The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs, a stunning biography written by Chana Stiefel and illustrated by Susan Gal, hit shelves this week. Yaffa Eliach grew up in the Polish town of Eishyshok, helping her grandmother in her photography studio. When Nazi soldiers …
All primates climb and breathe in air. They have big brains and hands and hair… But not all primates are alike. From funny faces and colored butts, to flossing teeth and thumping chests, discover the peculiar ways primates look and act in this delightful non-fiction follow up to Freaky, Funky …
Oh, people. I am ridiculously excited about this book. Let’s take a moment to read these fine words: “Cull’s illustrations resemble a kooky comic strip, perfect for Sauer’s goofy humor… Sure to elicit laughter.” — Kirkus Reviews “Riotous… the participants seem deeply satisfied by this unadulterated silliness — and readers …
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that my woman-owned, local, independent, kids’ bookstore owner thrust a copy of Good Night Little Bookstore, written by Amy Cherrix and illustrated by E.B. Goodale, into my hands saying, ‘I love this book, of course I would because I own a bookstore, but I …
I’m thrilled today to have Suzanne back in the house! And, boy, does she have a fun new book to share with us. It’s the durn near perfect story of superstar Dolly Parton. There are so many superlative elements in this book that I wasn’t sure where to begin. Highlights: …
I’ve come to value Twitter and Instagram as wonderful places to find new books. Thanks to one of them (can’t remember which!) I found today’s delightful picture book, ELEPHANT’S BIG SOLO, written and illustrated by Sarah Kurpiel, and published a few weeks ago by Greenwillow Books. I had an instant …
As New York transitions from blueberry season to cranberry, Berry Song, the first self-authored book by Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade has taken root on the whiteboard ledge in my classroom, where I keep all the books I anticipate kids grabbing over and over again. In this story, a plucky little …
I am a huge fan of Bao Phi’s work. His debut picture book, A Different Pond, won the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association Award, a Caldecott Honor for illustrator Thi Bui’s amazing artwork, as well as many other accolades. It was also a mentor text for my own picture book, …
Remember Mary? Nice, huh? I especially love the part about “well-paced couplets that read effortlessly.” Writing a rhymer is a big challenge. It’s hard to make those couplets read effortlessly, but that is always one of my primary writing-a-rhymer goals. On top of telling a real-deal story, the rhythm has …
Owl T. Fencepost just wants quiet. So he writes a letter to B. Squirrel at the bookshop asking for various (funny) ‘how to’ books to make his world a more peaceful place. But the bookshop is out of each of Owl’s requests and so B. Squirrel begins to send him …