March 25 – National Reading Month

About the Holiday

No matter whether you live in a city, a small town, or a farm, in a house or an apartment, you can travel anywhere through books. The magic of reading lies in its ability to transport readers through history, to far-away places and long-ago times, or perhaps to the future, where all it takes is one’s imagination to make it so. National Reading Month invites readers of all ages to experience the world in new and unfamiliar ways through amazing books like today’s that celebrates the hands-on, individual learning of homeschooling.

A Thank You Letter to My Homeschool

Written by Deb Adamson | Illustrated by Airin O’Callaghan

A boy and his little sister stand on their front porch, backpacks on, supplies at the ready, and big grins on their faces. “I’m thankful to my homeschool. Because with homeschool, I’m free to be me!” the boy says. He and his sister are off on an adventure with other kids to a nature preserve, where they learn about owls, pan in a river, and draw what they see.

Other road trips have taken them into the city to visit museums, with hands-on experiences; to a farm, where they feed a cow, play with bunnies, and learn about chickens. Remembering other adventures, the boy says he’s “thankful for . . . gazing out from the tip-top of a lighthouse. For standing at the feet of a giant T. Rex.” As much as this student loves his field trips, he also welcomes the days at home when he can read to his sister and study in the way that’s right for him. These days provide “extra time to figure out the tough stuff” and let ideas percolate.

The siblings appreciate how their classroom isn’t just one room but the community garden, where they learn to watch and wonder and wait. They visit the beach, where they collect, count, and sort shells while exploring and learning by seeing living sea creatures; and spend time in a makerspace, where they invent, build, ask questions, and learn new skills. In fact, his classroom can be anywhere he and his sister go.

“I’m thankful that every homeschool day is as different as each snowflake,” he says. “And that I am always free to be me!”

Through the voice of her protagonist, Deb Adamson writes lovingly and enthusiastically about homeschool and all of the benefits this educational model provides for students. She emphasizes the individualized and exploratory nature of homeschooling that takes children into their communities and beyond to learn in a wide range of settings and from a variety of educators and professionals. Adamson also highlights the social aspects of homeschooling and making new friends, be these with others in a network or met along the way.

Airin O’Callaghan’s cheerful, action-packed illustrations buzz with the excitement kids feel when learning in hands-on environments and shine with smiles and curiosity. Every page has so many details for readers to explore and these are sure to spark ideas for projects, field trips, and collaborations for any homeschool family.

A Thank You Letter to My Homeschool is a welcome and vibrant portrait of homeschooling that homeschool families will happily embrace as a favorite read aloud. Those unfamiliar with homeschooling or who may be interested in it will find much to recommend this learning method. The book is a must for public library collections to round out back-to-school and classroom-based offerings.

Ages 4 – 8

Sourcebooks Explore, 2025 | ISBN 978-1464216183

About the Author

Deb Adamson is a former broadcast news journalist, freelance essayist, and syndicated columnist for Gatehouse News Service. Her column about homeschooling her son was read in over 250 print newspapers nationally and online, where it is still available as a resource to homeschool families. Deb writes picture books, board books, chapter books, and middle grade novels in both fiction and nonfiction, and she’s a member of SCBWI. In addition to authoring children’s books, Deb writes for adults and hosts workshops on memoirs, humor, and revision. Deb currently lives on the Connecticut shoreline with her husband. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @DebAdamsonBooks. To learn more, visit debadamson.com.

About the Illustrator

Airin O’Callaghan is an illustrator, muralist and educator who mainly draws for children. Her work includes Some Bodies and The Mermaid With No Tail. She is the founder of Mural Wish, a nonprofit that donates murals for critically ill children. Airin lives in the Bay Area, California, where she finds inspiration in her son and in the beauty nature never fails to show. You can learn more about Airin and her work by visiting airinocallaghan.com.

National Reading Month Activity

A Thank You Letter to My Homeschool Activity Kit

You can show how much you love your homeschool—and go on a scavenger hunt with these A Thank You Letter to My Homeschool Activity Pages!

You can purchase A Thank You Letter to My Homeschool from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop (discounted books and support for your local independent bookstore)

Picture Book Review

March 18 – National Awkward Moments Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

If you have kids or have ever been a kid, you know that awkward moments abound, especially when you least expect—or want—them. Things like pratfalls, forgetting someone’s name, and falling for practical jokes may make us feel like sinking into the floor, but today’s holiday actually celebrates all of those moments. Why? Because cringe-worthy faux pas happen to everyone; they’re just part of being human. So today, celebrate and even share those small embarrassments—and enjoy a laugh.

Thank you to Orchard Books for sharing a digital copy of this book with me!

That’s Not Funny, David!

By David Shannon

David (and without even looking at the cover above, I bet you know who I’m talking about) is back! He may be 5 books older, but the years have not mellowed his rambunctious nature. Whether he’s blowing a volcano of bubbles in his drink at a restaurant or grocery cart surfing into the mountainous fruit display, David just can’t quell his mischievous impulses.

The adults aren’t laughing. In fact, they’re telling him, “Not funny, David,” and in response to a drawing on the classroom whiteboard: “We are not amused, David.” But the kids? They’re very amused. And even though he ends up in the principal’s office, at home he’s still got enough . . . shall we call it . . .spunk? . . . to be tip-toe tempted by the fully decorated birthday cake on the counter and to need a peanut extracted from his nose (“How on earth did this happen?”).

As the day progresses, his parents have to stay on their guard. But when one last silly bedtime antic finally brings a laugh instead of a scolding, hearts soften, and there’s just one thing left to say: “What am I going to do with you?”

Fans of young David’s hijinks will find lots to giggle at in David Shannon’s latest foray into David’s madcap misadventures. In his bright, rollicking illustrations, Shannon’s monster-toothed hero (except when he’s trying to look innocent) sends pool water splashing, fruit airborne, and popcorn flying. David’s expressive face tells readers all they need to know about David’s feelings and the impact he wants to make, even if it’s not the reaction he gets.

A worthy addition to a series that’s a proven winner for silly story times, when relaxing and laughing together are just what’s needed, That’s Not Funny, David! is sure to tickle funny bones of all ages.

Ages 4 – 8

Orchard Books/Scholastic, 2025 | ISBN 978-1546123187

About the Author/Illustrator

David Shannon is the internationally acclaimed creator of more than 40 picture books, including No, David!, a Caldecott Honor Book, and his second New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, and four more David picture books. Shannon’s bestsellers include A Bad Case of Stripes, Duck on a Bike, and Too Many Toys. He lives in Southern California with his family and Roy, their West Highland white terrier.

National Awkward Moments Day Activity

That’s Not Funny, David! Activities

Go ahead and have some fun with David and these book-inspired That’s Not Funny David! Activities!

You can purchase That’s Not Funny, David! at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

March 4 – It’s National Reading Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

National Reading Month was designed to encourage children and adults to read every day and celebrates the joys and benefits that reading together can bring. Reading with your child can be fun and frivolous, but it can also offer ways for children to share their feelings about serious or poignant topics and begin discussions that can lead to understanding or healing. As the month progresses, look for books to share for all the aspects of your life.

I’d like to thank Kokila Books/Penguin Random House for sharing a digital copy of Our Lake with me to review.

Our Lake

By Angie Kang

A young boy follows his older brother up a “long and steep” hill to the tip of a boulder overlooking a glistening lake, where their father, now gone, used to take them swimming. He mimics his brother, who has taken on the mantel of responsibility, in their old traditions—taking off his shirt, stretching. But while his brother approaches the lip of the rock, he hangs back, watching him “press his arms tight to his head and slip neatly into the lake.” The water ripples, and then his brother shoots upward, “triumphant.”

His brother calls for him to jump, but his nerves overtake him and he closes his eyes. “On the insides of my eyelids,” he says, “I see Father.” He recalls their routine, the way his father soared before splashing down, and the sound of his laugh as he beckoned his sons to follow.

“When I open my eyes, he joy is still there, humming in my limbs,” the boy says. He hears his brother call to him again and shakes off his fear. As he nears the water, he sees his father meet him, arms outstretched. His brother cheers as he splashes in. They embrace, both feeling the presence of the father they miss.

Angie Kang’s lyrical storytelling soars on the openhearted voice of her young narrator and the caring guidance of his big brother. The boys’ uplifting memories of their father and their joyful embrace of returning to one of their favorite places are moving and comforting, and ultimately inspire reassurance that the spirit of loved ones lives on within the heart.

Kang’s gloriously rich gouache, crayon, and colored pencil illustrations illuminate the close relationship between the brothers and, individually, with their father, as exemplified by a red hat the older brother is wearing as the story begins. Later, readers learn—in a symbolic image—that this hat belonged to the boys’ father. Each boy’s facial expressions and stances also carry the story forward. Kang’s saturated paintings also offer metaphorical undertones that resonate with the truth of life’s sometimes difficult climbs as well as the wonders of shaking off fear and diving into it headfirst.

A beautiful and poignant story to help any child affected by grief or loss to find peace and joy again, Our Lake is highly recommended for families and is a must for school and public library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Kokila/Penguin Random House, 2025 | ISBN 978-0593698235

About the Author/Illustrator

Angie Kang is a Chinese American writer and illustrator living in LA. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Narrative, The Believer, and elsewhere, and has been generously supported by MacDowell and other organizations. Angie graduated from the Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program with a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design and a BA in Literary Arts from Brown University. She enjoys painting places she remembers and places she would like to go. Learn more about Angie’s writing and art at AngieKang.net and @anqiekanq on Instagram.

You can purchase Our Lake at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

February 24 – It’s Bake for Family Fun Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

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

10 Gulub Jamuns: Counting with an Indian Sweet Treat

Written by Sandhya Acharya | Illustrated by Vanessa Alexandre

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

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

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

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

A recipe for gulab jamuns follows the story.

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

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

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

Ages 2 – 7

Sandhya Acharya, 2022 | ISBN 979-8985609516

About the Author

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

Bake for Family Fun Month Activity

Let’s Bake Together Coloring Page

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

You can purchase 10 Gulab Jamuns at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

February 21 – It’s National Nest Box Week

Posted by Kath Carroll

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.

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.”

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.”

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

Posted by Kath Carroll

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.”

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

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

Printable Free Hug Coupons
Crayons or colored pencils (optional)
Scissors

Directions

Print the Free Hug coupons
Color the coupons and cut apart
Hand out the coupons to your friends and family members and tell them that each coupon is good for one free hug from you.
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

Posted by Kath Carroll

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

Cut a circle from the cardboard about 2 inches in diameter for the base
Place the cardboard circle in the bottom of the sock
Fill the sock with fiber fill about ¾ full or to where the ribbed ankle cuff begins. Pack tightly while making a sausage shape.
Stretch out the cuff of the sock and tie it off near the top of the fill with string.
Fold the cuff down around the top of the filled sock to make the hat.
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

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

To Make the Face

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

To Make the Arms

Insert small twigs into each side of the body of the snowman
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)

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Snow Buddies

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