My newest picture book, BEHOLD THE OCTOPUS! released 2 weeks ago from Peachtree Publishing. I’d love to take credit for coming up with the idea for a book about the clever, curious, and colorful octopus, but alas, I didn’t. Tom Gonzalez, the talented illustrator who I’d worked with on COUNTDOWN, …
When my students saw The Courage of the Little Hummingbird: A Tale Told Around the World on display in the classroom, they demanded an immediate read aloud. I’m not surprised. When I came across the cover for the first time, I was immediately pulled in too, first by the lush …
For the past week, one picture book has been on my mind a lot. Love in the Library, by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and illustrated by Yas Imamura, was published in February 2022. It received multiple starred reviews and I added it to my extensive TBR list. There it stayed until last …
Hello, picture book people. I have a confession. Before today, I have never posted about a Maddie Frost book. This makes me very disappointed in myself because Maddie’s books bring me JOY. Let me share the opening spreads from just one of her little treasures. Look at that bright and …
Don’t Forget, written by Jane Godwin and illustrated by Anna Walker feels like a hug. The illustrations are so endearing and the thoughtful “Don’t forget to…” reminders move us through the story in a warm and comfortable way. In order to work as a picture book, the narrative needs to …
Oh, readers. This book. Talk about a work of art. Here at PBB, we like to talk about a book’s one outstanding element. But I’m really not sure where to begin with FINDING FAMILY – The Duckling Raised by Loons, the latest from Laura Purdie Salas and Alexandria Neonakis, because …
Hello, PBB friends! We have a special guest posting for us today — my good friend Maria Gianferrari! Thank you, Maria! Take it away! ~Andrea Happy Spring! Calling all ailurophiles/cat lovers—it’s an almost BEING A CAT book birthday and the cat’s out of the bag: curiosity did not kill the cat! Are …
Is anyone else, after four whole days of spring, already dreaming about the balmier months ahead? Well…”It’s the weekend, first in June; / speaker’s blasting out big tune!” So begins Big Tune: Rise of the Dance Hall Prince, out on March 28. Written by Alliah L. Agostini and illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice, …
Hello, picture book people. Let me introduce Matt Myers’ The Longest Licorice Rope to you by way of the publisher’s description: When Ben buys a bag of licorice for just one nickel, he gets more than just a sweet treat. His search for the end of this long, long licorice …
Wild Blue, written by Dashka Slater and brilliantly illustrated by Laura Hughes. Just look at this jacket— The shadows? The bike’s shadow is a horse! The little girl’s shadow is wearing a cowgirl hat! How clever! How true! How nostalgic! And zappo— I was whipped back to my childhood. Chester, …