August 7 – National Dog Month

About the Holiday

Established in 2020 by Milk-Bone and the J.M. Smucker Company, National Dog Month celebrates those special companions that give us so much love and enjoyment every day and encourages dog owners to show their pets extra attention during the leisurely days of August. Dogs love being with their humans, so why not give your pet a special treat or take them for a longer than usual walk? If you’re contemplating adding a pet to your family, this month may be a good time to make the move and visit your local shelter to adopt a new family member!

Thanks to Margaret K. McElderry Books for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Milton Makes a Move (Noodle and Jonathan)

Written by Jonathan Graziano | Illustrated by Dan Tavis

Milton enjoyed his home with it’s big yard and lots of other dogs to play with. These other dogs all dreamed of finding a permanent home of their own, and while “Milton liked most adventures”—as any pug would—he thought having a family was “too good to be true.” But one day he learned that he was moving in with a new family. The idea made him nervous. His mind swirled with so many “what ifs.”

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Dan Tavis. Text copyright © 2026 by Jonathan Graziano. Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Still, he was soon on a plane and despite his worries, he was determined to be brave. He was met at his destination by a man named Jonathan, who seemed excited—as well as a bit nervous—to meet him. “Milton offered his head up for pats,” and Jonathan obliged, smiling. Milton felt better. As Milton explored his new home, he found many comforting and familiar things—like his favorite snacks and a welcoming bed. He also saw lots of pictures of Jonathan’s last pug, Noodle, having amazing adventures. When a sudden thunderstorm frightened Milton, Jonathan was right there with his comforting lap to snooze on.

The next day while making friends in his new backyard, Milton noticed that Jonathan seemed nervous about one particular black-and-white striped friend. He “boofed” at it until it ran off and then comforted Jonathan just as Jonathan had done for him the day before. Jonathan praised him as “the Very Best Boy,” and Milton felt proud. The longer Milton was with Jonathan, the braver he became. He and Jonathan had fun at home as well as many outdoor adventures, always taking care of each other and learning to be brave together no matter what.

Whether you and your kids are already fans or followers of Jonathan Graziano and his love for pugs (Noodle and the No Bones Day and Noodle Conquers Comfy Mountain) or are new to their sweet relationships, you will delight in Milton Makes a Move. Kids will cheer on the endearing pug Milton as he overcomes his worries about leaving the rescue home he knows for a forever home with Jonathan. Children who feel similarly anxious about change and trying new things or are sensitive to sensory issues will relate to Graziano’s straightforward and emotionally resonant storytelling.

A welcome theme in this story embraces the idea that the adventure of life is a collaboration between friends who truly care about each other, accepting their fears and worries and bolstering them when needed. Both Milton and Jonathan demonstrate that the courage to be brave is found within each person, giving young readers support and understanding as they face new challenges. Children will appreciate Graziano’s honest and uplifting ending that also reassures them that they are not alone in their feelings.

Dan Tavis combines whimsical and realistic imagery in his energetic and emotionally expressive pages that show Milton and Jonathan’s growing friendship and reliance on each other. Children will love pointing out all of Milton’s new friends and “boof, boofing” along with him as he finds his voice and happiness with Jonathan.

A sweet, uplifting, and confidence-building story, Milton Makes a Move will cheer young readers and is highly recommended for all library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2026 | ISBN 979-8347108947

About the Author

Jonathan Graziano is a Rochester native who currently resides in New York City. His eternal muse, Noodle, continues to inspire him each and every day. It is Jonathan’s hope that through this story he can continue Noodle’s legacy of spreading joy and kindness and encourage others to adopt and/or rescue a senior pet next time they’re looking to add a new member to their family. You can find Jonathan on TikTok and Instagram at @JonGraz.

About the Illustrator

Dan Tavis is illustrator living in New Hampshire. He has been doodling ever since his first math class in elementary school! He is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Noodle and the No Bones Day, Common Critters,and Fluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion, among other projects. Learn more at DanTavis.com.

National Dog Month Activity

Find a Friend Matching Puzzle

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

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

You can purchase Milton Makes a Move from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

June 8 – National Raspberry Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

What is summer without the luscious taste of raspberries? These little berries are perfect for breakfast in your yogurt, for lunch as an upgrade for a usual peanut butter and jam sandwich, and for dinner in a special sauce or salad. And of course there are so many ways raspberries can elevate dessert! Raspberries can even make an outing with friends so much better, as you’ll see in today’s book. So while these favorite treats are in season, plan a trip to a farmers market or a pick-your-own field for a berry fun day!

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

Just for Today (A Maybe Tomorrow Book)

Written by Charlotte Agell | Illustrated by Ana Ramírez González

As soon as Norris sees Elba, he can tell that she’s been up all night worrying. He offers to talk about it with her, but she declines. Norris tries another tack, telling Elba “‘sometimes worry is when you tell yourself the wrong story'” and suggesting that “‘just for today'” she tries telling herself “‘a different story.'” Elba is game to try. To start off, Norris decides on a happy ending to aim for then prompts a story with Elba’s help about two good friends who sail off on their boat.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Ana Ramírez González. Text copyright © 2026 by Charlotte Agell. Courtesy of Scholastic.

Elba is excited to hear they have a boat, which inspires Norris to actually build a boat with wood and nails he has lying around. Elba helps, and soon they have the Adventure to float down the river to have a picnic. On shore, Norris unpacks their basket to find lots of goodies. . . but no Elba? Where could she be? Norris was “having too many thoughts. All those thoughts were turning into worries!”

Suddenly, Elba finds herself sailing off with the current and then, with a bump, she’s in the water. Realizing Norris can’t hear her cries for help, she finds her way to shore and clambers onto dry land. There, in front of her, is a raspberry thicket full of luscious fruit—her and Norris’s favorite! She nibbles a red raspberry while singing a comforting song to herself then sets off up the riverbank to find her friend. When she’s greeted by one of the butterflies that always hovers around Norris, Elba knows she is on the right path.

Norris, meanwhile, is full of worries that only grow as he tries not to worry. But then, he hears a voice he recognizes, and soon Elba appears. She’s surprised to learn that Norris was worried and that “everyone worries sometimes.” Elba pulls Norris along to see the raspberries she found, as they talk about how their worries actually helped them. They list the things they’ve lost as well as the things they haven’t and celebrate the raspberries they can have for lunch. They finish the story they were telling—short and sweet and all about their friendship—and it will always be their favorite.

Charlotte Agell’s Just for Today, the second book in her Maybe Tomorrow series brings best friends Elba and Norris back together to reassure young readers when they feel worried or overwhelmed. Through her gentle storytelling, Agell lets children know that they are not alone in experiencing the physical jitters and swirling thoughts that can feel paralyzing while giving them a concrete way to reframe the ideas in their mind. Her advice to concentrate on “just today” or simply a task at hand helps kids manage their emotions which fosters self-confidence. This lesson is clearly demonstrated through Elba and Norris’s close friendship, Elba’s uplifting internal dialogue, and the way Elba counters Norris’s regrets on losing their boat and food with positive aspects of the day.

Ana Ramírez González’s vibrant mixed-media illustrations engage readers with lovely landscapes and sweetly drawn depictions of Elba and Norris together. Norris and Elba’s changing emotions are evident and realistic, subtly moving between worry, fear, happiness, and contentment and giving children and adults a range of feelings to talk about.

Comforting and affirming, Just for Today is a balm for the worries and uncertainties of daily life and a book that children and adults will love to share.

Ages 4 – 8

Scholastic Press, 2026 | ISBN 978-1546181323

About the Author

Charlotte Agell was born in Norsjo, Sweden, and grew up in Montreal, Canada. She is the mother of two grown children and is a retired public-school teacher living in Maine. Charlotte is the author and illustrator of several picture books, chapter books, and young adult fiction published in Canada and abroad. Her Scholastic Press debut, Maybe Tomorrow? was hailed by School Library Journal as a story that offers “hope that the world can be a beautiful place.” Learn more at charlotteagell.com.

About the Illustrator

Ana Ramírez González is a New York Times bestselling illustrator, as well as a film director, production designer, and visual development artist who has worked on many high-profile films, including Pixar’s Academy Award-winning Coco. Ana grew up in Guanajuato, Mexico, and lives in San Francisco, California. Learn more about her work at anaramirezgonzalez.com.

National Raspberry Day Activity

Just for Today Activity Pages

Kids can help Elba get together with Norris for a day of fun and write their own story in these two Just for Today Activity Pages from Scholastic!

You can purchase Just for Today from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

May 11 – Celebrating Monday

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Mondays! Blah, right? Goodbye to the freedom of the weekend and hello—again—to the pressures and stresses of work or school. Monday may not feel like something to celebrate, but the day can mean a new beginning too, a time to reflect on everything you have accomplished in the past and how you can meet new challenges head on. So with optimism and enthusiasm, let’s celebrate Monday, today and every week!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sending me this book for review!

Find The Sun

By Andy Harkness

Eddie woke up to a rainy Monday. Mondays made him worry, so he went right back to bed, “curled beneath the covers,” and “hugged Rabbit tight.” When he opened his eyes, he found that instead of in his room, he was in the midst of a storm. A little cloud had even “settled softly on his head.” With aplomb Rabbit, now come to life, proposed a journey to find the sun. “Eddie froze” in the face of this choice: to stay or go. But he reached out his hand, and they rose high into the sky, Eddie became afraid, but Rabbit reassured him. “‘We can’t find the sun by staying low,'” he said.

At last they saw a bit of gold breaking through the clouds. They floated toward it, but a sudden gust of wind rocked them and they fell back to earth. Eddie feared the river waiting to catch them. But the water was calm, and Eddie began to enjoy floating along. The river, however, flowed into a cave. Eddie was afraid of the dark, but Rabbit told him “‘It’s only in the darkest of darks that we shine the brightest.'” And it was true. Inside the cave the stars shimmered and Eddie felt brave enough to lead the way.

When they emerged from the cave, Eddie and Rabbit were met with a hedge maze. Eddie loved mazes and ran inside without hesitation. The maze meandered and had dead ends, but Eddie ran here and there, joyfully exploring and finding his way. He felt happy and strong and suddenly realized that he’d “found the sun” inside himself. And when he awoke, Eddie knew he “was ready for Monday.”

For Eddie, it seems, Monday isn’t just a day of the week, it’s become a state of mind. He has worries, is fearful, and practices avoidance. Even as his transformational dream begins, Eddie is enveloped by the storm he feels inside. Andy Harkness understands that many children may experience these emotions, not only about Mondays but when faced with many unfamiliar experiences. Through Rabbit’s guidance, Harkness offers encouragement and wisdom and shows readers that trying new things brings an educated perspective and growing confidence.

Harkness’s gorgeous, multidimensional illustrations are a marvel. Beginning as pencil sketches each element was “sculpted” in virtual reality and given color and textures from photos of actual clay. The result is a brilliant immersive environment that invites readers into Eddie’s bedroom, across a lush rolling landscape, through a magical cave, and into the incredible maze, where each leaf of the hedges is visible. The final spread of the city park on Monday morning is breathtaking in its glorious mottled hues, reflections in a pond, and the image of Eddie striding confidently to meet the day.

Find the Sun is a story readers of all ages will relate to and appreciate and would be a favorite addition to any library or home collection.

Ages 3 – 6

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1547618767

When he wakes on this particular Monday, it’s beginning to rain—a mirror of his emotions. He hopes to escape by going back to sleep.

About the Author-Illustrator

Andy Harkness is the author and illustrator of Wolfboy, which received two starred reviews, and of Bug Zoo. He is an award-winning art director who has worked on Moana, Frozen, and Wreck-it-Ralph, among other movies. After twenty-five years at Disney, he moved to Sony Pictures Animation. He is currently at Skydance Animation, where he is the production designer on an upcoming project. He lives in California with his family. You can follow him on Instagram @andyharkness.

Celebrating Monday Activity

Follow the Sun! Maze

Help the group of kids find the sun so they can follow where it leads!

Follow the Sun! Maze | Follow the Sun! Maze Solution

You can purchase Find the Sun from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

May 1 – National Pet Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Today we’re celebrating our best friends! Who are they? Our pets, of course! Small (or large) and fury (or feathered, scaled, or finned), our pets give us unconditional love and loads of happiness. Just watching them navigate their day is entertaining and educational. National Pet Month was established to honor these in-home pals and remind pet owners to ensure their pets have everything they need to live a long and healthy life. This month take extra time to have fun with your pet—maybe just not too much, as today’s book reveals!

Thanks to Eerdmans Books for Young Readers for sending me this book for review!

Arthur’s Cat

By Johan Leynaud | Translated by Sarah Ardizzone

The first thing to know is that “Arthur adores his cat!” If he could, he’d cuddle him all the time, but Zeffo’s not so into it. The second thing is that Arthur has plans for Zeffo—BIG, fun plans that any super-hero-loving boy would like to do with his favorite sidekick; also high-jumping plans and reading plans; even gourmet plans. But Zeffo? He’s really not into it. So when Arthur picks Zeffo up and gives him tight hug? “Owwwww!” There’s a scratch and tears and big feelings—on both sides.

“Zeffo waits for the days to pass and the night skies to twinkle so the sadness can shrink, and Arthur’s heart can heal. So his hand can open without trying to hold tight.” Slowly, trust and confidence are rebuilt, and joy and play return as Arthur learns to respect Zeffo’s boundaries. Then Arthur and Zeffo are able to “love each other freely.”

Like a favorite treat mix, Johan Leynaud’s gentle storytelling in Arthur’s Cat entices, excites, and satisfies. Leynaud’s breezy delivery belies his deep insight into the finesse and understanding it can take to forge a relationship between young children and their pets, friends, or siblings and shows that respecting others’ boundaries can actually bring the closeness one seeks. Arthur is endearing with his cat-ears haircut and boundless love for Zeffo. Leynaud’s witty and elegant illustrations of towering furnishings and messes as well as Zeffo’s facial expressions will bring plenty of laughs. The final illustrations of Arthur and Zeffo finally enjoying a sweet goodnight cuddle are heartwarming.

Sarah Ardizzone’s graceful and melodic translation conveys all of the humor and heart that makes Johan Leynaud’s story so meaningful.

Tender, lovely, and profound, Arthur’s Cat is a true delight, one that will be a much-asked-for favorite on home bookshelves and is a must for all library collections.

Ages 3 – 7

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2026 | ISBN 978-0802856586

About the Author

Johan Leynaud is a French artist, illustrator, and author who studied at the Beaux-Arts de Marseille and spends most of his time drawing. He hopes Arthur’s Cat, his English-language debut, will help children respect animals as living beings who sometimes need their space. One day Johan watched his niece play with her cat―and Arthur’s Cat began to grow in his mind. Follow Johan on Instagram.

About the Translator

Sarah Ardizzone has translated over fifty books from the French, including Thread by Thread, Sweet Dreamers, and Letters from Bear (all Eerdmans). Her translations have been named to best-of-the-year lists by Kirkus, School Library Journal, and the Bank Street College of Education. Sarah lives in Brixton, England, with her family and a fluffy black cat named Hector. Follow her on Instagram.

National Pet Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-wooden-bead-cat-craft

A Little Ball of Kitten

This sweet little kitten is easy to make and can keep you company on your desk, shelf, or anywhere! Since every kitten is different, you can make yours look just the way you want. Here’s how I made mine:

Supplies

Wooden ball with a flat bottom, available in craft stores and in different sizes
Craft paint in any color kitten you’d like (I used red and yellow and mixed it to make a mottled orange)
Craft paint in pink or white for the inner ear
Scrap of fleece for the ears. Fleece is easily shaped to the rounded ball and when painted is stiff enough to stand up on its own.
Thin, colored wire in several colors for the tail (string or twine, wrapped wire, fleece, stiff paper, and other materials could also be used)
Paint brush
Permanent marker for making the face
Hot glue gun or strong glue

Directions

Paint the wooden ball and let dry
Paint the scrap of fleece to match the wooden ball, let dry
Cut out small triangular shapes for the ears. Round the bottom of the ears slightly so they fit the shape of the ball
If making a tail from several colors of thin wire, twist them together, leaving one end untwisted
With the glue gun or strong glue attach the ears to the top of the head
With the glue gun attach the tail to the back of the wooden ball in the center near the base
With the marker, draw eyes, nose, and mouth for the face and semicircles near the bottom for the paws

You can purchase Arthur’s Cat from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

April 17 – National Humor Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

During April we celebrate one of the most fantastic things about life—humor! Established in 1976 by comedian and author Larry Wilde, National Humor Month promotes all things funny to raise awareness of the benefits of laughter and joy. Whether you’re laughing at a funny joke, your favorite comedian, a comic strip, a silly mistake, or even yourself, a chuckle is good for you! Today, take time to relax and enjoy the small absurdities in life with a few hearty “Ha ha ha’s!” along the way. Today’s book is a perfect place for you and your kids to start!

A big thanks to TOON Books/Astra Publishing for sending me a copy of this book for review!

The Selfish Sister

Written by David Sedaris | Illustrated by Bob Staake

Stop! Before you even open the cover of this book, lock up your valuables, your knick-knacks, your pets! Batten the hatches for the tsunami about to be unleashed. While the girl you’ll meet may look little, she has a BIG appetite for . . . well . . . for everything. Just ask her brother. This girl’s favorite word is “mine, mine, mine” as in hers, hers, hers, NEVER yours, yours, yours. Ready? (If you think there has to be something she won’t want, you’re not ready.) Okay, let’s go.

This “selfish sister” mines the air, the world, the town, her home. Just watch her work: “‘That’s my watch, my witch, my cork / That’s my croc, my tuning fork.'” Just listen to her woebegone brother: “She took my bed, my towel, my chair / my stuffed giraffe, my threadbare hare.”

When she’s on a spree, stand back and hold your breath (or she will no doubt take that too). “Don’t try to ride her bright green trike. / It’s hers alone, the unkind tyke. / It sits un-used, ignored, forsaken / not pedaled yet, no long rides taken.” I know what you’re thinking: surely someone ought to stop her. But when her father said “‘Enough!'” . . . she held fast, and called his bluff.” So as you see, there’s nothing that this girl won’t claim. But cling to this: possession may be nine-tenths of the law, but it isn’t everything—as you will see!

David Sedaris has whipped up a tornado of a tyrant, sweeping readers into his puckish whirlwind of nimble and inventive rhymes that build into a farcical delight that will have kids and adults guffawing even as they absorb Sedaris’s messages about sharing, family, jealousy, and the idea that unkind behavior has consequences. The surprise ending gives kids and adults the impetus to talk about caring relationships.

Bob Staake lends his singular creative vision to The Selfish Sister in an inspired match up with Sedaris’s madcap storytelling. The sister’s greed and pretensions are right there for everyone to see in her green skin and golden crown as she points and picks whatever she wants, whenever she wants it. Staake’s ingenious perspectives, comical facial expressions, clever details, and visual puns will keep readers laughing. The final pages deliver a satisfying comeuppance.

A rollicking read aloud that pairs two comedic geniuses, The Selfish Sister will enjoy enthusiastic circulation at home and for library collections.

Ages 7 – 10

Toon Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1662665769

David Sedaris is the author of Barrel Fever and Holidays on Ice, as well as collections of personal essays, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames. Sedaris’ pieces appear regularly in The New Yorker and have twice been included in “The Best American Essays.” There are over ten million copies of his books in print and they have been translated into 25 languages. Visit him at davidsedarisbooks.com.

Bob Staake has authored/illustrated over 75 children’s books, which have been translated into over 12 languages around the world. One of the nation’s most prolific illustrators, Bob Staake’s clients have included The New Yorker, TIME, McDonald’s, Vanity Fair, Amtrak, Young & Rubicam, American Express, Sony, United Airlines, Nickelodeon, and countless others. Visit him at bobstaake.com.

National Humor Month Activity

Silly Balloons

You can have lots of silly fun with balloons! Try some of these ideas—they’re sure to make you laugh!

GOOFY FACES

Blow up a balloon and draw a funny face on it. Rub the balloon on your shirt or a blanket and stick it to the wall, your shirt, or even your mom or dad!

CRAZY HAIR

Rub a blown-up balloon on your shirt or a blanket (fleece works well) then hold it near your hair and watch it go a little crazy!

BEND WATER

This bit of balloon magic will amaze you! Rub a blown-up balloon on a blanket (fleece works well). Turn on a faucet to a thin stream of water. Hold the balloon near the stream of water and watch it bend toward the balloon.

VOLLEYBALLOON

This is a fun game for two or more people played like volleyball—but with balloons! All you need is a balloon and a line on the floor. Players form teams and bat the balloon back and forth over the line, keeping it in the air.as long as possible. A team wins a point when the opposing team can’t return the balloon.

You can purchase The Selfish Sister from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | B&N Signed Edition | 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

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

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