October 26 – National Pumpkin Day

About the Holiday

Autumn just wouldn’t be the same without pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, and pumpkin spice, and Halloween without jack-o-lanterns? Not nearly as fun! Even the seeds of these orange gourds we celebrate today are delicious with a little roasting. Whether you like pumpkins that are perfectly round or a little misshapen, small or behemoth, visit a pumpkin patch today and pick your perfect pumpkins!

Thanks to Hippo Park for sending me this book for review!

The Very Unusual Pumpkin

Written by Marilyn Singer | Illustrated by Maya Shleifer

Lulu loves her grandmother, but when it comes to telling stories, well . . . her grandma’s stories are a bit . . . lame. Take her latest, for instance. It was about a very ugly pumpkin that no one wanted to pick. Then someone did pick it and “turned it into a lovely pie. The end.” Lulu looked at her grandmother askance and decided “she needed to teach her how to tell good stories.” Lulu asked her grandmother to tell the pumpkin story again, only instead of just accepting that the pumpkin was ugly, Lulu asked what made it so. When Grandma fleshed out the pumpkin’s appearance a bit, Lulu thought it was more unusual than ugly.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Maya Shleifer. Text copyright © 2026 by Marilyn Singer. Published by Hippo Park copyright © 2026.

Undeterred, Grandma added a fairy godmother and was ready to move on, but Lulu wanted to know more about her. Grandma dug deeper and imagined some magic that proved her powers. Once satisfied, Lulu allowed her to continue. The pumpkin, Grandma said “wished to be “perfectly round and glowingly orange.” The fairy godmother raised her wand to grant this wish and ensure the pumpkin would become a pie, but Lulu stopped the story right there. Was this the best they could do? Grandma suggested a few more ideas, but Lulu found them boring and derivative.

Instead, Lulu said the fairy godmother should turn the pumpkin into a little girl who goes to fairy godmother school to learn how to grant wishes to all her pumpkin friends. Now, Grandma was getting excited by all the possibilities and took over the storytelling. Her new world-building was creative and innovative and down-home cozy. Not only were Grandma’s future stories “‘very good stories . . . they were unusual!'”

Marilyn Singer channels her prodigious talent for writing “very good stories” into her latest warm and humorous tale that will swell the hearts of all readers. While her fun family story explores the nature of original storytelling, it also encourages kids to reject the expected or mundane in favor of an authentic and adventurous life. Grandma’s embrace of her imagination suggests it’s never too late to blossom. Singer’s close and trusting relationship between granddaughter and grandmother is endearing.

Maya Shleifer’s striking acrylic, watercolor, and paint marker illustrations brim with expression, from Lulu and Grandma’s interactions to the anthropomorphic pumpkin patch, to the pets and toys sprinkled throughout the pages. The brilliant pumpkins and foliage set against a black background are luminescent, and each pumpkin’s individuality bolsters Singer’s theme. As the story takes its dramatic turn, kids will love picking up on clothing and hair color for new characters.

An exceptional collaboration of storytelling and art, the heartwarming and humorous The Very Unusual Pumpkin is a book that kids will ask for again and again. It makes a perfect gift for or from a grandmother and is a must for all libraries.

Ages 4 – 8

Hippo Park, 2026 | ISBN 978-1662641015

About the Author

Winner of the 2015 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry, as well as numerous other honors, Marilyn Singer is the author of more than 120 for children and young adults, including Mirror Mirror (Dial), I’m the Big One Now! (Wordsong) and six picture books about Tallulah, a young ballet student (Clarion). She likes to challenge herself by writing on many topics in many genres. Marilyn lives in Brooklyn, NY and Washington, CT with her husband, who’s also her favorite dance partner, and several pets. Visit her at marilynsinger.net.

About the Illustrator

Maya Shleifer is an illustrator, author, and designer who loves creating stories that bring laughter and joy to children. She has illustrated over 20 picture books, many of which have been translated and published internationally, reaching children in many countries. Her work has received international recognition and several awards. Visit her at mayashleifer.com.

National Pumpkin Day Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-rock-pumpkin-craft

Rock . . . Paint . . . Jack-O’-Lantern!

Make your own unusual pumpkin or jack-o’-lantern with rocks carefully chosen for their personality! You can create just one or a whole pumpkin patch!

Supplies

Round, smooth rock ( or rocks in a variety of sizes)
Orange craft paint, and other colors for a multi-hued pumpkin patch
Black permanent marker or black craft paint
Short sturdy twig (one for each rock)
Hot glue gun or strong glue
Paintbrush

Directions

Clean and dry the rock
Paint the rock, let dry
Draw or paint a jack-o’-lantern face on the rock, let dry
Glue the short twig to the top of the rock pumpkin

You can purchase The Very Unusual Pumpkin from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

October 2 – National Book Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

October may be book lovers’ favorite month of the year! Why? It’s National Book Month! This holiday was established to get everyone excited about reading. As the weather turns cooler and more indoor activities take center stage, reading together becomes a wonderful way to spend time having fun and making memories. Children of all ages love being read to, and when older siblings read to younger brothers and sisters, they can bond over favorite stories and make each story time an event. Whether you’re reading board books, picture books, or novels with your kids, you’re making memories that will last a lifetime!

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

Flutter, Flap, Fly!

Written by Ellen Mayer | Illustrated by Estelle Corke

As Teo arrives at the playground, riding on his father’s shoulders, he spots two birds flying nearby. One is “‘. . . soaring. See how it is flying straight up into the sky?’ says Papi.” The other is “‘swooping . . . straight down very fast.'” Teo thinks it would be fun to soar and swoop too. Near the playground equipment, Teo and Papi watch a bird bathing in a puddle, and Teo giggles while imitating it. An older girl and boy in a tower on the play system notice and invite Teo to play with them, pretending to be birds in a tree. “‘Come fly with us. Flap, Flap!'”

Illustrations by Estelle Corke, © Star Bright Books. Text copyright © by Ellen Mayer. Published by Star Bright Books copyright © 2026.

Teo feels too small to climb high, so he perches on a lower level, where the girl and boy invite him to be their baby bird and peck for seeds. Soon Teo’s ready to hop up higher to their nest. Papi says, “‘Look at you three snuggling together. Snuggle! Snuggle! Snuggle!'” When Teo’s other father arrives, it’s time to go to the grocery store. Now, after playing with the older kids, Teo is ready to “‘leave the nest'” and “‘Flap [his] wings and fly. Teo is proud to show how he can “‘soar'” up the steps and “‘swoop'” down the slide!'”

A Note for Parents, Grandparents, and Caregivers by Dr. Kori Bardige, an Early Education Specialist, follows the text and coveys the positive effects that engaging children in frequent conversations, creative activities, and pretend play has on vocabulary growth and language skills. A You Can Do This Too! paragraph gives adults specific ways they can use this book as a springboard for play and learning as well as encouragement for “becoming a partner in learning” with their child.

Ellen Mayer’s cheerful and lively storytelling always brings a smile as her characters encourage and support each other to branch out of their comfort zone in their own time while engaging in playful activities that foster camaraderie and self-confidence. In her series of Small Talk Books®, Mayer’s dialogue-rich text models the types of conversations that adults can have with children to promote natural language learning and understanding. Her inclusion of the two older children demonstrates the important impact that older siblings and friend groups as well as adult caregivers can have on the socialization and language development of younger children.

Estelle Corke’s bright and expressive illustrations will captivate kids as they watch adorable Teo at the playground having fun pretending to be a bird with two new friends. Corke’s animated images of Teo and the other children fluttering, soaring, and swooping will inspire young readers to join in with their own pretend play. Kids will enjoy keeping an eye out for the birds flying, perching, and nesting throughout the pages.

Bursting with imagination and animated conversations that will pique kids’ inquisitive nature while nurturing their language development, Flutter, Flap, Fly! will enhance any library collection and would be a favorite for repeat reading at home and in the classroom.

Ages 3 – 6

Star Bright Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1649091000

About the Author

Ellen Mayer is an award-winning children’s author who has worked as an education researcher and early literacy home visitor. Her Small Talk Books® series with Star Bright Books features diverse families in engaging stories that highlight two aspects of early childhood education with engaging stories: early language development and early math development. Titles in the series that focus on language development include board books Twinkle, Twinkle, Diaper You!, Red Socks, and A Fish to Feed, as well as picture books Cake Day and Rosa’s Very Big Job. See https://ellenmayerbooks.com/books/. Flutter, Flap, Fly! is her eleventh book with Star Bright Books. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband and their dog, Ellie. Visit her at ellenmayerbooks.com.

About the Illustrator

Estelle Corke spent much of her childhood drawing. Her passion for drawing led her to study graphic design in college and eventually found her way to children’s books. She enjoys traditional watercolor and gouache painting and regularly teaches watercolor classes to adult beginners. She lives in Wiltshire, England with her husband and Poppy, a little black and white dog. Visit her at estellecorke.com.

National Book Month Activity

Soar and Swoop! Wings Craft

Kids (and adults!) can set their imagination soaring while they flutter, flap, and . . . fly with this easy craft designed by young creator Elise B.! What kind of bird will you be?!

Supplies

Poster Board in any color
Twine, string, or ribbon
Feathers, leaves, flower petals, paper, markers or crayons, glitter, or other items to decorate wings
Streamers
Measuring tape
Pencil
Scissors
Hole Punch (optional)
Glue and tape

Directions

Measure child’s arm from finger tips to elbow and use this measurement for the long, top side of the wing
On the poster board, draw two wing shapes: use your child’s arm measurement for the long, top edge of the wing. From the right (or left) end of this line, draw a perpendicular line about 4 or 5 inches long. Then draw a curving, scalloped line from the bottom of the perpendicular line to the other end of the long, top edge of the wing.
Cut out two wings
Decorate the tops of the wings with markers or crayons or by gluing items to them
Attach streamers to the scalloped edge with glue or tape
With the hole punch or scissors, make two holes vertically along the short side, about 3 inches apart
With the hole punch or scissor, make two holes vertically near the tip of the wing, about 1 inch apart
Thread the twine, string, or ribbon through each sets of holes so that the two ends hang from the underside of the wing
To play, tie wings to arms and wrists with scalloped edge facing backwards

About Elise B.

Elise is 10 years old. She has two cats. When she’s not designing crafts for her grandmother’s books, she enjoys playing hockey, acting, and dancing. Her favorite birds are blue jays.

You can purchase Flutter, Flap, Fly! from these booksellers

Amazon | Star Bright Books | Whitelam Books, Reading, MA (contact for signed copies to pick up) | Beacon Hill Books & Cafe, Boston, MA (contact for signed copies to pick up)

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 25 – Math Storytelling Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

National Math Storytelling Day was established in 2009 by Maria Droujkova, founder of The Natural Math Community at Naturalmath.com, and her daughter to encourage people to share the joys of math with children through stories and games. Having fun with math is one of the best ways to get kids excited about learning and working with this most important subject. Celebrate today with math stories that involve patterns, spatial relations, quantities, logic, puzzles, and numbers. You can even sing math songs and tell math jokes! You’ll find lots of resources for Math Storytelling Day and every day on the Natural Math website. Today’s book comes from Charlesbridge, who early on embraced the power of picture books to get children involved with math in everyday life.

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

Sisters All the Time (Steamworks)

Hermanas todo el tiempo (Steamworks) (Spanish Edition)

By Angela Quezada Padron

For Mari Saturday was the best day of the week because her half-sister Luz came over. “They laughed and played all day [and] giggled and acted silly all night.” But when Sunday came and Luz had to leave, Mari felt sad. She never seemed to have enough time with her big sister. On this Sunday, just five minutes before Luz’s mom was scheduled to pick Luz up, she called to say she’d be two hours late. Excited to have extra time together, Mari and Luz planned out which activities they wanted to do. Mari wanted to do all of them, but Luz knew they didn’t have time for that.

They decided to write down all of their favorite activities and estimate how long each took. First up, they wanted to “try to beat [their] record for the longest domino trail ever.” This would take about 40 minutes to set up . . . “and about 5 minutes to watch them all topple.” They had one hour and 45 minutes left to fill. With the trail built and a new world record accomplished, it was time to have a fashion show. Part way through their preps (including making up Papi and doing his hair), pizza arrived. After lunch, they only had 30 minutes left, so they decided to play indoor Olympics.

Luz and Mari had just gotten started when Papi reminded them that their lunch dishes needed cleaning. Then during their trampoline contest, he told them they needed to pick up the dominoes and hang up the fashion show clothes. All of these ate into the time the girls had left. With only five minutes before Luz’s mom was expected, they jumped into a sock race, but “Ding Dong!” time was up. Mari pleaded for more time. She thought that sisters should not “live together SOME of the time,” but ALL the time. Luz took her little sister’s hand and told her, “No matter where I am, you’ll always be my hermanita, 365 days a year.” Throughout the week, the sisters called and planned their “time to smile together, laugh together, and love together.”

Back matter includes an Author’s Note about her own half siblings and a spread titled “Picking Up STEAM” with English time-related words to know, Spanish words that appear in the story, concepts of time management, basic facts about time, hours from 1:00 to 12:00 shown on an analog and digital clock, and ideas for readers to play with and explore time on their own.

Angela Quezada Padron’s warmhearted story of half sisters who love spending time together provides a perfect frame for children learning about time management and tempering expectations of how much can be accomplished in measured amounts of time. The sisters’ enthusiasm and imagination will captivate readers, and the time spans for each activity on their list are realistic and may prompt kids to time themselves doing each one. Quezada Padron’s inclusion of clean-up time will be appreciated by parents and caregivers and is a good reminder about responsibility for children as well. Her vibrant, action-packed illustrations portray the close relationship between the sisters and eye-catching perspectives on the girls’ activities. There are plenty of scenes to make kids giggle too as they minutes tick down on a fun day.

Education wrapped in engaging fun, Sisters All the Time (Steamworks) and Hermanas todo el tiempo (Steamworks) offer an affectionate family story in which concepts of time unfold as naturally as they do at home, in a classroom, or other settings. The book will spark recognition of how time passes and a beginning to better time management of busy days and is a top pick for all libraries, classrooms, and home collections.

Ages 4 – 7

Charlesbridge, 2026 | ISBN 978-1623546779

About the Author

Angela Quezada Padron is a Latina author-illustrator who spent childhood days writing stories and doodling on garage walls of her New Jersey home while enjoying summers visiting family in the Dominican Republic. She writes fiction and nonfiction picture books and novels, and she creates colorful, textured illustrations with diverse characters & heartwarming scenes. Angela won first place in the Portfolio Showcase at the 2023 Florida SCBWI Conference and was chosen as a semi-finalist for the SCBWI Tomie dePaola Award in 2014. Visit her at angelapadron.com.

Hermanas todo el tiempo (Steamworks) (Spanish Edition)

Mari y Luz son un tipo de hermanas especial: ¡medias hermanas! Comparten el mismo papá, pero tienen mamás distintas, por lo que solo pasan los fines de semana juntas. Cuando la mamá de Luz se retrasa un día, las chicas deciden aprovechar su tiempo adicional al máximo, así que planifican sus actividades, estiman cuánto tiempo les llevará cada una y se lanzan a hacerlas. Pero el tiempo se les acaba demasiado rápido, y Mari se siente triste. Luz le recuerda que son hermanas TODO el tiempo, aunque solo puedan estar juntas una parte del tiempo.

Ages 4 – 7

Charlesbridge, 2026 | ISBN 978-1623546779

Math Storytelling Day Activity

Sisters All the Time Activity Page

Kids can have eye-opening fun keeping track of their favorite activities, chores, mealtimes, or other events of the day with this Time and El tiempo y la hora pages from Charlesbridge!

You can purchase Sisters All the Time from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

You can purchase Hermanas todo el tiempo (Steamworks) (Spanish Edition) from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 21 – World Gratitude Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

In 1965 an international gathering in Hawaii established World Gratitude Day as a time for people everywhere to formally appreciate and give thanks for all the wonderful things in the world. In 1966 the attendees celebrated World Gratitude Day on this date in their individual countries, beginning a tradition that has grown over time. The benefits of positive thinking have become well documented. The founders of Gratitude Day also recognized that by taking a day to celebrate the amazing parts of our lives we might become happier, more content people.

Thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books for sending me this book for review!

It’s Almost Time for . . . Thanksgiving!

Written by Maisha Oso | Illustrated by Tom Knight

Once October rolls around, the holidays come in quick succession, each with their own particular decorations, activities, food, and fun! How do you keep each one special and distinct for your kids? Maisha Oso has the answer with her It’s Almost Time for . . . series of books for holidays we love to share with our family and friends. Her newest book gets kids excited about transitioning from Halloween to Thanksgiving, as they help a Mom and Dad, big brother and little sister spruce up their farm, replacing skeletons and jack-o-lanterns with hay bales, pumpkins, and festive wreaths as their horses, turkeys, and the boy’s little lamb try to help.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Tom Knight. Text copyright © 2026 by Maisa Oso. Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Then it’s on to planning the menu. Everyone can agree on “mac n’ cheese, potatoes, peas,” and, of course, turkey, but maybe not so much on the doughnuts. Fortunately, the crisp autumn air beckons with an invitation for an impromptu game of football in the yard with the whole family. Soon, the big day arrives, and the kitchen is bustling—kids included. With the turkey finally in the oven, it’s time to relax and watch the grand parade on TV with floats, bands, dancers, and confetti. Next, with delicious aromas wafting through the house and grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends arriving, it’s time for dinner and remembering “why you’re filled with gratitude” on this special day. Yes, “spending time with those you love / makes this a life worth living. / You’re belly’s stuffed? You’ve had enough? / Today must be . . . “

Waiiiit . . . What? That was unexpected! With the turn of the page, Oso upends the story in hilarious fashion. But were there clues all along? Alert kids may have been watching the boy’s constant companion who’s embraced all the traditions of Thanksgiving but interpreted them in his own endearing way. Oso lovingly gets things back on track, though, as the boy explains the holiday to his little friend and the whole crew gather for a picture to commemorate another Thanksgiving!

Maisha Oso’s jaunty, rhyming celebration of Thanksgiving welcomes young readers to join in on all the fun of fall and this family holiday while infusing the preparations and dinner with humor, and surprises. Readers will be delighted to point out their own familiar traditions and are sure to giggle at Lamb’s enthusiasm for a spring holiday. Oso’s final rhyme will have kids and adults happily chiming in.

Tom Knight invites readers to a tidy pink farmhouse where the kids are eager to help, the food is home-grown, and doughnuts are in the pantry but, sadly, not on the menu, as the family prepares for Thanksgiving. Humor abounds in Knight’s depictions of Oso’s puns and the lamb’s contributions to the celebration. Heartwarming images of the family gathered around the table and thinking what they’re grateful for can prompt children to share their thoughts.

A charming and heartening way to introduce Thanksgiving traditions to the youngest children while renewing excitement for the holiday with older kids, It’s Almost Time for . . . Thanksgiving! is a picture book with surprises that will entertain the whole family.

Don’t miss Maisha Oso and Tom Knight’s It’s Almost Time for . . . Christmas!, their upcoming It’s Almost Time for . . . St. Patrick’s Day!, It’s Almost Time for . . . Easter!, and It’s Almost Time for . . . Halloween!

Ages 4 – 8

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2026 | ISBN 979-8347108015

About the Author

Maisha Oso is the author of picture books Buster the Bully, My Hair Is a Book, Before the Ships, and the It’s Almost Time For… series, as well as the Venus Washington chapter book series. She writes stories to empower, entertain, and encourage emotional intelligence in young children. A former strategy and analytics professional from New York City, Maisha is currently working in her most challenging role to date: a stay-at-home mom of three tiny humans. You can visit her at MaishaOso.com and follow her on Instagram.

About the Illustrator

After an enjoyable stint as a graphic designer, Tom Knight is now proud to be using his imagination as a full-time career. Drawing on a long and abiding love of imagery from children’s literature, Tom has worked for a diverse range of publishers, including Little Tiger Press, Templar, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, and Macmillan. He has also turned his hand to authoring his own titles and is the author and illustrator for the Good Knight, Bad Knight chapter book series and picture book Jimmy Finnigan’s Wild Wood Band. He does all this from a poorly temperature-controlled studio in the garden, where he is constantly distracted by the greedy birds that hang out by the feeder outside his window. Follow him on Instagram.

World Gratitude Day Activity

I’m Thankful For . . . Activity Page

Get the kids—or the whole family—together to write or draw what you’re thankful for with this I’m Thankful For . . . Activity Page!

You can purchase It’s Almost Time for . . . Thanksgiving! from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 2 – Friendship Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Friendship Month has been celebrated ever since the Oddfellows organization was established in England in the 1730s. Their official title is The Grand Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society (or GUOOFS), and it is an international organization dedicated to philanthropy, charity, and, of course, friendship. All month long people are encouraged to spend more time with their friends, get in touch with those they haven’t seen or talked to in a while, and to reach out to others who are alone or need a friend. As school gets underway, there are plenty of opportunities for kids to meet new people and form friendships – some of which may last a lifetime.

Thank you to Charlesbridge and Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sending me this book for review!

Ege and Ávra

Written by Evgenia Mantikas and Elifgül Büyükoral | Illustrated by Nazlı Tarcan

Ege, who lives on the east side of the Aegean Sea in Türkiye, is going fishing with her grandfather. “‘Do you think I’ll catch a çipura, Salih Dede?'” she asks. He doesn’t know, he tells Ege and adds “‘but the sea gives us what we need.'” A short way away on the west side of the Aegean Sea in Greece, Ávra asks her grandfather, “‘Pappoú, will I catch a tsipoúra?'” He answers “‘Perhaps. But the sea knows what is best for us.'” As the girls and their grandfathers steer their boats into fishing waters, they come upon each other in close proximity. Ege complains that Ávra’s boat is in their way, while Ávra fears Ege will steal their fish. Both grandfathers repeat their wisdom from the morning.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Nazlı Tarcan. Text copyright © 2026 by Evgenia Mantikas and Elifgül Büyükoral. Published by Charlesbridge copyright © 2026.

As Ege and Ávra cast their fishing lines, they get hopelessly tangled. They pull and wrestle with their poles until Ege is thrown into a bucket and Ávra finds herself wrapped in a net. The two girls lock eyes while their grandfathers erupt in laughter. The girls laugh too, then, and introduce themselves, overcoming their language barrier by placing a hand over their heart as they say their name. Ávra offers Ege the corner of a net, and together they cast it into the sea.

It doesn’t take long before a school of fish swim into the net. With excitement, Ege shouts, “‘çipura!'” “‘Tsipoúra!'” Ávra cries. They stare at each other in awe; “their words for the fish sound the same!” Aboard their respective boats, Ege and Dede and Ávra and Pappoú cook lunch with some of the fish they’ve caught, spices, lemon, and vegetables. They gather on Pappoú’s boat, giving thanks before they begin. Afterward, there’s dessert—a favorite of everyone.

Too soon, it’s time for each family to return home. Ege and Ávra wave goodbye “until they both disappear into the horizon,” each believing that they will meet again. As the two girls drift off, with the sea air gently lulling them to sleep, they whisper “Good night” to the new friend they each made.

Back matter includes an Authors’ Note relating how Evgenia Mantikas and Elifgül Büyükoral met and became friends in college; a brief history of the clash between Türkiye and Greece, a map, and a glossary of Turkish and Greek terms in the story.

As children meet Ege and Ávra and their grandfathers at home and on their boats, they are privy—through visual and textual clues—to something neither girl yet knows: how similar they are. Instantly, readers become invested in how their meeting will play out, starting as it does with suspicion and grumbling. Throughout their story, Evgenia Mantikas and Elifgül Büyükoral beautifully use metaphor, humor, and lyrical prose to bring the two families together in the universal languages of laughter, food, and shared experiences. Büyükoral and Mantikas imbue their lovely, simple storytelling with true surprise and delight that will captivate both children and adults.

Children will eagerly linger over Nazlı Tarcan’s beautiful and evocative illustrations to point out the similarities between the girls as well as their grandfathers. Even the boats boast commonalities. Tarcan’s gorgeous color palette and expressive portraits suffuse her pages with feelings of camaraderie and peace. You can almost feel the sea breeze and smell the aromas wafting from the impromptu meal, and as the girls wish each other “Good night,” their wistful faces will fill readers hearts with hope.

A poignant and uplifting read aloud for meaningful story times, Ege and Ávra is a must for all public and school libraries and would be an exceptional addition to any home bookshelf.

Ages 4 – 8

Charlesbridge, 2026 | ISBN 978-1623546670

A third generation Greek American, Evgenia Mantikas grew up immersed in her family’s culture. She visited Xios every summer, reading for hours on the beach. Evgenia’s love for stories grew as she studied creative writing and received her BA and MA in English literature. After teaching ELA for two years, Evgenia returned to school and earned her MFA from Simmons University and uses her voice to tell cultural stories about family. You can visit her at evgeniamantikas.com.

Elifgül Büyükoral was born and raised in Türkiye, where her close-knit family nurtured her love for books. Elifgül delved into the world of literature and language when she earned her BA in ESL. Fueled by her passion for storytelling, Elifgül moved to the United States to receive her MA in children’s literature from Simmons University. Elifgül writes stories that shine light on her heritage and Islamic faith, hoping to amplify diverse voices. Follow her on Instagram.

Nazlı Tarcan is a Turkish artist and illustrator based in Namur, Belgium. After studying illustration in high school, she studied photography at one of Türkiye’s most prestigious fine art universities, Yildiz Technical University. Midway through her studies, she followed her creative call and ran away with the circus, performing for ten years, traveling through Qatar, Georgia, Tajikistan, Greece, France, Poland, and many other countries. As an artist, she takes inspiration from the tiny details of everyday life. Visit her at nazlisillustrations.com.

Friendship Month Activity

Give Me Your Hand! Puzzle

In this Give Me Your Hand! Puzzle, everyone is welcomed with a handshake. Offering friendship to all, the interchangeable pieces can be mixed and matched as the animals become buddies with one another.

Supplies

Printable colored Give Me Your Hand! Puzzle
Printable blank Give Me Your Hand! Puzzle
Colored pencils or crayons
Scissors
Heavy Stock paper (optional)
Poster board (optional)
Glue (optional)

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-UN-day-puzzle

Directions

Print the puzzle: to make the puzzle sturdier: Print on heavy stock paper or glue the page to poster board
Color the pictures with colored pencils or crayons
Cut the pieces apart
Switch the pieces around to make many alternate pictures

You can purchase Ege and Ávra from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

September 1 – World Letter Writing Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Once, people communicated their news, emotions, and “wish you were here” postcard sentiments through the mail. Today, letters can take on a different connotation. They don’t have to be those long missives sent in envelopes with stamps affixed. A note to a friend, a message included in a child’s lunch sack, or a post-it stuck where a co-worker can see it are all ways to write a few encouraging words to those you love. Today, why not put your thoughts on paper and give your letter to someone you’d like to connect with—even if it’s just for a little help, like in today’s book!

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

Love, Panda

Written by Elaine Su | Illustrated by Charlene Chua

As new big brother Benny takes off to play with a visiting friend, a squishy panda feels abandoned with the baby who’s chewing her ear amid piles of diapers, tiny clothes, and other little toys. Panda writes a letter to Benny pleading to be rescued to no avail. The next day Panda writes that she endured watching “four elephants fly around in a circle all morning.” The baby thinks they’re hilarious, but Panda? Not so much. She reminds Benny that she’s still waiting for him to retrieve her. In a postcard, Panda questions if Dump Truck is even delivering her letters.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Charlene Chua. Text copyright © 2026 by Elaine Su. Published by Orchard Books copyright © 2026.

As Baby continues to grow, Panda grows desperate, and her letters become impassioned missives bemoaning her fate as Baby’s constant companion. Panda’s suffering through loud crinkly books, new lax rules on burping, and Baba’s singing to Baby. Little by little, though, Panda’s letters reveal real concern, interest, appreciation, and an understanding of what Baby needs. Panda even uses her name. But then the “weirdest thing” happens. Panda begins to bond with Baby Lou and to have flashbacks, from when Benny was a baby, of that crinkly book, one of Lou’s hats, and even having tea with a giraffe in the baby’s room.

At the same time, Lou learns to sit up, and Benny is suddenly more interested in his baby sister. Entering her room, he reconnects with Panda in a big, happy squeeze before the three have a tea party together. In her last letter, Panda retracts her previous requests, having decided that she “might stay here a bit longer,” but inviting Benny to come play again tomorrow.

Elaine Su’s adorable story, told through witty letters that echo the feelings of a sibling as they adjust to the changes a new baby brings, is full of personality, funny observations, and the subtle way acceptance and love grow between siblings. Su deftly weaves Baby Lou’s progression of milestones throughout the story, reminding older brothers or sisters that they, too, experienced these stages and share a common history.

Charlene Chua’s bright illustrations give young readers plenty to smile, laugh, and talk about as Panda’s facial expressions clearly show her emotions—from boredom to growing kinship to happiness. Benny’s increasing interaction with his sister is also shown through background images of his playdates, his reaction to Lou’s crying, and his sweet reunion with Panda before officially giving her to Lou. The final image of a letter Benny has made for Panda brings the story to a heartwarming finish.

Endearing and hilarious, Love, Panda is a perfect choice for new or soon-to-be siblings that will continue to be relevant and appreciated as the baby grows and the siblings form a relationship. The book is sure to be an often-asked-for addition to any home or library collection.

Ages 4 – 8

Orchard Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1546179580

About the Author

Elaine Su was born in Shanghai and now lives with her family in beautiful coastal British Columbia, Canada. Her favorite childhood stuffie was an enormous green and white rabbit named Duffle. Visit her at elainesu.com.

About the Illustrator

Charlene Chua has illustrated more than a dozen books, including Oliver Bounces Back!, Amy Wu and The Perfect Bao, The Pencil, and Hug? Her work has been nominated for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award, the Forest of Reading Awards, the Shining Willow Award, and the First Nation Communities READ Award. Charlene lives in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Visit her/them at charlenechua.com.

World Letter Writing Day Activity

Love, Panda Activity Pages

Kids can commiserate with Panda and show their love for their own favorite stuffed animal with these Love, Panda Activity Pages from Elaine Su, Charlene Chua, and Scholastic!

Love, Panda Coloring Sheet | Love, Panda Letter Writing Activity

You can purchase Love, Panda from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

About the Holiday

The Very Unusual Pumpkin

Written by Marilyn Singer | Illustrated by Maya Shleifer

National Pumpkin Day Activity

Rock . . . Paint . . . Jack-O’-Lantern!

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Flutter, Flap, Fly!

Written by Ellen Mayer | Illustrated by Estelle Corke

National Book Month Activity

Soar and Swoop! Wings Craft

About Elise B.

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Our Favorite Day of the Week

Written by Ashley Franklin | Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell

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Sisters All the Time (Steamworks)

Hermanas todo el tiempo (Steamworks) (Spanish Edition)

By Angela Quezada Padron

Hermanas todo el tiempo (Steamworks) (Spanish Edition)

Math Storytelling Day Activity

Sisters All the Time Activity Page

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About the Holiday

It’s Almost Time for . . . Thanksgiving!

Written by Maisha Oso | Illustrated by Tom Knight

World Gratitude Day Activity

I’m Thankful For . . . Activity Page

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Ege and Ávra

Written by Evgenia Mantikas and Elifgül Büyükoral | Illustrated by Nazlı Tarcan

Friendship Month Activity

Give Me Your Hand! Puzzle

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About the Holiday

Love, Panda

Written by Elaine Su | Illustrated by Charlene Chua

World Letter Writing Day Activity

Love, Panda Activity Pages

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