning as Hop and Benny are out exploring their town of Fair Village, they come across a troll named Helga, who’s crying because she’s too afraid to venture out into the world on her own. Hop immediately takes her by the hand and invites her to come adventuring with him and Benny. Hop and Benny are eager to show their new friend Helga some of their favorite places.

First, they visit a meadow, lush with clover, daisies, lupines, daffodils, and wildflowers in a rainbow of colors. Then Benny wants to show Helga the small mobile home he lives in. His yard, strewn with toys and games and sporting a garden, delights Helga, and when they go inside she is treated to a mug of hot chocolate and a story. Next, they take Helga to their friend Hoot’s farm. ‘”She’s as cute as a kitten in a mitten,'” Hoot declares. “‘You can help me milk the cows, Helga,'” Hoot says. Afterward, they’re all treated to homemade ice cream, dress up play, and a ride in Hoot’s talking car, Jinx.

Jinx takes the merry group to see another friend, Filipa. Filipa is just filling the swimming pool underneath her treehouse when they arrive. Helga can’t believe her eyes. There are so many fun things to do here; even a swing! Even though Benny warns Helga not to swing too high, she falls off. But when Hop hurries over, Helga giggles and reveals that trolls “‘can bounce.'” In Filipa’s art studio, Helga gets to try out being creative—with herself as the canvas. Not to worry, though! Filipa fills her pool with bubbles for an impromptu (and colorful) bubble bath. “‘I like bubbles,’ cheered Helga.” “‘Who doesn’t?'” Hop agrees.

Next on the tour is Hop’s Lily Pad Diner, where Hop’s sister, Penny, plays the piano while the others dance. All this activity and excitement is making Helga tired and ready to go home. When they arrive, Helga treats her new friends to a Moon Snack of sassafras twigs and fungus chips. No one wants this fun day to end. Especially Helga, who is happy to be part of the group and to have discovered so much. “‘The world is filled with so many good things.'” she exclaims.

The story is followed by a detailed map of Fair Village with many homes, restaurants, farms, parks, and other landmarks for kids to explore. In an afterword, Marc Brown explains how the world of Hop—a new animated series streaming on MAX—started out as a doodle of a frog with one leg shorter than the other then joined by a host of other characters. Brown, with the help of his son Tolon (a producer on the Arthur series) and Peter Hirsch (the head writer for Arthur), expanded on this inclusive universe for a younger audience.

Brown shares, “It was important to me that Hop’s world introduced characters that were reflective of our communities and friends and inclusive of children who had been underrepresented in the media. In Fair Village, disabilities never define who you are or what you can achieve. Our goal is to create a safe, inviting world that challenges kids to appreciate others who are not like them and to act with understanding and kindness.”

Enthusiasm, kindness, and acceptance radiate from the pages, as Hop and Benny take charge of showing Helga around Fair Village—a name that reflects both the beauty of the town as well as how its residents treat each other—and introducing her to things she’s never seen before. Young readers will find pleasure in sharing so many of these favorites too, such as hot chocolate, bubble baths, ice cream, and playing dress up, with this crew of fast friends. Gentle humor is sprinkled throughout, and the simply stated, heartfelt ending invites readers to look around at their own family, friends, home, and community and find the “many good things” there.

Marc Brown’s illustrations are infused with color and offer children a multitude of familiar things to see and identify. The full-bleed spreads immerse readers in the community of Fair Village and the individual homes of the characters. Detail-oriented children will love lingering over the map to find each of the character’s homes as well as fun additions, such as the crooked house, the haunted castle, and the appropriately shaped Pie Shop, Pizza Palace, and Pet Hospital. As this book and the series are inclusive of children underrepresented in media, Brown depicts Hop’s anisomelia (having one leg shorter than the other) in his two different shoes—one of which has an extra, yellow layer to its sole. Helga is coded as having agoraphobia.

A tie-in to the new MAX series HOP, Hop Helps Out introduces children to some of the characters and the vast Fair Village community in a joyful and empathetic way. The story can stand alone as well, encouraging discussions about meeting new people, being open to new experiences, visiting unfamiliar places, and showing kindness to others.

Ages 4 – 8

Orchard Books/Scholastic, 2025 | ISBN 978-1339035680

About the Creators

Marc Brown is the beloved creator of the bestselling Arthur Adventure book series and creative producer of PBS’s Peabody and Emmy award-winning television series Arthur, now the longest-running children’s animated show in history. He also has illustrated many other books for children, including the New York Times bestseller Wild About Books, as well as The Little Shop of Monsters and Mary McScary, both written by R.L. Stine. For more information, visit marcbrownstudios.com.

Peter Hirsch is the co-creator and head writer of the MAX series, HOP. Before then he was the head writer of the PBS series Arthur for over 20 years. He has won 7 Emmys and a Peabody award, and lives in New York City with his wife, playwright Cusi Cram, and their two overweight cats.

Tolon Brown is an Emmy award-wining producer of culturally significant shows such as Arthur on PBS, and co-creator of the animated series HOP on MAX. Long ago he discovered a fondness for complaining about “good coffee” and people who can’t change a flat tire, which inspired him to split his time between Brooklyn and Baldwin County, Alabama in order to pursue both. Somehow he managed to raise two amazing daughters, yet remains open to the possibility that was purely accidental.

You can purchase Hop Helps Out at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

November 3 – It’s Picture Book Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

November is all about picture books thanks to Picture Book Month founder author and storyteller Dianne de Las Casas and co-founders author/illustrators Katie Davis, Elizabeth O. Dulemba, Wendy Martin, and author Tara Lazar. This month-long international literacy initiative celebrates print picture books and all that they offer to young (and even older) readers. With gorgeous artwork and compelling stories, picture books open the world to children in surprising ways as they entertain, explain, excite, and help children learn empathy and understanding.

I’d like to thank Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy of A Head Full of Birds for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

A Head Full of Birds

Written by Alexandra Garibal | Illustrated by Sibylle Delacroix | Translated from the French by Vineet Lal

Nanette is a little girl with “a head full of birds.” She mixed strange foods together, can spend hours looking at an empty spider’s web and “rocks back and forth, to and fro, fluttering her fingers like butterflies.” The kids at school taunt her, calling her “stupid” and treating her meanly. But Nanette doesn’t pay attention to them. One boy in her class, Noah, joins in. But one day while tossing paper airplanes during class, the teacher catches him and makes him sit up front.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-a-head-full-of-birds-butterflies

Image copyright Sibylle Delacroix, 2022, text copyright Alexandra Garibal, 2022. Courtesy of Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

This means sharing a table with Nanette, which makes him angry. While pulling out his chair, “he pushes her out of irritation,” which causes her pencil to slide across her drawing of a bird. Nanette is disappointed, whispering “Oh. He won’t fly anymore.” Noah finds this ridiculous and tells her that drawings of birds can’t fly, but Nanette already knows. “‘The drawing doesn’t fly, the bird does,'” she answers.

That day after school, Noah watches as Nanette sets colorful little origami boats to sail down the rain-washed curb. He thinks it looks “so pretty.” The next day, it’s still raining, and during recess Noah sees Nanette standing in the middle of the school yard without her boots catching raindrops. His friends are calling him stupid, but he grabs her shoes and rushes out to bring her back in. But Nanette is happy. She takes her boots and fills them with water running off the roof. They both hide a boot in their coats and run back inside for class.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-a-head-full-of-birds-boats-on-curb

Image copyright Sibylle Delacroix, 2022, text copyright Alexandra Garibal, 2022. Courtesy of Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

On the stairs, someone bumps into Noah, spilling his boot. Noah is angry that their plan is ruined, but Nanette tells him it’s okay, that one is enough. She passes him a tiny origami boat, and he drops it into her boot. “The boat twists and twirls, dancing merrily across the water. And it’s so pretty.” Now Noah and Nanette are friends, and “together, they look after the birds that nest in their heads.”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-a-head-full-of-birds-boot

Image copyright Sibylle Delacroix, 2022, text copyright Alexandra Garibal, 2022. Courtesy of Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

While quietly straightforward, Alexandra Garibal’s story affects poignancy on multiple levels. Readers are first introduced to Nanette, a girl with neurodiversity who is happy in her observations and interactions with the world while also self-confident enough to ignore the comments of her classmates. Readers see Noah participating in the ridicule, but when he is moved to sit next to Nanette, readers begin to understand that it is he who needs to see the world differently, not Nanette. Children may feel that Noah already embodies this empathy as it doesn’t take long before he appreciates the beauty Nanette brings to their world.

While he at first feels he must protect her, running out with her boots and aiming to take her back inside from the rain, he again learns that her actions have meaning, and when the boot he’s carrying spills on the way back to class, he now feels the same disappointment of a project ruined that Nanette felt with her bird drawing. With Nanette and Noah’s conspiratorial goofing off in class (and, bravely, in the front row!), Garibal brings the story full circle while infusing it with growth and joy for both characters as they go forward as friends.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-a-head-full-of-birds-filling-boot

Image copyright Sibylle Delacroix, 2022, text copyright Alexandra Garibal, 2022. Courtesy of Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

Sibylle Delacroix’s lovely colored-pencil illustrations reveal Nanette as a shining light in the world and in her classroom. She is first shown gazing upward as if the sun is on her face, next with colorful butterflies, and then at school in a bright yellow raincoat, while the background is drawn in gray and the other kids in a single shade of red, all except Noah, who has brown hair and blue glasses, signifying to readers that perhaps he is a bit different as well.

The two children’s growing friendship takes place against a gray-scale background, putting the focus on both their separation from their environment as well as their similarity to each other. Other visual clues in clothing and other elements also point to Nanette and Noah’s similarity, which can invite kids to find and talk about them. A particularly moving spread comes as the two children watch the little boat float in the boot, their two smiling faces reflected in the water. Turning the page, readers see the imagination Nanette and Noah share as they ride in an origami boat pointing out paper bird above.

This beautiful friendship story speaks not only to the acceptance and understanding of neurodiversity but of all the creative and different ways in which people see the world. A Head Full of Birds will fill your heart and resonate long after the story is over. The book invites multiple re-readings and will generate much thought and discussion. It is a must for all home, classroom, school, and public libraries.

Ages 4 – 8

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2022 | ISBN 978-0802855961

About the Author

Alexandra Garibal is a French children’s author and editor. She has written over sixty picture books, novels, and magazine articles, and her titles have been translated for Chinese and Spanish readers. A Head Full of Birds is Alexandra’s English-language debut. Follow her on Instagram @alexandragaribal.

About the Illustrator

Sibylle Delacroix is the illustrator of Tears, Prickly Jenny, Grains of Sand, and Blanche Hates the Night (all Owlkids). She graduated from the ERG Saint-Luc School of Graphic Research in Brussels and worked for many years as a graphic designer before becoming a full-time illustrator. Sibylle lives in France. Follow Sibylle on Instagram @sibylledelacroix.

About the Translator

Vineet Lal is a literary translator of books from French to English, including A Perfect Spot (Eerdmans) and The Secret Life of Writers (Weidenfeld & Nicholson). He studied French at Princeton University and the University of Edinburgh. Vineet lives in Scotland. Follow him on Twitter @vineet_uk.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-a-head-full-of-birds-cover

**You can find A Head Full of Birds at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound

Picture Book Review

October 28 – It’s Eat Better, Eat Together Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

National Eat Better, Eat Together Month encourages families to gather for at least one meal a day. When families gather for a meal, they tend to make more balanced food choices. Uninterrupted time together also allows each member of the family share stories about their day and lets everyone laugh, commiserate, and build strong bonds. Spending more time together this year provides families the opportunity to get everyone involved in everything from choosing recipes and shopping to preparing and cooking the food to cleaning up. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics he benefits of eating together are wide ranging and can include better grades, better health, and fewer behavioral problems. To celebrate this holiday, make your own plans for family meals and discover how families from around the world enjoy their meals with today’s book!

Let’s Eat! Mealtime Around the World

Written by Lynne Marie | Illustrated by Parwinder Singh

If you’re raising a culinary conscious and curious kid satisfies that gnawing hunger for more information on world cuisine. Visiting families around the globe at breakfast, lunch, and dinner time, Lynne Marie offers up tidbits about what kids eat plus other interesting food facts. The first stop is China, where Yu Yan is enjoying a bowl of congee—or rice porridge—before heading out to school. This morning, the congee includes squid that her father has caught. Yu Yan “slurps loudly to show how much she likes it.”

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Image copyright Parwinder Singh, 2019, text copyright Lynne Marie, 2019. Courtesy of Beaming Books.

High in the mountains of Peru, Luz is bundled up in the early morning air as she gets ready to help out with her grandfather’s llamas. First, she warms up with chuño cola—a soup made from freeze-dried potatoes. For Luz, breakfast usually consists of leftovers from dinner the night before. Hospitality is so important to people in the Philippines that one of the most common greetings is “‘Kumain ka na?’ meaning ‘Have you eaten yet?’” If not, you may be invited to join in a breakfast of spamsilog—a dish of fried SPAM, fried eggs, and garlic rice.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-let's-eat-mealtime-around-the-world-philippines

Image copyright Parwinder Singh, 2019, text copyright Lynne Marie, 2019. Courtesy of Beaming Books.

In Jamaica, Zhade and her mother make savory pastries filled with spicy ground beef. These can be eaten on their own or wrapped in coco bread—a soft, sweet bread—to make sandwiches. For Camille, living in France, lunch is a four-course meal served at school. Today, Camille and her friends are having “a cucumber and tomato salad, then a main course of roast beef with cooked broccoli. Next, a small plate of cheese, finished with apple tart for dessert.” It must not be Wednesday, though. In France, there’s no school on Wednesday afternoons. “Instead, many attend on Saturday mornings.”

It’s dinnertime for Priya, who lives in India. She and her family are at their favorite restaurant, where Priya has ordered Tandoori chicken. “Tandoori chicken is marinated in yogurt and spices then roasted in a tandoor, a round clay oven.” After dinner, she and her family go home to watch cricket on TV.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-let's-eat-mealtime-around-the-world-jamaica

Image copyright Parwinder Singh, 2019, text copyright Lynne Marie, 2019. Courtesy of Beaming Books.

For many families in Sweden, Thursday dinners follow a tradition that goes back to the fifteenth century. Tonight, Hugo is having “pea soup and pancakes with lingonberry jam. Perfect for keeping warm on a cold winter night.” Lingonberry jam isn’t just for pancakes. It can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes.

At last! It’s time for dessert! In Egypt, Mandisa and her brother are enjoying basbousa—a coconut cake. They especially like it with a topping of rose-blossom or orange-blossom syrup that makes it taste extra sweet. In Nigeria, Chetachi can’t wait to dig into the bowl of tropical fruit sprinkled with coconut. It looks like his sister would like some too! All over the world, people sit down to meals with foods they love. Learning more about these dishes and trying them is a great way to feel a sense of community with other kids.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-let's-eat-mealtime-around-the-world-egypt

Image copyright Parwinder Singh, 2019, text copyright Lynne Marie, 2019. Courtesy of Beaming Books.

In her conversational tour around the world, Lynne Marie invites readers to sit down with their peers and enjoy a variety of meals and snacks while also learning a little about the history, culture, environment, and animals of each area. A question prompting readers to think about their own connection to food accompanies each two-page spread and offers an opportunity for classroom or home discussion and exploration.

Parwinder Singh populates his illustrations with enthusiastic kids dipping into soups, dishing up a plateful around the family dining table, helping out in the kitchen, and licking their fingers to enjoy every drop of a delicious treat. Singh’s colorful backdrops give kids a glimpse into the homes that nourish each child and the landscape that often influences the ingredients that make up their favorite foods.

Sure to spark children’s interest in tasting foods from around the world and learning more about the cultures of the thirteen countries represented here, Let’s Eat! Mealtime around the World makes for a deletable lead-in for social studies and geography lessons, events highlighting international foods, and multicultural explorations at home.

Ages 4 – 8

Beaming Books, 2019 | ISBN 978-1506451947

Discover more about Lynne Marie and her books on her website.

You can view a portfolio of artwork by Parwinder Singh on ArtStation.

Eat Better, Eat Together Month Activity

Pancake Flip-Out Game

A favorite family breakfast is pancakes! If you can’t get enough of pancakes at breakfast (or that other treat: breakfast for dinner), you can play this Pancake Flip-Out Game to fill your plate.

Supplies

Printable Pancakes Template
Printable Breakfast Plate Template (or use your own paper plate or dish)
Heavy stock paper, poster board, cardboard, or foam sheet
Glue
Scissors
Spatula (optional)

You can play this game several ways:

Print and cut out the pancakes and plate (or use your own paper plate or other dish) and glue them to the heavy paper, poster board, or foam sheet
Place the plate on the floor
Draw 3 concentric circles around the plate about 12 inches apart. For younger children make the circles closer together.
Give each player the same number of pancakes and choose someone to go first
Each player takes turns tossing or flipping their pancakes, trying to get them onto the plate
When a player has used all of their pancakes add up their score:

Hitting the target can earn you 20 points
Getting your pancake in the first circle around the plate earns you 15 point
Hitting the second circle is worth 10 points
Pancakes landing in the third circle are worth 5 points

Rotate through the players as many times as you like and add up the points at the end. The player with the most points wins!

Try this Option:

Instead of tossing the pancakes with your hands, try flipping them with a spatula!

Or: Make up your own rules—and have fun!

**You can find Let’s Eat! Mealtime Around the World 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

Bitsy Bat, Snow Star (The Bitsy Bat Series)

By Kaz Windness

National Bat Awareness Week and Month Activity

Bitsy Bat Series Media Kit

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Our Favorite Day of the Week

Written by Ashley Franklin | Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell

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We the People Is All the People

Written by Howard W. Reeves | Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh

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Others: A Story for All of Us

Written by Kobi Yamada | Illustrated by Charles Santoso

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Hop Helps Out

By Marc Brown, Tolon Brown and Peter Hirsch

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A Head Full of Birds

Written by Alexandra Garibal | Illustrated by Sibylle Delacroix | Translated from the French by Vineet Lal

About the Author

You can find A Head Full of Birds at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Share this:

About the Holiday

Let’s Eat! Mealtime Around the World

Written by Lynne Marie | Illustrated by Parwinder Singh

Eat Better, Eat Together Month Activity

Pancake Flip-Out Game

You can find Let’s Eat! Mealtime Around the World at these booksellers

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Share this:

**You can find A Head Full of Birds at these booksellers**

**You can find Let’s Eat! Mealtime Around the World at these booksellers**