Scholastic

March 18 – National Awkward Moments Day

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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.

Illustration and text © 2025 by David Shannon. Courtesy of Orchard Books/Scholastic.

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?”

Illustration and text © 2025 by David Shannon. Courtesy of Orchard Books/Scholastic.

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

Illustration and text © 2025 by David Shannon. Courtesy of Orchard Books/Scholastic.

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

February 27 – It’s National Laugh-Friendly Month

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About the Holiday

National Laugh-Friendly Month began in 2008 as a way to focus on friendly, positive humor that lifts your spirit and brings smiles. Humor is a universal language that helps people connect, understand each other, and improve our daily life. To celebrate this month and all year round share friendly jokes, watch funny movies and comedy shows , and read hilarious stories like today’s featured book!

Thanks to Orchard Books/Scholastic for sharing a digital copy of Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends with me!

Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends

Written by Ame Dyckman | Illustrated by Tim Miller

Even before kids get into the story, from somewhere over the mountains, an egg bounces boing-boing-boing from banana treetop to banana treetop and lands on a boulder where another egg is just cracking open. Out of the newcomer egg pops a duck, fully coifed with a pink bow, and a decisive “I’m HERE!” The other egg shakes a bit before a crocodile pops out. “And YOU’RE here!” Duckie exclaims. It’s all coming together for Duckie that the two are “here TOGETHER!”

Brushing off remnant eggshells, the crocodile is ready to say goodbye, but Duckie pulls him back, calls him Snaps, and imagines all the fun they’re going to have being friends. Snaps’ dad, however, has a bold truth to deliver, one that dissolves Duckie into a puddle of tears. Snaps can’t believe crocodiles eat duckies. Duckie can’t believe she is a duckie. “Nobody told me!” she says. But Snaps’ dad lists off a menu: Fried duckie, duckie smoothy, duckie pie. Fortunately, Snaps’ dad isn’t ready to eat just then.

Illustration © 2025 Tim Miller, text © 2025 Ame Dyckman. Courtesy of Orchard Books/Scholastic.

Unfortunately, Duckie has to put a big NO on all her imagined fun, and she flounces off only to be caught up by Snaps, who declares he doesn’t want to eat her and never will. In fact, when his dad returns with all the supplies for a duckie roast, Snaps lets him and a couple of innocent bystanders know that “nobody is eating Duckie!”

At last, Duckie and Snaps CAN be friends. “We ARE friends!” Snaps assures her. But what is that growl? Snaps is hungry! And suddenly little-yellow-TASTY Duckie sounds pretty enticing. Just then Duckie has an idea, but will Snaps accept her appealing alternative to Duckie Pie?

Illustration © 2025 Tim Miller, text © 2025 Ame Dyckman. Courtesy of Orchard Books/Scholastic.

Loaded with laugh-out-loud dialogue and turn-the-tables antics, Duckie & Snaps Cannot Be Friends will have kids giggling and in suspense with every page turn. Ame Dyckman’s natural talent for humor and acceptance infuses her story with sweetness and gentle lessons in getting along with others and sticking up for friends. Her dialogue-driven storytelling dishes up a perfect read aloud that adults and kids will have a blast sharing as well as a rewarding experience for beginning and independent readers.

Tim Miller’s goofy cartoon illustrations are equal parts droll and action-packed. His minimalist backgrounds paired with slapstick-type zaniness amplifies the humor, and strategically placed details may allow alert readers to be in on the final, funny resolution.

Featuring good-natured hijinks and embraceable characters, Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends is a vivacious early reader book with plenty of read-again appeal and is a top choice for family, school, and library story times.

Ages 4 – 8

Orchard Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1338837872

About the Author

Ame Dyckman is an award-winning author of many bestselling picture books, including Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends, illustrated by Tim Miller; Don’t Blow Your Top!, illustrated by Abhi Alwar; Wolfie the Bunny, illustrated by Zachariah OHora; and the Misunderstood Shark series, illustrated by Scott Magoon. Ame lives in beautiful central New Jersey with her husband and daughter. For book news and fun, follow Ame on Twitter: @AmeDyckman.

About the Illustrator

Tim Miller is the author-illustrator of Moo Moo in a Tutu, What’s Cooking, Moo Moo?, and Izzy Paints. He is also the illustrator of The Chronicles of Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness, Horse Meets Dog by Elliott Kalan, and other books including the middle-grade series Hamstersaurus Rex by Tom O’Donnell. Tim lives in New Jersey with his wife and three rescue cats. Visit Tim at timmillerillustration.com.

National Laugh Friendly Month Activity

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Silly Balloons

You can have lots of silly fun with balloons! Try some of these ideas—they’re sure to make you laugh!

Goofy Faces

Blow up a balloon and draw a funny face on it. Rub the balloon on your shirt or a blanket and stick it to the wall, your shirt, or even your mom or dad!

Crazy Hair

Rub a blown-up balloon on your shirt or a blanket (fleece works well) then hold it near your hair and watch it go a little crazy!

Bend Water

This bit of balloon magic will amaze you! Rub a blown-up balloon on a blanket (fleece works well). Turn on a faucet to a thin stream of water. Hold the balloon near the stream of water and watch it bend toward the balloon. 

Volleyballoon

This is a fun game for two or more people played like volleyball—but with balloons! All you need is a balloon and a line on the floor. Players form teams and bat the balloon back and forth over the line, keeping it in the air.as long as possible. A team wins a point when the opposing team can’t return the balloon.

You can purchase Duckie & Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends at these booksellers

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

Picture Book Review

September 13 – National Grandparents Day

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About the Holiday

There are so many ways to read a new book! Some people like to share the experience with others, reading a book as a group and discussing it as they go along, while some like nothing better than to snuggle in for a good, long solitary read. But there are certain books that are made to be read with a very special someone—like today’s book. 

I received a copy of I Love My Glam-MA from Scholastic for review consideration. All opinions are own. 

I Love My Glam-MA

Written by Samantha Berger | Illustrated by Sujean Rim

 

While everyone has their own special name for their grandmother, “maaaaabe they should really be called ‘Glam-MA.’ Because Grandmas are some of the most glamorous people you’re ever gonna meet.” It shows in how grandmas greet their grandkids—with a big smile, a cheerful greeting, and a huuuge hug. It’s in how they celebrate any and every event—large or small. And that bag they carry? A pirate would be jealous of the treasure inside.

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Image copyright Sujean Rim, 2019, text copyright Samantha Berger. Courtesy of Scholastic.

While some Glam-MAs share quiet time with a siesta or a rock in a cuddly chair, other Glam-MAS fiesta and totally rock out. In Glam-MA’s hands a blanket may become “a reading fort… or she might turn it into a super cape.” Just like Glam-MAS “follow their instincts” they “let you follow yours,” and they always make you the star. But do you know what “really makes a Glam-MA so glamorous? YOU. Because you’re the one who made her a Glam-MA in the first place!”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-i-love-my-glamma-fort

Image copyright Sujean Rim, 2019, text copyright Samantha Berger. Courtesy of Scholastic.

Samantha Berger celebrates all the ways in which grandmas show their individuality, style, and personality—from their talents and interests to how they dress and get around to their way of making each grandchild feel special—in her bubbly tribute to these most influential family members. Little ones will eagerly point out all the ways the book reflects their own Glam-MAS, and the story is sure to inspire kids to add their own examples. After reading, you can bet that kids will ask to visit, call, write, or text their own Glam-MA.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-i-love-my-glamma-party

Image copyright Sujean Rim, 2019, text copyright Samantha Berger. Courtesy of Scholastic.

Sujean Rim’s textured, mixed-media illustrations sparkle with the joyous excitement that defines grandma and grandchild time together. As these grandmothers and children play dress-up and beauty parlor, relax in a hammock or rocking chair, and travel, cook, and party together, their eyes light up and they flash bright smiles. You can almost hear their giggles. These Glam-MAS are up on the latest trends, too, and little readers will be awed by all that emerges from one grandma’s bag. A two-page spread of child-made cards and awards for Glam-MAS depicts just some of the things kids value in their relationship with their grandparents.

A perfect at-home story-time share for grandmothers and their grandchildren or for kids who want to feel closer to their grandmothers as well as a loving family bonding story, I Love My Glam-MA would be a favorite addition to home, classroom, and library collections. The book would make a much-appreciated gift for grandmothers or soon-to-be grandmothers.

Ages 3 – 5

Orchard Books, 2019 | ISBN 978-1338151831

Discover more about Samantha Berger and her books on her website.

To learn more about Sujean Rim, her books, and her art, visit her website.

National Grandparent’s Day Activity

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I Love You, Grandma and I Love You, Grandpa Coloring Pages 

 

Tell your grandma and grandpa how much you love them with these printable coloring pages!

I Love You, Grandma | I Love You, Grandpa

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-i-love-my-glamma-cover

You can find I Love My Glam-MA at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million  

To support your local independent bookstore, order from

Bookshop | IndieBound 

Picture Book Review

May 15 – It’s Reading Is Fun Week

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About the Holiday

What’s your definition of fun? Is it going new places? Meeting new people? Laughing with friends? Getting in on the latest trend—or setting one of your own? If it’s one—or all—of these, you’ve just described reading! This week is dedicated to discovering the enjoyment that delving into a great book can bring at any age! To celebrate, stock up on books old and new and have fun reading!

Misunderstood Shark

Written by Ame Dyckman | Illustrated by Scott Magoon

 

The camera crew is ready, the sound engineer is holding the mic, and the director is counting down to the snap of the clapper for the latest episode of Underwater World with Bob. Bob is holding his own against the current, poised to begin his monologue. The show goes live, and Bob, smiling at the people, is about to announce some fun facts when…Shark!…the broadcast is interrupted by the sharp teeth and wave-slicing fin of a Great White.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-misunderstood-shark-on-air

Image copyright Scott Magoon, 2018, text copyright Ame Dyckman, 2018. Courtesy of Scholastic.

Shark is just about to gulp down a little gold fish when Bob alerts him to the people watching. “‘The PEOPLE can see me?’” Shark says, a starlit glint in his eyes. Understanding the pulse of the audience, Shark offers, “‘You misunderstood! I wasn’t going to eat him.’” It seems Shark just wanted to show off his new pearly white. The consummate host, Bob uses this diversion to his advantage and reveals a Fun Fact about a shark’s tremendous dental abilities.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-misunderstood-shark-new-tooth

Image copyright Scott Magoon, 2018, text copyright Ame Dyckman, 2018. Courtesy of Scholastic.

Bob’s even willing to include this interloper in his show—kind of a Shark-on-the-sea type of interview—but when he looks, he discovers Shark zooming toward the surface and an unsuspecting baby seal, fangs at the ready. Bob shouts to leave the baby seal alone in front of the people, and, again, it seems Bob has misunderstood Shark. He has the seal gripped so tightly only because he’s taking her back home. This brings up another Fun Fact about a shark’s dining habits from Bob and a corny joke from the sound engineer.

Bob is humble enough to admit he may have been wrong—yet again—about Shark, but Shark has disappeared and his following his nose to…. Bob hurries after Shark in pursuit of his exclusive and the answer to the burning question “‘What do you smell, Shark?’” but Shark is on a mission to find the source of the red stuff tinting the water. Bob pops up with another Fun Fact, but his crew is scrambling to get out of the way.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-misunderstood-shark-baby-seal

Copyright Scott Magoon, 2018, courtesy of scottmagoon.com.

With Shark zeroing in on his human target, Bob drops his mic, throws out two tentacles and tries to stop him” “‘Nooo, Shark! Don’t eat the people—IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE!’” But Shark is nothing if not a performer, and once again he’s been misunderstood. He only wanted to help. Now there’s chaos on the beach—screaming and running—but Shark is mystified. Then he breaks out in tears. No one, it seems, understands. 

Bob uses this touching moment to tell his audience that “you’re actually thousands of times more likely to be bitten by another person than bitten by a shark.’” Shark now needs a hug, and Bob obliges. Awww…so sweet! But, wait! Shark is a shark, and he just can’t help himself. And Bob? He’s suddenly got the inside scoop, but he rolls with it—after all, the show must go on!

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-misunderstood-shark-band-aids

Copyright Scott Magoon, 2018, courtesy of scottmagoon.com.

I laughed, I cried, it became a part of me! Ame Dyckman’s hilarious fish tale will have kids rolling with laughter as the show Underwater World with Bob goes awry when a wily shark works the audience to gain sympathy and, ultimately, a little snack. The wise-cracking production crew adds to the freewheeling fun with jokes and humorous asides. As Bob maintains his professional composure amid the chaos, readers learn some fascinating shark facts and can’t be faulted for hoping Shark is at least nominated for an Emmy. Kids of all ages will love shouting along with the frightened crew as much as they enjoy echoing Shark’s reassuring phrase.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-misunderstood-shark-little-fish

Copyright Scott Magoon, 2018, courtesy of scottmagoon.com.

Scott Magoon is a master at eliciting a vast array of emotions from his cartoony characters. Jellyfish Bob is at turns professional, upbeat, disgruntled, apologetic, suspicious, and taken in with just a few touches to his eyebrows, eyes, and mouth. Likewise, the squid crew react to the ever-changing set with aplomb while also sharing their disbelief and some funny banter. Magoon’s stocky Shark, however, is the star of the show with his innocent guise and not-so-hidden ambitions. The histrionic waterworks at the end will tickle kids, and Bob’s resigned tip of the hat is the perfect send off to this fintasticly funny story. Magoon’s periodic shift from the ocean backdrop to the “audience at home” puts readers front and center to all the action.

Misunderstood Shark is must summer reading (dynamic readings are sure to inspire pool and beach fun), and the book would be a much-asked-for addition to home bookshelves now and classroom libraries for the fall.

Ages 3 – 7

Orchard Books, 2018 | ISBN 978-1338112474

Discover more about Ame Dyckman and her books on her website.

To learn more about Scott Magoon, his books, and his art, visit his website.

Swim on over and watch the Misunderstood Shark book trailer!

Misunderstood Shark Giveaway

 

I’m excited to partner with Orchard Books, Scholastic, Inc. in this giveaway of

  • One copy of Misunderstood Shark  by Ame Dyckman and Scott Magoon

To be entered to win, just Follow me on Twitter @CelebratePicBks and Retweet a giveaway tweet during this week, May 14 – May 21. Already a follower? Thanks! Just  Retweet for a chance to win.

A winner will be chosen on May 22.

Giveaways open to US addresses only. | Prizing provided by Scholastic, Inc.

Reading Is Fun Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-shark-and-books-maze

Book-Loving Shark Maze

 

This shark loves to read! In fact, she wants to devour that whole stack of books. Can you help her cross the sea to get them in this printable puzzle?

Book-Loving Shark Maze | Book-Loving Shark Maze Solution

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You can find Misunderstood Shark at these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound

Picture Book Review