Sandra Magsamen

July 20 – Global Hug Your Kids Day

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About the Holiday

Today’s holiday may be the easiest on the calendar to celebrate! It’s purpose is simple—to show your child or children how much you love them by giving them a hug! And why stop at just one? Such closeness builds strong family bonds, helps with a child’s brain development and social and emotional learning, and even has benefits for their physical health. To celebrate today (and every day!) give your kids hugs throughout the day and tell them how much and why you love them!

Hello, Baby

By Sandra Magsamen

Every day seems to go by so fast! What with work at the office or from home, chores to do, shopping, or just trying to stick to a schedule, it’s a lot. And if you have a baby or toddler, the hours can fly by without even a moment to slow down and spend some snuggle time together. Sandra Magsamen understands! Her delightful board books are written to fit into busy schedules while expressing that special love you and your baby share.

Text and illustration copyright © 2026 by Sandra Magsamen. Courtesy of Scholastic.

Hello, Baby, Magsamen’s newest book, is as warm as a hug and filled with endearments that ensure little ones know how much they mean to their family and how much they are loved. Joyful rhymes are matched with adorable illustrations of smiling characters and bright colors for a peppy read aloud that will swell a child’s as well as adult readers’ hearts. Short and sweet, Hello, Baby is perfect for cuddly respites during the day—at snack time, nap or bedtime, to dry tears, or whenever an opportunity arises to share a special moment together.

Hello, Baby will be a much-loved addition to home libraries for new parents, grandparents and other family members as well as a favorite for public libraries and daycare centers.

Ages Baby – 3

Cartwheel Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1546183945

About the Author

Sandra Magsamen is the author and illustrator of over 75 books for young children including I Love You, Honey Bunny, You’re My Little Chickadee, and Our Little Love Bug! As an artist, an art therapist, and a mom, she uses her creativity to remind people to express themselves and connect with others. Her lifestyle brands, products, and books are sold worldwide. Visit her at sandramagsamen.com.

Global Hug Your Kids Day Activity

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

Free Hug Coupons
 

Everyone needs a hug now and then! With these printable Free Hug Coupons you can extend Global Hug Your Kids day to everyone in your family every day of the year! Why not fill a jar with these coupons and display it so that all your favorite people can get a sweet hug whenever they need it most.

You can purchase Hello, Baby from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

May 13 – Get Caught Reading Month

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About the Holiday

When you love to read, you want to pass down that excitement to your children. The Get Caught Reading campaign, established 27 years ago by the Association of American Publishers, promotes literacy and language development through reading to children and spurring them to read on their own. Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers especially benefit from being read to and developing good memories and experiences associated with reading. All month long, people are encouraged to pass along their love of literature by sharing pictures of themselves reading on social media. Celebrities, sports figures, book creators, teachers, moms and dads, grandparents, and kids of all ages take part in this favorite annual event. Why don’t you?! For more information, visit the Get Caught Reading website.

I Whaley Love You!

By Sandra Magsamen

When you see your child’s sweet face looking up at you, you just want to tell them how much they mean to you. Maybe you wish there was some new way to express your love for them—a fun way! Sandra Magsamen’s big-hearted tale I Whaley Love You! is the perfect answer for just those moments and many more.

Topped off with a sparkly, iridescent whale tail that little ones will love to squish, I Whaley Love You! dives into the special bond between child and parent, grandparent, or other caregiver. Sweet, rhyming verses convey all the love adults feel when cuddling close with their child, doing things together, and “snuggling up tight” as they say “nighty-night.” The final verse reassures young children that “forever and always . . . I whaley, whaley, whaley love you!”

Text and illustration copyright © 2026 by Sandra Magsamen. Courtesy of Cartwheel Books.

Sandra Magsamen’s endearing I Whaley Love You! will dazzle little ones with its playful tail and adorable under-the-sea illustrations full of gentle waves, smiling sea creatures, and an adoring adult-child duo. Magsamen’s punny expression is sure to become a favorite phrase to share when that incomparable joy bubbles up and overflows your heart.

I Whaley Love You! makes a special gift for baby showers, new babies, parents, grandparents, and other caregivers and a delightful bedtime or naptime read aloud.

Ages: Baby and up

Cartwheel Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1546140139

Sandra Magsamen is the author and illustrator of over 75 books for young children including I Love You, Honey Bunny, You’re My Little Chickadee, and Our Little Love Bug! As an artist, an art therapist, and a mom, she uses her creativity to remind people to express themselves and connect with others. Her lifestyle brands, products, and books are sold worldwide. Visit her at sandramagsamen.com.

Get Caught Reading Month Activity

Whale Match-Up Puzzle

The twin whales have all gotten separated! Help them find each other again in this fun Whale Match-Up Puzzle!

You can purchase I Whaley Love You! from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

January 6 – National Cuddle Up Day

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About the Holiday

As the icy days of January settle in, National Cuddle Up Day reminds us that snuggling up with someone you love warms you, warms your heart, and builds strong relationships. Children especially love the comfort and security that hugs bring. And what would bedtime be without snuggling in with a good book like today’s sweet sure-to-be favorite?

Thank you to Cartwheel Books/Scholastic for sharing a digital copy of You’re Eggstraordinary! with me for review!

You’re Eggstraordinary!

By Sandra Magsamen

 

It’s all here—everything you want to tell your child whenever you see or think about them and your heart swells to bursting. Through her bright, adorable board book, Sandra Magsamen lets parents, grandparents, caregivers, and even older siblings express how much they love and admire the little one in their life.

Text and illustration © 2025 by Sandra Magsamen. Courtesy of Cartwheel Books.

Magsamen’s punny verses and cute-as-a-button chick brim with enthusiasm that will excite and charm young children as they soak up all the praise about how they make wishes come true, show kindness, are amazing, are the best cuddle buddies, and are simply, well . . . eggstraordinary! The delightful puff of feathers atop the book add soft, tickly fun sure to elicit plenty of giggles.

Short and sweet, You’re Eggstraordinary! is the perfect book to share with little ones whenever you want to remind them of how much they’re loved (i.e. all the time!). This book makes a terrific gift and is a fantastic choice for story time, bedtime, whenever a child needs comforting, and even as a take-along book to the park, playground, or wherever waiting is anticipated. 

Ages Baby – 5

Cartwheel Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1546140122

Sandra Magsamen is the author and illustrator of many books for young children, including the picture book When I Grow Up I Want to Be Me, as well as a number of bestselling novelty titles, including Everybody Goes Nighty-Night, named a Best Board Book of 2018 by The Children’s Book Review; Baby Love; I Love You, Little Pumpkin; and Peek-a-Boo, I Love You. As an artist, an art therapist, and a mom, she uses her creativity to remind people to express themselves and connect with others. Her lifestyle brands, products, and books are sold worldwide. Visit her at sandramagsamen.com.

National Cuddle Up Day Activity

Cuddle Chick Craft

 

Like the little chick in today’s book, kids love to cuddle! With this craft, kids can made a cute chick cuddle buddy for playtime, story time, or bedtime! Kids can personalize their chick as to size, color, fabric, and facial expression and whether it has a comb or feathers. Just remember—while all chicks are different, they all love a hug!

Supplies

  • Fleece, gingham, or other fabric for the body large enough for the back and front. The size of fabric depends on the size of the chick to be made. 
  • Fleece or other fabric for a comb; feathers for a fluffy top. 
  • Small piece of fleece or other material for wings
  • Small scraps of fleece or other material for the eyes and beak. Kids can have fun trying different eyes to make facial expressions and may enjoy attaching velcro to the body and backs of eyes to be able to change them.
  • Poly Fill
  • Thread and sewing needle OR hot glue
  • Scissors

Directions

To Make the Body

  1. Cut two circles from the fabric in your choice of size. (I used a pot lid to outline my circles)
  2. If sewing, place the right sides of the fabric together and sew around the edges, leaving two or three inches open. If using hot glue, glue around the edges of the right side of fabric of each circle and put together, leaving two or three inches open.
  3. Turn the fabric inside out
  4. Stuff with poly fill

To Add the Comb 

  1. Cut a piece of fleece or other fabric 2 or 3 inches wide as your buddy and about 6 inches long
  2. Fold the fleece lengthwise
  3. Insert both ends of the fleece into the opening at the top of the body
  4. Sew or glue the opening shut, securing the comb
  5. Cut strips about ¼-inch wide from the top of the fabric to close to the body

To Add Feathers

  1. Gather feathers and place them into the opening at the top of the body
  2. Glue or sew them in place

To Make Wings

  1. Cut 2 teardrop-shaped pieces of fabric to pit the body 
  2. Sew or glue them to each side of the buddy, folding them around the side so half shows on the front and the back

To Make the Face

  1. Cut eyes and beak from fabric 
  2. Sew or glue the face to the buddy

You can purchase You’re Eggstraordinary! from these book sellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review