Newly Sharpened Pencils

Day of the Dead picture books

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Lindsay Books 0

Ever since my family and I saw the Disney movie Coco in the theater, I have loved learning more about Día de Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. It’s such a beautiful holiday to honor your family and loved ones! Here are seven Day of the Dead picture books we’ve enjoyed that teach you more about the traditions and can help you celebrate in your home.

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago. I included this in my list of Halloween picture books as well, because who doesn’t love a story about a cute ghost? Gustavo invites a bunch of people over for a Day of the Dead party, but because he’s so shy, he isn’t sure whether anyone will come. The illustrations make this story pop. If you like this book, the author has written and illustrated two others (though Gustavo is my favorite).

Día de Los Muertos by Roseanne Thong and Carles Ballesteros. You will love reading this book all about the cultural traditions of the holiday to your kids! It has great rhythm and rhyme, and the illustrations are colorful and fun.

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh. My family and I learned so much from this story about José Guadalupe Posada, who drew political cartoons in Mexico and became famous for his drawings of skeletons and skulls (calaveras). Duncan Tonatiuh has a unique illustration style that is instantly recognizable, and my daughter noticed his work right away when we started reading the book. I enjoyed learning the history behind symbols that are now synonymous with the Day of the Dead holiday.

Our Day of the Dead Celebration by Ana Aranda. This is a short book about Mar’s family celebrations on Dia de Los Muertos. Each year, they make almond cookies and decorate sugar skulls in honor of family members who have passed on. They also talk about what they have in common with their ancestors (Mar likes to write in her journal just like her grandfather did) and listen to Abuela’s stories.

The Dead Family Diaz by P.J. Bracegirdle and Poly Bernatene. In a sort of reverse-Coco story (this was actually published before that movie was released), a family of skeletons is traveling to the living world for the Day of the Dead, and Angelito is really nervous because of what his sister has told him about the living. Side note: I really love this illustrator, who drew the pictures for one of my favorite fairy tales, The Princess and the Pig.

Abuelita’s Gift: A Día de Muertos Story by Mariana Ríos Ramírez and Sara Palacios. I loved this sweet book about a little girl who is excited for her grandmother’s spirit to arrive on the Day of the Dead. Julieta is trying to figure out the perfect gift to honor Abuelita on the ofrenda (table with photos and offerings), and she thinks about all the great memories she has of her grandmother before finally deciding on one.

The Ofrenda That We Built by Jolene Gutiérrez, Shaian Gutiérrez, and Gabby Zapata. If you buy one Day of the Dead book this year, make it this one. It follows the traditional pattern of The House That Jack Built but instead focuses on all the items that are part of a family’s ofrenda for the Día de Los Muertos celebration.

Do you have favorite Day of the Dead picture books you read this time of year? I’d love to add to our collection!

Back-to-school picture books your kids will love

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Lindsay Books

School supply time and fall are my FAVORITE times of the whole year (if the title Newly Sharpened Pencils didn’t clue you in). I first published this post in 2020, when school looked very different. For our family, it meant online-only first grade until January. While I was fortunate that both my husband and I are currently working from home and can take turns helping our kids, it’s a challenge to make school exciting.

Whether your kids are back in the classroom or learning from home, these books can help the school year feel a little bit more normal. Here are a bunch of back-to-school picture books I love.

The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton. This book was released right before my kids started kindergarten last year, and I’ve had a soft spot for it since. I love that it empowers kids to be confident and have a good attitude about going to school. The pictures are adorable, too!

Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard and James Marshall. No back-to-school picture books list would be complete without this classic. If you haven’t read it, you’re in for a treat. James Marshall’s illustrations are hilarious, and my kids love listening to this in the car, too. When Miss Nelson’s students start misbehaving, they quickly realize they had it pretty good when Miss Viola Swamp takes her place.

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and Oge Mora. I cried reading this inspiring story of former slave Mary Walker, who lived an incredible life and finally learned to read at age 116. What an amazing message that you’re never too old to learn something new! Oge Mora’s illustrations are especially stunning in this book. Buy this one.

My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.) by Peter Brown. My kids and I love this book so much, and they frequently pull it off the shelf to read it again. Bobby complains about how mean his teacher is and calls her a monster. Then he runs into her outside of school and realizes that she is not as bad as he thought. I am laughing just thinking about this story. So, so good.

School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex and Christian Robinson. If you’ve got a kid who’s apprehensive about going back to school (and who isn’t right now), this is a great option. School narrates the story, and she is nervous because she’s brand-new and has never had students before. The illustrations are retro and fun, and both School and the kids learn to accept each other.

When Pencil Met Eraser by Karen Kilpatrick, Luis O. Ramas Jr. and German Blanco. I really liked that this book doesn’t focus solely on how erasers remove mistakes. It shows that you need both pencils and erasers to create amazing art, because the eraser softens the image and also can show things that weren’t there before. It’s a great way to talk about art concepts and friendship at the same time.

Ally-saurus and the First Day of School by Richard Torrey. The illustrations make this book so charming and fun for kids (and grownups). Ally loves dinosaurs and insists on being called “Ally-saurus,” but when she goes to school for the first time, she realizes that not all kids love dinosaurs like she does. This can be a starting point for talking about how everyone is different and that we don’t all have to like the same thing.

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes. I think I love every single book Kevin Henkes has ever written. He seems to totally get kids and their frustrations. Lilly, a cute little mouse, takes her purple purse to school and can’t keep it to herself. When her teacher takes it away for the day, she gets angry and wants to get back at him, but she realizes she may have been too hasty. I love that this shows both the teacher and the student’s side, and the illustrations are so darling.

Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie Silvestro and Dream Chen. In this sweet book, students who have “butterflies” in their stomach on the first day of school have them fly out of their mouths as they talk to each other and start to feel less anxious. I love books that illustrate idioms kids don’t really understand, and this one does it beautifully. Even the mom has a butterfly escape from her mouth when she learns her daughter had a good day at school. This is such a darling book.

The Pigeon Has to Go to School by Mo Willems. We all love the Pigeon books. Pigeon reallllly doesn’t want to go to school, but it helps when he learns that he gets to ride a bus to school and play on the playground. And when he realizes the teachers are there to help him. This is a great addition to your shelf if you love Mo Willems.

Too Much: An Overwhelming Day by Jolene Gutierrez and Angel Chang. My kids have a little girl in their grade who struggles with a sensory processing disorder. I’m sure your children or students know someone who has this or face it themselves. This is an excellent book that explains why some children and adults (like me) struggle with bright lights or too much noise or stimulation and how to help them. Every librarian should read this one to students.

Yenebi’s Drive to School by Sendy Santamaria. I was completely blown away by this story about two sisters who live in Tijuana and commute across the U.S./Mexico border to school every day. We had some great conversations with our kids about immigration and borders and also about how valuable education is.

The Brilliant Ms. Bangle by Cara Devins and K-Fai Steele. My mom is an elementary school librarian, and I know she would LOVE this book about a brand-new librarian who has to win over some tough-to-crack kids after the beloved former librarian leaves the school. It gives me Miss Frizzle vibes in the best way.

The World’s Best Class Plant by Liz Garton Scanlon, Audrey Vernick, and Lynnor Bontigao. In this cute story, the class complains about how boring it is to have a class plant when the other classes have pets. Then they start to give the plant more attention and give him a name (Jerry), and he becomes A LOT more interesting.

Mr. S.: A First Day of School Book by Monica Arnaldo. This book is REALLY goofy and quirky, which means kids will absolutely love it. On the first day of school, the kindergarten class is waiting for their teacher but he never arrives. Instead, the chalkboard says “Mr. S.” and a sandwich is sitting on the desk. Could the sandwich be their teacher? The illustrations show what is really happening to the teacher, and they’re hilarious.

The Loud Librarian by Jenna Beatrice and Erika Lynne Jones. I loved this book about a little girl who is assigned to be the class librarian. She adores books and is great at organizing, but the problem is that her voice is too loud. For any of you friends out there who, like me, also have a loud voice, this is a wonderful story about finding your place.

Missing Violet by Kelly Swemba and Fabiana Faiallo. I have to admit that this story broke my heart a bit, because my daughter had a best friend named Violet who moved away. However, it’s an important reminder that friends will sometimes leave and that your classmates can help you remember the good times and find even more friends.

Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko and Ruth Chan. Yes, this story is about a class’s pet rock, and yes, it is quirky. Rick the Rock decides to go on a journey outside after the teacher reads a book about nature, but he realizes it isn’t quite what he expected. Can the students help him find his way back to the classroom?

Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang and Hyewon Yum. I adore all of Andrea Wang’s books, and this one is really sweet. Luli goes to an English as a second language class for the first time with many other students who also can’t speak English — and can’t communicate with each other. Fortunately, she knows how to bring them together: a tea party!

How to Get Your Octopus to School by Becky Scharnhorst and Jaclyn Sinquett. My kids really liked this book about a little girl who has to get her VERY reluctant octopus dressed and ready for school. It kind of has an If You Give a Mouse a Cookie vibe to it, too, which is fun.

Salat in Secret by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Hatem Aly. Please read this book with your family. It’s amazing! Muhammad receives a salat rug for his seventh birthday and is encouraged to pray five times a day as part of his Muslim faith. However, he is really nervous about finding a quiet place to pray at school where other students won’t make fun of him. This story has such a great message about acceptance.

This Is a School by John Schu and Veronica Miller Jamison. This is such a beautiful book about what schools mean to a community, including a place for discovery, helping, sharing, healing, and hoping. I want to buy a copy for every school library.

Pa, Me, and Our Sidewalk Pantry by Toni Buzzeo and Zara Gonzalez Hoang. I love Toni Buzzeo’s books, and this one is a sweet story about a grandfather and grandchild who work together to offer their neighbors not just books but food when they need it. Since there are several little free libraries in walking distance of my kids’ school, we particularly liked this book.

My First Day by Phùng Nguyên Quang and Huỳnh Kim Liên. This book is similar to Yenebi’s Drive to School in that it focuses on the lengths one little boy must go to travel to school. In this story, Vietnamese boy An has to navigate the waters around his home in a little wooden boat. The illustrations are stunning.

One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University by M.O. Yuksel and Mariam Quraishi. I had never heard the story of Fatima al-Fihri, an extraordinary Muslim woman who founded a university in Morocco more than a thousand years ago. Her school still exists today!

Home in a Lunchbox by Cherry Mo. You’ll want a tissue when reading this book about a young girl, Jun, who moves to America from Hong Kong. While she only knows a handful of words in English at her new school, she can feel the love of her family in the food her mom sends in her lunchbox. Soon her new classmates want to try her food, too, since it is so different from their own lunches. SUCH a sweet story!

The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan. This is a particularly timely story about a young girl who discovers that books about kids of color have been banned from her school library. She helps to organize a bake sale and use the proceeds to buy diverse books for libraries. The book is also personal, as the author’s book The Arabic Quilt (which I also love and included in my list of books for Arab American Heritage Month) was briefly banned from a Pennsylvania school system.

Paula’s Patches by Gabriella Aldeman and Rocío Arreola Mendoza. Paula rips her jeans and is embarrassed by the hole in her pants and tries to hide it from her classmates. She then creates a patch to cover the hole and discovers that lots of kids have secondhand backpacks or stains or rips—and they all love the patches Paula makes and end up with their own. I love that this story is about not being embarrassed to have something secondhand but that it’s also about reusing and fixing things instead of immediately throwing them out. My son also has a favorite shirt that my sister sewed a patch on when he accidentally ripped it, and he proudly told me that her patch “made it better.” This book will definitely launch important conversations about consumerism.

The Yellow Bus by Loren Long. While this book isn’t specifically about school, it focuses on a yellow school bus that ends up being many things to many different people and animals as it ages. The author and illustrator was inspired to write the book by seeing an old yellow bus in his neighborhood and wondering how it got there.

I’m hoping you love these back-to-school picture books as much as we do. I want to know. What does school look like for your kids this year? And what books do you read to start off a new school year?

2024 summer reading programs for kids

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Lindsay Books

Summer reading programs (woman sitting in hammock reading a book)

School’s out for summer! If, like me, you have young kids at home, it’s a great time to encourage them to participate in summer reading programs. Here are a few to check out — and be sure to go to your local library or even city office for more options.

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program. My kids have done this every year they were eligible (students in first through sixth grade can participate), and it’s really simple. Just have your child write down eight books they read during the summer, including their favorite parts, on the journal. Then bring the completed journal into your local Barnes & Noble store, and your child can choose from one of the free books! Pro tip: You can go in anytime between July 1 and Aug. 31, and I recommend going early for the best selection.

Little Mama Shirt Shop Summer Reading Program. I have bought shirts for my kids from this shop for years and love supporting an Idaho mom. Chynna also does an annual summer reading challenge. Read 200 books (or chapters) with your kids this summer and turn in your tracker to receive a free library tote (with a shark designed by a kid) and a shop discount code.

Scholastic Home Base. If your kids love computer/tablet games, they will enjoy participating in Scholastic’s free summer reading program, called Home Base. This interactive world allows children to meet characters from their favorite books (a quick glance showed characters from Wings of Fire and Goosebumps), write stories, and play book-based games. I think this would be right up my 10-year-olds’ alley.

Utah State Fair Read and Win! program. This is another program my kids participate in every year, and we love it! Have your child (in grades 1-6) read 10 books and write down the titles either on a downloadable form or online. Then mail the forms or fill out the online form by July 19. Your child will receive a free ticket to the Utah State Fair, midway ride, giant yellow slide ride, drink and bookmark. State fair tickets can add up, so we love this deal so much. Plus, they mail the tickets to your kids individually, and what kid doesn’t love getting a letter in the mail?

Splash Summit Reading Program. My family went to Splash Summit for the first time last year, and we all had a blast. I just discovered that they have a new reading program! Any child in kindergarten through sixth grade in Utah who reads 500 minutes in a month (20 minutes a day) receives a free pass to Splash Summit (a waterpark in Provo, Utah). It looks like the deadline was April, but I am including it here to remind you (and myself) to enroll early next year to get the pass.

Salt Lake County Library Summer Reading Challenge. If you live in Salt Lake County, make sure to participate in the County Library reading challenge! Download the form (teens and adults can participate, too!) and color in one of the designs each time you read, create, learn, play or connect (there are suggestions for activities under each category). Then turn your form it at your local library branch to receive a free book and be entered into a drawing for other prizes.

Salt Lake City Library Super Summer Challenge. Salt Lake City residents (and neighbors): This challenge rewards you for reading just 20 minutes a day! Fill in spaces on the tracker when you read or complete other activities, and then turn it in to get a completion prize and be entered to win the grand prize. They also have some darling coloring pages you can print off when your kids come in asking for something to do this summer.

Murray Library Build-a-Habit Challenge. If you live close to Murray, Utah, which has its own library, you can participate in their reading program as well. Read for 30 days and complete two other challenges listed on the tracker. Then fill out the form, turn it in, and receive a prize. You’ll also receive an entry for the grand-prize raffle.

Hopefully these programs inspire you to get your kids reading this summer! If I’ve missed any, let me know. Sadly, the Book-It program that rewards kids with pizza filled up really quickly. I think my kids will do anything for pizza (as will I).

Lighthearted books to read when you need a break

Posted on April 8, 2024 by Lindsay Books

Covers of the books "This Is Where You Belong," "The Accidental Beauty Queen," and "Garlic and Sapphires"

Several friends have been asking me for lighthearted books to read, and I totally get it. While I tend to gravitate toward nonfiction and realistic fiction books that teach me about a different worldview, I usually follow these heavier books up with something happy and fun. Whether you have a stressful job or home life or simply need something that allows you to escape, these books will fit the bill. I also have more ideas in this post I wrote about distracting yourself during the pandemic!

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. A murder mystery book generally make my list of “fun” or lighthearted books to read. However, this book about a single mom and struggling novelist who accidentally gets involved with the Russian mob and hired to kill a woman’s abusive husband made me laugh out loud. Vero, Finlay’s nanny, has a biting wit and is honestly the best character, and the dialogue is excellent. There are four books in this series, but be warned that the final book (which was just published) is not as lighthearted as the other three and gets a bit darker.

Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. People either love this book or compare it to a Hallmark greeting card. I have long loved it because it’s about the impact one teacher had on his student, even years later, and both my parents are educators. I also have fond memories of listening to the audiobook on tape as a kid when we went on roadtrips. It’s a quick read and an uplifting one. Albom’s book The Five People You Meet in Heaven may actually be my favorite.

The Party Crasher by Sophie Kinsella. I can always count on Sophie Kinsella’s books to deliver great dialogue and outrageous situations, and this one was SO funny. Effie’s parents got divorced two years earlier, and she hates her father’s new girlfriend. She finds out that her parents are selling the home she grew up in, but she is not invited to the last hurrah at the house because of her feud with Krista, the girlfriend. Rather than swallow her pride and show up anyway to be with her family, Effie decides to sneak into the house to find a treasure she hid there before it’s gone forever. She also meets her ex-love, Joe, and has to deal with those feelings. I am not making this book sound great, but I promise that it’s hilarious and sweet and just what you need to unwind with.

Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter. I have recommended this book to so many friends and also own a copy because it is the sweetest. Liz Buxbaum’s crush, Michael, moved away before she could tell him how she felt, but now he’s moved back. Since her annoying next-door neighbor, Wes, is friends with Michael, she enlists Wes to help her get Michael to notice her. Of course, she never noticed how awesome Wes has been all along. Yes, this book is predictable, but what really makes it shine is the references to ’90s romantic comedies and the banter between the characters. If you like this one, you will also love The Do-Over by the same author, which is a Groundhog-Day story where two people get to know each other by reliving Valentine’s Day again and again.

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl. I am NOT a chef or into cooking and am definitely not a foodie. But this book about New York Times food critic Ruth Reichl and her escapades at different restaurants in disguise (so she wouldn’t be recognized and would get the experience “normal” people get) was so interesting and funny at the same time. I learned a lot from this book, but it was also highly entertaining.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell. Normally I am all about audiobooks, but this is one you need to read to get the full impact. In this book, set in the Y2K era when people were sure that the year 2000 would break their computers, Lincoln is hired to be an internet security officer for a newsroom. Essentially, he has to read people’s emails and is supposed to write reports if people violate email policy (like sending dirty jokes or using profanity). Instead, he begins to fall in love with Beth, who has hilarious conversations with her coworker. But how can he have a relationship with someone he only knows from the emails she sends to others? READ THIS BOOK.

An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde. I absolutely love the film version of this play with Rupert Everett and Julianne Moore, but I hadn’t read the play until a few years ago. It’s satire about a politician whose wife thinks he is the “ideal husband” until another woman comes forward to blackmail him. If you have watched an Oscar Wilde movie or read one of his plays, you know that he is renowned for his dialogue and dark humor. Both are on full display in this book (plus, it’s short).

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon. Despite the title, this book is not about a mother and daughter who commit murder together. It’s actually about a snarky, self-absorbed grandma (don’t worry — her character evolves) who moves in with her daughter and granddaughter while going through cancer treatments. Her granddaughter works at a kayak tour company and is questioned when a man is found dead in the water under suspicious circumstances. Luckily, the grandma is determined to prove her granddaughter’s innocence and figure out who the murderer is. The mystery in this story isn’t the most difficult to solve, but I loved the relationship between the three women.

City Spies by James Ponti. Sometimes it’s refreshing to read mysteries where nothing gruesome happens. In this fun young adult series, tweens and teens that are orphaned and abandoned are adopted by “Mother,” the man in charge of their division of the British Intelligence Agency. Each of the kids goes by a code name based on the city they lived in when they were discovered (Brooklyn, Rio, Sydney, Paris, and so on). They also have different skills that make them assets as spies. I love these quick reads as refreshers in between heavier books.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. I absolutely ADORE Liane Moriarty for the characters and relationships in her books, but some of her stories are heavier than others. While this one does have characters facing divorce, it’s actually very light and uplifting. Alice hits her head at the gym and can’t remember the last 10 years of her life. Now, instead of being 29 and pregnant with her first child, she is 39, has three kids, and has strained relationships with her husband and other family members. This was the first Liane Moriarty book I read and still one of my favorites.

This Is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are by Melody Warnick. This is a nonfiction book, but I love its hopeful message about making the place where you live feel like home. Whether you move frequently or are struggling to find a connection to your community, this book can help you make the most of your city. I read this probably 10 years ago but still think about it often and try to live by its principles (like shopping local and attending community events).

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. This is the ultimate comfort book, about a London woman who unexpectedly connects with a community on Guernsey (an English Channel island) after WWII. If you like books written in letters, you’ll love this one. My one complaint about this book is that the original author died before finishing it and her niece wrote the ending, so I feel it ends pretty abruptly. Still, it’s definitely worth including on a list of lighthearted books to read. Also, the Netflix movie is just as good if not BETTER than the book!

The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson. If you loved the movie Miss Congeniality with Sandra Bullock (and what ’90s/’00s teen didn’t), you will love this funny story about a woman who has to trade places with her identical twin sister to compete in a beauty pageant when the other sister has an allergic reaction. Of course Charlotte is a librarian and NOT into beauty pageants at all, but she learns that there’s more to them than what meets the eye.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. OK, I realize that people have a complicated relationship with Gretchen Rubin, and I get it. She is a privileged white lady living in New York City with the means to go to restaurants and museums and take herself on adventures. Friends who are dealing with serious health or money issues might want to avoid this one for now. However, I had to include this in a list of lighthearted books to read because Rubin does have some great ideas for getting yourself out of a rut. Just remind yourself that it’s also OK to stay home and eat all the leftover Easter candy because you can’t afford to travel. You do you.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. Let me preface this by saying DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIE. Or if you have already watched the movie, consider them as two separate and unrelated pieces and then read the book. Yes, it’s a retelling of Cinderella, but it’s charming and wonderful and will lift your spirits.

I’d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel. This collection of essays is basically one big love letter to all the readers out there who set off the airbag alarms in their cars by having too many books stacked in the passenger seat. It will make you remember why you love to read — or why you once loved reading and can love it again.

I am planning a separate post with light romance books since I realized that needs its own category, but I’d love to hear about your favorite lighthearted books to read! We all need to take a break from the heavy now and then.

Picture books for Juneteenth

Posted on June 16, 2023 by Lindsay Books

I’ve read a bunch of picture books for Juneteenth to my kids over the past week and am so excited that this special day is now a federal holiday. If you’re unclear about the meaning of Juneteenth, essentially it commemorates June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Texas finally learned they were free. Though President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation two years before, it took a long time before enslaved people received word. Read on for a list of picture books to help you and your family celebrate this holiday together.

All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson and E.B. Lewis. I initially shared this in my first Black History Month post, but it is a great introduction to Juneteenth. I especially love the joy you can feel through the illustrations.

A Flag for Juneteenth by Kim Taylor. My kids and I were so enamored with this story! I’m planning to buy it and add it to my picture books for Juneteenth. follows Huldah, whose tenth birthday falls on the day Union soldiers announce that enslaved people are now free. She and her family and friends join together to celebrate the day, then called Jubilee Day, and surprise her with a beautiful quilted flag for her birthday. The entire book looks like a quilt, and my kids LOVED that.

The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States by Alliah L. Agostini and Sawyer Cloud. This book explains how Juneteenth became a holiday, first in Texas and then nationwide, and helps you better understand some of the traditions and celebrations.

Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan and Keturah A. Bobo. I had never heard of Opal Lee before reading this book, and I’m so glad I know her name now. Opal Lee helped organize Fort Worth’s annual Juneteenth celebration and campaigned for years to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, which finally happened in 2021. She also watched white rioters vandalize and then burn down her home on Juneteenth when she was only 12 years old, spurring her to activism. This is an incredible story.

Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise by Lavaille Lavette and David Wilkerson. Younger kids will like this Little Golden Book about Jayylen, a little boy who learns about Juneteenth from his grandfather. Jayylen also learns about zydeco music and learns to play it, surprising his grandfather with his new abilities and a special guest. I had never heard of zydeco music and really like it!

Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper. I LOVE Floyd Cooper’s beautiful books, and this one is no exception. It follows Mazie, a young girl who is celebrating Juneteenth but learns a lot about her ancestors and heritage from her father in the process.

Have you read any great picture books for Juneteenth? I’d love to expand my collection!

2023 summer reading programs for kids

Posted on June 2, 2023 by Lindsay Books

My kids are officially out of school, and the 2023 summer reading programs are underway! I’m not super strict about reading during the summer, because I also want my kids to go outside and play. Once they’ve read at least a half hour or so, it’s off to the next thing — which is why I appreciate that most of these programs are super simple and reward kids with free books to encourage more reading! Check out the 2023 summer reading programs for kids I’ve rounded up below.

Little Mama Shirt Shop reading challenge. This is the fifth year Chynna has done this challenge, and I’m glad she’s gone back to offering a tote as a reward. To participate, download the reading log, add a checkmark each time your kids read, and list your favorite books on the back. Email her a picture of the completed chart (200 books or chapters) by Sept. 15, and she’ll send you a coupon code for her shop and a free book tote. Chynna is an Idaho mom, so I love to support her shop and encourage reading, too.

Salt Lake County summer reading challenge. If you live around Salt Lake City, go to your nearest county library branch and pick up forms for your family to track their reading. Kids, teens, and adults can participate! Once you finish the form, return it to the library and get coupons for free or discounted admission to local museums and attractions. You’ll also get a free book for each person who participates. We complete this challenge every year, and my kids get excited to pick out a new book.

The City Library Super Summer Challenge. Yes, there are two separate library systems in Salt Lake City, which I love! This one is similar to the county challenge, with activities to complete before earning a free book, but you can download the activity tracker without visiting a branch. My good friend Emma works at one of the city library branches, so we like completing this challenge and visiting her.

Barnes & Noble summer reading journal. My kids have finished this program every year since first grade (children in grades 1-6 are eligible). It’s really simple: Have your children read just eight books and write the titles and what they liked best about them. Once they’re done, bring the completed paper to a Barnes & Noble store by Aug. 31 to pick out a free book from the list. The available books are updated each year, so there are different options your kids will enjoy.

Utah State Fair Read & Win program. Finally, this is our favorite challenge because we love the Utah State Fair. It’s open to kids in grades 1-6 as well. Have your children read 10 books, write down the titles, and mail the form (or submit it online) by July 17. They’ll get free admission to the Utah State Fair, a free big yellow slide ride (our FAVORITE), free carnival ride and fountain drink, and a ribbon bookmark. The other part that’s fun is that my kids get individual envelopes with their tickets and bookmarks. Since they rarely get mail, they get excited for this each summer.

This list is obviously Utah-heavy, but check your local library or library system for programs if you live elsewhere! You can also check out my previous list with national programs from Scholastic and Book-It. Please share any other 2023 summer reading programs with me in the comments!

More book series for second and third grade

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Lindsay Books

My kids are about to end their third-grade year, and I’ve been keeping a log of even MORE book series they read this year. If you’ve got a child around eight or nine, check out this list for options they will love. These are also perfect options for summer reading programs. Read on for book series for second and third grade.

A-Z Mysteries by Ron Roy and John Steven Gurney. These are the perfect books for keeping kids interested in reading, and both my son and daughter raced through these. Each book starts with a different letter in the alphabet, and there are puzzles in each book to solve as well. If your child likes these, they can also check out the super editions, Calendar Mysteries (which occur in each of the 12 months), and Capital Mysteries, which focus on people and places around Washington, D.C. These series kept my kids occupied for a while, and I am so grateful for them.

Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell. Similar in format to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, the Dork Diaries books follow eighth-grader Nikki Russell’s adventures with crushes, school, and siblings. I actually felt my daughter was kind of young for these when she first picked them up, but she seemed to really enjoy them. I would say they’re better for third and fourth grade and beyond, but some second-graders may be ready.

Mermaid School by Lucy Courtenay and Sheena Dempsay. This is a small, quick series my daughter loved that tells the story of Marnie the mermaid’s adventures at school. It also has plenty of puns (like “o-fish-ially”), so my daughter enjoyed that as well.

Secret Agent Jack Stalwart by Elizabeth Singer Hunt. My son had a lot of fun with this series, which stars a young spy that uses science and technology to solve mysteries. Apparently the author is actually the granddaughter of a former spy herself!

The Critter Club by Callie Barkley and Marsha Riti. Animal lovers will ADORE this cute series about friends who help solve mysteries involving pets in their town. These are written for a younger audience (probably about first to second grade), but my daughter still loves them and gets excited when a new book comes out.

The Alien Next Door by A.I. Newton and Anjan Sarkar. Like most of the series on this list, The Alien Next Door series centers around school — but in this one, an alien boy is going to school with humans (one of whom is sure he is an alien but can’t convince anyone else). The illustrations in this are funny and cute, and it’s written for younger readers but can still entertain a third-grader.

Secret Spy Society by Veronica Mang. While geared more toward younger readers, my daughter has enjoyed this series about three girls who join a secret women’s spy society. As an added bonus, it has codes in the back (and my daughter is currently OBSESSED with codes).

Real Pigeons by Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood. The illustrations in these graphic novels are amazing, and my son laughed his way through all five books about crazy pigeons who fight crime and save the day.

Wings of Fire (graphic novels) by Tui T. Sutherland and Mike Holmes. My kids read the first couple Wings of Fire books and were mildly interested. Then they discovered the graphic novel versions and were HOOKED. The series tells the story of five dragonets (young dragons) who have to save the dragon world from destruction.

Pizza and Taco by Stephen Shaskan. If you couldn’t tell, we are big fans of graphic novels here. This series about (you guessed it) Pizza and Taco and their adventures is similar in tone to the Narwhal and Jelly series (which we also love). The books made my son laugh out loud, so I call that a win.

Snow Sisters by Astrid Foss and Monique Dong. If you’ve got a little girl or boy who loves all things Frozen, he or she will love this series about three sisters who must rescue their parents from the evil Shadow Witch, who is trying to turn their world dark.

Whatever After by Sarah Mlynowski. My daughter flew through this series of fractured fairy tales and was so excited to tell me about how the author had turned certain familiar stories upside-down. For example, in the first book Abby and her younger brother, Jonah, stop Snow White from eating the poisoned apple and then have to figure out what to do when she doesn’t meet her prince.

Gemstone Dragons by Samantha M. Clark and Janelle O. Anderson. This is a brand-new series my daughter saw at Target, so we checked out the series from the library. She raced through all the books about the different dragons that all have powers associated with their gemstones. She now also understands that gemstones correspond with certain months (i.e., her birthstone is an emerald). The illustrations are darling!

Wayside School by Louis Sachar. Other ’80s and ’90s kids may remember the hilarious and goofy Wayside School series. Even now, 25+ years after I first read these books, I still remember them fondly. I bought the original hardcovers on eBay, and both my kids laughed my way through them.

Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly by Jordan Quinn. Anyone else noticing that dragons are OVERREPRESENTED in children’s literature right now? Regardless, my kids seem to have no problem reading alllllll the books about dragons. They like this new graphic novel series about the prince of Wrenly’s pet dragon, Ruskin, who is summoned by another dragon to help rid the kingdom of a curse that was unleashed.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi Academy by Kallie George and Lorena Alvarez Gomez. Admittedly, these books are really short and written for probably grades 1-2, but my daughter is enjoying this new series about girls learning to become fairy godmothers.

My Pet Slime by Courtney Sheinmel and Renée Kurilla. Our elementary school offers a membership to the reading subscription company Epic!, and my kids thoroughly enjoyed this series there (but you can also buy the books). A little girl named Piper longs for a pet, but since she can’t have a cat or a dog, she makes her own pet out of slime.

Unicorn Academy by Julie Sykes and Lucy Truman. In this series, students go to school to meet their very own unicorn, whom they also learn to talk to! If your kids like this series, they’ll also like the subseries Nature Magic.

Heartwood Hotel by Kallie George and Stephanie Graegin. My sweet animal-loving daughter also enjoyed this short series (only four books) about a mouse who finds Heartwood Hotel when she desperately needs a place to stay during a storm.

Mermicorn Island by Jason June. Yes, this series is about a creature who is half unicorn and half mermaid and lives in a magical undersea world. There are only four books in this series, and my daughter flew through them.

Dog Diaries by James Patterson and Steven Butler. My son laughed and laughed at these books told from dog Rafe’s perspective and was really excited when we found two-in-one books of the first four at Costco. If your kids loved Stick Dog or Stick Cat, which I shared in my list of books for first- and second-graders, they’ll enjoy this series.

Royal Rescues by Paula Harrison and Olivia Chin Mueller. A princess who finds and rescues animals even though her father (the king) says she can’t have a pet? Say no more (at least for my daughter). Kids aged six to nine will love this series.

Zoey and Sassafras by Asia Citro and Marion Lindsay. I love that this cute series features a girl who has to help magical creatures by using science (and with the help of her cat, Sassafras). Both my kids are very interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), and these books help them see examples of kids conducting experiments.

InvestiGators by John Patrick Green. I have long thought that alligators are the most fun illustrated characters, and I just wish I had come up with this punny series about alligator spies who travel through the sewers and solve mysteries. Both my daughter and my son are enjoying these books!

The Last Firehawk by Katrina Charman and Jeremy Norton. My children devoured this series about an owl, a squirrel, and a hawk who team up to fight Thorn, a powerful vulture who is using dark magic to destroy the land. Fans of Dragon Masters will love this one.

Dragon Slayers’ Academy by Kate McMullan and Bill Basso. In case your kids are like mine and immediately turned off by the title, know that this series is NOT about people slaying dragons. It’s about a kid who can’t stand the sight of blood and has help from his pig, Daisy, who also writes in Pig Latin. Kids who love jokes and puns will adore these.

Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior by Cube Kid. My son enjoys playing Minecraft here and there and loved this series about a figure (I don’t know what else to call him) who has to choose his future career at Minecraftia school and really wants to be a warrior. If you’re looking for something to get a video game-obsessed kid into reading, this could be the ticket.

Fairy Animals of Misty Wood by Lily Small. I am not a fan of these illustrations, which remind me of the creepy Beanie Baby animals with enormous eyeballs. However, my daughter flew through this series about creatures with fairy wings that help others and make their homes beautiful.

Phew! My kids read a lot of books over the past year, and now they’re both completely absorbed in the Harry Potter series, which should keep them interested this summer.

Are you looking for more series for second- and third graders? Check out this list of books for kids aged six to eight and this one for first- and second-graders. Please share your favorite series with me in the comments as well! I’m always on the hunt for new books my kids will love.

Books for Arab American Heritage Month

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Lindsay Books

I am passionate about having my kids read books with diverse characters and viewpoints. Fortunately, we found a lot of great books for Arab American Heritage Month, which admittedly, I did not know much about before we began reading. Whether you are celebrating this month or simply want to learn more Arab culture and history, this list will help you get started.

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali and Hatem Aly. I originally shared this in a 2019 roundup of my favorite picture books, and it continues to be a favorite. Asiyah is wearing a hijab to school for the first time, and her younger sister Faizah stands up for her and explains the hijab when other students ask questions. If you like this one, you’ll also love The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship, which tells Faizah’s story.

Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Tiffany Rose. This sweet book is about a boy who has a difficult time writing and getting his ideas out of paper. Fortunately, a professional writer talks to his class about the process of writing, and Abdul realizes it’s OK (and normal) to be messy while writing.

The Night Before Eid: A Muslim Family Story by Aya Khalil and Rashin Kheiriyeh. Eid is a really important holiday in Muslim culture, and this book helps everyone to better understand it. The story focuses on a boy and his grandmother making a special treat to share with his school.

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham, Karim Shamsi-Basha, and Yuko Shimizu. I loved this true story about a man in Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, who saved cats and created a sanctuary for them when others were fleeing the war there. The illustrations are wonderful.

Halal Hot Dogs by Susannah Aziz and Parwinder Singh. We learned so much about Jummah, the Friday prayer in Islam, from this book! Musa looks forward to the family treat they have each week after the Jummah prayer at the mosque and is trying to get his family halal (allowed) hot dogs from a vendor. Of course things don’t go as planned, so he has to figure out a new snack his family can eat. I loved that this book also includes a glossary of Arabic terms at the end!

The Arabic Quilt: An Immigration Story by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan. I got chills reading this beautiful book. Kanzi has moved with her family from Egypt to America, and she is trying to fit in. She gets embarrassed when her mom brings a kofta (ground beef and lamb) sandwich to school wearing a hijab. When she writes a poem about the Arabic quilt her grandmother gave her, Kanzi’s teacher has all of the students create a paper quilt with their names in Arabic.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan and Merhdokht Amini. This simple book explains the colors of Islam while also exploring the religious tenets and traditions. It rhymes and is really easy to read, but the illustrations are what make this book shine. We also loved Crescent Moons and Minarets (about Islamic shapes) from the same author/illustrator duo.

In My Mosque by M.O. Yuksel and Hatem Aly. If you buy ONE book for Arab American Heritage Month, make it this one. I love how it beautifully explains Islam and also makes it clear that Muslims have much in common with Christians. The illustrations are stunning and filled with people of all shapes, sizes, colors and abilities.

Under My Hijab by Hena Khan and Aaliyah Jaleel. My daughter especially loved this book and likes to point out when girls at her school are wearing their colorful hijabs. We all learned a lot about hijabs ad how there are different ways to wear them. Most importantly, the book follows strong women in different walks of life. You should probably buy this one, too.

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story From Iraq by Jeannette Winter. Books about libraries and those who lose access to them always make me emotional. This true story of Alia Muhammad Baker, who helped to save thousands of books from her library in Basra, Iraq, when war broke out is SO inspiring. We had some good discussions after reading this book, too, since many people are currently banning books across the United States.

Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper and Kenard Pak. This picture book impressed me so much when it was first published in 2020. It’s about Lina, who is walking through the snow to visit her grandmother, Sitta. Because Sitta can no longer see very well, Lina thinks about ways she can describe the snow to her and realizes how it sounds. Grandparent/grandchild relationship books are so special, and this one is especially delightful.

Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi and Lea Lyon. My kids and I really enjoyed this story about Lailah, who recently moved to the U.S. from the United Arab Emirates. She is afraid to tell her classmates that she is fasting for Ramadan and decides to hide in the library rather than going to the lunchroom. Her librarian encourages her to write down her feelings, and together they figure out a way she can explain her culture and religion to others. This is such an excellent book!

Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine by Hannah Moushabeck and Reem Madooh. In this incredible book, a father tells his three daughters his memories of Palestine, the homeland he had to leave years before. This story really makes Palestine come to life and captures the emotions of being unable to return to the country of your birth.

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Luisa Uribe. This book is important for EVERYONE. After multiple teachers and classmates mispronounce a little girl’s name, she expresses her sadness to her mom. Fortunately, her mom takes the time to tell her that her name (and other names) are musical and have meaning. Such a great reminder that names are important!

A Girl Called Ghengis Khan: How Maria Toorpakai Wazir Pretended to be a Boy, Defied the Taliban, and Became a World-Famous Squash Player by Michelle Lord and Shehzil Malik. I had never heard of Maria Toorpakai Wazir before reading this, and as the LONG title suggests, she did in fact become a famous squash player despite all odds. My daughter especially loves stories about girls/women who enter spaces traditionally reserved for men, so this was a big hit for her.

What are your favorite books for Arab American Heritage Month? We had so much fun reading these books together, and I would love more recommendations.

Empowering books to celebrate Women’s History Month

Posted on March 13, 2023 by Lindsay Books

Books for Women's History Month, including "Crying in H Mart," "Good and Mad," "I Am Malala," "The Moment of Lift" and "Hood Feminism"

I just plowed through a lot of books in January and February in anticipation of Women’s History Month. While I also have a list of picture books you can read with your family, I think it’s so important to dive into books that explore feminist themes and history as well. Some of these books will make you angry. Others will make you cry. And others will make you feel LOTS of emotions, including empowerment and happiness. Here’s a list of my favorite books to celebrate Women’s History Month.

The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates. I have recommended this book to SO many friends because it’s such a beautiful compilation of experiences from women around the world. Melinda Gates talks about women she has met through her foundation and how lifting women lifting everyone.

Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg. You’ve probably seen this book on the top of lists for years now, but for good reason. I think about what I learned from Lean In often, because there are many ways that women are holding themselves back at work. I make a conscious decision now to sit at the table when I would rather lurk in corners of the room, and I am assertive enough to speak up when something is wrong. This book is also interesting because Sheryl Sandberg worked at Facebook for years, so there’s anecdotes about her time there.

Hood Feminism: Notes From the Women that a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall. As a white woman myself, I often don’t think about the ways women of color are left out of conversations about equity in the workplace. As Mikki Kendall points out in this book, it is hard to “lean in” when you still don’t have the same opportunities white women do and are fighting just to KEEP your job. Read this one in conjunction with Lean In and other similar books to keep women of color in mind and better understand their struggles.

Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger by Rebecca Traister. Remember how I said earlier that some of these books will make you mad? This is one of those books, which is ironic since it is about women’s anger. This is the good type of anger, though, the kind that spurs you to make changes and to recognize the many ways people put down women. I learned SO much from this book and cannot recommend it enough.

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. If you frequently tell yourself you don’t have time to read, you can’t use that excuse for this book. The audiobook version is about 45 minutes long, and it’s essentially an essay instead of a book. I love the way Adichie simply explains feminism and her experiences as a black woman who grew up in a conservative Nigerian culture.

The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama. I absolutely ADORE Michelle Obama, and her latest book was just as good as, if not better than, Becoming. In The Light We Carry, Obama shares ways we can overcome obstacles and help those around us. She shares lots of personal stories I hadn’t heard before and is so eloquent and inspirational. Michelle Obama also narrates the audio version, so get that from your library or Audible if you prefer audiobooks.

Becoming by Michelle Obama. This was Michelle Obama’s first book, and it reads more like a memoir about how experiences growing up, working as a lawyer, meeting and marrying Barack Obama, and eventually becoming the First Lady. I love both this one and The Light We Carry.

Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger by Soraya Chemaly. While similar to Good and Mad above, this book focuses more on how women’s anger has transformed politics and spurred important conversations like the #MeToo movement. This is another book that will make you mad when you think about how badly America treats its female leaders, but it’s an important read.

Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder. I have never read a memoir quite like this one, and I LOVED it. It’s written as a graphic novel, and the illustrations make this story both laugh-out-loud funny and heartbreaking. Tyler Feder recounts losing her mom to cancer at a very young age and describes the grieving process and what NOT to say to a person who has lost someone.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle. I know many people have a love/hate relationship with this book. My advice is to take what you like from it or read it in little pieces. It isn’t meant to be a consistent narrative but more of a string of anecdotes about what it’s like to be a woman — and the heartbreaking experience of being a queer woman — in America. Doyle’s ideas about parenting are my favorite, and I found this book very inspiring.

What We Carry: A Memoir by Maya Shanbhag Lang. I wish I could send every single person a copy of this book. It hit me so hard when I read it, and I actually bought a copy and sent it to my sister because I needed her to read it so we could discuss it. This beautifully written memoir tells the author’s story of working as doctor while simultaneously caring for her aging mother who has Alzheimer’s disease. It’s about mother-daughter relationships and about realizing that no woman, no matter how polished she may seem, can do it all on her own.

Hold On, But Don’t Hold Still by Kristina Kuzmic. I have bought copies of this book and sent them to friends, too, because it’s such a delight. You may recognize Kristina Kuzmic from her social media videos about parenting. Her memoir is just as funny and poignant and touches on her divorce, years as a single mother, and struggles to lift herself from depression.

Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas. Please go buy a copy of Firoozeh Dumas’ books. You will not be disappointed. In this one, she recalls growing up in Iran and then moving to the United States at age 10 when her father gets a job in California. They are both hilarious and touching, and I have learned so much about Iranian culture in the process.

Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant. I may actually like this book better than Sandberg’s first book. You probably know the story of Sheryl Sandberg unexpectedly losing her husband, Dave, while she and her family were on vacation. This book, co-written with the fantastic Adam Grant, is about her journey to grieve and become resilient after his death. I have not lost a close family member, but this was such a healing and important book to me.

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb. Malala’s powerful memoir about her experiences after being shot by the Taliban for advocating for girls’ education is a must-read. Her bravery is absolutely incredible to me.

What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo. This is a difficult book to read because it is about a Malaysian-American woman’s experiences with complex post-traumatic stress disorder. However, anyone who has gone through trauma can identify with her experiences and learn so much from how she has processed them. This was one of my favorite books in 2022.

Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner. Yes, this is another book about a woman who lost her mom at a young age, but I adore memoirs and loved this one! I also learned a lot about Korean culture and got really hungry reading this.

What are your favorite books to celebrate Women’s History Month? Bonus points if they are memoirs, because this is probably my favorite genre.

24 more Christmas picture books

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Lindsay Books

Covers of Christmas picture books, including "How to Trick a Christmas Elf," "Christmas in the Big Woods," "Ho Ho Homework," "The Christmas Carpenter" and "Piñata in a Pine Tree."

I own enough Christmas picture books to wrap up 24 and put them under our tree each year for an advent, and I’ve shared that list for several years. This year, I decided to create another list of our favorites so you have even more options to choose from. There are so many great books celebrating this holiday — and I always end up buying a few more after writing these. Here are 24 Christmas picture books to check out.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and Brett Helquist. Apparently this one is out of print, so maybe check eBay for a copy? I bought this one immediately after we read it a few years ago because it beautifully tells Charles Dickens’ classic story — and the illustrator, Brett Helquist, is known for the Series of Unfortunate Events. I love his illustrations and the depth he brings to this book. Seriously, you need to find this one somewhere and add it to your Christmas books.

Dasher by Matt Tavares. I adore Matt Tavares’ art (buy Red and Lulu if you haven’t already) and knew we needed this book when it came out a few years ago. Dasher longs for a different life and sets out on her own to pursue adventure, eventually meeting Santa and being asked to pull his sleigh.

Lighthouse Christmas by Toni Buzzeo. Yes, this one is also out of print, but I have confidence you can find it on eBay (where I bought mine) or at a thrift store. Why do the prettiest books go out of print? In this one, a brother and sister live with their dad on an isolated island where they man a lighthouse. They are determined to make Christmas special even though they can’t be with the rest of their family, and then an unexpected visitor makes the holiday sweeter. I would love to live near a lighthouse and am basically obsessed with nautical stories, so I love this one.

Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck and Mark Buehner. When I was a kid, we had a VHS with a short video produced by BYU called The Gift from the 1970s. I was surprised to discover that it was based on this Pearl Buck story about a boy who gets up early to do the chores for his dad Christmas morning so he can see everyone opening their gifts. This is a really awesome reminder about how service is the best gift you can give.

The Carpenter’s Gift: A Christmas Tale About the Rockefeller Center Tree by David Rubel and Jim LaMarche. I scored this for $2 at Savers a couple months ago and was so excited to add this to our collection. We have several books about the Rockefeller Center tree, but this one centers on a boy who grew up during the Great Depression and wants to pay kindness forward when strangers build his family a new home on Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas by Lara Hawthorne. If you want to sing your way through a book (or even if you don’t), this is a beautifully illustrated version of the traditional 12 Days of Christmas carol. Lara Hawthorne’s Silent Night is also a favorite.

Merry Christmas, Anne by Kallie George and Genevieve Godbout. This book is a pairing made in heaven. A classic story from L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables and Genevieve Godbout’s dreamy illustrations? I need to buy this one for our collection because it makes me ridiculously happy.

Carla and the Christmas Cornbread by Carla Hall and Cherise Harris. We read this cute story last year about a little girl who worries she ruined Christmas by eating the sugar cookie left for Santa. Luckily, her grandma helps her make cornbread with cinnamon butter for Santa instead. There are not enough Christmas books out there with characters of color, and this is an excellent one!

How to Trick a Christmas Elf by Sue Fliess and Simona Sanfilippo. Sue Fliess is a MASTER at rhythm, and we own several of her holiday books because they’re fun to read aloud. This one instructs kids on tricking an elf into letting them see what’s on Santa’s list. By the way, I DESPISE tricks (April Fool’s is the worst), so know that this is more about crafting than it is teasing. All of Sue Fliess’ books also have instructions for creating your own craft in the back, too, which is so fun.

Christmas is Joy by Emma Dodd. Sometimes you want a really quick, beautifully illustrated Christmas story to read for bedtime. This sweet book featuring two reindeer in the snow fits the bill. I love the gold foil and the calming rhythm.

A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas by Pat Mora and Magaly Morales. We all LOVED this Latino version of the 12 Days of Christmas! There are dancing donkeys, piñatas instead of partridges, and singing moons, among other items. I really like bilingual picture books, and this one has Spanish words sprinkled throughout and a full glossary. So fun!

Merry Christmas, Strega Nona by Tomie DePaola. Everyone in my family is a big Strega Nona fan, probably because we have listened to the audiobook of the first book at least 50 times. Strega Nona and Big Anthony are back in this story, but this time Strega Nona has a strict rule about not using magic at Christmastime. Luckily, Big Anthony is willing to help with the feast.

Christmas in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Renee Graef. I had this book when I was a child and rediscovered it a few years ago. If you grew up loving the Little House on the Prairie books, you’ll love this picture book version of Laura’s Christmas memories in their little cabin in Wisconsin.

Here Comes Santa Cat by Deborah Underwood and Claudia Rueda. All of the Cat books are fantastic! In this one, Cat is worried he is on the naughty list and won’t get any gifts, so he tries to redeem himself by getting into the holiday spirit. These books are a delight because of the illustrations and the playful narrator that interacts with Cat. We love them.

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto and Ed Martinez. This is another book I remember loving as a child that still holds up. Maria gets to help make tamales for Christmas dinner and tries on her mother’s beautiful diamond ring when she leaves the room. Suddenly, Maria has misplaced the ring and is sure someone will choke on it when they eat the tamales. She and her cousins decide to eat their way through the tamales so no one gets hurt. I love the Mexican culture displayed in this book and the family that bands together.

Cookies for Santa by America’s Test Kitchen Kids and Johanna Tarkela. I am admittedly not a baker (or a cook), but I love this story about Santa losing his family’s Christmas cookie recipe. Every year, he bakes cookies for his elves and reindeer to show his appreciation, and he’s worried he won’t be able to without the recipe. Fortunately, families around the world band together to bake and make sure Santa can have a happy Christmas. Like other America’s Test Kitchen books, this one includes a recipe and is all about encouraging families to cook and bake together.

Santa Claus and the Christmas Surprise by Dorothea Lachner and Maja Duskov. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of two kids whose village is snowed in for Christmas. Though Anna and Michael worry that Santa won’t be able to get through the snow to deliver gifts, he makes it — and his gift requires everyone to dig through the snow and come together.

Ho Ho Homework by Mylisa Larsen and Taia Morley. If you need a book to read in a classroom, this is PERFECT. Jack and his classmates have a new substitute teacher, Mr. Clausen, and he has a long white beard. He also eats milk and cookies as a snack. Is he Santa Claus?

One Starry Night by Lauren Thompson and Jonathan Bean. I love this simple and gorgeous book about the night Jesus Christ was born. It focuses on the animals who are also comforting their babies during that starry night and would be perfect for bedtime.

Arthur’s Christmas by Marc Brown. Nineties kids, you’ll love this one! My brothers and sister and I were OBSESSED with Arthur growing up, and this book inspired the TV series. Arthur is looking for the perfect gift for Santa for Christmas, and his little sister D.W. ends up helping him (with some mishaps along the way). If you aren’t familiar with the Arthur books, D.W. is really the star of the show. Her wit is the best.

Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray and Barry Root. WOW. This book is stunning. I love this story of a woman who plants thousands of balsam seedlings in a garden and then nurtures them over the years with the help of her young neighbor, Parker. I had a real Christmas tree growing up and had never considered all the work that goes into growing these beautiful trees.

Maple & Willow’s Christmas Tree by Lori Nichols. I love the sweet relationship between sisters Maple and Willow in all of Lori Nichols’ books. In this one, Maple and Willow are in the woods about to get their first real Christmas tree. Unfortunately, Maple starts sneezing whenever she gets close to the trees, so it looks like they won’t be getting a real tree after all. Willow has plans to make the holiday magical for her sister anyway.

Olive, The Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh and J. Otto Seibold. This quirky book is based on the line in the song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” that says “All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names.” When Olive the dog hears this line, she assumes she must really be a reindeer and heads to the North Pole to help Santa with Christmas.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. My kids loved this book when they were in preschool, and it’s perfect for little kids and even older ones. Bear normally hibernates during the winter and sleeps through Christmas, but his friends are determined to keep him awake so he can enjoy the holiday.

Please share your favorite Christmas picture books with me! I always get great suggestions whenever I post these lists.

Lindsay

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