Picture Books about Family

February 24 – It’s Bake for Family Fun Month

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About the Holiday

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

10 Gulub Jamuns: Counting with an Indian Sweet Treat

Written by Sandhya Acharya | Illustrated by Vanessa Alexandre

 

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

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

Illustration © 2022 Vanessa Alexandre, text © 2022 Sandhya Acharya.

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

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

A recipe for gulab jamuns follows the story.

Illustration © 2022 Vanessa Alexandre, text © 2022 Sandhya Acharya.

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

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

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

Ages 2 – 7

Sandhya Acharya, 2022 | ISBN 979-8985609516

About the Author

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

Bake for Family Fun Month Activity

celebrate-pictureb-books-picture-book-review-Kids-Baking-Cake-in-Cooking-Show-Bakery-Coloring-Pages

Let’s Bake Together Coloring Page

 

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

You can purchase 10 Gulab Jamuns at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

February 21 – It’s National Nest Box Week

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About the Holiday

National Nest Box Week was established in the United Kingdom in 1997 to highlight how birds are often displaced from their natural nesting places with the destruction of the woodlands and fields birds call home. The holiday encourages people to pay attention to their local nesting birds and put up nest boxes to support the conservation of breeding birds. No matter where you live, birds’ ecosystems are fragile. You can make a big difference in the survival of your local bird population by building and maintaining nesting boxes for the spring and summer months. To learn how more about the holiday and how you can help, visit nestboxweek.com.

A Terrible Place for a Nest

Written by Sara Levine | Illustrated by Erika Meza

 

Displaced from their home, a mother and her son, Juno, move to a new place in a new neighborhood. Juno’s mother takes solace in the mourning doves that greet them, but Juno hears sadness and fear in their whistling coos. Nothing about the move feels right to Juno. He can’t get his favorite cereal at the grocery store, and he tells his mama that he’s “‘never going to fall asleep'” in his new room. 

At school he sits alone with no one to talk to. When he gets home he yells, “‘This is a terrible place!,'” frightening the mourning doves from their nest on the gate. The next day, when the movers come, they knock the nest from its perch, breaking the eggs and confirming to Juno his feelings about their new home.

Illustration © 2024, Erika Meza; text © 2024 Sara Levine. Courtesy of Roaring Brook Press.

Later, Juno tries to rebuild the nest, and he and his mom buy millet seed to feed them. They’re happy to see the birds return to the yard—although the nest sits empty for days and weeks. Meanwhile, at school, Juno makes a friend of the girl who sits in front of him, talking and drawing and making paper birds together.

Still, no birds occupy the nest. At night in his unfamiliar room, where unpacked boxes of books and art supplies stand stacked against the wall, Juno thinks “maybe it didn’t feel safe to them.” But then one day, Juno notices with excitement that, just as he and his mom are settling into their new home, a dove is snugged into the nest. “Mama said this meant there were eggs.”

Illustration © 2024, Erika Meza; text © 2024 Sara Levine. Courtesy of Roaring Brook Press.

Juno and his new friend go to the school library to learn everything they can about mourning doves. On colored paper they write facts and draw pictures of adult and baby birds. And most importantly they make signs for the fence and gate, alerting people to the fragile nest and baby doves.

Then one bright, sunny morning, Juno looks out his window and sees babies! In their protected nest, the small mourning doves grow until one afternoon as Juno, his friend, and his mom enjoy a picnic in the yard, he watches as the fledglings fly from their nest. “‘I told them it wasn’t a great place for a nest,'” Juno says, but later that night, happily cuddled up with his mom, they agree, “But we made it work.”

Illustration © 2024, Erika Meza; text © 2024 Sara Levine. Courtesy of Roaring Brook Press.

In her honest and poignant story, Sara Levine allows her young protagonist to give vent to his true feelings. While he first reproaches the mourning doves for their poor choice of nesting place, his own deep disappointment, sorrow, and loneliness spill out when the eggs break. As weeks pass, however, Levine shows that just as Juno repairs the nest and makes his yard inviting for the doves again, he also makes a new friend, assimilates into school, and finds comfort in books and creating once more. Levine’s child-centered story is all the stronger for the quiet support Juno’s mother gives him, allowing him the space, time, and freedom to feel his emotions and work them out in his own way. Her final line, “‘But we made it work,'” offers optimism, camaraderie, and confidence in the face of change—the type of powerful spirit that can sustain us all.

In her affecting illustrations, Erika Meza uses color, facial expressions, and visual metaphors to compellingly show readers Juno’s transition as he navigates his way to acceptance of his new home. As the story begins, Meza uses darker and muted colors on the house and gate. As the doves accept Juno’s help, the colors brighten. Likewise, in the beginning, Juno and his mother appear sad and at a loss. Meza portrays Juno’s brown-painted room from above, as if readers are peering into a cardboard moving box. But as Juno makes friends, regains his love of learning, and the doves return, Meza’s color palette turns vivid, smiles return to Juno’s and Mama’s faces, and even the dark of night is dispelled by the dazzling light of the bedroom lamp as Juno and his mom snuggle together.

A candid story about moving away from home that is also applicable for other types of unexpected changes, A Terrible Place for a Nest validates the emotions children can experience when adjusting to new surroundings. For children struggling with change, especially, the story’s focus on taking time to adapt offers comfort and reassurance.

A Terrible Place for a Nest is highly recommended for families with a child or children who have difficulty with change and a must for school and public library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Roaring Brook Press, 2024 | ISBN 978-1250861221

About the Author

Sara Levine is an award-winning picture book author, veterinarian and science educator. Her books, which include Bone by Bone, Tooth by Tooth, Flower Talk, Sensitive, and The Animals Would Not Sleep!, have received the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize, Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, Beehive Book Award, Cook Prize and the Mathical Book Prize. She loves doing school and library programs. Visit Sara at saralevinebooks.com.

About the Illustrator

Erika Meza grew up in Mexico and moved houses more often than she had birthdays. Having studied illustration in Paris, she now lives in London―her thirty-sixth address―where she paints, writes her own stories, and practices her uncanny ability to pack efficiently. Erika loves exploring, learning about many different places and cultures, and finding joy in the people who allow you to be yourself. Visit Erica at ericameza.com.

National Nest Box Week Activity

Baby Mourning Doves Video

Watch a pair of mourning doves raise their nestlings from hatching to leaving the nest in this sweet video from Gary’s Backyard.

You can purchase A Terrible Place for a Nest at these booksellers

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

January 21 – National Hugging Day

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About the Holiday

Created in 1986 by Kevin Zaborney, National Hugging Day is a heartwarming holiday that encourages people to express their affection and care for one another through the simple act of giving hugs. Hugs are a universal form of physical affection that can convey love, comfort, and support. This day reminds us of the positive impact of a warm embrace and the importance of human connection. So today give your kids, spouse, parents, siblings, and friends extra hugs. You can even send virtual hugs to loved ones who are far away. To extend National Hugging Day throughout the year, add today’s snuggly hug of a book to your bedtime story collection. It’s sure to become a favorite! 

Thanks to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sharing this review copy of Goodnight, Sleepyville with me!

Goodnight, Sleepyville

Written by Blake Liliane Hellman | Illustrated by Steven Henry

 

“In Sleepyville, the sun is setting, and everyone’s done for the day.” They head home from work or school or running errands. At the Acorn Cafe, the owner is just sweeping up. At the library the last book is being checked out. And as Mr. Bear leaves downtown, he’s reading an interesting article in the newspaper. Where is everyone going? Home! “To simple homes, dome homes, teensy-weensy homes, …and very fancy homes.”

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Image copyright Steven Henry, 2020, text copyright Blake Liliane Hellman, 2020. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

At home it’s time to wash up and enjoy a family supper—with milk and cookies for dessert. Later, in cozy pajamas, it’s time to “snuggle, wiggle, cuddle.” The moon rises and “though some are tucked in, snug as a bug…others need a lullaby. And maybe a bedtime story.” Then each resident of this little hamlet drifts off to sleep in their own way under a sky twinkling with stars and flitting fireflies. Then we say, “Goodnight, Sleepyville” and watch “all the lights go out… except one.”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-goodnight-sleepyville-supper

Image copyright Steven Henry, 2020, text copyright Blake Liliane Hellman, 2020. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

If you’re looking for a cozy, welcoming place to lay your head at the end of the day, there’s no place like home—or Sleepyville. In Blake Liliane Hellman’s tranquil town where close-set cottages and tree-trunk homes reflect the close-knit community, evening  comes with comforting routines and the welcome of family. Hellman’s charming alliteration and gentle rhymes turn each sentence into a lullaby just perfect for bedtime reading. Her final line is sweetly clever, and will lead little ones to try and guess which light remains glowing and why. The answer on the next page is sure to spark requests for another read.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-goodnight-sleepyville-moon

Image copyright Steven Henry, 2020, text copyright Blake Liliane Hellman, 2020. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Steven Henry’s adorable seaside community enchants with quaint details and a relaxed, happy atmosphere rendered in delicate lines and soft, warm colors. Babies and adults welcome home family members with cheery enthusiasm (you don’t want to miss the two ladybugs rushing to embrace at their toadstool home’s front door or the sprawling Victorian treehouse). Images of the fox family having supper around the table and then doing the dishes together are homey, and kids will giggle at two sleepyheads wearing mixed-up pajamas. After the sun has set, a momma or papa wolf howls a lullaby to three cubs while the bunny clan listens to a story before being tucked in. With the crescent moon shining and the town in slumber, one little light still glimmers. Where does it come from? Turn the page and see!

Goodnight, Sleepyville is dreamy reading for bedtime that families will turn to again and again and would be a welcome addition to home and public library collections. Pair with the first book in this little series, Welcome to Morningtown, to begin and end the day with favorite friends.

Ages Birth – 5

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2020 | ISBN 978-1681198767

Blake Liliane Hellman has degrees in journalism and English from the University of Colorado and a master’s in film production from American University/FAMU, Czech Republic. She is an abstract artist who also works with mixed media and collage and is the author of Goodnight, Sleepyville, Something Smells! and Cuddle Monkey. She lives with her family and cat in Seattle, Washington. Visit Blake Liliane Hellman on Instagram at blakecake8.

Steven Henry is the illustrator of the beloved Ella the Elegant Elephant books (as Steven D’Amico), written by Carmela D’Amico, It’s Raining Bats & Frogs, written by Rebecca Colby, and Hanukkah Hop, written by Erica Silverman. His work has also appeared on PBS Kids, Nick Jr., and the Disney Channel. He lives in Seattle, Washington. Visit him at stevenhenry.net.

You’ll also love the adorable Welcome to Morningtown! Read my review of this sweet readaloud, including an interview with Blake Liliane Hellman and Steven Harvey!

National Hugging Day Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-hug-coupons

Free Hug Coupons

Everyone needs a hug now and then! With these Free Hug coupons you can extend National Hugging Day to every day of the year and make sure all your favorite people get a sweet hug when they need it most.

Supplies

Directions

  1. Print the Free Hug coupons
  2. Color the coupons and cut apart
  3. Hand out the coupons to your friends and family members and tell them that each coupon is good for one free hug from you.
  4. When someone hands in a ticket to you, give them your best biggest hug!

You can purchase Goodnight, Sleepyville at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

January 17 – It’s National Book Blitz Month

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About the Holiday

Whenever you and your family visit the bookstore or library, do you look around, and think “if only I had the time for them all . . .. ” Are you always looking for more shelves for your collection? Is your library card the first one on your ring? If so, you’ll love Book Blitz Month! During this month book lovers are given the green light to read, read, read as many books as possible! Or if there’s a tome you’ve always wanted to tackle, crack the cover and let yourself become immersed in someone else’s story. For kids, Book Blitz Month can be particularly exciting. Sit down with your child or students and make a stack of books they’d like to read. Find time every day to read one, two, or a few of the books in the pile. Seeing the stack shrink gives kids a sense of accomplishment, and they might even want to build it up again! Mix reading with fun activities to encourage a new generation of avid readers!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books and Barb Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sharing a copy of Snow Is . . . with me. All opinions on the book are my own.

Snow Is . . .

Written by Laura Gehl | Illustrated by Sonia Sánchez

 

The very fact of snow is a wonder. While rain nourishes, snow transforms. The world looks, feels, sounds, and even smells different with the advent of snow, and a playful giddiness bubbles up in both young and old, pushing off the task of shoveling out. Laura Gehl’s lovely poetry expresses those moment-to-moment changes snow brings both outside the window and in our hearts. 

Image copyright Sonia Sánchez, 2024, text copyright Laura Gehl, 2024. Courtesy of Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books

Gehl’s story begins as so often happens with a child waking to a surprise snow day. Drawn to the window, he gazes out, then suddenly “snow is a thunder of feet and a shout. / Snow is two happy pink tongues sticking out” as he grabs his scarf, boots, hat, mittens, and sled and tears downstairs, rushing outside with his dog. His dad, steaming coffee in hand, comes out to watch.

Image copyright Sonia Sánchez, 2024, text copyright Laura Gehl, 2024. Courtesy of Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books

When the ground becomes blanketed and roofs frosted in white like a cake, for a mischievous child “snow is a hoard that is set for attack. / Snow is Dad’s face . . . when a snowball goes WHACK!” And when Mom brings the baby out, bundled up against the chill, “snow is bright eyes and small cheeks cold and rosy” while for big brother and Dad, who’ve been making snow bricks, “snow is a castle that’s roomy and cozy.”

But as the sun starts to set and it’s—so reluctantly—time to go inside, snow becomes “. . . warm cookies . . .” and “. . . a fire with snuggles and books.” And, at last, warm in pajamas and under “. . . blankets pulled tight,” snow is ‘I love you’ and snow is ‘Good night.'”

Image copyright Sonia Sánchez, 2024, text copyright Laura Gehl, 2024. Courtesy of Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books

Adults will adore sharing Snow Is . . . with their kids, and children will beg to hear the story again and again. In her smooth-as-a-sled-ride rhyming couplets, Laura Gehl captures not only the mercurial nature of snow itself but all the sights, sounds, and tiny details that make snow days so thrilling, cozy, and memory-making for kids and adults alike. Gehl’s descriptions and language are a delight and engage all the emotions with their humor, poignancy, sweetness, and awe.

Sonia Sánchez’s stunning illustrations take readers into the heart of a snowy day with action-filled scenes of swirling flakes, twirling feet, and packing of snow into a snowman, snowballs, and bricks. Readers can almost feel the pre-sliding suspense of the child standing at the edge of a long hill. As night falls and the family goes inside, Sánchez imbues her pages with quiet coziness, sibling and parental love, and that heartwarming tug of home.

Snow Is . . . will quickly become a family favorite read aloud for years to come. Teachers and librarians will find the book an exciting addition to their collections as well as for story times, with many applications for art, writing, and even science connections. 

Ages 4 – 8

Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2024 | ISBN 978-1665915595

About the Author

Laura Gehl is the author of One Big Pair of Underwear, Cat Has a Plan, Goat Wants to Eat, Pig Makes Art, Dog Can Hide, Cat Sees Snow, Frog Can Hop, Snow Is…, You’re the Sprinkles on My Ice Cream, You’re the Pumpkin in My Pie, and The Elevator on 74th Street. She lives with her husband and their four kids in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Visit her online at LauraGehl.com.

About the Illustrator

Sonia Sánchez’s picture book, Here I Am, written by Patti Kim, received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, who called her illustrations “beautiful, evocative” and raved, “Sánchez has captured a kaleidoscope of emotion and powerful sensations in a way children will grasp completely.” Her illustrations have been nominated for the prestigious Eisner Award in the category of Best Painter. Sonia lives with her husband and a cat in Barcelona, Spain.

National Book Blitz Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-sock-snowman-craft

Snow Buddies

This is a fun and easy craft for kids to make on a snowy day inside to share with a friend! 

Supplies

  • Child’s white dress ankle socks
  • Polyester Fiber Fill
  • Tiny buttons for eyes. I added a little heart button to the larger snowman too.
  • Fleece or ribbon, enough for a scarf
  • Toothpick
  • Twigs
  • Orange craft paint
  • Cardboard
  • String or white rubber bands
  • Fabric or craft glue

Directions

To Make the Snowman

  1. Cut a circle from the cardboard about 2 inches in diameter for the base
  2. Place the cardboard circle in the bottom of the sock
  3. Fill the sock with fiber fill about ¾ full or to where the ribbed ankle cuff begins. Pack tightly while making a sausage shape. 
  4. Stretch out the cuff of the sock and tie it off near the top of the fill with string.
  5. Fold the cuff down around the top of the filled sock to make the hat.
  6. Wrap a rubber band or string around the middle of the sock to make a two-snowball snowman. For a three-snowball snowman, use two rubber bands. Adjust the rubber bands to make the “snowballs” different sizes.

To Make the Scarf

  1. Cut a strip of fleece or ribbon 8 to 10 inches long by ½ inch wide
  2. Tie the fleece or ribbon around the neck of the snowman

To Make the Face

  1. Dip one end of the toothpick into orange paint, let dry
  2. Cut the toothpick in half
  3. Stick the toothpick into the head or top portion of the snowman
  4. Attach two mini-buttons to the face for eyes with the fabric or craft glue

To Make the Arms

  1. Insert small twigs into each side of the body of the snowman
  2. You can also use wire or cardboard to make the arms

You can purchase Snow Is . . . at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

January 9 – National Word Nerd Day

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celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-calvin-gets-the-last-word-cover

About the Holiday

Do you love nothing more than finding new words and using them in conversation or in your own writing? Does completing a  crossword or word search puzzle make for the perfect day? Is a pun your favorite type of joke? Then you’re a word nerd! Today’s holiday highlights the importance of language and the fun of learning and expressing yourself precisely with new or uncommon words. To celebrate, why not gather friends or family and play a word-based game like Scrabble, Tapple 10, Charades, or—my favorite—Boggle! 

Calvin Gets the Last Word

Written by Margo Sorenson | Illustrated by Mike Deas

 

The moment Calvin wakes up, he grabs his dictionary and heads to the kitchen for breakfast. While Calvin may be well-rested, his dictionary tells readers that it is tired. “Why? Because Calvin loves words—I mean REALLY loves words,” the dictionary says. Calvin won’t rest until he’s found the perfect “word for everything—especially his rascally brother.” At breakfast, Calvin takes a big gulp of milk. It’s just the moment his brother’s been waiting for to tell his super funny joke. You can imagine what happens—and why the dictionary’s page containing the word revenge is soaked.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-calvin-gets-the-last-word-cover

Image copyright Mike Deas, 2020, text copyright Margo Sorenson, 2020. Courtesy of Tilbury House Publishers.

But is revenge the right word for Calvin’s brother? Not quite. On the school bus as the kids are tossing a backpack, talking, laughing, and hanging over the seats, Calvin’s dictionary describes it as mayhem, but that word doesn’t completely describe his brother either. As Calvin struggles in geography class and passes notes during library story time, his dictionary helps describe the mood, but the words it chooses don’t really apply to his brother. On the way home, though, Calvin does discover a good word for himself when he stands up to a bully and helps a kindergartener.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-calvin-gets-the-last-word-breakfast

Image copyright Mike Deas, 2020, text copyright Margo Sorenson, 2020. Courtesy of Tilbury House Publishers.

At Little League practice, the dictionary reveals that Calvin “loves to crush the ball during batting practice, sending it over the fence. That’s why the page that reads pulverize has grass stains on it.” Could pulverize be the right word for his brother? While Calvin thinks it could be fun, it’s not exactly right.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-calvin-gets-the-last-word-bus-milk

Image copyright Mike Deas, 2020, text copyright Margo Sorenson, 2020. Courtesy of Tilbury House Publishers.

That night dinner turns into a repeat of breakfast—only in broccoli green. When Calvin goes to bed, he sits for a while, thinking. Then he grabs his exhausted dictionary and a glass of water and sneaks into his brother’s room. The dictionary thinks it knows what’s going to happen and riffles through its pages to find the right word, unconcerned whether it stays dry or not. And suddenly it opens to the perfect word! But wait, that word doesn’t fit now because the brothers are laughing. The dictionary tries flipping to another page and a better word, but Calvin has it beat as he turns the pages and discovers the exact right word to describe his brother. What are all of these words? Come flip through Calvin Gets the Last Word yourself to find out!

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-calvin-gets-the-last-word-bus-stop

Image copyright Mike Deas, 2020, text copyright Margo Sorenson, 2020. Courtesy of Tilbury House Publishers.

In her funny and unique mashup of sibling rivalry and vocabulary, Margo Sorenson offers kids an engaging story of the singular type of love brothers share uncovered little by little through word-building. Calvin’s dictionary makes a sincere and charming guide through high-interest words that lend panache and nuance to events throughout Calvin’s day even if they don’t quite describe his brother. Astute kids may notice that the words the dictionary chooses for Calvin’s brother proves his loyalty to his favorite reader. Calvin’s spewed milk, whispered secrets, and home run batting add up to a real kid that readers will love. The words that the dictionary finds are fun to learn and say and will spark an enthusiasm in readers to do their own flipping through the dictionary and thesaurus. Sorenson’s endearing ending rings true with a word kids are sure to embrace.

Mike Deas’ glasses-wearing and sweat suit-clad Calvin, whose dictionary is always at the ready to define his experiences, is a character readers will respond to. Images of the sprayed milk and broccoli, rockin’ school bus, library story rug, and baseball field are full of familiar details and plenty of action. As Calvin prepares to play his trick on his brother Deas gives kids a cutaway view of the house from above, letting them tiptoe through the maze of rooms with Calvin. The final scenes of the brothers checking out the dictionary together in the light of a bedside lamp is sibling devotion at its best.

A delightful family story that can stir a love of language, Calvin Gets the Last Word would be a favorite addition to home libraries. The book is highly recommended for school and classroom bookshelves to enhance language arts, writing, grammar, and vocabulary lessons and for public library collections as well.

Ages 6 – 8

Tilbury House Publishers, 2020 | ISBN 978-0884488224

Discover more about Margo Sorenson and her books on her website.

To learn more about Mike Deas, his books, and his art, visit his website.

National Word Nerd Day Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-big-words-vocabulary-word-search-puzzle

“Big Words” Word Search

 

Knowing and using a wide range of words allows you to express yourself in exact—and often—fun ways. Find the 26 “big” words—one for each letter of the alphabet—in this printable word search puzzle.

“Big Words” Word Search Puzzle |  “Big Words” Puzzle Solution!

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-calvin-gets-the-last-word-cover

You can purchase Calvin Get’s the Last Word from these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

December 17 – National Say It Now Day

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About the Holiday

This brand new holiday, established by National Day Calendar and Legacy+, a branding company, in honor of Walter Green, who was born on December 17 and on his 70th birthday decided to travel for a year to visit those who had been important to him and express his gratitude. For Walter, the result was a book—This is the Moment. For the rest of us, this holiday can inspire us to tell friends and loved ones how important they are and thanking them for all the ways they’ve impacted our lives.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sharing a copy of I’m Always Loving You with me for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

I’m Always Loving You

Written by Kathy Wolff | Illustrated by Acamy Schleikorn

 

When you tell your child “I love you,” tousle their hair and say, “love ya, kiddo,” or kiss them on the forehead and whisper, “Goodnight, sweet love,” the “always” of that feeling is understood. But there are times when—struck by a memory, catching sight of a flash of playfulness, or even sharing a struggle over a task or disappointment—you feel an extra squeeze of love come over your heart.

Often these moments go unexpressed; but they shouldn’t! Inherent in times like these is spontaneity, shared experiences, and the details of life. Kids love details, and in I’m Always Loving You Kathy Wolff gives parents and other adults a heartwarming way to share the particulars of those times when their heart bursts with love—from the seemingly mundane to the extra-special. 

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Image copyright Acamy Schleikorn, 2024, text copyright Kathy Wolff, 2024. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Wolff begins as the day starts: “I love you when you rise and shine—awake as you can get!” but includes a bit of humor with the adult’s perspective on morning—”I love you when I haven’t even had my coffee yet!” She highlights times of frivolity at home while also reassuring kids that parents, grandparents, and other caregivers are always thinking about and loving them when they’re out in the world—in the car, at the park, at the store, and even “in the longest line we’ve ever seen before!”

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Image copyright Acamy Schleikorn, 2024, text copyright Kathy Wolff, 2024. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Children who are apprehensive about separation will find comfort in the words “I love you when you’re close to me, and also when you’re not, / and no matter what I’m doing, I sure think of you a lot!” Importantly, kids also hear that adults’ love extend to those times when their child is helping out around the house or doing chores, and—maybe more surprising—when the adult must tell them “no.”

Just as adults love their kids at the beginning of the day, as the day wanes a dad reveals, “I love you when we’re snuggled up all cozy with a book, / when you’re feeling kinda yawn-y and you’ve got that droopy look.” Through changing into pajamas, goodnight kisses, and turning out the light, love prevails, allowing children to sleep soundly and awake to another day full of love.

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Image copyright Acamy Schleikorn, 2024, text copyright Kathy Wolff, 2024. Courtesy of Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

Kathy Wolff’s jaunty rhymes that encapsulate so many parts of a child’s and parents’ or caregivers’ day are a joy to read aloud and are sure to lead to fun discussions about specifics in the readers’ lives. Many of the examples Wolff includes are equally applicable for children to say to the adults or siblings in their lives, from getting up in the morning to sharing silly, busy, or quiet moments to when they are near or far away.

Acamy Schleikorn’s bright, active illustrations allow kids to clearly see and recognize experiences and places as well as emotions, such as happy, silly, and serious, that are part of their everyday lives, reinforcing the idea that no matter where, when, or what’s happening they are always loved.

A perfect and reassuring book to snuggle up with, bring out when times are a little more challenging, and talk about all the times your family feels that glow of love, I’m Always Loving You would be an often-asked-for book on home bookshelves and a meaningful addition to school and library collections.

Ages 3 – 6

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2024 | ISBN 978-1547614202

About the Author

Kathy Wolff lives in Overland Park, Kansas with her husband and her two funny kids. She attempts to balance writing, mom-ing, and greeting-card making . . . all while trying to remember not to forget anything. Visit Kathy at kathywolffbooks.com.

About the Illustrator

Acamy Schleikorn is an illustrator from Las Vegas. She began drawing at a very young age and was encouraged by her grandma to keep going. As an adult, she discovered the magical world of children’s books, and became passionate about creating stories that make a difference in a child’s life and reflect the diverse world that we live in. Anytime she creates art, she wants it to bring some kind of good into a world filled with a lot of hurt. She is inspired by her two children to create work that they will love, enjoy, and see themselves in. Visit Acamy at acamydesigns.com.

National Say It Now Day Activity

CPB - Heart Jar

Jar of Love

 

With this craft, kids can say “I love you” to parents, siblings, family members, friends, and anyone who fills their heart with joy by giving them a felt heart to express their feelings.

Supplies

  • A clear jar with a lid—you can up a jar from home, buy a mason jar, or find a decorative jar at a craft store
  • Red felt
  • Scissors

Directions

1. Cut red hearts from the felt and add them to the jar.

2. Whenever you feel that special burst of love toward someone, give them a heart to show it!

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You can purchase I’m Always Loving You at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

November 20 — It’s Family Stories Month

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About the Holiday

Do you have a favorite family story to tell or tradition to share? Then this month is for you! No matter if your stories are funny or poignant tales of a family member or they’re tied to a special recipe or heirloom, everyone—especially children—benefits by these reminiscences. Family Stories Month encourages people to gather together and engage in the tradition of oral storytelling, which has been part of people’s lives and cultures since ancient times. It’s a wonderful way to stay connected to your own family heritage and build bonds that last forever. 

Thank you to HarperCollins and Barbara Fisch at BlueSlip Media for sharing a copy of Still there was Bread with me for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.

Still there was Bread

Written by Lisl H. Detlefsen | Illustrated by David Soman

 

Nana comes to visit her daughter’s family and to teach her grandson—her “Little Pickle”—how to bake the family’s traditional pull-apart “Nana rolls.” Nana and Little Pickle gather the ingredients and turn on the oven while Nana talks about how “her nana had to collect eggs from the chicken coop and milk a cow to get what she needed” and stoke a woodburning stove to bake the rolls.

Nana and Little Pickle move on to combining the ingredients and easily mixing the dough in a stand mixer, a modern contrast to the child narrator’s great-great-grandmother using a wooden spoon. They knead the dough and put it in a bowl to rise in a sunny spot—no different from how it was done all those years ago.

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Image copyright David Soman, 2024, text copyright Lisl H. Detlefsen, 2024. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

While they wait for the dough to rise, Little Pickle asks Nana to tell stories about the rolls they’re making, and she readily reveals how important their homemade bread was through lean times—like during the Great Depression, when “Nana’s mama was a girl and her family had so little money that she owned just one dress and no shoes. But still there was bread, thanks to the chickens and cows on their farm.” Or when Nana, herself, was a baby and “the whole house was quarantined because she and her daddy had something called polio,” but eggs and milk were delivered. This leads Nana to connect it to a recent quarantine, when people rediscovered the comforts of homemade bread.

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Image copyright David Soman, 2024, text copyright Lisl H. Detlefsen, 2024. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

During the second rise of the dough, Nana and Little Pickle talk about the different kinds of bread people make with the “same simple ingredients” for “times they can be together, and times they can’t.” At last the dough is ready to pinch off and shape and put in pans. One more rising allows Nana to tell stories of how she baked bread for Little Pickle’s mom and aunt, and how she “‘paid a pretty penny'” to mail bread to a homesick cousin who was far away. 

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Image copyright David Soman, 2024, text copyright Lisl H. Detlefsen, 2024. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

Little Pickle asks Nana how many times she’s made the rolls, and she replies, “‘Who could say?'” She’s made them for sick neighbors and as gifts for a whole list of occasions. “‘All of them were kneaded. And needed,” she says. The rolls are finally ready to pop into the oven, and as they bake, their “toasty smell brings the rest of the family to the kitchen.” When the rolls are ready, everyone gathers around and “the kitchen becomes a blur of butter and honey and jam and laughter.” Little Pickle is happy and satisfied knowing that years from now “I will share our recipe and the stories that go with it with my kids or grandkids,” but for now whenever someone “needs a warm, fresh-baked hug, I’ll know just what to do.”

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Image copyright David Soman, 2024, text copyright Lisl H. Detlefsen, 2024. Courtesy of HarperCollins.

Filled with warmth, family love, and connectedness, Lisl H. Detlefsen’s Still there was Bread, is a heartening read aloud that will foster a child’s curiosity about the past as well as their own family history and long-held traditions while also being grounded in today. Deftly combining lyrical storytelling with the young narrator’s voice, Detlefsen has created a tale that appeals across generations. The rhythm and easy cadence of the text is as comforting as the homemade rolls depicted. 

David Soman’s pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations shine for their realistic portrayals of home, the baking process, and especially the expressive faces and shared looks between family members, from Nana and Little Pickle to their ancestors. Soman’s soft textures and glowing lighting bring to life Nana’s stories about her grandmother, the Great Depression, and Nana’s early life. His use of vignettes coupled with full-page illustrations creates a rich tapestry from page to page, not unlike a family photo album. The final image of the family gathered around the dinner table, with Little Pickle, roll in hand and looking out from the page invites readers to join in on the “warm, fresh-baked hug” offered here. 

Still there was Bread would be a welcome addition to family gatherings, especially at holidays and family reunions, and is highly recommended for home, public library, and school library bookshelves.

Ages 4 – 8+

HarperCollins, 2024 | ISBN 978-0063216556

About the Author

Lisl H. Detlefsen is the author of a growing number of picture books, including Farm Boots, illustrated by Renée Kurilla, and At the End of the Day, illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao. She lives with her husband and two sons in a restored farmhouse on a family-owned cranberry marsh in Wisconsin. You can visit her online at lislhdbooks.com.

About the Illustrator

David Soman has illustrated many beautiful picture books, including The Impossible Mountain and the New York Times bestselling Ladybug Girl series, which he cocreated with his wife, Jacky Davis. He is an instructor at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and lives with his family in Upstate New York. Visit him at davidsoman.com.

Family Stories Month Activities

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Family Story Starters

 

Getting together with family and/or friends over the holidays, for regular visits, or for other events? Have fun and get to know each other better with these story starters that can lead to fascinating memories and discoveries that build bonds. Use these Family Story Starters to prompt conversations or even play charades. Just print, cut, and place in a bowl or basket then have family members or friends randomly choose among them to get the fun going!

StoryCorps Logo

Connect with Others through Family Stories on StoryCorps

StoryCorps was established on the idea that everyone has an important story to tell and that listening to others’ stories helps us “believe in each other by illuminating the humanity and possibility in us all.” Since their founding in 2003, nearly 700,000 people across the country have recorded short recollections about their lives. Each story is accompanied by animation that helps listeners, and children especially, visualize the narrative. The stories are accessible on the StoryCorps website and in the U.S. Library of Congress. The StoryCorp online archive is “now the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered.”

A perfect way to celebrate Family Stories Month, to share our common bonds, and to introduce children to the wonders of storytelling, listen to some of the incredible stories on StoryCorps. You can also get involved in the project by recording your own family stories! Visit StoryCorps to learn more. 

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You can purchase Still there was Bread at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review