July 28 – World Nature Conservation Day

About the Holiday

Established in 1998, World Nature Conservation Day brings people from around the world together to wonder at nature’s diversity and raise awareness of the importance of protecting it and preserving our natural resources and ecosystems. Each person plays a crucial role in ensuring that Earth’s resources are treated with caring stewardship for ourselves and our future generations. To celebrate the day, research what you can do in your community and home to reduce waste, the use of harmful chemicals, and our carbon footprint while contributing to activities focused on preserving clean air and water, protecting endangered and threatened species, and finding new ways to leave our children a livable planet.

Enough to Share

Written by Mary Helen Berg | Illustrated by Sue Todd

Rare animals Spirit Bear and Sea Wolf live side by side in British Columbia, Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest, sharing “the ancient trees, the misty valleys, the stony shores, and the leaping fish.” In the past there has always been enough for both, but now climate change, deforestation, pollution, and overfishing threaten their survival. The resources that Spirit Bear and Sea Wolf have relied on are shrinking and growing scarcer. “Storms rage stronger.” Protection and food are harder to find.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Sue Todd. Text copyright © 2026 by Mary Helen Berg. Published by Tielmour Press, © 2026.

In Mary Helen Berg’s stirring cautionary tale, lyrical passages complement factual paragraphs that introduce readers to the dwindling population of white bears and aquatic wolves, which feed on marine life and swim miles between islands in search of food, in British Columbia’s coastal temperate rainforest—the largest such rainforest in the world. She clearly exposes the toll that human damage is inflicting on this unique environment, not only for spirit bears and sea wolves but for the health of the land and waterways as well as the birds, fish, marine creatures, and other animals that call this area home.

Berg ties her story together with a haunting refrain that at once looks back to a fertile past and ahead to an unknown, possibly disastrous future, riveting readers to the immediacy of this environmental crisis. She leaves adults and children with hope, however, revealing how First Nations people, environmentalists, and the British Columbia government have teamed up to sign the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement, which protects part of the rainforest. Berg also invites readers to help “so that on a perfect fall day. . . there is enough for all to share.”

Back matter includes more information on the Great Bear Rainforest, Spirit Bears, Sea Wolves, and how people can help the cause by supporting specific organizations involved in protecting the Great Bear Rainforest and other endangered places as well doing simple things at home that contribute to the environment’s wellbeing.

Mary Helen Berg captures readers’ attention to two unique animals and the equally extraordinary place they live through her lively use of language and passion for her subject. Her eclectic storytelling envelops children on many fronts, helping them to understand the environmental issues while taking the wildlife of the Great Bear Rainforest into their hearts.

The stunning imagery of Sue Todd’s linocut illustrations will thrill young readers with their vitality and vivid perspectives. Her gorgeous color palette makes each page a showstopper that both adults and children will want to linger over and talk about.

Enough to Share is immersive nonfiction at its best, a story that is sure to engage young readers not only in the fate of the Great Bear Rainforest but in environmental conservation in general. The book is a must for public and school libraries as well as for the home collections of environmentally conscious and nature-loving children.

Ages 5 – 9

Tielmour Press, 2026 | ISBN 978-1998426218

About the Author

Mary Helen Berg writes fiction and nonfiction picture books that honor big feelings and encourage young readers to explore and protect our big beautiful world. A former journalist, she lives in Southern California, where she loves to hike, bike, kayak, and road trip. She has a degree in literature from the University of Michigan, and a masters in journalism from Columbia University. She and her husband have three grown children, one son-in-law, and one very anxious dog. Visit her at maryhelenberg.com.

About the Illustrator

Sue Todd is a Toronto-based professional illustrator who creates colorful art for books, magazines, products, posters, and public art. She is the illustrator of Mira and the Big Story and The Night Is Deep and Wide, among others. Blue Boat Home is illustrated in her new digital ink technique, a departure from her traditional hand-carved linocut style. In addition to illustration commissions, she is working on writing and illustrating graphic novels. Visit her at suetodd.com.

World Nature Conservation Day Activity

Spirit Bear Coloring Pages from the Royal BC Museum

In these two coloring pages from the Royal BC Museum, spirit bears are enjoying their natural habitat in the Great Bear Rainforest. Kids can grab their crayons or markers and give the bears’ background some color!

Spirit Bear and Salmon | Spirit Bear and Cubs

You can purchase Enough to Share from these booksellers

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Picture Book Review

July 22 – National Moth Week

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Did you know that some moths are even more beautiful than butterflies? It’s true! Adorned in vibrant oranges, greens, blues, and reds and with patterns more intricate than the finest fabrics, moths are some of nature’s loveliest creatures. There are even moths that mimic hummingbirds—right down to the fast-beating wings and a looong proboscis that looks like a beak. During the summer, moths love visiting fragrant flower gardens. National Moth Week celebrates these unique insects from July 18 through July 26. This week and all during the summer, take a little time to really look at the moths in your yard and learn more about them and their habitats.

Thanks to Sleeping Bear Press for sending me a copy of An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth for review!

An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth

Written by Karlin Gray | Illustrated by Steliyana Doneva

As a grayish-brown moth flits among the leaves framed by the full moon, he says, “I’m an ordinary moth, / as you can plainly see. / A dusty, grayish, dull insect— / nothing-special me.” Comparing himself to the Luna Moth “who floats in graceful green” and to the Spider Moth who’s “so cool at Halloween!,” he’s disappointed to be so much smaller than the Atlas Moth and not as pretty as a butterfly.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-an-extraordinary-ordinary-moth-luna — Image copyright Steliyana Doneva, 2018, text copyright Karlin Gray, 2018. Courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press.

But then a little boy runs through the yard shouting “‘A moth! A moth!’” The moth freezes against a wall, afraid and unsure and hoping to hide. But when the moth sees the excitement in the boy’s eyes, he moves “toward his joyful light.” He lands in the boy’s hands, uncertain still if he’ll be shooed away. And sure enough, the boy’s sister screams, “‘Ew, a bug!’” She swats at her brother’s hand, and the moth flies off.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-an-extraordinary-ordinary-moth-hiding — Image copyright Steliyana Doneva, 2018, text copyright Karlin Gray, 2018. Courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press.

The moth hears the boy correct his sister and insists “‘he’s my favorite kind!’” The moth then realizes that the boy is trailing him wherever he goes, watching. The boy’s sister thinks the moth is nothing special, but he disagrees. And as the moth alights on his finger, he shows her why. What looks like dust are really “‘scales that keep him warm at night” and have other beneficial features.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-an-extraordinary-ordinary-moth-web — Image copyright Steliyana Doneva, 2018, text copyright Karlin Gray, 2018. Courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press.

Hearing these facts, his sister is a bit more interested, but she still thinks his color is “kind of blah.” The boy explains that the moth is the color of tree bark and can camouflage himself during the day while he sleeps. Then at night he’s ready to fly, guided by moonlight and the scents he smells through his antennae. Now the little girl thinks the moth is pretty cool. She calls their mom to come and see, and when Mom wants to know what bug they found, “the girl says, ‘Mom—a moth’s an insect, / and our favorite kind!’”

Suddenly proud, the moth soars through the moonlight with a new self image—“So how ‘bout THAT?! / I’m someone’s FAVORITE! / Little grayish me— / proof of how / EXTRAORDINARY / ordinary can be.”

Back matter includes Ten Extraordinary Facts about Moths as well as an activity for constructing a Moth-Observation Box.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-an-extraordinary-ordinary-moth-mom — Image copyright Steliyana Doneva, 2018, text copyright Karlin Gray, 2018. Courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press.

Through her vivacious rhymes, Karlin Gray elevates the “ordinary” back-porch moth to star status with fascinating facts that will lure kids to discover more. The conversational verses echo a sweet sibling relationship while the moth, overhearing them, begins to appreciate himself. The bookending of the children’s story with the moth’s thoughts—first comparing himself to other moths and later realizing his own merits—will encourage readers to think about both the nature of nature and the importance of positive interactions with others. Told from the moth’s point of view, the story also has a deeper meaning, reminding readers that, like this moth, people also have special talents that make them exceptional. Taking extra time to really learn about another’s unique qualities and to get to know them is exciting and has benefits for all.

Steliyana Doneva’s gorgeous illustrations of moths and butterflies will dazzle insect-loving kids and convert the more squeamish. Doneva captures each delicate marking and texture of the little grayish moth as it flits in the light and camouflages itself on the wall and tree. The moth is also well spotlighted against Doneva’s vibrant backyard oasis where the little boy and his sister discover him. Nighttime scenes sparkle with starlight, and the full moon brings out the rich blues of an evening sky. The boy’s enthusiasm for moths and nature is infectious and will captivate young readers, enticing them to look closer at the world around them.

An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth is a beautiful, eye-opening book that would spur further discovery for nature and science lovers at home and in science or STEM classrooms.

Ages 4 – 8

Sleeping Bear Press, 2018 | ISBN 978-1-58536-372-8

Karlin Gray is not a lepidopterist―a scientist who studies moths and butterflies. But when her son announced that the moth was his favorite insect, she decided to take a closer look at the little creature. When she did, she learned some extraordinary things and was inspired to write An Ordinary Moth. Karlin is also the author of Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still. She lives in Connecticut with her family. Visit her at karlingray.com.

Steliyana Doneva is a children’s book illustrator living in Sofia, Bulgaria. Her love of painting and drawing started in early childhood. Steliyana studied applied arts in Sofia, specializing in children’s toys. Then she graduated with a degree in graphic arts, where she found her love for children’s book illustration. Steliyana is very happy to be an illustrator for children’s books. By doing this she is immersed in a beautiful fairy-tale world where the soul can fly without restraint. Follow her on Instagram.

National Moth Week Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-tree-branch-with-white-cocoons

Beautiful Moths Board Game

Moths go through many stages of metamorphosis—from egg to caterpillar to cocoon— before they finally emerge as a moth. In this game, help six moths emerge from their cocoons to win!

Supplies

Printable Tree Branch Game Board Template
Printable Moth Cards
Printable Moth Playing Die

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-moth-cards

Directions

Print a Tree Branch Game Board and set of Moth Cards for each player
Print one Moth Playing Die
Choose a player to go first
The first player rolls the die and places the matching moth card on one of the cocoons on the Tree Branch Game Board
Play then moves to the player on the left
Players continue to roll the die and place moths on each cocoon
If a player rolls a moth that they already have placed on their game board, they pass the die to the next player and wait for their next turn.
The player who fills their Tree Branch with moths first is the winner

You can find An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth at these booksellers

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June 10 – Don’t Step on a Bee Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Bees may be small but they are crucial to our food supply. For decades, the bee population has been declining in parts of the world due to habitat destruction, pollution, parasites, and pesticides. Bee colony collapse is also a major threat to their survival. Today’s holiday reminds people to protect these important insects, especially those at ground level that may nest underground or be visiting clover or other flowering ground covers.

Thanks to Holiday House for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Buzz! Being Brave Around Buzzy, Stinging Insects

Written by Toni Buzzeo | Illustrated by Joe Cepeda

When the weather turns nice and flowers, clover, and dandelions begin to bloom, you know that bees cannot be far behind. Zipping from blossom to blossom, they announce themselves with a familiar “Bzzzz” can that be both thrilling . . . and chilling. But do we really need to be so afraid of bees and other stinging insects as they go about their business? In her educational book, Toni Buzzeo says we don’t and explains why with fascinating and reassuring facts from the field.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Joe Cepeda. Text copyright © 2026 by Toni Buzzeo. Courtesy of Holiday House.

Buzzeo introduces readers to the usual stinging insects they can encounter when playing or working outdoors. She then reveals the primary reasons they will sting and provides helpful and simple rules for anyone to follow to stay safe. Buzzeo’s guidelines run counter to our instincts generated by fear, but that’s a good thing because our typical reactions only make things worse—for us and for the insects that are so important to our food supply and ecosystems.

Once children—and adults—get used to being in calm proximity to stinging insects, Buzzeo invites them to “turn up their courage [to] stay and watch.” She promises that you won’t be disappointed if you use your “science eyes” because “stinging insects are interesting. Really!” If you remain still and quiet, bees, especially, put on an intriguing show that can teach you so much about how they survive, how they feed their babies, and how pollination works.

So what about wasps and hornets? They’re pretty scary, right? Well, yes—to those “garden pests that eat flowers, fruits, and vegetables” from our gardens. Wasps and hornets are “Superhero Predators of pesky insects” like these. How? They pick them off leaves, flowers, and stems and take them “home to their nests to feed their babies.”

Still—even while armed with all of these tips—people might worry about being stung. Buzzeo empathizes. She also reassures by clarifying what to expect if you are stung as well as what to do to lessen a sting’s effects while confirming that people who “are allergic to stinging insects need to be extra careful not to get stung.” With this advice, she sends readers outside to their backyards, gardens, or local parks to seek out and observe bees and other insects at work.

Back matter includes illustrated pages of facts on bees, wasps, and hornets.

In her practical and welcome Buzz! Being Brave Around Buzzy, Stinging Insects, Toni Buzzeo encourages readers to let curiosity, tempered with care, guide them in discovering the captivating lives and work of stinging insects. Her science-based text acknowledges and answers the questions and trepidations many people have about getting close to stinging insects. Her easy-to-follow advice will embolden readers to view for themselves the wonders of these unique pollinators and protectors.

Joe Cepeda’s outdoorsy illustrations of bees, wasps, and hornets homing in on colorful wildflowers while a group of children document their busy buzzy missions, provide realistic close-up views of these stinging insects and context to Toni Buzzeo’s text. He clearly depicts three common stinging insects—European honey bees, Eastern yellow jackets, and bald-faced hornets—helping children identify the insects in their area or inspiring them to do more research. Cepeda also gives visual clues as to how closely readers can approach bees and where honey bee hives, wasps nests, and solitary bees’ underground nests can be found.

A helpful and fascinating guide for learning how to peacefully and beneficially coexist with bees, wasps, and hornets, Buzz! Being Brave Around Buzzy, Stinging Insects is a go-to book that families and educators will find themselves reaching for season after season. It is highly recommended for all library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Holiday House, 2026 | ISBN 978-0823459711

Toni Buzzeo is a New York Times bestselling children’s author. She has published twenty-nine picture books for kids as well as eleven books for teachers and librarians. A former librarian and college and high school writing teacher, Toni and her books have won many awards, including a Caldecott Honor for One Cool Friend, illustrated by David Small. Her fictional human and animal characters echo children’s experiences in a variety of ways. Her nonfiction topics range from inspiring biographies of women scientists to board books about vehicles and transportation. Endlessly enthusiastic, Toni draws on her career experiences as an elementary school librarian in crafting her books and speaking with audiences of children in schools and libraries. Toni lives in Arlington, Massachusetts. Visit her at tonibuzzeo.com.

Joe Cepeda received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach, and also studied Engineering at Cornell University. He is a fine artist, as well as an illustrator of more than thirty-five book jackets and picture books, which have received many honors including Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, Parenting Magazine’s Reading Magic Award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, Texas Library Association 2×2 Reading List, ALA Notable Books, and Child Magazine’s Best Book of the Year. Joe illustrated Hey, Hey Hay! by Christy Mihaly, ¡Vamonos! Let’s Go! by Rene Colato Lainez, and Swing Sisters by Karen Deans. He both wrote and illustrated the I Like to Read books—Up, I Dig, I See, and I Hop. I Hop received a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor, given to the most distinguished books for beginning readers. Joe received an American Library Association Pura Belpré Honor (for outstanding books that celebrate the Latino cultural experience) and the Recognition of Merit Award from the George G. Stone Center for Children’s Books. He lives in Claremont, California. You can visit him at joecepeda.com.

Don’t Step on a Bee Day Activities

Busy Buzzy Bee Maze

Can you help the little bee find her way to the flower and her friend in this printable maze?

Busy Buzzy Bee Maze Puzzle | Busy Buzzy Bee Maze Solution

Buzz! Being Brave Around Buzzy, Stinging Insects Teachers Guide

You can find a detailed Classroom Discussion and Activity Guide for Buzz! written by Toni Buzzeo on her website. The Guide is full of science-based activities as well as prompts for art, illustration, and writing that will get kids excited to learn about stinging insects, pollination, and more. You can download it from Toni Buzzeo’s website.

You can purchase Buzz! Being Brave Around Buzzy, Stinging Insects from these booksellers

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Picture Book Review

July 6 – National Anti-Boredom Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Are your kids already starting to say “Now what do I do?” Or perhaps you’re hearing the ever-popular “I’m bored!” Having extra time on your hands can be a good thing, often leading to unexpected adventures, surprising creativity, and exciting discoveries. Reading is a wonderful way to incorporate all of these while introducing kids to new ideas, people, places, and experiences. With today’s book, kids can log their journey from “ho hum” to “that’s cool!” as they discover that some things are so much more than they could ever imagine.

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

I Am Not Boring: The True-Life Story of a Log

By Lena Podesta

Want to hear a story? A boring story? Perhaps the most boring story ever told? You’ve come to the right place! This story—”hundreds of years long”—is about “a log that doesn’t do anything but sit in a forest doing nothing.” Sounds boring, right? Yet despite this, the log has an attitude—and rightly so. Because despite the dismissiveness of the narrator bringing you this story, the log proves it’s worth watching.

Sure, the log may not have flashy talents—it can’t even move on its own. Buuut . . . if, say, a bear would come along and roll it over, then you’d see! You’d see all of the critters hiding there and dining on its bark. And when you take a tour around the log, you’ll find that this humble log provides a home for a diverse population of nature’s wonders. You’ll also discover that the log is patient and resolute year after year, in the snow and the rain. It’s a quality that allows for some quiet, pretty amazing, even “glorious” and “life-changing” things to happen right before your eyes. If only the narrator would notice. But you, dear reader, are sure to!

Back matter recounts the various ways in which a fallen tree acts as a nurse log, fostering plants, creatures both small and large, and even seeds to contribute to the life of a forest. Lena Podesta also includes an Author’s Note in which she reveals her fascination with nurse logs and encourages readers to seek out logs where they live and learn their secrets.

Lena Podesta drops readers into the midst of a quibble between a testy narrator and a log who’s just minding its own business in her humorous and educational story about nurse logs and their importance to forest ecosystems. Children will giggle as the log turns the table on each of the narrator’s complaints about its character with good cheer backed up by remarkable and observable facts. A mix of speech bubbles and regular type distinguish the log’s dialogue from the narrator’s.

Kids will cheer on the adorable log as page by page Podesta reveals more and more the plants and creatures that rely on it. Her bright, uncluttered illustrations give children plenty of details to point out and talk about, from a wide-range of insects, amphibians, fungi, and animals. One vertical page and a final two-page spread of the forest will delight kids, invite closer study, and inspire their own observations in nature.

I Am Not Boring: The True-Life Story of a Log is a top pick for young nature lovers to explore with throughout the year and would be a favorite on any library or home bookshelf.

Ages 3 – 7

Ten Speed Young Readers, 2026 | ISBN 978-0593838297

Lena Podesta has been working as an artist in the animation industry and as an illustrator for more than two decades. Her work has included picture book illustration, editorial illustration, character development, design for animation, directing, story boarding, and character animation. Visit her for more on her books plus lots of activities for kids at lenapodesta.com.

National Anti-Boredom Month Activity

I Am Not Boring: The True-Life Story of a Log Activity Pages

Shake off the boredom and get cracking with these fun I Am Not Boring: The True-Life Story of a Log Activities from Lena Podesta! You’ll find coloring pages, a maze, a word search puzzle, games, and more to add excitement to any day on Lena Podesta’s website!

You can purchase I Am Not Boring: The True-Life Story of a Log from these booksellers

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Picture Book Review

June 24 – It’s Hurricane Season

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

If you live in a coastal area, you’re used to watching for hurricanes during the summer and fall. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, while the Eastern Pacific season begins a month earlier. Meteorologists and wary residents follow these tropical cyclones as they swirl across the ocean, threatening any landmass in their way. To be categorized as a hurricane, the storm must possess sustained winds of or above 74 miles per hour. You can learn more about hurricanes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website. Kids can learn ten facts about hurricanes on the National Geographic Kids website.

Thanks to Abrams Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Tajín and the Twelve Thunders: A Pre-Columbian Myth

By Magaly Morales

Tajín was a fun-loving, mischievous boy who wanted nothing more than for the animals to play with him, but even the monkeys, jaguars, and macaws ran away from him. Tajín went to the wise god Quetzalcóatl to ask why no one would play with him. Quetzalcóatl told him that he must learn to be more gentle, and sent him to learn from the Twelve Thunders, saying “‘they bring harsh storms, but they also bring calming rains.'” Tajín walked through the jungle to the Pirámide de los Nichos, the home of the Twelve Thunders.

When Tajín met the Thunders, he discovered that his reputation as a “troublemaker” was well-known, and the Thunders rejected him, despite his offer to cook and clean. At last one of the Thunders convinced the others to give Tajín a chance, and they relented. As he helped with the work, Tajín learned when to be gentle and when more strength was needed.

Then one day it rained, and Tajín knew the Thunderclouds were nearby. He went out to watch and witnessed how the wind swirled with a wave of their capes, how stomping their boots caused ground-shaking thunder, and how brandishing their lightening bolts lit up the sky. When the Thunders returned, Tajín begged them to teach him their art, but they told him he wasn’t ready.

One hot day when he was left alone, Tajín went to the Thunders’ storage chest and gathered boots, a cloak, and a lightning bolt. Tajín danced lightly, and a gentle, cooling rain fell. But then he began dancing wildly, and “the rain raged and the winds swirled.” The trees, lashed and bent, tossed the monkeys from their branches. The oceans rose in enormous, crashing waves. Tajín watched sea creatures playing in the wild waves. “What fun that looks! he thought.” But the Thunders were angry. They ordered Tajín to come down, but he refused and ran away. When the Thunders cleverly caught him, his fortunes were forever changed.

Back matter includes an Author’s Note, in which Magaly Morales reveals her connection to the myth, a short history of the region of El Tajín as well as the meaning of the name “Tajín,” two photographs of the Pirámide de los Nichos (Pyramid of Niches), and a select bibliography.

Magaly Morales hooks children from the start as Tajín’s antics alienate his other would-be playmates, leaving only him and young readers to meet the twelve Thunders and learn Tajín’s fate. Morales immerses kids in the Thunders’ deliberations to let Tajín stay with them and the resulting non-stop action that leads to suspense and a surprise ending. Morales’s distinctive illustrations are prismatic masterpieces, sizzling with the heat of their Mexican setting and the vividness of this child-centric origin story of how the first hurricanes were created. Images of the twelve Thunders at work will wow children as will the lush natural scenery.

Tajín and the Twelve Thunders: A Pre-Columbian Myth is a rousing read-aloud, which could also easily be converted into a play for classroom settings. The story will delight children, and its rambunctious protagonist is sure to guarantee requests for repeat readings. The book is a superb addition for any library collection.

Ages 4 – 8

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2026 | ISBN 978-1419768859

About the Author

Magaly Morales is the illustrator of several picture books, including What Can You Do with a Paleta?, a Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award winner; The Courage of the Little Hummingbird: A Tale Told Around the World; and Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories, which received starred reviews in Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly. Tajín and the Twelve Thunders is Morales’s debut book as both writer and illustrator. She was born and lives in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.

Hurricane Season Activity

Catch the Wind! Windsock Craft

You can feel the wind in your hair and see it blowing through the trees, but can you actually catch it? You can with this easy-to-make windsock!

Supplies

1 large yogurt container (32 oz) or 1-pound deli salad container
1 long-sleeve T-shirt
Strong glue
Dowel, 5/8 diameter x 48-inches long or longer
String
Rubber band
sewing seam ripper or cuticle scissors
X-acto knife or Scissors

Directions

Remove the sleeve from a long-sleeve t-shirt with the seam ripper or scissors
Cut the shoulder off the sleeve by cutting straight across from the underarm seam
Cut 2 inches from the bottom of the yogurt container OR cut the bottom out of the deli container
With the X-acto knife or scissors, make a hole a little smaller than the diameter of the dowel about 1 inch from the rim of the container
Slide the container into the large opening of the sleeve
Fold about a ¾ -inch edge over the rim of the container and attach all along the rim with strong glue
Put the rubber band around the outside edge of the opening
Tie the bottom of the sleeve’s cuff together with the string
To attach the dowel: Option 1: leaving the t-shirt in place, push the dowel and material through the hole in the container. The t-shirt material will hold the dowel in place (I used this option). Option 2: cut a small hole in the t-shirt at the location of the hole in the container. Push the dowel through this hole and the hole in the container. Secure with strong glue
Stick your windsock in the ground in an open area where it can catch the wind. As the wind changes direction, you can turn your windsock so the opening faces the wind.

You can purchase Tajín and the Twelve Thunders: A Pre-Columbian Myth from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

June 2 – National Zoo and Aquarium Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

This month’s observance pays tribute to the role of zoos and aquariums and the work they do for education, conservation, and research to protect the world’s animals. Through interactive and hands-on programs, zoos and aquariums provide visitors with up-close experiences in which they can learn about the environments and science of each amazing creature. These institutions are also reaching out with personal and online visits to schools by zoologists and other experts, increasing the interest in biology and animal science to students. To celebrate, plan a visit to your local zoo or aquarium—or make it a “must see” of any vacation!

Thanks to Chronicle Books and Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy of this beautiful book for review!

The Secrets of the Jellies: Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents

Written by Karen Jameson | Illustrated by Marie Hermansson

It’s impossible not to be fascinated by jellyfish. We’re captivated by their beauty and grace and can’t help but admire their defensive subterfuge—as long as we’re not on the receiving end! In her lyrical nonfiction picture book, Karen Jameson reveals intriguing facts about these dazzling underwater creatures that can be found in every ocean zone, from the shallows to the deepest recesses. She celebrates “see-through jellies, bright ones, too—colors in each shade and hue! / And in the darkness, down below, they radiate a blue-green glow!”

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Marie Hermansson. Text copyright © 2026 by Karen Jameson. Courtesy of Chronicle Books.

Jellies bioluminescence is only part of their charm, however. We marvel as we watch jellyfish seemingly glide effortlessly through the water, wondering, “how do they do that?” Jameson has the answer, not only to how they propel themselves, but also to how “jellies live without a brain,” how they reproduce, how they satisfy their hunger, and even how other sea creatures befriend jellies for their own survival.

You might think that by just bobbing along, jellyfish would be easy prey, but Jameson reassures readers that “jellies hide, jellies dodge with super-sneaky camouflage! / In the depths or close to shores, they stay away from predators!” With such smarts and agility, it’s no wonder the sea blooms with “jellies here, jellies there—hundreds, thousands everywhere!” or that “we’ll study them for years to come, these stars of the aquarium!”

Extensive back matter follows the story, with a section on Jellyfish Facts that explains more about the number of “true jellies” around the world, information on the smallest and largest jellyfish, their bioluminescent properties, how they move, how they “think,” their life cycle, diet, predators, groupies, and jellyfish blooms. Readers also learn about how aquariums care for their jellyfish, their role in the ocean’s ecosystem, how they sting, and how climate change affects them. In a paragraph on current jellyfish research, children are invited to become citizen scientists and track jellyfish through a provided website link. Children are next introduced to 22 types of jellyfish that they will then enjoy finding throughout the book.

Readers will happily glide along with the incredible jellyfish Karen Jameson introduces through her perfectly rhyming and rhythmic storytelling that educates while also providing the fun of an interactive read-aloud. Excitement builds as the verses flow toward the final rhyming word, which kids will be eager to call out as they engage with Jameson’s clever learning experience. In her conversational back matter, Jameson explains jellyfish facts and features in clear terms, using examples and vocabulary that resonates with her young audience. Each paragraph offers fascinating information to spur further research for classroom or homeschool cross-curricular assignments.

Marie Hermansson’s vibrant lifelike digital illustrations float and swirl with the motion of jellies, transporting readers under the ocean to witness the variety of shapes, colors, and sizes of these aquatic marvels. Scientific concepts, such as jellies’ propulsion and nerve net, are clearly portrayed to enhance understanding. The endpapers give kids a glimpse of the Monterey Aquarium, whose jellyfish exhibits inspired this book.

Shimmering with the magic and mystery of jellyfish, The Secrets of the Jellies: Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents is scintillating nonfiction at its best. The book is a must for any public, school, or classroom library collection and an exciting addition to home bookshelves for any child fascinated with the ocean or marine biology.

Ages 5 – 8+

Chronicle Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1797221977

About the Author

Karen Jameson is a children’s author, poet, teacher, and literacy advocate. Her picture books include Woodland Dreams and Wake Up, Woodlands, illustrated by Marc Boutavant; Farm Lullaby, illustrated by Wednesday Kirwan; and Where the Wee Ones Go, illustrated by Zosienka. She lives and works in Southern California. Visit her at karenjameson.com.

About the Illustrator

Marie Hermansson has a deep appreciation for the natural world, with a love of illustrating animals, plants, landscapes, and the ecosystems they exist in. She has illustrated numerous picture books, including Tera Kelley’s award-winning Listen to the Language of the Trees. When she’s not working, she enjoys traveling, hiking, beachcombing, and reading. Marie currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and two children. Visit her at mariehermanssonillustration.com.

National Zoo and Aquarium Month Activity

Marine Animal Coloring Pages

Kids can bring a bit of the ocean or aquarium to their room with these marine animal coloring pages!

You can purchase The Secrets of the Jellies: Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

June 1 – National Great Outdoors Month

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Warm weather + the kids home from school = the perfect recipe for getting outside to play, garden, hike, swim, explore and even bring the outside in! Nature’s bounty provides so many opportunities for trying something new, and that’s what National Great Outdoors Month is all about! Today’s book supplies plenty of ideas from contemplation to crafts to cooking not only for summer but to make you look forward to all the seasons of the year!

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

The Nature of Play: A Handbook of Nature-Based Activities for All Seasons

Written by Delfina Aguilar and Clare Aitken | Illustrated by Sabrina Arnault

If you have a nature-loving family excited for the summer season to begin or you’d simply like to learn how to engage more with everything the outdoors has to offer, The Nature of Play provides an exciting guide to discovery all year round. Each chapter opens with four easy activities—Eat, Do, Look, and Read—to jumpstart the particular season. While prompting participation, these short paragraphs also contain eye-opening facts. For instance, do you know where the word “pumpkin” was first named in English?

Text copyright © 2026 by Delfina Aguilar and Clare Aitken. Illustration copyright © 2026 by Sabrina Arnault. Courtesy of Greystone Kids.

These kinds of fascinating asides as well as in-depth explorations of the topics presented elevate The Nature of Play from a simple activity book to a resource you’ll find yourself returning to again and again. As part of each activity’s description, Delfina Aguilar and Clare Aitken define its historical and global significance in their “From the Archives” paragraphs, while in “Dear Grown-Ups” they reveal their long-term benefits. For example, the seemingly casual pastime of stone skipping “exists across cultures and throughout eons—[and is] probably one of the oldest games on Earth.” And it’s benefits? Stone skipping is almost a full day of school on its own, incorporating motor skills, tenacity, physics, and more!

Delfina Aguilar and Clare Aitken make sure that kids and adults get plenty of fresh air with more outdoor activities matched to the season, including making small rafts to float on rivers or ponds, building an outdoor den, and navigating like old-time explorers. Aguilar and Aitken don’t forget about indoor time, either. They’ve included lots of games that are perfect for car, plane, or train travel as well as games for rainy or snowy days. Spy and sleuth fans will love learning how to outwit the opposition with an ingenious secret code.

Crafters, budding scientists, and plant aficionados can create and learn to their heart’s content with the abundance of ideas here, such as making petal paper, pinhole cameras, terrariums, ice ornaments, and so many more useful and whimsical objects. Each section also includes scrumptious recipes that take advantage of seasonal ingredients. Other captivating elements are interviews with John Collins (aka the Paper Airplane Guy), natural navigator Tristan Gooley, theoretical astrophysicist Dr. Anna Lisa Varri, and spy Anna Gram as well as poems by Billy Collins, Carl Sandburg, William Carlos Williams, and Robert Louis Stevenson that open each chapter.

Sabrina Arnault’s charming ink-and-watercolor illustrations, rendered in warm earth tones, set a mellow, laid-back air to each page, echoing the simple pleasures of the text. Each chapter opens with a stunning full-spread scene that welcomes the new season, Pencil sketches clearly demonstrate step-by-step instructions for making the crafts.

A gorgeous book created with much thought and love, The Nature of Play: A Handbook of Nature-Based Activities for All Seasons is a companionable resource the whole family will use. The book makes a joyful gift and is a must for all library collections and home bookshelves.

Ages 6 and up

Greystone Kids, 2026 | ISBN 978-1778403088

Delfina Aguilar is the founder of Fanny & Alexander, a brand devoted to analogue toys and books that invite children—and the adults who love them—to play more thoughtfully, encouraging imagination, curiosity, and screen-free wonder. She is the co-author of The Nature of Play, Hiccup Makes a Leap, and The Acorn Who Hung On.

Clare Aitken is an author of books for children. She is passionate about nature, community and food and has co-written several books including The Nature of Play.

National Great Outdoors Month Activity

Whose Shoes? Maze

There are all sorts of ways to enjoy the great outdoors! These kids all want to do their favorite activity. Can you help match them to the shoes they’ll need in this printable Whose Shoes? Maze?

You can purchase The Nature of Play: A Handbook of Nature-Based Activities for All Seasons from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

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World Nature Conservation Day Activity

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National Moth Week Activity

Beautiful Moths Board Game

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Busy Buzzy Bee Maze

Buzz! Being Brave Around Buzzy, Stinging Insects Teachers Guide

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National Anti-Boredom Month Activity

I Am Not Boring: The True-Life Story of a Log Activity Pages

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Tajín and the Twelve Thunders: A Pre-Columbian Myth

By Magaly Morales

Hurricane Season Activity

Catch the Wind! Windsock Craft

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The Secrets of the Jellies: Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents

Written by Karen Jameson | Illustrated by Marie Hermansson

National Zoo and Aquarium Month Activity

Marine Animal Coloring Pages

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About the Holiday

The Nature of Play: A Handbook of Nature-Based Activities for All Seasons

Written by Delfina Aguilar and Clare Aitken | Illustrated by Sabrina Arnault

National Great Outdoors Month Activity

Whose Shoes? Maze

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